going raw

So here it goes. Today is day numero uno of my 100 day raw food challenge.

Yep. You read that right. 100 days, 100% raw.

I found the challenge on a website called rawfu.com while I was doing a little research on the raw lifestyle. You see, I've always been a little bit fascinated by the whole thing, and have always wanted to give it a go, but lacked the total desire to give up all cooked foods. BUT- Members of my family have some pretty wicked medical stuff going on that I will no doubt get myself if I don't do something to prevent it. I have heard and read about the many health benefits of eating raw- particularly with the issues that run in my family. So, I thought now would be a good time to start. I've done the vegan thing, and love it. And raw isn't a huge jump from there. I have been preparing for the last week or so, going a little more raw each day, so I didn't have to go cold turkey- or is that cold tofurky?- today.

I'm super excited about this, but I also know its not going to be easy. I love bread. Warm bread. But ultimately, I think it will be worth it. So wish me luck!

r-u-t-a-b-a-g-a

Michael participated in Middleton Elementary's first ever oral spelling bee.

He did a fantastic job, and I am so proud of him. He made it to the 5th round. He correctly spelled:

babies

avenue

consonant

tutor

And the word that got him... Rutabaga.

I didn't know how to spell it either.

It got me thinking, though. I had never had rutabaga.

Maybe we should give it a try.

So for dinner that night, we gave it a go.

A little olive oil, salt and pepper, and voila-

It was... okay. Not my favorite, but not horrible.

I told Michael that it was a good thing he didn't misspell babies...

not in the mood

Okay, so the last month has gone by a little too quickly, and I just haven't been in the mood to update this blog. I haven't been feeling very creative, and other things have been more interesting to me than this. So now, a quick update on the Meerdink happenings over the last several weeks:

Christmas was great. Nice and quiet here at home. The boys screamed like little girls when they opened up the Wii (Thanks Grandma Joney!). And the rest of the day was filled with golf, archery and bowling tournaments. We all woke up a little sore the next morning, with reminders that perhaps we should hit the gym and work our arms a little more.

We had an unexpected snow storm, and the boys took full advantage of the snowman making opportunity. Now, my car is not a great car. And it doesn't like snow. So I attempted to pick Carey up from work, and couldn't make it there without killing me and my children. I couldn't even make it up my driveway (Someday I'll have a LandRover....), so my dear, adventurous husband told me not to worry- he'd simply walk the 7 miles home. In the snow. In his business clothes. He's RAD! He made it about 5 miles and stopped in at Target to warm up a bit, and found a friend to give him a ride the rest of the way home (Thanks Wendy!). Twenty bucks says he'd do it again in a heartbeat!

New Years Eve was the first time that all of my boys got to stay up until midnight. They were super excited about it, thinking they were pretty hot stuff. We spent the night having a Harry Potter movie marathon and playing Wii. Then we were all in bed by 12:20. Happy 2010 everybody.

On a particularly annoying day, we found out that our car needed some very expensive repairs, and our computer completely crashed. That computer lasted us over 7 years. Got us through law school. So what do you do with a good-for-nothing computer? Give it to the kids, of course! They spent hours taking it all apart, and they were in heaven!

Things worked out just fine, as they usually do. We were planning on getting a new computer with the tax return anyway. Instead, we turned our laptop into the family computer and used the planned computer funds to fix the car. Pretty much broke even. (Thanks Heavenly Father!)

So now we are working on getting back to the grind. In terms of New Years Resolutions- I think I officially hate them. Last year I made one resolution: to run a half marathon. I started the year off alright, training for it. Then in May I had major abdominal surgery and couldn't run until September. Fine, I thought. I'm behind a couple of months, so I decided that as long as I could still meet my goal by January of 2010, I'd still consider it a success. So I slowly started training again. So set on my goal that I ignored the pain in my hip, back, leg, knee and ankle. I refused to even tell my physical therapist that I was running out of fear that she would limit my activity.

You see, I don't like being told what to do, and I don't like sitting on my tush doing nothing. This is clearly evidenced by my previous ankle injury. Almost 2 years ago, I rolled it in a bouncy house while in Utah on Spring Break. Tore the ligaments and tendon. I was encouraged to take it easy, rest it for a while. Yeah right- resting is for wussies! Needless to say, my ankle still bothers me to this day and has played a major roll in messing up other parts of my leg.

So, back to my original story: The pain got too severe, and I finally broke down and told my PT, who of course told me NO MORE RUNNING! I had gotten up to 9 miles, and four weeks from my Half. Typical. I have this thing called sacroiliac joint dysfunction- it hurts. I can't run. I can't bike. No spinning classes. Not even yoga right now. She just gave me permission to try out the elliptical, and I can swim. Well- I have permission to swim. First I need a few lessons. So to sum up this very long story- I didn't meet my one resolution for 2009. The universe had other plans for me. So in order to avoid another year of complete frustration, I refuse to set any resolutions for 2010. Take that, universe!

back seat conversation

I hate McDonald's.

I rarely take my children there. But Tuesday night means a kid's meal for a buck twenty-five, and my husband is out of town, so there was nothing more appealing to me tonight than the golden arches.

We were waiting in the drive through line when I overheard this quick exchange from the back seat...

Michael: If you eat at McDonald's too much, fur will grow on your tongue.
Ryan: Yeah, just like a duck.

right-e-o. Makes sense to me.

quick getaway

On Monday afternoon, Carey called me and told me he had to head over to Seaside for a couple of days for work. It was very last minute- he had to leave within 30 minutes. Then he said the words that made my day:

Do you and the boys want to come with me?

um... yes.

So we packed up really fast and hit the road.

I had been needing to get away,

so this business trip of his was heaven sent.

The beach is where I feel the most content. The lists in my mind stop, I'm not worried about what's going on at home, and for a time I am completely at ease.

We swam at the hotel pool for hours, and enjoyed the hot tub after being out in the cold.

Of course we had to pick up some salt water taffy- a Seaside tradition in our family. But mostly, being together and carefree made for a great, spontaneous little trip.

ps- thank you, Kelly, for making this possible!

catching up...

Wow- we've had a lot going on in the last week and a half. Instead of writing a long, drawn-out posting for each event, I'll just post some pictures... allot of pictures:

Michael's 4th Grade Music Concert

Steven's 8th Birthday

Steven's Baptism

Photo Op at the TempleRaccoons

Camping at Ft. Stevens

My battery was dead by the time Thanksgiving rolled around, but it was a lovely day!

8

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Steven!