Day 5 & Day 4's Secrets

Today Grace, Corrine and I were all awarded International First Place Awards for our weight loss with the help of TOPS in 2013.  I don't have the official photos yet, but here are some snap shots that we took in our room on Day 4 before we went to a wonderful dinner to honor the winners.  (We couldn't tell you yesterday because it was still a SECRET until the ceremony today.) 

 

 

Now you know that I am not a complete wimp that I went to bed early last night!  We all had to do our makeup and get dressed up for the dinner and then we started today (Day 5) at 5am so we could be at the  Milwaukee Theatre in the green room by 8:30am.

To review what we achieved, Grace lost 49.25 pounds in 2013.  Corrine lost 23 pounds, and I lost 131 pounds.  We are each in different categories of weight and age so we did not compete against each other.  However, since we were all involved in the awards ceremony, we have very few pictures since it was hard to carry things like a purse and camera.  The TOPS official photographer took lots of photos, but it will be a few weeks before we receive copies of the photos.

Today wrapped up our time in Milwaukee at the conference.  Before we left, we got in a visit to the Bastille Days Festival, and we made it to Springfield, IL before we had to get a hotel for the night.  After some swimming, a visit to the fitness room and a hot bubble bath, I am headed to bed and plan to sleep in a bit in the morning before driving the rest of the way home.  I am anxious to get home and see my husband and kids!

Day 4: THAT Call from Home & Being Sore

The first session today started at 9am and went until almost 12:30pm.  It was a great session with a wonderful before and after parade called Lost Baggage.  People showed their old clothes and their new healthier size and everyone looked great!!!  The Century awards were so inspiring.  Jo who has lost over 300 pounds is my hero!  I cannot wait until I qualify for the Century award.

Then this afternoon, I got THAT call from home.  The "when will you be home...I am exhausted" call.  I actually thought that I would get THAT call Tuesday, but hubby is tougher than I thought!  However, I was able to give him some encouragement and tips on bribes, deals and food choices that should improve his last two days on solo.  (Come to find out, he was giving the boys Kool-aid as a treat for good behavior which is kind of like shooting yourself in the foot with our boys...red dye does not improve behavior and the sugar just makes them hyper.) 

I am so proud of my husband for taking this on alone! No one call Family Services...Angela (our house hero) is helping him during the day...but even with Angela our crew is a 24/7 job and it works best with two parents on duty.  Trust me, I know when hubby is away on debate team trips; it is a BIG job AND without Grace and Corrine to lend a hand, it is even a BIGGER job!  I am so proud that he is willing to do this to help us stay motivated and on our journey to better health.

The long sit during the morning session left my hips sore...VERY sore so I confess that I had to skip this evening's long session.  My morning will start very early in the morning so we can be packed and ready to check out of the hotel.  I took a LONG soak in a VERY HOT bath and went to bed early!  Tomorrow afternoon I start the long drive home and my hips are probably not going to like that sitting either.

Day 3: IRD is in Full Swing!

Today was the first full day of IRD events and sessions including the opening session.  We are learning a lot.  The section by Dr. Joseph Skelton , MD was our favorite so far.  He had great information and ideas for new "diet rules".  He suggested some rules of three including three meals a day and snack only when it has been three hours since a meal and three hours will pass before the next meal.  His advice and ideas were practical and do-able.

The beautiful stage backdrop.

The theme displayed on the BIG monitor.

Corrine with the program booklet.

Day 2: Taste of Chicago

At the Jelly Belly Factory

Our morning was busy, but then we had free time at the TOPS International Recognition Days so we headed into Chicago!  Along the way, we visited the Jelly Belly Factory.  Then we got our nails done.  Next we took a train into Chicago to Union Station and a cab to Millennium Park.  Grant Park was our next stop for the Taste of Chicago Festival where we had the BEST Jerk Chicken that we had ever ate!  Then we walked by Willis Tower (aka Sears Tower) and took the train back out of Chicago.  We finished the evening with dinner at Taste of Tokyo where they bring sushi to you by floating boats.  At the restaurant, we enjoyed amazing food and service!  Reviews online were mixed about the service, but we are pleased to report that our server was TOP notch!  We got back to our hotel very exhausted, but it was a great outing!

Showing off their nails while waiting for the train.

Grant Park

Millennium Park



Garden at the Chicago Art Institute

Corrine discovers why taxis and wheelchairs are not
a good mix...cramped travel!

On the train we discovered that our T-Shirt meant it
when it said EXTRA large...oh well, Daddy gets a
new T-Shirt.

Taste of Tokyo

Arriving in Milwaukee

Grace, Corrine and I have arrived in Milwaukee for the International Recognition Days of TOPS.  We drove over 8 hours to Holcomb, IL yesterday and then on to Milwaukee today after spending the night at Aunt Treva's and Uncle Bill's house.  Here are some pictures from our adventures today.

Cousins:  Grace & Corrine with their Cousin Jake



We rented a bike for 2-4 people with a surry top!

 

One of the nice views of the city on our bike ride.



Corrine riding in the basket while Grace peddled.

"We" peddled around Lake Michigan near the Art Museum.
One of us peddled more than the others....

 


At South Park Beach

 


The Beach was pretty much empty...and it was beautiful.

 

July Review #2: Cuisinart Waffle Iron vs Snoopy

Many years ago while in college, I bought a "fun" Salton Snoopy waffle iron for less than $10.  I used it until 2007, when I was given an expensive Cuisinart Waffle Iron. 

The Cuisinart worked as expected for the first 5 years, but during year 6, some plastic trim came off.  Then this year, the handle
came off.  I had to open it with a butter knife and close it with an oven mitt.  Recently, the back hinge has broken, but it still works so now I use oven mitts to open and close the waffle maker...yes, I am still using it in this condition.  The plates are still wonderfully non-stick and look like new.  The outside looks terrible, but it cooks.  I think Cuisinart has done okay for our family, but I did not pay over $70 for it.  Remember it was a gift and a truly great gift is one that you would never splurge on for yourself!  So this was a great gift!  I have appreciated the convenience of making waffles faster, but I had hoped that with a name and price like Cuisinart that it would last forever, like Snoopy who is still with us in the farm kitchen to make our visits special! (But as you can imagine, it takes a long time to make enough Snoopy waffles for my crew!)

July Review #1: Skillets

In the past 25 years, I have probably had 8 to 10 skillets come, get worn out and go.  Some were cheap sets and some were expensive brands.  However, I have one skillet that has lasted for over 20 years and if you read my blog, you can already guess what brand it is...Lodge Cast Iron.

The crack:  After 20 years of heavy use, and Lodge
replaced this griddle free of charge.

To be fair, I must explain that my Lodge Cast Iron flat skillet 90G recently developed a crack after 20 years, but the outcome has me even more impressed with Lodge.  I contacted the company and they explained that they do not have a written warranty, but they stand behind all their products.  A week later a new 90G griddle arrived at my house!  (I am pretty sure that Lodge paid more to ship it to me than I paid for the skillet over 20 years ago.)

Some of you may be saying, I hate cast iron because it sticks and when cooking eggs, I agree!  (I have never gotten eggs done to my satisfaction without using a lot of oil.)  However, with the exception of eggs, I have found that keeping my skillet seasoned is the secret to great non-stick cooking in cast iron skillets. I oil the skillet after each wash and complete a full heated seasoning about once a month. Here is a link to how I keep my cast iron seasoned.

By the way, for the best pizza crust ever, make a pizza in a cast iron griddle or skillet, but you may never use your pizza pan again!!!  There are even cast iron pizza pans. 

July Reviews

During the month of July, I am going to do a series of reviews of household appliances and products that we use and abuse as only a large family can.  These are not sponsored endorsements nor are they meant to be vendictive rants. Instead they are to be informational about our experiences.  Often people ask me about what products we use and how we make life easier in such a big family. 

Personally, I almost always consult Consumer Reports before buying, but as I have discovered, their testers may not be as tough on things as 10 kids!

Staycation #1/2

Sometime the worst part about vacationing (or in this case staycation) with family is the family. 

In our case, generally the youngest 5 have no interest in most of the vacation activities of our oldest 5 children and vice versa. 

So this year we are taking our staycation outings in groups according to what interest which kids.  For example, this way we are not paying admission for Hannah to feel like we are punishing her with a day at the aquarium!  (Think about it...Hannah is blind and hard of hearing so she mainly gets to feel glass with loud strangers all around her and the sounds of water running limited what she can hear for an afternoon.  Plus Hannah hates the touch tables at the aquarium since she has no idea what she is about to touch!  If no one else likes this new attempt to please everyone, Hannah will!)

So for this first 1/2 staycation, the crew was Daddy, Mommy, Grace, Corrine, Vanessa, and  David.

The venue was Crown Plaza with Fritz's Railroad Restaurant for lunch, LegoLand, SeaLife, window shopping and the Crayola Cafe for dinner.  Then we went to Overland Park to see Daddy get his 2nd Diamond at the National Forensics League Tournament.  Photos are below, but the first 1/2 Staycation seemed like a success with limited sibling bickering.  (Yes, Mr. Wolff, as hard as it may be to believe, when you joined us for lunch, that was an improvement!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daddy only got to meet us for lunch and at the awards ceremony
AND this is the BEST photo that I took at the ceremony. Ugh! 

Weight Loss Update: 150 pounds gone

A photo by David from a recent trip to Big Spring Park.
He loves to go feed the fish and ducks.

Today's weigh-in at TOPS had some milestones.  I reached 20 pounds lost in 2014 and a grand total of 151 pounds lost since January 8, 2013.  Every weight loss milestone is personally rewarding to reach, especially now since weight loss is becoming slower and more difficult now that I am getting closer to my goal weight. 

I do have a disadvantage of weight loss to report and this disadvantage has caused me a bit of an identity crisis.  As I am becoming closer in size to my daughters, laundry is becoming harder to sort and return to the proper owner.  Therefore, I spent some time this weekend labeling my clothes with a laundry pen.  As I started labeling, I realized that most initials in our laundry system were used.  Matt, Luke and I had already had a sock mix up as the kids thought L meant Leatta and M meant Mom...so I was a bit clueless on what to label my clothes so I decided to go with "MOM".  It is short and unclaimed.  However, about the time, that I started writing "MOM" on all my unmentionables, I realized....I may be taking this "MOM" role a bit to seriously!  Leatta would have been too long to write, but having "MOM" on all my undies is killing my secret self-image...well, not such a secret now!  Gotta love blog "secrets". LOL!

My next milestone will be to be half the woman that I was in January 2013...and that is only 10 pounds away!

Healing My Heart in Haiti

In honor and recognition of the 7 years that have passed since my only brother died suddenly from an undetected brain tumor called a colloid cyst,  I am posting a journal entry that I wrote many years ago.  It explains how an adoption trip to Haiti helped me to recognize God's loving care even in death.

On May 17, 2007, my only brother passed from this world into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.  He was only 29 years old.  Around 5pm, I had just finished sitting by his bedside until he passed and I was standing in a hospital corridor, while my mom proclaimed, “He’s home.  He’s home.  God is good!  He is home.”  It was like my heart was being pulled in two directions:  the spiritual direction of rejoicing with my mother knowing his suffering had ended and the earthly direction of separation, despair and grief.  So I chose to try to stay numb and function to make arrangements and deal with the details until several weeks later when I could painfully sort out the realities and balance these emotions.

A year and a month later, I got to revisit these emotions in a most unlikely place and time.  My husband and I were in Haiti bringing home our children David and Vanessa.  The remainder of our children’s birth families came to the orphanage to meet us and say goodbye to their beloved family members whom we already called our son and daughter.   Their hearts were pulled in two directions:  the side of rejoicing that their beloved ones had permanent and loving family and the side of separation and loss.  I watched as one family member went numb and just functioned.  Others judged her for being so stony, but I understood.  I ached for her as I knew the time ahead would be difficult. 

During that visit, I realized that this part of adoption was yet another beautiful picture of our relationship with the Lord.  Just as we called David and Vanessa our children before we traveled to get them, God calls us His children before He brings us to a perfect home with Him.  Just as I felt the void of my brother’s passing, these family members would feel a void.   Just as I rejoiced that my brother was home with the Father so these family members rejoiced that we loved our children and thanked us for coming to get them.  It was after this meeting in Haiti that I was able to thank God for accepting my brother, whom He already called His son, home to a perfect home.  I was comforted.

Behold, what manner of love

the Father hath bestowed upon us,

that we should be called the sons of God:

therefore the world knoweth us not,

because it knew him not.~~I John 3:1

Rhubarb: Revisited

As part of my search for a healthier lifestyle, I have revisited many veggies to see if I could find more variety for my diet.  Today rhubarb was available from a locally grown source so I bought $1 worth.  Then I started searching for a healthy way to eat this veggie, which has less than 30 calories an cup and is a good source of Vitamin C and calcium.

Prior today, I had only ate rhubarb in a pie.  However, after finding several interesting options, I decided that a Roasted Rhubarb and Walnut Salad would work well with what I have in my pantry.  After preparing this easy dish, I am not sure that I will ever put rhubarb in a pie again.  I thought this was much tastier and the salad was very satisfying.

Roasted Rhubarb and Walnut Salad

1 cup of rhubarb (raw & cut into bite size pieces) 
2 tablespoons of honey
1/4 cup of walnuts
A goat cheese such as feta
Mixed greens or baby spinach

I preheated the oven to 425 degrees.  I tossed 1 cup of rhubarb with 1 Tablespoon of honey and placed the mixture on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Then I tossed the walnuts with a Tablespoon of honey and put them on the parchment lined cookie sheet too.

I happened to have some honey whipped with berry juice and some cinnamon infused honey from my cousin in Durango, Colorado so I used the berry honey on the rhubarb and the cinnamon on the walnuts, but plain honey would work fine.

I let these cook for about 7 minutes until the rhubarb could be easily pierced with a fork.  Then after it had cooled for a few minutes (but it was still warm), I put it on top of my mixed greens and sprinkled on feta.  Finally I used a light raspberry vinaigrette for the dressing.

The flavor is similar to a salad with a tart apple on it.  The rhubarb has a texture like a cooked apple and even the peel which can seem very tough when it is raw will become soft after it is cooked.  I found the warm rhubarb to be a good combination with the greens, and the warmth seemed to make the salad more satisfying.  I will definitely be making this again and I am looking forward to trying other rhubarb recipes.

The BUSY Weekend

Matt with the cake Angela made
for his birthday.

This weekend could not have been more packed full of excitement and energy.  In fact it has spilled on over into the start of this week!  Friday was Matt's 7th Birthday.  Saturday was lunch with family at grandma's. Sunday was David's 11th Birthday and Mother's Day.  Then Monday evening was Vanessa's 4th grade graduation and tonight (Tuesday) was Hannah's band concert. 

Friday started with Matt bouncing off the walls and he left for school almost vibrating! He had been waiting impatiently for this day for months!  So after the twins, Nate and I took Hannah to Pittsburg to school, I headed to Wal-Mart to get cupcakes and juice for Matt's class AND David's class.  (I must have looked like a pack mule carrying 48 cupcakes and 40 juice boxes into school!)



New glasses!

After school, we had to make a quick trip to the Vision Center because Vanessa had broke her glasses at school so we had to buy new frames (of course the warranty had expired..ugh).  Then we headed home for me to make Matt's requested birthday dinner....frozen pizza!  Have I mentioned how much I love this kid!  Such a simple request!  And he was more excited about his frozen pizza than the other kids have been about culinary masterpieces that they have requested! 

Saturday morning started at 5:40am.  Not because it had to start so early, but because the twins decided that we had overslept and should be on the way to Grandma's house!  Ed kept them busy until it was finally time to go and we loaded the bus...and found out the battery was dead.  So we UNloaded the bus and tightly packed everyone and everything into both of our cars.  At Grandma's the kids ran and played with cousins and ate ice cream/cake and opened birthday presents.  Then we packed back up and drove home.  After we got home, I cut 4 little boys' hair and Ed's hair.  Finally ending the day with head washings and baths.



David's pick!

Sunday started with church.  Then a light lunch at home before Grace took David and I out for OrangeLeaf.  While we were in Joplin, David did some shopping with his birthday money and I picked up the final groceries for his requested birthday dinner of salmon with shrimp and watermelon.  David did not want a cake...just watermelon..so that is what we did!



Photo by Barb Lake of the graduation program

Monday which originally had only one appointment quickly filled with activity, and it was afternoon before I was ready!  However, we still made it to Vanessa's graduation program on time.

Hannah at her concert.

Tonight, Hannah had a band concert in Pittsburg and she did great.  Hannah has only been back in Pittsburg Schools for about 6 weeks so we did not know if she would be ready for tonight, but she did it.  She obviously enjoyed the second song that they did.  It included marching and she smiled and would laugh every time that it was time to march.  A man sitting next to me who did not know that she was my daughter and said, "She loves music."  I said, "Yes she does.  She is my daughter." He said, "She is a joy to watch."  I thought to myself, "I couldn't agree more".

Busy weekends are fun, but I am ready for a slower pace next weekend!

Simple Weekend Fun

This last weekend was a simple, easy weekend at home with Daddy away at the state debate tournament.  The kids played in the yard.  Matt finally wiggled free his front tooth...this has been a long awaited tooth fairy visit!  We ate pizza for dinner, and David had picked movies from the library so we had a movie night.

Matt's tooth!

Luke in his favorite truck.  He wouldn't
believe me that it was also Grace's
favorite truck.  She got it for her 1st birthday!

Nate watching the neighbors play
catch so we discussed bird watching
to try to give his binocular interest a less
stalker-like focus.

 After Daddy got home, we went to the park on Sunday and had an easy picnic of Wendy's $1 sandwiches and McDonald's $1 large drinks. (McDonald's drinks are a great value because I can split one large into 3 plastic cups from home and get 3 little ones a drink for a $1.)  The kids fed the fish and played until it was almost time to take baths and go to bed.
 


Vanessa feeding fish

David & Nate watching the fish jump
for food.

Don't anyone faint from the shock, but it is a picture of
me.  David took some pictures at the park and he took
this one of me.  I thought he took a good picture.

I love Spring & Comp Ad Shopping

 

Not my CSA (community supported agriculture) share,
it is my goodie bag from my mom.

I met my mom today after she had visited her garden and after she had been shopping with the grocery ads.  She gave me a bag FULL of goodies that I love! 

I immediately turned the cauliflower, asparagus and some of the peppers into dinner!  I love riced cauliflower, but I rarely buy cauliflower due to the current price.  Tonight I made it and topped it with grilled mixed veggies so it would provide more servings.  I usually only make it when I am REALLY hungry for rice and I do not have the carbohydrates left in my meal plan for the day.  The easy and hunger-satisfying recipe is below.  I served it with Tuna tonight (and cheese quesadillas and hot dogs for my picky eaters).

Riced Cauliflower with grilled veggies.

RICED CAULIFLOWER

Rinse and cut up one head of cauliflower.

Season to your taste with herbs (like oregano, parsley, basil, thyme & lavender) and a dash of lemon pepper.  Steam on low for 18 minutes. 

Let it cool a few minutes and then mash it with a potato masher or a ricer. 

Then while it is still warm stir in some butter buds or similar product and some garlic salt.

Corrine is 14!

Today Corrine celebrated turning 14 years old.  We went to lunch at Ruby Tuesdays.  Then we visited the pediatricians office for her well check (and a shot).  On the way home, we stopped at Sonic for Happy Hour drinks. She went to the library and got a book that she requested months ago so she was happy that it arrived for her birthday.  Finally, we went and picked out the last items for her birthday dinner while the Italian Chicken finished cooking in the crockpot.  

Corrine chose Italian chicken, spinach salad, broccoli, and  garlic pasta for dinner.  By the way, if you have not made Italian Chicken in the crockpot, it is so easy and tasty.  Plus it works well for a dish to pass at potluck dinners.  The recipe is below, but I think that I have shared it before.

Italian Chicken


She started laughing and couldn't
blow out her candles.

2 pounds of chicken breast

1 block of cream cheese (reduced fat works well, but fat free does not melt easily so it makes a lumpy sauce)

1/2 can of evaporated milk (if the chicken is thawed and drained/if the chicken is frozen then I omit this.)

An envelop of italian dressing mix OR 1 Tablespoon of Italian seasoning and 1/2 Tablespoon of garlic salt.

Put it on low and let it cook for about 4-5 hours, if thawed.  If frozen, cook on low for 7-8 hours.  Then stir sauce until smooth.  Finally stir in a handful of your favorite Italian cheese and serve.