Katie's Challenge

No sugar: Desserts and candy
October 24th - December 15, 2009

The addicts: Katie, Kay, Rachel, Mandy and Katina

My sugarless life:

1. After committing to no sugar I am filled with thoughts of temporary insanity. Thoughts of cheating fill my mind. The only thing that keeps me going is not to be the first addict to cave and my determination to win the $25 prize!

2. All my chocolate stashes flashed before my eyes.
E-v-e-r-y-o-n-e of them!

3. Utter panic and the cold sweats kick in when I think about being stash free.

4. The first real challenge: The chocolate birthday cake I made screams, “Eat a piece!” But I didn’t have one piece, not one bite, not one crumb!

5. I bought Halloween candy marked 50% off and laid it on the kitchen table and stared at it all afternoon. Addiction is tough.

6. The sneaks and emotional eating set in. After spending 2 hours with twelve 11 year old girls the stress relieving Hershey Kisses are all I can think about. I circled the candy dish a couple of times telling myself, “I could eat just one and no one would know.” But, I didn't!

7. Wandering aimlessly around the kitchen, looking in Oinky, opening the pantry door looking at the Oreo’s and chocolate covered grahams – is there anything, something that is sweet that would qualify as a sugar free snack. Nada.

8. Hormone levels cause the worse kind of sweets craving there is. Chips, crackers, popcorn…nothing helps. It was a bad junk food day…

9. Consoling one of the other competitors with words of encouragement, “If this is stressing you out, just quit. Maybe one snack a day would be better.” After feeling her pain for a few minutes I finally offered the right support and encouraged her not to give in. STAY STRONG! You can do it! She reminds me several times she is not a quitter.

10. I’m hoping the worse is over when grapes give me the same satisfaction as eating a piece of chocolate. When eating a banana or apple is as exciting as a piece of cake, but I’m still working on the veggies, their not the same as a cookie…yet!

I am enjoying the impressed look of the scoffers and skeptic’s who thought it couldn’t be done!

And oh, the sweet words of Shane saying, “Maybe I should stop eating sweets too…after I eat all the Chocolate Covered Grahams!”

A Toast Tutorial

Are you tired of toast that has crunchy edges?
Make perfect toast every time!

Grandma Clawson said, "I don't care how much butter you put on,
just make sure you get butter all the way to the edge."

Toast Tutorial

Ingredients:
Butter, softened
1-2 slices of bread

Toast your bread to the desired toastedness
(Yes, that is a word, I made it up.)

Using a butter knife, spread butter all the way to the edge.
Don't rush, take the time to butter ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE.

Enjoy!
Grandma knew what she was talking about.

I'm going to make me a peice of toast right now!

Is there anything lovelier...

then
a
baby
sleeping?








or
a
duck
taking
a nap?

Hey, Guess What?

Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells...

Jingle all the way

It'll be here before you know it!

New York at Night

In the middle of a New York night I heard Cyrus crying.

Then I hear Wyatt shout, "No, I not go to Memaw!"

For a few seconds I thought about ignoring those sounds, but then I came to my senses and remembered I came to help Katie.

Flipping open my cell phone I was jolted by the 3:38 a.m. time I was looking at.

Rolling out of bed with my eyes sort of open, I climbed up the stairs, opened the basement door only to find all the lights on. I instantly thought, "This can't be good."

Hearing noises in the kitchen I sleep shuffled in there finding Wyatt eating bologna. He was way to awake for me! I quietly told him he could finish his Bologna, and thankfully in three bites he was finished and we were on our way to bed.

He snuggled right in and was sleeping soundly within minutes.

I listened to his breathing and enjoyed the moment until...

• I woke up with his feet in my back
• Him lying sideways in bed
• His arms on my head
• His face in my face, Bologna breath and all

Feeling crowded in my bed, I was awake at 7:00 a.m.

Wyatt slept soundly until almost 8:30 a.m.

Uh-Oh!

Oh, New York, New York!

I wish you could all see Cyrus in person, he is one of the sixteen most beautiful grandchildren I have ever seen! His face is very chubby and he is giving the Conan Cruze's a run for their money in the big cheeks department! He has a facial feature that none of the other grandkids have had - narrow Oriental eyes - yup. Even Katie and Noah are wondering about that. I'm sure it is a Shafer thing, since the Cruze gene's are so weak and haven't appeared anywhere except in red hair. He is sweet, sweet, sweet!

Now for the rest of the story:

Last night Calvin and Wyatt went to co-op to play with their friends. About an hour after they left Katie received, shall we say, a frantic phone call from her friend. Both Calvin and Wyatt were throwing up! YUCK! Katie and I looked at each other with that "not the barf's" look. I immediately started feeling a little squeamish, I know Katie did and even Noah because the boys had been touching EVERYTHING! You all know how I feel about puking viruses.

Poor Calvin and Wyatt looked so pathetic when Noah got home with them. They got a bath, put clean PJ's on and went to bed. Of course they threw up all over their covers, and the floor and other places! My job has been to keep up with the pukie laundry. I'm just thankful the chunky, stinky throw up happened at their friends house. I know that isn't nice, but that part always makes my stomach churn just a little - actually a lot! Katie has several containers of sanitizing wipes and EVERYTHING has been or is getting wiped down with them. I am washing my hands like crazy! And Katie too, at one point she said, "Be sure and wash your hands Mom" - like I would forget. If there is a good thing about this virus it is that it hit fast and furious because the boys are better this morning. Hopefully this is the end of the pukies. If not...gulp

By the way, I won't say who brought this home...but their name starts with an N.

Where Am I?

I went out to eat with all my daughters last week and enjoyed the evening. I found myself listening to their conversation and realized I am far removed from where they are in their lives. I went to a study group last night and enjoyed the evening. At one point I found myself listening to the conversation and realized I am far removed from their interests too. This has caused me much reflection. I'm passed babies and teenagers, college age children and marriages. I have lots of grandchildren, and feel like I have accumulated some wisdom along the way. But, I would like to know what this spot I am at is called. Obviously, I am not young or middle age. I don't think of myself as old. I'm over 50, but I don't feel like it. I do have that "mature look" with gray hair and wrinkles...

So where am I?

I'm thinking I must almost be at the crest of life, still far away from the peak. If that is the case, then when I peak I want to do a long slow walk down the other side of life. I want the descent to be just as rich and fulfilling as the journey up has been. This is like riding my bike up a big steep hill and feeling the exhilaration of reaching the top and then experiencing the reward of riding along the top before enjoying that smooth, easy ride down. Oh, I'm not ready for it to be the last hill, I want to keep peddling and enjoy the challenge of another hill and another and another...

So how about if I just am. I am happy. I love life. I am in love with my husband and love my children and grandchildren. I am happy that I still ride my bike. I love that I can look back and see where I have been and look ahead and see the road yet to travel. No peaks in sight!

I guess I decided I'm riding the crest. I hope it is a big hill, maybe even a mountain, and that it will last a long, long time.

I feel better now,

Thanks for listening.