Sounds like everyone is doing great! I hope you're healing up, Negin. Tuesday- More tapering with an easy 3 mile run. I got my confirmation printed out and ready to go for the race on Sunday :D

They worked very well for me. I did chart my temp the first time around and used OPK for 3 other pgs (out of 5). They helped me pinpoint ovulation without going through all the trouble of charting.

:iagree: I didn't get work-based faith or sanctification out of it. It was more about where our crazy love for the Father should lead us. I love his radical ideas since we (I read it both with a women's group and Dh) live in a community where it is easy to live a comfortable life and be set in our ways. With the women's group, we watched the videos that go with the book. Seeing Chan talk about his ideas really gave me a feel for his heart behind the book.

I didn't get to workout much the second half of last week due to dh out of town, but I jetted out for an easy 5-mile run after he got home. I am so sore from Friday's Crossfit workout and need to rest my body before the half marathon next Sunday.

:iagree: I'm floored that this person thought it was okay to comment on your children's names at all. It wouldn't have mattered if you'd named them Lemon and Jello. I think your response was tactful and controlled in comparison. I can think of many other responses that might have been going too far easily off the top of my head. :tongue_smilie:

Moving comfort (http://www.movingcomfort.com) is a great sport bookshelf brand. My favorite is the Fiona, but they have several styles. It is the first bookshelf I've been comfortable running long distances in.

Wed: Unplanned rest day. Thurs: Planned Rest day as dh went out of town Fri: Great Crossfit workout!

:iagree:

Landlord. Our neighbors just had some issues with squirrels in the attic and walls. The landlord paid for animal control and damage.

We do a big, chaotic Thanksgiving dinner and a small, family-centric Christmas Eve dinner. I love them both. Your crazy Thanksgiving does sound heavenly, but the dog issue would bother me. I have two dogs and love them dearly, but wouldn't bring to someone's house (even my parents') unless they were specifically invited.

I'm in a similar boat, but haven't shored up my eating yet as well as you have. Your diet looks great to me. I have been getting a lot of feedback on protein after working out. Evidently, it is very important to have protein 15-45 minutes after a workout. I take it in the form of a protein power-berry smoothie. Easy to make and tastes great. I wonder if that could convince your body to lose the lbs. Also, how close are you to your goal? I am within 10lbs so I know it will be SLOW going/diet intensive from here. I workout intensely 5x/week, but that won't cut it alone to lose the last of the weight. I'm looking at 1/2lb or less per week to lose it healthily and keep/build my muscle. Annoying, but good for the long term. I also have noticed that I have a calorie intake sweet spot. If I have too high a calorie deficit, my body goes into survival mode immediately. No matter what happens...step away from the candy! :D

My 3rd grader is reading it right now and loves it. However, I think it is going to take him a good chunk of time to finish it so it would be tough in a book club setting. He is an above average reader in both level and interest, FWIW.

Monday: 5 mile run in circles inside my neighborhood. It was too late to hit the open road. Tuesday: Quick and dirty Crossfit workout. Heavy lifting day.

Dh and I have used our VA loans to buy 5 houses now. The only issue we've ever encountered specific to a VA loan was that they would not approve the sales price we agreed upon with our current house. Even though our house had a lot of upgrades and a nicer lot than other houses in the neighborhood, they would not accept a price that was too far above comparables in the area. Because we found this out right before closing and didn't have the cash to cover the difference, the sellers just lowered the price for us. It was a great deal for us, but we felt bad for the sellers. Nothing like that had happened with any of our other houses. I can't remember what the closing times were with anyof them, but it must have been under 60 days for our current house because we found out we were moving at the end of March and closed on 15 May. Dh flew in twice to look at houses so I'm thinking it was a 30 day turnaround.

In addition to those already listed: Yahtzee Apples-to-Apples Battleship Any Lego board game Monopoly Appletters We play a lot of games here and my 6yo can handle almost all of them. My 4yo usually has a partner...except with Yahtzee. He can roll yahtzees like I've never seen.

:iagree: How different is trail running? I am going to do a trail 10K in February because I was a bit scared of doing the 1/2M. I am interested to see how different it is.

We can do K-12 as a VA in Tx also starting in 3rd grade. I know a few friends who use that option. It is considered a PS option so I think that they have to take the STAR test.

Saturday: 5 mile run. PR! Sunday: Easy 3 mile run. I have a Garmin watch that keeps track of my mileage and shows me my pace. I asked for it on my last birthday to keep me running. Worked like a charm.

I occasionally run between 7:30 and 8:30. It hasn't disrupted my sleep at all.

The monster book wouldn't bug me, but I would prefer it moved to a different time of year. I'd be mildly annoyed at the Jack-o-lantern, but not enough to complain. We don't expect others to adhere to our personal convictions. However, both activities would set off several other families I know that don't celebrate Halloween. We are on the more lenient side of that subject.

I can't comment on the eating, but I can on the running. I started C25K in April of 2011 (after my last ds was born) with a lot of pg weight to lose. My first 5K in July of that year was 38:45. I started training for a 1/2 marathon in August and completed it in Nov 2011. I never got to a 30 min 5K that year. Everything I've read said just to focus on the running and speed would come. Well, fast forward to this year and I'm now running a solid under 30min 5K with a new goal of a 25 min 5K. I haven't worried about speed at all, just made sure that I was taking my long runs easy (10-12 min miles...training for another half so they are all 6+ mile runs) and pushing myself once a week on either a 3 or 5 mile run depending on the timing. I'm also running a 52 min 5-miler that isn't too taxing. I have also included weight/cross-training 2x/week and try to get to yoga 1x/week. All of that's to say...just get your mileage and time in and the speed seems to come. I've heard from so many runners that running takes years. The good news is that we get to improve consistently and that is motivating! What's really great for me is to enjoy a 5-mile run and not be terrified heading out for a 12-miler. I have still not reached my goal weight. However, I feel healthier and am shedding those last 5 lbs slowly. I have really been focusing on eating enough protein as I just recently found out how important it is. It seems like there are a lot of options for vegetarians after reading upthread.

:iagree: I'm sorry that you faced that type of response for an honest and thoughtful request. I am humbled by your commitment to your friend and will offer up my prayers for Jackie.

Thanks! And let the tapering begin. I only have a few easy 5-milers and shorter runs over the next two weeks. Yay! I'm going to sign up for a Feb 2013 10K. I'm excited to try out that distance. I've only raced 1/2Ms and 5Ks.

For us it is 5-5.5yo depending on the child. School was VERY short at that age and it seems to build each year. My only mandatory subjects at 5 were spelling (that's how we learn how to read), reading (to me), reading aloud (me to them), and math. Except for me reading aloud, it took about 30-45 minutes, 4 days per week. We could read for hours on any given day and they are always begging for more so it is hard to quantify that time as mandatory.

My first post this week... Sunday: Fast 5K run. Felt great and PR'd it. Monday: Rest Tuesday: Nice Crossfit workout. All strength Wednesday: 12 mile run. Last long one before our half marathon on Nov 11.