Sometimes you feel like a nut....

2012 Pinewood Derby~ Do your best!

11:20 AM by Almen, Almond, or Almendra

This is probably the MOST exciting event of the scouting year! The scouts are given a wooden block to shape and design into a race car and then it's raced down a track against their fellow pack scouts. Dave and I really wanted to get more involved and decided to make cars ourselves and race against our fellow leaders. I think the kids really got a kick out of our competitiveness and $h%t talking! My garage has been a disaster for the last two months! We've had a couple of workshop days where the boys from our den came by to also work on their cars. I love seeing the creativity and determination they have, they want to get their cars. just. right. Jacob was no exception! He sanded for days, painted then re-painted his racing stripes, and added the perfect amount of weights to ensure maximum speed! Guess what? He won. He had the fastest overall car! And, Dave? He too took 1st place! in the adult race! Some fun pics below, including a short clip of what a race looks like. Each car is raced once, in each lane, and the best time is used. Jake's car is in the 2nd lane. My car was really fun to make, learned a lot for next year...like how NOT to get glue on my tires....

Pack 383 is the pack for ME!

Overall 1st Place!

Posing with Dad and his winning car!

My Bacon and Eggs looked better than it raced!

Extra bonus: Slidin' Thru coming by and feeding the hungry racers!

How cool is the Slidin' Thru Derby Car?! Thanks to talented Mr. Dave!

What's for Lunch?

11:42 PM by Almen, Almond, or Almendra

It's getting easier. Not eating grains. Or dairy. Or processed junk. The kids are actually liking most of the food I put in front of them. An occasional pout if there's too much green on the plate, but it's mostly a success! I think it'll be fun for me to share some of the lunches Jake takes to school. I get asked al lot, "Well, if he can't have bread...then what does he eat?" Well, he eats things like:

Leftover almond flour pancakes with almond butter/chocolate chips

Nitrate free deli meat wraps with greens and pickles

Chicken Apple Sausages, Deli Wraps and a Pickle

(not pictured: Wednesday's omelette with veggies)
I get a lot of meal ideas from mommy bloggers, specifically http://primalkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/08/launch-of-lunchbox-adventures.html
and I also rely a lot on his leftovers to tell me what works and what didn't. These lunchbox containers are called Lunch Bots and can be purchased on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/LunchBots-Stainless-Steel-Containers-Bento/dp/B006T2U4AY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1332484999&sr=8-9
I chose them because they get really cold and stay pretty cold. That is important to me, being in Las Vegas where it can be 75 degrees after a mountain snow storm! I have the 4 divider, 3 divider, and single divider containers. I have gotten into the habit of making both of the kids lunches regardless if it's a preschool day for Charlie. I tend to be really good with leftovers and can generally whip up whatever for meals...but that is not the case with the kids lunches. I need to have a plan, meal ideas, ingredients IN the fridge. These lunches are made BEFORE I have coffee, mostly WHILE it's brewing. Creativity is not happening at that point. SO, I stock my fridge, bookmark ideas, and stick to the PLAN!

Scorpion Warrior

11:20 PM by Almen, Almond, or Almendra

My muscles have been showing. They are still there, hidden all these years. They've been used as baby carriers, box lifters, and toilet scrubbers. Last Saturday, my muscles were tested good. I had to use them to climb over shipping crates, a 5 foot wall, an 8 foot rope wall, and even to crawl through a mud tunnel. There were 20 obstacles in all. Oh yeah, and that was after running a couple of miles.... I'm glad I did this. It makes me want to do more. Train harder, go faster, and see myself do better. And just maybe...next time... there doesn't have to be so much mud....