Lately

Lots of praying and discerning went on around here last week and we are exhausted.  Gabe got an offer for a post doc position at a quite prestigious lab in London, England.  We prayed and discussed it for hours amongst ourselves and with family and friends.  In the end we decided that it wasn't going to work out primarily for financial reasons.  It is very expensive to live in London and with the income Gabe would have been making would have been very tight if not impossible to live on with such a large family.  We had even gone so far as to purchase Gabe an airline ticket to have a formal interview and check out the area.  We are happy that we explored all our options and know that it was not God's plan for us to go there, although it was fun and exciting to dream while it lasted. 

"When God closes a door somewhere he opens a window....."

Monday I started up a Whole 30 "diet".  I don't like to call it a diet because it is more all about just healthy eating.  It is basically a stricter version of Paleo.  All I am able to eat are vegetables, meat, eggs, fruit and nuts for the next 30 days and then I plan to switch over to Paleo.  Here I am on day 3 and it is definitely easier than the first day.  But I did imagine I smelled peanut butter cookies while I was making the guest bed today.  And the ice cream has been staring at me from the freezer!  Ahh.  It is tough but I'm going to be strong and stick with it!  I'll be updating frequently with how it's going so you all can keep me accountable.   

Along with the Whole 30 I started this 30 day shred workout DVD.  I figured that this would go well with the "diet" because it's the same length.  I am so sore but that's a good thing right?  

Our dinner Monday.  Nothing to do with the next paragraph but a pretty pic eh?  Unless you are grossed out by dead fish...

So we are back to job hunting again.  Gabe has been applying to lots of jobs every morning before going in to teach at the lab.  We are just praying hard that something will come up before the end of August.  Will you keep praying for us too?  Thank you!

Connor found the perfect seat

I've been trying to keep things running normally around here although it is so difficult not knowing what's going to happen next.  We are trying to stick to somewhat of a routine.  I workout in the mornings before breakfast and then after breakfast we do some math & phonics.  After that it's usually lunch time and after lunch are naps for the littles and the three big boys have been going out in the backyard and playing in the sprinkler.  Then more play until dinnertime.  Repeat repeat.  Sometimes I try and fit in a trip to the library, a play date, or a visit to the museum but other than that we are just keeping on keeping on.

It's almost August and I've started thinking about school for next year.  I think I'm pretty set with trying Catholic Heritage Curriculum this year.  Last year we were enrolled in Seton and it was a bit much for the boys at their ages.  I don't want to do anything too crazy this year and with a new baby and a possible move looming in our future I figure this is the best way to go.  CHC is having a $5 flat shipping rate promotion starting on the 30th so I'm waiting until then to order our materials.  

Did I mention that I had to get a crown on one of my teeth?  That's right, sadly I did.  A night or two before my Mom left Gabe and I went out to dinner.  It was a bit stressful because we were discussing the fact that Gabe didn't have a job, and where are we going to go from here, and what are we going to do about a car because we've outgrown our 7 sitter van.  FYI, Gabe has been sitting on a stepstool in the middle while I drive.  Anyway, while eating our appetizers I bit down on something hard and discovered that 1/4 of one of my molars had broken off!  And this was on the same side where I had a baby molar extracted about a year ago and still haven't been able to get an implant.  So anyhow, we went ahead and sent up a dentist appointment and $1100 later, I have a crown.  How's that for an added financial stress?  On the positive side, I didn't have to have a root canal...right?

OK, well I gotta go read the children some bed time stories.  I feel like this was seven quick takes or something only it's not Friday.  I'll be back tomorrow and linking up with Like Mother Like Daughter for my first pretty, happy, funny, real.