Where are the Metcalfs?

Oh, the twists and turns of life.  A lot has occurred since I last posted.  Tyler graduated with his MBA from Babson, and we stuck around Massachusetts for a while looking for employment.  After a few months we decided to move back to Utah so we could stay with family while figuring out what to do next.  It was a complicated move, because we had to pack our stuff up to fit a trailer, but keep our necessities separate for the undetermined amount of time we would be living with my parents.  Motivated by false hope, I only packed our summer clothes, and in the end I had to dig through the trailer for our snow gear.

Tyler's parents were kind enough to house our trailer and devote a room in their house for extra belongings, while my parents moved stuff around so that we could take over two bedrooms and a bathroom of their house.  Well, lets face it, the toys and dirty laundry took over the ENTIRE house.  Yes, we inconvenienced many people for many months.  It took longer than I had hoped, even though I'm aware people go years unemployed.  It's frightening with three young kids.  After almost three months, Tyler did find something that is pretty much perfect.  He went to school to specialize in management and entrepreneurship, and that is exactly what he is doing in this new job.  I'm so proud of him and happy that his knowledge and skill set is being used and expanded.

As for my own employment, that remains a sore point of mine.  Through all of this, obviously it would have been useful to have supplemental income.  I am lucky enough to have a degree that is often used from the home.  In fact, I did briefly have a content writing job before we left Mass, and I interviewed for one here in Utah.  I could have either of those jobs now, but I'm kind of a wimp and declined them.  I am a person of little energy, to be honest.  I know many moms who work full or part time, from the home or outside of it, and raise their kids simultaneously.  I know this must help to balance their identity, giving them multiple roles to fill and perfect.  How is it done, though?  I battle guilt every time I take time from the kids, except when I exercise.  Then again, I harbor guilt over being "just" a stay at home mom.  (Personally I have not found guilt to be a very helpful or useful emotion.  I'd really like to know how to dispose of it altogether.)

Tyler's new job is very flexible, as he mostly works from home, and so we could fit my working hours into the day much easier now, rather than me fighting exhaustion in the late evenings or weekends.  So, I may bring in a paycheck after all.  Lets pray I do it gracefully, not grouchily.

Anyway, lets talk about where we live.  I used to say that Salt Lake City is the only place I would want to live in Utah.  I love the downtown feel, safe yet urban.  Mormon missionaries never bothered me in my college aprartments, and I could go anywhere on foot, bike, or Trax.  But, there's the harmful inversion during the winter months.  Plus, we can't actually afford my preferred neighborhoods in Salt Lake.  When Tyler was offered a job by someone in Heber, even though he can work remotely for now, we decided to move out there anyway for healthier winter air and inexpensive living.

I really love it so far.  I can *almost* run the perimeter of the town, keeping civilization to my left and gorgeous farmland and mountains to my right.  Everything is ridiculously close, except our family, whom we now have to drive 1.5 to 2 hours to see.  Better than a 5 hour flight, right?

Lincoln is now enrolled in a preschool 5 mornings a week, so that he is prepared for Kindergarten next year.  The twins talk about wanting a blue and purple backpack for their school, too.  I think next fall we will enroll them.  

I haven't met any new Heber friends.  The snow keeps everyone tucked inside, so trips to the park and walks around the neighborhood haven't yielded any interactions with the natives.  For me, that's fine.  I'm taking my time building my own identity in this new town, exploring it with my running shoes.  The kids have had enough novelty to keep them from boredom, so far.  And, my heart is still full with my Massachusetts mommy friends.  We Skype sometimes, but you can tell the kids just want to jump through the screen and actually play with each other.  

That's pretty much catching us up.  I'll do another post with specifics on our time in limbo.  We had some pretty great experiences, and I took plenty of photos. 

Whole 30: Final Thoughts

My Whole 30 Challenge is not officially over yet, but technically I'm not sticking to it anymore, so I thought I would write my wrap-up post.  I ate strictly according to the plan the first two weeks: no dairy, sugar, legumes, grains or alcohol.    I ate three big meals a day of protein and vegetables with few snacks, but lots of water and tea.  A few treats krept in here and there after that.  Looking back at my intentions, here's where I stand after the experience:

1.  Menu planning.  I definitely upped my game in this department.  However, the second week was overkill.  I realized crockpot roasts would be an easy way to cook a lot of meat for several meals, and so I collected a few highly recommended recipes.  Overestimating the amount of meat I'd need in a week's time, I bought two whole chickens and a pork butt all in one day!  Ugh! It was a stressful amount of planning and cooking to get it all consumed before going bad.  In the end, my "easy way out" was harder on myself than I imagined.  As it stands right now, I have a few recipes that I want to keep from this experience, and each week or so I'll try a new one, while keeping some stock favorites.  That sounds more practical and sustainable to me.

2.  Cooking.  Wow, what an improvement!  I actually look forward to chopping my produce and creating palatable masterpieces.   I think the kids have adjusted their expectations of the amount of time it takes in the kitchen to create a meal, too. 

3. Relationship with food:   I appreciate what this challenge was meant to do: help me focus on the most nutrient-dense foods that my body can digest, without distractions of treats, even healthy ones.  I became aware of new flavors and textures that I actually love, because I was looking for joy in real food.  The kids saw me enjoying a wide variety of vegetables, and wanted to try them, especially the twins.  Lincoln is much more stuck in his ways, which is why I feel the need to imprint good eating habits now.  The older they get, the less willing they'll be to experiment.  

4.  Weight:  I am pretty sure this didn't change.  I don't have a scale so I don't know my ending weight, but I don't feel much different.  I did lose about an inch in the waist and hips, though.  My jeans still don't feel comfortable, but hey, I'm 27, it might be time for some new jeans.

Whole 30: Day 24, 25

I forgot to post yesterday.  Here's a combination summary of the last two days:

Breakfasts:  Salad.  Loved it again.  I have gotten used to giving myself extra of the things that the twins love to eat, because they crowd my plate and "please" for more.

Lunch: Salmon and celery.  I ran out of greens and frankly didn't even want to eat them again, anyway.

Dinner: Yesterday was scrambled eggs and celery and carrots, and today was something new.  I was excited to make a dairy-free mac and cheese recipe that my sister-in-law sent me for Lincoln.  He loves mac and cheese and it just breaks his heart not to have it.  It's just that home made does not even come close to the experience of boxed; of course, most people prefer the former, but not a 4 year old who can practically inhale Kraft.  This recipe is all done on the stove, which I thought would make it closer to what he is used to.  It made a ton, and without even thinking, I put some on my plate too because I was curious and excited.  I haven't had wheat noodles for what... 25 days now.  Oh well, I don't mind, the bigger bummer is that Lincoln wasn't impressed.  He did pick at it, though, so that is encouraging.  I didn't add enough salt and almond milk, I think.  I do still have hope.  I think maybe some turmeric too for coloring.  Tyler ate it out of support and the babies dumped it on their heads.  You can't please 'em all!  And yet... you can't stop trying either.  

Snack: Chia seed pudding with honey and cacao nibs.

Thoughts:  Having made a conscious practice of listening to my body and how it feels after eating certain foods, and what it wants to eat, I am curious about the female hormone cycle.  It would appear that chocolate is really good for the soul sometimes.  I have willingly and lovingly complied with the desire to eat sweets this week, felt no guilt, made sure it was still stuff I can easily digest, and continued onto the next meal of glorious veggies, fish, etc.  I feel like I'm feeding myself how I would my best friend or my mom: the best stuff, at the best time, to create my best self!  

Whole 30: Day 23

Breakfast:  The last of the coconut chicken and some more swiss chard, plus avocado and balsamic vinegar.  Those last two make a dynamite combination.  I first learned that from a sandwich shop in Salt Lake City.

Snack: Cherry Larabar.

Lunch:  A gross failure!  I tried wrapping prosciutto and cherry tomatoes (uncut) and carrot sticks in a noi wrap.  The moral of the story is that nori wraps need to be pretty solid inside, just like sushi.  Too much space between the ingredients inside means you notice the crunchy frailty of the nori, which I didn't like.

What I did like, was playing in the afternoon sun with these two:









Dinner: Spinach chicken sausage, cherry tomatoes, and mangoes.

The kids had the same thing plus apple sauce.  They also had waffles for a snack after bath.  This afternoon, Lincoln wanted waffles.  He has asked a couple times lately, so I found a recipe and we answered his craving.

All I had was plain white flour, and while the smell was delightful, I didn't want to eat any.  However, I do have some flourless peanut butter brownies in the oven right now!  It's that week.

Thoughts:  Lincoln has complained four times of a tummy ache since we added cheese back into his diet a week ago.  Considering the fact that he hates to mention pain at any level, I have a feeling that it's been worse than he lets on.  That might partly explain his sour mood.  Argh.  Dairy free is a pretty intense commitment.  I was hoping we wouldn't have to go there with our kids.  Not sure of what we're going to do yet.  

Whole 30: Day 22

Breakfast:  Another salad.  Leftover brussel sprouts and coconut chicken.  This is the first time I have bought swiss chard.  I like it so much better than lettuce!

Lunch: Cream of broccoli soup.  This is a recipe my mom sent me.  It has carrots, celery, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and the "creamy" texture comes from cashews blended into vegetable stock (but I used chicken stock).  I break up sweet potato chips into it.  Everyone loves it but Lincoln, who would not even try it.   

 

We also had pickles, plums, and a chocolate chia seed cookie.  Ami and the kiddos were over for a play date.  We put them in boxes and left them to fend for themselves.

  

Just kidding.  Lincoln was a pretty grumpy pill, though, and to be honest I did take him straight up to his room when they left, and shut the door.  To my surprise and relief, ten minutes later he came out with a more neutralized demeanor.  That kid really drains me sometimes.

Dinner:  Another salad.  Pretty much the same thing as my breakfast, but I was all out of brussel sprouts.  Sigh.  

Thoughts: Is spring really here yet?  Yesterday it sure felt like it!  We saw the sun, felt the warmth, and ushered the munchkins outside to play with our like-minded neighbors.  I hadn't seen some of them for months.

Ezra rode a balance bike for the first time.  I was amazed at how quickly he got the hang of it!  

Just look at them!  They are really kids now.  Not babies.  It gets easier and harder, which I guess is the way it always will be.  Within change, there is consistency.

White or Black?

Whole 30: Day 20

Breakfast: Coconut chicken over a big bed of lettuce, with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and balsamic vinegar.  I woke up this morning really wanting brussel sprouts, but there wasn't time, so I chose a salad.  I've seen my mom eat salad for breakfast and thought it'd be hard to face a bunch of lettuce so early in the day.  But wow, this morning it hit the spot!  Great start to my birthday!

Lunch: Today I was out with my friend Ami.  We looked at the food court in the Natick Collection (a fancy mall) and I wasn't feeling it.  So we stopped by this cool place called Wasabi, where plates of sushi rolls on conveyer belts pass right by your table.  Grab anything!  So we did!  We each had a roll, then shared another one.  I ate all my wasabi.  And hers.  Mmmmm!  I love that spicy rush!  Obviously, rice is a grain and therefore not Whole 30 compliant.  I'm technically not following the challenge exactly now, even though I'm thrilled with it.  I've really learned a lot about how my body reacts to things, and how much I love vegetables!  I'll still blog for the 30 days, though, and do a final recap of my experience.

Dinner: Oh my word, this was good: roasted brussel sprouts (waited all day for these!) wrapped in prosciutto.  Wow.  I was oohing and aahing the whole time I ate these.  Tyler had a few, but the kids just ate leftover spaghetti and meatballs.  I guess this was just too awesome for the likes of them!

Dessert:  Lincoln insisted that I have birthday cake (you know, so he could have a piece, of course) so I did.  Chocolate but dairy free.  

Thoughts: Today I am 27!  Some people might say that on their special day, they just want to relax at home with their family.  Considering that's what my lucky pants gets to do all the time, I really wanted to be OUT!  Luckily my dear Ami thought to suggest touring the Orchard House, which is where Louisa May Alcott based her book Little Women.  When Liz visited us two Octobers ago, we drove by the house but weren't able to go inside, as we had three sleeping children in the van.  I'm so glad I finally got to experience the treasures inside this place!  The tour lasted 2 hours and was delightful.  Original quilts, paintings, drawings on the wall, trap door to the well underneath the kitchen floor... too many little details to relate here, but I highly recommend visiting this place if possible.  After you come by my place and pick me up, of course, because I'll willingly tour it again!

Then we ate lunch at Wasabi, like I said, and then on to dress shopping!  I tried on a few, but still no luck.  It's probably picky of me to want something fabulous for a tiny price.  Ha!  There are some stylish consignment stores around here that I will continue to check.  That's where yesterday's gray one is from.