Computer Programming course

We searched for a computer course for our son to go through last school year.  All I could find were books that were written for adults who already knew about computer programming. This year we are going to try TeenCoder.  I think my 13 year old will really enjoy this. He may even fly through the first semester that is about Windows Programming just so he can get to the semester about Game Programming.  Once we have been through this course I'll do a second blog on how this program went for him.  I am so glad that he doesn't need prior programming experience and I don't have to know much about computers to help him. His computer knowledge has already surpassed my knowledge anyway. =)

I am copying and pasting this description from their web site:

The TeenCoder Series of C# courses is aimed at older students looking for a more in-depth study of computer programming. These courses can be used for high school computer elective credit, enhancing transcripts, and preparing a college-bound student for a technical degree.

Topics covered in Windows Programming:

• Introduction to the C# programming language
• Creating Windows Forms
• Using dialog controls
• C# data types and variables
• User input and flow control
• Math functions and string operations
• C# debugging and exception handling
• Object-oriented programming concepts
• Classes, inheritance, and polymorphism
• Collections, sorting, and recursion
• File Input/Output

Topics covered in Game Programming:

• Introduction to the XNA Game Studio
• Game design, game engines, and timer loops
• Screen coordinates and color concepts
• Drawing, scaling, and rotating images
• Handling keyboard, mouse, and XBox 360 Gamepad controller inputs
• Creating Sprite objects
• Collision detection
• 2D animation techniques
• Playing music and sound effects
• Game physics
• Maze generation and solution algorithms
• Menus, overlays, and deployment models
• Multi-player scrolling games
• Game artificial intelligence (AI)

Looks like a TeenCoder Year Pack will cost about 155. + shipping and handling.  I'm hoping to win it though!!

There is also a pack for elementary age kids called KidCoder.

Piece of Cake

   I think it's possible that I am getting slower with my jogs, not faster.  This heat is wearing me down and honestly it's really not that bad.  When we got home from the jog this morning it was 86 and the heat index was 90.  I guess the heat is just very draining.  Not to mention that fact that it's just depressing since it's day after day of 100+ degree weather.  I'm really looking forward to Winter.  Yes, I skipped Fall, South Texas skips Fall weather.  Winter is Fall. =)  But I digress.  See?  This weather is soooo distracting!
   I will be moving on to week two of C25k on Wednesday.  Alexander is doing very well and Celeste, um. Not sure what to say about her.  I'd say she has given up but she never really gave her best to begin with.  I'm thinking grounding her from the phone might help to get her rear in gear.
   What got me through today's jog?  A phrase.  This is a piece of cake. I do have not cake to eat but I just kept telling myself, "Piece of cake, you can do this."

Distance 1.8

Pace 16:52

Time 30:21

Still on Week One

Alexander is doing well with the jog.  I really thing he is ready to move to week two.  I'll do that Friday.  Celeste.  I don't know what to say? Push her? Make her jog?  It is good for her.  She needs this kind of activity.  But, she is just soooooo STUBBORN!  Wonder where she gets that from?  (Don't tell anyone but, it's true, she got it from me.)  I'll keep at it.  As for myself and today's jog. I did okay.  This heat is a killer and I'm pretty sure it's slowin' me down.  My shin did not hurt today and I didn't wrap it up so that is a good thing!  Just need this heat to go away.  Think I'll move to the North Pole. :-/

10 Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. In 5th grade I put a tack in a substitute teachers chair. 
2.  I like the movie "Dogma ".  My favorite part was "God" hanging upside down from the tree branch. Least favorite was the cursing. I hate that one word in particular was used over and over.
3.   I enjoy watching ghost shows like Ghost Hunters. I would love to go to a haunted location some day. Brian hates that I enjoy these shows. 
4.   I really REALLY want to go storm chasing some day.  I like thunder storms and it would be cool to see a tornado. But only one that's in an empty field.
5. I like Pop Tarts! Sometimes I eat them for breakfast and sometimes for a snack. Favorites are cherry, wild grape, and cookies n cream.
6.  Sr. Year in high school I took a bunch of unknown pills to kill myself. I remember not fitting in with any group, and feeling majorly stressed out about a research paper that was due. To this day I feel stress when either child has some kind of research paper to do. 
7.  At the age of  6 or 7 I hit my older (by 2 years) cousin in the back with a brick. 
8.  At the age of 11 I put a second piercing in both my ears. I also pierced my younger cousins ears. Without permission. 
9.   I do my best to constantly show that I am a disciple for God. I do fail sometimes. 
10.   My favorite childhood memories are of picnicking, hiking, and camping in Colorado.

Still Jogging With The Kids

Joy!!!!!!!!!!! Yes. Total sarcasm.  Shhhh. Don't tell them I said that!  Celeste is REALLY trying my patience.  Every day we jog it's something new, "My head hurts." "My leg hurts."  "I'm too tired." Ahhhhhhh!  And then sweet Alexander. (Yea, I'm thinking of switching to their middle names.)  The first week he didn't quite make it but today he made it!  He jogged all 8 segments.  Now if I can just get Celeste to join in....joyfully.  I'm not holding my breath.  I didn't blog about our jog Friday cause I was just to pissed that I had go through this journey with my kids.  Today I felt a little better.  But still unhappy at the heat.  Go away Summer!!!!!!!!!  I guess I'm done whining. We'll stick with week one of the C25k for this week as well.  I'll move them on to week two next week.  Pray for Celeste to get her rear in gear! Thanks. ;-)

Another Do Over

Yep. That's what I said. Starting over again. Not because I need to but because my kids really need to get out and exercise.  They sit at their computers or sit and read or sit and talk on the phone. Really need to get them out and doing things. It's too hot in Texas to kick them out the door and force them to play, and we have no money to go do fun activities inside cool buildings. So they get to run with Mom.  All three of us are not excited about this.  Today we started with day one, week one of C25k.  Gabe didn't even make it through the last segment of jogging before he just left and went straight home. Both need help with form but who wants to listen to Mommy?!  This could be a frustrating 9 weeks. :-/ Not to mention hot.  The heat index when we got home was 92. I'm trying to get them excited about doing a 5k in October.  Hopefully once we've seen the web site for the run and actually sign up, they will straighten up.....your probably right, doubtful.  But on we go.

Total Distance 1.9 miles

Average Pace 15:41

Total Workout Time 29:51

Fastest Pace 10:05

Just in case....

your interested.  I started two other blogs and just put the links on the right over there.  One is about my journey through the book 31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae.  And the other is my thoughts while reading The One Year Love Language Minute Devo. by Gary Chapman.  Just so ya know. =)  Nothing mind boggling or life changing. But it's there. And my kitchen is looking great!! =D

Day Four

I got out again this morning a jogged. Today was day one of week 2 of C25k.  I did ok. Would love to feel stronger and just jog.  It's so hot, 80 degrees at 7:30 in the morning.  It wouldn't be so bad if more of my jog was in the shade.  I did make it though.  The faster jogging time was increased this go round. 90 seconds of fast jogging (6 segments) and 2 minutes of my "granny jog'. ;-)  I also had my lower leg wrapped but that didn't really bother me to day. Yay!!

Total Distance was 1.8 miles

Average Pace was 16:44

Total Workout Time was 30:10

Fastest Pace was 10:12

Day Three

Today I finished day 3 of the first week of C25k.  I did well. Not as comfortable as I want to be.  I'm wondering if I should move on to week 2 or do more of week 1 in order to get stronger.  I'm thinking that if it wasn't so hot out there I would be able to run stronger and not feel so worn out near the end of the jog.  Anyone have thoughts on this?

I did have my lower leg wrapped.  I know I had shin pain but it wasn't as bad as it would have been if I hadn't wrapped it.  I hate that I am having this pain.  My next jog will be on Monday.  Monday's are usually when I am my strongest. =)

Total Distance was 1.76 miles

Average Pace was 16:25

Total Workout time was 28:58

Fastest Pace  11:06

Day Two

  Yesterday I did a Leslie DVD.  5k with a twist!  Made the whole 5k.  Good workout and I loved being in the air conditioning. =)  Today I made my goal of jogging and sprinting.  I did all 8 segments.  The only thing I did different today was I walked the 5 min. warm up and the 5 minute cool down.  I went a shorter distance but I was happy to have made it.  I did start out slow and sore.  My legs were heavy and tired and really didn't want to go. Then by the last sprint I was ready to quit.  I was really happy to hear that it was time to cool down. The bad news is that I had some pretty bad pain in my shin afterwards.  I iced it but it still hurts. Going to have to wrap it for the day and make sure I wrap it during the jogs. Even though I don't like that, it makes me hotter, and I just don't want to.  Not liking this aging body. Gotta fight back!!

Total distance was 1.68 miles

Average pace was 16:53

Total workout time was 28.20

Fastest 11:34  Slow Pace 14 to 16 min/mi

Day One

Today I began my Couch to 5k do over.  Week 1 Day 1 has a 5 minute warm up walk and a 5 minute cool down walk.  My warm up walk started before I started my workout time and I used the 5 minute warm up portion of the walk to do my granny jog. ;-P   I alternated 60 seconds of a granny jog (approx. a 16 to 18 min. mile pace) and 90 seconds of  an 11 min.mile pace jog for 20 minutes. I did very well in the beginning and after the one mile mark I was sure that I was about done.  But when I had 3 more jog segments to do I petered out.  I walked one of the jog segments and granny jogged the last two jog segments.  Didn't do as well as I had hoped but, I did pretty good all in all.  Tomorrow is a Leslie DVD day and I'll do the next C25K jog on Wednesday. =)

The total distance was 1.9 miles

 Average pace was 16:33 

Total workout time was 31:07

History

 I started my get fit journey 10 years ago after my daughter was born.  I bought an eliptical and worked out on it 5 days a week for 30 minutes.  I watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the TV show, while I worked out. Then I saw an infomercial about Pilates, ordered a DVD set and got into Pilates work outs.  I got down to 140 lbs back then.  I felt good and was happy with my weight  Then Brian got layed off and I gained about 10 lbs a year after that. Even while continuing to work out I slowly gained weight.  After settling in Cedar Park TX back in 2005 I started walking with Leslie Sansone.  Loved these walks and over the last 4 years I have collected a bunch of her work outs.  In 6 months I lost 5 lbs. and then gained 15 lbs. over the next 6 months. =(  Failed again.  So now!!  Now I am jogging.  I began the jogging journey (about a year ago) when a few friends had posted about their journeys using the Couch to 5K program.  So I did it!! =)  It took me longer than the 9 weeks to complete because of a foot injury but, I made it.  I did what I call a granny jog. LOL.  I still do that granny jog too. =)  I am happy to say I have lost 5 lbs. by continuing my jogging and I still do Leslie walk's once or twice a week.

Now, I want to try a race. A 5K race.  I'm shooting to do one in October.  It'll be easier to jog when the temps aren't in the 80's anymore.  However in Texas there is no guarantee that it will be cooler than 80 in October.  That's the goal and here is where I am at.  This morning I started the Couch to 5k all over.  The goal being, to stop this granny jog. =D

Change!

Had to make a change. Wasn't liking my blog title.  The link and my verse will stay the same but I think this title is a little more positive. =)

Moving Forward

   Back in January I was gung ho to read all these books to become a better wife. FAIL! The reading lasted all of two weeks. Maybe. I guess I tried to read to many books at once. So lets pretend it's January and start over. I will continue with my daily Bible reading. However I don't really read it daily and I will not have read through it in a year. Currently I have read 39.5% of the Bible via the Historical reading plan on You Version for android.  My favorite part of this reading plan is that Bubba sits outside in the back with me while we read. We are both doing are second read through the Bible. I wish Mini Me would come out to read with us. She prefers the recliner and the dog while she reads. Though I wonder if she truly reads. I feel I am failing at installing the love for God into her little heart. But I still have a few years to get her hooked.

   I have narrowed my 'becoming a better wife' books down. I'm going to put two on the side till later. Creative Counterpart and The Power of a Praying Wife (with workbook) will be shelved. I'm going to concentrate on reading, learning, and growing from The One Year Love Language Minute Devotional.

 

   A book that I keep seeing in my Twitter feed is 31 Days To Clean. 

 I kept seeing Tweeters post about how great this was working for them and I was curious. I really need to get a handle on my lack of keeping a clean house. Years ago when I had one toddler I did the Fly Lady thing.  I really got my house in shape back then!  But 10 years and 3 different homes later I am back to failing.  What is really crazy is that in this rent house that we are in now I just don't have the 'want' to get things clean. I guess my mind is thinking, "This isn't MY house".  Or, I'm just to depressed about where we are in life to care.  Either way I need to get over this hump. Six year hump.  So here we go!

   Oh yea, and I want to really get in to jogging.  I'm thinking I may redo the Couch to 5K and then do a 5K race.  I've been looking a the races in the area, I just need to narrow it down and actually sign up!! =)

   Now I shall hop to it and begin with the devotional because who wants to clean on a Sunday afternoon!! =)

Hebrews 6:3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.