Saturday, August 12, 2017
Finally Got To Pay it Forward!
Today I was flying solo at the grocery store. I know! I was living the dream, right? As I was waiting in the checkout lane, I heard LOUD crying the next aisle over. Well actually, I think most people heard it. When it was my turn, I was able to look over and see a mom, struggling to hold her crying baby with one hand, keep an eye on other her little child, and pack away groceries. I almost started to cry! I'm not even kidding a little bit!
Seeing her struggle, took me back to when I was in that very position. I think it was even the same lane! Syd wanted to ride in the truck cart and I could barely steer it two handed and about half through my list, baby Nathan started to cry and cry! I held him and tried not to crash into everything as I went. I was sweating like crazy and blushing! Nathan was just as beet red from crying. When I got to the check out I could barely reach my groceries. Everything was just too much! Tears slowly started rolling down my face as I flung stuff on the belt. The cashier saw me and right away jump in to help. She got someone to unload my cart and bag for me and assured me that it was okay and that it happens to the best of us. She was a mom too and knew exactly how I felt.
I quickly paid for my groceries and then stood there for a second, feeling very nervous and awkward, but I decided to get over it and put myself out there. I came up and asked if I could help bag her groceries since I have been her in same shoes. She gladly excepted my help, as her poor baby continued to let her know that he was not feeling well. I got a bunch of her stuff loaded in bags and she and the flustered check out girl who was also trying to help and do her job thanked me. It really was no big deal and very little time and effort on my part, but it made her nightmare a little less traumatic.
It was a good reminder of all those struggles that I went through. They can become positives! I was able to feel her pain so much that I had to fight back tears and I had such a strong urge to jump in and help and encourage that I tossed my timid ways aside.
And maybe one day, when her kids are older, that woman will spot another mom struggling in that aisle and have that uncontrollable urge to do her part and help out. The chain of mom support will continue.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
For the love of Vacation packing: My tips
I love LOVE packing for trips! I get excited to make lists and organize! There is some sort of McHale super packing gene that starts taking over a couple of weeks before the trip and it makes sure I have as much packed as I can as soon as possible!
About a month before:
* I start thinking about my list (we are creatures of habit so we travel to the same beach. This means that the list is permanently tattooed on my brain)
* Pay attention to those BOGO and 2 for $whatever deals on cereals, travel friendly snacks, and dry goods and set the extra aside in a special location in my pantry (our dinner is ALWAYS spaghetti because it's quick and easy)
* Check the status of our back up bathing suits (we always take 2 each because putting on a damp bathing suit is the worst! we alternate) then pack the back ups
About two weeks before:
* Check out the sunblock shampoo/soap situation and stock up
* Buy our new tooth brushes and throw them in the suitcase ( I time it so our current toothbrushes are ready to be tossed the morning we leave)
* Pick a color scheme for each kid and then as I do laundry start packing away some their clothes (I do a color scheme because they have TONS of shirts so they get packed first and then totally forgotten about. When it's time to pack shorts I can avoid fashion nightmares without having to go back and look through the shirts each time I pick a pair a shorts to pack)
* We don't really meal plan or freeze casseroles, but we do bring down the basics like oatmeal or pancake mix or my beloved quinao. I start pouring out however much we probably need (labeled with servings or directions) and add it to the pantry stash
* Buy cheese sticks and yogurt squeeze tubes and then raid the 4th of July parade candy for road trip snacks (it's called balance, people!)
* Closer to the end of this week, I start putting my clean laundry into the suitcase (as usual momma does not have nearly as many clothes)
About a week before:
* Pack up a bag with car snacks (non refrigerated kind) baby wipes, new stickers/paper/crayons, hand sanitizers, and gum
* Shop for fruit/veggie sales for trip food and the week
* Pack the rest of the clothes ( we only pack 4 outfits because we do laundry mid week) and look terrible in leftover wardrobe
* Gather make up and medicine in a travel bag, but keep out on the counter so you can still reach them if needed
* Give each kid a backpack to fill with must reach toys for trip
* Set aside a few kids cups/plates if needed and water bottles
A day or two before:
* Lay out clothes for the morning we leave
* Stock up on ice
* Put all the refrigerated things coming with you on a shelf next to each other so you don't have to think in the morning
* Put one set of suits/towels and sunblock in a pool bag (don't bury it when you pack the car! make it easy to reach for when you get there before your place is ready! the kids can swim while you wait!)
* A truly nuts vacation packer *raises hands* starts gathering everything by the door so nothing is forgotten
* Coolers cleaned out and put near the fridge
Night before:
* Charge up kindles and electronics in the evening so they can be put in purses or bags by the door and chargers packed
* Load up the car with AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! even the suitcase because you don't need to wait to pack up toothbrushes and you have the small travel bag of make up/meds for any last minute things
* Set up coffee maker
* Bag up breakfast and pour milk in cups with lids (or get your kids some Snackeez cups! Love them!)
Morning of:
* Wake up and toss every one's pillows by the door and grab the little travel bag
* Gather fans if you are one of THOSE people who need it to sleep
* Grab cell phones and chargers (if you don't have a spare packed already)
* Load up the cold stuff and gather the kids
* Get in the car and eat some candy because you did it!!
This is not a 100% complete guide. Don't just rely on this and blame me if you are missing things. Our extended family divides and conquers so they handle certain things so I never have to think about them! Plus I'm writing this while that super gene is still in control and it's trying convince me to get up and pack something even if I don't need too!
P.S. These days are done for me but if you are traveling with a baby, skip the blow up kiddie pool. Pack all of your food in a medium size (low sided) storage bin. Then once the food is put away in your kitchen, use it on the beach. Clear bins make the perfect infinity pool ;)
About a month before:
* I start thinking about my list (we are creatures of habit so we travel to the same beach. This means that the list is permanently tattooed on my brain)
* Pay attention to those BOGO and 2 for $whatever deals on cereals, travel friendly snacks, and dry goods and set the extra aside in a special location in my pantry (our dinner is ALWAYS spaghetti because it's quick and easy)
* Check the status of our back up bathing suits (we always take 2 each because putting on a damp bathing suit is the worst! we alternate) then pack the back ups
About two weeks before:
* Check out the sunblock shampoo/soap situation and stock up
* Buy our new tooth brushes and throw them in the suitcase ( I time it so our current toothbrushes are ready to be tossed the morning we leave)
* Pick a color scheme for each kid and then as I do laundry start packing away some their clothes (I do a color scheme because they have TONS of shirts so they get packed first and then totally forgotten about. When it's time to pack shorts I can avoid fashion nightmares without having to go back and look through the shirts each time I pick a pair a shorts to pack)
* We don't really meal plan or freeze casseroles, but we do bring down the basics like oatmeal or pancake mix or my beloved quinao. I start pouring out however much we probably need (labeled with servings or directions) and add it to the pantry stash
* Buy cheese sticks and yogurt squeeze tubes and then raid the 4th of July parade candy for road trip snacks (it's called balance, people!)
* Closer to the end of this week, I start putting my clean laundry into the suitcase (as usual momma does not have nearly as many clothes)
About a week before:
* Pack up a bag with car snacks (non refrigerated kind) baby wipes, new stickers/paper/crayons, hand sanitizers, and gum
* Shop for fruit/veggie sales for trip food and the week
* Pack the rest of the clothes ( we only pack 4 outfits because we do laundry mid week) and look terrible in leftover wardrobe
* Gather make up and medicine in a travel bag, but keep out on the counter so you can still reach them if needed
* Give each kid a backpack to fill with must reach toys for trip
* Set aside a few kids cups/plates if needed and water bottles
A day or two before:
* Lay out clothes for the morning we leave
* Stock up on ice
* Put all the refrigerated things coming with you on a shelf next to each other so you don't have to think in the morning
* Put one set of suits/towels and sunblock in a pool bag (don't bury it when you pack the car! make it easy to reach for when you get there before your place is ready! the kids can swim while you wait!)
* A truly nuts vacation packer *raises hands* starts gathering everything by the door so nothing is forgotten
* Coolers cleaned out and put near the fridge
Night before:
* Charge up kindles and electronics in the evening so they can be put in purses or bags by the door and chargers packed
* Load up the car with AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! even the suitcase because you don't need to wait to pack up toothbrushes and you have the small travel bag of make up/meds for any last minute things
* Set up coffee maker
* Bag up breakfast and pour milk in cups with lids (or get your kids some Snackeez cups! Love them!)
Morning of:
* Wake up and toss every one's pillows by the door and grab the little travel bag
* Gather fans if you are one of THOSE people who need it to sleep
* Grab cell phones and chargers (if you don't have a spare packed already)
* Load up the cold stuff and gather the kids
* Get in the car and eat some candy because you did it!!
This is not a 100% complete guide. Don't just rely on this and blame me if you are missing things. Our extended family divides and conquers so they handle certain things so I never have to think about them! Plus I'm writing this while that super gene is still in control and it's trying convince me to get up and pack something even if I don't need too!
P.S. These days are done for me but if you are traveling with a baby, skip the blow up kiddie pool. Pack all of your food in a medium size (low sided) storage bin. Then once the food is put away in your kitchen, use it on the beach. Clear bins make the perfect infinity pool ;)
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Even The Keep It Real Mom Does The Social Media Highlight Reel Sometimes
Hello My Friends!
It's been way too long again... Transitioning into a "school age" mom has been interesting and not as inspiring. Whole lotta packing lunches and backpacks and driving kids around. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Just using that saying, just so you know, there was not a lot of wash, rinse, and repeat happening for my hair! Ain't nobody got time for that before school!!
While the school year may not be so blog worthy, I'm discovering that summer with kids who have become used to routine and constant learning/activities is blog worthy. The other day, I did a bad thing. I didn't really do it on purpose, but each post looked like we were having a fabulous, fun-filled day instead of a hot mess of a day that was making me lose my sh...... umm poop
How My Day looked on Social Media:
Super Fun mom makes cool cotton ball play dough
Easy Breezy trip to the bank
Peace at the playground
Having a Splashing good time in the pool
Reality:
A battle had begun even before the breakfast crumbs were spilled
WILL YOU GUYS STOP FIGHTING!
*makes play dough*
I WILL THROW IT OUT IF YOU DON'T START TALKING NICELY TO EACH OTHER
20 minutes of fun playing with it while Sydney gives me a guilt trip for being on my phone
I bake brownies for a picnic this weekend and Nathan performs surgery on a dolphin toy, spilling sand in the bathroom sink and counter
I give up on being productive and ask them what they want to do (after Nathan's LOOONNNGG time out)
Someone's hat craft gets pulled apart before we leave the parking lot to get to the bank
Nathan puts on the charm and secures lollipops at the bank drive thru
A few minutes of sanity at the park
Come home to pack lunch
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? IT'S TIME TO GO! BE NICE TO EACH OTHER! WHERE IS YOUR LUNCH BOX? I JUST TOLD YOU TO BRING IT!
Unlock the door so someone can get the lunchbox I handed to them 30 seconds before
Get to the pool
I'm going down the slide first! No, I am! No, I am! Stop! You're being mean!
BOTH OF YOU STOP! You need to be kind to each other and take turns or we will not swim
Please don't splash mommy until she gets used to water
Can mommy have a little space?
Nathan climbs into my inner tube looks like an overgrown ninja turtle loving leech sealed to my back
Okay, let's go. Mommy is done
I had actually woken up with great plans for myself. I was gonna be soooo productive! We've had playdates, swimdates, a trip to the zoo, a 3 day long blanket fort fest, and VBS this past week. Surely, today would be the perfect chill day. Nothing scheduled except for making cotton ball play dough because they were super excited about this cool new activity book they got. I figured that we would make it and I would get my Beachbody work done on the computer while they played. As you can see, that was not how things played out!
I don't think I was intentionally trying to deceive anyone and I think that most of us are in the same boat. Sometimes I post something funny about the situation because if you don't laugh, you'll cry or hide in the closet eating nasty cotton candy flavored ice cream the kids convinced you to buy for a treat ( I don't know what happened! Just so out of practice with shopping with two kids! I just.....) Other times the activity was so much freaking work that you want your efforts out there FOREVER! Don't we warn teens that once you post something on social media, it never goes away?? If I'm doing a pinterest craft, I want the people 100 years in the future to be impressed because that crap is too much everything.... prep,effort,clean up,blood, sweat, and tears! Or sometimes I post because I'm lonely or am desperate for some social interaction that is not poop related or some random, ridiculous question or the good old classic, Why? But Why? Well, how come? Why? How? Why don't you know?
I'm not saying that every day is really a night mare (that day at the zoo was AWESOME!) or that you can't share your great days (PLEASE POST AND GIVE ME IDEAS! Why did I think I was creative enough for Funday fridays????) I'm just trying to check myself and make sure I don't gloss over all the bad all the time (same goes for sharing all the bad all the time) I want to keep it real. We are in this summer struggle together!!!! Moms who are tired of hearing "I am bored!" unite!! If possible at a play date where the kids will entertain each other so we can chat or at a Mom's night out!
It's been way too long again... Transitioning into a "school age" mom has been interesting and not as inspiring. Whole lotta packing lunches and backpacks and driving kids around. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Just using that saying, just so you know, there was not a lot of wash, rinse, and repeat happening for my hair! Ain't nobody got time for that before school!!
While the school year may not be so blog worthy, I'm discovering that summer with kids who have become used to routine and constant learning/activities is blog worthy. The other day, I did a bad thing. I didn't really do it on purpose, but each post looked like we were having a fabulous, fun-filled day instead of a hot mess of a day that was making me lose my sh...... umm poop
How My Day looked on Social Media:
Super Fun mom makes cool cotton ball play dough
Easy Breezy trip to the bank
Peace at the playground
Having a Splashing good time in the pool
Reality:
A battle had begun even before the breakfast crumbs were spilled
WILL YOU GUYS STOP FIGHTING!
*makes play dough*
I WILL THROW IT OUT IF YOU DON'T START TALKING NICELY TO EACH OTHER
20 minutes of fun playing with it while Sydney gives me a guilt trip for being on my phone
I bake brownies for a picnic this weekend and Nathan performs surgery on a dolphin toy, spilling sand in the bathroom sink and counter
I give up on being productive and ask them what they want to do (after Nathan's LOOONNNGG time out)
Someone's hat craft gets pulled apart before we leave the parking lot to get to the bank
Nathan puts on the charm and secures lollipops at the bank drive thru
A few minutes of sanity at the park
Come home to pack lunch
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? IT'S TIME TO GO! BE NICE TO EACH OTHER! WHERE IS YOUR LUNCH BOX? I JUST TOLD YOU TO BRING IT!
Unlock the door so someone can get the lunchbox I handed to them 30 seconds before
Get to the pool
I'm going down the slide first! No, I am! No, I am! Stop! You're being mean!
BOTH OF YOU STOP! You need to be kind to each other and take turns or we will not swim
Please don't splash mommy until she gets used to water
Can mommy have a little space?
Nathan climbs into my inner tube looks like an overgrown ninja turtle loving leech sealed to my back
Okay, let's go. Mommy is done
 | |
| the worst part is that the kids did not even notice the crazy hair! | They are used to it |
I had actually woken up with great plans for myself. I was gonna be soooo productive! We've had playdates, swimdates, a trip to the zoo, a 3 day long blanket fort fest, and VBS this past week. Surely, today would be the perfect chill day. Nothing scheduled except for making cotton ball play dough because they were super excited about this cool new activity book they got. I figured that we would make it and I would get my Beachbody work done on the computer while they played. As you can see, that was not how things played out!
I don't think I was intentionally trying to deceive anyone and I think that most of us are in the same boat. Sometimes I post something funny about the situation because if you don't laugh, you'll cry or hide in the closet eating nasty cotton candy flavored ice cream the kids convinced you to buy for a treat ( I don't know what happened! Just so out of practice with shopping with two kids! I just.....) Other times the activity was so much freaking work that you want your efforts out there FOREVER! Don't we warn teens that once you post something on social media, it never goes away?? If I'm doing a pinterest craft, I want the people 100 years in the future to be impressed because that crap is too much everything.... prep,effort,clean up,blood, sweat, and tears! Or sometimes I post because I'm lonely or am desperate for some social interaction that is not poop related or some random, ridiculous question or the good old classic, Why? But Why? Well, how come? Why? How? Why don't you know?
I'm not saying that every day is really a night mare (that day at the zoo was AWESOME!) or that you can't share your great days (PLEASE POST AND GIVE ME IDEAS! Why did I think I was creative enough for Funday fridays????) I'm just trying to check myself and make sure I don't gloss over all the bad all the time (same goes for sharing all the bad all the time) I want to keep it real. We are in this summer struggle together!!!! Moms who are tired of hearing "I am bored!" unite!! If possible at a play date where the kids will entertain each other so we can chat or at a Mom's night out!
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
How to fake being a Morning Person
Yes, we get up at the crack of dawn, but that does NOT make us morning people! We might be up but we are not about to be productive! *shudders* We need time to oh so slowly wake up. We just want to sip our milk and coffee in peace. None of that doing things nonsense.
That was PERFECTLY fine until school. Now we have to be out of the house by 8:15 (blech) with all our stuff and our hair and teeth brushed. It feels like the world is coming to an end if we are rushed through our breakfast and the kids get a little cranky too;)
I've come up with a plan so we can be on time and not ruin my special moment with my oatmeal. I get as many things ready as possible the night before (and by night before, I really mean after I put my pjs back on at 4pm. Not really a fan of doing things after the kids bedtime either!) I pack Sydney's lunch and their snacks and then put backpacks next to the door. We pick out our clothes for the next day and lay them out. If I need to take something extra to school, I put it in my car. I set up the coffeemaker and put their milk in cups in fridge because those 30 second tasks feel like they take 3 days when I first wake up in the morning. Sometimes, I even put their muffins in bowls and stick them in the fridge too. The goal is to do as little as possible. We sit for a long breakfast and then get dressed and brush teeth about 20 minutes before we have to go ( gotta leave a few minutes to rest after all that work!) I highly recommend it for anyone who thinks morning is stupid and annoying!
*disclaimer: things can still happen to cause a last minute rush like socks not "feeling right" or someone decides the perfect time to go to the bathroom is 4.5 seconds before we have to leave
That was PERFECTLY fine until school. Now we have to be out of the house by 8:15 (blech) with all our stuff and our hair and teeth brushed. It feels like the world is coming to an end if we are rushed through our breakfast and the kids get a little cranky too;)
I've come up with a plan so we can be on time and not ruin my special moment with my oatmeal. I get as many things ready as possible the night before (and by night before, I really mean after I put my pjs back on at 4pm. Not really a fan of doing things after the kids bedtime either!) I pack Sydney's lunch and their snacks and then put backpacks next to the door. We pick out our clothes for the next day and lay them out. If I need to take something extra to school, I put it in my car. I set up the coffeemaker and put their milk in cups in fridge because those 30 second tasks feel like they take 3 days when I first wake up in the morning. Sometimes, I even put their muffins in bowls and stick them in the fridge too. The goal is to do as little as possible. We sit for a long breakfast and then get dressed and brush teeth about 20 minutes before we have to go ( gotta leave a few minutes to rest after all that work!) I highly recommend it for anyone who thinks morning is stupid and annoying!
*disclaimer: things can still happen to cause a last minute rush like socks not "feeling right" or someone decides the perfect time to go to the bathroom is 4.5 seconds before we have to leave
Friday, January 20, 2017
BYE FELICIA! Done with this whole week!
First of all, my apologies for the title. I know I'm too old and uncool to use popular lingo or whatever you would call it... oh geez! That's really bad. I should give up now and just start every sentence with "Back in my day..." Okay, back to the original topic. Too much fun this weekend and not enough sleep, a cold, and a whole bunch of little things have made me a sad, crazy mess. But no more! I gotta get myself out of this funk! I'm listing some positive things to get rid of the Doubting Debbie Downer bit I've been doing!
The biggest obstacle this week is all the regrets about my last blog post... I put myself out there and told everyone one I was going to be braver and get out of my comfort zone for Sydney and now *cringes* I have to DO IT! I know myself and knew that I would have "forgotten" all about it if I didn't tell people. I got rid of my emergency exit! You guys know! The Beachbody coach thing is particularly scary and my Debbie Downer alter ego has already decided that I'm going to fail. So the positive part of this??? It was suppose to be a list of positive things, right?? Well, Syd was scared to do things this past weekend and I said to her, "Why are you scared? What is the worst thing that could happen? And if that happens, then what? Will it be so bad? What can we do then?" Guess who needs the same talk?? This is an opportunity to have actions support my words.
The kids each had well checks this week (Getting Nathan's kindergarten registration all ready to go. AHHHH!) And yes, Nathan's appointment lead to questions of testicles, but both appointments went well. I have two very healthy kids and I need to be very thankful and not take that for granted. Bonus points for the doctors and nurses thinking they were so cute and sweet!!
FRIENDS! My friends are always a reason to stay positive. They're freakin' AWESOME! I can always count them to make bad days better with prayer, encouraging and/or funny texts, virtual hugs, perfect memes and gifs for every situation, play dates for our kids *wink, wink*, and letting me hold their precious little babies!!
We went to our friend's 4th birthday dinner. I say "our' friend and not the kids' friend because he is one of my little friends. I enjoy getting to know my friends' kids. I like to think of them as unofficial nieces and nephews. They are awesome, tiny humans who don't know any better and think that I am cool and funny. Plus the more time I spend with them, the more time I have to convert them into Wiggles Fans against their parents' wishes!! What!?! It's gonna be weird when my kids are too old for the concert and I wanna go!
This Wednesday was my Mom-Mom's first birthday in Heaven. It hit me harder than I thought it would. I miss her and I especially miss the times that we would go for walks together. It was like having my very own personal cheerleader. She always believed I was smarter, talented, etc than I actually am (except for funnier, judging by that very special look she had when I was being extra entertaining, I"m the one who thinks I'm funnier than I am!) I think... I hope... That I inherited some of those encouraging genes. I can carry on the tradition with my kids and *gulps* grand kids in the future. Another plus, I inherited her appreciation of Dairy Queen ice cream but not Michael Bolton!
This morning, when asked what we were thankful for before we prayed, my dear sweet Nathan said, "Food and Potties!" Food is always one of his answers but potties was new. First I did that sigh that moms of boys always do and then I asked him why. He said, "Because we have nice potties to go in when I have to poo." There was a real nice pop with the "p" sound when he said it too. He might have been trying to look for a way to include potty talk, but he is right! We take SO MANY things for granted! A nice... more than slightly messy.. house to keep us safe and warm with lovely toilets.
This was a lot of weird rambling! I'm sorry! Hopefully, I didn't totally waste your time if you made it to the end!
The biggest obstacle this week is all the regrets about my last blog post... I put myself out there and told everyone one I was going to be braver and get out of my comfort zone for Sydney and now *cringes* I have to DO IT! I know myself and knew that I would have "forgotten" all about it if I didn't tell people. I got rid of my emergency exit! You guys know! The Beachbody coach thing is particularly scary and my Debbie Downer alter ego has already decided that I'm going to fail. So the positive part of this??? It was suppose to be a list of positive things, right?? Well, Syd was scared to do things this past weekend and I said to her, "Why are you scared? What is the worst thing that could happen? And if that happens, then what? Will it be so bad? What can we do then?" Guess who needs the same talk?? This is an opportunity to have actions support my words.
The kids each had well checks this week (Getting Nathan's kindergarten registration all ready to go. AHHHH!) And yes, Nathan's appointment lead to questions of testicles, but both appointments went well. I have two very healthy kids and I need to be very thankful and not take that for granted. Bonus points for the doctors and nurses thinking they were so cute and sweet!!
FRIENDS! My friends are always a reason to stay positive. They're freakin' AWESOME! I can always count them to make bad days better with prayer, encouraging and/or funny texts, virtual hugs, perfect memes and gifs for every situation, play dates for our kids *wink, wink*, and letting me hold their precious little babies!!
We went to our friend's 4th birthday dinner. I say "our' friend and not the kids' friend because he is one of my little friends. I enjoy getting to know my friends' kids. I like to think of them as unofficial nieces and nephews. They are awesome, tiny humans who don't know any better and think that I am cool and funny. Plus the more time I spend with them, the more time I have to convert them into Wiggles Fans against their parents' wishes!! What!?! It's gonna be weird when my kids are too old for the concert and I wanna go!
This Wednesday was my Mom-Mom's first birthday in Heaven. It hit me harder than I thought it would. I miss her and I especially miss the times that we would go for walks together. It was like having my very own personal cheerleader. She always believed I was smarter, talented, etc than I actually am (except for funnier, judging by that very special look she had when I was being extra entertaining, I"m the one who thinks I'm funnier than I am!) I think... I hope... That I inherited some of those encouraging genes. I can carry on the tradition with my kids and *gulps* grand kids in the future. Another plus, I inherited her appreciation of Dairy Queen ice cream but not Michael Bolton!
This morning, when asked what we were thankful for before we prayed, my dear sweet Nathan said, "Food and Potties!" Food is always one of his answers but potties was new. First I did that sigh that moms of boys always do and then I asked him why. He said, "Because we have nice potties to go in when I have to poo." There was a real nice pop with the "p" sound when he said it too. He might have been trying to look for a way to include potty talk, but he is right! We take SO MANY things for granted! A nice... more than slightly messy.. house to keep us safe and warm with lovely toilets.
This was a lot of weird rambling! I'm sorry! Hopefully, I didn't totally waste your time if you made it to the end!
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Hold up! You're a Beachbody what now?
Okay, I promise to get back to our semi regularly scheduled weirdness after this slightly different post. It still has a lot to do with motherhood and my crazy life.
Having a mini me can be awesome. I can not wait until Sydney is older and we can come up with all the crazy, funny plans together. It was one of the greatest moments ever when Syd and I blurted out the EXACT SAME WRONG SONG LYRICS AT THE EXACT SAME TIME! It was goofiness in stereo. I was proud. It can also break your heart when you watch your mini me struggle with the same things you struggle with. You understand the fear and anxiety so perfectly well. It kills you a little bit because they inherited it from you. Sydney is extremely nervous in new situations or situations where it is not 100% comfortable. Sometimes she is too nervous to try or do things because she doesn't want to make a mistake. She sits on the sidelines or clings to me. I struggle with knowing what to do. I know what thoughts will be running through her head if we try to push her. Pressuring or unintentional bullying will not breed confidence. I don't want to let her give in to those fears either. I turned out alright in the end but we always want better for our kids. I finally realized that the best way to teach her to be brave is to show her... Set an example!
*cringes* *cries* *freaks out* *tries to ignore it* *curls into a ball* I really wanted to pretend that there was a better way, but when your babies need you...
2017: The Year of Uncomfortable Awkwardness (and fondly looking back at my cozy little comfort zone)
Why did I choose to become a Beachbody Coach, besides the fact that it's basically stuffing myself into a cannon and shooting me, flailing through the sky so far away from my comfort zone? I've been using the programs and Shakeology for over a year and a half now. I love it. It works for me.It's become part of my daily life. Muscle are appearing!?! I've been looking at posts and watching other coaches and wishing that I could do that, but I told myself I wasn't good enough. Deep down inside, there is still a little bit of the kinda chubby kid who will probably be one of the last picked for a team in gym class. I still remember ummm "forgetting" to do a lap for the mile run in high school gym because most people were done already. ( I know! Bad Jamie! ) I kept telling myself that I needed to reach some level of near perfection or I'd look like a fraud. It was making me sad and icky inside. One night when I was particularly sad, I was half standing in the pantry closet, picking out the bunches of oats out of Stephen's Honey Bunches of Oats and inhaling them. (YEP! I'm a MONSTER! I left him with a box full of sadness! The bunches are the best part!) I finally looked at myself and said this is STUPID! I'm being DUMB! I made myself reach out to my coach and started asking questions. She helped me see that I had nothing to lose by trying. Sometimes (All. of. the. time.) I can be a moron. It's time to banish the gym class fearing kid and tell my brain to shut it! First of all, perfection is lame. I don't know why I thought I had to be the perfect expert. I created this whole mom blog to be open about my imperfections because I realized sometimes the best help is the "hey, we're stumbling through this together and I care and you're not alone" encouragement. I can do the same with someone trying to get healthy and strong. Second of all, if I could get my old gym teacher to give me a Presidential Fitness Test redo, I would nail it! I did 21 day fix and then moved up to 21 day fix extreme. Then a couple of weeks ago, I decided to switch it up. Cardio is still challenging for me and I hate it so I went with Insanity Max 30!?! My current goal is to just not die! It's sooo challenging for me, like FOR REAL! But I'm gonna keep trying until one day I'm not just surviving.
I'm absolutely terrible at sales so you don't have to worry about me pushing this on you. If you have ever been curious but don't want to ask because you're worried about being pressured. Come ask me! I won't pressure you because I don't think I even have it in me to try, I'd just start sweating a lot. Plus, I know that you need to be ready to commit. You can be scared and clueless and want to throw up when you say yes, but you need to at least whisper, "it's time for change and I'm going try this!" I'm great at encouraging so I can help you along the way and get to you saying, "Hey, I've got this! Now somebody help me up the stairs! It was leg day!" My encouragement will probably be like this because being weird is kinda my thing;)
And have no fear, I'm not abandoning or changing the pastry chef thing. If you're gonna cheat and treat yo self, it better be worth the extra calories! There are still birthday and wedding cakes and special desserts for you when you go out to eat, but I will not be eating all the scraps and brownie trimmings.
Here is my website link which is still a work in progress and needing photos because technology is not my thing and I'm still in the overwhelmed but excited phase:
Beachbodycoach.com/JLFord83
Having a mini me can be awesome. I can not wait until Sydney is older and we can come up with all the crazy, funny plans together. It was one of the greatest moments ever when Syd and I blurted out the EXACT SAME WRONG SONG LYRICS AT THE EXACT SAME TIME! It was goofiness in stereo. I was proud. It can also break your heart when you watch your mini me struggle with the same things you struggle with. You understand the fear and anxiety so perfectly well. It kills you a little bit because they inherited it from you. Sydney is extremely nervous in new situations or situations where it is not 100% comfortable. Sometimes she is too nervous to try or do things because she doesn't want to make a mistake. She sits on the sidelines or clings to me. I struggle with knowing what to do. I know what thoughts will be running through her head if we try to push her. Pressuring or unintentional bullying will not breed confidence. I don't want to let her give in to those fears either. I turned out alright in the end but we always want better for our kids. I finally realized that the best way to teach her to be brave is to show her... Set an example!
*cringes* *cries* *freaks out* *tries to ignore it* *curls into a ball* I really wanted to pretend that there was a better way, but when your babies need you...
2017: The Year of Uncomfortable Awkwardness (and fondly looking back at my cozy little comfort zone)
Why did I choose to become a Beachbody Coach, besides the fact that it's basically stuffing myself into a cannon and shooting me, flailing through the sky so far away from my comfort zone? I've been using the programs and Shakeology for over a year and a half now. I love it. It works for me.It's become part of my daily life. Muscle are appearing!?! I've been looking at posts and watching other coaches and wishing that I could do that, but I told myself I wasn't good enough. Deep down inside, there is still a little bit of the kinda chubby kid who will probably be one of the last picked for a team in gym class. I still remember ummm "forgetting" to do a lap for the mile run in high school gym because most people were done already. ( I know! Bad Jamie! ) I kept telling myself that I needed to reach some level of near perfection or I'd look like a fraud. It was making me sad and icky inside. One night when I was particularly sad, I was half standing in the pantry closet, picking out the bunches of oats out of Stephen's Honey Bunches of Oats and inhaling them. (YEP! I'm a MONSTER! I left him with a box full of sadness! The bunches are the best part!) I finally looked at myself and said this is STUPID! I'm being DUMB! I made myself reach out to my coach and started asking questions. She helped me see that I had nothing to lose by trying. Sometimes (All. of. the. time.) I can be a moron. It's time to banish the gym class fearing kid and tell my brain to shut it! First of all, perfection is lame. I don't know why I thought I had to be the perfect expert. I created this whole mom blog to be open about my imperfections because I realized sometimes the best help is the "hey, we're stumbling through this together and I care and you're not alone" encouragement. I can do the same with someone trying to get healthy and strong. Second of all, if I could get my old gym teacher to give me a Presidential Fitness Test redo, I would nail it! I did 21 day fix and then moved up to 21 day fix extreme. Then a couple of weeks ago, I decided to switch it up. Cardio is still challenging for me and I hate it so I went with Insanity Max 30!?! My current goal is to just not die! It's sooo challenging for me, like FOR REAL! But I'm gonna keep trying until one day I'm not just surviving.
I'm absolutely terrible at sales so you don't have to worry about me pushing this on you. If you have ever been curious but don't want to ask because you're worried about being pressured. Come ask me! I won't pressure you because I don't think I even have it in me to try, I'd just start sweating a lot. Plus, I know that you need to be ready to commit. You can be scared and clueless and want to throw up when you say yes, but you need to at least whisper, "it's time for change and I'm going try this!" I'm great at encouraging so I can help you along the way and get to you saying, "Hey, I've got this! Now somebody help me up the stairs! It was leg day!" My encouragement will probably be like this because being weird is kinda my thing;)
And have no fear, I'm not abandoning or changing the pastry chef thing. If you're gonna cheat and treat yo self, it better be worth the extra calories! There are still birthday and wedding cakes and special desserts for you when you go out to eat, but I will not be eating all the scraps and brownie trimmings.
Here is my website link which is still a work in progress and needing photos because technology is not my thing and I'm still in the overwhelmed but excited phase:
Beachbodycoach.com/JLFord83
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
BUT I WAS READY
The day Sydney did the Race for Education was a embarrassing hot mess. ( Unfit Mother You can read about it here if you don't know, but please read it once and then NEVER again because I want you to forget asap!) I vowed that dreadful day that I would be ready for round two, Nathan's turn!
Two years later and the time had finally come for me to redeem myself and be victorious. Yes! Yes! It's all about the kids and raising money for a great school! Yeah great, but I was gonna look fabulous "supporting" the school this year.
I set out my outfit the night before. No baggy jeans! I bought those trendy wedgie inducing workout pants so I would fit in with the crowd. I layered my tops like a pro so that when I got heated from all the perfect running, I could remove layers and not look like a dweeb. The morning of the event I applied deodorant not once but TWICE!
Nathan was also prepared with his Flash socks and super speed. Even though he was only 2 at the time, he remembered the tractor that starts the race (the photographer rides it to get shots as they start to run.) He was super excited about running after the tractor.
I found myself a good spot on the sidelines so I could watch the first lap and then join in with the rest of the parents. Last time, I couldn't find Syd because she was running very fast. This time I looked a little ahead of his group. Well, Mr. Super Speed wasn't there. Then I looked for him near the other preschoolers. Huh? Nope, don't see him. Okay, maybe the group trailing behind?? Where the heck was he? Those Flash socks clearly weren't doing their thing because there he was..... the very last kid. Shoulders drooping and slowly shuffling his feet as he looked back and frowned. WHAT?!? You've got to be kidding me! This kid!
I ran up to him and he said, "Where did the tractor go? I was gonna chase it?" In the words of Nathan, "Oh Poop!" The tractor was only on the track long enough to get the good shots and then it drove back to were it came from. Nathan could not recover from his disappointment and refused to run AT ALL. We were walking sooooo slowly that I could have walked backwards in a dress and 6 inch heels (and I never ever wear 6 inch heels!!) GRANDPARENTS were leaving us in the dust! He kept complaining that his leg was itchy, he had rocks in his shoe, there were weeds on the track, he wanted to be home, and he wished that the track was a rhombus and not an oval. And that was just the first lap! After the second lap, he was impressed with the 2 holes punched in his card and was ready to call it a day. I could not stop laughing at this situation. Finally, I bribed him with a doughnut hole for each lap he completed. It was enough to get him to walk around a little bit more, but not enough to run. In any other situation I would have been proud because running in the worst, but we need to prove ourselves ;)
In an hour, we did 6 laps. I think that I burned enough calories to sniff a doughnut, but that's about it. I'm just going to mark this down as another example of my kids keeping me on my toes. I need to figure out when they have their secret meetings to plot against me so I can finally win and be a prepared parent at least once in my life.
Well, now I'm off to see if I can rent a tractor for a day so Nathan and I can chase it and I can burn enough calories to eat those doughnuts I'm craving now!!
Two years later and the time had finally come for me to redeem myself and be victorious. Yes! Yes! It's all about the kids and raising money for a great school! Yeah great, but I was gonna look fabulous "supporting" the school this year.
I set out my outfit the night before. No baggy jeans! I bought those trendy wedgie inducing workout pants so I would fit in with the crowd. I layered my tops like a pro so that when I got heated from all the perfect running, I could remove layers and not look like a dweeb. The morning of the event I applied deodorant not once but TWICE!
I stretched like a real pro! I mean just look at that!
Okay, so maybe I still need work! So awkward;)
Nathan was also prepared with his Flash socks and super speed. Even though he was only 2 at the time, he remembered the tractor that starts the race (the photographer rides it to get shots as they start to run.) He was super excited about running after the tractor.
I found myself a good spot on the sidelines so I could watch the first lap and then join in with the rest of the parents. Last time, I couldn't find Syd because she was running very fast. This time I looked a little ahead of his group. Well, Mr. Super Speed wasn't there. Then I looked for him near the other preschoolers. Huh? Nope, don't see him. Okay, maybe the group trailing behind?? Where the heck was he? Those Flash socks clearly weren't doing their thing because there he was..... the very last kid. Shoulders drooping and slowly shuffling his feet as he looked back and frowned. WHAT?!? You've got to be kidding me! This kid!
I ran up to him and he said, "Where did the tractor go? I was gonna chase it?" In the words of Nathan, "Oh Poop!" The tractor was only on the track long enough to get the good shots and then it drove back to were it came from. Nathan could not recover from his disappointment and refused to run AT ALL. We were walking sooooo slowly that I could have walked backwards in a dress and 6 inch heels (and I never ever wear 6 inch heels!!) GRANDPARENTS were leaving us in the dust! He kept complaining that his leg was itchy, he had rocks in his shoe, there were weeds on the track, he wanted to be home, and he wished that the track was a rhombus and not an oval. And that was just the first lap! After the second lap, he was impressed with the 2 holes punched in his card and was ready to call it a day. I could not stop laughing at this situation. Finally, I bribed him with a doughnut hole for each lap he completed. It was enough to get him to walk around a little bit more, but not enough to run. In any other situation I would have been proud because running in the worst, but we need to prove ourselves ;)
In an hour, we did 6 laps. I think that I burned enough calories to sniff a doughnut, but that's about it. I'm just going to mark this down as another example of my kids keeping me on my toes. I need to figure out when they have their secret meetings to plot against me so I can finally win and be a prepared parent at least once in my life.
Well, now I'm off to see if I can rent a tractor for a day so Nathan and I can chase it and I can burn enough calories to eat those doughnuts I'm craving now!!
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