Doing the Dance of the Children

Gabi asked to run errands and go to an appointment with me this morning. About 1/2 way through the appointment she started telling me she was hungry and thirsty. For the rest of the time that we were out, she must have told me about 20 times. I decided to direct her to put her discomfort to good use.

Me-”Gabi I know you’re hungry and thirsty, but we’re going to wait till we’re home to eat and drink, so I suggest you take a minute to offer it up to God for something or someone. You could say, ‘God, I’m hungry right now and I have to wait to eat, so I offer my hunger to You so that Arianna does well at volleyball.’ Or, ‘God, I’m really hungry right now and I don’t get to eat until we’re home, so I offer it up to You so that we have a safe and fun trip to see our friends and family, later this week.’ See, you can focus your discomfort on something else and we’ll be home soon and then we’ll eat.”

Gabi-”But I’m hungry NOW!”

~sigh~ I tried!

Doing the Dance of the Children and hoping they get it~

It was a GREAT weekend! I just sat down to tell you all about it, with pictures and everything. But I discovered that my camera went home with Kateri.

So I guess we’ll talk tomorrow. Bummer, cuz I was ready to share!

Off to bed to get some decent sleep before tomorrow’s catch-up Kraze Boot Camp class.

I hope everyone’s weekend was awesome.

Doing the Dance of the Children and Wishing I had my Camera~

I wish every Saturday morning could be like this one!

Lex was the only one up for 2 hours. I gave him his bath, put some Bugs Bunny onto the AppleTV and made pancakes and sausages. I love it when things work out so that the kids wake to a breakfast that’s already made. It makes me feel on top of the day.

And check out that morning sky!

Welcome to Saturday in Pacific Beach! I hope the day continues to go the way it’s started. But even if it all falls apart, I’ll be able to hold onto the awesome morning. You’ve gotta grab these moments when they come along and tuck them away to draw from!

Doing the Dance of the Children on a beautiful and peaceful Saturday morn. I wish you all the same.

Even though I woke up tired, there was no way I wasn’t going to my Kraze Boot Camp class! I’ve made it through each of the days offered over the last 4 weeks. There are 2 make-up days next week and I’ll be going to those, as well. Only then will I be able to say that I completed the program.

But tonight I’m happy for the weekend break. My shoulders are sore and tired and need a rest. The rest of me feels pretty darn good! Tuesday I’ll be able to compare my measurements from when I started to now (not that I’m expecting anything dramatic, but it’ll be good to see the #’s) and detail my successes and trials over this time.

I think I’m going to spend the weekend stretching out the sore spots!

Mommy of Many™-Doing the Dance of the Children at a quicker pace, thanks to Kraze Boot Camps~

It was another beautiful morning and it was great to start the day off with a great workout! JJ joined us this morning. It was nice to have him there. I know he works out and plays sports. He’ll leave the house to go running or biking, but I never get to see him actually do those things, so it was nice to see him “in action”.

Today we did some partner exercises. It was the first time we’d done that and I really liked working directly with someone else. It kept me motivated. After-all, if she sat up to grab the weight from me and I was still lying on my back, it wouldn’t really work.

Today’s success was jumping rope. I truly can’t remember the last time I grabbed a rope and started jumping. But apparently it’s like riding a bicycle-you don’t forget.

Today’s challenge was blogging. I just had lazy-writer’s brain. I just didn’t feel motivated to put any words to today’s experience. But here they are anyway (I guess that makes it another one of today’s successes).

Even though tomorrow is the last day of Week 4 of this round of Kraze Boot Camp classes, I can’t call it the end because we have a couple of make up classes next week. So…I’m committed! Hear me out until, at least, next Tuesday!

Back to Kraze Boot Camp class!

This morning was the first one that you could tell that the sun was going to come out and the sky was going to be blue. It felt GREAT to be out early in the morning and to start the day with the breeze off the water and the sun beginning to shine. The feeling has carried me through the day, so far. I feel like I was plugged in and recharged and can take on the world. Seriously! It was a magical combo for me!

Here I am in Week 4-it’s the last few days of this session and I’m feeling great! My stamina for the exercises has grown, my soreness is almost non-existent, my clothes are fitting better, my skin is clear and healthy looking, my shoulder and back pain are almost completely gone, my energy is up, I’m sleeping better, my caffeine intake is WAY down, my water intake is up, my food choices are healthier…Ummm, I can’t find a downside to working out! This is GREAT!

Honestly, I have only positive things to say. Aaron has been positive and encouraging. The rest of the Boot Campers are upbeat and happy to start their day with the class. If I could bottle this feeling I’d send you each a lil bottle to try!

If you’re local and can find a day or time to come on out and give a class a try, I encourage you to do so. Join me for the next set of classes! I’d love to see more friendly faces! Take a look around the Kraze Boot Camp website or contact Aaron for locations and times. This feels too good not to share!

Mommy of Many™-Doing the Dance of the Children with a Spring in My Step, Thanks to Kraze Boot Camps~

My girls love to cook. At least one of them is usually asking if she can plan and make dinner. This isn’t to say that my boys don’t like to get into the kitchen, they do. But the girls seem to always be planning something to bake or asking if they can create a meal. I chalk up their love of the kitchen to the fact that I’ve always been open to letting them help. Kids need to learn the basics of the kitchen to build confidence and know how to be safe while enjoying creating their meals and snacks. A few days ago I was peeling and cutting carrots to store for easy snacking and cooking and Gabi asked if she could help. I showed her how to hold the carrot and peeler and she ended up peeling all of the carrots while I did the cutting.

This morning when I asked the little kids what they wanted for breakfast, Gabi said, “squished up eggs”, meaning-scrambled eggs. She asked if she could help me and off we went to the kitchen. I told her she could crack the first egg. I figured if she got shell into the measuring cup, it would be easier to remove it if there was only 1 egg. She successfully cracked the first 2.

This egg exploded. I think she got nervous. We had to take a few moments to clean everything up. I was careful not to get upset or make the clean-up look difficult because those things would discourage her from trying in the future. Accidents happen. All of us have spilled at one point or another. Clean up and move on!

After the clean-up she was helpful with the mixing.

She was proud of her accomplishment and will be more likely to ask to help in the future, which means she’ll be learning valuable skills about how to be in the kitchen and be a “big girl”.

Don’t be afraid to allow your kids to help with household tasks. I know it can be easy to want to just do it for them and get it done quicker and without the mistakes that inevitably happen. But they can’t learn to be successful if they aren’t allowed to make mistakes. If we guide and encourage we will end up with successful kiddos!

Doing the Dance of the Children~

Hooray for Week 4 of Kraze Boot Camp classes! Hooray for staying motivated and not making excuses! Hooray for not missing a single day! Hooray for me, breaking out of my box and overcoming my fear of the unknown and for believing in myself and the importance of my own health enough to DO THIS!

I’ll admit that I’m not shouting “Hooray” when I’m actually in the classes-doing Inch-Worms, Frog Jumps, Modified Jumping-Jacks, Plank Punches, Squat Thrusts, Push-Ups or Running Stairs. But I make a commitment in my head to each exercise, one-at-a-time and I’m able to keep going.

In only a few week’s time, I’ve noticed some great changes and I have the drive to keep going. I’m making a personal commitment to myself to keep up the program throughout the summer. When school and work are back in session, I may not be able to go, but I’m not going to focus on that. I’m going to stay focused on the daily commitment to make healthier choices, have more energy and to feeling and looking better.

I’m thankful to Aaron for all of his positive energy and encouragement! Thanks for Kraze Boot Camps-a program that can work for anyone!

If you’ve missed out on this session of Kraze Boot Camp classes and you want to know why I’m so excited about it, come out and try a class and why not commit to the next round of 4 weeks?!

Also, don’t forget to tune into the Kraze Fitness Show, TODAY between 3pm and 4pm where I will be Aaron’s guest to talk a little about my work as Mommy of Many, about my decision to join the Boot Camp and my trials and successes so far. If you miss the show, you can hit up the archives at your convenience!

Wish me luck!

I was getting dinner into the crock pot and it called for a can of Cream of Mushroom soup. No problem! I went to the cupboard and pulled one out, opened it up and discovered Cream of Chicken inside. So I went back to the cupboard took out a can of Cream of Chicken, opened it up and discovered Cream of Chicken inside. I had to open 3 cans before I actually got Cream of Mushroom.

Hey Target-someone needs to check the product/label issue!

Doing the Dance of the Children and Just Trying to get some Dinner Made~

Saturday-no Boot Camp, no school, no work. I stayed in bed listening to the singing birds outside my window.

Then reality set in and I got up and decided to make oatmeal for breakfast. I spent a little time picking the raisins and cranberries from our trail mix and transferring them to the oatmeal. Next it was time to make a copy of JJ’s birth certificate so he could play in today’s rugby tournament. I went to the garage, got out his file and looked for the document. What I found was an empty envelope! Then I remembered-I handed over his birth certificate when we got his passport. I remembered receiving it in the mail…what did I DO with it?! It MUST be in the paperwork piles and bags that I’ve been trying to make my way through. I broke the news to him and we started tackling the piles. FOUND IT! He and Clay ran out the door to meet up with the team.

This was a reminder of how badly I need more time in this house. My usually organized abode has turned into a cluttered mass of confusion. I hate it! So…I’m hoping to spend the day in the house, with garbage bags and filing folders.

Wish me luck!

Doing the Dance of the Children Around a Bonfire Size Pile of Papers and Confusion~

One more week down! Yes! THAT is today’s success!

Here it is, 10:30pm and I’m finally finding a moment to write about the 6am Kraze Boot Camps class. Busy day! I’ve been tired the last few days, but I’ve kept going and here I am at the end of another week! Yea!

Onto Week 4! With encouragement and a little bit of stubbornness, I’ll make it through Week 4 and beyond!

It’s not too late to come out and try a class! Send Aaron a message and let him know you’d like to give the work-out that’s kicking Mommy of Many’s behind, a try! I’d love to see you!

I got out of bed with the alarm with no problem, but getting my body to not give up during my 6am Kraze Boot Camp class today was tough. It seemed like every exercise was more of a mental challenge than a physical one. That’s not to say that they weren’t physically challenging-they certainly were! But my mind was against me today. I wasn’t as exhausted as yesterday, but could REALLY have used a nap.

I talked to Aaron about how I was feeling and he said I need to start drinking a recovery shake and gave me some ideas of what to put in them. Never did I think I’d be buying those sorts of products. But I’ve got to start feeling a little better or I’m gonna have a tough time making it through.

When I got back from Boot Camp I decided to make breakfast for the kids before my shower. When Lex (4 yrs old) got up we talked about where I’d been. I asked if he knew why I was gone in the morning and he said, “you went to Boot Camp”. I told him he was right and asked what he thought I did at Boot Camp. His answer-”stretch your legs”. Alrighty then!

Just one more day in this week and then it’s onto the 4th and final week in this set of classes. I’m happy I’m working out each day but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to the break between class sets.

Hoping for a boost of energy and for my brain to get-on-board for tomorrow!

Summer…Oh Summer! Where are you?

It hasn’t looked much like summer around here. I keep waiting to wake to the bright sky and the warmth of a day that’s just gonna get warmer and call you down to the beach. Hasn’t happened yet. This morning it was drizzling and the sky is totally grey. Last I checked, it was 64 degrees. It makes me want to put on some soup and curl up with a movie. But it is, in fact, summer and I don’t have the luxury of curling up and doing anything!

Today’s Dance goes something like this-

4:30am-wake up, check email and get ready to leave the house at 5:30 for Boot Camp
6am-Kraze Boot Camp
7am-Drive home
7:20-Start breakfast, listen to Max and Lex “play songs” on their toy piano, give Lex 2 timeouts for bad behavior, feed everyone, make coffee
8am-Shower and answer emails
9:40am-Leave to pick Maddi and Anna up from Summer School
10:30-Sports Therapy, Massage and Chiropractic for JJ and me
12pm-Make lunch
12:40-Take Mariah to work
2pm-Hair appt for me
4:10pm-Have kids and food packed and ready to leave for JJ”s rugby game, drop him off, take kids for walk until game starts

After the game, we’ll come home and get ready for the nighttime routine. I’m beat! The last 2 days of Boot Camp have kicked me hard! I better eat some “energy” foods and take my vitamins cuz I’ve got NO time for feeling tired!

Doing the Dance of the Children and Hoping not to Trip~

All I can really say about today is that it was the most exhausting day yet. I drove home feeling completely drained and I never really recovered.

Everything was fast-paced and intense and Aaron kept us moving the whole time.

So-Kraze Boot Camps Class, Week 3/Day 2=an early night to bed for Mommy of Many. Just as soon as I finish picking Kateri up from work, getting JJ to rugby, feeding everyone dinner, picking JJ up from rugby, taking Kateri to the airport for her 10pm flight and picking Maddi up from a friend’s, I will surely crash into bed and I can pretend it will be early. Hoping to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for tomorrow’s class!

Wanna get your behind kicked into shape and your energy challenged? Join me!

Yesterday evening the rest of the family arrived back from their trip out to Nevada. I had gotten all the laundry done and some other household tasks completed, knowing that once they walked through the door, there would be a whole bunch of new work to be done. I was right.

The laundry’s been going since 4:30 this morning. There are plenty of bags to be unpacked. Gramma and Papa sent lots of snacks that needed to be put away.

The kids had a great trip! They haven’t visited with Clay’s family in a few years and it sounds like Gramma and Papa did it up right. These San Diego kiddos went for a hike and ate snow. SNOW! in July! Definitely not something you can do here.

So, it’s back to the full-time Dance of being M.O.M. It’s good to wake up to Gabi’s curly head in my bed again and to hear the constant hum that is the sound of the kids talking throughout the house.

But I will admit that the quiet was a really nice thing to have. I moved through the house, doing chores, with only my thoughts. A really nice thing to have every once in awhile.

Doing the Dance of the Children~