Work Out?

So I have admittedly given up on blogging. Yep, it has been over two years.  I decided to revive this a bit to serve as a place where I can blog my 2016 fitness journey.

I gotta be honest, I have gained some weight.  I am currently sitting at my highest weight ever (not pregnant that is.)  I do realize that my body looks pretty good as it is. But I also realize I am not as healthy as I once was and I would like to bring myself back to that healthy, feel good about myself because I am eating right and I am strong place. (Not the gorge myself on cupcakes and then feel remorse and shame place.)

My thought is that if I put this out there I am held accountable by the internet. There is a chance that someone will see that I didn't do anything to get healthy this week and that is the kind of accountability I need.

Here goes. Today, I weight 136 lbs and I have two pair of jeans that still fit me.  Today, I am going to start doing something to change that. Mr. blog I will check in with you weekly and let you know my exercise routine and progress.  I may not always pay attention to the number, it is the pair of pants I can fit back into that is my goal.

Let's do this!

Christmas, Part One

2013 was kind of stressful.  Not because I lost a loved one or went through something heartbreaking but because I worked, a lot.  Having a full time job and starting a business kept me working many days and nights and kept me away from my family a lot.  I was very thankful for the holidays to slow down and spend time with my peeps.

On Christmas Eve Eve we were in Chattanooga and planned to go to dinner with my parents, brother and sister-in-law and the kids then go see the lights at Rock City.  We started at the New York Pizza Department in Chattanooga.  We all had really good pizza with the exception of my little nephew Brycen.  Because of some allergies he couldn't eat pizza and was (hopefully) happy with his strawberries.

The kids had fun dancing and playing in the corner where we sat ourselves. I am sure the restaurant owners/workers were ready for our loud bunch to leave!

We said goodbye to Ben and Bonnie and headed to Lookout Mountain to see the lights at Rock City.  What I didn't realize was that that was also the plan of every other person in Chattanooga. We had to wait in line to get up the mountain and when we got there realized (from the warmth of our cars) that the line to get in looked like the line for Splash Mountain on a hot day.  Since waiting in line in the cold for an hour with two young children sounds about as fun as being bitten by a brown recluse, we decided to look elsewhere for lights.

I had heard the  night before that the window displays at the Chattanooga Electric Power Board were neat, so window hunting we went.  After a forgotten gloves fiasco and some driving around, we made our way downtown.

It was cold.  I mean cold.  Cold enough to make me want something warm to drink, so we walked to the Reid House ,where Steve and I stayed on our wedding night, and had Starbucks.  If chocolate milk is liquid gold to the kids, hot chocolate is a blessing straight from Santa's workshop.  (Though I bet Santa supports local business and went to the local coffee shop for some Colombian brews.)

So This is Christmas...

Decking the halls, silent nights, home alone.  I love every aspect of Christmas.  I was chomping at the bit to be able to listen to Christmas music and it was all holiday tunes all the time after Thanksgiving. The entire season just makes me happy.  Regardless of how many hours I work (a lot, Christmas parties ya'll), or the crowds, there is peace and happiness in each and every day.  I love watching the generosity and truly taking time to reflect on the year and on the blessings we have.

Luckily Steve is a fan of the season as well and was willing to get out and make our house look festive!  He is an expert light hanger and get them pretty darn straight. We don't quite have enough lights for our new house, but it looked pretty good!

I think it is easy to let the hustle and bustle of the season take over and too easy to go into stress mode.  This year I really didn't stress. We got our shopping finished early and Steve may or may not have wrapped all of our gifts.  (Um, yeah, he is pretty amazing.) I was able to enjoy my fuzzy wuzzy feelings and really reflect on what the season is all about.  (Cue the voice of Linus and his Bethlehem monologue.)

Mornings

Mornings are kind of my favorite.  I know, hear me out.  I love to get up before the sun (I am making it worse aren't I?), read my bible (sometimes), go for a run and see the sun rise on a brand new day.  There is something refreshing about a fresh start and a clean slate.  (Well kind of clean.)

 I would love to say that mornings are always this pleasant and that my kids always wake up sunshiny but that would be a big fat giant lie.  The honest truth is, though I do love mornings, when the alarm goes off I don't want go get up. I don't want to read, I don't want to run (especially in the cold) and I don't want to get two kids ready for the day.  That moment, when my bed is warm and the sky is pitch black I just want to curl up and stay in my cocoon for the rest of the day.  I hit the snooze for a minimum of 30 minutes before dragging my self out of bed.

 Most mornings I feel just like this:

 But I drag my happy a*% out of bed and feel so much better for doing it.  Fresh, especially cold, air feels good in your lungs and there is a sick satisfaction at finishing a 6 mile run before 6:30 in the morning.  The kids are not always easy to get up and don't always like what we have for breakfast.  Ok, if we are being honest, I may cook breakfast one day a week.  That day they may or may not eat the turkey bacon, sausage and egg whites I make them.  (Umm, feed those kids real bacon you say?)

In fact, the happy dappy breakfast you saw above could be completely interrupted by a milk spill, which could lead to fits.  I also learned that milk drips thorough the slats of a farm table right onto the floor.  Clean up fail.

The alarm will go off, the fits (and battles of wits) will happen and my kids aren't always going to like what I feed them, but I am thankful for every day the alarm wakes me before a new dawn. A new dawn and chance to struggle through this motherhood thing and trying to be a wife who doesn't just put her pajamas on when she gets home and goes to bed by 9pm. (That second one I may or may not be failing miserably at.)

I will try to embrace each new dawn, even if the embrace is lackluster and with a lot of muttering and know that after running awhile, it will feel good.

What Isla Wore

This week Isla wore determination, love and a little bit of feistiness.  

Isla is two.  Along with two comes some struggles and battles of wit.  I just hope that 99% of the time it is me can out wit this child.  She know what she wants and won't hesitate to fling herself in the floor if she doesn't get it.  I pray that she will keep her strong will but will lose the fits.  Along with some toddler breakdowns she gives the sweetest hugs and kisses and nothing compares to hearing her say "I lub you".

Please ignore the messy room in the background

This week Cian wore love, devotion and thankfulness. 

Cian loves the heck out of his sister.  Does he totally act like the oldest child and tell her what she is and isn't supposed to to and tattle on her at any given opportunity? Yes.  But does he look out for her, share his food and toys with her and talk about how much he loves his sister? Yes.  On his thankful board at school he wrote that he was "thank you" for his sister.  (Umm, does that melt a mamma's heart or what??)

Listen to the Mustn'ts

 

Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,

Listen to the DON'TS

Listen to the SHOULDN'TS

the IMPOSSIBLES, the WONT'S

Listen to the NEVER HAVES

Then listen close to me-

Anything can happen, child, 

ANYTHING can be

--Shel Silverstein

Cian and Isla,

A box can be a boat, it can be a plane, or a rocket ship.  A straw can be a wand,  a toilet paper roll a telescope and the floor can be lava.  You can be a doctor or spiderman.  You can be a princess and a super hero.  You can be a "hallerina" or a jedi.

Your dreams are big and God is bigger.  They, your dreams and God, will take you to places you didn't dream possible.  Let those dreams grow, evolve and change.  Hold fast to reality but don't be afraid to put your head in the clouds every now and then.  Don't be afraid to jump.  Fear will keep your feet on the ground and your dreams in your head.  It will leave you wishing and wondering.

In your dreams, and in reality, be kind. Be kind to those who don't deserve it, to those who are different.  Be kind to each other.  Don't stop believing that people are good and that you can make a difference.  Don't stop believing that words matter. Use your words intentionally and mean what you say.

Most of all, don't forget about love. Above all else, love.  Love those who don't deserve it and those who haven't earned it.  Don't hold love over anyone's head and give it freely to those you choose.  You were created in love, bound in love and will forever be, loved.

Love,
Mom

Birthday Questions

For the last couple of years I have asked Cian some questions on his birthday.  Questions about what he likes and what his favorite things are. This year Isla got in on the action.  The kids were both laying in my bed watching a movie so I didn't exactly have their undivided attention...

1. What is your favorite color? Cian-green, Isla-black
2. What is your favorite toy? Cian-Avengers, Isla-toy
3. What is your favorite fruit? Cian-strawberries, Isla-applesauce
4. What is your favorite tv show? Cian-Ninjago, Isla-princess
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Cian-Chicken, Isla (while laughing)-carrots
6. What is your favorite outfit? Cian-Skylanders shirt, Isla-princess dress
7. What is your favorite game? Cian-Lego Avengers, Isla-Dora
8. What is your favorite snack? Cian-Yogurt and poptarts, Isla-poptarts
9. What is your favorite animal? Cian-dolphin, Isla-horsey
10. What is your favorite song? Cian-spider song, Isla-Dora song
11. What is your favorite book? Cian-it is about hot dogs, Isla-Dora book
12. Who is your best friend? Cian-Will-Will, Isla-cute doggie
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cian-Frankenberry, Isla-Frankenberry (copy-cat)
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Cian- swing on a monkey rope, Isla-swingin
15. What is your favorite drink? Cian-Orange juicy, Isla-milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Cian-riding a horse, Isla-a horse (think Hoedown made an impression?
17. What is your favorite thing to take to bed at night? Cian-Mickey, Isla-"I will not talk"
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cian-chocolate pudding, Isla-flowers
19. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner on your birthday? Cian-Pizza, Isla-cake-cake (cupcakes)
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Cian-Ninja, Isla-birthday party

It was hilarious listening to them answer these questions.  I love to see how their answers change over the years!