tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11188348103450575872024-03-05T07:38:43.543-08:00theprescottpalaceShellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-48319782171716029132020-04-05T15:08:00.003-07:002020-04-05T15:08:52.844-07:00Been Years....I knew it had been a while since I blogged but didn't realize it had been 2 years!<br />
<br />
We are living in some crazy times right now as the world is being overtaken by the Corona Virus. About 50% of the states have been issued "Stay at Home Orders" and are only supposed to leave the house for essential business. People are working from home. School has been dismissed for the year in the school buildings and is being taught online through Zoom.<br />
I am teaching my workouts via Zoom or Facebook Live.<br />
People are wearing masks and gloves as they go out shopping. Scary. Crazy. Stressful.<br />
<br />
The positive to all this is the amount of time our family has had to grow back together. We had become so accustomed to our crazy schedules and running to practices, lessons, school functions, etc. and it caused us, like others, to dismiss the true value of spending quality time with your family.<br />
We have watched several movies, played games, danced, went on bike rides, shot baskets, played catch, grilled out, made smores, and it has all been wonderful!<br />
<br />
Back in March, our Lady Pups basketball team made it to the State Tournament. We opened our first round versus Basehor Linwood and won! We were set to play in the Final Four and were going to get a rematch with St. Thomas Aquinas. That Friday evening, after we had played, we found out that KSHAA was going to cancel the remainder of the tournament and all Spring Sports and activities. This felt like a tough punch in the gut.<br />
<br />
Our team had worked so hard and truly faced more adversity than any other team I have ever been associated with. We started the season missing 2 seniors and lost a 3rd after the second game. We gained the first two back. Lakyn Schieferecke was recovering from her ACL surgery over the summer and Emma Ruddle had compartment syndrome in both of her legs and had surgery the beginning of the season. Andrea Sweat tore her ACL in practice after game 2. All three of these seniors had already signed to play NCAA D2 basketball. Our fourth senior, dealt with plantar fasciatis throughout the season and she had signed to play college Volleyball. We had subs step up and make a HUGE impact on the team. These subs could easily start for other programs! It was not until the 19th game of the season, that we had every on the floor together. They all battled so hard to get back and then it's ripped away from them. <br />
<br />
I spend so much time with these girls that they begin to feel like my own children or little sisters. It hurt to see them hurt. It felt so empty knowing all the time and work we had put in...then didn't get to showcase or try to use the developed skills to win another State Title...our 10th. These seniors will never have the chance to do that again. They didn't know that that game was their last. They didn't know that once they checked out for Spring Break, that they were never going to walk the halls of MHS again...that they were not going to get to see their friends in the high school setting again...no prom...no graduation...Over.<br />
<br />
Our children were stripped of the last quarter of their 3rd and 4th grade years. Kamryn really needed this time to better prepare for the challenges that lie ahead with 4th grade. Graham thrives on a routine and looks forward to school most days. Both were starting their spring sports and that came to a screeching hault. <br />
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We are blessed to have an incredible gym in our backyard so we can continue to lift weights and exercise the way we like to. The kids can practice hitting with the net down whenever they want. <br />
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Change is scary. This kind of change....sucks...so many unknowns. We are fortunate that Gabe has a stable job!!<br />
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Through all the craziness, we have so much to be thankful for. We are growing in our faith in God and love for each other! We are watching church online, LIVE via youtube. Walmart is now limiting the number of people allowed to shop at once. Aisles are being marked one way only. We have so much to be thankful for! <br />
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Our journey continues.....Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-5115860833617369142018-02-11T19:33:00.000-08:002020-04-05T15:13:17.645-07:00Valentines Day prep 2018It has been a ridiculous amount time ago that I last blogged.<br />
Time is flying by and I am not keeping up with our children’s<br />
Younger years. This will not be a Long post but I wanted to at least<br />
get something down.<br />
<br />
Gabe had to work today so we made the kids’ Valentines boxes for their<br />
parties coming up on Tuesday. Of course, I hop on Pinterest for a few ideas but decided<br />
to see what the kids were thinking.<br />
I asked the kids what they wanted to bring for Valentines treats...Do you want Applesauce? we could say "you're Awesome Sauce!" Chips? "You're all that and a bag of chips!" Gum? I “Chews” You or something like that. I had some Pinterest saying for all this.<br />
Graham said: How about Suckers!<br />
Kamryn agreed! She was inspired by all these sayings and thought she would give it a try.<br />
She wanted to write:<br />
<br />
"Happy Valentines Day! You're Sucking Awesome!"<br />
<br />
Me: (wanted to laugh) I said, yep that’s probably not gonna work!<br />
<br />
And the journey continues...Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-29122903982192906412015-11-30T20:00:00.000-08:002015-11-30T20:10:17.766-08:00School in session at the PalaceHappy Holiday season! 'Tis the season to be Merry....Jolly....insane....take your pick.<br />
<br />
The kids have been on Thanksgiving break since the Friday before Thanksgiving week...whatever date that was. Gabe has been working a ton...has been called in a couple times....so needless to say, I have been living the single parent life and it stresses me out. Kudos to all of you out there that do this daily/nightly.<br />
<br />
Today was supposed to be the first day back to school and we got a call late last night saying it was cancelled due to the ice storm.<br />
<br />
While I completely understand the danger in driving on a sheet of ice....much like glass slathered in Crisco......or the danger of walking down a sidewalk near a tree...a roof...or anything harboring ice.....and risking the chance that it may melt enough and fall on your head or stab some other part of your body.........yes...all very risky. This was the picture out my front window anyways....walking out onto our porch on to our sidewalk, was like playing a game of Minesweeper! If you don't get what I'm saying....Google it.<br />
<br />
My patience has thinned a bit more each day I am home with the kiddos. Today, I decided that I was gonna make it a good day at home! Keep them entertained....educated....happy....from fighting with each other constantly......<br />
<br />
I cancelled all my clients as the liability lotto didn't seem like a game I wanted to play today.<br />
<br />
We had school at the Prescott's. Graham and Kamryn woke up, bummed about not having school. They were looking forward to seeing their friends! I think just as much as seeing friends, they were looking forward to the type of schedule that school entails. Before finding out that school was cancelled...Graham came upstairs dressed and ready to roll in his school uniform. Kamryn came out in a dress and neither one wanted to dress in cozy clothes. I told them we were going to have Prescott School. Graham thought this was great! He proceeded to make sure that our routine was very similar to theirs at school.......clear down to the bathroom breaks!<br />
<br />
We started the day off with a Family prayer and then a couple prayers they are learning in class. <br />
<br />
After that, I had found a neat picture of a cross for the kids to color. This was our religious/art period.<br />
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We followed that up with bathroom breaks and snacks.<br />
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Our random letter of the day was "C". Each of the kids had to find things in the room that began with 'C.' They each took turns coming up to the white board and writing 'C' words.<br />
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After "phonics," we had recess. Kamryn did her own things while Graham practiced basketball drills. We played in the garage of course....no way were we going outside.<br />
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I found some simple Science experiments with water. We did a couple labs....they learned about "refraction" and density. They had fun with the experiments and I believe they learned some new things!<br />
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Graham was sad that he missed out on "Sack Lunch Day" with school being cancelled, so I fixed them both lunches and packed them in their lunch box....all so they could eat lunch at the kitchen table.....but hey...today was all about keeping peace in the house!<br />
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We actually played school from 830-1130! The schedule was great! We didn't get our Math lesson in but that's ok. The kids had fun! I actually had fun doing this with them. Graham was full of random "I Love you Mom" comments (which never get old)....they appreciated the extra effort from me. I'm so bad about getting caught up in other things and giving less than 50% of my attention to the kids. I value the gift of time so much....I need to remember to give that gift to my kids whenever I can.<br />
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I didn't get a ton of household chores completed but was able to chip away at the laundry and complete my Christmas cards.<br />
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Days like today just reconfirm my feelings about "Time." There truly is no better gift. Time is valuable....priceless....and all about what you make of it. Time is precious and not guaranteed. If you want to get a gift for a friend this holiday season and don't know what to get....consider the gift of time. Have them over for a meal, a drink, a movie....go out to lunch....go for a walk....go shopping....lift weights....sit and talk..........ANY of these things would be more than enough for me....I am sure others would feel the same.<br />
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Enjoy this holiday season! Treasure your TIME.........and the Journey continues........Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-39971772065490375072015-10-09T21:14:00.000-07:002015-10-09T21:14:34.155-07:0021 Day Cleanse COMPLETE! -- Brief Summary :)Time is up! I completed my 21 day Standard Process Purification Challenge yesterday! Today has been full of cheats but I will get on track soon!<br />
Here is a bullet point list of what I learned and experienced:<br />
* My will power is strong.....<br />
**So what is my excuse when I want to eat just to eat? DECISIONS...they are a constant challenge of our inner strength... the right decision really can be made when I want it to be.<br />
<br />
* My joints feel amazing!<br />
**I walked up and down stairs, jump roped, did lunges, step ups, burpees, etc and I feel awesome! It's a different kind of awesome though. I workout 5-6 days a week and get along really well with my knee but I truly feel younger! My knee feels "normal!"<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">* WATER</span><br />
**I already knew that water or hydration is extremely important in our daily lives. What I didn't give hydration enough credit for, is how much more energy I have when I stay on top of drinking an appropriate amount of water.<br />
<br />
**I could go back and look at my notes and on the days I felt sluggish...I was behind on my water consumption.<br />
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* <span style="color: blue;">WEIGHT LOSS</span><br />
**Understand that my intention for doing this, was NOT to lose weight. <br />
**Naturally, by eating clean for 21 days, I <b>lost 7.4lbs</b>! My stomach is now back to where I once was and my legs are more slender.<br />
**I wish I would have taken measurements of Body Fat.<br />
<br />
*My first meal when finished, was pizza and stuffed portabella mushroom. AMAZING! <br />
**Within 20-minutes of my last bite, I had a headache and I woke up with a headache.<br />
**Was it the Gluten or Dairy? We shall find out.<br />
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*<span style="color: blue;">WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS CLEANSE?</span><br />
**Absolutely, without a doubt! It was very reasonable and so worth it to feel so good! <br />
<br />
**One of the MAIN reasons I attempted this cleanse was to know first hand what to expect and tell people/clients when I am asked about cleansing. I think it is something everyone she try at least once!<br />
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*<span style="color: blue;">ADVICE</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">* Find a friend to take on this cleanse with you. Accountability is HUGE!</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">* Think ahead and be prepared! Meal prep, snack prep, for the week not just the day. The LESS THINKING YOU HAVE TO DO, THE BETTER OFF YOU WILL BE!</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">* Trust in the process....take notes in your journal and let the journey continue!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-10790147356009881072015-09-22T12:19:00.000-07:002015-09-22T14:41:51.922-07:00Standard Process 21 Day Cleanse....and a little Soap Box...Hello! I'm back with what seems to be my "quarterly post."<br />
<br />
I wanted to blog about the challenge I am doing at the time called the "Standard Process 21 Day Purification Cleanse."<br />
<br />
Before I start, I am going to explain a few reasons as to why on Earth I decided that it would be a FUN idea to cut ice-cream, eggs, peanut butter, cheese, etc., out of my life for 21 days.<br />
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For those that do not know, my husband and I opened up our own gym, the Performance Lab, in May 2015. We have enjoyed every second and have been pleasantly surprised by the amazing people that keep coming through our door. Owning my own gym has been a longtime dream of mine! It is my goal to challenge each individual who comes to me. Challenge them in a way that fits them and their current level.<br />
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I have been in the personal training business 10 years now. My style and thought processes have evolved throughout that time, but my passion has always been there, growing even stronger each day. One thing I have been very constant about is that I will NEVER make/have a client/athlete do something that I would not do myself or have not already done.<br />
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My athletes would all joke and say that that leaves the door wide open because I am always up for a challenge :)<br />
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Lately, probably the past 3 months, I have allowed myself to "cheat eat" way more than I should. So often, I hear comments from people:<br />
<br />
"must be nice to eat whatever you want and stay skinny"<br />
<br />
"I know I shouldn't eat this...it's not as healthy as what you eat"<br />
<br />
When I am spotted eating out:<br />
(gasp) "oh my gosh, you eat this kind of stuff?"<br />
<br />
"what are you going to get? oh let me guess, a salad!?!"<br />
<br />
The above are VERY FEW of the comments I hear all the time, but I don't want to sit here and type them all because it will ruin my good mood :)<br />
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Last I checked, there was NO pedestal beneath my 'biscuits.'.....so don't put me on one people!!!<br />
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I make great choices....most of the time....but I also indulge in my ice-cream/peanut butter combo quite often.........I love chips and dip.....I love whole wheat bread and I eat that in moderation. I love chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven.....I love peanut butter and anything! Not just PB&J. <br />
<br />
With the start of our own business, our kids being busy, Gabe's schedule is nuts, my schedule is nuts, I have made poor choices and felt like crap. I was getting 4 1/2 hours of sleep a night....I was short with my family....not as energetic as I would like to be around my clients, and the list goes on.<br />
<br />
A very dear friend of mine called me up a couple weeks ago and said, "hey I have been looking into doing a cleanse.....I think I found one that is really good....doable....21 days....costs a little bit of money but I think it will be good."<br />
<br />
Without asking ANY DETAILS....I seriously mean ZERO....because I trust this beautiful young lady and knew that she had a challenge and goal that she really wants to accomplish............me, KNOWING that I felt like crap and needed to make some changes......knowing that I had never done a cleanse and needed to if I am ever going to recommend it to anyone......said, "SURE....Order me a kit....I trust you, let's do this."<br />
<br />
A couple days later, she calls and said that our 21 Day SP Purification Cleanse had come in and that I could come by anytime to pick it up.<br />
<br />
I'm thinking...Pick it up?? What, a book?<br />
<br />
So I walk in and there sits a box. A big box. Full of cleansing supplements, protein shakes, whole food fiber, and a book on what to do and how to do this. While handing me this box, she told me that we are not allowed to eat meat for at least 7 days and we cannot have eggs.....or nuts.....<br />
<br />
My response (and I apologize now): "WTF?...No eggs? No meat? No Nuts?........what am I supposed to eat for breakfast?!! I eat eggs everyday!"<br />
<br />
From that moment on: I quickly realized that if I focused on what I could NOT have during this cleanse, that I would FAIL.<br />
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My next challenge and question was, when am I going to start this? I had a crossfit competition that ensuing weekend, I have a college alumni weekend to attend and an alumni basketball game, ........but you know what? I could sit here and continue to make up excuses because there is NOT A PERFECT TIME! Besides, we are talking 21 measly days! There are people in this world that would give anything to have a meal to eat once a day, let alone three!!! I'm NOT being asked to starve but to cleanse my body....to rid my body of toxins....to replenish with good, whole foods.<br />
<br />
All that being said....<br />
<br />
Day 1- I felt like it was easy peasy. I got this.<br />
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Day 2- I could rip someone's head off....possibly eat my arm like I would corn on the cob! Once I've eaten, life is good! I can already feel a difference in the afternoons b/c I am not crashing while I type on the computer!<br />
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Day 3- My back is really tight but otherwise, this is kind of fun!<br />
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Day 4- My back is a little better. I would get pissed when I got hungry but because I had stuff prepared and cut up ahead of time, I could satisfy my hunger rather quickly. I took pics of myself from different views so that I could see the difference 21 days of good eating would make for me.<br />
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Day 5- I'm still peeing like 'Sea Biscuit' but I. FEEL. AWESOME. My face is clearing up and complexion is looking better.<br />
I was hungry but still had the energy to tackle an insane workout...insane both mentally and physically, as I rowed 2500m while wearing a 20# vest....breaking every 250m to do 20 Burpees, WITH THE VEST ON!<br />
I was a bit miserable following the workout but within 20-minutes I felt like a champ again.<br />
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Day 6- I feel amazing! I really do! I feel inspired to share my journey with you. I took more pictures already just to compare. I have lost 3 pounds.<br />
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Weight loss....not my goal with this cleanse. I could seriously, to a point, care less about what I weigh. All I want, is to look defined. Feel strong. Feel good in what I am wearing. To be happy. To be HEALTHY. I want my body to be a healthy "billboard" on display. After all, that's basically the way I feel. People constantly judge me based on what I eat, what I wear, what I do....I never realized the microscope I was under or would be under in this profession when I started. I am NOT perfect nor will I ever be.<br />
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Another thing that has taken some getting used to, is SOCIAL MEDIA! I have never been one to WANT the spotlight. In highschool, following a cross country meet, my friends would ask me how it went and I would always say, great! Our team finished 1st, 2nd or whatever it was. And then I would continue on.....Then they would ask....Ok so how did YOU do? I'd tell them that I did well. Then they would ask for further detail.........Ok, I won and broke the record. I even feel weird posting this little conversation but I am trying to get my point across....posting on social media about myself or my success is tough as I don't want anyone to perceive me as being conceited, but I think personal stories can touch people so that's why I am doing this.<br />
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I am seeing that people really do pay attention to and feed off of social media. My goal in my career is to help as many people that I possibly can! Our HEALTH is our WEALTH! Without good health, really what good is your life? How much Joy can you squeeze out of it? With this being said, I want to share this 21 day journey with you. Prove to you that I do make several mistakes. And to also let you know, that the word "SKINNY" is NOT a compliment to me. Quite frankly, it irritates me because that word to me means that I am skin and bones, have no muscle definition, etc. I work my tail off when I exercise. I didn't just wake up with more muscle than fat. Maintaining what I have is difficult. Making good decisions the majority of the time...IS difficult! Finding time in my schedule to workout, IS difficult! NO I DO NOT WORKOUT WITH ALL MY CLIENTS.....I COACH THEM. I TRAIN THEM. THAT HOUR IS ABOUT THEM....NOT ME. That is clearing the air for another common misconception out there in regards to trainers.<br />
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We all face problems. We all deal differently with life, food, decisions and such.<br />
<br />
If you are struggling with energy....with what to eat.....how to exercise.....give me a call or send me a message. I do not have all the answers, but I have a lot of connections that probably do. My motto in the Performance Lab is, "Defining YOU."<br />
<br />
That is why I am here. To help YOU. Help you DEFINE YOUR goals and who YOU want to be. That is why I want to help. Women especially...we cannot do everything alone! It is ok to have someone look after you too. Sit down and review some personal goals...develop a plan of attack...and start kicking it in the tail! YOU CAN succeed if you want to. MAKING TIME AND NOT EXCUSES....will be the Key to your success. I am here to help! <br />
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Stay tuned!....as the Journey continues.........Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-89817074417911674282015-06-14T09:19:00.004-07:002015-06-14T09:19:43.943-07:00Church....Why?!......Lord help me!Gooooood Morning.<br />
<br />
Sunday morning. Gabe is at work. Soooo, like most Sundays, I get the privilege of taking the kids to church by myself.<br />
<br />
I got up, was dressed, make-up on, hair done BEFORE the kids woke up. Basically, I just crushed a personal Sunday best. BOOM.<br />
<br />
Once both kids were up, I asked..."Guess what day it is?!"<br />
K: what?!!<br />
Me: Sunday!<br />
G: ughhh<br />
Me: Time to get dressed and ready for church.<br />
G: I don't like church. Why do we always have to go to church?<br />
Me: Graham we go over this every week............<br />
<br />
And that is pretty much how most of my Sundays begin....arguing over church. There is not a Sunday that goes by that I don't hear my dad's voice in my head.<br />
<br />
Rewind to 25 years ago.......<br />
Me and Jared: we don't want to go to church!<br />
Dad: You can make time for ONE HOUR out of your week to go to church!<br />
<br />
Back to present day.<br />
<br />
We get to church, 2 minutes late of course. Get seated towards the back.<br />
<br />
The kids were pretty good the first 10-minutes and I am feeling pretty good and then they start acting up! The priest is talking about how we plant seeds and God does his work to make them grow. So I start trying to put that into my daily life. I'm thinking to myself,<br />
'why do I even bother to take them to church?'<br />
'they are not paying attention'<br />
So I told myself that it is my job to bring them to church no matter how they act, now matter how badly it make me want to pull my hair out or drink....that by me taking them to church, I am "planting my seeds." .....Just as my parents did for me.<br />
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Pretty soon, Kamryn sneezes....of course it's not a clean sneeze and heaven forbid I be a prepared mother with everything but the kitchen sink in my purse! No kleenex.<br />
<br />
So I spotted a kleenex box in the back of church and told her to go get a tissue. She gets to the box and whispers (loudly):<br />
"MOM, the box is EMPTY"<br />
<br />
So I point to another one that I spot. She walks over there and blows her nose....I was so proud for a second..........UNTIL, she proceeded to place her snot filled kleenex back in the box! <br />
<br />
I wanted to crawl under the pew.<br />
<br />
I sent Graham to go fish the nasty out of the box. He comes back holding the tissue out in front of him as though he had just caught a ginormous fish. Kamryn heads back to get another Kleenex and is laughing her butt off. <br />
<br />
After we got that mess taken care of....<br />
<br />
They played with church books, Graham took Kamryn's prayer book she brought just to hack her off. Kamryn lost her keychain which she refers to as her "camera" and was trying to take pictures of God and everybody. Of course she had to add sound effects.<br />
<br />
This point I can feel eyes all around me.<br />
<br />
I got to the point that I had to separate the two kids, one on each side of me.<br />
<br />
Let's move on to offertory time, shall we? Because I am on top of life, I did NOT have checks written for the kids to place in the basket. I had written one but not two so I was in the middle of putting my checkbook away after writing out checks, when the basket gets to us. Kamryn is fiddling around with the envelop I needed to put one check in...<br />
<br />
Graham was holding the other envelop that was ready to go.<br />
<br />
I grabbed the basket and handed it to Graham so I could put my other check in Kamryn's envelop......<br />
<br />
He does his Graham thing, puts the check in the basket and tried to hand it to me.....lets go ....and TaDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
The offertory basket full of $20 bills, $1s, checks, etc was all over the floor! Not just on the floor........UNDER THE PEW IN FRONT OF US. So, Graham is under the pew trying to pick up the money, I am down there trying to help....in a skirt............Kamryn is raising "HOLY HELL" because she doesn't have anything in her envelope. I finally put both checks in the basket and passed it to the row behind us.............I can only imagine the book people were writing about us at that point in time! Probably title "FIFTY SHADES OF RED!"<br />
<br />
Kamryn proceeds to cry about not getting to put her money in the basket for the next 3 minutes. I managed to get her calmed down and held her....meanwhile, Graham is sprawled out on the pew bench b/c heaven forbid we sit up like we are supposed to!<br />
<br />
It becomes time to kneel. I kneel while holding Kamryn. Graham stands.<br />
Me: Graham what is everyone else doing right now?! When we kneel, YOU kneel.<br />
G: (not whispering) But I can't see!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
The gal in front of us turns around and looks at him.<br />
<br />
G: (Whispers to me) Why is everyone stairing at me!??!?!<br />
Me: Because of the way you are acting Graham! You need to straighten up. You can either behave now, or choose to be in big trouble when you home!<br />
<br />
K: (NOT whispering) No mom! you can't put Graham in timeout!!<br />
Me: Fifty shades of Red<br />
<br />
We get to communion. My only regret is that I did not drink the wine. But I couldn't easily get to the wine because my two kids in front of me were treating communion time as though they were models on a runway, taking their sweet time, waving to anyone they knew! I just wanted to get back to our seats.<br />
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OF course when church is almost over...Father invites a guest speaker to come up. Needless to say, as soon as he was finished and the closing hymn began to play, we were off like a herd of sheep..........ready to get the "Flock" outta there!<br />
<br />
Dear mom and dad,<br />
I am so incredibly sorry for being such a ROYAL. PAIN.IN. THE .ASS. every Sunday back in my younger days! I am only apologizing for Sundays because I am positive I was an angel Monday-Saturday! Thank you for planting good seeds! Now if only I can get my "plants" to grow!<br />
Love,<br />
Shelly<br />
<br />
And the journey continues................<br />
<br />
<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-9317337419541369222015-04-16T18:09:00.001-07:002015-04-16T18:43:08.952-07:00Dear Kids and Life ChangesI swear I start every entry with something along the lines of......It's been so long..........Sorry I haven't written in forever.....blah blah blah.....I had the best of intentions with this blog. I was gonna document all the great conversations with the kids, share good stories, experiences, etc. Clearly, that hasn't happened.<br />
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I don't know where to start so I am going to write letters to the kids.<br />
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<i>you both spotted a bird of some sort that you recognized</i></div>
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<i>Graham and his buddy, Dylan at the park</i></div>
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<br />
Dear Graham:<br />
You are growing up way too fast! I love you to pieces but you are causing me all sorts of gray hairs at the ripe ol age of 32. For a five year old, I think you are very intelligent. You ask me difficult questions such as:<br />
Hey mom, what is your favorite animal from Central America?<br />
<br />
Do you know what the fastest land animal is? Or how to tell the difference between an Alligator and a Crocodile? (uhm yeah, one starts with an A and the starts with a C...BOOM...smart mama!)<br />
<br />
You have a huge desire to learn about all sorts of creatures. I believe your interest has been sparked by the tv show "Wild Kratts." Anyone could ask you questions about almost any animal and you can name the region, habitat, preditor and special features of the animal.<br />
<br />
For awhile, I was afraid I was going to have to start paying rent to the Principal's office at school since you seemed to frequent that place. Now you just keep the timeout chair warm....congrats on the improvement buddy! If you could figure out how to keep your hands to yourself, life would be so easy with you!<br />
When you get in the car from school, I always ask, "so how was school today?" On numerous occasions, you respond:<br />
It was good!........Well, Kinda good.........actually, I had a timeout........ok, maybe two timeouts.........<br />
It kills you to lie! Which is great! I love that about you! I don't think integrity will be a problem. Seriously though, when I take you to the store for a special treat and tell you to enjoy it......not to rub it in to Kamryn..........I will be darned if it's not the first topic of conversation out of your mouth when she gets in the car!<br />
"So sister....I have something to tell you....I got to go to Dillon's and get a donut!!!" (let's note that is the first time EVER that your mother bought you one 4.14.15) <br />
THEN we get to experience the Kamryn melt down saga.................Thanks. For. That.<br />
<br />
Ok, I will stop picking on you. On a positive note, you are the best at random "I love you's!" You love to give me hugs and blow me kisses when I leave.<br />
You like to call Kamryn, "sister." When asked why you call her "sister" more often then Kamryn, you say: "Technically, I am the only one that can really call her sister because I am her only brother."<br />
True, true :)<br />
You love to play baseball and golf. Soccer is ok but not your favorite. You enjoy riding your bike, playing with Kamryn and your friends, and doing workouts in the garage. Two weeks ago, you could not get a pull-up by yourself. We had you practice ring rows and pull-ups with a band........the other day you got a pull-up all by yourself!! That was so awesome to see!!! You (we) were so excited!<br />
<br />
You are starting to learn how to read which has been really cool also! "THE" stumps you every time though, LOL....bless your heart. It reminds me of the movie, "Dumb and Dumber!" I'm not saying you are dumb!!!! But you have to watch that movie someday...CLASSIC!<br />
<br />
Even though you are a little onery, you have a heart of gold! I love you buddy!<br />
<br />
Dear Kamryn Louise:<br />
Oh sis..... I freakin' Love you! You challenge me daily with your teenage attitude bottled up inside a toddler body. The things that come out of your mouth are generally hilarious! Honesty is not a problem for you. We need to work on that though in some situations. You need to learn that it's OK to keep some comments to yourself!<br />
We have to choose our cashiers "wisely" when we go to the store....God only knows what opinion you may feel like sharing!<br />
<br />
You are such a free spirit! Love to dance around....you love to hear Taylor Swift songs, especially "Shake it Off!"<br />
<br />
I think you have yet to meet a stranger. You're very friendly and are very good with names! Much better than your mother.<br />
<br />
You could stand to be friendlier to your brother. For whatever reason, you take your aggression out on his face when the two of you fight. You're a tough little cookie. That's for sure! I don't think we will have to worry about you getting into trouble on dates!<br />
<br />
At the supper table a few nights ago, you made an announcement.<br />
<br />
K: "I know who I am going to marry!"<br />
Graham: Oh dear...<br />
K: Carter! I'm going to marry Carter! Yep, he's in my class.<br />
Graham: Sister, you have a long time before you need to worry about that.<br />
K: No really, I'm going to marry Carter!<br />
Graham: ugh sister, would you just be quiet and eat!<br />
K: Graham...who are YOUUU gonna marry?<br />
Graham: you know.<br />
<br />
Busted. Graham has already found his match too apparently!<br />
<br />
This is your first season in soccer. You really like it! You are a fast little girl and very, very LEFT footed! For the most part, you do a great job listening to your coaches...........except for Tuesday night when you kept falling down on purpose and then would lie in the goal box after scoring and would just lie there and refuse to get up. Not embarrassing for your mother at all! Dad was and has been at work alot due to Turnaround at the Refinery. Unfortunately, he missed the drama.<br />
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As of now, you are obsessed with dresses!!!!!! OBSESSED. You told me this week that when you grow up, you want to be a cheerleader. We shall see.......<br />
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Every night before bed, you want to read a book, say your prayers and then ask me to sleep with you. <br />
Although you are full of piss and vinegar, it kills me to see you growing up so quickly. Yet, I will say, it is so fun to watch you play sports and interact with people. It's bittersweet. You sucker me in to lying with you most nights. <br />
In the mornings, your favorite thing to eat is strawberry yogurt. You barely open your eyes, but what you are asking for it! I love it when you ask me if we can have "girl talk!" These are the moments I hope continue forever. In case they don't, I am cherishing them now!<br />
<br />
I love you sis!<br />
<br />
While my kids are growing at warp speed, I am making big girl decisions as well. For the last five years, I have worked at the YMCA, using my degrees and Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification and Crossfit certs, to do personal training and coach CrossFit. I love the athletes I get to work with daily! Anyone I train is an athlete in my eyes. I have trained 10 year olds to 65 year olds.<br />
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<br />
CrossFit has truly changed my life! In April of 2012, I went and earned my certification to be considered a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. Since August of 2012, I have done all the programming for the adult classes and taught some of the CrossFit Kids- High school sessions. LOVE IT! To be able to impact and improve lives is truly rewarding.<br />
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Although I love what I do, I have felt a strong pull to do something on my own. Last week, I resigned from the YMCA giving my two weeks notice. This was decision that took me 5 months to weigh. It was very difficult to put myself first before others but I prayed for signs and God brought several to my attention. The sign that opened my eyes and my heart the most, was this daily devotional that I received through email that read:<br />
<i> Joshua 18: 2-3</i><br />
<i> But here remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: "How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?</i><br />
<br />
This devotion talked about how many times do we neglect to receive the gift God has given us? We pray and pray for changes or for signs and then when we are faced with an answered prayer, we hesitate to go forth. We let fear stand in our way. Maybe we are more comfortable praying for something else instead because that is the easy way out...the safe way.<br />
<br />
I took this devotion as a challenge but also cherished the message and sign I had been delivered. In my heart, I truly believe that I am on this Earth to make a difference and do something BIG. I'm not 100% sure what that is yet and I may be close. Change is a time to embrace new learning experiences and GROW. Change is scary. No matter how frightening though, I canNOT think of one time in my life where CHANGE failed to teach me SOMETHING. Something good or bad...I have learned something.<br />
<br />
My plan right now is to do training on my own. I am very excited for this opportunity. Very proud! Thankful for those whom have been so supportive and understanding. I ask for those who may be bitter or mad about the change, to accept it...you don't have to like it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9te1GMYBSkIhHT0daGLAV5mQdMuKUeiCWVOOve6-VoNhjCV6yAdijyaudOE2ksr5mHJC6YwnkIDxX-GQc81oDN5Rm3KCY78O2_xE6myT2HvJMV0gyCWbLw_hippKSov3uU267V6_IYY0/s1600/IMG_3316%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9te1GMYBSkIhHT0daGLAV5mQdMuKUeiCWVOOve6-VoNhjCV6yAdijyaudOE2ksr5mHJC6YwnkIDxX-GQc81oDN5Rm3KCY78O2_xE6myT2HvJMV0gyCWbLw_hippKSov3uU267V6_IYY0/s1600/IMG_3316%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
I look forward to this new journey and will probably be more into social media than ever before....that will be a big step for me.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqSsSInBhZcmBpqdHGbbFzgD6BkTIIIXzlICrSdVvp6vC4fQXdgVTeoxVSGt8lDE53-fd4RBmM-2KunWSWBV2ZHpUBTY-0i6uOevbswEiehIDWyAwsIGok4mI7uSj1NvZm-SMxKUP2K4/s1600/IMG_2849%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqSsSInBhZcmBpqdHGbbFzgD6BkTIIIXzlICrSdVvp6vC4fQXdgVTeoxVSGt8lDE53-fd4RBmM-2KunWSWBV2ZHpUBTY-0i6uOevbswEiehIDWyAwsIGok4mI7uSj1NvZm-SMxKUP2K4/s1600/IMG_2849%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
And the journey continues......<br />
<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-52646737656579056272015-03-08T22:06:00.001-07:002015-03-08T22:06:09.189-07:00Mom guiltToday has been a tough day. For the first time, in I don't know how long, our McPherson Lady Pups will not be in the State Tournament. <br />
Last night we played in the Sub-State Championship in Hays versus Buhler. We had split in the regular season but we were ready to face the challenge. Our girls battled their buns off and played with so much heart and class. There is not a thing we would change or were disappointed in as far as how we performed the things we could control. I'm keeping all comments to myself in regards to the game. We ended up tied w/ 10 seconds left. A foul was called w/ 4 seconds on the clock to send their best player to the FT line where she hit them both....we lost by 2.<br />
<br />
We had a team this year that was very close. They always hung out together and did so many things as a team. We had great senior leadership. Not always the most vocal bunch of kids but they took care of each other. I absolutely love getting to coach these kids. They mean the world to me and I hope I can positively impact each of their lives in some manner.<br />
<br />
Today started off slow. Our house is a mess. Laundry has piled up yet again. Stuff lying all over the place that needs to be put back in its place. The weather today was gorgeous!!! The kids finally got to go outside to play! In a desperate attempt for fresh air myself, I decided to go pick up the dog poop in the backyard that had been collected throughout the winter. Fun huh? It wasn't until my kids were begging to help me clean up this "crap" that I realized how hungry they were for time with me. I felt terrible! Seriously, what 3 and 5 year old truly wants to pick up dog pooh from the yard with their mother?!?!<br />
<br />
I ended up taking them to the park to play. Later, we ordered a pizza and baked cookies and watched my Disney favorite, Aladdin!<br />
<br />
Today is NOT the first time I have pondered this question, but how do I manage to keep the house under control, my patience at bay, enjoy and spend valuable time with my kids, coach basketball, program for and coach Crossfit, keep a healthy marriage and my sanity?<br />
<br />
I constantly juggle these things and I can't forget to throw my friendships in that mix. At 32 years old, I feel like I should have this figured out by now. It feels like parenting is so hard right now with a 3 and 5 year old. We are constantly battling each other. I know they are learning so much right now and are very curious little beings but how do I get the most out of them? How do I get them to listen? I'm saddened when I think about our time together right now and how the vast majority of it, I feel so stressed with them. How are they going to remember their young years? I want to experience the same high I receive from coaching kids when I am parenting my own. It has to be possible. How do I get there?<br />
<br />
A while back I had a conversation with a friend who brought up this question: As a mom, are we bringing our A game to our Marriage? Our children? As athletes, we are programmed to think this way....that we need to practice and train to be the best we can be. Would I make varsity as an athlete right now? I think so. Would I make Varsity as wife? mother? I can't honestly say yes to that question and it tears me apart.<br />
<br />
I have a lot to work on in the off season and I hope I can get on track. To all you moms out there that may possibly be struggling with something similar...Good luck to you.<br />
<br />
I'm gonna keep on battling and I will get it figured out.......as the journey continues.......Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-69264914586014873082015-01-24T11:55:00.000-08:002015-01-24T11:55:15.182-08:00Graham the Scientist - We are gonna need better Insurance!sweet Jesus...I tell you what....I love my children's imagination but seriously, it's a job to keep them alive!<br />
Graham came upstairs with a large piece of paper and scissors and tells me he is going to conduct an experiment. Meanwhile, Kamryn comes upstairs fixin' to go outside in a sundress after she has been sick this week.<br />
Me: Graham what are you experimenting with?<br />
G: Well I am going to make myself a pair of bat wings and see if I can fly.<br />
Me: Uhm Graham, I am sorry but that's not going to work.<br />
G: Mom, I am just going to try.<br />
Me: Graham, we were not built to fly, I'm sorry but it's just the way it is!<br />
Meanwhile....Kamryn comes out to the kitchen in a new dress and tights, not to mention with the biggest wedgie known to mankind!<br />
She had her underpants on SIDEWAYS....that's always comfortable.<br />
G: How about I use one of my stuffed animals?!<br />
Me: Sure, go ahead.<br />
So we had to make a cape for his stuffed Briar Cliff Charger (horse).....Needless to say, "Fuzzy" took a nose dive down the stairs and Graham couldn't believe it.<br />
<br />
Just when I think the experiment is over, He gets balloons and asks me to blow one up and tie it onto Fuzzy in hopes this will work. I don't say anything but do it anyways.<br />
Just when I finish....<br />
Graham: slaps his head..."Oh great, air is not going to do anything....I need Helium! Can you get some helium for me?"<br />
<br />
Ok....while I appreciate his scientific curiousity, I gotta draw the line here! Especially since I still don't have him convinced that this experiment is NOT going to work on himself!<br />
<br />
and the journey continues........Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-22270513741864325652014-12-26T18:58:00.001-08:002014-12-26T18:58:23.168-08:00I can't handle the princess stuff..........Ok, I have shook my head in astonishment all day today in regards to some of the conversations our children have had with me! <br />
<br />
Graham was downstairs playing with his new toys and came upstairs and said:<br />
"Mom, I love you! You are the best mom I've ever had!"<br />
<br />
Ok, so obviously, I am the only mother he has ever had but seriously, it melted my heart!<br />
<br />
At supper tonight:<br />
K: Hey mom! Guess what?!! Did you know that "Caricles" almost got eaten by Crocodiles?!!! (she said something else but I couldn't get past the vocabulary for one, and two, I had no idea what the heck a Caricle was and I am pretty sure it is misspelled)<br />
Me: What did she just say? Caricle? What the heck?<br />
Gabe: yeah a Caricle<br />
Graham: you know...a Caricle is a Cat....they live in the African Savannah<br />
Me: uhm, yeah ok......(at this point, I felt like an insanely stupid blonde)<br />
<br />
And the convo continued but I can't even begin to regurgitate it!<br />
<br />
<br />
After Kamryn's shower, and I finished combing her hair she said,<br />
K: Ok, can you take me to my castle now?! (In a high pitched, prissy voice)<br />
As we are putting her pj's and lotion on:<br />
<br />
K: Uhm mom, will you go get my "Pinkalicious books."<br />
Me: How about you go get your books since you know where they are. I am not your Maid.<br />
K: Well that's why God made you....so you can go get my books, excuse me...I have to work on my computer.<br />
Me: Excuse me?!?!<br />
<br />
In order to even write this brief summary of conversations, I had to ask Graham what the name of the "Animal" was that we discussed at supper.<br />
<br />
Me: Hey, Graham what animal did Kamryn talk about at Supper?<br />
Graham: A carickle.<br />
Me: I don't even know how to spell it.<br />
Graham: "Kuh" - "cuh" ...It makes a "C" or a "K" Sound. I don't know. Just ask your phone...it will probably tell you.<br />
Me: Yeah probably. I have never heard of it.<br />
Graham: (just kinda gave a little laugh) Oh Kamryn. She is always acting like a "pickle pants."<br />
<br />
Well folks....I am gonna sign off. Just figured I better update this while I could remember how to say "Caricle" or whatever the heck it is....a cat.........huh, who knew...............and the journey continues!Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-86289061162140428212014-12-14T10:56:00.002-08:002014-12-14T11:01:53.305-08:00Tis the seasonHappy Holidays from the Grizwalds. No seriously.<br />
<br />
Like everyone else and their dog, we are busier than a cat coverin' it up here on Tombo Court. I started off the Holiday season with having all the gifts that I had bought to date, wrapped before Thanksgiving. Now I am behind...Have a few gifts to buy at this point and some more gifts to wrap. Life got ten times crazier once basketball began. It's a good busy but this year we kicked off the season with Gabe on night shift. Super fun. To put a little cherry on top of all this bliss, we are all hacking, blowing our nose, both boys have had fevers....you walk into our house and it looks like we've all been wiped out by a tornado....the house included.<br />
<br />
Last night, I went to watch a former high school player play against Mac College. On my way home I thought, even though we are all sick, it would still be a good night to relax and go look at Christmas lights, have a snack, and enjoy some family time. When I got home, we loaded up the Grizwald's and made it one block before we had to stop the car and tell the kids to stop arguing about what Christmas lights each other were looking at! "Graham, look at my side!!"......."No, Kamryn, look at the lights on MY side!" repeat, repeat, repeat! <br />
Once the arguing died down, they started to get excited about the lights.<br />
<br />
Kamryn: "Oh look!! There is Red........and green!!! my favorite!"<br />
Gabe: "Sweetie, that is the stop light"<br />
<br />
We visited the house with the light and music show. After the first song of about five, Kamryn was fed up. "Let's go home!....Ugh...can we go now....Fine I'm not watching.........blah blah blah" About that time, Gabe and I look at each other.....this is lovely, isn't it? <br />
Meanwhile, back on Tombo, apparently Azzi Sue wanted to ride along on our family light viewing adventure. In order to get even with us, she decided to rumage through my Target sack of stocking stuffers (that was on the floor, my bad, but damn)....Found herself a bag of miniature unwrapped snickers........OPENED it...and Ate. The. Whole. Dag-gum. Bag! So.............she is on a sugar high...full of piss and vinegar today. Your prayers are appreciated as God only knows how much longer she will be with us after that episode.<br />
Needless to say, "Ernie- the Elf on the Shelf," did not change locations last night. At our house, Ernie only moves if you have behaved.<br />
<br />
Dear Hollywood,<br />
If you are looking for a new Grizwald Family, you are looking at 'em.<br />
<br />
Peace out.......as the journey continues.........<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-64625920679731960492014-09-26T13:25:00.001-07:002014-09-26T14:18:51.104-07:00Fast paced world....I will write on my blog tonight...or tomorrow night....or the next day when I may have more time.........That is what I constantly think to myself. From 6th grade all the way through college, I kept a journal. It was a way for me to relieve stress, contain worry, track my workouts, challenge myself, store memories, etc...Then I graduated...grew up....got married...got a job...moved towns, changed jobs, started working towards my Masters degree... took a leap of faith in my coaching career...arguably failed...had a handsome baby boy, got a new job....graduated with my Masters Degree in Health and Human Performance while 8 months pregnant w/ #2...had a beautiful baby girl....recently celebrated 10 years of marriage...then watched my brother marry the love of his life.........<br />
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All of that happened about as fast as the time it took for you to read it. INSANE how fast time goes. Everyone and their pooch will tell you that "time goes so fast when you have kids"..."don't blink because before you know it they will be out of the house"..."enjoy the baby/toddler stages because you never get this time back with your children".......and the list goes on...<br />
<br />
I say prayers with our kids every night before bed and have them list what they are thankful for. In my mind, it is SO important to truly value friendships, relationships, TIME on Earth and never take anything, anyone, any talent or treasure for granted. On the flip side...it can be so easy to do.<br />
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<br />
A person has to MAKE time for anything. We all have the time but it's a matter of what we are going to fill the time with. Each of us have different priorites, goals, cares or worries. <br />
I tend to get so caught up with trying to keep everything clean (which doesn't happen). I want to be organized and have everything in it's own little place. Sounds so precious and perfect but seriously....<br />
<br />
I get pissed off at my kids for not listening when I ask them the first time or two to do things. But let me take a step back and look at myself. When they talk to me, what am I doing? Am I on the phone? the computer? engulfed in something else so important that I don't take time to "give them my eyes" like I enforce them to do with me? Practice what you preach mama! I need to make that my focus and I have sincerely been trying to do better at giving them attention when they talk.<br />
<br />
I have heard my whole life..."stop being so hard on yourself!"<br />
I am not ok with <i>average</i>. Drives. Me. Nuts. Is this good? or bad? There are a million ways to slice this pie. BUT...I want to be the BEST mom that I can possibly be. I want to be the BEST wife to Gabe. I want to be the BEST daughter and sister than I can possibly be....the BEST sister-in-law...the BEST friend.....the most LOYAL person that people can know...do all I can to help people succeed. Is there room for error? Is there supposed to be? I think this is why I tend to be too serious and now my poor son seems to be following in my footsteps.<br />
My job means alot to me. But lately...I question myself constantly. Am I being the BEST coach that I can possibly be? Did I motivate anyone today? Did I TEACH anyone something new or reiterate something they forgot? Could the athletes I am coaching easily say, "eh, she is ok but I am ready to work with someone else."?? <br />
I want to LEARN something EVERY DAY...EVERY. SINGLE. DAY! I don't just want to be valuable but <span style="color: red;">irreplaceable</span>. That, realistically, is a lot of pressure to put on myself. My personal goals are lofty. I also want to be in the BEST shape of my life, every year that I am alive. I want to compete until the day I die. I make the choice to eat healthy most of the time. This takes a lot of work and discipline. <br />
Am I perfect?...Can I get a "Hell no?!?! whoot whoot" I don't like the spotlight and don't try to entertain it. But I admit, I get really upset when people comment (read this in the whiniest voice possible) "Oh you are so skinny...You can eat whatever you want...I just look at a hamburger and gain 10lbs.........." blah blah blah! My muscles were not handed to me on a golden platter people. <br />
Is it easy to make the choices I do? No....WHY? I could write a book and maybe I should.......If I don't make good choices, my job will not exist, because after all, who is going to hire an overweight, unhealthy trainer/coach? They may hire me, but will they respect me? I have said this for YEARS when people talk to me about being a trainer, "my body is a billboard." Just the other day, I read an article about personal trainers and their comment was "their body is their business card", same diff. It is so easy to make bad choices. So so sooo easy. Losing weight is a b&*$@! Maintaining weight/shape/definition is a B&*$@! This day in age, to be healthy and make wise decisions, will leave you as a minority. Sad. But True.<br />
Last week, I went grocery shopping and was checking out when the cashier commented, "either you like to eat healthy or someone has an allergy?" My response, " I like to eat healthy." Does she comment on every shopping cart? Doubtful. My point being, she doesn't see the choices I made, go through her checkout line that often.<br />
<br />
My whole rant is based on TIME. What does TIME mean to you? Take TIME to reflect just how little TIME we really have on Earth. What you eat, how you exercise, your physical activity, are all things that YOU CAN CONTROL. But do you REALLY want to be in complete control? Do you REALLY want to have that POWER? Because it can be scary to some people. Freedom is a powerful-powerful thing. I realize everyday just how short life is. I challenge you to embrace along with me the gift of time and live each day as though it's your last. We are so blessed! I will leave you with this...<br />
<br />
Enjoy your children's childhood, the dirty house can wait.<br />
Appreciate your relationships, you and your spouse should always date.<br />
Make time for yourself, as hard as that is to do.<br />
If you are not healthy, then really what are friends and prized possessions to you?<br />
Take control of your life, win the battle and make the healthy choice<br />
I know I am not perfect, but I am using my educated voice<br />
Value your time. For it is a GIFT.<br />
Make the most of every day, you should not HAVE to go to work<br />
<i>Getting </i>to go to work is more like it, your job should be a perk<br />
Know your WHY, your purpose for all you do<br />
Write it, post it for you to see, when you are feeling blue<br />
Value your time. For it is a GIFT.<br />
Make time for family and friends, loyal friends can be hard to find<br />
When you find them, treat them right, unfortunately there seem to be few of their kind<br />
Enjoy your freedom, freedom to choose and speak<br />
For several people in this world are left wondering and worried from weak to weak<br />
Journal your stories, even if they are sloppy and quick<br />
Don't make finding time the only real trick<br />
I'm grateful for my peers, family and talents,<br />
through my job I can encourage, low spirits I can lift<br />
Value your time. For it is a GIFT.<br />
<br />
Live, Laugh, Love....and the journey continues......<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-56494491190035299732014-06-01T18:48:00.000-07:002014-06-01T18:48:57.025-07:00Conversations.....a few of manyI've had a lot of funny conversations today with the kids and should have been writing them all down. Here is one from tonight as it is raining.<br />
<br />
Graham: Did dad drive his Jeep to work?<br />
Me: Yes, Good thing he did!<br />
Kamryn: Yeah! If he would ride his bike, lightning could SMASH him like a pancake!<br />
Graham: Sister.......Lightening will NOT smash you like a pancake.<br />
<br />
Kamryn: gasp! oh no my socks are outside! this is gonna be a disaster! (as she is trying to open the sliding door to head out in the storm)<br />
Me: Sister! Stay in here! Graham went out and got them a little bit ago, remember?!<br />
Kamryn: oh.<br />
<br />
I should title this conversation "Out in Left Field"<br />
<br />
Graham: Mom would it be awkward if we watched Cars again tomorrow?<br />
Me: why would it be awkward?<br />
Graham: I mean wouldn't it be awkward if we watched Cars before we went to toddler time....it would be awkward.<br />
Me: You definitely won't be able to watch it before Toddler time but that doesn't make it awkward.<br />
Graham: well it would just be awkward......Good grief....are you afraid of storms Azzi?Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-89981896641728065552014-04-03T13:35:00.001-07:002014-04-03T20:23:32.474-07:00guest writerFor the love of all that's holy! What's the point in having a blog if I'm not going to be consistant in writing?!?! Beats the hell out of me but I am going to give this another try. I am the guest today...might as well be.<br />
<br />
As all my posts are, this is going to be an update on our kids, which is the sole purpose for this blog. So if you don't want to read all the sappy "oh my kids are the best" stories then exit...click the red 'x' in the right hand corner of your screen.<br />
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Up first is the most recent story I have, only 3 hours old at this point.....<br />
<br />
Anymore, I am not a fan of taking both of the kids to Wal-Mart while I am by myself. That store is like a war zone. You walk in there with 1 item on your list and then BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM! You have a cart full of shit (if you have a toddler who has finally agreed to sit in there because inevitably she craps her pants while we are there and proceeds to announce that to everyone), excuse me, a cart full of all kinds of precious things you were not intending to purchase. ANYWAYS....we go there today and I told the kids that there was no choice, both were going IN the cart, the instant we got in the store and that if they were good, I'd buy them the DVD "Frozen." Little did they know, that was one of the main reasons I was going there anyways, to get a new movie for the car ride tomorrow, but whatevs....if it works, great. We get in the store and of course Kamryn starts to throw a fit and I asked her once more if she wanted the movie? She said yes, and got her happy pampers in the cart! Graham was great about getting in without a fight thank goodness. <br />
The kids did great! No fighting...Kamryn for the first time in ages, didn't load her drawers, Graham didn't ask for everything in sight, it was a success.....and THEN we enter the checkout line.<br />
We made it a family effort to load the checkout table with all our groceries, the cashier starts scanning our stuff and here we go.....Kamryn decides she is going to have a "Come to Jesus meeting" with the cashier. I will give you one guess and only one, as to who played the role of Jesus...............<br />
Cashier says to me: "Hello, how are you doing today"<br />
Me: Doing alright, thanks<br />
In the background of all the small talk is Kamryn: (in a sweet voice) Hi Lady! :).....<br />
Cashier: no answer<br />
Kamryn: (kinda sweet voice) Hey LADY!<br />
Cashier: no answer<br />
As I am saying "hey Kamryn, can you please say hey 'mam'?"<br />
Kamryn: (not sweet but PTL she didn't scream it) Hey Lady, you are not listening to me!..........<br />
Kamryn: (sweet voice) "Hey mam :)"<br />
Cashier: Hi!!!<br />
Kamryn: Um may I have a sticker?<br />
Cashier: I'm sorry we don't have stickers.<br />
Kamryn: You don't have stickers?!<br />
Cashier: Nope they don't let us give them out anymore. :(<br />
Kamryn: Where's your car?!<br />
Cashier: what?<br />
Kamryn: You have stickers in your car?<br />
Me: she asked where your car is.....Kamryn, that's enough ok they don't have stickers.<br />
Cashier: I'm sorry dear, I can't just go poof and have stickers!<br />
Me: Ok thanks! Have a good day :)))))))<br />
<br />
So if Wal-Mart has stickers from now on, you can probably tell Kamryn thank you....stay-tuned!<br />
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Graham just started the Spring Soccer Academy that's put on by McPherson College Soccer. Here is the conversation I posted to Facebook that first night of soccer:<br />
<span style="background-color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">As we are getting ready for soccer tonight (1st night):</span><br />
<span style="background-color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Gabe: ready to practice soccer?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Graham: actually I don't know soccer</span><br />
<span style="background-color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Me: listen to your coaches. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Graham: how many coaches are there?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Us: not sure but just listen</span><br />
<span style="background-color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">........</span><br />
<span style="background-color: blue; color: black;"><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=640788517&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/gabe.prescott" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Gabe Prescott</a><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">: are you excited?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: blue; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Graham: "yes! Now I won't have to go to school!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Gabe: you still have to go to school bud</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />Graham: oh.....right......actually when I'm 20 I don't have to go to school<br />Gabe: hopefully you will be in college by then.<br />Graham's wheels just kept turning....(yep, first night of pre-k soccer and I'm already a pro...who needs to finish school?! Creative thinker)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b style="background-color: blue;">So basically, Gabe and I are sorta a big deal.....we are the proud parents of a 2 year old Princess and a 4 year old almost already Professional Soccer player....not everyone turns pro after/before 1 session of soccer ya know!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It's always something with these two. They are best friends one second and at each other's throats the next. No that is not a play on words. When Kamryn gets pissed, she goes for Graham's face. I'm not proud of that! We are working on trying to contain and re-route the anger. Graham is easily annoyed and Kamryn knows exactly what buttons to push to get him there. He growls and then tackles her. So when I step back and try to take the positive out of all this, after of course I feel like I am raising a bunch of disrespectful animals, I feel like I won't have to worry too much about self defense issues. Really though, when I am not around, the kids are very polite and more respectful. At least that's the most common compliment I receive about them. They definitely have their "Angel moments." Just feels like they choose to have those when mom is not around :))) Never fails...they can be acting like total turds and one if not both of them, will bust out a random, "I love you mama!" Melts my heart!</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b style="background-color: blue;">Really, I can't get too mad because I will admittingly say, they come by the stubborness....temper...competitiveness, honestly. Yes, I know, hard to believe that my "Angelic" moments are few and far between also.....Gabe you are not innocent either babe!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Although it feels as though we are headliners for the Barnum Bailey Circus about 90% of the time, I love the family we have....We are rarely bored, that's for certain! I hope to write more frequently from now on. Until next time...the journey continues!</span></span></b>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-86120087439775796422013-06-19T20:31:00.002-07:002013-06-19T20:31:49.819-07:00KamrynMy baby girl is almost 2 years old! I'm in such denial that I still have her birthday invitations sitting here untouched....as though she really isn't having a birthday in less than two weeks! She is so ornery but loving. I can be so frustrated with her and then she will come up to me for no reason at all and pat me on the back say "I wuv you mommy!....Hug?!" Oh my gosh. It truly melts my heart! She is a very active little girl with little fear. Poor girl has little bruises and scratches all over from falling, tripping, not paying attention to wear she is going etc. I can always count on her to greet me with a smile and a big "Hi Mommy!!" or "Morning!" Tonight, we went to Gabe's softball game. The guys ended up practicing since their opponent didn't show up on time and they hit a couple balls over the fence. I took the kids and we retrieved the softballs for them. Kamryn kept asking to hold my hand and usually she doesn't want to...for very long anyway. It seems so small, but I love holding her soft, little innocent hands....so full of love, curiousity and trust! I hope and pray everyday that Kamryn and I have a relationship like my mom and I do. We have so much fun together!<br />
<br />
What Kamryn is doing these days....<br />
1. sayings: "Stop!" "Go away!"<br />
2. Likes to sing Twinkle Little Star<br />
3. Favorite color: pink<br />
4. Favorite snack: pistachios, almonds and /or raisins<br />
5. Likes to repeat anything you say so that she can try to learn new words.<br />
6. Loves to run around in the gym. She tries to dribble the basketball and when she can't keep it going, she kicks the ball and then chases it while saying "Hustle! Hustle!"<br />
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Well, I am getting tired and am going to call it a night. Most of my posts are generally dominated by Graham stories, but I am going to dedicate tonight's post to Kamryn Louise. I love you sis!! May God bless you as the journey continues...Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-56454014144536502792013-05-17T09:53:00.001-07:002013-05-17T10:04:08.846-07:00Sorry Graham but I had to post this....Dear Graham and Kamryn:<br />
<br />
I realize if Graham was old enough to read, he would probably get mad at me for recording this but I can't help it. It's funny now Graham, it really is!<br />
<br />
Graham came in from outside to "take care of business" in the bathroom. I went to check on him and he had just finished.<br />
<br />
Me: Buddy, do you need me to help wipe.<br />
G: No, I already did it.<br />
Me: Are you sure.<br />
G: Yep. Why do my underwear stick to the hole where my poop comes out of?<br />
Me: <em>blank stare......then I couldn't help it but I busted out laughing....</em><br />
G: <em>he got embarrassed and then said...</em>ugh Who says that?!?!<br />
Me: LOL<br />
<br />
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A few days ago, shortly after eating lunch, Graham was sitting in his chair in the kitchen just messin' around. I got up from the table and went to the other room for a minute and all of sudden Graham yells...<br />
"MOM!!! I have hair on my knees!!!! It's so little!!!"<br />
<br />
Oh boy....I can only imagine what he will say about 10 years from now!<br />
-----------------------------------------<br />
<br />
As for Kamryn, I am still completely amazed at how rapidly her language has picked up the past month! My absolute favorite thing she says right now is POPSICLES. She pronounces them as "Eee-poss-cuh-bowls"<br />
Another funny thing she does...<br />
K: Hi mom!!!<br />
Me: Hey Kamryn!<br />
K: Good!<br />
<br />
She assumes you are going to ask her how she is doing lol....<br />
<br />
Least favorite things right now....when she doesn't want you to do something or even look at her...<br />
K: <em>yells with attitude </em>"Stop it!" and then tries to slap at you.<br />
<br />
She is our biter. Poor Graham takes a beating from little sassy pants!<br />
<br />
It amazes me that she can very purposefully call my mom. If I leave my phone on the table or within her reach, she will reach and grab it and say, "I call Nana!" So many times she has called her when I didn't realize that she really was talking to my mom! She unlocks my phone, goes to my contact list, and whoala.....dials Nana and has a convo!<br />
<br />
Another thing that intrigues her....she LOVES to hang! She walks around the kitchen and says "I hang!" and grabs on to the oven handle or freezer handle and hangs on them like pull-up bars. I get so mad at her and she just laughs! I finally started taking her outside and let her play on my gymnastics rings and pull-up bars out there....she LOVES IT!<br />
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Let's see Kamryn Louise...what else do you like to do right now??? We bought a riding mower last month and you love to ride with us. It has actually been nice. I didn't plan to use the rider at our house but I can actually get something done knowing you are on my lap and Graham is playing with his outdoor toys. When it comes time to mow the front, I get the push mower and you and Graham drive your motorized car around the front yard and driveway. It is cute to watch:) Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-32503317178457118122013-05-02T20:27:00.003-07:002013-05-02T20:27:44.600-07:00Kid Convos...Graham started Tae Kwondo this week! We are trying it out to see if he likes it before we officially sign him up. Needless to say, he has told us several times that he absolutely loves it and is having fun! Last night while he was practicing his form, Gabe was trying to talk to him about what to do next. Graham stopped to take a break and stood a few feet away from but in front of the fireplace...he stood with his arms folded and was looking at his reflection and Gabe asked, "What are you doing buddy?" and Graham replied, "Looking cool."<br />
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Kamryn has completely mastered being able to unlock my phone and call Nana! I don't have to say a word, she does it herself. Nana has just come to expect a call from Miss Kamryn Louise on a daily basis. Not only has she mastered the art of calling, she now likes to open up my camera on my phone and take pictures. Today while we were in the kids' room, she got my phone camera up and running and was trying to take a picture of Graham "say cheeeeeeesssseee!" Graham took the phone and looked into my camera and said, "Hey good lookin'!"<br />
<br />
I am afraid that all this looking in the mirror and following the Tae Kwondo instructor, is getting to his head!<br />
<br />
Kamryn is trying to stretch and test her limits to full capacity! When she wants something by golly you better be listening because she doesn't give you much time to respond before she is yelling at you. I got tired of her talking back to me the other day so I put soap in her mouth (happened to me as a kid!) and said, "there Kamryn, what do you think of that?!? We don't talk back!" Kamryn looked at me and said, "mmmm it's good!" SO....there goes that brilliant idea of punishment! Today she was doing something she was not supposed to be doing and was hiding in the closet. I told her to get out and she told me "No!" with the biggest smile on her face! I asked her if she wanted a spankin' and she said "I smakin...I smakin" and patted her own behind! When I tell her to go to timeout, she smiles, and walks to a corner and puts her nose in the wall....turns around and smiles at me again. 22 months old!!!! Really....is really possible to start copping an attitude that young?!?! gimini Christmas!<br />
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I'm going to come up with SOMETHING to phase her...I am! As the journey continues....Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-36932679053811982832013-04-17T20:36:00.002-07:002013-04-17T20:36:15.463-07:00Rainy day...Howdy!<br />
Let me start by saying, this day has not lacked for any dull moments! I am going to post a few videos to explain what I mean.<br />
<br />
Story of the day:<br />
I got home from work and Gabe had fed the kids lunch. Kamryn was down for a nap and Graham was downstairs playing. Gabe is on nights this week so he wanted to try and catch a nap before he went to work. I decided to make myself a big salad for lunch! I sat my salad down on the table along with my glass of water and all of a sudden "BOOM!!" Excuse my french, but my ass flew out of the chair and down the stairs so stinkin fast that I am not sure I even touched all the steps! "Gabe! OMG I think we are being bombed...or shot at! Holy Shit !! Did you hear that?!?" (when Graham is saying holy shit tomorrow, I have no one but myself to blame)<br />
He is lying on the couch, "yeah, I thought you dropped something??"<br />
Me: "No I didn't drop anything! I think someone is in our garage or something I don't know!"<br />
<br />
So we head upstairs...he opens our door leading out to the garage and we saw that our garage door was still open. We are both looking around and I decide to walk out of the garage....I looked around the corner..."OMG GABE!!!!...go look, I don't know what it is but all I see is a tail"<br />
<br />
Gabe: He walks out and peeks around the corner and immediately starts walking me back inside "hurry up get back in side!" All he could see were claws!!<br />
<br />
WE ran into the living room and looked out our front window...a HAWK had flew into our window...the middle to South part of the middle window....knocked its happy ass to the North side of our porch! We watched him manage to get back on his feet...shake his head and wobble back and forth. If the bird could talk...."what?, I'm good...I'm good....just gonna stand here...check out the scene" He sat there for 45 minutes!!!!! Azzi was about to have a cow but Gabe wouldn't let her out there because she would have had her eyeballs clawed out! This was insane! We initially thought it was a Prairie Hawk but Gabe now thinks its a Longwinged Hawk or something like that. Check out the video of Gabe trying to catch this bird with a Rubbermaid container!!....Yes he was gonna trap it in a Rubbermaid and release it in the country. All I can picture is the bird escaping in the Jeep and there ya have it folks....Gabe and Mr. Hawk having a showdown in the Jeep! He was honestly nervous which freaked me out even more! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgtJVXRv_CA">Gabe vs. Hawk</a><br />
Anyways...Gabe wanted to see if he could fly and the Hawk obviously managed to do so. That bird sat in that exact same spot from 1-6:15ish. When I checked at 7:45pm, it was gone.<br />
<br />
The kids managed to stay entertained on this rainy afternoon. They played anything from puzzles to trains to watching a DVD to reading books etc. Graham developed a new way of "sledding"...check out the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr3N7VLQFo8">Video</a>.<br />
<br />
Kamryn continues to perfect her animal noises. She has the "monkey" down! It is hilarious! While she played with her "Noah's Ark" puzzle type game, she started making monkey noises....I asked her to do it again and then I let the camera roll....<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oQfwCVF83g">Kamryn Monkey</a>.<br />
<br />
Oh my what a day...the journey will continue tomorrow :)<br />
Peace out!<br />
Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-60533369908621747032013-04-02T21:17:00.003-07:002013-04-02T21:17:47.693-07:00Growing like weeds....precious weeds of course...Unfortunately, I let the busy basketball season get in my way of posting updates on the kids. They are growing up so fast and I know that sounds so cliche' but it is what it is. Both are so alike yet so different. They seem to be going through a period where they are very defiant, picky eaters which hasn't always been the case, and are developing their language. Graham is using big words for a three year old...in my opinion...and doing so in context. It amazes me the things he remembers from books or movies or conversations we have had. Kamryn, is trying so hard to talk! She has made huge improvements and is saying quite abit now. We understand her better than anyone b/c we are around her more but those are that are around her more and more have told me that they are starting to pick up on what she is saying also. She has such a sense of humor! Her expressions are so animated....smile so contagious! I promise I am not making this up or forcing her to do so, but I really think she likes basketball! Today, while Graham attended his first swimming lesson, Kamryn and I played with a basketball in the gym. After we left the gym, she went running past me down the hall of the YMCA saying, "Nice hustle!.....hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle!" I love it! She obviously is too little to dribble or shoot yet so anytime she runs towards a ball, I tell her to hustle! Apparantly, she has been paying attention :) Kamryn absolutely loves to play outside!!! No matter what kind of weather we have, she wants to be outside! She likes to attempt to ride Graham's old tricycle. For Christmas we bought them a convertible car, motorized car. Seeing the two of them ride around together is so fun! Graham is the driver and Kamryn is his passenger. They have had a lot of fun with it!<br />
Graham is still enjoying preschool and CrossFit Kids! We held off putting him in soccer this Spring. Lately, we have had a lot of trouble getting him to listen. He is very independent with his thinking! Hopefully, this is a phase....that passes....sooner than later!<br />
Well, I realize this was a brief update but I am tired and ready to call it a day....until next time...the journey continues :)<br />
Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-20561283945053119122013-01-30T11:30:00.001-08:002013-01-30T11:30:35.539-08:00Overdue update....Long time, no post! Sorry. I have not had the time to post and have told myself a hundred things I need to remember to write about on here but I will be lucky to remember 5 of those.<br />
<br />
Kamryn Louise is now 19 months old! She has really exploded with her vocabulary in the last month. My little 20 pounder is kinda sassy. She has perfected the "No No!" with a finger point so we are all sure to hear about it if we are doing something wrong or not in her favor. If I were to predict her future, I'd say she is not going to take any crap from anyone! She likes to pick on her brother almost more than he picks on her. Although they pick on each other, they love each other to pieces! Kamryn still struggles with saying "Graham" so to her he is "bubba." She loves to play with her new laptop (for kids of course), mommy's phone, dig through mommy's purse and drawers, play outside, chase basketballs in the gym, playing with playdough, and has a major obsession with shoes! For whatever reason, she seems to think her black boots go well with everything from her diaper to her leggings.<br />
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Graham is almost 3 1/2 years old. He is still in preschool! Sounds like he is a smart little boy and the teacher can call on him whenever she needs an answer but otherwise he is living in his own world and doesn't follow instructions so well. We will continue to work on that department!<br />
Gabe introduced him to the movie, "Toy Story." Quite often, Graham swears he is "Buzz Lightyear." This past Christmas was his first ever Christmas program. We were so excited to see him sing with this class! They had 4 songs to perform. Between the preschool and pre-K classes there were 48 students. Graham was placed in the front row....I had my camera and was also sitting in the front of the church....His classmates sang Jingle Bells while he held his arms straight out to the side pretending as though he was Buzz Lightyear! Anytime the little girl in her Christmas dress, standing next to him, would sway back and forth in her dress, Graham would glare at her like she was the most annoying being on this Earth! As if Buzz wasn't bad enough, he stood there and picked his nose as well! :) Nice huh!<br />
Never too many dull moments in our house. He still says several clever things and makes us laugh!<br />
A couple weeks ago, when he was "a doctor" (we never know what he will be from day to day) I asked him if he would like a cheese stick for a snack and his response was, "Mom, no, Doctors don't eat cheese they eat 'saugesas'" I spelled that wrong on purpose b/c that is about how it sounds as it rolls off his toungue. He loves beef jerky or beef sausage sticks.<br />
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As if we are not busy enough, we decided rather than buy a house, we wanted to renovate our basement. We are building Grahams bedroom and redoing the bathroom. My cousin Cody, helped us tremendously with all the framing and sheet rocking, moving doorways and building new, and mudding the ceilings. Gabe has done a ton of work himself. He laid the tile floor in our bathroom, did most all the plumbing, dug out concrete, did some electrical work, hung light fixtures and installed the shower. I take care of the kids while he does all this stuff! He painted the bathroom and Graham's new room. It's all coming togeteher!! Anxious to finish the basement so we can then move our laundry to the basement and make the current laundry room a pantry!!<br />
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Well I have some work to do for basketball so I better wrap this up. Hope all is well! until next time....the Journey continues!Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-54539815307615413242012-11-05T19:25:00.001-08:002012-11-05T19:25:27.165-08:00tiny "tudes"Random thoughts about my "Tiny Tots":<br />
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My tiny tots are growing up every single day! I am convinced they are both going on 13 years old though. Kamryn is very into telling me "NO!" as she includes the stern finger point! She tries to put Azzi in her place when Azzi does something she should not do. Kamryn gets in trouble herself but it is hard to yell at her because she is hilarious! The personality she is forming is comical. Scares me a little to be honest....kinda feel like we may have a class clown on our hands! She loves following her brother's lead. It is constantly monkey see, monkey do around here. Kamryn is not talking near as much as Graham was at this age but she is trying so hard. Some of my favorite phrases or things she "clearly" is trying to say are: "Uh oh, spaghettios!" sounds like "Uh oh, say-yo"- "thank you"--sounds like "tay-tee"...."Oh Toodles!" (from Mickey Mouse).......words: dada, mama, bubba, papa, nana, Azzi, ball, puppy (buppy), blue, yellow (llello), hi, hello, bye, bye-bye, no, ok, hot, apple.........She brightens my day! Rarely ever does she wake up cranky no matter what the circumstances are. Generally, she is also very easy to put to bed. Tonight...cutest thing ever...Kamryn and I were saying bedtime prayers and when I said "and God bless those who are sick"...Kamryn instantly said, "ah-choo!" LOL...I always say "God Bless You" when she sneezes so that is what she associated that moment with :) I thought it was cute.<br />
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Graham is enjoying preschool and is a social butterfly. He had a couple rough weeks awhile back...constantly getting in trouble...we pulled him out of gymnastics....started a new behavioral system at school and he has been very successful! Last week, he started CrossFit Kids and really enjoys it! I love hearing him talk about CrossFit and showing me things he learns. We have bear crawl races in our basement...do burpees, squats, push-ups etc. He does very well :) I am speaking like a true mom, but I really am proud of him. He has his extremely ornery moments, but he is very polite and sure to thank people for nice things they do for him. I know he is very loving and caring...always has a hug and a smile for me! Along with all his sweetness, he is also developing an attitude. Does not like to be told NO, although he hears it frequently. Talks like he is a grown man...seriously, the vocabulary he portrays just blows me away. He talks about "vehicles" and the "exhaust" they put off...looks outside and says, "it's a nice day out, look at those beautiful leaves mommy!" If Kamryn or I dress up for church or a wedding for example, he almost always says, "you look pretty in your dress!" or "I like your dress!" He talks about "helicoctors" and their "propellers" (he doesn't say the 'p' in helicopter). These are very few of the things he says but what cracks me up is that he struggles to "breakfast" and it comes out as "breax-sticks"...and almost everytime he talks about breakfast, he follows the word with " I can't say it"....ha ha...so cute :)<br />
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I will stop boasting about my children and go to bed....Figured if I don't write comments such as these, I will forget all too soon. I love their innocense :) Until next time, our journey continues...Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-78027375731234563582012-09-24T13:05:00.000-07:002012-09-24T13:05:45.439-07:00the KidsOnce again...an eternity has passed since my last entry. We have been incredibly busy growing up around here! Graham is finally doing better with preschool. Right now he can recite the "Before Meals Prayer" "Angel of God" and "Pledge of Allegiance." It is so fun to hear his little voice say those amazing things! He has been doing great with potty training as we have wished the pull-ups a permanent fairwell! I tell you what...once you erase one set of diapers and a container of formula from your grocery list, it feels like you have been given a small pay raise! <br />
Graham started going to "Happy Handstands" gymnastics class on Mondays/Wednesdays. He had been asking me almost daily if I was going to sign him up for "mynastics" (that is what he calls it) so we waited until he turned 3 to get him going. Graham really enjoys the class but we have not been too successful earning our stamps. After each class is over, the kids are instructed to line up and go sit down on the balance beam with both hands on top of their head. The coach walks down the line with her rubber stamp and ink pad. If the child was a great listener and did a good job, they get two stamps. If the child has some work to do in the listening department, they get 1 stamp. Day 1: Gabe and I watched alot of the class. Every class, the kids start off by running laps around the gymnastics floor. Next to the floor, there is a regtangular shaped trampoline that basically lines the whole South wall. As all the kids are running their laps, Mr. Graham decides he is going to run on the trampoline....The coach attempts to stop Graham but as the coach gets to the end Graham is on, Graham runs to the other end. This happened a few times before the coach finally caught him. Proud parent moment right there. NOT. After their warm-up they sit down and do some stretches. Graham decided that stretching was not really what he wanted to do so he was going to walk around through the other groups. This class is for 3-4-5 year olds so they are all in small groups. When the first class was over, the coach gave Graham one stamp. He looked at his friends and noticed they were all getting two, so he asked why he only had one. The two coaches looked at each other and she gave him another stamp! Both Gabe and I witnessed this and at the same time "shouted" "Come on!...He didn't deserve that!" She responded, "I know but he is so cute!" We told her not to give him two stamps unless he deserves it next time :) It took some work but he has finally managed to fall into the routine along with his fellow gymnasts. He is the only boy in his group. I drop him off and then leave but I do try to watch at least 10 minutes or so of the class. Graham EARNED 2 stamps last Tuesday for the first time!!! And then Thursday I took him to class...he refused to walk in...wanted me to carry him...refused to let me put him down...refused to take off his shoes....I had had to wake him early from his nap and that did not go over so well. Needless to say, we left. We shall see how this week goes :)<br />
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As for Kamryn Louise....she continues to be a social butterfly as she tells EVERYONE she sees, no matter where we are, "HI!" or "Hello" but hello sounds more like "Hel-whoa!" She is also saying, Dada, Mama, Papa, Nana, Azzi, bubba, "tank tee" (her version of thank you), "more" (prounounce 'Moh!", signing more, please, and thank you. Her other favorite word is "NO!" She hears this quite a bit. Kamryn still enjoys splashing in the toilet bowl, Azzi's water dish, eating Azzi's dog food, chasing Azzi with whatever food she has in her hands, pushing Graham's buttons, playing with her little tyke basketball goal, and getting into her mama's purse. She is not a girly girl yet. The instant I put a bow in hair, she rips it out...looks at me and does a cackly laugh. Is "cackly" a word?....She melts your heart by giving you this special puppy dog look and sticks out her hands opening and closing them wanting you to hold her! This is hard for anyone to resist! As onery as she is becoming, we love her to pieces! Graham and Kamryn absolutely adore each other. They get so excited to see each other when they have been away from one another...even if it is just 5 hours or so.<br />
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Well, I suppose I will wrap up this post. Time to wake up Graham so we can get ready for Gymnastics...as the journey continues.........Good day :)<br />
Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-1662895171920192582012-08-20T20:14:00.001-07:002012-08-20T20:14:30.472-07:00Baby boy...If you just read the title and thought we were expecting again....Hell no...<br />
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My baby boy is not a baby anymore! He started preschool last week! I did great about not crying but it helped me tremendously that he walked right on in to class and got right to work on the puzzle he was assigned to. He has to be to preschool by 8am and that is when he is usually used to rolling out of bed. Having to rev up our schedule a little bit has been a challenge for all of us. Some day...some day, I might feel like a mother that is actually on top of things. For some reason, I feel like I used to be organized but maybe I wasn't????<br />
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Kamryn has been a joy lately....she is cutting two more teeth. She never cuts one at a time, it is always two at a time. Bless her little heart but holy crap she is feisty! I say this everyday, but we are in for a treat down the road by golly! I still love her to pieces and wanna squeeze her everytime I see her :) <br />
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I can hardly make it throught 2pm anymore as I am thoroughly wiped out! I've been working early mornings, up by 4:15am and that doesn't help matters. The kids definitely test every ounce of my patience but they still melt my heart. I just hope and pray everyday that we are raising two respectable/respectful children...kids who will be able to make smart decisions and learn from their mistakes. It is a crazy world we live in. Anyways, I will try not to stress too much about that now. I will let the journey continue and enjoy the ride :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TlHQCOcurKd0GsqvFNiKru6nMnmMK3-82qxmxaQpp-bKH8tTuaYwhpaRkkeDSffCF-28oT7K4U4bU97dnV5HHWIfOmxBEJeq0qiT1Xq3ei-tS8pQlCNIbyCeNgfDQDRHeZNgGq3CcLQ/s1600/1st+practice+day+of+preschool+8.9.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TlHQCOcurKd0GsqvFNiKru6nMnmMK3-82qxmxaQpp-bKH8tTuaYwhpaRkkeDSffCF-28oT7K4U4bU97dnV5HHWIfOmxBEJeq0qiT1Xq3ei-tS8pQlCNIbyCeNgfDQDRHeZNgGq3CcLQ/s320/1st+practice+day+of+preschool+8.9.12.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graham's first preschool gathering. They attended school for 1 hour on Aug. 9, 2012.</td></tr>
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Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-66443052713141331642012-07-29T12:49:00.002-07:002012-07-29T12:49:48.166-07:00My babies are growing at a rapid pace...much like anyone elses but it is still so hard to believe, amazing to observe, and fun to be apart of........most of the time. It is absolutely insane how much life comes full circle once you have kids. Funny how things that your parents did when you were young, made no sense what-so-ever, or were hard to accept. Suddenly, years later, I understand the oh so frustrating response of "I am your mom, that's why!" I have found myself using that line as of this week. Graham is into asking a million questions, which by the way, reminds me SOOOOOOOOOO much of my brother at his age. He is definitely inquisitive which I think is a great thing but I can only answer his questions in so many ways. Kamryn is watching Graham's every move and likes to be just like him. If she is anything less than a Tom Boy, I will be so shocked....can't say I would be surprised if she stays a Tom Boy because I was/am the same way. She loves, loves, LOVES, to test the waters! NOTHING phases her. When Graham used to do something such as play with an outlet or the electronics and I would yell NO in a stern voice...he would crumble and cry. Kamryn....when she does those things and I yell NO...she turns her head and laughs and then does it again. These two little munchkins are so different yet so similar...bizarre.<br />
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Graham will turn 3 on August 8th and then attend his first preschool session...a one hour rehearsal so to speak...on August 9th. Last week was enrollment and guess what?!?!? I FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT! Great mom right here folks!! Anyone want to compete for the awesome mom of the year award?? Bring it on! Geezz....seriously. I had the 9th firmly planted in my head as the day I was going to take care of all that stuff, which we can no problem, but the "official enrollment day" was July 25th. I will get my act together and be prepared to have a preschooler in the house!!! I will. I will! Prior to attending preschool, Graham is supposed to be potty trained. We have been working on it and I have not forced the issue all along. I figure he will do it when he wants to anways. He has done really well! We are on day 2 of consitant training!!! Other than the pull-up we used over night, he used 1 all day yesterday, and has used 1 today! whew whoo!!!!!!! Little miss Kamryn Louise has taken to going potty in her potty chair every night before taking a bath! It's a start! We sing a potty song, start the bath water, and whoala!<br />
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Kamryn is walking/running all over the place. As of yesterday, she is officially 13 months old! While "hi" is her favorite word, she says momma, dadda, azzi, bye bye, NO, and her newest word: APPLE! She has said banana a couple times but not real consistant with it. Her current hobbies are: playing in Azzi's food and water, turning off the tv or changing the channel, unraveling toilet paper, and splashing her hands in the toilet bowl water! Great stuff right there! She has totally bypassed the baby food stage. I can honestly say there is not one type of "baby" food that she liked. She would eat carrots and sweet potatoes but not much. She is pretty much eating whatever we do. Her obsession is the yogurt melts and little munchies...they pretty much resemble cheese curls. Recently, she has discovered her love for Cookie Crisp cereal with the milk! I am impressed with her ability to use her utensils! She does a great job using her fork and spoon but she still uses her fingers. She is definitely the messiest eater of her and Graham (was that proper English? probably not...).<br />
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Well I better go wake up the kids from their naps...actually I will only wake Graham. We have got to get him to bed earlier at night! I have already let him sleep longer than I had planned. So long for now...and the journey continues...Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1118834810345057587.post-90153544483799983142012-07-02T19:52:00.001-07:002012-07-02T19:52:55.974-07:00Brief birthday updateMy baby girl is now one year old! She turned one June 28th! Kamryn decided to start walking the week prior to her birthday and now she is constantly on the go...as if she wasn't already. We had a small party with my family on her birthday (Thursday) and then a bigger party on Saturday. She wasn't too sure of the presents as far as unwrapping them. She looked at them like it was ridiculous to stuff tissue paper in a bag and would run off. The morning of her big party she got sick. She is also cutting 4 new teeth at one time right now AND had her 1 year shots on her birthday....happy birthday, right!?!? Poor girl! She would knaw on cardboard right now if I'd let her. Sunday, Graham went to the park for a picnic with Gabe's parents and they brought him home b/c he wasn't feeling well. We ended up having to take him to the ER. Long story short, he was overheated...had heat exhaustion. My best friend Ann, also Kamryn's Godmother, came with me to the hospital. We had some pretty interesting moments but for the sake of Graham's pride, I will put them in his baby book instead of world wide :) It is getting late and this isn't the most entertaining post. I feel like anymore I am just slapping down some details while I have a few minutes but hey, I guess that is better than nothing. Time is going by so fast...so cliche' I know, but holy smokes...I am trying to treasure every single moment of the baby/toddler days...there are a few moments I could do without, but then I guess I wouldn't truly appreciate the sweet moments as much :) I am so blessed...and the journey continues...Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077166547267950918noreply@blogger.com0