Busy busy right now.  Basketball camps last week and our team camp this week.  I am getting more personal training clients and basketball students. Next week I am going to begin teaching more CrossFit classes.  Lots of great things going on for me.  I have put myself in an awful routine of going to be late and having to be up early...I am working on trying to break this habit.  Here is a post that I put on Facebook at 6am this morning....

So I had a late night...up early b/c Kamryn decided she was hungry. She woke me up while I was dreaming of a CrossFit WOD: 6 min time limit (which was erased after we got started) partner WOD of jump into the pool belly flop style and clap your hands together under water upon landing- measure the highest splash!, 1 rep- then your partner has to pull you out of the water with a rope...after they pull you out, they jump in - forgot to mention that there are 3 big ass Orca's (whales) in the water. We had to pick a whale- put a red towel up on the deck of the pool for their distraction I guess and we had to polish the Orca with tar! The tar did not disperse in the pool either...miracle, I know. The first one to completely polish their Orca and pull that partner out of the water with the rope, wins. This was an incredibly large and deep pool :)

You can see why I need to break this awful routine I am in!

My kids are doing well.  Kamryn is taking one step but doesn't want to take anymore than that.  On three different occasions she has literally jogged in place then taken a couple steps...crazy!  As far as language, we are working on several things.  I feel llike Graham was a lot further along by now but I have to remember she is 11 months old.  She says "Hi!", "Dada", "Azzi", and she has said mama before but rarely does.  Today she has said it several times!!  I think she is holding out just to spite me!  Kamryn is turning into a feisty little soul!  She knows what she wants let me tell ya!  If she wants something and doesn't get it, she will clinch her fists, turn 10 shades of red, and grunt as loud as she can.  Nice huh?!!  She loves to roll her mini basketball back and forth!  Although I believe she does a few things just to spite me, she is still a little girl after her mama's heart!  One thing that she doesn't act too interested in right now, is books.  If they are short and have big pictures...she likes them, otherwise, she has better things to do!

Graham is still his curious little self.  Very inquisitive...his wheels are constantly turning!  He loves making Kamryn laugh!  Quite often, I think Graham wants Kamryn to grow up really fast or he forgets her age b/c he plays with her like she is another little boy.  Gotta keep my eye on him!

Gabe is playing "Handy Manny" and is building a storage shed in our backyard.  We decided to save some money and have a DIY project.  With any luck, the shed will be finished by Christmas.  He is doing a great job!  He has done the whole thing by himself.  He has had a friend come over and help him for an hour or so to heave crap on the roof....I have helped hold a couple wall segments up while he nailed them in, other than that....it's been his baby. 

Well enough for now....I better get this house whipped into shape and I have workouts to plan for.  Have a good day....and our journey continues!

Graham and Kamryn...brief stories

I have to post this little conversation/moment with Graham today.  Like I mentioned in the Prescott Update earlier, Graham is getting excited about potty training.  Tonight before his bath I asked him if he needed to go potty?  He said he did.........
Me:  Go ahead and get your diaper off and go potty and I will be right back...
Graham:  "I DID IT!!!!"  (flush)

With pee on the seat (and I am sure it's probably on the floor) he was pretty proud of himself and very excited.

Graham:  I gotta go poop.
Me:  Ok well lets put the lid down and you can go.

He sits down and attempts to go but nothing is happening....

Me:  Keep tryin' bud, you can do it!
Graham:  Oh no!!!!!!  My poop and pee are not working!  They are all out!

All I could do was laugh :)

We had a great night!  After Kamryn went to bed, we put together the United States puzzle.  He likes to play dumb and quiz me now like I always do to him.  For instance he said, "hmmm where is Missouri?" and he looked around and pointed at a piece that was white side up.  I said, "possibly, I don't know" (b/c I really had no idea!).  Sure as heck, it was Missouri!  Then he would say, "let's see, Kansas goes here"  and he would put it where North Dakota goes then he got a big smile on his face and asked, "is that right?!?!"

I started talking to him about the state capitols so he is interested in those now.  Give us some time...he will get them figured out!

I am anxious to see what Kamryn does.  Right now she is not that into books....when I tell her no in a stern voice, she just looks at me and either smiles or laughs.  Graham used to get startled and cry!  Her temper is starting to show up as is Graham's.  I am sad to say they get that trait from their mama....I am working on it, I promise!  It's only when I get competitive....generally.

Until next time...the journey continues!

Prescott Update

Time is flying by too fast!  I know that is so cliche' but it's the truth.  Kamryn is days away from being 11 months old.  Last week she took her first steps and they were not walking steps. I thought at first that it was a fluke but she has done this 3 or 4 times since then.  She runs in place and then kind jogs a couple steps, then she is done :)  I can't catch it on video either which is sad.  She is saying "hi" and "thank you."  She says mama and daddy also.  Whenever I hand her a bottle or snack...she says "ank ew"......that is close enough for me!  When we talk to people on the phone she grabs the phone and holds it to her ear and says "HI-eye-eeeeeee"  It is a long pronounced hi and I love it :)  In the mornings, I walk into the kids' room and she is standing in her crib and ready to greet me with a high pitched, "HI-eye-eeeeee!" 

Graham loves Kamryn to pieces!  He is a good big brother...has his moments but for the most part is good with her.  Graham is so excited for preschool next school year.  We keep telling him that the only way he gets to go to school is if he is potty trained.  He has been doing a great job from about 5pm on as far as going potty in the "big boy potty(BBP).  During the day he is too busy for that idea.  He has started his mornings a few times lately, by going to the "BBP."  Last weekend while Gabe was at work, Saturday night I took the kids to church.  As we walked in to the church, I pointed out the window to the preschool room and Graham said, "I get to go to preschool now because I just went potty on the big boy potty!!"  He is not quite understanding that we mean he needs to go in the BBP at all times :)

Gabe is loving the NCRA!  He has a great crew to work with and his schedule is really pretty good.  Fortunately, he works nights for two weeks and then switches over to days for two weeks as opposed to switching between the two during the week.  Recently, we decided it was be helpful to have a shed in our backyard.  After lots of research we decided that instead of buying a shed pre fabricated that we would build one ourselves.  Let me rephrase that...GABE would build it :)  He has it all framed right now and it is looking great!  It will be so nice to get alot of stuff out of our garage!  Aside from that project, he is also busy mowing yards.  I miss helping with our yard jobs but it is hard right now with the kids so little.


As for me, I made a minor career change.  For 7 years now I have been employed by the Hess Fitness Center at our hospital.  I loved the job and the people but it was time for me to give something up.  I was getting tired of working here, there, and everywhere.  I'm working at the YMCA now and have been for over 2 years.  I really enjoy it.  At the end of April, I went to Leavenworth Kansas for a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Certificate Course.  Great experience!  I had the honor of working with Lindsey Smith, a CF Games competitor.  She helped me figure out how to kip my pull-ups!  I strung 4 reps together!  Since then, I have worked on them but it hasn't felt as easy.  I got to teach five classes last Friday and loved it!  It will take time for me to settle in to my style with the sport of fitness.  It's good stuff!   Has definintely changed my life for the better.  I have 6 kids that I work with one-on-one for basketball so that keeps me busy also.  I feel so blessed to stay home with the kids quite often but still get to work at jobs I love and enjoy!
Let the journey continue...

Benny the Barger

Life has been insanely busy but I guess anymore that is the name of the game.  Kamryn is officially 10 months old already.  She is walking along side of things....stands freely once she lets go of something...she is saying "hi" along with mama and dada.  We have finally reached the stage of getting her to eat baby food.  Now, she likes to do the "motor lips" once you put the food in her mouth and food flies everywhere.  Graham laughs hysterically and eggs her on.  Once Graham laughs, then Kamryn starts laughing.  It is frustrating to have food spit in your face but at the same time, adorable hearing the kids laugh together.

Graham is beginning to understand the "big boy potty."  He is starting to grasp what the urge to go feels like.  Last night he went twice by himself while Gabe was  here.  Today, he went all by himself while it was just me here.  I asked him if he had to go potty and he said no....then he said yes and before he ran into the bathroom he told me, "you can't be Benny the Barger!"  I told him that I was not barging in, I would just be trying to help him!  He ran into the bathroom and shut the door so I thought, 'fine!'  I got Kamryn rounded up and finished the minimal things I needed to do to get her in bed.  I walked over and stood by the bathroom door and her Graham go potty!!!  I opened the door, quietly and slowly, and he flushed the toilet.  He had taken his step stool out of the cupboard and pulled it over in front of the toilet, took off his pull-up pants, and went pee standing up!  It felt like we won the Kansas Lottery!  Hot damn that was exciting!

There is a brief update on the kiddos!  Gabe is on his first series of day shift this week and that seems to be going well!!  I went to Leavenworth this past weekend for the CrossFit Level 1 Training and loved it!  Now I am waiting to hear if I passed my test or not.  It's been a rollercoaster of events the last couple years but things are starting to come together at the Prescott Palace.  I truly feel like God has led me to this opportunity with CrossFit.  I hope I can find my coaching style and go with it...and help to better and change people's lives!  It's great stuff....I am so blessed!  The journey continues...

Tortellini

Despite the fact that Graham is testing every single ounce of my patience, he still cracks me up with the thoughts that run through his mind or just simple responses he shares.
This afternoon I had a couple kids that I trained for basketball and I had set stuff out for Gabe to make supper.  When I walked in from my sessions, the boys were sitting at the table eating supper.  I asked Graham if he was eating his cheese tortellinin and he replied with "NO mommy I already ate my tort-a weenie!"  He was serious as a heart attack and it was all I could do not to bust ouf in laughter! 
He rattled of some more one liners today but they are not coming to me at this point.  I am exhausted and ready for bed.
And the journey continues...

Easter

What a beautiful Easter Day!  The weather was perfect!  We went to church last night.  The kids hunted for their Easter baskets this morning and then we went to Nana and Papa's for lunch.  Graham was more into Easter this year and was so excited when he found his goodies!  Kamryn of course didn't have a clue but she crawled like crazy to get to her basket wants we pointed her in the right direction.  Jared and his girlfriend, Brittany, were also at my parents house.  Dad smoked a pork tenderloin.  Mom made a roast, vegetables, mashed potatoes. and a fruity nutty fluff type dish....all of it was awesome!!!!  After lunch, we went out in the yard and found Easter baskets that my parents had hidden.  We played catch with the frisbee for awhile and then went inside for some DQ ice-cream cake that I brought!  I had given up ice-cream for Lent so I was excited to eat some today!  The boys went fishing this afternoon while Kamryn and I hung out at home.  I should have went outside but we rearranged our bedroom yesterday and I wanted to do some more organizing.  All in all it was a great day! We are so blessed!!!  This is a real brief and to the point entry but I wanted to get a little bit in here.  May the journey continue....

So there we are...."we" being Graham and I ....standing in line at Dillons to pay for formula.  Graham is standing right next to a cooler full of pop and he asks...rather loudly I might add..."Mommy is that daddy's beer?!?!!"
No Graham...that is 7-UP!  I KNEW my grocery store moment was coming soon!  More to come I am sure....and the journey continues.