Wednesday, July 27, 2016

My Not So Graceful or Relaxing Yoga Session

The ONLY reason I am writing this is in hopes that there is another mother out there with similar workout obstacles.  I have six workout obstacles.  Three are human and have a sixth sense for when I sneak upstairs to try and workout.  All of a sudden everyone needs something, needs to argue, or feels the need to come watch and critique me.  The other three are of the four legged breed.  Like their human siblings, they too, have a sixth sense about my attempt to workout.  I cannot get close to the floor without being licked or slobbered on. Prior to our homeschooling adventure, my life revolved around dance.  I grew up dancing, majored in Dance, and taught Dance for 10 years.  I never had to worry about being out of shape or losing flexibility.  Teaching six classes (8 hours) of dance per day pretty much keeps you toned and limber.  However, over the last four years, I have indulged in cooking, baking, and all things Pioneer Woman.  I have neglected working out, stretching, etc.  From time to time, I try to "run" or walk/run, or maybe just walk (lets be honest) but life gets in the way and it is the lowest of low on my priority list.  I recently saw a beautiful picture of one of my college friends and realized that even though we are the same age her body looked a-mazing.  I sent her a message and asked what she was doing to look that great.  She gave credit to yoga.  I thought NOOOOO - not yoga - I hate yoga!!!  Seriously, every time I have tried (like twice), I felt as though I would get stuck in those positions...and that was when I was in shape! But I gave in and decided to give it a try. I have tried it a couple of times over the last week in the privacy of my own home.  But remember, my house is anything but private.  As soon as I think the kids are preoccupied so I can sneak upstairs everyone (all six) follow me.  I try to ignore and be a good sport.  I beg and plea for them to go play.  I shut my door but that always makes me nervous so I re-open the door.  The boys are often being super loud and my daughter (bless her heart) is at my side doing each pose with ease and grace.  She is six! This is not good for my self esteem.  Not to mention, I am afraid of falling on her and squashing her precious little self.  I don't exactly feel light and dainty during these little episodes.  And I NEVER get the same relaxed look or feeling about myself as the woman on the video on a beach in the Bahamas.  Ugh!  She is breathing deeply and peacefully.  I sound like a cow in labor.  Not to mention, her eyes are closed.  Are you kidding me?!  I do not close my eyes EVER when my kids are awake.  That is just plain asking for it!  This woman on the video is not allowed to be my friend. So this afternoon, as I was attempting this thing called, yoga, I was joined by three kids and only two dogs.  As the kids were "gently" giving their feedback, I went into a plank position.  The very limber lady on the video (have I mentioned I don't like her), told me to move into downward dog and then lift my left leg into the air.  You can only imagine the fire hydrant comments from my boys.  This move I completed with ease and the kids were actually impressed.  It was after that when everything went down hill.  From there I was told to move into a plank while my leg was still lifted.  Once I reached the plank position I was to bring my left leg into a passe (my dance terms) position.  This would probably look like a mountain climber on pause.  Actually I was surprised that I still had a bit of abdominal strength.  But then... she told me to rotate the leg to a turned out position.  It was at this moment that I realized I have zero oblique strength and Dixie our Great Dance goosed me in a rather personal zone.  I don't know who was more surprise, the kids or me.  Everyone broke into complete hysteria and lets face it, you really can't recover from that.  I mean a Chihuahua maybe but not a dog that weighs more than your children or gives hugs by putting her paws on your shoulders. From here, two of the kids decided to join in while my oldest removed Dixie from the room.  We continued the workout but at the end as my youngest son lowered himself from downward dog, he also released a ton of...shall we say...built up pressure.  I don't know about your house but we try to take those sounds and functions seriously and in a stoic manner but honestly all refinement goes right out the window.  He finished in criss-cross applesauce and brought his hands to a prayer and said..."Awwww, inner peace..."  Yep, it was the most relaxing yoga session.  NOT What I have realized is that my kids don't remember me as a dance teacher.  They have no idea that in my mind I know what I am doing even though my body doesn't paint the same picture.  I have also realized that yoga is much harder when you are trying to keep everything tucked in and held up.  And most importantly we have all learned that my youngest son should NEVER hold downward dog and the Great Dane must stay outside if anyone is bending over in any fashion...  Sorry, but it only takes once to learn that lesson! So, I may attempt yoga again today or I may make brownies.  These things I know to be true:  I have never gotten stuck making brownies.  My kids do not critique me when I make brownies.  I do not shake violently when making brownies.  I do not get goosed by my dog when I make brownies.  But making brownies is why I have to do the yoga in the first place.  It is a vicious cycle, I tell ya!

Monday, July 25, 2016

First Day of School

We did it!!! We made it through our first day of school.  I wasn't really sure how it would go since we came off of a huge weekend.  The kids were involved in the City Championship Swim Meet which lasted about 8 hours on Saturday and then again on Sunday.  I was concerned that they would be crabby and tired this morning.  To my surprise and answer to my prayers, everyone was excited and ready to work. We had a wonderful breakfast provided by my mamasita!  I am pretty sure she just rolled her eyes after reading that sentence.  :)  Then we ate the wonderful breakfast leftovers for lunch.  I had plans for the leftover, leftovers; however, apparently our Great Dane had something similar in mind.  Lauren came downstairs to find Dixie on the table (WHAT?!!!) eating the rest of the mini muffins.  That dog is a ninja - no lie!  She is super stealthy, her nose can open anything, and she has zero shame.  We NEVER hear her!!! After breakfast, I took a few pictures of the kids and we got right to work.  It was a relatively smooth day.  The only hiccup we had was the teacher...couldn't seem to get the headphones to work during Spanish.  So, everyone got to hear the Spanish lesson three times because each child wanted a turn with the computer.  "Yo soy una nina."  Are you impressed? :)







We'll see how tomorrow goes.  Usually our first week is smooth.  It is the second week when everyone remembers this will continue until next May...






Tuesday, July 19, 2016

5th Annual Summer Sleepover at Ma's

Over the weekend, the kids spent two nights with my mom while my husband and I made a quick get-a-way...I mean a weekend away. :) They have been planning their weekend for quite awhile.  This is their annual summer tradition with my mom.  The past couple of years have had a theme.  This year's theme was Jedi Training Camp, since all three of my kids are obsessed with Star Wars.  The look on her face when they picked the theme was priceless.  My mom isn't exactly a Star Wars fan.  She spent months researching, planning, and learning the language of Star Wars.  She told me she had over 97 pins on her Star Wars Pinterest Board. :)

The weekend included:
Making R2D2 trash cans
Decorating Holocrons
Setting up a training course in the backyard
Watching three Star Wars movies (kids' choice)
Performing obstacles and challenges of the Jedi Training Course
Water balloons and shaving cream slip-n-slide (that is an annual tradition regardless of theme)
Jedi Master graduation ceremony and certificate presentation

Like I said, she spent months researching. :)


Invitation packets received a week and a half prior which also included their Jedi Training Camp I.D. badges.

My mom made each of the kids their own training camp wardrobe complete with shirt, vest, belt, Padawan braid, light sabers, Holocrons, Thermal Detonators, and Star Wars beach towels. :)  Oh, and my daughter also had Princess Leia buns for her hair.

Making R2D2 trash cans

The weekend was also filled with Star Wars themed food.
Jabba the Pizza Hutt
Sith bread sticks
Star Wars cupcakes
Yoda Soda
Death Star donut pops
Princess Leia buns
Bantha Milk
Jawa Juice
Bow-Ba Fett Pasta
Hutt dogs
Trooper Scoopers 
Falcon Ship Dip
Vader-aide
Vader Taters (with Wampa Dip, Chewbacon, Darth Cheddar)
Jabba jigglers
Obi-Wan Kabobies
Jedi Juice

Making Death Star Donut Pops

Visiting Admiral Ackbar's Snack Bar


Having fun outside

Navigating the laser field course.  Tiny bells were attached to the string to sound as an alarm if touched or bumped.


Not everyone took the same approach!!!

Trying to make it across the beam while attacking storm troopers (milk jugs on re-bar sticks) and making it to Darth Vader



Hopping across the stones without touching the lava while carrying Yoda





Free Hans Solo from the carbonite (ice)

Working as a team to get the Hans Solo figure out of the ice


Success!!!

Throwing thermal detonators through the target

Waiting his turn to navigate through the Black Hole 

Black Hole Maze of Boxes



Jedi Training Certificate Presentation

What was the lava pit quickly turned into the shaving cream slip and slide

Don't. Want. To. Know.



Visiting Yoda's Soda and Ice Cream Bar



While Jedi Training Camp was in full force, we enjoyed a weekend in Fredericksburg.

To view past Summer Sleepovers at Ma's click on the links below:
Thank you Ma!!!!!






Monday, July 11, 2016

Wood and Pipe Kitchen Table

I am so excited to finally have this post up and running.  Charlie finished our kitchen table probably a month ago but I just haven't gotten around to taking the pictures.  Plus, there are zero ways to take pictures of my kitchen without the floor showing.  We have three kids, three dogs, and a kitchen floor that is not holding up the way we had hoped.  We installed the floor seven years ago and it is peeling, leaving white specks everywhere.  It looks the same when it is dirty and when it is clean.  The look isn't exactly what I would consider pristine.  So, this morning I decided WHO CARES!!!  If someone viewing these pictures is bothered by my floors then they can come clean them. :) So like I said, the table was finished about a month ago.  A new kitchen table is something we have wanted for years.  We have looked and looked but never quite found what we were going for.  I think during Season 2 of Fixer Upper, we noticed a wood and pipe table and fell in LOVE.  I have to say this was one of our fastest projects.  Trying to figure out the length of each galvanized pipe piece was the hardest part.  I cannot tell you how many trips we made between Home Depot and Lowe's returning and exchanging pipe. The table is roughly 7 feet long with a matching bench and then we added three chairs.  We figured some people would prefer to eat while sitting on chairs as opposed to a bench.  Not to mention, straddling a bench while in a skirt just to get to your seat is not the most graceful motion. :)  The chairs were a huge bonus.  I was telling a friend of mine about the bench and how we thought we wanted to add chairs.  She gifted us with four chairs she was no longer using so we gifted her with four steaks. :)  It is a beautiful friendship.  Two of the chairs are black and one is an antique cream.  I love the look because we have two boys and one girl.  The cream chair is super girly and the black chairs are more masculine.  The fourth  chair is also cream and we have it in a corner as an extra. So!!!! Her she is in all of her glory!!!!



We are really pleased with the way it came out.  As with most things, when you can make them at home you save so much money.  I think this table is going to be the center of many family memories to come.