4-25-2015

Soccer Saturday

This is one of the games that goes down in the record books!  Besides the 2014 Fall Finals for Jett's team, this one is another one that I never want to forget!  

To set the stage, it was already a busy, chaotic Saturday.  Sky and Brooke had already played in soccer games.  We had a guy come out and walk our yard to start the yard estimate, landscaping ordeal.  I had also ran to the store with Brooke to start the Baptism dress hunting.  I was really squeezing that in just before needing to take Jett to his game.  I got back in time to take him, only to find him sitting at the table playing Risk with dad.  He hadn't had a good lunch and so I scrambled to put a PB&J together along with a sliced apple.  We hurried to get his cleats on and ran out the door, without his backpack I might add.  (We always need his backpack cause it has his other jersey, just in case.)   In auto pilot, I drove to McMillan his home field.  When we pulled up already a few minutes late, the parking lot was empty.  My heart sank.  Who knew where it was let alone how far away it was.  I informed Jett, we might not make it in time for his game to even start and to prepare to sit the bench. I was not in a positive mental state by any means of the word!  Lucky for me, Jett is an upbeat kid and doesn't get down quickly!  

I called home asking for the location on the calendar.  This game was originally going to be played at 10:00am but after two reschedules, we were now stuck playing at 4:00pm.  A late afternoon game is never a good thing.  In the past, the boys seem run down by the end of the day.  I found out the game was at Copperview and so I raced like a mad lady to the field hoping and praying that he didn't need to switch into his orange jersey.  

We got there about ten minutes to 4:00pm.  Jett raced over.  Coach had already warmed them up and had the pregame talk.  Shoot!  At least they were in their white jerseys, WHEW!  And then, lucky for me, I found out the game before us got started late and we were just waiting for them to finish.  The threat of rain was there, so we were anxious to get on the field.  We waited, and waited.  4:30pm and we finally were ready to start the game.  Inside, I was happy.  Jett's PB&J and apples had time to digest.  The concern of a mom, right?  He was ready to play!

Jett's team moved up a bracket for Spring after taking first place in the Fall.  We were now in the same division as our Black team.  We have been struggling against these tougher teams.  We tied the first game, and lost the next three.  But those losses could have been ties or wins, easily.  Last week, we played the last place team and was able to pull out a win.  We were hoping to use that as momentum to take on this tough #2 team.  Game time.  The boys took the field and we as parents huddled up in our blankets and thick coats.  It was freezing.  The dark clouds lingered.  We could feel the rain about to pour at any second!  

Kick off, the other team took the ball down and scored in a matter of thirty seconds!  WOW!  It was quite the play... pass, pass, shoot basically.  Then in another thirty seconds, on a corner kick, they pulled off a second goal.  It was going to be a long game.  I said to myself, "I just hope we don't lose by ten and we can get a goal or two."  I decided to pull out my positive attitude and be ready to console Jett with happy, upbeat words after his game.

Then, some how the intensity grew.  Our boys were attacking the ball, running faster and looked like they were ready to take on these boys.  I could see Jett was putting in his own 110%, and I was so proud.  The whole team, worked hard to keep them from scoring any more goals.  They took several shots on us and our goalie, was great at holding them off.  Then, in a break away we got the ball down the field.  Their goalie had come really far out of the box and we were able to shoot past him and score.  It was exciting!  2-1.  Then, with another break away we did it again.  Same thing, the goalie was out of the box and it was an open shot.  We were looking great!  We had other shots at the goal.  We were keeping up with them!  It was insanely exciting!  2-2, there it was!  We were more than willing to take a tie against these guys!  

Then halftime!  The wind blew more and drops began to fall on our faces!  I looked over to see Jett putting on the goalie jersey!  My heart sank.  I had just watched our other goalie fight off shot after shot.  I worried that the rain would make shots slip past him, with a wet slippery ball.  With my heart beating out of my chest, I yelled out onto the field "Jett, get a shut out and I'll pay you TEN BUCKS!"  I was a little irrational, and the parents joked about how I had just raised the stakes.  But I know my boy and if he was going to stay focused, bribing him with money is the best bet!  

Jett was doing great, keeping them in the game, not letting anything past him.  THEN, my worst nightmare... PK in the box!  WHAT?!  NOOOO!  I teared up.  The idea of Jett getting scored on because of a PK, was devastating.  A dad close by said, "Hey you can't hold this against him for a shut out.  It's not his fault!"  I watched this tall, tough kid from the other team step up to shoot.  It was him against Jett and tears began to fall.  This was my boy!  He faced him with confidence, smiling even.  Then, he kicked the ball and Jett BLOCKED HIS SHOT!  I jumped out of my chair with excitement, screaming at the top of my lungs!  WHOOO-HOOO!  He had done it!  

The rain was falling.  Our boys were cold.  My heart pounded the rest of the game as shots were taken against Jett.  A couple of CLOSE calls, where I felt my heart drop thinking it had gone in.  He held on and we as a team looked great getting some of our own ALMOST goals.  We did it, we tied the #2 team 2-2!  What an exciting game.  Well, worth every cent of those ten bucks!   

 

3-02-2015

Well, that was absolutely fabulous.  Week one down and I feel great!  It's actually fun to get up and do the 30 min work outs and eat healthy.  I'm enjoying myself.  I am happy, giddy almost because I'm getting results.  Not just on the scale but in inches as well.  In one week, my least favorite part of my body (my arms) shrunk a whole 1/2 inch.  Shirts and sweatshirts that were tight on my arms actually have some breathing room.  I need to do some descent before/after pictures so you can all see my journey play out.  My stomach is firmer, my legs and butt are too.  My jeans feel baggy now in the butt area and before this I was uncomfortable wearing them even a half day and unbuttoning them when I'd sit down.  Guys, this meal plan and work out absolutely works!!!  Never thought I'd be one to proclaim it so much.  But because, I am on the complete other side of being down and depressed and stuck in the snowball of eating because I was depressed, I want to jump up and down.  Those people that would talk about feeling so much better and having energy and not forgetting so much, used to just drive me nuts.  I didn't believe them.  I had never felt that and I felt like I had eaten healthy and worked out enough in my life that I should feel that.  So I thought it was a hoax.  Now, it's me saying those things.  I have energy, I feel amazing, I sleep great, I have more confidence, I am kinder to my kids even cause I feel better about myself.  I won't go on and on like I could, but wanted to write this down, cause I want to remember this, just in case I get stuck or fall down again in life as far as health and fitness wise.  This will be my pick me up.  It will remind me that I've done it and felt amazing.  I hope that never happens.  I want to keep going and look and feel fabulous at 40.  It's only a year away!!!! 

  

02-23-2015

Here is a bit of a journal entry cause I really, really want to document this.  So here it is, MY STORY!

It started in June of 2013.  I was at a point in my life where I just wasn't feeling like my efforts of working out in the gym and eating what I called at the time "healthy" was working anymore.  We were in a great place financially and I spent a descent amount of money hiring a trainer and going to Lifetime Fitness all summer.  I was happy to have a place to take all 4 of my kids and they have some fun while I worked out.  Lifetime Fitness has a fabulous play area with a basketball court, outside and inside jungle gym and slides, along with a craft area and computer area.  It was great.  Mindy my trainer taught me a lot about what eating healthy really meant and the importance of healthy fat.  Her words were, "you can't lose fat unless you eat healthy fat."  I did great, working out with her and eating a new way.  I got down a few more pounds and was losing descent inches.  I was wearing sizes I hadn't worn since High School.  I felt so great about myself.

After the summer was over, and my older kids were back in school, my paid workouts with Mindy ran out.  I kept going trying to do what I had been taught.  I took Radd who did not like being left alone in the play area.  He cried each time.  It wore on me.  It made it so difficult for me to go to the gym.  I lost a lot of motivation and I could see I wasn't keeping up with where I was in the summer.  One particular day in October, I took Radd.  He cried all the way there saying, "No gym, CHURCH!"  I remember thinking, "gosh he wants to go to church over the gym, he really hates the gym."  Cause at the time, church was hard for him to sit through.  He was only two years old.  That day, I was on the treadmill and got a call from the play area over the loud speaker.  I was bummed.  That meant I had to go change a poopy diaper, at least in past experiences of being called down.  But this time was different.  This time, his finger had been severed in the play area door.  It changed my life.  I spent the next several months sitting and holding my baby who had been hurt.  I did nothing but sit on the couch and watch shows or read books to him, cuddling him for hours on end.  I didn't go to the gym.  I gained weight.  I didn't care so much about anything.  I was depressed for a good 6 to 8 months.

As I slowly pulled out of being down, I tried here and there to get up early and go to a gym close by before the kids had to go to school.  Not being a morning person, I would make it once or twice in a week, but never enough for it to become a routine.  I believed this was my only option for getting a workout in.  Not willing to take Radd to be watched while I worked out eliminated that option and the fact that my husband works til 7:30pm-8:00pm every night eliminated the evening workout option.  So although I gave it a shot here and there, I wasn't really all in.  I slowly kept gaining weight for the next 6 months.

Thanksgiving and Christmas hit.  Being down about my weight because at this point I had gained ten pounds and was totally out of shape, I didn't go light on eating during the holidays.  I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.  I chowed.  It's the snowball affect.  Being down about my weight caused me to eat and that just made it worse.

January 1, 2015... The start of a new year.  The start of a whole new me!

I decided it was time.  I was in a place mentally to make the change completely!  I committed to losing the 18lbs (and 6 inches around my waist) I had gained since October 2013.  I had a calender ready to journal with, jotting down what I ate, keeping track of my work outs etc.  I did it.  I got to the gym early, before kids went to school, 5 days a week.  I started eating much better, not perfect, but better.  I felt my body getting stronger cause I was SO weak.  Then the third week of January, my Smart family jumped on the get fit bandwagon.  We all signed up for a 12 week challenge online and took our before pictures.  I was happy to have more support in this.  It helped.  Then after six weeks of working out and eating now pretty close to perfect, I was deflated.  My weight for 6 weeks had remained pretty much the same.  I knew I had gained a descent amount of muscle, but that only goes so far.  Yes my jeans fit better, but to have given it THAT MUCH EFFORT and to only be down a pound or two was so discouraging.  What was wrong with me?  It was then that I decided to ask my lifelong friend Lindsey Johnson to help me.

Her story... I've known her my whole life and have known her to be a fitness queen.  She works out 6 days a week for an hour and looks incredible.  She runs marathons and is in incredible shape.  I followed her recent posts about becoming a Beach Body coach and that in six weeks she lost 8.5lbs.  Not only had she lost weight but she went from 1 hour work outs to 30 minute work outs.  My thoughts were, "WHAT THE HECK!  In my six weeks, I lost maybe a pound and I'm fat compared to her."  She wrote things about being in the best shape of her life and feeling amazing.

We are close friends, enough that I felt comfortable asking her for help.  That's half the battle.  I have two other friends who I have watched post things on Facebook about being Beach Body coaches, but I've never had any inkling to talk to them about it.  I just don't know them well enough to get that personal with them about my weight and struggles.  So, I went over to her house a couple weeks ago to get the low down on this program.  I wanted to find out if it was doable.  I know my limits and I know what I can handle.  I wanted to see if this was something I could do.

Talk about perfect timing and the perfect fit.  My gym membership at Crossroads Fitness was coming to an end.  I didn't want to have to pay to enroll again and pay a bunch of money.  So instead, I jumped on the bandwagon.  I signed up.  I'm a Beach Body Coach!  I am doing this and have never felt so great!  I am happy.  I feel great.  I do a 30 minute work out at home.  I drink Shakeology shakes which is my healthiest meal of the day.  I get my vitamins and probiotics in one drink.  I started with a 7 day detox (I lost three pounds) and today I started my 21 day fix program.  I am down a total of 8lbs since Jan 1 and have 10 to go to get to where I was working out with Mindy my trainer.  My clothes are starting to fit again.  I feel amazing and I can't wait to see where I'm at in 21 days.  One of my main questions was, "I LOVE pounding it out at the gym, can I really do the at home work outs?"  The answer is YES and it's amazing.  For example, this morning I slept in.  I didn't make it up early enough to do the work out before my kids went to school.  Normally, this would be a lost opportunity to get a work out in for the day.  After they went to school, I got Radd busy with something that I knew would occupy him for 30 minutes, went and set up my video in the other room and got my work out in.  I am thrilled to have gotten it in.

I wanted to post my story so that anyone that is interested can see where I come from.  I was an elite gymnast.  I like working out.  I like being in shape.  I went back to my 20 year high school reunion last summer and hooked up with old team mates.  Team mates that are in ridiculous shape and made me feel so chubby.  I look forward to the day I can hook up with them again and not feel this way.  I know that I can get in the best shape of my life and be looking fabulous at 40!  Today is day 1 of my 21 day fix and I can't wait to post my results.  Stay tuned!

    

1-6-2015

This kid LOVES Skylanders!  It was the incentive needed to get him potty-trained.  It only took being strong and consistent with our words when saying he could play Skylanders after he went pee-pee in the toilet.  We've mastered day time, and we're about half way there staying dry at night.  Can't believe my baby is getting so big!

11-14-2014

It just felt like the right thing to do today!  I love to bake!  When the weather turns gloomy and cold something whispers to me that it's time to break out the recipes and go to town.  Thank you Pinterest!  Right?  Although, sometimes Pinterest overwhelms me with SO many great recipes to try.  Which one should I start with?  Today, after seeing my mound of Costco Honeycrisp apples, I decided to start here...  And since Jett has been home all week coughing his lungs out, I decided one of his favorites might help him feel better, spirit wise anyway...

Apple Crisp!

My house already smells amazing.  Hope it tastes just as great!

11-13-2014

Potty training... not my favorite thing in the world.  I've been avoiding it (kinda) and secretly hoping he'd just train himself.  I think I'm going to have to put SOME effort into this.  With the weather gloomy (not wanting to go outside anyway), I might as well stay in and advance the process a little.  He's been telling me when he goes in his diaper, we've gone several times in the toilet so it's basically time to tie it all together.  The main reason for avoiding this is the fact that he hasn't wanted to put on "big boy underpants."  Today, after changing him, I just slipped them on.  Yes, there was a fight and he got mad, but with a little distraction and convincing him to wear them for "just 5 more minutes," we've gone hours with them on and we've already made one successful trip to the bathroom.  I think this calls for a picture.

11-12-2014

Three out of four got strep last weekend.  As a result of strep, the ends of Radds fingers began to peel.  He noticed and did not like it.  He didn't like using his hands.  Every time he looked at them, he would exclaim, "my fingers are falling off."

10-31-2014

This years October/Halloween was on the low end of effort for me.  We didn't make it to a pumpkin patch, dress up and go to Gardner Village like in years past, nor did I do anything special with Halloween costume pictures.  The kids picked their own costumes and even those required very little effort on my part.  I was hoping to get Radd in his Race Car driver hat, racing around in his car, but even that didn't happen in the way that I had hoped.  Sometimes, it's about just getting through the month and not over doing it.  As for the evening of Trick or Treating, we went to Darin and Jill's and because the weather was unseasonably warm we were able to trick or treat for hours!  The kids had a great time!  That's all that really matters in the end.  That THEY enjoyed it!

 

10-25-2014

Murray Max U9 Boys Orange Team takes first place in their division!!!  It was quite the season!  It being Jett's first year of club soccer, the expectation was low.  So with each win after win, it was incredibly exciting.  As the season got closer to the end, we realized there was a chance to take first or second place, meaning we would move up a division.  That suddenly became the goal and it was within reach.  It came down to a few nail biters.  We pulled it off and the last game of the season was against the #2 team.  If we won or tied, we kept our first place position.  If we lost, we took 2nd place.  It started out looking like we were bound for 2nd place.  They came out intense and scored two goals right away.  Then a third and I quietly told myself to not show any sense of sadness, cause this was still amazing to be a brand new team and make it to the #2 spot.  Then with a bit of luck, on a corner kick, the other team, scrambling to avoid us scoring, kicked it in for us.  It was then 3-1.  I felt like maybe that would rattle them a little and we could play off of that.  The kids kept their heads up and played hard.  Their team, or should I say #99 was starting to walk, and looked tired.  I could see he put all his energy into the first 10 minutes but now was dead.  Hope started creeping back into my head.  And suddenly we scored!  It was now within reach... a tie kept us in first place!  One goal, it's all we needed.  Jett had an amazing kick at the goal and it hit the post.  Dang it.  A couple other close ones and then BAM, we did it... we scored and tied the game.  Then it was a matter of holding on for a few long minutes and that was it!  FIRST PLACE!

I being the party girl that I am, put together some "Sweet Success" treat bags, Orange Crush and ORANGE donuts!

  

9-14-2014

Radd is THREE!  Without any planning, I decided I needed to take some pictures of him now that he's THREE!  I asked Neils if he'd go with me to help me get a few.  We threw on some clothes and ran around the corner to Home Again near Gardner Village.  Dad posed him and told him what to do.  Picture perfect!

9-2-2014

The boys are a year older!  It was Jett's birthday yesterday and it's Radd's birthday today. 

After school and before running out the door for soccer practice, I insisted Jett go throw on a different shirt and meet me out back so I could take a few pictures of the boys together.  It makes for one crazy busy weekend, Labor Day and both their birthdays, but crazy is fun for me!  These boys really do LOVE each other!  It's sweet!

4-19-2013

My guy sure likes shoes these days!  Yesterday on Instagram I posted his little feet trying to put a pair of shoes on from the book I read to him.  He is obsessed with putting shoes on.  If he finds anyone's shoes lying around, you can be sure to find him sticking his feet in and trying to walk in them.  It's the best!  I love watching him try and balance as he sticks his feet into the big shoe and them dragging them across the floor to walk.

Today, rather than taking a picture using my Iphone, like I normally would in this case, I happened to be sitting at my computer which is where my Nikon sits.  I quickly grabbed it and in the moment was able to grab a couple of his obsession...  shoes!  This morning they are on his hands, tonight I guarantee he will be trying to put them on his feet!

4-13-2013

It's beginning... my little Sky is growing up and having what I would call teenage issues.  Today, while getting her ready, she didn't like anything in her closet.  She complained about there only being Matilda Jane clothes and she doesn't like Matilda Jane clothes.  I then out of frustration said, "Fine, you can start to buy your own clothes.  You can then pick out whatever it is YOU want to wear."  I know, I was being ridiculous!  I just hate thinking that she doesn't have the same taste in clothes and I already struggle with what to put her in.  Do I dress her in the cute little girl stuff or the more grown up stuff?  She's my oldest and so I haven't yet figured this out.  It's uncharted territory for me.  So after picking something out, I felt was pretty dang cute, I told her to put it on and ask dad what he thought.  Of course, dad gave her the thumbs up and tried telling her that she looked cute!  She sobbed while I braided her hair.  "I'm not cute," she said.  I told her when I was done I was going to take a picture of her and show her how cute she was.  This is what she did... out came the camera, and out came the fun, cute Sky I know and love.

4-11-2013

Today, I sat around and watched Radd play.  His hair glistened in the sunlight.  I thought to myself "is it time to cut it?"  I can't bring myself to do it.  I love his little shag.  But how long is too long?  I've seen little boys with shags and it gets so long they start to look like a girl.

I love this little guy to the moon and back!  When I snuggle him, I stare at his long eyelashes and his cute little freckle.  I play with his hair and brush it out of his eyes.  He's my little angel!

3-31-2013

Easter Sunday!  We spent it up at my parents house.  We went to church with them and then did the usual hang out, have an Easter egg hunt with the kids and then have a nice yummy dinner.  It was pretty casual this year.  Just happy to have avoided the stomach bug that everyone seems to be catching and we've had in previous weeks.

I always like to have a good family picture of us.  I always try for the cutest Easter outfits and want to at least get a picture of my hard work.  Right?  My bestie (Suzanne) came over to grab a little dinner with her girls, while the other half of her family sat at home sick with that stomach bug.  She was able to take that picture I insist on for me this year.  Normally, it's the trusted tri-pod.  Then, (pressing my luck cause my kids never want more pictures) I asked Sky to kiss Jett.  Jett squealed with embarrassment and insisted that the rest of the family turn around and not watch.  It was quite hilarious!  I love his reaction!
 

3-29-2013

This kid... he loves Oreo brownies!  That's all.

2-8-2013

Crazy Hair Day... when your youngest doesn't have a whole lot of hair, you cringe like me.  What can I even do to it to make it look crazy?  Well, this is how it turned out...

2-7-2103

Valentines Day is in a week.  I needed a cute picture of Jett to put on the back of his cards.  With the forecast showing snow tomorrow through the weekend, I realized at the last minute that I better hurry and get one.  I had Jett throw on a better shirt and go outside.  It was starting to get dark so we only had a minute or two.  I can't believe how much older he looks in the few pictures I took.  Eeeekkk.  This kid is turning 8 this year and going to be baptized.  I'm not sure I'm ready for this.

2-5-2013

Today was Brooke's first dance class.  I signed her up for a ballet class with her cousin, Macy.  These two could not have been more excited to go.  They practically twirled themselves into class.  Then after it was over, they jumped in the van with glee.  They were so excited to come home and show me what they learned.  I think this is going to be fun!  Before class, I made them freeze for a second and had them run outside for a couple pictures.  I know, I'm mean!

2-2-2013

And basketball has come to an end.  Jett was so much fun to watch.  He is super intense (no suprise) and did an awesome job!  I love going to his games and wish basketball would last all year.  No joke.  I really have fun watching him learn and he's still young enough I feel like I can see his thought process as he picks up on the fundamentals of the game.  Some pictures as it all came to an end.