Speaking of the Gym

Its a long story and you don't want to hear it, but I started going to the gym. I am know I am not nearly as fit and as healthy as I need to be, both for my physical and mental well-being.

Hey, I'm 30, have had 2 kids, and frankly, am disappointed in my lack of discipline. It is only going to get harder and harder for me to become fit as I get older and I know I need to make it a habit now.

We got a membership at Gold's for me right after I had Jules. Although we have a fitness room across the street, we thought Gold's would be best because they provide babysitting services. In the beginning, I would take the girls, but Nat really had a hard time with it and I was disgusted by the dirty conditions and lack of enthusiasm of the workers. A new Gold's opened and it was a lot better. My friend worked in the nursery and although it was farther away, it worked. I ended up quitting after some stupid circumstance that flipped me out.

Anyway, I finally had enough. I decided to start going again. I didn't even tell John. I had been to the gym 3 or 4 times before he knew it. You see, it took a lot of reckoning with myself and I've concluded that to be a good mom, I need to do this.
-One hour at the gym nursery will not irreparably harm my children.
-I am better able to serve them (for longer) if I am healthy
-Taking care of myself is a good example for them
-Being confident and happy with my discipline and body is only a good thing

Sometimes I think that there is a fine line between being a devoted mother and completely losing yourself in your kids. All the best mothers I know do SOMETHING they enjoy. Whether it be cooking, spinning, quilting, volunteering, reading, knitting, they do something they either enjoy, makes them feel useful, or both.

Why am I writing this? Two reasons.
1. In case anyone else is feeling the same way I was
2. I need your help! Please check in on me. Make comments on the blog or email me. Ask me if I'm being consistent. Be my accountability partners! I figure if I have you all to answer to, I'll be less likely to quit =) If you'd like, I'll be your buddy too. We can keep each other honest!

Doctor Doctor Give Me the News

So, he got his results from bloodwork done on Wednesday. Everything looked fine - no Lyme Disease, etc. Over all, I think he was pleased. Well, except for one result - his testosterone was normal. That's right, he requested his testosterone be checked and yes, he was almost certainly disappointed it was fine. Why? One very important three letter word. NO! not THAT word (you think I'd blog about that?) Gym G-Y-M Gym. You see, he's always believed his levels had to be low. I mean, with all his effort, he should be massive, right?! If he had wonderfully low testosterone, he could go on steroids and it would be LEGAL, and he would get huge!! - his life-long dream. (Well, one of them - getting huge, being a trooper, having a boy)

Anyway, so, he's fine - except for his back. He is on some anti-inflammatory medication and it seemed to be helping at first. Now I don't think so. Nat is pretty worried about him. She often asks how he is feeling. Tonight, she was telling me a story and it involved her dad catching her. She said, "and we'll be jumping and daddy will ... well he can't because.... because his back." I assured her he'd be better soon and would be able to throw her around again soon.

He has been staying home from the gym to rest it ... and because he can't really bend over anyway. Instead, for the first few days of his hiatus, he'd get up, eat, and then find crazy things to look up on the Internet. He's researched buying gold, farming deer, buying a mini-van, flights to Montana. I was ready to scream. Luckily, that's over. I know, I know, I should be glad he researches things so thoroughly. Because of me, we're probably missing out on a multi-million dollar business in deer pee.

A Day in the Life

Well today. Today was a pretty good day. We hit K-Mart and used our double coupons to get 2 free bags of Quakes (mini caramel rice cakes), one free Crest toothpaste, 2 - 18oz bags of Easter Candy for $1.75 each, and some Sudafed Nasal spray for $1.99 (reg $5.99)

Nat and Jules wore their pink princess dresses to the store and Nat also wore her light-up Ariel high heels. Even with their coats on top, they were still a hit.

While at K-Mart, Nat said,
"Maybe since we're being good, we can get a snack."
"Maybe, we'll see."
"Maybe we can go to Giant after this to get a snack or something."
"Oh, to Giant.... and what would you like to get at Giant?"
Eyes squinted, as if really pondering something, "hmmm. I don't kno-ow. Maybe a donut or something."
"Oh, maybe a donut! I bet I could have guessed that."
(I had to get some BOGO carrots for dinner, so I DID get each girl a donut... little stinkers)

When we got home, I got the mail. Yay! I love days like this! No bills and ..... One free sample from Always with $1 coupon, Pampers mailer with $1 coupon, one of the $10 gift cards that I've been expecting from Rite Aid, and a thank-you letter from Bounce-U (for having Nat's party there) enclosing 2 free tickets for admission!

Later, all of us went to mommy and daddy's doctor. He rocks. John got some blood work and didn't pass out and he is going to be seen for (a long over-due, if you ask me) consult with a neurologist specializing in SLEEP!

Later we had homemade stir-fry for dinner, Jules fell asleep in my arms, I helped Nat practice some somersaults and .... guiltily, I admit, I watched Idol.

All in all, a pretty good day =)

Gymnastics - Bring a Parent Day

Monday, February 16 was Bring A Parent Day at gymnastics. We are always there, but this day, we were actually able to get on the floor and various apparatus with our kids. We did an obstacle course race, where we raced our child. We did a cart wheel, then a little balance beam, then a forward roll down a ramp, crawled under an arch and finally raced back to the finish line.

We got to jump on the trampoline, use a vault and jump in a pit full of foam blocks. The pit is used to try crazy things on the bars and stuff.... I guess. Our kids jump into it and then have to crawl back out (that's a work-out). Yes, I jumped on the tramp and yes, I wish I would have gotten myself some poise undergarments before going. Natalie was very excited to have us there and we were just as happy to be with her. Jules loved it.

Bargain Update

Here are some pics of some of my recent bargain purchases. It's not all a bed of roses though. I was not prepared enough on Thursday, when we had guests over (post to follow), and was correspondingly slammed at the grocery store that day. Unfortunate. What does my husband say? "Failure to plan is planning to fail."

Rite Aid $6.47 Profit

Rite Aid this week: I didn't take a pic, but I got 12 Hershey candy bars, 2 Johnson's Baby washes, 4 Lady Speedstick deodorants and 2 Revlon mascaras for $2.30 Profit!

Old Navy: 2.14.09 I was able to score 2 pairs of men's jeans, sweatpants, a pair of socks for the girls, and a youth soccer ball and football for $4.02 You can see them here with my lovely model. Unfortunately (for me), John couldn't fit into even one item! I know he felt bad that all my hard work (and all the kids' patience) had gone to waste. But I also know he felt SUPER that his legs were too big for them!!!! We ended up taking them back and got one pair that fits for $15. Not great, but I knew it would be another 10 yrs before I got him to try anything on again.

CVS: Around $5 Profit. Here's what I got at Sharp Shopper for $16.52

Keep plugging away at those bargains - I am! Oh, and check out Hershey Coupon Clippers for savings news. I contribute there. There are also great links on that site which help you learn how to do it for yourself. I really like Money Saving Mom and Coupon Cravings, but those are just a couple!

The Irresistible Juji Fruit

Jules is getting cuter and funnier every day. John said that she was "irresistible today." Here are a few updates on our little JJ.

1. She LOVES to be naked. If not constrained by a onesie, she will even take her diaper off. The other morning, she came out, pulled up her shirt, pounded on her belly and said, "Nake! Nake!" (Meaning she wanted help getting naked.) After a bath, she insists on running out to the living room to show off her little naked self to daddy. She does a little dance, squeals with delight, pounds on her belly, looks at herself and laughs.

2. She can now say many many words, but most of them are one syllable - even if they aren't supposed to be. For example
nake = naked buck = buckle pock = pocket

Hmmm, what are some of her other words.... hock (sock), make, hand, milk, more, peas (please), Nat, dog, deer, book, seat, baby, blankie, no (no, nose, snow, know, I don't know), sheah, (yes/yeah), puppy, pony, rella (cinderella, princess, I'm going to go get my princess dress, help me put on my princess dress)

3. She prays so nicely! She bows her head and folds her hands just perfectly. She even says "Ahhhh -Meee" at the end (Amen).

The other night, we were praying for dinner and Nat was taking an especially long time with her portion of the meal-time prayer. Jules was in her sweet little prayer position. Part way through, John kicked me under the table and motioned toward JJ. As I peaked, she slowly opened her eyes ever so slightly and checked to see that her dad and I were not looking. Then, she kept her left hand and head in the prayer position and slowly reached her right hand over to grab a couple Fritos and she popped them into her mouth. Apparently she just couldn't resist! John and I did all we could to keep from laughing, but once Nat said "Amen," Jules let out a huge "crunch" and we lost it!

Effective Marketing

While watching the National Geographic Channel as a family, something was said that got me thinking about wild animals and their domestic counterparts. I said something along the lines of:

"Wait, there are wild horses and wild dogs, wild boars and wild cats, wild sheep and goats .... and that's where we get our domestic animals from. But what about cows? There are no wild cows are there? I mean, what about cows? Where do cows come from?"

"California!" said Nat.

Apparently the California "Happy Cow" campaign is a winner.