Florida Livin'

I guess I'm a blog-once-a-week kind of blogger these days. I mean to write more, but you know the story--I'm busy. Tonight, though, I'm throwing caution to the wind and diving into my personal stories rather than churning out some more pages for my research paper due this week. I do need some me time, ya know? Lately, my me time was coming from working out but I suppose I'm taking today off. I planned on getting my burn on tonight, but ice cream sounds better. It's definitely a Monday.

Life has been rolling right along here in our house. There are ups and there are downs, but I'm trying to keep my head up, above the water so I can remember these days when my children are grown. Everyone tells me the baby years are a blur to them now and so I'm trying to hold on to these two cuties I've been blessed with while I can.

Still, I live for the weekends when I can catch a break and have Daddy home to help with the wrangling. The past two have been good ones...

One consisted of a date night that very possibly is one of my favorite nights ever. Captain J's parents were in town and offered to watch the little ones while we gallivanted off to dinner. We couldn't resist Ruth Chris Steakhouse even though I'm sure there are so many unique restaurants we could have chosen instead. This decision was not regretted. We ordered ahi tuna for an appetizer and then steak, of course, for our main meals. If you haven't gone there, you're missing out. I drank wine, flirted with my husband, and had conversations that weren't centered around two small children. It was divine! We then purchased some vino at the liquor store, along with two tumblers and headed toward the beach to enjoy them. We cheersed to our new life in Florida and ended up kissing on the beach like a brand new, crazy in love couple.

It was perfection.

The lingering memory of this date seemed completely absurd a week later as I made my way to Orlando to meet my husband who was there on business. Our plan was to hang out in the city for a day and then head to Sarasota for the remainder of the weekend. As I was saying, I could barely recall this warm lovely feeling the date left with me when I set off with both kids in tow, wailing all along the way. I was so stressed to hear my poor almost five month old screaming his precious little head off for most of the 2.5 hour trip.

Yes, the weekend did not start well, but like any vacation, there were some high points. I'll just let the photos speak for themselves.

What can I say? God has been good to me. I have a beautiful, sweet, crazy family. He has provided for us in so many ways. He has given us good health and I'm finally starting to grab hold of that lifestyle again. I'm feeling good about myself. I mean, I worked out on vacation. Who am I?!

And as you can see in my fitness selfie, I ventured out in a two piece and no one ran screaming. In fact, someone told Captain J that it was hard to believe I was only four months postpartum. She said, "Woo! Mama looks good doesn't she, Daddy?" Who can have a bad week after that?

(Want to follow along with me on my fitness journey? Check me out on Instagram- profile name is KSJD22. I post a lot of my workouts there and you can search through various hashtags I've mentioned on this blog such as #WallSitMonth and #PlankChallenge. )

Addicted

There's simply no time for this little blog anymore. I wake up, grab some coffee, and the bible and read it with my husband until he leaves for work. Before I know it, the babes are up and at 'em and my day flies by with diapers, sippy cups, and very little sanity. If the boys happen to nap at the same time (which is rare), I am exercising or working on my graduate degree. By the time J walks through the door from work, I've got my running shoes on and I'm ready to go because I'm addicted. The high I get from running now is the best. It feels so good to be back at it and pushing my body (and mind) in ways that I haven't since 2008! I'm slowly but surely getting back into running. It's my me time and I really don't want to spend it any other way.

I'm surely driving my IG followers nuts with #mrskgetsfit posts, but I can't care. I sign in to see the progress so many people are making in their own lives and it inspires me to do the same. Since I've started documenting my workouts more, I've received so many messages telling me that I encourage them on their weight loss/fitness journey. I'll keep on posting for them...and for me.

My diet (and I use that term very loosely) has not been going well. I can easily clean up my diet throughout the week, but when the weekend rolls around, I completely derail everything I did throughout the week. This past weekend, J's parents arrived with cookies, biscotti, and pie and all bets were off. I just can't give up sweets.

I'm down to:

Weight: 125

and feeling pretty good about it. I would still like to lose about five more lbs. I'm not dwelling on the number, though. The goal is to feel good in my own skin.

Speaking of the weekend, we had a great one! I'll try to get around to telling you all about it sometime soon. These next two weeks will be crazy busy as I finish up two huge projects for the class I'm in, but I'll come back and share when time permits. Thanks to all who check in here with us! We're doin' good.

P.S. I found my favorite place to run-

XOXO,

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High Five For Friday!

(I'm way behind in responding to comments, but I'm working on it! I appreciate each of you who leave me sweet words to read. The way I usually respond is via email so please make sure you aren't a "no reply blogger". )

It's another Friday and I've basically been MIA around here. Spring is busy! Here's a quick recap of our week:

1/We had lots of park time this week! Cray K gets some wild and crazy time and Mama gets in an extra workout. Win, win!

2/Captain J was caught outside in his sweatshirt in pants in 79 degree weather. He said, "That breeze gets me!" I fear we have acclimated. Florida is so so nice.

3/Baby A has been cranky all week. Very clingy. Yesterday, we got out- just the two of us- and suddenly my happy baby returned. It was a sweet time.

4/I made pancakes for the first time ever. I used bananas, blueberries, and an egg. Healthy and delicious.

5/Exercising is going well. I am up to a 3 minute wall sit. Ouch! 

Did you have a good week?

Sharing here.

Currently

Currently Feeling: Uninspired here. I haven't written much lately because I've been busy with school and looking after my sweet boys. I've just been trying to soak them up while simultaneously not losing my ever-lovin' mind. Honestly, I felt if I wrote here that negativity would spill out and I don't want that (see Matthew 12:36; Ephesians 4:29). I've just been angry following the news stories lately. This world is a scary place and I often question why I brought these two precious, innocent boys into it. If only I could protect them forever. Still, I'm trying to unplug a little more and focus on the good in my life. I need only to look around and see God's many blessings.

Currently Proud of: Getting promoted with Scentsy! Want to help me celebrate? Shop here. Speaking of Scentsy, this is how K greets me every morning- hugging his little Scentsy buddy...making monkey sounds. Cute as can be.

Currently Excited About: I hit the half way mark in this graduate class! I hope I can finish strong. My grades are great right now and I'm trying to manage my time appropriately.

Currently Reading: Don't you judge me.

Current Exercise Goals:

*I have been participating in #WallSitMonth over at MindOverMunch and I'm happy with my progress so far. My goal is to finish up this month strong by working up to a five minute wall sit!

*I can also report that I'm getting faster in my runs. I met a new friend (hooray!) who used to do marathons, but due to some health issues she had to stop training. She is just now getting back into running and was looking for a partner. I'm supposed to go running with her today! I hope I can keep up and I know she'll push me to go faster and longer. My goal is to keep logging some miles. I feel those endorphins and I love it!

Currently Pinning:

These are some of my favorite recent pins.

Source: makeabrandnewstartofit.tumblr.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: someecards.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: backonpointe.tumblr.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: sheinside.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

I'm all about this color of green these days.

Current Mood:

Happy as a clam!

xoxo,

Can't you see that it's just raining?

I don't know what it's like where you are, but here- it's rainy. I like a good rainy day so long as everyone participates in nap time. It's good for my soul. I used to love to curl up with a good book on a rainy day and drift in and out of sleep in the afternoon. Of course, that's no longer an option now that we have children. Now our rainy days look like this (and that's really great, too).

We like to enjoy some Banana pancakes...but not the ones that everyone is making these days from Pinterest. No, no. These could never be considered healthy- not in a million years.

Years ago, my husband heard Jack Johnson singing about a morning quite like this one and he was inspired to create a delicious morning treat. He's quite the cook. Don't get too excited. I asked him to share his recipe and he said it's his secret.

Can't you see that it's just raining? 

Ain't no need to go outside...

...Maybe we can sleep in

make you banana pancakes

pretend like it's the weekend now...

And we could pretend it all the time."

Our banana pancake mornings look a lot different now. I often miss the rainy Fairbanks summer days when it was just me and my lover. But this? This is good, too.

Highlighter Yellow for the Old at Heart

Shorts & Shirt/ Target

Let's be real, y'all. Old is a state of mind...and I feel oh-so-very-old-and-tired. Twenty seven year olds aren't supposed to feel this way, but alas my children have aged me prematurely. Regular twenty seven year olds can probably wear highlighter colored clothes and not over-think it. Well, I can't. I contemplated for awhile about how to hop on this new trend of wearing neon bandwagon. I finally decided to go with my old rule:

* Whatever clothing item is questionable/scandalous/crazy/interesting (oh, you get the point), wear a conservative item to off set it.

I decided the best way to wear this color is to dress as if my dirty hair don't care.

Grungy, wrinkled button-up.

Dirty hair piled on top of my head.

Comfy AND fun.

What trends are you afraid to wear?

Color Me Rad

I live for the weekends and this one was no different. Friday night my childhood bestie arrived on my doorstep. I honestly don't remember the last time I saw her. I think it was back in 2009 just before I moved to Alaska. She happened to be in town for my going away party. Anyway, it had been awhile, but we picked right back up where we left off. I was so happy to reminisce with her and also hear all about her life at the beach. I'm thrilled that we live so close to each other again.

The reason for her visit was so that we could get all crazy at Color Me Rad!

After an absolutely awful nights sleep, we finally managed to leave the house around 7:15 on Saturday morning. Baby A had kept me up all night. I guess he's teething. Anyway, our destination was not very far away but a wreck caused us to arrive at the field at 8:12 with a running time start of 8:15am. There was no stretching- we just went straight to the starting line. 

As usual, the race was difficult to run just because there were so many people. Aside from the slow start, we had such a good time. The trail took us up and down a football stadium which was news to me. I mistakenly thought about where we'd be running and was happy because Florida is so flat. I didn't take into account the creativity of those designing the race! Oh, but I felt good on this race. It was so laid back. It was easy to run. And, hello, girl time!

As we crossed the finish line, I began looking around for my husband and sweet boys. When Captain J was deployed, I ran a half marathon, a 10K, and several 5K races in that year. Each time my feet hit the pavement, stepping over the finish line, I was overcome with a bit of sadness. Everyone else was running into the arms of their significant others. They were laughing, happy, and taking photos. They were getting congratulatory kisses. I was fighting back tears. I always wanted my soldier to be standing there waiting on me. For the first time ever, he was there to give me a hug. It was such a happy day.

I was also running in spirit with my mom and step-mom who did the same race in Knoxville, Tennessee!

Did you do anything fun this weekend?

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Happy, Happy, Happy

I'm sipping my *ahem third cup of coffee of the day while both boys nap in a clean house. In my defense, I didn't finish the second cup. That cancels the whole thing out, right? Credit the coffee or credit God or credit Moms On Call or perhaps all three? But this girl has had a great day! It didn't start off very well. Baby A was up before six hooting like an owl and asking (I assume) to be fed. I thought he might take his cute self back to sleep as per usual in the mornings, but alas that did not happen and Captain J's alarm was sounding before I knew it. He was ready to start the day and was trying to coax me from the covers with promises of coffee and a quick bible study as we usually do in the mornings. I was a bit cranky (from the hooting) already, but when he added, "Get out of bed, bubble butt" that did it for me. I mean, really? He was confused as I told him what I thought of that and he said he thought being a bubble butt was a "good" thing. Men, in general, are not the brightest crayons in the box.

Anyway, the day has panned out much better than it started and for that I'm thankful.

A former blogger turned real life friend suggested this book to all her IG followers and after a trying day with the kiddos, I messaged her to send me the info on the book, Moms On Call. I just downloaded it yesterday and I'm already almost done with it. It has a lot of tips on how to deal with your angelic toddler and also schedules for toddlers and babies in the same family. I started attempting to implement the suggestions today in dealing with my little Cray K and I'm pleased to report that I feel so much happier. Sometimes it's hard for me to say that I was the mom I wanted to be today, but today (so far...let's not jinx ourselves) I have been. I don't want to yell and be frustrated. That's not the way I was brought up and I don't want K or A to think that's the way things go around here yet lately I have been that mom at the grocery store with the crazy look in her eye, the one who might just snap and sit down in the middle of the cookie aisle and go to town while her children roam free breaking jars, denting cans, and knocking over all the apples. Not that I've thought about it.

Today though..I feel much saner. More sane? Oh, who cares. I'm-

...and the house is clean

...and my childhood bestie is coming over soon

....and we're going to win the color run

and it shall be lots of fun.

Happy Weekend, my friends.

The Thief of Joy

I wasn't going to write today, but I keep sitting down at the computer- staring. I feel compelled to write about nothing really. I just need the release. It hasn't been the greatest of weeks. I'm struggling with something-

Source: favoredgrace.tumblr.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

In the Internet Age, it's hard not to compare. Facebook and blogging make it so easy! The last few days have been rough on my mama heart. I want so badly to give these two boys the best life I can, but nothing ever seems to play out the way I think it will. For example, why is it when we make the effort to pack up the car, diaper bag, and put little shoes on all the little feet and pitter patter off to the park or some other fun activity, we are re-payed by a whiny-absolutely-bananas toddler? I know toddlers can't reason Oh, Mama made an effort to get me out of the house. I should be pleasant and enjoy it the whole time. But still. It's so frustrating that simple errands or activities done for "fun" are so often the breaking point of my day. I can't be the only one.

But I look around and everyone seems to be carrying on as if their toddler doesn't try to grab their poop every time they change their diaper. They act as if their child doesn't whine at every simple command. It seems like my child is the only one who hits our family dog when he gets mad. 

It doesn't stop there. Yesterday I was perusing IG and I saw another four month old standing on his own by simply holding on to an ottoman. The mother told me he has been doing that for awhile. Of course, then I started worrying that I don't work enough with Baby A. He can barely put any pressure on his legs before he buckles in. He doesn't roll over consistently. He hates being unswaddled while he sleeps.  His feet turn in from the way he was positioned in the womb and the doctor mentioned that could be a problem. All these worries. All these fears. I don't want to fail these boys.

To make matters worse, I took K to the dermatologist yesterday for a bump he has had on his cheek since he was about five months old. You may have noticed it, you might not have. It looks a lot like a pimple. I used to think it was so I often edited it out of photos until I was looking through pictures on my iphone and realized just how long it has been there. A year later, here we are. I was given a cream to try for a month, but the doctor doesn't think that will work. She referred us to a plastic surgeon. She says it's a cyst that will need to be removed. I can't imagine trusting someone to put my baby to sleep. I'm sick just thinking about it.

Almost daily, I think- I'm going to quit blogging. Quit reading blogs. Quit writing. Delete my facebook app on my phone and just not get on anymore because the comparing is stealing my joy. It's making me worry more.

The truth is- I have a happy life full of interesting quirks and kinks that sometimes cause me to have bad days. I will continue to praise God for the sweet moments and look to Him through the scary ones, too. I don't necessarily think a break from social media is what I need- perhaps just a change of heart.

Source: unlockingthebible.org via Mrs. on Pinterest