Last Summer - My How Things Change!

 

 

Best Times of Our Lives

Weekends are always so busy for us…places to go, people to see, houses to clean, you name it – is has to get done.  It might seem nearly impossible for a normal human to pack 339 million things into 48 hours, but somehow we manage to do it.  I guess you could say we might not be normal.  We may be tired, sore or can hardly drag ourselves out of bed on Monday, but we make weekends count.  WE STAY BUSY!

 

Summer camp has been a blessing to us, but along with that blessing has come our fair share of issues.  Busy weeks at camp and spending all day at work can really take its toll on our family – both physically and emotionally.  Our kids need rest and sleep – mom and dad do too!

 

Due to our lack of abilitity to even put a coherent sentence together by Saturday, we decided to approach this weekend a little differently.  We all agreed to try not to see how many things we could fit into it; rather, we chose to focus on what we could get out of it.  We decided to be LAZY!

 

We decided to…

Watch a little TV (something we rarely ever do as a family).

 

 

Make some ooey, gooey, yummy, delicious brownies (I know…shoot me…we used box mix).

 

 

 Splash around in the pool.

 

 Pick cattails at the farm.

 

But more importantly, we learned a lot.  We realized we didn’t need to go anywhere special or do anything fancy, we just needed to be together.  To make this weekend count, we needed to make memories. And we did!!!

 

I love my family.  I love what we do and how we do it - we get a little crazy at times.  I love spending time together even if we are just doing nothing, as long it is the 4 Musketeers.  This weekend, it cost us very little financially to have one of the best times of our lives. 

 

Kids don’t need stuff, kids need love.  Kids need people who spend time with them and people who care about them.  Kids grow up too fast and move on to quick - I am learning that the hard way.

 

Make sure this week you make the time…love your kids...snuggle close and then sleep tight – don’t let those bed bugs bite!

 

Celebrate Everything

My conversation with Siri went something like this…

 

Me:  Who sings Summertime, Summertime ,Sum Sum Summertime?

Siri:  Queen of the Universe (that’s what she calls me), THE JAMIES sing Summertime, Summertime, Sum Sum Summertime.

Me:  Oh yea that’s right, The Jamies.  WHO? 

 

Still not real sure who THE JAMIES are, but I do like their tune! 

 

Guess what people?  IT IS OFFICIALLY SUMMERTIME!!!!  WHO HOO!   Today is the official first day of summer.   That is right...June 21...Summer is finally here! 

 

If you are like me, you associate summer with the week schools gets out for the "summer" break.  You know, that week of unbearable heat during the day and horrific thunder storms in the afternoon, where the kids are screaming I’M BORED and it is only 3 ½ minutes since you drove out of the school parking lot.  Yea…that week.  But no that's not it, that is just nature’s way of having a little fun with us.  The real heat and humidity, the fabulous sound and light shows and more boredom than any parent could ever imagine, are still yet to come.  So sit down, relax and kick your flip flops off!

 

Since today is a Holiday after all – today is also “National Peaches and Cream Day” and “Baby Boomers Recognition Day”, I think I should do something fun to celebrate.  I could...

 

 

 Or I could…

Or maybe I could…

 

 How are you planning to celebrate SUMMER?

 

I LOVE ME!!!

We Got to Move It Move It!  We Got to Move It Move It!  We Got to...Move It!

Welcome to 5am at my house.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the Madagascar movies, but unfortunately, my admiration for wise cracking penguins is not the reason I’m awake so early.  NO, I am not a morning person (just ask anyone), but hitting the ground running at that time has now become my norm!

 

Exercise has never been terribly important to me; however, I find myself slowly learning to love it and even looking forward to it.  Yea, I know.  Who in their right mind could possibly become addicted to the feeling you get when your heart is pounding out of your chest, sweat is pooling in puddles around your feet, and your lungs are almost crushing under the pressure from the lack of oxygen?  Who could love having someone demand that you do more, push harder, and don’t stop now?

 

 

Let me set the record straight…I DON’T LOVE EXERCISE.  I LOVE ME!  You see, for far too long, I have been so consumed with taking care of my family that I have neglected to take care of ME.  Me! Me! Me! I know it sounds selfish, but if I don’t take care of me, how will I ever be around to take care of the people who need ME? 

 

There will always be dirty dishes to wash, floors to be scrubbed, things to be put away and nearly 900 other things to do.  The truth is…trying to maintain a nearly spotless home isn’t going to make me live longer, but spending 30-60minutes a day just for me is going to make me better, happier and make me feel like the person that I know I should be.

 

 

Thanks to the invention of the internet, I have found a perfect (and cheap) way to take care of ME!!!!   I have the pleasure of working out in my very own, state of the art gym, every day (aka the garage).  I know…I am one lucky girl, right?  I don’t even have to pay the $40 a month membership fee to get to enjoy the smell of unidentified musty odors, sweaty sneakers and moldy wet towels.  You see, all that loveliness comes free with my garage.

 

 

My garage workout this morning was simply amazing.  It was the simplest routine I have ever done.   I imagined I burned more calories in those 20 minutes of insanity than I have in 3 weeks of regular cardio.  Luckily for me (and for anyone else who might be sneaking a peek), this workout didn’t involve any special moves, no fancy footwork, no special balls and bands, no booty shaking and I didn’t even have to put on my FANCY NO BOUNCY workout clothes.  

 

All I needed was two feet, two chairs (I could only find one but I made due) and some will power to get through it.  When it was all said and done, I found myself wanting more and sad that my 20 minute turbo fat burn was over.

 

 

Contrary to popular belief, exercise was not meant to kill us, it was meant to make us better.  Yes, I would love an extra hour of sleep every morning, but no, I don’t want to start over.  If I quit now, that is where I will be…right back at the beginning.  Every small step I take today makes me better than the person that I was yesterday.  My workouts aren’t going to get any easier but I am going to get better.  That hot pink dress I have been eyeing all summer will be in my closet soon.

 

 

Remember, if exercise was easy, everyone would do it!!!  Why don’t you join me and let’s MOVE IT together?

 

No Words Wednesday!

OK!  So this is the first Wednesday for my blog and I have decided that Wednesday will for now and for ever be officially known as NO WORDS WEDNESDAYS  - that is at least until I can come up with a better name.

 

Let me explain.  I think in my past life, I must have been a photographer.  I love to take pictures and try different angles and I try to make everything just right.  I take literally hundreds of pictures every month.  To the untrained eye, 90% of them look just alike (I AM A CLICKER FOR SURE).  I am by no means a professional photographer nor will I ever claim to be.  I consider good pictures to be ones that capture the subject you were aiming for (with head intact) and are not too blurry. To me, pictures are memory reminders.  If you can look at a picture and it makes you laugh or cry or just makes you SMILE, it has served its purpose.

 

Every Wednesday, I will share with you some of my memories.  No words…just love!  I hope you enjoy looking into my life as much as I like having you here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1 Thing to do TODAY - Start Blogging

I actually started working on this about 10 months ago.  Trouble is...I thought all blogging was supposed to be governed by strict principles and guidelines, proper grammar and always, always, always just the right amount of political correctness.  I guess I had forgotten the reason I wanted to blog in the first place---I finally figured it out this morning!!! 

My main objective has always been to be able to share my journey with you.  I wanted to be able to start a conversation about anything, about nothing, about everything with complete strangers.  I wanted to be able share my life on my terms.  I guess I forgot that if you don't like it, you just don't have to read it.  However, I hope that what I have to say is worth reading and I hope that you will check back in often to see what I'm thinking about now (trust me...this changes minute to minute). 

In case you are curious...I am a sweet tea drinking, flip flop wearing, river riding, opinionated girl straight out of the SOUTH.  I say MAM and SIR and throw in the occasional BLESS YOUR HEART. I love my family all the time and I try to do right by others.  If you need anything, ask...I'll do what I can.   I am the most honest person you will meet but if you need something sugar coated a little so it is easier to swallow, I can help you out!  I sleep good at night because I know that I give you the very best of me EVERY DAY! 

Although I like to take my own sweet time (10 months to write a few paragraphs, really???), I am pretty sure, ok...I am really sure...I am ready to get this started.  If the good Lord is willing and the creek don't rise (as old folk like to say), I will be posting to you often.  Kiss your babies and see how many SMILES you can give away today.  Today is going to be fantastic!!!!

 

Nah...I really don't say this...just thought it was cute!