be a yes

So many of my friends are in the same position as our family.  We have student loans yet are still trying to provide the best life for our kiddos all while saving for our retirement and our kids colleges.  We both have careers that we love (hence the student loans) and are already, at mid 30's finding that we are maxing out our pay scales.  We also, now have kids into everything making sure that our lives are now running from work to activities, to homework, to dropping completely drained on the couch.

Thankfully, 3 months ago we said yes to the business side of AdvoCare.  For us, it all started when my friend Erin introduced us to Spark, the energy drink. We started with a 24 day challenge and both lost inches, weight, and a pants size (B. 11.5 inches and 14 lbs.  I lost 5.5 inches).  We stuck with some parts of it for about a year though realized that AdvoCare solved our weight and energy problems, it could also help with our finances.  Now, 3 months later, we have earned $4,500 and love working with our family and friends to achieve some of the same goals that we initially had.  

Some of our success stories- 

1) "I don't have the 2:00 slump anymore"

2) "My joints feel better, my knees don't cry everytime I swing the golf club"   

3) My champion lost 18 lbs and 24 inches

4) "I went to a meeting and donuts were sitting in the middle.  I didn't even want one."  

Here is my success story- I have wanted to be a runner for SOOO long.  But, I would go from 0 to unable to breathe in 2.5 minutes.  This picture, is after our first 10K across the bay bridge.  Thats right, the 2.5 mile incline followed by 4 more miles didn't beat me!

  

Here is the thing, AdvoCare is offering a nationwide challenge with coaching starting on Jan 7th.  Say Yes and see what can happen!  

www.advocarecollins.com

ants on ice

From Oct 29- 

This is where we were sitting.  Anna and Elsa looked a bit like ants moving quickly around.  When we got to the stadium, we kept climbing higher and higher and higher.  I guess, when you wait until 2 weeks before Disney on Ice comes to town, you have to either pay a FORTUNE, or you have the last resort seats.  B. and I questioned whether it was worth it.  Then, the lights went out and A. started singing every song. No question, she was happy.  I had K. on my lap because I was worried that he tumble the thousands of feet to his death.  I wanted to see K.'s face so I put my phone in selfie mode and started snapping away...

I call that a win for procrastination.

trustworthy

From Oct 23-

 I have realized in the past month and a half that my kids are getting older.  Though, I still want to write and have them know what it is like now, for us as their parents, I realize that more and more of the stories are theirs.  Sometimes, it's not fair for me to share.  That is what has been going on for the past few months.  Unfortunately, our kiddos had to face some adult things.  They had to be older and bigger than they should.  But today, today her resiliency in combination with hard work was rewarded.

This girl that sometimes can drive me crazy because of her need to be in charge and in the know about everything was rewarded for trustworthiness.  She was rewarded for being a girl that a teacher can rely on and a person that will take care of her classmates.  She, I have come to realize, is growing up to be a beautiful, fantastic, girl that I and others can trust. I have never been happier to be her mama! 

one rainy day

Sometimes girls just need to pamper.  Sometimes, when our friends are unable to play and mommy really wants to spend time with me, we turn a rainy day into a day of fanciness.  We get all dressed up with no place to go...

Then, K. gets angry that he isn't included and jumps in on all the pictures...

a stark contrast

In stark contrast to K.'s first team sport, A.'s first team sport was amazing.  Yes, being 2.5 years older may make some sort of a difference.  What we weren't prepared for though, was the competitiveness of the other parents.  We, B. K., and I, all went to the first practice.  We just wanted to watch our girl for a bit.  I went in my running clothes with the misguided plan that I could watch for a few minutes and then run for the remaining 40.  Well, apparently, the culture is that we sit and watch.  Though, I get it that we don't want to leave our little girls in the hands of a stranger, I wasn't prepared for how involved that we must be.

  I have never watched or participated in a game of field hockey.  I didn't even know how many people were on the field at once.  However, some of the parents that have older kids are very knowledgable about the sport.  They are also very opinionated on when, where, and how their little girls are playing.  They did not go into the season thinking, "they will learn how to work as a team."  They did not plan on celebrating learning to hold a stick or stay on their side of the field.  They wanted to win.  

Well, here we go world, pink power is apparently in it to win it.  Hopefully, we will learn a few other things while we are at it.  I did learn that I won't be spending my M. and W. nights running as planned...

pictures are a farse

From September

See this kiddo running off the field.  Doesn't it make you think that 3 year olds playing soccer is the best idea ever?  Doesn't it make you think that they all love it?

FALSE!!!

K. BEGGED to play soccer.  He spends hours and hours kicking the ball in our backyard.  He can follow it and shoot it into a goal with no problem.  When he got his shin guards, he would not take them off for a week.  He slept in them, ate in them, and threw a fit everyday when I refused to let him wear them to school.  

Apparently, all 3 year olds, love soccer and look very cute and adorable in their pictures forcing parents to put them on a team.  Then, they think all children are trying to steal the ball from them or that it isn't nice to kick it away from other children.  They require adults to physically put them on the field.  K took all of the times that we tried to teach him to share and confusingly threw it back in our faces.  When he wasn't crying and running away from the ball, he was doing this...

One particular game, he was playing against one of our very best friend's daughters.  He was very engaged for the first 3 minutes (the game is only 30).  Then, little M. was running at him with the ball.  "Kick it K."  We were yelling.  He immediately turned to us, began crying, and ran away.  The next 27 minutes were pure hell.  Do we let him leave a game?  Do we let him quit or do we force him to stay until the game is over.  His saint of a coach tried carrying him.  We first tried giving a hug and then turning him back around, we tried,"K., you can't sit here with us until the game is over."  We were so close to going the bribery route when we realized how ridiculous that we sounded.  OK kiddo, today isn't the day.  We will go home.  But, when we sign up for something, we don't quit.  We keep trying because our team needs us.  When we got home, both B. and I were frazzled.  K. was exhausted.  After his nap, I asked him again what happened.  "I didn't want to take the ball from her.  I love her."

OK, so soccer for 3 year olds is no fun, but compassion from my 3 year old is awesome.

lack of options

Sometimes, we miss living around lots of options.  We miss eating out at eclectic resturaunts with more choices than Taco Tuesday or even more odd, food while bingo is being played.  What?  We miss driving across the street to Target vs. driving the 22 miles that it takes now (though, with all the lights, it may take the same distance.  But, when A. wanted to get her ears pierced for her birthday, this lack of options led us .... here

Who doesn't want their kiddo at a tatoo parlor before the age of 7?  

I don't know why, but she was a bit scared when she entered and this gentleman with holes in his ears the size of a doggie door greeted her.  When she started crying, he had the nice young lady that he had previously pierced over 30 times come in to reassure her that it only hurts for a second.  Agian, why doesn't every mother want their kiddo at a tatoo parlor before the age of 7??

However, once he did one ear, she started lauging.  "This didn't hurt, I knew that I should have trusted him."

So, a lack of options may have taught my little one a few extra lessons...