Life Lessons learned at the Gym

Every week, the masses flock to the Lori's Ultimate Conditioning class. We line up in the hallway awaiting the moment we can make a mad dash to set up our station with weights, a mat, a step, a band, a medicine ball if the workout requires it that day... And then chat until Lori takes her place at the front of the class. She steps up with her spikey hair, itsy bitsy shorts, and rippled physique ready to push us to our limits. {I'm pretty sure we all attempt to do exactly what she says, hoping that someday, our bodies might, in the slightest, resemble hers.}
Every week, it's a new workout. Something totally different. Always taxing. Always sweat inducing. Always high intensity. And always exactly what we needed. During the class, Lori will instruct us over, and over again that quality is more important than quantity. She constantly coaches us that, if we can "only get 5 of the 8 reps in, but those five are awesome -- then great! I'd rather have you do five right, then 8 that are crap. Don't worry about what your neighbor is going to think if you can't do them all - because TRUST ME - they don't care what you're doing, they're too busy worrying about what they're doing!"
I've heard this every week for the last four months, and the magnitude of it just hit me yesterday. It's soooo true! How often do we try to do it all - just because we're worried about what people will think if we don't? How often do we think that every move we make, is being scrutinized by others - who really, truthfully, honestly, don't care nearly as much as we think they do. The world really doesn't revolve around us. Our world might, but the rest of the world does not revolve around our mis-matched children, our shortcomings, our failures. I think I've spent a lot of my life fretting, and aiming to impress, when really - the only person who cares, or who is affected, is me.
So the moral of the story is - live your life - FOR YOU! For your kids, for your husband - for the people who matter in YOUR life... and not for the people you think are watching, or judging, or scrutinizing - they're too busy trying to live their life to really care.
Have a fabulous, fret-free day!
And thanks to Lori for the sore muscles, and the validation to live my "five-rep" life!

Fun While it Lasted

Well, the day has finally arrived. The much discussed, much feared, much gossip-ed about ward split finally happened today. I had heard so many rumors - but fiercely denied the possibility that our little neighborhood could possibly be divided. That sort of division just didn't make sense - so naturally, I chose to believe that it could never happen. Unfortunately, the Powers That Be did not agree with me. As it turns out - those same Powers believed it prudent that our little family, along with nine other little families in our ward should be exiled to the ward up the street. Really? Do they really need our ten little families? The dust hasn't quite settled, and I'm still fairly unsettled about the whole situation.
We moved to the tenth ward from a great ward we had lived in for nearly 8 years. That was home. We knew everybody - and it was just easy. We have only been in this ward for a short year and a half, but finally feel settled, and comfortbale, and at home again...just in time to have to start all over. Bah Humbug.
I truly am grateful for the opportunity to become so close, so quickly to our friends in Fairfax, as well as our friends across Research. It will be with wet eyes, and a knot in my stomach that I attend our new ward.
I have to say, that a large part of our connection to the Tenth ward has been through our fabulous calling. We have had the GREAT fortune of working with the young single adults for the last 16 months. I will be the first to admit, that when we were first assigned to this calling - I didn't quite understand it. I wasn't sure why we weren't encouraging the YSAs to attend the regular singles wards in town...but after we caught the vision, and realized how much fun we were having...I knew I would never want to give this job up! Dan & I got to serve together, and had a blast doing it. We laughed, and laughed every week during our YSA Sunday School class {best way to spend the gospel doctrine hour - hands down} and played and laughed even more every Sunday night when all the YSAs and their friends gathered at our home for a spiritual thought, dessert, and game night. We had great battles of Pictionary, Balderdash, Wits & Wagers, Bang, Ninja and even Swedish Twister...to name a few.
Our kids LOVED the attention from their older friends, and cried their cute little eyes out each time someone moved away to go to school or leave on a mission. {You can imagine Bella's reaction when she heard today's news}.

I wish I had more pictures - there are so many people missing from these ones...but it at least gives you a feel for the fun, the laughter and the love that we got to be a part of every Sunday night. I really am going to miss it. Lots of love to my YSAs - you're welcome here any time!!! That goes for all of our tenth ward friends! Our door is always open! Actually, it's usually locked - but our doorbell works great - and we're always up for visitors! Love you all! {and if you give me just a snitch of advance notice - I will gladly whip up one of the many desserts I perfected over the last 16 months of Sunday night treat eating --- chocolate trifle anyone?}

Blue frosting for Mother's Day.

Beth & Tori made the dessert that night to give me a day off - so sweet!

Beth challenged Dan to armwrestling...hmm,

I can't remember who won.

Ashley brought her turtles to share

at Elitches - best activity EVER

Ashley's birthday

Eric hiding his face during an awkward Swedish Twister moment

Tyler's now famous eagle dive during the bag game.

You have to watch this video - that kid cracks me up!

Sisters & the Program

{doesn't Azure look like Senorita Barbie?}

Yesterday, Dan took Azure skiing for her first time.

The entire time she was there, she kept asking to go home because she missed her sister. When Bella got home from school, I asked her how her day was.

She answered: "Kind of a downer."

I asked her why.

"Well, I saw Claire, and Lizzie, and Hannah in line at school today, but I didn't see Azure. I really miss that girl."

Luckily, after a long ten hours,

they were reunited at Bella's school program. It was a tribute to Latin America - and was really a lot of fun to watch.The kids cha-cha'd and sang, and wiggled to the music.

Bella was one of the soloists - and did a fantastic job. Of course!

Calvin brought a weapon to the event. Of course.

Mom is behind the camera. Of course. And Dad, Grammy, Megan, and Carter were there too.
So much fun! Good job little cutie!

boyfriends & idols

Bella has always been a wee bit boy crazy. She had her first kiss when she was only 4, by an older, mature, 7 year old neighbor boy in our backyard. I could have slugged him - but she was on cloud nine. {I assure you, many parental measures were taken to ensure that never happened again.} So, it's no shocker that when this boy took the American Idol stage last week, she exclaimed:
"Ooooh baby, he's HOT!" {Which he is, in a cute little High-School-Musical type of way...which let's be honest is the only reason he's still in the competition.}

But it was surprising this afternoon when Azure shushed us all so she could call her boyfriend on her pink princess play cell phone.
Me:What? You don't have a boyfriend.
Az: Oh yes I do.
Me: Really? Who is it?
Az: A boy in my class. Hmm, what is his name again? Oh yeah, Liam.
Me: Really? Liam? {at least it's a sweet little boy from church}
Az: Yep. I love him. And he loves me.
Me: {aaaah!} So what do you do with Liam?
Az: {silence}
Me: Do you play with him at recess?
Az: Yep.
Me: Do you give him hugs?
Az: Yep.
Me: Do you hold his hand?
Az: Yep.
Me: Do you give him kisses?
Az: Nooooo!!!!
Me: Just so you remember, kissing boys is NOT allowed.
Az: Oh! Bleh! Of course! I'm not going to kiss him until I'm 79 !
Me: {big fat sigh of relief} OK. that sounds like a good plan.