Well summer is right around the corner and I’m soooo happy ’bout it!! I am more than ready to soak up the sun, play with the kiddos, enjoy a more lax schedule, not have to worry about homework, reading, projects, etc. and just enjoy a nice break!
However, I’m thinkin’ probably about mid July I’ll be ready for school to start again. Ha ha.
I’ve learned that June is the bomb. Everyone is so happy it’s summer and the kids are in such good moods and don’t want to kill each other….yet.
I also love June because it’s usually not too hot. The weather is so nice and the kids are happy to play outside. Sooooo, I’m plannin’ on living up June in hopes that we’ll all still be sane come July and August and will be able to have a wonderful summer!
I always seem to think I’ll have more time to get things done and complete projects in the summer and then it seems like every year, after a couple weeks of summer I’m like, NOPE! It’s just even more chaotic and crazy!
However, once again I’m feeling optimistic and hopeful that I’ll be able to catch up and complete so many things I’ve been wanting to get to!!!
One can hope!
I gotta say though, it’s been nice to not have a baby or toddler kickin’ around the mix right now. As much as I LOOOOOVE babies and cute squishy kiddos, I never get anything done when I have them in my life. Ha! It’s also been an interesting transition to watch my youngest just get bigger and bigger (he’s 4 1/2 now, sniff, sniff) and know that I’m not having any more babies!
It’s super sad and it makes me weepy and nostalgic, BUT on the other hand, it is LIBERATING! I’m thinkin’, “Holy crap, maybe I can actually legit get some things done and maybe I can sorta kinda live an orderly and productive life once again!??!”
So, maybe this summer will be different and I can actually get stuff done!!! Fingers crossed!
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Well, I don’t know ’bout y’all, but one of the many reasons I’m ready for summer to begin is that I’m MORE THAN READY for May to end!! I love the month of May, but MAN, why is there just so much stuff crammed in at the end of the school year!??!
It’s all fun stuff, but it just gets exhausting! All the end of the year parties, teacher gifts, recitals, plays, programs, etc. It’s nuts.
For example…..my sweet 5th grader had a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) graduation recently. He was happy to be selected as one of the DARE essay winners and was able to read a couple paragraphs of his essay at the graduation (he was so nervous about that!)
This same sweetie pie was also a part of a darling 5th grade program/play last week. It was all about the history of our amazing country and it was so well done.
My son was supposed to be a hobo from the Great Depression.
This sweet little program touched my heart and I just wanted to cry through the whole thing. The songs were beautiful and I just felt my heart burst with love for this great country of ours. It also pulled at my heartstrings as I watched my son and so many of his cute friends perform. It just kills me to realize how they are growing up so darn quickly and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it! Sigh.
We also went to two of my son’s piano recitals last week. They have the greatest teacher on the planet and I’m glad they are learning how to play an instrument and gain an education about music!
I also went to my baby’s preschool graduation and it was just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!
Once again it pulls at my heartstrings to see MY BABY growing up, but I’ve tried really hard to just soak up and cherish his entire life. As I’ve seen first-hand how quickly my older kids have and are growing up, I think it makes me appreciate this little guy and it’s made me want to be more present throughout his life and really live in these special moments.
I also gotta say that my baby is full of it! He has been SO HAPPY and full of energy from birth. Really. He is always, always happy and so full of love. He is also my busiest baby by far and is just bigger than life!! It will be fun and interesting to watch him grow up. I’m scared and a little curious and excited to see what his teenage years will bring. Ha ha.
Oh, and I also want to mention that he has an August birthday and after much deliberation, we decided to make the choice to wait to start him in Kindergarten. It was a tough choice, but I feel more at peace with giving him another year to grow and mature socially before sending him off into the “big world.”
I’m not sad at all about keeping him to myself for another year either!
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Well that’s just a few of the things we’ve been doing the past couple weeks. It’s been crazy and I’m tired. We did have a nice three day Memorial Day weekend though!
I hope you all enjoyed some R&R and spent some time with the ones you love.
We went on a beautiful hike with some of the kiddos yesterday. We hiked to Battle Creek Falls near the Pleasant Grove (Utah) area and it was such a fun hike.
Sadly, it was crowded and full of a zillion people, but it was still enjoyable! I didn’t take too many pictures, but we did manage to take a couple selfies!
I was trying to fit the waterfall in this pic and consequently my baby didn’t make the cut.
Folks, this is a GREAT hike for families and it’s dog friendly! It’s only about 1.5 miles round-trip. It’s quite steep at times, but it wasn’t too bad. I was so amazed by the beauty of this hike though.
The main waterfall (Battle Creek Falls) is so gorgeous, but there were several other smaller waterfalls along this trail as well. It was a very rewarding hike and I’d highly recommend it!
You can also continue to hike up the trail a couple more miles past the main waterfall, but we decided to turn around and go back. It was just about the right length of hike for my little kids.
I’ve been telling Kev that one of these days I want to go on a hard hike with just him and make it a killer workout. That sounds fun! I hope we can find time to do it this summer!
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When we got back from our hike, I decided to head out on a run. I talked my 9 year old into riding his bike and coming with me. I also decided to take my 4 year old and push him in the jogger.
Guys, I really don’t love pushing a jogger when I run. It just makes for a lot harder run, BUT I’ve been realizing that my baby barely fits in that jogger anymore!
I really got into running about 11 years ago. I’ve never been a mega awesome runner, but I’ve enjoyed doing it over the years. I’ve pushed four of my babies in joggers over the years and it’s just sad for me to realize that my “jogger pushing, young mom feelin’ days” are over!
Yes, I know I’m a sentimental sap and I’m always boobin’ all about it on this blog, but it is tough!
Just for sentimental sake, check out some of these pics of my jogger pushing days over the years….
These two boys are now 9 and 11 years old!
Here they are again….
And a few more….
Oh and check out my sweet squishy baby who hardly fits in this jogger anymore!!!
Oh my goodness, I just wanna eat him right up!
Yes, pushing a baby or babies in a jogging stroller has been a big part of my life! I can’t say I’m totally sad about not having to push one anymore, BUT it’s just a strange realization and another reminder that I’m gettin’ old. Super weird.
I snapped this quick pic as I was running yesterday.
I just wanted to soak up and remember the moment and this era in my life. Oh and my cute little puppy loves riding in the basket in the jogger as well. I’m sure he’d be very sad if he realized his “jogger riding days” are soon to be over as well.
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Well folks, as you can tell life has been crazy. It’s always crazy, but it’s just been a little more crazy these past couple weeks! I’m sure all of you mothers out there are livin’ the same life as well!
As far as how my Oxygen Challenge is going? It’s been interesting. I’m SO GLAD I’m doing this challenge. I absolutely love our coach, Amber Dodzweit Riposta. She is incredible, so down to earth and I just love her vibe and how she coaches. I’m learning a ton.
However, I’ve been strugglin’ just a bit. Life has been nuts, I’ve been exhausted and it’s super hard to stick with consistently eating well and exercising when I’m feelin’ so maxed and worn out!
But, I haven’t quit!
I’m so glad I’m doing this challenge because it’s kept me from completely falling off the wagon. I’ve had a few days where I just haven’t wanted to eat well, which I’m okay with (it’s life!), but this challenge has helped me to stay motivated and get right back to my goals and working hard again.
I think I’m seeing some results. I’m down a few pounds and I feel slightly leaner, but it’s just been a little frustrating to know I could be doing more! I’ve been trying to cut myself some slack knowing that life has been nuts and I’m not a freaking machine, but I’ve also been trying to push myself as well.
I’ve been trying to remind myself that it is a lifestyle and a journey. Consistency is key! Stay in it! Do not quit! Take it one day at a time.
It’s just hard because results have been very slow comin’, but I’m not gonna quit! I’m hoping I’ll be able to find more of a consistent and reliable rhythm once school is out and I’m not being pulled in a million different directions!
I have been loving the workouts though! They are super awesome and effective, but they don’t take a ton of time, which is perfect for me right now.
I’ve done some of them at home and I’ve done some of them at the gym. I snapped these pictures over the weekend after I finished one of the workouts.
I just gotta tell you guys that success with healthy living is so mental! When life is crazy and I become exhausted, it’s amazing how I start to crave every crappy food item in sight and exercise seems so daunting!
It can be so easy to get discouraged.
When I realize I’m in a spot like that, I just try hard to stay positive, do my best to make healthy choices, tend to my mental health as best as I can and just get through it!
THEN, when life calms down again (or at least isn’t quite so hectic), then I try to rest more, ramp up my efforts, find my motivation and hit it hard!
Life always has ups and downs and it’s so important to remember and honor that! Just do your best, don’t get discouraged and just keep on pluggin’!
That’s really all you can do!
Well, I think I’ll end this post here. I hope you are all doing well and looking forward to a beautiful summer. I love you all!
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