Boot Camp Challenge, Week 1

A few months ago, my amazing friend Sarah asked me to help her teach a month long boot camp.  I was thrilled at the idea, and we began making plans.  As the plans came together, Sarah decided to turn this not only into a physical boot camp, but an all around well-being boot camp.  So we came up with a small challenge for every day of the month.  They aren't anything major or grand, however some of them really take some thought or effort.  So here are the first seven goals, and as the weeks go on, I will post the rest.

1.  Get 27 things out of your house.

Ready?  Here goes:

1.  Toy cupboard

2.  old curtains

3.  curtain rods

4.  2 pairs of shoes

5.  old purse

6.  old camera bag

7.  2 books

8.  old paper towel holder

9.  kids back pack

10.  old magazines

11.  baby shoes

12.  Kid toy

13.  pillows

14.  stuffed animals

15.  bed cover

16. another kid toy

17.  old pants

18.  sweater

19.  old cardboard boxes

20.  old wrapping paper that never gets used

21.  yet another kid toy

22.  old non-working phone

23.  kids books

24.  dress up clothes

25. kids hat

26.  old gloves

27.  snow boots

2.  De-clutter a trouble zone.

I figure my purse counts as a trouble zone.

Especially when my kids dig out a half eaten granola bar and ask if they can finish it.

Or when I pull out my ipod and it's covered in crumbs.

Or when it takes me 5 minutes to find a pen.

So on this day, I de-cluttered my purse.

3.  Deep clean one space.

I had all sorts of ideas for this one; my family is visiting next month and every inch of this house needs to be deep cleaned.  However, on this particular day I chose my kitchen.  For some reason, I spend more time in this room than any other room, not counting my bedroom when I sleep.  I choreograph dances in the kitchen, I bake and cook in the kitchen, and when Pete and I are deep in coversation we always end up in the kitchen, sitting on the counters.  

So I  moved everything off the counters and scrubbed.  I washed the walls. I cleaned out the appliances.  I scrubbed grease off the stove.  I swept AND mopped the floor (huge accomplishment in my house).  

I have yet to organize the cupboards and clean the fridge, but I just ran out of time.  

Plus, the fridge just scares me.

4.  Clean out your closet.

I actually did this one a few weeks before the challenge started.  I went through everything I have; shirts, pants, workout clothes, shoes.  I made a huge pile of stuff to get rid of, and considered trying to give it to people that I know.  But it came down to getting rid of it or letting it sit there, waiting to find a time to ask around- I decided to get rid of all of it.  

5.  Choose one bad habit to get rid of today.

Ok, I have to be honest.... I didn't actually do this one.  I tried.  Really I did. 

I have about a thousand bad habits to get rid of.  

I'll have to get back to you on this one.

6.  Conquer that nagging thing.

I have three kids.

Three kids create messes.

Especially in my car.

Every time I get in the car, I think "man, this car is messy.  I should really clean it."

 Apparently I verbalize this a lot, because Annie said to me on this particular day, "mom, you say that every time we get in the car." So, once I had an hour to kill that day(which doesn't happen often), I went out and CLEANED that car.  I mean, I wiped the smudges and the spilled drinks up, I vacuumed, I took the carseats out and cleaned them.  I did a major deep clean to the car, which is something that has needed to happen for a long time.

7.  Let go of a negative statement about yourself.

This is the first challenge I did, and it was kind of a major one for me.  My statement wasn't really a negative one, it's just a statement that I have made for years and I decided to change it.

"I am not a runner."

All my life I have danced, worked out and really been into physical activity.  But running never made it on the list.  So when Sarah asked me if I wanted to try the half marathon in Prague, I figured there was no better way to get into running than to train for something big.  I still can't say that I love running, but it is now something I can do and it doesn't kill me.  

I even plan on doing another 1/2 marathon next month. 

So my new statement is:

"I finished a half marathon, of course I am a runner."

And here are a few shots from the past week or so.  These women are amazing and so inspiring.

So There's A Circus In My Backyard....

Seriously.

Ok, maybe not right in my backyard.

But here's the view of the circus from my back window.

A traveling circus ended up very close to us, and the kids begged to go.  We had planned on going last Friday, and then found out the cost... eek.  

We decided to bite the bullet and pay the small fortune it cost to see this thing so that the kids would have a great experience.  So last night we attended the circus.

The circus was very tiny, and run by just a handful of people, probably family.  We saw horses, camels, trapeze artists, goats, mini ponies, zebras, clowns, and a stray dog. 

Of course, we weren't allowed to take any pictures during the circus.  Don't want to distract the guys with the flaming sticks.

Half-way through there was a short intermission, and those who payed for pony rides (not us) headed out for the adventure.  We stayed in the tent and bought our kids flashy-things and cotton candy.  What kid wouldn't want that?

Besides, they rode camels back in December.

That's waaaaayyyy cooler than riding a pony.

Let The Celebration Begin

To celebrate Annie's birthday this year, we took a group of friends to a place called Mega Play.  Its a huge, indoor playground, full of trampolines, slides, bouncy toys, bikes and tons of other fun things.  We've been to many birthday parties here, and spent many empty afternoons here.  This year I promised all the kids they could have their birthday parties here, which works great for me because I don't have to clean my house after a party. 

And because Pete and I were leaving the afternoon of her birthday, we celebrated as soon as she woke up that day.  She asked for chocolate chip muffins for breakfast, and then we opened all her gifts.  

Annie ended the day by having a sleepover (along with her brothers) and my wonderful friend Tera's house.  Tera was kind enough to watch the kids the night before our half marathon, and then they stayed the next night at my friend Paige's house.  Annie thought her birthday lasted all weekend, which was the best birthday ever in her eyes. 

My Little Girl Is Five!

My beautiful daughter turned five early this morning.  I have so many things to catch up on, including posting pictures of her birthday party, but for now, I will post her present from me.  Each year, I have been making the kids movies for their birthday, to capture the  past 12 months of their lives.  They LOVE these videos.  

So here is my chubby-cheeked, adorable 5 year old.  Oh how I love her.

And if you are interested in seeing how much she has changed, here is last years video.