Triumph takes a village

Dizzy has been struggling with an uneven bar skill.  Her coach has been working with her, she has a lesson 2 weeks ago with the boys coach and her frustration level has been growing. So we planned a lesson with one of her coaches from last year today. I walked into the gym towards the end to big smiles on everyone's faces. She had made several kips in a row!

Gymnastics is not just pretty girls in pretty bows

It is also sweat, determination and blood.

And my little girl couldn't be happier. Although she did not like her shower, evidently water hurts the open blisters.

Off to Billings to another meet tomorrow. Looking forward to a weekend off next week!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

Crazy weekend

Last weekend was definitely not my norm.  Dizzy and I worked the afternoon/evening shift at the gymnastics meet Friday night. She was flashing the scores for the vault and I had the job of timing the warm-ups for the beam. I had the judges permission to be bossy, so I was very happy. The meet wasn't over until after 9:30 and Dizzy and her friend and teammate wanted dinner. So, off to dinner we went, not getting done until after 10:30.

Unfortunately, we then had to go and get ice cream for Bean, who had texted me and begged.  I also needed a case for my new phone. Yes, I finally have joined the big people world and have my first smart phone. I'm fairly certain it is smarter than I am, but I'm learning.

So it was well after 11 before we got home. Saturday we were back at the meet by 11, dropped off the brownies we had made for the judges room and then were waiting for Dizzy to compete. She had a huge surprise when her coach let her compete the uneven bars. It wasn't the routine she wanted, but she gave it her best and I was so very proud of her, not only for not giving up, but for her grace and poise after the disappointment.

After working the group after hers, I went and met a friend for a glass of wine. It took 4 hours to drink, but there was a good live band and we had a wonderful talk. 

Tonight I stepped out of my comfort zone again and joined a writers group. I felt very overwhelmed and a little lost. I'm going to have to put myself out there a little bit, or a lot bit. We'll see, I didn't feel pressured to bring in the next best selling novel, but I am going to have to put some work into my writing.

So this is 3 nights lately I have stepped out of my comfort zone and done something new. It is actually refreshing. I blame it on the Plank Challenge that my friend challenged me to try. I'm not working through it like it is written, but I'm progressing and every night I can bump up the time a little is a little victory. I'm working on the 45 day plan instead of the 30 day plan.

Headed off to another meet this weekend, get to spend time with family while we are there.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief! (Work has been slow...this has been easy lately!)

Odd shopping moments

So, yesterday my quick run shopping ended up with some soda pop to go with dinner (we didn't drink any of it), ice cream toppings to go with our homemade ice cream (we didn't use them, as Dizzy put chocolate chips into the mix) and a new pair of jeans. Oh, don't forget the package of jerky for Dizzy at her meet this weekend.

I thought that one was strange.  Today was worse.  Have had lasagna on the menu for 2 weeks and haven't made it yet. Thought I'd grab a package of yeast and make homemade french bread. Then I realized that I needed another brownie mix since I said I would bring 2 dozen brownies to the meet this weekend for the judges room. Then Dizzy asked if I'd bring home some cake mix and frosting. Then I thought about the meet this weekend and figured I should grab some diet Coke for myself (Pepsi has been an amazing sponsor for years, but I don't like Pepsi products--they upset my stomach. Then I realized I had not gotten Dizzy her Gatorade for the meet (a little extra boost to keep her going).

So in my basket:

This just seemed fitting after the day began with this in the bathroom:

Yes, the rug is upside down and should be over on the far right of the picture, in front of the tub. If you look closely, there is a catnip mouse in the picture, telling me that the culprit just may have been my dear Mickey.

Home meet this weekend, long hours, but I get to sleep in my own bed. Fingers crossed Dizzy has a good meet, whether she competes 3 events or, as we're hoping, 4.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

Holy Tuesday that felt like a Monday

First, the Boss went in to work before six am. 

Second, Bean has semester finals this week, so no early in, but he is out before 1:30. This being said, when the Boss goes in early like this, all his "stuff" is in his pickup and that only leaves my car as something drivable for Bean.

So, we took Tater to her bus stop, ran to get me caffeine (and the older two their warm beverages) and they dropped me off at work over an hour early. This was not a complete problem, as I had a 9 am meeting and could do my before we open tasks before the meeting.

Got those done, survived my meeting (although since I really like the people I work with, meetings with all of them are a pleasure) and then chaos ensued. We were closed for MLK day yesterday and this means no Internet nor DVDs for anyone.

I worked four hours on the desk and I don't know that I sat at my seat for more than twenty minutes.

I felt like a rock star, finding lost books and fixing several computer problems. I don't work this desk very often...

Then I got to enjoy lunch with a friend that I never get to eat with, since if we are working together normally we are on the same desk and so we can't take our breaks together.

Bean picked me up from work and then it was home to tutor and take the girls to practice.

Dizzy forgot her grips and I have always told them that if they forget practice equipment, they're out of luck. I marshmallowed today and brought them to her, since she's working very hard on bars to get her kip and be able to compete them this weekend (keep your fingers crossed for her!).

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief! (I managed plenty today!)

Cleaning my car

Gymnastics season is well underway. This includes travel, so before our first trip, I thought I would clean out my car.

I took this bag-full of crap out of the back seat and front door pockets.  It included 2 fountain soda cups (those were me), the bag it is all contained in, a jacket (again, me), a book, a brand new package of party favor bags, an undelivered thank you note, a map for Universal Studios, 2 receipts, an envelope, a hair bow, ear covers (mine, fell out of the jacket pocket of the jacket in the trunk), a note pad, a list of my daughter's passwords, a Dairy Queen coin, a slow cooker (me...), Dizzy's competition warm-ups she needed for the weekend, in a ball on the floor and finally a purple crown. 

Most of this made sense of some sort. We had team pictures on Wednesday, so she had to take her warm-ups, I had taken the slow cooker to a friend's and left it there for them to enjoy the leftovers, but the purple crown puzzles me. I cannot recall ever having this in the house, nor do I remember where either girl would have gotten it from...

Anyhow, it is clean and after a serious threat, it is still clean after we returned. Another good meet for Dizzy, she didn't get the scores she wanted, had a fall on the beam, slid a bit on the floor while tumbling, but skills are looking stronger. Hoping for bars to come together for our big home meet this weekend.

Tater got to ride home with a friend and sounds like they made the 4 hour trip fun. Bean has semester finals this week and said he needs a bigger brain. I'm just hoping to survive the week!

Cleaned out under the stove tonight. Found a hair tie, a hair clip, 2 q-tips and 4 cat toys. Mickey is in heaven, all his favorites are found again. Bitsey was at the vet today, has a clean bill of health but hates me for making her get shots.

Working on cleaning out the basement, planning on new carpet, paint and maybe a stove. Went and learned about it today. Lots to think about!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief (I'm behind today!)!

Children!

So, I take time tonight and (reheat) make beef stew from scratch for dinner.

Dizzy eats chicken nuggets for dinner before practice. (she's in better spirits after a private lesson with the boy's coach (yes, I know she's a girl but he's a great bars coach) last night).

Bean begs for mashed potatoes and I catch him after he eats a bowl of stew trying to sneakily make a big bowl of mashed potatoes. I gave in and helped.

Tater maybe ate dinner, I haven't checked the bowl she put in the sink...

The Boss is at another meeting and I'm just relaxing on the couch. I've done some laundry, dishes and tried to find a shark hat for my kitten. Yes, you read that right. Stay tuned for pictures. Bitsey and Tigerlily (her cousin in Butte) both want one. Mickey is either getting Mickey Mouse ears or devil horns.

The snow is beautiful right now, if I can stay inside.

The fog this morning made things a bit dicey. Very icy near the lake and a big accident in town. Glad I headed in early and didn't have to rush.

I get to present Storytime at the Library tomorrow, I love the smiles of the kids! Lunch with a good friend and my class of cuties tomorrow night. Should be a great day!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

It's back

Well, that time has finally arrived. No, not resolution time, nor is it diet time. More successful than that it's gymnastics competition time. First meet of the season is in the bag.

Was it the meet we wanted? Not in the least. Having a 5' 5" daughter makes the uneven bars a challenge and after missing 2 months with a broken arm, she does not yet have her kip. So we found out at the last practice that she would not be competing the bars this weekend. We were hoping the adrenaline would help it all snap into place, but not this weekend. I suspect that the adrenaline will show up in practice this week.

Before the meet we have preparation of the hair. 

We start with well combed hair:

Next is a ponytail:

Then we start the braid she has used for years:

Then we connect them and add the bow:

Next weekend is a travel weekend. Hoping for good weather.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

New Year, new pain!

A friend sent a couple of challenges my way at the end of last month.

One is a reading challenge, 26 books during the year with different topics to try.  Here is a link to the challenge: http://hookedonstitches.blogspot.com/p/26-books-in-2015-challenge.html  I'm reading one that has a witch in it right now.

The other is an awful 30 day challenge. It's a 30 day plank challenge. Twenty seconds should not be that long, but when it hurts, it seems like forever. The funny part is the friend who wanted to do this is currently laid up with a broken arm and I'm not sure she is able to do it. Instead of putting it off, I decided to go ahead and try it. There are parts of me that hurt that I didn't know exist. Tonight is thirty seconds, I'm not looking forward to it!

This weekend is the first gymnastics meet. Dizzy competes on Saturday. I'm scrambling to get the hair bows done for her teammates. I'm keeping them simple, but trying somethings different this year to see if they hold up better.

Bean tried out for the Night to Shine, which is our local talent competition. He performed with his classmates in Jazz Band. He's anxious to find out if the group was selected.

Tater went to a softball clinic last weekend. She's already counting down the days until she can start the season (this will be March). Her quote of the week was "We need a hot tub in the house. My room would work."

Otherwise, it needs to warm up a little and quit snowing. So tired of not being able to get somewhere because the snow is too deep. 

Work is good, kids are enjoying being back on a routine and the boss has a physical fitness test at work this week.My work week is messed up, I'm working different days and am going in on my day off to lead storytime. Loving every  minute of it!

This is what we have...

This is what I want...

 

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

Butterflies

This simple bottle of hairspray (silver glitter) has done what nothing else has been able to. It gave Dizzy butterflies about the upcoming gymnastics season.

She took one look at the can as she helped carry in groceries today, got a funny look on her face and said "butterflies, now it's real". 

I think it finally hit that she has her first competition next weekend.

And if you think she has them, well, she's not the only one!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!

Resolutions

I don't plan to make resolutions this year. I want to make some goals.

*read at least 10 new authors

*walk 10,000 steps daily

*have monthly family night with no electronics and at least 2 movie nights a month.

* blog at least once a week

Small goals but I hope they help me prioritize what is important.

This (although I am missing one cute little girl) is what is important. Dizzy, Tater, Bean and Squirt. My kids and my niece and nephew. 

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to manage some mischief!