January Update

Well, that was a fast month!

 

As promised, it is the last day of the month so therefore I will update you on my progress of running as much of 2,017 miles in 2017 as I physically can.  In January, I ran....

  

52.25 miles!!

 

How did you do?

Tough One

Jacob had his second wrestling tournament today.  The kids in this tournament seemed a bit more competitive and aggressive in this worried momma's opinion.  And a mother's intuition is never wrong. 

Jacob was pinned in his first match. 

 

The second match was nauseating and exciting for a whole other reason.  Jacob was paired to wrestle his best bud, his partner in crime, his cousin. 

 

 

Although Jacob did come out victorious, it wasn't without mixed emotions.  He lost a little steam after that and lost his third match in a technical fall (a mercy rule). 

 

Jacob did not place nor did get a trophy and quite honestly, I'm okay with that.  If you want the hardware, you have to put in the hard work.

 

 

Even though I was proud of him for powering through a second tournament and sad for him that he didn't do better, he was not discouraged in the least bit.  Just before bed tonight there was talk of another tournament in Patrick Henry. 

 

Stay tuned. 

That's my boy!

It has been ten weeks. 

 

19 practices to be exact. 

 

With 1.5 hours at each practice.

 

Now the time has come for Jacob's first wrestling tournament.

 

 

To be completely honest, we did not feel he was ready.  He gets bored during practices, goofs off too much, overall doesn't appear to try his best.  But the league's mandatory tournament is next week and we thought it best for him to get a taste of live wrestling before inviting family along to watch.

 

The morning of the tournament came... and so did the tears.  Frustration.  Anxiety.  Fear.  Nerves.  All to be expected and completely normal.  And can all be calmed simply by having your best bud and cousin there wrestling too.

 

Of course, it also helps to have a seasoned wrestling veteran in your corner - like big cousin Austin.

 

 

 

Then its go time!  Jacob's first match.

 

 

He did not win the match but he also did not get pinned.  For this being his first experience out on the mat, I call that a victory!

 

Its back into the stands for some congratulating and peps talks....

 

 

...then its back at it again.

 

 

 

Jacob did not win his second match either but, again, did not get himself pinned.  By his third match, he was finally getting the hang of it... and came out the winner!

 

 

 

When talking with Jacob that morning about his feelings of wrestling, he very adamantly said "I don't like wrestling.  I want to play soccer."  However, after taking his place on the podium and carrying his 2nd place trophy, his tuned changed a bit.   Suddenly wrestling wasn't so bad.

 

 

Dear Jacob, you may not have enjoyed every moment of this season and that's okay.  You may have gotten bored practicing the same move over and over again and that's okay too.   But you stuck with it.  You fought hard when it mattered.  You came out a stronger, more confident boy than when you started.  Only a few more practices and one more tournament to go.  You can do this.  We're proud of you.  Great job, Jacob.

What I'm reading this week

1. The Total Money Makeover
by Dave Ramsey

 

I have been a big Dave Ramsey follower for just over 4 years now.  At the time I discovered him, we some debt (but not the typical American amount) nor were we living paycheck to paycheck.  However, we had purchased a larger house, had two children, and never changed our ways of living/spending.  Something needed to give but where to start?  Enter Dave Ramsey.  Our financial lives changed for the better and we have no intention of ever heading back in that direction.  BUT.  That doesn't mean we have everything 100% figured out.  Life is ever changing.  And finances like relationships need tending to on a regular basis before things go south.  As I just recently entered the world of stay-at-home-mom with barely no tangible income, I, with a friend, am re-reading The Total Money Makeover.  I am looking forward to reading this book with a new perspective and what new ideas I can bring to our financial lives.

 

2.  Present Over Perfect
by Shauna Niequist

 

"A few years ago, I found myself exhausted and isolated, my soul and body sick. I was tired of being tired, burned out on busy. And, it seemed almost everyone I talked with was in the same boat: longing for connection, meaning, depth, but settling for busy.

I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, writer, and I know all too well that settling feeling. But over the course of the last few years, I’ve learned a way to live, marked by grace, love, rest, and play. And it’s changing everything."

 

I've had this book once before but the timing wasn't right to truly read, enjoy, absorb this book.  But now that the holidays are over and life is settling down, I'm hoping to dive into it this week and I can't wait!

 

 

Picture This

Its about Noon.

 

The kitchen window is open and well as the patio door.  The kids have been outside for a while picking up sticks and now the smell of a fire is gently wafting in on the breeze. 

 

Warm sunshine has kids stripped down to just long sleeved sweaters.  Someone has decided she is big enough for the zip line now and keeps screaming "Again!  Again!"



 

I'm inside doing dishes, cleaning the game closet, enjoying the sounds of the birds chirping outside, Spring cleaning like I'm holding a garage sale next week.  But I'm not.  There will be no garage sale for a while.  Because its only January 21st!!

 

What is going on with this weather?!?

Review

Remember my New Years Goal?

 

Its not time to reveal how many miles I completed in January just yet, but that doesn't mean I can't share accomplishments along the way.  

 

The workout began as normal.  A simple warm up and then threw a towel over the dashboard, cranked up the music, and treaded away.  Before I knew it 2 miles were over.

 

 

After playing puzzles and watching a few episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with Holly, I was feeling daring enough to hit the treadmill again.  So, second verse same as the first.  Warm up, loud music, towel over the dashboard and off I went.  Only this time, I pushed a little harder.

 

 

 

Now, you can call me crazy but I was on a roll!  4 miles done.  Why not go for 6?

 

As you can see, that didn't happen.  Quarter mile in, my body said I was done and I just walked to complete the mile. 

 

Moral of the story:

I may not be where I want to be (mileage-wise for my goal) but at least I started.  Every mile walked or ran is one mile closer to where I want to be (fitness-wise).  At the beginning of January could I have busted out a 13 minute mile, do I dare say, with ease?  Not a chance.  And if I keep at it, do I know how much further along I'll be by the end of December?  We'll find out.

Keep it going

On the cleaning chopping block for this weekend is....

 

The game closet!

 

 

Good thing there is not much on the calendar for the next few days 'cause I foresee some marathon puzzling going on!

 

 

It is finished!

It took three - 13 gallon trash bags (full of trash), one very full, very heavy 55 gallon trash bag (full of garage sale stuff) and almost 10 hours but its D-O-N-E!  The girl's room is clean.... for now.

 

 

And with purging enough stuff, we were able to create a small reading nook inside the closet which was immediately put to use.

 

Which room to clean next? 

 

I think I better take care of those Christmas decorations first.  My tree is looking a little sad these days.

Struggles

The holidays are a great time. 

 

Lots of family.  Lots of parties.  Lots of late nights.

 

However, getting back into the swing of things is no fun at all. 

 

Its a struggle to wake up in the mornings...

 

 

... and the shortest of car rides in the evenings can knock you out in an instant.

 

But during the day? 

 

There is no stopping that energy.

 

Oh that Marvin

A few years back, I took Jim (and Bree) to Farmington Hills, Michigan to visit Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum as part of our annual Surprise Father's Day Trip.  I had heard about this place through conversation with an acquaintance and did a little searching on the internet, but, still, it was a shot in the dark if this place was going to be worth it or not.

 

 

And it was

 

We went back not even a year later with Jacob and even took some extra family along with us.  And we have already planned yet another trip this Spring to head back up.  It is today, sadly, that I read online that Marvin, the founder of this unique museum, has passed away. It is also today that I discovered I never blogged about this adventure!

 

 

Right from the moment you step inside you are engulfed in lights and sounds.  There is so much to see from the floor...

 

 

...up to the ceiling! The airplanes move along a track through the whole museum.

 

One of the very first things you'll see is an entire wall of pinball machines!  Some old, some new.

 

 

But your eye won't stay there for long!  There is so much to see.  Before playing anything, you'll just need to walk through the whole place, taking inventory of what to play first.

 

 

Not all machines are strictly video games.  Bree loved this simple machine where a chef reaches into the oven and pulls out a gumball for you.

 

There are so many unique machines in this place.  Like this crazy guy electrocutes himself...

 

...to this guy vomits on himself.  And most notoriously, you can play tic-tac-toe with a chicken.  Who comes up with this stuff? 

 

Of course, there are some standard machines in this place where you'll be a winner every time. 

 

Marvin didn't just collect video games, he also collected old circus posters!

 

 

In the middle of your trip, when your feet hurt from all the walking and standing, have a seat on this foot massaging machine.  However, I will warn you - it is loud!!!

 

As you get further into the museum, the gaming machines become newer and your efforts are rewarded with tickets for a redemption center.

 

But then in the middle of all the new machines sits this: 

 

Before you leave, you'll take anther walk through the place and discover so much more you didn't see the first time around.  How do they fit all this stuff in here?!

 

Just before leaving, as you stand in the doorway zipping your coats, look up.  The entrance way ceiling is made of old pinball tops!

I recommend taking a trip up there.  A roll of quarters goes a long way.