A Real Stretch [pilates]

I went to the gym.  Now maybe that doesn't sound like anything to you.  For me, it's nearly unbelievable.  It's like another [foreign] world. 

Over a decade ago I dabbled in working out at my work facility's gym with some co-workers.  Mostly I remember toning my arms.  That's about the extent of my lifelong relationship with athletics.

My 16 year old sister visited us this spring and we had a jump rope face off [in front of our cheering family].  Her movements were so graceful, fluid, and beautiful to watch.  Next up: me.  I got the job done.  Very efficiently too, I might add.  Nothing graceful about it.  "Flailing" is the term I heard to describe my movements.  [awkward]

I digress, back to my workout.  This week I went to Pilates class!  I wasn't really sure what is was but it seemed like something good for me when I read the description:

"Improves muscle strength, core stability, posture, flexibility, and provides relaxation techniques." 

I sat on this mat in a room full of strangers.  Mostly women.  One man as old as my grandpa.  Another guy, intellectually like a young child, who freely communicated his thoughts and feelings throughout the hour. 

We did many exercises.  At one point, the instructor had us lay on our backs and point our leg(s) straight at the ceiling.  Sounds easy, right?  My leg was nowhere near straight.  So the instructor brought me a strap to pull my leg straight.  I didn't expect it to be as difficult as it was or maybe I didn't expect my muscles to be so tight.  Many times I looked at the [pretzel like] instructor and thought, oh yeah, I can do that...and then after trying thought...you've got to be kidding, that is really hard!  

[this is not my silhouette just in case you, by chance, thought it was.]

Yet it was relaxing and definitely stress relieving.  I loved the pace and the atmosphere.  The music would have put me to sleep if it wasn't for the crunching of my abs.  It's not a fast paced, sweat dripping routine, but, oh, it creeps up on you...this morning when I woke up I was sore.  But I can hardly wait to go back for more.  


~Kate

Dating Banter

Last night it was just me and my husband sitting at a restaurant and talking.  It felt strange.  

We intend to "date" more often but we're not very successful at making it happen and spending time alone.  Equally weird was our conversation about how weird it feels to be in a restaurant without our kids or any friends.  Then the conversation led to...imagine if this is what we did more often.  

Then it went on to this scenario...what if this was our very first date?  We just met.  That's a fairly odd hypothesis.  You, 37 years old, single with no kids.  Me, 34 years old, single with no kids. 

What would we be talking about over dinner?  Our interests?  What would our interests be if it wasn't marriage, kids, or the house?  Who are we without these things?  What would a single Kate or Tim be like?  We just couldn't imagine.  We reminisced about [nearly] 14 years of marriage and all that has happened in our lives.  Our dating days seem like such a distant memory.  We've grown and changed. 

We couldn't seem to think of what to do after dinner.  And so, we reverted to our old ways and headed off to Home Depot.  We've become such an old [odd] couple.   The sweet redemption is that we still enjoy being together.  We haven't lost our flirtatious, teasing banter, and, a high point for me, Tim gave me a stellar compliment yesterday...he said he can't resist me when I'm wearing my apron.
[He might have even used the word "hot".]  It was a good day.

~Kate 

Embrace the Camera

For Mother's Day I told my husband I wanted one thing...a picture of me with the kids. 

 Simple.  

And here is my [Mother's Day 2012] picture:

When the camera started clicking...it was all a little forced.  "Smile, kids!"  
Addis kept getting up and walking away.  

Life.  Lots of wiggling. Touching.  Noise.  

You never know what might happen next. 

 

Yet, this stage we're living [as five imperfect people] overwhelms with its beauty.  Jude [age 5] told me this and I wrote it in my [don't forget this & keep life organized] notebook:

  

"Mom, you make my heart bigger.  No one can ever get past that love."  

Well said, son.  I know what you mean.  I feel exactly the same way.

~Kate

Linking up with

Things that make me happy: Pink Edition

Books around the house

This morning these holds were available for pickup at the library.  These were all for Grace [age 9].  I might have been more excited bringing them home than her. 

via

Pink- being mama to daughters

Look how much pink was in my light load of laundry today.  I also painted the girls' room a very light pink a few weeks ago ["Silk Sheets" by Behr]. 

Sunshine & being outside

Today my husband was trimming up shrubs.  I was hanging out laundry.  Grace and Jude were whipping around on their [new] scooters.  Grace reminds me so much of myself as a little girl in this way...her poor legs are always scraped up and bruised.  As for Addie, her wearing a tank top makes me smile.  

  Happy Weekend!

~Kate 

ten on ten

Today I'm linking up with a bit of sunshine

a photo an hour for ten consecutive hours

capturing the ordinary beauty in your day to day life

  good morning

it's a beautiful day

i love baby feet

this is so them- Jude and the wii and Addie and her "pretty" [blanket]

70 degrees and sunny

my crush on doilies

stopped by one of our favorite places after school

this is after they ate frozen fruit bars

she has personality

breakfast for dinner

I hope you had a lovely day.

~Kate

Road Trip- SOLO!

Whoah.  Just writing the title feels strange.  I'm off on a little road trip to Minnesota this weekend to see my sister and her sweet new baby who arrived last week!  I'm so excited to be the [favorite] auntie to her three little ones.  It will do my heart good to smooch on the kiddos and to see my sister who is such a beautiful mother.  I'm really proud of her.  She has become my best friend, the one I automatically call when I have something to share. 

Mothering has me spent this week.  I'm going to keep this post positive.  I'm going to keep this post positive. Then again, to write well you must tell the truth.  The truth?  The truth is we've been to the urgent care for skin adhesive for the climbing monkey.  Up at night with a feverish son.  Got medicine for a skin infection [note to self: do not ever google "skin rashes" images again.]  I won't mention who it's for to protect the privacy of the carrier.  Received treatment for a sinus infection.  One of the littles decided to turn off the fridge.  I realized it when the ice cubes were water. 

After days of debating which child I should take with on the trip...my husband said this afternoon that I need to go alone.  What an idea.  And so, it's been decided.  I'm off on a quiet ride with me.  I need to take better care of myself.  I'm not exactly sure how.  Last week, my husband suggested I go to a coffee shop, drink coffee and just sit.  I'm not sure I could. 

Do other mothers find it hard to leave their kids for a weekend?  No matter how wild our days sometimes feel, I love being with them.  Tonight before bed, I told Addie "I'm gonna miss you like crazy" and she said "Of course".  I love being a mama.  I want to take care of them.  Maybe the best way to do that this time is to take four days away.  I'll let you know how it goes. 

~Kate