"It's Mommy's Birthday!"...Not

Ok, this entry is going to be short, because I blogged yesterday, but Charley did something today that I thought was worth sharing. Definitely laugh-worthy. So, I've determined all of the birthdays right now have Charley a little bit confused. Last week, my nephew and sister had their birthdays, and today is my dad's birthday. My birthday is in just over a week, but I'm going out to celebrate my birthday with friends this weekend. Needless to say, there's been a lot of birthday talk around the house lately.

Well, today I had a private lesson with two great girls. They've been best friends since they were toddlers, their families are close, and they're just fun to coach.  I meet with them several times a week, and Charley adores both the girls, and one of their moms, 'Miss Mary.' For most of my private lessons, I arrange child care for Charley. But Miss Mary loves to play with Charley, so when I teach the girls, Charley usually comes along. Today, Miss Mary took her to Byerly's to look at the lobsters in the lobster tank, and keep her amused during the girls' lesson. Well today, while they were there, Charley told Miss Mary that it was MY birthday. "It's Mommy's birthday!" she exclaimed. "She's 30!" Now Mary is aware that I have an upcoming birthday, but she doesn't know the date. So, she went with it. She told Charley they should get me a present! Charley spotted something, and she said, "That's it! A present for Mommy!" Mary questioned her a little bit, but she insisted. What was this incredible present I just had to have? A yellow pepper. Ha! I do eat a lot of peppers, so it's great. I'll put it on my salad tonight. But how funny!

So, they get back to the gym with about 10 minutes left in the lesson, and Charley came running right at me with a bouquet of flowers, squealing, "Happy Birthday, Mommy! I bought you flowers!" Ha! Imagine the look on my face as the other coaches gave me quizzical looks, like, "Is it your birthday?!" Ummm, no, it is not my birthday. But the way Charley broadcasted it, I'm sure everyone believed her! The gesture was so nice, though, and much appreciated. I'm very lucky to have several 'Miss Mary's' in my life. With all of Charley's enthusiasm about my birthday, imagine my surprise when we stopped at my dad's house, she refused to tell HIM happy birthday. Typical!

My "Un-Birthday" Presents from Charley and Miss Mary. I'm a lucky Mom!

Progress and Pre-30th Party!

Phew, it's been a crazy couple of days! Charley finally got over her virus, or whatever it was, but then my dad got sick, and had to have his gall bladder taken out. Thank goodness the surgery went well, and he's healing and resting at home, but ugh! He was planning to be out of the country for a birthday trop next week, and now he isn't going to get to go. He's thrilled, as I'm sure you can imagine. All of the sick family stuff happened during the busiest birthday time in my family. My sister and nephew share a birthday on the 17th, my dad's birthday is tomorrow, and mine is on September 3. All of that, and the bus is coming together, I've been working more at the gym...Basically, I've been the Energizer Bunny for a couple of days, but even with the craziness, it's getting REALLY exciting. This bus will be done within a week, and then it's a matter of getting out there and making things happen! It's a little (or a LOT) intimidating, but so exhilarating at the same time!

Last weekend, my mom volunteered to watch Charley on Saturday night for a few hours, and I actually got to go out for a little bit! That was the first time in several months that I've gotten a night off. It was great! I met up with a girlfriend, and my little sister tagged along for a little bit. It was her 21st birthday, and even though she'd partied it up with her friends the night before, I didn't think it was right to stay in on her big day! So she came out, got a free birthday Kamikaze, gossiped about The Real Housewives for a bit (we all agreed that Gretchen might be the most annoying housewife ever) and then she headed home. My friend and I hung around for a bit, chit chatting, and laughing at the karaoke that was going on behind us, before heading home before midnight. You know you're almost 30 and a parent when going home at 11:00 feels like it's been a party night!

Speaking of almost 30, YES, I'm almost 30. It's crazy, because when I was younger I had my life totally planned out. I'd go to college, get a job, get married, have kids, and be totally stable in my adult life when I turned 30. Well, I accomplished many of those things. I went to college, got a job, got married, had a kid. I also lived in 3 different states, drove across the country with a toddler and a dog, got a divorce,started dating, and ALMOST got business up and running before my 30th birthday. So, I accomplished part of my bucket list, and even a few things that weren't on the list! Now I have to start thinking toward my 30s and what I want to accomplish during those years. I'm trying not to plan too much, though, because I just want to let life happen and see where it leads. It's all starting this weekend, when I go out with my girlfriends and really let loose for a night. I can't wait! We're going dancing, and  we're going to party like we're nowhere near 30. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm home before bar-close! Ha- That won't happen if Rena has anything to say about it!

On another note, I had one of my friends over the other night for dinner and a little bit of trashy TV watching. I know I mentioned the Real Housewives earlier, and it really is my guilty pleasure. However, I'm not ashamed to say that I block out an hour every week to catch up with the OC ladies. Their lives are so dramatic and ridiculous, that they make my life seem fairly normal! Anyway, it was nice to have a visitor! I had a couple of my friends over last week, which was great, but Charley wouldn't go to sleep while they were here. This week, she went to bed early...she actually fell asleep on the couch, which meant I got to have an adult conversation for the first time in a long time! They say people come into your life for a reason, and I definitely believe that's true. I'm enjoying getting to know some new friends. Friends that have no motives, other than to be friends. I just say that, because when I was doing the online dating thing, and meeting new men, nobody went into it looking for friendships. They went into it looking for dates and everything that goes along with those. It's been good for me to make more female friends, who can relate to my parental struggles (oddly enough, Charley is NOT the only strong-willed 2-year-old on the planet). I'm trying to figure out how I can spend more time with all of my girlfriends, because I've been so absorbed with work lately, I haven't found my balance yet. Maybe that will be my goal for the first month of my 30s. Try to find a balance, time for friends, and time for myself. I might have to schedule it in, but I actually like that as a goal!

I'm jumping around a little bit today, but I figure I've written enough of the philosophical nonsense for one night, and I thought I would talk a little bit about the bus! GO! Gymnastics is almost ready to launch, and the bus is currently in progress. It's crazy that it's happening so quickly! So far, the seats have been removed, the flooring installation has started, painting is underway, all the major mats, games, and supplies have been purchased, the Web site is in the works (I can't WAIT to see the progress on that), business cards have arrived, t-shirts have been ordered....There are so many things to do, but we're making progress! Now of course, something had to go wrong. The people who were going to pad the walls for us came in with a ridiculously high quote, so we have to go to plan B (honestly, more like plan G at this point) for the wall padding. Everything else seems to be falling into place, though. At the same time, though, in a matter of a week, I will be driving around the Twin Cities in a giant, blue, school bus. I'm actually frightened by that thought...Ha!

Alright, back to work. I've got e-mails to send, and flyers to design before bed. More soon!

Jean Shorts Stigma and a Sick Kiddo!

The last week has been incredibly busy. Actually, the whole summer has been pretty busy, but as things are coming together with the bus, my time seems to disappear at an incredibly fast rate. Anybody who saw my FB post about a ridiculous ladder purchase, likely can tell that my plate is pretty full right now, getting things started with GO! Gymnastics. It's been mostly phone calls and meetings in my life lately, but I've managed to get some quality Charley-time in, too, which is my favorite kind of time.

Seal show at the zoo!

Last Sunday, Charley and I went to the Como Zoo with my friend Kim. I totally prefer the Minnesota Zoo, but Como is so close to where I live, and it's free! It's just so easy to make a day of it at Como with my little monkey. Anyway, we had a great time, looking at animals and wandering through the various exhibits. It was nice to catch up with Kim, too, because we've both been busy lately and hadn't had a chance to chat much. One of my favorite moments of the day was when Kim pointed out a guy to me. "Look, a single dad! He's good looking, no ring on his finger..." I looked, and saw who she was talking about. He was a decent looking guy, but as we walked more in his direction, we both simultaneously said, "But he's in jean shorts." Ha! What is it with women and guys in jean shorts? I think there's a very specific type of guy who wears jean shorts. Any time I see a guy in denim shorts, I think of my friend Brandon, from KU. Brandon and I were pretty good friends for a long time. He was a good looking guy, and generally had a decent sense of style. But once during the first week of school, he made the mistake of wearing jean shorts. That was when everybody on our floor was getting to know each other, and (sorry guys) but every guy on the floor got a nickname. Creepy Joe, Big Larry, and, of course...Jean Shorts Brandon. Ha! He wasn't thrilled with the nickname. "One time!" he would complain,"I wore jean shorts ONE TIME!" Sadly, once you've been given a nickname, it's hard to lose it. I still call him Jean Shorts Brandon, when he comes up in conversation. Anyway, back to the guy at the zoo... there is a stigma associated with jean shorts, and they're a total turnoff. I just thought it was funny that it hit Kim and me at the same time!

Monday was a packed day. Charley and I met friends for coffee, then returned home, where she played with her little buddy Sawyer for most of the day. I did some housework, LOTS of bus-related paperwork, and even had time to play with the kids. It's wonderful, because Sawyer lives just a few doors down. The kids played at Sawyer's house for awhile, then came over to our house for a bit. They got plenty of playtime, and both moms got a little bit of a break. Woohoo! The one negative to Monday's playdate was the fact that Sawyer got sick on Tuesday. I read his mom's post about a sick kid on Tuesday, and braced myself, because I knew it would hit Charley, too. It was just a matter of time.

Tuesday night, a couple of my girlfriends came over. It was like Charley knew they were coming. She's gotten so good at going to sleep lately, that I didn't rush home from the gym to put her to bed. Well, Tuesday, she decided she didn't want to go to bed. She'd have her eyes closed, and breathe heavily, but the minute I left the room, it was, "Mommy! Mommy, where are you?" Anyway, it was clear that she would not go to sleep while they were over, so I gave in, and let her be "Party Charley." She was wide awake and mostly well-behaved, except for the time I caught her sneaking chocolate covered pretzels. It was my own fault, leaving them within her reach! Ha! It was great to catch up with the girls, although it would have been nice if I hadn't been halfway in mommy-mode while they were here. Oh well, next time she will be asleep!

Sick Charley, snuggling her baby.

Sure enough, Charley spiked a fever yesterday afternoon, and has been a total crab ever since.
It's really hard when Charley gets sick, because she's not exactly at the point where she tells me what's wrong. She knows she doesn't feel well. But she doesn't tell me what hurts. She fights taking Tylenol, but feels much better after she's had some. Most of all, she doesn't know what she wants when she's sick. Generally, I work all day on Fridays, teaching private lessons. When Charley got a fever yesterday, I canceled all of my lessons for today. She woke up crabby, but was excited to go over to my dad's house and play with his dogs today. Charley had some medicine before we got there, and by the time we got settled in, she had a sudden burst of energy. She requested food (which she really didn't do at all yesterday), and seemed to be feeling a little bit better. Around 11, she started looking groggy, and said she wanted to ride in the car. Charley is notorious for having a hard time falling asleep, and it's frustrating for both of us. She gets it from me, so I can relate. Anyway, sometimes the motion of the car helps soothe her to sleep, so I was more than happy to take her for a ride. Sure enough, we got in the car, and what did she do? She started screaming for Oscar (our dog). "I want to go see OSCAR!" she wailed, at the top of her lungs. I was worried the cop in the car next to me would hear her and pull me over! I drove for about 10 minutes before I finally gave up, and went back to my dad's house, so she could see Oscar. We got inside, and what do you think she did? "I want to ride in the car!!!!" she screamed. I wasn't falling for that one again! I stuck it out with the crying for about 10 minutes, and she fell asleep. The poor kid has been in an out of sleep since about 4:30 this afternoon, but I'm hoping she will feel better in the morning. Charley kind of forced me to slow down the last couple of days, although I've been doing a lot of computer work, because I'm not great with the whole relaxing thing, and I think I needed it. I'm rocking some awesome black circles under my eyes right now. That's not a good look on anybody! Ha!

As much as Charley has been difficult today, because she doesn't feel well, she totally made my heart melt. She woke up briefly, and said, "Mommy, I need you." "What do you need, honey? Are you hungry? Do you want some water?" I asked. "I need my mom," she replied. She's such a little smuggler, she just wanted to cuddle, and I never turn down the chance to snuggle! It was so sweet. She's still warm tonight, so I decided to find a sub for gymnastics tomorrow. I hate when people knowingly bring sick kids to the gym, and I'm not going to be one of those parents! I am hoping to go out with one of my girlfriends tomorrow night, though, so I'm hoping Charley feels better so I don't have any guilt about taking a few hours to myself!

In totally unrelated news, I've started getting a LOT of orders in for the bus. Not the mats (of course), but other equipment, like a climbing rope, holds for the rock climbing wall, little hand and footprints, business cards, etc. I've also started planning an event for National Gymnastics Day, so this whole business thing is starting to become real! More news on that in the upcoming week. The bus should be finished next week!

First Phone Call!

I know the last couple of posts have been focused on work, so I will try to keep that to a minimum today. Things are moving along well, and I got my first phone call on my work phone yesterday! I was so excited and a little bit nervous. I cleared my throat, and in my best, 'peppy gymnastics coach voice,' I said, "Hello, this is Lindsey at GO! Gymnastics. How may I help you?" I waited anxiously. "Rita McCann?" said the voice on the other end. Ugh. Wrong number. What a let-down! It was almost as big of a let-down as the voicemail I received on the business line. Again, I saw that there was a message, and immediately got excited. I called in to listen to the message, and got to listen to a woman named Debra asking for information on how to get a new trash can. I've called wrong numbers before, but if the greeting on the voicemail sounds as though it has nothing to do with what I need, I hang up. I don't leave a message! Oh well, two let-downs, but at least they provided some entertainment.

I was talking to my friend Kellie the other day about what I've been up to, and how I've been worn out from working so hard and so much. I honestly need to learn how to delegate. I'm sure Kellie and Janine are laughing to themselves as they read that statement, because as much as I HATE when people micromanage, I definitely have a way I want things done. Getting my business organized is no exception. I WANT to delegate. But I have a hard time doing it. It's like in high school when I was assigned group work, and always ended up doing the work myself, because I wanted it done my way. That doesn't mean my other group members wouldn't have done a great job. It just wasn't my vision. I'm REALLY trying to let go, especially because I do trust the quality of work that my partner in crime produces. She really is good at getting things done, and done well. Definitely something I need to work on...

Okay, moving on. Charley has been hanging in there as I've been going from one point to the other, but today, she finally lost it. We didn't even do much, but she was totally crabby. I'm sure parents will be able to relate to the fact that it's SO hard to get things done with toddlers around. My house is disorganized, I'm trying to get things accomplished, and sometimes it's impossible, because she's always pulling things out of drawers, and asking for my attention. Of course she wants attention! She's two! I've been looking into childcare options, for both of our benefits! Anyway, we went to Target, and it started out great. I had her totally distracted by the Disney Princess Band-Aids. But at some point, she decided she wanted to get out of the cart, and she was going to make the entire store aware of that. Ugh. It was especially fun when she dropped to the ground outside of my car, in the parking lot, screaming and crying. Awesome parenting moment. I had to document it. See the picture below!

After the meltdown subsided, Charley was actually fairly pleasant for the rest of the evening. She cracked me up when she pretended she was ordering from the drive through. She looked at me, and asked, "Do you want a cake pop?" "Sure!" I replied. She turned her head away, and said, "I'll have a cake pop, and two Equal packets." Ha! Two Equal packets? Someone's been listening to my order at Starbucks. She just forgot the iced coffee with soy part of the order. I was pretty impressed, though!

Last week I made a comment about wearing 'meeting clothes,' and spending too much time in my gym clothes. I do wear gym clothes a lot, but in my defense, I spend a lot of time in the gym! Whether it's at work, or at the Y, those are generally the only places I need to dress for, so hey, gym clothes work! Anyway, I went to a business meeting the other day with someone who had a bunch of contacts for me, as I go forward with the gym bus. I wore a skirt, which actually is not that unusual for me, but I suppose I haven't worn many skirts lately. Anyway, when I dropped Charley off at my mom's house, I'm fairly certain everybody thought I was going on a date, not a business meeting, because I'd straightened my hair, and put on a skirt. In any business, the way you look and the way you present yourself makes a difference, so I always make a point to look my best when I go into meetings! I got a lot of questions though, so I imagine they thought I was lying. I honestly had a meeting! I have a list of contacts to prove it!

In other news, we had a storm here in Minneapolis a couple of days ago, and my mom reminded me to plug my computer into the surge protector. So I did. My TV, too. But when I woke up yesterday, I turned on the TV to find that the screen wouldn't work, but the volume would. Awesome. Just what I need. A broken TV. It's as though I actually have extra money to spend, even though I'm starting my own business. Ummm....not so much! Charley wasn't happy that she didn't get to watch Sesame Street, and her morning routine was disrupted. I was able to distract her with the iPad, though. Phew! When I got home from work, I thought I would give the TV another shot. Much to my surprise, it worked! I was relieved. But I also felt like Joey and Chandler in the Friends episode where they got free porn. I'm afraid that if I turn it off, it won't turn back on! I'm a little bit skeptical, but I WILL turn it off tonight. Fingers crossed!

Alright, that's all for now. More soon!

Summer? Where did you go?!

Eyes closed....Of course!

It's August. AUGUST! That means, I need to be ready to start business in a month and I'm getting really anxious about it. I love the fact that I've got a bus, now. That is certainly a plus! It's currently in the process of being retrofitted, which basically involves having the seats ripped out, flooring put down,  having hooks hung up for rings and a rope, an having it painted. It sounds daunting, but I was reassured  that it won't take more than 2 weeks. Phew! This is all starting to come together! Except for the fact that the mats are still being custom made, and the flooring isn't here yet... Oh well, I suppose it's impossible to get things going without any glitches. With that said, in less than a month, I will not only be teaching gymnastics classes full-time again but I'll also be DRIVING A BUS! Stay tuned for updates on those driving lessons. I'm sure I'll be a sight for sore eyes. Ha!

So, business has pretty much taken over my life for the last several weeks. Between coaching at the gym, teaching private lessons, purchasing a bus, buying supplies, pricing out t-shirts, contacting preschools, etc. I haven't exactly had any "me" time. I can't even remember the last time I had someone watch Charley in the evening so I could go out. I need to get out, soon! I'm hoping for a girls' night out at some point in the next couple weeks. I need a chance to go out and let loose a little bit! I'm a little bit high strung under normal circumstances, but right now, I'm totally wound up and completely wrapped up in business and Charley. I know I'll get my butt out of the house, it just might be a couple of more weeks.

"Sure, I'll load your Spiderman web shooter..."

Last weekend was packed full of activity, but it was really a lot of fun. I worked all day Friday, and then I took Charley to her friend Sawyer's birthday party. The party was at Long Lake Park Beach, and it was great! We were late (of course), because I had been at work, and had to stop home to let Oscar out before heading to the party. It was supposed to be a 5-10 minute stop, but it quickly turned into 45 minutes. I'll spare you the details, but let's just say that Oscar made a mess on himself (outside, thank goodness) that was so severe, I had to bust out the scissors and give him a bath. Not cool. Anyway, we pulled up to the party, and Charley yelled Sawyer's name until she spotted him, and they ran toward each other. They really are cute. They played for several hours, alongside the "big kids" and Charley fell asleep on the ride home. Score for me!

"Should we cross the bridge or just stare at it?"

Saturday and Sunday, Charley got to play with her friend Aurora. On Saturday, Charley went for a play date, right after gymnastics. It was so different, because she usually puts up a fight when she leaves the gym, knowing I'm not going with her. But when she left with Aurora, she clearly couldn't have cared less that I was staying at the gym. By the time I picked her up, all of the kids were pretty wiped out, so Charley and I went home, ran some errands, and had an early night. Sunday, we got together with Aurora and her parents, again. We walked to the park, which was probably a little bit over a mile each way. Both girls walked most of the way there, played like crazy once we got there, and crashed on the way home. It was fantastic! We ate dinner with Aurora's family, and it was awesome. Aurora's dad, Rich, made mustard and pretzel-crusted salmon, summer squash, roasted potatoes, and salad. For a woman who eats cereal for dinner most of the time, it was like a feast! More than anything, it was good company, and an overall fantastic day. Oh, and now Charley insists I tell her "Charley and Aurora Stories," before bed every night. She's heard the same story about 6 times, now, but it doesn't seem to bother her.

Now that the weekend is over, it's been go, go, go with one meeting after the other, and Charley has been a trooper. She's getting dragged from one location to the next, and all things considered, she has been behaving quite well. She's done a great job of entertaining people, as well. I included a few Charley statements below. She definitely has a lot of her mom in her...

Charley-isms

*When told she would get to see her friend Ryan, she smacked her forehead, shook her head, and said, "Ryan is SO difficult." (*There is a Curious George character named Ryan, which is where she got that line. She delivered it perfectly, though.)

*While speaking on her toy phone, she said, "Hello? Daisy? WHAT? You've GOT to be kidding me!" She then proceeded to "hang up."

*I was getting my hair cut last week, and just like any other good mom, I was bribing my child with M and Ms to keep her subdued. About every 5 minutes, she peeked around the chair, and asked, "Mom, can I have a couple more, please?" Boy, does she know how to get what she wants! The stylist ate it up.

A girl, a bus, and a maraca. What a combination.

Side note: I've been doing a lot of paperwork and emailing at night, while listening to the TV in the background. Tonight, as I worked, Abby Lee Miller and a 109 year old woman got fitted for bras on a show I didn't even know existed. I'm a little bit scarred. It might be time to turn the channel from Lifetime and Bravo, to something more intellectually challenging than The Real Housewives. Meh, we'll see.

That's all for now, folks. Keep checking the GO! Gymnastics FB page for updates. We will add a link to the company website when it's finished. Thanks for all the support, too, I clearly have a bunch of wonderful friends behind me on this!

Getting ready to GO!

Date night!

So, this last week was incredibly busy, because I have a lot of work to do. If all goes as planned, I will be open for business in a month! That is exciting, but incredibly intimidating. At this point, I just want to get started!

The week started off slowly. When I woke up on Monday, I was really sore from the Tough Mudder, and knew that Tuesday would be worse. For me, soreness is always worse two days after I've done something strenuous. I was right! I could barely stand up to get out of bed. I had to, though, because I had a meeting at the bank to open an account for GO! Gymnastics. Although I walked in awkwardly, and probably looked like I was struggling to stand up when I left, the account was opened. That's a huge step! I went to the gym to do some cardio, in an effort to return my body to normal, and fortunately for me, it worked. I felt MUCH better after my workout, and I was able to be more productive. Phew!

I taught a few private lessons this week, and I know I've said it before, but I really enjoy those. I have one small group that I teach, that isn't really a "private," because there are 6 girls in the class, but I design the class specifically for their dance needs. They are all between 8 and 10, and they are on the same dance team at a local studio. They have an interesting dynamic, because they are supportive of each other, but also very competitive. They challenge each other, because they all want to be the best in the group! That's positive in some ways, because the girls make progress fairly quickly, but it also makes things difficult, because there's always one or two of them who struggle on specific skills, and they get discouraged when they can't do what the others are doing. The funny thing is, they're all really at the same level. No one is really better than anybody else. Each of the girls has very distinct strengths and weaknesses, and it's my job to help them build on their strengths, while improving on their weaknesses. Yesterday, one of the girls was struggling with the conditioning I had assigned. I had the girls put their hands on a bar for balance, bend one leg, and try to touch the bent knee to the ground, then stand up. One of the girls was having a really hard time with the exercise (it's actually incredibly hard to do), and she broke down, discouraged. I told her not to worry about it. The exercise was hard for her because she had the longest legs in the group, so it made it more difficult. That seemed to make her feel better. Then, the other tall girl in the group looked at her legs, then at her friend's legs, and said, "Ummmm, I challenge that statement..." Ha! It was hard not to laugh, because she was very serious. Instead of laughing, I moved the girls onto a different station, in an effort to distract them. Kids say some funny things, and that's one of the best parts of my job! Side note: A customer came into the gym yesterday, for a private lesson. Her daughter dances for a local dance studio, and I have 8 girls from that studio that I teach, personally. In talking with the parent, I found out that the owner of this particular dance studio actually requires her students to come to Kenwood Gymnastics, to train certain skills. Apparently, she swears by Kenwood, saying all of her students who go to Kenwood learn their aerials, and other acrobatic skills in no time. I was proud to hear that! I know Kenwood has an awesome staff, but is a huge compliment to have someone in a closely-related industry, tell her clients the same thing. I think it says a lot about the gym!

This morning, I headed into work, in an attempt not to be too early (Charley wants to run wild, if we get there too early), only to find that every entrance to 35W was closed. Great. Just my luck! So, I was  a little bit late, but my first class went great, and Charley made it through her class without throwing a fit. This day was unique, because Charley had to stay for two classes instead of leaving after the first class to go to my mom's house. The second class started, and it wasn't long before I heard her crying from inside the kids' gym. So, I traded with my co-worker, and taught the preschoolers instead of the older kids. It was actually a lot of fun, and great practice for my new venture!

A 2-year-old in milkshake heaven...

Charley and I have been really busy, and on the go, lately. I shouldn't say lately. We're always busy, and on the go. That's just kind of my nature. I've always been a busy-body and a workaholic. Unfortunately, Charley does not seem to share that trait. She's definitely more of a homebody than me, and she really likes to spend time at home. So, last night, and part of the day today, I made a specific effort not to plan anything, and just to stay home. Generally, when we're on the go, we're running errands or going to the gym. We haven't had a lot of quality time lately, because I've been so busy trying to get organized for my business. So tonight, we had a date night. We went to Red Robin, which was actually pretty fun and it was a great atmosphere for kids. It was like Fudrucker's, except without the hanging slabs of meat hanging in the window (Edina kids totally know what I'm talking about). Anyway, I wanted it to be a special night, so I let her get a milkshake, which she is a huge fan of, naturally. I spend almost all of my time with Charley, but this was different, because I was deliberately trying to make it fun for her. And it was fun for me, too! We came home, and she quickly fell asleep. Win-win!

In other news, I recently joined this online "Meetup" group. I've got wonderful friends, but I'm trying to expand my social circle. I joined a couple of groups that are pretty well-targeted to me, like Minneapolis Hip Mamas (I'd like to think I'm hip, although I'm not sure that's totally accurate), Active Singles with Kids, etc. I've only gone to one meet-up so far, and it was a little awkward, because it was at the Edina Pool and the group was small, but the Hip Mamas I met were very nice. I haven't had the guts to venture out with the Active Singles group yet. I'm a little apprehensive about that, and I'm not really sure why. I just get the impression that most of the people will be significantly older than me. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Many of my close friends are quite a bit older. Anyway, we will see how these meetups go. At the very least, I'll get to meet a variety of new people without feeling like I'm re-entering the online dating world. Yikes!

I've started talking about my business more frequently lately, and now I have a favor to ask all of you. I'm trying to pick a logo, and I've narrowed it down to two options. Which do you like better, Option A or Option B? Keep in mind it's going on the side of a bus, and it's a children's gymnastics program. I appreciate your help!

Option A

Option B

Gettin' Muddy

Well, I did it! I completed the Tough Mudder. I might have been the slowest one in the group, but at the end of the day, I set a goal to complete the TM, and I reached that goal. I'll get more into detail with that, but first, let me give you a little bit of insight into the days leading up to the Mudder. This post will be a lengthy one, so I hope you're ready!

Last week didn't go as I'd planned, in general. Every day I planned to go to the gym, something came up, and I wasn't able to do the workout I'd intended. I made it to the gym three times, but not as much as I wanted, so I began feeling more and more unprepared. Then, Charley decided that sleeping wasn't really her thing. Wednesday and Thursday nights, she was up several times (probably due to the heat and lack of central air in our duplex), and although she went right back to sleep after waking up, I wasn't so lucky. It's always taken me awhile to get to sleep, and last week was no exception, so I was a little bit sleep deprived. On Friday night, she slept like a rock for 13 hours, so I was pleased! I thought for SURE she'd do the same for me on Saturday, because clearly she was wiped out. No such luck!

When tired toddlers shop...

On Saturday morning, I went to work as usual, but instead of going to my mom's house, Charley went to her friend Sawyer's house to play. She had a great time with her little buddy, and Sawyer's mom said Charley had been great, but seemed to be running a fever. Sure enough, her head was a little warm. But she didn't seem to be acting unusual, so we met up with my friend Kim for some shopping and lunch. I'd been on the hunt for a pair of lime green athletic shorts, because one of my fellow Tough Mudders said that everyone was going to wear them along with our team shirts to complete the race. We ended up at TJ MAXX, where I found some incredibly neon shorts for $7...Totally in my price range! We went from there to Panera where we ate lunch, and chatted for a bit. Charley ate some of her lunch, but after awhile, she put her head on my lap, and before I knew it, she was asleep! I knew she was tired, and it reinforced that her fever might have been due to something more than a growth spurt. When she woke up from her nap, she seemed to feel great and went to bed easily. "Woohoo!" I thought. "She's in bed early, and I'll be able to get to sleep before 10!" Ha! Not so much. One of my TM friends had sent an e-mail earlier in the week, encouraging everyone to check out the obstacle course in advance, so we could be prepared. I looked at The Berlin Wall, and several others, and figured they wouldn't be a problem. I'm strong as crap so strength events don't bother me. Then I saw one called The Boa Constrictor and another called The Trench. I was instantly in panic mode. I am extremely claustrophobic, and these events required crawling through small, dark spaces. Suddenly, my nightmare seemed as though it would become a reality in less than 24 hours. The thought freaked me out, so I took some melatonin to help me get to sleep.

Then, in the middle of the night, Charley started crying several times, which meant I was up several times as well. Around 1:30, I heard a loud popping sound. Then a minute later, I heard another, and it sounded very close by. I had an internal panic attack, because I like all of my neighbors quite a bit, and I was convinced I'd just heard a murder-suicide take place. Perhaps the lack of sleep from the previous days was getting to me? Anyway, that kept me up, ultra-paraoid, for about another 30 minutes to an hour. So much for getting a good night's sleep before the TM! Charley woke up, happy as she could be, around 4:30 a.m., and she was ready to go! I think if I did the math, that means I got a total of about 4 hours of sleep on Saturday night. I knew I could handle it. I'd make myself some coffee, and that would perk me up! That's when I realized that the bag of coffee I'd purchased the night before was full of coffee beans...not ground coffee. Typical! I intended to get out the door in time to pick up some Starbuck's before heading over to my team's meeting place, but that didn't happen, so I ate my Cliff bar, and drank a bottle of water, and prepared myself for a long, grueling day

The Tough Mudder was exciting. They say it's a team activity, and that's the truth. It was like the ultimate team task, and I couldn't have been on a better team. We all met up at Colleen's house (she'd done most of the organizing for the race), and broke off into carpools from there. I rode with some of my fellow coaches, and we had a great drive out to Somerset, Wisconsin. As we got closer, the excitement continued to build, and we were all pretty ready to get going. I was nervous. Not nervous about the obstacles, but nervous about the running. I'm not a runner. I've talked to several of my fellow gymnasts, and we've all determined that good gymnasts have more difficulty training themselves for endurance- based events. We were trained for so many years to go really hard in short spurts, but have trouble with distances. Plus, I knew my asthma  and allergies would be an issue, because nearly all of my training had been indoors. Well, I was right. I struggled with the running, quite a bit. By Mile 3, I was convinced we HAD to have run like 6 miles already. Ha! I probably walked through half of the course. I felt like the girl on one of the Real World Challenges that held up her whole group. With that said, my team was SUPER supportive and really fun to work with. I completed all of the challenges without any issues, although I chose to skip the obstacle that required climbing over hay bales. Could I have made the climb? Sure! But I would have been wheezing and swollen for the rest of the day, so I opted out. The obstacles were challenging, but definitely my favorite part of the course. Even The Trench and The Boa Constrictor weren't nearly as bad as I'd anticipated. They were actually kind of fun! At one of the last obstacles, we had to climb monkey bars that went up at an incline, and then down. I climbed across like a kindergartner, one hand at a time, but I made it all the way across. One of my teammates looked at me with a questioning grin, and said, "Did you make it?" "Yeah!" I replied. "I'm strong as crap, it's just my endurance that sucks!" Ha! My favorite parts were the obstacles that required us to climb over mounds of slippery mud. We got to slide down the mud into puddles of MORE mud, and we even took a couple of breaks to float in the mud. Needless to say, the entire team was a muddy mess! But that was part of the fun.

The entire course was full of hills, and challenging paths, and if my team hadn't been there, I certainly wouldn't have made it through. But I genuinely enjoyed the comradery within my team. Everybody was having fun, helping each other, scaling walls together. It was quite an experience. I loved every minute of it, even when my legs were cramping up and I was struggling through The Arctic Enema (swimming through ice water). As much as it was a challenge, I think I would do it again. The teamwork and "mental grit" the Tough Mudder requires, made for a long, but incredible day. I think the best part of the day was when the entire team kicked up into handstands, and crossed the finish line together. It was awesome! Then we were given our orange headbands, t-shirts, and well-deserved beers. We hung around for awhile, talking, and washing as much of the dirt and mud off of ourselves as possible (I was still covered in a layer of dirt when I got home, despite my best attempt of cleaning off with a hose). We walked back to the cars, sat outside, shared some drinks, and headed home. It was a day I'll never forget.

Now, after all of that, the team went back to Colleen's house to grill out and recover. I had to leave, unfortunately, because Charley still wasn't feeling well, and she was becoming pretty anxious for her mommy. Duty calls! I was happy to see her, and we both slept like rocks last night. This morning, I took her back to TJ MAXX so I could buy some more running shorts. After wearing my first pair through the TM, I might officially convert from leggings and a tank top, to running shorts, and athletic shirts. There really is a difference in comfort!

So, to sum up, I've learned the following random facts in the last week:
1. The Tough Mudder is every bit as extreme as it's advertised to be.
2. I can make my way through enclosed spaces without having a panic attack.
3. I clearly don't know what a gun shot sounds like, because all of my neighbors are still alive (thank goodness!).
4. Running shorts are amazing.
5. I should wear shorts and athletic headbands more often. One of my teammates told me I looked like I was 20, and the lady at the check in for the TM questioned my age.
6. The Kenwood Gymnastys are awesome (although I really already knew that).
7. The TM makes me sore. Not just a little sore. Waddle like a duck, sore.
8. It's possible for me to have scratches and bruises all over my body, and not be able to pinpoint exactly when any of them took place.
9. I'm not discouraged because I was the slowest team member. In fact, I'm motivated NOT to be the slowest one next time!
10. Slow and steady might not win the race, but definitely still completes it!

If you read through all that, you deserve a drink! Wine tonight, anyone? Cheers!

Adventures in Babysitting

So, I promised more stories, and I plan to fulfill that promise. The last couple of weeks has been busy, and full of activities, so I certainly have plenty to share. From working like a maniac, to Charley's antics, it's been busy, but fun! The last couple of days, I've spent a lot of time in the gym coaching. I've been coaching private lessons for the most part, which is great, because I get to know the kids really well. It's definitely enjoyable, but it certainly wears me out!

Anyway, I worked yesterday, and Charley spent the day with my mom. She is so funny, because she always has a good time when she's playing with her Nana and Boppa, but she generally puts up a fight when I leave. Today, we were able to distract her with toys before I left, and avoided a meltdown. Woohoo! That's a bonus for me! Charley's been the queen of one-liners recently. The other day I was at the gym, and went to pick her up from the childcare center. I said, "Charley, I missed you!" Her response? "Yeah, whatever." The girl behind the counter heard it and started laughing uncontrollably. Yup! That's my kid. Charley's been getting particularly spoiled recently, too. 98% of the time, I have a sitter for her, while I'm coaching, or teaching private lessons. However, once in awhile, she has to come to the gym when I teach a private, and generally she just plays with the parent of the child I'm working with. Tuesday was one of those days.

Charley started out great, playing with another little girl who was watching her sister do gymnastics. After that, she went into the kids' gym and took out some orange cones, which she brought out to me, saying, "Happy Birthday!" That was a big hit with the parents sitting in the waiting area. Then she came out on the gym floor for a bit, which I really don't like, but as long as she is out of everybody's way, I'll deal with it. She was actually really good for about the first 45 minutes of the hour long lesson. Then, it was meltdown time. She found this long, metal pole, and was shooting it at anybody who came by like it was a light saber. She must have gotten that from her cousin, because she certainly didn't get it from me! Anyway, it was entertaining for a minute, until I took it away, and everybody in the gym got to listen to about 10 minutes of "No!" followed by, " I'm NOT going to sit down! I want to jump!" Let's just say, she showed her 2-year-old side. I put her in time out, which didn't go over well with her, but it gave me enough time to finish out the class. As we were leaving, one of the moms who had been watching said to me,"That was like free entertainment! Can you bring her next time?" Ha! I am all about laughing at my own expense (and my child's), but if I can avoid bringing her to the gym, I'm  going to do it! Even though the parents loved it, selfishly, I didn't. Imagine that!

Yesterday, my recreational team girls were in the gym, and I love working with that group. I am choreographing a group floor routine, which I haven't done in awhile. I've done a couple of individual floor routines (which is funny, because they generally include pieces from my old floor routines), and I've done a few group routines, but it's been awhile. It's actually kind of fun! It's a lot of work, trying to figure out spacing, and decide what looks good and what doesn't, but I'm really enjoying putting the routine together! On a different note, one of my private lessons canceled on me yesterday, which gave me a free hour in the gym. There happened to be some adult tumblers there, so I jumped in with the class and had some fun! I like getting out on the equipment and doing things I haven't done in years. And I didn't hurt myself this time! Woohoo!

The last couple of days, I've been doing a lot of work for GO! GYMNASTICS. I've been working on a logo, putting together lesson plans, etc. It's starting to come together very quickly and that's exciting. It also means I have a TON of things to do. I like it though, it keeps me busy. Hopefully, it will keep me busy for a long time!

Last night, after I finished at work, I went to my first ever "Gender Reveal" party for some of my friends. I've known my friend Katie since high school, and her husband Max even longer, and they really are a great couple. They have a son already, and at the party yesterday, they had a box filled with balloons that would reveal the gender of their baby-on-the-way. Naturally, I was late, and missed the big reveal. Lucky for me Katie had video! I've never seen someone so excited by pink balloons! It was a great idea, and a fun little get together. I'll have to keep that in mind for the future...The VERY distant future.

So, this morning I got a text from one of my girlfriends, asking me if I could watch her kids, because she had a bit of a babysitting emergency. I've totally been there, and it's the worst! I only ended up watching her youngest, because she'd figured something out for her older child, and it was really fun. Her son is about 10 months old, and busy as can be. He's a stereotypical boy! Charley was so excited to have someone to play with all day, and I think she really liked being the "big kid." We went to the splash pad, and they played in the water because it was so stinking hot outside, and they both had a great time! Charley was very sweet with him, patting him on the head, and saying, " Hi little guy! How are you?" She might have heard that somewhere.... Ha! She's totally my mini-me. Anyway, I was thinking how she would make a great big sister (and she will someday), because she was playing so well with him. Then, he made a dangerous mistake. He approached, and even TOUCHED the iPad! In Charley's world, that can be a deal breaker. "Hey! That's MINE!" she shouted several times, as he innocently banged away on the screen. My "big sister" bubble was totally burst. Ha! She's two, it's really how I expected her to react. I mean, by the time the thought of being a big sister is even an inkling, she will be older and she will be a GREAT big sister. But her possessiveness made me laugh. On another note, this little guy I watched today is like an angel child. He was so easy! He only cried once all day, and that's because he was hungry. It made the day go by faster, and even wore Charley out enough for a second nap today. Thank goodness for that!

I suppose that's enough rambling for today. Sometime in the next couple of days, I'll give an update on my personal life, which I'm sure is always amusing to those of you who are settled down...and maybe more amusing to those who aren't, because you can probably relate! More tomorrow...

So Much to Tell...

It's been awhile since I've blogged, and it's not because my life hasn't been interesting... it's actually because I've been without a computer! I thought about blogging from my phone or iPad, but then I tried it. It was frustrating, and took forever, then wouldn't post when I made an attempt. So I abandoned the blog until I got a new computer. Hooray, I got a new one, which I love, by the way, so I'm back in action!

I've had a lot going on lately. Those of you who know me well, know that I've always been a bit of a busy-body. I tend to be on the go all the time, and this summer has been no exception. I've been to Kansas City twice since May, to visit friends, and outside of that I've been working a lot. I know I've said it before, and it might sound cheesy, but I LOVE my job. I love to teach and there's nothing I'm better at teaching than gymnastics. I've always enjoyed teaching gymnastics, but some days it really hits me that I'm very lucky. Some people like their jobs, some people loathe their jobs. But I truly LOVE mine. It's partially due to the fact that I work with great people, and partially because I adore my students. There's nothing more exciting to me than watching a kid finally land a skill they've been working for weeks or even months. It's very rewarding. I genuinely feel blessed to have found what I'm good at, and passionate about, at an early age.

In previous posts, I've mentioned that I'm starting a business. I've kept it kind of quiet, because I wanted to get the basics into place. Now, it's in the works, and should be up and running before September. Along with my friend Blair, I'm starting a mobile gymnastics business. The company is called Go!Gymnastics, and we'll be traveling around the Twin Cities on a bus which will be retrofitted with gymnastics equipment. I am really excited to get it started, and get busy promoting the program. I'm a self-proclaimed workaholic, and I've always worked 60+ hours a week. I'm looking forward to seeing the benefits of my hard work. I think it's going to be great for me, but more importantly, for Charley. I'll have a bit of a more flexible schedule, which means more time for her.


Aside from the business stuff, I've had a lot of other things going on in my life. For one thing, Charley is almost 2 and a half now, and she's asserting her independence regularly. More regularly than I would like! The other day she said, "Mom, look at me," very seriously, then looked me in the eyes and said, "No! I will NOT go to bed." Ha! That's what she thought! Of course she ended up going to bed, but she certainly put up a fight.  She's mastered my "mom" look, and she's not even 3 years old. That's a little bit frightening. I don't even want to THINK about her teenage years. At the same time, she can be so incredibly sweet and adorable that she makes me just want to squeeze her. I love that she's strong-willed, but she certainly knows how to push my buttons.


Recently, I've befriended the parents of a little girl from Charley's gymnastics class. It's been great. Charley and their daughter Aurora are like two peas in a pod. Neither of the girls go to preschool yet, so it's really good for their socialization, for them to play. Today, we went to the Como Zoo, and we discovered their splash pad. It was amazing, and the girls had a great time with each other. They ran in circles, squealing, for at least 30 minutes straight. They were cracking me up. I love watching them interact, too. Charley has a tendency to be bossy, and Aurora doesn't put up with her crap. It goes both ways, too. The girls are good for each other. On a side note, it's nice to have made friends with another family that has kids! I have amazing friends in Minnesota, but only a few have any kids. It's always nice to expand my social circle, and Charley's as well!

On another note, I have the Tough Mudder next weekend. A month ago, I felt confident about the race. Now? Totally different story. Three weeks ago, I tore an abdominal muscle, and it's been impossible to do ab work at all. The worst part is, it was a totally stupid injury (as they usually are). I think sometimes I forget I'm almost 30. I posted on FB a couple weeks ago, that I'd done 60 back tucks that day. At the time, it didn't hurt, but naturally I was sore in the following days. Three days after I did my little tumbling workout, I was teaching a class, and my students' were not understanding the body position I was describing. So, like an idiot, I forgot that I was sore, and jumped on the bars. The minute my hands caught the bar, I felt a rip in my stomach, and immediately regretted my attempt at a demonstration. So, I've been going to the gym, but watering down my workouts so I don't re-injure myself. With that said, I'm hoping I survive the Tough Mudder, because I feel like I was in better shape a month ago! Oh well, I'll be working my butt off at the gym this week, and hopefully I make it through without looking like an idiot.

I've got a lot more to share...Lots has been going on... But I'm about to fall asleep, so I'll get to it tomorrow. I hope everyone is having a good summer so far!

Lessons in Bad Parenting

So, yesterday was my last day with students. It was a bit of a bittersweet feeling, because even though I don’t see them in person, when I work with kids for a year, I build a certain bond with them.  I got some nice e-mails from my kiddos, thanking me for helping them this year, and even a couple letters from appreciative parents. That’s always a good feeling, because as my fellow teachers can tell you, teaching can be a thankless job at times. But I’ve been lucky to work with families, and teachers that are very supportive and appreciate collaborative efforts to help students improve. Anyway, that meant that today was primarily a paperwork day. Those are the hardest days for me, because my self-diagnosed ADD kicks in, and I jump from one task to another, without completing anything! Oh well, I have another week to get everything finished. Honestly, I’ve got about 2 days of work, and a full week to complete it. I’m determined not to procrastinate and do it at the very end of next week!

Okay, enough of the boring stuff. Today I got back to the gym, which I have unintentionally avoided for the last two weeks. It felt great to get my muscles moving again, although I’m sure I will be sore tomorrow! When I dropped Charley off at the daycare area, she started crying. This has been her pattern for the last two weeks or so. She’s gotten to be a little clingy with me, for one reason or another. Last week she cried through her entire gymnastics class, which is crazy, because it’s her favorite thing to do during the week! I know it’s just a stage, but I hope it passes soon.  I thought about Charley when I was in the locker room, too, as I overheard a conversation between a mom and her teenage daughter that literally made me cringe.

Mom: Well, you know, your dad gets to do all the fun stuff. He takes you kids on vacations, and to do all kinds of fun things, and has photos taken of you. I have to pay for everything. I don’t have any money to pay for fun stuff for you. Now I’m going to have to pay for this summer camp!

Daughter: Well, do you want me to ask Dad if he can pay for camp?

Mom: Well, I mean, if you wouldn’t mind. That would be great. He seems to have a lot of money, and I don’t have any money. And I’m the one working my butt off to pay for the everyday bills!

Daughter: Ok, Mom, I’ll ask him.

Okay, seriously? While I might have this internal dialogue all the time, and vocalize it to my friends, I would NEVER let Charley get involved in my finances or opinions about her father. This mother made me really upset, because as the child of divorced parents, I know that regardless of how hard parents try to keep kids out of their personal issues, there is still a sense of being caught in the middle. It just can’t be prevented. But parents CAN make it worse, and that’s exactly what this mother did. She put her child in the middle and asked her to take care of something she should have addressed herself. I was irritated. Even though things aren’t always rosy with Charley’s dad, and I might address certain issues with him from time to time, I would never ask my child to address those issues for me. Ugh. BAD parenting. But it showed me exactly what NOT to do with Charley!

Anyway, I think my annoyance from the conversation made me work out a little bit harder. And my mood improved greatly when Betty White’s Off Their Rockers came on the TV at the gym. I’ve only seen one episode of this show in my life, and I’d forgotten how amusing it is. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud and falling off the treadmill, when a “blind” man started throwing bird seed on a couple of twenty-something women. It was hilarious. Totally distracted me from the fact that my legs were burning because I’ve been a lazy bum who hasn’t worked out in weeks!

I haven’t talked about my dating life much lately, and honestly it’s because it’s been going well. I met a nice guy, and I don’t want to jinx it! So that’s all the information I’m going to provide… Ha!

Funny story for the day...I went to McDonald's to get a Diet Coke today. I try not to keep soda in the house, because if it's there, I drink it, which I don't like to do every day. Anyway, as I was pulling up to pick up my drink, I could see the drive-through guy bouncing his head up and down, probably showing off for some girl he was working with. It was amusing...especially when he wasn't paying attention and hit his head on the top of the drive-through window. He immediately grabbed his head and cringed. I laughed. I pulled up, and he asked, "Are you laughing at me?" I said, "A little bit." He replied," Yeah, I'd be laughing at me, too." It kind of made my day, even though I know it probably hurt. Ha!

Tonight, my girlfriends are out for pizza and drinks. My coaching friends are at the gym, for adult tumbling. And me? I’m sitting on the couch, blogging. Unfortunately, it’s just hard to get out at 8:00 on a Thursday night, because my family works, and it’s kind of late to get a sitter. Charley has gotten into a pretty good bed time routine, and I am trying to keep it consistent. I know it’s easy to get lax in the summer, but it’s important to me that she has some structure. So, I’ll take one for the team, and stay home with my munchkin. And seeing as she’s in bed, I’m pretending that I’m out with my girlfriends, and enjoying a glass of wine. Cheers!