School Shootings in Nevada...Too Close for Comfort

Generally my blogs address the things going on in my life. I intentionally don't talk about politics, or give my opinions about public issues, because I prefer to discuss those things in person, and sometimes keep my opinions to myself. After reading about yet another school shooting, this time in Nevada, I feel the need to speak up about this generation of students.

I'm a teacher. I don't teach in the classroom setting anymore, but nonetheless, I am a teacher. I love encouraging children, watching them succeed, and pushing them to learn. I also enjoy watching my students have little failures. Not because I like when my kids fail, but because I recognize that kids NEED failures in order to really appreciate success. I also feel strongly that it's possible for kids to fail, or struggle, and then work to improve themselves. As a teacher, it's my job to give them the tools to rebound from difficulties or little failures. In my classroom, we played a lot of games. There were winners, and there were losers, every time we played. Some kids coped with losing better than others. Part of it is just related to their personality types, but another part of their coping skills comes from being taught!

When I was young and played games with my family, sometimes I lost. I was TAUGHT that it's okay to lose sometimes. You win some, and you lose some. When you lose, you have the opportunity to learn, and make changes so you have a better chance of winning the next time around. I think that was, for the most part, how my generation was raised. I was appalled a couple of years ago, when I was babysitting (it was at a party, so the parents were home, I just supervised the kids), and watched a mother "solve" a problem between her kids who were playing a game. The kids were about 9 and 10 years old. Definitely old enough to understand that they won't always win when they play games. Well, a game of Sorry wrapped up, and the girl clearly won. What happened next? Her brother threw a fit. "You cheated! You didn't win, the game's not over yet." I intervened, and stated, "You know, it looks like she won this round. It's no big deal, she got some lucky cards! Why don't you play again, and maybe you'll win this time!" He wasn't having it. He went upstairs and pulled his mom away from the party. She promptly informed the kids that it was a tie. The little girl didn't win, but both kids won. Why? Because she didn't want to deal with the fact that her son didn't have coping skills. It upset me, because in a little decision like that, she took a learning and growing opportunity away from both of her kids. Her daughter didn't get to celebrate her win, and her son didn't have the chance to deal with a loss, and find that he can move forward.

Obviously, if you're reading this blog, you know how much of a role gymnastics has played in my life. When I competed in gymnastics, the top 5 or 10 gymnasts on each event got a ribbon or a medal. Everybody got some kind of participation prize, like a t-shirt, but only those who performed the best received awards. As a coach, I've watched that philosophy change. I think it's great to acknowledge all the kids' hard work. But, as I sit in awards ceremonies, and watch kids receive medals for 25th place in a competition of 30 kids total, it makes me wonder what encourages children to do any better. Don't get me wrong, I understand the purpose for rewarding everybody. All the kids walk away with a smile, and feel like they've done a great job, which they normally have! But at the same time, I feel like giving everybody a "feel good" award in every sport, at every competition (I know I'm generalizing here, it's just been my experience as a coach), we're not preparing kids for real life. In real life, the top 3 performers in a job interview might be called back for a second interview, and the best performer will get the job. In real life, somebody who is 25th on a list of potential employees won't get a phone call, because there are 24 applicants who are more qualified. Unfortunately, if kids aren't prepared for this type of situation, they don't know how to deal with rejection, and in turn, frequently act out or blame others for everything that goes wrong in their lives.

All of this comes to mind, because I firmly believe that a lack of coping skills contributes to the increase  in school shootings over the last 15 years or so. It's great to build children's self-esteem, and encourage them to be the best kids they can be. What better opportunity to do that, than when they experience failure? As parents and teachers, we need to take advantage of those teaching moments. We need to tell the children who lose, "You lost, and that's ok! How are you going to make sure you win next time?" I understand that life would be easier for everybody if nobody ever 'got out' in a game, or if the outcome was always a tie. But that's not how life works, and kids need to learn that, so they don't freak out when they are faced with adversity. Charley and one of her little friends get into arguments fairly frequently. Her friend's mom and I usually try to let them work it out (unless one of the toddlers throws a punch or something, lol), because even at 2, kids need to learn to cope with things, particularly with peers. So many of these kids who participate in school shootings seem to have been bullied in school. They need to learn how to deal with bullies in a constructive manner, instead of bottling up their emotions until they can't control themselves. As parents, we want to protect our children from negativity. But sometimes, we need to back away, and let them solve problems for themselves. If kids were taught from birth HOW to use their emotions constructively, enjoying the positives, and even embracing the negatives, maybe we wouldn't see so many kids who are pushed to suicide or even murder, before they're even teenagers.

As a perfectionist in childhood, and admittedly now, I have high expectations for myself. I don't like to fail. I didn't experience much failure as a child. If I wanted something, I worked hard to achieve it, and was usually successful.  With that said, in my early gymnastics years, I was frequently one of the girls who received a medal in competitions, at least on floor and vault. But I almost never won anything on beam or bars, because I wasn't as good at those events. I knew those were my weaknesses, and that I had to work harder on those events if I wanted to do better. There were times when I was off, and didn't get any medals at all. I failed those days. But that was really the extent of my failure during my childhood. As an adult, I have experienced a few failures, and in self-reflection, I appreciate every failure almost more than I do my successes. I was willing to stay and work on a marriage that was never really meant to be, because I didn't want the relationship to fail. I didn't WANT to fail. But my failures have made me stronger, wiser, and more conscientious. I'm not super-mom, and I know Charley isn't the perfect child, but I hope that I can encourage her to deal with failure better than I did when I was young, so she doesn't make the same mistakes I've made as an adult.

There's my rant for the night! Not my usual type of post, but the Nevada shooting hit too close to home. I know too many awesome teachers, working in a terrible neighborhood in Vegas, and I don't know what I would do if one of their names was written in the paper as a victim of a school shooting. On that note, I promise, more entertainment in the next post!

Saturday Night In!

So, it's a Saturday night, and what am I doing? Blogging! Naturally. I actually had a really busy day, so instead of trying to chase down a sitter so I could go out, I decided to stay in and snuggle up on the couch next to my new space heater. Best purchase I've made in the last month, I might add. Anyway, this week was busy, and when you're starting a business, busy= awesome, so it was a good week!

She dressed herself before gymnastics. Can you tell?

I mentioned in my last post that Charley started school this week. It's been both a blessing and a curse. 90% blessing, and 10% curse, I would say. I mean, I love that she is getting to have time with other kids, and I know it's good for her. She's getting the mental stimulation she needs, and making friends at the same time. Meanwhile, I get time to actually focus and get things done! Those are the positives. There have really only been two negatives. First of all, since she started school, she's thrown screaming fits when I've left her with anybody else for over an hour. Secondly, she's had the HARDEST time falling asleep at night. It's not that school doesn't wear her out. It definitely does. But she's so stinking stubborn, she fights to stay awake, until she's overtired and ends up having night terrors once she is asleep. Now, I do understand that both of the negatives will improve with time, but right now, I'm still having some pull-my-hair-out moments in the middle of the night when she decides it's a good idea to wake up and stay awake until 2:00 a.m. Awesome. I suppose poor Charley is genetically screwed when it comes to sleep patterns. For as long as I can remember, I've had trouble falling asleep, and sleeping through the night. And on her dad's side? He was notorious for night terrors and sleep walking. The poor kid never had a chance of being a good sleeper. Lame!

Girls' Day!

A friend of mine asked me to watch his 9-year-old daughter today while he was at work. I'd intended to work all day, but my sitter backed out during the week, and I wasn't able to find anyone to watch Charley. Anyway, of course, I said I was happy to take his munchkin for the day. I took the girls to get their nails done, then for a playdate at one of Charley's friends' house, then to Michael's to buy craft supplies. In the car, we blasted Disney music, One Direction, and even some old school Backstreet Boys (I insist that the original boy bands don't go unrecognized in my house), and sang along all day. We brought the crafts home, and the girls did crafts during the afternoon, while I did some serious housecleaning. It was awesome to have a little girl here who was a bit older, and actually enjoyed entertaining Charley. As the day progressed, I started thinking. Most of the men I've dated are single dads, and I'm fairly certain that anybody I date seriously in the future will likely have kids as well. I thought about the day, and realized, that I think I would be better off with a guy who has a girl than a boy. Now, of course I know that's a generalization, and I would be perfectly fine if I end up with a man that has a boy. But I GET girls. When I took my friend's daughter to get her nails done, she completely lit up. She was so excited to sing along to boy bands in the back seat, and have me singing right along with her. With girls, I can read them, and figure out what they need from me fairly quickly. I think that comes from so many years of teaching and coaching. I can spot a girl from across the gym, crying in the lobby, afraid to come out on the floor, and figure out how to coax her into joining her class (whether that means I have to let her chase me around the floor, or sit with me during stretch, I can figure it out). I know when to tease and be a little sarcastic, and when to be straightforward and sensitive. A couple nights ago, I was subbing for a class where I didn't know any of the girls' names. Instead of learning their names, I gave all of them nicknames, based on what they were wearing, so I had Sparkles, Pinky, Purple Puff, Space Girl, etc. They loved it. That's because I GET girls! It's different with boys, though! Sometimes they look at me like, "Who's this chick, and why is she talking to me like I'm an idiot?" It's interesting, because when I taught school, some of my favorite students were boys! Some of them were well-behaved, helpful, and smart. Other favorites were still smart, but they could be troublemakers, and a little mouthy. I guess I liked that they had personality. But I didn't understand them on the same level that I understand girls. With all of that said, I would actually love to have a son. I look at my sister, and my friends that have boys, and they have the sweetest relationships with their little guys. I just think I would need to start with a boy from birth, because otherwise I'd be lost!

On a totally different note, I've mentioned many times that I think people come into your life for a reason. I've got a new friend at work, that I've totally clicked with. I really enjoy everyone that I work with. They're fun, they make me laugh, and they are genuinely great people. But it's funny how with some people, you can get coffee, spill your guts to each other, realize you have a LOT in common, and never have any fear that they're judging you. I'm very much an open book. I mean, crap, I write a blog that anybody and everybody can read! I don't share all the details, but a select few people know the ridiculous nonsense that has gone on in my life over the last year. For some reason, she and I jumped right into conversations about our lives, dating, the mistakes we've made, patterns we've fallen into, etc. It was like I'd known her my whole life! She made an "Oops," comment via text today that was almost identical to a text I'd send to a couple of girlfriends a couple months ago. I laughed to myself when I read the message. We were destined to be friends.

On that note, I'm currently enjoying peace and quiet, because Charley went to sleep at a reasonable hour tonight. Fingers crossed she sleeps through the night!

Did My Kid Really Say That?

It has been a GREAT couple of days. I've finally committed to taking Saturdays off from work. I used to work Saturdays, and it wasn't an issue, but in recent weeks, I've decided I need one day off every week. For most people, that day would be Sunday, but I teach private lessons all day Sunday, so I determined that Saturday had to be the day! This weekend, I actually took Saturday off, and decided to take Charley to the apple orchard. A friend of mine, who grew up near the orchard, decided to join us. Then, I decided to invite Charley's best girlfriend and her family to come along. Then, Charley's friend's dad invited a friend of his to meet us there, so it was kind of a large group, but tons of fun! We rode out to the orchard along with Charley's girlfriend, so that meant I actually got to have 45 minutes of adult conversation on the ride there and back. As much as I enjoyed the orchard, I really appreciated the adult interaction! For a woman who spends most of her time with a toddler, any adult interaction is appreciated, and it was a great experience for all of us!

Saturday night, I went to my friend Rena's house for a girl's night in. It's been a few weeks since I got to hang out with this particular group of girlfriends, so I was very relieved to have the night out to relax. We played a game called Cards Against Humanity, which might be the greatest game ever created. It's basically Apples to Apples for adults, and it's hilarious. We all played cards, and included a ghost card in every round. It was funny how the ghost card sometimes applied to the particular round. When I was the judge, the ghost card won twice in a row. That ghost totally got me. Ha! Anyway, we played for several hours, laughing until we cried, and just enjoying each other's company. It was a great way to spend the evening. 

As I've mentioned several times in the past, I teach a lot of private lessons and I really have fun with the kids I work with. This week, I had two girls that made me crack up. In one case, the girl's mom had texted me to say she needed to drop her daughter off, because she had an eye appointment, but that she would be back about halfway through the lesson. I didn't think anything of it. Then, during the lesson, my student said, "Oh, my mom's not here yet because she's having that laser hair removal on her lip. She'll be back soon." I laughed to myself. She totally sold her mom out! Ha! I love kids. The other one that got me this week was a little girl who is learning aerial (no-handed) cartwheels. She has perfect aerials off the tumble track (a long trampoline), perfect aerials off of a mat....But she won't go for the aerial on the floor. I asked her if she's afraid. She said, "Well, I'm a little afraid." "Why?" I asked. "Well, this one time, I was trying aerials at home and I landed on my face." Ha! I chuckled to myself. "That would scare me, too!" I said, "That's why you don't teach yourself tricks at home." I suppose I'm not one to talk, though, I taught myself all kinds of tricks at home. 

So here's my hilarious story of the day. Charley started school today. She's been talking about it for weeks, but when it came down to it, she was a little bit shy when we arrived. She didn't cry, but she was getting a little bit anxious before I left. Admittedly, I was kind of sad myself when I walked out the door. Lucky for me, there is an adorable coffee shop next door, so I got myself a treat. It was legitimately the best chai latte I've ever had. Now, I'm wishing I hadn't discovered it, because it's so stinking convenient, I'm going to have to stop myself from going inside. Anyway, back to the story. Charley made it through her day, and I had a chance to get a lot accomplished. When I picked her up, her teacher, who happens to be a fairly large, African-American woman, told me that Charley had a great day. "She did have a little trouble at nap time," she said,"I was lying with Charley, and she said she had to go to the bathroom, so she went on the potty. While we were in the bathroom, Charley said, "I want the white girl." Apparently, Charley wanted the other teacher (a white woman), who is a little bit quieter and more subdued, to lie with her instead of her lead teacher. I'm fairly certain I turned every shade of red, when she told me the story. I think it's comparable to the time I told my preschool teachers, "I wish things were better at home." Well, if nothing else, I could say Charley started off with a bang! Hopefully, she will develop a more tactful vocabulary.  ***Side note: I just asked Charley what her teacher's name is. She said, "Brown." I asked, "What?" Her response? "Brown hair. She has brown hair Molly has white hair. " I'm a little bit relieved, but still totally embarrassed. Oh the things kids will say!

Broken Bone Update and Other Recent Happenings...

It's been a busy week, as usual, but next week is when the real fun will start! I suppose I should start of by letting everyone know Charley got her cast off on Monday. When the cast first came off, I was expecting her to have some atrophy on her leg. I mean, she's been in a full leg cast for 3 weeks! I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was minimal atrophy, and her leg looked pretty normal. It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing, since she got the cast off, though. My poor kiddo is afraid to walk!  I can't say I blame her. I mean, the last time she really walked, it hurt! Plus, her leg has to be pretty stiff from being in that cast for so long. She's taken a few steps, but isn't very confident with walking and still has a significant limp. It's almost like retraining her completely. I've taken her to a few indoor playgrounds where there are kids to play with, as possible motivation, but as much as she wants to play with the kids, she also realizes that she can crawl or scoot instead of walking, and still socialize with the other children. Oh well, she will figure it out. I hope it happens soon, though! I was looking at some videos of her from a couple of weeks ago, and it's honestly hard for me to remember the last time we went somewhere and I didn't have to carry her. On a positive note, my arms are feeling particularly strong... Ha!

Business has gotten off to a slow start. We've had a couple of mommy groups come on the bus for open gyms, but haven't been able to get out and pitch the business in person, because Charley's been home with me all the time. I was again, hoping to start her in school this week, but her grandfather, who's an orthopedic surgeon, advised me against it. He did give me the go ahead to start her next week, though, so I'm anticipating making a lot of contacts and getting a jump start on Monday. I've been feeling ultra-motivated the last few days. Even though I haven't been able to make the progress I had originally intended, I have been doing a lot of behind the scenes work, and I know we will get some daycares signed up in the next week or two.

On another note, since Charley hurt her leg, I really haven't been to the gym. I wasn't sure they would want to take her with that huge cast, and I was kind of afraid it might get a little too rough there. But yesterday, I decided I'd take her before it got too crowded, alerted the childcare workers to the injury, and finally got a workout in. It felt amazing. It'd been so long since I had those endorphins going, and I legitimately missed going to the gym! I never thought I'd say such a thing. Ha! Anyway, I pushed myself pretty hard, and anticipated being ridiculously sore today. Surprisingly, I'm not that sore! I can feel the burn in my abs a little bit, but my arms and legs really aren't too bad. I suppose my arms aren't sore because I've been carrying around a 33 pound toddler with a 7 pound cast for 3 weeks. But I really expected to feel worse than I do. I guess that 3 weeks off didn't totally ruin my physical condition! With that said, I'll be back in the gym later today, just happy to get my 2 hour me-time again.

I know I've mentioned before that I tend to be a little bit clumsy. As athletic as I am, I definitely inherited the clumsy gene from my mom. In fact, all of my sisters inherited that gene. When I say my mom is clumsy, I mean REALLY clumsy. Things that happen to her, just don't happen to other people. Like the time I heard her voice yelling for help, when I was upstairs in my bedroom. I couldn't figure out where the voice was coming from, but it got louder and louder as I approached the laundry shoot. I opened the door to the shoot (which went from the second floor of the house to the basement) and her voice came through loud and clear. "Help me!" she yelled. So, I ran to the basement to see what was going on. When I walked into the laundry room, it was all I could do not to laugh. The people who had lived in the house before us had built some kind of a guard for the shoot, so the clothes didn't go all over the place when they came down the laundry shoot. Apparently, my mom had been getting the clothes, and she managed to get her hair tangled in a nail on the built on contraption. Her arms were flailing, as she stood there, helpless, and tangled up. Hilarious. I shared this story, to give an image of the clumsiness that runs in my family, because I had my own "Betty moment" last night. Charley had been asking me if she could play with her friend Sawyer all day, so we wandered over to Sawyer's house last night, waiting for him to come back from dropping his brother off at football. I was encouraging Charley to play on their new swing set and playhouse, because I was trying to get her to walk. I was being silly, and dancing around with her, trying to keep my body moving because it was after dusk and the gnats had come out. I hate gnats. They're little, they come around in masses, and they just drive me crazy. Anyway, I was dancing around and trying to entertain Charley, when I saw a gnat coming at me. And it flew directly into my eye. MY EYE! How does that happen?! I already have a tendency to get red eyes from allergies this time of year, how was a gnat in the eye going to impact that? After laughing at myself a little bit, I blinked a few times, and managed to remove the gnat from my eye. It could've only happened to someone in my family. Sigh.

I know Charley has been a major focus of this post. I spend more time with her than anyone else, though, so what do you expect? In the last few weeks, I've been noticing how much she picks up on what I say and do. When she really wants me to listen, she will say, "Mommy, look into my eyes. Are you looking at me? Are you listening?" Then she'll tell me something along the lines of, "I said, I want a cookie right now!" She gets very serious when cookies are involved. Yesterday, I told her, "No," at some point, and she replied, "Mommy, don't talk to me like that!" Ugh. Teenager attitude in a 2-year-old body. Sometimes, she really amuses me, though. Her inflection and delivery tend to be right on, when she imitates me, and she understands concepts that surprise me sometimes. Yesterday, a little girl at the gym made a comment about not crying when she was a baby. I said, "Ha! Charley cried!" Charley looked at me from across the gym, and said, "Mommy, why are you telling them that?" What toddler says that?! Anyway, check out the video below, it's pretty funny.

Alright, that's all for now! Have a great weekend!

Blasts from the Past and Positive Vibes

Today was a weird day. Not a bad way, in fact, it was a really positive day. It was just a little strange. Let me just start off by saying that my last couple of weeks might have been kind of rough, but with a little bit of sleep, I feel like a new person! Charley has finally adjusted to sleeping with a cast on her leg, and has slept straight through the night since Sunday. It's amazing what a little bit of sleep will do for a mom! I feel great, and definitely more myself. That might be partially due to the fact that I took Monday off. I decided I needed a day just to play with Charley and recover from the last couple of weeks. It was  truly a wonderful day. We went to the zoo with some friends, then came home and played for the rest of the day. I really had fun with her. I feel like I am so frequently just trying to keep Charley occupied while I'm working, that I forget to have fun with her. I need to take days off more often!



Anyway, about today. Charley slept until almost 8, which was AWESOME, and meant I had time to get up, shower, and have my morning coffee before she woke up. Aaaah, peace and quiet in the morning. I loved every minute of it! Once Charley did wake up, and we got moving, we ran back to our house (we're house sitting for my dad), and picked up a couple of things I would need for the next few days. Then, we ran into Target for 3 items, and of course purchased more like 15, but that's how it works at Target, right? Charley is a great kid, and I know that. The vast majority of the time, she brings nothing but joy into my life, but sometimes Target trips can be difficult. Well, today was actually a GREAT Target day for us. Charley sat in her stroller the whole time, without whining, and I couldn't believe the number of smiles and comments she got while we were there. She's gotten quite a bit of attention for her cast, but only one person commented on her cast. Several others smiled as we walked by, and I told her, "I don't speak Whine." More chatted with her as we waited in line, and she messed up her perfectly styled hair (intentionally, of course). Still others grinned at her as she got her cake pop (yes, I bribed my child) and beamed with excitement. It was one of the few Target trips since I've had Charley that I've had the chance to see how much people really enjoy kids, and how children can bring a smile to people's faces with such simple things. It was a great way to start off our day!

When we got home, and I began making contacts with various preschools....That's when it got weird. Not the work stuff. That was actually great, and I set up a few more Gus the Bus dates. But I started to get text messages from guys I've dated in the last year. Not one, not two, but FOUR guys I dated. Four!  Now I know it's not unusual to hear from guys you've dated a few weeks later...but these are guys I haven't heard from or talked to in MONTHS. One I haven't heard from in nearly a year. It struck me...is there something in the air today? Why today? Why FOUR different guys on one day? It was definitely interesting. I don't know if I'll ever be able to explain it. But apparently I'm putting some love vibes out in the universe or something. Ha! As long as they're positive vibes, I'll keep them coming! It's strange, though, because if I look back at last  year at this time (or close to it), the same people are coming around. It's like I'm repeating last fall (although I'm not, because last year I actually dated these people). But now I'm not quite so naive, I've learned a lot about who I am, what I want, and what I need. Last year what I wanted and what I needed were two different things. Now, with some time, experience, and personal growth, what I want and what I need are more in sync. My friend Sean said it the best, I think. I want one person to invest in, and see where it goes. I don't want to think about how it's going to work out in the long run. I don't want to think about distance, or jobs, or he lives there, if it went somewhere would I have to move? How would it work with the kids? He has cats (or dogs)...and I'm allergic. How would that work? I don't want to think about the logistical things, because my theory is, if something truly develops, I'll figure it out and make it work. That's just what we do, right? Make it work!  I just want to get to the root of someone. REALLY get to know him, and see where it goes. That's not too much to ask, is it?

Okay, back to the positive vibes, one of my closest friends had something wonderful happen today. Her neighbor was getting some cement work done on her driveway, and my friend asked her neighbor to send the guys over for a quote while they were there. After a little bit of discussion, the cement guy came to her door with an estimate of $1,400. My friend politely declined, because that just wasn't in the budget at the moment. A little while later, she got a knock on her door. The cement guy was back, and told her that he'd talked to her neighbor who mentioned she'd had a rough time the last couple of years, and he'd like to do her driveway for free. FREE! She refused, and told him she couldn't let him do that, but he insisted, and she started to cry. "Things like this just don't happen to me!" she told him. As she told me the story, my eyes welled up with tears. There is nobody I know who is more deserving of such a kind gesture. She's been paying it forward for years, it's about time someone actually did something sweet, wonderful, and unsolicited for her. Just another weird, but wonderful surprise. For me, it was a reminder that there really are great people in the world.

On that note, I had a great night at the gym, as well. Two of my Rec Team students participated in a cartwheel-a-thon at the gym to raise money for the St. Louis Park Emergency Program, and between the two of them raised nearly $400. I was so proud, and incredibly impressed. These girls worked so hard to raise money to help others. Again, proof that there are great people in the world! They are good citizens in training!

Reaching Out, Going Out, and Proud Moments!

Well, week two of Charley in a cast started off with a bang. She'd been crabby at the National Gymnastics Day event last weekend, and I figured she was just disappointed that she couldn't participate and play around with the kids. Well, I was wrong. The poor kid was getting sick! It seems like she gets sick a lot, but apparently that's not unusual for young children. Lucky me! She was sick all day Sunday and Monday, and between her cast and her cold, she wasn't sleeping much at all. Which, of course, meant I wasn't sleeping much either! On Monday, she was so miserable, she threw several screaming fits that lasted 45 minutes to an hour each. It was that day, with over a week of little to no sleep at night, and a screaming child that I thought for the first time, that I wasn't sure I could do this whole "on my own" thing. Of course, the thought was fleeting, because obviously I can do it. I've been doing it for a year. But it was a rough night, and reminded me that I really need to use my resources and reach out for help a little more often. I've always been such a do-it-yourselfer and I don't particularly like to burden people when I'm struggling. 97% of the time, I love being a mom, and I'm confident I can do it on my own for as long as I need to. But that other 3% of the time is hard. Very hard.




My family likes to help with Charley, and they frequently watch her while I'm working. But I needed more than that this week. I was moody and emotional, not because I had any reason to be, other than the fact that I was exhausted. When I lack sleep, it shows. I can put on a happy face, and do my job without an issue. But a smile and a little make-up don't hide the dark circles under my eyes and the lack of physical energy I usually exert. My friend Kellie, who, like me, is doing the parenting thing completely on her own, is generally my confidant when it comes to mommy issues and needing help, because she GETS it. All of my friends are empathetic, and offer help with Charley every once in awhile, but Kellie understands EXACTLY what I'm going through, so it's nice to bounce ideas off of her when I'm having a hard time. She suggested I call my ex's mom, and see if she wanted to come in town and help. The thought hadn't really ever crossed my mind, because she lives out of state and that is one heck of an inconvenience. But when Kellie suggested I give her a call and mentioned that she would probably love the chance to come up and spend some time with her granddaughter, I realized I was an idiot for not reaching out sooner. I tend to be a helper, a doer, a peace maker, and a fixer. I tend to find people that need me. I never really NEED anybody. I'm just content to help everybody else, and forget to reach out for help in return. Well, this time, I needed some help. I called my ex-mother-in-law on Wednesday, and she was here in Minneapolis on Thursday. She is a godsend. She played with Charley, tried putting Charley to sleep, and even watched Charley so I could go out with some friends for awhile, which I haven't done in quite some time. I'm not sure I could ever thank her enough for the extra sleep, and the break. I think I'm a better mom when I get a break every once in awhile. Plus, Charley got to have some awesome bonding time with her Grammy, which is so important to me. Regardless of where I stand with my ex, I will always encourage Charley's relationship with his side of the family, because they're good people who love her dearly. I'm very lucky that she has so many fantastic grandparents!

My princess and her fake smile!

So, enough of the whining, honestly I'm much better off now, because I've had several nights of good sleep. As a result, the last couple of days, although busy, have been productive and really fun. Friday morning GO! Gymnastics hosted an event for the Minneapolis Hip Mamas (a local meetup group) and it was great! I had a chance to do some networking, and meet some really nice people. I think I will host groups more regularly, because everyone seemed to have a great time, and I got some very positive feedback, and even suggestions (adding a strobe light for kids' dance parties, etc.).  It was the first paying event...We're on our way to success! Ha! It was a good experience, though, because as I embark on this new career as a business owner, I'm going to have to find my stride and adjust to teaching in such a confined space. I think it'll be great, though. I also finished the web site for the bus this week, which was a huge accomplishment for me! It's up, running, and totally functional. It's hard to believe, and it makes it feel like we are OFFICIALLY in business. And we are! Check out the site at www.gogymkids.com!

I know I mentioned I had a chance to spend some time with friends last night. We went to a local dive bar that I haven't been to in months, and it was just what I needed. I knew Charley was safe at home with her Grammy, and I never go too crazy, but I took the opportunity to have a drink, sing some karaoke, and bond with my girlfriends. After singing an off-pitch version of JoDee Messina's, 'Bye Bye,' I walked off the stage, just to hear a voice screaming, "Lindsey! Lindsey!" I looked over and saw the mother of one of the girls I was supposed to have a private lesson with at 9:00 this morning. She said, "I was messing around on my phone, when I looked up and told my friends, 'I think that's my daughter's gymnastics coach!'" Awkward? Nah. I thought it was awesome. She mentioned that she might not have her daughter at the gym on time. Needless to say, at the end of the night, I knew she wouldn't be making it to the gym at all. And I was right. Ha! One of my friends brought her boyfriend to the bar, and I asked him at some point in the evening if it intimidates him to meet friends she's known since she was 5. He said, "Not at all!" I thought that was awesome. It made an impression, because I'd asked the question after four of us who had gone to school together sang a round of "The Ghost of John," at the bar. That might be embarrassing to some, but to me it's wonderful. Singing ridiculous Halloween songs we learned in elementary school reminds me of how long these friendships have been in tact. I love that! Most people don't keep in touch with their elementary school friends, and I feel lucky that I do. The evening couldn't have been much better.

I worked all day yesterday, and then again all day today. Working weekends can be exhausting, because, let's face it, everybody needs at least one day off. But today was a special day for some of my gymnasts. I coach a recreational team, and they had their first performance today. They came into the gym, dressed in their matching leotards, with a nervous excitement racing through them. I remember the first time I got those nervous butterflies! It was a gymnastics performance for me, as well. Those butterflies are a scary, but wonderful feeling. I wasn't quite sure how it would go, because these girls have never performed in front of a large group before. They did an INCREDIBLE job. I was so proud. Today, even though I was slightly exhausted (okay, still majorly exhausted), was a reaffirming day for me. I've had people say positive things about my coaching, which is very complimentary, and I really appreciate hearing it. But there's nothing like watching kids that you've trained perform, and do so well!  It's like seeing the fruits of your labor! They all rose to the occasion, and as much as they impressed their families and friends, they impressed me. Sure, there were some falls here and there, and the nervous butterflies got to the kids a little bit on beam. But as I stood there watching them perform, I felt a real sense of accomplishment. They've come a long way in a short time, and I can only hope that they are as proud of themselves as I am of them. It was a great way to spend a Sunday.

So, summed up...The week started off rough, but I was so lucky to have a wonderful, albeit busy, weekend! Here's to another busy week!

Minnesota Nice: It Truly Does Exist!

It's been another busy week in my world. Between Charley's broken leg, preparing for the bus to be revealed, working at the gym, and planning the National Gymnastics Day event, it's been a little bit crazy. But it's been a really good week, too! While I haven't been sleeping well, because Charley hasn't been sleeping well with her cast (poor girl, the thing weighs 6 pounds), it's been very productive. I've also gotten a few reminders that the concept of MN nice really does exist. Have a toddler with a broken leg, and you'll see the best out of people.

Charley broke her tibia just over a week ago, and since her injury, we've had to make some adjustments. For example, going to the grocery store is no treat. Last Saturday, just after the injury happened, instead of running to the store to get groceries, I took Charley to one of my favorite restaurants, Hazel's NE. It's one of those quaint little places where everybody is really friendly, the food is great, and it just has a positive vibe. As I sat down with Charley in her temporary splint, the chef looked out from behind the counter, and asked, "Oh my gosh! What happened?" I explained the story to him, and we chatted for a bit. He talked about having his first child about 8 weeks ago, and the lack of sleep, etc. Then he stopped himself, and asked if Charley would like a free caramel roll, because he would love to buy her one. It was such a nice gesture! When I got my bill after breakfast, I noticed that they didn't charge me for my coffee, or Charley's juice, either. I left the restaurant on such a positive note, and Charley did, too! Since then, my lucky little munchkin has gotten spoiled rotten everywhere we've gone. People look at her and send her free cookies, brownies... our freezer is stocked with gifted baked goods. Perfect evidence of MN nice!

Speaking of Charley, she's adapted to her cast pretty well. Aside from the poor sleep habits, she's figured out how to get from one place to another, and even climb up on the couch. She's not happy to be so dependent, but she's figuring out how to get what she needs. I'm hoping the next week passes quickly, though, because we're both struggling with the lack of sleep. On that note, I think the next week will fly by...Partially because Charley starts preschool next week! I'm so excited for her. We went for a tour last Friday, and she bawled when we left. She kept telling me to leave. Now, as much as that should make me sad, it actually thrilled me a little bit. Charley has been my sidekick, and pretty much attached at the hip since she was born. She has gotten exposure to other children primarily at the gym, and she loves going there. I'm just so excited that she is going to get the stimulation she needs, but I really can't provide for her right now. I'm looking forward to having a little bit of time to myself to focus on the business as well. I think it will be positive for both of us. I admit, I will probably  cry like a baby when I drop her off, but I know it's a necessary move for a variety of reasons.


So, it's about time for a little business update. We finally got the wall padding finished, which was a relief. I'm actually pretty proud. Blair and I worked really hard, and I think we did a good job with the walls. I only cut myself once! If you know my family, that's pretty good, considering how long I was working with a razor. For someone who can do back flips, swing on bars, and leap on beam, I'm surprisingly clumsy in my day-to-day activities. Don't believe me? Next time you see me, check out my shins. They're completely bruised from me running into the side of my bed...EVERY night. I know where the bed is, but the frame is low to the ground and has ridiculously sharp corners! I turn out the light, go to get in bed, and it never fails...I smack my legs. Maybe I should consider purchasing a lamp... Anyway, back to the topic. Business update. We had an incredibly exciting week, outside of finishing the bus. We booked our first clients on Thursday, and we had a National Gymnastics Day event today. It was kind of like our grand opening. It was fun! The kids who came on the bus had a great time, and really seemed to like what it had to offer. It felt amazing. So much time has gone into putting the bus together, it was really nice to watch people enjoy it! I think this was a great kick off for us, and I can't wait to really promote the bus this week.

I'm looking at the clock, and I know it's time for bed. I'm looking forward to another good week!

Broken Bones and Kicks to the Face: One of Those Weeks!

So, I'm not going to lie, this week kind of sucked. It's not like I had any trouble with the business, or anything. That's actually going quite well. We're almost done installing the wall padding, and we've found a parking spot for Gus the Bus. But it was a bit of a rough week! It all started on Monday, when I was stuck at home all day, waiting on my marriage license to be delivered to my door, so I could fix my DMV issues once and for all. Of course, the delivery didn't come until about 3:45, so any DMV business had to be put off until Tuesday. Tuesday morning, I loaded Charley up in the car, bright and early, and finally got everything taken care of at the DMV. I'm officially a Minnesota driver again. Phew!

Tuesday really wasn't a bad day, it was just busy. Prior to finding a place to park the bus, it had been in front of my house, and with that, I found myself trying to set things up in there quite a bit. I'm a busy-body, what can I say? Wednesday wasn't a terrible day, either, but it was one of those days where nothing really fell into place. I found myself scrambling for a sitter, trying to find someone to drive with me to park the bus... It was a bit of a mess. Thank goodness one of my girlfriends came through, and I got it all taken care of. But I don't like to do things last minute, so I was a little bit annoyed with myself for putting someone out! Wednesday at gymnastics was great. The girls I'm training for an in-house competition worked really hard, and had a good workout. The other group I coached had a good practice, too. I was really pleased with how the workout was going, until the last 5 minutes, when I was spotting a girl on bars, and got kicked in the face. It wasn't one of those, "foot slipped off the bar, and barely hurt," kind of kicks. The girl intentionally kicked her feet off the bar, but did it while I was explaining the skill to the rest of the group, so I was totally blind sided. Ouch! That pretty much summed up my Wednesday.

Thursday was actually a really good day. Charley and I spent the day over at my dad's house, and I got a lot of paperwork done. I really felt productive! Charley and I went with my boss, Brian, over to Wolfe Park, to check out the location for National Gymnastics Day. The space is great. I'm hoping we have a great turnout, because the location is amazing, and the activities are going to be a lot of fun. I taught a private lesson, too, and then went over to a friend's house with Charley. Charley got to play with her little girlfriend, and I got to have some girl talk, myself. That was really relaxing, and I haven't had a chance to relax much in recent weeks.

Then came Friday. Friday the 13th. Fitting, isn't it? I knew it was going to be kind of a packed day, because Blair and I were planning to install the wall padding on the bus, once and for all. Then, I knew I had to go into work at the gym for a few hours. I was supposed to work with the girls' team tonight, which I was really looking forward to, even though it meant I would be working until 8. I was looking forward to it, though! Well, anyway, the day started off on a bit of a bad foot. Charley screamed and threw a complete tantrum, because she wanted to wear her One Direction pajama pants all day. After a long, drawn out battle, I decided it wasn't worth the fight. So, she wore the pants with a mismatched flower shirt. Lovely. Then, Charley went to play with a friend, whose family I adore. Charley jumps in with those kids, like she's part of the family, and I feel so lucky that we both have friends like that. Anyway, I'd been gone for about an hour and a half, when I got a phone call. My friend said Charley had fallen, and hadn't bounced back the way she normally would. Apparently, she tripped, and when she stood up she was limping. She cried, and cuddled with my friend for awhile, but then appeared to be fine, other than the fact that she wouldn't put weight on one of her legs. I was concerned, because a couple of weeks ago, Charley had been complaining that her leg hurt, and SLIGHTLY limping, but it had gone away. I wondered if there was more to it. So, I headed home to check it out. I was surprised to find that the leg that appeared to be injured was NOT the same leg Charley had been limping on last week. And watching her try to put weight on it, then cringe, told me there was something wrong.

So, I put Charley in the car, and headed to Urgent Care. After filling out the paperwork, and sitting for a few minutes, Charley was called back into the exam room. A physician's assistant came into the room, and asked what had happened. She looked like she couldn't have been any older than 25, but she was great with Charley. After listening to her symptoms, she decided we should get an X-ray of Charley's full leg and ankle. Sure enough, a quick glance at the X-ray showed a hairline fracture on her tibia. Poor kid! No wonder she kept saying, "Ow! Ouch!" Splinting the injury definitely was not an enjoyable experience for anyone. Charley was very still while the splint was being applied, but she was sobbing, saying, "Mommy, I want to play with you. " When everything was finished, Charley calmed down, and only cried because she couldn't wear her 'sparkle shoes.' From there, we went and picked up one of my friends, and got dinner. It struck me around 5:00, that I hadn't eaten since breakfast, and that fact probably hadn't helped my rocky emotional state. Then we went and got Charley a wagon, which she is incredibly excited about being pulled around in. This kid's easy to please, sometimes! Ha! After picking up the wagon, we went for ice cream, and then returned home. Now, Charley is sleeping peacefully, and I'm finally sitting down, for the first time since I woke up
.

Throughout this afternoon and evening, I was really touched at the support everybody offered. I called my boss around 2pm, and told him I wouldn't be able to make it to work at 4:30, because I had to take Charley for X-rays. He assured me he'd have it covered, but also told me to alert one of the other directors. So, I let her know and she took care of it. Within an hour of letting my boss know, I'd received several texts from co-workers, asking how Charley was feeling and wishing her well. I was really impressed, and it reminded me why I love my job, and love the sport of gymnastics. As a gymnast and as a coach, I've always felt a sense of family in the gym. Ask any gymnast, and they'll tell you their gymnastics friends were more like sisters than friends. It's just how we are. We spend a lot of time together, and become very close. The same rule applies to coaches, in most of the gyms I've worked in. I've never felt like just an employee. I've always been an extension of a family, and that's a really special thing that I think is unique to specific sports, and gyms, and I'm lucky to be part of the Kenwood family. I was very impressed, and incredibly grateful to my co-workers today.  My friends were very supportive as well, offering assistance, and trying to help. I'm truly surrounded by amazing people, and I think that's easy to take for granted sometimes. But I certainly didn't take it for granted today. I appreciate everyone who reached out via text or phone call, or even on FB, checking on Charley. She'll be fine. Kids get hurt! That was always my parents' approach, and it's one thing that I feel very strongly about. Things happen. Kids trip, kids fall, they even break bones once in awhile. But I'd rather let Charley live an active life, run like a 2 year old, and experience the occasional injury, than keep her in a bubble because there's a risk of getting hurt! She's a toddler, and she got her first big boo-boo doing what toddlers do...Running! And I secretly blame her One Direction pants that she fought so hard to wear today. They're a little long, and I wouldn't be surprised if she tripped on them! Anyway, she's fine. She's sleeping soundly, and I'm hoping it lasts all night. Fingers crossed!

On that note, I'm ready for this Friday the 13th to be over, and the weekend to begin! Here's to a better next week.

What Does Your "Type" Say About You?

I haven't really been writing two days in a row, but a topic has come up in conversation several times the last few days that has really made me think. Anybody who knows me well, knows that I'm very self reflective. I make decisions every day, sometimes good decisions, sometimes bad decisions. But regardless of whether they are positive or negative, I think about all of the things I do, and consider why I do them. Anyway, this just leads into the discussion of what type of man I tend to go for (STOP READING, DAD!) and why I think I am drawn to a particular type.

I said a long time ago that I'm drawn to military men, cops, firefighters, etc. I'm not really sure why. I think it's the fact that I have a strong personality, and it takes a very particular type of man to challenge me. And I like being challenged. I'm also driven towards men with strong work ethics, and guys who are handy around the house. I think part of why those traits are so important to me, is because those are things I was lacking in my last relationship. For the last few years of my marriage, I wasn't challenged, and I'm not going to be ex-bashing here, but his work ethic was lacking. I like a guy who has goals, and wants to better himself. Not because I asked him to do it, but because he wants to do it for himself. That's a very attractive quality. I like men who are sarcastic, who give me a hard time, but also make an effort to show me they care. Genuinely nice guys, who have a little bit of an edge, but a softer side, too, that not everybody gets to see.  Physically, I usually go for the tall, dark and handsome look. Men who are athletic, and usually have a baby face and some facial hair. Not gross, long facial hair, but I like the look of a little facial hair or stubble on a man. I also look for chemistry. There HAS to be chemistry.

 As I self-reflect, I think about the things I have had in my past relationship, and the things I didn't have. I think much of my dating history since my divorce is based around that. As humans, when a relationship doesn't work with a person with certain traits, we naturally seek to avoid those traits in our next relationships. As I've explored this whole dating world, I've actually written a list of things I'm looking for in a man. Things like being a good father, challenging me, treating Charley as his own, stability without being boring, etc. are on my list. But as the months have progressed, that list has changed dramatically, because I've learned something from each person I even went on a date with. Some had traits that I was looking for, others showed me things that I maybe thought I wanted, but came to realize I didn't want at all. So, long story short... I think we have "types" based on past experiences. We learn about what we want, what we don't want, and what we can tolerate.

This whole topic came about, because in conversations with a few different girlfriends in the last week or so, there's been discussion about whether or not a person's physical type actually matters. I've come to the conclusion that it really doesn't. I mentioned earlier that I go for the tall, dark, and handsome type. Well... From my experience, the man I had the most chemistry didn't fit that description at all. He's a good looking man. But not really my type. And for some reason, he's the one I've compared everybody else to, because that chemistry couldn't really be denied, and it's not easy to replicate. Now, when I say this guy isn't physically my type, I was still physically attracted to him, and he IS my type in terms of personality. He definitely presented a challenge, and I enjoyed our back and forth banter. Clearly a connection can impact  a lot of things, and override any potential typical "physical" types. One of my best girlfriends recently met a man, kind of in an unexpected way. He was going to help her with school, and it cracked me up, because she called me and let me know that she had met a guy who she had a weird connection with, but she wasn't sure she was physically attracted to him. "It's not that he's not good looking," she stated, "but he's not the type of guy I usually go for." Sure enough, they have gone on several dates, and she's found that she's got more chemistry with him than she had with almost any man she's been with! Another friend recently started dating an adorable tall, slender guy, with a baby face. They are so cute together. But again, he's totally not her typical type. She usually goes for big, burly men, with facial hair, and flannel shirts. Basically, typical MN men. And sure enough, she's happier than she's ever been, with someone who's totally not the type she goes for. One more girlfriend told me the other day, that she always thought she wanted someone sweet and romantic, who treated her like a princess. But as she's gotten older, she's realized that she's not sure she DOES want that. At this point, she wants a great man, but not necessarily someone who serenades her in the car. And the guy she compares every man to was, yet again, physically not her type at all. There's something to be said for chemistry. If it's there, it's there. If it's not, it's not. I've gone on dates with several men who were 100% my type. And I had no interest, because there was no chemistry!

All of this was running through my head while I was driving today, and out of the blue, Hunter Hayes' song, I Want Crazy, came on the radio. How fitting! There are a couple of lines in the song that completely describe what I'm feeling.
I don't want good, and I don't want good enough.
I want can't sleep, can't breathe without you love. ....
.... It doesn't make sense to anybody else, who cares if you're 
all I think about. I've been across the world and I know now,
it ain't right, if you ain't lost your mind.

I don't want just another hug and a kiss good night, 
catching up calls, and a date sometimes. ...
... We're the kind of crazy people wish that they could be.

I seriously could've written these lyrics. The idea of really falling in love is scary. Super intimidating. It means I'd actually have to be vulnerable and risk getting hurt. But I really do want that. Head over heels, totally dedicated, can't stop thinking about you love. Some people might judge me, and tell me that I'm setting my standards too high. That real love isn't like that. Well, I know love isn't perfect. I don't expect perfection. But I want that connection that nobody really understands...maybe that I don't even understand...but it's there, and it feels right.

Speaking of listening to music in the car, I am notorious for singing in the car. I apologize to any of my passengers, it's just a habit. I tend to pick up musical lyrics pretty quickly, and when I connect to a song, I have no shame in busting it out. I was driving by Lake Calhoun today, and One Direction's song, Kiss You, came blaring through the speakers. I cranked the music up, and sang along at the top of my lungs, shimmying and dancing the whole time.  I looked to my right and left, and neither driver seemed to be paying any attention, so I kept on singing. Then I glanced across at the other side of the street, and a guy, who looked to be about my age, was laughing hysterically as I belted out one of many boy band tunes on my phone. I just nodded, smiled at him, gave him a little wink, and kept on singing. As a kid, I think I would've been like, "That chick is CRAZY." But   I don't care! I'll sing proudly and make a fool of myself for the rest of my life. It's fun for me, and I apparently have a knack for entertaining my fellow drivers. You're welcome for that, MN drivers. So that brings me to a question. What is your, 'rock out in the car,' song? I tend to sing along to any boy bands, Lady Antebellum (watch out when Long Gone comes on...it can get loud), Zac Brown Band, and lately, Luke Bryan's That's My Kinda Night. Is there a song you belt out, without caring if anyone is watching?

On that note, goodnight!

Worst Birthday Ever... But a GREAT Birthday Week!

So, I suppose it's not unusual at this point that I'm writing on a Friday night. That seems to be what my Fridays have turned into. The evening is the only opportunity I have to relax, and kind of think about my week. This week was CRAZY.  And when I say crazy, I mean crazy. I really didn't have a chance to slow down at all. That's not a bad thing! But now, I'm tired. 

Monday was Labor Day, so I really did take the day off. I went to my friends' house and grilled out. It was nice to hang out with some friends, and take a few minutes to socialize. God knows I need socialization! Outside of two-year-olds, that is! Anyway, it was a nice day, and after grilling, I went over to my dad's house for a few minutes where I got my birthday present (Apple TV= AMAZING gift!). Charley was super-tired and crabby though, so the visit was short-lived. Then came Tuesday…..

Tuesday was my actual birthday. I'm usually not one of those people to celebrate my birthday for weeks. I know some people have birthday-weeks/months, but ever since I was a kid and my dad told me I had to wait until his birthday passed (August 22), before talking about mine, I really haven't been that type. This year I feel like it's been my birthday FOREVER. Anyway, Tuesday actually WAS my birthday. And the majority of the day was a train-wreck. Last week, I began my quest to get my MN driver's license. I've had my NV license since moving back, because I absolutely hate the DMV, so I put it off. When my birthday rolled around, I got up bright and early, and got to the DMV with my license, looking to officially be a MN driver again. And, more importantly, to officially return to my maiden name. The lady at the DMV informed me that because my MN license is more than a year expired, I'd have to take the written exam, which that location didn't offer. Seriously? I've been driving for 15 years. I never imagined I'd have to take the written exam again! So, I went to DMV location number two, where they offer the written exam. At that DMV, they informed me that I needed my original marriage certificate, issued by the state with a raised seal, to take the test. I had my marriage certificate. But a copy apparently isn't good enough. They also told me I needed another form of ID, such as a passport. Seriously? First of all, I didn't need the original marriage certificate to get my divorce, so the fact that I need it for my license is ridiculous. Secondly, how many hoops were they expecting me to jump through, all in the name of getting a license? The second location's staff was incredibly rude, as well. Ugh. So, I went home, dug through my paperwork, found my passport, found a copy of the marriage certificate signed by the pastor, and went to yet ANOTHER location, Eagan, which is nowhere near my house, and finally took the written test.  I passed. Phew! But they still wouldn't give me my license without a specific version of my marriage certificate. So, I had to overnight the stupid document, just to return and get my license the next day. At the Eagan location, of course. Needless to say, spending my birthday in 3 different DMVs was not exactly how I'd intended to spend the day. It's okay, though. I was born after 11 pm on the 3rd, so I decided that for this year, I would think of Wednesday as the first day of my thirties. And Wednesday was a much better day! On Wednesday, I didn't have that much to do, other than go to the gym and work in the evening. I was pleasantly surprised when I got  text from one of my girlfriends, asking me to walk around the lake with her. I left the gym instantly, and headed to the lake. I'd much rather walk three miles, than ride a stationary bike for 45 minutes. It was a super hot day, but we had a great conversation and got some exercise in at the same time. Definitely an improvement over Tuesday. 

I love this picture. My hair is ridiculous, but I don't care.  I'm making "pretty fingers." After 26+ years in gymnastics,  it's not even intentional anymore. You just can't take the gymnast out of me. Ha!

Thursday was a huge day for me. I got my bus! Blair and I drove out to Monticello, and picked up Gus, the Big Blue Bus! It kind of looks like a Smurf on steroids. It's awesome. I was so nervous! I was legitimately afraid, when I moved the gear into drive. But surprisingly, it's not that hard to drive. The mirrors are awesome! I felt like I could see everything! It is amusing that my feet don't touch the ground when I'm in the driver's seat, though. Ha! The rest of my day included going to the gym for a preschool open gym time (in the bus of course), then I waited for one of my friends to pick up Charley, so I could drive the bus to go pick up the mats. That was a trick! I drove the bus from St. Louis Park, to Coon Rapids, to do that, and I faced what I imagine will be everyday battles. Some side streets are impossible to drive down, when people are coming from the opposite directions, and I was slightly embarrassed when they looked at me like, "Who the heck is that chick driving a giant blue school bus?!" I'm sure I'll get a lot of that…. When I got to the loading dock area to get my mats, of course I had to go to customer service, before I could pick up all of my boxes. I surveyed the area, it looked like it circled around, so I just pulled that big bus right up to the front of the building…only to realize that the 'circle' ended up at a locked gate. Crap. In a car, I would've made an awkward u-turn and driven right out. But I was in a school bus. So, what'd I do? I backed Gus up, basically across an entire parking lot, praying that the mirrors worked, and I didn't forget to check EVERY angle. It was rough. But I did it, and then breathed a sigh of relief. After that debacle, I went to my friend's house, in the bus, to have a playdate with Charley, and I didn't get home until nearly 8:00. It was a LONG day. But a great day!

Today, I walked out of my house, and saw a giant bus parked there. It's a little intimidating! I found a place to park it, but I can't drop it off until tomorrow, so it'll be the neighborhood eyesore for one more day. A couple of my friends checked it out, and thought it looked great. One just looked at me and was like, "That thing is HUGE! I can't believe you actually own an enormous bus." Well, that makes two of us. I can't really believe it either. But it's true! I met a high school friend at the lake today, and went for a walk. Twice around the lake in one week is a lot for me! It's really a lot for Charley. But my friend has a son Charley's age, so they kept each other entertained, as we caught up. It was really nice to catch up and realize that we have a lot more in common than we probably ever thought. We gossiped, and chatted, and had a few laughs about life, relationships, even just what we were up to earlier in the day! While we walked, she mentioned my blog, said she reads regularly, and asks if it's therapeutic for me. My response? "Absolutely!" Honestly, as much as I like to entertain my friends and family, I write this for me. It's kind of a nice way for me to keep track of how my life has grown and changed over the last few months. And shoot, if people get a laugh out of my journaling, then great! All the better.

On that note, I'm sure everybody is tired of the marathon-blog, so have a good weekend! And to those of you who wished me a happy birthday, thank you! Your messages made the day a little more tolerable as I waited in line at the DMVs!