Christmas "Card" 2016

Dear Family & Friends,

I really truly enjoy getting all of your family photos and cards, saving them in our Christmas boxes until next year and seeing all the changes in a year!  I apologize but cards just didn't happen this year however we still wish everyone the happiest of holidays!  

Our 2016 didn't quite rival 2015 in changes for the whole family, but it was a fun year!  After wrapping up my tenure at HLWW teaching, in June I opened my home childcare and that has been a wonderful adventure.  I'm staying connected with adults as an online wellness coach, and have discovered I actually enjoy working out and having my "me-time" at 5 am!  

We enjoyed trips to California over Easter, and Andy as traveled overseas twice for work.  France first, and then I was lucky to join him for the start of his England work trip!  We did London for 3 days and then Clithroe in Northern England!  We didn't get any UK golf in November though! We did a couples league at Como Golf Course but definitely golfed the fewest founds ever in the last 10 years! 

But we forgive our sons for that... Evan and Declan make everyday so joyful and we just love seeing them become best friend brothers in battles and in hugs!  Declan is definitely "three and a half" and Evan is almost 18 months!  Andy, Declan and Croix enjoy Pokemon catching walks while Evan is beginning to love cooking with me. He is obsessed with brooms and vacuums, cars and trucks, and we try and decipher his new words every day!  

Have a Blessed Holiday!

Love, The Thrall's

PS... We visited Santa yesterday... He may look familiar to you ;) 

16 Weeks!

Nope, not pregnant... 16 weeks of  results from determination, accountability and encouragement in my friend Molly's online challenge groups!  I never even planned to share these Aug 13 pics with anyone but myself!  But I figured I used to take my growing belly pics with life in me, I can be proud of my healing diastasis recti pics!

  Not only have I learned I can be stronger and in better shape than I was pre-kids and really than any time in my life, I am happier and more content.   I am learning to only control my choices for my body, and letting go of control in other areas of my life that aren't mine to control (aka 3 year old tantrums ;) )  Beachbody programs are amazing and the ability to do them from your own house was key for me and for my excuses!  I completed PiYo, 17 days of 21 Day Fix so I could start Core De Force!  (Which I'll finish in a few days!)  And the support in nutrition with portion sizes, which is probably more important than working out was key!  Plus, my easiest meal being my best meal of the day in Shakeology was without a doubt vital to my energy and nutrition success! 

I am pleased at how similar my relaxed abs and tightened core look now.  I am giving my stretched skin time or I'll accept that as a wonderful war wounds from my boys but just believe wherever you are at in your journey of life, you can improve and get what you want!  The scale dropped 13 pounds and I lost a total of 13 inches... 8 from my my belly and hips, but I put these numbers last because it was and is about SO.MUCH.MORE!  Join me in my very first and only free online challenge group to start some baby steps today!  

Give yourself permission

Give yourself permission to dream, to desire, to figure out what you yearn for.  And then go get it!  I did... and I am so glad I haven't looked back.  Even though there have been tough moments and days trying to get my body back, not giving up has been where I have discovered more dreams and contentment!  Finishing my baby weight loss journey has really just become a start for me.  (Though it has been a bonus that I haven't been asked, "When are you due?" lately!)  

I desire laughter, sharing and caring, and the energy to be my best… what do you yearn for today?

 I yearn for routine with my passion, emotionally honest, “messy” littles… what do you yearn for right now!?

At night, I yearn for QUIET but intentional time with Andy in our last waking hours before we both crash!  I love intentional time with my other favorite recharging outlets: blogging and social media.  What do you desire for when the sunsets?

Daily,  I yearn for community, gratefulness, feeling good, intentional use of my time and adventures! What’s something you yearn for daily?

Weekly, I yearn for accountability, goal setting and challenges, knowledge and development.  

Always, I yearn to inspire, create and help make small and big differences in myself, my family, my friends, my community and the world.  I just feel recharged giving and being with others.

I hadn’t realized how many of these longings and desires for my personal contentment were met when I was a 5^th grade teacher.  Even though lots of these challenges are still huge in my new career with littles and running a business, missing adult community from moving to a new city and a new career is why I am in love with online challenge groups!  There are only so many hours in the day and my priorities at this stage of my life all exist in my home first so I can give my best to my family and business.  But I have to give to myself to do that well too! My results these past 16 weeks can be found here!

If you aren’t sure what you feel like… or  what you yearn, reach out to me.  If you desire one or all of these same things as me, please take the first step and reach out to me!  I have my first ever online challenge group starting tomorrow!  I am “yearning” for just a couple more people to keep it small as I add this coaching process to my journey.  I’m looking for a few more family and friends to start their journeys and being their success stories! 

Beyond discovering and meeting your desires, this  online challenge group (totally free this one time only in December) will provide:

• ·         Daily encouragement and support
• ·         Meal and recipe ideas
• ·         Community
• ·         Prize drawings and celebrations
• ·         Energy & Results

SIGN UP HERE 

Dear Evan, You're 16 months old!

My Dear Evan, You are officially a toddler in my book!

I'm not totally ok with it, this not having a baby anymore thing... But I am so proud of you and how you hold your own with the bigger 2 year olds at daycare!  Your favorite words are No and Mine and MAMA!!! which means "Keep me Safe" when you know you do not want to give up a toy :)  

On that note, your brother may be my hardest at childcare (as most providers would probably say their own gives them the biggest challenge) but he is your protector and keeps you safe, laughs with you and brings you toys when you are sad!  Lately, you two have been playing ball roll and throw and chase and giggling a bunch.  It is probably my favorite part of the day just watching you two play together!  Declan keeps asking when you are going to be 3 and be his age.  He also cheers you on everytime you say a new word. "Mom, Evan just said cat!  Mom, Evan just said bus!"  

Your favorite toys are containers and anything you want to stick in them and shake.  Then you do your dance moves and we laugh everytime!  Evan, you try and escape outside everytime a door opens!  Especially with your "dog dog"!  You love cereal and granola bars... You head to that cupboard and clearly let us know when you are hungry! And the amount you eat I can't believe you were so tiny at your 15 month appt: 

Weight:  20 lb 12 oz     20%ile
Height: 31"   40%ile
Teeth: 8

You ask for signing time now, I love seeing new signs and hearing new words daily!  Books haven't really been your thing, but you have a few favorite you will always come see!  You were just a tougher sleeper and rarely make it past 2 and then 4 am without needed cuddles but you started making it through the night this last week... I hope it stays that way for for Grandma Sue and Grandpa Tim when Dad and I leave you boys for our England trip! 
I'm going to miss you for 6 days but so grateful for your awesome family to watch you! 

I love you for all that you are, and all that you are yet to be!

Mommy

"When are you due?"

That is a question you should never ask another woman.

Especially one who is at the gym, changing in the locker room.  I calmly just said my 6 month old was in Kids Klub.

And then it happened again a couple months later... same place, new person... a skinny 20 something.

But they say the third time's a charm...

This 3rd time didn't feel so charming..."OOOhh, wow, saw you playing racquetball hard and lifting... when are you expecting?!?"  And I wasn't as calm.  I said, "You should just ask people if they have children, not when they are due in case they are not pregnant... My two boys are in Kids Klub and no one else is growing in this body."

Though right now I have chosen getting better and forgiveness and I am thankful for those three bold, no filter women.  Without them, I would still be on this journey alone.  And I did ok on my journey alone.. in 10 months at gym workouts and my nutrition I lost 12 lbs and was getting stronger.

 But don't do this alone friends and you don't need a gym!   In the first two months with online communities and Beachbody I lost 12 lbs, 10 more inches, and am at down to 13.5% body fat.

 I am so grateful my friend Molly shared her story consistently about the impact the Beachbody community and Shakeology were making in her life.  And now, I can't help but share mine in case you have that "third time's a charm" moment and want the community, consistency, change I didn't realize I was craving.   I have realized my body and diastasis recti (my pregnancy's splitting my abs) really needed daily expert workouts to begin healing.  I have learned to intentionally plan my me time, my schedule, my nutrition.  I am continuing to learn daily what I'm willing to sacrifice, what I'm not, where my excuses come from and how strong I can be (and not just in muscles!).

  It has become so much more about the inches and scale and about helping others now. I have been on a health journey since Declan was born but now I want to stay on one forever for the energy it gives me, the modeling it does for my children and for putting myself first in the morning to serve and be patient the rest of the day.

Contact me and look around here if you are interested in hearing more about programs I have done, both with Shakeology, and I would love to tell you about them.

 I am looking for three more friends who want to get on their own journey with us in a SUMMER AIN'T OVER TIL WE SLAY IT IS community today...   There may be better times than others to start, but life will always be busy and will never slow down unless we make the time.  But this upcoming August group is going to be saving you so much time in the kitchen to enjoying the remaining long sunlight outdoors... So take a chance with me, fill out this form, and we'll start practicing habits, learning to sacrifice to gain, but giving yourself grace and starting over sometimes daily for awhile because I still do!

  Take care of you first to be the best YOU, the best friend, spouse, or parent you can be!

Shaking up my lunch!

Or blending it sometimes too!

My new career has no guarenteed breaks... Somedays I get a "break" for 1.5 hours (aka cleaning and prepping) sometimes none, sometimes a perfect 30 minutes and I'm a ready and recharged provider... especially with my afternoon "Chocolate Malt" or "Iced Coffee" fix!

A lunch where I can sit for 30 minutes and eat slow is not in my job description. And I wouldn't want it any other way.  But I needed to start taking care of eating better as I was either HANGRY or would stuff my face fast and overeat and feel it in 10 minutes.  I had never been a believer in drinking meals but instead thought we only needed to eat real whole foods.

I had committed to doing Shakeology for 2 months during my PiYo program.  Now I can't imagine not doing it.  It is my favorite meal of the day and I have felt all the benefits of it. I have now spent over 3 hours online researching different cheaper plant protein based shakes and have taste tested 3 of them, but Shakeology has been my favorite and the ingredient list is just better!

But as my coach and friend said, you have to enjoy it yourself and believe in it to want to share about it.  And I wish I had just saved my time and trusted her, but she is right... you have to try it and believe it yourself.

There is more info you can watch this and start your own research.  Or just try the 30 day money back guarantee.  If you know me, I'm "cheap", a couponer, etc and I totally intended to get my $ back if I didn't like it or feel like it helped my health.  But I believe it was 50% of the gamechanger in the last 12 lbs I lost.  (The other 50% for me was accountability & community with my daily morning workouts and watching portion sizes of my carbs especially!)   If you want to look into Challenge Packs, the best deal and way to try Shakeology and still get an awesome workout program, look around here and contact me!  I am looking for a few family and friends for my New Year, New Habits, New You challenge group!!

  And yes it can seem expensive, I will blog more about that later, but the short and blunt version is it is all in where our priorities lay and what you are willing to sacrifice.  We intentionally eat out less each month and with planning meals and not commuting I don't stop for the fast food, coffees etc so we made a little wiggle room in our budget.  And personally, I would rather pay to be healthy now than pay to fix my health later!   Or seriously, ask your spouse, mom, dad, whomever for a Challenge Pack for a Christmas present... Who needs more things to take care of?  Experiences all the way!

Best place for a friend reunion when you have small children...

Not their house, not my house, definitely not resturants...

Outdoors is good if you know weather will be good...

But hands down... A Children's Museum!  It is safe, kids are so excited and entertained for more than 15 minutes, and we could enjoy our hot coffees while watching play at its finest!  Love we have a reciprocal membership from St. Paul Children's Musuem so we can get in so many others at a great discount.

Today we drove to Eau Claire, WI so I could meet my old Hutch friend and HLWW carpool collegue Mary!  We hadn't seen each other in person since Declan made a quick big mess as a little 6 week old baby at their home!  Andy and I will always have our traveling regret of not visiting them while they lived in Thailand, but they are back so future brewery and winery tours will have to do!

 We finished the perfect fall morning off with a beautiful walk to a farmer's market with lunch on by the river climbing boulders on the hill!

Looking forward to Hutchinson's Children's Museum next!

1 year ago...

One year ago I had a tiny little baby...

Today, he is a full blown big boy toddler... 

The haircut was emotional to me... but shockingly I didn't cry.  No more baby curls... No more "Feel the Bern"... but no more references to my cute girl in public ;)-

One year ago to the date, we closed on our home in the cities and started the farewells to our Hutch framily.

Today, I am still grateful to be close to family and to be making friends... surely though slowly with the busy lives of littles.  Yet, I am so grateful to be close to our Hutch friends and see them almost monthly!  But two weekends in a row this month was awesome!

One year ago I worked for a few weeks in the beautiful new HLWW middle school before starting my maternity leave... aka baby bonding while unpacking a home :)

Today, I also love working from home with littles... I have accepted my house won't be clean for years if I ever want to relax.  Moments can be chaotic, but so many more are magical.  

One year ago I knew we were done having kids, and I started a life health journey on my own.  A sporadic but committed one.  I did what I could while I commuted almost 3 hours a day and waking by 5:15 am...

Today, I still get up at 5:15 am to have my time with Jesus and workout at home or the gym.  But now I am doing it with DAILY support, encouragement and a program designed by experts.  In one month I have lost 5 more pounds... but it isn't about the weight anymore... I feel stronger, healthier, happier, energized.  I can't recommend my friend Molly as a coach enough and the Beachbody/21 day fix programs.    Her transformation is amazing too... neither one of us recognizes ourself in the pic below from last July 2015... I can't wait and we need to plan a reunion picture at Molly Brooke's Pub in Lexington, KY! Definitely follow her story, see her pics of transformation and seek her out if you want!

One year goes fast. So so fast.  Hug your littles and olds today.  Leave a mess in your house and know mine is still messier, and do something that makes you smile instead :) 

T-Minus 2 days!!!

Andy returns Saturday after a two week work trip!  WAAAHOOOOOOO!

I knew I could do it, and  I did it... But I didn't have to like it.   I say this next part with no jest, only utmost respect and sincerity and sensitivity.  Single parents really are amazing.  My mom did lots of it alone and man, I admire her even more after these two weeks.  I'm glad she got some respite weekends when I was with my dad and Joanne, but they weren't really as she was usually working.   And I know a few more amazing single parents by choice or by life tragedies and you all deserve a month of vacation on the government.  I'd support that bill!    But you may not be reading this because you don't have time for social media, but if any of you are... I am more amazed by you after this tiny glimpse into your life!

Raising children is just not something people should do alone on a daily basis, let alone weekly, monthly, ever.  Even as a couple, having a support system and a village is what can help make us sane parents!

I do mean the following with jest, as I tried to look at the positives of  Andy being gone to survive... our bedroom floor stayed cleaner,   I was the fun mom with candy, ice cream and movie nights,  I got a lot of busy projects done on my loner evenings.   We should have stopped the mail as I finally checked it yesterday and I've been drinking iced coffee two out of three days as I'm lazy just making a giant pot every three days!   I also got lots of future posts drafted for my upcoming blog at enthralledmoments.com.  It will tell my story and my practices in childcare for parents and providers.   (This is a blog I am actually proofreading/planning and hope you will subscribe!)

But two giant ah-ha moments came out of these weeks for me.

First... littles grow too much in two weeks.  Andy knew it would happen and wanted to pack Evan in his suitcase because he is coming back to a non-stop chatting/screeching/communicating and only taking one nap a day tot!  Yes, I only understand about 10 words but he is singing, signing and telling us something ALL. THE. TIME.  I think he "talks" more than all my other daycare kids or maybe his squawking just pierces my ears more I notice it incessantly!  He is my best listener too, just following us around copying everyone, and setting stuff done that's not safe because he just does.   Unless it's his toothbrush.  I can't get that out of his mouth!

 And Declan just continues to amaze me.  He plays with Evan almost nightly for 20ish minutes while I "Clean for momma time"!   He "reads" him books, pushes him in swings, and actually wrestles with him gently!  He also wanted to bike all the way to ambulance park, and he did it!  But I took one for the team and ruined my jamberrys I did one night for myself with chain falling of the bike!   Declan tells lots of the Nalced stories now, and it just wows me watching his imagination deepen by the day! I love 3 year olds!

But he has pushed my buttons like it is a 3 year olds job to do, so come home Andy! I'm ready :)  Sleeping in underwear tonight and probably snuck into my bed after snuggles but looking forward to a teammate for when I pick battles!  Say yes, when you can say yes!

My sweet MIL had to go and make me ugly cry yesterday watching this "Slow down" video... I was already half way thru writing this blog to begin with and missing Andy! But it is so good if you want to cry watch this Unstoppable Momma video!  If you don't want to cry, skip for now! But I'm so excited for Andy to be home and watch him soak in the moments with his boys! And have someone with me to say it: SLOW DOWN BOYS :)

Back to my second Ah-Ha,  I deeply learned the importance of intentional scheduling of my day so there was me time to charge and recharge to be the patient, guiding momma and childcare provider I strive to be.

 It meant getting up by 5:20 to workout/relax before my boys were up.  It meant telling Declan he had to play and read by himself,  or do the chores with me.  Dang,  he picked playing now... he used to be my helper!!  But the noises with Evan were joyous while I did dishes!  Two is soooo much better than one... (You know who you are ;) )

My dear friend Molly from our old town of Hutchinson has been telling her story through social media (Follow her on Instagram or Facebook to hear it!)  and it has been so many things I've felt and needed to hear.  I'm doing a online accountabilty Restore FitCamp in Sept. with her and know there is a few more spots so join us from wherever you are!!   I wanted to start the "camp" a bit early with some PiYo/ OnDemand Beachbody workouts for my core with Andy gone and couldn't go to gym in mornings.   It makes a huge difference in my energy and happiness.   The beautiful power of natural endorphins!   I love getting out of the house for the gym, but I will love this for the other mornings when I just want to stay home once Andy is back!   The Restore Fit camp is a workout, Real Mom Real Jesus bible study, meal plans, and the superfood shakeology drink!  I have just been doing these for 7 days now as daycare lunches because I was stuffing my face too fast, or not eating til later and stuffing my face too fast...    I truly was skeptical they'd make me full, but recipes ideas are awesome with putting some fruit or PB, and there are so many different conconcution I'm excited to try,  I am super content until dinner.  I knew she plateued in her post-partum weightloss journey, and I was reaching that point but didn't want to slow down and figured why not test it?!    Down 3 more pounds in just 7 days!  Past my goal weight and now for strength in muscles and core!  The meal plans/accountability/bible study/on demand workouts so worth the cost of shakeology for me.  So the skeptical me really is thinking there is something to it! Stay tuned for my journey but I trust Molly and it helped her!