Just RK

Today at the Y they hosted a weight lifting event.  Most of the participants were staff, and when I stopped by “the concrete room” to peek  in while Kinlee was at swim class, I saw some of my buds lifting. Adam is one of my fave coworkers, one of our personal trainers, and is our Physical Director at the Y. (For only the next 3 days. Boo.)  Kinlee calls him The Silly Mr. Adam. He organized the event with Kyle, behind him in the black/white jacket.   And this is Kyle, who finished 4th in nationals of Olympic Weightlifting, competing for Lindenwood University. He’s also a personal trainer at the Y.  (That’s almost 600 lbs, folks.) But more importantly, Kyle is also MY personal trainer.  And he kicks. my. rear. when it comes to workouts.  Just had to give props to my pal and fitness guru.  We’ve got a long way to go, but I’ve got a pretty good pro on my team.  The event was a hit, and it really ended up feeling a lot like a little fraternity party.  But since I ha

After a super bargain at Aldi,  we splurged with blueberry pancakes today. B,  K,  and M enjoyed the pancakes,  and I did sneak one little corner for a taste. Yum. Now it's off to swim lessons for KiKi at 9:45am while Braska enjoys much loved time at Y-school. Then I'll go back for a workout date at noon. Good thing we are 4 minutes from there. Our pancakes didn't quite look like this, by the way, though they were gorgeous and golden. But does anyone really eat a stack like that? Hope you have a good Saturday. What's on your schedule?

First off,  the dentist went ok the other day. Not great but much better...   More details on B's blog when I can do more than these phone posts. Today we are at the pediatrician getting physicals. Kinlee for K4 (Yes we have been blessed to be able to find a curriculum-based program who will let her jump up a year due to academic skill. More details on that soon too.)  Braska is doing Kindergarten,  but no longer through the conventional means at public school. She will be attending the same private school as KiKi but in the half day academic Kindergarten class. She was screened and accepted and they have been granted a nice scholarship,  so reg ed private school it is!  I'm very excited to be involved in this new school and will talk more about it soon I hope. They are totally excited about having both the girls, and what more could I ask than to have teachers actively want my kids in their classes? I'm still so blown away that this all worked out in a matter of a couple

We are at the dentist. For Braska this time. We have not had successful visits,  hence combining dental with eye surgery in the fall. That was handy. But no surgeries on the horizon now,  which is good,  but it means we attempt in-office dental again. I'm praying for surprising success.

Tonight it was let-Kyle-kick-our-rears time again.  This time my co-worker E and I are doing training together.  There are pros and cons to working out where we work, letting one of our co-workers (a currently nationally ranked college bodybuilder, no less) make us look ridiculous and sweat like little piggies. Plus we know everyone working out while we’re there… good to show staff walking the talk, but it feels funny to have everyone see us so much less “done up” than when we’re looking cute at the front desk.  E is younger than I am, way WAY more fit than I am, and she’s a great cheerleader when I’m grunting like a dork trying to get the 8-lb dumbbells over my head ONE more time.  We did it though, we made it through. And I didn’t feel TOO horrible afterword. Hoping this kicks in the downward motion on the scale again. 35.4 lbs gone since March, lots more to go!

It’s been about a year or so since Kinlee was last in an indoor fast-food type playplace. The enclosed kind.  Where I can’t really get to her when she refuses to come down. Which is what happened and why I banned the practice.  I bribed a 9-year-old to go up and shove her down the slide last time (fries!) and I told Kinlee there would be no more for a good long time, at least til she was 3.  And I do not waffle on such promises.  Granted, we don’t ever come to these places unless it’s on purpose for play, so it was easy to fully avoid. Recently, she was asking if she could try again. She remembers well what happened way back when she was 2.  She can recount the whole story clearly if you ask.  She will conclude by saying she “made a wrong choice and didn’t obey, so I don’t get to have fun there anymore.”  We talked about how, since she was 3 now and was learning to obey better and make right choices, maybe we could see if she was ready to try again.  She didn’t beg, and she didn’t

On my way home from work. I miss the days when it wasn't necessary. It's worth it for my family, though I miss them when I'm gone. Today was a tough day, and I'm glad it's done. Ready to walk in and get knocked over with little girl greetings and hugs. All things considered... I'm thankful for my job. That I have it, little as it might be. Thankful still.

This girl is something else.

After lunch watercolors. Quiet (except for that teeth-grinding fun). This is more like my kind of afternoon.

I'm going on 4 months of my new healthier choices in food and activity. I'm doing well. Feeling good. Have lost 32.5 lbs in that time as of this morning. What gets me through? Well, on days like today, Great Value Sugar Free Peach Gelatin is key. Yum.

It might be difficult to listen to my fave CD today.

For a long time it was only for iPhone users, which I refuse to be, so Instagram was out of reach, and I didn't miss it. But today I found out its only a free download away, and so here we are. Now if only someone had been able to capture the fun I had on the trampoline with the girls today..... That would be priceless in any filter.

We are blessed by the generosity of so many people. It is not uncommon to have people share with us in ways we didn't expect. We do not take for granted this provision of God via others. Today was a day filled with such things. None of them life changing, yet all life enriching. People sharing without being asked. Of their time. Of their encouragement. Of their wisdom. Of their resources. It was a day that makes me go to bed so grateful for so much and so many. And icing on the cake, a little sister who just can not keep from sneaking into big sister's bed after she is asleep. So blessed.

Tonight we went to a bar in downtown StL to see a friend's band play after I got off work . It was fun, though unbelievably loud. A whole lot of people in a small space wit h not nearly enough chairs and constant movement around us. It was very interesting to me, from both from the music standpoint... because I miss performing with a band alot... and from the angle of the culture side. I never had a phase of doing "the bar scene" and I am ok with that. It was fun to watch the band play and hear them, though I would've enjoyed a more balanced sound situation so I could have enjoyed the vocals and the superb guitar licks. 70s and 80s rock cover band. Good times. I learned that I am way older than I realized. I learned that I am strangely enamored with watching young people try to act grown up. And I remembered why I don't live downtown. Overall I found it enjoyable, and I would have stayed longer if I hadn't needed to come home and let my gracious sister get

We are waiting for haircuts for little girls. Just gotta get rid of the tangle possibilities. New 'do for the hot weather, still with length to do piggy tails, of course. After pics later... Edited to add.... Uh. Never mind. We waited 70 mins and left uncut still. That stuff makes me so grouchy. Tell me outright if you won't be able to keep your end of the deal. Don't make me wait with two hungry toddlers for over an hour and leave frustrated. Thanks so much.

I’m still here. I’m not posting much. Well, here, that is.  I’ve been doing mini-updates and sharing bits of life on Twitter, because it’s just easier from my phone, and I rarely get to sit down and work on my computer. Even Blogger’s app is not all that pleasing to me. So if you think I’m AWOL, check the Twitter box down in the right margin here or just pop over to www.twitter.com/mom2braskakiki for a run down. Here’s a peek at what it looks like, maybe you missed some action… I’ve debated doing the simple update thing here, instead of feeling like I have to post weightier content…  thoughts?  Would that be better than no content? Or should I keep it to the “real” stuff (which is way rare)?