thankful#61: december squat challenge

Marlo posted a challenge for December that involved daily squats on top of whatever other workout is happening each day. I've been saying for a while now that I need to add some strength training to my running. I've had strength training as part of my workouts for as long as I can remember - high school, college, on my own after - but since having kids I have had limited time for working out and I have to pick and choose what I do. I typically either just run or just do yoga. Rarely do I have the time to run AND do strength or run AND do yoga. I know the importance of strength training and have been talking about finding a way to add it back in to my routine. While this squat challenge was very very simple, and not even intense, it was the good kick in the ass that I think I needed to get started back on strength training. It is amazing how quickly I noticed the effects of even a few body-weight squats each day. Kinsley and Dagny even got in on it with me - Kinsley did as many as 80 squats! Dagny's were more of a smiley bounce, but it was fun to watch her get into it.

thankful#60: the chance to get out tonight

for the second time this week i have had the chance to get out and let loose a little bit with friends. i got dagny to bed after dinner and had kinsley in her pj's, so darby, whit, steve, and i went out to mcpeet's. we met up with rossi, lauren, lance, and eventually jeff even joined us. kevin wasn't in the mood to go out, so he stayed with kins and read her bedtime stories, brushed her teeth, and got her to bed. i never really go out anymore for a lot of reasons - among them not wanting to pay for a babysitter and enjoying an early bedtime that is sure to be followed by an early rise. but i have really enjoyed going out a couple of times over this break. it has been so great to hang out with people that i miss dearly and rarely get to see. i think it has also been really good for me to have some adult social interaction and conversation that is uninterrupted. i'm thankful that kevin encouraged me to get out and didn't even blink an eye at taking on the bedtime routine so that i could hang out with some friends.

thankful#59: easy tantrum fixes

tantrums can be both stressful and frustrating if we let them be. i'm thankful that, for the most part, both kinsley and dagny have very readable reasons for their meltdowns these days - if either of them start freaking out, being super agitated, or really emotional, it's almost always one of two things: they're tired or they're hungry. both are pretty easy fixes - sleep them or feed them! - and cure them of their foul moods and bring them back to the happy girls they are almost immediately. i'm thankful that the fix to their tantrums is so easy. it has made dealing with meltdowns much more bearable for us as parents and the girls aren't ever grumpy for long.

thankful#58: dance clubs

What? yes. i went out dancing tonight for the first time in as long as i can remember. and i went dancing. 90's night dancing. and i dressed the part. granted my outfit was not my picking, but it was fantastic. hot pink yoga pants, a shirt that IS a cat's face, and some sweet ass boots. it was a much needed night out and i'm so thankful that i decided to come out. now here's hoping that the girls sleep through and i feel okay in the morning ...

thankful#57

I'm thankful that I have a dad who understands me and who is compassionate.

thankful#56: extended family gatherings

It doesn't happen very often but we try at least once a year to get as many of the families on my mom's side together as possible. tonight it was 30 of us including 13 kids under 10. even though it seems difficult to finish a conversation without having to chase a toddler back to the area, it's always so great to see everyone. i'm pretty thankful that we're a close enough family to make the attempt.

thankful#55: close families

We are pretty lucky that our parents live only 20 minutes or so apart. We get to spend most holidays with both sides of the family. Even though it may seem a little crazy getting back and forth and figuring out the timing, it is pretty special for the girls to get to see everybody.