My first weightlifting competition.

So I completed my first weightlifting competition. I've been lifting for about 6 weeks. I've been in Crossfit for a while longer - about 8 months. It's been such an exciting journey. 

Let's start with why I love weightlifting. I'm strong and I feel strong when I lift. No one cares about body type. They care about how you move. It's a liberating feeling to be judged solely on what you do and not how you look, what your job is, or what purse you are carrying. 

I love weightlifting because I'm accepted for who I am right now. Not who I might be or who I was, but who I am right now. 

It helps that my training environment rocks. Everyone is supportive and fun to be around. No one makes you feel weird for being a beginner. Everyone is just so welcoming and fun. 

My coaches are also amazing. I couldn't do it without Chris H. and Nick C. They have the best attitudes for me: enough praise coupled with enough pushing and sarcasm to meet my needs. And they don't mind cracking jokes in between working hard. It's been said that good coaches help you, but great coaches push you. I have two great coaches. 

Weightlifting seems so easy, yet is so technical. The difference between making and missing a lift is so minuscule. It's fun for my brain. Although I really need to turn my brain off when I love the bar. 

So I competed for the first time in

Sacramento. It was great. The hardest part was simply relaxing between lifts and before warm ups. I can't describe the adrenaline rush when I stepped on the platform to lift. My coaches got sick, but hooked me up with a great coach in Uncle Charles. It was great. 

I had been really well coached. I could make my openers with no problem, which allowed me to enjoy the meet. It was fun to try harder lifts too. I didn't make the harder ones- I forgot you have to get under the bar - but I did make my openers and one more. 

I totaled 99k between the two lifts.  Which qualified me for the 205 Masters World Cup in Texas. And it qualified me for the 2016 Masters Nationals. I'll be attending both. 

My coaches assure me that I'll be able to lift more once I get my movement patterns and technique fixed to better than it is now- which shouldn't be hard. I'm really excited about this journey. 

It's been a long time since I've felt so excited and sure of myself. I step in to train and everything falls away. It's me and the bar. That's it. If nothing good happens, I still tried. If I get frustrated, it doesn't matter because I still tried. 

Don't get me wrong, I still like to pound things - like a heavy bag. And I still practice martial arts because you don't throw away that many years of practice and training. But this is my new thing.  

Weightlifting is great. And I really hope that there are more adventures to come. 

Wonderful time!!!

One of the hardest things about moving was having my kids leave their friends. I miss my friends too. But Nicholas really misses his. He forms few friendships. But those he forms are deep. So for him, leaving his friends, was a big deal. 

Luckily we got to meet up with the Caziers in Disneyland this week. Nicholas couldn't have been happier to get to spend time with Bhavik and they had such fun. And I loved spending time with the lovely Catherine. It's always good to see friends. 

And even though friends were the highlight of the day, we still had to hit up the Frozen Dance Party that happens in CA Adventure. My kids love the lighting effects and would've spent hours chasing the snowflakes on the ground. 

My kids have moves!!!!

Saturday fun.

Normally we do stuff as a family on Saturday since Jon is home. But this Saturday he went sailing, so the kids and I had to plan activities. And so away we went. 

To Ventura to get new cowboy and cowgirl boots since they outgrew theirs. People laugh at me, but the boots are so useful. My kids love boots and wear them everywhere. 

So we got boots and then went to Barnes and Noble. It just so happened that story time was starting when we got there. So we stayed for story time. And the reader gave them duck whistles to help with the story. I'm hating the duck whistles. 

But it's almost lunch time and we've been havin a great time without Jon. We have plans for this afternoon too. Hiking plans. 

Weightlifting

So I've been on this journey to find something I like to do. Something for myself. 

I've joined Crossfit and loved it, but I'm not particularly great at it. So I tried Olympic  Weightlifting. 

And I love it. 

My coach is amazing. He totally understands my need to compete and drive for perfection. And yet he laughs at me all the time to keep me from thinking about things too much. 

And the best part is that I can do this as I am. I don't have to change. 

It's not that I don't still do martial arts, I do. But I feel an obligation to teach and help with martial arts. And that means I'm not doing it just for me. Weightlifting is for me. 

I'm loving it and can't wait to see how much I improve over the next year. 

Our nature journal

So I've decided to chronicle our outdoor adventures. But not by myself. 

I got a plain sketchbook and we use whatever drawing stuff we have on hand. This is normally pencils and markers, since I keep them in the car. And when we go outside, we draw pictures. 

We each take part of a page and draw something we see. Then before we leave, we draw something we liked to do at that nature place. Then I label it with the park name and date. 

This way, we will have a record of what we do and where we have went, done by the kids. I also add some stories to poet and staple them in if the kids have told a great story about our activities. But it's a fun and interactive way to kee memories. Better than just pictures since I have to take pictures and don't always do it. 

Advice my grandmother gave me.

My grandmother - Lillys Cwalina- was one of the
smartest people I know. I wish I'd asked her
 more questions and
gotten more answers while she was alive.
(2010)

My grandmother gave great advice. Tons of great advice. Sometimes I find myself in a situation and I want to call her and get her advice. I can't - she has died - and those are some of the times when I miss her most.

It's interesting that I find my grandmother's advice some of the most helpful. She's of an older generation - the WWII generation. She lived through the Great Depression. Jobs weren't available to women like they are now. Most people would consider their grandparents anachronisms - they belong to an older period than they exist in. But it's her advice I often turn to in times of trouble - and her advice that picks me up the most.

Why did I decide to write a post about this today? Because I was feeling down and her voice echoed in my head while I was taking a shower.It had just the right amount of exasperation in it to make me move my butt and follow the advice she was whispering to me. She always was able to get my butt in gear when no one else was.

Here are my top 10 pieces of advice from my grandmother.

1. Always get fully dressed in the morning. It will make you feel better about yourself, which will make your day go better. She was so right. Sweatpants don't give me the same lift as getting all the way dressed, hair done, earrings in. 
2. Just add cheese. She was telling me how to get my family to eat more vegetables at a time when we were really struggling. Cheese makes everything better. It doesn't have to be a lot of cheese, but it does. Of course, she also believed in healthy doses of butter - which we do without.
3. Work comes in all forms. Don't discount anything you do. How right she was. We all work. Everyday. On everything. It's hard not to discount somethings we do - after all, that 10 minute bathroom clean wasn't really work was it? But it was. And it accomplished something.
4. Make a small to do list.  She always made lists. She passed this onto my mom, who passed it onto me. Mine get out of control. Hers were always manageable. She would finish the list, and then if she did extra stuff, add it to the list and cross it off. But she always finished her lists - and we all know how satisfying finishing your list it.
5. Music is important. For discipline of the mind, and for enjoyment. My grandmother was a big music lover. The SF Opera and SF Symphony got many seasons out of her. She introduced me to opera early on, and classical music. There's something soul stirring about that music - and uplifting. It makes you imagine - which creates great enjoyment. But she also insisted I continue to play piano/flute - for the discipline. I notice now that the same discipline that was applied to music practice makes it easier for me to focus. On days when I don't practice now, I am more unfocused. When I practice music my mind is more disciplined.
6. Being a wife and mother is something only you can do. She made this comment to me one day when I was having a really hard time with my son. I was having a horrible day. I was feeling down because I wasn't working outside the home anymore. It was one of those crushing days. And she reminded me that only I can be the wife and mother in my family. Only me. It's a job I have to do - there's no getting out of it. And that it is work. Sometimes knowing that only I can do a job makes it a little easier to do it. 
7. God comes first. Before everything. People might argue with me about this. But she and I had many discussions about religion and God. She put God first. He led her in her life. He guided her in her marriage and her family. She was able to make her family and husband a priority because she knew God wanted her to. She had amazing inner strength - and that came from having someone to help her along the way. Reminding myself that God comes first often takes the onus off of other things - sometimes ridiculous things (did I get all the shelves organized, did we do enough outside time today). Because God won't look at those small things. He looks at you as a whole person.
8. Pots and pans should always be cleaned when you use them. My grandmother believed that food was important. Meals are where you sit with your family and enjoy food, and their company. In order to enjoy the meal, and not think about dishes, she always tried to clean her pots and pans when she used them - that way the big dishes were done and no one had to see them or think about them. Awesome advice - and when I follow it, it does make meals better. 
9. Keep your knickknacks on a shelf where you can see them. She kept hers on shelves in rooms where she would go everyday. Not to show them off to people - some people never went into her office where most of them were. They were for her. She told me that if she felt strongly enough about something to purchase it, she should enjoy viewing it and remembering the memories it represents. Sometimes, she said, those memories were enough to turn her day from sad to glad. So we continue the tradition - and we purchase magnets wherever we go. Because magnets get stuck on the fridge, and I see them everyday.
10. We are able to do anything we want to do - if we want it badly enough. This is more esoteric advice than some of the others. But she came from a generation where things were very bad at times. She lost her parents and was raised by extended family. She had nothing when she went to be a nurse for the Army. And then she met her husband, they both served in the military, and they raised an amazing family. They traveled. They had fun. They did the things we all want to do. She reminds me constantly that all things are possible. And I just need to want them enough. 

The Beach Life.

Sometimes we get overwhelmed. By life. By kids. By demands and expectations of others. And sometimes we just need a place to find some peace.

This is mine. 

The beach. 

It is nice because my kids also find new and amazing attitudes and peace at the beach. We can do things as a family. Or, if they want some alone time, they can build by themselves. Or hunt for seashells. Or sit on our blanket and read. Or just nap. 

All of these things are done at the beach on various occasions. 

What more can you ask for than to have a special place you and your family can enjoy? It helps that it is all of 5 minutes from the house. 

Lemon Festival.

Goleta had a Lemon Festival every Fall. It was fun to go to as a family. 

Abby and I went while Nicholas and Jon had a soccer game.  The goal was for them to join us after the game. 

We went - and got tshirts. We also bought ride tickets. So the kids could do the bounce houses. And the petting zoo. 

I really like festivals like this. When they are small and community based. Bigger ones are fun too. But the smaller ones are fun without getting overwhelmed and tired. It helped that the festival was walking distance from our house. 

I think we will be back next year. 

Huntsville Alabama- The last one. I promise.

We had tons of fun in Huntsville. We have a museum membership here in CA that allows us free admission to some museums around the country. Including the Sci-Quest one in Huntsville. So we went there for a whole afternoon. We had the whole place to ourselves. It was great.

We also went to the Early Works museum. I thought it was going to be hands on history. But not so much. They did have a few kids areas. One had a fishing thing my kids liked. There were also places to build with all kinds of building toys. 

We also shopped. Mostly there were the same stores we have here in CA. Although the Ross had very different items. Including an amazing princess dress and cape for Abby. 

We really enjoyed our trip. Even with the huge thunder and lightening storms we had for the first few days. It was a great trip. 

Huntsville Alabama - Part Two

The Lucky Duck Hunt. 

It took us a whole morning to do. After I spent the evening before doing the research to get us to the right spots on our hunt. 

The Visitors Center has a hunt for ducks. They give you a card with 12 clues. You find the duck at each clue and you get a special reward- a rubber duck riding a space shuttle. 

So we did the hunt. My kids loved it. 

Here's one of the ducks. 

Along the way we found some real ducks to feed too. These were seriously aggressive ducks. The little ducklings were cute. The rest I could've done without. 

As you can see, the ducks were all over. Hanging upside down, in the bark, in rocks.... Which made them a bit hard because of the brown color of the duck. 

But we found all of them!!! All 12. 

The ducks made great pool and bath toys. And we all got one!!! Even my and my mom. I'm not too old for fun souvenirs that are free and double as pool toys. 

Huntsville Alabama- Part One.

We were privileged enough to go to Huntsville Alabama last week. Nicholas went to space camp and Abby and I hung out with my mom. 

If you want to feel insignificant, go visit the Saturn V rocket. This is from over 200 feet away and I still couldn't get it all in the picture. They also have one laying down on it's side in the museum. You can walk under it and see each stage and the engines. 

We had the privilege of talking to one of the engineers who helped design the F1 engines on the rocket. He talked about how they had to deal with the heat, the sound vibrations.... It was really interesting. 

The Saturn V rockets launched the Apollo missions. In the plaza around the rocket they have plaques to each mission, pictures, and the footprints of the astronauts. Standing in Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrige's footprints was a little awe inspiring for me. 

There were a ton of simulators inside. I wanted to do the Apache helicopter one, but you had to be 13. My kids didn't want to wait so I didn't get to do it. They did get to land the space shuttle. My

Mom had a blast on that one. This was maneuvering the space shuttle in space. My kids loves those things. They didn't enjoy te reading and history so much. 

But standing in shuttle park, under the space shuttle.... That we all loved. 

Columbus Ohio trip.

Abby and I took a trip to Columbus Ohio to see my SIL Janis. Jon and Nicholas went to Itah for a BYU game and some cousin visits. 

We had quite the adventure getting there. Including bags possibly not making it. We got bumped flights and instead of it being a one stop hop it turned into a two stop hop. We totally came in and left from the two furtherest points at every terminal. Which sucks when having to cart Abigail from gate to gate. 

But all of that was alleviated when we got to Ohio. It was so much fun. We had two full days of art and shopping. We went to the zoo. Did I mention fabulous thrift stores? Abby got two princess dresses for two dollars. It was great. I got unused Cole Haan flats for $20. 

And did I mention the art? We did so much art. Janis was amazing in helping Abby learn how to use the potters wheel. And then in stepping back and letting her

Go. And never stop. Did I mention she didn't stop?

Emma - Abby's cousin- was clearly another favorite. It helps that Emma has red curly hair like Abby. Abby adores her. And clung to her like a second skin. 

It was such a blast. I can't wait until we go out there again. 

Rodeo Queen

Abby is currently obsessed with rodeo queens. We went to the rodeo in Preston ID last month and she can't stop talking about the queens. They wore sparkles and rode horses. So they were the best thing ever. 

Nicholas wants to be a cowboy. He likes the pickup riders because they didn't have to get on a bull. And the bills were mean. 

So now I find them practicing "roping"

around the house. They've made lassos out of pipe cleaners. Or string. Nicholas is learning his knots because he wants to tie one. Abby is learning to throw one. They often try to rope me. They've build a cow out of pillows and boxes to rope. 

It's also pretty cool. They play at this for hours a day. Nicholas doesn't know it yet but I got him rope. I went into the farm store and asked for rope to make a lasso. They looked at me kind of weird,but so it goes. 

I live my

Cowgirl and cowboy. 

Jon and Nicholas in Utah.

While Abby and I were off on adventures in Ohio, Jon and Nicholas went to Utah. There was a BYU game Thursday night when they got there. Shocker that the trip was timed so Jon could go to a BYU game. 

The next day cousins were in school. So Nicholas and Jon went to the Natural History museum at Thanksgiving Point. It should also be known as the dinosaur museum. Nicholas had a lot of fun. How Jon managed to get out of there without visiting the gift shop is beyond me. 

Friday night was spent eating pizza with his uncle, grandpa, and boy cousins. One of his girl cousins had girls over for her birthday. So the guys all went out to eat. 

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging with cousins. And taking Micah to the air museum. Nicholas loves that museum. And he likes Micah. So the two things were a good combination. 

When we all met up in Denver Nicholas was less than excited to see me and Abby. He didn't want to sit near us on te plane. It was kind of funny. 

Raspberry Days Festival

While we were at Bear Lake the cousins decided to go through some caves. It was going to be an hour and a half walk underground. With 440+ stairs down and up. I knew right away that Abby wasn't going to enjoy that event, so I took Abby and we went out on our own for the day.






We went to the KOA campground and played in their playground, on their air pillow, and in their sandbox. Then we went to the Raspberry Days festival - and had a blast!!!

There were pony rides, craft booths, and a petting zoo - Abby loved the animals in the petting zoo. We got a new dress, some new jewelry, and even some small gemstones for Nicholas' rock collection. There was a jerky booth, so we got Jon some flavored jerky - which he hasn't eaten yet.

And then we went out to lunch. Just the two of us in a day of madness. And then we took a nap. Abby badly needed a nap at this point, since she was getting 7 or less hours of sleep a night. Sometimes she got 8. But she was sleep deprived and behavior was really suffering. So the nap was good too.

She also loves posing for the camera. After all, she's my little girl who loves cameras and fashion shows.

Bear Lake

We went to Bear Lake at the end of July/beginning of August for the Wunderlich Cousin's Camp. It was a fun time. The family rented a big house - huge actually - and we all stayed together. The adults all had their own rooms and the kids had two big rooms - girls and boys. There were hardly enough bathrooms, but we got over that.

We had horses in the field behind the house. The kids loved feeding them carrots. 

The lake was amazing. We were there during Raspberry Days and Abby and I went to the Raspberry Festival - everyone else went exploring in caves. I think we got the better end of the deal. We ended our week there on a Friday with the Preston Rodeo. We went on ATV rides that day in Preston - and we got to see a cow giving birth.

The fun started when we left Bear Lake and realized our AC in the car wasn't working. To get home we had to drive from Utah to Las Vegas, and Las Vegas to Santa Barbara. Lots of desert and heat. With no AC. And two kids in the car. And a wife who hates the heat. You can imagine the recipe for disaster.

We made it home and the AC in the car still isn't working. I've had it fixed. Now it has to get fixed again since they clearly fixed it wrong the last time. I'm kind of hating that about the car right now.

I've got new appreciation and desire to cook and stuff after Cousin's Camp. Eric made home-made granola, and it was really good. So I'm trying out a bunch of recipes for our family. And I got a Vitamix finally because I loved how versatile it was at Cousin's Camp. And I came home to a blender that wasn't working.

All the cousins with the cow giving birth in the background.

I've included a bunch of my favorite pictures in this post. I'm sure I'll be posting others too.