Something New

Over the Summer I started doing Stroller Strides. I loved it. I was also running to get ready for the Color Run (the 5K I did), so I was really trucking there for awhile. Well lets just say things have slowed down a bit. I lost some momentum after the Color Run with the whole running thing. And then due to budget cuts and schedule changes this Fall, Stroller Strides got the boot too. Pretty sure I have the knees of an 80 year old woman. They were crunching and aching and that just can't be good so I was looking to make a change anyway. Lucky for me, I found Barre3. I feel like these posts make me sound like a fitness buff, or at least a wannabe, but I'm totally not. Just wanted to update on my latest foray into the crazy exercise world.

Over the summer I got the chance to go and try a class with friends at the Barre3 studio in the Pearl. Its a totally different vibe then Stroller Strides, but its so incredibly good. They draw from aspects of ballet, yoga, and pilates and give you a great balanced workout. Now Barre3 is pretty spendy so I had to investigate some other options. A friend found this killer deal on QVC (yes I totally just bought something on QVC) for 5 DVDs and the Barre3 ball. It also came with this "28 to Great" workout plan. The "28 to Great" plan is 6 days of workouts with a couple runs/walks and then a meal plan. Lets be real. The meal plan isn't happening over here. I'm definitely trying to stick to healthier choices but as my friends will tell you (shout out to you Becca), I have the taste buds of a 3 year old. I am however sticking to the 6 day a week workouts. The running, not so much, but I will get back to it.

I have to say, having the option to workout at home during nap time, or anytime on my own schedule has been a great switch for us. My last trip to Stroller Strides consisted of Jacksen screaming and us leaving early so I think we were all ready for a change. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED Stroller Strides. But for this new phase of life, I'm pumped for something different.

Me, Lucy, and Jesus

Me and Lucy had a Jesus chat the other day. I wanted to share it.

We were sitting down for lunch and I had started praying and Lu chimed in with a couple words of her own. I believe they were something like "and thank you for this sandwich and thank you for this water" in between giggles. Whatever, I'll take it. She hasn't been a big fan of praying out loud yet. I told her I liked when she talked to God and He liked hearing from her too. The conversation went something like this.

Lu: You can talk to God in a regular voice. ( Her Storybook Bible talks about how to pray)
Me: You sure can.
Lu: Where is God?
Me: He's everywhere. He lives in your heart.
Lu: He's in mine too.
Me: If you want Him to be in your heart, you have to ask Him and He will fill you up with His love.
Lu: (after thinking about it for a few seconds) I don't want to do that yet.
Me: That's Ok Lu. Someday though, I hope you will.

Its been so interesting watching Lucy grow into her own little person with likes and dislikes and thoughts of her own. As she has grown, Jordan and I have noticed an independence in her. She isn't satisfied with just going along with whatever you say, she has to figure it out on her own. I have always said I'll be glad she has this trait in ten years but at the moment, its not my favorite. Looking at that in terms of her faith, I don't see her being happy to just go with the flow. Jordan says "she won't be drinking the koolaid." I see her digging and figuring it out for herself and making that choice when she's ready and when she's sure. And I'm ok with that. I'm proud of that. I love that.

If I let my mind wander, I start to get nervous. What if she doesn't choose Jesus? Then what? Then I say, relax Kelli. She's 4.

I think about the phrase "faith like a child" and I look at Lu. Even now, she is trying to figure it out and thinking about how it works. My hope is that one day down the road, when she's ready and she's sure, she will take that childlike faith and put it in Jesus. I can't wait. For now though, I'm just excited to know that He's working in her little life and putting things in motion. Using different things and different people to shape who she is. She's going to do great things.

Manzanita

Last weekend we headed out to Manzanita for a few days at the beach with friends. One of our friends has a family beach house so we got to all stay in the same place. We had prepared for bad weather since its October but we were still super excited. Lucky for us, the weather turned out to be incredible!

So with 4 couples and 7 kiddos, it was totally a party. Its definitely a lot more work going out of town these days, but its always so worth it. We brought Lu's princess tent for her to sleep in so she would have her own space in our room. It worked great until I broke it. Daddy's fort building skills to the rescue.

We had so much fun enjoying the beach and just all hanging out together. All the kids were loving playing in the sand and chasing the waves.

After the littles went to bed we had a couple great nights. Night one, we played the nerdy awesomeness that is Settlers. Night two, we just ate snacks and chatted. Such good times.

One evening we made pizzas for dinner and a friend and her daughter had run down to the beach for a few minutes. She came back and told us that the sunset was amazing and we had to check it out. We all kind of looked at each other and then went for it. Pizzas staying warm in the oven while we ran out to catch a glimpse. The weather had been beyond beautiful all day. Warm and no wind at all. Seriously perfect. And the evening was the same. Here are some photos from our impromptu sunset photo session.

This trip and life lately has just reminded me how special and important it is to live in community. Not just for us, but for our kids. I want to give them the kind of relationships that feel like family. People who love them like we do. I think we are off to a good start.

Our last day at the beach we all headed out for one last beach hang. The wind had picked up, but it was still gorgeous. The dads spent a little quality time with the kiddos. Tell me this picture is not fantastic.

Such a great weekend. Hoping for many more just like it. Of course not always the beach part. But definitely the friends part.