Anniversary/Earth Day

This past weekend, Frank and I celebrated our 15th anniversary.

Some little facts about us:

~ We met through friends when I was 16 years old. Frank lived in another state so I didn't see him again for a couple years later.

~We had a moment of sparks while playing a board game across the table at a party. I thought to myself, "I'd could marry a man like him."

~When the time came... we eloped. A little colonial home... a country dress... no rings and the only other person there, was the man who married us wearing a blue ruffle shirt with butterfly collar, bell bottoms and Elvis sideburns.

~Honeymooned in the beautiful Canadian mountains.

~Two years later, we started our family.

~15 years & three kids later, we are happier than we ever have been.

Happy Anniversary to my honey!

The Diatomaceous Earth came in.

It's a very soft powder. Great cleanser.

I mix it with juice (this had some prune in it).

And down the hatch! Not bad at all. Watching for the benefits... I'll let you know.

Three musketeers had a fun weekend... they spent lots of time playing with each other while mommy went to a bday party and on a date with daddy.

Only one mishap... A finger slammed in the door. Like usual, the band aid made it feel better.

EARTH DAY

I took the kids for a community service for earth day. We chose three areas to clean up garbage and we really enjoyed the difference we made.

This one in an alley where lots of garbage blows through.

This place was a mess when we started. The kids did great helping me clean it up.

Big sister helped the boys understand why we need to pitch in to create a cleaner earth.

Third stretch of earth.

Carli didn't want to stop. She saw how important it is and so we kept going.

We will be doing this at least once a month. Carli is in charge of when and where we will work.

Anniversary dental checkup. (No cavities for either of us!)

The 6month - 1year checkup is very important to both of us. We have seen how much money and pain it can save.

Sis is learning to roller blade.

Some days I think this would be fun.

The spring...

... and sunshine, never felt better!

HAPPY MONDAY!

Courtney

...and a little of that.

These two love messing with each other.

They also love loving each other.

One minute reading and playing together...

the next minute teasing and wrestling each other.

It can be hilarious, but sometimes sour, at which time momma bear steps in.

It was a pleasant multi-level meeting.

Turns out it was FHTM.

Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing

(I don't have a link for it because there has to be a password to get in, but there are websites and videos talking about it.)

Frank and I already found out that we aren't good at these kinds of things.

We aren't sales men.

There are lots of good products that come in these ML businesses.

This one wasn't a particular product.

It appeals to the every day consumer who shops at every day stores.

Although we won't be doing this, you might check it out.

It might be for you.

Worked with my free weights today.

I love free weights.

Always have.

Trying to plan a longer term exercise & clean eating program for myself.

Just in creating stage, so we'll see how it goes.

I was able to sort my daily schedule into a more basic structure.

I had to think about my priorities.

#1: My kids

Before and after school is protected time to be with them.

If there's something I can't do with them, then I do it during school.

Exercise

Business

Studies

Blogging (they are fixing things with daddy right now)

Meditation

Social (depending on what type... ex. phone visit, computer messages, etc.)

It helped to take the time to think on it. I tend to get too much on my plate and then struggle to carry it.

I'm still trying to get this blog refined. Chose my designer, but it will take a while to make some other decisions so I have to put that on hold till I figure more out.

I believe the most important part of goal setting and accomplishing anything is the meditative creating part. Dreaming, wishing and hoping as we used to say with my friends.

I love to dream.

I just wish that things could get done as fast as I dream them.

Don't we all though?

Courtney

A little of this

Sanding the gym today.

Class was, well... releasing.

Low back and right knee were needing some extra work, so I gave them some good focus.

Kids are saying cute things, like...

"Raise your hands. Ok, now how many people don't want me to go to school? Yay... Everyone!"

and...

"Weather men aren't always right. So I think I should wear shorts to school today."

and...

"I'm a slappy little dude man!!!"

Each babe making me laugh & giving me lots to love.

Waiting for my Diatomaceous earth to arrive.

Studying. (IART)

Reconnected with an old friend. This makes me happy.

Tonight someone is going to try to sell us on another multi-level.

We'll listen... weight it out... and decide.

Hopefully there will be time for some prayer and meditation.

A much needed soul food at this time.

Regrouping and organizing my thoughts and priorities.

Wish me luck.

Courtney

NYC & IART

It's so good to be back and I finally have a chance to sit down and give you this awesome update that I will hopefully be able to keep within reason.

We had a FANTASTIC weekend attending an IART Workshop & touring New York City for the first time.

After a lot of research and thought, Frank felt that this particular certification would be the best for our personal style of training. It was the closest fit to what we believe about training, but we were blown away at how much more we learned and what more there is to apply in our workouts.

A highly recommended workshop if you are looking to become a personal trainer or if you already are, and want to learn more. Some websites to check out:

Michael Lipowski: President of IART, Owner of Pure Physique, Author, Bodybuilder and our teacher for the weekend workshop.

Jim Reilly is the business coach that came and spoke at the workshop. Both him and Mike were amazing to learn from and I only wish there was more time to soak up their wealth of knowledge.

We are eager to jump into the arena and start using what we learned. It completely changed how we look at both our personal workouts and how to get great results with our clients.

Thanks to Mike, Jim and all the other trainers that made this a wonderful experience!

Frank taking a break at Pure Physique in Shrub Oak, NY

Now for New York!

Things that I grew up seeing on TV, and finally got to see for the first time.

Yellow Taxi cabs of course! The NYPD cars were fun to see also.

The yellow street lights. Not something I would normally think about, but when I saw them it was such a familiar feeling.

What cartoon based in New York doesn't have a pigeon as a character.

Every romantic movie in New York has this building in it at some point.

Others I was unable to capture were:

The Manhattan skyline

Big green bridges that are always in the movies

The front stairs of the buildings like those on Electric Company or Sesame Street (where the puppets sit and talk to little children).

Subway, subway, subway!

Things that were neat to see...

Beautiful bridges

Lots of gorgeous churches with neat statues.

The acres of graveyards is something that I never thought about, but seeing them gave me a new perspective.

The Projects... wow!

Passing through places that I've always dreamed of.

Brooklyn

Queens

Harlem

So grateful for this little guy.

Between our Hotel and our class in Oak Shrub, we traveled the 20 minutes on a different road every time we made the trip. 6 different times... 6 different routes. Hogwarts staircase we felt. The nice part was that we got to look at the country from all the different routes. From big highways where everyone was going 20 miles over the speed limit, to a nice river drive with gorgeous views,

to a winding quiet road in the backcountry neighborhoods where the spectacular colonial houses are settled.

This was after the plane ride before our touring started. Frank had been working so hard to make up for his missed days at work and getting everything in order to go, he was beat by the time we got there. I was anxious to get going so I listened to music and paced the floor to keep from pulling him off the bed and pushing him out the door. He was amazing setting everything up and getting us safely around NY. I felt bad that he was so overworked at a time where energy was important.

The tour.

I loved little buildings nestled between the walls of skyscrapers.

We were tourists for sure!

Philly cheesesteak!

Rockefeller Center

Lots of train and subway rides.

Grand Central

Times Square

Completely inappropriate, but otherwise hilarious as I sent the pic to my mom.

We were able to walk around Chinatown and Little Italy which were both so fun to see.

We had run out of camera battery at this point and had our cells fully loaded with pics.

(We didn't get to see the Statue of Liberty and some other sights, but we are hoping to go back for a second round with longer time.)

Food!

New York pizza... the best.

Weeping Cherry... Gorgeous!

Last day. Technical testing at workshop and I am finally rested and ready to Bring It!

Flight home was a memory as we watched little miracles happening.

Like...

fluke decisions that got us to our gate just in time to find everyone boarding half an hour early.

Getting separated on the plane and feeling horrible about it just to have folks switching seats where we end up back together and with a window seat.

Clear skies almost all the way home to see the great lakes, 10,000 lakes, Cascade Mtns, gorgeous prairies and both the atlantic and pacific coastlines.

For the short time that there were clouds, I enjoyed not only doing my puzzles, but reading the inspirational quotes that they turned into.

So grateful for the wonderful experience and a special thanks to

my mom and my mother-in-law who cared so well for my babies while we were gone.

They had a wonderful time and I was at ease knowing they were with you.

Thanks to my sisters for the help they gave me in preparing for this trip.

You gals are awesome!

Thanks to my honey for making it happen! I love you babe!!!

Have a great day and I'll talk to ya later!

Courtney