Comfort Zone

It's been a while since I posted between both jobs, boys  having ball practice and games I have lots on my mind but none that seems blog worthy.

Anyone who knows me knows I don't venture out of my comfort zone, I like my little bubble where I know how and what will happen and know I can handle it.

This week has been one where I have fallen out of my little bubble and tried some new things. Earlier in the week Nathan's tball coach told the assistant coach that he couldn't do the practice this week. She asked me if I would help her ha... Um I have never coached anything let alone be out on the field with up to 15 3-4 year olds showing them how to play. Lets not forget I never played ball in my life and sure didn't know much about it. Thankfully there aren't many "rules" in tball they hit the ball and run there are no outs or strikes.

So Wednesday night Nathan and I went to the ball fields and met the rest of the team. Up until then Nathan had been clingy during games not wanting to be on the field without me. We talked on the way about how he would have to be out there with his team as I would be helping all the kids. He did awesome he batted great with me then he went out in the outfield and I saw him interacting with other kids I was one proud momma!!!!! Now the real test will be if he can do that same thing tonight for the game...

Last night I didn't think I would have anything going on could go home and relax. However mid afternoon got a text from a friend saying they were a couple girls short for their co ed softball game that night. I had never ever played softball on a team for a real game. Sure we played some in highschool and junior high in gym class. I have always wanted to play but never gave it a try. So last night I sucked up my courage met the team. I only knew two of the players and thankfully they aren't real competitive team they do it for fun.

To say I was nervous is a huge understatement but I went out in the outfield and played right field. And yes I had to ask where that was! The rules are WAY WAY different than regular baseball and even different than Blake's bantam ball. But I just listened to the team and did what they said. I was the only left handed batter on the team. Fun fact... I am right handed at everything except batting and golf (only played golf once but found out I was left handed). I hit the ball each time up to bat and always made it to base!

Mid way thru the first game (we were playing a double header) the team asked if I could come back next week as they were short a player. I was shocked apparently I played well enough I was wanted back! We won the first game and lost the second, pretty sure that was the first game that team had ever won! About a quarter of the way thru the second game Kenny and the boys showed up to watch me. Blake and Nathan thought it was cool and well Kenny said I needed to run faster. Ha running on concrete or treadmill is way different than loose dirt plus I had old shoes on and I really need my good ones that have better support.

After the game the coach came up to me and said I really hope you can come back for the rest of the games this season! So I guess next Thursday night I will play another double header. I think this weekend and this coming up week I will work on running sprints and on my batting stance.

I never in a million years would have thought I would be a on a softball team but it was super fun and one heck of a workout! Not to mention doing something that makes your kids excited and them proud of you is pretty darn neat!

Vega Sport Review

This is the first time I have had the opportunity to receive a product to review and then blog about it. I am apparently bad about remembering to take pictures after a workout or maybe I am just insecure about pictures of just me. Which ever way I did post one to facebook before I forgot last week.

So thru being a Sweat Pink Ambassador I was able to review and try Vega Sport Pre Workout Energizer. The box said to mix the packet with 8oz of water and drink 20 minutes prior to workout.

I am not usually a big fan of these type of drinks however I was impressed. It took a bit of getting used to the flavor. I had never tried acai berry flavored anything before. It seemed to mix up well I did mix it with about 10 to 12 oz of water. I drank it and then went outside to play baseball with my boys. I tried this on a day that I was running off very little sleep (and little sleep for whole week) and was exhausted. Within half hour of drinking it I was full of energy and able to keep up with the boys. We played for over a good hour me pitching the ball to them and running after it and playing catch. Even after we were done outside I was still full of energy and was able to get some cleaning done in the house.

I would defiantly be willing to try out more of their products as they are all plant based. The drink mix i had was only 70 calories so very doable if you are watching calorie intake.

I didn't use my whole box of yet so I plan to use it again soon for a lunch time workout. My workouts lately have been outside with the kids running in the yard playing ball and riding bikes. However I think that the drink would be a great thing to have right before a race or even during a race if it was higher mileage race.

I liked that it gave me energy but no crash later, didn't have the shakes or my insides feel like they were going crazy. Defiantly recommend the product!

Ball Season

Blake and Nathan are both playing baseball this summer. It's Nathans first year and Blake's second time playing. I was apprehensive on letting them both play as its two nights a week of practice then games on Friday night.

Nathan well he gets a bit overwhelmed in new situations with lots of people he don't know. So Friday night I knew would be a challenge for him with his first game. Didn't help that they only had one practice to meet each other. All day Friday the sitter said he hadn't felt real good and well that continued on to game time. He still wanted to play but wanted Blake and I out there with him. The coach encouraged all parents to come out and help as 3-4 year olds don't know how to play tball yet.

 

 

He was in the outfield waiting for a ball to come his way but he is so not a toddler anymore!

 

The first time he was up to bat he didn't want to do it. So I talked with him and then the next time around he said he wanted to as long as I came with him. I did and even had to run the bases with him. I am sure that was a fun site to see ha ha ha...

 

I know I am his mom but he is one of the better hitters on his team. He hit the ball hard and if he would have been in to it could have got to 3rd before the other team got the ball back to the bases. Of course all the parents who were out there with his team told him he had done a great job and he finally cracked a smile. He is excited for practice this week he has his eye on two little girls on his team...

After Nathans game it was Blake's turn. I wasn't sure how he would do he gets a bit stubborn at times and has a bit of an attitude when things don't go how he wants.

 

 





Before his game he was so cute in his baseball pants! He wanted cleates too but I couldn't find any prior to the game. He now has a pair so I am sure he will think hes all that :)

 

He was up to bat 3 times in his game and he hit it good and hard all 3 times! I was a proud momma and he is one of the stronger hitters on his team as well! He even made an excellent play in the outfield. His team had only practiced batting on the ball diamond due to rain but the whole team did awesome.

 

I am excited to take both boys to practice this week and see how much more they learn. It makes for stress and long evenings for me but to see them play last week was all worth it.



Memorial Weekend

Yes I am a bit behind posting this but last week being a short week due to holiday was a bit crazy. Each Memorial Weekend we attend and help with an annual pig roast. The boys look forward to it each year and play from sun up until way after dark. Its the one weekend a year they have the freedom to run play with friends get dirty and not have to stop until they are sleeping.

This year it rained the morning we went to shoot the pig which made it a muddy mess. The boys of course had no worries they had fun riding their bikes in the mud and being caked in it.

We got the pig from a different place this year and when we went back to the barn to wash the pig off the owner came out of barn carrying what else.. a puppy... And headed straight for my kids who were oh look a puppy... Of course I knew what the guy was up to he handed the kids the puppy and told them they could have it... I had no desire to have a dog or puppy but couldn't say no either. It is pretty darn cute.

However we had no puppy or dog stuff and weren't going to be home for the weekend. I was a bit stressed but figured we would fly by the seat of our pants and make it work for a couple days. We got a dog carrier from my brother in law and I ran to the store for food dishes collar etc.

 

This year was the first year Blake has taken interest in helping clean the pig. So they let him hose it off he was quite a happy boy.. Nathan sat on the haybales holding his puppy. Which they decided to name Harlee.

 

Not sure when it happened but Blake looks so grown up!!!!!



 

Sunday morning the pig was looking and smelling yummy. The kids kept asking when their April and Cash would arrive. They were very excited to see April and the baby :)

 

It was the only time other than when they were sleeping they stopped playing and riding bikes. They both soaked up all the time they could get.

 



We came home Sunday evening and in between storms the boys took the puppy out. This is how Nathan chose to take his puppy potty.. Underwear boots and a shirt....

Monday we spent the morning cleaning up from the pig roast and this happened.. Blake drove our truck by himself thru the field!

 

 Both boys are growing up to fast. I should have took way more pictures but instead I just enjoyed the company of friends we don't see often and watched all the kids play together. We ate some yummy fish on Saturday night and then pig on Sunday. By Monday evening we were all wore out and ready to be cleaned up and mud free.

 

I am glad that we are able to be a part of the pig roast weekend and help set up cook and even the clean up. Its something Kenny and I grew up going to and now we are getting to pass the tradition down to our kids.

 



 

Last weekend

Yes I realize its Thursday and I am just now posting about the weekend. It's been one heck of a week at work. 

Last Saturday the boys decided they wanted to go farm (or play games on their tablets and eat whatever they want) so I took them to my mom and Mitch's to play. I spent the day cleaning and doing laundry. When Kenny got home we decided to til up the garden spot and get ready to plant. 

The trip to the plant store was interesting I have helped my grandparents in the garden from breaking of ground to plowing it all under at the end of summer. Each year I was out there helping however Kenny is only on second year of gardening and first year of planting (last year my grandpa tilled it up and planted all but the tomato plants when we were at work). 

Tons of plants to chose from. I told him to pick his tomato plants as he is the only one in our house who eats them. I went and picked out peppers, cucumber, great beans, squash, melon, and looked around at all the other veggies. I was done and he had yet to decide on tomato plants. 

We got home and the kids decided to stay the night which was fine so we set out to plant our potatoes onions and corn. 

Grandma decided to come over and help us and even in her 70's she is one heck of a worker! As you can tell its close to dark and she was still full of energy after a long day cleaning her sheds out. 

We are waiting another week before planting the other plants to be sure the cold snaps are gone. I'm excited to have our garden started as I know it will be lots of work but very rewarding. 

Sunday I had to get up early as the ambulance district I work for was hosting an EMS day to kick off EMS week. We were having hamburgers, hotdogs, soda,water, bounce house, face painting along with helicopters, fire trucks, cop cars and ambulances for kids to look at. The whole event was free and boy did we draw a crowd! I helped a coworker cook the hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill and we were busy busy!! The day was a huge success. I did break away from the grill once to take a pic work a friend/coworker. We opted to sit on the front bumper of the fire truck and pose for a picture.  

Then later in the day we sat on the other side for a picture 

It was a super long day but also fun. After we cleaned all of it up loaded up and unpacked I stopped at the gas station for this. 

And it tasted oh so good after a hot day. The boys were with Kenny and his brother and son fishing so I stopped there to drop them off tea and burgers. While there Nathan caught a fish. 

He was proud of it. Of course it got thrown back. 

This weekend is another big weekend the kids look forward to all year. I still need to get everything packed and ready! So behind on this due to the boys having baseball practice 3 nights this week. 

The Weekend is Coming.....!!!!!

Finally it is Friday and just 7 more hours of work and it will be the weekend! For some reason this week has seemed to drag on forever. Blake is counting down the days until school is out as well as how many days until its time for the Pig Roast. Hard to believe that May is almost over!

I hope this weekend we can finally work on getting our garden ready to plant! It will be added work to a busy schedule this summer but well worth it having fresh veggies.

Twice this week rain has canceled Blake's baseball practice so its rescheduled for Tuesday and Thursday of next week. Oh and Nathans practice is Wednesday... Will be a busy week that's for sure. I also have a board meeting Thursday night so I will be cutting it close getting back From Blake's practice.

Sunday is the start of EMS week and the ambulance district that I work for is hosting a fun event Sunday from 1-6.

I know my boys would love it and have fun but no way for me to work the event and keep an eye on them..

Also been trying to come up with a plan for workouts something that will work for me. I have came to realize I will have to create a plan from scratch as none of the ones I have seen online will work in with my schedule. I don't have any races on the horizon but want to get my fitness level back up to par.

Hope the weather finally decides to warm up and stay having frost on your window in the middle of May is crazy!!!!  Also the colder temps and rain keeping the kids indoors makes them crazy!

A Rant or Two.....

Not often do I post about a rant but this one has been bugging me for a while now.... I signed both boys up for baseball back in March. Nathan to play tball and be his first time ever doing a sport and Blake for Bantam Ball and would be his second time. They were BOTH super excited I was happy but knew full well that between two jobs practices and games it would be crazy!

I looked at when the games would be to ensure it wouldn't interfere with work or monthly meetings, to my surprise they both would play on Friday nights. Yes be a long night but Friday is better since we don't have to always get up early on Saturdays.

I knew they had the coaches meeting in April so figured by first of May we would hear from the coaches know what team they were each on and schedules. And I waited and waited and waited. Asked a few friends who had kids playing and they hadn't heard anything and then last week a few of them finally found out what team their kids were on... By the end of last week Blake's coach finally called to set up a practice for tonight at 5:30 (cue stress on my part I get off at 5, have to drive about 10 miles to pick kids up then another 5-8 miles to the park practice is). I can do it but dang its cutting close...

So still waiting and waiting to hear from Nathan's coach and nothing. Other parents who have kids in tball had heard from their coach. Today on my lunch break I called the Recreation Center that we had to turn fees and forms in to. The guy was SUPER nice and told me who my son's coach would be and that I wasn't the first parent to call and wonder why coaches weren't talking to parents sooner. First game is May 30.

Now my major rant why sign up to be a coach if you aren't going to take the time to communicate with the parents of the kids on your team.. How hard is it to call or heck send a mass text giving the parents information. I know for a fact I am NOT the only working mom who needs to plan practice and games around work.

I can only hope both coaches are better on the field then they are with communication. Needless to say I know both of the coaches somewhat they were both a few years ahead of me in school and well I wasn't ever impressed back then. However I will put that aside and start fresh and hope for the best.

Bottom line its a huge pet peeve of mine when people don't communicate and are just lazy about things.  They knew April 7 who was on their teams and took over a month to make contact...

My other rant is from lunch today. I met a friend for lunch at a Mexican Restaurant got there right at 12. Over half the people in there I am sure were on their lunch breaks but the staff was super SLOW in getting around to drink orders and taking your order. I have ate many places on my lunch break and they are all quick. Lets just say the waiter didn't get much of a tip for me... He gave us our food and never saw him until he gave us our check...

I may be nuts but I am glad school is almost over its getting increasingly harder to get Blake up and moving each morning. He is wore out and ready to be done with school just as much as I am. One more week!

Both boys have taken a notion they don't want to sleep in their rooms but want to camp out in the living room floor nightly. I thought ok one or two days but its been two weeks I may be a bad mom for this but I am letting it slide until school is out. Then it will be back to their rooms to have my sanity back of an evening.

There is more I could rant about but I won't for now. The baseball thing had just been eating at me for far to long...... Maybe it shouldn't have bothered me and maybe it wouldn't have bothered anyone else. But I am a planner and like to know what and when things will happen.