Crossfit Lovin'

Have I mentioned lately that I Still LOVE CROSSFIT?? I do! In the past year and a few months I have transformed my body and my life with CrossFit and eating RIGHT!

 Here is an example of one of our crazy workouts!

 My son Andrew LOVES CrossFit Kids!

Me (left) with our Mayor Ike Bootsma, Coach Shawna and Lynda at the Grand Opening of another Eastvale business.

Don't "What-if" your life away.

Let’s face it, we all make mistakes. We turn left when we should have turned right. We stay too long when we just should have moved on or we just keep on talking when we just should have shut our mouths. Mistakes are made, consequences are paid and we kick ourselves later. As life goes on and the choices we have made reflect clearer in our hearts and minds, the “what if” game starts its constant replay in our minds. What if I would have chosen differently? What if I would have known what I know now? The sad reality is that even though looking back is 20/20, looking forward usually isn’t. No one knows what lies ahead and what wonder or disappointment the future holds. I spent so much of my own life ripping myself apart for what I could not control or change.  I was “what ifing” my own life away by focusing on changes that I could have made that may or may not have produced a different future. Instead of focusing on what was, I was obsessing over what I thought could have been.  When one spends all their time locked in the past they miss out on the beauty that is the present.  It took me a long time to really understand this and as a person who has always struggled with patience, it was a hard lesson to learn. It was only when I watched my mother, whom I loved so very deeply, fight so hard to beat cancer that I started to gain perspective. Life is fragile. Life is sweet and life won’t wait while you figure out what you should have done. As much as she fought, as much as we fought for her and as much as we ached for her, all the “what ifs” in the world will never bring her back. We did everything we could with the knowledge that we had at the time and the outcome will never be any different. What is done is done and even with as cliché as that sounds, the truth of those words still resonate deep within me. I have learned to be patient, to take a deep breath and to rest in the peace that at the end of the day, everything is going to be alright. I don’t know how and I don’t know when, but I do know that what will be, will be.  Hope, pray and have faith that the path you have already walked down will lead you to exactly where you are supposed to be, but don’t “what if” your life away.

Update: So I'm a writer now...seriously!

June was my first month as a write for our local newspaper. Very exciting to get paid for something that I love to do! My plan is to start blogging more often and to get ideas out on here. Stay tuned!

July so far

Isaiah helping Nicky get on his "special" bike

Nicky heading off to the bus and to summer school. Luckily he LOVES school!

Took the boys to Guasti Park for the day and Nick loved this hat..

2 LAZY folks on 4th of July, in which we did nothing American! :(

July so far has been full of working out, BBQ's and hanging with my kids. Since I still have to work, sigh, I have to work hard to fit time in with my kids. Summer is usually my favorite time to play with the boys. We hit the beach, the movies, trails, camping, the River, but we have been off to a slow start.In fact, we really haven't done any of the things I usually fill summer with. Cue "mom guilt" as I feel like such a bad mom. Here are some pics from July so far...

The Shrinking Madrigals

Juan and I have been working really hard at getting thin and healthy. I knew once he "got back into the swing of things" he would be un-stoppable and he has been! He started around 255 and he is now 198! Yikes! I started around aLOT and am LESS..hee heeI have however dropped about 23 inches and about 20 pounds. I would still like to lose another 20pounds but with all the working out, its a little hard to lose "weight".

these things CRACK me up.

Austin (my workout buddy's son) and Isaiah also do CrossFit and they are BEASTS!

Us NOW

Us BEFORE..

Birthdays, Baptisms and Bridal Showers..OH MY!!

the dance floor that I really never even got a chance to dance on..ugh!

$5 martini, not bad

Shanda and I

Kelly Belly and I

June is a big month in our family...Its my birthday month!!! Yippeeeeee!! Although we really did not do anything "special" for my birthday, it was special. I am now officially 29 for the 4th time! Man I'm dreading 30..LOL. the weekend before my birthday I went with some of my oldest (meaning I've known them the longest) girlfriends to celebrate Kelly's Birthday. It started out great with drinks and "dancing" at the The Ranch in Anaheim.We eventually ended up getting kicked out..well 2 people in our party did so we had t follow.Sooooo, after that awkward and really stupid experience we headed to Mr. Fox's in Anaheim and had our own little celebration and even got a little tour of the place.

Kelly taking us behind the scenes

With the "boss" back in the wine cellar

That's a whole lotta candles!

Next..My birthday which was June 4th. If you haven't heard..I still love Crossfit and I'm still working my butt OFF! So on my birthday, I idnt go to dinner, didn't g to cake, I went to Crossfit!

Birthday Donuts from my Daddy..best tradition and best Daddy #winninginthedaddepartment

Bridget got me a crown and a button and some Luna bars (instead of cake) what a sweetie!

Stretching for the bday workout 

That next weekend was my sweet little Butter Bean's 1st Birthday

The Great-Grandmas

Mr. Aiden enjoys his sandcastle cake

Aliyah and did I mention who her GOD-Mother is??? yep, ME!

And party time with my fabulous primo, Sergio!

Later in the month was my only niece's Baptism and we did the whole Baptism thing and of course, the Party!!!!

Jeanetta and I

The Fabulous and funny band

Hey guess what?? Not done yet! My good friend Mary also had a birthday. It was her 50th and her sister's took her by limo and had everyone meet at one of her past "hang-outs". She was SO excited and surprised. They had a great 80's band and we had fun dancing away. Note to self: I like to dance, drive solo next time so I can dance longer!

The month was AWESOME, although I think the hubby was getting annoyed about how much I was gone..LOL

My purpose in Life...

My purpose in life stands a little over 4 feet tall. He has dark blond hair and big green eyes that constantly bobble side to side. His grey glasses frame those sweet eyes and usually sit a little crooked on his nose. His smile is always big and the teeth that stick out in all directions gleam white when he grins - which is often. He has the same ears as his father, which luckily are large because they need to hold not only his glasses, but his cochlear implant as well. His ears, as cute as they are, are nothing more than vessels to hold things, as they don’t work. He never stands still, there is an exaggerated style to his gait and he spends most moments of his life in a state of constant “clap”. Whatever the occasion, it is always clap-worthy and Nicholas is happy to oblige. His back curves and his chest sinks in and he’s so skinny you can count his ribs, yet to me and all who love him, he is the most beautiful boy around. While he does not speak, nor hear , his kisses on my cheeks say the things that I always need to hear the most. He sees the world as it is, full of beauty and innocence and thus has never heard nor said a foul word. Nicholas is imperfect. Nicholas is flawed and Nicholas is by no means the child I expected when I first found out I was pregnant with my third son. He will never drive, live on his own or bring me home grandchildren. Sadly, he would be considered a burden to most and unfit to be here by many. However, Nicholas is perfect to me. His flaws make him unique and special and he has changed me and others by just being here. Nicholas has taught me patience, strength and the power of the human spirit to persevere against all odds. When looking at the world through his eyes I see things in their simplest forms. The joy of bubbles and balloons and how they float in the air. The bright colors of flashing lights and the wonder they bring. The feel of the sand between my toes and the sweet taste of pudding in my mouth. These are things that bring the greatest joy to Nicholas. It is not the latest video game or fastest new bike that brings a smile to his face, but the tickles and kisses from his brothers that make him laugh and giggle with joy. He has struggled through surgeries, therapy of every kind, doctors that shook their heads and offered very little encouragement, stares from rude people, and whispers behind his back. Yet through it all, his sweet smile remains and his spirit is strong, because like us, Nicholas knows that life is something that is precious and no matter what the “quality” of that life is, it will be exactly as God has planned it to be. Nicholas, is my purpose in life and for the rest of my life I will be a testimony to the right of every child to exist, to be and to have the chance to become.  Life is not just for the perfect, the planned and the fortunate, it is also for the imperfect, the flawed and the unplanned. Sometimes it takes a child who is far from perfect to make those around him see the perfection of the world and to be better people. Nicholas, has done this for me and for every person who knows him. He has made us really see ourselves and the world around us and to appreciate what has been given to us. It is my hope that Nicholas may bring a sense of understanding to those around him and that everyone may one day realize how truly beautiful are those with special needs.