Lesson #164

Anatomy of Exhaustion Lesson #164 (which is the number of post this is)

We have all heard the saying "To kill 2 birds with one stone." While it is widely used to help save time and energy, there are resourceful ways in which it can also be used to save time but not energy, and well that is the whole point to this particular lesson.

Case in point.

Today was Gage and Ryker's joint birthday party. While I definately killed 2 birds there, I also decided to put it on the same day as my last Rollerderby bout. And to add to the killing, I also traded our Jeep for a mini-van with my Dad. All in one day. Now this kind of planning will not be successful in energy depletion unless you wear yourself out the day before by cleaning, making cakes, and tying up other lose ends... such as cleaning out the jeep at 1 a.m. Even going none stop all day yesterday that was the only time available to do so. Ryker's smush cake was completed around 12:45 a.m. Keep in mind you will be exhausted the night before but because of all the planning that goes into this combined eventful day, you will not be able to fall asleep until 5 a.m. And then like clockwork your child or children will wake you up at 8 a.m. Whatever you do, you must seize this time and get up and go tie up more loose ends in town, such as getting balloons and grocery shop for the party itself. Once you are back home you will need to use what little energy you have to set up the actual decorations and what not for the party. By the time you are finished with that, your little one will be down for a nap so you should use this time wisely and lay down with him. You will need this energy later for the actual derby bout. Of course it will again take time to fall asleep as your mind should be running a mile a minute. After this you should have gotten just over an hour in rest. Now up again, cook the foods, make the punch, and welcome the family. Now time for actual party... So do your thing, presents, cake, pictures, etc. Now that the party is actually over it is time to start getting ready for the bout. Once ready, go and do your thing there. The muscle fatigue you feel caused from lack of sleep will be eventually remedied with a couple of Ibuprofen and some Aleve. It may take an hour for them to kick in, but by this time the actual bout should have started and you will have your mind on other things. Also remember to drink lots of fluids, this will be helpful in not only with preventing dehydration, but also with forcing yourself to go to the bathroom 4 times in 5 hours and having to fight with your pantyhose, fishnets, skirt, and shorts each and everytime. This energy is well spent, trust me. So if you are successful in the energy depletion by the time you reach your home and have eaten you should feel rundown and eagerly wishful of shut eye. If you can though, try and postpone it just a little longer, to read, catch up on email and MySpace, because don't forget you have church and Sunday school in the morning with your Mother visiting as well as Mother and Father in Law. And to top it off with some excitement, because your 2 birds with one stone was on Saturday which is usually when you get some hours with your internship, you will have the pleasure of catching up on those hours the next day. So there it is, one of the toughest lessons yet, but all worth it in the long run. After all no one becomes Superwoman overnight.

Good luck, and stay tuned for Lesson #165, with actual pictures from the party.

1 year

Well, the year has come and gone, and much faster than I had anticipated. It saddens me to think how fast they grow up. Next week my oldest will be 7 and it seems like just yesterday he was born. It is somewhat funny (yet sad) to me that Ryker is just now getting is top teeth and wouldn't you know it Gage's first top tooth fell out yesterday. Time really needs to slow down. A year ago today Ryker was born at 7 lbs. adn 3 oz, the biggest of all 3 of my kiddos. Today he weighs a whopping 23 pounds. All three of them were born semi small and then got huge around a year old. Plump ol' babies. But something weird happens when they get around 3, they get all skinny and make me start worrying. Kieran hasn't gained a pound in a year and is only 9 pounds bigger than Ryker. Gage is 3 years older than her and only 10 pounds more than she is. I will let you do the Math.

Anyways, Ryker's birthday was nice. Although his and Gage's big party is on Saturday we went ahead and had a cake and gave him one of his presents. His new Diego car thing. I think Gage and Kieran wanted it more than he did, although he seemed to get a kick out of it. Pictures of his big day are below, including his official 1 year pics that I took myself vs. going to professionals. So much cheaper.

Enjoy!

Asleep, before waking up for his big day...

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For you Larisa

First let me start our by saying McDonalds finally came ouit with something I enjoy. I am sitting here drinking a large iced vanilla coffee, which surprisingly is pretty good considering the source. Only thing, the larges are ginormous! Not the best idea for someone has trouble falling asleep.

Now onto other interesting life tidbits. I am in planning mode trying to tie up all lose ends for Gage and Ryker's combined birthday party on the 22nd. We are doing a space theme as Gage is big into that now. He will be 7 on the 26th and Ryker will be 1 on the 19th. Hard to believe both boys are growing so fast. Makes me sad at times. The 22nd is also our last official team bout of the season. So I will be in party mode in the day and derby mode by the night. My Mom is also on vacation that week so she will be staying with us that night and seeing her daughter get plummeled. I am sure she will enjoy that. I remember when I was little I would go watch her play volleyball. Not quite as dangerous but hey, fun just the same.

I am also going to be a minivan owner on the 22nd. We are trading my Dad's minivan with our jeep. We have been wanting one for awhile and well he isn't exactly a minivan person, so this will let him trade in the jeep for a car. Works great for us as we just finished paying off the jeep. The Lumina will be paid off in November, just in time for Steven's student loans to start being paid.

Well, with the derby season fixing to end I have decided to start studying for my licensure exams. I am hoping to take the NCE and MFT test before graduation. Sooner rather than later as to avoid the crunch at the end of the semester. I am getting really anxious that graduation is not that far off. Seems this last year flew by. This time by next I should be nice and settled into a great job and done with school... unless I decide to go back for a PhD. But we won't go there now, I need a break. I have been going to school since I was 4 and I think I need to know what it's like to not be in there. If I go through a midlife crises at 30 then I can always jump back in, but whose to say I won't enjoy the time off.

I have to confess, I have been looking at Real Estate like a mad person now that graduation looms near. I also have to admit that there is a good chance we might move to Bella Vista in a year or two. Not that I don't love Fayetteville, but houses are prime up there, in great wooded areas, just like I grew up in and square footage is a plus there. So many reasons really, but the location is just beautiful.

Well that's it on the Kitchens front I believe, nothing to crazy. For you derby lovers here is the flyer to the game. Just remember this is your last chance to come see me until next season... unless you come to practice.