So Ella

These were taken a few weeks ago and I love them because to me this is very Ella. She loves mixing up different things in her outfits and wearing hats and her purple Crocs. And of course she accessorizes it all too. So cute.

Exercise

I have come to really like what I get out of exercise and can’t imagine not getting any. I think I would just lay on the couch all the time and eat ho-hos and feel like crap.

Anyway, my biggest struggle is finding the time to do it.

When I worked full-time it was easy to make it a part of my lunch time routine. Or if you don’t have kids, just go after work. But now I work part time so I’m either with my kids or have jam-packed days of work to get through.

Last year I was so good about getting up before the kids and getting it in. And now I think, “Who was that crazy person and how was I so disciplined?” Now it’s seems so dark and cold and lonely to leave my warm snuggly bed in the morning. I do remember feeling so great the whole day long just from a 30-minute workout though. Not sure how I find that motivation again.

So, I’m trying new things. I just bought a groupon for some zumba classes. I’m going to try out a Saturday morning class. This goes against everything I think Saturdays are for, but it seems to be the right fit right now. And I am consistently attending two other classes throughout the week, so I would at least have 3 workouts a week in. My goal though is to get up to the point where I exercise 5 days a week.

Anyway, how does the rest of the world fit it in? Am I missing a big, great secret to making the time?

Busy busy

I feel like the last couple of weeks have flown by. We’ve barely been home from Thanksgiving and we had a day with Ella’s other cousins that included lunch at Grandma’s and seeing the movie Arther Christmas. (I liked Muppet Christmas better myself.)  Then it was back to school and dance for Ella on Monday. And for me there were heaps of laundry to do and a workout at the gym I am still hurting from. The next day my in-laws arrived and we got all our Christmas stuff down and we visited, ate and decorated most of the night.

Until I crashed from exhaustion at about 8:30. I was so tired I felt like I couldn’t move.

After a snow delay and more visiting today, girls are now resting as I catch up on work and phone calls. Scheduling new appointments, rescheduling things that conflict with other things, filling prescriptions … whew. It’s going to be a busy month, I’m thinking.

Thankful

Thanksgiving was really good this year. Not that I remember it ever being bad, but I am really grateful this year.

I am so thankful my sister from San Francisco came home and we had 5 days of non-stop fun.

I am so thankful Ella and Eva have so many cousins — her 12th just arrived Tuesday as a matter of fact. I’m thankful his birth went well and he is a healthy little boy.

I am thankful we could go see relatives we don’t see much in Detroit. They were so sweet and so generous and it was so good to see them.

And not only did we have several days to relax, but a great hotel to stay in. I’m thankful my kids were so excited by the hotel too and love to travel like we do.

I’m thankful for not just my extended family but my kids and husband. We’re pretty lucky I think.

Anyway, I’ll get back to the daily blogging grind soon. But it sure was good to take that break and just relax with family!