I Love Muppets

When I was in college I still collected stuffed animals of the Sesame Street characters.  Looking back now I am sure my room mate was probably scared that she was rooming with someone with the intelligence of a preschooler when I pulled each plush toy out of the moving box.  I will admit, I feel like I was a late bloomer in the maturity department, but I still believe I have a very child like spirit.  I still hold on to a very strong fondness to the characters on Sesame Street and of course The Muppets.  I think I watched the show so much growing up the team of puppets half raised me. Honestly, I was much more excited than my children to go see the Muppet movie that just came out.  It may be immature, but the dry sense of humor, the underdog story, and the sheer odd placement of puppets whose characters make absolutely no sense  interacting with humans just makes me smile.  As quirky as I have always felt about my love for these characters it appears I am not alone.  At the movie theatre today my children were the only kids there.  During the movie, my daughter was shocked because adults all around her sang "The Rainbow Connection," as it appeared on the screen.  It seems like the impact of these shows not only touched my heart but also many others as well.  So I may have grown up enough to not collect the toys but I still feel like a little girl when I see my family of puppets on screen.

A very special class

 Almost eight years ago now, I decided to make a life style change.  I gained 80 pounds during my pregnancy with my daughter Ella.  I kept the weight on for a year after her birth.  The one thing that motivated me to live a healthier life more than anything else was that I wanted to be a better role model for my children.  Yesterday, my 6 year old son Tanner attended one of my group exercise classes.  Not only did he attend the class he did extremely well.  And he took the class with joy.  He was smiling from ear to ear from start to finish and he took it very seriously.  There were moments throughout the class that I had to fight back tears.  It was such a special experience.  When I was at my heaviest I hated exercise.  I was too embarrassed to go to the gym.  I never in a million years would of thought that I would be teaching classes.  To have the ability to share group exercise with one of my kids, the very reason I chose to make a change, meant the world to me.  It truly was one of the highlights of my life.

Inked

I have 3 tattoos.  I actually love all of them, absolutely no regret.
The first one I got when I was 17.  Yes, that is illegal. I am such a rebel.  I got it with my close friends in high school.  We all got the same thing, a flower on the inside of our ankle.  I think about my girl friends every time I look at it.  The second I got the day after I got married.  It was actually my husbands idea.   It was so unlike him at the time to want to do something so spontaneous and crazy so of course I tattooed his name on my derriere gladly.  The third I got on my 30th birthday.  It is a yin yang symbol on my waist.  I thought it would be wise to have the symbol of balance on my body since it is something that I constantly struggle with. It also was a celebration of the relationship I have with my husband.  I know our relationship thrives because our differences complement each other.  Honestly, I put it on my waist because I was proud of myself for maintaining my weight.  I knew I would never be heavy again.  I love my fitness lifestyle  so it was a reward of sorts for my hard work.
I love the way tattoos look.  I love the stories behind them.  I love how rebellious I felt each time I got one.  I know my skin will start to droop and the colors will inevitably fade, but the memories behind each moment are permanently ingrained.

MY FACE

A colony of pimples are taking over part of my face.  Driving me absolutely bonkers!!!  Every time I complain to my husband he looks at me warmly and says why don't you go see a professional.  Great advice actually, I should go see a professional.  I have consulted nearly all of my friends as well, who all have painfully beautiful skin I might ad, who have all given me wonderful advice as well.  So why, with all this valuable information have I not acted.  Not one of my friends recommended that I go to the local vitamin store and invest in supplements that supposedly control breakouts, but that is what I chose to do.  Why!!! My friends have beautiful skin, they hold the answer, and yet I choose a different path.  I could blame my fierce independence, or my laziness for a quick fix, or my frustration for past poor advice.  I have pondered the thought that I am destined to a life stuck in puberty.  I know this is not the first time I have struggled with a situation and instead of doing something about it, I complain... sometimes even to the point of tears.  So what am I getting out of it.  Why choose to allow boils to take over my face.  I don't take the next step ALOT because I fear the result.  So many of my friends recommend that I take birth control to control my hormones thus controlling breakouts.  I am afraid that I will forget to take them.  LAME!  That simple, that stupid, that maddening.  But really, whether it be my puss face or any other situation, fear of failure seems to always be the nasty villain at the end of the equation.  So today I vow to start poppin birth control pills.  My complexion no longer deserves to be punished for my unwillingness to face my fears.

Shark Attack

Last night I was watching Ella and Tanner playing together.  Tanner got a new toy that has a boat and a shark.  In the middle of their game Tanner stopped and told Ella that if she really got eaten by a shark he would jump in the water and try to save her but if he didn't live that would be O.k. because he didn't want to live without his sister.  Naturally this thought as a mother was extremely disturbing to me.  And, of course as a mother the thought has not left my head.  I explained to Tanner that if he was ever in a situation where someone he loved was in danger, it is  a brave thought to try and save them, but really it is better to try and get help.  The last thing someone he loved would want would be for him to put his life at risk as well.  Ella responded, "You have to admit mom, siblings change your life, I can't imagine a life without Tanner."  I watch them argue all day long, but then I watch them express to each other true confessions of love.  I feel like the relationship between siblings growing up is so special.  There is no editing, if they annoy one another they make it perfectly known.  They express authentic emotions, whether it be mad, sad, happy, or disappointed but if upset they always work it out and genuinely forgive each other. They embrace and accept each other for who they are.  So it is no surprise to me that they can't imagine a life without the other.  It is real true love.