Skinny Mom

I've got a fantastic new website for all you Moms out there!!!

http://www.skinnymom.com

It's an online community with a free daily newsletter for fit moms and mom-to-be everywhere! Fitness model and expert Brooke Griffin created the site to help busy mothers maintain a fit lifestyle while raising children. There a tons of recipes, blogs, videos of exercises and much more! Check it out!

Summer Recipe

I just found this recipe on Pinterest...my new addiction! I thought it sounded so easy and yummy and the perfect snack for my kiddos during this HOT summer! We spend lots of time by the pool and I always need a healthy snack to serve.


Fruity Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip

Ingredients (Makes 6-8 servings):
• 1/2 cup fruit-flavored yogurt
• 1/2 cup natural runny peanut butter
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• Fruit/veggies for dipping
Mix together all of the ingredients completely making sure there aren’t any clumps. Move to a serving dish. Serve with chopped fruit and vegetables.

I know you'll enjoy it as much as I will!

Summer

Wow! The year flew by...it's finally here...SUMMER! Yeah! I'm so happy to have the kids home, a little extra time to sleep in and a lighter and less crazy schedule. I'm not happy that my kids will be bugging me on a daily basis to keep them entertained. I'll hear "I'm Bored" countless times over the next few months...agh!!!

I've been trying to put together a daily schedule that will remain posted in plain sight for all to view. My son constantly needs a timeline for the day (where does he get that from???-he he!)
I did find an idea on the internet for an "I'm Bored" Jar...

Inside the jar I placed pieces of paper with fun ideas and also chores. A few ideas are...
Wash the car
Clean the studio
Clean your room
Odie Day (take the dog to a dogpark)
Invite a friend over
Movie
Library

The ideas are endless! Everytime I hear "I'm Bored", the complainer has to pull a piece of paper not knowing if it will be a fun idea or a chore. They are so excited about it so we'll see how it goes!

Our summer evenings are often filled with swimming, dinner outside on the patio and movie time by the pool. We also have a firering so S'mores are a frequent snack for the kiddos. I decided to make my life easier and put together "S'more Jars" that are always full and ready to go. They are a hit!

I'll happily post any other fun summer ideas I come across and would love to hear yours as well. Happy Summer to ALL!!!

What A Month!

I can't believe it's been a month since I've last posted...and what a month it's been! So much has been going on and it all started with a health scare with my mom. I won't go into details but she has been through a lot including surgery and there were many ups and downs. Thank God all has turned out well and she has a clean bill of health!

In the beginning, I made the decision that no matter what, I was going to go through this journey with my mom every step of the way. She has always been there for me and is my rock so I wanted to help her through the bumps in the road. During her surgery and recovery, I often had time to sit and reflect. It's been a crazy year full of so many activities and I sometimes find it hard to even breathe. I admit to taking life for granted, living in the fast lane and not stopping to smell the roses. With so much "downtime" (aka sitting in the hospital or at home hanging out with my mom) the last few weeks, I was able to read some fun books, work on some craft projects and do some thinking. I decided life is too short and goes too fast. I want to spend more time with my family, doing things I love and stopping to smell the roses a time or two.

Summer is right around the corner and I'm ready to hang out with my kiddos, travel and hopefully relax (and, yes, train my awesome clients too). I have even been smelling the roses and other flowers too...literally! Last week, I cut roses from my own bushes and made an arrangement. Today, while grocery shopping, I bought myself a $4 arrangement of flowers and placed them in a spray painted mason jar with decorations (pictured above). How can that nnot bring a smile to your face? I hope you take the time to enjoy life a bit and smell the roses (or whatever flower you like) too.

I leave you with one last thought...

You are constantly changing, growing and becoming.

Love yourself along the way.

Believe in you!

Jan Bethancourt

Our US Soldier

I have a fantastic website to share. Our family has adopted a US Soldier via the website below...

http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/

Cale and I decided we wanted to show our appreciation for the troops in a way that our kids could be included. We found this website, registered our family and were matched with a soldier in Afghanistan. We have been corresponding with him via email. He is married with kids and in a pretty rough area of Afghanistan. I can't tell you how much we've enjoyed our emails back and forth. Never being in the military, our family has no idea what it's like over there. We really wanted to show our appreciation for our troops and love the personal connection we have now. Our soldier is so appreciative of our emails and is now awaiting the package we've sent him. The kids were really involved in selecting items for our care package...candy, magazines, baby wipes, sunscreen, toiletries, snacks, etc. but, most of all, handwritten letters and pictures. We really hope he enjoys our package and it brings a sense of home to him and his fellow troops.

I encourage everyone to show your support for our troops by either adopting a soldier or participating in the various organizations that support our military. We get so caught up in our busy lives that we sometimes forget they are continuously fighting for our freedom. Without our military, we would not have our freedom. I thank God everyday for our troops!

A Big Fan

Well, I'm sad...Spring Break is over.

I have really enjoyed having my kids home, sleeping in, having lazy days, not working, and having almost no place to go! We heated the pool all week and took advantage of it with lots of swimming, sleepovers, went to the movies, the rodeo and just really spend some family time together. Now it's back to the REAL WORLD!

A highlight of the week took place tonight. Cale and Braeden were invited to an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) banquet by a dear friend. Colt Mc Coy (former University of Texas stud) was the speaker and even though we're an Aggie family, Cale and Braeden were so excited at the opportunity to meet him, get his autograph and hear him speak. Cale has become a part of the Houston FCA and is really getting involved. There is nothing better than being able to share his love of sports and Christ in the same setting and he's really enjoyed sharing it with Braeden.


We are so thankful for this opportunity!

Here is Braeden with Colt Mc Coy...look at the little man's smile! I have a feeling he's going to be a big Colt Mc Coy fan from now on!

We definitely enjoyed the break this past week but it's time to get back in the swing of things. Enough being lazy, eating out every meal, lounging by the pool...I've got to get moving! Our family is officially back under Mamma's Bootcamp!
...at least until I leave for Las Vegas with my hubby later this week!

Texas Independence Relay

I'm back in the game and couldn't be happier!!

I've been on a hiatus from running for 2 months and well, to put it in simple terms, I've been grumpy! I am miserable without running in my life. It just plain makes me happy which makes me a better wife, mother, trainer, etc. I need that "endorphine high" or "adrenaline rush" or whatever you want to call it. With my foot being out of commission, life hasn't been the same.


This weekend changed everything! I'm running again! Man it feels good!

A few weeks ago, Cale got a call from one of his old buddies who has an injured foot and needed Cale to take his place in the Texas Independence Relay. The TIR is a relay (a team of 12 runners) that starts in Gonzales, TX and finishes in San Jacinto. The race takes 2 days and is continuous throughout the day and night. Cale agreed to pick up some legs on Saturday to help out. A few days later, another runner had to drop out so I was asked to take her place and agreed to a few short legs but knew I'd be slow because of my foot. We received our leg assignments Thursday evening and were surprised to learn we were each running 3 legs (totaling about 15 miles for each of us) within a 10-11 hour window. Whew! I was freaking out!

Being the stubborn person I am, I agreed to run my assigned legs and mentally prepared myself. We started out early Sat. morning with Cale running Leg 1 and then I took over with Leg 2. I began my Leg 2 at a reasonably slow pace to test the legs and my foot. That didn't last long. My body was cooperating and off I went! I kept an 8+ minute mile for most of my runs and felt awesome! I can't describe how good it felt to get out on the open road again and to be part of a team. I won't lie, it wasn't easy. My last 4.5 mile leg was excrutiating as my legs were locked up from the 6 hour rest I'd had but I pushed through it with determination. Cale rocked his runs and gave our team some great leads! Overall, it was a blast! Cale and I were honored to be part of such an amazing team of runners (they are still going as I type this). To all the Texas Trailblazers out there...You guys rock and we are thrilled we were able to be a part of the team!

So, my words of wisdom to you...Don't give up! Don't count yourself out! You body is an amazing machine and can do anything you put your mind to!

Yes, this is my husband, Cale, dressed and ready for his run. Needless to say, he was a hit with the audience!

This is me on Leg 1 and smiling!