If you randomly read my blog and have kids, I am BEGGING you to pay attention to this one.

In fact, if you don't want to read the entire thing I will give you the ending right now and you can stop reading...

No, not when you feel like it.  Not sometimes.  Every.  Single.  Day.  From the day you bring them home from the hospital.

Why then?  They can't even read yet.  
Kids are learning more in the first 3 years of their lives than any other time.  They are learning all kinds of things from books even when they are newborns.

My kids don't like to sit still for books. 
You're the parent.  Make them.  Make it part of the routine.  Read to them in the bathtub.  Read to them before bed.

But they watch TV in their rooms before bed to help them fall asleep.
Get the cuss word, cuss word television OUT of your kid's room!!!!!!!!!

What do I read to them?
Anything.  Board books.  Short books.  Long books.  Books with no words and just pictures.  Rhyming books.  Dr. Suess.  The same book every day.  A different book every day.  The Bible.  The Great American Novel.  Read anything.

How do you even know it will make a difference?
You can just go ahead and trust me on this one but if you're interested just Google it or I can sit down with you and give you and earful on just how I do know this but you're probably better off Googling it.
 

I know I should but I just don't always want to because I get tired.
Here's a conversation with my brother:
Tom-Do you really think I want to read to Philip and Lily every single night?  I get so tired.  Sometimes they want 4 books.  I don't wanna read 4 damn book.  I wanna put them to bed and have a beer.  But I do because it's good for them.

Tom and Danielle have been reading to their kids every day since they were born.  Completely taking the biased aunt side out of it and putting on my teacher hat...these kids are SO smart.  Philip can read.  He's not even 4 1/2 yet.  Not 3 letter CVC words, actual 5, 6, 7 letter words.  Lily speaks in 5 words sentences at 23 months.  

Now, I can attribute this to many different excellent parenting techniques but the biggest one...THEY READ TO THEIR KIDS ALL THE TIME.


Now...
I normally don't beg for comments but I would love for you to give your own testimonials on reading to your kids or what you have seen on this subject.  So, comment on this blog...or on the Facebook post!

I almost died the other day and I'm not exaggerating.  Ok, I am exaggerating but it really was the most scared I have ever been in my life.

Before I go on let me tell you a few things...
1.  I am not a wimp

Well that's the only thing I wanted to tell you.  I'm not a wimp.

I'm not a wimp.
Okaaaay Kathryn (you call me Kathryn when you're annoyed with me) we get it.  You're not a wimp.  Why?

Because... I was a wimp.

Come along with me on a little journey called The Most Scared I Ever Was.  That title needs work.  Yeah I got it.

I saw a sign posted at 480 that said "Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course Sign-Up."  I had really wanted to try it but was nervous...mostly because I get nervous around people I don't know well and worry that I'll have nothing to talk to them about.  You? Katie.  You talk to everyone...about everything...all the time.  I know, peeps, but I get scared with new people.

I signed up...well LC signed me up when I mearly mentioned I was interested.

We get up there and start going through the training.  We put our harnesses on.  I looked lame.  I'm not sure how but the other 4 girls made harnesses look cute.

The guy was going over the rules:
1.  You always have to be clipped in with both clips, or at least 1.
2.  Your clips have to face opposite directions.
3.  The clips can be above you but never below you.

He said that if you break the rule 1 time, they would give you a warning.  2 times, they might kick you off.  So we're going through the little training course.  Guess who got TWO warnings on the Training Course...ME!  That's who.   Possible foreshadowing for events to come?  I think so.

So, we finish that.  They let me go on even though I was a bit of a slow learner.  We climb up on the first course.  I WAS SO SCARED.  Now, logically, nothing can really happen because you're harnessed in but it was so freaky.  Guess who else in my group was scared?  NOBODY.  That's who.  I was with a bunch of girls and they were SO BA.  I was not so BA.  My A was super freaked out.

Only 35% of the people who start this course finish it.   We were only on the very first part and I was terrified.  We had to stand on these platforms and walk across a "bridge" and I put that word in quotes because it wasn't a freaking bridge.  It was a wobbly, movey, you could fall at any moment thing you try to and balance on.

I know it doesn't look high up and this part wasn't...and the camera's died before it was really high but you'll just have to trust me.

They said this is where most people have to be rescued.

There was one point where you had to swing from a rope.  Like Tarzan?  YES, like Tarzan!  And then you swung into a net and crawled on the net as if you were Spiderman.  My friend looked like Spiderwoman.  I. Did. Not.

Spiderwoman

The whole day went like this.  One of the memorable obstacles was where you rode a skateboard across a very tiny cable...while a million feet in the air.  Ok, it was 65 feet but who rides a skateboard in the air?  Nobody, that's who.

We were about 3 "bridges" away from finished and on one of the last ones all there were was a bunch of rings tied to ropes.  So you had to put your foot in 1 ring and swing and go into the next ring.  I was about to quit and somehow my Whole 30 Partner in Crime yells, "You're almost there.  Put your foot in the next one.  You got it."  Oh how I love her and  the Crossfit 480 way...always encouraging and never going to let you quit.


So, obviously all the BAMFettes that I went up there with, who never once made a peep about being scared, finished.  There was never any question.  They were so awesome the whole time but guess who else finished...ME!  So...let me recap...WE ALL FINISHED!  

It was the scariest thing I've ever done.

We're all done and I'm trying to catch my breath and remember that I really was still alive and the girls say, "We should do this again.  It was so fun."
"Hmm, I'll have to get back to you on that one.  Once in my lifetime may be plenty."

Then, as if to cap off my wimpyness one of the girls who is the most beautiful/fit girl I think I've ever met in real life says, "I feel like I actually got a little bit of a work-out without really working out."  I almost tripped her on purpose but my legs and arms were so sore they were shaking so I couldn't.

I think she did a WOD or 2 after this.

Afterwards we rewarded ourselves with some beer and burgers...but 2 of us just had burgers with avocados and no bun and no beer.

Overall...
1.  A fab day.
2.  It was super safe and affordable.
3.  I can do anything I choose to do.  You can too.
4.  It helps to have super encouraging, awesome BAMFettes with you.
5.  I aspire to be more workey outty in the future cause my friends work out WAY more than me...and I should join their fit club.

H & M
I hate when clothes are cheap and fall apart after a few wears.  So I buy a lot of my clothes at Ann Taylor Loft.  That was before I walk into this gem of a store.  Before it came to the states I went to H & M's in London and France.  KP and I stocked up on new tank tops because we have been rotating the same few shirts FOR WEEKS.  And then I never went back to an H & M.

Until the other day...
SUCH cute stuff for cheap!  Now, I still like good quality stuff and I'm not completely convinced that it's super well-made but, for tops, I'm ok with it.  I won't buy pants there but cute tanks, shirts and dresses?  Yes, yes and yes!


SFH Pure Whey Protein Powder
I love this stuff!  It's a bit pricey but it's the best protein powder I've never had.   All is derived from grass-fed animals.  Causes no stomach aches whatsoever.  I throw it in my smoothie every morning and wahla, breakfast!


SFH Fish Oil
Since we're on that company I must give credit to my fish oil.  It's liquid.  It's tangerine flavored and it's amazing.  It doesn't give ANY fish burps.  Excuse my crassness but if you've ever taken fish oil you know exactly what I'm taking about.


Tide Pods
I know I've done these before but I just can't get over how much I love them.  I don't understand why anyone would not use these gems.


Sumits Yoga
I've been to Bikram but this is so much better.  They play music and it's still hot, hot, hot.  I feel like I'm leaving lots of toxins in the studio when I leave.  Oh AND, I almost forgot the best part...they're wood floors in the studio.  If you've never read why this is so important, here's an old blog on Bikram.

Baskets
I LOVE baskets...of all sizes.  My favorites are the ones that have a  fabric liner on the inside.  They make organization so cute!

Permission to be willing to stand in line for 2 hours to get the iPhone 5
It's here.  I'm willing.  I'm going today.  This has been the longest coming phone in life.  Would you just get it and shut up about it already?!  Today, Peeps, today.

Permission to wonder where in the H-e-double hockey sticks these bug bites are coming from
On my legs, on my legs...well mostly just one my legs but they're annoyballs.

Sidenote: I always try to find pictures for my blog so I started googling, "Bug Bites."  Seriously?  Why did I do that?  Disgust.

Permission to think my dad is so cute in his new Jeep
After driving the Hewlett Packard issued Ford Tauruses for about 20 years I think he deserves to choose his own car.  He's as excited as a 16 year old in his new ride.  Good job Dad.  If I could have I would have bought it for you.

I forgot to take a picture of him in it :(

Permission to want this tattoo so bad
I want it on the other side of my foot but I'm too scared because:
1.  It will hurt right on the bone
2.  I don't have any tattoos
3.  Will it be ok to have that if I'm trying to be a principal someday?
4.  My feet are not pretty but I can't think of another place I want it.




Permission to really love my house
It's pretty small but I love it.  It's so homey...which is good because it my home(y) Homie.  Oh, I kill myself.  I'm embarrassed for you Katie.  I'm hilar.  Anyway, now that I finally have pictures on the wall...3 years later, I'm so content here.

Permission to judge people who don't get my Breakfast Club references. 


Permission to hate vertical blinds
Oh I already said that?  I still hate them.

Permission to think I have the BEST bosses
I don't know why I always get so lucky.  I came from a boss who was an amazing Jedi TO a boss who is just as fabulous.  I always learn so much.  High five to my great, great bosses past and present!

Permission to think this is beautiful and looks like a ridiculous waste of time all at once
Those are layers and layers of icing in that honeycomb pattern.  Wow.

I'm finally in some much needed therapy.
Thank God Katie.  We've been telling you for years.  

Save your jokes, funny friends.

PHYSICAL therapy.

I learned 5 things while I was there.  I didn't actually learn 5 things while I was there.  I can currently think of 3 but I feel like 5 is a much better number of things to learn so I'll have to do some quick thinking as I type...

5.  I sprained a part of my ankle that is virtually impossible to sprain.  
What can I say?  I've always been something of an overachiever.  Umm, that's not what your high school GPA said.  <---Sidenote: Do you think it's funny when I "talk for you" in italics or do you think I'm displaying some schizophrenic tendencies by having pretend conversations with noone?

4.  Your tendons are the ends of your muscles..
They're like little tiny snakes coming off the end of your muscle.  That's what the very smart, smart physical therapist taught me.  If there are any actual doctors (or anyone who knows anatomy) reading this and knows I'm super wrong, I'm embarrassed.  Until then, that's true.  Tendons or the little legs at the end of your muscles.

3.  ASTYM hurts so good!
It's this hard plastic tool and they dug into my skin (just on the surface, they didn't make me bleed or anything) to break up all of the scar tissue that has formed during my past 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ankle sprains that were not properly cared for.


Anyway, they dug and it HURT but it was a good hurt.  Come on baaaaaaaby, make it hurt so good! <---- I love me some John Mellencamp.  Ahh, memories of dancing in my living room with my mama.  Ok, I'm leaving Memory Lane now.  Back to our regularly scheduled program.

2.  Picking up marbles with your toes is harder than it looks.  
I also had to do this exercise where I scrunch up a towel over and over with my toes.  Ouch!  It was muy dificil.

That's not me but that's what I did.  Try it.  It's tricky!

Saving the best for last...

1.  Crossfit is GOOD for my ankles. 
Oh yes, you read that right.

Here's my conversation with my physical therapist as I was giving her my history.
"So, I've sprained my ankle several times.  Actually both of them.  Every morning I used to walk like I was 90 years old for the first 10 minutes of the day because my ankles were so tight and in pain. However, after I started Crossfitting the pain almost went away completely."

"Really?  You know why?  What you were doing is probably naturally breaking up that scar tissue and getting blood flowing to there.  Keep Crossfitting.  It's really good for you!"

So...what did my Doctor prescribe?
Crossfit


What did I learn?
Ongoing aliments shouldn't stop us.  We have to move it or lose it (and when I refer to "it" I mean the function of our bodies).  You may think I'm being dramatic but put the cookie down and move it Friends!

You'll thank me some day!

Wow, Katie, you're really on a high horse right now.

Yeah, I almost 1/2 way through my current Whole 30.  I feel amaze balls.  And I went back to CF480 for the first time in days weeks month.  So, yes, I'm on my high horse and the view from up here is fabulous :)

This is a great quote about Using it or Losing it.  That's why I posted it...ish.