Weekend without kids

Friday morning came around and by 8 am I was out the door, headed north to Austin. I was on my way, kid less, to spend the weekend with my hubby who I have missed dearly!! As I drove, mind you with all windows working, I thought to myself, "Could this be true?" No kids...yipee!! The drive was so quiet, and peaceful. There was no mommy I want this, let's sing that, lets do this and that. Now this may sound a bit cruel, but I am usually 24/7 with my children, so a weekend for them with grandma is warranted. She had a fun filled weekend planned, and so did I. Besides the date night here and there, I have not had a weekend or a holiday with my husband since he started grad school. Our last adventure was in Costa Rica, almost 2 years ago, when my mother in law came to stay with my kids for 8 days...so you can agree that it was time for some kid less time!
Anyway, my arrival to Austin called for some lunch and a nap...yeah a nap. I never get to take a nap..horray!! Unfortunately I over slept, so I had to rush to get ready. Typically when going out with my husband, we are fashionably late ( I like to make an entrance hahaha), but not with the military. They pride themselves on timely arrivals, and keep to schedules. No to worry folks, we got there with 5 minutes to spare. Just enough time to make it to the bar for a glass of wine. Army Ball was really nice. Last year, not so much, so I have to say I was dreading it; hence the glass of wine, well not really I just like wine. Anywho, this year there is a new commander, so things were much more formal and elegant. Dinner was yummy, and the speaker was fabulous. What a change from last year. I don't say that very often when it comes to Army stuff, but it was! The speaker is a Brigadier General (not sure of the spelling) from the Pentagon that just recently came to head the 1st Cav here in Ft. Hood. Pretty high up in the chain so to speak.
So the rest of the weekend was full of shopping, eating, movies, naps, hanging out with friends, and NO KIDS!! (smile) I came back to Laredo Sunday late afternoon. Relaxed and ready to chase kiddos again. We will be here another week, and then back to Austin for the month of May to wrap everything up for the big move...yikes!
Here are a few pics from the ball.







Back to my two busy boys: parks, bike rides, NO NAPS, outdoor activities and hot Laredo...oh the joy!!

Vacation going swimmingly

So since my last post, things have been smooth sailing. We have kept VERY busy with bike rides, park outings, bubble blowing, errands, going to my brother Tony's house, and just hanging out inside, it's freakin' hot outside. The truck has been fixed (thank God)and so all is good. I did have a moment just a bit ago, where I realized on Monday morning and afternoon, Tuesday evening, and just a bit ago, that someone else was in my place teaching...eek. I have really been so busy that I have not had time to think about it in depth nor am I in Austin for it to really hit me. I know that once I get back from my visit, and get back into the routine of the day, it's gonna hit me that I don't have to go teach. There will be no rushing to drop the boys off at school and onto my class (sigh). Don't be surprised if I show up to practice here and there. I really didn't want to stop teaching, but to have a set schedule for the month of May, was just a bit to constraining. I needed to do what I needed to do...I MISS YOU GUYS ALREADY!!!
Well, I have my nephew with me today so I am chasing my tow boys + one...boy am I tired! This just re-affirms that I only need 2 boys!! Well onto rest and then hit the road again when they wake up from nap...tonight a nice long bath! Calgon take me away!

What a Friday!

OK so more adventure and excitement..NOT!! SERIOUSLY why me?? I have been good... karma should be on line and on track...
So the great part about my Friday was the morning, just the morning...Sad but great! I taught my last class ever at the Y, last class ever in Austin(tear, sniffle sniffle). I don't ever do this, but I took requests from the students and incorporated it into the practice I had in mind. Fun practice filled with standing poses, hip openers, and balancing poses...good mix. After the practice, Erin, one of the other instructors brought Yogi Tea.....YUMMY!!!! We had a gathering, drank some tea, and said Aloha to each other (you know that means hello and goodbye). Tears were shed, and laughing filled the room. The unbelievable changes that have occurred in this room! From stronger practices, better breathing, to Genieva going up side down in L pose. When I first took this class over, and introduced going upside down to them, some thought I was CRAZY and they were NOT going to do it. Well, glad to say that in the end...ALL were upside down(huh Genieva?)...YAY!!! You are so awesome!!! Thanks to all for the wonderful cards and gifts!! Such lovely words and thoughts..you all made me cry!!Sandy the book is perfect!! A great momento to remember Austin. Joan- just what we needed- the guide rocks!! Karin- I cried to see my mug...I LOVE IT, and more so because you made it. Karin makes pottery. I will post her info so you all can check it out..BEAUTIFUL!! It has my name on it and everything!!! Genieva, the earrings are so cute...they are perfect for the prep of the move. Ellen, thanks for the gift card. It will come in very handy! Love to ALL of you!!!!
Anyway, after class went home to get ready for my trip....
I was driving Jason's Durango down because the Rover didn't fit all I needed to take down to Laredo (two boys= two bikes). I miss my Suburban!! Anyway, just before I was getting ready to leave, I rolled the window down to give my hubby a farewell smooch, and the window would not go back up..not only would it not go back up, but dropped all the way down. Jason took some time to dismantle the door in attempts to fix it, but to no avail...how upset was I and he knew it too. So needless to say I had to drive all the was to Laredo with the freakin' window down...SERIOUSLY!! This would have never happened if I would have had my truck (I know obsession- OK whatever I am human too). After a couple of phone calls to my cousin Beka, my older bother Mark, and a few choice words that I really should not post, I still did not feel better...In fact I was even more angry! The boys slept half the way..I don't know how...It was like a freight train coming through the truck, and my hair looked like a rats nest...Never in my life have I had to go through something like this. Don't get me wrong, I am all about the fresh air and the windows down, but I have a choice in the matter. The window gods decided to take that choice from me. Like I said, I have been good! Anyway, got to Laredo fine, only to have the boys ready for some movement. Being confined for 3 1/2 no bueno. They were ready to run free like wild animals in the jungle. Here I thought we would go run and frolic, and they wanted to play golf. OK fine, so we went to the park across the street to swing some clubs. Ty is really good and precise, Cade just swings and you better stay out of his way. Well, I just when I was not looking, Cade comes towards me and nails me right in the shin. OUCH!! and a few other words came out of my mouth (I have been doing that quite a bit today). So now, not only did I have a migraine from the trip down, but sustained a golf injury, and I was not even playing...IS THERE A HOLE I CAN CRAWL INTO AND HIDE!!!???? Glad to see the day come to an end! WOW! All I could say was WHATEVER!!!!

The Pics- finally working

Yeah..the pics
Ice Cream, Leis, Community!

Awesome departure

This is a quickie (no not that kinda quickie), cause I gotta go pack for my two week visit home...so much to take, and so not enough room....I miss my truck! okay back to the blog at hand...
So my Dell Kula (community) had a little going away party with leis and everything. I got Lei'd! We all got lei'd!! Scott brought ice cream bars (there is a story behind that), and I got a awesome wall plaque that says NAMASTE from all my students...I LOVE IT!! The card was one of a kind, hand made just for me...Thanks Z and all of you! On the front it has a port o potty on a dried up piece of desert. The girls took it and added Hawaii stickers and made it look great...the inside says " when you gotta go, you gotta go." everyone signed the inside..thanks for all your kind remarks..I love the "screaming sea cow" remark Simon!
So I wanted to rock the house for out last practice, and I even joined in with them as our celebratory departure practice. I told you guys I would post the sequence, and I will at the end. We did a 35 min or so standing and arm balance sequence with like one rest, and then hit the floor...AWESOME! Everyone was jammin'....I am so proud of what you all have accomplished in your practice and how far you all have come. A true testimony to your commitment to the practice and your will to continue to grow. So the story about the ice cream bars: After my very first class I taught at Dell (mind you very new to Dell, to teaching, to all of it), one of the students, Scott, tells me that the instructor before me would bring ice cream every week to share with them...I didn't quite know what to say. As time went on I realized that it was just Scott and his "way". I never brought ice cream and heard about it all the time. As January came around, I decided to bring Iced Fruit Bars and surprise the class for the new year, and guess who was not in class...he totally missed it.
So here we are our last class, and Scott brings Dove ice cream bars..YUM!! He finally got his ice cream and he had to bring it himself..wait, Scott, did you even eat one??
So we took pics take a look:

okay not letting me upload pics..apparently not working right now according to blogger updates..I will post when I can
All in all great day!
Sequence:
Surya Namaskar- Sun Salutations
-Tadasana mountain
-Uttanasana standing forward fold
-Plank
-Chaturanga Dandasana
-Urdhva Mukha Svanasana upward facing dog
-Adho Mukha Svanasana downward facing dog
Like 4 times I think
In the mix
-Lunge deep
-Virabradrasana 1 warrior 1
-Virabradrasna 2 warrior 2
-Trikonasana triangle
-Wild Thing Flipping dog
-Malasana squat
-Bakhasana crow
Like twice
Add
-Twisting lunge
-Vashistasana side plank
-Binding Lunge
-Eka Pada Koundinyasana (chaturanga arms)
on the floor seated
-baby cradle
-draw knees back
-Eka Hasta Bujasana
-Paschimottanasana seated forward bend
-Marichyasana 1 forward bend
on backs
-Setu Banda bridge
3 with variations
-Savasana
I think that covers it??
Love to all

Rest and Relaxation- NOT

I woke up on Tuesday morning thinking to myself "what do I have to do today?" and low and behold...NOTHING!!! Yeah a day without somewhere to be early in the morning, some activity for the kids, or errands that come and go. I knew I had to teach my evening class at the Y, but the day was all mine, well Ty and Cade's too. So what to do?? Of course I headed for the couch, but was sideswiped by the boys, high jacked and forced into playing inside, playing outside, playing upstairs and playing downstairs some more...whew I was tired...ALL I WANTED WAS MY COUCH A BLANKET AND A PILLOW. Mind you I was still recovering from my immersion weekend, so doing nothing was not really panning out for me. One fab thing was we didn't get out of out PJ's until about 11:30. NICE!!! But really who had time?? So much for nothing to do!
So Cade's class this week and next are studying nursery rhymes. The parents are in on this one. I have to go to the school and present Hey Diddle Diddle to the 3 year olds...how fun! We worked on his project some (very cute I might add) and then I was determined to get some time for rest before I had to go teach. So I wanted to relax on the couch and watch a really good movie before getting ready. As the votes came in....the movie of choice- Alvin and the Chipmunks. What do you expect when you have kids..it was between that and the Water Horse- which we had already seen. Believe it or not the chipmunks was a really cute movie..I did enjoy it.
On to prepare- so many things crossing my mind about my evening class at the NW Y, what to do, what to say for my last class (tear).
My students have come such a long way!!! This is a intro to yoga class, but now, not so much! I am so proud of them. I decided to give them a potpourri class, with poses that lead up to a big arm balance towards the end...I was amazed at the focus, drive and strength they all had!! Bakasana (Crow) pose- yeah!. We had been having fun and laughing so I think that really helped. We celebrated the big victories and celebrated the small ones. Most students had not been in this pose. Everyone in the room tried. Kuddos to John, you nailed it! I am so proud of all of you for trying and knowing your limits!! Linda, Maria, and the rest. Awesome!! To my surprise, I even got gifts (love getting gifts). John the roses are fabulous and Maria the yummy lotion and spray are awesome...I will use some today :)
Off to get started with my day..Jason took the boys to school since he will be picking them up after school because I will be staying after my noon class for a party...I LOVE PARTIES (especially when they are for me..he he)

Bird of Paradise- Dell Rocks

This weeks theme for my classes will circle around CELEBRATION. Celebration of ourselves, celebration of each other, and celebration of this time together as teacher and students. We are making it a point to celebrate the big things in our lives and the small things in our lives. Both have equal reason to celebrate!!
In this blog I really want to give KUDOS to my Dell class!!! These guys can take a challenge and run! Perhaps not smiling the entire way, but non the less I know that I can give them a challenge, and they are there. I have up the standards over the last few weeks( since I am leaving soon), and given them poses to really have fun with and challenge them (though at the time they don't think it's so much fun...the challenge they will agree with). I hear it often from Scott, and i think Danny made a comment about Screaming Pigeon last week. So Monday's class sequence was great as we lead up to our big pose "Bird of Paradise". I wish I had a pic to show you, but not an easy pose. They were all champs! Z, Faith, Cara, Danny rocked! We celebrate those big things as a class and support one another. There was cheering and good energy in the room. Kudos to Scott, Tina, Simon and the rest for trying and stopping at the appropriate level that is right for you...good studentship and a smart practitioners!! You all work hard and the rewards will come! We celebrate and honor our bodies by taking care of it so we are ready for the next challenge (cause there will be more on Wednesday..he he). I'm gonna miss you guys!!! (tear)

Change has begun

So this weekend was a bit intense...in more ways than others of course! Let's start with Friday... Friday was GREAT beginning with my class that morning. It was a pretty full class. I love the commitment, studentship and will that my students bring to their mats and most are always up for a challenge. The theme of the class was Illumination...the inner brightness that we all have. We did some heart-opening poses and let out light shine for all to see. The class really gave it their all! It was pretty darn bright in there. I almost had to wear sunglasses. After class the boys and I headed for the sprinkler park with our playgroup. It was a bit chilly, but the kids didn't care. After gooping on the sunscreen, the boys were off splish splashin away. They checked in just for a snack here and there. We were there a couple of hours, and I was very surprised that we all got sun burnt even though I gooped them in sunscreen...I'll just have to paint it on a little thinker and more frequent next time.
My mom came in Saturday morning to help with the boys since I had immersion all weekend and Jason had some crazy papers due this week for school. I am really gonna miss that..."hey mom can you come watch the boys this weekend" can I still do that from Hawaii??
So Saturday morning, that change that I have been dreading begins. Since we found out that we were moving to Hawaii, we have been getting rid of things, donating and such, but one of our bigger dilemma was my truck. Now you have to know that I love my truck! I have been happy with my truck and my truck has been happy with me. In no way did I want to give up my truck, nor was I ready (it's like one of those things like having a baby, you are never really ready), but it really makes no sense to take that baby bus to Hawaii...that's what Jason says anyway. I don;t mind so much being marked the girl with the only suburban on the island - I am sure plenty people have big SUV's on the island right?? Well the long of the short of it is will end up eating us out of house and home with the gas prices up there, and honestly I don't really need to be lugging that huge end there on the island. Where are we going to be traveling to anyway. SOOOOOO, we got rid of my beautiful Suburban and purchased the Land Rover. So I have had a rover before, great trucks, but I was so attached to my suburban, that I was really sad. Here are a couple pics...





So out with the old and in with the new...I am working on non attachment here, and I am failing miserably...I keep comparing it to my truck, and it is driving Jason CRAZY!!! Jason is so over this obsession to my old truck!!! I am endeavoring to move on, and I will keep trying until I overcome! I just need to GET OVER IT! I mean seriously it is a vehicle..who cares right? The Rover will still get me and the boys from point A to point B right? Okay so writing this makes me feel a tad bit stupid, but I am only human anyway so there! We all have things to work out.
My mom had a fab time with the boys playing trains, army men, catching bugs, playing outside etc...she left Sunday afternoon. The downside to her coming is that I didn't spend much time with her. I was able to catch up with her at dinner Saturday night. We went to Waterloo and let the boys run amuk on the outdoor playground, but I was so tired from the immersion, that all I could do was keep my face from falling into my food! Good Times!
So we come to the immersion part of the weekend...FUN and EXHAUSTING all at the same time. I really missed seeing everyone and Christina, but the 3 hour practice each day was well let's say intense! It was awesome but draining at the same time ( I know I have done that a couple of times- that "same time" thing). Don't get me wrong I love to get into intense arm balances, invigorating inversions, and always up for a challenging twist or two, but three hours each day, whew! I can tell you that my body is still feeling it today! This is a good feeling, the next day, but now I am kinda over it now.
So off to a new week, with more change to come. This week is my last week to teach all my public classes(tear). Talk about hard! I have become so attached to these students (ok here is the attachment issue again), that this change is really going to be difficult. I love to practice yoga, but to be able to have the gift of teaching is something that I really am not ready to give up yet. Some of these students I have had for almost a year...that's a mighty long time. All I can do is breathe and remain in an inverted position for hours a day to get past this (huh Scott). Read more about it as I go through withdrawals over the next few weeks...
The boys and I leave for my moms on Friday...I will be gone for a few weeks, but have access to computer, so all is good!!