Power (Con)Fusion

I have had a big summer. And, I mean big as in the 'we traveled a butt-load and I took it as my personal duty to try as many new yummy calorie laden foods as possible' kind of way. I mean, someone has to do it, right?!
Unfortunately, I believed my own propaganda. And the scale shows it.
My running has stopped as well. Another story for another day.
So, now that school is back in session, I decided it was time to get back on track. YMCA, here I come.
At least, that's what I said on Weds. But, then Weds was early release so I didn't have much time to go.
"I'll go tomorrow"
Then, on Thursday, I did all my things at home, it was hot, I was tired and thought "I'll go tomorrow".
As I'm on Facebook Friday morning, my friend (whose name begins with TR and rhymes with fish) emails and asks if I want to go to a class at the Y at noon.
'Darned Facebook' I grumbled but I decided there's no time like the present so I told her I would mmet here there.
I didn't know that the class was called Power Fusion and frankly, that should have been my first clue.
Holy Crap!
I was sweating, no, I was drenched with sweat within, no lie, the first 3 minutes. And that was the easy warmup portion!
We were strategically positioned in the back row. Which is a great place when you don't know the moves, are the plumpest one in class and don't want anyone to see what you're doing. Which was a great plan until the infamous jumping jacks began. First, I don't jump. Second, my arms were already tired and getting them up over my head in a repeatedly high energy fashion just wasn't happening. After the next few seconds, I glance over at my friend and she has a similar pained expression on her face. Ahhh, comrades in arms (or jumping jacks in this case). It's always nice to know that you have someone to commiserate with.
"Jumping Jacks, now turn a 1/4 turn!" shouted the drill instructor. With a big ol' smile on her perky little face.
"And another 1/4 turn!!" she commanded just oh so jolly. Uggh.
Cause now, of course, we are turned the opposite way around so we're in the front. My friend and I.
I continue to bounce in my sorta jumping jack stance. Grimacing and swearing that if we have to turn around again, I'm hightailing it to the opposite side of the room. But then, I glance over at my friend.
As soon as we turned so that we were the front people, she starts doing jumping jacks like she's in perfect condition! I mean, you could have taped it and posted it on You Tube as 'how to do the perfect jumping jack'. (really, I was chuckling inside just that those chuckles couldn't make it past my sweaty exterior).
About the time I was going to point this out to her, we turned another 1/4 turn, then another and we were back in the back row again. Thank heaven.
I did pretty much every modification you could in the class.
Eventually, I finished and it actually felt pretty good after we completed the classs.
Until tonite.
Owwwwwwwie!

Zoo Moments

We spent the last few days before school started doing some of the last things on our Summer 'to do' list. Things like visiting the zoo.  C had to take her standard pose by the flamingoes:

And, then C & S pretended to be giraffes:

It seems my little monkeys fit right in at the zoo!

First Day of School 2010

Here are my kiddos in the infamous "First Day" photo that proud Mamas across the U.S. take on the first morning of the new school year:

They had a great day and came home bursting to tell me about their teachers, class and of course, who they ate lunch with.
We celebrated by having root beer floats after school.
I love these days!