Zumba, Zumba, Zumba

I missed my weekly update last week, mostly because I didn't have much out of the ordinary to report & also because we've just been super busy.  I'm loving summer!!!

This week there is big news...I have officially signed up for training to become certified as a Zumba instructor.  I take the one day Zumba training on July 27, then CPR training on Aug 8 and then I will be teaching at my gym, KeepFit 10.  I'm SO excited!!  I have been back & forth about doing this for a while & I finally decided to take the plunge.

I want to become an instructor because I truly love everything about Zumba classes: the music, the choreography, the fun, the calorie burn, the other ladies (and few gentlemen) that are in the classes, the instructors, etc.  And since I have been telling my current instructors that I'm doing this, they have all been SO supportive.  I love their passion for the company & the classes & I can't wait to officially be part of it!  I also think I can continue to inspire people to lose weight and get fit.  I feel I'm a perfect example of anyone can do this.  Finally since I'm taking 5-6 classes a week & there are some openings coming up soon at my gym, I figure I might as well get paid (and a free gym membership) to do 1-2 more.

Most of my workouts for the next few weeks will be only Zumba.  I'm trying to take as many classes as I can to get some practice as well as practicing my play list at home.  The plan is for me to go on the sub list for August & then when the new schedule comes out in Sept I'll have 1-2 classes of my own.  I'll be sure to keep you all updated on my progress and when my classes are if you ever want to check it out.

Other than Zumba my workouts will probably be walks since I have a ton of races coming up in the next few months.  In August I have a 10 miler to kick off the month, then I end the month with the Lady Tutu 5K.  I'm an ambassador for the Tutu race & have a team of women walking or running with me.  Check it out & join team Jonesen' Ladies!  Wow, I'm gonna be busy!!

Here is the rundown of the last 2 weeks:
Thursday 7/4 - 2 Insanity workouts
Friday 7/5 - 60 minute Zumba class & 20 minutes on bike
Saturday 7/6 - Insanity workout
Sunday 7/7 - 4 mile walk, Insanity workout (I finished week 1 of Insanity & was really enjoying it.  Then I feel a few days behind & this Zumba training came up so it has been tabled for now.  I will do the 60 day program one of these days!)
Monday 7/8 - rest day
Tuesday 7/9 - 60 minute Zumba class, 15 minutes on bike
Wednesday 7/10 - 60 minute Zumba class

Thursday 7/11 - 30 minute Zumba class, 15 minutes on elliptical, 30 minutes on bike
Friday 7/12 - 60 minute Zumba class (including teaching my first song ever!!)
Saturday 7/13 - rest day
Sunday 7/14 - 15 minutes on elliptical, 30 minutes on bike
Monday 7/15 - 60 minute Zumba class, 10 minutes on bike
Tuesday 7/16 - 60 minute Zumba class, 10 minutes on bike
Wednesday 7/17 - 60 minute Zumba class

Daniel Update

Daniel is just kinda cruising along really loving summer.  He loves spending time with his family so this is really the best time of year for him...no one making him do things alone.  I'm going to have my work cut out for me when he goes back to school in Aug.  He is also fighting us that he doesn't want to play any sports in the fall unless he can play with AJ (which isn't possible between the age difference & the schedules.)

I'm glad I'm late on this update because the past few days, Daniel has been cracking us up!  Yesterday he found my brush in the couch (which had been missing for days after Zak stole it.)  He turned around & said "Mom, you need to be more careful with your things.  This was in the couch & not in it's spot.  You're going to lose it."  At least he's listening when I talk.  Today he had a straw in his mouth & I told him he looked like a walrus.  He said "I can't be a walrus, they live in the cold & it's super hot here!" (true story!)  Then when I went to get him out of the car I called him Mr. Walrus & he said "I'm not Mr. Walrus, I'm only Daniel."  So I called him "Only Daniel."  And he responded with "I'm Daniel.  And sometimes Jones.  But that's all.  Don't call me anything else." 

Daniel also totally impressed me today.  We went to a local pool and we all had a blast!!  Daniel was in water up to his neck, which is the deepest he has ever been.  And he tolerated being splashed multiple times.  At first he got a little upset about the splashing, but after two or three times he was laughing when it happened.  He even asked me to sit with him near one of the buckets that dumped water.  This is a huge step for the child who freaks out when a rain drop touches him.  I'm SO proud of him!!

Here are a few pictures of Daniel from the past month:

Daniel's medal from tee ball - He's excited to more up a league next year!

New haircuts!!

Monkeying around at the zoo

The deepest Daniel had been in the water (before today)

Zak - 17 months

Zak continues to be a perfect combination of adorable & ornery...must be in the genes.  :)  He has had a much better month that last month & has started sleeping thru the night most nights.  He has started having some separation anxiety but I know that's an age thing.  It's rough on me that he freaks out every time I leave, but I'm trying to take it as a compliment.

Zak has started talking & expressing himself a lot more in the past month or two.  He says a few words like "Mom" "Dad" "NO!" "More"  The past few days he has started saying "Aw, Man!" like Swiper from Dora says.  We always joke that he is Swiper because he tries to steal the other boys' snacks & drinks & toys.  He also screams when we are not doing what he wants.  I love when the kids become more verbal so I can know what they want & don't want.

His other big milestone this week was mastering the stairs.  He can walk up & down pretty much on his own now.  We are only using the gates to keep him on the floor we want him on now.  I will be very happy to see the gates go soon!!

Zak is loving summer!  He loves having his big brothers around to play with all the time.  And he would be outside 24/7 if I let him.  He loves the swings, slides, pools, playing soccer & tee ball & riding around in the big red car.

Having fun in the pool!

Setting up for a home run!

Just hanging around...what don't you always sit on a cooler??

AJ the Book Snob

I had a very proud Mommy moment recently...AJ is turning into a book snob!!  As most of you know, I'm a bit of a book snob myself.  I always like the book better than the movie & can be a little nit picky about the details.  Some Most people don't enjoy seeing movies with me if I've read the book.  This is why I haven't seen Les Miserables the movie.  I love the play & can't imagine the movie measures up.  But I digress.

About a month ago Adrian started reading AJ & Daniel "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone" at bed time.  I was upset at first because I really wanted to share my love of Harry Potter with the boys, but since I was working a lot at the time, I settled for discussing the book with them instead.  When they finished the book we were going to have a special movie night to watch the movie.

They finished the book over Father's Day weekend so that Sunday the 4 of us sat down while Zak was sleeping to watch the movie.  It was a fun time, although Daniel lost interest & went upstairs to watch Batman instead.  When the movie was over, AJ started complaining about all the differences from the book to the movie.  He was complaining that they changed things & left things out.  I was SO excited!!

The next morning when he got up, he was still complaining about the movie being different.  Then he asked to watch "Wizard of Oz."  After watching that, he started pointing out all the differences between that movie & the book that they finished a few months ago.  Again I was SO proud & excited!

Two other quick updates on AJ for this month that has nothing to do with his snobbery...he had his 6 year check up with his doctor the other day.  He is doing fantastic & Dr Dan said everything looks great.  He is 47 inches which puts him in the 85% and he weighs 57 1/2 pounds which is the 90%.  He also finished up his first tee ball season this past Saturday.  He improved so much in the past 5 months & really enjoyed playing.  He's not sure if he wants to play again next year, but I think he will.  Now a few weeks off then on to football!!

All ready for his last tee ball game!

Happy People Don't Kill People

Those are immortal words uttered by Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde."  This is basically her defense for why a fitness guru couldn't kill someone.  I've said before I believed that & we had more proof of that this past week.

As I shared last week, I hurt my back early last week bending over.  I didn't exercise all week.  I felt I could maybe do it on Weds, but Adrian strongly suggested I wait since he was super busy at work & I had to be OK to take care of the boys.  So I waited.  And like any normal food addict person would do, I ate horribly.  And then I felt bad.  And angry.  And my patience was short.  It wasn't pretty.  By Friday night, Adrian was begging me to get back to the gym.

I think for me I'm happier when I'm working out for two reasons.  First is the science thing, endorphins are released & you are happier.  Yeah, I don't really understand it all, but it's something like that.  Seriously, flip on TBS & catch Legally Blonde this weekend & watch Elle explain it. 

But second for me is the social aspect of the gym.  I LOVE my Aspen friends!!  I love the girls that take classes with me, the moms who see me in childcare, the guys who use the weights but say hi to me every day (because they see me every day), the staff who just wave me in now (because my card is never accessible), and the list goes on.  I almost feel like they are extended family.  They notice when I miss a day & call me on it.  Thanks to all of you!!  You all inspire me & make me feel better about myself every day!!

I went to the gym on Sat, then lazed around on Sun & have hit it full force this week.  I'm happy to be back!!  I'm being very cautious & stretching my back more because I don't want any other injuries.  This week has been great.  I'm even concurring my sucky at home work out record...I started Insanity & am keeping up so far (3 days in, whatever, it counts).  Of course, I now have a friend in MD doing it virtually with me, so I guess there is still that social aspect.  :)

Here are my workouts this week:
Thursday,  6/27 - rest day (injured)
Friday,  6/28 - rest day (injured)
Saturday, 6/29 - 30 minutes on bike, 20 minutes on treadmill
Sunday, 6/30 - rest day
Monday, 7/1 - 30 minutes on bike, 15 minutes on elliptical, Insanity Fit Test
Tuesday, 7/2 -  20 minutes on bike,50 minutes of Zumba, Insanity Day 2
Wednesday, 7/3 - 4.5 miles of walking at zoo, 60 minutes of Zumba