Happy 4th of July

Hi friends,
I would like to wish each and everyone of you and your families a wonderful Independence Day celebration. We won't be doing much around here. Herogian is at boy scout camp, and the other two only want to be with a friend and his family shooting off fireworks. I'm hoping I can get some work out of Hubby and get this yard cleaned up. We had three trees cut down and we are still trying to cut up all the branches for firewood and then clear out the small stuff by binding it up to haul away. The pin oaks weren't small.

School is finally going well. We are in week 5 of 8. I'm almost done with one final project of two. The research method one shouldn't be too hard, just needs a lot of research time. The one that's almost done is a strength program of 6 weeks of lifting. Right up my alley.

Work outs have really improved this summer. Having to take Hawk to football practice at 6 a.m. and not getting home until 8:30-9, has given me time to run/walk, and then study in the car. When Gluten is home from camps, we turn around at 9 and head back out for two hours of soccer practice. More study time. :-)

Another change this summer is smoothies. We are doing protein powder mixed in fresh strawberry + any other berry, or fruit we have around. I've notice a big change in energy levels. Actually feeling full throughout the day and not wanting to snack. This has been a good change for the boys also. We are trying to develop some muscle on those twiggy arms of theirs.

This is the challenge I put out for July. If you like you can follow more of our workouts on www.facebook.com/momsthecoach.  or www.momsthecoach.blogspot.com . You can find and share the below on Pinterest.com also.

July Workout Challenge

THe Garden is growing

This was last week. This week it looks even better. The beans and peas are growing along the side edges, cucumbers are up and the corn is about 5 inches tall now, radishes and two tomato plants finish out this garden. I have been enjoying the fresh spring lettuce (light green color) and spinach leaves in salads.  In the far part of the yard I threw out potatoes, they are now growing, the asparagus is done and strawberries, mulberries are ready for picking. I'm so excited.

Workouts started

Today, Happy Memorial Day!, the workouts started. Jump over to www.Momsthecoach.blogspot.com to check out the workout and exercise explanations. If you know any athletes from middle school to college or beyond that want a different plan to follow for the summer this one will help them touch on the major areas of training for speed, agility, strength and endurance.
You will also see how to make a roller to roll the kinks out.

Summer workout program week 1

Over on www.momsthecoach.blogspot.com  I pieced week 1's workouts from the summer program. The USM athletes should be starting this next week. If you want to join us for something different, I'd like to hear that you are. Any questions about exercises, please contact me. Many exercises have multiple names.

Schools almost out. Let's get in shape this summer.

I need to talk to you

As we waited in Great Clips for haircuts, I was reading in Reader's Digest that the most feared words to hear are, "I need to talk to you."  I turned to Gluten and repeated the words.

"I need to talk to you."
His eyes bugged out and his mouth slowly opened. Then even slower, he turned toward me.
"Yep it works. You just thought about all the bad things you have done that you thought you would be in trouble for, see, it says those are the most feared words." I showed him the article. At that point he finally breathed again.

"Mom, that wasn't nice."

I did use it again later.
"Gluten, I need to talk to you." I shouted up the stairway.
"Yeah, right, you're not pulling that again on me."
"What have I asked you to do three times now, and it still isn't done?"
"Oops, I'm coming." He slunk past me down the stairs to pick up his pile of folded clothes from the laundry basket.

I think I like those words.


****
I'm blogging at www.Momsthecoach.blogspot.com   for workouts and other exercise related items.
Join me for some CORE and glute work today.

Homeschooling myself and everything else

We are coming to the end of our homeschooling adventure for the boys. The oldest two have been in public school for a semester. It has been okay. I only wanted to 'have it out' with a couple of teachers for pigheadedness only a couple of times. The boys made the adjustment and are doing well. It actually brought about some good things in the boys, self-responsibility for their assignments, standing up for their grades - find out how to erase an 'F' because you had the flu the day the assignment was done....

Gluten, is excited about going to high school next year and trying out for the soccer team. Hawk will be trying out for football and Herogian - Cross-Country. It will be good for them to be involved in sports. We are praying that a 250 lb. linebacker doesn't squish Hawk in his first game. Yes, he has finally made it past the 100 lb mark.

Since the boys won't be homeschooling with me anymore, I'm going to homeschool myself. I'm going back to school for my Masters in Exercise and Sports Science. I'm taking online classes through American Military University. I'll start this June with 'Methods in Research', 'Advanced Methods in Strength and Conditioning', followed by 'Advanced Physiology' and 'Nutrition in Health and Sports' starting in August. I'm so excited.

The sleeping has improved. Thank you for your prayers. I have  natural ingredients to help me sleep in pill form or in a tea. If I don't make it to sleep on my own by midnight, I get up and take something. I'm also getting a head start on the reading for my classes.

This summer will be busy, but in a way easy (I think) the boys are gone a lot with camps. I'll be able to get a lot of study time in. The mornings will have workouts for the boys at school, and I'm going to do the summer workout program I established for our track athletes to follow. I plan to get one week ahead of them so that I can adjust the program as we progress through the summer. The athletes have a certain level of fitness to reach before they come back to school next fall. No wasting time getting them in shape again. We are moving forward. If you have a middle school to college student that needs to get in general competing shape, give me a shout.

At Conference the triple jumpers placed 3rd and 4th, Long Jumping was 7th . They earned points for the team. Our 4x4 team won, a 5000m runner won, in the 400m men's we were 1st and 2nd, 3rd in 200 and 800 and 3rd in 10,000. We had other finishes that earned points for the teams - women's 9th in conference and the men 5th in conference. Not bad for our second year. We had 5 girls competing against teams with over 30, for the men we had 12 athletes where others had over 40 competitors. We have a couple of guys going to Nationals in the marathon.

Only six more broiler chickens to butcher. THis is one activity that I plan not to do again. At least not on the scale of 20 birds. I have wrung necks, chopped heads off, and used a killing cone. I now prefer the chopping block for fast action and easier to hold the birds down so they don't break a wing. Each day it is harder to do this job, but if I don't they will have a heart attack and die. I'd rather that not happen to the birds.

Have a great week. Happy Birthday to Gluten. Our youngest turns 14 Sunday. Happy Mother's Day.