J

Let me tell you a story.  Once upon a time, I started coaching here in California.  And when I started coaching, it was the first time I had coached sooo soo many preschool gymnastics classes everyday all day.  And I've talked about my favorite class from those first couple months here.  I also had my not so favorite class.  Three 3-year olds.  Not hard right?  3 kids, when normally a class has between 5 and 7 kids.  But oh my goodness this poor class.  2 boys.  One girl.  Angel girl who is actually a pretty talented little gymnast who I caught singing popcorn popping one time (but that's a story for another time).

My gym is decently small.  We put classes and little circuits (obstacle courses) in small spaces so we can maximize gym use.  So during the 3:30 hour, as most gyms know, the gym gets to be pretty crowded with lots of classes going on.  And keeping these three kids in our little area and out of the way of getting squashed by bigger kids was my main goal for this little class.  Now.  The class at first was just two, one boy and one girl, and manageable.  But add my dear little friend J to the mix and all chaos ensued.

Luckily I work with splendid other coaches who knew what I was going through and most were understanding when all the sudden J or the other boy would sprint off across the middle of the floor to get trampled.  As I have since learned, it takes three weeks for kids to get it.  And I had J for about three weeks of him sprinting off when my schedule got flipped around and I got taken off his class to coach some of the older girls.  Another coach coached him for a while, and he just lost interest I guess cause I realized I stopped seeing him at class.

And then came this week.  He signed up for summer camp.  3 straight hours of Jad.  With 6 other kids between the ages of 3-4.  Needless to say I was a little scared for this week.  Scared is an understatement.  I had Jad, another girl who just barely turned 3 last week, plus some other characters.

But let me tell you.  I love J.  We finally get each other.  When the huge group of camp is playing a big game, or practicing for their big performance, both J and I know he can't pay attention, so today for example, we took a break and built towers to karate kick down.  I had to leave for part of the day today to set stuff up for my parent tot class that I teach, and he came up and gave me this huge hug.  He wanted to show off to me his winnie the pooh and tigger crocs.

I am by no means a perfect coach.  I still have tons and tons to learn.  But sometimes it's breakthroughs like this that make it worth it.  Still exhausting.  But worth it.   I love it.  I feel like I learn and grow each day, and I don't feel that that is going to stop anytime soon which is exciting to me :)

Characters

So.  I admit it.  I like many an odd character.  I get attached to characters in movies/tv series/books/etc.  In real life too.  I like odd people.  But anyways.  Characters.  I get attached.  In college, I became hooked on Grey's Anatomy due to a roommate from my very first semester and got hooked ever since.  I relate to the characters (i was able to relate each of the characters to myself and my friends from college, with myself being yang).

So I was talking with a friend of mine about characters, and fictionalized love and he was talking about how the kind of love in love songs/movies/shows/whatever isn't real and shouldn't be something that we're wishing for and I got to thinking tonight.  I watch the Bachelor.  haha, this season is the first one I've watched and I must say, it's been hilarious, and of course, I have my favorite characters.

Of course, I'll reactivate Jeff and we'll get married, or convert Sean.  I'll take that one too obviously.  But the one that makes me laugh that is the odd character that most everyone disagrees with me about is Ryan.  I just love Ryan.  Call me crazy, but there are characteristics that he has that I am looking for in a future hubby.  He is funny, goofy, goal-oriented, motivated, hard working, confident, and he knows who he is is because of God....and in addition to that, he wants his wife to be the best she can be.  He wants to showcase his wife and show her off.  I dig that.  I hope I get pushed to be the best I can be.  I don't admire people who plan to or do "let themselves go" after they get married.  stupid.  i think.  but people disagree with me.  whatever.

Love is idealized.  I love love.  I love my chick flicks.  I enjoy watching the Bachelor.  And Grey's Anatomy. I love sappy love songs that get me twitterpated.  I plan to live in love.  I know it's not going to be like that every day.  Come on now.  But life is grand.  Why not be grand in love?  Having someone to share it with every step of the way?  I'm excited for it.  It'll be grand.  The perfect character for me.  How fun will that be :)

I'm not lucky. I am blessed :)

I just love life.  Here is an example of the little rugrats that I work with at camp.  I had the 7 littlest ones with me all week for camp at work and it's a blast and a half.  exhausting.  but fun all the same.  Aren't they the cutest??  not to mention it's my favorite song of the moment.  Plus I hiked a bit in the redwoods yesterday and went to the beach two days in a row with some of my favorite people.  life is grand.  love it :)

Utah/Idaho

So this past week I've been able to spend in Utah and Idaho, cause I've had time off for work because of national gymnastics congress and the olympic trials!!!! (which was wonderfully amazing by the way, not to mention the fact that my boss gave my coworker and I front row seats to the women's competition!  so blessed)  But really.  I can't even begin to describe how blessed my life is now, and when I was living in Rexburg.

Things I dislike about Utah/Idaho:
1)  The wind.
2)  Sometimes the need/feeling of having to be perfect all the time.
3)  Along with that, I think because of that some people turn uber fake/ridiculously happy.  Now I am a generally happy person, but these people take it to the extreme sometimes.
4)  The emphasis on dating.
5)  Classes.  School.  psh.  who does that.  haha

Things I like/love about Idaho (I would say Utah too...but no.  I just love Idaho):
1)  The Rexburg Temple.
2)  Favorite souls.
3)  New fun souls.
4)  Small town parades.
5)  Being able to have people to hang out with all the time if I want.
6)  Surprise seeing favorite souls at random places.
7)  Madison Gymnastics Center, and my gym family there.
8)  It's beautiful. 
9)  Cheaper.
10) Country music.

I figure double the amount of things I like over what I dislike makes sense.  I really did have a blast and a half this week and it was a very much needed nice break from San Jose and work.  I have worked every day except Sundays from the end of January until now...minus Memorial day.  Crazy.  But I love it and I am super excited to get back :) 

And now for my theme song of the moment...well.  my theme song might be a little much, but my favorite song of the moment: