Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know...I get a free YMCA membership.

Actually, it's not for all Americans - just for us military folk. :) Yep, that's right. I am officially a member of the YMCA, and I am beyond excited. I would use the word "stoked," but I hate the way I sound when I say that. I don't know why...that word just doesn't fit me right. Anyway, I'm happy.

This is my first YMCA experience. I have always imagined (forgive me) an "inner city" type feel with a nasty daycare and dark rooms with old equipment. And maybe some of them are like that. But NOT our YMCA. It is a place that will inspire in you a desire to burst into song - even the YMCA song - with no shame at all. It is a beautiful, large, new building with awesome equipment, tons of classes, a great pool, and a daycare where I'm not afraid to drop my kids off to go work out for an hour.

We went there today for a cute Halloween parade they put on. I should have worn workout clothes, because let me tell you WHAT. Although I wasn't "working out" in the normal sense of the word, I broke more of a sweat than I normally do during aerobics. (I know, here I go talking about my sweat again. Sorry, peeps.) I have blisters all over both hands and the inside of my...elbow pits? that place halfway down your arm...from carrying my overweight son in his 200 pound carseat while chasing after Nemo a.k.a. Eva. I have a bloody blister on my right heel. I am exhausted and sore, and there were several moments I literally thought I was going to collapse. you tell me - am I out of shape or overworked? Maybe both.
But it was worth it. I got a free membership, AND I got about a trillion copliments on my darling kids' darling costumes of Nemo and Crush. I was, snobbishly, very grateful that they weren't just the typical princess, monkey, or pumpkin. They stood out, and I loved it. All the kids kept saying to Eva, "Hi, Nemo!!!" And she would just smile cluelessly at them. She has never even seen Nemo - how's that for taking away her free agency. I wanted her to be Nemo, so BAM. There she was with her short, stubby fin and orange fleece hoodie hanging in her eyes. She was a sight to behold. I dare say she was as cute as last year, which I didn't think was possible.

I'll post pictures of this year...eventually.
One reason I am so happy about our newfound YMCA-ness is that they have FREE swimming and gymnastics classes. Truth be told, if I could relive my childhood I would say, "Forget the piano! I want to be an Olympic gymnast!" Therefore, I am, just like every good parent does, planning on living my dream vicariously through my unsuspecting daughter. Little does she know that she is the next Shawn Johnson. The gym at our YMCA is the beginning of my dreams. It has this awesome bouncy floor, all the real gymnastic equipment like balance beams and bars, and padded things everywhere. You could throw your body around in there for hours and never get hurt. Oh, to be 8 years old again. I probably had more fun running up and down the long trampoline on the ground than Eva did.
Andrew comes home tomorrow. I can't put into words how excited I am. The only problem is that I started a HUGE project with the intention of surprising him. BAD IDEA. If you know me, you know that I am by no means a finisher of anything. So, SURPRISE! all the boxes of books are unpacked. And SURPRISE! all the books are sitting on the dining room table with no hope of being hauled upstairs before Andrew walks in the door tomorrow. Welcome home, honey...mind helping me with these books? Sweet, I know. It wouldn't be a big deal if we were normal people and had just a few books. But I am pretty much a book FANATIC. We have - not kidding - at least 300 books. Maybe even 400. I don't know. Hmm, now I'm curious and I want to go count them. Not put them away though. That would be pushing it.

1 comment:

Watts Family said...

Yippee to have Andrew home again.
And Eva did have the cutest costume last year. What a sweetheart. We will miss you this year for sure.