Getting out of character

Occasionally it's fun to do something that's very unlike yourself, to get out of character. That's why I teach kickboxing. I live in a very tame world (minus having a toddler on the loose :)) and being able to punch, kick, and occasionally booty shake keeps things interesting.
Upon getting married and graduating from college (having a family, raising children, owning a home. .)my life has been blessed with deeper understanding and greater meaning. However, long gone are those days of wearing heels, playing, dancing, and going to concerts. So every weekend I step out of my Elmo-watching, HGTV loving, homemaking identity to uppercut, and round house-kick to obnoxiously loud DJ-mixed music. I'm always happy to come back to my quiet home, but for a few hours a week it's fun to be someone I'm not.
Step out of your identity and give something new a try.

I made Liam turn off his movie to get ready. This expression and the assertion "I want moomie" was his response.


Firths love chocolate


The pleasures of potty training- just kickin' back.

Just doing a little cleaning

Brady's Contribution

A little announcement- Brady's primary contributions to Firth-based blogging now take place at envelop2.wordpress.com

See you there

Magnifying Your Calling

This might be the funniest thing you see all week. Go watch it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy3Z5Ui0Y8w

This week has been very cold (down to -10) but we've survived by staying busy working, getting pulled in the sled( Liam,) cuddling to movies, hosting a baby shower, eating good food. . . Only 3 more months of winter! Things are going great with Brady's research and it seems like his labs are going to bring in some sweet/hopefully-publishable results.

What a goof.

Liam

The Secret to Potty Training your 19 Month Old- Pink kitty cat stickers. Notice in his hand he is clenching his prize and feeling like a champ. We've been half heartedly potty training him and this weekend we bought some cat stickers and it has been just the motivation he needed. It's been 2 days without changing a dirty diaper. It was funny, he was drawing a picture today and pointed at a small black object and said "dats poopy." Apparently he's even drawing it now. For those of you without kids sorry it's gross to talk about potty training but you'll understand just how exciting it is one day :)

Liam watched these movies snuggled up to Grandma and Papa when we were in Utah, we took a few home and now he follows us around the house with them. I'm sure it's a bit of grandparent nostalgia. Brady and I are on our way to memorizing the second Muppet season.

I turned my back while the syrup was on the table and he grabbed it and filled his plate to the brim. Here he is dipping and licking his fork.

New Years Fitness Resolutions- Think small

New Years resolutions- with the drop of the ball the apathetic become instantly overzealous. Those that have been slow and steady all year long suddenly seem to be the lazy ones losing the race. People that haven't found enough reason to be motivated all year are suddenly following the crowd to the gym and swearing off junk food only to find themselves bored and "over it" by Febuary. I too have been a part of this phenomenon-doing more wishing than I was really willing, or realistically able to work for.
It's easy to question if there is any good in these far fetched New Years dreams at all. Without this feeling of fitness failure every year would the general population have greater self efficacy and a firmer belief in themselves as capable exercisers? Does society's binge/purge model of physical fitness leave us feeling bloated, creating more of an aversion to exercise than a habit?
It may be better to try and fail than to never try. It could easily be argued that these few weeks weeks of whole hearted attempts at physical activity is better than nothing. New Years is a time of introspection, usually leading to an honorable yearning to be better. It's a time of year where everyone is able to turn a new leaf. It is a time where we can start new and leave our less motivated self (and hopefully a few unwanted pounds) behind. Even those decidedly non-exercisers or self declared "too busy" to exercise are usually confronted with a needed feeling of guilt or self-evaluation.
I've put a lot of thought into it all and still haven't come to any likeable conclusion, and if nothing else, for me it's a bit of job security in these bad economic times. But until then, I've convinced myself to be resolved just like everyone else and wish for miraculous things in 2009. After all, who's stopping us? Only ourselves. Good Luck on all your fitness goals. Happy New Year 2009!

Christmas Break '09

We had an amazing time visiting Brady's family in Utah! It was terribly hard to come home. Liam wakes up each morning asking for Grandma and papa and we have to remind him that they don't live here.
We spent time playing games, eating great food, laughing, hot tubbing, skiing at the Cayons in Park City, watching movies, shopping, playing Wii, pirate partying, celebrating Grandma and Grandpa's 50th anniversary, going to a wedding reception, visiting a friend's brand new baby, reading, playing playstation football and chasing cats, playing the harmonica, building snowmen and watching Muppets with grandpa and grandpa(Liam.)
It was a perfect break and it was so nice of everyone to take time off of work/school and play with us. We loved every minute of it and can hardly wait to go back and see everyone. (Most of these pictures were actually taken by Brady's mom Leisa or sister Lindsey and pirated to this site.)

Field Trip to the bakery in DeWitt with friends