Tag Archives: cello

Some Tough Decisions

August 4, 2014 Kim

Lately I’ve been struggling with several things and trying to figure out the best solution. I keep telling myself that if it causes stress I need to just let it go but that is easier said than done!!!

You probably already know that Hunter plays cello. He plays at school but he also takes private lessons and that has been a great experience.

However, his teacher just let all of her students know that she is increasing her rate by $5/half hour. Since she is already higher than most of the private music teachers in town we are having a hard time going along with the rate increase. (We drive to her and buy our own music.)

Hunter loves her as a teacher and has learned a lot but we are trying to decide what is too much!!!

Ultra Running

You might remember that I have tried (twice) and failed (twice) to complete a 50 mile race. Well, this weekend I’m actually supposed to go to Illinois and meet up with a blog friend (Carmen) to run an ultra on Saturday.

The problem is that we have day events, night events and a weekend wedding at the venue and I have been stressed for weeks trying to figure out how to get everything done (cleaning, set-up, ironing…) and still drive to IL without arriving at midnight or later Friday night.

Blogging

And, the thing that I’m really trying to figure out the most is my blog. I hired someone to help me make the switch to self-hosted but ever since he switched it from Go Daddy to whatever it is now, I have had nothing but trouble!!! I spent most of last week avoiding my blog because it was causing me so much stress!!!

I told Chris the other day that as much as I love blogging I know it takes up a lot of time that I could (and probably should) spend on the venue and some other things I’ve committed to lately.

Being the super smart man that he is, he told me to just keep going with my blog – he knows that if I gave it up I would regret it in a very short time!!!

Cello lessons, ultra races (in a different state), blogging…..time to really figure out what is most important!!!

Do you go back and forth between what you WANT to do and what you know you SHOULD do?

Happy Monday!!

Kim

Fitness, Push-Ups

A Big Day for my “Little” Boy

March 9, 2014 Kim 25 Comments

Today’s 44 was a fun push up move – using 2 small wobble balls and a medicine ball.

I put my hands on the small balls (out sort-of wide) and both feet on 1 medicine ball –

ready - hard to hold this position! — ready – hard to hold this position!

The daily challenge for #happyfitmarch was to do as many push-ups as you could in 2 minutes. I decided to combine my 44 with the challenge. I did a total of 58 push-ups in the 2 minutes!

Today is a day full of cello for Hunter.

He has his Philharmonic Orchestra concert this afternoon. This is a full orchestra made up of mostly middle school kids in Topeka and surrounding areas. Hunter has enjoyed this even though it is a big time commitment on top of his cello lessons, cello group and sports at school.

Tonight is the final for the Topeka Young Musician Awards. Hunter had to submit a video to enter this contest. He is one of four 7th grade stringed instruments competing in his category. (I’m not sure how many submitted videos but only 4 advanced to tonight’s performance.)

This will be Hunter’s first solo in front of a large group and I know he is nervous but he will do great. He has practiced and is ready!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAFhvJ32ElY

(Hunter’s submission video.)

Good luck, Hunter!!! I know that you will be awesome!!!

Happy Sunday!

Kim

Fitness, Lunges, Quad, Squats

Time for a Fun Friday!!!

December 20, 2013 Kim 56 Comments

Today I did a challenging 44 (finally!!!) and it was rough!!!

I got down in the monkey squat position (squat with feet together, hands by feet)

get ready to be in this position awhile!

and, while staying in that position, did alternating back lunges (right-left = 1 rep).

My quads were on FIRE!!! Check out the photo bomb – Hunter made a video downstairs but due to issues (mine, YouTube – who knows?!) I couldn’t get it loaded so we did pictures upstairs really quickly!!

I think that I will be back to working out again this weekend – it has been a roughish week but…..

Today is Fun Friday!!!

1. Last day of school for 2 weeks!!! For Hunter (middle school) today is basically a pud day – movies and a whole lot of nothing!! For Jordan (high school) he has to get through 3 more finals to finish his first semester as a high school student!!

2. Hunter performed in the Christmas cello bash last night!! The whole reason it is a cell0 bash and not just a concert – it is long!! Last night was only 2 hours but the spring one is usually 3+!!!

I tried to upload a video but I’m having technical difficulties this morning!!!

3. I guess the roads are icy this morning! Wait, this is supposed to be Fun Friday!!! Chris text to say his early morning drive (before 6:00 am) was full of black ice! Lovely!

4. I have a fun meeting set up for this morning!!! Back in the summer a new bridal boutique opened here in Topeka. It is called Happily Ever After and the owner came from Kansas City (a much bigger city) – she has all kinds of great ideas. We are meeting this morning to talk about working together on some package deals for brides – it should be fun!!

5. I have one errand to make today and then I’m done shopping for Christmas (except grocery shopping – haven’t even started menu planning!!!)!!!

6. Other than my teeth hurting (still – 2 weeks now!), I feel better than I have in a week!!! I can think about working out without feeling sick!

What’s fun in your Friday?

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Hunter, Hunter, and more Hunter

May 24, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

Today’s 43 was total core (oblique) work!!! The rest of my body is sore – between the long run yesterday and the burpees the other day (been awhile since I’ve done push-ups!!)so I decided to take it easy today!!!

The set-up for this move is similar to a crunch (on your back, knees bent, feet on floor) except you keep 1 elbow firmly on the ground the entire time. Start with left elbow on the ground at your side and right arm extended straight up – crunch up, reaching arm straight up (elbow on ground).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjVYNZdYuss’]

In the video, I only did 4 per side but you know in “real-life” I did 43 per side!!!

No other workout today – yesterday drained me!!!

Hunter has had a lot of events the past couple of days!!!

6th Grade Graduation:

His bright outfit made it easy to find him up on stage!!

getting recognized for the Presidential Gold Award

The kindergarten students and 6th grade students all marched up to the stage together and sang the same song that Hunter’s class sang 7 years ago (for his Kindergarten graduation) – so cute!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uunoP2oTcB8′]

Yesterday at school was Super Sports Day – always a great way to end the school year!!!

one of the many inflatables behind Hunter

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=714XPHocS4Y’]

Hunter isn’t paying any attention to Chris – but some of his friends are all about waving!!!

And finally, last night was the semi-annual cello bash! Hunter takes private lessons from a wonderful cello teacher and every December and May she hosts the cello bash for all of her students. It’s a great event (but long, very long!!!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ00Y0o-ny4′]

The Pink Panther song is my favorite (because I don’t know the Mission Impossible theme as well).

Thanks for letting me share all about Hunter!!!

Any exciting plans for the long weekend?

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Plyo

Weekend – Fun, Family, Friends

March 31, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Today I took a move from my Combat workouts and turned it into my 43. This was total cardio – plyo style!!

I did a double right knee (bounce on left foot), double left knee (bounce on right foot), then a double knee strike (jump with right knee in front), double knee strike (jump with left knee in front) = 1 rep. Confused? Check out the demo:

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVQ0SK-409k’]

(Because I’m a complete dork, I switched front knees once but it still worked out the same in the end!)

This 43 was fun and went quickly!

Hunter did a great job at his cello contest yesterday.

He was waiting for the judges to tell him to start – nervous? I caught his eye and got him to smile for the next picture.

fixin to play - love the smile! — fixin to play – love the smile!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCg0_3n7pHE’]

Considering that he had only practiced with the accompanist once before yesterday, he did a great job!! At one point he forgot where he was but he smiled and found his way again. He was the only one of the kids who played from memory yesterday.

I better get in the kitchen and get busy with lunch prep: