Change is Coming

When Lynette and I started this blog and Facebook page we had plans of doing virtual races, group exercise classes, and meal plans.  We saw it as a basic fitness blog with other outside activities.  However, first Lynette moved and then I found out I was pregnant and moving and life got hectic.  The blog stayed but the virtual races fizzled (mainly from lack of interest) and the group classes died (from crazy schedules) but the blog has remained.  We do offer meal plans that are customized to fit your needs and we still blog and will continue to do so as long as somebody out there is reading.

However, we are slowly becoming more than just a fitness blog.  Yes, we both love fitness but we want to encourage you more than just on your fitness goals.  

Our desire is to encourage each and every one of you in your walk as a woman, wife, mother, and whatever other roles you have.  

You might see some different posts from us in the upcoming months and we would love your feedback on them.  Honestly we value your feedback so that we can better meet your needs.  

We have some exciting things on the horizon and hopefully you enjoy the changes.

A Busy Couple of Weeks

It's been a busy couple of weeks here at Camp Berger.  Between my parents visiting and Squish's birthday, there has been plenty of things to do and food to eat.

While my parents were here, my dad and I had a chance to run a local 5k race.  The race was run on a Friday night in conjunction with the local Balloon Fest.  The weather didn't really cooperate for us.  A couple minutes before the gun went off, the rain started coming down.  But that didn't keep us from running a good race.

My dad took second in his age group (4 seconds behind 1st) and I took 1st female.  The medals were really cool laser engraved wood.

On Saturday we spent the entire day at the festival and then went out to eat at a local restaurant.  And there was a little bit of excitement.

We were able to watch one of the balloons crash land in the parking lot across the road.  Thankfully everyone was okay.

Since my parents were here, we decided to celebrate Squish's birthday a few days early.  He requested a construction cake, and this is what I came up with.

I think he was more excited that he got to play with the decorations after the cake was gone =)

Papa spent some time fixing up the kids' bikes...  And then took one of them for a spin. (anyone else hearing the clown college theme song?)

Safety first!

Papa built the kids some new toys.

Sweet Pea took a break reading a book.

Out of the seven eggs we wanted to hatch, we got five chicks.  Sweet Pea wasn't too sure about them and tried to keep her distance. 

Sarge picked up a new cooking toy.

We filled it up with some meat, potatoes, carrots...

And set it to cook.

It was delicious and was more than enough for the 12 people who ate that day =)

So, you can see that I've been keeping pretty busy.  I'm hoping that things start slowing down just a bit so I can catch up on all the chores that have gotten missed the last couple weeks (the kids don't really need clean clothes, do they?)

Mom 4ce Plus???

Since life wasn't crazy enough for Team Freese, we decided to mix it up a little.  You know, boring and calm is just well; boring!

I was feeling a little tired and stressed out.  I figured that it was just from getting MOPS off the ground for the year and starting the school year up was taking its toll.  

After almost passing out at our first MOPS meeting I decided that MAYBE I should go to the doctor.  Then, my coffee smelled weird to me and I didn't WANT coffee.  

That's when I knew.... Yep, the Freese 6 will be the Freese 7 in May!  

Lynette has decided to let me stay with Mom 4ce even though I will no longer be a 4ce but a 5ce.  However, that sounds ridiculous so we are not changing the name.  

What does this mean for you?  It means that you will get to read about what I am doing diet and nutrition wise throughout this pregnancy. Don't worry though, it won't ALL be about pregnancy!  

However, I do want to tell you the first thing that I have done is started consuming Red Raspberry Leaf Tea.  This is something everyone benefits from and I should have been drinking it before but it wasn't coffee.  However, I have so much energy and so little nausea that I refuse to go without it now!  Non pregnant women have even noticed a difference in their cycles while drinking it so I plan on continuing chugging this brew after our baby comes.  

Other than expecting, Team Freese is busy packing.  Our closing date has been moved back a little but time is flying quickly.  The kids are enjoying a laid back school year, little do they know that this summer will make up for it, bahahaha!  

This post contains affiliate links.  Mom 4ce receives a small percentage of each item purchased to support this blog.  We would never promote anything that we don't fully enjoy and use ourselves. 

The Minimalism Endeavors

I'm always fascinated by the minimalist blogs and lifestyles.   The only problem is that I make it too complicated, which is the exact opposite of minimalism. 

 How do you know what to keep and what to get rid of?  What if I get rid of something and find that I need it later?  These questions and many others plague me whenever I start sorting through things and then I suddenly stop because I get overwhelmed.  

This move has started my minimalist endeavors afresh.  

We are going through everything and getting rid of whatever we have not used in the last six months.  I also can't quit because everything has to be packed.

I don't need or want overflowing cabinets or closets any longer.  My goal is that the new house will be easy to keep clean straightened up.  

My kids have even gotten in on the fun and have enjoyed passing on toys and clothes that they no longer want or need.  

I have discovered through this that minimalism is nothing more than only having what you need and will use versus having everything that you want and may or may not use. 

I attack the kitchen tomorrow so if you hear crying from the Dallas area you will know what it is. 

A Sense of Humor

You've heard that laughter is the best medicine, right?

If that's the case, then Kelli and I are some of the healthiest people around.  Anytime we talk, we end up laughing about something.

Lately, it's been about my choice in fashion.

See, now that I'm living out in the middle of nowhere in a camper.  And starting to homestead and homeschooling, Kelli seems to think I need the stereotypical homeschool wardrobe.

Yup, a denim jumper.  And depending on what socks and shoes I wear with it, I can go from mucking out the chicken coop to church without having to change =)

I told her I was very excited to see a jumper in my size at the local consignment shop.

No TV?!?!?

Sarge made a deal with the kids the other day.  He told them that every day they do not watch TV they'll get a dime.

So what do you do when you're not watching TV?

You bury your siblings in a pile of pillows and blankets =)

I'd much rather listen to the kids laughing as Sweet Pea *finds* them than not hearing any sounds because they're engrossed in TV.

Freese News

We found out in June that my husband was being transferred to Austin.  

Thankfully, we have until January to get there!  This has allowed us to take our time and look around, get to know the area.  

It has also allowed us to feel in limbo, uprooted, even nervous.  

We have taken some great trips to Austin and seen some great houses, as well as some not so great houses!

One of the great things we have been able to do is take a step back from our activities.  We were involved in a LOT! 

Life with no soccer, scouts, and other extra-curriculars has been relaxing.

I got to sleep in on a Saturday morning while all of my friends were headed off to 8 am games.  Don't hate me! 

Honestly, I am enjoying our laid back Fall.  

However, there is this undercurrent of excitement and fear sitting under the surface.  It is there; never leaving, almost tangible; it doesn't cause problems but is just sitting there waiting to take over.  

We are all excited and looking forward to our move.  

However, we are afraid too.  

We don't have a soccer team, piano teacher, running partners, homeschool groups, friends or anything else.  We are comfy and have deep roots.  

Those roots are slowly being pulled out and transplanted.  

It hurts a little; sometimes a lot.

Thankfully I have the ability to research all of the activities we are interested in.  I've even been able to join a few groups and get to know people.  

Now, I just need to find a house, pack, and move.  

Anybody have any moving advice?

Birthday Weekend

We don't just celebrate your birthday.  We celebrate for an entire weekend =)

Junior recently had a birthday (how did he get to be 9 already??).  Sarge took a couple extra days off so we could have more time to celebrate.

The weekend started off with a trip to the drive- in theater to see Planes.  It was a bit warm starting off (notice Sweet Pea is a *bit* sweaty?).  But once the sun set behind the mountain (sorry, world's highest hill) it started to cool down.

Planes was a really cute movie and the funnel cakes were delicious!

The next day, Sarge took the boys to see the USS Batfish (the girls went on a hunt to find quilt shops).  Yes, as odd as it seems, there is a WWII submarine in OK.

Junior's favorite part was how they could cram so many people in such a small space (and for up to 6 months at a time!).  He was amazed at how tiny everything was.

Monday was actually Junior's birthday.  He started off the day by going out for breakfast with Grandma (and got to pick out his birthday present).  After lunch, since it was still hot out, we headed out to the splash park (a great benefit of homeschooling- the park was empty because all the other kids were in school lol!!).

Since it was his birthday, I figured he needed his birthday cake.  And what's more fun than a firecracker cake?

A chocolate jelly roll cake with marshmallow fluff and graham cracker crumbs for the filling...  Just wish I was better at frosting cakes =)

Despite the lack of frosting skills, the cake was enjoyed by everyone.

There you have it.  Junior's birthday weekend =)  Thankfully it's another two months before we have another birthday to celebrate.  It gives me just enough time to figure out how to make a cake that looks like a semi...

School Time

I know several of you are sending your kids back to school today.  

Lynette and I hope your kids all have a great first day!  

Camp Berger

What happens when you half jokingly say "Bring the boys here.  I'll watch them for you."?  You end up with 3 extra kids for a week.

Excuse the photo bomb, but there is too much fun stuff to share!

The face of one happy boy- his twins were here to play!

 Can you see the boys hiding in the woods?  This was their climbing wall and (hopefully) eventual zip line. 

Lunch time! 

Fun at the Splash Park before the storms moved in.

Movie and snack time the first day. 

Heading down to the main house for breakfast.

There was lots of water to play in because of the storms.

Lunch at the park.

Sweet Pea really does love to swing. 

Break time in the shade. 

I know!  Let's bury the baby!

Thanks for rescuing me mom! 

At the top of Cavanal- The World's Highest Hill.

It was a very tiring day. 

Don't worry mom.  Mr Berger said it was perfectly safe.

Nighttime swinging and catching lightening bugs.

R caught a couple new friends.  Two lizards that we released after mom and dad saw them. 

Girly made dessert for us (recipe coming up on Friday!). 

Kid 4ce.

Waiting for breakfast the last morning.

Being goofy at Heavner Runestone Park.

Quick stop at the playground to make sure they were completely exhausted and would sleep all the way home.

Thanks for hanging with me through all the photos.  Kid 4ce had so much fun being able to hang out together again.  There are even plans for a Camp Freese (life in the urban jungle) and another Camp Berger next year =)