Growing

The acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing.  Growing happens when what you know changes how you live.

I came across the phrase above this week and had to share.  I've never heard it before, but it's so true!  So, in a half-joking manner, I'd like to share how I've grown over the years...

• I'm aware that veggies are really good for you.  I choose to eat canned green beans and corn for many, many years in an effort to be healthier.  Who knew canned "veggies" are packed with salt?  Huh.
• I know that I like boys.  I also know that I like music.  Obvi I'm going to become obsessed with Hanson.
• I know I get bored with nearly everything super easily.  So, what better way to mix up my workout regimen than by adding in a pogo stick, unicycle, Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease video's, and frog-hopping over anything humanly possible.  Who plays on various rec teams, anyways?
• I'm totally aware of the fact that I am an organized, clean, neat-freak.  What better way to chill myself out when I get in crazy-cleaning-mode than by rolling around on the sunroom floor with my little familia?  Oh yeah, Teigan is tearing the place apart, Hoolie and Rica are dragging around dirt from outside, and Ben is... well, slobbering [muaha].

Thank goodness I continue to learn and grow more and more everyday, thus changing how I decide to live... now I only eat canned green beans, while listening to Hanson, after pogo'ing around the 'hood, before I roll around in dog hair covering all of T's toys, every third day of my life.  That's growth, right?

Crazy like a wildcat,

me.

PS - This quote really means so much more than my ridonkulousness.  I hope everyone gets it... for realz.  Live, grow, learn, grow, evolve, grow - repeat.

Oompa Loompa's definitely had a Slip 'n Slide maze... where's mine?

My life these days...

1. Teigan's turned into a little speed-crawler and it's starting to cause issues.  Example: I ran into the store to try on a couple dresses Monday evening and Sweet T decided to run-crawl out of the changing room, into the changing room "lobby", and into the main store... all in about 8 seconds.  Me?  Well, it happened at exactly the wrong time, but it's a good thing I'm a quick changer.  It's also a good thing that the nice people at Stein Mart didn't call social services on me when an adorable 10-month old little girl was crawling through the store unattended - and probably eating anything, and everything, on the floor along the way.
2. Early mornings at the office are the best.  So much gets accomplished, no one is calling, you can focus 100% at the task at hand, and, come 8:15am, you feel on top of the world.  Well, you know, until the emails start coming in at an unbelievable rate of speed and ol' Gerdy is calling to talk about the weather.
3. Life, and my emotions, are a roller coaster these days.   I drive down the interstate, windows down, sun in my face, on Sunday afternoon... I cry the whole way home.  I watch the last hour of The Notebook on Sunday evening... I bawl my eyes out [yeah, twice in one day; it was awesome... except not really].  Tay Tay informs me Monday afternoon that he and Jess are moving to Chicago in May... I definitely tear up... mid pull-up.  Don't worry, grandparents, I'm not pregnant.
4. Now that The Bachelor is on hiatus, I'm completely heartbroken all week.  Without the constant promotions of the "most dramatic rose ceremony, ever" and talk of the Fantasy Suite, I'm bored.  Um, I'm a mom addicted to a totally ridiculous and trashy reality TV show... you should now worry, grandparents.
5. My days are filled with daydreams of running away to a fabulous hill filled with hours and hours of flowers and growth.  The best part of this hill, though, are the Slip 'n Slides.  They're everywhere.  It's a maze so I go from one slide to the next, to the next, and so on.  It's a never-ending Slip-'n-Slide-hill-of-awesomeness!  I'm serious.  I wonder if Willy Wonka had something like that at his place... pretty sure he did.

And the winner is...!

As of this afternoon, the Crossfit Games Open is officially over.  It was a great run, and on a personal level, I'm so glad I did it.  Not only was my CrossFit fire re-lit during the Open, but I learned that just because I haven't legitimately trained since October 2010, I really need to stop underestimating myself.


I've come to grips with the fact that my body is different post-Teigster, but I realize that it's okay and it makes me... well, me.  I have some serious work to do, and need to spend many more hours in the gym, but I'm proud of the way I look, feel, and perform.  I'm a mom who is a serious competitor... and that feels amazing.  I just need to remind myself of that every now and then when I'm having my off days.  So, next time I'm down on myself, make me reread this blog, mmmkay?

Anyways, I'm sure you're all wondering how the Slocum Casa Challenge ended up.  Talk about a close call... sheesh.  Ben takes the cake, but I can't say I didn't give him a run for his money.  Check out the rundown of the five WOD's below... dang!  I was just five chest-to-bar pull-ups away from beating his booty and taking home the grand prize... bragging rights until next year.  Bah!  Oh well, much deserved win.


Erin
12.1: 110     12.2: 60     12.3: 264     12.4: 240     12.5: 79
Ben
12.1: 89       12.2: 63     12.3: 259     12.4: 242     12.5: 84



Many congrats to everyone who competed this year!  It's been great seeing all of the camaraderie at CrossFit Ktown and support we've all given eachother through these suckfest WOD's.  Now on to cheering on CrossFit Ktown's Team Jacked and Tan at the CrossFit Central East Regional Games in Columbus, Ohio from May 11-13.


Special shout-out to Teigan who literally clapped and yelled for me during 12.5 this afternoon!  Love you, sweet girl.


PS - Love those pics?  You can blame Brittany Payne for pictures 1,2, and 4.  She's amazing.

Some more firsts

Well, well, well, stalkers... I'm back!  Please forgive me, but these past couple of weeks things have been, um, busy for me.  Such an understatement, but no need to bore you with details.  I'm beyond bonkers and cannot freaking wait for some serious one-on-one time with the lake, sun, and stereo system which may, or may not, be blasting Journey.  Hint: it will. 

Anyways, for as busy as I have been, Teigan may have me beat.  She's been spending all of her free time standing up, testing herself with taking steps everywhere she goes, talking her little face off, climbing stairs [no kidding - bad parenting?], and.... eating dog food [she's quick, I tell ya!].  Don't judge.  Anyways, bunch of firsts... 

First time to sneak away from the bathroom post-bath while still undressed... all in about 2 seconds flat.

First time in the shopping cart without her car seat.  Pretty much the best day, ever.

First time to put her bath boys back in the place where they belong. Coincidence? Probably. But I take credit.

Oh, and another first, non-Teigan related...!

First time to have my parents property worked on! They finally broke ground!

Wrapped up in a dream of Blue Bell Coffee ice cream, lake water, and sunshine-

ME!

Sweet Sixteen... here we come!

Teigan is officially double-digits... yesterday was her ten-month birthday!  Time to start thinking birthday party!  Oh-em-gee, I can't wait.  It's going to be just like Sweet Sixteen on MTV, except without the obnoxious girl in the spotlight, ridiculous day-of dress, "surprise" $50k gifts, grade F celebrity rappers spillin' it about hoes and dolla' billz, blue eyeliner, and super uncool parents.  Yep, exactly like the show... there will still be a crying little girl that has pooped her pants and stuffs her face with cupcakes.  Can't wait!


Can I just point out how hilarious it is that I was so obsessed with taking pictures each month on Teigan's month-birthday and now, just a handful of months later, it completely ceases to exist?  Mommy fail.


So, because I have failed again, check out this video I took today.  Poor T is sick for the first time.  But, in true redhead fashion [yeah, I'm still working on that part], she thrives through the pain.  That cough has nothin' on her singing-talking voice... or her having fun in general.

Love, love, love her!

Monkey say, Monkey... say

Just another day in paradise listening to my mature [?] husband and witty daughter having conversation over bath toys, soap, and... yelling?


Peace, Love, and Skinny-dipping!

CF Open 12.3 Update

As you can probably guess, I won.  Otherwise, if Ben had won our spousal competition, there certainly wouldn't be an update on the CrossFit Games Open WOD 12.3... duh.  

Let me tell you, it was a freaking doozie.  I explained the workout in the last blog, so I won't bore you with details, but I will tell you that I beat Ben by only 5 reps!  It was 7 rounds+7 reps for Ben and 7 rounds+12 reps for me.  Phew!  Close call, fo' shizzle.

Can't wait to see what CF Games Open 12.4 brings us next week!  I'm hoping for squats and sit-ups.  Tons of 'em.  With my luck, it'll be rope climbs, muscle-ups, and deadlifts...

2012 CrossFit Games Open

So, as you all should know, we are CrossFit freaks.  We have been for a few years now... Ben is a superstar CrossFitter and I was not only a coach, but also the first preggo athlete in our gym.  To an extent, our lives kind of revolve around CrossFit Ktown.  Well, it's that time of year and the 2012 CrossFit Open Games are officially in full swing.  Ben and I are both doing well in the gym, but we have a bit of a tiebreaker workout happening in our own household this week.  Nothing wrong with a little spousal competition, right?  Anyways, between the two of us, I won the first workout and Ben won the second... so it's currently 1:1.  This week's workout was just released and, I'm not gonna lie, it's going to be a good one.  Hint: good at CrossFit means totally-kick-your-arse.  


12.3 [clue: 2012/ 3rd workout] is to complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 18 minutes of: 15 Box jumps (M 24" box / F 20" box), 12 Push press (M 115lb / F 75lb), and 9 Toes-to-bar. Ben will demolish me in box jumps and push press, but I've totally got him on the toes-to-bar.  So, it should be interesting.  And don't you worry, I'll be sure to keep you posted.. unless, of course, I lose, in which case I'll let you know next time it's tied.

Not totally familiar with CrossFit and wondering what the Games are all about?  Taken from games.crossfit.com, "the Games is a three-stage journey. The first step is the Open, a worldwide, inclusive, five-week competition that kicks off on February 22 [what Ben and I are doing now].  The top athletes from the Open in each of 17 regions will qualify for the second step of competition – Regionals. The Regional competitions will run for five weeks from April 27 to May 27 at one venue in each region for three days of live competition.  The season culminates in the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games held July 13-15 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. At the Games, thousands of participants will be whittled down to around a 100 of the fittest men and women in the world.  A key element to a fair test of fitness is the unknown and unknowable. Athletes can’t train for what they don’t know. At each CrossFit Games, the athletes engage in a series of challenges unknown to them until right before the competition. The combination of highly trained athletes and unknown workouts makes for an explosive mix."


Check out this video of some of the highlights from the 2011 CrossFit Games... totally ridonk, right?

Can't you just totally envision us there?  <cue massive amounts of ridiculous laughter>

Change of Heart

I have a confession.  It's a big one and, to be honest, a bit hard to handle.  Many of you will disown me, most of you will certainly change your opinion of me, and all of you will officially think I've gone off the deep end.  It's not easy for me to say and I certainly am not proud of it, but, ahem, I have a changed opinion of Courtney from The Bachelor.  Gasp!  I know.  It's totally despicable and completely and utterly horrible, but I kind of feel sorry for her.  Ahhh!  I know!  So ridiculous I feel this way!  


It's also freakishly annoying that I watch the stupid show.  Bah!  Please tell me I'm not the only one...

Diggity Pomegranate Liquor

In an effort to be a super-high-class-lady-chef-thingy, and my desire to be the ultimate fun-haver-even-though-I'm-a-mom, I have started making my own liquor.  Don't start thinking it's going to be good, or anything, but I figure that, at the very least, some over-served friends who come over to the house will think it's the bomb diggity.  The same friends will also think, at the time, that bomb diggity is a cool phrase.  

I'm starting off with pomegranate liquor for no good reason - other than I got pomegranate-happy one day at Kroger and came home with nine of them.  I'm not kidding... and I had no plan for them.  After staring at them in the fridge for too long, I decided this would be the perfect first liquor trial run. 

Don't you love my apron?  Don't mess with Texa[n]s!

The liquor has been marinating now for nearly a month.  Today I get to do a few fun steps i.e. straining and adding a homemade simple syrup!  

Then, right around mid-April when my professional life is absolutely going nutso as I'll be mid-Festival, my sweet liquor will be ready.  I'm pretty sure that, by then, amidst the madness, anything pomegranate and with an alcohol content will certainly taste like da bomb diggity to me...

Off the chain - with pomegranates IN YO FACE,

E-Sizzle

Playtime!

The weather has been absolutely ridiculous* lately, so what do we do at Casa de Slocum?  Play outside, duh.  I'm just not sure who has more fun - Ben, Teigan, or me.  Actually, I do... it's me.  Don't think that upon first-play I didn't test out every single aspect of the playset to make sure it's adult-friendly - because I did... and it is!

As for Teigan, she's showing a lot of interest in the rings and climbing wall.  Call me cray-cray, but Crossfit Games 2025**... here we come!

*Ridiculous = Amazing.  It's been nothing like typical February weather in East Tennessee; beautiful, sunny, warm, and nearly perfect.

**2025 = Whaaaa?  Teigan will be 14 years old in 2025 and, hence, old enough to compete.  She should be, like, 40 by that year, though.  I swear it's still 1990... right?!  I'm old.  Sigh.