Maxwell Loves Reptiles: He turned 9 & his FIRST pet!!

Maxwell turned 9 this June and I cannot believe that this is his last year as a single digit child. 

Currently, Maxwell is into video games, particularly Gorilla Tag. He loves reptiles, dinosaurs still and enjoys drawing and anything artistic. His favorite movie currently is Inside Out 1 and 2. 

What started off as asking 1 friend to come visit for his birthday turned into a full-on party with a few friends, cake and even the one drink he's been asking to try for months...Prime. This is a no-go in my house of non-toxic food/drink. But I did let him get this for his party, as a special occasion. I think that may have been the highlight of the party. Ha ha. 

We also decided that this would be the time to get Maxwell his first pet. With his love of reptiles, we embarked on the mission to find the easiest and friendliest lizard we could find. To which we were pointed to the Leopard Gecko. Now, I will say, I think that Tyler was almost more excited for this than Maxwell. While it was a surprise, Maxwell had been asking for a pet for a few years. It was that or a iphone and a cell phone was NOT gonna happen quite yet. 

In typical Tyler fashion, he did a thorough investigation into everything that leopard geckos entail and ordered everything under the sun for this new pet. Boxes upon boxes kept arriving at the door and after the front door started looking more like a wall than a door, I finally questioned Ty as to what exactly he bought for this lizard. lol. Turns out that a simple lizard isn't so simple after all. An entire live ecosystem, 4 lights of different temps, a temp laser gun,  large encasement with stand, numerous gadgets that I'm still not even sure what they are for, later...and we had everything we needed besides the actual gecko. 

Tyler couldn't order from a pet store within driving distance. No, that would have been too simple. He ordered from a professional breeder in AZ and had it overnighted to us. I'm starting to think that Tyler is lot more like Clark Griswold than I ever realized. Even that shipment process was an escapade. While it was super hot in both AZ and TX, the breeder assured us that if she shipped at night and it arrived the next morning, it would be fine as it is sent with cooling box. When Ty arrived early the next morning at the pick up station, he was dismayed to find that the lizard was NOT in fact there. After calling the breeder and assessing, we found out it was delayed in Tennessee. So at this point we didn't even know if we were going to get this gecko here alive. We had not told Maxwell about his present yet, so that was the only positive aspect to the whole debacle. 

On the next day, Ty showed up yet again at the pick up station and thankfully.....Ms Nelly aarrived and was alive!! We brought her back and set her all up in her new home. Ty spent the next 2 weeks fussing over her and making sure she had everything she could possibly need. When Maxwell got out of school that day, he was elated by his new little friend. He named her Nelly and she's been happy at home since. Although she is nocturnal and doesn't do too much, Maxwell finds having her to be a fun first and loves holding her and helping to feed her the mealworms. 

Maxwell's 8th Birthday: Lego Land & CA

 

Carrying on the theme this year for birthday trips, we surprised Maxwell with a trip to LegoLand Ca for the big 8! He had no clue where we were going. All he knew was that we were taking a plane to get there. He kept asking for hints along the way.  When we arrived, there was sheer excitement as he walked up to the Lego Castle! It carried on into the room decorated with birthday items for him and as they explored the fun castle- themed room! 

I was really surprised by how much we loved staying here. I figured this was going to be a trip that we did for the kids and just lived through their enjoyment. But in all honesty, I had JUST as much fun as the kids. I loved watching them find the clues throughout the resort to open the gift lego box in our room. We had pool time and plenty of snacks and drinks were served. They had many activities going on all throughout the afternoons and into the evenings including interactive shows, movies and if they weren't about that, you could play of the awesome playground for kids. The park was also a good time. Maxwell was SUPER excited that he found Mr. Gold!!  There are only 8 hidden throughout the park each day. They are with staff members and you have to go around asking for them. What are the odds....he found Mr. Gold on our first day! And traded it in for a super rare lego- a birthday moment he will remember. 

Maxwell doesn't enjoy too many rides. He takes after his Dad in the fact that if he can't drive it or control it, he isn't sure he wants anything to do with it! lol. But there were a plethora of ride options both chill and thrill. His favorite ones were the driving cars and getting his "license" as well as the firetruck race. Ty was born for that ride. He was reliving his firefighter days and made sure they won that race! ;)  Mini Land was super cool to see. Maxwell's love language is gifts. So we left with a couple bags more than I really wanted to buy him. Ha. But, you only turn 8 once! 

After 2-3 days at LegoLand, we packed up and stayed the rest of the trip in La Jolla CA. This was partly to let the kids go explore the beach and somewhat also for a bit of relaxation for Ty and I. We rented an Airbnb with ocean views and lots of windows. The rest of the trip was just relaxing. We went to the beaches, I was surprised at how cool it was there in June. We booked some great restaurants to eat at. A fav was the views at George's at The Cove and Duke's which was Hawaiian food. Loved that one. We also did morning walks to get Maxwell's favorite treat, at Dodo Bird Donuts and explored the shops and cafes. Next year will be parties and I'm already missing these birthday trips! The best memories are made during these trips. :) 

VERA turned 3. (2023)

 

Each year we rotate birthday parties and birthday experiences. This year, we are giving all of the kids experiences instead of a party as we did last year. Vera loves flamingos and giraffes so Ty thought that the zoo would be a perfect day for her.  And IT was!! She got to feed flamingos AND giraffes so it was a perfect day in her eyes. We did have a small gathering also just because she was requesting balloons and cupcakes with a candle. Ha ha. So we invited our friends here in SA over for some snacks and play. Her gift this year was a playground. Since it wouldn't be set up on time (we slacked on ordering the install), they sent a puzzle that she put together and once completed, it showed her what she would be getting in just a few days! 

She was VERY excited. At three, all of the small things are so big in her eyes. I love her at this age. She is by far my most advanced babe. Spoke sentences at 1, potty trained in record time, spells, counts, knows some spanish, witty, sense of humor is on point, ready to learn every day! 

She is complete opposite of Scarlett at this age. Scarlett was all about animals and not very "girly". Vera is all about babies, everything girly, dress-up and princesses. The girl LOVES shoes and shopping as much as I do! She will be my shopping buddy for sure! She loves to put on "her make-up" with me the am and work-out with me whenever she sees me in my workout room. She started preschool this week and has been LOVING it. Not one tear shed, only excitement! She is so much fun right now and I am enjoying all of the toddler stages of Vera Solveig <3

Chapter 38: In New York Part I

It was a strange thing to turn 38 this year. Inevitable but baffling how the years go by so quickly. Somehow I ended up spending the last 2 birthdays in New York.  We really had a great time back in the northeast. It was some work and some pleasure as we also tend to yearly Airbnb/rental things when we go back periodically. Most of our visit was fun and enjoyment. We got to visit with my dad and step mother, which was a blessing. We don't see them often. 

I was thinking back to where I was just 2 years ago...or 5 years ago. It's just crazy to me how much can be accomplished if you really just DO it.  I posted recently on my social media about how 2 years ago life was extremely hard. One of the hardest years that I recall in a very long time. It was "the year" that I always talk about- Ha. But if you are new around here...it was the one where Ty was living across the country and I was raising the 3 kiddos (Vera an infant who didn't sleep) while homeschooling/virtual teaching them during a pandemic, working full time for real estate AND opening the new gym. It was without a doubt the job of 5 people and I was doing it with a smile, albeit a fake one. There were many days crying in the closet after the kids went to bed. I'm not really a person who cries much. My emotions come out in other ways. That year, I cried. A few times at that. 

It was rough on our marriage, our parenting, our health...you name it. Why am I talking about 36 when this post is about 38? Because 36 built me. 36 brought me to 38. You never really know how strong you are. Here is my post from when I turned 36: here. I feel that I was quite modest in my writing on how things truly were in that moment. I hate to come off as a complainer or a negative person, so often I just try and make it out to be okay, even if it isn't. 

But here we are now at 38. Just 2 short years later. Wow. 

I am now in a completely different place. I've already written about that on a past post as well. So I won't bore all with the "I'm in such a great place" now details, lol, but I will say: I earned this. I truly and utterly earned every single happy day that I wake up and get the freedom to run our own business and have the free time to work out or spend with the kids doing shopping trips or lunch dates. I earned the fact that we can take 3 weeks vacation a couple times a year and not blink an eye. Or that I can have the beautiful in-between of "working mom" and still sometimes, "at home" mom. I just FEEL healthier and happier. I feel the best I've felt...well, ever, if I'm being honest. 

Now, please don't read this and think that everything is always perfect over here. That will never be a reality. Life will continue to have it's ups and downs, it's good moments and it's hard ones. I'm talking more about the progression of where I've been, where I came from...to where I am now. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, put in some hard work for a 1-2 years. Be consistent with what you do. You will be amazed at where you can be in a year or two. Now, granted I love that I am in a better place than the bottom lol, and I probably wouldn't want to ever do it again. But I'm NOT anywhere close to being done. I'm already working on the next thing. I'm already planning more. I don't often talk too too much about the details of things until they are here but that is what my focus and energy is on these days. Keeping the things I do have healthy and happy, while building new ways to be more efficient so I can take on more and build bigger. Still working on that but I am determined!

Last year, Chapter 37 was about learning to adjust to a different style of life and slowly figuring out that this lull and anxiety that came about, was actually just free time lol...I could breathe for the first time in a long time. I enjoyed my baby, Vera, growing and I learned a lot about the fitness industry. Man, hiring in this day in age was so treacherous. Each failure truly taught me something- and continues to. Whether it be about people or myself. So I am loving these new moments that give me knowledge and growth. Sometimes they definitely suck. But once you get over that hill, you see it all so much clearer and suddenly it's been a blessing in mysterious ways. We are over that hill in so many aspects and yet have much more to overcome. In both work and life. 

One of my favorite sayings, "I've come a long way, but I'm not done".  I feel ready to take on "next". And while my next goal is to keep on going in the direction we are, I also want to do something bigger. I want to help others. However I can. Whether it's knowledge or experience, or something bigger. I want to help someone other than us.  I feel like we are always in a position to help others with kindness....but when you are struggling to stay afloat yourself, it's a lot harder to help anyone else in more significant ways. But I'm ready to help others now. So that is my next goal for chapter 38. By 39, I want to have added 2 more businesses (which half of that already happened here 2 months after I turned 38- Gym #2 is here!!) and help some people along the way. I want to have built our dream home and taken 2 long-awaited and postponed vacations. I also want to feel that I spent the last 2 years really living and enjoying each small moment. Dipping into the fibers of what makes life, life. For me, it's those small moments that you just catch yourself in....

Watching the kids laugh and play. Creating a fun dinner spread, letting the kids help to set the table. The smell of a freshly mowed lawn. Opening the windows to let the breeze in for the first time since the summer heat wave stopped. The way the house feels when it's clean and a good candle burns alongside you. Planning out vacation details. Sitting down to plan everything holiday related! Sitting in a tub with a glass of wine. Getting to workout and feel my body improve and build. Sitting outside at night writing some words in the dark. Just glancing over at Ty and catching that feeling you had when you I first met him. Early morning walks paying attention to all the sounds and smells. Sitting on the front steps watching Ty wash the cars with the kiddos, sipping something good. Driving in the car down a back road with the top down and some good tunes playing. Playing some silly board games on a weekend "family night".  Packing the kiddos lunches with special touches to make them smile.  Sitting in bed on a Tuesday night watching the one show that Ty and I both like to watch together, ha ha. Seeing members at the gym take the first step towards a healthy life. Coffee on the back porch in silence before the kids wake up. Organizing my house for no particular reason other than the fact that I love organization. Oh the list goes on! 

It's those things that make it all worth being here. 37....you were good to me. Here comes the pages for Chapter 38.