Happy Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a very rainy one here in Charlotte and while I am a little bummed not to be spending the weekend in Florida with the fam or by the pool at our swim club (just opened for the season!), I’m also welcoming a slower pace and time at home. It’s been a busy few weeks and I’m going to catch you up on that in this post! Also, most of North Carolina is in a pretty severe drought right now with water restrictions in place in some areas so five days of rain is needed and is supposed to make a significant impact on drought conditions.
FINN TURNED EIGHT
Somehow we went from this…
…to this in warp speed. How it was actually eight whole years blows my mind. I know it’s cliche to say that time passes by quickly with children but wow do the years ever fly.
I have done my best to be as present as possible but it’s so hard not to feel sentimental and wish I could do it all over again knowing what I know now. Being Finn’s mom is the absolute best thing I’ve ever done in my life – and the greatest honor. He has the sweetest spirit and the biggest heart – and having him by my side brings tremendous joy.
Finn had a friend party at Urban Air and it a sweaty, fun time was had by all the kiddos! Finn loves trampoline parks and I prefer Urban Air because the facility is always impeccably clean and they have activities beyond jumping like ropes courses, play structures, bumper cars, zip lines and more.
While the party fee was rather spendy at Urban Air, they absolutely crushed it with the delivery of a great event. We opted for the Deluxe Package and a private party room. The kids had full access to every attraction and we had our own party host who helped with checking all the kids in, food, clean up, etc. Urban Air provided all the food, decorations and supplies. The only thing I brought was the cake! Finn requested a chocolate mousse cake so I ordered one from Suarez Bakery. They did a great job, as usual!
WRAPPING UP FIRST GRADE
There are just a few weeks of school left and Finn will complete his first grade year! He loved his teacher and genuinely seemed to enjoy going to school every day – which is a huge win in my book. His reading skills have really exploded towards the end of the year and it’s fun to hear about all the various things they are learning.
The end of the year has been packed with activities. We had his spring musical performance and International Day last week. His school has students from over 30 countries and for over 20 years they have been celebrating their diversity with a special day highlighting the various cultures. I was able to attend the International Day parade and it was so special.
I’m looking forward to volunteering at field day in two weeks and reliving some childhood memories!
SEASON THREE OF SOCCER COME TO AN END + SWIM TEAM BEGINS
Finn completed his third season of soccer with Charlotte Soccer Academy (rec) last weekend. This was a big season of growth for him when it comes to confidence and focus. He had some really great coaches this season and I’m excited that he wants to play again in the fall! I will never push any one sport on him but just want him to be active and part of a team at this age.
We’ve transitioned to swim team for the summer and it’s just so sweet to see him swimming his little heart out. Also hoping for music lessons in the fall. Finn loves dancing, music and creating playlists. He’s taught himself how to beatbox and loves a strong beat. He’s asked to try the drums and I think percussion will be right up his alley!
COOL MOM STATUS
My gift to myself for Finn’s eighth birthday was a third ear piercing. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while and I decided to go for it!
I did a lot of research online to choose the best place to go. My research led me to Sadu Body Modifications in Plaza Midwood where I had an extremely positive experience. Here’s how the process went:
- I scheduled my appointment online and completed the mandatory forms and releases.
- I showed up at my appointment time and spent about 15-20 minutes selecting jewelry with a very helpful staff member who walked me through the process. Sadu offers a variety of jewelry options in a range of price points but it’s important to know that earrings are priced per earring (not as a set) and you have to pay for the earring and the post. Sadu carries implant-grade titanium, niobium, body-safe glass and solid gold jewelry. You cannot bring jewelry from the outside for your piercing unless it’s APP-approved. I had to purchase two sets of earrings and four posts because I was having my second hole “stretched” in addition to piercing the third.
- I went into a treatment room with my piercer and they walked me through the entire process. Sadu does needle piercings which I wish I’d have known about when getting my first and second holes. It was a far superior experience to the earring gun at Claire’s. My piercer checked my second holes to see how much they’d need to be stretched and then drew out my third. There almost wasn’t space because of poor placement of my second holes but we made it work!
- The actual piercing happened and it was minimally painful! There’s no numbing or anything but it was pretty quick and easy.
- My piercer walked me through aftercare and next steps. Aftercare is just keeping the piercings as dry as possible and cleaning them twice daily with a saline wound solution. I will return to Sadu about four weeks after my piercings where they’ll replace the posts with one slightly larger. I appreciate this gradual process! I have to leave my second and third hole jewelry in for 6-8 months for full healing. If I want to change the jewelry, they recommend coming into the shop.
I would 100% recommend Sadu if you live in the Charlotte area and are looking to do a piercing. They pierce ages five and up!
WORK UPDATE
Not much new to report on the work front! I spend about half my time teaching classes and training clients and the other half leading my team at The Health Club. I am so, so very happy there. The community we’ve built over the last year is so special and the positive culture is everything.
I’m still at Charlotte Yoga a few times a week as well because this studio is where I fell in love with yoga 17 years ago and the relationships and connections I have here are so powerful.
I feel the most powerful, useful, in alignment, like me, at home when I am being Finn’s mom and when I am teaching/sharing yoga and fitness. I have no doubt that I was meant to be Finn’s mom or that I was meant to serve through yoga. I feel fortunate that I get to spend my days doing these things.
RUNNING UPDATE
I finally got myself back out on the trails for the first time in way, way, way too long a few weeks ago. And with two of my favorite trail friends who taught me everything I know about trail running and endurance hiking.
We made a day trip to the Roan Highlands where we started at 19E and finished at Hughes Gap, covering just over 22 miles on the Appalachian Trail. This was the official kickoff for my Golden Ultra training!!!
It was a big day out there but overall I felt solid. I definitely have some fitness to regain when it comes to time on my feet but I know it will come quickly with consistent running throughout the week and some multi-day long trail weekends.
Last weekend I kept it local to get a trail run in and did 11.5 miles and 2,400 feet of gain at Crowders before Finn’s birthday party.
Very much looking forward to a summer of training!
LET’S WRAP IT UP WITH SOME BENJI LOVE
Benji is the bestest boy and we love him so much. It has blown me away to see how much he’s thriving as an only dog (but he also does well with other dogs when we hang with friends!). He’s calm, chill on the leash, well-behaved left alone, snuggly and sweet. We miss Zoey and talk about getting another golden puppy but for now we are going to enjoy the simplicity of being a one dog household.
This is his smile. He does this all the time and it cracks us up! His trainer when he was a puppy said it’s actually a submissive trait.
That will do it for today! I hope you guys are well! xo
