Check out my guest post on weight training tips over at Side of Sneakers!

Busy. Hectic. Crazy. That would sum up this week so far for me. It would also likely sum up myself, especially the crazy part…but we won’t go there. The sad thing? I don’t even really know why it has felt like such a mad rush all week. We haven’t had too many more things on our plate than normal.

We have had play dates with friends at story time.

We have visited the pediatrician for a 4 month check-up.

Although don’t even get me started on the times they schedule well visit appointments. Losing nap time does not make a very happy Tina. Or Braedon. Or Makenzie. Sounds fun, huh?

I felt like a high school student cramming for an exam. Well, kind of. I had to cram a bunch of planning and prep work for the final exam review tutoring I have coming up in the next few weeks. Over 500 Spanish vocab words turned into online flashcards and practice questions. Me hace loca!!!!

I have also made sure to stay on top of my fitness routine. Tuesday I went to the gym for a run on the treadmill and weights. I completed 4 miles at a steady 9:30 pace and then hit up the weights to make my hamstrings, back, and biceps want to cry.

Then, yesterday I mixed up some cardio DVDs for a little fun variety cardio workout. I did about 30 minutes of a Turbo Kick workout and then the intervals of the 30/30 HIIT Cathe Friedrich DVD. It added up to 50 or so minutes of cardio madness fun.

Amidst all of that, I have had a toddler going through some teething. Her back molar is coming in on one side and its made for a little added crankiness. Thank goodness the kid loves green smoothies.

Smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, eggs, and macaroni and cheese are about all I can get her to eat because her mouth hurts her so bad. Poor kiddo!

And then, there’s baby B deciding to switch up his normal routine suddenly. Kids are little tricksters. They get you comfortable with how things are running so smoothly and then switch it on you. Bring it, Baby B. Momma can handle you! 😉

So, nothing too over the top – but enough to diminish my desire to cook up fancy meals from scratch. Okay. I can’t fool you. I never whip up fancy meals from scratch. But I do try to make the most of easy meals. Like with my trusty standby of sandwiches. Which inevitably makes me crave soup. Who cares if we hit the 90s? I can always eat soup.

My craving led me to scrounging up a can of vegetable soup, which I spruced up by adding a large handful of spinach to wilt into it. I also added some sliced up Trader Joe’s Jalapeno chicken sausage for an extra little fill factor.

It worked…but not as well as my sandwich. I spread Chavrie herbed goat cheese on some whole wheat bread with sautéed mushrooms and tomato slices. Then, I cooked it panini style of course.

Goat cheese makes me happy. It helps me breathe for a moment. Just a moment though. That’s all I get in the life of a mom. Now, time to get going again! Have a great Thursday my friends! And stay tuned for a heart pumping giveaway later today! 😉

• Can you eat things like soup or ice cream year round, despite the temps?
• Did/do you cram for exams? I always did! I worked better under pressure. It must have worked sine I only got one B all through college. <—Nerd alert!

You might notice that in my weekend recap I did not mention much about my Mother’s Day. Well, there was not much to mention. In fact, it was just another standard day. I woke up around 6:30 because both the kiddos woke up. Then, Peter & I got everyone ready and out the door for church.

I taught Sunday school. I went to service…well, sort of. I had to head out halfway during because Braedon refused to calm down. After church, a friend & I stopped off at Subway to grab a quick lunch before going to volunteer for a couple of hours at a Day Center that hosts families in transition. We played with some of the children, allowing the mothers to hopefully get some down time for themselves.

I came home to an empty house since Peter went to visit his mom while I was volunteering. I ended up doing dishes and some cleaning to kill some time. Did I mention that I had not received a single “Happy Mother’s Day” wish yet from Peter (from himself or via little M)? You can imagine that by this point I felt slightly resentful.

I then got even more emotional and eventually angry with myself over that feeling. I ended up feeling ridiculous because I know my family loves me and appreciates me very much. I felt guilty hoping for some sort of special recognition because I know my husband gives of himself so much so often. I feel very blessed to have him by my side. He is amazing! I questioned why I was so upset and it troubled me that I couldn’t seem to shake that disappointment.

Finally, I decided that it was okay to feel that way. Sure, “Mother’s Day” may be what some call a commercial holiday. But it matters to me. I give so much of myself as a mother and the thought of a “special day” to receive recognition for those efforts means something to me. It’s understandable I felt upset. And I should own those feelings.

It is okay to have a bit of expectation and anticipation for something.

It is okay to want a kudos, token of gratitude, or notable gesture – be it in the form of a bought gift or a homemade card.

It is okay to hurt if those hopes doesn’t come to reality.

It is okay to feel angry over certain things, even if they seem silly to others.

Peter and I have already talked all this out. I don’t write about this to put him down or get all “woe is me”. I do know my blessings. I can’t complain. I just wanted to share that sometimes we may face emotions that we don’t quite understand or aren’t sure we can justify. I want to say it is alright to feel them. Do not feel embarrassed for what affects you.

If something bothers you, share it. Express it. Find a way to resolve it. Do NOT hold onto it because you fear its not a worthy emotion. Holding onto such emotions does nothing. You are allowed to feel what you feel. After all, opening yourself to encountering those hurts, angers, and disappointments is what allows you to move on.

Do you tend to hold in emotions or do you “wear your heart on your sleeve”?