Achaedia Becomes the Warrior

[Achaedia]

For weeks, Achaedia has traveled alone through the winter forest. She has grown used to the solitude, to the chittering of the birds overhead and the shuffle of rats underfoot. At the same time, she cannot shake the feeling that she is merely waiting for something to happen. Finally, something does.

 

Crouched at a spring where she dips a hand into the water and drinks, she hears voices. She stands, shaking the water from her hand, and begins to make her way toward the sound. Before long, she comes to what appears to be a camp in a wide clearing. Tents are set up, banners and flags wave in the breeze, and people of all shapes and sizes engage in what Achaedia presumes could only be training.

 

She stops someone walking by with a hand on her arm. "What is this place?" she asks, her voice husky from underuse.

 

The other looks somewhat amused. "This is The Rebellion."

 

"The Rebellion," Achaedia repeats, and takes another glance around the camp. "What are we rebelling against?"

 

Suddenly, overhead, a great winged beast soars over the trees. It beats its great wings once and lashes its tail. Achaedia's gaze lifts to follow its course across the sky. She isn't the only one whose does.

 

"A dragon," her companion remarks in reverent tones. Meeting Achaedia's expression, her mouth quirks in a wry smile. "Elder dragons are the source of all the corruption in the land."

 

"And that was an elder dragon?" Achaedia asks.

 

"No." Her companion glances into the sky. "That was only a minion." Appearing to shake herself off, she smiles over at Achaedia once again. "You, of course, aren't ready to face even a minion, if that's what you wish to do. You must train; become strong, both mentally and physically."

 

If this isn't precisely what Achaedia has been waiting for, it is something. Meeting the eyes of her companion, Achaedia nods once. "Okay," she says. "I am ready to begin."  

 

***

 

Challenge 1: Become The Warrior

 

 

I basically just want to become stronger, more flexible, more badass, and more fit in general. So to that end, here are my quests for this challenge:

 

 

Quest 1: Consistent Training (+3 STA)

 

It's easy to prioritize workouts when I'm off work, but I struggle with fitting it into my schedule when I work. So I am going to work out at least 5x a week, but preferably at least SOMETHING every day. Ideally, I will do weights 3x a week, cardio 2-3x a week, "rest" (yoga or archery) 1-2x a week.

 

A: 5+ days/week

B: 4 days/week

C: 3 days/week

F: <3 days/week

 

 

 

Quest 2: Choose A Specialization (WIS 1, CHA 1)

 

My friends who have successfully gotten more fit & have lost weight have found an activity that they love to do. I like to lift weights, but I can't do that every day, and I sort of hate cardio, so I need something else that I want to do, to motivate me to be active on days when I am not lifting weights.

 

So for this quest, I am going to try kickboxing, parkour, and whatever else I come across in the next 6 weeks. I have already gotten groupons for both parkour and kickboxing, and I have had my first kickboxing class.

 

A: 6 classes attended

B: 4-5 classes attended

C: 2-3 classes attended

F: 0-1 classes attended

 

 

 

Quest 3: Improved Balance & Flexibility (+2 DEX)

 

If I want to be a martial artist or assassin or whatever, I need better flexibility, and my balance is horrible. For this quest, I am going to do balance/flexibility work (most likely in the form of yoga) every day after each workout, or (on rest days) just yoga.

 

A: 7x/week average

B: 6x/week average

C: 5x/week average

F: <5x/week average

 

 

 

Life Quest: Masters Mastery (+2 WIS)

 

There are a lot of things I need to work on in my life, but right now, I feel like my masters degree program has to be my main priority. I am a little less than halfway done, and I need to make my coursework more of a focus so that it isn't such a source of stress for me and so that I don't feel like I am constantly on the brink of failing (Note: I have a 3.5 GPA but I suck at school so it always feels tenuous). There's nothing standing in my way at this point. I have disability accommodations. I have Adderall and citalopram. I am at a point where I just need to do it and get it done.

 

For this quest, I am going to pledge at least 1/2 hour on Thursdays and 1 hour on Sundays to my coursework, with additional time as needed to answer discussion post replies, complete assignments and get them in on time (aka within a day of their due date, which is per my accommodations).

 

A: Assignments are, on average, 0-1 days late.

B: Assignments are, on average, 2-4 days late

C: Assignments are, on average, 5-7 days late

F: Assignments are, on average, 8+ days late

 

 

Assuming I do everything awesomely, at the end of this challenge, I will have: 

 

STR: 3 | DEX: 2 | STA: 3 | CON: 3 | WIS: 2 | CHA: 1

 

Before Photos & Measurements: 

 

  

 

Neck | 13.5"

Shoulders | 41"

Chest | 39"

Bicep | 11.5"

Waist | 34.5"

Hip | 45"

Thigh | 24.5"

Calf | 13"

 

Weight | 172.7

Pant Size | 14 

 

Now back to your regularly scheduled music video from the year I was born. It has dance fighting!!!

 

[our.lady.of.ashes]

Thanks for some amusing visual aids. I've never heard that song before. 

[Achaedia]

Thanks for some amusing visual aids. I've never heard that song before. 

Lol. It's one of my favorite cheesy 80s songs. 

[Geezee]

I. Love. Your. Intro. Why didn't I think of that!? *kicks self* Is there a NF writing community? I'm gonna go dig around...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Achaedia]

I. Love. Your. Intro. Why didn't I think of that!? *kicks self* Is there a NF writing community? I'm gonna go dig around...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Well it's not to late to add one! I know there was a NF group for NaNo but idk if there's one for in-game RP stuff. I just thought it would be more like a real game if it had some set-up, lol. Anyway I'm glad you like it!

[Geezee]

It was very dramatic. I'm so pumped now, lol.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Alanna]

Good luck with your goals! I kind of wish I could lift every day, too, but my body wouldn't be too happy with me... Do you have a lifting program in mind for your first goal?

 

This challenge I'm also trying to figure out some ways to incorporate cardio (probably rowing) into my weekly routine. Kickboxing and parkour both sound like fun!

[Achaedia]

Good luck with your goals! I kind of wish I could lift every day, too, but my body wouldn't be too happy with me... Do you have a lifting program in mind for your first goal?

 

This challenge I'm also trying to figure out some ways to incorporate cardio (probably rowing) into my weekly routine. Kickboxing and parkour both sound like fun!

I've been doing stronglifts 5x5. I plan to keep working on that for now, and then I will probably look at other programs when I get to my max weights. 

[stillskies]

>D 

 

Following~

[starsapart]

Yay, super start!!!!  Looking forward to watching you crush it!!!!

 

When it comes to an RP type group, there are a few options.  The RPG Fanatics are the original game in town, I believe, and they do RP-based minis, though I don't know what the current policy on new rebels joining the group is.  Another group that does RP-based minis is the Cutlasses, and the group is open to all guilds and levels including newbies.  Not sure if there are others - but go take a look and see!

[Xfitter]

Awesome post!  I love the creativity some people are putting into it!

 

good luck with your Masters, I've just finished my MBA so understand your struggles!

 

Also, have you tried crossfit if you like weight training?  It has a good variety so you don't get bored and is very strength based, but you still work up a sweat!

[blkhole24601]

Aaaaaaand subbed~

[Alanna]

I've been doing stronglifts 5x5. I plan to keep working on that for now, and then I will probably look at other programs when I get to my max weights. 

 

Nice choice--SL 5x5 is a popular program here. I also used it for my first couple of challenges (and am currently doing Starting Strength, which is a similar program).

[Achaedia]

>D 

 

Following~

D: *ducks into an alley*

 

Yay, super start!!!!  Looking forward to watching you crush it!!!!

 

When it comes to an RP type group, there are a few options.  The RPG Fanatics are the original game in town, I believe, and they do RP-based minis, though I don't know what the current policy on new rebels joining the group is.  Another group that does RP-based minis is the Cutlasses, and the group is open to all guilds and levels including newbies.  Not sure if there are others - but go take a look and see!

Yay! And that's good to know. Maybe I'll poke around at some point. 

 

Awesome post!  I love the creativity some people are putting into it!

 

good luck with your Masters, I've just finished my MBA so understand your struggles!

 

Also, have you tried crossfit if you like weight training?  It has a good variety so you don't get bored and is very strength based, but you still work up a sweat!

I have not tried crossfit. There's a place literally across the street from me, but I'm afraid it will be too intense for me. 

 

Aaaaaaand subbed~

Yay! I got yours too.

 

Nice choice--SL 5x5 is a popular program here. I also used it for my first couple of challenges (and am currently doing Starting Strength, which is a similar program).

Yeah I started doing it a bit during the summer but took time off to work on other things. Lately I've been doing it more consistently. I know you can't do it forever though I haven't heard of Starting Strength. You should let me know how it goes. 

[Alanna]

Yeah I started doing it a bit during the summer but took time off to work on other things. Lately I've been doing it more consistently. I know you can't do it forever though I haven't heard of Starting Strength. You should let me know how it goes. 

 

Reduce the number of sets in SL 5x5 to 3 and replace barbell rows with power cleans and you've basically got Starting Strength instead of SL . Mark Rippetoe's book, Starting Strength, is very popular as a guide for powerlifting form. 

 

I dropped my working weights back in September because of inconsistency and mobility issues--otherwise I probably would have had to change programs more drastically by now, myself. But I have progressed further the second time around--hope you find the same!

[Achaedia]

Mini Challenge 1: Are My Goals S.M.A.R.T.?

 

We do smart goals with our parents at our 4x year meetings, lol. So this is both something I am familiar with, AND something that reminds me of work. Woooo!

 

1. Is your overall quest achievable (over a short or long period of time)?  Is it reasonable? I do believe my quest is reasonable. It isn't necessarily SMART in the long-term, but I am not really the type of person to be too specific with what I want in the future, if that makes sense. All of my more specific goals are absolutely achievable. 

2. Do your 3 quests all build towards your main quest in little ways, or are you taking on too much? Do your quests have sub-quests or is it just one thing to focus on? All of my goals are things that relate to my overall fitness. I have chosen flexibility and balance, consistency, and finding something that I will enjoy going forward, and I do believe all of these things relate to one another. 

3. Are your main goals realistic? Can you scale them to smaller steps to fit your life better, even if it will make it take a little longer to achieve them? As tempting as it was to choose a million things to work on right off the bat, I believe I have selected the most important and most basic things to begin with now. Once I have those habits locked in, I can begin to work on other things. 

4. Are your goals able to be measured and tracked?  What will you use to track them? My goals are able to be measured! They are all measured based on average times per week. I plan to use my challenge log to track them. 

5. How are you grading your goals?  Are they pass/fail (“every dayâ€, “not even once over the six weeksâ€)?  Is there a reward for the effort, or are you only grading yourself on whether or not you “lose the weight†or “run the distanceâ€? All of my goals are "effort" goals, but they are not pass/fail. I have given myself goals that are challenging, but not all or nothing, because that mindset is bad for me. The consistent showing up is my biggest challenge, and what I think will provide the biggest rewards, so that is what I have chosen to focus on. 

6. What is your plan for continuing/altering/grading those goals if you become ill or injured? If I get injured, I can still show up to the times per week type goals. I might need to modify the particular classes that are part of my goals, since an injury would likely preclude kickboxing and parkour in specific, but the other goals should be able to stand as written. 

7. Did you take into consideration any special occasions (Labour Day, Independence Day, birthdays, anniversaries, etc) that may occur during the challenge?  What modifications do you need to build into your goals for those? There aren't really any special occasions that would prevent me from being successful at my goals over the next 6 weeks. 

8. Do any of your main goals conflict with each other? Will one goal make it hard to do another? I am a big-picture type thinker, so I believe I chose goals that will sort of augment each other, rather than work against each other. 

9. Do you already have the time in your schedule to actually complete the goals you’ve set?  If not, what are you planning to do to make time for them? Difficulties in scheduling my fitness is another of the root causes for my goals this challenge. The total fitness goal commitment for this challenge per day should only be 60-90 mins. I plan to try to schedule gym workouts before school, and special cardio workouts either in free evenings, or on weekends. My grad school commitment time should only be 1.5 hours a week, if I just sit down and work on it. 

10. Are you trying to build multiple habits, or is all your energy focused on your main quest? My habits all relate to each other: it's about finding a fitness schedule that works for me, in which I can work on the things that are important to me. 

 

Mini Challenge #1: VANQUISHED

Reward at end of 6 weeks: +1 WIS

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Hi there!!

 

I’m Chris-Tien Jinn, an ambassador for the Assassin Guild. Despite the name, we are a VERY friendly guild, filled with people who enjoy a wide variety of activities and fitness goals!

 

For more information about the guild, stop by the Info & Announcements thread.  Also, check out the Assassin's Phonebook, which lists the names of people who are working on various aspects of fitness and life changes.  This is a great place to connect with someone who is working on goals similar to yours.  Don't be shy about following them or sending a message if you have questions!!!   

 

You can also stop by the Assassin's Den - a general chat thread in the guild forum – and introduce yourself.  You can always ask questions there, but I warn you that we tend to be pretty silly there and love to post gifs …. especially of cute animals!!

 

If you ever have any questions or need help with anything, let me know.  You can grab my attention by using the quote button at the bottom right corner of any of my posts.  I have the forum setting turned on to alert me when somebody quotes me using that button, so it's a quick easy way to let me know you're talking to me. You can also get in touch with me by posting on my own challenge topic or by using the forum private messenger system (the envelope button at the very top right of the screen).

 

Someone from the Assassin's Guild will stop by every week to check on your progress, but don't be a stranger!!  The most successful people around here reach out and get support from others - novices and veterans alike!  A great place to meet up with other (new) Assassins is in the Assassin Initiates Accountabilities Group   - stop by when you have a chance!!

[Achaedia]

Reduce the number of sets in SL 5x5 to 3 and replace barbell rows with power cleans and you've basically got Starting Strength instead of SL . Mark Rippetoe's book, Starting Strength, is very popular as a guide for powerlifting form. 

 

I dropped my working weights back in September because of inconsistency and mobility issues--otherwise I probably would have had to change programs more drastically by now, myself. But I have progressed further the second time around--hope you find the same!

I might check out that book! I feel like some days are easier strength-wise than others but I do feel some improvement. 

 

Hi there!!

 

I’m Chris-Tien Jinn, an ambassador for the Assassin Guild. Despite the name, we are a VERY friendly guild, filled with people who enjoy a wide variety of activities and fitness goals!

 

For more information about the guild, stop by the Info & Announcements thread.  Also, check out the Assassin's Phonebook, which lists the names of people who are working on various aspects of fitness and life changes.  This is a great place to connect with someone who is working on goals similar to yours.  Don't be shy about following them or sending a message if you have questions!!!   

 

You can also stop by the Assassin's Den - a general chat thread in the guild forum – and introduce yourself.  You can always ask questions there, but I warn you that we tend to be pretty silly there and love to post gifs …. especially of cute animals!!

 

If you ever have any questions or need help with anything, let me know.  You can grab my attention by using the quote button at the bottom right corner of any of my posts.  I have the forum setting turned on to alert me when somebody quotes me using that button, so it's a quick easy way to let me know you're talking to me. You can also get in touch with me by posting on my own challenge topic or by using the forum private messenger system (the envelope button at the very top right of the screen).

 

Someone from the Assassin's Guild will stop by every week to check on your progress, but don't be a stranger!!  The most successful people around here reach out and get support from others - novices and veterans alike!  A great place to meet up with other (new) Assassins is in the Assassin Initiates Accountabilities Group   - stop by when you have a chance!!

Thanks! I didn't expect the guilds to be so proactive  I feel so welcomed. 

[Achaedia]

Day One

 

It feels like it's been more than one day already. Because I go back to work on Wednesday, I'm spending my last days trying to get things in order. So today I did a lot of cleaning, ran some errands, checked some things off my to-do list. I also auditioned for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra chorus. I was thinking of putting that on my challenge list, because I was pretty scared to do it, but since it was today, I decided to work on things that were more long-term. Unfortunately, I didn't do well, and didn't get in (which, frankly, I knew before the audition was even over). Ah, rejection. It never feels good. I feel like I get more than my fair share, but other people probably feel that way too. So I don't know what I'll do to continue on with the singing. I guess I'm still trying to find my place. 

 

Anyway, on to the challenge progress report!

 

Quest 1: A workout was had! Today I did:

 

Warm-up: 5 min elliptical

5x5 squat, 95 lbs

5/5/5/5/4 bench press, 65 lbs <---- (oops)

5x5 barbell row, 50 lbs

10 min stretching/balance work

 

So, I didn't get all 5 reps in the bench press, which was a little embarrassing, but I know I'll get it next time. I guess my arms were just done before the reps were. 

 

Quest 2: Did not apply today, except that I checked the schedule for kickboxing for the rest of the week. I think I'm going to plan on attending the 4pm class tomorrow. 

 

Quest 3: As seen above, I did some stretching and balance work after my workout. I think I need to find some sort of balance program to tack on to my stretching routine, though. I want my balance practice to be more purposeful than just vaguely standing on each foot for 20 seconds. A google search is in order before my next weights workout (which I believe will be Wednesday). 

 

Life Quest: Ah, I'm already a bit behind on this one. My Week 4 assignment was due yesterday. I don't get docked any points for lateness until Sunday, but the point of this quest was to try to get ahead of the curve. So I am going to see if I can get this done before I go to bed. 

 

I hope everyone else's Day 1 went well! 

[blkhole24601]

 

I also auditioned for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra chorus. I was thinking of putting that on my challenge list, because I was pretty scared to do it, but since it was today, I decided to work on things that were more long-term. Unfortunately, I didn't do well, and didn't get in (which, frankly, I knew before the audition was even over). Ah, rejection. It never feels good. I feel like I get more than my fair share, but other people probably feel that way too. So I don't know what I'll do to continue on with the singing. I guess I'm still trying to find my place. 

 

 

 

I'm sorry it didn't go well, but never give up! How often are auditions? I wish I could advise on other choirs in the Denver area but I'm no good at that. Now, if you wanted to try your hand at musical theatre, that I can help with, but I don't know how keen you are on it. Rejections in that realm are abundant for everyone involved. ;;;

[Achaedia]

I'm sorry it didn't go well, but never give up! How often are auditions? I wish I could advise on other choirs in the Denver area but I'm no good at that. Now, if you wanted to try your hand at musical theatre, that I can help with, but I don't know how keen you are on it. Rejections in that realm are abundant for everyone involved. ;;;

Auditions are twice a year but they don't encourage people to try again, and now they have a negative impression of me. As for musical theater, I did a ton of that as a child, and I've thought of getting back into it, but it's such a time commitment that I don't think I can manage during the school year. Also my acting is super rusty. I do think I need hobbies, though, because if left to my own devices I just tend to hermit. I guess I'm at a place where I don't really know what I want to do.

[blkhole24601]

Auditions are twice a year but they don't encourage people to try again, and now they have a negative impression of me. As for musical theater, I did a ton of that as a child, and I've thought of getting back into it, but it's such a time commitment that I don't think I can manage during the school year. Also my acting is super rusty. I do think I need hobbies, though, because if left to my own devices I just tend to hermit. I guess I'm at a place where I don't really know what I want to do.

 

Really? That seems... well, I guess I shouldn't say anything since I don't know much about how (I'm assuming professional?) choir works in this state or elsewhere, but I'd assume they'd know that sometimes people have bad days, or aren't great auditioners, or will improve over time, etc. Even the astronaut corps (completely different field, I know, but super competitive) encourages applicants to apply over and over again. So that's a real shame.

 

While theatre is super time-consuming, if you want, you could just take acting classes if that was something you wanted to pursue? Otherwise, explore all the things! Community centers tend to have a lot of cheap classes or even groups to join. I know you're busy between work and grad school, but I also know exactly how it goes that if you don't have something fun to do outside of that, you'll just cut yourself off from the world. Or with your busy schedule, use your challenge to find that specialization as your hobby, too. It feels less like working out if you actually love what you're doing, after all, and there's nothing like a hobby being something that keeps you in shape!

[Achaedia]

Really? That seems... well, I guess I shouldn't say anything since I don't know much about how (I'm assuming professional?) choir works in this state or elsewhere, but I'd assume they'd know that sometimes people have bad days, or aren't great auditioners, or will improve over time, etc. Even the astronaut corps (completely different field, I know, but super competitive) encourages applicants to apply over and over again. So that's a real shame.

They're a volunteer choir, but they perform with a professional orchestra and for an audience that has paid good money to see them. So they do have high standards. And really, I fucked up the audition so I have no one to blame but myself. I just get so nervous, and then partway through my audition piece I knew I sounded horrible but I couldn't fix it. I've had more empowering nightmares. And then at the end the lady is all "That wasn't so bad, was it?" Yeah, lady, it was fine. Anyway the email they sent me was like "You aren't right for our chorus, but here are two pages of other musical groups in the Denver area." I think it was a form email. 

 

While theatre is super time-consuming, if you want, you could just take acting classes if that was something you wanted to pursue? Otherwise, explore all the things! Community centers tend to have a lot of cheap classes or even groups to join. I know you're busy between work and grad school, but I also know exactly how it goes that if you don't have something fun to do outside of that, you'll just cut yourself off from the world. Or with your busy schedule, use your challenge to find that specialization as your hobby, too. It feels less like working out if you actually love what you're doing, after all, and there's nothing like a hobby being something that keeps you in shape!

Yeah, I don't know even know where to begin in finding something (particularly something fitness-related) but I guess that's the fun part of exploring!

[Achaedia]

Day 2

 

Quest 1: Today was a cardio day. The weather was so nice (in the 50s! and the snow is gone!!) that I decided to go for a jog. Including the 5 minute walking warm-up and cool-down, I did 2 miles all together (so really about 1.5 miles of running). So I have now completed 2/5 days of workouts this week!

 

Quest 2: That said, you may be wondering what happened to kickboxing. Well, today is Valentine's grooming appointment, and it turns out she's going to be ready between 4:30pm and 6:30pm. The same time as the kickboxing classes. So that's okay. I'll go tomorrow after work. 

 

Quest 3: Yesterday I gave myself the assignment to find a program to help with the balancing aspect of this goal. After a fruitless Google search that brought up results for elderly people who want to keep from falling and breaking a bone, I decided to search on my new favorite yoga site, doyogawithme.com. Jackpot! They have a whole course on balancing, beginning from standing on one foot and moving on to more advanced poses, which I'd love to someday be able to do. The videos are quite short, which means I should be able to do one pose each day in addition to my flexibility and foam rolling work.

 

Quest 4: You might have noticed that I changed the grading system for my life quest. That's because my assignment this week ended up being more than a day late, and I decided that it doesn't make sense to have a quest where, after the second day, it's instantly impossible to get more than a B. The point is to help me to change my habits and improve my life, and I can't think of anything more demoralizing than instant and irreversible failure. So now instead of grading myself on the number of late assignments, I created a different grading system based on the average number of days late my assignments are after six weeks. I think that does a better job of encouraging improvement than the old way. 

 

Tomorrow is back to work! But honestly, I'm kind of looking forward to getting back into a routine. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the kids again when they come back on Thursday. I hope they haven't forgotten everything. 

[starsapart]

They're a volunteer choir, but they perform with a professional orchestra and for an audience that has paid good money to see them. So they do have high standards. And really, I fucked up the audition so I have no one to blame but myself. I just get so nervous, and then partway through my audition piece I knew I sounded horrible but I couldn't fix it. I've had more empowering nightmares. And then at the end the lady is all "That wasn't so bad, was it?" Yeah, lady, it was fine. Anyway the email they sent me was like "You aren't right for our chorus, but here are two pages of other musical groups in the Denver area." I think it was a form email. 

 

Yeah, I don't know even know where to begin in finding something (particularly something fitness-related) but I guess that's the fun part of exploring!

 

I'll back you on this - with groups like that, once you've made a bad impression, coming back after (unless it's been years) is kind of...... problematic.  They may dismiss you out of hand before you even open your mouth.  Which is dumb, but it is what it is.

 

Depending on the sort of chorus you want to join, I might have some ideas...... maybe?  There are a few high-level amateur groups out there.  (And I'm still bitter about the utter BS that went on with Safonia, btw).

 

Also, definitely nice to have a fitnessy hobby.... the difficult trick is finding something you'll like.  Martial arts might be good for you.... parkour classes are pretty fantastic too (I can go back soooooooooooooooooooooooon)... I would say aerial is fabulous but I don't know if that's your cup of tea?  if you're open to the idea of trying it out, let me know and we can talk.

 

Sigh, wouldn't it be nice to just love endurance training?  Make friends with runners and triathletes and do that for fun?  It would be nice but ha, it is so not my cup of tea.................................

 

Tomorrow is back to work! But honestly, I'm kind of looking forward to getting back into a routine. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the kids again when they come back on Thursday. I hope they haven't forgotten everything. 

 

 

I felt this exact way this week!  Like, thank goodness, back to normal life!!!!!!!!!