Romana

Romana who we believe is 88 years old, had just finished demonstrating an advanced exercise. I was rushing from one end of the studio to the other to grab my camera, but I caught her right at the end. Can you even imagine being in this position on purpose at this age?

I love this photo. Erin is the body doing the rock star back stretch on this piece of equipment called the Ladder Barrel. I can't wait til I can do this again.

I am actually bending my knees in this photo. Otherwise I would tower over Romana. She is small, but a force to be reckoned with.

This is Romana Kryzanowska. She is Joseph H. Pilate's protege and mine and many others Master Instructor in the program that I am so thankful to be a part of. This past weekend I went to Illinois to my home studio in Champaign where I went through the program a few years ago. Ren was looking at the pictures of my time there and was asking questions about herself and I told her that everyone called her the "Pilates Baby." She really loved that and asked if she followed me around a lot, which I thought was interesting, because yes, she did. She would crawl all around the studio as I ran back and forth from the business office to the front desk with paper work. Sometimes during a mat class Ren would be sitting in her infant car seat blink, blinking and sucking her pacifier.

During the whole seminar I just observed and took pictures which was kind've nice as opposed to getting my bum kicked, which is what usually happens in a Continuing Education weekend. But, this thing I'm sitting on is called the Baby Chair. It is one of the many pieces of equipment that Joseph Pilates invented and it is very safe for young children and older bodies, and Preggers. So, they decided to put me on it. It is always great and a little scary to have Romana give you individual time, because she's getting a little confused in her 88 or plus years old and you never know what is going to happen, like possibly forgetting you have just had surgery or that say, your pregnant. Fortunately, it went well and it felt great. Check out the belly!



This is our group from the weekend. Romana is right next to me and the woman on the other side of her is Janice Dulak (in the black t-shirt) who owns and runs the studio in Champaign. Janice is the most amazing instructor and I am so proud to have had her and continue to have her as a mentor. She is as dedicated to the original teachings as Romana is.
What a great weekend. Next year I go back to getting my bum kicked!

GORGEOUSNESS!

Ren's Aunt Alli is a knitting genius! She made this beautiful cape for Ren out of organic soft cotton. It is such a beautiful, cuddly, sweet, cape and this is the first time I could get Ren to wear it and of course she was getting compliments EVERYWHERE we went.

Gorgeousness is something silly that I would exclaim to the heavens often, right after dressing and inspecting Ren's hair after I would brush and barrette it. Since I have been pregnant she will out of the blue say, "mama, you look GORGEOUSNESS!" And if you don't think I need that feedback when I am almost 29 weeks pregnant well, then you're crazy.

These are the beautiful slippers that Aunt Alli made. Ren loves them, but I need to put grip on the bottom so that she doesn't go sailing down our steep wood stairs.

Ren says, "THANK YOU Aunt Alli!"

Cider Slide

Here is a video of David and Ren shooting out of the slide. Brace yourself. I am way too loud, but it's hard not to be when you're holding the camera.

Good luck.

This pictures for you Genevieve.

Ren made a picture for Aunt Alli's friend Genevieve who lives in Vancouver. Ren wasn't into being my puppet/model for a picture. I switched media, and finally got her to kind've explain the picture to Genevieve here. I really wanted to send this earlier when Aunt Alli was here, but Blogspot was giving me a hard time.

We are praying for you Genevieve.

Cider Time!

We made it to the orchard with Allison for her last day here. I was really glad, because I wanted Allison to enjoy this place since we love it. I'm still trying to mentally relive my donut and hot cider experience. Yum.

They always have small animals to pet.


This slide is definitely one of the biggest highlights of this place and Ren went on it about two dozen times.


Lydia had had a sleepover with us and a crocheting lesson with Aunt Alli. Lydia was rockin on a beautiful scarf in no time.

Okay, somehow Ren convinced my pregger bum to go down this slide too. She went down first and then I came down, but at the very end I got nervous, because this little boy and Ren were right in the way. If I look stiff that's because I was worried that with my extra girth I might knock them both over.


This is one of the many probably inbred kittens that they have for petting and mauling every fall. This ones name is Midnight and Lydia held the scared and traumatized kitten until it was calm and curled up on her snoozing.


This is always good stupid fun.

This is the man I love. You can't have him.

Milking the cow.

Here is their tricycle track.

We love and miss you Aunt Alli.