<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" 
  xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
  xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
  xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/"
  xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">





<channel>
<title>Sara And Chuck</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/</link>
<description>A digital reflection of the journey that Sara and Chuck are taking through life and all the things they see, hear, think and experience along the way.</description>
<dc:language>en-us</dc:language>
<dc:creator>sla5150@comcast.net</dc:creator>
<dc:date>2010-09-03T21:36:25-05:00</dc:date>
<admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.13" />
<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
<sy:updateBase>2000-01-01T12:00+00:00</sy:updateBase>


<item>
<title>does she look like me?</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001009.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.myheritage.com/meter" title="Click to get your own Look-alike Meter" alt="Click to get your own Look-alike Meter" target="_blank"><img src="http://storage.myheritagefiles.com/Y/storage/site1/files/59/49/21/594921_861379930b18c46of32m13.JPG" width="435" height="470" border="0" ></a><p><a href="http://www.myheritage.com"  >MyHeritage</a>: <a href="http://celebrity.myheritage.com/meter"  >Look-alike Meter</a> - <a href="http://www.myheritage.com/page/family-tree-search"  >Family tree search</a> - <a href="http://www.myheritage.com/page/vintage-photos"  >Vintage photos</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.myheritage.com/meter" title="Click to get your own Look-alike Meter" alt="Click to get your own Look-alike Meter" target="_blank"><img src="http://storage.myheritagefiles.com/Y/storage/site1/files/59/50/61/595061_4728532a2b18c458zva308.JPG" width="435" height="470" border="0" ></a><p><a href="http://www.myheritage.com"  >MyHeritage</a>: <a href="http://www.myheritage.com"  >Family tree</a> - <a href="http://www.myheritage.com/genealogy"  >Genealogy</a> - <a href="http://celebrity.myheritage.com/celebrities"  >Celeb</a> - <a href="http://celebrity.myheritage.com/celebrity-collage"  >Collage</a> - <a href="http://celebrity.myheritage.com/celebrity-morph"  >Morph</a></p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1009@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-09-03T21:36:25-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>Julia had her 12 month check-up</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001008.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4942549837/" title="Yay! by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4942549837_a424037a35.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Yay!" /></a></p>

<p><strong>The stats</strong><br />
weight:  22lb 4oz<br />
height:  30in</p>

<p><strong>Likes</strong><br />
taking baths<br />
drinking from Mom's cup<br />
playing on Sister's bed<br />
her Pup</p>

<p><strong>Dislikes</strong><br />
sitting still for a change<br />
crawling on the grass<br />
anyone else getting Mom's attention</p>

<p><strong>Some accomplishments</strong><br />
some new signs:  help, bath, horse, phone, bear<br />
some new words:  uck, some, dat (that), neigh neigh<br />
She is cruising and climbing and just got three new teeth in the past month.  She initiates games like peek-s-boo and chase and likes to "honk" your nose.</p>

<p><strong>Some recent pictures</strong></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4908521363/" title="corn of the cob by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4908521363_c686bd5c7e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="corn of the cob" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4908497027/" title="at the pool by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4908497027_2289f6cc0f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="at the pool" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4943145300/" title="worn out by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4943145300_9b114b944a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="worn out" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4909210626/" title="love you Papa by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4909210626_1e07e7f5e2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="love you Papa" /></a></p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1008@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-09-01T09:43:01-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>Happy Birthday Julia</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001007.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4159275166/" title="brand new baby by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4159275166_a781ed0aaa.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="brand new baby" /></a><br />
brand new baby</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4945287160/" title="DSCN1747 by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4945287160_fcd4b44d9c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSCN1747" /></a><br />
first birthday</p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1007@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-08-31T14:01:24-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>An Epidemic   </title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001006.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><img border="0" alt="" align="left" src="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/AnimatedEpidemic.gif" />Consider this map.&nbsp; What is shows is the growth of an epidemic over a four year period.&nbsp; Can you guess what the statistic is that it's tracking?<img border="0" alt="" align="right" src="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/obesity_2007_trends_percent_legend.gif" /></p>
<p>An epidemiologist might be seriously concerned with these growth numbers.&nbsp; A virologist would probably question what the CDC is doing to stop the growth of such a rampant disease and health care workers everywhere might be in a panic over treatability and isolation.</p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1006@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject></dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-08-09T14:05:33-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>National Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001005.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<center><a href="http://www.nursingfreedom.org/p/carnival-of-nursing-in-public.html" title="Carnival of Nursing in Public"><img src="http://www.babydustdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/inip1.png" alt="Art by Erika Hastings at http://mudspice.wordpress.com/" border="0" /></a></center>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1005@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-08-06T12:46:08-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>This week in Health News - How are our Kids?   </title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001004.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Over the last week, a few articles have hit the news wires that have left me in a seething, ranting fit, culminating today in a discussion sparked by an "article" on FoxNews (of course). </p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,597183,00.html" target="_blank">A Weighty Issue: Mass. Schools' 'Fat' Report Cards Crossing the Line</a>?</strong> </p>
<p>So, first of all, the school district shouldn't be allowed to classify a child as obese until they can prove that it's not their deadly food and lack of physical education that are the main contributors. </p>
<p>In it's current accept usage,&nbsp; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index" target="_blank">BMI</a> is improperly referenced as a measure of obesity rather than an observational starting <span class="text_exposed_show">point for individual data collection and analysis. </span><span class="text_exposed_show">To suggest that BMI is the MEASURE by which a child is called "fat" is scientifically improper as it describes a scale along a statistical norm and NOT the basis of individual measure. The only way I would accept BMI as a data point is if it was corroborated with correlating individual data, eg. Body Fat % and Lean Body Mass. "Because Shelby's BMI was observed to be on the high side of normal for her age group, we tested her body composition (caliper method) and determined that she was 23% body fat, which is high for a child her age[...]"</span>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Personally, I would argue to tell the school nurse (who should know this already) that BMI is irrelevant and useless without corroborating, individually unique data. The only body composition numbers that are important for measuring health and fitness for an INDIVIDUAL are Body Fat Percentage and Lean Muscle Mass. </p>
<p>While everyone SHOULD be upset with this gross misconduct, the story is pomp and bluster, and I believe that they are 'angry' for the wrong reasons. While the patterns for healthy eating habits and fitness start at home, our children spend 80% of their time at school, and the environment is toxic and sedentary. IF FoxNews and the parents were REALLY upset there would be a LARGE outcry against the irrelevance of the measurement and the environment that put them all in this situation, instead of politically charged BS about 'who's invading/violating whose rights.' </p>
<p>I would say that a healthy country (in just about any sense of the word) starts with a healthy family. Our schools should not be the enforcers regarding our kids health, but they should definitely be the primary benefactor. Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/" target="_blank">1</a>] </p>
<p>What's the financial impact on our Health Care Industry when there is a pediatric load on the system with adult issues (High blood sugar, type II diabetes, <a href="tp://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0312588620100803" target="_blank">high cholesterol</a>, and all the other hyperinsulinemia induced diseases)? When the cost of a patient over a lifetime can almost TRIPLE because of the childhood onset of obesity related diseases (which doesn't even CONSIDER the rise of 'elective' <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/hospitals-and-lap-band-makers-stand-to-gain-from-teen-surgeries/article1651818/" target="_blank">treatments</a> related to obesity on the rise with teens)&nbsp;, I think this is actually one of the easiest to solve issues taxing the entire system, and America is to much a coward to fix it. </p>
<p>Americans dig their own graves with their teeth. </p>
<p>Consider it's national security impact.&nbsp; ABC news carried a <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/school-lunches-pose-national-security-threat-ret-military/story?id=10424313" target="_blank">story</a> about an opinion from <a href="http://www.missionreadiness.org/" target="_blank">Mission: Readiness</a> (a think tank of retired military officers)called &ldquo;<a href="http://cdn.missionreadiness.org/MR_Too_Fat_to_Fight-1.pdf" target="_blank">Too Fat To Fight</a>&rdquo; (check out the <a href="http://www.counterthink.com/Too_Fat_to_Fight.asp" target="_blank">Counter Think Comic</a>)&nbsp;detailing&nbsp;a new report that says that&nbsp;more than 9 million young adults, or 27 percent of all Americans ages 17 to 24, are too overweight to join the military. Now, the officers are advocating for passage of a wide-ranging nutrition bill that aims to make the nation's school lunches healthier.</p>
<p>All this to say that while I don't think a school should be testing kids for obesity without being a MAJOR contributor to the solution, I also think we all need to take responsibility for the health and wellness of our children, lead by example and stop killing our kids with bad information, poisonous food and no motivation.</p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1004@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>CrossFit</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-08-03T15:04:05-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>My daughter   </title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001003.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/saraandchuck/4831831356/"></a><img border="0" alt="" align="left" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4831578446_c7180a847a_m_d.jpg" / />She is a blazing ball of energy, constantly in motion and at odds.&nbsp; She is the pool, the swing set, the slide, the way-way far down park.</p>
<p>She needs a hug, needs a favor, needs to go to the bathroom, absolutely needs to go nudie-feet.&nbsp; She's finicky, strong willed, strong tempered and strong headed, and when she falls, she's &ldquo;all right!&rdquo;</p>
<p>She loves her bobby (her silky blanket), her buddy (her eeyore doll), her sister, her momma, her daddy, and the neighbor, Tyler, who just moved in. She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth, but won't eat her lunch, she'll run to her bedroom because she needs to go pee and will pop into a headstand on a whim. She's all butter fly wings and lightning bolts</p>
<p>She call's the song &ldquo;<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http://s0.ilike.com/play%23Gaelic%2BStorm:She%2BWas%2BThe%2BPrize:308686:s33859682.9502548.5002500.0.2.58%252Cstd_1fb16f6725eb4adfb6795d9c7f857c99&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=N_1NTJvdKoSNnQfw6YDYCw&amp;ved=0CBcQ0wQoADAA&amp;usg=AFQjCNFtCsWZPLJAadbk4cEFnIeL4GcGvA" target="_blank">She was the prize</a>&rdquo; &ldquo;Daddy's Girl&rdquo; because I changed the words to describe her. She's pink, powerful, blue eyed, brown haired and mine.</p>
<p><img border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4657701197_7c559c0293_d.jpg" / /></p><div class="bjtags">Tags:  <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Daughter">Daughter</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Fatherhood">Fatherhood</a></div>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1003@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-07-26T16:31:43-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>Happy Birthday, Sara   </title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001002.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><img border="0" alt="Hey There" align="left" src="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/lovelywife.jpg" />It's Sara's birthday, and boy does she deserve a party. I love that she works as hard as she does, every day, to be a better parent to our beautiful daughters.&nbsp; I love that she continues to support me and my goals.&nbsp; I love her playfulness, her smile, her honesty and her love for her family.&nbsp; I love her wisdom, her knowledge and her utter inability to let me get away with any bullshit.</p>
<p>You've made it through another year successfully, Sara.&nbsp; I love you, I miss you more every day, and I'm honored that you choose to spend your years with me.</p><div class="bjtags">Tags:  <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Sara">Sara</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Wife">Wife</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Birthday">Birthday</a></div>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1002@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-07-15T09:34:39-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>three and three quarters</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001001.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p>So as Rachel struggles past three and a half and moves toward four years old I finally have some time to think about all she has become this past year and all that makes her my Magoo.</p>

<p>She has several good friends that she "loves."  <br />
She can dress herself and is finally potty trained.  Whew.<br />
Rachel sings <a href="http://johnsmithmusic.com/cdview/Gravity%20Of%20Grace#1">"Right Into Love"</a> while she brushes her teeth.<br />
She's been having bad dreams.  It's really sad.<br />
She loves to go "nudie feet."  In fact, she loves to go nudie buns too.<br />
Rachel enjoys playing outside every chance she gets and has been known to escape the house without permission.<br />
I think she spends half the day in a headstand.<br />
She loves it when I tell her stories at night.  <br />
She LOVES her Lisa.<br />
She sits on the toilet backward to go pee.  <br />
Rachel can climb the cupboards, open all the childproof locks, and even open childproof caps on the medicine (that was scary to find out).<br />
She's excited to go to school in the fall.<br />
Rachel loves going to the pool and the splash park.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4731342339/" title="rachel by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1147/4731342339_172c737809_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="rachel" /></a><br />
self portrait</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4772501505/" title="relaxing by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4772501505_9967471859_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="relaxing" /></a><br />
relaxing</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4773141416/" title="summer cute by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4773141416_ef3f6d280d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="summer cute" /></a><br />
ready for the pool</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4773156066/" title="Rachel and her Lisa by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4773156066_bf9b5491da_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Rachel and her Lisa" /></a><br />
Rachel and her Lisa</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4780447709/" title="summer fun by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4780447709_2f5a19a2a3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="summer fun" /></a><br />
my Magoo</p>

<p><br />
</p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1001@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-07-14T20:41:24-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>How does your garden grow?</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/001000.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4780460427/" title="peas by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4780460427_e7fe81343b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="peas" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4781096506/" title="sunflower by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4781096506_4613fe1d87.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="sunflower" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4780459549/" title="tomato by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4780459549_cac19eb6f4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="tomato" /></a></p>

<p>I've been enjoying watching all the vegetables growing in my garden all spring and now am enjoying harvesting and eating them.  I've been picking shelling peas and had enough to eat with dinner tonight.  We ate fresh green beans on Sunday.  I have kohl rabi in the fridge and one more ready to pick.  I'm getting blossoms on my tomato plants and pepper plant.  A friend gave me two broccoli seedlings that I got planted and I was thinking about putting in another round of lettuce.  I love my garden.  </p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">1000@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-07-12T19:44:26-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>Oly Cert - A retrospective   </title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/000999.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: auto">
<p><font color="#0066cc"><a href="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/OlyLiftingCertificate.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" align="left" src="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/OlyLiftingCertificateSmall.png" /></font></a>This was a dense weekend to put it mildly. My body was sore by Saturday night and my brain reached the full tipping point by 11:00 am Sunday morning. I <em><strong>could</strong></em> try and recap everything we did; the Burgener warm-up, both lifts, all of the skill transfer exercises for each and the plentitude of coaching cues&hellip;but I won't.&nbsp; There's a <a href="http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/specialty_certs.html">cert</a> for that, and if you want to&nbsp;<strong><em>really</em></strong> understand the snatch and the clean/jerk, the only way to do it is to learn it as if you had to teach it.</p>
<p>What I <strong><em>will</em></strong> do is thank everyone appropriately.&nbsp; First,&nbsp;a huge thank you&nbsp;to Kate (and Paul) and <a href="http://www.theathletelab.com/">The Athlete Lab</a>&nbsp;for being such fine hosts.&nbsp; The little things were all taken care of, which helped to make the big things go smoothly. I felt welcome and included, and their&nbsp;passion for CrossFit was evident in the beauty of their space and their attention to detail.&nbsp; They even provided a great list of places to find food in the area for those of us from out of town.</p>
<p>Next, thanks to all the attendees.&nbsp; The cert wouldn't have been a CrossFit cert without the great people from our region, with athletes and trainers from as far away as Sioux Falls, SD making the trip to learn from the best.&nbsp; Everyone that I had a chance to talk to and train with was helpful and a testament to pursuing virtuosity.&nbsp;It was also&nbsp;great to meet more CrossFit athletes from closer to home, and I hope to spend a little more time with them in the future.&nbsp; My CrossFit home will always be <a href="http://revdefenseandfitness.com/wordpress/?page_id=55">CrossFitMN</a>, but one thing that I have learned from&nbsp;trying to train Aikido, Jodo and CrossFit on the road (both while in Japan and back here in the states as a consultant)&nbsp;is that visiting other schools expands your horizons, offers new challenges and allows you to meet some of the best people in the world; and who wouldn't want to do that?</p>
<p>Next up, the coaches.&nbsp; A huge &ldquo;Thank You&rdquo; to all of them.&nbsp; They were all top notch, and their passion was evident from the moment we started with the introductions.</p></div></a>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: auto">
<p><img border="0" alt="Amie Taylor" align="right" src="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/amietaylor.jpg" width="211" height="184" />Amie Taylor isn't just a CrossFitter and Oly Cert wise-woman, she's also a 9<sup>th</sup>&nbsp; grade algebra teacher, and her passion for CrossFit and education collided with the creation of <a href="http://journal.crossfit.com/2008/12/crossfit-algebra.tpl">CrossFit Algebra</a>.&nbsp; Truly inspiring, and something that <strong><em>any</em></strong> educator should read.</p></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: auto">
<p><img border="0" alt="Debbie Hudson" align="left" src="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/debbiehudson.jpg" width="159" height="221" />Debbie Hudson is a competitive Olympic Lifter from Oakland County, MI (my home town) and is opening a CrossFit affiliate in the YMCA near Oakland University (where I will now need to visit while I'm home to get a tune up for my clean). She was always right there with succinct advice and positive feedback; and Lord knows, I needed some of&nbsp;both this weekend. If you are interested in seeing what this CrossFit thing is all about and you are in the Oakland County area, I highly suggest you look her up.</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: auto" ?>
<p><img border="0" alt="cody burgener" align="right" src="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/codyburgenerjerkrecover.jpg" width="232" height="279" />Cody Burgener, <a href="http://www.crossfitsiouxfalls.com/">CrossFit Sioux Falls</a> coach and son of <strong><em>the</em></strong> coach, Mike Burgener, was an interesting reflection of his father.&nbsp;&nbsp;He has as critical an eye as does Coach, but a completely different coaching style.&nbsp; Though different, he was as direct and specific and each one of his cues moved me closer to success.&nbsp; He also hit a 315# PR Clean and Jerk over lunch on Sunday while wearing street shoes, which is nothing to be scoffed at.</p></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: auto" ?>
<p><img border="0" alt="Erin Okonek Karshner" align="left" src="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/ErinOkonekKarshnerBearSmall.jpg" /> Erin was a phenomenal coach and offered me several words of wisdom that I will keep with me as I start to coach others in these lifts. My favorite moment of hers for the weekend, though,&nbsp;was actually at dinner on Saturday night. Someone mentioned that the plate of Cody's Chili cheese fries she was amount to NOM from might not be Paleo, and she responded "Do I look like a person that eats Paleo?" I looked at her and and said "Um, yes, Erin, you do." She actually looked down at herself briefly and said, "Yeah, I guess I do...", and proceeded to help herself.</p>
<p>I should also mention that she and Amie did "<A href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" target=_blank 0WOP9J7QPwI??>Bear</A>" for a workout on Sunday, and she maxed at 145#, which is staggering.</p></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: auto" ?>
<p><img border="0" alt="coach mike burgener" align="right" src="http://www.saraandchuck.com/images/coachb.jpg" /> Of course, the cert wouldn't be complete without <a href="http://www.crossfitto.com/wp-uploads/burgcouldajerkedworld1.jpg">Coach B</a> from <a href="http://www.mikesgym.org/" target="_blank">Mike's Gym</a>. Coach was everything I expected and more.&nbsp; He was direct, stated his expectations clearly and concisely and there was never any doubt that he was going to push us toward not just lifting with excellence, but with teaching it as well.&nbsp; From the intro to the wrap up, everything was organized, well thought out, excellently presented and worth every minute of agony.&nbsp; As my good friend Kevin Oie put it, &ldquo;Best. Weekend. Ever.&rdquo; And I wholeheartedly agree. Coach <strong><em>cares </em></strong>about Olympic Lifting.&nbsp; It's his passion, and that passion bleeds through with every contagious word.</p>
<p>Before the start of the weekend, I knew that I loved CrossFit and thought&nbsp;that I wanted to be good at the lifts because I didn't see MetCon excellence in my immediate future, but now,&nbsp;I<strong><em>&nbsp; know it.</em></strong> I practiced skill transfers with a broom today&nbsp;while sweeping and stole ten minutes to head out to the garage to go through the warm up.&nbsp; After the kids are in bed tonight,&nbsp;I have a Clean workout and a Kettlebell, pull up sit up cookie to attend to.</p>
<p>Thank you, Coach, for your time, your passion, your knowledge, the burpees and the Jodi.&nbsp; What a package deal.&nbsp;Please come back to Minnesota soon&hellip; and next time, bring the Harley.&nbsp; When there aren't tornadoes, it's quite the rider's paradise.</p></div><div class="bjtags">Tags:  <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Olympic+Lifting+Cert">Olympic+Lifting+Cert</a>, <a rel="tag" href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mike+Burgener">Mike+Burgener</a></div>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">999@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>CrossFit</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-06-22T14:29:00-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>Happy Fathers&apos; Day to my dad</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/000998.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Thanks for everything you do to help and support me and my family.  We love you.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4719474396/" title="rocking chair just her size by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4719474396_c9da4062ba.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="rocking chair just her size" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4719475454/" title="adoration by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4719475454_a088d4f821.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="adoration" /></a><br />
</p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">998@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-06-20T21:14:36-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>Fathers&apos;s Day</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/000997.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p>I love you, Chuck.  Thanks for being a good father to our beautiful, smart, charming girls.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4657708019/" title="Rachel and Daddy by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4657708019_628dccb4bb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Rachel and Daddy" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4658293060/" title="daddy kisses by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4658293060_57d1309c46.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="daddy kisses" /></a></p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">997@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-06-20T06:48:06-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>busy as usual</title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/000996.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p>The girls keep me  busy as usual so I don't get to post as often as I'd like.  In fact I should really be in bed already instead of blogging but whatever.  Today after Julia's morning nap we packed up and headed out in the rain to Cutie Patootie for the nursing moms' group.  Rachel brought her camera to keep her busy.  Of course she found plenty there to keep her busy.  We came back home for lunch and Julia was not going down for her afternoon nap.  I think she's working on a tooth because she was extra droolly today.  My eyes were not staying open so I packed up the girls again to go out in search of coffee and a nap for Jr.  Both were accomplished.  I put Julia in her bed and Rachel and I stepped out into the rain for a splash.  This was the highlight of my day (and her's too she said).  A parent educator from FR came over to observe and give me some advice and perspective on Rachel and her current stubbornness.  We had a great talk and are meeting again tomorrow morning to discuss it more.  Just as she was leaving my parents backed up the driveway.  They joined us for egg salad sandwiches and Mom stayed to read Rachel a couple of bedtime stories while I nursed Julia to sleep.  Mom and I talked for a long time.  We played around on the computer with anniversary invitations for the big 40th party coming up and chatted about food and flowers and such.  As I wrote, I should be in bed so I'll leave you with a few recent pictures.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4658330904/" title="me and Rachel by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4658330904_bc4de9c07b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="me and Rachel" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4680491721/" title="playing with her baby by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4680491721_53b240dab2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="playing with her baby" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4684051000/" title="rainy day girl by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1274/4684051000_2f70df8fc6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="rainy day girl" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4680482995/" title="&quot;cheese&quot; by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4680482995_9b3ac79553.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="&quot;cheese&quot;" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4680494053/" title="yum by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4680494053_c83977b92c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="yum" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4684298430/" title="&quot;hat&quot; by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4684298430_e877c7aed3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="&quot;hat&quot;" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4683714415/" title="splash by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4683714415_a3fc424232.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="splash" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4701599531/" title="bathing beauty by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4701599531_4a33462ce6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="bathing beauty" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4702238768/" title="standing tall by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4702238768_4c09cf1ae6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="standing tall" /></a></p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">996@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-06-14T21:50:12-05:00</dc:date>
</item>

<item>
<title>Miss Julia had her 9 month check-up today.  </title>
<link>http://www.saraandchuck.com/archives/000995.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4664955222/" title="julia grins by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4664955222_892c301730.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="julia grins" /></a></p>

<p><strong>The stats</strong><br />
weight:  21lbs 3oz<br />
height:  28.5 inches</p>

<p><strong>Likes</strong><br />
taking a bath with her sister<br />
getting to play with her buddies at Cutie Patootie<br />
Nomming new foods<br />
pulling her mom's glasses off<br />
playing peek with Daddy<br />
Owen</p>

<p><strong>Dislikes</strong><br />
missing naps<br />
strangers<br />
tickles<br />
bottles<br />
bibs</p>

<p><strong>Some accomplishments</strong> <br />
crawls<br />
pulls to knees and then to a stand<br />
new signs - all done, hat, fan<br />
new words - ball, more, up</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4640412878/" title="apple snack by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/4640412878_28e43bff3e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="apple snack" /></a><br />
apple snack</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4658293060/" title="daddy kisses by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4658293060_57d1309c46.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="daddy kisses" /></a><br />
daddy kisses</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4657709563/" title="signing bed by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4657709563_6041b46cf2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="signing bed" /></a><br />
signing bed</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/98832549@N00/4664957054/" title="new bib by sla5150, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4664957054_745ee49354.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="new bib" /></a><br />
new bib</p>]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">995@http://www.saraandchuck.com/</guid>
<dc:subject>FrontPage</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2010-06-02T18:49:37-05:00</dc:date>
</item>


</channel>
</rss>