I LIKE to be on THE RIGHT SIDE of Jesus.

One more day of bliss with the kids at home on summer vacation and then we can all breathe a deep sigh of relief after tears are shed and go back to our Fall through Spring lives. I don't know about you, but I for one am SUPER excited about my son Anton being a part of the Primary program at ASH. I feel like we are really moving up in the world.

Additionally, I feel like we as a family feel more comfortable about things regarding school. It was kind of scary last year in pre-primary. I feel like we can do it now...  last year my main goal was getting Anton to school on time with a 1 1/2 year old in tow. We found out through the meeting last Thursday that we could now CHOOSE our drop off and pick up point. No more hand holding, we are clearly in the big leagues now. After hours of contemplation and weighing all of the variables, we are choosing to go to the RIGHT of Jesus. I hear this side moves faster.

With all of these new things happening at the beginning of the year, and the excitement that fills the fall air at any new school years beginning, I would like to tell anyone who might be reading about: Bike Club. I decided to start Bike Club last spring which some people think is this group that is run by several women. Really, it's just one person (me) who had the idea and it is very casual.

Essentially, I ride on Sundays at 8 a.m. leaving from the Bike Stop Cafe off of Main Street in the Historic Area and we ride most often to the Page Extension and back. We chat, and/or have coffee and/or a small breakfast afterwards at the Bike Stop. We leave from the Bike Stop because Tony, the owner is really great about making any corrections on your bike before we leave, blowing up tires, putting on water bottle holders, etc. You can ride with us sporadically, or every week, or as your schedule allows.

I started the group for two or three reasons: 1. I thought it would be a good way to meet other new parents. 2. I love biking. 3. I thought it would be a great way to accomplish reasons #1 and #2 while simultaneously being "involved" at the Academy.

It turns out that this has been a really great thing. (In my opinion) The best unanticipated bonus for me is that I've met several remarkable women who have older children at the Academy and I've learned so much from them. It was hard to break out of my shell when I was comfortable with my old friends and lifestyle, yet I'm so glad I did.

This group is a moms only, (no kids please) group. Initially, I wanted the group to be 'womens only' because I feel that having men along can at times make the women feel intimidated. This way we can get that so desperately needed time just for us while our kids and husbands rest comfortably in their beds on a Sunday morning. Many times, my all boy clan is still in their jammies and on the couch when I get back home- they seem to move loads slower when I'm not around. Any other moms at ASH are welcome to join at any time, and PLEASE don't be intimidated. If you have any questions don't hesitate to call or e-mail me.

We have been off for three weeks due to some training I've been doing for a sports event, however, we will be riding on Sunday, September 1st and continuing until the weather no longer allows.

And, good luck with your new school year!

Oh, and here is a great article that I just read on feeling more connected and supported (by friends) in your life- I thought it was perfect for this spot here:

http://simplemom.net/3-concrete-ways-to-feel-more-connected-and-supported-in-your-life/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+simplemom+%28Simple+Mom%29


Jennifer Schuetz

cell: 314-503-7651
e-mail: klempjennifer@charter.net

Just Checking In for Summer: Still HERE

I am still going down to the Bike Stop and riding on Sunday mornings at 8 a.m., and just wanted everyone to know. It is still really great, and I've only been alone once. NOT that I minded one bit, but just wanted to let everyone know that I am still HERE. 

We are *ON* for Mothers Day.... On Till The Break of Dawn.

In this picture we have 4 Academy Alumni, 1 Academy Student, and 1 Academy hopeful. Can you name the Alums? They are in disguise so it may be tricky... 

I've had a few people e-mail me on if Bike Club is going to ride on Mothers Day.


Are you kidding me? OF COURSE WE ARE.


Biking is one of the things I love doing the most, and on Mothers Day, I want to do ANYTHING I DARN WELL PLEASE-- you better believe I'll be out on my bike, or a hike, or maybe both. Now, if you are the type of mom who loves brunch, then by all means- do that. We used to do the brunch thing until we realized that nursing the baby at the Art Museum just wasn't fun for me anymore. Gone were the days of the bloody mary at 11 a.m.- ish. Plus, the expense for my sister in laws family, my family, my sister in laws - in laws, and my husbands mother was quite a lot- all together we make a table of 16-18.

Somewhere around three years ago my husband had this great idea for all of us to go to a park and just have a bar-b-que there, and I think this has been his best idea ever. We can include everyone, (my sister in laws in laws, and the whole bit) and luck holding, it's been nice weather the past three years. Also, expense and effort is low because Alex assigns everyone to either a side dish or accompaniments for our grilled items.

This year, we are hoping for our best ever moms day at Brommelsiek Park. This park is very quiet with some great hiking, (and biking) and little pavilions with their own playgrounds for the kids. Aunt Barb brings the games, and we do Mothers Day competitions with the egg toss and the whole thing. Don't wear silk! Alex is super organized about everything, and I love him for that- it really means a lot to me that he is so careful with the planning. (He starts in February or March with park rental).

I will prepare chicken for grilling on Saturday and put everything marinated in zip-loc bags so it is all ready to go for Sunday. This year we will bring more charcoal. And I hope my parents will be on time. I plan to hike as well- the hiking trail there crosses over a creek in several points and opens up to a large field at one point where there is this huge, amazing tree. We scouted everything out last weekend, in the rain- so we know about the path in case anyone wants to take a hike. See, we are getting better at moving from good to really good.

I will see you on Sunday 8 a.m., and if not- I always bring my music to listen to if need be, although I am also quite fine to be alone listening to the whoosh of the tires, and the sound of the birds.

I do plan to only stay for a few minutes of coffee at the end and to get going right around 8 a.m. so I can get back to help get loaded and get showered for the park. I also plan to ride fast!

I wish every mom a wonderful Mothers Day....

Sunday May 5th - Our First Cancellation

I am canceling Bike Club today as there are showers predicted this morning and it is very wet. According to Accu-Weather, it is to become noticeably warmer today with a few showers, however, for the morning, I think it's reasonable to cancel.


This has been the wackiest weather I can remember this spring and we need to cherish those warm and sunny days more than ever. I wish you happy riding in all the sunny moments in your upcoming week...

Point Du Sable

For our bike ride on Sunday four of us met up, one of whom was Sister Glavin and a conversation prior to the ride included history of Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable, who in history is known as the first Chicago resident, and later in life moved to St. Charles, for reasons which are unknown. Sources say he was of African descent, however, may have been a native of Santa Domingo. He married a Potawatomi woman named Catherine, had two daughters and was an avid Catholic. And, I need to get my facts straight on this part, however, I believe Sister Glavin told us that Dusable was believed to stay with a daughter or grand daughter when he moved to St. Charles and that her home was located where the workshop for the Academy is on the corner of 2nd and Decatur.

I had already decided to try to go the North direction on the Katy for our ride, as I wasn't sure that everyone knows about out newer Eco-Park which lies right along the river and goes under the 367 bridges for trains and also the highway. The Eco- Park shoots off of the parking lot of the boat loading ramp area down to the river and goes through to Dusable Park. The kids and I have been going to Point Dusable for a while now as it is a nice walk from our house. The park is a little older, however, there usually aren't that many people there and it can be a nice place to exercise while the kids play.

From Dusable Park the Eco-Park continues with a trail that goes under the bridges and now includes several areas where you can lookout over the river, and in one particular area there is a circular meeting point with benches and a middle campfire spot.

There are several informational stands on the trail with history of the Missouri River, Riverboats, St. Charles, and the Native Indian Tribes.

The Katy Trail was extended sometime last year, and the Eco- Park leads back up to it- where we rode up to the point of about 5 miles out. It was amazing riding along the river, as for the third week in a row we have had pure sunshine which glistened off the river right next to us.

I think I can honestly say that everyone was floored by this hidden gem right in our own backyard. I am so happy that I live in the area and have walked and biked it - so that I can show others how wonderful St. Charles is. Anyone whose children are attending ASH should really take advantage of seeing these beautiful areas right from Dusable Park- on a path that is all easily walkable.

I plan to ride up further in the near future to see how far the trail actually goes, and we wondered if it goes all the way to the confluence.

On a different less historical note, biking has been tough during the week for the past three weeks with all of the cold and rain. This truly has been an exceptional spring. I need to get out there more during the week as the weather gets warmer.

Tomorrow we are again scheduled for sunshine and if there are any cancellations I WILL POST ON THIS BLOG, by 7 a.m. on Sunday morning.


My own pictures to post later- as that makes this so much more interesting... :)

Angel Wind

When I rode from my house to meet up for Bike Club on Sunday, it was freezing. The ride down literally requires almost no pedaling as we live atop the hill from Main Street between 7th and 8th streets in Midtown, historic St. Charles. Before I left, Alex (the hub) was in the kids bed (don't ask- we do a lot of that game musical beds in the night...) playing with his phone, while my little one followed me downstairs. I told him I was going to go ride my bike with other mommies to which he replied: "I go wif you mommy on the bike..." (He loves to ride with me on the back in the baby seat). So cute, but not today kid! I briefly wondered when Alex would get him as I did leave him downstairs as I left out my back door.

This Sunday, there were seven of us riding with a few new faces to join us, one of which was Sister Glavin. I'm so happy that she came. Although it was chilly starting out, it was warm as you got the legs pedaling. I stop sometimes to make sure everyone is doing okay, let them pass, then try to move ahead to lead again. Sister Glavin was the first to pass me while I waited on the (right) side of the trail and then after everyone moved by, I passed everyone except Sr. Glavin. I kept riding, thinking that she couldn't have gotten that far, but if I'll be honest- I really had to hustle to finally see her! I eventually caught up and started thinking about why she was doing so well.

After some reflection I think the answer is twofold: firstly, she is a positive thinker, and secondly, she had angel wind. I am a firm believer in 'mind over matter' philosophy and positive thinking. I believe that anything can happen if you first picture it in your mind with a positive attitude. This brings whatever you are thinking of into the field of pure potential, and then whatever you picture in your mind can be manifested. This is also called "Creative Visualization".  (reference: Shakti Gawain - Author.)

The second aspect of Sister Glavins success on our little bike ride was what I termed 'angel wind'. What I mean by this of course is that she has God behind her to push her through, maybe even the angels as well. If you tap in to your spiritual resource (be it God or otherwise), whether through meditation or a tiny prayer, do you think it helps? I most certainly do- this is how I live my life. Little prayers and meditations throughout the day help me achieve my goals, and in the larger picture help me live my dreams and co-create my own reality. Nothing is too small, or to large to ask for, in my opinion, including exercise help, and a positive attitude towards my body. 

Go ahead and call me crazy or a mystic, but one of the things I do is visualize my perfect body while exercising, AND little hint here- I frequently say what weight I want to be (not that weight is everything, it's NOT). Additionally, when I exercise, I focus on the muscles I am using in order to make them stronger. So, when I am riding up that tough Page Extension hill, I focus/visualize on all the muscles of the legs- the quadriceps, hamstrings, inner and outer thighs, and also the calf muscles. It also doesn't hurt after you make it up that hill to thank those muscles and your body for helping you to achieve your goal!

Now, for the part you might not want to hear: consistency in practice (and this applies to most practices and disciplines) will TRUMP intensity ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. We teach this to our kids- "if you practice your piano three times a week, you will do better for lesson...rather than cramming your practice all into one day...." The same is exactly true for getting better on the bike. If you want to be better at biking, ride harder and faster, and get up those hills, you have to put in what bikers call 'saddle time' or 'time in the saddle'.

However, if once a week is all you've got, then that is 100x better than doing nothing. Over time, it WILL make a difference. I promise you that...

And, if you are still reading, I came back and took the little one in the seat on my bike for a spin while Alex got some 'shower time'. It was more beautiful than ever with the sun shining and warm weather finally on our skin!

Is That You?

I've gotten this question a couple times this year: "Are you the same person that I see walking/jogging to school with a huge stroller?"

The answer is, "Yes, yes that is me."

There is also this notion that I must have it all together in order to walk to school, as it must take more time to do this, most conclude. The truth is that I DO have to be more prepared in the morning with being dressed in proper fitness clothing, and I need to eat something small, however, I can't eat too much or I'll feel sick if I jog. I put my hair back in a bun after I shower though, so I don't take the time to fix my hair, and my face goes completely au natural- I moisturize with olive oil and/or coconut oil so I probably look greasy and sweaty by the time I get to school. I put a visor on and usually wear sunglasses, and look completely different than I would at a function, which might be why some people don't recognize me at all when they see me with a stroller that's about the size of a 'smart car', with my two kids riding comfortably in their chariot to school, swathed in the Mexican blanket.

Additionally, I have found it actually takes LESS time for us to walk rather than drive, and the same is most definitely true for the pick up, because we don't have to wait in the car pool line at all. It takes me less time to get both of my kids (ages 2 and 5) into the stroller rather than get them strapped in the car, and pull out of our garage. We also made the conscious decision several years ago to stay in the neighborhood of Midtown with the hopes that our children would eventually go to the Academy. We live only about a half mile from school, so really it's not like I'm marathoning every day.

I try to walk the children to school at least once per day, when the weather is nice, and after we drop my oldest at ASH, I walk over to First United Methodist Church where my little one goes to the Mothers Day Out Program three days per week. During the hours that he is there, I work from home.

Sometimes I think that the short walk there and back doesn't really make that much difference, yet after this long, LONG, winter I can notice a huge difference (definitely in my body, and most certainly in my mood) even though I still exercise in other ways during the winter.

In other words, consistency will trump sporadic high intensity any day. :)

Back In The Saddle

I thought if people actually showed up to the first ASH Biking Club ride, I might start a blog about it, in order to let people know what it is about. We/I am new at the Academy (Academy of the Sacred Heart, St. Charles, MO) and I started this 'biking club' without knowing anyone really or having any other friends at our sons school, as he just started their pre-primary program this year. My husband made a comment when I conjured up this whole thing in the shower one morning: "You might want to meet at least one other mom there and have them do this with you first before you try this". Eh, phooey, I say. Lets just do it: dive in head first- I figured the worst that would happen is that I would have several bike rides alone without my 2 year old and 5 year old, and wouldn't THAT be terrible?

I've had a lot of support from Sister Glavin, (the headmistress of ASH) and the school has been posting an intro piece on Bike Club for several weeks in our bible of information about the school- the TM: The Thursday Mail. (Don't miss it, we've gone to school at least once when it was closed)  I've had some e-mails about Bike Club, a few phone calls, and generally speaking there has been a lot of interest in my idea of starting a bike club primarily for ASH moms. I had a small meeting as well a few weeks ago to go over some of the basics of what the Bike Club was about and specifics (safety, clothing, rules of the road, etc.) on biking on the Katy Trail. This is our state park that is a couple blocks away from the school.

I packed all my gear for our bike ride last night, laid my shoes out, and Alex (my hub) and I went over how to change a tire, in case someone had a flat. I tried to be good, and went to bed early on a Saturday night as we have an early start at 8 a.m.

Surprisingly, five people showed up (besides me) and I think the general consensus was that everyone there was wanting something like this, or that they thought it was a great idea. There was a lot of talk of how some were wanting to get in shape, yet finding the motivation, and/or time was hard. No doubt, we are all busy, and all of those fitness experts say if you have someone to exercise with, you will have more success. Now, who those fitness experts are, I can't say right now, but if we keep going on the Bike Club I'll try to get more serious about legitimate resources.

You really couldn't have asked for better weather, and I was glad we started today rather than earlier in March. Everyone did really well, and made it to the Page Extension and back which is 8 miles. Afterwards, four of us had breakfast at the Bike Stop Cafe, where we started from, and it was really good to listen to details about life with middle school (and beyond) children. This is a place I will be in not too long from now.

I thought to myself that it was really good to just get away on a beautiful morning, to sit and reflect and just 'be'.

I'd like to give special kudos to Amy, who has a 12 week old, her third child- who was out with us and had to leave right after the ride because she is nursing. Awesome job... I remember those days, but only did it twice, not three times!

And, I would like to say 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!' to Tony Caruso and his family team at the Bike Stop Cafe for being there early for us in case anyone had any biking issues before the ride. The Triathlon wrap was great and the new location is perfect.

http://www.bikestopcafes.com