We are moving!

We are moving... by we, I mean our business (My Gym Children's Fitness Center) and by moving, I mean a few doors down in the same plaza. BUT, we are so excited for this amazing opportunity! We will have a brand new facility by this summer! Fresh new paint, new carpet, new layout (smaller lobby, bigger gym floor/play area), a bigger storage room, a water fountain (instead of a water dispenser and cups = $$), a separate office (instead of in the storage room), and a bigger window storefront/better visibility from the parking lot and road.

We have kept this so quiet from our friends and members at My Gym because of the emotional journey this past year has been, but we had to let the "cat out of the bag" today during a class when 5 construction workers came in to look around flashing their big blueprints around and taking pictures. Contractors and Architects have been in and out for the past month, but they've always popped in during down-time or a break in our schedule for us to keep it a secret. Things have really sped up this past week and we are busting with excitement.

To explain the 'emotional journey' I mentioned earlier, let's start from the top...

The beginning of February 2010, our landlord took us to lunch to tell us that another tenant wanted our corner space and that they were going to move My Gym down a few doors. We were shocked, but tried to embrace the opportunity... almost too much. We had corporate make our new floor plan and we estimated the moving costs high and then added additional money for the "inconvenience" of relocating. Corporate was trying to make us profit from the plaza having to move us. We kinda took the stand that we weren't happy about moving because of the many branding years My Gym had from being in the corner spot of the plaza. The truth was, however, we really did want a new facility and that was very evident emotion wise when the deal fell through Summer 2010. We later found out that it didn't make sense for our landlord to give us our expensive build out just for another tenant to move in our space and nothing go in theirs.

We had put so much thought and planning into this possible move. It felt like such a waste of time. However, all those thoughts sparked other ideas about how moving My Gym out of our corner location might actually benefit our business. We soon started looking into empty retail spaces in the next plaza over. We looked at a total of 4 different spaces. We fell in love with one that would have been perfect to move the gym to, only to be bullied by that Realtor and landlord. Even with corporate on our side, it was hard to negotiate and play 'hard-ball' with business men being (and looking) so young like we are.

Once we put both these possible opportunities behind us, we were content with staying in our current space and just upgrading a few things. We needed to invest in new carpet, paint, and remodel our lobby. It sounded like a compromising plan, but the funds never came to be able to make our improvements.

Our 5-year lease ran up for our current space in November 2010. We told them that we would re-sign a 1-year lease in hopes that we would relocate after that year (instead of updating the current space). This is when we heard another deal was in the works with our plaza. They said that they were interested in moving us again (this time to a bigger space farther down, closer to the road) because a undisclosed store was going to move to the plaza. They needed 5 storefronts (ours, 3 empty spaces next to us, and a bead store) to be turned into this big chain. We knew that anything that needed 8,400 square feet would be great traffic to the plaza.

We have agreed, and have turned in all accurate cost this time. We have, once again, a new layout plan, and it is even better than the first two we drew up. We won't make any extra money from this move because it is honestly not going to be an inconvenience. It is truly a blessing to have a brand new facility built out for you just the way you want it (all the way down to picking what paint color goes on what wall and which way the doors will swing)... all for free!

To bring us up to today, blueprints have been handed to us and the only thing we are waiting on is the construction schedule with finalized dates. We were told that Tuesday Morning (the now disclosed store) needed to be moved in by May 7th, but that's going to get pushed back. They are going to move the bead store first, then start the store build out on the 4 spaces next to us while constructing our new space. Finally, they will move us over and then finish the construction for Tuesday Morning. We are hoping to be in by June 1st when our Summer Camp starts, but we shouldn't have to have any down (closed) time. Everything will be new, even our swing support system that hangs from the ceiling and hopefully our zip line.

We get to start announcing the relocation to our members starting Monday. We want them to know that we are only moving about 11 doors down before any rumors start about us relocating somewhere far. The goal is to get people just as excited as we are so they remain enrolled (even through summer which is usually when a lot of cancellations come in). We will soon be joining the Arvada Chamber of Commerce to hopefully have a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a huge 're-opening' event. We hope and pray that this turns out to be a beautiful facility like we've always wanted and that the "new" My Gym becomes the talk of the town!

Snowshoeing Pictures

The start of the trial... (showing my snowshoes)

The beautiful path!

(or you could go off the path into the deep snow)

You might fall down trying to stand with BIG snowshoes in the thick snow.

Me, Megan, Shelby, Beka

(we are all youth group leaders at our church)

Stage Performance

I know I said I was going to post snowshoeing pictures next blog post, but those will have to wait a little bit longer. Here are some photos and a video of our stage performance at the Colorado Baby & Kidz Expo on January 29th & 30th.

Warm-up time!
Stretching

Tumbling on stage

Freeze Dance!

Puppet show

We posted part of the video from the stage performance on YouTube. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws06GZkACM8

CSI (Cold, Snow, Ice)

What a week! We closed My Gym on Monday due to icy roads (it was raining ice that soon turned into snow). It took my neighbor 15min to scrape their car windsheild only for it to ice up again 1/2 mile down the road. We closed again on Tuesday when the schools were going to be closed, but we decided to open Wednesday (even though the schools closed again). The temperatures hit record lows and the snow has been on and off everyday since Monday.

The good news about the snow, however, is that Juli got to go snowshoeing today with girls from church. Anelise's parents let me borrow their snowshoes, so it was a free day at the mountains. It snowed on us a ton, but it was beautiful! I'll post snowshoeing pictures next blog post.

Anelise's backyard Friday morning.

You couldn't see the green street signs today.

Last Tuesday's forecast (but it got to -29F with wind chill).

This is how I'm feeling right about now.

New Year, New News

Happy new year!

January seemed like a good time to post an update, so here you go…

Business Update – For the past 2 years of owning My Gym Arvada, we have grown in enrollment from January to April before people start canceling near the summer time. This January is proving to be a good start to a new year once again! In fact, we just worked out 13^th birthday party for the month today (our previous highest was 10 parties in a month). Next weekend we will have a booth at the Colorado Baby and Kidz expo so we are geared up with marketing materials and even Summer Camp flyers to “beat” the rush of our potential summer cancels.

We are both still in the gym full-time with another full-time Director, Dustin, and part-time staff, Jill (Craig chose not to continue with us right before Christmas). Juli is still a nanny for Anelise all day on Wednesdays and Fridays and Tuesdays half a day for January and February. Anelise is 14 months now and is great practice for what it will be like one day as a working mom.

Anelise

We decided not to move the gym into another shopping center. Once we started renegotiating our lease, our current landlord told us about another proposed opportunity to move us a few doors down in our same plaza. Basically, our My Gym needs a “face lift” (new carpet, paint, etc.) so if we were to move and look like a new facility with all of our same equipment, that would be the biggest blessing! We currently have 3 empty retail spaces next to us. Our plaza is trying to make a deal for a big anchor store to come in those 3 spaces plus ours, hence moving us down. We actually hope the deal works out because it would give us a new space, we would have better visibility from our parking lot, and hopefully the new store would bring more traffic to the plaza. It’s a waiting game now to see if all the pieces fall into place.

Personal Update – The biggest news is that we finally have health insurance again! What a hassle it has been paying and negotiating medical bills from Juli’s gallbladder surgery last May. We have now paid off most of the bills expect two ER visits prior to surgery. I just received a letter in the mail today letting me know that I was accepted for charity and my account balance was adjusted. One bill went from $7,398.75 to $1,204.00 and the other went from $3,801.35 to $1,179.00. Praise God!

Other updates would include…

The snow has started!

We had a blast at the Harlem Globetrotters game a few weeks ago. Dustin and Kendra gave us tickets to go with them for Christmas.


Because we are too busy for a puppy, we are now the parents of two Hermit Crabs.

Turkey Trot

Juli ran in her 1st race today, a 4-mile Turkey Trot. At the start of the race, the temperature was 23 degrees and the altitude of the park was about 5,400 feet high. She accomplished the run in just over 48 minutes.

My race number

My phone recorded my run

The race path I ran

Our Staff and Client Testimonies

Our wonderful staff: Dustin, Juli, Thomas, Jill, Craig

We recently handed out Client Surveys to have people voice any positive or negative answer to several questions. I was pleased with most of the testimonies that came back, so I wanted to share a couple from three of the questions...



Question: Would you share with us any positive or negative experiences you or your child has had with any certain member of our staff (including the owners)? Your open and honest reply to this question is very important to us.



"Cody has especially bonded with Mr. Thomas and Mr. Dustin. It is great to have such wonderful guys in Cody's life. He also really love Ms. Juli and Miss Jill. Thank you all for your kindness!!!" ~Cody is 9 years old


"Thomas and Juli have been great with Zoe and accommodating our schedule. Craig is always able to get Maya involved."


"Tanner loves is when:
-he gets to demonstrate with Mr. Thomas
-gets tickled by Miss Jill
-gets chased by Ms. Juli
-has a game with Mr. Dustin
We're just getting to know Craig, but like him already!"


"Mr. Thomas and Ms. Juli were great at getting Paige comfortable with the routine. She adores them! Mr. Craig and Mr. Dustin have done a great job at making Paige feel comfortable with them as well. She loves My Gym and asks to come everyday."


"The staff is top notch. They have all been amazing with Tessa, especially when she was having issues listening and participating. They were professional, patient and gentle with her outbursts. Couldn't be happier with result of their hard work."



Question: Are you and your child/children ALWAYS treated in a friendly and respectful manner by our entire staff?



"Yes! They always seem so happy to see Sean!! I also appreciate how the staff will ask how I am doing (i.e. It always amazes me that Juli remembers what is happening in our lives and asks me specifics)."


"All staff members are very nice to us and happy to see us, play with the kids and show them new things. Dustin is one of the best staff members: always great with kids and never tired of playing with them."


"Everyone is very friendly and they are flexible with our schedule. They are always talking to me and asking how I am doing."


"Yes, the boys and I are always treated in a friendly and respectful manner. It is nice that we are greeted by names when we come in and you say good-bye to the kids and I when we leave."



Question: What brings you back to My Gym?



"My grandson, Eason, loves to go to My Gym and gets excited as soon as we pull into the parking lot. He even says "I'm so happy" when we are walking to the door of My Gym." ~Eason is 23 months

"We think it is in the best interest in Tanner's physical development and life skills like following directions and peer interaction. It really prepares them for school!"

"My Gym offers so much more in my child's development than other local rec. centers. The extra attention to communication, sharing, discovery and trying new physical feats far exceeds any other program we've been involved in. Keep up the great work... your efforts are appreciated and admired!!!"


"Well, I have been to 3 other gym programs and you guys are my favorite for the following reasons: 1) time - class length is 1 hour plus I get free plays... I get more gym time for my money. 2) staff friendliness - I love when my child is greeted by name. 3) diversity - so much is crammed into each class: gymnastics, swings, adventure, puppet show, etc. Your program is great!"


"The fun, positive and creative staff members!"

2 years in a row!

Meet Jackson Werner

My best friend of 9+ years became a mom today. Jackson Timothy Werner was born 11/2/10 at 11:59am, 7 pounds and 21 inches. Andrea was contracting every 3mins since midnight last night, received an epidural at 5am, had her water broken at 8am, and started pushing at 11:15. I am so proud of her!

My Gym Halloween Parties

Saturday, October 30th

1:00-2:oopm 22 kids attended

5:30-6:30pm 30 kids attended

Our 3rd annual Halloween Party!

Meet our Staff!

Juli (Tinkerbell), Craig (Popeye), Thomas (Thomas the Train), Dustin (Penguin), Jill (Indian)

Silly photo

This is more like our personalities