Shall we golf???

Apparently, it’s now hip to post out of order.  Here is the first stop on our family Staycation adventures.  Putt putt and laser tag.

 We tried really hard to keep score.  Then we finally just gave up.  Mark hit a few hole in ones as did Ace and Josiah.  Josiah actually hit quite a bit but, since we weren’t keeping score, I have no clue how many.

 By about whole 10 we decided to play, “Don’t let the ball stop moving” or “Speed Golf”

 And then it was inside to cool off.  The big kids (including Mark) hit up the laser tag area.
 I love how Zoe can look girly and deadly all at the same time.
Ceili Rain’s first trip in to the laser tag.  She was equally as cute and deadly.  Okay, only to those who had vests around their waists.
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I’m a Puppet

Ya’ll all know our family is weird.  And as such, our kids have never really freaked out over puppets.  They love them in fact.  We received notice that The Cat in the Hat was going to be performed at The Center for Puppetry Arts so while we were in Atlanta we knew we wanted to go see that.  They did a phenomenal job and our ticket included a “create a creature” workshop where the kids got to make puppets.  We also got to tour the museum which featured puppets from around the world.  It wasn’t cheap but since we didn’t have to pay for our trip to Imagine It, we decided it was well worth it.
 Bryant’s silly face puppet.

 Yes, we thought this was just really cool.
 Shadow puppet making time.

 Ta da!
Our creature creators and their creations.
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Just Imagine

June began our summer Staycation.  We plotted out several places to go and things to do in and around where we live.  The first stop was miniature golf and I forgot to get pictures.  Later in that same week, we traveled to Atlanta.  We are members at children’s museum there and this was our first trip.
 Working in the “garden.”

 Farm work is tough stuff.

 Liam the grocer.
 Ceili Rain was “fishing,” but had time to stop for a pose.
 Look what I caught!

They had a special exhibit of the 50 states.  This was in one of them…it was supposed to be like you were scuba diving (I’m guessing Hawaii).

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Color me…

June was a hard month.  I’m not going to lie.  It was just plain tough.  The kids were fine but the emotional side of all we were going through took it’s toll on me that month.
So, to give us some smiles, I decided we would make good use of all of the broken crayons we had left over from previous years.  I purchased small loaf pans from the dollar store.  I also bought a couple of cute ice molds.  We had some candy molds in the house as well and we put those to use.
First, we peeled each broken crayon.  I mean each and every one.  It took two days.  Zoe and Ace were wiped out after that.
We separated the crayons into the loaf pans based on their shade/tint.

 Our first experiment was to put all of the crayons in to one pan.

 Yeah, brown was not what we were going for.

Next, we decided to melt all the crayons on very low heat.  They stayed in their individual loaf pans and after pouring the melted crayons in to the molds, the pans went back in to the oven to stay melted.  Please note:  not all of the crayons will melt.  Either they are too old or just a cheap brand.  But the ones that did were so cool.

The kids got to choose a mold to make specifically.  Some got creative and asked for different colors in one mold.  That gave us the swirl effect we were after when we dumped several colors in one pan.

 The final products!

These were so much fun and just a smidge of work.  The kids loved the result and are now reusing several crayons.

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At the Lake

We had promised the kids that after the reunion they could play at the lake in the water.  They were thrilled.  So we threw on some swimsuits and headed down to the muddy water (this was the start of the 40 plus days of rain all of us in the south got).

 Buckets meant lots of opportunities to get siblings soaking wet.

In the end, everyone was all smiles.
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Reunited

While visiting Papa and Grandmere, we were able to attend a family reunion.  The kids had a wonderful time at the lake.  Especially since their cousins were all there.

 Uncle B couldn’t resist trying to fix something. 
 Mr. T.  He’s Malachi’s age and just as adorable.
 Cousin G hanging out with Malachi.
 Uncle B gathered all the cousins to go check out the lake.
 Can you say ADORABLE?!  I love those cheeks.  Did you know that they jiggle when he walks?

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Happy, Happy, Happy

Papa’s birthday was the end of May and we just so happened to be getting together around then.  Way back in February, we (meaning the sons and their spouses) cooked up a fun surprise party for Papa.  Even further back, last October when while in Chattanooga, Mark and I introduced everyone to Duck Dynasty.  Some say it was a bad move but Papa has been hooked.  We decided to do a Duck Dynasty party complete with beards, bandanas, duck calls and the theme song.
 Uncle B gave a pep talk and showed off their attire for the evening.
 Cousin H all decked out.

 The whole Duck Dynasty crew.
 The main organizers.  Grandmere can blame them for the silliness that ensued.

Needless to say, Papa was thrilled.    We also got him a “Happy, Happy, Happy” t-shirt and a Si tea glass.

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Continuing on…Getting Fit Update

I finished up 42 days to fit last week.  I’m still continuing with the changes I made in my diet and adding to my exercise/strength training.

So, here are my stats:

I’ve lost a total of 10 pounds.
I’ve lost one inch in my arms, eight inches in my waist, four inches in my hips, and four and half inches in my thighs.

I’m technically down a size.  Although I don’t have any real capris that I can wear or flattering skirts so, for now, until they fall off, I’m staying in the size I was in when I started this journey.  Except in tops,  some of my tops are nice and loose so I can wear the next size down.

I have somewhere around two months to lose ten more pounds.  So, I’m soldiering on.  After the cruise, I am hoping to continue on track with losing weight (counting whatever I gain on the cruise if the food is really good :).

So off we go.  Two days cycling and one day of high intensity interval training (10 reps of 1 minute stairs with a 40 second recovery) and three days strength training.  I’m trying to increase my cycling to 30 minutes but the humidity makes my body protest.  Still, I was able to get 3 miles in to 20 minutes when I cycled by myself.  Obviously when I have a bike partner (my amazing daughter), I go a tad slower.  I’d love to see 4 miles in 20 minutes but I think that will take a bit of time.

I’m well aware that a plateau could happen at any time and I’m prepping myself by planning out other exercises or how many more I will do.  I’m not too worried about it and will cross that hurdle if I come to it.  My strength training will be easy to add more circuits to and I can always swap a cycling day for more HIITs (even though I would miss cycling).  I can also increase my cycling time.  So, there are more options should my weight and measurements go stagnant.

So, onward and upward my friends.  Anyone else working on getting fit and staying that way?

Oh, pictures.  Opps.  Yeah, about those.  Soon.  I promise.

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Weeks 5 and 6 The End of 42 Days of Fit

Yikes!  Sometimes life gets a bit crazy and I forget to update.

I’m still continuing with my exercising and diet changes.

Between the past couple of weeks, I have lost three pounds.  I was hoping for four but it’s close.  And guess what?!  I have not taken any pictures.  I do have some before to show off so hopefully, after this last week of 42 Days, I’ll have an “after.”

I have little goals that I developed in my mind (aside from wanting to be able to fit in my evening gown for the cruise in October).  I’ve almost met the first goal and then the second is the big one.  My first goal is to lose 10 pounds.  Second goal, another 10 pounds.

Aside from losing weight and inches, I have noticed a lot more changes.  I have energy. I can keep up with the kids when we are out and about.  We were walking somewhere the other day and I told Mark how awesome it felt not to be out of breath.

I’m still getting “the question” on occasion but the fact that my clothes are not tight and actually starting to have to be pulled up is a good thing and I’m not letting others remarks deter me.

We were so busy last week (and this week too) that I’ve had to work harder to watch what I eat and think ahead.  I’ve been very grateful for that.

This week is a bit of the same as the last couple of weeks.  However, the popping  my back made when I did mountain climbers made my chiropractor inform me I had to wait on doing those again.  So, I did 30 burpees (spread out of course) last night instead of two sets of 30 second mountain climbers and 2 sets of 10 burpess.  I actually didn’t mind them.

I also moved up in my hand weights.  Eight pounds is a lot to lift compared to the 5 I was using.  I’m struggling but I’m getting it.

Zoe took a nasty spill on her bike but after several days of rest, she was willing to get back on and go out with me.  We average around 3 miles in 20 minutes.  My big goal is to get 4 miles in 20 minutes.  I’ve upped the amount of cycling we do to 30 minutes so we’ll see if we can add in some more miles.

This is my last week on 42 days to fit.  After this it’s on my own to continue with the fitness and eating changes (it was on my own to begin with just following the book week by week).  I think I can do it.  I’m excited at the changes and being overall healthy for my family and husband.

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Random Kids Post May 2013

 
 Ceili Rain found my lipstick in the car.  The End.

 Bryant worked hard on potty training and after one of our adventures out in May declared that he wanted to potty in the garage.  My philosophy:  Doesn’t matter where ya go as long as ya go.  He did.

 I love being a vendor at our local farmer’s market.  It’s a beautiful setting.  I meet some neat people and my kids love coming downtown to the Riverwalk area.  This was taken in the rain when I was just about ready to be done for the day.

 Trying to take it easy during May, I decided to give my stir crazy kids a break and we set up the sprinkler in the backyard.  Following a cue from Pinterest, I put a tarp under it. It was an absolute blast!

Zoe’s cousin made cinnamon rolls when we visited in February.  One Saturday, I was craving them and begged Zoe to make them since I was trying to not do much.  She obliged and we have now granted her the title of Official Cinnamon Roll Baker on Saturdays.  I think she is slowly enjoying it and gaining more confidence in the kitchen as she learns.

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