Spring, and Mother's Day

I began working out in the spring. I joined (re-joined) WW and got busy working out. I use Fitnessblender.com and workout in my basement. I LOVE it!! It was VERY hard when I began. Brutal, sweaty sessions that left me sore for days. I'm still at it and it's still challenging but not as brutally painful....most days.

Tuba enjoyed lots of outings with his classmates. As the year wound down we all began feeling the weight of him leaving school for good. Well, he didn't. He just carried on and enjoyed it all. We should all be more like Tuba.

Ummm....this. Equal parts hilarious and frightening.

So many good things about our dogs. Sis especially loves them. She is our animal whisperer.

Mother's Day is the best. I adore all of the homemade cards and gifts from school.

On Mother's Day we went out on the same nature walk we did on my birthday. It was neat to see how the landscape changes in each season.

It's so refreshing to get outside and breathe fresh air. We found lots of beauty to take in, hold hands and laugh together. A perfect day. 

Weigh In

Okay friends! It's been two weeks of Weight Watchers. AND I've been working out like a MANIAC!!

My weight is down 6 lbs.!!! Yeah!! My fat pants feel better but unfortunately my skinny pants still do not fit. Ugh!! I get very impatient. Like on day 3 of WW I started freaking out that I wasn't losing any weight...that my pants didn't fit....that I couldn't rock a bikini. I know, irrational. Cam talked me down from the ledge.


I'm feeling good now. It takes at least a week for my body to adjust and detox sugar for the mad cravings to subside. Instead of thinking about cupcakes every 2 seconds I now only think about them about 2 times an hour. Sigh.

Okay, so one of my kids asked me if I can run. Before I could answer Cam says, "yes she can but she just doesn't". Well I'll be......

Hmpf!!!!

So, I pondered that for a bit. And then I got busy cranking up my cardio. It's not running....cause I hate running and it does hurt my knee.....CAM! But I've been doing these workout my SIL told me about call Fitnessblender.com. I do a 30-40 minute HIIT workout which is High Intensity Interval Training. Whoosh! Can you say sweat?! I've also done some of the ab workouts. Oofda!

Even Cam is impressed with my workouts. That says A LOT. He's even afraid I'll get injured. Actually my knee is hurting so I'm doing some of the low impact workouts. They are amazingly hard even without jumping around.

In all I'm feeling good and on my way to being fit. I've got a whole closet of fun clothes that will fit me soon. Bonus! A new (old) wardrobe!!

Just in case you didn't read it on FB. I sent Cam that pic of myself telling him that I just kicked my own hiney. Except I didn't have on my reading glasses (too steamy) and I had actually typed that I just licked my own hiney!! Dying!! Humor is getting me through. Lots more hiney licking kicking to come!!

Sis Catch Up

Sis played two sessions of indoor soccer and is now having a break from organized sports. She is looking forward to swimming in the summer. Lest you think she sits idle I'll tell you that she spends ALL her waking minutes at home cartwheeling and back bending around the house. She has been practicing how to do a backbend and then kick her feet back over to standing. She's getting really good! It's on my list to check out gymnastic class times for her.

This pic cracks me up! After her dental check up this is what she chose from the prize box. Ha!! 

Sis plays AG dolls all day (while cartwheeling). She adores her dolls. She watches youtube videos and makes her dolls all kinds of fun things like little cell phones, mini bags of cotton candy and furniture. 

And she gives her dolls green beards for St. Patrick's Day. 

Sis loves her daddy. 

And the beach! We love to visit our favorite island and look for hidden rocks. We always find some. We've now painted a bunch to take and hide for others to find. 

Sis has worked REALLY hard in school this year. She has made big gains in math and won an award today for it. You receive a golden pencil and get a scholar award certificate. Yeah for her! 

Other than dolls and gymnastics her other fave past time is singing....loudly...and longly. She sings it all from 80's rock to contemporary pop. By the end of the day we are all ready for her to sleep. :)

Kid Catch Up George

Since I haven't blogged regularly for so long I'll do a kid catch up. Starting with the baby George. He's no baby...that's for sure. He's WAY bigger than his sis and almost as big as Moses.

He is developing his political views...and they are strong. The picture is of a ripped up newspaper article about Trump....or Mr. Rump as George would prefer.

George is working towards his black belt in TKD. He is about half way there. His enthusiasm comes and goes but we are encouraging forcing him to finish since we spent a ton of cash on his sparring gear and black belt club. Once he is at class he likes it but getting him going is hard. 

George and Sis have always been great friends....my almost twins. But, this year George has moved towards wanting to do more with the big boys. He loves to be included with his brothers and dad. He plays more with neighborhood boys than his sis too. He likes to ride bikes, play swords or nerf guns or legos. 

George is an amazing reader. Ya gotta love a book worm. 

He has a zany side to him and has been exploring his sense of humor. He likes to read joke books and try them out on us. 

And he's tender hearted. He doesn't like it when kids are sad or are in trouble. He thinks about social justice a lot.

This pic is my beloved Uncle Larry. All my kids adore him. We recently got to have dinner with him. Such a joy. 

And he's serious too. He loves to hear Cam talk about the military. He reads a lot about it too. He had Cam teach him how properly salute.

The kids and I were at a basketball tournament near where Cam's dad is buried. I took the kids to see the grave. George was very serious....it was a military cemetery. 

I like to ask the kids periodically what they want to be when they grow up. George wants to be a nurse practitioner. Great choice! 

Valentine's Day 2017

Valentine's Day....my favorite holiday. 

We continued our tradition of dinner in our pj's. We all look forward to the event. I set the table with everyone's treats which makes for a festive time. 

After dinner we had a cozy time by the fire. 

A simple yet fun time. 

20th Anniversary

In January Cam and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. We spent a beautiful morning hiking a local nature trail that we had never been to. The hike started up high and went down through a forest of trees. There was a stream that ran along the trail too. The hike ends at the beach....our favorite place. 

The beach was empty and the view was amazing. You can see the Olympic Mountain range across the water. 

It was freezing cold but the hike back up got us nice and warm. Actually it got Cam nicely warmed and it got me hot and sweaty and breathing hard. It was a 1 mile straight uphill and I am not in as good of shape as my billy goat husband. I took the opportunity to stop and look at moss and ferns and birds....and anything....to catch my breath. 

After our hike we went to lunch at our fave spot. The view was gorgeous! 

20 years!! That's a good solid amount of time to be married. 

What I've learned about my marriage in 20 years...and am still learning.

It takes work. We put time and effort into making our marriage strong. 

When you feel disconnected from your spouse, say so, and do something to reconnect. 

We love each other AND we annoy each other.  Being annoyed doesn't take away from the love. 

It's the little things that mean the most.

We are still learning about each other. 

It's okay (and beneficial) to have time apart or alone. 

You have to be the "soft place to land" for each other. 

Shared history is important to both of us.

For us it's better to go to bed mad. In the morning things will feel different. 

Say sorry even when you don't feel it. 

Take time to hold hands, kiss hello and goodbye and sit together. 

Be each other's biggest cheerleader. 

Zip your mouth. 

Make time for dates. 

Show appreciation for one another. Verbalize it. 

Laugh together. Be silly and crazy and wild. 

I'm excited for the next 20 years and beyond. It's work but it's worth it. Happy 20th to my favorite, my person, my partner, my love. 

Winter at the beach

My mom and her husband rented a house at the beach just after Christmas. We've never been to the coast in Winter and it was AMAZING!! We spent the days cozied up walking the beach, playing in the tall grass, watching the storms roll in, and sipping hot drinks while enjoying the view. We loved it and can't wait to go back again. 

The sun was a welcome sight. Storms would roll in and it would pour rain and then it would clear up again. 

It was cold but with hats and warm coats we were nice a toasty. 

Braver souls (kids) could get away with just a hoodie. 

These two had more fun than anyone else. Cousins! They each got new American Girl Dolls for Christmas and they played, and played dolls. They would occasionally go outside to play on the beach but then right back inside to the dolls. 

We loved watching this stump. As the tide came in and out the stump remained. Every kid...big kids too...climbed it. 

Grandpa loves the beach too. 

There were trails all throughout the beach grass. The kids had a blast running and playing. 

Dogs love the beach too. 

We enjoyed yummy food and fun drinks. And lots of great family time. 

Time with Nana and Bumpa was the best!!

This family loves the beach. 

46th Birthday Celebration

Oh how the time is flying by....I'm so behind on my blogging life.

Working, plus this busy sports family is keeping me from my chronicles here.

December is a packed, busy, celebratory, fun, stressful and crazy month.

I think the next thing to post about is my birthday. Oh! I LOVE my birthday. It will be fun to relive it here today.

Early in my birthday week I got to spend an afternoon with my mom. It was SO FUN! My mom had just retired and so we had a double celebration. We went to a long leisurely and delicious lunch and then browed the shops nearby. Loved this day!!

On my actual birthday we attended church. I truly love to stand in church holding hands and hugging my loves while singing and worshipping.

After church we stopped at my fave cupcake shop. Yummy!

Happy Birthday to MEEEEE! A pink champagne cupcake!

I have been wanting to visit a nature preserve near our house. I seized the opportunity of a captive audience and we headed out for a rainy adventure. Hey, on your birthday you get to choose!

The scenery was beautiful and the falling rain on the water was music to our ears. 

I love all the moss that grows in our area. 

After our walk we came home, warmed up, dressed up and headed out to dinner. 

We love our dinner tradition! 

Lots of time to chat and eat yummy food...and make funny faces.

I think this pic is after the boys were done eating and very full! 

Birthday number 46 was great! I'm already looking forward to my next fun day.