Family time photo shoots

Here are some pictures from the past few days.   (You know I couldn’t resist for long, right?)

                                                                         

Avery loves playing outside and will take any opportunity to climb something.  The steps, the swingset bars, the ladder on the swingset.  Makes it difficult to relax in my sweet new pink adirondack chair!                                                                                                  

                                            

She was making a face here and I was copying her.  She’s much cuter!

                                           

Mux was seeking shade.  Must be the fur coat.

                                                                                                     

Another evening boat ride!   I miss the days when he would smile nicely.  Now I have to “catch” his smiles with the  camera.  As soon as he sees me with the camera though, its all over.                                                                                                                            

                                        

Avery likes to make random calls on her dad’s blackberry.                                            

                                              

How come no one wants to smile with me?!                                                              

                                           

Enjoying the ride!  Pontunia the II drives herself.                                                            

                                             

Caught a smile from Avery!  She’s smiling at her dad.  Duh.                                         

                                 

Still my little Green Monster baby!  She hears the blender going and comes toddling into the kitchen.                                                                                                                           

                            

Dylan grabbed the point and shoot (after I took this picture of Avey) and started snapping away this afternoon.  Some were okay, some were not.  One would have been really good (Avery was actually smiling WITH me) but he cut off half our heads.  When I looked at the pictures he took, I said, “Dylan, you have to look at what you are taking a picture of!  You cut off our heads!”  And he said, “No, I didn’t!  Avery still has her whole head!”  Here are some of the better ones he took:

                              

Well, thats all for now!  There is a campfire taking place next door that I’m supposed to be attending, so I better put on my mosquito gear and head over.  G’night!

Fitness Friday

We often don’t have a lot of noteworthy happenings going on around here.  Hence, the lack of posts in the past few days.  I know that the grandparents wouldn’t ever get sick of seeing endless pictures of my children doing a whole lot of nothing. I don’t know about the rest of you though (if there even is a “rest of you”).  So in an effort to keep this blog more ALIVE, figured I’d start talking about stuff that keeps me interested and maybe you’ll all be interested too?  Yes?  I knew it! 

So fitness is a part of my every day, so I figured – why not have a weekly fitness post?  I know my fellow “Fitness Freaks” on Facebook will be interested – but then none of this will be new to them anyway.  So these posts will be for the rest of you slugs!  Just kidding!  I just thought that maybe people were in workout slumps (stuck in a “30 Day Shred” rut, anyone?) or not working out at all – that maybe this might help you to “work on your fitness”  (a phrase Eric and I use a lot) too.

Well, today’s workout was with Ellen Barrett.  Did I mention I mainly workout with DVDs?  Yes, I do.  For 7ish months of the year, its cold, snowy and I’m sure as hell not driving an hour to the gym! So DVD’s are what I have to work with.  If you are like my husband, you probably think that its silly.  Well, I can assure you – you still can get a great workout from DVDs.   And I’m talking sweat dripping, heart pumping, feel like you are going to die workouts.  Yes, they exist on DVD.  No treadmill required!  Anyway, back to Ellen Barrett.  She is NOT part of the “sweat dripping, heart pumping, feel like you are going to die” genre, but she still delivers an amazing workout that always leaves me feel energized and dare I say it – happy?!  There is just something about this woman that leaves me feeling invigorated.  She has a series of DVD’s called the “Studio Series” that are filmed in her studio in Connecticut.  The one I did today is called Fat Burning Fusion.  To quote the back of the box (I don’t want to have to try and describe this or it might come off sound hokey! LOL), “Fat Burning Fusion is barefoot liquid cardio…blends standing Pilates, calisthenics, and simple ballet to elongate muscles, burn lots of fat and flatter the female physique.”  Yes, this one is just for the ladies ( I’ll try to feature some workouts that men can do too in later posts).  Her workouts are supposed to create that long, lean dancer’s body for women.  And I think she does an excellent job in helping to make that happen.  I love Ellen’s workouts and always look forward to doing them.  No dread factor at all!   And its very easy on the joints.  My usual cardio routines have been kind of wearing on my ankles and knees, but this is very gentle – yet still effective.  So if you are wanting to take it easy on your body and still get a good workout – Ellen’s DVDs are for you! 

Well, there ya have it!  Fitness Friday’s!  Woohoo!  You know you all love it. 

Here’s a clip from Fat Burning Fusion:

                              P.S.  I don’t know what this fitness fly website is (that posted the video) so if you want to order this one (or any other dvd) let me know – and I will give you the web address of an awesome fitness dvd online retailer. 

P.P.S.  Is anyone reading this?  Leave comments so I know you are there!  Come on now! 

When Daddy is away…

Eric is gone to Minneapolis for work today and tomorrow.  So its just us!  Here’s a bit of what we did today – cuz I know there are people out there who care.  Hi Mom!

                               

Here’s Ingrid’s Holly Hawks – is that how you spell it Mom?  Anyway, Ingrid got these from my Mom and they grew.  The ones she gave us did not.  Though, that could have something to do with Eric mowing over them.

                              

Here’s today’s lunch.  For me anyway.  Mmmm.  What you see here is a La Tortilla Factory tortilla, slathered with garlic hummus, and then piled on top was spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, cilantro, grilled chicken and avocado.  Good lunch, Trishy!

                                                    

Here’s some yellow flowers my mom gave us that are SO tall this year.  Just had to take a pic of them!                                                                                                                         

                                    

We have little baby tomatoes!!!  Dylan can’t wait til they are “all red and juicy!”

 

                                      

It was a hot day, so of course we had to fill the pool.  The towels are there so wild child doesn’t bonk her head on the cement climbing in and out of the pool.  Not that that helps much, but oh well.                                                                                                               

                                      

Getting in her car Dukes of Hazzard style!                                                                          

 

                                                       

He won’t smile normal now when I ask him to smile.  At least his fake silly smile is cute!

                                                                                                                                   

                                    

And here is my great invention of the day!  I made a mist sprayer!  It ROCKS!!!  I set it up, sat down in my chair and it was PERFECTION!  Avery didn’t seem to like it much and it made the cement wet and slippery.  So I think it might be a nap time only contraption.  Love it though!  I think it will be awesome on days when its in the upper 90’s…..I know those days are coming. 

                                  

That’s all for now.  I’ve got some tv watching to do!! When Eric is gone, I have to catch up on all my shows!

4th of July weekend

Greetings!  Sorry for the delay in posting a new blog!  I’m sure you’re used to that though.  ; )  It was just too busy to get on the computer.  Not to mention it was waaaay too hot to sit with a laptop on my lap as it doubles as a heating pad. 

Well, the weekend included a lot – so hold onto your hats!

Us ladies did the Fertile Fair 5K on Saturday morning.  We intended to get a before and after photo, but this is what we got.  A picture of my number as the timer went off.  We really needed a tripod apparently.  We then asked a fellow race competitor to take our photo.  Turns out she was better at running than taking a picture because later on we checked and there was no picture on the camera.  Booooo.

Here is our after photo.  It was HOT! 

Back at Maple Lake – the usual shenanigans.  Dylan pushing Grandpa into the lake.  He’s so pleased with himself!

I don’t really know what Jamie and Ryan are doing here.  I think they were trying to make Kelli laugh, but she either didn’t see them or thought they were lame.  ????

The peanut parade!  Adelyn, Easton and Avery are all 1 and already fight with each other quite well.  Here they are playing nice tho while Auntie Kacie (and Mom to Easton) pulls them in the wagon.  

Dylan playing with Grandma.  I think he was just coming off of a crying fit over nothing.  Lack of sleep will do that to a guy.  Grandma did a good job of distracting him though. 

More of the peanut parade.  Thought I’d picture the work horse and her amazing abs!  Just wait til she has more children… ; )

Aren’t they sweet???  

Easton looks like he needs a little help here. 

Here is one of their favorite toys to fight over.  Avery (aka Brutus) was  letting it be known that even though she is the youngest of the three, that she still can hold her own.  Move it Addi!

Addi didn’t like this.

Success!

Weeeeee!  (note that Addi is still mad at her)

The boys have it so easy!  Ella didn’t let that stop her from peeing off the edge of the boat too (not pictured!).

July 3rd fireworks time.  The kids did sparklers and Chandler and Murphy (Channy’s friend) lit off some smoke bombs and other crappy fireworks. 

Dylan was a walking zombie.  See that blank look on his face.  It was STUCK there in the evenings.  He does not do too well with sleep deficits.  

And here are the July 4th fireworks.  More sparklers!

ZOMBIE BOY!

We went out on the boat to watch more fireworks.  Dylan actually fell asleep on the boat.  I don’t blame him though.  When we got back and got inside the cabin, I noticed it was 11:30 pm.  He normally goes to bed at 7:30!!  Poor kid!

And I just had to include a food photo.  Jamie and Ryan are doing a 21 day cleanse, so we ate a lot of veggies this weekend.  For the record, they had a cheat afternoon/evening on July 4th.  Complete with breads, crackers, cheese and BOOZE.  

And finally, another visit to Loon Lodge before heading back home.  The kids were NOT in good moods.  Did I mention they were sleep deprived?

Here is the new version of Fun Island!  

Avery was throwing a temper tantrum.  Note sleepy boy in the background.

 

Seriously, they were SOOOO tired.  We had to cut the boat ride really short because they were both falling asleep just sitting there.

Uggggggggg, I’m TIRED!!!!

Well, that about sums up the weekend!  Hope you all had a great 4th! : )