Mommy's Determination

Recently I started a running program. I had great inspiration from my sister who has lost weight and looks amazing and Alison who is in this program and who's determination has really caught my interest! I haven't missed a day since starting the program. There have been days that I just didn't want to do it, but for some reason I just can't let this go and I always find myself right where I need to be...in the gym on the treadmill or ar some park or lake on a walking trail. I really think I thought to be a runner would be glamorous...you know, if I could only run...I would be tall, skinny, running in my short shorts or tight tights with my long blond ponytail bopping back and forth with my every stride! Boy was I wrong...in fact all the people I see in the gym now or on a trail are all red faced and huffing and puffing...nope...it's not so glamorous. But...it is so rewarding! You can't imagine how proud I am of myself everytime I complete a run! Especially the first time I went with Alison and by some miracle was able to run uphill, every second required, never missing a beat! There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with my "running training" not to mention the great workout! My goal is a 5k in June of 2010 that I will be running alongside of Alison who has so patiently worked with me and encouraged me daily! Hopefully Christy will come run along side us too, so I have both my inspirations to cross the finish line with.

So...today I decided to take the girls with me on their first "run." Keith rode the bike and pulled them along behind at Lake Lynn. We had a wondeful time! Everyone loved it. It made me and Keith realize this is the kind of family time we should have, outside, enjoying nature, being active...teaching our kids a healthy lifestyle and the beauty of God's creation. Not to mention this was an awesome way to spend our Saturday morning and it was totally FREE!

Enjoy the pictures that I had to stop and take along the way!


Sisterly love!

Posing for Mommy, holding hands on one of the many gorgeous bridges you cross along the 2 mile trail.

And...we let the girls play for a while at the end!

Daddy and his Baby Girls! (we had stopped to see a turtle!)

Sweet, Sweet Kay

And Sweet, Sweet Addi

She was trying to put her hat back on...it was a little chilly and a little windy.

Jumping Bean!

And this is my favorite! I love this pic!

Keith created this to ride along side me! The girls love it, Keith enjoys it and it allows me to get moving!

Just a few of the many, many ducks we saw! We will be feeding these next time. We plan to go out to Lake Lynn at least once a week to watch the leaves change through the fall.

So pretty! I love this place. This makes running much more enjoyable! See, you would be addicted too with such scenery!

One of the turtles we saw!

The leaves are just barely beginning to change.

Hope you enjoyed!

A picture for you of our "Alarm Clocks"

And this is our girls this morning after wegot them out of bed! I wish I felt so good so early!

Our Alarm Clocks

I love to lay in bed and listen to the girls over the monitors. I was first blessed with hearing my little Addi as she started to sing "Jesus Loves Me" at 6:30 this morning. There is nothing that makes me more proud than to hear those words ring from those precious little lips "the Bible says so." So the singing continues until Addi starts calling "Kaaaaaaaaaay." Kay then wakes up and demands Addi stands up! Obviously the two have a meeting in the corner of their cribs as close as they can get. Addison then asks Makayla, "Do you want to go swimming?" And Kay says "yes." So Addi tells her "you need your bathing suit on!" What is in their little minds amazes me! They are so brilliant. At times it is hard to believe they are 2, but when I see how smart they are, it is hard to believe they are only 2! Anyway, the conversations, singing, barrels of laughter, and yells continue until I hear Makayla proudly declare over and over again, "I want to go shopping!" I now smile and I am ready to hit the floor running...there is a girl after my own heart! I have taught them well!

Finally back to it!

I havent been too good with this blogging thing, but I have had several requests lately so...let's just start with our 2 year old pics...these are from August, they were actually made on the girls' birthday.

We stay busy, that is for sure! The girls are amazing! I cannot believe their imagination! Tonight I watched them grocery shop, put lotion on their babies (although the lotion was their play ketchup bottle), and sit on the bed and read each other stories. They talk up a storm! Keith and I were talking tonight about what good playmates they are. They just roam down the hall to one of their rooms and play. In fact, tonight we had no "fits!"

Most recently we have been spending a lot of time with family. We went this past weekend to see Nana and Papa and of course Aunt Christy, Hannah and Olivia were there! It is always wonderful to be with family! I just wish they were closer. Now the girls talk about "Papa's big playground" and how they miss everyone. I tell them I do too!

our weekend

Nana, Papa, Aunt Christy, Uncle Timmy, Hannah and Olivia came to visit this weekend! We celebrated Father's Day and my birthday. We had the best time. Nana and Papa came right through the door and right to the twin's bedroom. Nevermind the fact that I had just put them down for their nap 20 minutes earlier and they weren't asleep yet! That was perfectly fine though, I know how much everyone enjoys spending time with them. I am usually ready to get them up too after they have been asleep for an hour or so. I miss the sweet ring of laughter they bring when they are up and playing. We had a wonderful visit and we are planning another visit really soon. A much longer visit might I add! Enjoy some pics of our fun time together!

Update

We're all having a wonderful summer and enjoying our girls more than you can imagine. I have to get better about this blogging thing...keep you all updated on all the fun we are having. It would take me a very long time to catch you up... so I will just post some fun pictures tonight to give you an update. We are currently working on potty training although we aren't working too hard. The girls talk up a storm, and we have many "sisterly love" fights these days. They have very different interests and personalities, that is for sure. The main thing I can tell you is they sure are a joy! Here are a couple of pics from working around the farm this weekend...Kay and Addi are great helpers! And for now we are anxiously waiting seeing Nana, Papa, Aunt Christy and the bunch this weekend!

18 Months

The girls had their 18 month check up today. Makayla has a cold and Addison has an ear infection. That part wasn't fun. But the girls are growing right along and right on track where they should be. They do not care too much for the doctor's offce...funny how fast they learn! Makayla is tall and skinny...(wonder where she got that from) and Addison is just simply petite! We are really looking forward to the spring and summer and seeing these girls run the rows of the garden. They chase wild bunnies daily and play in pens with pigs and rabbits! My little country girls, I am so proud of them!