Carving Pumpkins

We as a family carved our pumpkins on Tuesday night. We got started before Stephen came home from work so he would just help with the carving and also so we wouldn't be up half the night working on them. The kids and I got them all cleaned out and ready to go. Then Stephen came home. That was all the kids needed for a go ahead. The girls decided to use some cookie cutters as stencils, they traced them out on their pumpkins and started to cut away. Boy #1 wanted a certain stencil we had in a book, so I made a copy, cut out what shouldn't be on the pumpkin, traced it out on the pumpkin and let him have at it. He did a very good job and did his very best and most careful work of art on the pumpkin. I worked on Boy #2's pumpkin. No stencil, just my careful, artsy eye. I didn't know what to make for his so the usual jack-o-lantern face for boy #2. He's happy with it. So am I. Unfortunately for Stephen, I wasn't able to get his pumpkin cleaned out, which turned out to be okay. He made his top his own and then drilled holes all over the pumpkin. It looks awesome. He is very creative and cool like that.

We saved all the seeds from the pumpkins and now I will be making pumpkin seeds for us to snack on. They are like sunflower seeds, they taste good once they are salted then roasted. I can't wait! So enjoy the pictures and have a

Happy Halloween!!!!

October 26th, (the reason I had to take Stephen to work today)

On October 26Th, we went to Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City. It is a beautiful place just above the university. I, being a total wreck having to drive there without my husband, forgot my camera. Thanks be to my wonderful s.i.l. Susan who brought hers. I just need to get the pictures from her. It was a great family event. The kids all wore their costumes and had their face painted. They received a pumpkin to share and to paint, even boy #2 painted part of it. There was a huge owl, in the same building as the pumpkins, that was looking around. She then set her eyes on my boy #2. He noticed it and started to squirm away. He figured he was the prey at that point. They went through a haunted hallow area to make a witch's broom, then raced on the them through a maze. They searched through a haystack to find a creepy crawly thing which they then turned in to receive a prize. They listened to a witch tell scary stories and funny jokes. They went to the children's garden area and got to make potions! and play in the garden area set up just for them. They even got to see a Witch's brew. It was cold, but so much fun. It was a wonderful family night for us. Because it was total darkness outside, I begged Stephen to drive us home and I'd bring him into work the next morning. He is so good to me, he didn't have any problem. Because it was so late and being the forgetful mom that I am, we had to stop somewhere for a quick dinner on the road home, but we did enjoy a delicious chocolate cream pie at Grandma's and Grandpa's! I'll post those pictures as soon as I can!

There is SNOW!!!

I am totally happy! I love snow. It snowed before Halloween, which is what I've been saying all along. I want it to snow on the ground and stay there. I love the beauty it brings and the excitement. I'm so happy! Yay! It's in our mountains which now look gorgeous. It was on the grass earlier, but it sort of rained it away. As I was taking Stephen into work today, we past trees and grass with snow on them. It was such a contrast to see the yellow, red, and green of the trees and grass with the snow. It was so pretty. It made me smile. The one thing I didn't like was having to go to Salt Lake to take him to work. YUCK! I was terrified. Have I mentioned how much I hate to drive there. I'm a wimp. But now I have my beautiful snow to look at. I'm loving this.

Friday was legs day

We did leg workouts on Friday morning. It was awesome. My legs could handle it. I was so surprised. We started out with a couple of laps around the school parking lot to warm up with. We then did our workout. It consisted of many things, but I enjoyed each of them.
1- 10 hills, 30 curb jumps, 30 backward lunges= one set
2- 10 hills, 30 curb jumps, walking lunges 20 ft. out then back= one set
3- 3 laps
Then on to the Obstacle course:
1-20 toe touches on Bosu or 20 jumps
2-Rope ladder on ground, stepping into and out of squares while doing squats holding a medicine ball going down and lifting it up over our heads when standing up.
3-4 hula hoops placed in a square. jump forward and backward, side to side. 5 times
4-walking lunges while doing overhead presses with 5 lb. weights. about 15 -20 ft. there, then do them back.
5-10 Hurdle jumps(1/2 ft. off ground)
6- Lap around to other side
10 hills
sprint length of obstacle course
Start over again.

Oh let me tell you how much fun we had. We did this for an hour. I really liked it though, because it was at my time of day, 6 a.m.! YaHoooo! I loved it!
I can't wait for Amanda to come back so we can try some of these things.
Just think, we'll be ready for anything.

Thursday was a running hike

We went for a hike starting at 24th street and going east to a southerly direction. It was not as bad as I thought it'd be. I actually really enjoyed it, except for after the first 5 or 10 minutes into the hike, I fell. Actually, I tripped over a stupid root of an oak brush. I can't believe I did it. It is really in my true fashion to trip on any hike, so, yes I can believe it. The pictures don't even tell it all. I finished with a little blood and a very sore leg. We even went further than the trainer was going to take us. It felt so good to come down. The whole lot of us went super fast. I really like to go down hill, it was a lot more fun and an easier time. My leg muscles were pretty sore after this hike/run. I could barely walk. What is a hike without a little road rash. That is just how my life is. My sil Sheila did really well. She just makes up her mind to do it, then does. She is awesome!

Wednesday was Arms day

You all know what that means. We did so many things, my shoulders and arms hurt for days later. I don't know all we did-because there were so many things we did-but we did high reps with only 5 lb. weights. I don't get it. How did I become such a wimp? We did shoulder presses (30=one set), ones where your arms are at right angles and you bring them into to touch elbows and wrists (30=one set), we had our arms to our sides then lifted them straight out to the sides (20=one set), we did hovering push-ups (20 or 30=one set), we did planks but took one arm at a time and lifted out the 5 lb. weight (20 or 30 each arm=one set), we had to do sit-ups holding one weight above us then switch arms (30 ea. arm=one set). We did this one thing that is like a squatting pliae' that we'd bring our weights in hands to the center, then as we stood, we lifted them out to the side, then up to the top to make a circle. I'll just have to show it. It is harder for me to explain things than show them. I know we did some more things, but I can't remember them all.
That night I had a hard time picking up boy #2. He only weights about 25 lbs. I truly hurt for a few days.

Tuesday's Workout

We ran a 5k. That wasn't all, but it was the major thing we did. I ran it in 37:49. This is 10 seconds faster than my last run. I was so excited. I started out with a group but lost them about 3/4 mile into it. I was on my own after that. It was nice. I didn't listen to any music, I kept telling my self to keep going. I did it. I was in an area I've never ever been in before so I actually thought I was lost because there was no one in front of me that I could see and no one behind me. I thought I took a wrong turn somewhere. I finally saw my finish line and was glad to be done. I dug deep within myself and sped up the last little bit to finish. I was happy. I then had to do jumping jacks and push-ups until the remainder of the group came in. I really didn't have to wait long. I'm truly impressed with these people in the group. They try so hard and give it their all. I'm impressed and want to improve myself the same way they do. It was a lot of fun. I even came in second place for my age division. yeah, that says somethin', doesn't it? I had fun is the best part.