Motorcycle Diaries

We had an action packed weekend beginning with a motorcycle ride to Warm River. Eric rode his new motorbike, as I like to call it, and Eva and I followed behind in the car, or tried to follow this KTM 950 Adventure. I don't know motorcycle talk, but this thing is fast! It was a nice drive- Eric loving his new bike, Eva loving her new forward-facing carseat, and me enjoying a book on CD. We stopped every hour or two to give Eric's bum a break and to rest. When we got there we had a great time playing in the river, on the swing, biking and riding quads. We also spent some time at the cabin in Island Park where the kids had fun in the huge bath tub. The ride home was a different story. I kept losing Eric and passing him when he would get off on an exit. Because of the wind, we decided to go a different route through Sun Valley. It took longer than we thought and night hit us with 3 hours left to go. After a deer jumped out and missed Eric by a few seconds, I freaked out and we pulled up to the nearest hotel. Whew! We had a hot shower and cocoa and the next morning we finished the drive. It was a pretty one, but man I was ready to be home safe.

Petting Zoo

When I heard that there was a petting zoo at the fair, I just had to take Eva, even though I have never been crazy about the fair with it's crowds, the heat and the rides that look like they could break any second. So to avoid all of that, I took her myself one morning knowing she wouldn't make me go on any of those scary rides. We had a great time! Our first stop was the goats, which she can say clearly now. "Goat!" I thought the little baby goats were so cute. Then we got cockadoodledooed at by this grouchy old rooster. You can tell by Eva's face that he kind of startled us! One thing I was amused at was the grooming of the cows. I suppose if I went to the fair to buy a cow I would want the prettiest one, but I actually saw someone blowdrying a cow's fur while brushing it so it would stand up nice and straight on it's back! Maybe this is common practice- I wouldn't know. I still need to ask Eric and Emily who grew up in Erda, UT.

The carousel was fabulously fun, but short and $4 a ride. So we only rode once but loved every second. I think I may go back next year as long as the carousel is the only ride I have to go on.

Kisses

Lucky Peak

Check out the pics from our fun day at Lucky Peak, a lake right here in Boise. We went with the young men in our ward.

puddle bum

Backyard Bootcamp

"Side, side!" Eva said this morning, begging to go outside. I was all dressed in my workout clothes, but didn't know what to do, so I went outside and did this bootcamp workout while she played. It was great because I was able to watch her and get a great cardio and strength workout at the same time. It was simple enough that I could pull her out of the mud if I needed too and then get right back. Just a few tools are needed:

sturdy chair or deck stairs
jumprope (imaginary one works too)
stability ball (optional)
mat
8 lb minimum weights
watch

Start with a warm-up by jogging back and forth for 2 minutes. Then begin the workout:

Station 1: repeat 2-3 times
Sprint running for 1 minute back and forth or around your yard then 30 second recovery walk.
30 lunges

Station 2: repeat 2-3 times
Chair (up R up L, down R down L) or Stairs for 1 minute
Jumprope for 75 jumps

Station 3: repeat 2-3 times
25 Jumping Jacks
25 Squats holding the weights at your sides

Station 4: repeat 2-3 times
Push-ups- as many as you can. If you can't do 10, do as many as you can on your knees (girl push-ups).
Bicycles (abs): Elbow to opposite knee.

Station 5: repeat 2-3 times
Bicep Curls- as many as you can.
Ball Crunches: around 3o. Make sure you are keeping your back straight and not arching it.

Cool down and stretch.

I did this workout on my tiny cement pad that is too weak to even be considered a backyard. It doesn't take much space. I thought it would also be fun to invite another mom over with her kids so they can all play and you can do the workout together, switching off stations. Who knows, maybe the kids will want to join in! What a great way to set an example of being active to your little ones. Have fun!

huckleberries

It's getting late, but I just had look at these pictures and write about our perfect day. We went up to McCall last night and stayed with the Dames at their condo. Eva had trouble sleeping so I got up with her a couple times during the night. Eric was sweet this morning and took her outside so that I could sleep a little longer. When I decided to roll out of bed, I went to look for them outside and this is what I found:

Picking huckleberries. How cute! So we picked and picked and then went back to the condo and made the most delicious huckleberry waffles for breakfast. Then, while Eva took a nap we lounged around and read. Eric had a golf lesson in the afternoon and Eva and I played in the sand and water which was just a step outside the condo. So nice!

building sandcastles

Hmmm, sand isn't a very tasty treat.

These are the times you have to write about and remember. I hope you are all having a fabulous summer!