Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Husband Climbs Pichincha

Loren climbed the closest Volcano to our home.
The base of the mountain is seen here from our balcony.

Picture memories from Husband and friends who hiked Rucu Pichincha in Quito, Ecuador:








Summited at 15,541 Feet and 4 inches.  ;-)  (4737 m)  

These photos are from when we hiked to the Pailon de Diablo waterfall near Banos:







See us near the top of the waterfall??

Enjoying the Creator through the beauty of Ecuador,
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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Toning Stroller Exercises [Part One]

Inspired by Family Magazine has asked me to do another exercise series with them.
Click on over here to view {28 Days} Exercising with your kids.
And for those who missed my last article with them, I thought I would re-vive it for my blog.  [P.s. notice how small Zane was!]



 Toning Stroller Exercises
1) Marry Me Lunge: glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, abdominals
Focus: Leg toning. Walk with the stroller in front of you with both hands on the handle bars. Take a giant step about 3 feet out with your right leg forward. Kneel downward and explode up while moving left foot to meet the right foot. Do the same with the left foot forward and alternate legs. Between sets rest by walking the stroller forward for about 30 seconds. Keep your abdominals in tight and make sure to not lock your knees during any part of this exercise.
DO: 3 sets of 6-8* lunges on each leg
REMEMBER: Always keep the front knee behind the front toes and lower straight down.
X-TRA: After you lunge forward with your right leg and are exploding up, lift your left leg straight backwards for some extra glute toning before bringing legs together.

2) Glorified Bride Stride: calves, abdominals, glutes
Focus: Calf toning. Face forward with the stroller in front of you. As you walk step with the right foot and as your feet come together have your right foot go up on tip-toe. Move your left foot forward in step and go up on tip-toe with the left foot. Continue alternating feet in tip-toe motion as you walk.
DO: 3 sets of 12-15* on each foot.
X-TRA: Stand on one foot while holding on to the stroller in front of you and go up on tip-toe and back down until failure and switch feet. Do 3 sets on each foot.
3) Table Top Ocean Waves: Abdominals, glutes, back, shoulders
Focus: Whole body toning. Lift left leg straight out behind you as you balance on your right foot. Simultaneously push stroller forward as you lift leg upward.
Bend your torso parallel to the ground and put your head between your elbows facing the ground. The end result is a flat table top formed by your body with your leg still raised.
Bring the left leg back to the ground as you bring the stroller closer to your body as you move forward. Repeat alternating legs.
DO: 3 sets of 6-8* on each leg.
X-TRA: Pulse your lifted leg 6-8* times before switching legs.
4) Squatty Potty: Abdominals, glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, back, shoulder, triceps
Focus: Leg toning. Place feet wider apart than your shoulders. As hands stay firmly on the handle bars, bend both knees and concentrate on getting your gluteus maximus as far back as possible without falling over.




Make sure your knees stay behind your toes as you squat down 90 degrees. Lift up. As you stand again pull the stroller in towards your body to add some tricep exercise.
DO: 3 sets of 8-12* squats with 30 second rest in between sets by walking.
REMEMBER: If your baby is acting up you can also do this in the front of the stroller facing your baby. Baby is usually distracted enough by mom that the problem is temporarily solved.
X-TRA: Hold squat 90 degrees for 30 seconds to a minute before lifting up.
5) Ballet Reminiscing: obliques, abdominals, back, quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes
Focus: Abdominal and leg toning. Stand with the stroller handle on your right side. Put right hand on the handle bar. 
Left hand curves over your head. Lean towards the stroller with feet together.
Bring your hand back. Pull the stroller in with your right hand as your left elbow touches your lifted knee.
Return the leg to the ground and bend towards the stroller again while pushing the stroller away from your body.
DO: 3 sets of 6-8* leg lifts each side
X-TRA: Between knee raises do a leg lift and pulse it up 3 times.

Happy Exercising,


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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Birthday Tradition {Love}

My husband is a treasure.  Ladies out there who are not married yet, take some advice:  Wait for a man who Loves the Lord above all, even you- You won't be sorry.

The morning of my birthday he took me to a breakfast place near our house so I didn't have to clean up after a breakfast mess.








We got a babysitter and went out to a nice Asian Restaurant.


Note: Its day 158 for beard growing in my husbands quest for 365 days of the beard.



For the 3rd year in a row he has taken me to the same sweet Botique hotel for my birthday!

View from our hotel at night.
 It was the first time we have left Zane with a babysitter for little less than 24 hours.  It was fun to get out just the two of us!  Although as many parents will attest, we couldn't resist talking about him while we were away!  Zane brings such joy to our lives.

love this man

View from the balcony.

Loren let me get a manicure  ($5 here) and pedicure.

Still in Ecuador- look at all those taxis.
I have married the man of my dreams.  A man who pushes me towards living out my love for God, forgives me of my sins, and has an irresistible sense of humor.

Thank you Loren for your patience through the years with this broken vessel redeemed by Christ,
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