Tag Archives: family

Happiness

May 26, 2013 Kim 28 Comments

Today’s 43 was a quad burner!! I just did a back lunge with my right leg, pulled my knee in while staying in low position and repeated x 43.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF74OVc-r9g’]

You can tell I wobbled a few times – it happens!!! And, you know, this was the kind of move that I had to do 2 sets of 43 so that both legs could feel the burn!!!

I’m hoping that Hunter will decide to get up soon so we can all go play tennis!!! Jordan and I usually like to get a nice walk after our tennis rounds so I even though I’m not doing a “true workout” today, I will still get plenty of activity!!

Happiness is a state of mind and while I feel like I’m generally a happy person, I know that I’m always much happier in the summer!!!! So many things are making me happy right now!!!

Yesterday I put on a pair of my shorts (the first time of the season is always a little scary) and they still fit great!!

and my longhorn tat makes me very happy!!!

The boys washed the cars yesterday – clean cars make me happy and watching the boys spray each other “accidentally” really makes me happy!!!I just hung out, took pictures and tried to get a little color on my pale legs!!

Swimsuit season = HAPPINESS!!!

Chris and I went for the first boat ride of the year – it’s like being on vacation, almost!!!How can you not be happy floating around on the water???

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere!!! Margaritas on the boat!! — It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere!!!
Margaritas on the boat!!

And, since it was our anniversary (another reason to be HAPPY), we got dressed up and went out to a really nice dinner!!We ate at the Row House which is always fun!! We always get the tasting menu which is about 6 courses but none super big!!! Last night we went out to the courtyard area for our dessert!

all of the veggies we had with our dinner came from their garden

How could I be anything but happy when this is the person I’m hanging out with?!

So many things that are making me HAPPY!!! If I had to sum it up I would say

Chris
my boys (Jordan & Hunter)
the sun – beach, boat & warmth

Like I told Chris yesterday – it really doesn’t take much to make me happy!!! But we all know that this never hurts!!!!!

What is making you happy right now?

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Fitness, Lunges, Quad

On the Mend and On the Road

April 15, 2013 Kim 16 Comments

Today I made use of the furniture in my hotel room for my 43. I used this little footstool as a bench. I did a lunge, one foot on a bench (stool), with a twist.

not me (sadly I'm not on a beach right now) — not me (sadly I’m not on a beach right now)

This was one of those times when I did 43 with my left leg on the stool and another 43 with my right leg on the stool. (We all know that I wish I was on a beach but I’m just pretending!!)

The rest of my workout was Turbo Fire Fire 45. For some reason it was hard – I must be more tired than I thought I was! Oh, well – I needed to do something before I spend the day sitting!!

Yesterday afternoon, Tim (my twin) and I took my dad home. He really did not look like someone who had just had a major heart attack (and surgery) 3 days earlier! I hope that this is a wake-up call to make some changes but I can’t force anything and he is a “big boy.”

On the way back to Abilene, we stopped to see our Poppa (98 years old!).

Overall, my trip to Texas has been nice (other than the initial reason I came down) since I got to spend time with all of my siblings, my dad, my Poppa and my aunt!! I told my dad that next time he wanted to see us he could just call and invite us down – it would be easier all around!!!

I’m heading home today (WooHoo!!!)! However, Chris is leaving this morning to go to the sim (simulator training) in Wichita. Because I didn’t know until yesterday when I would be leaving, he made arrangements for the boys for the night – both are going home with good friends (of their’s and mine).

Yesterday evening it hit me – I’m driving through Wichita anyway – boys won’t be home….so I think I will stay the night with Chris in Wichita!!! It’s a win all the way around – 2 hours less driving today, spending the night with Chris (and not home alone), boys are happy to spend a Monday night with their friends – WIN!!!

Happy Monday – I’m hitting the road!

Kim

PS – Good luck to all Boston Marathon runners today!!

Butt, Fitness, Thighs

Proud Mama / Proud Wife

February 24, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

The 43 today was super “simple” but very effective!!! I started on all 4s (hands & knees) then extended my right leg out to the side for leg circles. I did 43 small circles to the front and another set of 43 circles to the back. Then, I had to switch to my left side (OUCH!!!) and repeat the front & back circles!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3NKad4MjFw’]

No equipment required – just find a small amount of space and start circling!

Today is a rest day (other than leg circles & my daily wall-sits). And, about those wall-sits, ~~I think~~ I will be happy when February is over!! :happy:

Actually, I’m fortunate because I have 2 boys that call me Mom!!

I am proud of both of my boys every day but sometimes I am completely overwhelmed with pride. Yesterday, Jordan participated in History Day for his school.

History Day Display - my sweet boy/man — History Day Display – my sweet boy/man

This is not for an assignment – just “extra” stuff. It requires a lot of outside research and time to put everything together. Jordan was willing to spend the time and put together a really great presentation!

Jordan didn’t place but it doesn’t matter – my heart is overflowing with pride!!! (His friend John, won the category that he participated in and will advance to the State competition later in the spring! Congrats, John!!)

And…look who is on the front page of the Topeka Capital Journal today!!!

Chris, looking so serious! (He is on the left.) Here is a better picture (I just snapped the one above from the actual paper).

What a cutie!!

And, even though I didn’t put anything in here about Hunter, I’m equally proud of him!!

Happy Sunday – gonna go enjoy my crew!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

What Makes you Happy?

February 13, 2013 Kim 23 Comments

Today for the 43 I pulled out my Turbo Fire band and used it for a great oblique move (also from Turbo Fire!).

I started by standing on the band with my right foot and holding both handles in my right hand.

Then, I did a slow, 3-count side-bend to the left. (The slight forward bend helps to really target your obliques!)

On the 3rd count, reach down as far as you can.

Return to start and repeat 43 (or whatever # of reps you choose) times. Then, of course, you have to switch sides with the band.

umm....start but you don't have to look so mad about it! — umm….start but you don’t have to look so mad about it!

wow!! gotta work on the facial expressions!

I know you didn’t really need all of those pictures but Hunter took them so I figured I might as well use them!! I really need to quit looking so mad during these pictures – maybe we can just call it my focused look!!

You can see from the pictures that I busted out (not completely literally) my compression shorts again. I figured that they would help the residual stiffness in my hips from yesterday’s long run! I know that I’m way behind the gravy train on the compression stuff but after this morning I know I need more!! Compression everything!!! I really NEED to get some socks – I know it would help my Achilles!

I switched up my Les Mills Combat a little today. It was supposed to be HIIT Power but I decided to save that for tomorrow and do the Combat 45 today. Even though the 45 work-out still has some plyo, it is not as much. It was a great cardio work-out but I still feel like it was good for a recovery day!

I think this is a question that we all occasionally think about. At least, I hope I’m not the only one who sometimes struggles with this!! I think that January and February are sometimes the hardest months of the year. Still a lot of winter left but no major holidays to look forward to or plan for. When I was working, these 2 months weren’t as hard for me but now I’m back to not working and have more time for reflection (or something!).

The past few weeks I have really been thinking a lot about happiness and what really makes me happy.

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Running (usually on my treadmill)

4. Wine!!

5. The beach

I know I could go on and maybe even put some really profound things on here but even with the list – sometimes I feel like I have to work hard to be happy!

I think that somedays I feel like I need to be doing more with my life. I know that I’m a Mom to 2 great boys, a wife to the greatest person I know and I love being both of those thing. But…….

Overall, I’m a pretty happy person. But occasionally I have times that I need to remind myself that it is OK to just be me and do the things I do (or maybe don’t do) – being a surgeon, or chef, or world-class athlete or whatever doesn’t automatically make you happy.

So, what makes you happy? Do you feel happy all the time or do you occasionally have to step back and remind yourself of all the reasons you have to be happy?

Hopefully, we will all have a Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Plank

Caution: May Cause Rug Burns

December 29, 2012 Kim

Today’s 43 almost got the best of me!!! It was HARD! (and then I started laughing at myself because I know I looked like a complete goof – just made the move harder!!)

So, now that y’all are all dying to try the 43 for yourself, here you go. I did a 4-way plank hold: Start in plank (elbows for this move), turn to right side plank, turn to a backwards plank (nearly impossible for me!), turn to a left side plank and finally back to plank to complete 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGB6OlxJeyM’]

I alternated directions just to make counting easier! You can see in the video how much I struggled on the back plank (I actually didn’t hold the 2nd one in the demo – oops!!!). Fun times for sure!!!

Now that I have completed 43 of those crazy twisting, turning planks, I have serious rug burns on my elbows – who knew? Guess I should have left my jacket on or something (like maybe elbow pads!!!). If you are going to do this move I recommend covering your elbows with something!!!

Today I also did day 4 of the 12 Days of Fitness. The extended plank hold (1 minute) was a little more challenging after all of the other planking today!

It’s the weekend!!! Hopefully the boys will want to do something fun (they are perfectly content to hang out at home ~~most~~ all of the time – so that might be what we go with!!).

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Day With KT