A Family Who Hikes Together..

Stays together!

In which this case...that statement totally applies to us!!

This was my very first time hiking with my family up Mission Peak...by the way, which is a steady uphill 4 mile hike and 2100 feet elevation change! There is no way this time last year I would have been able to do this. Not that is was easy by any means, but it definitely was one of my biggest challenges to date! 

Once you get around one side, you realize you still have so much more to go!! It feels like it's never ending, but I tell ya...once you get to the very top of the mountain, it was all worth it!!

Come prepared with plenty of water and energy snacks!!
 

Here we go! Just starting the hike!!

Beautiful view of Silicon Valley!

Mini break! So thankful there a few benches along the way!! Whew!

Boy, it was hot!

Enjoying the view!

Breathtaking!!

And finally to the top!! Feels so good!

Boom!!

Happy Anniversary

My husband and I just celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary! Wow..what a milestone...especially in this day and age!

I'm normally not a cheesy/mushy type person, but I can honestly say that I love my husband as much as I did (if not more) than I did when we first met. I think through the ups and downs of married life, you learn to grow as a couple, and also not let the little things get in the way.

Now that our kids are getting older, we can get away alone, and rekindle our relationship. Like I tell my friends, it's like we're dating again (just without the drama). We love it, and it just adds so much more to our marriage. I can't emphasize enough to couples about having that quality time with your spouse. It's so easy to get disconnected with the busyness of life, kids, work, etc. You have to MAKE that time for each other!

So, for the holiday weekend, we went to visit my in-laws, and it was perfect timing because one of those days fell on our anniversary!! Boom!!

The kids stayed with my sis & brother in law, and my husband and I checked into The Peppermill! We have been having our "baycations" practically once a month, and we totally look forward to them each and every time!!!

Here we are before we headed down to our dinner! LOL..he is so not into pictures though. We took like five of these shots!!

We decided to eat at one of the restaurants at the hotel (Bimini Steakhouse), and we are so glad we did! From the service to the food, we were more than satisfied!! After watching episodes of Hell's Kitchen, we knew we wanted MEAT!!!

We started out with lobster stuffed mushroom. They were huge!!

I ordered the Steak Diane. The sauce was delicious, and it was cooked perfectly!

My husband kept raving about his Filet Mignon. I tried a bite, and it melted in my mouth!

And who would've thought that lobster mashed potatoes could be so wonderful!!?? And yes..that is a little pool of butter on top!

We also ordered asparagus, but I didn't take of picture of that..lol.

Now..you know we had to have dessert!

Creme Brulee in three different flavors. My hubby's choice! It was decadent!

I was going to order my favorite (cheesecake), but I was in the mood for their banana cream pie! I was thinking it was going to be a sliver, but NO, the crust was shaped like a bowl, and it could have easily fed three people!!!! Did I mention that I was in heaven?

All in all, great holiday weekend. Kids were happy, and we were happy!!!

Has It Really Been THIS long....

since I've blogged? It seems a little foreign to me even though the home page on my computer is my blog!

It feels like I have so much to update, yet I don't even know where to begin.
It's been so long that I can barely remember how to upload pictures!!!

Well, I guess I can give an update in a nutshell, and then just go from here!

The biggest change so far is that I've been exercising alot, and just feeling so much better!

After I had my fifth child, it seemed like my health was just put on the back burner. Not that I never had an opportunity to change, but I didn't have any real motivation.

Finally, something just "clicked" and I decided to take it seriously!

I started walking in September, and did my first 10k walk for diabetes in October (which I don't have, btw). I just wanted to challenge myself by doing this! My family were my #1 supporters!!

After doing this, I knew that I needed something "more." Walking was just not enough.

Finally, I checked out a fitness program called U-Jam!! The first day I tried the class I was hooked!! It's not your typical aerobic class. It's more like a hip hop dance class!! Seriously...so fun, and the cardio kicks your butt. You don't even think of it as exercise!!!

I have to admit that I HATED taking full body pictures of myself in the past. I guess you can call it denial! But, after comparing pictures of me before, and NOW..wow..I really let myself go. I'm eating better (although I don't deprive myself of anything), and I do U-Jam about 4-5 times a week!! It really has changed my life!!!

The before pictures were from about last May-August 2012!!

Tastebud Tuesday

Nothing better than having a nice, quiet lunch with a friend, right?

The Asian Chicken Salad from Panera Bread was perfect for this warm, sunny day!

Friday Photo Flashback

 I started "Friday Photo Flashback" because I have so many pictures from my PRE-digital camera days. I thought it would be fun to scan them and share them here with you. I'm having so much fun doing this, that I would love for you to join me, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner to good use! Don't forget to link up so we can all visit and comment on each others blogs!

Nov. 1999

Awe...my little babies!! Well, they were "babies" to me back then! Isaiah was 3, and Miranda was 2 years old!! They looked so innocent!! And they were really sweet!!! Wow..seems just like yesterday!

Babies R Us!

The Lord has really put on my heart to bless young couples at our church by babysitting their kids so they can have some alone time! I remember having all little ones, and always jumping at the chance when my mom, or sister in-law would offer to watch the kids. Now that our two oldest kids can babysit, my husband and I can pretty much go out on a date whenever we want. LOVE IT!!

I know how important it is to stay connected to your husband, and just have that time together (without interruptions)!  It's easy to get caught up with just the kids, and not take that time out for each other!!

So, just last week, we were blessed to watch a couple of cuties, and my kids were a big help, too!

Here is Evan giving my daughter kisses!! He's so adorable!

Here he is with his little brother!! My oldest son loved watching him!

And on another day, we watched this little hunker while his mom and dad had a spontaneous lunch date! He reminds me of the Michelin Man!

And, he loves the girls!!!

Tastebud Tuesday

My children get to choose what kind of cake they want for their birthdays. They prefer me to make it versus ordering it from a bakery.

It was my youngest sons birthday last week, and his request was red velvet cupcakes!

That's what he wanted, so that's what he got!

Everyone loved them, but I didn't partake!

I'm watching my carbs, so I just had to take their word for it!

At least I got to use my new Wilton decorating tips!

 

Friday Photo Flashback

I started "Friday Photo Flashback" because I have so many pictures from my PRE-digital camera days. I thought it would be fun to scan them and share them here with you. I'm having so much fun doing this, that I would love for you to join me, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner to good use! Don't forget to link up so we can all visit and comment on each others blogs!

1999

My oldest daughter! She was just a little over three years old here!

When I look at this picture, I see the band-aid on the knee, the little bruise underneath her right eye, and my favorite tweety bird shirt! 

 She was tiny, but boy..she was a firecracker!! She was fearless, and even to this day, she is still the same! When they say looks are deceiving, that totally applies to her!! So many people comment how she looks feminine, but she is so not the girly-girl!!