Colbster.... 8 Months

Oh, this little munchkin. She turned 8 months old, ya know. 8 MONTHS! 

Wow, I can't believe it already! 

As you can clearly see, she is a pro at sitting up. She's also a pro at rolling over, so I can't just put her on the bed anymore. Wah, wah, wah... 

She is not crawling yet, but I think she'll be there by the end of the summer. 

The thing is, she is so content just playing on the floor that she really has no desire to crawl.

She is seriously sooooo laid back it's ridiculous. 

I often get so many compliments on what a good baby she is, and it's something that you just have to see for yourself. I can definitely tell that she has 2 older sisters because she just rolls with the punches and does whatever.

Colbie recently started waving bye-bye, which is the cutest thing ever. She also loves to spit. Yes, I said spit. Funny story: I was driving to Ikea with my friend and her 2 kids. We had managed to get all 5 kids in my van with all their carseats, which is quite and accomplishment! I don't think I need to explain how loud it was on that ride to Ikea. The kids started spitting, and finally I told them that the next person to spit will go in time-out. It was silent for about 1 second, and I heard someone spit. I asked who did it, and the kids just burst out laughing because it was Colbie! Tricky little girl!

The only thing that is a little rough with Colbs, is she doesn't take very long naps. She maybe takes two 30-45 minute naps a day. Bleh. But, she is usually ready to fall asleep around 6:30 and sleeps all through the night, so I'm fine with her not really napping.

Can't wait to see what this next month brings!

Measure Me Monday {2}... Even Though It's Wednesday

Ah! Where does the time go? For the second week in a row, I took my measurements... but I'm just getting around to blogging them today.

Left Arm: 13"  Right Arm: 12" (Maybe it's smaller from carrying Colbie's carseat all the time? Maybe?)
Waist: 33.5 "  Hips: 42"
Left Leg: 23"  Right Leg: 23"

My measurements didn't change much... except for my legs. They are .5" smaller... that's some progress, I guess.

Running is still hard, but I want to do it. Why? Because I've noticed a change in my energy levels. It feels good to get up and run. Really, it does! This week, I've added some muscle strengthening exercises which I do every morning (Ava does them with me!).

On Monday, I did:
50 Jumping Jacks
50 Crunches
10 Tricep Dips
15 Squats
20 Lunges (each leg)
50 Russian Twists
20 Standing Calf Raises
15 Push-ups (2 sets)
45 Second Plank

Tuesday:
40 Jumping Jacks
25 Vertical Leg Crunches
20 Sit-Ups
10 Tricep Dips
20 Squats
15 Leg Lifts (each leg)
25 Wall Push-Ups
40 Russian Twists

Today I did:
12 Tricep Dips (2 more than yesterday! That's progress!)
10 Sit-Ups
30 Bird Dogs
15 Push Ups (2 sets)
40 Crunches
10 Oblique Crunches (each side)
20 Standing Calf Raises

Man, am I sore! But, I am already noticing a difference. My tummy is like .05% more toned... and my legs are definitely getting a little bit smaller. Yay! Go me!

I still weigh the same, but whatevs. I'm slowly trying to make changes, and I feel good with the progress I've made so far.

Woot!

Firework Pics

I love fireworks! I love taking pictures! I love taking pictures of fireworks!

I'm pretty sure that I went a little overboard on taking pictures, 

but whatever.

This isn't even half of the pictures I took...

I hope you're having fun looking at these pics...

Woot woot.

The end.

Our 4th

We had a fantastic 4th of July! The weather was beautiful, we spent it with our dearest friends, and the kids all cooperated.... it seems like it was too good to be true, but I guess every once in awhile things go like they're supposed to.

We started the morning with going to the Hillsboro parade. Last year our friends went and saved seats, and they weren't going to be here this year, so we went and saved seats. I planned on being there an hour before the parade started, which in Utah is cutting it close, but it was plenty of time here. The parade itself lasted two hours! Holy cow! The weather was a little chilly... in fact, Halle was wrapped in a blanket for the first half! 

The kids are at such a fun age where they actually entertain themselves, and we don't really have to worry about them running off or doing crazy stuff. We just sat back and watched them and we all had a wonderful time!

I absolutely love this picture of Ava! As I was editing it, I caught a glimpse into her teenage years, and boy, Nate and I are in trouble! I love her sunglasses, the sweet expression on her face, her pointy chin, her little faint smile, and the wind blowing her hair ever so slightly... it's just too stinking cute!

Ava and Hale spent the day with Emerson and Boston... it was fun to watch them all together!

Nate was in charge of Colbie the whole time. He did such a fantastic job, she even took a little nap on his lap! Nothing is more studlier than a man holding a baby. Nate is such a good dad, and I just love watching him with our girls!

Jessica brought face paints and all the kids had "USA" painted on them.  By the end of the parade, half of it had worn off, but it was fun while it lasted!

Living in Oregon, we are amongst (don't know if that's a word...) the liberals, and there's plenty of liberal propaganda that gets thrown into everything, so when there's a conservative float, I had to get a picture!!

It was super awesome! We all no I'm no fan of Obama or his economic viewpoints... so to see this just made my day!

The Hillsboro parade always has a lot of cool things. There's bagpipers, gymnansts swinging around on bars, a girl dressed like a giant blueberry riding on a scooter, Christian rock groups... but one of the coolest things for me was this lady blowing bubbles. It was just amazing to see them float up into the sky!

I snapped this pic of Hal, and I love it! I don't know why she was standing like this, but I love the shadows, and I love her expression.

After the parade, we went home and took a nap. I even was able to take a little 40 minute nap. Imagine that! Holidays are a little bit of a work to pull off, and by the end of the day, I'm exhausted! So catching a little nap was awesome. 

After our naps, we went and had a BBQ with some friends at a park that's near a fire station. We went there last year, and delivered treats to the firemen, so it was fun to continue that tradition this year. 

Miss Colbs had a fun time all decked out in her little star outfit. 

I love this picture of Colbie too... This is how the picture took, unedited. 

After the BBQ, we headed to a local neighborhood that always puts on a spectacular fireworks show. 

I was a little more on top of things this year, and actually bought glow sticks, which the girls loved. 

Of course they made jewelry with their glow sticks!

See how we're all bundled up? It was freezing! By the time the sun was setting, it was a chilly 65 degrees. I don't even know how cold it got after the sun went down. We all huddled up during the fireworks, though. So romantic! Just kidding.

Even Nate sported a glow stick necklace. Good man.

I love the 4th of July. I love this country. I love the rich traditions that we have here, and I love the freedoms we have. We truly live in a blessed country with some amazing people. 

Measure Me Monday {Week 1}

So, I have decided to start Measure Me Monday's. Basically, I am trying to lose a little weight, but most of all become a little healthier. I am not one of those ladies who is blessed to have the baby weight just melt off... I really have to work at it. Dang genetics! While most of the time I boo-hoo about it, I have actually decided to do something about it. I can make all the excuses I want... I have 3 kids, my husband is gone 14 hours a day, I don't have any extra money for a gym... blah, blah, blah. Here's the thing. I want to be healthy for myself, first of all. I hate the way I look in clothes, I hate the way my face is puffy from extra weight, I hate not feeling beautiful. I'm not saying that you have to be super skinny to be beautiful, either. I have come to accept the fact that I'm not a twig, and I'll never be a twig. I am curvy. I have hips, and that's ok. I just want to tone up and improve my health. Second, I want to be healthy for my family. I have personally seen the effects of not keeping yourself healthy, and the sadness it not only causes you, but your loved ones as well. I don't want that for my children. I want to be able to play with them, ride bikes with them, play hide and seek, and just have fun! I don't want to sit out on the sidelines... I want to be living life with them. But with 3 kids, it takes a lot of energy to do that! Just taking care of them on a daily basis takes a lot of work! I am learning that I can include them in being healthy. I can teach them healthy ways to cook, I can include them in my exercise routines, and hopefully give them a love for taking care of themselves. Third, I want to be healthy and beautiful for Nate. Yes, I have total mom body right now, with the saggy boobs from nursing three kids, and some hot-to-trot stretch marks, and that's okay. But I don't ever want to let myself go just because I'm a mom. I know he thinks I'm beautiful how I am, but I don't want him to look at me one day and think, "What has happened to her?" Chances are, that won't ever happen because Nate is not that way, but still... I want to feel beautiful for him. Fourth, I believe in the Word of Wisdom. There are a lot of don'ts in there, but it also teaches us that we should take care of our bodies. Our bodies are temples, and they are a gift. The temples here on earth are kept with great care... not just anything or anyone can go in them, and so I feel that I need to adopt that in my life. Does that mean that I'm going to go crazy and not ever have anything sweet again? Nope. Everything in moderation is what I need. I love sweets and goodies, but I go overboard on them. I just need to limit myself and make healthier choices! So, what am I doing about this? I have organized a jogging group. There are about 5 of us who go 3-4 times a week to the track and have started jogging/walking the track. We are all in various stages... some of us are super fit (even though she claims she's not), and the rest of us just had babies. :) We are all sizes and have different backgrounds, but I love coming together and having other mothers to work out with. The 4 of us push our babies in our jogging strollers (which makes a difference! Jogging without babies is way easier!) and our other kids bring their scooters and play with each other. Working out with my friends has been great. We are there to push each other, and it makes me go out and exercise. Plus, I get my social time in! Our kids are running around, riding scooters, and climbing the bleachers, which is giving them exercise as well. It wears them out, so bedtime has been a lot easier. I am also working on stretching, my abs, and my arms. Even though we've only been doing this for about 2 weeks (we are starting our third week), I feel a lot better. I weigh the same, but I definitely feel a little... just a little... more toned. Plus, I do have more energy throughout the day, and I'm going to bed a little earlier. Measure Me Mondays is a way for me to keep track of my progress. I want to compare the beginning of the summer vs. the end of the summer and see the difference. I will try and snap a pic of myself tomorrow (yuck. I do not like the way I look!) to keep things real around here. :) Measure Me Monday - Week 1 Right Arm: 12.5 in. Left Arm: 12.5 in. Right Leg: 23.5 in. Left Leg: 23.5 in. Waist: 34 in. Hips: 41 in. Plank: 45 sec Push Ups: 2 sets of 15 I am able to run at least half a mile without stopping. Last week, I walked 1/4 mile, jogged 1/4 mile, walked 1/4 mile, jogged 1/2 mile, walked 1/4 mile, jogged 1/4 mile, and walked 1/4 mile. This weeks goal: To continue with my 45 sec plank on my front, both sides, and back. Last week I did 30 sec plank. Each week I will increase by 15 seconds. To continue with 2 sets of 15 push ups. Last week, I did 2 sets of 10 push ups. Each week I will ad 5 push ups to each set. To be able to jog 3/4 consecutively mile by Friday. The first week I started, I could only jog 1/4 mile consecutively and last week it was 1/2 mile. Each week I want to add 1/4 mile.