Hoover Dam trip

Sunday we went on a small road trip to Hoover Dam. Now you know Im going to load this post up with pictures. Its just what I do!
We started out later in the morning than we usually start on weekends, around 9ish.

On the way I had no idea where we were going. We passed a bait and tackle store and I made the comment, "A bait and tackle store? Like there are places to be fishing around here. Its the desert!"

And then I notice we are on Lake Mead Blvd and I make another dumb comments, "I wonder if this road goes all the way to Lake Mead?"

And the Dada is driving trying not laugh or make any dumb remarks  back to me. 

Then we pass Hollywood Blvd, and I ask him if it goes all the way to Hollywood, CA.

And this would be Caden while we are driving. 

About half way there we have a scenic pit stop at an overlook of the Las Vegas Bay.

The picture below I wasn't ready for obviously, but I like it because it shows how tall Kayla is getting.

She was all ready to go dig in some rocks!

And Caden happy to be surrounded by rocks!

What is it with my kids and rocks?!

Dad taking a panoramic picture with his phone.

Kayla showing me her 'shiny' rocks.

Caden is currently potty training, and nature called....

Then we got back in the car and headed to Hoover Dam!

This is the Hoover Dam gift shop and Cafe, where we had lunch. And for lunch I had a cheese veggie sandwich and it was so good! I now am making them at home and cant get enough. Just toasted bread, with fat free cheese, 0 calorie butter spray, and fresh veggies on it. So yummy!

And....The Hoover Dam!

It was so beautiful, it was hard to believe you were looking at something real and in person!

This is Kayla in the middle of shouting Pizza Burger!

We wanted to talk the walk across this bridge but it was 60 minutes minimum without stopping to sight see and take pictures, and the kids were getting too tired and hungry to we had to skip. But next time!!

Amazing.

This was the view from the parking garage.

After lunch, and a walk we headed home because Kayla was just too tired.

We drove back past the scenic overlook.

And knew we hit some as soon as we saw the Las Vegas strip in view.

Why am I addicted to the treadmill?

From: http://benefitsofrunning.org/

Want to keep the stress levels down?  how about getting a toned body.  Thebenefits of running promote a healthy physique. Every bodily function benefits from running, studies show the effects of running can prevent osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and possibly cancer. Running regularly will help you live longer and have you looking great, In addition to adding pep to your sex life. 
Runners can experience a runners high were the body is filled with endorphins, the hormone that make you feel good after a run.  Running puts you in a better mood which is found to improve mental health. Running may relive everyday tensions and anxieties that arrive throughout the day.  Running can put you in a meditative state were the pressures fade. 
The benefits of running contribute to burning more calories than other types of exercise.  A program for beginners should be one that eases into it really slow, starting gradually being smart and safe. Running sessions of 20 to 30 minutes three times a week should be the goal. Running 3 minutes, then walking 4 minutes should gradually transform you to run consistent for at least 30 minutes. 
Trying to get results to fast can get you discouraged and make you lose interest. The goal is to train slowly to prevent injury. Runners should keep a training log to see how much they have done and to keep motivated to be persistent. Remember the benefits of running are improve health, weight loss, higher energy levels and is great stress reliever. Running increases ones confidence, feeling good about oneself thorough running is another emotional perk. Runners are said to be happier people.  Running is a low-cost form of exercise that is waiting for you outside your door.

Yesterday I did my scheduled daily Jillian Michaels workout which was 1.96 miles of her yelling at me. Which by the way, I LOVE this program! It not only pushes you to run 1.96 miles, but the incline alternates between 1-10 throughout and the MPH alternates as well, all automatically. I love it. So its 30 minutes of intense run!

After that in the afternoon, I decided to do a 1 mile run through ROME, ITALY.

And this morning, day 2 of my Jillian Michaels workout. Again, LOVE!

I may do an afternoon run today if I have time.

Can we say, addicted? 

My Pro Form 1450 now needs a name. Any ideas? lol.

Im already coming up with decor for our home gym in the loft when our house is ready. Which, we will be walking through it tonight. Cant wait to see what was finished this week! Eeek!

I have failed to mention...

I have failed to mention on here,

and I hope it's ok that I mention on here,

in July 2012 Kayla will be a big half sister, again, to another baby brother!

Kayla's Birth Father and his girlfriend are expecting a boy in July 2012!

We are very happy and excited for him.

He is going to make a great Dad!

This makes Kayla little sister to half brother (Birth Mother's first son)
Big sister to Caden :D Our other pride and joy. (Same Birth Mother)
and big sister to half baby brother due in July to Birth Father and his girlfriend.

Destructive boy

We have always called Caden destructive. He always has to bulldoze everything in his path or tinker with things he shouldnt be.

Right now this isnt funny, but a while from now it will be.

Yesterday morning I was prepared to get on the brand spankin new awesome treadmill and push myself to do the Jillan Michaels workout that comes with the treadmill that is set at your own body type to lose weight.

IT WOULD NOT WORK.

I spent ALL DAY on the phone and on 2 different live chats through the Pro Form website to fix it. I reset it. Nothing. I unplugged it. Nothing. Several times. I could hear the motor turn on but the belt would not move.

I was mad. Frustrated. And to top if off while Im on the phone with the company Kayla throws a small temper because she wants a drink and doesnt want to get up herself and get one.

I am so upset. I just want to run. By this point Im ready to burn off 3 miles worth of running.

I even re calibrate the machine. Nothing. Now Im livid. BRAND NEW $1,499.00 machine, used once, delivered just 2 days ago, wont work. Now Im ready to burn off a 4 mile run.

I just want to get back into my routine and run. All I want to do is run.

Dad gets home and within 5 minutes of checking out the treadmill he solves the problem.

He pulls out the metal tool that came with the treadmill, (the one that you use to screw in the screws) out from under the treadmill.

Kayla shouts, "Caden had that! Caden was playing with that!" Now mind you, Kayla has never seen this tool before this moment.

We figure out Caden shoved it under the belt and I didnt know. I turned the treadmill on and it get jammed.
Causing a hole in the belt. ALREADY.

I guess we will have to replace the belt sooner rather than later.

Because of el destructo!

Now, off to run.

Hello my little friend!

Pro Form 1450 has arrived and been used!!!

New treadmill and new shoes to go with it!

It even knows my name! 

My very first run on the treadmill yesterday morning. Which I deleted because for some reason it was set at 4 mph and that is just way to slow for me. So I deleted this run and made another one set on manual speed so I could choose my speed as I am running.

Running the Las Vegas strip from my living room in air conditioning instead of 88 degree weather :D

Caden trying it out. Walking on 1 mph. One of my goals as a Mother is to teach my children that daily exercise is just a way of life. That was never instilled in me and look where it got me....159 pounds and in the 'obese' category on the BMI charts. Not only that but I was just in bad physical condition. I couldn't run to save to my life. Pretty sad for a lady in her 20's.

Me yesterday morning after my first run. Currently 119.4 pounds after months of not being in my running routine or diet due to the big move from Guam to Las Vegas and not having a treadmill on hand or a way of cooking from living in hotel rooms.

Goal is to lose this little bit of flub that hangs over my pants (ignore the stretch marks people! I once was stretched fat and the marks are a constant reminder of what I will never be again!) and get down to 114 lbs but gain muscle.

My little girl all decked out in running shorts and shoes, just like her Mama. :D

Pro Form in the living room of this tiny apartment. Not ideal, but it works until our ginormous house is done being built....where I will turn our loft into our very own private gym. Which I need a name for...any suggestions?

Caden while Mama is runnin'!

So ready to wake up totally this morning so I can hop back on this machine!

I am so not a morning person.

Never have been, never will.

EB came!

Easter Bunny left some goodies here! Sunday morning they were discovered.

He filled the kids baskets and even left 2 extras overflowing with goodies, and eggs everywhere!

Caden was half asleep. Poor kid got woken up by sister because she couldn't wait any longer!

The night before was a late night due to Jacob's 9th birthday party. Kayla never sleeps in, but Caden will on late nights. 

Oooooh, whatcha got Dad?

Ooooh, Dad! CARS!

You can never go wrong with Ring Pops and my children! I guess the Easter Bunny knows this little fact!

FLOWERS! This would be from Mimi and Papa! 

Our daughter LOVES flowers. She always wants to give people flowers. Especially people she loves.

A chirping baby chick!

A chick plate!

For some reason, this Mama is into holiday shaped plates for the kiddos. :D

EXCITED over HOP hair clips.

Caden with chocolate marshmallow eggs, and Kayla with a HOP chapstick.

Mimi got Kayla into loving jewlery during their visit, so the Easter Bunny brought some necklaces stuffed into Easter eggs!

Dad's Easter basket!

Some of Caden's goodies Dad was playing with.

Our sunflower cake we made for Easter dinner at the Williams' house.

That evening at the Williams' house, while Caden was lost in playing with water toys in his own little world, he tripped and face planted a flower pot. Do you know how much blood comes from a busted lip?! 

A lot.

Started Caden's blanket

So, hubby sat down and figured out how to crochet and then figured out what I was doing wrong with my edges and why they were looking like triangles. (And thank you to Kim who left a comment about how to fix the problem too!)

I finished up the practice yarn and now Kayla has a baby doll blanket.

I have since a couple days before Easter started on Caden's blanket.

Im doing his first because Kayla has a quilt I made for her a couple years ago out of all her baby onesies. 

After this Kayla will get a crochet'ed blanket and Caden will get a quilt from his outgrown t-shirts I still have.

Its coming along very quickly. Easter weekend I didnt have time to do any of it, but this week I sure will.

Cat makes the process a little slower....

Sometimes he is nice and moves slightly out of the way.

I am now done will one whole ball of yarn on Caden's blanket and have started another. 

I will take a pictures and update as I can.