Sun and Snow

 I am in such a great mood right now because my S#1FUBF, MDR keeps sending me videos since she recently downloaded the Marco Polo app while she's riding the train home from work. :)

  My hyped up excitement for health and exercise from the previous related posts has toned down since the steps challenge was finished at the end of February. I wasn't even wearing the Hey Band for a couple days last week. But I was very proud that I had the most steps in our group for the second and fourth weeks (so I got free breakfast by the group member who had the lowest steps that week!) and I think our group placed 12th out of all the groups in our county. There were maybe 40? I can usually get 10,000 steps on work days if I walk on all four breaks, but today and yesterday I enjoyed car naps on my 30-minute break, so that takes off about 3,000 steps.

  Mia and I have been leaving each other tons of voicemails for months (maybe more than 6 months?) so we have been staying very informed in each others lives. A few weeks ago she told me about going to the gym after work and how she would do the rowing machine and hike the trails of New Zealand, via the eliptical. She was gearing up and letting all her red blood cells pump oxygen into her muscles for her ski trip with a bunch of people from work. I am so proud and in awe of her "everything is an adventure" outlook. I do not have a desire to do anything that I don't think I would be good at. But sometimes we don't know that we are good at something until we try it, like it, and practice it. She had a blast and made more new friends on the Colorado ski slopes!

   I have been going back to the basics of eating my few good things often ~ scrambled eggs or attempting an omelet with tomatoes and chicken sausage, greek yogurt with fruit or granola, Triscuts and meat slices from the Publix deli, banana and peanut butter smoothies. Tonight I picked up stuff to make salads tomorrow from Aldi and I got really excited to make another "Healthy on a Budget" post to break the whole "it's so expensive to eat healthy" excuse, but I'll have to call it something different and make it last about a month. Keeping track of how much I spend at Aldi versus how much each item would cost if I only shopped at Publix.
   I thought it was super kind and generous that my sister-in-law saw my posts about hiking/ walking a lot and sent me all these great products that the dermatologist recommends. She says some of them are even gentle enough to use on Emma. She did great labeling them for me! Thank you, Meredith!

  I don't have many food pictures in this post because I took so many nature photos while on that one trail I really like behind that fancy neighborhood with the $400,000 houses. But after this walk I went to Yellow Dog Eats which I had not been to in a long time and I got the soft tacos. I really love the coleslaw stuff that they put on it, as well as the cranberries. It gives the barbeque a sweet, fun taste. The orzo was really good too, but I didn't care much for their penne pasta. I was excited to see chips and salsa came with my meal too. Next time I need to try to go during the week since I went on a Saturday afternoon and it was super busy and crowded.

  Using the treadmill at work on our lunch break the day of Block Training (for a whole 45 minutes! and mostly with a 3% incline and at 3.2mph most of the time), during the super long week where I had to work 6 of the 7 days. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We're taking Emma on her first vacation to the mountains soon and I feel like I'm dreading sitting in the car that long. I'm estimating 10 hours for a 7 1/2 hour trip, but with naps I'm sure it will be a good drive. When Michael and I went there two years ago, the drive didn't seem as many hours as it was. Good company I suppose! ;)

Horton House Build

    Lindsey texted me the other day asking if I would be available after the baby shower to stop by and see their new house. Michael and I drove by it last year when it was an empty field with a SOLD sign in the front and she has sent me many pictures over the months, but it was really fun to go inside and get the tour with her and her husband, Carl.  I'm glad I was able to get a few nice family photos for them too! I love our Canon T7i.

   During the tour they appropriately pointed out each bedroom, bathroom, and closet. In the photo below they said it will most likely be the guest bedroom, and Carl quickly said, "This is where you, Michael, and Emma will stay when you come to visit." That was so nice to hear. Definitely a fun plan!! I also really liked Luke's positivity about the time frame of the build ~ "It will be done before you can count to one!"

    We were all cautious about loose nails on the ground and where the boys stepped as we were walking around and they found opportunities to turn everything into a toy, such as Luke digging for "fossils" when he saw a big rock lodged into the ground. So imaginative!

   I was glad to get a casual, but nice husband and wife maternity photo for them. And when they did this family photo, once Luke heard the camera shutter, knowing it had taken one picture, he quickly ran off again and continued playing. I played "racers" with him when I finished taking pictures. We pushed the round pieces on the patio to see whose would roll the farthest. (Other photos via iPhone.)

Stay tuned for "Horton House Tour 2020" when I go back next year and take all the same pictures, but with carpet or hardwoods and furniture, after they are moved in and settled with their new baby! :)

Lindsey's Baby Shower

  I was very happy that I was able to go to Lindsey's baby shower yesterday in Gainesville to celebrate baby #3's arrival next month! Her first baby shower (for Luke) was when she was living in California, I believe the same year we lived there, but we were still living 5 hours apart and I wasn't able to make the trip. Last time her shower (for Logan) was a weekend I was working, but I was really happy she was able to come to mine for Emma in April 2017. (Also part 2 of mine with pictures with Lindsey, who was my pregnancy twin, --> here!)
   Lindsey's shower was hosted by Camila, a friend from church. She was so kind to host the party in her really pretty home and had cute baby related decorations and an awesome brunch spread set out!

    The sprinkle donuts were a definite favorite for all the kids!

 Lindsey's friends ~ Jessica, Camila, and Lindsay, who drove down from Jacksonville! :)

 That wreath on the door is also made out of diapers, not white roses like I thought! So no, Camilla does not keep that wreath up all of the time ~ Ha! Lindsey with her three boys. :)

 
 To add a fun game to the gift opening, Camilla had printed out a bunch of questions for Lindsey to answer and taped one to each gift that she had to answer before opening it. I thought that was a fun idea. Some of the questions were: What craving has been the strongest during your pregnancy? (She said club soda.) What do you think will be the best and hardest things about having three kids? (Best: seeing them get along and play together. Hardest: being outnumbered.) What trait of yours do you hope the baby doesn't get? (Luke answered that one and he said, "I hope the baby doesn't yell at me like you do." Everyone laughed because we all know Lindsey is a kind, patient, and wonderful mom. Even when she is 36 weeks pregnant!) What trait do you hope the baby gets from your husband? (That he can laugh about things easily.)

    I was really happy to see that Lindsey mostly got diapers and wipes, which is what she needs most. On her invitation she even had a cute poem explaining that. "Big brothers have plenty to share. It's just a sprinkle to show that we care! Not much is needed, the basics will do. Like diapers, wipes, and an outfit or two." Michael and I got her crib sheets which she did also ask for.

 Jennifer keeping track of who gave what. And these friends below were such kind helpers. When the mom asked her daughter if she wanted to help put all of the presents into Lindsey's car, she immediately said, "Yes!" and quickly put her shoes on. I hope she always keeps that helpful quality. It was so nice to see. She was also the one to hand Lindsey each present after the one before had been opened.

 Lindsey with her mom, and her aunt below.