The Fountains at Crown Center

Here are a few pictures of a recent trip to Crown Center. A few of them need to be clicked on to get a better view of the image.

Peace!

"Run Boo, Run!"

Tentative at first.

Very inviting on a hot summer day!

Soaked in the end.

My Pedometer

A few months ago I bought a new cell phone with a built in pedometer. I want to take just a moment to tell you all how this has changed my life, really! I started out with the goal of taking 10,000 steps a day, which for some may be a piece of cake, but I found myself struggling to get those in everyday. Once I was able to do that everyday for a week I slowly began to increase my weekly goals. My daily goal now is 18,000 steps a day and there are several days I take 20,000 to 23,000 steps which is the equivalent of 9 to 10 miles. I realize all these steps are not high cardio although about 1/3 at this point involve running/walking. I figure if I am moving I am not eating. Maybe that should be my motto! It is amazing how this competition with myself has simply made me look at things differently. I NEVER take the elevator. Instead of sitting and waiting for the girls at the mall, etc. I walk. I take a walk everyday on my break. I entice my class into races. Until last week when we had to change playgrounds I usually had a crowd of 5 years old's trailing behind me during recess. . Soooo, long story short I am really happy with my new phone! lol

Although I am very impressed with myself, lol, when we go hiking little Mal puts me and the big girls to shame. She hangs right in there on our 5 mile hikes. I am sure her little legs take her much farther simply because she runs ahead then doubles back a lot. Although last week we did get "trapped" in a creek. The sides were really steep for about a mile. I wasn't sure I could get myself and Mallorie up the embankment and she absolutely refused to walk in the water. There were 1000's of water bugs covering the surface. I am sure her shrieking was heard for miles therefore I carried her. For a little thing she sure can get heavy! One thing to be said for the long walks/hikes everyday, she sleeps VERY well.