Exercise

The last couple of days I've spent a lot of time thinking about how fast my life has changed in the last few years. I've graduated from high school, moved to Utah, started college, started in a nationally-acclaimed nursing program, been married for one year... big changes in my life. Along with all of these big changes, I've started to become very active; exercise has become a huge part of my life. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I was a couch potato in high school or anything, but I simply went to the gym a couple of times a week and then ran every once in a while. However, when I started college I found a real passion for gym attendance, yoga, step cardio fusion (class offered on campus), running, mountain biking, turbo kick box (TKB), etc.

Just this week alone, this has been my exercise schedule:

Monday: 50 min. of cardio + 1 hour 24 S.E.T. class (strength endurance training)
Tuesday: 6 mile run+ 1 hour of yoga
Wednesday: 45 min. of cardio+ 45 minutes of Everlast Shadow Boxing + 15 min amp'd abs (class offered at 24 Hour Fitness)
Thursday: 6 mile run + 1 hour of mountain biking with the hubby.
Friday: 45 min. of cardio + 1 hour TKB

I promise, I'm not obsessed, but I absolutely LOVE the feeling that exercise gives my body. I love pushing my body farther than I think it can go and overcoming the inhibitions my mind creates. I love the freedom it gives me to do whatever I want to do, to be able to "run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint".

But now that I have become so active, I have begun to really appreciate the far-reaching effects it has on my life. Exercise is the key to staying healthy, to aging well, to being happy... it is the answer to a lot of problems our world is plagued with: obesity, depression, and the growing numbers of lifestyle diseases that is overloading our health care system. Being active will always be a part of my life. Exercise and being outside is the way that Chad and I love spending time together and will only have a positive influence in our future family. Anyways, these are my thoughts on the topic. Exercise is good.

FHE bonfire

Chad and I absolutely love being outside, going and doing things. With the summer in full swing and all of our scholarly obligations utterly non-existant, we try and be outside as much as possible. That means plenty of mountain biking, hiking, walking, camping, etc. Unfortunately, with both of our work schedules, we don't really get the chance to camp as much as we would really like to. For FHE on Monday, we decided to at least have part of the camping experience, and so we headed up the canyon to enjoy the beautiful environment and then have a campfire with some friends. It's kind of almost the same thing, right?

Shane was pretty dang excited about the hot dogs. Who wouldn't be?

The girls!

A perfect hole through the center of Jacie's marshmallow. I was impressed.

My hubby... cooking up his marshmallow and starburst combination.

More hot dogs.

Jacie loves hot dogs too.

Apparently we thought this sign was more like a "guideline".

Visiting Ephraim

Jacie and Shane's open house was this past Friday evening in Ephraim, Utah. Such a different place than Chad and I are used to... it is most definately a "country small town". Even just driving down to get there, we drove through this tiny small towns along the way that took us a total of 2 1/2 minutes to drive from one end to the other on the main street. Ephraim is a little bit bigger than some, it does have 1) Walmart 2) Snow College and 3) one traffic light, but it was still a totally new experience. Here is the backyard where the open house BBQ took place:

Setting up... we got there a little early. We just missed the Saltzmans so much while they were gone away galavanting around Cancun.

Wedding pictures from Scott Jarvie.

Centerpieces. They had purple stems/leaves and red flowers. Pretty.

Chad holding Everett, Callin and Chrisanne's son. We just love those Bakers. Everett is absolutely adorable.

Callin and Chrisanne.

The BBQ was kind of a big deal.

Cheryl with the cute Dana (Shane & Jacie's sister-in-law)

Love this girl.

Shane hanging out with his friends at the cool table.

Shane & Jacie's niece Avery REALLY liked the chocolate cupcakes, she even decided to save some for later.

Casa de Infierno part 2

I love the 4th of July. In the history of 4th of Julys past, this holiday is a day of BBQ's, beach days, and being with friends. Since being in Utah, the idea has been generally the same minus the beach day and now I have my Chad! He's the BBQ expert (as shown above). Because the Stadium of Fire is the big event happening right accross the street from our house, we have titled our annual 4th of July shindig as "Casa de Infierno".

This year our guests included: Katilin & Danny (Chad's sister and our brother-in-law) who drove up from Vegas for the weekend, Kimber & Jason +Kenzie (Chad's sister and our brother-in-law), our best friends Shane & Jacie (they just got back from their honeymoon on Friday... we missed them!), and then Shane's brother Eric & Cheryl +Avery and Dana (their daughters). I love having friends over for any occasion, it reminds of being at home. I love it!

Chad and Kaitlin.

Earlier in the afternoon, it was just a few of us and we decided to play a couple of rounds of Nerts. Apparently it was a weekend of games galore. It was pretty awesome.

Jacie & Shane.

Kaitlin & Danny.

Chad & I.

Chad and Shane. Gotta love 'em. Don't worry, Chad is just getting ready to BBQ. He doesn't normally wear that sexy apron.

The whole gang has arrived.

Kenzie, gotta love this girl. She's just so darn cute.

Chad with his sexy apron on, grilling up a storm. I forgot to take a picture of all the food, but it was delicious. We had BBQ pork sandwhiches, brauts (sp?), grilled chicken, potato salad, watermelon, chips & dip, a green salad, and then a dessert of homemade apple pie & ice cream!

We laid out a couple of blankets on the front lawn, set up some camp chairs, and sat our front with our food to eat/ sell parking for the Stadium of Fire event.

The boys eating on the porch.
Jacie loves food. Look at the expression of sheer joy on her face.
Kenzie again. I just love taking pictures of her.
Kaitlin & Danny.
Jacie and I, our plates completely empty. It was so tasty!
Shane holding his niece Dana. She wasn't too happy about it.
Jacie and I!
My man and I.
Shane and his niece Avery. She is pretty much in love with Shane. She hung out with him all night and pretty much idolized him. Adorable.
Kenzie introducing herself to Dana.
Kenzie is also in love with her uncle Danny. They had a blast hanging out on the front lawn.
After dinner, the boys hopped on our bikes and rode down to Provo High School to buy some fireworks for the evening. Everything was on sale, it was great!
Jacie and Avery.

The Goodwin family.

Avery covering her ears during the "loud" fireworks.
It was a fantastic 4th of July, just hanging out with our friends. I can't wait for next year!