Fresh Mountain Air!!!

Friday the boys and I trekked up to the mountains and had a blast.  It was just a short trip to enjoy the White Squirrel Festival, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.   Saturday morning Jack and Ewan were going with me and Oma to the farmer's market so Opa would stay home with Chloe and watch Sean too.  Jack, with honest sincerity and concern, told Opa "don't break him"!!!  It was just way too funny!!!!  As it turns out Sean slept the whole time anyway.

Sean had such fun exploring the mountain house.  New turn to check out and fun things...like trying to climb up the hearth to the fireplace.  The house is mostly child proof, but there is still stuff to get into.  Jack and Ewan also enjoyed playing with their toy stash there....they forgot about some of those toys since it's been far too long since we were last there.

We headed to the festival, fully slathered in sunblock of course!!  The first order of business was play time for the boys...they had two bounce areas for them there.  Ewan was THRILLED....I don't think I've ever seen him smile so much in his life!  Then it was off to lunch at a new restaurant in town.  Jack was COVERED in his grilled PB and banana sandwich and Ewan COVERED in his PB&J sandwich.  They entertained everyone the rest of the time we were out...quite colorful with the jelly ALL OVER!

The highlight was the soapbox derby.  Jack and Ewan absolutely loved it.  They were enthralled and mesmerized watching the kids race.  And of course the 4 wheeler pulling them back uphill was exciting too.

And then we headed home later that afternoon.  An action packed day wore them out and they napped at least part of the way home. 

Sean hanging in the stroller at the soapbox derby.

Ewan sitting in the fire truck!!

Jack in the fire truck.

Jack and Ewan enjoying the bouncies!!!

The value of a good romance novel....

Who would have thought there was much value to a good romance, but there is! Maybe I should explain.  I'm thoroughly enjoying my NookColor, especially at the gym.  Right now I'm reading a romance (though last week it was a mystery so all genres are of course great) and it makes time fly at the gym.  I've always enjoyed my alone time at the gym, but now it really flies.

Today before I knew it I had already burned over 725 calories in an hour on the elliptical.  After cooling down on the treadmill it was about 775 calories burned for the day!!  Time goes by quicker reading my Nook than it did watching TV at the gym.  Plus since I'm busy reading my book I don't obsess over the numbers on the monitor like calories burned, time elapsed, distance, strides/min etc (of course this may also be because I put my Nook on top of the monitor)! 

So, like I said, a good romance is great for a distraction while working out at the gym.  I'm almost done with my current one, so I'll have to find another book soon.  I've been lucky so far with the free ones I've downloaded so far.  Hopefully I'll find another good one!

No pain, no gain....

Last week I had a session with my personal trainer....and she kicked my butt!!  Or should I say more like she kicked me in the arms!!  Funny how changing your routine can cause so much pain.  I've been working with weights forever now and it was time to change things up.  Still working the same muscles....glutes, inner/outer thighs, triceps, biceps, shoulders, back etc.  Somehow changing to this new routine made me ache in ways I've never felt before, mostly in the triceps.  I must say, I expect great things from this!  With all that pain I better look great soon!!!

Actually, I don't mind it at all.  I love going to the gym, time to myself while somebody else watches the kiddos and time to take care of myself.   It's a win-win.  The boys all love it too.  They have fun playing with their friends there and now that the discovered the water cooler in the gym they LOVE that!  And of course everyone loves to pay attention to them....who wouldn't notice the woman with three little boys coming in the door!!!  Especially all the older people....so many retired folks go to our gym.  Good for them....I hope I'm still taking care of myself at the age!!!!  Besides, to keep up with my munchkins you really do need to workout....good thing Oma goes to the gym too!

Random Tidbits

Just a few random notes, sorry, no pics today.  Will have to work on that.  Sean is now "crawling".  He did it for the first time at Oma's last Friday.  Basically he scoots across on his belly.  He can certainly get around though, only a matter of time before he is on his hands and knees.

Jack and Ewan can sing the alphabet in German!!  I'll have  to see if I can video of that up, I'm sure Jens and Karin will enjoy that one!  We're also working on counting.  They love their German book (My First Thousand Words in German).

Just a funny thing Jack said this morning...he was asking why one of his frineds wasn't at the gym this morning.  I told him she was at school, to which he replied "girls don't go to school"!!  I asked him where they go and he said "girls go to houses with their dads"!!  Not sure what he meant by that but it was quite funny!!!

That's all for now....

Fun in the sun...

well mostly shade, but fun nonetheless!  We enjoyed some beautiful weather today.  Got some great pics of my blue eyed boy (Sean of course) and thought I would share them.  We're really hoping he keeps those gorgeous blue eyes!!!  He'll be the only one in our clan.  Several other relative with blue eyes too so thanks for the recessive gene!!

Josh also go the hammock put up today and all the boys enjoyed that!!

Got Crab??

Yesterday we finally made it to the farmer's market again.  Now that spring is here there is so much more yumminess there!!  The boys of course enjoyed their chocolate brioche and scone and the rest of breakfast was great too.  Jack and Ewan enjoyed helping Daddy shop while I fed Ewan.  Jack returned...."we got crabby"!!  Just what Josh wanted....soft shell crab. 

So here are some pictures from Chez Dalrymple last night.  Jack and Ewan enjoyed watching Daddy fix dinner and Jack even dared touch the crab (they were still alive).  And of course the best thing yet, they ate it and liked it too!!  Such good eaters my boys.

Hello dinner!!!

Jack dared to touch the crab!

Watching Daddy fix dinner was fun.

Tastes good!

Yummy!!

Comparisons....

Finally getting around to it....never enough time in the day here!

2009 Jack's first trip to

                                                                   beach

      2011  Jack at same beach

                       





 2009 Ewan's first trip to beach



       2011 Ewan at same beach

2011 Sean's first trip to same beach

 2009 Ewan at park in Beaufort



2011 Sean at same park

Busy Weekend in Beaufort, SC

We spent the weekend in Beaufort, mainly for the air show.  Photos from that will come soon....way too many to sort through!  The other highlight was the beach.  Funny thing too, it was Sean's first time at the beach....exact same location as Jack and Ewan's first time to the beach two years ago at Huntington Beach State Park (also air show weekend, 2009).  Jack and Ewan had a blast, they do love the beach.  They were asking where their beach house was and if Emmie M would be there...such fond memories they have of last year's family vacation!

Here are a few pics and I'll write more later when I get the chance, plus show comparison shots from two years ago!

Easter

FINALLY getting around to putting up the Easter egg hunt photos....I know I promised them ages ago Emmie M but as always time slips right on by!  Somehow we've hardly had a spare moment to breathe lately.

Sean watching his brothers hunting eggs Easter morning

Jack finding another egg!  Problems reaching it though.

"I got it"

Looking for more....

Ewan in the bushes!

Jack hunting eggs in the park with his buddies

Ewan hunting in the park