Happy Healthy Family - Take a Hike

My husband and I have decided to put a little more effort into doing things as a family.  From here on out, the weekends and holidays that the kids spend with us, we will carve out some time to do something active together.  Or at least something that stimulates the mind, body and/or spirit.

Our first attempt occurred this past weekend.  My kids were anxious to test out the gear we purchased for our New Mexico trip, so we decided to go hiking.  A quick google search for "Bergen County hiking" led us to the Palisades Park website and a list of moderate rated trails.  We chose Carpenter's Loop I - a 2.5 mile hike on even terrain with just one rocky descent - as our first official family hike.  All went really well and boy was I tired when we got home, the kids slept like rocks that night too. 

Packed some portable snacks in our Camelbacks and a cooler for the car where we would enjoy lunch afterwards.

Of course, I lugged my camera along.

My goofy tourists.

Some views.

The hikers.

The wildlife.

Sustenance.

I'd love to use these posts as a way to inspire each other to try something new or to get out there and spend some time with the ones more dear to us.

Tell me, what are your family adventures like?  Do you have set times when your family does things together?

Have a Joyous Christmas!!

From our family to yours - enjoy this wonderful time of year!

And since I love to reminisce, here's some of our out-takes and memories from the past few Christmas card sessions.

Oops, my set up is showing.  :)

Don't forget to wash little faces before setting up for pictures.

Hello.  Is this thing on?

Sometimes it's best to have someone else take the photos.

 Christmas Rocks!!

Goin' Loco for Local. Apples!

I do not enjoy the passing of summer.  The thought of the impending snow, ice and cold weather is just no fun.  But there are some things I really love about fall.  Casseroles, baking, holiday time and apple picking!! 

This year we chose a most perfect day for apple picking.  The weather was just perfect with a teeny touch of fall mixed in.  I loaded the kids in the car all decked out in their jeans and "Timbs" and headed 40 minutes north to Masker's Orchard in Warwick, NY.  Thankfully we went a littler earlier in the season this year as last year we went in mid-October and had a hard time finding apples.  This year though, the trees were bursting!  We ended up with a very full 1/2 bushel, a dozen cider donuts and a gallon of ice cold cider (which was free for AAA members).  Planned thus far is homemade applesauce (my husband's specialty), caramel apple cake and some yummy apple strudel muffins.

The view from the top o' the orchard:

My son LOVES to climb the trees.  He insists that the best apples are at the top where the sun can get them.

The princess and I wait at the bottom to bag those prime finds.

 

You cannot be a true princess without pink Timbs.

 Strike a pose.

 Got anything good up there?

 Free snacks!

After Masker's, we met up with my mother at Bellvale Farms.  They have a cool (and somewhat dusty) tractor ride to the pumpkin patch which is an actual pumpkin patch, not just a bunch of pumpkins sprawled on the ground.  We actually get to cut our pumpkins off the plant and preserve some of that neat curly stem.  And we know all great jack-o-lanterns need a curly stem!

 I loved the variety of pumpkins and squash available.

True to form, my son was very methodical.  He chose several large pumpkins and rolled them all to the edge of the patch.  After reaching the end, he strolled back up the path and compared the pumpkins so he could be sure he got the largest one available.  Here he is rolling his 30 lb. find back to the tractor pick up area along with Grandma.

The kids' finds. 

We are now dusty, hungry and tired!  Bellvale's homemade ice cream and apple cider donuts for all!

Too Much of a Good Thing?

One would think that if you had to be addicted to anything, exercise would be your best bet.  Well, that is very much not the case.  Knowing I had just a month until my vacation, I thought I'd add in some extra workouts so I can stun my husband on the beach in my bikini (funny though, I don't think he is doing the same for me).

During that same "extra workout" time, I had two ear infections that I just couldn't kick, a slight fever, aches, pains, fatigue, you name it.  I was just Miss Cranky Pants!

After seeing my GP several times with no diagnosis, changing the carpet and bleaching the floor in my workout room fearing we might have some mold, and adding even MORE exercise thinking I need to just get out of my "funk", I set out to see an old friend who is a medical doctor.  Turns out there was nothing physically wrong with me.  We chatted a bit to catch up and he suggested I do a little soul searching and google over exercising.  I did just that and lo and behold, it was me!  I am suffering from over exercise.  Never heard of such a thing.  I won't go into all the details as there are so many websites out there dedicated to the topic, but now that I'm off exercise for a few days (and feeling kinda mushy from the fatigue), I got a little sentimental and started looking at some old pictures and then came my revelation...

Turns out I don't think I ever feel as young, healthy, happy and serene as I do when I'm out doing some active adventures with my kids.  And some of these activities burn serious calories yet are disguised as pure, unadulterated fun!  Sometimes we forget that there is more to getting fit than just pumping iron and participating in crazy ass cardio routines.

I will spend the next few weeks enjoying more of these "exercises" with my family in place of my hard core routine.

Tubing on an open river.  Pick the right place and this can really be a cheap thrill too.  We did this a few weeks ago on the Delaware out of Frenchtown, NJ with The Hot Dog Man.  Soooooo much fun and great exercise when you pop out of the tube every once in a while to swim around (not to mention the strength exercise involved in hauling your middle-aged behind back into said tube after the swim).  Trying to keep tabs on three kiddos (one of which wasn't my own) in the wide open river kept that blood pumping too.  :)

You can stop on an uncharted island to discover some previously unidentified species.

Or, just act silly!

Water's a little too chilly?  Why not man a raft with some paddles (man, your arms will BURN the next day)?  We chose this option last year when the weather was pretty cool for an August afternoon.

You can take off your shoes and try to outrun some waves.

No nearby water sports?  How about a treasure hunt around a local lake, pond or park?

Tell the world to take a hike and then take one yourself, you'll feel "on top of the world."

Best of all, head out and work for your food (even better when it involves climbing a tree, of course)!

Fresh is best!

Size matters when it comes to pumpkins much more than your waist size.  Always pick one that you cannot possibly carry (a pumpkin that is).

The real recipe for true happiness?  Working together towards a common goal.  Teamwork.

Most importantly, don't forget to just lay back and relax,

Admire the beauty that is around you,

And keep in mind what is truly important (hint: it's not calorie counting and achieving those 6-pack abs)...

Cast of Characters

Most days I don't feel as though I'm living in the real world. I'm a serious day dreamer. I often feel my life is a movie, music video, soap opera...nightmare. LOL Anyway, I thought I'd introduce my cast of characters as I'm sure they will come up regularly.

First off is my husband of just over a year. He's a hairdresser extraordinaire, motorcycle enthusiast and always there if I ask him to be (notice I say "ask", but what can ya do, he's a man).

Then there is my mini-me, my son.  Ball of energy, extremely smart, adventurous and headstrong.  For better or for worse, he's EXACTLY like me.

My daughter is my youngest.  She has an incredible sense of humor, is the BFF of everybody and although she doesn't take after me AT ALL, I love her all the more.  :)

Last but not least is my furry little love, Rico.  We adopted him about 18 months ago (he was a rescue from Puerto Rico) and by day 2, he was a part of the family.  I never understood the joy of having a pet until now.  Can't imagine him not being part of my family.

So that's my motley crew, my pride and joy, my reasons for getting up every morning (and all that other fluffy stuff).  Hope you enjoyed getting to know them.