CROSSFIT

Have you heard of CROSSFIT? Well it is a super hard way to workout that involves essentially all forms of exercise in 1 workout (military style training, weightlifting, running, rowing etc.). It is very intense and often leads to puking at the end. It is basically a combination of every exercise you HATE to do combined in to 1 hot, sweaty and exhausting workout! They even have CROSSFIT competitions! I think it is AWESOME so we have developed some of our own CROSSFIT exercises around here so that we can all get totally RIPPED!

Equipment Needed:

At least 1 small child 20-40 pounds

Directions: 

Grab 1 small child, place on back in plank, hold plank as long as possible or until small child falls off.

Replace child and repeat as many times as you can or until child gets bored.

Directions:

Grab 2 small children

Place them on your back (Piggyback)

Run around house as fast as you can as long as you can or until a child falls off

Repeat

Hope you enjoy your workout. We will be developing more exercises in the future so check back so you can get in the BEST shape of your life!

I Scream, You Scream

Nothing says SUMMER like a chocolate ice cream cone! Ice cream is good but ice cream in a cone is GREAT! Just ask Murphy.

Murphy enjoying his ice cream cone 

(BTW- it was 9:30 am-everyone needs ice cream for breakfast once in a while)

Hadley's a Perfect 10!!!

Today is Hadley's 10th Birthday!

A Perfect 10!

Into the double digits!

Getting ready to start her LAST year of elementary school!

WOW!

To me she will always be that happy, smiley Baby Girl 

(with a little bit of attitude thrown in for good measure).

Hadley's Top 10 @ 10:

1. Popcorn- a can't live without snack
2. Her A&W Root Beer T'shirt (she wears it almost everyday)
3. Sleepovers with her friends- she would have one every night if she could
4. Flipping upside down (back handsprings, back tucks, back layouts, front handsprings, front walkovers, front tucks etc.)
5. Watching TV (Dance Moms and Bachelorette were big favs this summer along with anything on teenNICK)
6. Staying in her pjs as long as possible- all day if she can get away with it!
7. Playing her IPod
8. Making up Dance routines in the living room
9. Hunger Games- movie, book trilogy, stupid parodies on YOUTUBE- she LOVES it all
10. Having Fun- this girl just wants to have a good time, the more the merrier, never one to turn down an invitation, always looking for a party

Today is your day, Hadley!

Kick up your heels and party on little girl!

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY!

Lake Living (at least for the day)

lake from kelly markland on Vimeo.

We spent a day at the lake over the weekend. The kids can't get enough of it- me on the other hand- I am DONE after 2 hours. It is not because I don't think it is fun it just makes me a STRESSED OUT basket case! Too many little bodies floating around in deep water with lots of other boats around. I am not usually so crazy but I have decided it is hard enough keeping them alive on dry land why add in the extra dangers of water and fast moving boat propellers? I guess I am just a landlubber! Despite my anxiety and stress we had fun and I am sure the kids are ready to go out again ASAP. Fortunately for me it probably won't be for another 9-12 months (thank goodness!).

Dining Room Remix

Ok- so our dining room isn't really used for dining. We aren't exactly the fine dining type so the room has always been used for other things- like doing homework and playing. It was originally a dark red and I just got sick of it so I decided to brighten it up and make it more CHEERY. Here are the results:


 new paint: French Gray

 painted table: Sunshine Yellow

 new Chevron rug

new art courtesy of my kids



 



Nothing says "Fine Dining" like a train table in the room!

 I like it!

Super Bros.

I am not sure if these 3 SUPER BROS are good or evil- Stay tuned to find out!

Road Trip

1000 miles + 4 States + 7 kids = 1 tired mom!!! We made a trek up north to visit Grandpa Bill and Colin. We had lots of fun and appreciate them putting up with 8 extra people in their house (not easy). Poor Grandpa had to go to the grocery store everyday to keep pace with my pack of locusts and the washing machine was running 24/7 to keep up with the laundry! Grandpa bought the kids a slip and slide so they could TRASH his yard! Murphy driving Molly's PINK CAR- one of many toys they enjoy playing with in the basement. As soon as we arrived Griffin and Colin decided that Brett needed a haircut and proceeded to butcher his hair- Don't you LOVE the racing strips!? As soon as we arrived back home Poppy (Kevin) fixed it and Brett has his regular crew cut again! We playedendured MANY games of family baseball. It is always an exercise in patience because it usually involves a lot of bickering. The Big Boys and Brett swept the rest of us in the 4 game series but I hear there is a rematch at the end of August- GOODY!!! We took a trip into Baltimore and went to the aquarium Our last day was a trip to a SUPER mall where they had a BASS PRO SHOP and an awesome LEGO store! There is nothing like shopping with 6 kids! Especially for a mom who HATES shopping! Overall, our trip was successful. The kids were pretty good in the car but this mom needs a little time to recover before I tackle another road trip!