We got to take a break from Winter for a while and spent 5 days in Arizona. It was perfect timing and we got to miss out on this recent blizzard. It started off being in the 70’s, and the last few days in the 50’s. It was still warmer than here, and we got to spend most of this time outside! We went hiking in and around Scottsdale, and then spent one day in Sedona. It was a nice break from the cold, and the scenery was incredible.
We spent pretty much each day hiking. The scenery was awesome! Here are a few of them…
The one day in Sedona we went on one hike and it was called Devil’s Bridge Trail. A rock bridge–narrow–was one of the highlights!
–here we are standing on it!
The sunsets were incredible with the mountains in the background. If you have not ever been out there, go see it! The best way to see it is on the hikes! There are views you would never see if you did not get out and move. Get active if you are not, and if you are, stay active. It is well worth it! Keep moving everybody!
Every day is an adventure. You don’t know what life is going to be for the day. Never pass on opportunities. Connor came last weekend, and I was sitting on the floor, and he just came and sat down by me, and we started playing peek-a-boo! He had to wedge himself by me to even squeeze in! What fun!
He just wanted to keep on playing! The next day he was starting to come down with a cold. Of course, he had to have some grandma time too!
Just the right medicine to feel better! When the opportunities come, take advantage of them. That goes for everything else in life too. We wake up each day, and we never know what may come up for the day. Pay attention to the little things. A lot of times those little things become the big things. I am always still out looking for different scenery on my way into work, and especially on the weekends. Hopefully with the days getting longer I can get more of the sunsets again, but it is usually dark by the time work is done.
Always on the lookout. When the frost has been out, it has been very pretty too. And a great way to start the day!
Each day brings us something else in life to look forward to. Take advantage of it. Live today like it’s the best day of your life…because it could be! Don’t let life pass you by. Again, those little things are really the big things in life. Take care of yourself. Keep moving everybody!
We got to have our grandson Connor over for the weekend! What fun! It is always an adventure when he is here. He is now 1 1/2years old, and I can’t believe how fast time has gone. I got him some silverware to match what he has at home…truck style spoon and fork, and another one that is a blade on a truck to scoop everything together. He loves them, and now he can have the same thing here that he has at home!
He had a great time loving and tickling his friend, Dakota! Dakota just sits there (as long as she is behind the gate) and just takes it all in. They have a certain bond that only they know what they are talking about! Dobby got to get in on the fun too!
He started doing all this bear crawling this weekend! Hilarious!
It did not take him very long doing all this to wear him out. When he decides he is done, he is done!
I took him on a trip to Menards! We had a great time. We got to watch some movies on TV, and he likes any of the ones with singing in it. He got into the movie “Tangled”, and just sat on his tractor and was glued to the TV!
We were going to try and have him outside as we got him a sled to pull around in, but he decided to take a 3 hour nap in the afternoon and we ran out of time. We will have to see yet what this afternoon brings.
Never a dull moment with this guy! It is always a ton of fun! He becomes the center of attention. This is what grandparenting is all about! I love it! He definitely keeps you moving. This is why we have to keep active running, walking, or biking. We have to do this just to be able to have the energy to keep up with him! Until the next weekend of fun! Keep moving everybody!
This time of year, it is always tough to try and stay motivated to exercise outside. If there was ever a time that I do more of the exercise inside, is now. It is still exercise, but nothing is like doing this outside. After all, it is only cold outside if you are standing still! We are still outside on Sundays for run club…at least most of us. It still is really tough to run when it is below zero. We may have better clothing to wear, but it is just not fun when it is that cold! It also gets a little tougher to get motivated to workout inside then as well. This is when it is great to have a training partner to keep pushing you as well. I do have to say, there has been some great scenery lately with all of the frost. But the one thing with this frost, the temperature is not really an issue!
I took our retriever, Dakota, out walking Saturday morning, and the scenery was incredible. I think we spent just as much time outside taking pictures as we did walking. This definitely helps stay motivated. You somehow have to look at the positives that the Winter can bring in beauty as well!
Make something out of your mornings, whether inside or outside. Mornings set the tone for day. At least for me, I pretty much know when my morning is going to start each day, but I have no idea when it is going to end! So, at least as long as I don’t have an early morning meeting, exercising in the morning is something to look forward to, and a way to prepare for the day. When I am inside riding the bike, it is my time to listen to music. It is just a nice change of pace to be able to relax listening to my favorite music sometimes.
Show up for yourself! Challenge yourself. At the end of the day, nobody is going to motivate you other than you. Continue to make yourself a list of your do’s and don’ts. Set a goal for yourself and keep it simple. If it is too challenging, you won’t make it past the week. When you reach those smaller goals, we respond more to immediate rewards. This brings feelings of accomplishment and success and is huge to sustaining that motivation. Some of those times after run club, we all go out and meet for coffee!
Now, that is motivation! Keep working at it. Sometimes those motivational triggers are not always so obvious.
We have several more months of Winter left. Make the best of it. Some of the snow is a great opportunity to go snow shoeing as well. Whatever it is, enjoy it for the change it brings. It also makes us appreciate the warmth of Spring and Summer even more. So, bundle up, and get outside, and keep moving everybody!
For those of you with a dog, you know exactly what I mean by having a faithful four-legged friend. You could have other 4-legged pets, but I am going to talk about dogs here. They are always excited to see you. They are always ready to go for a run or a walk. They are always by your side…literally! Sometimes they could believe in a little personal space, but that would not be in their nature.
They are part of the family. Connor was here over the New Year’s holiday, and he and Dakota became best buddies! They had a lot of fun together, and Connor would keep going up to Dakota and “tickle her”!
It does not matter the temperature out because Dakota is always ready to go for a walk. She makes you feel guilty if you don’t, so they make a great training partner to help get your butt out the door and get moving also.
She goes to town on her stuffed animals, so we have stuffing all over the house. It was no different when we would keep picking up after the kids!
When she has had enough, it is time to crash, wherever she is at! They are a ton of fun, and like I said, part of the family!
How do you not love this cutie? Take care of your pets. Treat them like they are part of the family, because they are! They can help motivate you and keep you moving. You never have to worry if they are ready to go out or not. So, take advantage of their help, and use them to help you keep moving…everybody!
