Keeping up with the Gardners: The weekend with no end!

Sports and Fitness

In a recent post I mentioned my new fave magazine for spring, SHAPE; well not only was i surprised but delighted to find out they went web wide, and their is a SHAPE.com! It could just be the new IT website for mom's on a mission of health, and daily fitness! I mean this website is the bees knees! I have already tested out the workout generator, above link, which I have to say kicked my butt; it was also really fun, something different, and something I can do at home with Joshua in a short time period! This IS for moms who know how difficult it can be to make it to the gym! Cool workouts aside, their are healthy living articles, detox smoothies, i mean really the list goes on. Just reason after reason to fall in love with with this body building, body cleansing, mind blowing site! It's a gotta have ladies and gentleman and maaan do I want it! I even spied a little muscle popping up in the old biceps area of my body that I thought the health department had condemned a long time ago ::smirk::

To Jam-Pack is to fill or pack as tightly or fully as possible. It is a verb, and I can honestly say that this past weekend got verbed! or JAM-PACKED in all that that word entails! :D Each day was wonderfully filled to the brim with activity, and almost spilling over with enjoyment! I have decided there is just no other state in which to spend your weekends! Allow me to recount my Saturday in particular; Ahem I say to you in a strongly affected English accent:

There I am!

"Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!" What a perfect day, why so perfect you ask? I was given the gift of a day off! Even the all mighty Joshua was up for a little free time for mommy! Or was it from mommy hmmm...little stinker! Do I think he and Grams could have been in cahoots....yeesssh. Do I think he partook in shenanigans of some sort with auntie Ryann....undoubtedly so! Do I care heelll noo!

I left everything he could possibly need to the point of overkill with grams, as she chuckled at my efforts to teach her something new (impossible), gave me a hug, and made me promise not to call in the movie theater! With a nervous nod I scooped up the twins, threw my mommy hat off with abandon, and dashed to the door...to freedom! We hit the road! This was a new feeling, how do I exist without Joshua?? What's the survival guide for circumstances like these?? Do they make a kit for your first day out? ok I can do this....Gas! and movie candy! and I have no idea where we are! Hahaha ok, so it wasn't that serious; Justin and James were perfect companions to have; sharing wackey stories of their own misadventures. They got me safely to a gas station, then to the theater, and then they calmed my nerves with sugary movie candy! What good kids. The Hunger Games was phenominal! Woody Harrelson made Haymitch come to life, the entire cast really honored the books...I just pray to God they make two more movies. And excuse me Titanic 3D...I don't even...I can't even...

Girl on fire!

Another highlight of my weekend were the walks I took with Joshua. The sun filled days here seem to draw me to the great outdoors, and with a camera in my hand! Here, take a look at some amateur photography from our walk-a-do's! Brought to you courtesy Apple I phone ::smile::

Tired of looking at my crummy photography already?? Me too let's move on ::wink:: Dad took us all to new May-he-con this weekend, a place called Amigos mmm muy delicioso! Oh, ::I touch my hand to my mouth:: it seems my lips have curled into a tiny smile, and my tummy has started to rumble at the thought of: fish tacos! FINALLY, The Amigos have gained a friend in me! Little Joshua had beans and apple juice, a combination that might as well have been menu'd as "Montezuma's Revenge!"

And look he's in his highchair!

There he is in his Texas Longhorns!

I accidentally mistook it for Texas A and M, and I thought Jackie was going to shoot me, my own family! Boy never make that mistake around a bunch of die hard Texas Longhorn fans! You would have thought i'd walked outside and said "I'm voting for Obama!"

Highchairs are magical :)...they really transform your restaurant experience, :sigh: I guess Joshua is one of the big kids now, doing his own thing. Look at him go with that straw! He was playing the Gotta Grab It. You remember that one Josh! The object of this game is to grab as many objects as possible off the table before someone else intercepts the grab. Extra points are earned if the object has some kind of liquid in it, and you make it to the bonus round if you can drop the object on the floor. It's a very fun game, usually everyone gets involved, but Joshua still holds the highest score! He's played in arenas across Tennessee too, let's see, he's played a home game, scored big at Jason's deli with a salad plate, and here at amigos!

He is't embarrassed to show off his skills when we go out...Justin however, did have one of those moments! As breastfeeding mom's know sometimes the inevitable happens, and your little "angel" pulls off a strategically placed burp cloth flashing an unsuspecting target, in this case Justin. He saw a boobie, hey it happens. He turned this lovely shade of habenero red as his eyes darted anywhere but where the burp cloth once was lol...we couldn't help but have a good laugh, and he'll deny what he saw to this day! Still I like to have a little fun with him and bring it up.

On Sunday Joshua had his first bible lesson! He learned how to say "Praise Jesus!" and hold his hands up in exultation! Dad and the boys did their Sunday yard work, and the first day of "Spring Cleaning" was upon us girls. The boys also got a new b-ball hoop! Here's little Becca in action...

nothin' but net!

After a full mornings work load the girls decided it was time for some R & R so we packed up the gang and journeyed to cool springs! We ended up at Jasons Deli! What a gem! All organic, but with options from A-Z, and right next door there is a PinkBerry! Talk about your double hitters! Ahh PinkBerry, my Avalon, a place of legend alone, talked about amongst friends, and never traveled to. Tonight you are mine....BOY O BOY was it delish! I truely wasn't going to have anything more than a sample after the delish Soup/Salad combo I'd finished off at Jason's but okay....A picture says a thousand words!

Haha! That cup was a mini so my hand looks HUGE! Look at the waffle cone cookie it's bigger than the cup, ohh yeah mama likes. So PinkBerry is an organic healthy yogurt bar with funky toppings and six base flavors that change seasonally. You've got your original, Peach, Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Mango, and Lychee! I combined the Lychee, which was fragrant and refreshing, with Mochi (Japanese sweet rice balls), and coconut. Then I went one step over the top, and stuck that lighter than air waffle cookie smack dab in the middle...of my heart! Mom enjoyed the Salted Caramel, and Ryann indulged in chocolate with peanut butter crunch! We made a pact right then and there to try our damnedest to recreate girls night once a week in the summer time...I really love those ladies!

Here babe http://www.pinkberry.com/ the website is pretty cool :D

The rest of the weekend was really just hangin out with Joshua, and the fam! Here allow me to give you a photo montage!