Random Happenings

Nothing too incredibly exciting going on at the Kaye house this week. Adam is extremely busy with work these days and has been logging some long hours for the last several months. Last week he went on his yearly national meeting and this year it was in San Antonio. I know he relished in the fact he was in Texas, even if he wasn't in Houston. Can you tell we have state pride? He had a great time and enjoyed seeing friends he doesn't get to see all that often.

It rained this week. That is pretty sad, that this blog toast has resulted into me commenting on our local weather. If you don't know, it doesn't rain all that often in Bakersfield. It's very rare if we don't' have a sun shiny day, except for the month of January.

With the rain came something very odd. I was sitting at the kitchen table, eating dinner with the kids, when I heard a very unusual noise coming from the roof. It began to hail. It was coming down so fast, and I ran to get my camera. It was the size of small gumballs. In less than a minute, it stopped and the sun was back out again. Crazy.

Like I mentioned, nothing really to post, but it has been awhile since I updated on the family or posted pictures. Sorry, I didn't pull the camera out a whole lot in the last couple weeks. I will try to get better.

The hail in the backyard right after it started.



The view from the front yard. Not as good of a picture.

Mason picked out everything he is wearing this morning. I love that he is supporting the Houston Rockets and The Texans. If only he wore wearing his Astros shorts.

He really isn't that into wearing ball caps, but if he does, this is the one he grabs every time. It fits pretty well and he usually has his hat on backwards.

Or like this. Not really sure why he likes the side look.

Pouting because I'm taking his picture. Heaven forbid.

I don't know how she got in there, but this is how I found her. She was more upset with me when I tried to free her. So I got the camera instead.

30 Day Shred Challenge - Day 7

Woohoo, I've completed my first week. This is an accomplishment. Even when I was an avid runner and worked out all the time, I never worked out more than 5 days a week. For me working out at least 3 to 4 times a week is perfect for me. That way I don't feel obsessed about working out.

The 5lb weights are kicking my butt. Remember when I said I have no upper body strength? I wasn't lying. I feel the most burn, when I do shoulder exercises. You have no idea how tempted I was to pick up my 2lb weights again, but I don't want to take any steps backwards. I can do this.

In all honesty, tonight I didn't want to work out. Adam is out of town and sure, I could have gotten away with it, but that would have been cheating and I would have felt so guilty. Right before I started working out, I got a phone call from my Dad. After our conversation, I had to drag my butt back into there and get my workout done. All I wanted to do was eat dinner and watch a movie. Once I finished, I felt so much better and was able to go into my evening with a feeling of success.

30 Day Shred Challenge - Day 6

Let me start by saying that one should never exercise on a full stomach. I made that mistake tonight, but in all fairness, if I didn't work out right after eating, I wouldn't have wanted to work out later. I guess I could have waited to eat dinner, but I like eating with the kids.

My arms were definitely sore this morning. It wasn't anything unbearable, but it was much more difficult to do the strength training exercises today. It's good to know that the 5lb dumbbells are making a difference.

Part of me is excited to move on to Level 2 on Day 10. I'm sure I'll be eating my words, but I'm ready for something different. I've heard from several people that it's their least favorite level, which is a little discouraging. I've done Level 2 on my own, once and it kicked my butt that I went right back down to Level 1.

Ten on Tuesday

As busy as Chelsea is, she still manages to do a great job at putting up her Ten on Tuesday questions. Thanks girl.

1. What book, movie or song has you want to travel to a particular place?
We recently watched the movie Couples Retreat and now Bora Bora is on the list of places that I want to travel.

2. Aside from your significant other, who would you want to take with you on a dream trip?
I would love to go on a girls only trip with my mom and sister. Full of some spa treatments and shopping.

3. Where would your said trip be to?
I would love to got to NYC, but I don't know if my mom & sister would want to go there. So maybe somewhere tropical.

4. If you were hosting guests or providing tips, what three things would you show visitors to your hometown? (be it where you live now or where you grew up)
I'm so glad you added in that it could be the place you grew up. Honestly, it's hard to show people around Bakersfield. Why we enjoy it, there isn't that much to the city. It's full of small businesses, restaurants, parks and homes. So if it were Bakersfield, I would take them to through the canyon to the mountains. We would also take them to Rosemary's. It's an old fashioned ice cream parlor. I honestly can't think of a third. If it were Houston, I would take them to The Galleria, Minute Maid Park for an Astros game, and to the Houston Zoo.

5. If you had a long week ahead of you, where would you head- beach, city, country/mountains?
Can I take a little bit of every place with me? I guess the country, maybe the hill country in Texas on a lake, so I have a little bit of water with me.

6. Do you have a passport? If so, did you get it for a particular trip or just have, in case?
No, but I was just saying that I should get one just in case. You never know when it will come in handy.

7. Are there any travel souvenirs you collect? If not, is there something else you collect?
Yes, coffee mugs. I have a bunch from all the different places we have traveled, and I just love a really cute coffee mug.

8. If you could name a paint color, what color would it be and what would you call it?
A shade of Pink - Passion Fruit Pink. I was thinking more of a shade of finger nail polish.

9. If you were heading away for a weekend city break solo, where would you go? (forget about practicality here and flight times, assume you can get to any city in the world for the weekend)
London. I have always wanted to go but think I need more than a weekend.

10. Is there a song or smell or something that you strongly associate with a particular holiday/place/time such that it always takes you back?
Wow, there are so many songs and smells that take me to different places in my life. Most of the time I love it, but there are moments when I wish it didn't seem so clear or vivid.

30 Day Shred Challenge - Day 5

Mason took a nap today, which doesn't happen all that often, so I knew it would be a little later evening for him. He normally is in bed by 6pm and drifts off to sleep in minutes. But if he naps, then it takes about an hour or so.

Instead of doing my normal evening workout, I opted to do it while the kids were awake. I'm not sure if I will do that again. Mason loved every minute of it. He actually took my 2lb weights and wanted to use them to work out. Yes, I was using 2lb weights for my workout. I thought it was time to upgrade so I went in my closet to pull out my dumbbells. I couldn't find the 3lb weights, so I grabbed the 5lb weights. It was definitely more challenging and by the end of it, I wish I had my 2lb weights again, but I'm gonna stick it out. I love a challenge.

Taylor wasn't a fan of my workout. She didn't like that no one was paying her any attention and it was just that time of day when she it's close to dinner time and she is tired and hungry. I think tomorrow, I will be doing my evening workout again. Hopefully my arms won't hurt too bad in the morning.

30 Day Shred Challenge - Day 4

My soreness is better, but definitely still there. It doesn't really phase me until I start my workout. I usually always enjoy the soreness of a good workout. To me it's a reminder that it's working and my body is changing, even when I can't see it right away.

I have never been able to do a regular push-up and still can't, but my girl push-ups are getting easier to do. I am able to do a lot more without having to take a break. I can already tell something is working, because my clothes were a little looser, when I got dressed this morning.

Doing my workouts in the evening is the best for me. For some people it keeps them awake longer at night,but I find that by the time I go to bed, I drift off to sleep rather quickly. It's great at relieving the stress of the day.

30 Day Shred Challenge - Day 3

Muscles are sore. Tired. Did I mention my muscles are sore? Thankfully Adam is going to give me a massage and make everything all better.