Swimming!

Last weekend we finally got to the Leisure Centre and signed Maci up for swimming lessons.  They run once a week, every Thursday, for 30 minutes long.  We had our first lesson this past Thursday the 26th.  When we first got in the water she was quite unsure, but I believe that was because it was a little chilly, and maybe way bigger than her tiny bathtub.  Once we started moving around she was enjoying it.  One of the exercises was to collect a ball from the middle of the pool and take it to the correct color hoop with Maci on her tummy and allowing her to kick her feet around.  She loved it, she just wanted to eat the ball.  Then about half way thru she started getting upset.  I believe it was because she was a very tired girl, as she wouldn't nap that morning so she had been up extra long.  We got thru the lesson, changed and to the car and she fell asleep immediately.  I only have one picture as they wouldn't allow pictures in the pool, which was quite upsetting as I wanted document of her first time in the pool, but here she all ready to head over to the pool.

Day 7 of 30.  I have also completed a full week of the 30 Day Shred now.  The first few days were quite difficult as I was extremely sore.  All those muscles that I didn't even know I had.  After about day 4-5 I started feeling better and now I am only slightly sore.  I am very surprised I have stuck with it for this long as I am not sure I have ever done this much exercising before other than gym class and soccer games when I was younger.  I am committed to this as I already feel I have more energy in the days and I just want to see this belly disappear!

Today Is The Day

I have finally decided to do something about this baby belly hanging around since having my beautiful little girl Maci.  All you that have had babies know exactly what I am talking about, so no one needs to say I don't have one.  I am not worried about my weight at all, just need to get rid of the flub and tone the muscles.  So today I started the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, and I am already sore.  I can only imagine the next few days are going to be ROUGH.  I will power thru, I will.

My new recipe for today was one I found on my new favourite website pinterest.  I am loving the new virtual pinboard ideas and all the crafty, fun, new ideas I am finding.  So today I made Inside-Out Carrot Cake muffins.  They don't look as pretty as on the site I found them from, but they taste great.

Our visitor today, this little deer comes into our yard every couple of weeks.

A picture of Maci because she is so pretty. 

Windsor Castle

Our adventure today led us to Windsor in search of a Castle.  John took a day off today, so we went together to tour Windsor Castle.  It was about a 40 minute drive, a few wrong turns, and a short walk from the car park, but we made it.  The Castle was spectacular.  You could see it from quite a distance away so we knew which way to travel when the GPS took us the wrong way.  We parked near the River Thames and walked up towards the Castle.  It was such a good day for the tour, it was nice weather with the sun shining and hardly any visitors resulting in no queues.  Maci was strapped into the carrier and away we went.  The outside views were amazing and the inside was spectacular.  The Queens Doll House with complete electrical and plumbing was just outstanding.  The rooms upon rooms with weapons displayed, the amazing art work, the stunning chandeliers in each room, the rebuild from the fire of 1992, all incredible.  We had a great adventure today and got the ticket stamped for the 1 year free pass so we can go back and experience it all over again.

Maci is all bundled up and ready for the adventure.

A view of the Castle from the car park below.

Swans on River Thames.

Slits in the Castle wall where the guards could shoot their arrows.

The round tower and garden below.

Cannon, ready to fire. :)

Our fancy drinks at the Castle Cafe.

Maci and Daddy posing infront of the Round Tower.

Guarding the gate.

Start Of 2012

The New Year is upon us.  Instead of resolutions this year I am going to create a few goals, if they aren't resolutions they won't be broken right?  Either way a few simple things I want to do for myself and my family this year are: tidy as I chase after Maci, try a new recipe weekly, finally get rid of my belly, create my bucket list for our UK lives, start accomplishing travels from the bucket list and be more creative and imaginative with our everyday lives, to slow down and cherish each and every moment with Maci as she is already almost 6 months old and it feels like yesterday I was still complaining for her to get out of my belly.

I started BIG with the new recipe idea.  I have had some cravings of many foods we cannot get over here in the UK.  Lately it has been perogies, so yes, today I made potato and cheese perogies from scratch.  It was quite easy, but time consuming.  Not every new recipe will be this intense, but they were good, and I have leftovers frozen so next time I crave them it will be an easy meal.

I just wanted to share the Christmas present Maci and I made for John.  The first picture is all the materials.

This picture is my ideas.

The final project hung on the wall.  A grow chart for Maci.  I have her foot and hand prints on it where she was partially cooperative.