Killer Leg Series

Okay, here is a great leg series. If you do this right, your thighs and especially your inner thighs will really feel it, (not to mention your tush). I had several ladies in my class comment on how sore they were, and I keep getting requests to do it again:

The series is basically a 1.set of plie squats on tiptoes followed by a 2.set of basic squats combined with a "foot brush" repeated 3 times with different foot placements.

PLIE SQUATS-Feet Hip distance

Step 1: you are going to stand with your feet hip distance apart-toes pointed OUT. Next, come up onto your tiptoes and do 10 plie' squats-SLOWLY. (I hold onto a 8 to 12 pound weight or weighted ball.) * A Plie' squat means that you do not stick your tush out. You bend your knees and straighten while keeping your back and tush in a straight line, imagine your body is an elevator.

BASIC SQUAT to FOOT BRUSH

Step 2: Basic Squats: Bring your feet back to parallel about hip distance apart and do ten squats (Slowly) Below is a side view of basic squats. As you stand up, do step 3-Step 3: As you stand up from the squat, brush your pointed foot across the floor and end up like the picture below. Make sure that your inner thigh is pointed to the ceiling and you can see your ankle bone pointed up. Bring your leg up as high as you can.

Step 4: PLIE SQUATS-Legs wide, toes pointed out, up on your tiptoes.

Repeat step 1 but with your feet wide apart. Don't forget to squeeze your glutes and inner thighs together on the way up-like you're trying to glue your legs together.

Remember: Keep your back straight and Abs pulled in-Butt tucked under :)

Step 5: BASIC SQUATS with FOOT BRUSH- repeat steps 2 and 3

Step 6: PLIE SQUATS-feet close together-heels touching and toes out.

BTW- my legs are not really as short as they look in this picture- My pants are coming down JUST a bit! LOL :)

Step 7: BASIC SQUATS-repeat steps 2 and 3

Okay, now finish up with an final set of 10 basic squats combined with foot brush. Do the final set of basic squats with legs close together if you want.

Final tips:

1. Do everything slowly-we tend to rush when it gets hard-but the results are better if you slow down!

2. Squeeze those inner thighs and glutes together every time you raise up.

3. Pull in your abs and keep your shoulders back and down.

4. If you have any knee discomfort, modify by making sure you knees do not come past your toes, and then focus more on the up motion.

Let me know if you try this. The whole series takes about 8-10 minutes but it really works, and best of all you can do it in front of the t.v. :)

Odds and Ends

Grant decided to dress up like a kid from the 80's. He looks a lot like my old elementary school classmates :) Its funny how things have changed.


Carter's Birthday Party-swimming and ice cream cones (Carter's allergic to cake:)

His new speed racer helmet.

Lauryn at her dance recital

Carter putting on a fashion show for us with Elise's clothes.

Where did this kid come from :)?

Please Scroll Down-

I somehow posted my new entry AFTER the one about Framma Frudy. Its not worth describing how, but please scroll down past it to the new San Francisco Trip post. :)

Framma Frudy

Our Sweet Grandma Trudy passed away last month after being sick for some time. We will really miss her. She was always so sweet and generous and showed so much love to our kiddos. It makes me smile to think of her with her sweetheart again, though. We love you Grandma!

We went out to San Francisco for her funeral and spent some time with the family there. Funerals are so sad, but the one blessing that comes from them getting to see family members that you are far away from.

Grandma's three grandchildren. Jeff and his brother John with their cousin Stephen.

Grant and Carter with their cousin Trenton

Lauryn and Elise with John's girls Hannah and Sydney.

Lauryn, Hannah, and Melissa

Seven of the nine great-grandkids in front of our hotel and over-looking the San Francisco Bay.

San Francisco Trip

We all went to San Francisco for Grandma Trudy's funeral. It was a bit of a whirlwind trip but it was sure nice to see some of our old hang-out spots. These pictures were taken at the park behind Jeff's Elementary school.

We went to church at Jeff's old ward building. We saw people he grew up with and even had this family picture taken by the friend who took our engagement pictures. Thanks, John!

We could not go to San Francisco without stopping at our most favorite place "Karlita's". We've been going there together for about 15 years and Jeff started eating there in 1989-wow! It's a little hole in the wall place that has the best burritos on the planet!

Running from the surf at Half Moon Bay. It was way too cold to swim, even in June.

We went to Fisherman's Wharf and Elise was so exhausted that she fell asleep in the sling while I walked around. Highly unusual for her, but at least she got a little nap. I lover her legs hanging out. She is definitely out growing her sling (sniff!).

Or maybe not- I guess she looked so comfortable that Carter decided he wanted a little ride, too. :)

We took a Bay Cruise that went under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. It was beautiful...

...but also very chilly and windy which kept Elise inside the cabin area playing with daddy.

My favorite spot in San Francisco is actually across the Golden Gate and above the Presidio. You take a winding road up into the hills where an old army encampment is. It is absolutely the most beautiful view EVER. You have a view of the ocean and a little lighthouse on one side then the bridge, bay and city on the other. I can't go out there without making that drive. Besides, it's really fun to drive across the bridge.

I had to bribe the kids with a quarter for this picture, they were all tired and freezing.

It was definitely worth the 75 cents. :)

Little Fashion Queen

Okay-so the other day Elise came walking out of my closet with a shirt and little skirt for me to put on her. Amazingly, they actually matched and I could reasonably see them as an outfit. So, I went ahead and dressed her in them. Then I started wondering-exactly what was the process involved here...So I set up some surveillance. The next time she headed for her closet I had my camera ready. First we have this adorable shot of her pondering on which outfit she's gonna want today :)

Ah-ha! She's made a decision and starts ripping down her selections. LOL!

Unaware that I'm spying, she decisively brings her new outfit to me and lets me know that she would like to wear this instead :) Notice that they actually match and that there is a shirt and pants! I swear this was 100% on her own.

Isn't she a little too young to be picking out her own clothes?
Yet another outfit she picked out. Again, it's a shirt and little skirt that actually match. Hilarious!

Grandpa's Tire Swing

Dad found an old tire in the creek and he was delighted because it's a type they don't make anymore (it's nylon-belted, not steel-belted). Why is that so exciting? They make the best tire swings, of course! (Because they don't poke you.) So he got out his pocket knife and whipped out this awesome swing. In minutes it was hanging from a tree in the backyard. All the grandkids had a wonderful time on it. Thanks Dad!