Fun times!

It's been too long since I've written a blog. We've been busy bees and just plain enjoying the incredible weather MASS has to offer in the spring/summer. The winter is much more endurable when you experience the gorgeous weather/flowers at the other end. :) We've been busy with Ragnar relay (still need to write a blog about that fun adventure!), swim lessons (Abby started swim lessons this session and is doing SO good!), playing outside, beach trips (it's pretty awesome when you get invited to playdates at the beach), birthday parties, end of school activities and just having a good time outside. :) We randomly took a train to Boston one day and had a fun time. Hockey play offs were in full swing so it was pretty busy in Boston that afternoon. Here are some pictures from the past month.

     gorgeous tulips in the public garden

      mommy swan sitting on her nest 

                 snacks in Boston 

This Bruin Bear scared Abby so bad that she started screaming, "NO care bear!!!!" haha! She has been watching some Care Bear cartoons hence the association. ;) 

                 my biker babe :) 

outside is a must or else this happens...

Note- I cleaned out this "3 seasons room" and put all their toys back there so they could destroy somewhere besides the kitchen/living area. There is also a door that leads out to the balcony outside so we play out there a lot too.  it's working out pretty great so far. :) 

Abby on the balcony in her "Roos" :) 

and here they are in the bathroom while I get ready..2 mobile kids under 5 can do a lot of damage very quickly ;)

Memorial Day BBQ at Sarah and Steve's

searching for MOMO monkey in the dryer before bedtime :) 

                   dinner outside on a patio 

          swim lessons with daddy 

I've been working at the Boston Sports Club for a few months now and am really enjoying it. I open the gym on Mondays and Fridays (which means I'm there at 4:30 AM!), and I'm starting to recognize/learn the regulars that come in to work out before work. Even Andrew and Abby's pediatrician comes in every Friday! :)  The last couple of weeks, Todd brings the kids to the gym, they go to the daycare, and I go get a good workout in. It seriously make me SO much more productive during the day. Yes, I'm pretty exhausted once 2:00 rolls around (I've already been awake for over 10 hours by then!), but I feel so energized after working and then working out! I love it! I've never felt happier and so empowered in my life. They have the most incredible outdoor pool that just opened for the summer and we've been swimming there a few times. It's SO perfect for small kids! Here are some pics from that fun adventure.

It's like it everything here is starting to click, and I feel like I can conquer the world if I work hard at it. :) A new goal I REALLY want to accomplish- actually qualifying for the Boston Marathon! :) My friends Tara and Melanie (from Ragnar), want to do the same so we're hoping to start training to get a good solid pace in order to qualify (which means I would need to run a full marathon at around a 8:30 pace! whooaaa..) When I ran with Tara during Ragnar, most of the time we wouldn't even realize how fast we were running until I looked down and would be like, "Wow! We are running under an 8 minute mile right now!!). Running with a friend really pushes you to run faster/stronger, so I'm hoping we can motivate each other to reach our goal. :) So exciting!

Andrew and Abby are doing good and growing so fast! Summer really is more fun when you have 2 kids old enough to venture out and go places. We are also now pacifier free in the Templeton house!! :) YAY! It wasn't easy, but I used my awesome Young Living flower diffuser (along with different oils each night- lemon, peppermint, and lavender were the best during allergy season) and basically traded it out in place of her paci! She now requests her flower at bedtime pretty much every night! Her room always smells SO fresh and clean after diffusing essential oils throughout  the night. :)

I'm also reading several books right now, most about the chemistry of essential oils and how they work with our bodies to fight off viruses/ bacteria and aid in cellular function. My favorite is a book Tara let me borrow called "Crazy, Sexy Diet" by Kris Carr, a woman who was diagnosed with cancer and beat the odds by transforming her life.  It's like this wake-up call for changing what we eat/our lifestyle habits. It's crazy because she even talks about using Young Living essential oils  (and even calls them "mega potions"),their amazing therapeutic quality, and how they've helped her during her healing journey! That makes me realize how God placed Young Living in my life at the right time: just when I'm really starting to become more determined to focus on the health of my family. I definitely recommend checking this book out!

Todd and I will be traveling to Vegas in a few weeks for my cousin's vow renewal/me and Todd's 8 year anniversary! Todd's parents are traveling to Massachusetts to take care of Abby and Andrew, and I just know they will have a great time with them! I am really starting to enjoy living in the Boston area. While living in Dallas, we were still a pretty far drive from our hometown, so it really doesn't make a huge difference to live clear across the country. ;-)  We've had quite a few visitors this year (my friend from college, Traci just came to visit last month and I had not seen her in years! that was lots of fun!) Our friends Matt and Laura came to visit last summer with their 2 girls and we had the best time! Jake and Leslie came with their son Alex in October (when we went apple picking) and it was so fun! And of course my family came to see us for the marathon, and we had such a good time. Also, one of my best friends, Kelley, lives in New York so she comes to visit us pretty frequently and it's been great! Visits like that would not have happened had we been living in Texas. We will hopefully be making a trip to Texas at the end of August to visit our friends and family. Until then, we will be living in good 'ol Massachusetts (now if I can figure out how to spell the state without the aid of spell check haha!) enjoying the incredible weather, beaches, and pools. :) Have a great week!