Kennywood 2019

 A friend gave us 4 free tickets to Kennywood last year, thanks Linda!  It's been years since we last went to Kennywood.  Although it is an annual  fundraising thing for the school, we don't buy  anymore because the kids are not really  into going, they're probably got tired of the same place, thus lost interest.  Anyway, since it was free, we went.  It was different, the kids are no longer super excited with the rides as they used to.

 I am glad we were able to go though, with this pandemic erupting this year, we chose to stay home and do home improvement projects rather than going on places.

 The thing I don't like amusement park is the long queue. You're basically  wasting time falling in line just to get to a ride that doesn't even last long.

 Our son is not really crazy with rides, he prefers to hang out with me and wait for my husband and daughter while they finish with the rides they go into.

 It's funny because now that they are in a good height where they go on a lot of rides, they are no longer interested.  They used to be disappointed when they don't meet the  required height for the ride.

 My daughter is the adrenaline junkie so she went on few rides before we went home. 

Hot weather can really suck out  the energy out of you so we didn't stay  very long.  It was good enough to enjoy a few rides and get out of the house for few hours.  

Looking at these pictures, our children have grown so much in a year.  They are now taller than me and  almost at my husband's height.  Our son became a teen in January and our daughter will turn fifteen in 5 days. Oh how time flies, her freshman year went by so fast.  This will be the last year for our son at St. Joseph, son he will join his sister at Madonna High School.

Awesome Guide on Regaining Your Fitness to be More Active with the Kids

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“It takes focus and intensity to be the best version of yourself.” - Jennifer Widerstrom #exercise #fitnessjourney #stayingactive #healthiswealth🌳💰💯

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It's not uncommon to become a little unfit as we get older. Aside from the natural declines linked to aging, other commitments like our careers can get in the way. As a parent, though, it's important to rediscover some fitness. While you might not want to run a marathon, you do want the opportunity to do more things with the kids. Besides, good fitness levels will improve your overall health for a longer and happier future.

I am a firm believer that most parents abandon their goals because they fail to plan ahead. So, here are my simple tips to keep you on the right track.

Lifestyle Changes

Before digging out your old running sneakers, your first job is to regain control of the simple daily tasks that set a platform for success. While there's no need to avoid all tasty treats, adopting a better relationship with food is essential. Staying hydrated throughout the day is the easiest and most effective change that you can implement. So, make this your priority.

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Arm #wrestling, one their favorite #FatherAndSonBonding

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I cannot emphasize the importance of a good night's sleep enough. It impacts everything from physical health to energy levels and your mood. Whether you need to invest in a new mattress or change your evening routines, improved sleep patterns are a priority. When the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle are in place, the journey to a fitter future will be far smoother.

Family-Friendly Exercise

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We miss going to #church on Sundays. We’re continuously #praying that this #pandemic will soon be over. #ncov2019 #CoVidEffect #SurvivingCoronaVirus #Faith #CatholicFaith #KeepingTheFaithGoing #FamilyWalks #iPhonePhotos

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Your main incentive for getting fit is to spend more time with the family. So, why not take up a sporting hobby that you can enjoy together? Plenty of team sports can be enjoyed as a family with casual games and routines in the backyard. Meanwhile, skating is a fantastic family activity. Roller Skate Dad can provide valuable insight into equipment and finding adventures. Embrace it.

The true beauty of family-friendly exercise is that it's not only for your benefit. Stopping children from becoming totally addicted to tech is a major challenge for modern parents, while obesity is a pandemic. The group activities help you overcome this problem. Many of the hobbies can be coupled with days out and exploring new places, especially if you look at ideas like cycling.

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Set Challenges

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In February 26th 1990, my #husband enlisted in the Military where he served 20 years in the Navy. It’s been 10 years since he retired from the service and now doing a civilian job. #Veteran #SailorVet #MilitaryVeteran #USN

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There's no time limit on when you need to get fit. Likewise, becoming fitter doesn't necessarily mean that you need to get a six-pack or drop a shirt size. Nonetheless, without a source of motivation, it's very hard to stay on track. I've been there, and I'm certain you have too. Without wanting to run a marathon, you may find that signing up for a local 10km run is just the ticket.

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After playing #badminton, we went to St. Joe’s and help with the rummage sale. We will go back again tomorrow. We’re making summer break worthwhile. If you guys wants to find neat stuff, come at St. Joe’s gymnasium in June 14, 15, 16. They have so many things from furniture to collectible stuff, you name it. #charity #rummageSale #donation

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I find that when my friends join fitness events, the ones that raise money for charity perform better. It is also a good way to encourage kids to get involved. They can design the running jersey, create signs, and do other creative things to support their parent on the big day. When you have a responsibility to make your children proud, it'll spur you on throughout the training process too.

Make Fitness Convenient

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It’s a bit gloomy outside so we workout at our home gym. Please don’t mind what I’m wearing. Changing into a workout clothing is not necessary. Walked 4.1 miles on a treadmill, good enough to break the sweat out. #FitnessAtHome💪 #StayingActive #Surviving2020 #nCovEffect #SweatingItOut #plank

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One of the many reasons I love family exercise is that it's convenient in relation to time management. This is an objective that should extend to your personal fitness journey too. If the nearest gym is five miles away, the commute can consume valuable time. When it starts to cause negative impacts in your daily life, you will eventually fall back into your old ways.

The best way to overcome this is to invest in some home gym equipment. U-Powex resistance bands are a great option if you're hoping to become more flexible and supple. While weight training and regular cardio are important too, you must not lose sight of your goal. If the main function of getting fit is to be active with the kids, avoiding aches and pains is crucial.

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Enjoy Your Rewards

Finally, if you do find a path to success, it's vital that you allow yourself to enjoy it. To take control of your health and fitness when you have other life commitments to juggle is a huge success. When you look and feel the best that you have for several years, vacations and new clothes are fully deserved. Besides, it teaches kids about the value of hard work.

A fitter you is a happier you, and a happier you is a better parent. You already have the motivation and the tools to regain control of your fitness. Now that you also have a winning plan of action in place, there's nothing to stop you achieving those goals. I totally believe in you; you've got this!

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Our first white water rafting was a blast. My husband’s first experience was in #Australia and he said it was a lot of fun so he wanted us to experience it. We did it in #Tennessee, the kids said they would do it again. We’ll probably do it here in #WestVirginia ‘s #NewRiverGorge. Our guide, Bill, was really nice, he really made our experience a lot of fun. He even brought bubbles for the kids. We shared the fun with two guys from #Norway , it was nice rafting with you guys, John and Yen. #WhiteWaterRafting #RaftingInTheSmokies #NatureAdventure #SummerFun #FamilyVacation #travels #AdventureSeeker #TravelJunkies

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3 Fun Family Projects for Rainy Days

It’s pretty standard these days for parents to find their time eaten up by chores, work, car pooling their kids between school, enrichment classes and play dates and basically just trying to keep up with the day to day realities of life. Even when you do get some down time, the chances are the kids are absorbed in TV, a computer game or social media, which can make it a challenge to actually do something together as a family.

Be Prepared

Rainy days are the perfect chance to enthrall your captive audience with some fun, rainy day projects you have on standby – ready and waiting to make memories to treasure. You don’t need to be particularly talented as preparation and enthusiasm go a long way – and at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if things go wrong, it’s the shared time that makes this such a valuable exercise.

Project Idea 1 – Card Games

With one regular pack of 52 playing cards, you can teach your kids dozens of different games. You may have some games that you may remember from your own childhood, and if not the instructions for tons of card games can be easily found online. The easiest for beginners are games like Snap, Old Maid, Solitaire, Memory and 21.

Card games are cheap to play, easy to set up, and create a healthy amount of both competition and camaraderie.

Project Idea 2 – Create Your Own Stories

Every family has a collection of stories to tell, and sharing them is a great way to reminisce, remember those we have known, and strengthen the family bond. You can also use real events to create an entirely new story – embellishing or altering the facts as you choose.

Making a campfire is a great idea if you are planning on telling stories out loud, and if you make some s’mores, your kids will definitely remain interested.  However, they can also be produced in writing, or via a comic strip, drama or song – whatever works best for your family.

Project Idea 3 – Design a Special Poster

Making a poster is a good way to produce something long lasting from your rainy day project. The logistics of your poster – such as size, font, and color are one aspect of the activity, but the main focus to start will be content.

There are so many possibilities. You may need to organize a vote to choose what to create, or have everyone make something different. Some ideas for topics include a poster of house rules, a favorite quotation, promoting a family or charity event or, for older children, creating advertising for a company they would like to own.

There are no limits to what you can create, and with a free poster maker there’s no need to be limited by software costs.

Time seems to pass so quickly, making it even more vital that we grab every precious moment of fun, relaxed family time that is on offer. Simple projects strengthen bonds and create great memories – don’t miss out on making yours.

Beauty All Year Long: Hiking and Camping Mont-Tremblant National Park

There are scores of reasons to visit the Mont-Tremblant region, and if you’re interested in fresh air, exercise, and pristine views, hiking is a major one.  Those who head to the National Park are doubly rewarded, enjoying Mont-Tremblant’s views and the peace of mind in knowing the property is used responsibly, for entertainment purposes while maintaining the land’s beauty and dignity.  If you’re considering going out to the region and putting your boots to its grounds, consider the following.

Respectful Exercise

The National Park is open to the public while philosophies are set in place to preserve and protect the land.  The philosophy of those behind the development and preservation of the trails focus on three major points.  Firstly, all visitors must be respectful of the environment and promote the sentiments of having a minimal impact on immediate surroundings.  Secondly, all participants must keep safe, being concerned about theirown safety and promoting techniques and thoughts that protect other people, animals, and the land.  Lastly, preservationists want the most appealing landscapes to be enjoyed by goers, and continually develop trails to capture the attention and wonder of those visiting the park.

Classification Systems

Those overseeing the development and preservation of Mont-Tremblant National Park use classification systems to indicate the difficulty level to newcomers and seasoned hikers.  An “easy trail” does not require any previous experience of hiking and involves minimal physical effort.  An intermediatetrail is reserved for those with rich experience and who behold a technical knowledge of the area and the sport of hiking.  Finally, a trail labeled difficult warrants mastery of walking techniques, demands those traveling be in good shape, and invites those who are more than comfortable in a forest setting.

Park Specifics

Mont-Tremblant is a destination for both hikers and backpackers due to its diverse trails, hundreds of lakes and rivers, and breathtaking surroundings.  Also as an added note, those who enjoy the pastime of bird watching flock to the area; it hosts 196 species.  Specifically, the backpacking network involves 120 km of trails, lined with communal huts that can hold 2 to eighteen people.  The Diable route is 47.6 km, considered an intermediate trail, and usually takes 3 days and 2 nights to complete.  Of course, other MontTremblant accommodations are available for those opting to reserve only a few hours for hiking each day of their stay.

Short Hikes

As suggested, you don’t have to commit to a multi-day hike through the area.  For those who are beginners or taking small family members, beginner and shorter hikes are suggested.  You won’t miss the majesty of the mountainous region while staying close to more family-fitted accommodations.  Aside from hiking and backpacking, runners are free to test their endurance along the trails.  Also, dogs and family pets are more than welcome in the pedestrian village yet are not allowed to traverse the mountain with you.  To save time and gain access to a bird’s eye view, take note of the gondola schedule, which is a nice option to have at the end of the day if you’re tired and decide to take an expedited passage back down the mountain.     

Louise Harrison has been working as a travel consultant for a number of years. She enjoys the opportunity to offer her insights with an online audience. Her thoughts have been shared across a number of travel-related websites.