Yoga Pretzels

We got a wonderful gift from our friends last week ("Thank you Bill and Marj!")
They are instruction cards for "50 fun yoga activities for kids and grownups." The cards are easy to follow and we've been having fun with them.......

There are nine catagories which include:

Breathe ~ tune in and focus
Game ~ be playful and creative with friends
Balance ~ feel poised, composed, and aligned
Stand ~ become stable, strong, and balanced
Forward Bend ~ reach, release, and flex
Back Bend ~ be supple, open, and trustful
Twist & Stretch ~ twist, turn and extend
Partner ~ have fun working together
Time in ~ unwind, rest and revive

Here are a few examples of the cards..... on the back of each card there are step-by-step instructions (which I failed to show)

It's fun to find different ways to stretch........... and some people forget how difficult it is to hold your own body weight! Who needs a gym when you have poses like Warrior 1?
lol

Isaac tries the Tree pose. Ava's favorite is the Camel pose; which she is amazing at!

The downward dog is one of the most popular, recognized yoga pose.....

Next, Isaac does the Cat...........

Ava chooses the Cobra ........

Isaac with a version of the Triangle and Mountain poses.......

This is an exercise, called the elevator. It poses cooperation, connection, and teamwork :)

Ava, the Dragon! 
Isaac shows the Pretzel!

We've been experiencing a little cabin fever with this cold weather. Yoga is a great form of exercise that we've been practicing more of these days. These cards have been helping the kids get more involved.
No matter the change in the seasons, I'm going to continue yoga in our wellness routine........and it's more fun and motivational when the whole family is involved :)

 "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult"
~ Seneca Indian

I discovered this poster online; "ABCs of Yoga for Kids" and though it was cute:

Ava's Fifth Posted Art Gallery

The gallery keeps going as long as Ava keeps up her love for art. I'm sure it will, as coloring is one of her favorite indoor activities. She mostly colors in coloring books. The jumbo horse coloring book she got for Christmas is just about filled up! She'll occasionally grab a blank piece of paper and draw whatever is inside her head at the moment. We've been having fun with paints too. Her love for animals comes from both sides of our family; which continues to be the primary focus of her work:

Isaac has been learning how to write his name. The challenging letter for him is the letter S. He's showing a growing interest in art as well. Mostly painting. I may start a art gallery blog post for him too soon :)

Masterpiece 

When they were little, they scribbled -
As for the colors, they didn’t care
Their fists held tight around the crayons;
Circles and lines were everywhere

Through time, their talents surfaced
And true artists they have become…
Shapes and colors now have meaning,
It’s not like when they were one

They have learned to stay within the lines;
To cut and paste and glue
Art of cheerios and macaroni –
A true masterpiece, who knew?

Time and effort glue each piece,
No reason, nor thought of waste
Cautiously, the work evolves;
Little fingers stuck with glitter paste

And for a moment, time stands still
Sweet child creating what we hold dear -
A pure and priceless work of art,
For which we know we will never part

~Stormy Lower

To view her previous art gallery posts please input "Ava's Art Gallery" under the search engine :) 

Journal of Herpetology; Volume 46

This is the name of the latest professional journal that Bryan's hard work has been published in. This was an 8 year project! I'm so proud of him!  He puts 100 % in everything he does. I admire his dedication, determination & drive. In addition to being an amazing scientist, he has time to be a terrific husband and father :) I couldn't be more proud!

Hey, maybe in a year or two on his birthday I can finally serenade him (in a soft, sexy Marilyn Monroe voice) "Happy Birthday Doctor Hamilton! Happy birthday to you!"

Hahaha :D

Here is a portion of the article:

This is also posted on his facebook images under his "timeline album".
Here is a larger view:

He keeps pluggin' away .........  and you know we will celebrate well when he becomes Dr. Bryan Tyler Hamilton!


“Patience can be bitter but her fruit is always sweet. Embrace the pain to inherit the gain.” 
― Habeeb Akande

Behind the Names

Part of mom's wonderful gift of goodies (for Christmas) to us included these note cards with the meanings of each of our names. I thought they were really cool and wanted to share them with you. Hopefully you can read them. I was surprised by some of them, because they were so true! Haha
 A little sentimental something :)