Jump Rope

Tonight I did 100 jumps with my jump rope!  I had the day off and hadn't done any exercise since last Thursday.  I really felt like I needed to do something... anything!  Also, I've been really fighting urges to go off plan.  I need to get my head back in the game.  I need to get back in that place I was in the first few weeks.  The thing is, this is something I always do.  I start out great and then something happens and I fall.  This time will be different.  This time, I'm going to pick myself right back up.  I'm going to do everything in my power not to fail.  I would tattoo a reminder on the palm of my hand if it would help me!  I need to get to reading the Healthy Habits book that came with my first order.  I do like the book... even if the whole reading it and doing the companion guide makes me feel like I'm in school and I have homework.  I do get a lot out of the book. 

I've been really bummed lately.  One of my favorite possessions is missing.  My Kindle.  I got it for Christmas from my mom.  Last Saturday it was in my kitchen and Sunday night I went to get it and it was gone.  Jeremy and I looked everywhere for it!  It's been over a week and it hasn't surfaced.  I'm to the point where I think it had to have been stolen or something.  It makes me sick... really.  To make it worse, Jeremy and I went to the movies today and saw the Hunger Games movie (loved it!) ... I was currently in the third book.  I wish I could just go to bed and read my book tonight... but I can't.  I need to start praying to Saint Anthony.  St Anthony is the Patron Saint for lost articles.  It's just as important to me because I really liked it but also because it was a gift from my mom.  In the meantime I'm going to keep looking.

Couch to 5K

I decided I'd like to have a schedule to follow while working up to running a 5K.  I was just looking at the recent Runner's World magazine and saw an ad for an app called "Couch to 5K."  I've heard of this before but kinda forgot about it.  I don't have a smart phone so I found the schedule online.  I'd like to take it a little slower than the schedule suggests.  So, I'm going to do each week of training for two weeks.  I think that will help me ease into it.

Here's the schedule...

Week	Workout 1	Workout 2	Workout 3
1	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
2	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
3	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
4	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
5	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking.
6	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2-1/4 miles (or 22 minutes) with no walking.
7	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).
8	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).
9	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).	The final workout! Congratulations! Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

Stay on the Bus!

I have been watching this guy's video's on TSFL's facebook page.  I've also "liked" his page called "Choose Healthy Habits with Daniel Cox".  He started his journey 1-2 months before me and weighed about 20 lbs less than me when he started.  I really enjoy his video's and can relate to him.  This video fits in perfectly with my current situation.

1 month pictures

 There you have it.  One month pictures.  At first when I looked at them I didn't really see a whole lot of a difference but now I can see little things here and there that are pretty awesome.  I need to take face shots because from the front view you can tell my face is smaller but if I had one directly on my face you could easily tell more.  I will have to work on that. 

Weigh Wednesday

I'm down another 3 lbs!  Right on track!!  I so wish it could have been at least 4 so I could have an even 30 lb loss since starting TSFL... oh well... I'm going to kick it hard this week and see what I can get next week!!  I can't believe I'm so close to getting under 300 lbs!!

I had my hubs take pics today.  I wore the same clothes... I can tell a difference but a part of me thought it would be much more drastic... I don't know, maybe because of all the compliments I've been getting and how I'm feeling.  I feel like I should look a lot thinner than I do.  I will post the pics soon... then you can tell me what you think! :)

I had another wonderful gym session today!  I did pretty much the same as I did yesterday.  I did a 1mile bike trail that I've done before and beat my personal best time.. I was actually pretty shocked because I was so exhausted by the time I did the bike.  Working out makes me feel so good!  I'm glad I take the time for myself to go.

Yesterday, I bought a leash for my bigger dog.  I'm going to start taking her for walks.  She needs to learn how to walk on a leash and also be more socialized.... and it's a good reason to get out and go for a walk.

Don't listen to me

I've been thinking about what I blogged about earlier (thanks to Margene).  I was trying to justify myself going off plan.  I was thinking on my drive to the gym about how it's like a drug user.  A drug user might say they are "only smoking pot"  it's not that big of a deal, compared to harder drugs, it's not like I'm doing meth.... and smoking pot helps me calm down.  When in reality, it's all illegal.  Me going off plan is "illegal"  even if I only go off just a little.  I need to abide by the "law" and stay on plan.  I'm going to work on it one day at a time.  Every day on plan is one day closer to my goal. 

Thank you Margene for your guidence.  I need a little reminder... (really, I knew it wasn't good... I was just trying to tell myself it was ok.)

Guess what?!  ...I ran today!  I got to the gym a little later than I origionally had planned, so, I wanted to make sure I really pushed myself.  I did 10 min on the eliptical at a resistance of 10... burned 100 cal.  Then I went to the treadmill and set the time for 10 min.  I walked for 1.5 min at 3.5mph then ran for 1.5 min at 5.5 mph (repeated) then (since I had a sideache) I walked for 2.5 min at 3.5mph then ran for the last 1.5min at 5.5 (actually I think the last 30 sec I slowed it down to 5mph cause it was a little to much for me).  I was definitely tired!  I had some time left so I jumped on the bike and went for 2 miles.... I did the mini course again, only this time I signed in to my account.

I'm so excited to weigh tomorrow!!

1 Month!

Wow this week has flown by!!  Sadly, I didn't meet the exercise goals I intended on achieving.  My plan was to do Jillian's 30 Day Shred on the days I was home and go to the gym on the days I work.  I didn't do the 30DS at all and yesterday I didn't go to the gym!  Yesterday, time got away from me.  Brayden didn't have school due to teachers meetings and I was running around doing various things.  I AM going today and tomorrow.

I have officially been on TSFL for 1 month... as of a few days ago.  It's hard to remember that one month ago I was over 26 lbs heavier than I am now.  I can't wait to see where I'm at one month from now!!

With my lack of exercise and eating a little bit of off plan foods here and there, I figured I'd be sitting the same as last week.  I jumped on the scale yesterday.  I did it mostly to give myself a little boost to kick it in gear.  Well, it worked ... but in a positive way!  I was down 3 lbs!  So, I can still make my 4-5 lb goal for the week!! :)

I really, really like this program.  I do find myself mixing in Weight Watchers ideas in with it though.  I know it's not exactly the right way to do it but I guess a lot of the information from that program is still in my head.  So, as everyone knows you get a certain amount of "points" for the day with W.W.  With this program you have the exact amount you are going to consume laid out for you (pretty much).  W.W. gives you a weekly ration to use however you want... kinda like fun money.  So, sometimes when I eat a little bit of off plan food, I think of it as my fun money.  So far I have been having success but I figure eventually it will catch up with me.  I also imagine that I could be losing more weight each week.  I guess, I think to myself, if letting myself have a little bite of this or that every now and then helps me to stay sane and on the right track, I'm ok with it.  Believe me, I turn down TONS of things I never would have before.  I think I'm doing GREAT! :)

I'm also pretty excited because my dad and I are starting to plan out our garden!!  Last year we did our first garden.  My dad has done a garden before, so really it was the first one for me.  Last year, I didn't get to help out as much because I was doing all my CT clinicals and EMT training and had no time!  Also, the girls were little and it was hard to just go up there and let them run.  Our garden is at "the acreage", which is the land I grew up on.  It's a few acres on the north part of our town.  10 years ago our house burned down but my mom still owns the property.  We have our garden in the area the house used to be.  It was tilled yesterday so we can start putting seeds in the ground soon!  We have to plan out where everything is going to go first.  My dad is going to draw something up for us to go by.  It will be nice to eat my lean and greens right from my very own garden!! :)

On my way to goal!

I'm at another Weight Wednesday.  AND... I LOST 3 POUNDS!! 

I'm currently at 308 lbs.  To make my goal of 299 lbs by May 12th, I need to lose 3 lbs for the next 3 weeks.  I'm going to take a chance and stray away from that goal.  I feel confident that I can reach up to a five pound loss this week.  I have high workout goals and plan on kicking it hard!

                       Yesterday I bought this issue of Runners World. 

I was excited because it was just what I was hoping for.  It's the beginners issue.  So, in this issue is a bunch of helpful advice for beginners.  The reason I got the magazine is because I talked a little with someone I know, who blogged about running.  I decided to set a goal to run a 5K this fall sometime.  I haven't decided what race but I will do at least one.  I don't really know how to train or how to start out... except just to either hop on the treadmill and go or get out in the street and start.  ...which is basically what I need to do.. I just need some more direction.  I have done 3 5K's in the past.  The first one was the Spring Thaw in 2010, then the June E Nylen breast cancer 5K in 2010, then the June E Nylen breast cancer 5K in 2011.  I wish I could do it again this year but it's the day after Andrea's wedding and I just don't think I'll be up to it.  The Spring Thaw that I did, I tried my best to do a little running but I mostly walked... my friend Jodi came back and finished the race with me though... which was pretty awesome!  Both of the cancer 5K's I walked.  We had a large group and I was with a group both times that walked.  Last year I pushed the girls in the stroller.  They have it on Mother's Day, so it was kinda neat.  I hope that next year I can do it with them again.

Last Saturday was baby Bailey's big day!!  She became baptized into the Catholic Church!!  It's not the best picture of everyone but, it was the only one that got taken on my camera.  So, here is Jason (Erin's brother), Father Roder, Me, and Bailey.

This week, I've been trying different lean and greens.  I made one that I simply sauteed green and red bell peppers with chicken broth, added some leftover grilled chicken, and a little cauliflower that I had, and since I didn't have enough chicken, I added some shrimp.  I sprinkled on a little seasoning and it was delish!!

              It's a little blurry but it's because it was steaming!

I'll have to take some pics of the others I made.  I know I'll make them again.  I made a simmered cabbage dish that I really like.  Tonight, I'm having another cabbage dish I like.  The one I made tonight is served cold and I had chicken to go with it.

I hope to get back on here before next Wednesday... I can't believe I went all week without posting once!  I'll let you all know how my running career is going and get some more pictures of my lean and greens.

Weigh Wednesday

I lost 4 lbs this week!!! 
So, I'm currently at a 23 pound loss (since I started TSFL) but a 49 pound loss, total!!  Current weight is 311 lbs.  -Can't wait to see that under 300!

I'm pretty excited, considering my little slip ups this week.  Now, to make my goal, I need to lose 3 lbs/week for the next 4 weeks.  I think it's highly attainable, especially if I get my rear to the gym!  AND MORE importantly... STAY ON PLAN!!  It's so easy for me to tell myself that it's ok... and I've been doing SO WELL!  Yesterday, I went to a funeral and took my own food and didn't eat at the funeral.  Luckily, it wasn't a sit down thing... it was way more casual.  Today, though, I walk in the door and my hubby has made cookies.  My nose lead me straight to the stove and I cut one in half... I took a little bite and quickly gave the rest to one of my daughters.  He made two kinds... so I did the same with the other kind.  It would be so easy for me not to fess up ... but I have to face it.  While this is better than I would have ever done in the past (considering cookies are my favorite... and in the past I could have easily eaten a whole pan) but I still went off plan.  It's hard to explain... I want to stay on plan but right before I decided to take a bite, I gave myself permission to go ahead.  Thankfully, I got smart and put them all away!  I am going to work on being stronger with my temptations.  While sometimes I do great... lately I've let myself go off plan... (3 times in the last 4 days!)

I made cauliflower pizza again last night!  I really like it!!  I also made some for Jeremy and he really liked it, too!

The other day I had some of the oatmeal... which I haven't had since the first couple days because that's something I can easily make at work.  On Monday, I didn't really like it.  It was ok, but not the best.  Today, I added a little Splenda to it and it was a lot better!

Next week I'm going to take comparison pictures.  I'm going to take pictures once a month.

Easter Semi-Success

So, my Easter weekend went... OK.  Saturday, we went to a birthday party for my father-in-law.  I took my food and planned on staying on plan.  I did!  I did had a couple little pickles which I remember seeing somewhere as ok.  That night I came home and made my lean and green, then went to a friends house.  She just had a baby and wanted to have a couple drinks.  I went over and took my water bottle and a pop (which I have been doing soo good with!  -maybe 2-3 a week!)  She had a wine cooler and we just hung out and talked.  It was nice... it's pretty easy for me to turn down alcohol because I don't drink very often anyway.  I came home and put together Easter baskets.  I did get a little candy to put in eggs but I also got quarters and a few dollar bills.  ...I didn't think my 2 year olds would appreciate or be very excited about money... and they weren't really.  I didn't have a single piece of candy the entire Easter weekend!  Easter day we went to my mom's house.  I took salmon patties, asparagus, and cheesy potatoes (as requested by my mom.)  They made steaks, a pasta salad (with pasta, vegetables, pepperoni, and Italian dressing), and bread pudding.  I had originally planned on just having the salmon and asparagus but my temptations took over and I had a little bit of cheesy potatoes and pasta.  Then afterwards I had a little piece of the bread pudding.  I didn't beat myself up about it but knew it had to be a one time thing.  Also, since we went outside and were busy the rest of the day, I only got in 3 of my Medifast meals.  Monday was better but I let myself slip again a little... I can see how one thing can spiral into more bad choices easily.  At supper time, I made my kids mashed potatoes and gravy and I had 2 spoons of it.  I don't really know why.  Earlier, at work, I had to fight off eating this bagel dip ... the kind with the dried beef and parsley in it.  For some reason, it was getting to me.  I did the meanest thing... I just told myself that "fat people eat that stuff."  It's not exactly true because thin people were eating it but for some reason telling myself that eating that stuff is how you get fat helped to get me through it and not eat it.  ...but then when I got home I couldn't stop myself from taking a bite of mashed potatoes and gravy.  Well, today is a new day and I can start fresh today.  I know that my weight loss for this week will be lower and I'm ok with that.  As long as I know that my little mistakes will not stop me from getting to my goal.  Of course, it will slow me down.

                         Here is a picture from this weekend.  All of us riding.

                   My sister(Molly), Kylee, Ainslee, Me, Brayden, and my mom.

Last night I made an awesome lean and green!  I'm going to make it tonight for my whole family!  It's the cauliflower pizza!  I've seen it on so many blogs and my coach sent me the recipe, too.  I knew I had to try it!

                                                   MMMM!!!

Shopping=Fun?

So, I decided to get the dress I liked the other day.  I hoped it wasn't gone since it was the only one left in my size.  I walked in the store and went straight to the rack and... YES!  it was there!  I found a coupon online to use but it was buy $75 get $25 off.  So, after the 30% off my dress I would be under the $75, so I decided to get a pair of shorts, too.  I was pretty pumped because my other shorts that I've been wearing (that I don't really like because they are knee length shorts) are now too big- yippie!  Of course they didn't have the wash of shorts I like in my size... they didn't even have my size in my second choice wash.  Luckily, I could buy them in the store and have them ordered online to be sent to my house for free!  So, they had white shorts that I tried on for size.  I grabbed a 24 thinking that I could try them and maybe fit in them in a few weeks.  Pulled them on and they fit perfectly!  I was like YES!!!  I tried the dress on again and tried turning my hand under to pull the zipper together... I think it's going to go together pretty easily, too! :)  I'm pretty happy because I think I will wear it next Saturday for Bailey's baptism.  I will post pictures of me wearing it, but until then here is the print (they don't have the actual dress online)

                                           I also got these shorts

It was such a great feeling to leave the store and actually feel good.  I usually get halfway depressed when I go shopping for myself.  The clothes never look good and fit funny or tight.  Now, I can be proud because I know that my body is getting slimmer and smaller sizes are fitting me... it wasn't that long ago that size 28 fit me.  I remember thinking that it was terrible because it's the largest size Lane Bryant carries... if I outgrew that then what?!

My shopping experience helped me throughout the day, too.  I got to work and it was one of the students last days so they had a huge Easter basket full of candy and a big pan of banana bars.  Everyone was talking about how wonderful the banana bars were... it helped when my friend Jodi said she thought the frosting wasn't very good.  Then I went to Walmart last night to get stuff for Easter baskets.  I did get a little candy for them but hardly any compared to years past.  I did get books, a movie, neat color bubbles and a little toy for each of them.  But it was so hard passing up the peanut butter eggs.  I thought to myself several times that I would get some for Jeremy and let myself have one.  WHAT?!  After all my success, I'm going to go messing it up?  Heck no!  I didn't get any peanut butter eggs!

Also, more people are noticing I'm losing weight! Super YAY!  Jeremy told me he can see my body getting more shape, my friend Erin told me she could tell, my babysitter had noticed on Wednesday, last night a girl I work with said she could really tell, too!  That makes me so excited!!

I'm going to post pictures of myself once a month.  That way I can see for myself how my body is changing.  I was reading on a blog somewhere that a girl didn't really notice she was losing weight because most of the pictures she was looking at were of her face.  While she could see changes, it wasn't as dramatic as seeing full body pictures.  She still had issues with picturing herself as her obese self.  I always thought that was weird.... being thin but picturing yourself as heavy.  I realized that I have the same issue... only opposite.  I still picture myself as my high school or early college self.  That's why I get so shocked when I see pictures of my body.  I have had this body for 7 years and I still get shocked when I see in a picture how big I am.  I was still overweight in high school but I weighed between 240-250 lbs.  ...that's 75 lbs ago!

               Here is one from prom.... I'm the tall one standing in the back

It's so crazy... I thought I was so fat then!  I would love to be at that weight right now!

Well, our town is having an Easter egg hunt in an hour.  I better get the kids ready to go!

I just noticed I have my very first follower!! :)  Amy Lee at Simply Amy   She has lost over 100 lbs!!  I just found her blog a couple days ago and started reading through her journey.  She looks great!  A great inspiration to me!! :)

Week 2

So yesterday was "Weigh Wednesday" as I like to call it.  AND I LOST 5 POUNDS!!  That makes 19 lbs lost in 2 weeks!!  I just can't believe it!  My current weight is 315 lbs.  Now, to reach my goal of 299 lbs by May 12th, it would be perfect if I lost 4 lbs next week then 3 lbs for the next 4 weeks.  I don't know if it will work that way or not, but it would be pretty awesome! :)

I tried on dresses yesterday and the one white one with flowers that I thought I'd really liked didn't work as well on.  I really liked it still but it was so low cut and my boobs are bigger than the average Jane, so they were basically hanging out.  It barely covered my bra.  I did try on a couple more dresses that I liked.  I was pretty excited when I put on the size 24... although I couldn't zip it.. partially because I couldn't reach and probably partially because it wouldn't have fully zipped ...but I hoped it would by the time the wedding gets here.  There was one I really liked that fit well (as far as my boobs weren't hanging out).  Of course it was the most expensive one, but if I get it while its still 30% off I could save $25-$30.  Also, it was the only one left in my size and they don't have it online that I found.  I didn't get it but I want to go back and get it.  We'll see.

Yesterday, I was planning on going to a class at the gym.  Since I have been a member I have been to one class.  It was taught by my friend and it's called "Group Power."  It's basically all weight lifting.  I like it because it works the muscles really well and I don't really venture into the weight area of the gym.  I walk through it on my way to the ellipticals, treadmills, and bikes but that's about it.  When I went to a different gym (one that's a lot smaller) I used the weight machines a lot more.  Anyways, yesterday I was going to go but I was so unorganized... I couldn't find my sports bra (I wear it over my regular bra for added support) then I left home and got about 7 miles away when I realized I forgot one of my meals.  So, I turned around to get it.  By the time I got to the gym I was too late to go to the class.  I'm going to go tomorrow.  I did ride the bike for the first time since last September!  I love their bikes!  They are called Expresso bikes.  They are virtual bikes and have different trails or paths to follow.  You have to steer through the path and if the path goes uphill it's harder to pedal... just like a real bike.  You can sign in and it keeps track of your previous times.  Then you can race against yourself... which is fun!  Yesterday, I couldn't remember my password (since it had been so long) so I rode as a guest.  I tried a new trail that was fun.  It was a backyard, only it was BIG like you were a mouse riding through it... it was a 2 mile course.

                                    One of the courses I've done in the past.              

 

The new course I tried yesterday!

                                                This is what it looks like!

If your gym has one of these and you haven't tried it... hop on and try it!  It's fun and addicting!!

Weekend Getaway

This weekend was GREAT!!  Saturday morning I went to a friends house for a bit to hang out.  When we got home, Jeremy was up from sleeping after his night shift.  He said lets go somewhere this weekend.  We have been wanting to go to the Black Hills for awhile but decided since it would be quite a drive that we should save that for another time.  We ended up going to Niobrara.  I have never been there but was excited to get out and about for the beautiful weekend.  So we quickly packed up, asked my dad to watch our dogs and took off!  We got to Niobrara State Park and found cabins.  They looked really nice and would be perfect to stay in!  When we found the office it said it was closed on weekends.  We were pretty confused but decided to find a place to picnic.  We had packed food before we left (and I packed shakes, bars, and pretzels.)  We were getting started with our picnic when the ranger (Ranger Rick as Jeremy called him) came by.  He got us hooked up with a permit, since we were confused about that.  He also said the cabins were all filled for the weekend and you have to call ahead to get one.  One great reason to "have to" come back!  We finished our picnic and drove around a little bit.  Then we decided to find a place to stay.  In town was a little motel but there seemed to be a pretty rowdy crowd there.  We drove a little to Springfield where there was another little motel called the Wagon Wheel.  It was a perfect place for us to stay for the night.  After we got our bags in the room we went for a walk.  We were going to find a park but it got too dark for us and we just went to get pop and water at the convenience store.  The next morning we went back to the park and found the foot trails.  Off we went!  I took some great pictures until I realized that I had forgotten my card and the pictures were all internally stored... I'll have to work on getting the pictures off of my camera.  There was a few really cute ones with Brayden and the girls holding hands and walking ahead of us on the path.  So sweet!  After our walk on the foot paths, we were a little worn out and decided to stop for another picnic before heading out.  We had to be out by 11am when our permit expired.  From Niobrara we went to Gavin's Point Dam.  We went to the dam and watched the fish and a scuba diver.  Then we found a park by the river and hung out for a couple hours.  It was so beautiful and fun.  The kids had so much fun.  On the way home Jeremy and I decided that if we wouldn't have decided to take our little impromptu trip we would most likely had been just hanging out at home, maybe in our backyard but we definitely wouldn't have had that much fun with each other.