Our First Visit to Jensen Lake Trail

5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 1, Day 2

Lebanon Hills, Jensen Lake Trail

Originally, the weather forecast predicted thunderstorms.  We delayed our hike due to some destructive storms we’ve had recently.  I wouldn’t want to be halfway through a hike and have the children out in bad weather.  The weather was partly cloudy but mostly sunny throughout the morning, and extremely humid from all of the rain.  Since a storm seemed unlikely after all, we struck out for an afternoon hike.

Jensen Lake Trail is 2.1 miles.  All trails rated it as an easy trail.  (All Trails Info: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/jensen-lake-trail)  It took us about 2 hours to complete the loop.  The more experienced hiker could easily finish it faster.  There was a guy who passed us going the opposite direction three times!

The kids really enjoyed this trail and would love to go back another time.  There was also a large park that we did not check out because it was too hot and we were exhausted.  We were all proud of ourselves for pushing through and finishing the trail, despite the heat.

If you’d like to visit the Jenson Lake Trail, check out their website for more information:
https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/parksTrails/LebanonHills/Pages/jensen-lake-trailhead.aspx

Have you been to Lebanon Hills before?

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5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Day 1: Workout At Home
Next Week: Day 3: Hay Creek

5 Week Workout Challenge

5 Week Workout Challenge

It’s almost summer!  With one week of school left for my kiddos, planning summer activities is a necessity.  If the summer isn’t planned, it flies by and nothing much happens.  For the last few weeks, I’ve been working on our calendar and researching activities.

Cat and I thought it would be great fun to have a 5-week workout challenge.  The little ones don’t really care what we do, but they love to be outside and active.  In order to keep all of us happy, I filled the calendar with primarily hiking.  Hiking is something that gets the body moving, the heart pumping and offers a change of scenery.  It can be done by anyone, young or old

We’ll also have days for indoor exercises at home.  This can be pilates, weight lifting, workout videos or another favorite workout activity.  If someone has plans to join us, maybe we’ll move our exercise plans to an indoor location, like the Mall of America for speed walking.

Hopefully, by the end of our 5 weeks, we’ll be feeling healthier and happier.  Plus, we’ll get the joy of exploring the great outdoors instead of being cooped up inside.

Our “week” is a little unusual.  We will not be doing a Monday through Friday week.  Sundays and Mondays are our days off.  Tuesdays through Saturdays are workout days.  Our goal is to workout 3 days Minimum weekly.  Anything more is extra credit!

I found a great app called All Trails which helps find local hiking trails.  It gives the length of the hike, maps, altitude, level of difficulty and more!  I suggest you check it out to see what’s in your area!

Check back to see posts about our adventures!  Hopefully, we’ll inspire you to make an adventure of your own this summer.  Go out and enjoy nature!

Week 1
Week 1, Day 1: Workout At Home
Week 1, Day 2: Jensen Lake Trail
Week 1, Day 3: Hay Creek
Week 1, Day 4: Minnehaha Falls
Week 1, Day 5: Spring Lake Park

Week 2
Week 2, Day 1: Workout At Home
Week 2, Day 2: Old Mill Park
Week 2, Day 3: Challenge at Home
Week 2, Day 4: 2nd Plank Challenge

Week 3
Week 3, Day 1: Hastings Riverwalk
Week 3, Day 2: 1st Convention Day, Rochester
Week 3, Day 3: Covered Bridge Park
Week 3, Day 4: 4-Year-Old Adventure

Week 4
Week 4, Day 1: Morning Workout
Week 4, Day 2: Fort Snelling
Week 4, Day 3: Night Walk Date
Week 4, Day 4: Afton State Park

Week 5
Week 5, Day 1: Schaar’s Bluff
Week 5, Day 2: Kawishiwi Falls
Week 5, Day 3: Norberg Trail

Do you have a workout plan this summer?  What’s your favorite type of exercise? We’d love to hear about it!

Rainy Day At The Como Zoo Conservatory

Rainy Day At The Como Zoo Conservatory
Over the weekend we took a trip to the Como Zoo Conservatory.  I had been wanting to go for awhile, and the fact that it was raining didn’t stop me.  I really wanted to visit the conservatory, and a short trip through the Japanese Gardens could easily be done with some umbrellas.


Princess tried to climb into the fountain.  She LOVES playing in water.  Thankfully we caught her before she jumped in!

There were a lot of prom kids getting portraits taken all over the place.  There was also a bride and a groom in the sunken gardens, so we decided to come back so we wouldn’t be in their way.  
The sunken gardens are very beautiful.  They’re also full of lilies, which I’m allergic to.  I had my face mask so I could walk through without getting a migraine, but the smell seemed to bother Cat too.  Sadly, I think she might have inherited an allergy from me after all.  Thankfully, lilies are one of the easier allergens to avoid.  The worst thing is that she’ll have a rough time at funerals.  Thankfully, many people have red eyes and runny noses there, so she won’t be out of place.


The North Garden is my favorite.  It’s full of edible plants!  Depending on the time of year, you might even be able to spot something familiar growing.  I love peeking carefully through the leaves to see what treasures they hold.  The vanilla seemed to be overtaking the wall by the door.  Nate and I were amazed at how big it was!  We bought two cuttings of it from the gift shop in hopes of growing our own.
Cupcake was not a fan of this room.  She said it smelled like cat pee.  To be honest, it does smell a little when you first walk in, but then you get used to it.

We had a lot of fun at the Como Zoo Conservatory.  It was a lot more fun than being cooped up inside, at home, in the rain.  I kind of wish I had a beautiful indoor garden like the ones at Como, but I bet it takes a very large team and a lot of money to keep it looking as beautiful as it does.  I think I’m happy settling for a visit once a year and a few clippings of vanilla to take home with us.

Have you been to the Como Zoo Conservatory?  What is your favorite part?

52 Project, Week 10: Mother/Daughter

52 Project, Week 10: Mother/Daughter

Since this is a mother/daughter* project, it seemed obvious that there should be a mother daughter portrait for one of the challenges.  Though this photography project is mostly for Cat and me, I have invited all of the kids with us when we go out on our adventures.  Often, the other children get to jump in for a few portraits or get a chance to hold the camera.

The images of Cat and Me were both taken by Cupcake.  Cat and I both took portraits with the other kids and took turns being the photographer.  I’ve shared a few favorites and funny ones.  Life with 4 children is never boring!  Hahaha!

Some of these images were taken in my studio as a last photo shoot before closing my in-home studio.  The other ones are a walk we took on a warm day after the Sunday meeting.  Since it was so warm, there were a lot of other families out enjoying the warmer weather.  One family was kind enough to stop and take a portrait of all of us together, a rare treat.

I enjoy taking portraits with my children so that I am not an invisible part of their lives, in pictures anyway.  Too often I am the one taking a picture and not in it.  I’ve been trying to change this and ask other people to take a picture of me.

As a photographer, I see a lot of Mom’s since they’re the ones bringing the children in for photo shoots.  I usually ask the Mothers to jump in for a few portraits.  Some Moms are happy to jump in, excited to share in the moment.  Most Moms are shy and hesitant, slightly uncomfortable with the idea of being the center of attention.  Some Moms outright refuse to be in the portrait.

I’ve heard a lot of excuses over the years.  They’re heartbreaking to hear.
“I don’t have any makeup on.”
“I don’t look good.”
“I’m not dressed up.”
“I’m too fat.”
“I’m ugly.”
Usually, these are said with an outright honest and panicked frankness.  Some are said with a laugh to diffuse the tension.  All are said directly in front of their children.

Years ago I read an article that talked about how self-image was created in children.  It mentioned how children’s first role models are their parents.  What children hear their Mother’s say about themselves, becomes the inner voice of our children.  If we talk negatively about ourselves on a regular basis, our children hear that and internalize it.  If we talk positively about ourselves, we set a good example of confidence and self-love.

Our children look at us with love and adoration.  They don’t see our imperfections as imperfections.  They might or might not notice that our hair is messy, we don’t have makeup on, our clothes might be a size too small or too large or dirty from a hard day’s work.  They might or might not see the extra weight or lack of weight.  They might or might not see our wrinkles and grey hair.  To them, this is all part of a person they love very much.  To them, these things are all beautiful and fun.  Children see the INNER beauty shine through these beautiful characteristics that make us who we are. Children are not naturally judgemental.

I’ve had my children mention my “imperfections” to me as something they adore.
“Mommy, your tummy is nice and fluffy”
“Mommy, why do you put makeup on?  You look prettier without it.”
And my favorite…
“Mommy, I love you!”
They see the extra hugs and cuddles should they have a nightmare.  They see the smile when they look over for approval.  They hear my encouragement, my teaching, my singing, my laughter, and my love.  They see me making them meals and washing their clothes with a positive attitude.  They notice the good and not the bad.

Over the years, I’ve made a point to say positive things about myself in front of my children.  If I should look in the mirror and not like what I see, I make sure to say something positive out loud.  Instead of criticizing myself over my “imperfections”, I say “Look at my beeeautiful body!”  I usually say it in a silly voice with a little wiggle.  My children laugh and smile.  Instead of feeling down about myself, I too feel better and happier with who I am.

Seeing myself in pictures is not always easy.  I can see the things that make me look older as glaring reminders that I’m no longer young.  I resist the urge to edit these away with my awesome photo editing skills.  I don’t want my children to look back and see a perfectly retouched and unrealistic Mom.  I want them to see me as I am.  Hopefully, someday when they’re older, should they struggle with the same negative thoughts, they might look at a picture of me at their age and see that I’m not perfect either and hopefully it will make them feel better.

Do you hop in portraits with your children?  Do you have any pictures of you and your mother?

*Although this is a mother/daughter project, anyone can join in.  This can be a father/son, father/daughter, mother/son or other project.  If you don’t have a child, you can use your parent.  If you are away from your parent or child, you could use this as an opportunity to photograph what the parent/child relationship means to you.

Here are a few silly outtakes of our photo shoot.

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Next Week: 52 Project, Week 11: Art
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