I DID IT!!!!

(my feet after running in my new RUNNING socks~thanks Aunt Mary)

OK I'm really sorry you have to hear about all the piddly things! But I am so excited about this I just have to share. Even though I've been running since the
1st of the year, I've been running with week 1 of the Couch to 5K program b/c of one reason or the other. I finally got week 2 load onto the mp3 player last week, then of course it was rainy and cold, so I took the week off. So Monday we were back at it and my run TOTALLY sucked~out of 6 running intervals (I thought it was only 4, but it was 6) I only made 2~2! that's not even enough to consider a run! Seriously~how pathetic am I?

So we went back to the track today & I was DETERMINED to make all of the intervals because I wanted to have something to tell~so I pushed myself through each one & I made it. It sure wasn't easy & I hope that Friday is much easier!

I was so excited when I finished!

YAY!!!!

SPT (She Photographs on Tuesday)

Yeah I know I'm a little behind~I'm doing this week's SPT first then I'll go back and do last weeks maybe this weekend

Here's the challenage:

we fill our hours with things we need to do, and balance those with things we want to do. quite often, there are the things that go undone: the pile of laundry that waits another day, the good mail that rattles around the back seat of the car, the chapter that goes unread... how often do we bump the fun-for-me stuff in order to make time for everything else?

but what if there was a way to do it all? what if there was a twenty-fifth hour of the day, an hour all to yourself! no commitments, no distractions, no need to sleep. what would you do?

The thing I would do if I had 25th hour~would be to READ! I used to love to read as a child but as I've grown up (if that's what you call it~haha) there is less time to read~But I just finished this book





and I'm getting ready to read this book



A lady at church is putting together a book club & this is the choice for February. I don't know if I normally would just pick up this book but Rachella said it was a great book & since I want to be part of the book club I'll be reading it. I'm excited that Mona is getting this book club together because now I'll have an excuse to read!

I have issues I know...

I was stalking my favorite blog

Kristi

and found this

Marathon Mommy

& commited to running 5 miles between me & tyson on saturday!

I'll let you know how it goes!

Just to Share

I really enjoyed watching these two videos & thought I would pass them along to share.

Oh I am such a SLACKER~

I've forgotten to do my SPT for this last week & now there's a new one~so now I'm 2 behind! UGH!!!!! I will have to catch up this week!

~Sad News~:(

Gordon B. Hinckley

Our beloved prophet has passed away this evening. I will miss hearing his entertaining stories & his great sense of humor.

My friend Rachella is BRILLIANT I tell ya...

BRILLIANT!!!! I was at home one day and she called to see what I was doing for a gift for a baby shower for our bishop's wife~of course you know me~the shower is tomorrow night so last week I hadn't worried about it. Rachella asked if I wanted to go in together to make a diaper cake~sure sounds like a great idea! So we got the stuff together over the weekend & here's the result



(& we were very frugal in getting our supplies!) I'm sold on these now! What an impressive gift! Thanks Rachella for putting it together~you did a wonderful job!

~Sad News~:(

The weather has been so yucky here & the kids are getting sick, so I haven't been able to run any this week! I was so excited to start week 2 of my training. (I've been running for 3 weeks but I've stayed on week 1 b/c I was afraid to move on, & then I couldn't get it downloaded to my mp3). I sure hope Monday brings some sunshine! I am thinking about doing my Walk Away the Pounds video this evening so I can get some kind of exercise in this week!

More Good Mail...

So today I opened my mailbox (why that is my highlight of my day, when all I ever get is bills, I have no idea) I saw this yellow package



from Amazon~I KNEW I didn't order anything then I started thinking it must be something I ordered for Christmas & didn't get.

So when I got inside & opened the package, it was this book



It was from my Aunt Franci~my aunts really love me! I love being spoiled! This book has got to be the funniest book I've ever read. The lady who wrote it has a great sense of humor & I can't wait to get through it.

Thanks Aunt Franci!

~GRADUATED~

The other day I was at school and Mrs. J came by and said that Jed's teacher, Mrs. A, was going to have Jed released from Mrs. J's Reading Recovery class. I was shocked because I didn't really think he was ready. Mrs. J has been such a great blessing in our lives this year b/c she has really worked with Jed to get him on level in reading. She has helped Jed SO much this year! I could go on and on about her & what a blessing she has been in our lives, but I tend to get emotional when I talk about it so I'll just leave you with this picture!



(OK I have no clue why Jed has that crazy look on his face! I told him to smile & that's what I got!)

My Mailbox has been ROCKIN!!!!

So the other day I received a package from my aunt mary~I knew she was sending something running related but had no clue what~so when I got the package I was so excited with the contents...



there were some cool running socks, a new pedometer(I was just looking at these the other day at walmart~glad I resisted the temptation~) & some blister dressings! Aunt Mary said she hoped I didn't need the blister dressing & hopefully I won't but if I do~I'm prepared!

Thanks so much Aunt Mary!

*DELETED*

I was messing around with my blog and accidently deleted my blog roll to the right. If you were on there, please let me know & I'll get you back on there. If you weren't on there & I need to put you on, let me know & I'll add you!

Oh and I do have some posts coming up, but I'm not sure when I'll get them going! It's going to be a crazy week!

This week's *SPT*

So this weeks *SPT* from Lelly was

is there a part of you, a part of your home, a part of your creativity that gets more attention from you than anything else? when you look at your reflection, do you automatically zoom in on a feature you love or you loathe? when you are in your creative space, is there one project that gets your attention before all the others?

I have thought about this all week. I have thought "hum, I'm not very creative" then I went back and re-read the challenage & I started thinking

This is the part of me that gets more attention than anything else



Yep, My kiddos! I spend my most of my day making sure they are safe & taken care of. Anyone with kids knows they take up most of your every waking moment. As long as they are happy, I'm happy. I don't think that's neccessarily a bad thing if there are some limits. My kids don't have the newest things out on the shelves & they don't have designer clothes BUT they are happy with what they have.

I worried on Christmas Eve that they wouldn't be happy with what they got from Santa & Tyson kept telling me it would be fine. um, I haven't heard one complain from any of them about what they got & they are still playing with it. That makes me happy.

So while I love my kiddos, I've decided that this year is going to be about ME! So I have made the commitment to run a 5K this year & actually so far I've been running for 3 weeks. I've decided that just because I'm a mommy doesn't mean I have to let myself go! I'm excited for this year & I hope to make it the very best yet!

So I hope this makes a little sense & doesn't come across as just rambling! haha

I'll be back...

Sorry I haven't updated lately it's been a crazy busy few days. I'll play catch up soon I promise!

Wednesday 1-9-08 POTD

I've been meaning to blog about this for a couple of months now & kept leaving this cup at school. My cousin's little girl~her teacher at school makes these "Cute Cups" I just love it and get so many compliments when I have it at school! Thanks LaNan & Alayna! I love my "Cute Cup" I guess I should explain~It's a insert that has my name on it.

POTD 1-8-08

Haha you thought I forgot huh?



This evening we were going to pick up Heather & Caroline starts crying and telling me "I want to go eat chicken at the place with a man with the head big like ours."

So among the crying fit I got the chicken part~but the man with the head big like ours? I beg to differ my sweet darling~I don't have a big head. So I answered "Chicken Express?" and she said "No!" and she repeated her request.

So I began to think of all the chicken places in town~finally I realized she was talking about KFC. I think we've only ever eaten there once or twice in her lifetime! But all the kids ate I what I bought them. It might be a better alternative to McDonald's & Chick-fil-a!

~S.E.R.I.O.U.S.L.Y.~

what is was this girl thinking?

well, don't answer that b/c i know she wasn't!

things that make you go hummmmmm

Just another Manic Monday...

today was a rough day! It's always hard to go back to school after a long break! I felt like I had been hit by a MACK truck! The actual day wasn't that bad it was just the getting up and moving part of the day!

I had my second wind by the time I got home. Tyson was cleaned out the garage when I got home, so I had to help save some of my stuff he thought was trash! haha It really does look better in there & he might be selling the pony at the end of the month, so if he does I have dibs on parking in the garage. haha

I got ready to go running and Tyson & the kids decided to go with me. We went to the school and ran on the track! It was much easier than running on the road. I feel so accomplished when I exercise! I was so proud to say I was exercising when several people mentioned they saw me running in the neighborhood. The kids PE coach told me it would be better to run on the school track b/c it wouldn't be so hard on my shins! I really enjoyed my run today! (WOW!!! I NEVER thought I would say that in my lifetime!)

I had 2 options for POTD, so I'll post both of them.




This is how we spend most of our evenings in the 4th grade! We jump for joy when it's benchmark time or a field trip day! We have hours of math homework nightly.




So my darling husband asked why I was taking a picture of Heather and I explained to him about the POTD & he said "you need to take a picture of me doing the dishes" He is right~this definitely doesn't happen very often so I had to capture the shot! Matter of fact, I bet when I look back on this I'll remember it being the last time he did the dishes.


I hope everyone is having a great week!

POTD 1-6-08

I know I'm getting pretty desperate huh?

I'm trying to be better about my laundry & keeping up with it. I did a couple of loads today & I'm happy to report that they are folded and ready to be put away.

I have no clue why we have more laundry than any other creature on earth~any one have an explanation to offer? Or a method to help me stay on top of it better?

Room of the Month

I was thinking the other day that I could pick one room a month to concentrate on decorating this year. So the first room I'm going to pick is Jed's room. I just have 2 more things to do in there so I can call it finished. I need to write his name on his wall with the rope I bought. I can see this in my mind but haven't gotten it up yet. And he needs a new curtain for his window. I also need to scrub the baseboards & I keep telling the kids I'm going to make them do this but we haven't done it yet. So the room for January is Jed's room~I'll have a picture posted by the end of the month.

SPT (She Photographs on Tuesday)

You should check out Lelly's blog and join in the SPT's she does.

One of my resolutions was to participate in these each week.

Here's the challenage

stop for a minute and take a self-portrait, a snapshot of you in the here and now. what ARE your dreams and goals for 2008? what is your word? what are you thinking about right now as we plunge head-first into the new year?




Here are a few of my goals for 2008:

make a life list
run a 5K
save $100 each month
read the Book of Mormon
spend more quality time with family
Finish decorating my house

Of course I have tons more things I want to accomplish in 2008. I have decided that '08 was going to be MY year! I want to make a difference somewhere whether it be with myself or other people or both. I already feel better about this year and it's only day 5. I haven't thought of a word yet~mainly b/c I can't decide on one. If you have any suggestions, please post them! I've thought of lots of them but can't think of one thing I want to focus on ya know.

POTD 1-4-08

I didn't get my picture posted yesterday but this is what I got



A MAGIC TRASH CAN!!!

It matches my kitchen and it looks much prettier than the old one I have. Thanks mom & LaNan!

POTD 1-3-2008

I was super busy today and already thought I had a picture in mind to take for today, but when I got home I found this surprise in my email.

Congratulations! You have been selected as a tentative recipient of a Target Field Trip Grant. A letter and instructions are being mailed to you at the home address provided in your application. Please review the information, follow the instructions and return the verification form by the required deadline. Provided verification requirements are met, a check will be mailed to you in February.

We were given the information to apply for a Target Field Trip Grant at school. I decided 2nd grade should apply for it, even though I knew it was probably impossible to get. My co-worker, Michele, helped me get the application filled out and I sent it in. I didn't think we would ever get it in a million years~I've never tried for anything like this & I'm so excited! If we get the full award it will be $1000 for our grade level to go on a field trip! WOO-HOO!!!!

Roller Rink Queen (AKA Photo of the Day)

I used to beg my parents to take me skating every weekend. I wanted to be so cool and wear the referee shirt and skate fast and blow a whistle at the bad kids. I remember going over the humps at the skating rink, but dang I can't remember the name of the place.

So today I took the girls skating. I decided to put on a pair myself. I didn't make it out running b/c it was too cold (i'm a whimp) but I roller skated for about 1 1/2 hours so that counts for something right.

Here's my POTD


My skates It's the best picture i could get of myself.




Heather & Alayna

Alayna didn't want to leave when it was time to go. She never came off the floor she was getting pretty good by the time we left. I think she had a good time.


Caroline & Abby

This is Caroline's friend from preschool. We don't get to see her much anymore but her mom called this morning to see if Caroline could come play tomorrow and we were talking and we were both going skating. Caroline was so excited to see her friend. Caroline enjoyed skating today too~the first time. She skated the whole time. When they turned out the lights and turned on the disco ball she said what's happening? It was so funny.

We had a great day!

This is probably the...

funniest thing I've see in a long time.

*DO NOT READ THE SIDEBAR~it's not the funny part* You need to look at the pictures and the comments.

ENJOY!

OLAN MILLS PICTURES

PHOTO A DAY

My friend Rachella challenaged everyone on her blog to do a photo a day. I thought hum, I could probably do this.

So here's my photo for today



you might wonder why I am photographing my car. when I bought it 2 years ago my aunt franci told me how much I would love it I think her exact words were something like "it's like a love affair with your car" of course I laughed and thought I don't know if I believe that but it REALLY is.

I have been thinking lately about trading my car in for something cheaper because I'm into saving every penny and getting things paid off BUT here's my problem....I can't think of anything I would rather drive. I know my suburban is going to be with me for a long time~my plan is at least 10 years. So I've got another 8 years with it.

I spent a good part of my day in my beloved car b/c I went to meet my cousin so we could trade kids. I love it. It doesn't have all the bells & whistles and it costs a fortune to fill up but I do enjoy driving it. I still can't park it very good.

Next year it will sit mostly in my driveway b/c me & all 3 kids will be at the same school. I will have no reason to drive it. I'll be sad BUT I'll save on gas.

So there's my photo for 1-1-08.

New Years Eve 2007

Last night we went to our friends the Adams house. We mostly just visited while the kids played & Ted bought some fireworks so we did those too.

Kasi & I painted the girls nails & her little boy walker wanted to be right in the middle of what they were doing so he was the make up artist. We laughed all night because of him. He went from being makeup artist, to playing baseball on the wii to dressing up in his brothers football clothes. We told his dad he needed to spend more quality time with him this next year!





Kasi was also Caroline's Sunbeam teacher this past year. Caroline just loves her (so do we!) She has been such a blessing in Caroline's life this year & we appreciate everything she's done for her!

Christmas Dinner

Our family tradition is to have a Christmas breakfast~of course our little family goes to the local IHOP for our breakfast. Tyson decided we needed to have Christmas dinner so I told him he was responisble for taking care of it. Here's what he fixed


Ham & Sweet Potatoes


green beans, fruit salad, cranberry sauce, corn


stuffing
and we had some brown and serve rolls. It was good but since he was the only one that liked most of it he ended up taking the leftovers to work the next day.