Dogs + Snow

Saturday the sun came out for the first in what felt like a week so I took the dogs to the other property for some more room to run.  This is usually Tim's treat for them but he was still in Oklahoma on his guys' weekend hot hunt & they needed to burn some energy. I was sooooooo glad I went, it was awesome to get out, get some fresh air & soak up some sunshine.  I should remember (but I don't) how much I love getting out, how much better I feel & how calming it is for my soul & just go every chance I get. Sometimes that first step is the hardest.

then we came home & snuggled on the couch :)

December Daily update

Day 6: should have been the Preschool Christmas program in which I had 4 childcare kids & 2 cousins but I begged out & stayed home for the first evening of the week- so I will plug something random in-probably something Kora related. or maybe the visit to Santa I got to accompany part of the neices & nephew on the week before.
Day 7: Kora became ours officially . (gee, I feel like this is turning into Kora's baby book...)
Day 8: was a pretty random day in itself, I did take a picture of some ornaments I filled w/pretty scrapbook supplies I no longer use: 4 boxes of glass tree bulbs + basket of variety of crafty goodies=simple gifts
Day 9: random plug in
Day 10: collage photo of Kora sleeping w/different childcare kids at nap time
Day 11:random plug in
Day 12: (12/12/12) the amazing weather we are being blessed w/in December that we can go out to play.

what I love about this book is that it doesn't have to be activities on that day that are scrapped on that page.  they can be anything I want it to be. perfect for the perfectionist in me that would get hung up on the little details :)

December Daily update

Dec 1 will have no photos to include as my 2 month old good camera decided not to work :( BUT I attended my first Relay for Life mini-Summit in Des Moines & scrapped w/family & friends in the afternoon/evening! so probably just memorabilia
Dec 2 will be photo less unless I fudge & use a Christmas picture of my mother in law we took out to lunch for her Monday birthday. w/the business card I picked up from the restaurant.

<~~~ Dec 3 I attended one of many Christmas programs in the evening (ignore the date on the photo, its set wrong) after Tim brought home an early gift, a PUPPY!!!!! her name was Dora but we changed it to Kora. :) LOVE HER!!!! ~~~>

Dec 4 will probably center around Kora's first day in childcare
Dec 5 will probably be about Kora & Sammy bonding(photo on right) & Honey (the cat) resisting at all cost ;)  & maybe some mention (& receipts) that today is the day I sent my camera to TX for repair.

NOW! to get my body in there (between potty trips for Kora) & get some pages scrapped!

Gratitude November 3

I am so grateful for these 2 guys.  they both provide more care than I could ever imagine

a doggie door

Once I found out there was a way to get a doggie door for our sliding glass door, I was on a mission to then find one we could afford.  When we found out we were getting tax return back this year, it got bumped to the top of the list & Tim started researching also.  The places I found that were local-ish, made in the USA, & boasted a good bug guard online, had all gone out of business or no longer carried what we needed-go figure.  So we went with the best site Tim found, their mid-grade door.  When it arrived it felt like Christmas to me!  I think the fed-ex man thought I had lost my mind as I was truely jumping up & down clapping my hands after I read the box LOL  this ~~~~~~~> is the pic I sent to Tim & other friends via text as soonas I got it up the stairs :)

That night I had to work at Pizza Hut & fully expected Tim to wait until the following evening when I'd be home to help.  But when I got home after 10 that night, this <~~~~~~~~ is what I found in the dining room.  it is so rad! I have no idea how we lived with out it! No more worrying about not getting him to the door in time, or needing to be home in time from an outing.  Sam even loves it!

view from the outside<~~~~~~~~~~~~  Honey the cat isn't quite determined enough to put enough pressure to try it but he will dart the opposite way Sam is going while Sam has it open, pretty clever, I'd say.  It has taken a couple of weeks to get used to the sound it makes as it swings & crosses the magnet & remind myself of what it is when I hear it.  It is quickly becoming like the sound of the sump pump, a sound of security. 

We just need to beef up the weather stripping before the bugs get much worse, then we will be all set!  its so funny how the definition of happy changes with age :)

4 on Friday the 4th

1. The local dime store has their fabric on sale tomorrow .. 60% off! I am going to buy my kitchen curtain fabrics. I have no idea of a pattern, or the amount of fabric to get but I am just going to wing it & make do :) I can do that, right?!

ok, so I would love something like this, only less colorful.

and will probably end up w/something like this in different colors/patterns, wish me luck. 

ALL HELP & SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!! :)

2. That leads to the repair of my sewing machine cord that was partially chewed through by Sammy in the early days. Which we really can't complain about b/c he's only chewed up 3 important things, all being cords, & not getting entirely through any of them.

3. With a messed up week I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO thankful its Friday!!  Monday the kids went all day even tho we started to get our blizzard, Tuesday & Wednesday they were out, yesterday they had a 2 hour delay & today back to normal. This is all fine & good but the littles are ALLLLL messed up not knowing who will be here on what days. TOday was icky grouchy crazy day & they sucked me in no matter what I did & how hard I tried to fight it! BLECK. early lunch, early nap *silence*

4. Scrapping!! I am so excited to be having company tomorrow morning to scrap! Scrapping is a therapy to me & I am happy to share it w/others that may also benefit from it. As well as get their child's books caught up :) 

What are your weekend plans? anything exciting?

CHECK

something I never thought would be anywhere close to  my bucket list, has been checked off! Hello, I did my first 5k on Saturday & am ready to sign up for another in 2 weeks. :) I finished my first in 34:something. much better than any of my practice runs.  I am pretty happy about that especially since I had to stop & walk twice.  & then the only soreness I had on Sunday was my back & I am blaming the cool/dampness for that as I kept catching myself w/my 'shoulders around my ears' & consiously relaxing my back/shoulders/neck. but obviously I was more tense than not :)

what a crazy rollar coaster weekend!!  6 y/o bday party, Grand parents' anniversary, funeral visitation for a man leaving way too early & a fundraiser for a 5 y/o girl diagnosed w/bcell luekemia. Wow. Glad I had the run to let some of this out of my brain.  I definately used yesterday's outing to release some too.

not a single photo from the entire weekend! Wow.
This week is another busy one. puppy class, dart league, scrap pink prep, scrap pink set up, scrap pink event.  Wishing you & yours a good one!!!

Have a good Weekend!!!

can you tell how much he's grown in a month??

just had to share..  :)  have a great weekend!!

a weekend report:

it may have started out rough:



we threw stuff together like we weren't planning to go

we left later than usual

we went to a different lake than our normal

we didn't have the whole crew

we got POURED on most of Friday evening

we had to go to town @9 for supper

& dumped a ton of money on a meal we weren't planning to

we (I) misinterpreted the coverage of the rainfly & had a wet air mattress when we got back

we lived thru some nasty winds thru the night

but turned out fabulous:

• I did my w4d2 run Saturday morning around the camp ground
• we were joined by 2 families Saturday
• and 1 on Sunday
• we had gorgeous weather both days
• tried 2 new recipes in Hupp & Lauren's new dutch oven
• no one sick
• no one  got hurt
• the water was amazing
• sammy swam (in his lifejacket of course) & boated like a champ
• we were home @ a decent time Sunday
• everything was unloaded & unpacked b4 8pm Sunday

a late one.

What a busy day! We got to go see Toy Story 3 @ the local theater @ a special viewing. Great movie!! I can't wait to get it so I can see the end b/c I as in the bathroom w/8 kids that swore they 'couldn't hold it any longer' so actually, none of them know how it ends LOL  Then we went home to run in teh sprinkler while I prepped a fun lunch.  A wonderful busy day! Then 3 left early!!!  I had an interview for a family to start this fall that I will have to think about.  Oh yea & we had a 118 heat index too. hoping some of these storms roll thru tonight & cool us off! we will need outside time tomorrow!! :)

For supper we enjoyed some Iowa grown Peaches & Cream sweet corn from the local Farmer's Market. YUMMMM w/homemade mac n cheese & cheesy hotdogs. not entirely healthy but quick & yummy.  Then I had a chiro appt. WOW! I mentioned I was running & that I thought I was throwing a leg out & sure enough, that hip was out, also the same foot the PF was threatening again! hmmmm connection?? my back was out in 3 places & my neck was also out both directions!! EEK!!!

Then I cam home & I did my w3d1 work out on the treadmill in the a/c due to that heat index.  I am so proud to report that I DID IT!!! I DID THE WHOLE THING!! I AM NOT A RUNNER BUT I LOVED IT!!!  w3= 5 minute warm up walk followed by 90 sec run, 90 sec walk, 3MIN run, 3 min walk, repeat then follow w/a 5 min cool down walk. I managed 1.35 mile in 25 minutes.

After cooling down from that Gus wasn't settling so I took him for a short walk to the garden &  back. Sam layed on the guilt trip waiting on us on his chain when we got back so I dropped Gus off, took Sam.  I intended to just walk our normal .5 mile route but sprinted from home to the corner (1/2 block) then walked a bit, then did antother short sprint, then walked a ways, & another short sprint, & walked the last of it home.  I can't believe *I* am sprinting! *I* am not a runner! :) Guess what?! I think I am!!

I am pretty confident we will all sleep well tonight, hoping for all night long!!!  I think I need to find some protein snacks to follow up my work outs w/.  Any suggestions??
Thanks for reading!

I DID IT!!!!!!!

I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT!!! I DID week 2 day 1 of the couch to 5k program w/o puking or dying :) 

I was terrified of it & even considered doing week 1 again just to 'be sure I was ready to move on' b4 I took the chance of failing. but Brook (thank you!!!) talked me into just going ahead & 'not looking back'.  I am feeling slow, awkward & uncoordinated but I think I should pull out of that w/some more practice! needing some core exercises to do tonight I think. Maybe some gardening ;)

I joined The Daily Mile to have some place else to be accountable to. I was happy to see a lot of the sisters there from the 'hood! Great motivation!! 

for my Thankful Thursday thoughts I am thankful for the support & motivation of the girls @ the hood in getting me moving!!! thanks ladies!!! I really couldn't have done it w/o you!!!

We are discussing skipping the lake this weekend. The Sam-Man  is needing a bigger kennel & I am itching to get inside a real running store so I think that will be our Saturday plans. I have a wish list I'd like to set up as rewards for different levels of training I achieve between now & September.

For now we are headed out the door to the Library story hour!  Have a Great Thankful Thursday!!!

Hello Monday.

I almost welcome you.  Our camping weekend got off to a rocky start & then had to end early :(  we had truck trouble on the way & luckily got rescued by some friends w/parts that were behind us an hour :)  then I got sick on Saturday so we packed up &  came home. poo! I was so miserable I really didn't care much tho.  Tim was even a bit ticked that I was willing & trying to tough it out. by suppertime last night I was all better. back to routine today!! the truck is unloaded, laundry is going, the kids are kickin, & the sun is shinin :)  lots of ingredients for a great start to the week!!

I only took 3 usable photos all weekend. Definatly a sign I felt like poo! :) but Sammy camped & boated like a champ!! he even got in for a couple of swims w/us!

More later.. off & running!!!

Hump Day=Helper Day :)

I am looking fwd to having that second set of hands, eyes & ears today!
I am looking fwd to getting to go for a walk-if the stroller isn't too wet from the rain overnight.
I am looking fwd to going thru the camping things tonight to get ready for the weekend.
I am looking fwd to trying my hand @ juicing berries for jam.
I am looking fwd to the Craft Day @ East Lake Park on Friday.
I am looking fwd to the weekend @ the lake.

I didn't even think about getting on the scale today.
I just totally forgot. Definately not intentional. but thankful I did not sure I could handle weighing in today the way I feel.
I had a good training last night on getting more fruits & veggies in the KIDS' diets. perfect timing for my life!
I think I am doing a good job of juggling the summer school, swim lessons, alternating parent visits,  along w/all of our childcare activities so far but we are only a month into summer vacation.
I am sick of the rain! hoping for a puddle stomping walk this morning!!

how about some father's day pics..

Sammy's first outing w/my family.

the boys 'haulin hay'.

 Mattie 'leading' Lady.
            Deep convers- ations.
old toys made new from a garage sale.
     cups w/name plates! loooove

croquet anyone??
mmmmmm chicken & shrimp on the fire!

Great night w/family!!!

Happy Hump Day!!

And so far its a good one!!! :) 

First: Sammy Slept All Night!!! hip hip hooooray!!!  Gus didn't but that's ok b/c he goes right back to sleep.. Sammy wants to stay up & play.

Second: I weighed in today @ the same thing I've been weighing for 3? weeks! time to get consistant w/the exercise!!!!!!!!

Third: speeking of exercise... last night I took both dogs for .5 mile walk then headed out on my own quiet mile. I decided to walk their .5 mile in reverse so I'd do the majority of the walk w/the sun in my face. GLORIOUS!!!  I ended up doing 2 full miles in total last night then came home& ran the north stretch of fence w/Sammy 6 times :) hmmmm maybe that's why he slept so well LOL

Fourth: I picked lettuce from my own garden last night! WOW!!!!!!! I washed it up & its chilling for lunch YUMMMMMM

Fifth: THE SUN IS SHINING so we are planning to walk this morning & probably play on the elementary school playground! YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Sixth: first childcare event on Friday.. a bit nervous! but more excited :)

Seventh: crazy Saturday planned... City Wide Garage Sales, Farmer's Market, canning class in WDM, Sammy's puppy check up, father's day bonfire/weinie roast @ mom's for supper, birthday party invite to the south, wanting to visit friends & socialize the pups. thinking Sunday will be a big ole nappin day :)

offfffffffffffffffffffffff weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee goooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

Sammy

Did I tell you we met this lil guy on Wednesday of last week??? 

FELL IN LOVE. *sigh* puppy love.

Friday night we brought him home, named him Sammy, and introduced him to Gus (our 14 y/o deaf & blind boston terrier) & Honey(our 7 y/o in.de.pen.dant. cat). 

  Over the weekend we have worked on:

1. territory-- that its all Gus's, you are welcome to share but Gus is not about to be able to defend his territory so we are acting on his behalf
2. pottying outside--every time, even if it is every 1.5 hr.
3. walking on lead--seriously already :)
4. fetch, bring it & leave it--he's super smart & beginning to pick up on all of this already! crazy smart dog :)
5. road trips--dogs ride in the back seat. he did great on his first trip to the lake. this is him crashed w/his head behind the console & snuggled w/the back end of Gus.
6. drinking from water puddles sometimes results in a bath
7. there are kids downstairs some days & he'll get to play w/them sometimes but when he gets sleepy, he'll have to go back to his kennel. 

8.  Mostly, remembering that he's a baby--albeit a very smart one, but still a baby learning so much every minute of every day!

Wishing you a great day :)