CowTown

Just got back from the CowTown Marathon in Fort Worth where my "superhuman" (according to my brother) hubby placed 3rd. Despite his hacking cough, lack of training for the last week, and running in the wrong shoes which gave him blisters... he somehow managed to limp in at a 2:42 time. Um amazing! What's more amazing, he is disappointed with his time. Never pleased never pleased.

I for one was actually so proud i was moved to tears but in my attempt to push past the millions of people so i could congratulate my hubby i got pushed and shoved so much that my emotions quickly shifted to that of an annoyed prego lady. I gave up defeated and returned to my cheering section only to be reunited with Daniel a half hour later. Ya i'm a quitter, thus no marathon for me. (Other than the fact that i despise running and would literally die if I ever attempted such a feat).

I seriously took no pictures. Oops. My brother-in-law, friend, father-in-law (half), and niece(5K) ran as well. Runners are a crazy breed but still inspiring to watch.

The cheer squad in 40 degree weather (yes that is cold for a Texan)

OH and just in case you think its lame that i didn't run...listen to this. While wearing a giant ski coat, and bulging backpack I managed to squeeze my huge prego belly into a Port-O-Potty with Kolby, lift him up with one arm so he could do his business, lift my bag with the other arm to keep it from falling in other people's business, and hold my breath from the urinal filled with vomit and snot that only a runner can produce. Ta da!

Better late than never...

My goal was to finish my Personal Progress before i had the baby but who knew I'd end up getting released so soon. SO unfortunately i didn't finish before i left the YWs program but I stayed up late last night finally finishing the Book of Mormon, the last thing on my list. I am so glad that i did. I suppose it doesn't really matter when i finished because i still feel like a better person after it all, just medallion-less and like i didn't get to inspire my girls... oh well better late than never!

Here's some of my fav projects/experiences:

1. Developed much needed budgeting skills thanks to my hubby and Dave Ramsey:) WE payed off my student loan, we now sit down twice a month to review our budget and i pay for all groceries with cash. 2. Created an interactive bulletin board for the Bishop with worksheets and quotes to strengthen families.

3. Stole this fabulous idea from a friend's bridal shower. I made a family tree for my mother-in-law.

4. And probably my very fav was making this 80pg blurb book of photos and letters for my in-laws'40th wedding anniversary party.

Come What May and Love It (or Cry Trying)

Thought it was appropriate that this talk happened to be playing in the car as i drove home from church today.

I got released from YW today.

I knew it was coming... i had weeks to feel sorry for myself. I don't think i've had a calling yet where i was so depressed to be released from. I had several break downs already about it. We're talking really ugly cry in the Bishop's office trying to convince him that I could still handle being in YWs with Daniel in YMs and having a baby in May. Daniel got called to be scout master last week. Ya i may have had a small cry session over that one too. I felt like all the people i loved were being taken away from me, first my hubby then the girls that i loved and of course the leaders whom I've grown so attached to. Mostly though i just loved serving and feeling needed.

In my head i was thinking i'd be all alone with my soon to be 3 kiddos and feeling completely useless.

I told the Bishop and the Lord that I'd do whatever was asked of me despite my uncontrollable emotions. Luckily as always the Lord obviously knows better than me and I am learning to let go of my will to accept His more readily.

I actually got a new calling today already. I now teach the 16-18yr old class...and basically they are awesome! I love them already!

I'm certain that life will continue to throw curves and changes are bound to happen. I just hope that next time I can say come what may and love it even sooner and perhaps with less tears:)

Tree-hugger-wanna-be

In 3rd grade my BF and I watched Ferngully and became obesessed with saving the rainforest. We even held our own art gallery hoping to sell our paintings of the rainforest and donate the profits. Who knows how many trees they had to cut down to supply our reams of paper.

********************************************************** When i was in the 4th grade i ran for student council vice president and won it with an amazing new concept as my platform, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". I was very passionate about saving the planet or at least getting to get out of class for special student council meetings.

********************************************************** I moved to the Northwest the June before 7th grade and could be seen sporting my "Save the Whales" t-shirt throughout the summer. yes, its true i couldn't help it i was surrounded my tree-huggers.

********************************************************* Don't get me wrong, I love the environment but somewhere between childhood and motherhood I went from caring about the world to caring about MY WORLD. ********************************************************** I don't even own a recycling bin...shameful. Much to my father's dismay (he lives in Seattle and works in Prtland so i can't blame him) I go through the drive through at the bank...thus creating my very own hole in the ozone. I buy and will continue to buy disposable diapers because frankly i am lazy. To top it all off, yesterday i got rid of my house plants once and for all. Did i feel slightly like the bad construction men on Ferngully? perhaps. Then again, now i don't have to worry about watering them or sweeping up the dirt that every child seems drawn to upon entering my house. ********************************************************** So i suppose i am all for saving the rainforest, the whales, and the planet....just not the house plants:)

Valentine's, Vomit, and a Valuable Player

Whew! what a weekend. don't know what's up with my alliteration today, i promise i will stop.

Friday Kolby and Olivia had a preschool Valentine party. It was adorable!

Friday night Daniel and i stayed up til 4:30am painting our bedroom. Its finished hallelujah!Pictures of that project to come later...

Saturday we took Kolbs to his 1st T-ball practice. I totally felt like a dorky parent snapping these photos but what can i say, he's my first:) Oh and i even managed to catch a shot of him doing what baseball players do best...He's definitely gonna be {most} Valuable Player this season :)

Saturday night we decided to take the kids out to eat with us. We had just ordered our appetizer when Olivia decided to do the gallon challenge, (well for a 2 year old it was more like the sippy cup challenge) and chugged her entire cup of chocolate milk. 2 seconds later vomit was everywhere! I'm trying to catch it in my hands and asking Daniel to give me napkins while he stares at me amazed and in shock. Not exactly how we pictured our Valentine Dinner for sure. He rushed her to the restroom while i used every napkin and wet wipe to clean it all up, then i shoved them all in a ziplock baggie and used a generous amount of hand sanitizer before all the people in the restaurant with nothing better to do than stare at me threw up all their food as well. We left with a bag full of to-go boxes, a naked girl wrapped in daniel's coat, and absolutely no dignity.

Saturday night we stayed up til 2:30am moving and organizing all of our things downstairs. I think i now have 4 bags for good will and i sure hope the trashman comes soon bc i'm starting to build my own dump next to the garage. It was a ton of work but seriously the best Valentine present ever to have a spotless, romantic, highly organized, brand-spankin'-new bedroom.

i love it!

Sunday- Daniel made us the most delicious sour-cream pancakes for breakfast! mmmmm. He really knows how to woo me, a clean house and yummy food, what more could a girl ask for?

Hope y'all had a wonderful Valentine's weekend!

Does my heart good

I have been a wee obsessed with cleaning lately. I realize that my obsessive behavior is likely to be normal housewives reality but I usually despise cleaning. I have been bleaching my tub, washing windows and yes even putting my laundry away! gulp! That's when you know I'm not quite myself. However all this new cleaning as well as the current painting and organizing projects are taking a toll on my body. I am exhausted and sore by the end of each day. The other day i took the car in for an oil change, state inspection, car wash and interior cleaning. Even though i actually sat on my bum while those marvelous people did all the work for some reason I feel quite accomplished. funny. It seriously does my heart good to watch other people lean over my car and bend down to scrub every detail while i enjoy some favreds Starbursts. I've come to the conclusion that i actually feel even more giddy and spoiled watching someone else clean for me than i would about a day at the spa. Hmm how long does this nesting period last? I'm scaring myself.

Are ya ach'n (yup yup) for some bacon?

This weekend was all about food. Being the chubby prego mama that I am...basically the best weekend ever:)

It started out with me hosting recipe club. I am lame and took zilch pictures. This month's theme was "A recipe i'm in LOVE with". It was so great to hang out with friends and everyone brought such delicious food! I stole a recipe from my mother/father (my dad thinks he pretty much invented it bc he thought of adding brown sugar).

They were bacon-wrapped pineapple appetizers. Seriously, yum!

1 can (8 oz) pineapple chunks in juice, drained (reserve 3 TB juice) 2 TB soy sauce ¼ tsp ground ginger Dash garlic powder Thin bacon slices, cut in half 1/8 cup brown sugar

Combine all the ingredients except bacon and pineapple in small bowl Marinade pineapple for 1 – 2 hours

Drain marinade Wrap a piece of bacon around each chunk Secure with toothpick Bake in oven at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes

Then Saturday night was "A night in paradise" hosted by mark and rosie. They throw a valentine party every year where we always eat the most amazing food and then laugh ourselves sick playing a newlywed game. I so wish I would have been able to fit even more food in my belly but alas the baby was taking up too much room. Daniel and I ended up actually winning the game this year! Whoohoo. I swear I'm not competitive:)

and on a side note...I've been noticing that my face is getting super chubby in photos. Why did no one tell me this before? oh well, What did I expect when i eat all weekend long? :)

"he's a big pig, you can be a big pig too! oiy!"

Nesting and other such nonsense

I don't know why when most mother-to-be feel the urge to clean i feel the need to make huge messes.

A few weeks before Olivia was born i decided to start painting the kitchen one night while Daniel was working. A few gallons of primer, texture, and red paint later we finshed the kitchen at 2am. We left for the hospital to deliver Olivia at 6am.

Monday i decided to start cleaning out closets. 2 trash bags for good will and 2 trash bags for the garbage man later... my side of the closet in clean, and the master bedroom closet is ready to be moved into.

Of course after i finished climbing on chairs, reaching on shelves, and carringing boxes i enjoyed a sweet knot in my back and contractions for the rest of the night while i attempted to sit in the most uncomfortable chair ever and teach piano lessons. ugh.

Now as for the things i still have left to do before baby #3 makes her debut...

*paint masterbedroom walls and trim

*wallpaper Master bathroom

*clean out under all the beds and under all the sinks

*decorate MB, Kolby's/guest room, and Olivia's new room

*organize baby clothes bins

*oh ya if there's such a thing as spiritual nesting, I like to finish my personal progress and make it to the temple 2 more times

*an added bonus would be to not go bankrupt or crazy too by the end of all this.

Wish me luck!