Blah Blah Blah!

I have definately been blogger challenged lately... in the fact that I feel like I have nothing to write about... We are just cruisin' along doing the same old stuff. But as I was running tonight I was thinking I guess I could just throw some random things out there so you all know I am still alive and kickin!

*I have started running. For real this time. I've gone through short phases where I do a little jogging on the treadmill, but in the back of my mind I've always thought... "I am so not a runner!" But I have seen the light. I am really enjoying it now. I think for a couple of reasons. The first is that I have a purpose and a goal, I do much better with direction. I am training for a relay race that is in April. I have never done any kind of running event, and so I am surprised my sister even asked me to do it. But she, Michelle, called one day and said that her sister in law was trying to put together a team of 12 girls to do a 200 mile race from Santa Barbara, down the Pacific Coast Highway to Dana Point. Each person does 3 legs over the course of 24-30 hours. Each leg is about 5 miles, so you do a total of about 15 miles. Some legs are a little longer, some are a little shorter. (I have an easier one) Anyway, as soon as she mentioned it I got so excited! Which is odd, I don't usually get excited about running kinds of things, but if ever something is going to get me to run, its doing it along the beach in sunny CalifornIA! So I have been training. I finally got serious about it last week and did 2 3 mile runs and a 5 mile one. Then this week I've jogged every day. I want to get in 27-30 miles this week!

* I am also reading this book... its by Dean Karnazes. His first book is called The Ultra Marathon Man. The guy takes off one night, when he turns 30, and just runs. For 30 MILES! He calls his wife at 4 in the morning and says "I need you to come get me, I'm at 7-11" she is thinking "sure, like 7_11 on clearwater?" and he says "No, 7-11 in Grandview!" (not really he lives in California, but you get the gist.) Anyway, he runs and runs and runs. Does a 100 mile race through the mountains in California. He does a 200 mile relay race, like what we are doing, by himself. Runs the whole thing alone! (It takes him like 50 hours or something.) Anyway, he has totally motivated and inspired me. He says one of his coaches told him, "If it feels good you aren't going hard enough! Its supposed to hurt!" and "Don't run with your legs, run with your heart!" In the book I'm reading now, he runs 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states. The guy is an animal!

* So having said that... I am finally telling myself that I am a runner. I may be a slow one and not look super cool doing it, but I am a runner none the less. And I think I want to be forever. I think I have found a new passion. Today, I was a little sore so I was going to take the day off, but I couldn't... After the kids went to bed I hopped on the treadmill while watching the Biggest Loser and pretended I was running along the river. It really does make you feel GOOD!

* So my weight loss... you'd think with all this excercise I'd still be losing weight... Not the case so far. I was up 2 pounds today from last week, which is so frusterating! I am off of the HCg shots, which is what I've been doing to lose weight. I like doing them, but they weren't working so good with trying to run. So I stopped this week, hoping I would have better results, and am trying to not freak out that I was up today! I still really want to drop another 20 pounds before the race... so we will see. I am down a total of 57 from last year! So that is good!

I think that's about it. I sure went on for a long time, for not having anything to say, huh? Hey, if anyone has a good team name for us let me know. We are all girls and looking for a fun name! What do you think of Women High On Running?! Thats one of my favorite so far!

Happy 10 years, Babe!

Happy Anniversary, Babe!

I can't believe its been 10 years since we said, "I do!" It seems like just yesterday, well, maybe not yesterday, but not 10 years ago, that you would turn that stinkin motorcycle on at the crack of dawn, drive out of your apartment complex and into mine, which was just over the fence, and come say hi on your way off to work. Man, that thing was soooo loud... :)

These last 10 years have been amazing... we've had hard times, sad times, scary times, happy times and lots and lots of fun times! I wouldn't change anything. I think because of all of our expiriences we are who we are today. I love US right now.

You are one of the kindest, most giving, sensitive, kind hearted, loving, hardest working and loving husbands I know. You have given me 3 beautiful and wonderful children and you are an amazing dad. You would do anything for our family and I am so grateful for you every day. I am so thankful that you work so hard and provide for our family so that I can stay home and be with our children.

Thank you for always being the best you know how to be and for being willing and open to learning new things to improve yourself and become a better person. You have always loved me, through thick and thin, literally... No one else could've ever loved me like you have loved me. You spent years telling me I was beautiful, even though I didn't believe it myself, you never gave up telling me. You are awlays so supportive of me and my needs. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I am so grateful that you picked me to spend the rest of your life with.

Happy 10th Anniversary! I Love U Bayb! (that will make more sense when you see your present on valentines day) I hope you have a wonderful day!

And the winner is....

And the winner of the 100th Post Vinyl Lettering Giveaway Is...

Actually I had to do two winners so each of the boys could draw a name. I was going to video tape it, but I don't know how to post a video. But I promise it was all very fair! So... the winners are....

Stacia Rockfort & Dawn McEwan! Congrats! You guys can do any saying up to 2 ft long... so let me know what you want... Either email me or give me a call and we'll figure it out!

Thanks everyone for entering! Maybe I'll do it every 25 posts or something... I had a pretty good response!

Kennedy!

Ok... so Kennedy turned 2 over a month ago... but I just got around to getting her pictures done! Thanks Tiff! They are awesome! Love them. Kennedy is always pretty somber when we do pictures, so we had Ky come down and he had her cracking up! He'd sing songs, or fall down and pretend to be hurt or whatever... she laughed and laughed. I think they turned out really good and am having a hard time picking the best. What do you think?








Great job Tiff! Thanks again! Check out Tiff's Photography blog if you want to see more of her pictures! http://www.tiffanyparrishphotography.com/

50's Valentines Dance

We had our Annual Stake Valentine's Dance this weekend... This year it was 50'2 themed. Which was totally fun. Just about everyone there dressed up. It was fun times. We did alot of twisting and swinging... always good to get some practice dancing. Its about the only dancing we get to do all year. Before the dance we went to Outback for dinner. People thought we were pretty darn cute all dressed up.
Hansens, Us, Prunedas and Neffs...



Jacob and I entering the costume contest... doing the twist...


Always fun times, guys! Love ya!

100th Post & Giveaway!

Ok- actually its 101, but whose gonna notice! Well, I finally made it to 100 posts. I just don't post often enough. I feel like I am the last one to hit the big 100! So I am going to do a give-away! Drum Roll please.... I will give away a vinyl lettering saying of your choice... up to two feet long... So anyone who leaves a comment will be entered into a drawing. I will put everyone's name in a bowl and let one of the kids draw one out! I know... high tech... The drawing will be held on Sunday the 8th! Good luck! Thanks for reading my blog! If you usually just email me and don't post a comment, set up google account so you can sign in to comment!

And the 6th pic in 6th folder is....

I got tagged to post the 6th Picture in the 6th folder on my computer. So here it is...

Its a picture from Jacob's IPhone, so it may not be very clear. Its from last years climb up Mt. Adams. Its Billy, Cory, Mike... and someone else... I don't know who that is. I'm pretty sure they are looking at the mountain trying to decide if they REALLY want to climb that thing! They did and loved it! You guys rock!

I tag... Tiff, Shell, Amanda, Sonja & Karen... and anyone else who wants to do it!

50 and Counting!

Well, this morning I stepped on the scale and I have gotten rid of 50 pounds since this same week last year. WooHoo! Finally! Sonja kicked my butt to our 50 pound goal, but as much as I hate losing, better late than never, right?! This has been such a process for me. I kinda feel like I am willing to try anything. From the crazy diet I'm doing to working out some emotional "stuff". I feel like anything goes, and I just want to be open to whatever comes my way. I have quite a few friends too that are losing weight, and it is so fun to see everyone doing so good. I love it! December was a hard month.... I gained back a few, ok quite a few, of my hard earned pounds and was kinda bummed. But those are gone now, and never coming back.

Here is something interesting... I was talking to this lady and she said when we say we "lost" weight, our subconsciense mind thinks, "Uh oh! We lost it, we gotta get it back!" (I'm paraphrasing, and probably not well). But I thought it was so interesting. So I have been saying "I'm throwing those pounds out" or "I've gotten rid of 2 more pounds" It has been kinda fun.

But here is the bummer of it and I'm open to solutions. I love to go out to dinner. That's what I want to do on date night. I like someone else making the food, cleaning up the food and the food always seems to taste better. I like just sitting for an hour or so and talking to Jacob or whoever we are with and just enjoying not doing anything. But, when you are trying to lose weight, and are on a program like I'm on, which is so limited to what you can eat, I'm finding that weekends are just not as much fun. What else do you do? Last weekend we went to some friends house and hung out, did some Guitar Hero, which was super fun. This week we hung out at the mall and in Barnes and Noble and talked and stuff. Which was also fun. But I still felt like something was missing. (Hello! How about 2000 calories of greasy, fatty, yummy, PF Changs crispy green beans.....) Maybe we need more friends so we don't run out of people to visit or so the same people don't get tired of us popping in! I love to hang out with people, but by the time the weekend rolls around, I want out of my house for a few hours.... so do I just invite us over to their house? Is that totally tacky? (That's what we did last week :))

So give us some good date night ideas that don't involve food! (or spending lots of money, as we are trying to save money) You can see my dilema.... Where's the fun in counting calories and pennies????

Oh, one more thing. I totally want to plan a party. You know me right, I love a good party! I used to have them all the time. But I haven't done one for months. I don't think you can plan a big party without the food. Jacob says, just don't have food. Can you have a party with out the food? So I keep waiting, thinking one of these days I will be to my goal, and then we can have a party.... But what if that is still months away?! Would you? Have a party without a kitchen full of food???

By the way... What do you think of my new shoes? I. LOVE. THEM!