So Far Behind

I'm trying very hard to get back into the swing of things since the kids are back in school....ALL of them! Jenna was home all summer, and we had SO much fun!

Here's some photos from last school year. Jenna had "favorite sport's team day" at school. She's all decked out in her Wichita State University garb! She gets all this stuff from my mom since she works for WSU.

We had a blast getting ready for this day! We took an old pair of jeans and painted them with acrylic paints. All her friends were envious! They asked her, "Your mom lets you paint on your jeans?" She said, "Yep, it was her idea!" They turned out great, and she loved the attention! Isn't she the cutest?

Jenna's Kodaly Choir Camp

Jenna has been at Choir Camp this week. She is learning a technique known as Kodaly. It is a Hungarian technique that is taught by this FABULOUS director. She is liking it, even though she has been VERY under the weather. Anyhow, Wichita Eagle did a story about it, and even had a video. It can be viewed here: http://videos.kansas.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=14866080&genre_id=0000505. The story that was in the paper is here: http://www.kansas.com/2010/06/08/1349073/er-choir-camp-hits-high-note-with.html. On the video Jenna is shown about 20 seconds in, she has a blue bandana in her hair. You can spot her in the still pictures within the story because of the bandana too!

Jenna had to come home to go to the doctor today. She has had a tough time staying overnight. The last two nights she called wanting to come home. We strongly encouraged her to stay because the camp cost extra for staying in the dorms. Tonight, Andy is on his way to pick her up. She just doesn't feel good! Poor kid. She will go back each day and still perform at the concert on Friday. She likes being there during the day, but doesn't like being there at night. She must really love her mama and daddy! :0) Not that we mind that, at all!!!

Anyhow, that's it for tonight! Hope to post pics from the actual concert on Friday.

Here I am Again!

FINALLY! We got a new computer! I'm hoping to do some updating on the blog over the next couple weeks. So much has happened. OBVIOUSLY.....I mean since I was training for the Race for the Cure. I will post about it when I do my updating! It was a GREAT day!

Today I am starting a "diet/ healthy eating plan....lifestyle change..... whatever you want to call it!" I have done well today. AND, I still have to go get a low cal ice cream cone for my treat at McDonalds....only 150 calories. Not too bad, and it gives me my sweet fix. I will be posting pictures soon for this as well. I have to put my BEFORE pictures, so that when I reach the end I can show my skinny NOW pictures! Pray for me, as this has always been a challenge for me. I am addicted to food.....I know this, and hope to overcome my horrible eating habits!

I am SO lucky though. I have a WONDERFUL friend that is doing this with me, and she motivates me in so many ways! I have exercised with her for over a year. Now it's time to throw in the correct eating also. The great thing is, with someone to do it with, it's actually kinda FUN!!! Dieting and fun? I know, those two words do not USUALLY belong together, but I'm staying positive here, people.

Anyhow, enough for now.....will update more very soon!

A Fun Day at the Park

This is from about 3 weeks ago. Needless to say, a fun time was had by all!

Race Update

Sorry there haven't been any fun posts in awhile. We had a lightening storm that took out my computer. I'm using Andy's work laptop to write this blog post. I am so sad, my computer is gone to computer heaven. Luckily, they were able to put pictures on a disc for me. Thank goodness!

I thought I would take this opportunity to let you know of my progress with my 5k race training. I have done much better than I expected of myself. Each weekend there was a continuous running goal, and I always tried to do at least 1/2 mile more than the goal. I have a treadmill, so I have been able to do a lot of the training on it. However, I am finding it to be MUCH easier to run on the treadmill, indoors. I was so excited yesterday, though, I ran 5 miles on the treadmill! It was raining outdoors, so I was forced to be inside. Because of this, I decided I needed to push to the 5 mile mark so that I was challenging myself in some way. When I'm outdoors I'm challenging myself with the hills in my neighborhood. Boy, do they kick my butt!!!

The Race for the Cure is on Saturday, and I believe I will be able to run the entire thing. I do not run fast, mind you, but I will run the whole thing! I am SO excited! I never thought in my whole life that I would consider myself a runner, but now I do! And, to make things all that much sweeter, I have lost about 18 pounds total! It is exhilarating!

Hopefully I will have pictures for you soon! We took the kids to the park last weekend, and I got some great pictures.....Will try to do them sometime this weekend! God bless you all!

Race for the Cure

Today was my first day in training for the 5k Race for the Cure. It is really kicking my behind! I'm hoping I can be ready. The Race for the Cure is on September 26th. So the gals I workout with at church and I have a calendar set for the next several weeks of what we are going to do to prepare. I don't know that I'll be ready to run the entire 3.1 miles by then, but I will be super excited if I can jog/walk for the entire thing. I'm hoping I will be able to jog at least 2 miles of the race.

Most importantly, however, is the cause that we're racing for. It's for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, for breast cancer awareness. I have two aunts that died from Breast cancer. I have an aunt that has had a masectemy and is a survivor of breast cancer. So, I have reason enough to be there, besides my own health. Keep your thoughts with me as I go through this journey. Being overweight and trying to do this is challenge enough. But, I am determined that I will succeed and that I will overcome my weight challenges! Thanks to great motivating friends!

Keeping my fingers crossed for success for the Race for the Cure!

Dallas Vacation

Our Dallas vacation turned out great! We left around noon on Friday afternoon. My in-laws were renting an RV to bring Grandpa back home from Texas. So, we had to wait for it to be ready before we could leave. Since it was my mother-in-law's birthday the next day, she invited us, and Andy's brother's family to come along. We all traveled separately, but did most things together.

On Saturday, we went to Hurricane Harbor. It's a huge waterpark. My girls absolutely loved it. Obviously didn't take the camera there, but trust me...it was a good time! Saturday was my mother-in-law's birthday. So, her boys (Andy and his brother, Dusty), went out after we finished our waterpark fun, and bought her a cake at, where else? Wal-mart! It was good. She had all her grandkids there to enjoy in the fun with her. Here she is with two of the grand-daughters.


As you can see, it was a large birthday party in a small hotel room. But, lots of love! And, lots of family! And, of course, the kids' hair is wet, because, they still had to swim in the hotel pool even though we had spent the entire day at the water park. Silly kids!

Andy was fooling around taking pictures, cuz he was bored. He snapped this one of me! That doesn't happen very often. I'm usually the one behind the camera!

This is my niece Madeline (Maddie). She is my buddy! Most of my nieces and I have this understanding. We just sit and visit about whatever they want to talk about. Love those special times, cuz eventually they grow up and don't really want to talk much anymore.

Baylee and Zoie (from left to right). They had a great time on this vacation! We got to play in the water (their ABSOLUTE favorite!) They got to sleep with mom and dad....another thing they don't usually get to do. But, that's the only way we can get them to sleep when we're away from home (that and Benadryl, unfortunately). Aren't they cute?

This is my niece Emma. She is one year younger than Jenna. They love each other very much! They can never wait until the next time they get to see each other. This year, they've seen each other more than most. Her family lives in Joplin, MO. So, usually just holidays, and sometimes for a weekend visit. Mostly once, maybe twice per year. So, we've been lucky this year!

Here's Andy's dad, Bruce. He's sitting with another one of my niece's, Grace. She is in love with her Poppie! And, who can blame her, Poppie spoils those grandkids!

This is Katy! She is my lifesaver on many occasions. This is Andy's sister. She comes over often and plays with Zoie and Baylee. She even spends the night with Jenna every once in awhile. She loves to take Jenna to the movies and to go swimming. She is a GREAT Aunt. She loves all the kids so much! We are so lucky to have her.

Jenna got a hold of the camera and was snapping pictures left and right. Here's one she got of me. We were waiting around to get to leave the hotel and go pick up Andy's Grandpa. He was in a specialty hospital. We were waiting to make sure he was released so we could pick him up and bring him back to Wichita. He's 89 years old. Ornery 'ole guy!

And, of course, Andy....he can hardly ever take a serious picture! I think it's gotten worse the older he's gotten! Crazy guy! No wonder all the kids love him! Even his nieces and nephews. Our nephew Hunter use to call him "Cowboy". It was so cute! That was his nickname when Hunter was 3 years old. Now, Hunter is 16 and driving.....so crazy!

Here's the Birthday Girl with two of her grand-daughters. Emma and Maddie. It was a great weekend! We had so much fun, and lots of time spent with family. We were definitely ready to return home, though. I speak for myself only, but I was beat! The fun in the sun is draining! Always nice to get back to routine, and to your own bed!

Here's a picture of me with my buddy Grace! And Zoie laying down.....exhausting weekend. Grace likes the Disney Princesses right now. Actually, she only likes Belle! She told me this, this weekend! She's so beautiful and gives away hugs and kisses that are the BEST!! (besides my Zoie and Baylee and Jenna hugs and kisses)

Thank you for sharing in our vacation! Hope you all had a great weekend and enjoy our photos! We love journaling our lives and sharing them with others!