first day.....

64 oz. of water = check
5 fruits and/or veggies = check
multivitamin = check
35 mins of exercise = check
not eating after 8pm = check
NO sweets = check (yah! for me)

Today I started a new fitness challenge. It is called Fit For February.
Everyday you get points for drinking water, eating fruits, veggies, not eating after 8pm, exercising 1/2 hour/day (at least), having a multi-vitamin, and no sweets. You get 1 free day (for sweets and no exercise)....yahoo! :-0

So far today, I've gotten all the points possible. I'm hoping to lose inches from my hips and waist. I would love to lose a few lbs too....but I'm more concerned about inches at this point!

Wish me luck and here's to being Fit for February!

If I was at all brave...I would take a picture of my stomach.....but I'm not but it's NoT at toned as I would like it, so we'll just leave it at that! :-)

I can hardly.......

Contain myself, I am so excited. For what?

Two-day work week!

Thanksgiving on Thursday

No School/Work, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday!

I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!

I want to start decorating for Christmas right now! But I keep telling myself I should wait until after Thanksgiving. I might just have to start busting out a few decorations on Wednesday!

And to top off all of my excitement my mom and max are coming for a visit this week! Yahoo, should be a great week......I am so excited I can hardly contain myself!

A few things I'm lovin' for the holidays!

Marth Stewart Christmas - I wish my front door looked like this! I love it!

Marth Stewart Christmas Tree - I wish my tree looked like this! I love this!

Just some fun image in found on Google - Marth Stewart Christmas. I love it!


Here is a Christmas Poem I found:
It's Christmas Time Again
(by Bob Lazzar-Atwood)

Put your problems on probation
Run your troubles off the track,
Throw your worries out the window
Get the monkeys off your back.
Silence all your inner critics
With your conscience make amends,
And allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!

Call a truce with those who bother you
Let all the fighting cease,
Give your differences a breather
And declare a time of peace,
Don't let angry feelings taint
The precious time you have to spend,
And allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!

Like some cool refreshing water
Or a gentle summer breeze,
Like a fresh bouquet of flowers
Or the smell of autumn leaves,
It's a banquet for the spirit
Filled with family, food and friends,
So allow yourself some happiness
It's Christmas time again!

Tag - your it!

So, I have been having the blogging blah's this week.......and wouldn't you know it, I read sweet little Lindsay's blog today and she has been having the blogging blah's!
She got the idea from another blog, so I'm stealing it (well really she tagged those that read it)...so really I'm not stealing it right? And really who cares about creativity at this point.

The Tag:

Your Hair:
Really needs a trim, i got it trimmed (on my birthday last month) and i'm loving it and am even thinking about going a little shorter on the do...next time. I even called for an appointment and am getting a trim the end of the month. I think I think about my hair alot....is that vain or what? I like being so blonde these days, helps cover up my grey....can you believe I'm grey! I am WAY too young for that!!!

Where is your cell phone:
right beside me on my desk at school/work.

Your mother:

A wonderful woman! Great, Grande, Wonderful...the older I get and the more miles apart...the more I miss her and want her to live near. But I am so glad she is relatively close, 5 hours....that's NOT that far...right? She taught me many things growing up.....I'm thankful that she taught me to be such a hard worker, to be honest, and the importance of eduation....she supported us (all by herself) for many many years! I love that she sews and makes homemade things....and gives them to me and my kids. It truly is such a treat...my kids love it!

Your father:
I miss him everyday.

Your favorite food:
I love food but my favorite (I think) is Italian!

Your dream from last night:
I dream everynight (I know I do) and lately I have been having some really doosies but I don't remember my dream from last night.

Your favorite drink:
I love drinks......the more the merrier.. I always have a water bottle with me! I love GBread Latte's from Starbucks. I bought some mint hotchocolate for the house....so tasty. I love a good hot drink in the morning and sometimes before I go to bed, just depends. I am total pop drinker, I sometimes wish I wasn't but I do love a good diet pop! I love me daquiri's....especially strawberry ones!

Your dream/goal:
I have many dreams/goals. I want my kids to grow-up and be happy successful adults that love who they are, where the came from and what the future has to hold for them. I dream of someday having my own classroom, decorating it in Mary Engelbreit decorations! I dream of someday having a big ranch...so that Dave, his dad and Tenny can all ranch together! I dream of being a dancer (a ballerina), I dream of playing the violin!
Right now, I just dream of getting done with my student teaching, surviving it all, and getting a real teaching job!

What room are you in:
Room 17 at Granville Stuart Elementary.

What is your hobby:
I have many hobbies. I am becoming a runner, I like to garden, I love to travel (is that a hobby), I like to read, and I love to ride horses.

What is your fear:
Right now my fear is making it through student teaching and not working for 5 months! Fears evolve, right?

Where were you last night:
E's volleyball game and home.

Something you are not:
Tall, crafty, creative or naturally smart. (I really have to work on getting good grades.....smarts don't come natural for this girl).
Muffins:
I love me a good blueberry bran muffin! YUM YUM YUM!

Where did you grow up:
Good ole' Ray-town Alberta Canada.......is there anywhere else?

The last thing you did:
I'm at work....so should I say work. I'm doing many things right know, besides blogging. Ate lunch, saw some kids, working (you know) and making labels....too!

What are you wearing:
Brown cords, orange turtle neck sweater, and a brown vest.

Your TV:
DVR is all I have to say!!! I watch Biggest Loser (religiously), Grey's Anatomy....what else is there? Sunday Football....and anything on TLC!

Your pet:
Horses, dog, cat and few cows! I love having PETS!

Your friends:
I love my friends...it is funny how you go through life and each stage of life brings you new friends. I have Dusty and Becky Jo whom will be my dearest friends for life! I have friends from my school days that I adore and thanks to facebook and blogging have reconnected with...it is so fun, I love it! I have new friends from D.L. that I love and can't imagine life without. My bestest friend Cassi has been a rock for me lately. Love ya girl!

Your life:
I have to say it is pretty darn good right know. I love life and I especially love mine. My kids are healthy and happy. Dave and I are in a good place.....we just kind of live life day by day. We have a crazy/busy life but I wouldn't have it any other way. WE are involved, probably, in way too many things from church, to 4-H to jobs to other committees but that is just who we are.....active and involved!

Your mood:
Anxious and pretty happy today....T has a game and i get to leave early today! I'll throw a little content in there too!

Missing someone:
Always! I miss my dad everyday, I miss being right down the street from my family and old-time friends!

Vehicle:
My old reliable white dodge intrepid...bit the dust a while back and we aren't going to get it fixed....not right know....anyways. So I'm drivin' the sweet sweet dodge pick-up! What can I complain about! I'm a truck kind-a girl. :-)

Your favorite store:
I love stores and I love to shop! I love Target right know!

Your favorite color:
I love RED and GREEN!

When's the last time you laughed:
I would have to think I haven't laughed yet today, I try to laugh everyday! E had a volleyball game last night, I'm sure I laughed at that! My kids always make me laugh, we all got into a big wrestling match last night...T, E & Me.....we laughed and laughed and laughed and then it was bed-time! Oh sweet bed-time!

Your best friend:
Cassi and my wonderful husband!

NOT the best pic, the wind was blowing and I look FAT!

One place you go over and over:
The bathroom, work, the store, the gym, church......many places.....my life is a never ending cycle of running here and there!

One person who e-mails your regularly:
Cassi and Dave probably send me the most messages.

Favorite place to eat:
I love to eat out! Ferraro's in Bozeman

Where do you want to be in six years:
In six years I will be 41....T will be in college, E will be in 9th grade. I wanna be right where I am at......with a few minor changes. Hopefully I'll have a full-time teaching job, we'll be out of debt and just livin' the 40 something life!

TAG You're IT!

Thanks Lindsay, this was so much fun. (I copied and put pics in too....so much funner with pics).
I loved doing it. Come on, if you read it...you have to do it too!

W.F.D....

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

You might be asking....WFD? It stands for Whats For Dinner! Tennyson said to me yesterday afternoon, "WFD Mom?" I was like what?! "Mom, is stands for, Whats for dinner?"
Kids are so funny!

I am dedicating this post to being a mom and to the kids we mother!

One of my bestest friends from grade school/high school is 3 months pregnant. This might not seem like that big of news but they have been trying to get pregnant for 5 YEARS! I am so excited for her and her husband! This is a life lesson, in hope! Hope is never wasted. She is so excited and I am so excited for her. Can you imagine waiting and hoping for 5 years....wondering if it will ever come to be! I can't, I'm sure I would have given up long ago! But maybe that is easy for me to say because I have two healthy, happy children.

You've gotta have hope. Without hope life is meaningless. Without hope life is meaning less and less. ~Author Unknown

So here it is for all you mothers - enjoy your children, you are lucky to have them. Some people wait years to get pregnant and I'm sure the 9 month wait is pure agony. I always figured God gave us 9 months to prepare ourselves but maybe that was just me that needed the 9 months to prepare emotionally and physically for motherhood.

I love being a mom and am so excited for my friend to enter the world of motherhood. I think I love motherhood so much, especially right now, because my children are 12 and 8. They don't require diaper changes, they can feed and clothe themselves, they can talk (and back-talk). I have loved all of the stages along the way but if any of you have children that are as old as mine are.....this is just simply a fun age. They are getting to be so independent and I do long for the days when I could cuddle, rock them to sleep and hold them without them wanting to escape my every move but I do still get my hugs and kisses!

Hugs your kids today and be thankful for parenthood and children!

Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. ~Robert Fulghum

Canada Trip, Family Photo's and my smartest boy!

This past weekend, while we were in Canada I had my cousins new little wife take some family pictures. It has been a few years since we had actual family pictures taken! It was cold and windy but we managed to get a few good shots. It was so fun and this kids (and Dave) were such good sports. We even managed to trespass into the Old Sugar Factory, which I think we got some of the most amazing shots........I decided I love shade....when it is photo time. :-)
I have attached some of the photo's from our shoot with Kinsey T. Photograph. She did an amazing job and I can't wait to get them done again. I already have ideas for next time!

On another note, can I just talk about my amazing son T for just a moment. I am so proud of him, he was #1 in the 7th Grade Honor Roll. #1...smartest kid (for 1st quarter) in 7th GRADE! Needless to say the newspaper announcement (the honor roll is announced in the local paper) has been cut out and will be kept for memorabilia.

The tree (or something like that)

My little baby doll!

T - what can brown do for you?

Here are pictures from our trip to Canada - I didn't take alot but did get some of Judy & Lee coming out of the temple and some of the sisters and I at the family dinner. Finally some updated pics of the sissies! We had such a fun time in Canada, my long-time childhood friend moved back to our hometown and we stayed with them (in their beautiful) new home on Friday night. It was a quick sleepover but so fun to visit with them and spend a little bit of time with them! D & R - I'm SSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad you live in Ray-town! Now we will see you everytime we visit the family!
While we were in Canada my mom had a Scentsy party.......my first party, although I have been buying on-line from Jana C. for the past year. It was GREAT to finally go to a party and I'm pretty sure I want to start selling this stuff. It was selling like hot-cakes! (do people still say that?)

On our trip to Canada we enjoyed fun visits with family and friends, chinese food, and of course coke slurpees!
Here are a few pics from our recent trip up North.

L&J - just coming out of the temple. Look at her dress!

L&J - looking so cute (but a little windy)

Look at that DRESS! Gorg-e-ous!

The Holt Sister (J, C & H)

Another shot of the sissies plus one aunt- Kathleen!

AND YES, they are all wearing REALLY high heels!

Remembrance Day

In Flanders Field

By: Lieutenant Colonel
John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
that mark our place; and in the sky
The Larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the dead. short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
In Flanders field

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The Torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
we shall not sleep, though poppies grow
in Flanders fields.

Growing up in Canada, Remembrance Day was always a big deal. It is actually a holiday up there and the kids have NO school. Get a clue MONTANA! I would love a day off today.....what better way to remember those that have served our countries then a now than a day off. On a serious note, I am so thankful to live in a country that allows me the freedoms to travel from country to country, to worship what I want to worship, to wear what I want to wear, drive what I want to drive, buy groceries and believe what I want to believe. I am so thankful for the soldiers that have fought and are fighting right know for our freedom.

God Bless the USA and GOD Love the Queen and Canada!

So much on my mind.......

I have so much on my mind lately, alot of controversy going on with Dave and the SD#1 school board. I would love to write more on my thoughts and feelings...but realizing this is an open blog, I will reserve my judgement and keep my thoughts to myself! This is a time, when I seriously consider going PRIVATE! But I'm NOT going to...too much of a hassle really. I just want to say this, Dave is amazing and in the midst of controversy he has remained so positive, so professional....far more so than others in the middle of all of this too! He just continues to amaze me. Really and truly he is one of my HERO's. I just love him more and more everyday. I know this has been tough on him and I just keep telling him to fight the big fight and that it is worth it. I just hope that while others are busy talking and he remains quiet, professional and optimistic that will be remembered far more than those that feel compelled to TALK!
Enough of that.

I have had some anger problems for quite sometime......I would just rather say, I'm passionate! :-) But that is one of the reasons that I like to exercise so much. It gives me an outlet for my emotions (because I would rather call it emotion than "anger"). :-)
Well, tonight I had the BEST run. I just ran all over town while the kids were at youth group at church tonight. However, tonight was just not the same ole' run........I was jogging along when all of a sudden I see 3 deer jump right out in front of me! Scared the CRAP out of me!!! You just never think that you are going to literally run right into some DEER! I literally "kind of yelped" when I saw them. I had to laugh at myself.

And really if you can't laugh at yourself, even in the midst of controversy all around you.....what can you laugh AT? :-)

On Monday E had her very first volleyball game. They did so great, it was so fun to watch them. But when isn't it fun to watch your kids participate in activities? here are a few pics that I snapped at the inaugaral event!

E and a friend - pre-game.

E - moving spots

E - getting ready for a bump

E = hittin' the ball

We are heading the GREAT White North tomorrow night and I am sooo excited. It is always fun to head home. Some of my favorite things about going home. Going to the temple, getting slurpees, hanging with the family and seeing old school time friends. Plus with everything going on, it is just NICE to get away! One of the things we are going to do while we are home, one of my cousins wife is a photographer...so I am getting some updated family pictures. I cannot wait, I'm so excited. I hope the weather is bright and sunny! :-)

I posted this quote on facebook and added it to my blog...favorite quote but I have to end this blog with it. It is so true.
Here's to life, living and families!

Life may change us, but we start and end with family. (Dove PROMISES Message)

November What? And weekend recap

We had a great Weekend! Bozeman-town was f-u-n! The bobcats won! We got to see some ole friends and really had a great time.
Our old neighbors from across the street at the Halloween Party at their house. Holy! The house was packed!!!
Here are a few pictures of the weekend.

D at the Bobcat game

E - look at that hat!

The tunnel!

T&T - Post game!

Halloween 2009
E - Glamour Witch
T&T - Football Players (go figure)

E - looking Glamourous!