Well it has been awhile.

I'm going to resurrect this BLOG.  It is going to serve as my running journal.
So here's the story.  I recently turned the BIG 4-0 and before I even turned 40 I once said when I turn forty, I will run a full marathon.  Well the time is here now people.  I began my "training" 2 weeks ago and have successfully completed 2 full weeks of a 20 week training.  To say I feel amazing would be an understatement, to say, at times, I feel overwhelmed would be a joke but the sense of accomplishment when something seems so daunting, PRICELESS.
Stay tuned for updates and a log of my runs, good, bad or indifferent!  Today was a GREAT run.

This is how we roll....in January

....Birthdays Birthdays Birthdays

Both T & my mom share a birthday on January 14th. T had some friends over for his birthday (4 boys....around the age of 14)...yikes...is all I have to say.

They had a great night. WE took the boys bowling and they had a blast. Might I add, I rocked at bowling! :-)

Here are some pics of the big 1-4 birthday. It was his golden birthday. 14 of the 14th!

T opening up his gifts

T and the boys...boys will be boys

Singing happy birthday and the icecream cake

The boys again!

Happy Birthday!

And then MISS E had her 10th Birthday on January 30th. It was a fun day for her too....actually it was a fun weekend. She got to have friends over the day before her birthday and we took them to Fairmont Hot Springs for a nice soak. It was GREAT fun. Then on Sunday, her actual birthday she had a family dinner with G&G Miller.

I can't believe my baby is 10. My kids are growing up and it makes me sad!

E with her friends

The "tough" girls

The cake I made for E's birthday

E blowing out her candles

Apparently she is getting tired of the pictures.

Kelly Clarkson & Jason Aldean - Don't You Wanna Stay CMA(Country Music A...

I love Kelly Clarkson. She does a great duet with Jason Aldean! They sound great together and I'm loving this song lately!!!

Enjoy

Zac Brown Band - National Anthem - 2011 NFC Divisional Playoff

These guys are AMAZING. If you haven't heard them sing the National Anthem A Capella yet, you need to check this out!

They are quickly becoming on of my favorite bands. They truly are amazing musicians!

Enjoy!!!!

What the heck!?!

Has it really been one month since I blogged. Guess I've been busy, haven't felt like blogging much....a good combination of both! Plus, really how even reads this?!?

Well, we have a GREAT Christmas, one of the highlights was sledding with our besties on Christmas Day. That is the BEST idea in the world, to get out and do something active on the day I feel like being the biggest slug! Thanks CS, it was a blasty blast.

Another highlight of the Christmas was getting Just Dance for the wii, if you haven't tried it or played it.....it is a must. Might be one of the best work outs I have EVER done! Seriously, it will break you into an instant sweat! So much F-U-N! I am convinced that dancing is one of the best forms of exercise. Well, here are a few pics of the Christmas around here.

T got E a DQ Blizzard Maker.....it is a HIT!

New hot cocoa mug for T

Just Dance!!!

T Christmas Mornin'

T&E Christmas Morning!

Feeling the Holiday Spirit

This past week was US Thanksgiving and we were so lucky to have D&R down from Ray-town, it was AWESOME. We had such a great time, we had wonderful turkey dinner and did some shopping on Black Friday! We did find some nice bargains, about the best I found were jammies at Old Navy. I can't wait to wear them, I want to wear them now!!! :-)

I started my Christmas shopping and got a pretty good chunk done. I even wrapped my first gifts tonight. We still don't have our tree but I have decorated the house! We will probably get it this weekend, D didn't want to go out while there were still hunters out....probably pretty good idea!

I love this time of year!

I love the music

I love the lights on houses and when you drive by you can see the lights on trees

I love the spirit that is in the air

I love that everyone is jolly and happy and full of cheer...OK MOST everyone. :-)

I love Christmas scentsy smells (Winterwonderland is my current FAV)

Right now we are watching the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree.

I love the Christmas Devotional, it is going to be on this weekend. I just love hearing the messages that they have to share.

A few of my fav ME pictures that i found on google images!

Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world.

CALVIN COOLIDGE, Presidential message, Dec. 25, 1927

Thankful

Wow! It has been a long time since I last posted. Well, lets see what have we been up to!

T ~ finished his football season, wasn't the season they had hoped for but they did win their last game and had a fun time doing it. He got to play on the 7th grade team and even go to start at QB in the last few games. It was so fun for him, he even go to score a touchdown too! It is so fun to watch your kids compete, can't even really describe it.

E ~ finished up her Vball season last week. M&M even got to come watch....it was fun to watch her play. She is so good, it is amazing in 4th grade that they can serve over-head and get it over the net. I can't even serve over-head! She is going to be quite the volleyball player, I think it is one of her favs! She, of course, in my opinion was one of the BEST on her team. I can brag, it's my kid!

T ~ started his bball season last week too and let me tell ya those 8th grade boys are quite the ballers! They are so fun to watch them, I can't wait for the next four years. Oh and this year will be GREAT too! They played in a tourney last weekend in E. Helena and got 2nd place. The team that beat them killed them on Friday night by 22 and then in the 'chipper' the boys only got beat by 9 points. They played again last night, the boys played so hard....ended up losing again but only by 5 points. I was so proud of all of them! I'm so proud of my lil T, he always has such a GREAT attitude!

T really wants to get texting he even got 4.0 on his last report card in hopes that a couple semesters of 4.0 he will be rewarded with texting. I have such mixed feelings with children and texting......so I gave in and got him FACEBOOK instead. LOL!

Now my favorite saying is who needs texting when you have facebook?!?!

I'm not ready for all of what life has to offer with teenage boys and just being a teenager. T even has his first little g-friend! Makes me laugh, I think I remember my first little b-friend in 7th or 8th grade....couldn't tell you who it was but I know I had at least one! :-)

E is doing so great on her piano.....she is a natural, of course I'm bragging again aren't I! :-)

Today I'm so thankful for two kids that are so easy to love and listen to! I'm thankful that they are healthy! I am just about the luckiest momma that i know of! Now if I could just be a "perfect" as they are. I am thankful for second chances, for forgiveness and the ability to say, "hey i was wrong" or "that didn't turn out very good"! I am thankful for kids that love me even though I lose my temper and expect way too much of them.....after all they are just kids right?!

I am so thankful for a husband that works his butt off and allows us to have all we have and loves us all so much! I am the luckiest GIRL alive! I am thankful for M&M for always coming down to support the kids in all they do and for all of their unconditional love! We are the luckiest FAMILY! I am thankful for a job! I am the luckiest GIRL alive, who graduates and get a job just a few months later? I love being Mrs. M and am so thankful for the opportunity to teach everyday! I am the luckiest TEACHER alive!

I am so blessed!

"Gratitude is a Spirit‑filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love. This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence.

By Bonnie D. Parkin

"Gratitude: A Path to Happiness," Ensign, May 2007, 35

I am thankful...................