Once again, there were so many times I wanted to hop on a type up a quick blog post. I almost did it after baking gingerbread cookies with Miriam. I almost did it on Christmas eve after Bill and I had set out presents and snapped pictures. I was going to brag - hey look, Santa has already been here!
But time goes plenty fast and before you know it... It is New Years eve! And I'm making cookies and watching a movie! (Our friends got sick on us)
I've got more material, back in my brain, but it will just have to wait until 2011!
Happy New Year to you! Please don't text me at 3am. Thanks :)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Family Home Evening Take One
So the other day I was perusing a friends blog, when I came to the realization that we haven't been doing our best with spending time to teach Miriam about God.
She knows lots of church songs, from the CD a friend of mine gave her. And music is totally the way to that girls heart. You want her to learn/do/try something - make up some music to it. I got to wash her hair the other day with NO WHINING WHATSOEVER by doing that very thing. But anyway...
I was catching up on a friends blog and she posted about some art her preschooler did in which the teachers had asked each child "I am special because..." and he had answered "God made me." (awww. right? And you know who you are now too, doncha?) And I thought to myself - "Yeap you are letting this golden opportunity pass you by."
We had discussed having family home evening's before. In fact, we set a goal about three months ago to have family home evening. It got challenging because my schedule is a little interesting with WW in the evening and really, we've just never been very good at it. So this week we decided to have Family Home Evening on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, Bill and I decided to use the Nursery Manual.
We started with Lesson One, I am a Child of God. We said a prayer, sang I am a Child of God a few times. We looked at pictures of our family members and talked about how we are children of God. We were going to stick them on a paper that said I am a child of God, but Miriam really didn't want to do that. She wanted to hold the pictures of Grandma and Grandpa. It was very cute. Then we colored a picture. That's it - the end. Keeping a 3 year old engaged = not easy. But we did one. Now we just have to keep going.
Come by here on Thursdays and you better be prepared to spend half an hour talking (learning, singing, dancing, coloring) about God.
She knows lots of church songs, from the CD a friend of mine gave her. And music is totally the way to that girls heart. You want her to learn/do/try something - make up some music to it. I got to wash her hair the other day with NO WHINING WHATSOEVER by doing that very thing. But anyway...
I was catching up on a friends blog and she posted about some art her preschooler did in which the teachers had asked each child "I am special because..." and he had answered "God made me." (awww. right? And you know who you are now too, doncha?) And I thought to myself - "Yeap you are letting this golden opportunity pass you by."
We had discussed having family home evening's before. In fact, we set a goal about three months ago to have family home evening. It got challenging because my schedule is a little interesting with WW in the evening and really, we've just never been very good at it. So this week we decided to have Family Home Evening on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, Bill and I decided to use the Nursery Manual.
We started with Lesson One, I am a Child of God. We said a prayer, sang I am a Child of God a few times. We looked at pictures of our family members and talked about how we are children of God. We were going to stick them on a paper that said I am a child of God, but Miriam really didn't want to do that. She wanted to hold the pictures of Grandma and Grandpa. It was very cute. Then we colored a picture. That's it - the end. Keeping a 3 year old engaged = not easy. But we did one. Now we just have to keep going.
Come by here on Thursdays and you better be prepared to spend half an hour talking (learning, singing, dancing, coloring) about God.
My decade in review - oh yeah...
I just realized today that I never finished my decade in review I started in January of this year. It was the most fun reviewing 2000-2005 anyway seeing as they are farther away. But I thought I might highlight a few things from the last 5 years, just for kicks.
2006
Job hunt. Ugh, yuck. Get a position as secretary in the EWU Presidents office. Gain 10 pounds while adjusting to working full time
We take a job as apartment managers and move across Cheney. In the fall I return to school with the idea to take some classes to prepare me to enter a masters program. I do both my job and classes for about 2 weeks.
2007
Classes, back to work in EWU Chemistry office with my favorite boss and friend ever (Susi), hang out lots with Joe and Brenda.
March -hello! we're pregnant!
June - It's a girl!
July/August - we live in Seattle while Bill completes an internship in toxicology, we change apartments in Cheney
September (right before classes start I might add) preterm labor-ugh! Most of the details from this point on can be found at the beginning of this blog!
November - Miriam is born!
2008
We adjust to parenthood and enjoy our daughter and our families. Bill finishes his degree program in March and by May is able to work as a driver for a company in Spokane (thank goodness!)
We feel pretty strongly after an interview in July that we are probably going to get offered a job and move to GA. Not exactly exciting (GA that is), but we need a job.
After living with a family friend for 6 weeks we finally leave for GA on the 14th of October. The same day our niece was born.
We learn that Bill's mother has osteosarcoma.
2009
We live with some homesickness and make some new friends.
I still take off by March to visit my Dad for his big 5-0
(insert first apartment burglary here)
In June we both go back to the PNW for a family visit.
(insert second apartment burglary here. Pattern?)
Back in April we began looking for houses and NOW we step up the process in earnest.
In September we close on the house and begin the process of moving out of our apartment!
2010
Bill leaves in late January for Afghanistan.
I join Golds Gym.
Bill works his butt off in Afghanistan
I visit my Mom.
We both go back to PNW in the summer. Bills mom is having a hard time after 5 or more surgeries and a recurring infection. We have good timing. We get there in time for an emergency room visit. Just for the record, since that time she is doing better.
I have a 10 year high school reunion!
Bill comes home for good!
We take off for PNW again! Afterwards Miri and I ride the train to ND to see my great-grandmother for her 95th birthday.
Happy Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas!
And here we are.
2006
Job hunt. Ugh, yuck. Get a position as secretary in the EWU Presidents office. Gain 10 pounds while adjusting to working full time
We take a job as apartment managers and move across Cheney. In the fall I return to school with the idea to take some classes to prepare me to enter a masters program. I do both my job and classes for about 2 weeks.
2007
Classes, back to work in EWU Chemistry office with my favorite boss and friend ever (Susi), hang out lots with Joe and Brenda.
March -hello! we're pregnant!
June - It's a girl!
July/August - we live in Seattle while Bill completes an internship in toxicology, we change apartments in Cheney
September (right before classes start I might add) preterm labor-ugh! Most of the details from this point on can be found at the beginning of this blog!
November - Miriam is born!
2008
We adjust to parenthood and enjoy our daughter and our families. Bill finishes his degree program in March and by May is able to work as a driver for a company in Spokane (thank goodness!)
We feel pretty strongly after an interview in July that we are probably going to get offered a job and move to GA. Not exactly exciting (GA that is), but we need a job.
After living with a family friend for 6 weeks we finally leave for GA on the 14th of October. The same day our niece was born.
We learn that Bill's mother has osteosarcoma.
2009
We live with some homesickness and make some new friends.
I still take off by March to visit my Dad for his big 5-0
(insert first apartment burglary here)
In June we both go back to the PNW for a family visit.
(insert second apartment burglary here. Pattern?)
Back in April we began looking for houses and NOW we step up the process in earnest.
In September we close on the house and begin the process of moving out of our apartment!
2010
Bill leaves in late January for Afghanistan.
I join Golds Gym.
Bill works his butt off in Afghanistan
I visit my Mom.
We both go back to PNW in the summer. Bills mom is having a hard time after 5 or more surgeries and a recurring infection. We have good timing. We get there in time for an emergency room visit. Just for the record, since that time she is doing better.
I have a 10 year high school reunion!
Bill comes home for good!
We take off for PNW again! Afterwards Miri and I ride the train to ND to see my great-grandmother for her 95th birthday.
Happy Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas!
And here we are.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Merry Christmas cards!
Merry Christmas!
Excuse me while I go chant my mantra for the next 24 hours: I'm not getting sick, I'm not getting sick and sucking down airborne a few times a day.
I'm very sick of that stuff.
Still very much looking forward to the next few days!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Baking....and reading
Funny thing, I was going to post for the last two weeks about POINTS PLUS, POINTS PLUS! It's finally here! I can TELL you what it is called! We can talk about how it works! I can tell you I've lost a few more pounds on it! . . .
. . .
But that is it really. Besides, I want to talk about FOOD. Yummy cookies and cakes and holiday goodies. The kind that make you gain weight. In the last couple days my desire to bake has gotten stronger. I haven't gotten that far though, because I am still trying to get out my Christmas cards (that arrived Tuesday), keep my house clean, fold laundry and feed everyone. I'm so tired of dealing with the papers and dirty stuff on my kitchen counters I can't bring myself to dirty it up when it's clean. (Plus something in there about being stuck at home and potty training and maybe a little PMS that has meant I am a MONSTER)
In case I haven't introduced you before - If you like a fairly clean mystery story plus lots of baking - may I introduce you to Joanne Fluke. She is the author of some 13 (or more?) mysteries entitled things like Apple Turnover murder, Fudge Cupcake murder etc. I like them. There stories are fun (occasionally predictable, but still enjoyable). I enjoy the characters. And I love her recipes. Okay, so I did NOT like Cottage Cheese pancakes. But there are other REALLY YUMMY recipes.
I've made things like...
Chippers (cookies made with crushed up potato chips. I'm not kidding. And I promise, they are SO GOOD.)
Orange Cake (with mini chocolate chips and chocolate fudge frosting. Oh yeah.)
Mango Bread. Yum.
Minty Melts. (another cookie)
Then I fell off the baking bandwagon in favor of canning. And then I burnt out. But I have other yummy stuff to try like... Minnesota Peach Cobbler....Chocolate Marshmallow cookie bars... Chocolate Highlander bars...Triplet Chiplet cookies. See a pattern anyone?
You don't even have to start with the first book. You'll pick up on the storyline quick enough. So I'd recommend...Peach Cobbler murder or Key Lime Pie murder.
OH and I just discovered someone else. Josi Kilpack also does culinary mysteries. I haven't read them yet, but I've seen the recipe for Butterfinger Cookies. I am so sold.
. . .
But that is it really. Besides, I want to talk about FOOD. Yummy cookies and cakes and holiday goodies. The kind that make you gain weight. In the last couple days my desire to bake has gotten stronger. I haven't gotten that far though, because I am still trying to get out my Christmas cards (that arrived Tuesday), keep my house clean, fold laundry and feed everyone. I'm so tired of dealing with the papers and dirty stuff on my kitchen counters I can't bring myself to dirty it up when it's clean. (Plus something in there about being stuck at home and potty training and maybe a little PMS that has meant I am a MONSTER)
In case I haven't introduced you before - If you like a fairly clean mystery story plus lots of baking - may I introduce you to Joanne Fluke. She is the author of some 13 (or more?) mysteries entitled things like Apple Turnover murder, Fudge Cupcake murder etc. I like them. There stories are fun (occasionally predictable, but still enjoyable). I enjoy the characters. And I love her recipes. Okay, so I did NOT like Cottage Cheese pancakes. But there are other REALLY YUMMY recipes.
I've made things like...
Chippers (cookies made with crushed up potato chips. I'm not kidding. And I promise, they are SO GOOD.)
Orange Cake (with mini chocolate chips and chocolate fudge frosting. Oh yeah.)
Mango Bread. Yum.
Minty Melts. (another cookie)
Then I fell off the baking bandwagon in favor of canning. And then I burnt out. But I have other yummy stuff to try like... Minnesota Peach Cobbler....Chocolate Marshmallow cookie bars... Chocolate Highlander bars...Triplet Chiplet cookies. See a pattern anyone?
You don't even have to start with the first book. You'll pick up on the storyline quick enough. So I'd recommend...Peach Cobbler murder or Key Lime Pie murder.
OH and I just discovered someone else. Josi Kilpack also does culinary mysteries. I haven't read them yet, but I've seen the recipe for Butterfinger Cookies. I am so sold.
Monday, December 13, 2010
3 more 5K's
This year (although I didn't put it in my "looking forward to 2010" post) I wanted to run 2-3 5K's. Those of you that have been keeping up for a long time know that I started running them in 2009. Pretty much on a whim. I hated running as a teenager, particularly in conjunction with gymnastics conditioning. So deciding to run in 2009 was kinda crazy.
After I finished my first one, I felt a number of things. The first was sick! My bowls were gurgly (all day) and while cooling down I kept wondering if I was going to have to make a run for the bathroom. The bathroom I wasn't sure existed at that location. The second thing I felt was awesome! (Can you feel these things simultaneously?) I felt like this amzing healthy person. Also, I was hungry all day.
I have to say I haven't felt these things in quite the same way on any of my other runs. My bowls no longer freak out. I don't get hungry all day (I do get hungry an hour later). I still feel really good about what I've done - but nothing to quite compare to that first run.
The other day I ran with a co-worker at the gym (my co-worker who happens to be training for a marthon) and I ran for 50 minutes, intervals, since we both have bum knees. I'm quite sure this is the most I've run ever, in my entire life. And I've kicked around the idea of running farther.
You see, these 5K's I did this fall, they were supposed to be my last runs. Training for my first 5K of the year, supporting Dan Berschinski, my left knee starting having issues. I took a summer break from running. Until (again on a whim) I decided to do a 5K called the Goblin Gallop (really a 6K) and interval run. My knee does better, but still has issues occasionally. On Thanksgiving Day I ran the second annual Huffin for Stuffin. Earlier this month, I ran one called the Jingle Jog with Bill and Miriam.
That was supposed to be it right?
Then we ran for 50 minutes at the gym.
So, now I'm not quite sure what my plan is. My doctor said, physical ailments are pretty much the way of life as a runner. Or as an athelete for that matter. I've been thinking about my years as a gymnast recently. I pulled back muscles every year. And I can't tell you how many afternoons I sat in an ice water whirlpool with the 3-4 of us that suffered from shin splints.
Anyway, I'm undecided. But I met my goal! I'm pretty happy with that.
What would you do? Preserve your physical ability by moving on to something new? Or push forward (in a smart controlled way) while you still can?
After I finished my first one, I felt a number of things. The first was sick! My bowls were gurgly (all day) and while cooling down I kept wondering if I was going to have to make a run for the bathroom. The bathroom I wasn't sure existed at that location. The second thing I felt was awesome! (Can you feel these things simultaneously?) I felt like this amzing healthy person. Also, I was hungry all day.
I have to say I haven't felt these things in quite the same way on any of my other runs. My bowls no longer freak out. I don't get hungry all day (I do get hungry an hour later). I still feel really good about what I've done - but nothing to quite compare to that first run.
The other day I ran with a co-worker at the gym (my co-worker who happens to be training for a marthon) and I ran for 50 minutes, intervals, since we both have bum knees. I'm quite sure this is the most I've run ever, in my entire life. And I've kicked around the idea of running farther.
You see, these 5K's I did this fall, they were supposed to be my last runs. Training for my first 5K of the year, supporting Dan Berschinski, my left knee starting having issues. I took a summer break from running. Until (again on a whim) I decided to do a 5K called the Goblin Gallop (really a 6K) and interval run. My knee does better, but still has issues occasionally. On Thanksgiving Day I ran the second annual Huffin for Stuffin. Earlier this month, I ran one called the Jingle Jog with Bill and Miriam.
That was supposed to be it right?
Then we ran for 50 minutes at the gym.
So, now I'm not quite sure what my plan is. My doctor said, physical ailments are pretty much the way of life as a runner. Or as an athelete for that matter. I've been thinking about my years as a gymnast recently. I pulled back muscles every year. And I can't tell you how many afternoons I sat in an ice water whirlpool with the 3-4 of us that suffered from shin splints.
Anyway, I'm undecided. But I met my goal! I'm pretty happy with that.
What would you do? Preserve your physical ability by moving on to something new? Or push forward (in a smart controlled way) while you still can?
Monday, December 6, 2010
Here Comes Santa Claus - 2010
After a busy day of work (me), a 5K (all of us. another post) and dinner out we went to a Christmas party at church (turned out they had dinner there - oh well). And Santa Claus came! Miriam happened to be playing with some older kids near the door he came in. She walked right up to him. The older kids were very gracious and let her go first (as opposed to ignoring she was standing there and trampling her - actually I'm not sure how it went down I had to go grab a camera - maybe Miriam is fiesty). So she was first on Santa's lap. She was happy up there but wasn't sure about actually talking to him when he asked if she'd been good and what she might like for Christmas. She wanted to go back after she got off his lap.
We also finally put up the tree (Friday). It doesn't have any ornaments, but it's all good, being fiber optic and all.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Advent day 2?
So, Emily at Not That You Asked is doing a 25 days of christmas sort of thing with her kids, where they do something Christmas related every day. Today her post was considered a "cop out" activity - but I still found myself wondering how she was organized enough to think to order 12 Christmas books last month. So I thought I about doing something specifically Christmas related every day. Yesterday, we put up Miriam's Little People advent calendar and got out her Little People nativity sets.
Today, we were supposed to get out the tree. But we went to the park and watched a show and took a nap and mommy went to work. I got home, we ate, Miri went to bed and Daddy is doing Persian language lessons - not even kidding. So...I'm totally flopping on day two. I do have some plans for the next 23 days. They made include things like - actually order Christmas cards (they are FREE after all), bake gingerbread men, actually buy Christmas gifts, play Christmas carols (Miri can toot on the recorder and I'll play flute. Daddy will play whatever he likes). Maybe one day we'll go BUY a new Christmas book. Ride the Christmas train. Walk a 5K called the Jingle Jog (okay, that one is Saturday).OH yeah - I've got a good one! Make felt Christmas flowers I got out of Better Homes and Gardens. See! Sometimes I can be creative. The rest of the time, I think I'll snag ideas from Emily.
Ahh - she's rocking little bear and Tigger. Darling, I know
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