Here comes the Bride!

This weekend we celebrated the wedding of my oldest brofus with a lovely wedding at Trezzi Farms outside Spokane. It was intimate, heartfelt, and very emotional. My new SIL has an awesome family and it was great to spend the weekend with them, while also seeing my other brother, SIL Karli and cousins! All the cousins swam and played and had hotel room slumber parties. I also had 3 alone hours of shopping and that was a treat too!

It seems like so long ago Husband and I got married and when I sat there listening to my brother exchange vows I was really happy for them, but also very content that I'm passed that stage and in a very established part of my marriage.

Hubs and I were babies when we married and it took us a while to hit our stride, but we've found a balance and ease to our marriage that I really appreciate. I feel sad when I see couples who don't have mutual respect for each other because their unhappiness is so apparent, and I know my brother and Heidi have so much love and respect that they are bound for lifelong happiness.

Tis the Season...

Tis the season to spend too much money manically decorate house over indulge my children stress over making the holidays perfect and nag at husband because I'm stressed.... remember the reason for the season is peace and joy on earth...giving to others who are less fortunate...and enjoying all the blessings of family. 

December 1st is TOMORROW!  Where has this year gone?  The tree is trimmed, most of the holiday shopping is done, our weekends are filling up with fun holiday events and I'm going to remind myself to take a breath and calm down when I start to lose sight of what's important during this time of year.  And if I have to drink large consumptions of egg nog to help me cope...so be it!  Wish me luck.

Work Out Rationale {Hal Higdon Update}

I'm still plugging along with my Hal Higdon 1/2 marathon training guide...I've actually said my running goal "out loud" to people...besides Husband who sometimes leaves me feeling like he's not totally listening to my ramblings...

Anywhoos I'd love to lose 20lbs...but I just don't forsee that happening. I eat my feelings and really just don't care that much. I'd be thrilled to lose 10lbs and cut the muffin top a bit...but basically between now and January I will be thankful just to maintain. During the holidays I put too much in to change what's happening outside. The staff lounge is filled with delicious treats for the next 25 days, we enjoy holiday parties, sip egg nog, and so this year my goal is to keep my fitness routine going... Stay motivated with the help of my friends..And accomplish my April goal of running (or joggling) the 1/2 marathon!

A circuit I found online that gets me-a-sweatin!!!  I did this with Turner last weekend and we laughed our jiggly buns off when we read Toe Touches!  HA!  Not in a milllion years...for a million dollars could I do toe toches for 1 minute!  We changed that one.

My cross training days partner...JM.  She's a mean lady!

Love this iphone app for circuit days!  Found from an instagram friend!

Giving my workout the 'lil' finger.  Joke from a kid at school who gave me the 'lil' finger instead of the middle finger. I thought it was hilarious.

Five miles last Sunday!  In under 1hr! Holla!

I spend my treadmill time watching HGTV!  House Hunters is my favorite!

Recap

We had an awesomely relaxing, food & drink filled thanksgiving break. The first of the out of town family just left and the others aren't going back until tomorrow! Yeah! Extra day of family time! Cousin Gage and TJ were so sad to say adios...we did several sleepovers and lots of great cousin time. Everyone (except me and sick Fin) enjoyed a great day at the cabin and we watched a lot of football! Yeah Cougs!

I did experience a mild food coma, however Turner and I sweated our buns off with a great circuit workout on Saturday morning while the kidlet's had bball.  I have my long run today and actually attempted to get it done outside this morning but it was freeeeeeeezing and last time I did that I didn't make it too far.  So I'll hit the dreadmill after church.

Enjoying an afternoon at Rockwall with SIL, Nana, and soon to be SIL

Beau, Hedi and Finny waiting to feast!

 

This is pretty much what the boys did for most of the time...crazy fun!

 

Harper and Finny had lots of girl time! 

Uncle Matt and Beau in a tight squeeze...that led to some wrestling!

Kidlet table

So their brains might be mush from Xbox...

Smooches!  We are very excited to see everyone again in two short weeks for my brother's wedding!  We've already started a countdown to when we see everyone again.

I have no idea...but I thought this was funny!

All the family dogs...Bella, Rusty, TC, and Max

YUUUUUUM!

We aren't taking our eyes off the TV

Heidi is AWESOME and we can't wait for her to officially become a Plughoff!

Me and my SIL's

Gage had a one man pumpkin pie eating contest...he won.

 

Gratitude!

A few years ago I started going to Thanksgiving Mass by myself and it has turned into one of my favorite parts about the day!  I enjoy the quiet reflection time along with not having my kid's driving me nuts the good message about what Thanksgiving means.  Today Father Jake made a pretty interesting statement that got me thinking...he said Thanksgiving has been hijacked by Christmas and so much of what we should honor about Thanksgiving is lost on the shopping, sales, and Black Friday...which now starts Thanksgiving night. 

I couldn't agree more and I left feeling really restored in my efforts to be utterly grateful and thankful today...but also everyday!  There doesn't need to be anything religious about that concept; simply remember to have gratitude towards others and yourself and what you have.  Have gratitude for living well beyond our needs when so many in the world have nothing...have gratitude for family...have gratitude for true friendship...have gratitude for health....have gratitude for freedoms many don't have.

We are waiting on the last few of the fam-damily to arrive into town before we let the festivities begin.  The cousins are enjoying themselves and going a bit wild with excitement as they play together...my workout is done for the day...and I'm ready to bust out the Phase 10 cards and hand out a few ass whooopins....and I look pretty cute in my multifunctional stretchy pants...cute and accommodating for large meal consumption!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Catching Up!

One of the neatest things about growing up in a small town, and returning here to raise our family is the old friendships that exist. It's always so fun to get together when old friends are in town and even though we don't see each other very often there is never a shortage of conversation. Just another thing to be thankful for this week!

Future old friends

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them-Ralph Waldo Emerson

These guys definitely laugh together, share old funny stories, and enjoy their time together now as adults.  I think it's very special they are still friends! 

Another set of future old friends...it's always fun to listen to kids play....they entertained themselves all night with hide-seek and basketball.  Not a tattle or cry to be heard!  Holla!

 

Ryan and Minny celebrating the start of Thanksgiving Vaca!  Wahooo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey Week To Do

List making has a calming effect on my manicness...even when I know I won't get alot of it done. So today and tomorrow at school is parent teacher conferences....which means in my new position of SC I get to skip making report cards I will be out and about supporting teachers who I work with... But the great part about this week is by Tuesday afternoon I'm outta there and ready for a long Thanksgiving vacation!  Here's my current list of must do's....

1.  Get my shopping done at The Walmart between the hours of 11pm and 2am. Less encounters with "people of walmart" during that time!
2. Skip #1 and send Husband with my grocery list
3. Workout like a crazy person for the next 4 days and have at it during Thanksgiving dinner
4. Play at least 10 games of Phase 10 with SIL and win at least 1
5. Do a daily snow dance so by Friday we can head to the cabin for sledding/bonfire/s'mores shenanigans
6. Lay off the egg nog ASAP! It's coating my arteries
7. Remember how thankful I am for so many blessings!
8. Tell 3 of those blessings to get their rooms cleaned up and the pit of despair (basement family room) tidied before cousins arrive on Wednesday.


Side note: I went and saw Here Comes the Boom last night! Hilarious and a total recommend for teachers! All the kids and adults liked it and even though I had to cover my eyes during the bloody UFC fight, it had a happy ending. I heart Kevin James!