Slacker

I know I've been a big time slacker by not posting lately. I am sorry!

The past few weeks have been busy busy busy. George and Tammy P were up for a visit and it was just awesome having them here! We all got to spend time with them and I can't wait for their next visit!

We are getting closer and closer to signing our final papers for our house. We just wrote up an addendum extending our closing date to 'on or before Friday, 25th'- Hopefully we'll be all moved into the new place before March 1st. I'm going nuts will all the decorating ideas floating around in my head! Kevin is also going nuts with all the decorating ideas floating around in my head. :)

Orie and Trish get into town on Sunday and I simply cannot wait.

Our calendar for the next month is jammed packed with wedding showers, birthday parties, my parents coming to town (yay!), houses closing, the actual Smith Wedding, spring break... etc... etc... etc... I will do my best to keep up with the posts and all the fun activities but forgive me in advance if I get behind!

XOXO

Family Question #1

Wednesday Morning Grocery Bag

Can you tell my house got taken out by a little bug?

Poor hubby was miserable with the flu all night Tuesday and took his first sick day ever on Wednesday. Naturally, I rushed off to the store and picked up the basic necessities. The problem with this?-The basic necessities are different for everyone. It's safe to assume saltines and chicken noodle soup are staples but what about jello? ramen noodles? Oscillococcinum? and finally...

Ginger Ale or Sprite?

Growing up, Ginger Ale had absolutely no place in our home; sprite was always purchased. Which may be why I practically scoffed in utter disgust when I found out that Kevin preferred Ginger Ale. Why, I thought, would you choose Ginger Ale when clearly Sprite is better?! Keeping this in mind you will understand my dilema time after time as I pace back and forth down the soda isle thinking "do I ONLY get Ginger Ale? Sprite is so much better. I can't believe Kevin likes Ginger Ale. Am I really going to spend an extra three dollars? What does Ginger Ale even taste like?"

.. so without fail- I ALWAYS buy both. I can't help it. What if THIS is the day Kevin decides Sprite really IS better?

And.. without fail, he NEVER drinks the Sprite.

So.

Family question # 1: What will our children get- Ginger Ale or Sprite? Will it depend on which parent is making the 'necessity' run? Will I always buy both so they can decide?

Ginger Ale may have prevailed this time but today I am just happy to have a healthy hubby again, who hugged me tightly and told me that I was the best wife in the world.

And so, my final thoughts of family question # 1: If buying BOTH Ginger Ale and Sprite means knowing I took care of my family the absolute best that I could..well then, I'll spend the extra three dollars every time.

Last Weekend..

I am happy to report my 200 time was 5:12. Two goals accomplished:

1. Beat my last time of 6:18 and 2. became a level 2 student.

After an insane work-out Monday night which consisted of over 100 lunges, 100 squats, 50 push-ups... along with a bundle of other incredibly 'fun' things.. I had to run 8 laps. 8 laps- THAT'S what becoming a level 2 gets you.

Kevin was simply amazing in his 200 on Friday. He busted the push-ups out like they were nothing. Effortlessly. He rocked it.

Saturday Kevin and I watched Abby sing at the grand re-opening of this cute little consignment store. (I found a pair of really cute, designer jeans.. the only problem- they were pregnancy jeans. I asked Kevin if it was weird I wanted to get them for 'future' use and he instantly said "yes. you are NOT getting pregnancy jeans to wear 'in the future". darn.)

After watching Abby sing, we headed to lunch with Paul and Shellea. A hole in the wall- but a super tasty soup/salad combo.

Kevin accompanying me to home depot- an 'errand' I have been patiently waiting to ask Kevin to join me with. I only wanted to go and day dream of all the exciting new home appliances and fixtures we can buy and get ideas for our new house. He gladly went! We found blinds, paint colors, magazines.. it was a beautiful time together.

Sunday was cold and windy and spent indoors watching football. We topped our weekend off with a 6:30 church meeting. A perfect start to a new week- built up in the Lord.

Monday morning Julie and I went for a nice long snowshoeing trek. It was about 30 degrees out and fabulous. On my way home I mindlessly drove into the shoe store and within 10 minutes had purchased 4 pairs of shoes. oops. I spent a few hours cooking up meals for the remainder of the week and thoroughly enjoyed having HGTV on the TV while I did so. I met the gals for an afternoon coffee and before I knew it- I was picking Kevin up and heading to Bootcamp.

That in a nut shell was our weekend.

XOXO

Blog Lovin'

Some new features of the blog!

Check out the new About Us tab. (More fun tabs to follow)

If you are, what I like to call a 'secret stalker'... meaning, you check out the blog but aren't 'following' - I can think of a hand full of you off the top of my head right now (*cough*Amber ..Brooke..Julie..Matt *cough* cough*..lol :) love you guys!! )

I say to you, come on and follow! It's fun and makes me smile to see who stops by.

To become a blog buddy simply:

Click the 'FOLLOW ME' button (right side)

Sign in under your e-mail account (aka. @yahoo, @gmail etc)

and Wa La!
If you have a blog of your own, I'll make sure to do the same and follow you!

In other news..Life in Alaska is going wonderfully! It's warmed up to the double digits and we've had a couple nice days of snow. I'll be enjoying the weather this weekend with a couple snow shoeing outings and a bit of accessory shopping (scarves, shoes, tights).

Tonight are the 200's at bootcamp class. I've been feeling extremely confident that I would beat my time, get under six minutes and become a level two. However, at Wednesday's class I felt like throwing up and passing out all at the same time. Needless to say, I'm feeling less confident in my strength today. But I'm mentally prepared, sufficiently hydrated and have a great partner (hubby) to encourage me tonight. So, either way, I know it will be a heck of a 200. Check out adaptfit.com to read more about bootcamp.

A special thank you to my dear dear friends, Roberta, Whitney and Ashley. I know you gals frequent the blog and I LOVE the comments. I miss you and love you so much.

Mom. Dad. I love you too :)

Have a fabulous weekend all!
xOXO

Lucky Seven

You know how people say "I love to make lists" in lists title "things about me"? Well, I'm the same way- I also love making lists but more than that, I love making spreadsheets. I would say I am borderline obsessed with excel spreadsheets. When I have a new idea or plan that I'm conveying to my husband he will jokingly ask "where's the spreadsheet?" I laugh with him and then... hand it over. I can't help it! I make spreadsheet for EVERYTHING. When in doubt- make a spreadsheet.

So. New Years Resolutions. Where do they fit in? I love them too! I do. It gives me another great excuse to create a spreadsheet and for the last several years I've made resolutions that are fun and attainable. 2011 is no exception.


Resolution # 1: Learn to Sew. My motivation? Sew Kevin and I stockings for Christmas.
Every time I start snapping pictures with my camera I think to myself "I've got to learn how to use this darn camera!' so..
Resolution # 2: Learn to use camera
Resolution # 3: Create scrapbooks/photo albums starting with My Wedding Album!
Resolution # 4: Go Back to School
Resolution # 5: Home. Since Kevin and I are purchasing our first home I am crazy excited to decorate! decorate! decorate!
Resolution # 6: Be Kinder to myself.
Resolution # 7: T and T. Tight and Tone- the words I hear every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at my boot camp class. What exactly does this resolution mean? Simply: continue a healthy and active lifestyle.



You are helping me stay motivated with my resolutions through this blog, which I will periodically update with my progress... so If you have resolutions you'd like to share- I'd love to hear them!


Looking forward to a wonderful 2011 and hope you are too!

XOXO

Happy Birthday Kevin!

OK. So I'm only 4 days late.. but Happy Birthday to my Stud of a Hubby!!

Kevin received his birthday gift on Christmas due to the extremely cold weather- a Mountain Hardwear Coat! It keeps him warm and every morning he puts it on, smiles at me and says "I love this coat." well Kevin. I love you! So Happy Birthday babe.

Dad

Happy Birthday Dad!

I love you and miss you all the time Dad. Thanks for being a strong man of God and keeping our family on the straight and narrow road. I can't wait to hug you again in March.

(Dad's B-day: Dec. 29th)

Good-Bye 2010

Happy New Year!!!

Family.

Snow Shoes!

Love this new Winter activity.

The only picture I have of the six of us.. love it! My dad's beanie hat is glowing?

Finishing the day off with an intense game of dominoes...

Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Family.

Mom and I planned on everyone enjoying Yogurt, berries and granola for Christmas morning breakfast.. however....
Yogurt, Berries and Granola turned into....

quite possibly the world's largest cinnamon buns!

I heart stockings.

Snowshoes for everyone!! Thanks Mom and Dad!First Christmas we've all been together in three years. Love my family!

Catching Up

1. My computer is on the fritz! So computer time is limited- sadness.

2. What a fantastic Holiday we had! My parents were up for two weeks. We had laughter, gifts, snow shoeing adventures, games, wedding planning, housing hunting- loved every second of it. Pictures coming very soon!

3. Kevin and I bought a house! Yes. So Excited! We have been toying with the idea of building a house for a while and wanted to look into it once my parents were up.. so, we took a look at the options for building, checked out a few older homes and saw an already built new construction home. The Decision? Already built, new construction home!!

Details on our soon to be home:
3 bedroom
2 bath
2050 sq. feet
1.03 acres
2 story

The house is only a few streets down from where we rent now and Kevin and I have been watching the completion since July. (I'm quite certain it's been waiting for us) :). We Love it!!

The outside is a tad plain but that just means so much possibility of what we can do!!! The inside makes my smile. I love it all!!!

We are on schedule to close Feb. 17th! I can't wait.

4. Smith Wedding Planning is in full swing. Lucky Me I got to pick out wedding dresses with the Bride to Be. So fun!

5. Hope everyone had amazing Holiday! Happy New Year!