Something for me

This week, I had big plans to finish a couple projects for some people we are visiting with over the next 2 months... and I didn't (yet) get any of them done! 

I have however made a couple things for me! Inspired by my favorite clothing designer, Andrea at  Gaia Conceptions , but unable to afford anything quite yet... I made my own! Here is my version of the Love me two times below the knee skirt/dress. I saved about $70!! 

I can't say that I got it perfect, but it is VERY comfy, and oh so versatile! It is a longer strapless dress, a shorter strapless dress, or just a skirt with a folded over waistband (below).

I even made another of the same version the next day... it is all brown and made from a little bit different knit, so I might have to fix it before our trip.

But then, I probably wouldn't get the other little projects I want to get done, done.... we will see what wins out!

Also, we are in the process of getting our house refinanced, so that is a big deal for us! We are going from a 6.5% rate to a 4.5%!!! So excited for that. But it does require a bit of paperwork to be done, so that will be fun while we are on the road!

PLUS, I am trying to get all registered to take some classes in the fall. I think I have done most of the legwork needed, but who knows... I am trying hard to just make it happen and quit putting it off. If I start school now, and get a bunch of the prerequisites done, I might be able to start nursing school in fall of 2013! We will see if that actually happens too, though!

The kids are excited to start school when they get back (RIGHT when we get back!) but right now, all they can think about is our trip. Colton is trying to imagine his birthday party, and wrap his mind around all the things we are doing on our way to Oregon, and what we are going to do when we get there. It will be busy, and fun. 

Soren is crawling all over the place, and finally discovered the stairs, so gates are once again in our lives. Too bad they aren't the nice ones we made in Montana. I loved those gates... most of the time!

So I think I am deciding to NOT blog while I am on "vacation". It will be hard to do anyways from the Ipad, so I think I will just let it go, and then fill in the blanks when we get back. But do not worry... it is only 2 months. I will probably do one more post before we leave though.


FYI:: I am back on Facebook, but I promise not to be on there too much!

Soren's first haircut

OH, my goodness! 

Look at how much he looks like a little boy, and not a baby anymore!! 

All it took was a #3 down the center of his head! I think he looks so much like Kellen... I can't believe he is about 8 months old! Where has the time gone?

Tomorrow I will try to post pics of our last camping trip... I say I will try, because who knows.

I got my hair cut and colored today too, and absolutely LOVE it!  Pictures later.

Mother's Day (at the zoo)

I had a fabulous Mother's Day! I felt so special with my four wonderful little rascals celebrating for me! Tyler helped them pick out the cute garden (or kitchen) gnome for me! I am so excited to get to go paint him!!!

They woke me up a bit early (your supposed to get to sleep in on Mother's Day, right?) at 730am, but it was sleeping in an hour past usual... plus they had breakfast in bed! With a flower even.

And of course, chocolates were had. Tyler knows what I need.

The gnome is kind of a funny gift. Tyler HATES garden gnomes (he thought the movie "Gnomeo and Juliet" was pretty cute, and he thought the boys dressed as gnomes for Halloween was cute... but for some reason, he dislikes the garden variety pretty hard.... unfair! I think they are so cute! The travelocity gnome is just so cute! Anyways, he got me a gnome... he must really love me!

Then we went to the zoo.. one of our favorite things to do around here. The peacock is one of Ayla's favorite, and she always tries to get close. 

Do peacocks bite? or peck?

Isn't the mountain lion picture a tad scary? These 2 here will prowl and follow anything with wheels... aka kids in strollers!

Watch out!!

I am on day 3 of my 30 day vegan class... and completely loving it!!!

Today we had baked tofu with watermelon salsa (I thought it was fantastic) and a strawberry "cheese" cake for dessert. And for breakfast, I made this cashew cream sauce for over berries... it was to die for! I like this vegan thing... or maybe just getting new recipes and cooking new stuff is fun. Either way, I find it WAY more healthier than I was eating... which was pretty healthy to begin with!

Well, I better go help Tyler pack for our weekend camping trip (again!). We are gearing up for the big one next month!

Running is fun

Seriously, it is! Back in high school I started running because I injured my knee in basketball (and didn't know that I actually more than likely tore my ACL at this time), and couldn't participate in sports with side to side action, otherwise my knee would give out... not fun!
Anyways, I started running track in high school and fell in love with the 800meter. This is twice around the track... not really long distance, but not a sprint either. And I was good. I hate to toot my own horn, but really, I won a lot of races back then. (Went to State my junior year to compete... but totally failed there :) )
I gave up running a bit after high school... admittedly got fat, and then decided to join the Navy 2 years later. And needed to get in shape before bootcamp.
So I ran.
Now, I don't remember how far or for how long I was running before I went to bootcamp, but running did help me lose 20 lbs before I left. Which is always good, right?
Well, bootcamp really wasn't that hard. I passed easily.
But I kept running.

I ran when I was stationed in California, learning Russian. I would go through my list of vocabulary words that I had to memorize while I ran along the beautiful ocean. (oh, how I miss that place) My favorite memory is saying dostapremchatelnoste while I ran... it means places worth seeing, if I remember correctly. It still is my favorite Russian word. I ran many miles there.

Then in Texas, I ran and ran around the old flight line. My ex-boyfriend would run with me sometimes. But it was Texas and during the summer, so it pretty much sucked! My favorite story from there was when we were doing a "fun run" which is basically a run that you had to go to (you know, attendance was taken and stuff), and my good buddies- Bianca, Bryr and Traci - were all there with me. Bianca HATED running (yet she looked great and smoked like a chimney) and immediately after attendance was taken and we were running for fun, she headed back to the dorms to smoke with some wise-ass comment (oh, I love you Bianca).
NOW, Bianca is a marathon runner who is super fast and super fit, and oh how I envy her (and am so proud of her!)

When I was stationed overseas, in Japan, I took up biking too. I would bike to work (4 miles) and then run home. Sometimes I would take the long way, which doubled the distance. And then the next day I would run to work and bike home. I was in the best shape of my life. And I LOVED running.

It has always been the time for me to decompress I guess, and answer all my questions that I had been pondering, and sometimes coming up with some really good answers - or not.

Well, I started running again. Monday was day one, and boy was it hard. I had a million excuses to NOT start running until after the holidays. And then, I just decided to do it. And it felt good. Until I got home :) Then I was SO sore.
I hadn't ran in a year and a half.
A YEAR and a HALF, people!
My knee surgery and then pregnancy were my reasons for not then, but since my knee is fixed up and I am gladly not pregnant anymore... I had to do something.

And I ran again today. I am a little less sore right now too.

I am so glad I started back up... now I need to keep it up.

I will keep you (whoever reads this... wait, WHO reads this?) posted.

OH! And I just purchased a Vitamix (used of course) so now I think I am getting back on the green smoothie wagon! I would love to lose some more of this baby weight (16 lbs to pre-Soren, and about 35 to pre-Colton ISH!)

Long weekend Happenings

Since it has rained most of the weekend, our plans to go camping were foiled. So we relaxed at home. Worked on the yard. Sewed some projects. Watched some movies. Read some books. A little boring according to Tyler; but definitely relaxing.
One project I worked on was a late Mother's Day gift(s). Lavender rice packs for hot/cold in wonderful pink toile (?)... so awesome! I also finished up so me diaper covers and wet bags; made a tablecloth (it turned out a little short on the sides, but that should be an easy fix); velcro belts for each of the kids... so cute and easy (more on those later maybe?); and picking out fabric and patterns that were on sale at Fresh Squeezed Fabrics! I might have bitten off more than I can chew, but hopefully something will get made just for me! I usually end up making nothing for myself, so I decided I should try to change that!
Green smoothies are still going strong around here (for me, at least!) and I think they might be helping with weight loss... I am down to 182 lbs... down 35-ish lbs since Kellen was born, and only that much to go! I am considering training for this half marathon in September. It was the same one that I was going to do last year, but ended up hurting my back in July and finding out we were pregnant with SBK (sweet baby Kellen!). Well worth it! I will keep you posted on the whole thing. I have been hiking every week with some great girlfriends, and that has been wonderful for me and for my soul.. thanks ladies!

Kellen is playing with toys now! So cute! Almost 3 months old... time flies!

Taking Time for yourself!

What a concept, right? How can I, as a mother, even think about taking time for myself? I'm too busy cleaning up the whirlwind of stuff they leave behind, or planning dinners, or doing laundry, etc. to even have a chance to potty train Colton! How could I spend time for ME! But, to be a better mother, I am finding out that I really really need this! Whether it be to have special time to sew something, or go for a walk, or just go to the bathroom alone (what a concept!)
So, I hurt my back yesterday (AGAIN! I know!) But it isn't as bad as the last time... I am not crawling around on my hands and knees. Although my back is letting me know that I need to be a little more careful as I am bending down to pick up toys with Ayla on my hip! What I really need to do is start running again... that would be ideal. Maybe some yoga... anything to help my back.
I remember when I was in Japan, and it was nothing to run 4-8 miles in a day. Now, running around the block seems daunting! How to get back in it? I guess the best answer is start slowly. And build on it. Sounds easy enough, but is it easy enough in November in Northwestern Montana? Definitely not. The snow is coming any day, and who runs in the snow? I guess I will just have to play it by ear, and put it off a little bit more. Maybe we can join a gym, with a babysitter? Wouldn't that be nice?
Well, I better get back to being the best mother I can be, without really bending or picking the kids up. I guess Tyler will have to pick up the house later!