Pretty great thursday.

Nothing too special.

I got to drive both my kids to school and hug and kiss them goodbye.

Started a new Bible study this morning at my friend Jeannie's house with 10-14 other women- every Thursday for the next 10 weeks. Pretty excited about that.

After that I went to the YMCA and ran 6 miles, felt great.

And to cap it all off I had 30 minutes to relax out in the sun before getting ready for work. Love love love the sunshine.

Heading into work now. And it's my friday cause I have tomorrow off WOO-HOO!!!

Sooo busy...

I'm so busy this week. I had to write everything down and carry it around with me cause I have about 4-5 errands to run everyday this week! But life is good, the kids are doing great and I'm married to a great man. God is good to me. I'm just trying to enjoy life and LIVE in the moments!

Have a great day!

I'm (not) sick, too, mom....`

Well, I like to say that I hardly ever get sick cause it's true. But once in a while... I catch a cold, usually it's pretty mild. Like the one I have now, it's pretty mild, but since I'm not used to being sick very often I am a: BIG FAT BABY!! But all I have to do is call my mom and listen to her voice to cheer me up- go ahead and call her right now, her voice is hysterical! She has laryngitis, I called her last night and just started laughing when she talked, which made her laugh, which made me laugh again- it was awesome! Love you mom!

So, several weeks ago, someone left this flyer on the table where I work....

Ohhhh, another run! One I have never done before. It's on Bainbridge Island. So I signed the kids and I up. It's actually a great cause. It's bringing awareness to human trafficking within our own state of Washington. Sooo sad. It's called the "Freedom 5K"... This run was a little more expensive than the regular runs cause they are raising money to help these women, children and yes men, too, that are being horribly treated. It was a good reason to run. Here's our shirts we got...

Now we got our numbers on ready to run the 3 miles...

Our awesome photographer (can't run cause his knee causes him too much trouble)... Jeromy!!! (Don't let that crazy eye get ya!)

And we're off- see Jade, Kent and I???

Jeromy got this great shot of Kent- look at the concentration on his face- he's in the zone...

Jeromy got this one of me running by... I was really sweating out my cold during this run. It was not my best time at all, but I finished!

Jade running her heart out... so stinkin' cute...

Jade crossing the finish line- another great picture Jeromy...

Here's us today wearing our cool shirts to church...

Think this cold is about done- thank goodness!

YAY

A couple more days of summer... taking every last bit of sunshine I can... I do love fall... but summer is my favorite...

Fall 2011 College Quarter...

The kids went back to school this week, of should I say my young adult children headed back to school this week. They are both in their second year of college at OC. Kent's first day was yesterday... here he is getting out of the car. He didn't really want his picture taken but he did it for me cause he knew it would make me happy. He's such a cutie-pie. Today is Jade first day of school. She's dressed in her workout clothes cause she has an hour and a half between her 2 classes so she was going to go to the gym on campus and do the elliptical. She's so motivated. Her schedule made it so we couldn't work out together today but she found a way to get her workout in- great job Jade!I just finished my cardio workout at home and my legs feel all jello-ee!! Eating some yummy fresh eggs, turkey bacon and half an english muffin with honey... yummmm...

I think I might even get some sun today. Love that the summer is holding on....

Weekend Happenings...

Sooo Saturday morning Jade and I were finishing our 8th, of 12, week of training, and we finished it off with an 8 mile run!!! Jade's first that far!!!

Here we are just before running 8 miles...

And right after... I think we look better with the pinkish glow (massive sweat)! I love my shirt that says: This isn't sweat, it's liquid awesome!! I have to say I am sooo proud of Jade. She made this commitment to want to run a half marathon (coming up Oct. 16th) and she has not complained once about the tough training! She's doing GREAT!!!

Then afterwards I headed in to work a 10 hours shift.

So Sunday, we were missing church- a very rare thing- to watch/support Aurora showing her goat Dot at the Puyallup Fair, in the dairy goat junior division. We were first to get a good seat.

Jeromy's dad also came to support Aurora...

Scones... of course...

It was raining when we first got there, but then stopped soon after the rest of the time we were there. But NOT before my shoes/socks/feet were soaked. You may not know this but one of my biggest pet peeves is WET FEET! SOGGY, COLD, WET FEET TRAPPED INSIDE MUSHY COLD SOCKS DOUBLY TRAPPED INSIDE MY SHOES. Ok, got that out... my poor feet...

After a few minutes the kids started filtering into the judging area. There were 11 kids. See Aurora?

It took about a half hour for the judge to judge the kids with their goats for how well they handled them, how clean the animal was and how much knowledge the kids had about them. They were asked questions and stuff. Here they had all 11 kids line up from first place- AURORA, then second place all the way down the line. Aurora's closest to the camera on the far right of the line! In front... first... number one!!!

Here's Aurora with her first place ribbon! And her sister Blonca and her both holding their participation ribbons...

I really wanted to ride the big roller coaster. I love big roller coasters, especially the kinds that don't have that nasty whiplash/jerky feel to them, this one wasn't too bad. We all 4 road this one. Kent wasn't too sure at first...

Jeromy used his video camera and videod the kids behind us, I wish I could have gotten that one on here- it was hilarious all the spontaneous crazy faces we were all making!

Snapped this cool one of the kids being flung to one side...

Jeromy standing by this cool tree with 2 bears carved into it. They actually had people behind this mesh see-thru curtain actively using chainsaws carving amazing artwork into logs...

Another hug for Aurora... Jeromy is so cute... he is so proud of his daughter, too!

While the kids were off doing their own thing, Jade sent me this pic of Kent getting one of his favorite things- cotton candy. It just makes me sick to think of him eating that. It's HUGE! And he ate the whole thing- gross!!!

I love getting these photo booth photos! We're just so funny...

After the fair, we headed over to Jeromy's parents house for the Every-2-months-birthday-celebration-party! There were alot of birthdays going on. Jade was one of them from last month.

All the little kids hanging out and eating...

There was also a new baby born this past August. Little Ant (Anthony Junior). And he is adorable!!! He's 6 weeks old, and guess who got to hold him first??? I guess I was just at the right place at the right time... infront of everyone else!!! Look at those eyes!Here's Jade holding him. She's such a cutie-pie!!! Love that girl...

In the middle is Jeromy's dad, Chuck, on the left of Chuck is Chucks uncle, and to the right is Chucks brother Dennis... I could see the family resemblance in all 3 and in Jeromy!

Birthday cupcakes and cake.... mmmmmm...

Home now. Tired and full. But not overly full. I'm learning self control with food. Sometimes it wins... like last weekend, but sometimes I win- like this weekend.

Good night!

Overtime...

... is rearing it's ugly head. Worked a 10 hour shift last night, might be the rest of the week, and it's looking like both days this weekend. We have some 40 bags to make that need to be done in the next few weeks, so they're having us work around the clock.

At least Jade and Kent's college books will be paid for... there.... that's a positive spin on it.

Ran 6 miles today and then enjoyed my delicious protein shake with frozen raspberries, strawberries, honey, ground flax seed and kefir milk.... mmmmmm, the whole time I'm running I'm looking forwarding to having it! I only drink it on days that I run so it's really a good motivation!

I guess summer is gone... *tear*....

September Birthdays.

Well, yesterday was little Hannah's 3rd birthday. And today is my brother Nick's 35th birthday- old man. Later this month my dad turns 69 and on the same day the kid's Grandma Claire turns 59. There are also 3 Trig birthdays: the twins Tae' and Nadia are 13 and their brother Austin will be 18! I think that's all the birthdays that I know of for September.

Oh yeah, I added some "before" pictures of the 3 kids over on the side bar on the right. I got the idea from my friend Mindi. It's so cute to see them "then" and "now".

Over and out.

9/11/2001

9/11/01

I remember... being at work, 10 years ago, just a 2nd year apprentice in the shipyard. People started saying something about the towers. There was one TV on our 3rd floor, across the hall in the sailors area. We all ran over there and just watched the news unfold...

There were more threats of other planes...

There were some type of jets, F-16's if I remember right, circling our shipyard, we could hear them. We didn't know what was going on but we were told they were circling the yard to spot any possible planes trying to bomb the yard. I remember at times we were listening to the jets and than wondering if it was the sound of another plane.

We heard of another plane crashing... then another... just pure panic... fear... chaos...

I can't believe 10 years have gone by...

I have been watching bits and pieces of the memorial ceremony today. I still can't wrap my brain around the tragedy of it all, of the 2977 lives that were lost... families who lost loved ones... it's like a horrible ripple effect. I didn't know anybody who died, or anyone who knew someone who died... but they were Americans... so it effects all of us.

I thought the memorial sight was beautiful. I heard, I think Katie Curic, describe it as a huge void of space of what was taken, but yet the flowing 30 foot waterfalls of water signifying that life still goes on.

And it does... Jeromy got 2 new baby chicks the last time Aurora was here. They stay in the house till they're a little bit bigger. There little tiny baby "chirps" are so cute!

Two dozen beautiful red roses from Jeromy!

I had to get a top view just to appreciate all 24 of them...

Also, did some running around today. Stopped at Maxx Nutrition to restock on our supplements we get. Also got this fish oil that's supposed to be good for ya.

And this cool fancy cup that spins the different powders you get so they don't get chalky when just stirring with a knife... this might have been wasted money spent. Don't like when I do that. Oh well, it will be nice while it lasts... it takes a battery people! I'm not going to keep up with that!

Got some more honey at the local honey place down the road from us, this one is raspberry favored! I add this to my newly found protein shake I have after my long runs. Sooo delicious!

I have been very blessed by God to have all that I have, and a wonderful family- like you MOM!!! Love you!

My mom is always there for me. I can call her anytime- but it's better if it's before 8:00pm bedtime. I even called my mom tonight to ask how exactly to cook corn on the cob. Thanks mom- it was perfect!

We had a nice family dinner tonight. We were having halibut- trying to get more fish in our diets...

We had fish, salad, corn on the cob- yummy! and warmed bread with butter...

And we had a pretty fab dessert, too! Ding dongs!!!

Being an AMERICAN, we have so many freedoms that we, I, take for granted. We are so privileged in this country to have all that we have. I heard this fact before that the average person in the WORLD lives on $2.00 a day. Is that crazy? We have it so good here, let's never take it for granted that we live in the land of the free, and the home of the brave...

May GOD bless America!

We are one Nation under GOD!

More stuff I love...

....I know I've said it before- but celery and peanut butter.... num-num-num....

And this Greek yogurt I found at Trader Joe's. I've been reading that it's actually ok to eat full fat yogurts, cheeses, and milks, that those are the good fats (in moderation of course) with enzymes and other good stuff that is stripped out of the non-fattening process. The trans fats and crap in fast food and processed foods are the bad fats to stay away from- trust me I'm preaching to my self here. So I found a full fat Greek (more protein than regular yogurt) yogurt that tastes sooo creamy! It's 8 points for the weight watcher people out there, which is kinda high, but well worth it. I was figuring I wasn't eating enough fat during the day (when I'm being good) and I was feeling weak with the amount of running I'm doing. So healthy fats here I come! And the lady at Trader Joe's said she loves that yogurt and she puts it in the freezer for a while and it's like creamy ice-cream. Think I'll be doing that tonight at work- in the freezer it goes....

And I also LOVE this guy! Just look at that face- what's not to love!!!

And of course Jesus for saving me!

Did I ever tell you?

That I LOVE LOVE LOVE Peaches...

And snap peas????

There, I dun told ya!

You haven't read my blog in a while scroll down to the next post- alot of great pictures!

LOVING THIS SUNSHINE!

3 out of 4...

... of my days off are over with....

And I'm exhausted- but a good happy satisfied exhausted. I think I need to go back to work just to have some down time LOL

So I had Friday off. And I was going with my friend, Jane from church, to Sol Duc Hot Springs. She has a season pass up there, so it just costs a little bit to get into the actual resort. You may remember earlier in one of my blog posts that Jade went with Jane and her son Eli and friend Josh a few weeks ago. And it looked like alot of fun, and I hinted how I would LOVE to go. So Jane said she'd go again!

We packed alot of healthy snacks!

So Friday, Jane, Jade, Kent and myself all headed out. It takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to get there, can't remember exactly where it is but I do know we headed north.

The water was so warm I think Kent was falling asleep. I asked how he was doing and he said he was just relaxing!

It's a rough life...

Love these pasty white kids!

Kids and I got a cappuccino smoothie.... mmmmmm.....

Kids just lounging about... hey- somebody had to do it!

My friend Jane and I...

Jane took this picture of us 3 at the entrance...

Here's a quick video of the place. When the video starts it's scrolling past a large regular pool, then it's kinda hard to tell but it finally lands over 3 smaller circular pools that are different degrees of HOT!

Soooo, Saturday morning Jade, Kent and I were running in the "Over the Narrows" run! This is the first time we've done this particular run. And actually it's only the second annual run for this event! So I was doing the 10 mile course that actually runs over the narrows and back, and the kids were doing the 2 mile run. Here were all are bright and early with our numbers pinned on... (Kent loves wearing that crazy head thing. I try to talk him out of it but he says it acts like a sweat band, and he always get at least one compliment from other runners so I give up!)

Aurora and Jeromy there to cheer us on...

Here's comes Kent finishing his 2 miles...

A little blurry but here's Jade finishing her 2 miles...

Coming around the last bend. This was a tough but awesome 10 miles...

Of course my amazing husband got an amazing video of me crossing the finish line! As I was running by Jade asked me "Mom! Are you going to sprint across the finish line?" And I said "No! This is all I got" and I jogged nice an easy over the finish line. And the announcer announced my name when I crossed- kinda cool! So I finished the 10 miles in 1:40:56. That averages to about a 10 minute mile! I'm definitely improving! I used to average a 12 minute mile! And I was the 220 person to cross the finish line out of 356 people.

Then Grandma Cindy invited us over for homemade pizza... mmmmkay!!!

Jade making the pizza into thirds and the kids picking from a massive selection of toppings for their individual third- including minced garlic, a basil spread, sun dried tomatoes, bacon (freshly cooked), 4 kinds of cheeses, pepperoni, chicken... so many others! She also made fresh cupcakes with chocolate frosting! My mom knew I needed to recharge after running 10 miles! And I had no guilt eating my dinner!

Grandma Made Kent a cool pillow with the colors orange and blue that he picked out with his name on it, and it's on both sides- so cooool!

Oh here's the kids and I in our cool shirts we got from this mornings run! Ya we're dorks, but we're COOL dorks!

Aurora diggin' her pizza. Can you believe she ate all that? Me either...

Dividing up Jade, Kent and Aurora's into thirds...

Looking pretty good there... this is Jeromy and my pizza! His half has goat cheese that he can eat, mine has 4 other kinds of cheesy goodness on it!

Oh my gosh! Look at that! Grandma and Grandpa... thanks again for dinner and dessert!

Afterarda we were able to visit a couple of the Trig kids! Julia, and Beriah were with Kyle downtown at the black berry festival. Here's Beriah and Aurora- who haven't seen each other since February...

Julia and Kyle...

Jade and Julia...

Julia and Jeromy, like no time has passed. Julia messing with J3 and he messing with her!

Are these girls adorable or what? I can't stand it! Beriah's really grown tho! She's squatting down in this picture but she's about 2-3 taller than Aurora and Aurora is older!

Daaaa boys....

Beriah and Aurora were having so much fun splashing in the huge sprinkler...

Julia and Jade...

Awesome kids, Kyle, Julia, Jade, Aurora, Beriah and Kenton...

Jade and Kyle.... or Sponge Bob and Patrick...

Beriah and Aurora, Beriah's eyes are just beautiful! Aurora's are quite beautiful, too...

Onto sunday! First we went to church and our Pastor Kevin is still in Sudan. And he called during the service to have the chaplins he's teaching/training down there to sing us a song! It was amazing! He comes home sometime in the next week. Can't wait to have him back!

Afterwards, my auntie Mary was having a HUGE BBQ for my uncle Jim who was retiring (for the 3rd time?)... Here's my uncle Jim...

BBQ line...

Chillin' inside...

Sweatin' outside...Looks like uncle Jim is going to ease into this retirement thing quite easily... grandpa playing with Zoey! I finally got to see her in real life- sooo cute!!!

Jade was also watching little Emma for a little while later on this afternoon. She is such a doll. On the way home she had a conversation with Kent. Remember: Emma is 3, Kent is 17.

Emma: You're crazy! (giggling)

Kent: No I'm not, I'm quite sensible. (Kent very serious)

Emma: No, you're crazy. (more giggling)

Kent: Why do you say that? (Kent trying to reason with a 3 year old)

Emma: You're just crazy. (still laughing but starting to get bored)

Kent: You're not answering my question, why am I crazy? (Kent patiently trying to understand her logic)

By this time, Jeromy, myself, Jade and Aurora are all busting up laughing. We told Kent he could not reason with a 3 year old, she didn't even know what crazy really meant. Man that was so funny! Here's Jeromy showing Emma our baby chicks, she wasn't too sure about them, she said "put them back in (the cage)".

Jade, Emma and Aurora...

Ok, some random misc stuff. Here's a picture I ordered from the Seattle half marathon in June. They didn't have as cool selections of backgrounds as they did last year, but I gotta have the picture! Creepy people please ignore my last name.

I finally got Kent's poster pictures done of his Europe trip. They have such cool things at Walgreens, and Costco, too. I can pick up to 30 pictures and then they get put into this collage and I can put a title on it! Kent's is the larger one with 30 pictures he takes with him when he moves out, the smaller one with 16 pictures (I think) is mine to keep when he moves out. These were sooo cool!

Here's a close up of mine- ignore glaring flash in the middle of the frame...

Here's a close up of Kent's...

And lastly, here's the cute frogs my mom made me... I named them "Jeromy and Katie", and they sit on this shelf in my room. So cute mom, thanks!!!

GOOD NIGHT!!!

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