My Garden

Well it's that time of year again, the time where I get the itch to try my skills at growing veggies.

So for most of the day Saturday I tilled the ground so that the soil was workable, mixed in some miracle grow garden soil and planted 4 tomatoes, 1 cherry tomatoe, 1 zuccini squash, 1 banana pepper, 1 jalapeno pepper. In addition to some white corn and some carrots from seed. I already had some strawberry plants growing in my box from last season, we'll see how they do.

With some TLC I should have a good salsa garden by mid summer.

Spring Break

This week has been spring break for my girls. With me back to work 6 hours a day, and my planned childcare fell through, I am very thankful the team that came up from Concord and blessed us with soccer camp! My girls absolutely LOVED it!!! I'm sure the youth group from Fair Oaks made many lasting memories on my childrens minds. After soccer camp on Wednesday I brought the girls to our office. Thursday it was just Rebekah. They were fantastically well behaved. I put a movie on in the break room, and brought coloring stuff for them. Bekah even helped me out with some small chores around here when she was by herself. It was a good experience for the both of us!

Oh My Gosh!

Oh my gosh it's been over a month since I've posted a blog. Lots of petty stuff I could've blogged about I guess, just haven't done it.

Always busy with the girls, Brandon, never ending housework, and spending lots of time at the gym.

Well Friday I got a much needed break, as we left to go to Salinas for the weekend. It was Tim's mom's Birthday, and her new husband was throwing her a surprise party. Although she knew that we were coming down, she had no idea about all the others that had traveled to see her.

We arrived Friday evening just in time for dinner. That was obstacle number one. Leroy had made some awesome chili, and of course I was starving so I had to have some. Then mom baked some brownies, obstacle number two, I had some....

Saturday morning we hike uphill past her house, about 1 1/2 miles up. It was a good refreshing hike it the mist. If you've never been to Salinas, I would recommend driving past the town towards the hills, like your going to Monterey, very beautiful.

Mom's surprise party was 3:00 on Saturday, she really was surprised, and even shed a few tears. It was really cool to see her so happy that all her friends and family came to celebrate her birthday with her.

Anyway here's a few pictures of the last time we went to Salinas.

Update on me

The Holidays are upon us, busy, busy, busy. Yesterday I went on a field trip with Rebekah's 3rd grade class. First we went to Canyonwood Nursing Home and visited with the seniors there. They prayed with the residents and sang some Christmas carols to them. It was pretty touching to see those children boldly go up to "old people" strangers and ask them if they could pray for them. They all layed their hands on them as they prayed. After that we headed to the Cascade Theater for a production of "The Elves and the Shoemaker." It was a small production, however the kids seemed to enjoy it. After the Cascade we headed back up to the school and I dropped off some students and picked up other ones for a field trip to the bowling alley. Let me just say that it was a very busy day. While I was at the Nursing home I received a text message from my husband saying that he couldn't find some important business papers that he needed right away, so I had to leave the group and rush off to take the papers (which were in my purse,) to him, and rush back to the group.

So today I told him that I just wanted to stay home all day and bake. (didn't happen.)

My weight this Monday morning was 166.0 Not too bad as I took a week off of pushing it hard.

I really need to start the next round! I feel like I need that competition to keep going.

I did make it to the gym this morning and ran 3 miles and then biked for 10 min.

My house is SLOWLY getting decorated for Christmas. This year I went up to Castle Lake and Brandon and I stomped through the woods and found a tree to chop down. This was something that my family did when I was growing up. I haven't done that in about 25 years! It was fun.

4th file 4th picture

OK here is my 4th file 4th pic. It is my cousin Amy and I out on Shasta Lake this summer. We had a great week together, kept busy doing all kinds of activities. Notice how much thinner I am now!!! hee hee =) I can't wait to see everyone else's 4th, 4th!

Random thoughts

I won this weeks weight loss contest. I honestly am amazed every time I place in the top three. Jed and Mike are doing an amazing job!

(Kudos to Tim, Kristen, and Jenn as

well!)

Here is my philosophy on losing weight. I look at it as a project. A "ME" project, in order for it to get done, I have to work on it daily. If I were an architect and building a model of some buildings, I would have to work on it and do something to it in order for it to be finished.

Going for a jog, or to the gym is working on it, however it is only half of the work. Carefully watching your diet is the other half. If I workout and then blow it with my diet, then it is like wrecking the model of buildings right after building them. Yes I do occasionally have a treat.

Do I do all of this on my own strength? No, there are many days I have to pray my way through it. Some days I don't even want to go to the gym, but my husband and I have this saying..."lace them up!" Doing so helps to at least do some sort of physical exercise. I have to daily remind myself of my weight loss goals, and do something to obtain that goal, even if it is just skipping a sweet or high calorie snack. I just pray that I do well through this holiday season!

Update

Just a quick update on my Uncle who suffered a massive stroke a few weeks ago. He is now at Northern California Rehabilitation Center on Eureka Way. He still can not speak, and the right side of his body is still paralized. He can however eat somewhat. He is having problems with aspiration, so he has to be carefully watched while he eats. He has developed a blood clot in his right leg. He needs a miracle. My heart goes out to both my cousins, and my father who has been taking care of my uncle's personal business. Thank you to those of you who have been praying. Continued prayer is needed.