Bowling!

At the end of school Kamrie brought home a flyer that said, "Kids Bowl Free".  Well I checked it out and sure enough, I could sign up my children under 16, and they would get coupons to bowl two games every day!  We just had to pay for shoes.  Then they had a deal for $24.95 you could sign up 4 others!  Well. I paid the $24.95 and we spent at least one night a week, and sometimes Saturday bowling!!  The first few times the younger kids wanted the bumpers, but by the end of the summer they could all bowl pretty well!

Funny story:  One evening a family came in and were bowling next to us.  It appeared that Uncle had brought his Nieces and Nephew.  The Uncle sort of knew how to bowl and was attempting to tell/show the kids.  When it came to the youngest of the group, a little girl about 7, her uncle was trying to help her.  She turned to him and said, "I have a Wii, I know how to bowl!"  I then shared with him that they could have bumpers.  They all had a much better time after the bumpers were up.
 

Zac

Jim

Tyler

Chad

Kamrie

Scott

Amy

Birthday Boy!

Thirteen years ago today, Jim and I headed to the hospital for our first induction.  It was my longest labor, and at 5:57 PM we welcomed our biggest baby.  Chad has spent the last thirteen years continuing to do things his own way!  We love him, and have loved being a part of his life.  He is an incredibly happy kid, and makes friends with everyone.

Television, and what it teaches a 6 year old!

As most of you know I care for two children that are not my own. Carlie is six, and a very bright little girl.

As part of my "job" I pick her up from school pretty regularly. This was the first week back to school and on Wednesday, I picked her up. As we started pulling out of the carpool line she started to tell me how I could send in my jewelry and they would melt it down and send me A LOT of money! This brought a smile to my face, and I then I thought we would talk about how you can't always believe everything you see on tv. At that suggestion she let me know that she believes everything she sees on tv.

"I beleive in Santa Claus, I saw him on Frosty the Snowman"
(I just assumed she also believed in a real live snowman.)

I believe in Cash for Gold, AND I believe in No more tweezing and no more waxing!"

And after she told me all about the above product, I told her I thought she watched too much tv.

Tyler's 16!!

Tyler turned 16 in April!  Another driver!  He had a pretty fun party with his best friend Patrick.  Patrick's birthday is the day after Tyler's so they combined their party!  Here's a few pictures:

First Things First

I have A LOT of catching up to do on this blog of mine.  So here goes nothing.

Back in March I decided it was time to make a change.  I was heavier than I wanted to be, and really wasn't exercising AT ALL!!   I knew that changing my diet wasn't gonna happen so I had to find something else.  I wouldn't pay a gym membership, and I have plenty of things around the house that I can use to work out, but didn't. 
"I am not a runner", that's what I always said.  But I would see people out jogging and wish that I wanted to do that.  I had heard of a program a few years ago called Couch to 5K, and when I researched it, thought it looked like something I could do.  The problem is the motivation, I had none.  So I looked it up again, and to my surprise, they had a APP!!!  I love APPS, I love my Iphone.  So I downloaded the app and a few days later was ready to start my 9 week program.  Then a week later I started again.  This time it stuck.  30 minutes, three times a week.  Each week the 30 minute work out changes.  The first day, I did a 5 minute warm up, then for 20 mins alternated jogging for 60 seconds and walking for 90 seconds, then a 5 minute cool down.  Now, for me, the best part of the APP is the little coach in my headphones that talks over my playlist and tells me when to walk and when to jog!  She even told me when I was halfway through the work out, so I would just turn around and head back home.   I am not ashamed to admit that the first work out KILLED ME!  I could barely jog for 60 seconds!  But each week the work out contained a little more jogging and little less walking.  And by the ninth and final week, I could jog for the full 30 minutes, for a distance of about 3 miles!  Now I actually look forward to my runs.  (Although I don't always enjoy them while they are happening)  So this blog is to record my goal attained, "I am a runner" (well jogger, and not a very fast jogger)
I need to thank the creators of this amazing program and APP-

And a very special thank you to my many running partners.  They all played there part in encouraging me, and keeping me going!  So thank you to - Carrie, Plain White T boys, Coldplay, Gwen, Justin, Saving Jane, Kelly, and Kris.  I couldn't have done it without you!

Sharing Bathrooms

We are VERY blessed to have the home we live in.  We have three and 1/4 baths, that's FOUR toilets, and with 7 people that is a great number of bathrooms to have.

The kids all sleep upstairs and Jim and I are downstairs.  Ever since we moved here the upstairs bathrooms have each been shared by the boys.  Kamrie was only two and so she had her baths in our bathroom.  If you have boys you understand that I could not make my daughter share a bathroom with two brothers.  So, she still shares the master bath with Jim and I.  I just wanted to document a glimpse of what it's like to share a bathroom with and 8 year old girl.

Birthday Build!

Jim and I have never had nightstands.  Really, we never needed them.  I always kept the clock on a desk in our room.  Jim has never needed an alarm to wake up, he just always wakes up when he needs to.  But now with a cell phone that gets charged nightly he has started using this!

(pretty sure Kamrie originally brought this

in our room for her popcorn)

Well, about a month ago I happened upon a most amazing girl and her amazing blog!  It's called Knock-off Wood and is truly inspiring.  She takes famous brand furniture, and then creates easy plans to make them yourself.  AND she posts them all for free!!

So for Jim's birthday I thought I would build him a real night stand.  After a few different finishes on the legs, I think it looks pretty good.  Of course I had to go buy a lamp and a fancy charger for the phone so my inexpensive gift cost a little more than planned, but it was all worth it!

A Great Day

On Saturday January 2, 2010 our daughter Kamrie was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We were so blessed that both sets of grandparents were able to come for this special occasion.

Kamrie asked her big brother Zac if he would perform the baptism.  He of course said he would, and did a great job!

I was amazed at the number of people that came to support Kamrie in this milestone of her life.  We are so blessed with so many friends here in TN!