Justine Lora

Belly Pictures Week 14

2012-02-08T12:35:00.000-08:00

The first two are taken on Friday 2/10/2012 at my parents house. This picture was taken on Saturday 2/11/2012! It is at my friend Miranda's house with her baby girl Kailee! These are from week 14!

Ultrasound Pictures

2012-01-29T14:04:00.000-08:00

The top image is baby B and the bottom one is baby A! When they were doing the ultrasound baby B was moving like crazy! Rick was wondering why I couldn't feel the baby! I think that sometime I do but I don't realize that it is them.

During this last week we have gotten more used to the fact that we are having twins. I am still going back and forth but I'm getting better at being excited. I am extremely emotional.

Rick is very excited to become a daddy again... I think that he is more excited than anyone else. He has been so sweet. No matter what my mood is he know what to do and how to calm me down. He is always making sure that I'm ok and that the babies are good. He makes sure that I am eating right and not eating junk... even though all I ever want to eat is fruit and veggies. Thanks to him i will be able to get through this.

I think that it was on Wednesday I had dinner in the crock pot and we went and did our 10 hour work day. When we got home I went to the crock pot to see how dinner was and it had not cooked at all. I just started to cry... I was so upset that dinner was not cooked. I was so excited to eat this dinner. As I am standing there in front of the crock pot crying and Andrew says something along the lines of "dad I got to tell you that when girls are pregnant they just get angry..."

Rick responds "no"

Andrew " Mad"

Rick - " no, just emotional"

While the boys are talking about this I am crying and go to the restroom. Rick looks at me because I'm still crying and says "its okay babe we can just have something else for dinner its really okay..."

I love having a husband that is always there for me even thought I am crazy these days.

If there is anything that you want to ask just leave a comment or facebook me and I will respond to you personally or I will respond on the blog. Let me know!

Pregnant .... with TWINS!

2012-01-28T18:58:00.000-08:00

Just so everyone knows this blog is now going to be about me and my pregnancy with twins I want to blog about almost everything that happens just like I would in a journal. So here goes anything.

Yes!!! I am pregnant.... I am pregnant with twins! On January 20th Andrew, Rick and I went to the doctors for my first doctors appointment. We went in and everything went normal we found out that I was 11 weeks 5 days... that was a week later than I thought that I was. I was okay with this news kind of excited. That I was almost 12 weeks the doctor said that we would be doing an ultrasound to check the baby!

The news of doing an ultrasound was very exciting and very nervous. We do the normal doctor stuff then go over to the ultrasound room. I get all ready for the ultrasound and the doctor does some little things before the ultrasound starts.

As soon as the ultrasound starts she says well we have a surprise for you! I look up at my husband (Rick) and tell him that we are having twins! I looked at the screen and there were 2 little white dots not 1 there were 2. At that point I didn't know what to think or feel. I don't know how long we were in there looking at the ultrasound but it was a while and the whole time the doctor was talking to us about these babies that are in me. She told us what type of twins she thought that they were but by the time she was telling us that I was crying and not paying attention. Rick was just trying to figure out what was going on and I don't know what Andrew was doing because he was behind the curtain.

By the end of the appointment I was pretty much balling. I had joked about having twins with Ricky once and he had said something about it at the appointment. All I could do was cry. The doctor said something along the lines of me reacting the right way and that everything would work out. She also told me that everything was ok because I have 2 boobs - I still don't know what to think about that comment other than maybe feedings will be easier. After the doctor left the room Rick came over and I told him that it wasn't funny anymore. He just hugged me.

On the way home all I could think about was what aer we going to do with twins? How am I going to take care of my husband, stepson and two babies? What am I going to do? This is now what we had planned. and there was so much more going through my mind all I could do was cry. We went over to Ricks parents house with our ultra sound pictures and told them that we were pregnant... It definitely took them a while to understand that we were having twins.

We wanted to wait until both my parents were home to let them know so we had decided to wait until after our next appointment to tell them. That didn't quite workout because my mom wanted me to go and hang out with her the next day and I had to come up with some excuse not to go and do something with her when all I wanted to do was tell her that I was pregnant with twins. So on Sunday morning I got on the phone with my dad and told him my mom was at church so I couldn't tell her. I called both of my brothers and let them know. I finally got a hold of my mom and she was in the car with my sister. I think that I got the best reaction from them. I had hidden this from them for 12 weeks... All my mom could say was that she could not believe that I did not tell her.

It was such a relief to tell people it was like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Then again it was just put into a bump on my belly! Yes I have a baby bump already. My next scheduled Ultrasound was the 27th (yesterday) and I will have to write about that one tomorrow or something because I'm tired and thinking about going to be. I will also post ultra sound pics tomorrow from the first Ultrasound.

Let me know what your thinking about all of this.

Saturday

2011-09-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday Morning! I Love Saturday mornings! I can usually wake up when ever I want to and do what ever I want to! So this morning I got up and made coffee for Rick. The boys went down to Jennie and Larry's house to help Larry put new lights up in the shop. So after they left I went for a walk. I walked for 2 miles came home and got ready for my day! I love being able to go for walks in the morning while most of the people in my neighborhood is still in their houses and not making much noise. While I walked I listened to music.

Music just makes my day! Now it is time to vacuum my car out so I can go and sell it! Woot woot! Kind of excited!

?!?!

2011-09-09T20:53:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been thinking about the time when I lived in Raleigh, NC! I really enjoyed living there and the friends that I made. I have been thinking about why I had so much fun while I lived there and why I don't have as much fun anymore. I think that I figured out why I'm not as happy anymore! Also how I'm going to fix things.

1- I listened to music all of the time! - like all of the time I think that the only time that I didn't listen to music or have music in the back round is when I was sleeping. So now I need to listen to music again!

2- I didn't care what people thought of me. I was an out of town er and once I got to town I didn't care what people thought. I was comfortable with myself and just did whatever.

3- I played soccer and I was told that I was good at it my a group of Hispanic guys! Out of all of the people that were there I was the only girl that played and I was the only white person that played.

So I think that I want to start up some of these things again. I don't mean playing soccer with a bunch of Hispanic males, but I would like to play soccer again. I think that I will dance and listen to music more often.

I really don't know the purpose of this blog but I just feel that I need to write it down some were and let some people know!

I want to laugh, sing and enjoy life! I have been getting better but looking back at pictures of me in NC it made me think that I want to be that girl again. Not a care in the world how or what others thought of me. I enjoyed that life so much and was so happy. Now just to get that back. I think that I am going to stop typing now and look for a soccer team indoor or outdoor is my only thing that I feel that I need to worry about!.

Oh yeah I'm going to get rid of my car! I am going to sell it to a auto dealership and get my in laws Tahoe! I have always wanted a truck or an SUV so excited!

Homemade Everything!

2011-08-24T14:51:00.000-07:00

So I am trying to learn new thing and try new things out! This week I am trying homemade cleaning products and homemade anything really! I have been going to a blog that has a lot of money saving tips and well homemade products will save you money! The blog that I go to is thegrocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com man oh man I can't get away from it! I love this blog.

I will be posting some of the recipes that I have found and that I am currently using! I really hope that it is going to save me a bunch of money and time in the long run!

I also have been trying to organize myself with cleaning lists, meal menus and stuff like that so that when I go back to work I know what needs to be done each day and what we are going to eat. I hope that all of my planning and work now will pay out in the end!

Here are some of the recipes that I have found!

All purpose cleaner (409)

1 empty trigger spray bottle
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon borax
water
1/8 cup liquid dish soap

Pour vinegar and borax into the spray bottle, add 1 cup of water and swish around until borax has dissolved. Fill with water leaving enough room for the dish soap.

Window Cleaner (Windex)

1/4 cup ammonia
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 teaspoon liquid dish soap
6 3/4 cup water

Mix all ingredients together in a bucket and pour into a spray bottle. Store extra in a container for later.

Fabric Softener

6 cups water
3 cups vinegar
2 cups any hair conditioner

Put all ingredients into a gallon container and swish until mixed (if you shake it will just foam up). Add some to you washer when you need it or put into spray bottle and spray on to clothes before you put them into the dryer.

Teeth whitener

1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cap full hydrogen peroxide

mix the two together and put on to tooth brush. Use as if you were using toothpaste but do not swallow at all. ( doesn't taste good so I would just use it on the fronts of my teeth and then brush with my regular toothpaste) Only use 1 a week to 1 a month.

For a lot of these you can get the ingredients at you local dollar store. If you would like more time saving/money saving tips just go to the website.

More Pictures!

2011-08-23T16:26:00.001-07:00

Week in Chelan and Banks Lake! This is only one of the many things that we did while in Chelan! Golf - We all really sucked in the begining but by the end we did pretty good!

Me trying to golf! I look like a dork!

Brian trying to get the ball over the gully! It worked kind of... went off into the brush.

Ricky getting his swing on!

chatting it up on if they should hit the ball or throw the club! - Brian decided to throw the club and it went pretty far.

Boys will be Boys! Especially on Golf carts!

Other than golf we went to the water park and then went jet skiing! Our time at Chelan was spent having fun! Our time at Banks Lake was spent relaxing! I know that we enjoyed our time away! Can't wait to do this trip again!

Pictures

2011-08-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

Pictures Finally!

Above is the last camp fire we had at Boneaparte in BC

Ben - my nephew on the Brooks side - and me with blonde hair!

Chester trying to enjoy the lake! It was her first time at a lake and by the end of the week she really liked the water!

The boys on the new boat I think that they are seting the poles up!

Ricky puting gas into the boat! The boat looks so good! Hoping to put a hard top on to it in the next couple of years.

Week

2011-08-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday again!

I have a love hate relationship with Sundays! I love Sundays because I get to spend them relaxing taking in what I have accomplished for the week and weekend! I hate Sundays because Rick has to go back to work Monday morning and I have to figure out what to accomplish for the up coming week.

Last week was really productive and I am hoping that this upcoming week is productive as well. I am hoping that maybe I will be able to do some more canning and or freezing of foods, get more scrap booking done and workout - want to get back to that bikini body that I some what had in high school! Maybe this week I can add something else in to my to be done list! Wait I don't have one of them right now need to start it asap! Oh yeah and last week I read 2 books I am hoping to finish one more this week and then another next week. That is if I don't go back to work before I can finish the ones that I have!

Things that I really want to do this week are:
-Learn more healthy recipes
-walk the dog everyday so she gets exercise
-work on scrap booking - get more pictures developed
-Figure out a meal plan for myself

I don't know what else these are just things that just popped into my head. So we will see what all gets done! Now I have to go and get things ready for the week!

Life's Challenges

2011-08-06T15:13:00.001-07:00

Life in general brings challenges!

One of my biggest challenges in life has been to find a hobby! I think that I have finally found some hobbies that I really enjoy and that will take time to do!

I am trying to start scrap booking and I am totally excited to be doing this. Today I even went out to Jo-Ann's today and got some stuff to get me started. I almost saved as much as I spent Can you say SALE!! Anyways now I have to get all of our pictures developed and organized so I can do something with them.

I also have been doing some canning with my mum. We have canned jam and some green beans. I am excited to try canning some other things as well I want to even trying to freeze some things.
These are some of the things in my life that are exciting challenges now.
So for the more difficult challenges in my life. It is difficult to say this but I have an issue with my weight! In the last 4 years I have gained a significant amount of weight. I am not happy about this and I have to learn how to deal with it so I can hopefully lose weight in the next year. I want to get back to my weight in high school! I don't know what it is going to take, i know that it will take some work on my part. Well not just some work a lot of work. I am the one that let me get to where I am at know!
With trying to lose weight I feel that now that I have a hobby to take up time I will be going to food less and less! Doing that will help me out a lot. I will have to find some healthier recipes so that I can change the way that my family eats. I am excited about the new changes that are coming to my life.
Another difficult thing that I have had to deal with in my life is happiness! Sometimes I don't feel happy I feel sad and don't know what to do with myself. Having hobbies and eating healthier I believe are going to help me be happy with myself and happy in life. There are so many of my life challenges that just run together. IS that the way it is with everyone. That once one thing falls into place everything seems to follow? I really hope that this is going to work for me. I have seen so many people be successful in their lives that I now want to be successful with myself.

Thank you to all the people in my life for all the support and examples that you are to me. You all have helped me to find a happier me.

1 year

2011-07-23T11:07:00.001-07:00

Last year I was getting ready to walk down the isle to get married to my fab husband! I can not believe that we have been married a year ago.

We went on a trip last week and ended up saying that that is what we were going to do for our anniversary! I think that we will end up going out to dinner today and that is about it. Well we better because Rick ended up getting up at 2 am to go fishing at Baker Lake. He hopefully will bring home 3 sockeye. I know it is a weird way of bringing in a year of being married but he had a little laps in his memory and I told him that he could go! Hopefully he will be home soon.

I will have to update all later on what we have been doing in the last month or so and maybe even put up some pictures of our trips.

Update!!!

2011-06-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

So Ricky is off of night shift now. He was back to days for like a month or so but now he has been put on standby with Diamond B. He has been working on his new boat that we got on the 13th of this month. The boat is a 1990 Olympic with a 1989 88 special Evinrude outboard motor on it. When we got it the motor was having some problems... but my husband is very talented and somewhat of a mechanic so he has fixed our boat motor and added a few accessories to the boat itself.
Andrew is now out of school and enjoying his summer. He really enjoys to ride his bike and play outside when it is nice out.
I have been up to my normal stuff. I have been reading a bit more again and I really enjoy it. I get to spend some time with my hubby. Oh yeah and in the last month or so I had been going between home and a hospital in Seattle. That is a long story and I will write another post about that at a later date.

In the last couple of days or even weeks, we have been preparing for our yearly fishing trip to Bonaparte Lake in Canada. It takes about 7 hours to get there in the motor home. We are taking our new boat and can I tell you how excited Rick is about taking his new boat out. It is like WOW at how much he likes his boat. I have been trying to plan out meals for this trip and not pack too much food. Well as it goes I always pack too much food. As I have been doing this I have decided to marinate my meat portion of the meal and freeze it so that it cuts down on the prep time and let me enjoy my vacation a lot better.

The dinners that we are having on our trip:
Asian Flank Steak - oh so good that I am going to do this 2 nights.
Hamburgers
Hot dogs/Italian Sausage
Lasagna - tradition for the first night
Herb and garlic Chicken
Pork chops
Steak
Foil Dinner
Fish - the one meal that Rick does because he likes his fish a certain way.

All of these should be really good dinners that I can do on the BBQ or in a fire and don't have to heat anything up in the motor home. We now have a camp stove and a BBQ so I can do a complete dinner out side and this I am so excited about. We have our large propane tank that has a post attachment that has 2 ports for hoses so you can have your camp stove and BBQ going at the same time and on the top of the post you can put your lantern. I am so excited about the set up and being able to see what I am cooking when I am cooking at night.

Any ways that is what we have been up to and what we are going to be doing for the next little while. When we get back I will try to put up some pictures of our set up, our boat and our trip, Oh yeah and hopefully some Fish.

Interests/hobbies

2011-05-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been trying to figure out what I want to do with my time at home. A lot of my time at home is spent watching TV and cooking! I want to find something to keep me away from the TV and away from the kitchen! Yesterday I went online to check out different hobbies/interest I still don't know what I want to do, there are just so many things that I enjoy doing.

As I have been thinking about this I feel as if I need to get a daily schedule going! Have a time for working out, craft time, cooking/baking time etc. I feel as if I am waisting my life away with TV and food. When I should be enjoying my life and having fun.

Crafts that I think that I could do in my time:
-reading
-singing
-cooking
-scrap booking
-running/jogging
-horse riding
-belly dancing
-soccer
-yoga
-photography
-food decorating
-gardening
-quilting
-woodcarving
-baby crafts
and something to do with vintage stuff.

I was looking at a web site last night and it was - ilovecraftscraftblogs.lindawalshoriginals.net
there were many different types of crafts that one could be interested in. I want to find something to do in the next two weeks so that when Rick is back on Days I can have something to do during the days when Andrew is at school and he is at work or busy with the business. I think that if I find something that I really enjoy doing I will be happier. So if you have any ideas for me please let me know.

Have you thought about what your hobbies/interests are?

Hard Time and New Dress

2011-04-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

This week has been hard! I don't get how it could have gotten any worse then last week but it seem to have gotten worse! This week I felt so alone. I guess that that part is because Andrew has been down at Grandma and Grandpa's house since Monday night. So the house has been quiet and maybe a little too quiet for my liking. Rick has been so tired lately that it is just dinner for him and then bed, he wakes up and has to run out the door to make it to work in time. We still have 20 days of this. I can tell you that I hate it. I think that this time it is harder then 2 years ago when we both were working out there. I was on days and he was on nights. I think that I saw him more than I see him now. Back then I got to see him in the morning (he would wake me up) and then I would bring him the paper before he started. This is right after we got engaged. I took him dinner almost every night. I don't think that I got home until like 9 every night and went straight to bed. That time was harder I really don't know why but it was.

This week I have been crying every day and I even think every night. It is just hard to see Rick and not be able to really spend any time with him or even really talk to him. I have to keep my crying to myself so I don't make him feel bad. He is working long hard hours for me. The least that I can do is do that for him.

Tonight Andrew is back and he is just getting over a really bad cold so it was cold medicine and vicks with a warm wash cloth on his chest before bed. Bed time is early tonight because he wants to see daddy in the morning and that's an early morning! When we got home from Grandmas and Grandpa's place he got to do his Easter egg hunt. He was so excited to be able to do it. On Sunday when he came home from his moms place I didn't get a call telling me that they were on the way or else it would have been done then.

I am really hoping that this next week goes better for me. I actually have a project to work on now. I am sewing a dress for myself. It is going to be somewhat difficult. I already am having a time with the bodice. I just think that I make things complicated. So we will see if I get it done by the time Rick is done night shift. Oh yeah this dress material is an old sheet! I am so excited to see how it turns out. This dress will have cost me like $10 by the time I'm done.

Birthday Goals

2011-04-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

So I really don't have much to blog about today! I turned 24 yesterday! I got to have a day of relaxing and grocery shopping! I got to make Lindsay's Pork chops! I have pork chops every year for my birthday! I don't really know why but I just know it as my birthday tradition!

Goals for the next year is just to live a healthier life! I really want to eat better! If anyone has any tips for me please let me know! I don't know how to control it. I know that I'm addicted to food. How do you change from being addicted to something? I don't really have a problem with sugar or sweets my main problem is bread, pasta, crackers and anything along those lines. I hate myself for it I think that the only way that I can control it is just to go cold turkey with it and then add it in little at a time but whole wheat. I don't know how else to do it.

So I will do this and I am hoping that by my next birthday I will have lost weight and a healthier me.

I could use some help with healthy recipes and tips to keep me on track. I will keep all updated with my goals for the next year.

Easter

2011-04-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

So today is Easter! I have been spending my day trying to be quiet and putting Easter stuff together for my family. We don't have Andrew today he is at his moms house. It kind of has made me sad! I had to dye Easter eggs all by myself! I think I did an okay job but Andrew is going to be sad that he didn't get to do it with me. I have an Easter egg hunt all planned for tonight when he gets home. 62 plastic eggs, 17 dyed eggs and 1 Easter basket! I just hope that I remember to take pictures.

Next weekend we are doing Easter again at Ricky's parents house. Andrew and Ben are going on another Easter egg hunt. That will be Andrews 3rd Easter egg hunt. I made a ham and sweet potatoes last night so that Ricky could have Easter dinner this morning. Rick said that it was really good.

I will try and post some pictures this next week I don't know how it will go but I will try

Nights and Weekends

2011-04-22T22:08:00.000-07:00

So this last week Rick has change d to night shift at work. That means a total change of schedule not just with him but with Andrew and me. Rick goes to work at like 3 pm and gets home around 7 am! That is a lot of hours away from the house! I think that it was after 3 days of work he had 42 hours in for the week and I don't think that that includes the 1 hour drive each way. We are all so tired. We all miss each other so much! This morning when Rick got home from work he gave me his check to put into the bank and said here is your payment for not seeing me! It is so hard on us! I love that he is doing this for our family so we can do many things later in life.

Nights - from 3 pm on it is Andrew and I at home! We either play games or go on a walk. Eat dinner then it is pretty much time for bed. At bed time we read a book so it is our down time together. After I put Andrew to bed I make dinner for Ricky and us for the next night so that Rick can have dinner when he gets home and lunch for his next night shift. I tend to go to bed after 11pm every night. I wake up so many times during the night. Insomnia sucks. I get 3 to 5 hours of sleep a night! I am out of bed by 6am at the latest. I start getting Ricks dinner together and clean up dishes, start laundry things that I used to do during the day when I was alone at home during the day. Rick calls me around 6:30 every morning to tell me he is about 15 minutes away. Rick gets home eats Andrew wakes up for the day and we all sit around and just try and relax for a little. Rick goes to bed 7:30 ish. At 8:30 ish it is time to get going to school. I drop Andrew off at school before 9 and run errands if I have any then go home and i have to be quiet so that Rick can sleep. At about 2 I get ricks lunch together and wake him up around 2:30 and our days start over. CRAZY!

This weekend is a little different because Andrew went to his moms house for the weekend. It is way too quiet around our house. I miss Andrew. It was so cute to see him before he went with his mom he didn't want to go he wanted to stay with me so he could see daddy. It is so hard not to cry in front of him about not seeing dad. So far I have not cried in front of Andrew or Rick. I cry when I'm in my car and no one else is around. Life feels so messed up right now. Also this weekend I have to do Easter. I'm going into town tomorrow while Rick is sleeping. I really don't know what to do for Easter. I think that Sunday I will be dying eggs. This will be so interesting.

We will see how it goes.

Love you Husband. - Wife

Healthy Lifestyle

2011-04-20T11:06:00.001-07:00

For the last 4 and a half months I have been trying to workout and eat health. I have been measuring myself because I am not just doing cardio. I am doing some weight lifting and muscles weight more than fat so the scale has not gone down any yet but I am losing inches.

Even with measuring it still gets discouraging. As of late I have been so discouraged that I don't feel like I should go on. So about a month ago I went to the doctors to see what would help! While there we talked about my health in general. We found out that I am depressed and that I am overweight. Both of these things go hand in hand for me. When I get depressed I eat. I have been this way for a long time. I have to try and break the habit. So to help with the depression the doctor has gotten me on an antidepressant. The anti depression medician that I am on is also supposed to help with weight loss - hunger - as well as the depression

During this last month I have been trying to watch what I eat and how much I eat. I do really good at breakfast and dinner time but between those time when no one is home i feel like eating all the time. So what do I do I fill myself up on carbs. So even thought I am doing cardio and weight lifting I am not doing my body any good. I have a carb addiction. I am going to try and deal with this in the next month and try to eat good carbs and not bad carbs.

Today is going to be a new start for me. I am going to go on a walk or jog everyday no matter what. This will most likely happen after I take Andrew to school and before I get settled down for the day. I take the dog with me so that I will push myself to get the dog some exercise as well. I am going to write down what exercise I do each day and what I eat each day. This way I can keep track on when I have a bad day and when I have a good day. I am also going to write down how I felt about what I did each day. I think that this will help me keep on track.

Meal Planning

2011-04-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been trying to do some meal planning. I try to plan the whole week on Sundays so that on Monday when I go to the store I can get everything that I need for the whole week.

Meals for this week:

Monday - Sweet and sour Chicken
Tuesday - Flank Steak
Wednesday - Crock Pot Chicken
Thursday - London Broil
Friday - Stuffing Stuffed Chicken
Saturday - Sassy Chicken
Sunday - Ham and Potatoes for Easter.

Items that I need to get for the week (including items for lunch and breakfast)
Food Pavilion or Safeway
carrots
broccoli
cauliflower
sweet potatoes
red and green peppers
red onion
limes
lemons
zucchini
shallot
red wine vinegar
ham
london broil
flank steak - or carne asada
chicken - whole
rice-a-roni
stuffing
Italian dressing packets
cream of mushroom soup
oats - Ricky breakfast
jam
raisins
cereal - Andrew breakfast
eggs
milk

When I am looking up dinner ideas and before i go shopping I try and look for any coupons that will help with making my shopping cheaper. I also try to plan my dinners around coupons. I go to the Safeway and food pavilion websites to see who has the cheapest items for the week.

Meal planning is also a way for me and my family to try to eat healthier. I try to make everything homemade. If I can't make it myself I try to figure out how to do it. I am trying not to eat preservatives. I don't think that they are good for us. I have been trying to make whole wheat bread but I have been having some difficulties. I also want to make pita bread.

I will have to share some of the recipies for this week later.

SNOW in April!!

2011-04-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

This morning when I woke up to get Rick out the door it was cold! There was light rain if any at 4:45 am! Well I went back to bed and when I woke up at 7:30 am to get ready for the day and get Andrew to school I looked out the window and was like what the heak it is SNOWING! Yes snow in April. I finished getting Andrews lunch together and showered and then I woke Andrew up - he was not too happy about being woken up. I told him that it was snowing and he just rolled over. It is kind of exciting to get snow in April but I hope that it is the last snow fall this spring. I am ready for Sunny days! I read my sisters blog this morning and she has some really nice weather and some heat. I wish that I has some sun and some heat. I would be more than willing to share this cold weather for some warmer weather. But I can't complain because it is no longer 32 deg. out side it now is 41 deg. and rising. and only 2 hours and 10 deg. warmer. Hopefully the sun will come out today! it looks like it wants to. On other notes today 3 years ago my opa Toni died. He died of lung cancer and donated his body to science. We have his ashes back and he is sitting in a closet at my parents place. I miss my opa a lot. I wish that I knew more about him and his life. Love ya Opa. I have been reading my Edna book. There are a lot of things in that book that are intersting. Some of the dates are wrong... Oh yeah and Chad you were never born! I think that grandma was just too happy to be writing a book to have anyone in the family read it before she got it published. She and grandpa lived in so many different houses, it would have been nice to see pictures of all the houses. If you want to learn more about grandma and grandpas life go ahead and read it, You just may find it instresting. Well I'm going to be heading out to the hospital to see Jamie and Emily. They had there little boy yesterday morning at like 3 am. There little boy is 8 lbs 1 inch 21 inches long and his name is Joshua Lee Elsbree. Very cute cant wait to meet him.

Great Aunt Leoni!

2011-02-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

Today I got up at 4:30am got my wonderful husband up and out the door for work by 5:15am. On a typical day I will fall back asleep until like 7:30am or so! Well not today! Today I stayed up and got lunch together for Andrew and I, got the dogs ready for the day. I woke Andrew up a couple minutes before 7am and we were out the door by 7:05am. I dropped him off at Grandma and Grandpa Brooks house at 7:25am and was at my parents house by 8:10am. Then we got into the Hummer and headed to Seattle!

No we did not go to Seattle to play we went to Seattle to drop them off at the airport. They are headed to the Netherlands as we speak. They will get there at like 8am thursday and it is only a 10 hr flight! I don't think that I would enjoy feeling like I am traveling for 24 hrs. Oh and being awake that long UGH...

They are headed to the Netherland / Holland to go and see my great aunt Leoni. It is kind of an emergency trip. Leoni has been sick for about 4 years I think... She has Lung Cancer. She was diagnosed at about the same time as my Grandfather - her brother. She is in the hospital over there waiting to see my parents and then after that she wants to die. She has beat cancer 3 times I guess that the 4th time just gets you bad. I don't think that this will be a particular fun trip for my parents.

So now after 5 hours of driving I'm back at my parents house and just need a little time to stand up and walk around.

Aunt Leoni you will be missed dearly. I love you and it was great getting to know you.

Changes Coming

2011-02-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

So as you all know that life for me has been a little stressful lately! Things may be getting better or worse depends on how you look at it... Rick this week was offered a position on nights during the turnaround this year. Not only will he be on nights he will be the big wig for laborers meaning that he will be working crazy hours. I don't know how I'm taking it yet! I think that it will take me some time to get used to.

Other than that I am a stay at home step mom right now. Ricky and I are thinking about me not going back to work. I don't know how I feel about this either. That it interesting. I don't sleep much because I'm afraid that I'm going to miss one of the alarms or something else is going to happen.
I have been trying to work out 3 times a week! Andrew goes to work out with me. We end up going to the Everson Firehall and doing our workouts there. Jennie, Ricks mom, goes and works out with us. We enjoy our work outs. I think that I need to bump up the intensity tho. It really feels good to be working out again.

If anyone has any pointers on how to lose belly fat please let me know! I am eating healthier now and trying to lose some of the weight that I have put on in the last couple of years. I am doing ok. I just want it gone now... and I know that that will not happen.

So on with the trek of losing weight and eating healthier. It is difficult especially when I am not really looking forward to Ricky being on nights. I know that I'm going to have to find myself some hobbies that can keep me occupied while he is sleeping during the days. I'll have to keep you updated on that one.

Curve Ball

2011-01-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in my life I feel like curve balls are thrown in my direction left and right! There are so many things that make life difficult. Lately in my life I just don't know what to do! A lot of the time I just run through the motions of doing things until i get frustrated with the way I'm living. I know that it is bad habit. But how do you break a bad habit.

I have a few goals to get myself out of this self destruction this year.

Goal one is to lose weight! I am exercising 3 days a week and eating better! So far I think that I have lost 10 lbs! I really don't know because every time I weigh myself I do it on a different scale. I feel better about myself when I do work out. I actually get the urge to go out for runs! - thats a first.

Goal two! Try to be a happier person and don't forget what I have. There is a lot behind this one! I am one to tend to forget what I have. I am so set in my ways of being independent that I feel like I can not depend on anyone else. I don't know how to get out of that and that is what I really need to work on I guess. I take my husband and step son for granted a lot. that is all I can say about that one for now.

Goal Three. Stop being a jealous person. I am jealous of almost everyone and any relationship. I feel that everything that I touch destructs because of me and my jealousy. I don't know how to change it. I hate hurting because I hurt others!

Sorry for these sad downer goals but they are what I need to work on.

December!

2010-12-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

I looked at the calender today and I had to change the month to December! It really make me think that I am so behind on my Holiday shopping! I really don't shop too much but I can't even bring myself to want to go into Bellingham at all. I have been trying to find out what I want to get Andrew for Christmas but I can't think of anything that the boy will want! I feel that I have to get something totally cool that is completely over board... I don't know why but I just do. Maybe it is because all the kid wants for Christmas is a quad!

I thought I knew what I wanted to get everyone for Christmas but I really have no clue! I have 8 people to by for this year! I only have one person figured out Now to try and figure out everyone else!

So, I have told you before that I am trying to live a healthier life style! It is very difficult to do so! There are so many temptations out there! Like donuts for example! Someone in my office today got donuts for everyone! Its been like 3 or 4 week since I have had one but I caved today and ate one! I don't feel as full as I would if I would have eaten my cream of wheat! Now that I have eaten a donut I just feel gross. I know that I haven't done the greatist but I have done better that what I was doing. I make a home made dinner every night! Some nights it sucks but I have been really creative lately and the hubby loves it!
I will keep you posted on how I am doing! OH yeah next year I want to be able to jog 3 miles with out stopping! Lets see how that goes! WOOT WOOT!

Snow/Poweroutage

2010-11-18T06:17:00.001-08:00

Yes This morning we woke up to SNOW! I'm not too happy about it but its there!

I woke up to get Rick out the door, about 2:30am I got up and got things ready to go for Rick! Looked at the temp in the house and out side! 55 inside and 34 out side! I go and crawl back in bed and Rick gets up and checks the Pass report - snow snow snow! Then he goes and looks out the window and says " Guess that I didn't need to check the pass report because its snowing!" I was like Really! and Sure enough it was snowing!

SO I am driving my car in the snow! Not too happy about that one! So once Ricky left at 3 am! I stand and watch the snow for a couple of minutes! Then I crawl back in bed! I'm there for about 10 to 15 minutes... The lights flicker... then you know the sound in the movies as if something is powering down?... well that happened and yup yup yup the power was out! I believe that it is still out. I crawled out of bed started a fire. Called the Husband and said not only is the power out it is snowing and he left his pillow at home! OOPS so this day is not so good!

I'm at work now and have not been back to sleep! 4 and a half hours tops of sleep last night! UGH Well See how this day goes!

Motivation to Move - Not So Much

2010-11-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

I look at so many people who are Motivated to Move! How are you so Motivated! Yes I want to lose the weight... I have challenged myself to a better me by Christmas (44 days). I just feel that I am too Fat to get my butt out there and move it! I know that there are bigger people out there than me that do it. How do they get motivated? Do I take pictures of myself and look at them daily and get my motivation that way! The truth is I really don't want to be living my life a big as I am! I am so uncomfortable in my skin! I am trying to eat healthy, and yes I am proud of myself that I have been doing this since Saturday, but I tend to give up on myself day after day! I know that if I just eat healthy I will lose some of what I have put on but How am I going to see the results! I want to get the results now not later! I want to be the old me again!

I have always been self conscious about my weight this is just the first time that I have come out and told the world. Even when I was a decent weight I thought that I was Fat! How do you get rid of those feelings and how do you appreciate the way that you look!

I am going to have to be harder on myself! More strict about how much I eat and what I eat! No I am not cutting out carbs I just want to eat better carbs!

This weekend I am going to make whole wheat bread and hoggie rolls! I am going to make noodles and try to have noodle dough around more often! I would like to make tortillas!

I notice that I have a lot of wants and I need to make those things NEEDS Because I need to do this for myself. I am my own worst enemy! No one else can tell me not to do it or tell me to do it! I just need to get off of my lazy butt and do it! I know that this is a downer blog I just needed to let you all know that Eating health all the time sucks! I am going to let myself have a few snacks but they can't be like really unhealthy! I am staying away from preservatives and trying to make everything myself! I know that my husband is enjoying the new foods that I am cooking! Some are different! If he doesn't like something he will let me know!

I am trying to put together a cook book for us of foods that we enjoy eating as a family. We will see how that one goes! If you have any recipes that you would like us to try just let me know and I will try them out!

Inspiration

2010-11-10T08:07:00.000-08:00

People tend to get inspiration in different places! For me I try and get my inspiration from other and their real life stories! I try to do my best to be my best because I know that other do it as well! I may not be good at anything but being the best I can be is what I can to for you!

Lately I have been reading a woman's blog that is kind of my inspiration to keep up on my weight loss! She has been trying and trying to loose weight and doesn't ever seem to keep it off... I can totally relate to this woman! I have never talked to her or anything. I don't know if she knows but I think that just her writing things like

"The more I struggle, the less I want to share. When we write about issues,
and triumphs the people in our lives start seeing us as those things. "fat girl
trying to lose weigh" and then we see that in ourselves. I am a very private
person, which makes having a blog a strange concept. I know, I've tried to
figure this out myself."

Getting health requires a lot of things. It is not easy to Lose Weight! It requires us to make goals and most likely break them, and with those goals is a commitment to ourselves and planning to try to not break them. How difficult is that! And on top of that trying to let your friends and family know what you are doing!

So far I have been good with my No S deal that I am going! I am not saying that it is a diet but it is something to make me a healthier person.

If you would like to read the blog that I have been reading on her personal weight loss it is http://www.myallnaturalweightloss.com/

I find it inspirational but if you don't then that's you!

No S

2010-11-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

No it does not mean NO S***! I am starting to eat healthy! Yes it is hard! I enjoy food! I am just enjoying better food now! So I am doing No S.... no sugar, no sweets, no seconds, no snacks... I can have 2 days with snacks a week. That's it baby! I started on Saturday! Yes it is hard! My Hubby is not doing this with me. To be honest with you I don't know if he knows that I'm doing this! I have to get over my CRAVINGS! Yes we all have them! I would just indulge in mine a little too much. We will see how this goes over the next couple of weeks!

With this NO S deal that I am doing I hope to become a happier more joyful enthusiastic person and get things done that I want to get done! Do you think that I can do it! I'm not going to give anyone my over all goal! As of right not my over all goal has to be broken down into smaller more achievable ones! Like Eat healthier for 1 week straight. Start working out - not that I can do it daily!

You are coming along on this journey with me! Some days I may tell you what I eat and how much I exercise. Other days it just may be that I want to eat something that I can't have or if I have eaten the wrong thing! It also may be Inspirational Quotes to get me through this! Depends on what the day brings!

Dinner

2010-11-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

So the last two nights Rick, my wonderful husband, has approved on the dinner and said that he would like to have it again! Oh and Sunday Night dinner Andrew approved of except for the sweet potatoes!
Sunday night Menu went like this!

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, Noodles with a cream/butter/herb sauce, and mashed yams.

Now for the directions!

For the Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Small pork tenderloin sliced open like a hot dog bun! Put slits on the area that you are stuffing (both sides) so that the filling flavors get into the meat.
FILLING
4oz cream cheese
1 tablespoon butter (optional)
5 cloves of garlic chopped
3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
1/2 to 1 cup spinach -Fresh
Garlic powder

Mix cream cheese, butter, garlic, and 1 TBS Worcestershire sauce together. Put 1 TBS of Worcestershire sauce on the opened side of the tenderloin! Let both the mix and the meat set for a couple of minutes. Take the cream cheese mixture and mash it into both sides of the meat! Put the fresh spinach in the middle and fold over! (I'm sure that you can add more but that is all that it did!) I put mine into the crock pot! Add some more Worcestershire sauce to the crock pot with about 1/2 cup of water enough just to keep the meat moist. I also put some garlic powder on the top of the meat!
Let cook for about 3 to 4 hours on high. rotate the meat about half way through.
when the meat is up to the correct temperature then serve!

Smashed Yams

2 yams (the orange ones)
milk
butter
molasses
brown sugar

peal and cube the yams. boil until tender. strain. add a little milk and a little butter and start to mash! once mashed add molasses and brown sugar to your liking! I added about 2 TBSP of Brown sugar and 1TBSP molasses! I did not measure anything out but it was dang good! Next time that I make it i will measure it out! and Serve

Noodles were noodle roni butter herb! I had to make something that i knew Andrew would like!

Last nights dinner was Clam Chowder! I can not eat clam chowder because it has onions in it! I don't think that it would be the same with out onions in it so I just made it for him and i ate the left overs from the night before.
I don't have the recipe for the Clam Chowder but it was really easy! I will have to get it on here so you can make it!

Tonight's dinner I hope goes well! Stuffing Stuffed Chicken! Smashed Yams and I don't know what else yet!

Tamales

2010-10-20T12:53:00.001-07:00

Thinking about making a huge batch of tamales this weekend! I have never made them before! It is going to be interesing! Looks like the recipe that I got from off line makes quite a few! I hope that the hubby will enjoy them! I plan on making some other items this weekend! Don't know why but I feel like stocking my freezer with dinners for this winter!
I hear that this is supposed to be one of the worst winters in like 50 years! We have already gotten temps in the 20s! Yeah it was cold! We actually had to start a fire this week to warm up the house! - we have a rule to not start a fire until it gets below 60 degrees. Well it hit below 60 this weekend! I didn't want to start the first fire - rick had just swept the chimney! But the house was warm on the night that He started a fire! I went 2 nights with really cold temps in the house before I got a fire! I was so happy to have a fire!

This one is for Chad my bro.. Kind of

2010-10-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

So this weekend (fri sat and sun)... on Friday I went to my parents house to have a sewing day with Meredith and My mum. I ended up making a dress into a shirt. I have not completed it as of yet but I'm working on it. I also had to go to the insurance company and tell them that Rick and I are married and we should be getting a pretty good discount on that. I ended up getting home at like 6:30pm My poor boys were hungary... Oops Sorry. Fixed something for dinner!
Saturday morning Got Rick out the door for Hunting, went back to sleep for a while got up and got ready for the day. Got Andrew up and ready for the day and went to his Football game (flag football). Then went home and made dinner chicken Broccoli deal that i put into a puff pastry! (note to self better when first cooked not the greatest warmed up) Rick and Andrew didn't get home till 9:30 I was already in bed!
Sunday morning I get up 5:30 ish and make Andrew and Rick lunches for Hunting. get them out the door and go back to bed! Later when I woke up i ended up going to Bellingham to get some shopping done! Got home and made some BREAD (chad this is for you). I made Challah bread and a buttery pull a part bread! I was so amazed at the way the bread looked! Rick was happy about having homemade bread. I also made some sugar cookies (not the greatest rec. ever) and I will not make them again.
After Friday I want to make jeans for myself and dresses as well!.
After Sunday I want to make bread and freeze it so that we can have it whenever we want it!
So Chad! I made bread and wanted to ask you a question about adding herbs and spices into the dough! I never did call but I will the next time I plan on making bread! Love ya Bro and miss ya tons!

Weight UGH

2010-10-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

So I have decided that a lot of my issues with being tired and having difficulties with myself are from feeling over weight! I am going to do something about it! At least I am hoping to do something about it.

This week I am going to write down what I eat and why I am eating it. What the emotions behind it are. After I do that I am only going to eat when I am hungary and I am going to stop when I am full. I also what to start the NO S Diet. No sugar, no snacks and no seconds (except on days that start with S).

So do you think that I can do it? I really am hoping that I can do this!

I also want to get a new Ipod (rick has hijacked mine and I really don't care I would just like to listen to some music and listen to some Podcasts) So I can down load some really up beat workout music and some Podcasts.

Another thing that I have learned about wanting to lose weight - it has nothing to do with exercise really it has to do with what you are eating and how much you are eating. We Americans have become too involved with food and we tend to take it too far. Look back like 50+ years and what people did for their meals! Meals are ment for 3 times a day! Eat a big breakast, a medium lunch and a small dinner that will last you the evening. Me I am trying not to eat past a certain hour of the day! I have chosen 7 pm 2 hours before bed time - so that my food has time to settle and I have time to either read a book or start on a sewing project. I don't just want to sit around and do nothing because if I do then I will just want to eat something.

I need to find a hobby or projects to work on the the evening. I have sewing and reading. It is now too dark at night to go for a walk (I don't like Night in my neighborhood + I'm afraid of what is in the dark). Any suggestions?

TIRED

2010-10-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

So lately I have been so tired! Really it has been for like a month! Yeah it sucks! No matter what I do or how early I got to bed I am just tired! I am trying not to "be tired" But there is only so much that I can do! I get so upset because I am so tried! A lot of the time I will get upset over nothing. I also have been trying to stay away from the phone (now that I have found it).

BLURP...

2010-10-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

So this week I have realized that I am not a very happy joyful person! Sad I know! I want to be a happy joyful person. I don't know when I changed from being happy and joyful to being a grump and crabby.
I am going to work on that! I also want to work on many other things, but I think tha being happy will help me work and be better on the other things!
Any one have any pointers on how to be happy? One thing that I'm going to try is play soccer again. In the last few weeks (month and a half) I have been watching Andrew play football and it makes me so much miss playing soccer. I remember being happy when I played. Now it is just trying to find a team to play on!

2010-10-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Todays blog is not going to be a too happy of a blog! Even thought there will be some good/fun times about this weekend the news that we got on Thrusday was just SUCKY!

Thursday night Rick ended up working late... 7pm late. Yeah it sucked. Well when we got home He checked his email...(waiting to hear from BP) And he got an email.... Well he didn't get the job. Now we wait until next year! Yeah it really sucks! and he is off of work this week. My thought is right now we are getting by and don't really need it. When the right time comes we will get it.

Friday we went up Bear Hunting! We saw a Bear! It was wild and looked big! Rick took a shot at it and couldn't find it when he went down into the clearing! Yeah the clearing was pretty steep! I really didnt want to climb down into it. I went part of the way! It makes me really want to get the hunting course under my belt so I can go and hunt for myself! It will take some practice.

Saturday I went out to my Parents house! Rick went up hunting again and saw nothing! While I was at my parents house I started working on a project with my dad! In the house that they got in Birchbay the previous owners had left some furniture. Well there just happended to be a hutch/hope chest. I have been wanting one for a long time! My dad was going to refinish it and give it to me for christmas but my mum said that I might want to help out in refinishing it! Oh and it is so beautiful! I am so excited about it! We didn't get much done on it but I will be going back and working on it from time to time!

Sunday! Sunday was a good day! We slept in. Went to the Gun and knife show in Lynden, then went to Walmart... they didn't have what we wanted.... the we went to Yeagers!... That is a dangerous store to go to! Rick could spend a forturne there (well so could I). Rick found a gun that he likes and He will be getting it at some point and time! After Yeagers we went into KMart! WOW that was a fun trip! I laughed at Ricky so hard! I love him so much!

That is what my weekend consisted of! I hope that this week is just as fun... That is with out any more bad news!

Long time no blog

2010-10-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry! I've been busy! Almost married for 3 months and I have a ton of things that I want to do!

Lately my biggest thing that I want to do is make clothing! I am having a bit of trouble trying to find old sheets and that sort of thing to make things my size! (I want to test it out first). I have some really cute dress/skirt and shirt patterns that I got from burdastyle.com. I have been doing some research on other things that I would like to make as well.
Next weekend I plan on going and having a sewing day with Meredith and my Mum.... I have a bag of clothing that I planned on never wearing again, I think that I will just revamp all of them so that I will wear them again! I am going to make a dress in to a skirt, a different dress into a cute tank top, and maybe some other things! Not sure yet! I may even make a skirt from scratch! Depends on if my wonderful husband will let me by material this weekend or not!

I am also planning on painting the living room and making covers for the couches, maybe even making some selves for in the kitchen.. too may things cluttering my counters! So... Many projects to come! Hopefully pictures to come as well.

On other notes! Andrew is doing well in school! He is so smart that he gets in trouble for distracting other kids. He is also in football! That may have been a bad idea! But so far once he is at practice or in the game he loves it! Ricky has applied for a job at BP in the general shop. Right now he has made it to the test. He took that on Saturday! We are waiting the results on that one (Please pray that he gets it). We have been wanting this for 3 years now! We are hoping that with all the people that we are talking to that his name is out there and he gets it. Other than that it is Hunting season again. right now it is Bear season.... Next weekend as in the 16th Deer season opens! We are hoping that he gets both. It would be nice to get all that meat in the freezer!

My job is going good right now! I may only have 1 month left! It all depends on the Diesel Unit Project! That should be getting awarded today! I most likely will not find out until Monday. That job should keep me busy for 2 years if they keep me on out here!

Rick is thinking playing football for the Bellingham Bulldogs! I want to look in to playing soccer again! (anyone with any pointers on how to get on a team? let me know...)

Married!

2010-08-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

I know that it has almost been two week! But yes I am married to Richard William Brooks! I now have a stepson Andrew! So far I love being married! Life really has not changed all that much but I can notice some differences!

Thank you to all the people that came to the wedding! It was an amazing day I will never forget it! Thank you to Kim Lincoln for taking pictures of the amazing day! -I will be putting some up when we get pictures from her this weekend... I hope!

Work has been busy... crazy busy! I am finally getting the work off of my desk from 2 weeks ago! Still getting tons of work in though.

This weekend I have a baby shower for Amber Brown! She is having a baby boy! I'm really excited for her and Mike! They will be awesome parents!

Talking about parents mine are in Arizona again! I got a call from my mom today but some how we got cut off!..... Chad and Rachel are/should be in North Carolina now. TJ and Steph... with kiddos are back to regular life in Rexburg. It was nice to see them at the wedding. Meredith and Marco getting ready to leave! WoW us kiddos are so far apart. Craziness!

Well work is calling... more updates later!

BAD DAYS

2010-07-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

It is amazing to me at how a good day can turn bad to worse in a matter of seconds!.... There have been some issues here at work that I'm not to talk about... they just made everyone in my office just really quiet and turned their day bad! But being at a refinery the little things are what really are the big things! They don't let you play around when your out here! Any thing and every thing is being watched. Don't take any chances with you safety. That just doesn't mean at your job, It means in your home with your family! look at every situation an make sure you know what the hazards to what you are doing. Make sure you know what your consequences are going to be. Make sure that what ever you are doing you are doing it safely so that you can get home to you family... Thoes safety thoughts out here are called WYE and it is a major thing. Maybe one day I will be able to tell you what happened on this day at work, but for right now this is what you get! Have a good a day and be safe you never know whos watching.

Mornings!

2010-07-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

So every morning on my way to work (Cherry Point BP Refinery)! I get the joy of driving by a lot of country! I have a 45min to an hour drive every day! As I was driving this morning I was looking around and noticed that there is a ton of green in Whatcom County! I really enjoy the color green oh and the blue of the sky in the morning! The Raspberry fields are in season right now and it takes me back to the days that I worked in them... at the time it was the worst job that I could ever have... as I looked back on it this morning it really wasn't that bad, I got to enjoy the out doors and got to eat as many raspberrys that I wanted ( I'm supprised that I still like them to this day)! OH the old days! It really makes me want to go and pick raspberrys, blueberrys... really all sorts of berrys and make jams and freeze whole berrys and make some pie! I think that it is really sad that most of the time you only have pie at thanksgiving or christmas! I think that that is going to change at my house this summer! I think we will have some fresh pies this summer.

On another note! The wedding! Up until this point in planning have been so worried about everything being perfect and relaxed that I have forgotten that I need to relax! Vacation has really helped out with that one! I really don't care about anything else other than me marrying the love of my life! People tend to forget the true meaning of a wedding up until they walk down the isle. Me, I just want to be able to remember this very special day and enjoy it for the rest of my life. There are few things that really matter about my special day... and they are that I get to marry my man, our friends and family be there to enjoy and celebrate with us. Other than that the rest doesn't really matter! Decorations, music and all that sort of stuff are at the bottom of my list for that day! I don't know why but my aspect on thing for a wedding has really changed.

Well its off to work for me! Have a wonderful day and take a look around and see the things that you are missing and the things that you enjoy ever day! Maybe take a picture and put it up on a wall! BUT ENJOY THE THINGS THAT ARE AROUND YOU FOR WHAT THEY ARE! your life!

We're back!

2010-07-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

We had and awesome time FISHING! Lets just say we caught so many fish that we started throwing them back because we had met our limit! The weather was awesome.... only like 1 day that was stormy! Wanted to come back a day early! We were not ready to come back to work today! I still have laundry to do! But all in all we had awesome weather and a blast fishin... We even ate like kings at dinner time....

Now that we are back it is full boar wedding planning! I have to see where we are at on that.... I am getting excited I think... I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends!

Rick and I now that we are back are trying to improve things around the house! We are thinking about selling the house to find something bigger and more realistic for us! We have a lot of crap that we use constantly! Tonight we are going to try and repair our BBQ so that we can sit outside on nice nights and eat dinner in our back yard! There are so many things that I really enjoy about Summer time! BBQ's have to be one of my favorites!
Well I need to finish getting caught up at work! Have a great day!

It has been so long!

2010-07-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yes I know I know I haven't posted for like 4 or 5 months! But here is the low down on whats going on!!!

I started working for JH Kelly!! Love the job... Not a day goes by that I don't learn something or someone asks me something.... Some days I just get really bored. I think that that happens with every job. So... Work is work and it all pays the same...

I have been planning my wedding to Ricky (Richard)... It has been going great. Have my dress and location and everything planned... We still have to go food shopping and finish the decorations but everything else should be done... Oh the wedding is out at Samson Estates Winery on July 23rd at 6pm with a reception at 7:30 with a BBQ! So excited for the Country Wedding... There just has been so much going on I feel like in am in a whirlwind.

Ricky and I are getting ready to head out tonight to visit our friends from the North... we are going FISHING again... Bonaparte Lake here we come... It is amazing how much stuff goes into camping.. I am amazed that my parents went anywhere with the 4 of us kiddos... I am very glad that my parents did that stuff with me so that when I go and relax on a vacation I can appreciate the times when I didn't have to worry about everything else. Thanks mom and dad...

On another note I think that I am going to start bettering myself... Not that I'm not a good person I just think that I can be a healthier person than I have become so I will be trying to work on that.... Meynders Biggest Loser Here I Come!

Oh well Gotta go its Lunch time and I have to get time to Longview before I leave at the end of the day! I will try and keep you all more updated... Oh and try to put pictures up of life and everything...
Have a good one and think positive!

The sun will come out tomorrow!!!!

2010-02-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

So I start my new job tomorrow morning at 7am.... I am totally excited. I will be working as document control, and maybe timekeeper.... I'm not quite sure of all with I am going to be doing but it is still exciting. JH Kelly Project Manager Brian Webb(aka my boss...) was very excited when I spoke with him earlier today. He told me what I would be doing tomorrow and what to expect... he told me that I would be totally swamped and overwellmed, but he was totally excited that I would be out there tomorrow morning.
It is so hard to write how excited I am to be starting work again.... Oh did I tell you that Pris is going to be in the same office?? Well she has told me about my office and how much stuff is piled up in it. I already have meetings that I have to be in tomorrow.... I am so nervous. I don't know what to expect... I will let all know how the first day goes....

JOB!!!! YES

2010-01-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

To all of you who don't know I have been unemployeed for quite some time. May 21st 2009 was my last day of work with Haskell Corporation. I worked with that company for almost 3 years.... Well, a lady that I worked with at Haskell and also a lady that I have called my second mom for a lot of years, Pris Masterson emailed me about JH Kelly having a postion that they needed to fill. I emailed the guy that she gave me the info for... I got an email back the same day (I did not notice until this morning) saying that they wanted to email me Friday... Yes Friday is today. I was kind of shocked that they emailed me back so fast but I was super excited. I called the guy that emailed me back and set up an interview for this morning at 11am at Bob's Burger and Brew in Ferndale. I had a great interview and they said that they would email me a Conditional Offer of Employment... and that they would do it on Monday... well I went out and hung out with Rick and when I got back I checked my email and the Conditional Offer of Employment was waiting for me in my email.... I am super excited.... I am to start Monday hopefully... I have to give a guy a call about it in the morning.. So... I will have to let you all know...

Hope all is well with everyone else... I will keep you updated and THANK YOU PRIS. I really appriciate the job. yet again.

'Tis the season

2009-12-04T21:42:00.000-08:00

So it is the season to be jolly!!!! It is a thing that we all can do no matter what our situations are - if we are rich, poor, or just ok - happy, sad, numb... no matter what we can all enjoy this season. I have to say that in the past I have gone all out at christmas.... Well as we all know that the way how our economy is not going very well. This year christmas is not going to be what I would like it to be. I don't get to do what I want to do. I'm sorry this is a downer blog but life is not all about the good things. I have been so close to telling everyone that I am not doing christmas this year, but if you look at my house you can tell that I am not giving up on the holiday I am going to make the best of what I have. It may not be a lot but it is something. I have a great house to live in. I have Ricky and Andrew. I have my family and that is all that really matters at this time of year. If I didn't get a present from anyone this year I would still be a happy person becasue I know that I have a lot of people in my life that love me for who I am. So for all of you out there, that are just like me, who don't have a whole lot this christmas just be greatful for what you do have. The fact that you have friends and family is what should mean the most and not what is wrapped under a christmas tree. The fact that you get to spend time with the people that you love and who love you is the best gift that we all can get.

So to all of you out there have a special christmas this year and just do the best that you can!

SNOW

2009-11-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

Yes it is SNOWING!!! We had somewhat of an idea that it ws going to snow today.... I was expecting it to snow like this afternoon.... But no at about 7:30 I go out and got to the bathroom and it is cold... bloody cold and not snowing but there are clouds... at about 8 ish Ricky looks out side no snow... at 8:15 ish he looks out side and says it is snowing.... I was making breakfast for all... and I was like you have gotten to be joking. I look and sure enought it is snowing. It has been snowing all morning now. I can not even really see the other side of the lake because of the fog/snow. The wind is blowing and the boys are out on the lake fishing. They are so crazy.... they are going to be coming in around noon so that we can go to the Coulee Dam. I have never been there before so I am excited. I am hoping to get some cool pictures at the dam of the boys and of Ricky and I... Maybe even some engagment pictures to send off with the invitations... ( I know dad I'm not supposed to be working on this until next year but I think that it woudl be awesome to get some pictures from over here done even if they are just for us...)

Well the snow looks like it is getting bigger... From what Ricky have been saying it might be snowing at my house when we head home tomorrow... not really looking forward to that....

Passes this morning (we are leaving in the morning and don't want to get stuck.) they looked pretty bad looking. Stevens pass was white and icy but it said no restrictions. I have to check again when I am done here. well i should go and get things ready for the morning. Oh yeah I have to clean up the dogs spilled water.... she fell onto her water dish this morning after Andrew nocked it over and it knocked over again with in an hour. ugh I hate dogs... (that is only some of the time.)

Fishing

2009-11-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

So the first day of fishing Ricky and his brother Brian went out and didn't catch a thing.... the second day Andrew, Ricky and Larry(ricks dad) all went out fishing and they got a lot of fish.... they brought in 7. Of corse when the got in we had to food saver them!!! We are hoping to smoke some of the fish. I think that it would taste really good. I don't know what brine to use on fish tho.. day three of fishing Larry and Ricky went out and got 7 more I think that the threw some back. we sealed them up and they are in a freezer now... So it has been a good trip for fishing for us. The other people that we have been fishing with have been going up to like Roosevelt (they call it Roofis woods) fish ponds and they haven't caught a thing. We make fun of them every night when they get back.

It is so cold out that I really don't want to go outside. I think that the weather thing said it was 34 out and if feels like 28.... From what that said it is supposed to snow tomorrow. I am not looking forward to that one.. I want to be in Belize with Mom and Dad roasting in the pool and eating shrimp and authentic foods that i don't think that I would want to know what is in them. But I am sitting here in my motorhome with my space heater on that heats up the entire thing. I went outside a little while ago and dang I don't want to have to take the dog out to go potty. She will have to got right when I get into my book or when I have gotten comphy on the back couch. Right now she is sitting in the drivers seat all snug as a bug with all the extra blankets wraped around her. I wisht that i could get that comphy...

Oh I made some of the best steak the first night that we were here.... all you have to do is marinate it....use some worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and garlic... let it sit for at least a half an hour and dang you got some good meat there... another thing that we had that we haven't had in a long time was beef dips. left over roast beef and the the au jus sauce it was amazing. I may have to make it with some pork roast that I have at home when we get back. Oh the things that make you think of your childhood. Also the things that make you think of your mothers cooking.... That last one kinda scares me... Moms cooking was a little different sometimes.... like Mexican something (actually a hit in my household) and homemade mac and cheese ( Tj I still can't eat the craft stuff)

Well I have company now so I will keep things going as we are here talk to you soon....

BANKS LAKE - Fishing

2009-11-10T09:57:00.000-08:00

So we are in Eastern Washington at Banks Lake (Just so you know it is right next to lake Roosevelt). The weather today is sunny but cold. Lake is clear and almost like glass. Right now Ricky and Andrew are watching Mall Cop!!! Great movie.

So I have got to tell you how our Journey here started! On Saturday we left home and met up with Larry and Jenny (ricks parents) at the rest stop near Bow on I-5 then we started our trip toward eastern washington. Well that is what we thought. We only make it to the College Way exit in Mt Vernon. Ricks parents Motorhome broke down (timing went out on it.) we sat in a parking lot for like 6 hours on Saturday. We ended up staying in Mt Vernon next to the Super Walmart at a trailer park. Sunday morning we ended up back in the same parking lot waiting to get the tow that we needed. Ricks brother Bobbi came with a dump truck and a trailer. Got the motorhome back to Larry and Jenny's place. Loaded up Jenny's car with all of there stuff and headed on the road again. We left there at 4:45 and got to camp at 11:30. it was a tight fit that first night. 6 of us in our motorhome. it fits like 4 regular sized people comphy..... none of us really got a good sleep..... with Andrew hot and kicking off the blankets and larry snoring. I don't think that we could have gotten any real sleep.

Ricky and Brian went out fishing and got one snagg and that was about it. We ate steak for dinner.... I think that it was good I could not really taste it because I have been sick. but everyone said that it was good.....

I will update you as we are here.... Getting home looks a little sketch right now because snowing on the pass.....

Home Sweet Home

2009-10-26T11:49:00.001-07:00

I am home today. It is nice to be home, other than the fact that I have to do Laundry and it is raining out.... My Trip Up to Vernon was great. Got there in like 4 hours. Aunt Odette didn't know who I was when I walked up to the door. Her house cleaners were there and she was askeing them if they knew me and she thought that I was a neighbor and that I was coming because she thought that one of her sons was beating up on her kids.... But Nope it was me... It was very nice to see everyone. I went out to lunch with Dawn and James and Caleb and Nathan showed up. Dawn and I got our eyebrows threaded (just so you know it really hurts). Then I ended up at Dawn's work for the afternoon. I ended up falling asleep on one of the couches.... After work we went to work again at the pool.... I watched her kids swim, then we went swimming the to a movie. Then I got introduced to Dawns house. Very Very cute. Can I just Say that Dawn has a Very HECTIC Schedule. I don't know how she does it every day..... Saturday we had to get up early and go to the pool to coach again. then we went and worked out with Her Trainer Heather, and yes i am still soar but not too bad. We went and got some items that dawn needed at the store. Bananas and spinich that is for smoothies. After a short rest we had to get ready to go and watch UFC 104. It was an upset. At least that is what I think.
Sunday Dawn went and coached for the swim meet and I went to Odette and Keiths for Creps.... It was good... I have never had Peaches in my Creps before and it was very good..... had a nap. ate some lunch, watched a Vampire movie... Sorry but I don't know what one it was..... Then I hit the road for the 4 Hour Drive home. Got home at around 10 pm last night. All i wanted to do was crash.... and that is what i did..... My weekend was busy But it was very good.....

Weekend in Vernon

2009-10-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

So my cousin, Dawn, has asked that I go and see her this weekend!!! She has been super excited and has planned out the entire weekend..... No not just fun things to do. She has planned workout after workout... I don't know if I would call that fun but I sure do know that it will be good for me. I am really excited about it. I will get to see her in her crazy hectic life of work and coaching..... I've even heard that she is getting a puppy... how cute is that... Also on this weekend in Vernon I get to see my Aunt Odette and Uncle Keith. Maybe even see some of my other cousins.... It has been a while.... like 5+ years for some.... CRAZY...
I have everything packed for my weekend now I just need to get my house ready for me to be gone...

Well if you want to get a hold of me you are just going to have to wait or call my cuz if you have her number... I am super excited.. woot!woot!.... lol

I will inform all of what I did while I'm up there when I get back. Out for now

Hard Day

2009-10-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

Today has been a long day for me.... and on top of that I am soar. I went to the YMCA in Lynden to work out. I did work out but when I was done my mom had called me and said I'm on my way..... So I went back out to the pool.... Altogether today I walked for 30 min. and swam for 1 hr and 15 min. I got home from my errands in town and I sat down at the computer to check my email and write to my cousin that my cell phone broke. As I was sitting there I could hardly type because of how soar I was... I can not even sit with out hurting...... But I did learn how to do the back stroke by myself today...

Rick my boyfriend found out this morning that he was not accepted to the BP job that he has wanted for the past year and half. The first time that he applied they put a hold on the job... something came up.... whatever that means. Well he applied again, and he got to the first test and they said we will email you if you make it to the interview or not. Well we went and dropped his son Andrew off at school, and when we got back he checked his email...... that is when we got the bad news. I don't think that I have ever seen Rick so down. It almost seemed like he was a big disappointment to everyone in his life especially to Andrew and I. Honestly I am just so proud of him and how far he got into the application process. It is hard to get a job out there and just the fact that he wanted to get that job so that he could support me as well as his son. You know that when someone does that for you that they love you. But now that he knows I feel like he is beating himself up so much. I called him after he went to pick Andrew up from school and told him that I was proud of him for even getting that far in the BP application process, and that I love him. All the he could say was I'll get it next time. I'll get it next time. Yeah I believe that. He will try his hardest to get it next time. Now it is time for me to try and find a job!!!

Well I think that that is all for know.... I will try to figure out how to do pictures later but hopefully there will be pictures.