A.W.O.L.

Hello,  I know, I know, long time since I posted anything.  So much has happened and trying to keep up is hard.  The Caribbean Cruise in October was fabulous.  We had a cabin on deck 1 (very low on the boat), but after a couple nights of high swells on the ocean, I won't complain.  The cabin was very nice, roomy and had a much lower degree of sway than those cabins on higher decks.  Kinda weird watching Pirates of the Caribbean 3 for the giant whirlpool scene when you are on a large boat that is rocking like the one you're watching.  Very Surreal!   The beaches and people were wonderful, I even managed to snorkel.  It was great fun.  This is me and Bry at our last stop - Grand Turk.


Scott had a ton of fun being in the musical our high school did this fall.  They performed The Music Man and he was in the quartet. Scott is the 2nd from the left in the red/white jackets.  So many hours put into preparing and it turned out very well.

Then it was on to the holidays and preparing for that.  I need to be done with shopping/making things two weeks before Christmas so I can get boxes in the mail without having to scramble.  I sent boxes to Arizona, Utah and Texas.  Christmas cards were very simple this year.  A picture of an outside tree and a simple note on the inside.

This was taken after the first snowfall in early December.  I love the lights at Christmas - they remind me of peace, joy and the star that guided the wise men long ago.  I see so many people struggling with so many things right now.  (depression, grief, money, health, change, feeling alone and the list goes on)  If there ever was a time mankind needs the message of hope that Jesus, the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, brought to the world, it would be now.  The war between Good and Evil still rages.  The promise we all have is that if we choose the right and follow Him, we will have peace and share Eternal Life with him.  This life is only temporary, a test for us to see if we will choose to follow Him in all our trials.  A big task for us mere mortals.  I have seen it in my life, that when we make the choice to follow Him, He can guide and direct us, He can give us strength and help us feel His love.  This is my testimony to you, to share that I know He lives, He was born and died that we might be able to return home to our Father in Heaven.  That hard task is done, now all we have to do is implement it in our lives.  In doing so, we can find the peace and joy right now that He promised and in our future.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Love Ya,

Bren

New Technology. . . Me Likey

So, for my birthday I bought myself a Kindle Fire.  Talk about a time sucker.  Wow!  I have spent way too much time playing games.  It is just a fun way to change gears after a day of work.  I was able to find lots of free books, which I plan to read on our cruise next week.  Also lots of free games.  I can check my email, keep my calendar and lots of other things.

I am very excited to be going on the cruise next week - now down to 6 days!!!!  I am all packed.  Only taking a carry-on luggage piece and a large bag I am calling a purse.  :)   Not quite in the fitness shape I had hoped, but the time-sucker got me.  Friday we'll see if we can get to Miami.  Of course, we are flying on American Airlines.  All we have to do is make it to Chicago and if the flight is cancelled there, we will at least have lots of options.

Tim has made it to Gwen's in Texas.  Gwen is doing well now that Greg is home from his deployment.  Alexa is now in Utah with Bry, Mark and Korbin.  Yes, I am jealous.  Megan is doing well so far for the school year. She likes being able to drive and has been a huge help with Scott's Cross Country practices and Musical practices.  Always lots of things going on.  Scott's just about complete with that last merit badge so he can turn in his application for Eagle Rank.  What a long haul.

I have started on Christmas gifts (at least the ones that I putting together or making).  Kind of mulling other ideas around in my head.  We are just 10 weeks away from Christmas.  I know, I know, no one wants to think about it yet.  But it is coming whether we're ready or not.  With mailing gifts, you have to be on top of things or gifts don't make it in time.

Well, 5 am comes early. I love teaching seminary and my 4 students are awesome!!!

Love Ya,

Bren

Back In the Swing

Well,  the kids are back to school -2 of them anyway.  So far so good.  Meg is enjoying her driving license and we give her opportunities to drive a few places and run some errands, but not too far just yet until she is more comfortable with the whole thing.  She passed the behind the wheel test on the second attempt, which was good because the tester emphasized the same things I tried to tell her.  It was also humbling and made her pay much more attention while on the road.
   Scott is busy with Cross Country, joined the musical (The Music Man), joined Student Council and still wrapping up with Scouts.  Last week he was in a Cross Country race when he came upon a runner passed out on the course.  He stopped to be sure the guy was breathing and help him finish the race.  It took about 10-15 seconds to bring him around and another runner from a different team also stopped to help him out.  Scott was recently certified in CPR and knew what to look for and what to do.  Yes, he really is a Boy Scout.  He came that way, I can take no credit other than encouraging him to stay as good as he is.
  Alexa is still working on her room.  Getting it cleaned out, packed for storage and packed for heading out west.  She is really excited to stay with Bry, Mark and Korbin until January when she heads to school in Idaho.  Nervous for school, though.  She will do fine.  The hardest part to live through will be having her wisdom teeth out on Monday.  I am taking 2 days off of work to be nearby if she needs anything.
  I bid on a Cricut Create on Ebay and then read the description more closely.  It said 'heavy usage and door hinge is broken, but works."  Oh, great.  Of course, I won the bid on that one.  I was apprehensive about it coming, but decided to try to make the best of it - there was a 30 day return policy so I did have an out.  It arrived and actually looked in good shape, except for the door problem.  It didn't look broke, in fact, upon closer examination, it was not attached to the hinge bar.  Didn't look like it ever had been.  I pried the two pieces apart just enough to fit over the hinge bar and slipped it on.  Prefect!  Looks like new.  There was no cutting mat or cartridge so I picked those up at Michael's Craft store.  I was all set to see if it really did work, when I discovered that it did not have a blade or the housing for the blade.  Back to ebay to find a 'Buy It Now' cheaply priced set.  Found one, paid for it, waited a few days, dropped it in when it arrived and everything works great!  When it was all said and done it cost $100, but that is a lot cheaper than one brand new, so I still feel like I got somewhat of a deal.   Now to find the time to use it.   :)
   The weather has been so nice and feels like a perfect way to end the summer.  I really don't want to wear shoes and long pants just yet, but those days are getting closer.  I did some sewing for the girls - adding a few inches of fabric to the hems of dresses and skirts - I don't understand why stores can't sell them long enough.  Most girls really do want longer dresses and skirts.

Have a great start to Fall!!!!

Love Ya,
Bren

End of August??! Already????

My apologies on being lax in posting.  My 'giddy-up and go' went somewhere else far, far, away this summer.  I have learned that I wasn't the only one plagued with this type of event.  I do not know if it was the tremendously long stretch of warm, humid weather; if my battery was just that empty; or too many things going on to get motivated to do anything.  Lots of people I have talked to (and believe me - I can talk and talk and talk) were all suffering the same lack of umph.   I tried 3 times to get busy with the P90X and am doing OK on this last attempt.
    I got discouraged because that wonderful genetic stamp across my gut surfaced AGAIN.  Which stamp would that be?  the one that says, "Inflate to 40 lbs".  YUCK, YUCK, YUCK.  It takes a lot of umph to want to even begin the workouts again.  Here's what I don't get - I feel really good when I do workout.  My strength improves, flexibility and even my innards seem to feel great.  So why wouldn't I want to workout - like all the time?    I never have a want of things to do, there is always, ALWAYS things to be done.  I want to keep my flexibility - which I was losing at an alarming rate two years ago.  I like a wide range of motion and who knows how long I will be able to keep that.  Another reason for participating in the Badger State Games - as long as I can - I will.  After being back at it for the 3rd week, I feel my strength back.  Mondays are usually the push-up, pull-up days.  So I counted how many push-up I did on the 20th.  71!!!!  I feel rather impressed with myself.  There are 6 kinds I do, but that is the total of all of them.  Not bad for a grandma!
   So what has been keeping me busy?  The kids, work and the mundane house stuff.  Fred planted not one, but two gardens this year and everything did very well.  Here's what we've either frozen or canned so far - no, we are not done yet:
      22 Qts Dill pickles
      67 Bags Green Beans (varying amounts in each bag)
      21 Bags Green Peppers (varies also)
      5   Bags Broccoli
      6   Bags shredded Zucchini
      14 Qts Green Beans
      24.5 Qts Spaghetti Sauce
      14.5 Qts Plain Tomatoes
      24 Pts Salsa
      7   Qts Salsa
      7   Qts Stewed Tomatoes (has green peppers and onions in it)
      35.5 Bags Corn (3.5 c in each bag)
      21 Qts Tomato Soup
      7   Pts Pizza Sauce

The broccoli, pickles, green beans, and corn are done.  We might do one more batch of something tomato.  The carrots are next and will be canned.  The bags are vaccuum seal bags that last for a long time.  It is a lot of work now.  However, in January, February and March when we want some summer - these will taste absolutely wonderful.  There are also potatoes, which we've eaten a few.  Just not sure how we will store those.
    All this work wears one out.  One evening we did 13 Qts tomato soup and went to bed about 12:15 - 6am came awfully early the next day.

Alexa has worked at the cheese factory this summer and her last week in next week. Scott has begun cross-country and ran his first race yesterday as a Freshman.  It was very humid and he forgot his inhaler.  He finished in the middle, but was the first freshman from our school to finish and he felt good about his time and placement.  Megan took her road test for her driver's license and didn't pass on the first try.  Tuesday she tries again, I hope it goes well.

I have tried to do some cleaning here and there around the house, but it is a huge project overall.  A little at a   time will have to be enough.  Trying to clear off my craft/scrapbook counter in the store-room so I can get back at the kids' scrapbook/photo albums.  I can report some progress has been made.

Gwen is back in Texas and has their rental house about ready for Greg to come home.  He will be back stateside in mid-September.  The cats adjusted well to the new home.  She starts school next week and that will keep her busy.

Tim is finishing up his things getting ready to head to Texas to Gwen's the end of September, just after Alexa leaves for Utah. Yes, I will have kids scattered about the country.  My retirement plan is to live with each one for a month or two, then on to the next one's house.  So far, they are all OK with that plan and I like to travel.

Have a great week!  May Autumn be a welcomed guest in all our homes!!!!!  The cooler air feels wonderful.

Love Ya,
Bren

Oh Summertime!!!!

Yup, we're in the thick of it.  Young Women's Cycling High Adventure is done (Meg biked 100 miles and canoed 13 miles in western Wisconsin) the last week of June.  Young Men's Cycling High Adventure is done (Scott biked 140 miles last week in Door County).  Both had a great time.  Meg was at young Women's camp last week.  She was excited to be a Youth Camp Leader this year and be in charge of a few things.

Alexa is busy working at the cheese factory and doing pretty well.  Hasn't hit any more deer.  She's gone to a few graduation parties, but other than work, not much else.

Scott's Eagle project is complete WITH the write-up.  :)   Now just a partial Communications Merit Badge to wrap up and do all of Lifesaving Merit Badge.  Once those are done, the Eagle Rank Application can be sent in.  Target submission date is August 10th.  The end is finally in sight.  :)

Scott got his wisdom teeth out today.  Didn't take too long and the extraction went well.  As I was driving him home with his mouth full of gauze he was trying to talk to me - hilarious!!!  I couldn't understand a word he said, so he tried sign language (of sorts).  When I told him I had to watch the road, he leaned forward and towards me to try his make-shift sign language where I could see and still see the road.  I almost peed my pants I was laughing so hard.  :)  However, I did not and he has had absolutely no problem playing Call of Duty on the PS3.  Imagine that.

The garden is now in full swing with beans, broccoli, zucchini, green peppers and pickle cucumbers.  The tomatoes haven't even started yet or the corn.  We will have bumper harvest on all of this.  We may need to get a second chest freezer.  Going to buy lots more quart canning jars, though as we only have 30 empty ones left.  I know it is a lot of work now, but will taste oh so good in the winter and next spring.  I made stuffed peppers for supper tonight and it was wonderful - peppers just picked yesterday.

Have a great week and try to keep cool!

Love ya,
Bren

Motivation. . . hhmmmm . . .missing, I think

  I've been struggling a bit to find motivation - as you can see from my lack of blogging.  Then again, maybe not.  I have been in 'high' gear for so many months now that when I have any amount of 'down' time, I am not sure what to get done first.  My list is so very long and I think I can get one thing done, I think of the next thing I could do and the next and the next and the next - then I don't know what is most important because I'd love to get them all done.  So, I veg and play mahjong dimensions online.  OOOoooppps!

This is how I feel!!!!  And the saying is perfect!!!!  (I was crazy once, lock me in a box and call me nuts.  Nuts, nuts, I like nuts - they make me crazy!!!! )  I say this to my  kids and it drives them crazy.  :)  Oh what fun to be a parent and be a little loopy now and then.

Well, then, what did I do this past month?  Alexa graduated on June 3rd.  My 4th to take the walk from high school into quasi-adulthood.  She is transitioning well and began working at a nearby cheese factory for the summer.  Not a super cool job, but it pays well and she has more hours than most pre-college kids are getting.  She has found that it is not near as bad as she imagined and regales us with some funny stories about machines, cheese, and people who have worked there for many, many years.  She, too hit a deer.  She was on her way home from work (the 2nd week).  When she walked in the door to tell what happened and we weren't sure if she was crying so she wouldn't laugh or laughing so she wouldn't cry.  The car will get a new headlight on Monday.  It is an older car and we won't put it through insurance but just pay it out of pocket.  She was fine and all was well enough.


Megan did well on the Young Women Cycling High Adventure the 3rd week in June. They biked 100 miles and canoed about 15 miles.  It is an awesome trip for the girls who can make it.  She has been frequenting the library in town and loves to check out books, CDs and movies. 


Scott was all gung-ho to begin training for cross country when he had an asthma attack.  It has slowed him up a bit and hopefully he will adapt mentally so he can get back in the swing of things.  It is induced by physical activity and was set off the first week of June with high pollen and high humidity.  He has an inhaler and should be running something every day.  On really icky days outside, he can run on the treadmill in the basement - which actually has some great running programs on it.  The mental adjustment will be the big thing to overcome.  
      He just has two merit badges to complete and finish his eagle project write-up and he can submit his application for Eagle Rank.  So close!!!!!



There was the graduation party and all the kids were home.   :)  Oh, it was fun and everyone behaved well.  I told them that if it became a 'PICK ON MOM' event - they could all leave.  I wish it wouldn't have ever ended.

Here is the 4 generations.  Little Korbin, Great-Grandma Mavis, Mom Bry and Grandma Brenda.

Here is the sweet precious boy!  He has just such an expressive face and so easy going.

this is all of us.

Bry, Mark, Korbin, Megan, Fred, Alexa, Brenda, Tim, Gwen and Scott.  

We will be adding Greg to the photo.  He will be between Gwen and Scott.  He is deployed to the Middle East until early Fall.  He is safe and can talk to Gwen a lot via Skype - so it is a visual phone call.  Pretty awesome to have the technology to do that.

Here is the guys putting one of the floating dock sections in the water.  They made 8 of these and several sections for the stationary pier.  Yes, we had that many dogs at our house.  5 dogs, 3 cats, a turtle and a goldfish.  The dogs were upstairs and the cats were downstairs.  Oh, don't forget the 18 people.  :)  It was all fun!


House got quiet after that weekend.  It was hard to see Bry, Mark and Korbin go.  Good thing, though, we can go see them again!  Don't know when, but we can.


June 24th I traveled to Wausau to compete in the Badger State Games again this year in Discus and added Shot Put.  I threw the Discus 8' farther than last year for a best throw of 81' 11".  I was pretty happy and look to better that next year.  I decided to do the Shot Put, too since I had made the trip.  I hadn't even picked up a shot put in 29 years, but had a nice 'put' of 25' 11".  Not bad, and only lost about 3' from the high school days.  :)  Sweet!     Oh, the best part?  Since no one else in the state my age decided to show up, I got first in both!!!!    There hasn't been much time in the past 3 months to keep up with my P90X, so with the conditioning I maintained from that, it really helped me throw.  Also, for Mother's day, I bought myself a metal rimmed discus and nice carry case - it feels great to throw it.  Who needs flowers?

Now it is the week of July 4th and time to re-group, get back in the workouts because apparently my stomach and waist are quite inflatable.  More sit-ups for me!

Have a wonderful week of the 4th!!!!!  Our Freedom isn't free and we won't keep it if we don't fight for it.

Love Ya,
Bren

Pics as Promised

The first one is Meg with Grandpa.  He loves to see his grandchildren's sports and has a special place in his heart for track.  He ran in high school.

Ready for the cutest grandson ever!  Here is Korbin with the monkey his Mom crocheted for him. 

A priceless picture!!!!

This is the beginning of the Eagle Project.  This tractor auger was the best thing ever and those plastic rings sped up the process a lot and reduced the amount of shoveling that needed to be done.  Scott dumped the rings and placed them over the next hole to be dug.

After 5 hours on the first Saturday, all the posts were cemented firmly in place.  A little hard to show the whole area as it was 74' X 72'.  Below is one row of posts and if you look closely ahead of Scott you can see posts for the other sides of the fenced areas.

After another 5 hours on the second Saturday this is what we had - 4 fenced sections for the dogs to use.  Scott did have to figure out a way to fill in some open areas on the bottom of the fence - rocks from our house worked very well and they were free.  Some sections of the fence moved pretty easily back and forth, which wouldn't be a problem for most dogs, but all it takes is one to squirm underneath and then there can be real big problems if dogs don't get along.  So, Scott took the 3 & 4' green garden stakes, wove them through the fence fabric and pounded them into the ground.  No dog getting under that fence now.

Below is the picture that was submitted to several local newspapers.  The dog is 'Dot', a very nice and gentle dog.  You can see the tarps we used for shade.  This particular tarp was way too big and did not work well with the wind we have a lot of here.  So, both were removed and replaced with 4 smaller tarps that can easily be taken down if bad weather threatens and put back up when needed.  They were cheaper, too.

Have a great weekend!

Love Ya,   Bren

AWOL - So Sorry

OK, ever have those times when you think things are under control, but you soon realize you were completely mistaken?  Oh, just been there for, obviously, over a month.  My life really has not been my own.  Then, when I think I can sit down and catch up on my blog, it is no longer compatible with my web browser.  UUUgghhh!!!!  What a frustration.  I have that figured out now and even have some time to update.


Work - been busy, but loving only working 4 days a week.  Some weeks I am there 5 days, but 2 are half days and that rocks, too!  I can also work all 5 days and bank the day off.  Very flexible.    I still need to spend time on the office books at home, but I should be able to find some time for that now, too.


Scouts - The Eagle Project is COMPLETE!!!!  Whoo Hoooo!!!!  It took 125 hours in total for everyone's time.  My time put in was almost as much as Scott's because he isn't old enough to drive and so I could count my time as well to drive him for collecting donations and getting everything set up at the Humane Society.  It really turned out well.  The Humane Society loves the exercise pens for the dogs.  Scott did well on the fundraising part, but in the end he was about $400 short.  It would have been almost even up except the fence company that helped needed to cover their materials cost and gas to bring up their equipment.  They had all the right tools to get it begun and completed in two Saturday mornings.  It was amazing how fast it went.      Both of the scout troops are busy, but Scott has been in track and not able to participate as much in scouts during March, April and May.  We were grateful we found time to get the Eagle project done.  


Track - Megan had a very good season earning her 2nd varsity letter.  She went to the Sectionals meet in the 4 X 2 relay (4 runners complete 2 laps, so each does a 200).  One of the relay team pulled a groin muscle during her individual 200, so the relay team did not do as well as they would have hoped.  She also enjoyed participating in the 4 X 1 Relay, 200m, some long jump and some high jump.
         -Scott had a very good season as well.  He did very well in the Discus with his personal best being 113'4".  He actually did well in what ever event they put him in.  He pulled a hip-flexor early in the season and worked to get it healed so he could run.  He likes running the 800m, hurdles, relays, really just anything.
        - Me: I really enjoyed helping the middle school track team with discus and shot put.  One of the 7th grade girls broke the school record.  Scott tried to do that, but came close.  Anyway, it was going very well until one of the paid coaches (newbie this year) was telling our students to be violent, angry and violence at a meet to motivate them to throw better or harder.  Made me cringe.  Never in all my life have I heard that and couldn't believe anyone would think that was OK.  I told this coach that those words were no longer to be used.  'Really?' was the reply.  No concept of why that would be wrong.  This person didn't like that and asked their 'two bosses' who supposedly told this person that it was 'OK'.  Now really?  If you have to ask someone else if something is right or wrong, just assume right now that it is in fact wrong.  
          In order to teach children who are just beginning to learn a technique, you use a lot of repetition.  One repeats the basics the students are trying to grasp.  In discus that would be: hip first, chest up, jump out the throw, etc....  Yes, we want them to use a lot of effort, but most are so unsure of themselves that they do not have the confidence to just let it rip and give it all they have.  Besides, even in Football the players are taught skills, not violence.  We could ask the N O Saints how that's working out for them.  :)
        I was quite miserable by the end. The kids didn't need two coaches telling them what to do either.  That confuses them.  So, I did what I could and stepped back.  I figured it was best to be there supporting them even if I didn't say much.  A lot of parents can't take the time to go to the meets, so I was proxy and encouraging every chance I got.


    I had looked at possible track meets I could participate in this summer since the Badger State games had been cancelled in the fall for this summer.  Nothing worked out on a weekend I could go.  Then I got an email from the Badger State Games that they are in fact happening and on a weekend I can go!!!!  Yippeee!!  I am all registered and good to go.  I will do both Discus and Shot Put this year.  Should be a lot of fun and for Mother's Day I ordered myself a new metal rimmed discus.  It is so sweet to throw!!!!  Oh happy day!


Graduation-It was a long semester for Alexa, but she made it!  I poked and prodded her to get all her work done.  She got MOST of it done and we survived the Senior Tea, the Scholarship Awards Ceremony, the Senior Banquet, and the Senior Awards Ceremony.  She did get 3 scholarships, nothing huge, but it all helps when at school.  She got the Female School Spirit Award - voted on by her classmates.  Then surprise, surprise she received the Phy Ed Dept award.  Each department gives an award (medallion) to a senior who demonstrates high character and commitment in that department.  Alexa has really loved the Personal Fitness PE class. She apparently got perfect scores all semester.   They do real life fitness activities like walking, yoga, pilates, aerobics, things they can do for the rest of their lives.   
      Now we just have to sit through the graduation ceremony tomorrow.  I have been trying to keep my inner anger in check and remember that we sit through all these things for our child.  Blah, blah, blah is how I really feel sitting there.  I am not comfortable talking with all these people that I really don't know.  Funny story though - We (me, Fred and Alexa) went to the Senior Banquet.  We got there just as it was supposed to start and seating was very tight so we ended up sitting on a long bench-table by people we didn't know.  As we were sitting there, waiting for our turn to get in the food line, Alexa itched the back of her neck, was startled and flung her hand towards the top of the table.  She had found a wood tick crawling on her neck and flung it on the table!  Good thing there weren't plates of food on the table because the tick would have landed right in the middle of one of them!!!!   I took a tissue out of my purse, we got the critter in the tissue and thrown in the garbage.
The family sitting across from us must have thought us strange, because we handled it so matter of factly like it was no big deal.  I think that was better than making a huge scene out of it.  They were very nice and good company.


Now that the past couple of months have passed, I think I can remember my name.  It was way too busy and I will think long and hard if asked to help with track again next year.  The first thing I will do is ask who the coaches are, exactly what they expect of me and then decide.  It really was fun to help the students learn to throw and put.  I do know there won't be another Eagle Project in the middle of it.  Life will be slower, right?   I'll let you know how that works for me.   :)


Have a great start to the summer!  No is an acceptable word to use.  I am still learning that.   I will post some pictures in the next blog.


Love Ya,
Bren

Now you understand why a journal is hard for me. . .

So I tried to be better and have done pretty well keeping current on this blog for just over a year. . . until recently.  Still lots of things on my plate, I actually think I have two plates in hand.

 This is Scott with his new haricut.  Now he really looks older and the girls - well lets just say a 'stick' is handy.  He has the materials purchased for his Eagle Project which will be delivered this week.  He begins work on the dog runs for the Humane Society next Saturday. YES, a BIG project, but it will be done!!!!

 Here is the cutest 'bunny' in the whole world!  Korbin is already 5 months old!!!  He'll hate this picture when he is a teenager, but wouldn't it be perfect in his Senior Class video?!    :)

 Alexa also got her hair cut.  It is way cute and nice to have it short for the spring play 'A Fairy Tale - the Ever After'.  It finished up tonight and the kids did a fabulous job on it.  She even got the Director's Award.  :)

This is Alexa as Snow White and her good friend Kaitlyn as Hedda.  Hedda is the sister to Snow White's wicked step-mother and Cinderella's wicked step-mother. Guess wicked ran in the family.  It was so much fun to see where this new story went with the characters we all know.

In addition to these things in my life, I was asked if I could help out with our Middle School track team.  I volunteer helping the kids learn to throw the shot put and discus.  I love being out there with them and the coaches are grateful I can help.  It is really only for about an hour on practice days, but it feels good. 

Keeping up with my workouts has been difficult and I feel it's a good week when I can workout 3-4 times.  Need to keep at it though, because my 'baby tummy' will probably never go away and I can only hope to contain it.    I also need to keep doing the workouts, if for no other reason than I feel so good when I am done.

We tried something new at work this past week.  Our break-time conversations can go anywhere and some days it can end up on the negative side, which we happened to comment on.  So we all took a turn naming 3 good things that had happened to us that day (all before 10am).  It changed the mood of the whole day and I think we all felt pretty good after that.

SO. . .  think of 3 good things that have happened to you today.  Here are my 3:
1) The materials are all purchased for Scott's Eagle project and enough of it was on sale to save $400!  Then I was able to get it tax exempt, which saved another $135!  (this one was huge!!!)
2) It was a beautiful sunny day - all day.
3) I talked to all my kids today - ALL 6!!!!

Love to all and have a great week!
Bren

FINALLY. . . .a little bit of time

Here's why I have been so busy and not able to take time to post anything new.  :)  This first picture is me and Scott at the Regional Honors Choir performance.  Yes, he is much taller than me as I am wearing 3" heels.  It will be interesting to see how tall he actually ends up. 

Here is my smiley 'cheerio' on their firetruck ride before going to State Competition.

This is Grandma, Alexa, and myself after the awards at State.  They took 3rd!!!!  Everyone was so excited.  It was a long year of work for the girls, (and stuntmen)

Jessica and Alexa showing us some facial expressions while holding the trophy!!!

Meg gets a photo, too!  This was on Feb 29th - our only snow day.  It was great snowman snow and she did a great job!!!

This is me being 'Grandma' out in Utah.  I got to go out for a very quick visit the first weekend in March.  Korbin was blessed on the 4th and he is so absolutely sweet!  He looks a lot like his Uncle Tim at that age.  I could hold and play with him for hours.

I got this really good smile the last morning I was there.  I took care of him so Mom & Dad could sleep in a bit.  A nice treat for all of us.  Such a short weekend, but oh so worth it.

Here is the quilt that I finished for my soon-to-be great niece.  Sorry about the mess - I was gone and no one watches things like Mom does.  Anyway, the flower petals are not attached to the quilt except at the centers.  I wasn't sure about the colors until I added the outside border and then it all just 'popped'.  Very bright and colorful.  I have left-over fabric and I will either make a matching pillow or animal to match.

These are my three (Alexa, Scott and Megan) who participated at District Solo & Ensemble Festival on March 10th.  They performed a trio together and got a 1st on their piece.  Alexa is going to State for her Musical Theater Solo, Vocal Jazz, Madrigal, and Vocal Jazz Madrigal.  Megan's Madrigal is going to State, too.  Then Alexa and Megan did a duet, which is also going to State.  A very successful year.  It was a crazy day, though.  There were 13 events between these 3 kids and I was able to see and record all of them!  It was amazing how it all worked out.  For each event there is an accompanist and to get the performer and the accompanist there at the same time is a miracle in itself because the accompanist plays at many events for the day.  It can be quite tricky, so to have it come together 13 times is amazing.

Lastly, here is my 'cow' bag.  This is the gift to the Cheer Coach from all 8 seniors this year.  I am calling it a Cheer First Aid Kit.  I need to get a second belt to match this one and it will be complete.  I couldn't find any cow prit denim/canvas, so I heat-bonded this cow print linen onto white denim.  It turned out way cool for me.  Usually when I begin a project without a pattern weird things happen, but this is good.  I even added pockets to the lining.  It just turned out quite a bit larger than what I figured, but still very nice.

I have asked the seniors to contribute to the contents.  It will have items like bobby pins, hair spray, glitter spray, maybe an ice pack.  Anything the cheerleaders would need could be put in it.  One other thing I need to do is to spray it with ScotchGuard.  That will keep it looking nice a little longer than without it.

Yup, I have been busy and we are getting closer to beginning the work on Scott's Eagle project - but aren't going there just yet or I may need some sedatives.   :)

Hope everyone is well and happy!

Life's too short to be anything else,

Love Ya,

Bren

Surviving My Schedule!

    Well,  it is now the 18th and the cheer team is going to state competition next weekend.  :)  The girls did great today and it was so nice to take a big coach bus to WI Rapids for the competition. 

With the time I had on the Friday in Madison for Scott's Choir gig, I went to JoAnn Fabrics.  A very dangerous thing to do when you don't have a time limit.  I was actually very good and only got the material for one project.  I am working on a baby quilt for my niece who is expecting.  It is turning out pretty well and will post a picture here when it is done.  I have the top done and just need to combine the back, the batting and the top, machine quilt it and finish the binding.  I really like how it is looking.

Our spaghetti dinner fundariser last weekend was very successful and the gift card order for the church scout troop went well.  Got through a lot of things on my calendar and then some.

I am getting the itch to go through some boxes of stuff in our store-room.  Clean them out, sort, throw and organize.  Should only be about 6 boxes or so.  That will be a project well done and feel really good to have done.

Have a great week!

Love ya,
Bren

Too busy to think . . .

Too Busy is an understatement.  I have so much to do and came down with a head cold this week.  It is only a head cold, a little stuffy in the nose, but so much better than when I usually get sick.  I can deal with this.  I have spent so much time gearing up for this next stretch of 3 weeks or so (maybe longer).

Here's my schedule:

Wednesday evening - church Scout committee meeting
Thursday - Scott & I to Madison for Regional Honor Choir
Friday - All day in Madison.  Lunch with Mom, workout, design Seminary game (I'll have the time)
Saturday - yoga with Mom in AM, Choir concert in afternoon, drive home, make two pies and brownies
Sunday - church (gift card order day) then to local scout troop's spaghetti dinner fundraiser to help wrap it up
Monday - Local scout troop court of honor
Tuesday - Valentines Day dinner at church
Friday - parent's night for cheerleaders at basketball game
Sautrday (18th)- off to WI Rapids for Regional Cheer competition
Friday (24th) - if the cheerleaders make it to state, then we are in Madison for state competition (odds are very good they'll advance) on the 25th
Friday March 2nd,- I fly to Salt Lake for the weekend as Grandson Korbin will be blessed on the 4th)
Monday the 5th, fly home.
Meg's brithday is the 6th and can't miss that either.  :)

I have all my things ready for the Spaghetti Dinner.  Scout families donate items for the silent auction.  I put together a basket of homemade cards (with the help of my sister- her cards are beautiful), a movie night basket complete with snacks, a sundae basket, and the Dessert-A-Month offer that I did last year.  It was really fun to bring dessert to a friend's house all year.  My family also enjoyed it because, when I made dessert for the auction winner, I made dessert for us, too.  We all won!

Yes, it is a lot to do, but I think I have it as streamlined as I can. 

I've tried t look at what I could eliminate from my life to calm it down a bit and I just can't see not doing anything that I am doing.  My children are only with me for a short time and then they are off building their own lives.  I am just happy being busy - SO . . . I must be the happiest person in the world!!!  Not too far off.

Have a great day - EVERYDAY!

Love ya,
Bren

Back home . . . hit the ground running!

This is me.  Just a few minutes before we got in the shuttle to leave Mexico.  Compared to my blog-site picture above - much improved.  Whoo hooo!  I tried to get Fred to be in the picture with me, but he just refused. So, you get me.  This is about as tan as I get.  With such fair skin, there isn't much point in trying to get much daker.  Yes, spf 70(or higher) is my friend.  Getting burnt on vacation just isn't any fun.

Well, we got back to Wisconsin on the coldest day of winter - boy that is always a shocker to the system.  Wow!  I just hate it when the snot freezes in your nose. I think it was 14 below or something awful like that.  It is survivable and really enjoying those heated seats in the Saturn.  :)

I took Friday off of work to get all settled, laundry done and re-aclimated to what was going on with everyone's schedule.  Meg and Scott have been sick, but not having school on Monday really helped them out a lot.  I am back to work and in up to my eyeballs in everything I was doing before vacation.  Feels good.

Now planning the next big trip.  My sister, cousin Cindy and cousin Lynn and I are going on a cruise in October.  Just booked it yesterday.  It is a bit of work coordinating between the 4 of us, but it is pretty well settled now and we are set to go.  Next we'll work on airfare and get our passport information to the cruise company.  Shouldn't be too hard.  I now know why I have not even looked at becoming a travel agent.  It can be messy.  We are going on an eastern carribean cruise - really looking forward to it.

I haven't had much time to work out since getting back, but did today and will still try to do something everyday (or at least 4X a week).  I feel great!

I think I have the year-end paperwork for the businesses done.  That is always a good feeling.  Now we just meet with our accountant to get all the taxes done.  Never on my list of things I like to do, but nice to have it all taken care of.  So glad I don't do those taxes anymore.  It gets pretty complicated and the accountant has the really good software. He's completed them in about 2 hours.  Me, it would take weeks.

Have a great day!

Love ya,
Bren

Vacation comes to an end

Well,  life is not a 'vacation', so tomorrow it is back to reality.  I am OK with that.  Ready to get back and dive in to everything again.  This break was just perfect.  I like to be busy doing things and even on vacation I managed some things from here.  But our lives have changed.  I guess I am more in the habit of texting than I realized.  Wow.  Our cell phones do not work in Mexico.  I can't begin to count how many times I would have liked to sent a text to one of my kids, (with 6, that can be a lot of texting - and they don't all have cellphones yet.)!

We never did make it to Cozumel.  Yesterday we set out to do that, but missed the 1 o'clock ferry from Playa del Carmen.  So we just went to the beach at Playacar Palace instead. Just doing that was $40 in round-trip taxi fare.  We saved another $100 with the ferry ride both ways and the taxi to the Cozumel Palace and back to the ferry.  Playacar's beach is right next to the ferry dock and very nice.  No conch shell for Megan, but when we bring the kids she can either find or buy her own and it will mean more to her.

Today was a 'sun' day.  We baked for a bit, I participated in the Water Aerobics class and later went kayaking in the lagoon for a few minutes.  See. . .  can't just sit still for more than a couple of hours.  I have completed one Sudoku book and have begun the second.

This evening we finish packing up so we are ready to go to the lobby at 8 am. to begin the trip home.  They saved the coldest weather for us. (which is still not as cold as it normally is when we get home.)  Fred is getting his last massage, I have most of our stuff packed.  We will go watch the fire show at seven and have dinner there.  The shows are pretty good.

One of the end of Yoga class thoughts was this, "most of us never have the opportunity to large good things, but we all have many opportunities each day to do small good things.  In that way we can make a big difference in the world." 

Look for all the 'little' good things you do each day and feel good about who you are.

Love Ya,
Bren

Packers Nation sad tonight :(

  Yes, we are Green Bay Packers fans and will be in mourning until an undisclosed time (basically when they get a workiing defense and can hang on to a ball thrown).  No we are not so depressed we cannot function.  It is a game that a few lucky people get to have as a full-time job.  It is fun to follow and the Packers had a great season - but what happened today should have been no surprise (at least the defense hasn't changed).  Now the dropped passes are another story.  Donald Driver did his part well.  Showed what a true veteran can do.

On to better things.  I did get a great back massage today - that is my limit of personal space invasion.  25 min.  It was also beautifully sunny today.  Fred now needs aloe vera and we are planning to go to Cozumel tomorrow.  A new adventure for us.  A taxi to Playa del Carmen, the ferry to the island and another taxi to the hotel.  At the Cozumel Palace we will play at the beach for a couple of hours and head back to Aventura.

Have a  great evening - as good as the Packers Nation can.

Love ya
Bren

Mexican thiking. . . .

  Well, another day at the resort.  I went to Body Sculpting yesterday - the only resort go-er to show up.  The instructor didn't even show up.  But, another employee who was a personal trainer put me through a pretty good work-out.  Today I wanted to go to the Kick Boxing class - again, no instructor and no one else.  I will just do my own workout in the Cross-Current pool.  I did that a few years ago and that was good. 

So far this morning I have been to the schedulers, back to my room, back to the schedulers, to the South Lobby and back to the North Lobby and now back at the room - All in a hour.  I am sweaty and legs are tired, so maybe I have already done a workout.

Do you know what Mexican math is?  They throw numbers at you really fast (in heavy spanish accents) and it somehow seems to make sense, but you have to look at it for a while to be sure.  We have credits (sort of play money) to spend at the resort.  What you can spend it on depends on what they give you and how much.  For booking this week, we got $1500 in Spa money - Fred's massages come out of here.  From an agreement a couple of years ago, we have $250 in Spa money.  Then we have other resort credits that can be spent between the Spa and Resort and there are limits.  I need to keep a pocket abacus with me to keep it all straight and I am an accountant.  Good Grief!   I think I have it all figured out and now can go get that pair of earrings I found that will match the pendant I bought here last year.

Too much work for one day on vacation!  Time to go lay in the sun or walk around that cross current pool and then a back massage at noon.

Have a great day!

Love ya,
Bren

Finally on Vacation!!!!

Yes, we made it to Mexico!  I take Bonine (meclizine) for motion sickness while flying and I think it made me really sleepy. But I will get to that when I get to that point in my timeline.  :)

I had thought we would leave home about 5pm.  We actually left at 7pm, so not too bad. We drove to Chicago for a non-stop flight, stayed in a hotel, left our car at the hotel and they dropped us off at the airport.  So for the cost of one night in the hotel, we park our car free and get a ride to the airport.  Very nice.  On the way to Chicago we played a little game, 'Did you Bring?'  As we drove, we began to ask if we remembered to bring certain things.  Passports, extra cash, etc...  I realized I forgot my hair comb - small thing.  Fred thought he left the extra cash at home on his dresser or in the pants pocket that he put in the laundry.  Ooops.  Then he remembered he did pack a second pair of pants and those were the ones.  Yes, we had the cash.  Whew!  I put the passports in our carryon bag the day before and remembered the Bonine this time so I didn't have to get something on the way - AGAIN.

We got the to hotel by 10:30pm, checked in, settled in the room.  verified our flight time - 8:20am.  Be at airport by 6:00am. Drats.  The hotel wanted us ready to go 1/2 hour before that. 5:30.  We were up at 4:30 to shower, dress and go.  Glad I brought my protein shake, because there is no hotel breakfast at that time, besides it would have been all carbs anyway.  So much for sleep. 

It was interesting in the hotel lobby, though.  The hotel clerk was from India, the shuttle driver was hispanic.  Another couple had some sort of British accent and one gentleman was obviously from Africa.  All spoke English, but they had a hard time understanding each other with their native dialects.  It was pretty funny.  We just smile and enjoy the simple amusement of it all.  :)

We did get some breakfast at the airport at 6:30.  Check in and through security went smooth - just have to be patient.  Amazing how many women travel at that time of day in full make-up.  I am not one of those.  Flight left about 20 min late, but we did not see one snowflake before leaving, so we missed the storm and absolutely no flight delays.  Yippeee!

We got exit row seats on the plane, which was great for leg-room, but no reclining of the seats.  I was almost asleep on take-off and slept a good portion of the flight.  We landed in Cancun at noon, right on time.  The arrival paperwork was not the English version, but Spanish and they did not hand out any customs forms.  They did have a copy of a form in English so we did have a cheat sheet.  It took an hour to get through the airport.   Another funny story, though.   We finally made it to the baggage carousels and the Mexican authorites were taking a 'drug' dog around all the people and baggage.  It stopped at the carryon bag of an older lady. The dog sniffed and wanted into her bag licking its chops.  So the Authorities opened her bag and looked through it.  She had brought some store-bought sausages with her.  They looked similar to pepperoni, but I have no idea what kind.  I felt bad for her, but we were amused at the obsurdity of it all.  Then a woman standing next to me says, "That gives new meaning to 'hide the sausage'."  It was all I could do not to fall on the floor laughing.  The lady with the sausages did not get to keep them and we figure the dog got the eat them on break.

It is an hour+ van ride to the hotel and I slept again on the way there.  Fred said it was a better ride than the one last year in a taxi.  I'll We had dinner and I took another nap after dinner.  We were supposed to have a concierge level hotel room when we checked in, but did not.  So we changed rooms just before dinner.

Yesterday, we upgraded our membership from Palace Resorts to Hard Rock Hotels and got a Presidential suite.  Yup, been here 2 days and in our 3rd room.  The hotel we are staying in will become the Hard Rock Riviera this fall and we want to be able to continue to come here.  Should be exciting.  Let me tell ya, this suite is amazing.  Before we just had the one room with a jacuzzi, bed, small desk, dresser, bathroom and closet.  Now we have two bathrooms, dinning room, livingroon, bedroom, and a sort of kitchen(no stove, but a microwave), a huge patio, ocean view, a pillow menu and we can have aromatherapy scents in the room.  Yup, like this a lot.  :)

Yesterday I went to the yoga class - great workout.  We were all sweating 15 min into it.  No yoga today, but there is a body sculpting class at 10.  Tomorrow will be kick boxing.  Should be fun.

Have a great day! And I think the sun is trying to come out.  Had rain in the night and first thing this morning.

Love ya,
Bren

I did it!!! - got brave, too :)

You have to promise - absolutely no laughing, but you can smile.  :)    I began the exercise and new eating habits on August 1st 2011. Moving the sleeper sofa in the basement the day before, I hurt my right hip - BUT began anyway doing only the exercises I could comfortably do.  {After seeing these 'Before' pics, there was no way I was going to NOT start this program}

 Three weeks into the program I caught the nastiest cold/virus I have had in years - delayed me 3 weeks.  So I started it over with the week one workout.  During those 3 'sick' weeks, I kept up with the new eating habits (or at least kept that as the main focus of how I was eating).  Some days I was too sick to care.  Missed the better part of 3 weeks of work, too.

I kept at it.  If I had a week when I didn't exercise enough, I did it over.  This is why it has taken me 5 months to complete a 13 week program.  I didn't notice any changes for several weeks, but felt so much better physically that that reward alone was good enough to keep me going.

Yah, that's me smiling!  Look how baggy those sport shorts are!  Yipeee!!!!  Just 5 short months ago - they were stretched to the limit.  I also can't believe it, but I think you can see the outline of a 6-pack!  Now, there is still room for improvement and as I have written earlier - the 'baby' tummy may always be there in some form.  I am so very happy it is so very much shrunk.

A word of encouragement to absolutely everyone who reads this - YOU CAN DO THIS IF I CAN DO THIS.  I am no one of any particular strength, fortitude, or have super powers.  I just kept at it, even if it was only 15 min a day.  I did the best I could, recorded what I did to see my progress and kept going.  If we quit, then we never know what we could have accomplished.

Have a wonderful day!  I know I am.  :)

Love Ya,

Bren



Awesome Routine by our Cheerleaders!

     I got to go watch our Cheerleaders perform today in Freedom, WI at a competition.  It is always a great time and a lot of fun to watch all the teams.  There are several categories and the teams are also grouped by size.  That way a co-ed large team is not up against an all-girl small or a cheer dance.  They all have different requirements.  Those co-ed large teams are really fun to watch - way cool to see the guys get so involved!  We only have a few guys and no one on our team can do much tumbling, which is required in the other categories.  We usually can manage a stunt team for regional competition and that doesn't have to have a guy - but very handy for the upper body strength.

http://youtu.be/CTrY7M7JUxE    is the link to watch the video of their performance today.  This is my first attempt at video recording one of their routines, but turned out fairly well. If you pause the video and let it completely load, then it plays without stopping.   They move around quite a bit, so I can't say exactly which one is Alexa and they all look so much alike.  :)

Enjoy!!!!

Love Ya,
Bren

Whew! The holidays are done. . . Now What????

     It was actually a very nice holiday time for our family.  The baking, gift buying(then getting boxes in the mail to arrive in time for Christmas) and the regular stuff we do all year long does get somewhat crazy.  It was good to see family and chat with those far away.  I am so grateful for all the ways we have to communicate now.  It really keeps me feeling close to everyone.
     I am finishing up week 12 of the P90X.  I decided I needed to redo week 11 because the first time through I only exercised twice.  Then I had a repeat of week 12, so I finally got it done - or will tomorrow.  I still feel really good and want to keep in shape now that I have improved it.  I know, round is a shape, but slimmer and more of an hour glass is way better.  :)  This weekend I will take the 'After' photos, compare them to the 'Before' photos and most likely post them here.  It's been fun to have my clothes fit loosely and get back into so many I grew out of.
      I will also be packing for our vacation to Mexico on Thursday.  Ooooh goodie!  I so need a vacation.  I have tanned some and know what clothes to take.  We don't have a lot of plans while we are there.  Some spa treatments (massages, pedicures, facials and the water therapy lounge) feel great for some pampering.  I am not one to over do one these things, still feels awkward for me to endulge.  I can handle laying poolside, oceanside or partcipating in some workout classes.  No schedule here we come!!!!

  Even if I wasn't going away for a vacation,I would try to find more down time.  That is much needed in most of our lives.

Love ya,
  Bren