Lunch here

I dub yesterday's lunch here a success :)  We had lots of fun just hanging out, eating too much, laughing, talking about possible upcoming camping trips and being renamed by Ice Shivers.  I swear, Inde is the cutest 5 year old in the world!  Even Bailey got a name tag.

Look at your shoes! Everyone...except Dakota :)

Magic

and Minecraft

My Fluffpaw

Catching up and some ideas

Thursday was a long day.  A great day...just long.  The kids and I got going and left the house by 9:00.  I had a couple errands to take care of before heading out to Esther's.  Once there, we loaded into her van and went to Deb's house for a lunch/gathering/play day/chat-a-thon.  We had a really good time.  In fact, when it was time to leave to get the kids to dance class, the opted to miss class and stay there longer.  I did not take one picture.  I'm slacking, I tell ya.  I could hijack some off FB, but that seems like too much work right now.  Anyway, we ate lots of food and the kids played games, and walked down to the river.  D hung back with me since it was cool out.  Brit had a really good time, but I don't think Dakota enjoyed himself that much.  He wasn't interested in playing the card games the other kids were playing.  He just didn't have a niche that day.  But I think everyone feels like that now and then.  Then we headed back to Esther's, stopping at Subway for Dakota on the way, ate a bite at their house and headed off for play practice.  I also went to sit down in the papasan chair and it shifted on its base.  I fell in the floor and the seat flung into the wall, sending the huge window frame- picture frame into the floor.  Good times being me...

 In other news

I invited everyone over for lunch this Friday.  In the years we've been hanging out, we've gathered here MAYBE three or four times.  I just don't ever host, but I'm trying to make some changes.  I'm REALLY looking forward to it :)

We've been discussing changes and updates we want to make on the house.  This place does not reflect the people who live here and I think it's time it did.  First, I'm painting the kitchen.  What color, you ask?  I'm going with a color very similar to the paint I used in the camper.  I LOVE that color.  It's so happy and it will brighten that room up tremendously.  Brit sat in the floor and sketched out what she'd like to see in the den.  It involves orange paint and hanging chairs :)  I just want that to be a really cool room for the kids to hang out, read, create, be on the computer, play games and have a place to just be.  Dakota and Brit are both ready to update their bedrooms.  I'm also thinking about ripping the carpet up and trying my hand at painting the floor!  The carpet needs to go.  I know it contributes to breathing issues.  We'll see how that goes.  More research is needed.  

Okay, I think that's all I have for right now.  Peace!

COLD

The cold snap that hit most of the US was miserable.  We stayed home for a week, curled up in blankets with hot tea and hot chocolate.  But to have a little science fun, we took one of the coldest days and sprinkled some boiling water on it.  It was 12* with the wind chill putting us in the negatives.

When you toss the water into the air, it creates a larger surface area, turning the water into small droplets.  If it's cold enough, the droplets freeze, turning them into a cloud of crystals before hitting the ground.  Pretty cool, huh?

Outside

On Saturday, while Brit and Dakota were both out, I went to the trail at Point Mallard.  I walked/jogged 5.5 miles.  It showed me just how out of shape I am and how far I have to go, BUT no matter how slow I am, I'm going faster than if I was sitting on the couch!

Esther invited me to walk a portion of the refuge with her and Matt on Sunday.  I went back and forth about it, and finally decided moving my sore muscles was the best thing I could do for myself.  It was a beautiful day and felt warmer than I thought it would.  I'm glad I went!  We even got in trouble for being on a non-public use area of the refuge.  This was not my fault...no matter what Esther says.

The Boy

Dakota had such a great time at Brick Fair!  I picked him up and chatted with Dave and Craig for a few minutes about the day.  I'm pretty sure the dads had fun, too :)  Once on the road back home, Dakota talked nonstop about everything they saw, built, touched, joked about, tasted...he was pumped!  When we got home, he showed me all of the pieces he bought, describing in depth about which gun would go best with which minifig, and played and played with his Legos for another two and a half hours. 

Dad and Rosie got him the DeLorean Lego kit for Christmas and we started putting it together last night.  We got about halfway finished and stopped so we could watch Back to the Future. He'll finish that up today.  It's looking pretty good and I really enjoy doing projects like that with him. 

Here are some other Lego projects he's been working on.  They are inspired by Dr. Who and Venturian Tale.  He's quite proud of them, wanting them photographed so I would put the pictures on FB and the blog :)

2014

Well, we're 10 days into the new year and I feel like I haven't accomplished much of anything.  I'm not about resolutions.  It seems like any time I put pressure on myself like that, I not only fail, but fail tremendously.  If you could find a picture of what self sabotage looks like, it would be of me.

That being said, I start this year weighing about 20 pounds less than last year.  I hope to see continued progress in that area.  I also REALLY want to challenge myself by participating in a Warrior Dash and/or Spartan Race this year.  The idea of an obstacle course race appeals to me greatly.  I put something out on FB about it and got more of a response than I anticipated!  It's going to be awesome to team up with friends, challenge ourselves and kick some ass this year :)

I also want to do a Color Run or Neon Vibe...or a copy cat race with a cheaper registration price.  Those look fun!

Let's see...Rosie's daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter visited from Israel and the kids and I went down to spend a day with them.  I like them SO much.  Max came for the day as well and we all ate and talked and laughed.  Good day :)

Britney is in The Little Mermaid and she had her first practice last night.  She's spending the day with Esther so her and Chan can go over some costume ideas.  The girls are Flotsam & Jetsam, which is kind of perfect.  Emily is Sebastian, which is also perfect.  They are going to have a blast with this one!  Anyway, they've given Brit and Chan creative leeway on their costumes and I can't wait to see what ideas they come up with.

Dakota is still in major Dr. Who and Minecraft crazed phase.  And Legos.  And playing the piano.  He's teaching himself how to play the Dr. Who theme song.  Last night when Dave picked Brit up, he invited Dakota to go to Brick Fair with them this Saturday.  We went last year and had a blast and he's very excited about going again!