Could It Be???

I just ran 2.5 miles straight...ME!!!...STRAIGHT!!!!! And honestly felt like I could have kept going... Could I actually run the half-marathon with Matt THIS year?!?!? Nah... Maybe?!? ...wow...

First Camping of '09

YAY FOR CAMPING!!! First off, just to get it out there, camping BIT last year! I am sorry, but Jenna really made things difficult for us last summer :-) As ya'll know, she was quite the fussy baby, but I was DETERMINED to get some camping in last summer regardless! She screamed and cried and fussed, we took turns with her so we each got the chance to have fun with the older two kids, but it really was a bummer of a camping year. Not to mention, one of the trips Matt had a busted ankle, Juliana threw up every 20 minutes from 2am-7am... We gave it a valiant effort, three trips worth, it was just not our best camping year...and I kept telling myself "next year, next year will be better!" And so far it is!

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What we didn't realize at the time was that Greg & Stephanie would get a pop-up trailer which allows them to JOIN in the fun! We got to camp along side them on our first camping excursion of the year, and we are SO thankful! We love family time, we love watching the cousins bond and build their relationships, we love adult time around the fire, getting caught up, finding out things about each other that we never knew, and this Sacajawea loved watching the pyro side of Greg come out ;-D

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We had some very domesticated Chelan ducks hang out around us a majority of the time, I loved that :-) The kids had fun with bubbles, I got to go on quite a few walks, one of which was solely Stephanie and I, that was nice. Great time around the camp fire, both with and without kids. Matt made up a scavenger hunt list, which the kids were super excited about! He's so good at that. While on the hunt, Mikayla found a VERY cool birds nest. We saw tons of animals, had fun at the park, and just enjoyed hanging out. Us adults even got to play a couple games! Greg put the fear in us immediately by getting a Yahtzee right off the bat... And yet... Sorry, bro! Maybe next time! ;-D

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Greg & Stephanie, we are SO excited that your family has a trailer and that we'll get to camp together all summer long! FOREVERMORE!!! We love ya :-)

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The kids ready to embark on our first trip of the year!

And Jenna is forward facing!!!

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That's a MUCH happier face than last year!

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One of our friendly feathered friends.

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Jordan and Mikayla eating bubbles :-)

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Mikayla and her super cool birds nest!

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That's right, Cindy Lauper camped with us!

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A super cute Jenna and Daddy

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Yep, he was THAT excited :-)

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The Earnhardt family! (one of them)

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Mommy & Juliana, awww...

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MUAH HA HA!!! Great fire, Greg!

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Denise & Matt, yep, we're still a couple, we just have to remind ourselves sometimes...

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Making a human pyramid...well trying to... :-D

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Take two! We love you guys :-)

40 in 4

I am proud to announce that I've lost 40 lbs in the first 4 months! My initial goal was to lose 40 lbs by my birthday (June 2nd). This puts me a full month ahead of my goal, which thrills me to no end! :-)

One thing that I have wanted is to take up is running. I know, crazy. I have NEVER been a runner! In middle school, we used to run around the school in P.E. and let it be known that I NEVER made it around the entire school, let alone two times! In high school, we ran the track of course, and I rarely made it around the track one time, let alone four! However, as you all know, I am married to a runner. Matt has completed one full marathon, five half-marathons, and various 10K's and 5K's. This last November he ran with a co-worker's wife, a very slender, very fit, gorgeous woman. Not that this was my motivation... ;-) BUT it does help fuel the flame. Could that be ME running along side him one day?!? No way could I do that, I can't even make it one time around the track!

After three months of exercising on our elliptical religiously, the weather started warming up which allowed me to hit the pavement. I walked the first few times, then thought "hey, might as well try to jog to the next mailbox." That grew, I noticed I could go further than I was giving myself credit for, and I am amazing myself! This morning I jogged 1.5 miles...straight...ME!!! Can you believe it?!? I started with a half mile walk and ended with a half mile walk, and I can't tell you how good I feel! The first time I ran a mile straight, I busted thru the door, gave Matt a high-five and was practically leaping out of my skin in sheer joy and giddyness of my accomplishment!

I don't know when I'll be ready for a half-marathon (notice I said "when", not "if!", but mark my words, one day I WILL run a half-marathon with Matt! And I am already proud of myself :-)

So here I am, at my half-way point. 40 down, 40 to go!