Day 2

I am really grateful for this challenge to journal everyday because it is going to give me the opportunity to catch up on some much needed blogging. There will be several posts with pictures coming, as I haven't posted much lately.

I just love these three pictures of my little lady. The first, Emma hugging our dog Copper, while in the dog bed with Sahara, too. Emma is a puppy, no doubt. She eats with the dogs when they eat dog food and we often find her splashing in the toilet, an endearing trick, I am sure she learned from Sahara. I am just so grateful she hasn't picked up Sahara's licking habit. If you know Sahara, you know what I mean and are probably secretly annoyed right now thinking of the last time she 'drive-by' licked you.

Emma is just so funny. The girl has loads of personality. Loads! And loads of hair, as evidenced by the next two pictures. We went out to the farm a little while ago and Emma won the best bedhead contest every morning. It was hilarious.

So to quickly chronicle the second day of my challenge. I have to admit... I was so sore all day today. My workout yesterday worked muscles that I haven't worked in a long time. So I was a little scared to work out today, but I just got done and I feel so much better! I think I stretched all those sore muscles and I'm feeling good. I probably won't be able to move tomorrow morning ;). I haven't missed sweets, yet, but I do miss the soda. I'm sure that will pass. My personal goal this week is to be in bed at 10:30; I must sign off. Until next time!

Wellness Challenge

Today I start a Wellness Challenge. Thanks to my friend, Jenni, for posting it on her blog. I am so excited and so nervous. It is going to be life changing! Literally, I have to change so much in my day to day life. Which pretty much means that I am not eating like I am supposed to! Ooops.

One of the major reasons I chose this particular challenge, though, is that it incorporates spiritual and mental well being in addition to physical well being. I will be reading 15 minutes of scriptures/uplifting material a day and writing in a journal. Plus a weekly personal goal to be met each day. What should it be for the first week and subsequent weeks? Any suggestions?

Nutrionally and physically is going to be the most demanding, I think. 45 minutes of exercise, no soda and no treates are the major changes for me. Holy smokes. If you have seen me lately, in three months I will be changed person! Go me. Thanks for reading, as this is my journal entry for the day and the only journal I keep, so I will be updating. A lot.

Post POST

Luke is finally done with the Police Academy. He graduated on April 30. I am so proud of him! He is really excited now to get a job! Luke is currently applying with several different departments, so we will keep you posted when we hear anything and if we are moving somewhere.

Taking the Code and Oath of Ethics.

Receiving his certificate.

Our family.

Emma Dawn

I've been meaning to write a few notes on Emma for a couple of weeks. This sweet little girl makes me laugh every day. Emma has begun to put things down her shirt as if it was a pouch. And since more often than not she is wearing a snapped up shirt, the items stay there and she pulls them out to play later. I have found some awesome things in her shirt and sometimes, down the front of her diaper. Dimes, matchbox cars, felt storyboard pieces, pens, sticks, candy, you name it. Yesterday she had a long stick like thing in her shirt and I couldn't figure out what it could be. I just left it there and she came back a couple of minutes later, glowing E.T. style. What the!?! Oh! It was a flashlight down her shirt. It's even funnier when you ask her what is in her shirt and she pulls out the neck and looks in... and then says, "Oh!"

Emma is learning so many words, I can't keep up. Her favorites right now are buffalo, elk, deer, and of course, No! The other day, Noah wasn't doing what I had asked him to and I began to count to 5. Well, I didn't get very far... Me: ONE! Emma: (pointing at Noah), TWO! And then looking back at me for confirmation. Trying not to laugh, I said, "That's right. What comes next?" And Noah said, "Three, four, five!" Oh, kids, you've got me figured out.

Emma loves the bath and tries to barrel in with her clothes on while the water is still running. She loves the bubbles. Bathtime is a fun time with Emma. Emma is also our little country girl. I have probably mentioned this before, but I am not joking when I say her first word was 'deer." She loves horses and hats, deer and elk. And, she even has her rodeo queen wave down, definitely WITHOUT instruction from me. I can barely stay on the horse, let alone wave while riding! Check it out...

I love feeling like I am contributing to my food storgage and to our sustainability. I just want to remember this! I feel so productive right now I thought I would sit down, rest my legs and surf the net a bit. And I'm also wishing I had worn my support hose. I have been patiently waiting for 5 days for my Steam Canner to arrive. I had looked at all the stores and could not find one! I felt bad borrowing, because other people need their Steam Canners too, right? So, I broke down and purchased one from Amazon. I love Amazon! They had such a good price, and of course free shipping.

Today, my steam canner arrived and I could finally work on the potatoes and strawberries piling up in the corners of my kitchen. I put up 13 qts. of potatoes and made 7 pints of Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate. Yummy! I also had some apples about to kick it, so I made an apple pie for dessert.

Last Saturday my mom and I decided to get our garden started and planted our seeds in starter pots. They are supposed to take 2-4 weeks to sprout, but check mine out! I don't know what happened, but these little guys are on turbo speed! I swear, you can see them growing minute by minute. I have my herb pots planted too, but no sprouts yet. Now, all we need is the SNOW to stop SNOWING! Then I can get outside and plant these babies. Can't wait! Hopefully they grow outside as well as they have inside.