Shutdown time!

So in 2 days Ryan and I will know if we are done working for awhile....I shouldn't have any excuse of not blogging then right? Or wrapping up our house projects?

It's bizarre that this shutdown would affect Ryan and my jobs as we do completely opposite things and Ryan doesn't even work for the state but the private sector!

In other news...Hannah and Brooklyn have both turned another year older....Why does this keep happening? I swear years are getting shorter!! Hannah is in a artsy mood and has been coloring up a storm lately.... Brooklyn is just Brooklyn....she's just a firecracker! She is a class clown just like her dad...she keeps me quite entertained! Here's a recent conversation Brooke and I had:

Brooklyn: {while watching Jurassic Park} Are dinosaurs dead?

Me: Yes they are.

B: Did they die when I was born?

Me: They have been dead for thousands and thousands of years....way before you were born.

B: Oh, so they died when you were born?

This kid is hilarious!

Hannah on the other hand asked me recently if "darnit" was a bad word and if she could say it. I had to giggle, but told her it was not a bad word...but not a polite word and she could probably think of a better word to use.

I tell ya...kids are never ending balls of excitement!

Speaking of excitement. I came home today after work to the girls sitting in the yard and the sprinkler running (no one in it of course). When I ask my sister how long it's been running, she begins to count the hours....no a good sign. Of course she's always lived in the country so water is a never ending "free" thing to her. To me...well let's just say I'm not looking forward to the water bill this month.

Rain...rain...go away!

So after all the predictions of the educated weather people...this morning started off with quite the little rumbling storm. Don't get me wrong! It heated up to a nice 90 degrees (did you know the computer does NOT have a degrees sign??) but was a tad humid for my liking...or the liking of my hair.

Luckily Ryan has been able to work and hasn't gotten rained out yet...and believe it or not, he actually got notified on Thursday that he was going to work Saturday, which is amazing in this job...normally they'll let them know Friday at around 3.... Oh, you have plans....too bad....Oh, you have family....too bad....Oh, you want to be able to make plans....that's just silly.

The rain has had some effects on our little lake though...it's actually quite pretty being so high, the last few years it's been so low, but now it's the highest I think I've ever noticed it!

Oooh ~ Aaah...come on...I know you're saying it!

"Road Under Water"

The lake is up to the big trees...it's kinda hard to see...

I know that Ryan's grandma and grandpa have witnessed it being much, much, much higher than this before! But it's still fun for us to watch!

Miley was having fun playing outside while I was shooting pics of the lake....couldn't resist snapping a few of her!

I'm so pretty...oh so pretty...



Yes, she is sitting on the step here. I made her sit pretty so I could get a pic of her by my hostas!

Weeeeee........

Let's quit looking at the lake and jump in already!

She usually is on a leash or in her kennel...so she enjoyed the freedom...although she has no clue that the road is a dangerous place for her (number one reason she's always on a leash or in her kennel when we are outside!)

We have a busy weekend ahead of us, and with Ryan working it tends to make it a bit more stressful, but we'll make it! We always do!

XOXO,

Erinn

Big encouragement!

So I'm all about having to keep myself motivated (when I am actually on track) for dieting or exercising....The saying that a diet is a certain percent diet, a certain percent exercise, but mainly your mind...that totally makes sense to me! (Sorry, I totally can't remember the actual percent...although, I doubt it was drawn on doctor proven facts...so I think you're okay). I am the first to talk myself into (or out of) something if I really want to. Or the first to tell myself that I can't....the other saying "we are our own worst critics" (apparently I'm all philosophical today...ps...I really don't know if philosophical is a word, or if it is the right word to use there BUT I never said I was an english pro)

I digress, I am definitely my own worst critic! I am the first to tell me self the things I can't do...or things my body can't handle! I think that's why running is so hard for me. Apparently my brain is smarter than my body and can manipulate my body into thinking it's too hard or I can't do it....Something I need to recognize and get over!

Well, I was getting off my dreaded treadmill last night and Brooklyn (my 5 year old) says, "Way to go mom...you are so good at exercising!" Holy Schmoly!! I was so proud of her at that moment! And I really needed to hear it too, so I'll take it where I can get it...even if it's from a 5 year old!

Did I pay her to say it you say? Nope! Didn't even bribe her with a fruit snack!

In other news....the state shutdown rumors keep looming! I try not to get wrapped up in it, because you NEVER know what will happen! But then yesterday I hear that according to our union contract this means that they will cash out all of our vacation and sick time. Great for one lump some of money that the government is going to tax the CRAP out of....but then I come back to 0 balance of sick and vacation time! I have been saving for what seems like forever!! I have over 500 hours of combined sick and vacation time!! This leads me to believe that if this shutdown happens I will NOT be voting for ANY incumbent members of congress! So easy for them to vote on cutting my funding...yet they sit there and get nothing done, and get paid for it! Psh!

Okay, if anything, it will be a nice (non-paid) vacation the beginning of July! We'll have to see what happens!

Pirates....aye!

I cannot believe that this weekend went sooo fast! How nice it was to have a 3 day weekend though....I totally needed it! We were able to get a couple things done on the house which felt great, despite the torrential downpours all weekend! We completely gutted, sheetrocked, painted, and put shelves and rods up in our closet, took care of the yard, and cleaned out the entry way and moved Miley and her new kennel in it. She loves it....she's got a ton of room now!

Best news is that Ryan and I only almost killed eachother one time...which is bound to happen when you have a 100 yr old crooked house and you are trying to sheetrock it without any prior sheetrocking experience! We quickly got over it and were laughing at ourselves in no time.... I have to say that Ryan is pretty amazing...he is willing to try just about any project himself which saves us a ton of money on all of our house work!

Ryan, the girls, and I were able to take a break and head out to the new Pirates movie....we splurged on the 3D tickets and were very impressed! It wasn't like a "pop out at you" 3D...but a very realistic 3D, many parts felt like we could reach out and touch whatever was on the screen because it was so real! We also enjoyed our 3D glasses!

Of course these are grainy pics from Ryan's phone in the dark....but nothing like goofy glasses! We may or may not have kept the glasses (just in case, you never know when you will need 3D glasses!).

Hopefully I get better at bloggin! I've been awful lately!! I don't know how I've gotten so busy...besides the fact that Ryan is out of town now full time, and it's exhausting to be a single momma again!

Here's to hoping we can get the house done and listed and sold so we can move to a place where Ryan can work NORMAL hours!! He LOVES what he does, so it doesn't make sense for him to change careers...just find somewhat normal hours, where he can be at home every night...that's the goal!

Off to do the treadmill and read for a bit before bed!

XOXO,

Erinn



Need runner's advice....STAT!!

Heehee...so official right? So yeah...I'm a huge blogging slacker... And now Ryan went back to work up north so my days are whizzing by!! Blogging has to fit in there somehow, I'm just not sure where yet!! I'm having a hard enough time keeping running in there!

So back to my title...I need advice from all you runner pro's...I have been running on my treadmill, but anything over 20 minutes and I'm dying!! I think I'd be better outside with a view?? I think it's just the thought of the stationary running on a belted DREADmill! I like the treadmill for being able to set my incline up high and speed walk and feel the burn, but I'm thinking of beginning my running outside to really put in some miles...whatcha think? Is it normal for some people to really hate running on their treadmill? I really want to like running...so I'm hoping it's not that I just hate running! (Plus Ryan would totally kill me if I flaked out on something else, and our treadmill won't fit in our closet of "has beens") I also think my form would be better running outside, I feel like my form is horrible running on the treadmill...I feel stiff and compacted, which then gives me backaches and legaches...

Oh, what to do, what to do??? Where's my magic 8 ball?

Confession

Hello, my name is Erinn and I am a procrastinator. I also have horrible time management skills, horrible grammar, and perhaps a little OCD mixed with ADD....

I look at my blog everyday and think of blogging...then I get side tracked, or put it off until later and later turns into tomorrow, or I plain-old just don't have time! Is there a class for said problems listed above? Maybe a little weekly workshop?

No.

Okay. I'll work on that then.

I have managed to keep up on my running. I haven't missed a day. I'm on week 6. I ran 20 minutes straight yesterday and just about keeled over. I know, I know...I read about all the peeps that run 20 miles...blah, blah! I only hope to be like that someday, but I could barely run 1 minute before...so 20 is HUGE! Ryan has even joined the running train now. We are officially jr runners. Someday we will run miles together.

So back to the noted "diseases" listed in the first paragraph. Do you ever have so much to do but are so frustrated by the fact that you can't make it just perfect therefore you don't want to do it? That's how I feel with projects I want to complete around the house lately. I look at all these cute ideas around the "blog-land" for organizational projects or cutsie projects...however I get to the point that if I can't do it "just so" so then I don't want to start. Or I'll start it and get annoyed with the way it's turning out so I therefore cannot finish it. Do you think there's a magic pill for perfectionism problems? Just kidding, no pills...drink perhaps?

Okay, just writing that paragraph out gave me a bit of anxiety. I think I need to get over it though...because there's a ton of cute things I want to do out there! For now...off to bed. I so sleepy!

XOXO,

Erinn

Okay. I'm off to bed now.

Fam, Egg Dyeing and Food!

I took off a bit early from work yesterday and we went to visit Ryan's grandma and grandpa over near Hinckley. The girls have been asking to go visit them and we've been trying to find a good time and yesterday seemed to work...

It was a bit drizzly, but we had a wonderful time visiting. We talked about what we've been doing, and our possible future plans. It was so nice to see them and chat... it's always good to have time alone to visit with family. The girls even got to drive grandpa's tractor! Well, actually Brooke ran along side with grandpa...but they enjoyed themselves!

"wait for meeee!!!"

We enjoyed a nice dinner and some wonderful cake and didn't end up leaving until after 8! It was so nice!

This morning, (after I slept in), we had a list of things to cross off of our list...one of which was egg dyeing...the girls have been eyeing up the package all week! We tossed some eggs in to boil (I cracked one, which meant I had to take another one out so that there would be an even number....those who have kids understand...no child can have more eggs than the other!!), and whipped up the colored mixture...

Naked Eggs...

The girls were super-duper excited waiting for the eggs to boil...they could hardly wait!

Yaaaah!

Whoop-whoop!

 Someone else was just as excited...

Smiley-Miley!

Fill-em up!

Who's excited?

Purdy!

Takes concentration!

She's a pro now!

"oooh ~ aaah"

Please ignore that ugly shadow in the pic above with my elementary photo taking skills. I know I stink at pics...I keep saying I need to practice more...but I happen to be the best procrastinator in the world! So maybe tomorrow!

pretty in pink

After egg dyeing and grocery shopping we were hungry! Ryan has been on the search for a "loco-moco" recipe. Loco Moco was something he had while we were in Hawaii. We had bought the ingredients while grocery shopping awhile ago. Loco Moco is a common Hawaiian meal, the first time I heard what it was it didn't sound the least bit appealing to me. But I did have a couple bites of Ryan's and it was pretty good! Definitely not something you would eat on a regular basis though...it's a pretty rich meal!

For our Loco Moco recreation we layered homemade fried rice mixed with brown rice, topped it with a fried egg, and hamburger patty, and drizzled homemade brown gravy over the top. The gravy was a mixture of beef broth, flour, and Worcestershire. It was pretty fabulous! I think I might have to up my running tomorrow now! :) Especially since we ended the meal with a brownie (shhh...don't judge!).

Tomorrow we are having my dad and brothers for lunch...should be a yummy meal...I have a few different recipes I'm trying....stuffed mushrooms, string beans, twice baked taters...mmmmm! Off to stuff some Easter baskets for some anxious girls!

Nighty-night!

XOXO,

Erinn