Wowza!!

It has been sooo long since I updated this. My goodness!

Well, we have had a fun adventurous summer. We spent nearly 3 weeks in Idaho. We visited, we camped, we fished... We had a blast! And it was lovely to get away!!

The kids are doing well, and growing up so fast. Blayke turns 5 this month, and we are having a party for him and Woody. Cierra has been visiting her father in Florida regularly and loves it!! Konnor is no longer a baby... Every day he is more of a big kid.. Bittersweet for sure!

The business is doing very well. The only problem is, of course, housing. We have has our employees living in our basement. Now... This has created some issues, and has led Woody and I to an important decision. When you have a young, growing family, the last thing you want or need is 3 extra men living with you. The problem is, we need employees.. And if you are hire a driver, you have to have housing to go with it. Since there is nowhere here to put them, and Woody only works when his employees go on break, we have decided to turn this house into employee housing, and we are moving to Billings Mt. I am thrilled!! We found a nice house in a beautiful neighborhood! The best part?? Everything is right around the corner!! We move mid-September, and I cannot wait!

One of the things that is right around the corner is my midwife. I am 14 weeks pregnant tomorrow, and am so excited about this midwife! She is awesome. I met with her when we were traveling home from Idaho, and sh talked to me for 2 hours!! It wasn't an in and out rush.. I feel like she will get to know me. We talked some about what happens in case of emergency, and she said she is wry conservative, and will transport at the first sign of trouble. (which is good. I don't want a midwife who will risk me or my baby because she is too proud to admit danger.). We won't be finding out what the gender of this little one is, and I am pretty excited about that!  I am thrilled at the idea of another baby, and can't wait to hold the sweet little one in my arms!  

For now, I think that is all!!

To elaborate..Caution: Rant ahead!

"I know I post a lot about fitness, and I have even been told it is 'annoying'.  But when someone tells me I have inspired them to start building a better lifestyle all of the jerky people who are annoyed go out the window.  I will annoy a million people if it means I inspire one person to change their life.  So if you are annoyed, delete me, and go for a  run.  Chances are,  you are mad becauseyou have yet to commit and know you need to."  This is my Facebook status from this morning.  In the last week, I have gotten 3 private messages. The first, someone told me I 'inspired them'. The third was asking for fitness tips.  The second...The second one made me want to scream, and did make me cry.  The person, who I will leave anonymous, told me that my constant fitness posts were annoying.  That they were "tired of hearing about it."  They even went so far as to ask me, "Don't you worry about the impact this obsession will have on your children, most especially your daughter?"  Are. You. Freaking. Kidding. Me?! 
Let me start with the first part, about being annoying.  Have you ever inspired someone to do something?  Because lemme tell you, it is an amazing feeling. It is part of what drives me so hard. Have you ever set a goal, and not only reached it, but CRUSHED it?!  Knocked it out of the park?! DEMOLISHED IT?! Because, my friends, if you haven't..I strongly recommend it as #1 on your bucket list.  Don't just set the goal....Reach it. Then crush it.   THAT has brought me a feeling of power, confidence and self-acceptance that is beyond how I look. (Even though that is a nice side effect). This morning when I did a stiff legged dead lift with 70 pounds on my bar, knowing I could barely do 15 when I started...That makes me feel like a rockstar.  I **WANT EVERYONE** to feel like that!! So, annoy you I will. But if I am annoying you, look at YOUR life, and figure out why.  And if you can't start out with a run. IT may help you get it!
Now onto the part that I am absolutely furious about.  I am not trying to be mean. But obesity is an EPIDEMIC in this country. Fitness is not.  I dare bet it is uncommon to ask a person who struggles with weight if they are worried about the impact that their lifestyle will have on their children. Seriously. It is politically incorrect.   Here is what my daughter sees:  Her mom putting HEALTHY food into her body, CONSTANTLY fueling.  Her mom working hard to acheive a goal. Her mom having confidence.  Her mom having energy. Her mom NEVER using the words "fat" or "thin". (I have in the past, but these words are outlawed in my home). Opting instead to teach about strength, building muscle and endurance.  Using food as a fuel.  Making sure she knows ALL food is not the enemy. But some are, if you can't use moderation. Making sure she knows how to derive pleasure from things other than food.  Do I want my family to be obese? Heck. NO! Because it "looks bad"? Nope. Because it will kill them. In the words of Jamie Eason, (One of my inspirations), "Most diseases are caused by environment, genetics, and/or an unhealthy lifestyle.  You only really have control of one of those things. Take it." 

I am taking control. I am not losing weight or gaining muscle in an unhealthy manner. I have revamped how I view food, to a less common view, as fuel. Not my source of pleasure. (Except my cheat meals.)  But I eat all. the. time. 5 or 6 times a day. Seriously.  Now, because I don't gorge myself on pizza, chips and soda, I must be a fanatic. No. I am just someone who truly views my body as a TEMPLE.  That means taking care of the insde, as well as the outside. I am someone who wants to know that if illness comes along, I have done all I can to help fight it.  Oh, I also don't smoke, drink, and I *usually* get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. (assuming kids cooperate.) Sheesh, I really AM crazy.  How dare I teach my children a healthy lifestyle....

Life.....So unpredictable!!!

I am going to start with what is going on with CBK trucking. (Our trucking business).  We have 2 employees, Woody's father and his uncle.  They live with us, and haul rock. We have had a third truck sitting dormant for months, along with a crude trailer.  Just sitting. Making nothing. Well, we were supposed to have a contract with the company Woody works for, but they put the kabosh on new contracts for the time being.  So, we have been diligently looking for another place to lease on to.  It finally happened!! YAY!!  A guy Woody knows through his current job offered to lease us on...Just in time for our truck to start doing crazy things like shooting flames out of the stack...In the words of one of our friends, "I'm no mechanic, but that can't be good!" So, now we are borrowing a truck so that Woody can haul crude.  What does this mean?  It means giving up a sure income, health insurance, (for now), having my sweetheart home at a decent hour, and several other things. So, why are we doing it?? Because it is the answer to our long term goals.  Short term, it actually kinda stinks....But Woody is basically stuck in a dead end job..Going nowhere, and not happy!  We prayed, fasted, prayed some more, fasted even more, and know that for whatever reason, this is the way to accomplish what we feel we need to for our family!

Now onto the other stuff!  I am starting an in-home daycare.  I already have the kids, just gotta get my licensing done. (Kinda doing it backwards, huh?)  But, when I called Social Services to find out what I need to do today, the lady SERIOUSLY seemed ecstatic that I was looking into doing it.  That has to be a good sign, right??  I want to help get some stuff paid for, but am not willing (or able, due to a lack of childcare in my area) to send my kids off.  I will still homeschool, and have already ordered my newest books. (Blayke's kindergarten, and C's next level.)  Will it be hard? Oh, probably. But it will be worth it.  I am also ordering stuff in 1.5 weeks to get my personal training certification, which I have already mentioned! However, I have started training a friend, and have decided to also get a nutrition coach certification.  I have never been good at anything. Never had a passion for anything.  I feel like, other than being a Mom, this is my "thing"! I am thrilled to learn, grow and become certified!!!

The last thing is that recently, our ward split, and Woody got called to be the 1st Counselor in the Young Men's presidency.  I was blessed enough to get my same calling, and get to continue teaching the 5 year-old class. I LOVE IT!  I am sooo thrilled for my husband. I know that it will be interesting, with all the time we will be putting into everything.

I am thankful for all of the WONDERFUL people in my life who are supporting my husband and I in our goals. I am thankful for the opportunity to get on my knees, and empty my worries, give my thanks, and just talk to my Heavenly Father. I am thankful for all of the wonderful opportunities Watford City has given my family, the growth that has happened here!  I love my life. I love my Family. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior.  I am so blessed!

HAPPY EASTER!

Today,(every day, actually...But today, I am acutely aware of it) I am so thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For the knowledge that He lives and that He loves me, imperfect as I am.  I am thankful for His sacrifice for me and my eternal salvation!  What a blessing for me.  There have been times in my life I didn't know this, and let me tell you, knowing it makes rough times oh so much easier. I feel like I have someone rooting for me no matter what.  And for that, I am thankful.  I hope on this Sunday morning, amidst the  chocolate, the bunnies and the food, you remember WHY we celebrate.  Celebrate because HE LIVES!  Turn your hearts to him, now and always.

I am also thankful for my family. For the opportunity we had a year ago *almost* to be sealed for eternity.  I am thankful for my loving, kind and faithful husband.  I love him so much!! I am thankful for each one of my children. They are so amazing, and without them, I don't know what I would do!!

Today, we are celebrating Easter. Not with baskets and eggs. We did that yesterday. But with extra Scripture study, reverence, and Church attendance. I love my Savior, and am thankful for this Easter Sunday...An extra chance to reflect on His life, death and mostly His resurrection, and what each means to me and my family!!  What a blessing indeed!!

The Haps.

Here is what we have been up to!
1. Enjoying lotsa sunshine and 65+ temps! It is only March, and we have been to the park 4 or 5 times.
2. Lotsa stomach bugs. It seems to be just hanging out. We all get it. We all get better. We all get it again.
3. 2 trips to Minneapolis in 1 week! OYE! Cierra flew out of Minneapolis to Florida to spend time with her Father. She had a wonderful trip. Lots of beach time, they visited an aquarium in Atlanta, and her favorite part: She has a new stepsister! Very exciting for her! The night we took her, was AWFUL. I cried and cried. I ate a bucket of popcorn at the movie theater. (We took the boys to Mall of America to watch The Lorax.)
4. Deciding what to do with our business. We have 3 trucks. 2 are running, hauling scoria rock. 1 is sitting. It is set up for oil, but getting a contract seems to be more difficult than we had hoped. Woody is back and forth between quitting his job and hauling, and staying where he is at. I can't decide what I want him to do either.
5. We finally got internet...and cable....I was so glad to get rid of it, and I was so hesitant to get it back. But...The hubby won that battle. **Sigh** All things in moderation, I suppose. I am glad to have the internet again, finally though. Now maybe I can remove the Christmas layout....
6. Getting ready for Cierra's birthday and baptism. We are going to have visitors for the next 10 days. I think we will have a combined little family party for Cierra, Grandpa Howard, and Konnor. Then on the 13th, We have C's real party. We are going all out. I am excited!! Sleepover, manicures...All kinds of fun stuff. I am going to make her peace sign (She is obsessed with them) cupcakes. I am excited. Then in May, we are headed to Idaho for hers and her cousin's baptism. She is so excited!! (She has her interview with the Bishop tonight.)
7. Deciding what I want to be when I grow up! I am excited to announce that in 3 weeks, I will be buying the materials to start my personal training certification. Then, when life (kids, finances etc.) permit, I will go to school for nutrition and dietetics. I have spent my whole life figuring out what I want to be, other than a mom, of course. What did I want to do when my kids grew up. I knew I wanted something that I could maintain my first priority, which is being a mom to my children and a wife to my husband. I love fitness, and want to help everyone. Now, I am going to get the knowledge so I can! I am thrilled. It will be work, but, hey, I am good for it!
8. Getting to know our Missionaries. We split wards a few weeks ago, and now have missionaries here in Watford City. It is such a blessing to have them in our home. We try to feed them often, and it is a wonderful opportunity to discuss our missionary opportunities. Plus, I imagine of all the people we have in our home (Seems like we are always having someone over for dinner), having the missionaries is a good thing for my kids.

In general, life is good. Kids are good. Business....Well...it is better. (After paying 1600 dollars in fines...Not our fault. total misunderstanding...EXPENSIVE misunderstanding, and having our guys not run for 3 weeks) Woody and I are WONDERFUL! Have I mentioned lately how blessed I am to have this man as an eternal companion?? Seriously, nobody else would understand, put up with and reciprocate my sense of humor. He is supportive of all of my goals, and does his best to ensure I can achieve each of them, no matter how hard they may seem. He works hard to make sure he provides for us, and still makes the time to be home with the family. Every single day. I can't wait until August, when I get to spend 10 days, kid free, with this wonderful man!! Life is good!! I am so blessed!!

More fitness stuff"!

Fitness....I post a lot about it, and sometimes I feel bad...Like maybe I post TOO much...But this morning it dawned on me, IT IS MY BLOG...I can post what I want. (NANANANANAAA! ;) )

So, here it is...A new fitness post. 1 year ago, I started this journey. I started out of shape, and heavier than I had ever been! At 5'2" I was weighing in right around 160-165. I saw a pic on someones blog, and thought, "THIS ISN'T ME!!" While I had never been a 'workout person', I was blessed with decent genes, and weight wasn't a big issue. 3 kids later, it had changed. (I maintain that North Dakota makes you gain weight. Most everyone I know has put on lotsa weight living here... =) ) I started with cardio. I loved the elliptical and the bike. I did strength training, but I did it very casually. I decided to join the bootcamp class at the gym. It was fun, and I liked it, but it wasn't what I wanted. I kept up with the cardio, and the casual strength.
Then I got pregnant again, lost the pregnancy, and in that time gained 7 pounds...None of it muscle. I decided I was done with that. It was time to get muscle. I was "thin enough", but somehow, I still wasn't really in shape. I could go 5 miles easily on the elliptical, but I couldn't do 10 pushups in a row.
On top of that, I was hitting burnout with the gym cardio. I was to the point I didn't really try anymore, because I grew to loathe the bike, elliptical and treadmill. (Gimme a break..I'd been doing one or the other everyday for a year!) So, I started researching. I learned some stuff.... Mostly that lifting 5 pound dumbbells was NOT going to get me to my goals. I also learned that if I lifted heavy, odds of me looking "manly" were slim to none. Then there was the realization that I needed to even eat HEALTHIER than I was. There is a saying I read a lot that says, "Abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym". Huh.
So, what am I doing about these things?? Well, as mentioned previously, I found some new Zumba classes to go to, and am able to do 3-4 a week. We also got our punching bag hung, and on non-Zumba days, I go out and do a 20 minute routine mixing that with a high intensity plyo mix thing I put together. I love that punching bag. And if you think 20 minutes is nothing, I dare you to go hit one around, mix in some jumping jacks, burpees, squat jumps etc. I tell you what. I did it this morning, and it was MAYBE 20 degrees in my garage, by the end of it I was SWEATING! (Fun with gloves on!) Cardio...CHECK. (Plus I save money on gym fees!) I started a new routine in February, and have steadily increased my weight on most of my exercises. I make sure to push myself. I have mentioned my love of lifting before, and it is just growing. I no longer dread my workouts. (There are certain exercises I dread...Hello push-up position row.) I love love love lifting weights. There is not a thing that feels better than feeling strong!! The food thing is still a work in progress, but I am getting there. I am starting my progress pics again, so I can see the changes. I know that more often than not, these changes will not be reflected in the scale, and I will not be discouraged!!

My goals are lofty, but doable. Why not shoot for the stars, right?? If you haven't done a workout today, I strongly recommend fitting one in. You will NOT regret it!

Spontaneity ..Good in moderation!!

I am a schedule, order, routine, planning FREAK!! I love to know what I will be doing, and when I will be doing it! I can't help it! I am a bit rigid when it comes to this!!
Well.. With all of my goals this year, one was to be more flexible.. Sometimes... So, on Friday, when a friend showed up unexpectedly with a sitter so that I could go out to lunch, I figured it would be a good chance to start practicing!! (Funny, spontaneity is one of my harder goals this year!)
I got to go to lunch with the girls, and had a LOT of fun!! And...the world didn't fall apart...And...I got everything done. Amazing!! ;)
Then on Saturday, we ditched our normal routine of grocery shopping to take the kids ice skating. Woody was the only one of us who had ever been on the ice before, and now, we have a whole family of ice lovers!! Even Konnor, who couldn't get on skates loves it. His dad would hold him by the hands, and fly across the ice, and K would just kick his little feet like he was running, giggling the whole time. Everytime we would try to get him off of the ice, he would run back out there! He LOVED IT! Cierra was very hesitant at first, but she got out there too! They give you a chair to push around when you are first starting out, and she pushed that thing all over the place. She says when we go back, she doesn't want to use the chair. ATTA GIRL!! Blayke was hilarious. He would go with the chair, then he would try without, fall, cry, and make me push him around on the chair. Then he would want to try it himself. He wants to learn to play hockey. We will likely be signing Cierra up for figure skating and Blayke up for hockey this fall.
I also liked skating, and had I not been responsible for pushing Sir Blayke around on the chair the whole time, I probably would have gotten pretty alright.
We are going back tomorrow, and all of us are excited!
In other news. My 10 year high school reunion is coming in June, and we are going to Idaho in May for Cierra's baptism. We are trying to decide if the kids and I should just stay or if we should come home with Woody, and I should just fly out for the reunion OR if I should just bag it. Decisions, decisions!!