10 on Tuesday - Maybe a little more.... or not!

1.  I have found that if I am going to post on my blog - it works best if I do it on my ipad but I can't figure out how to add pictures from it.  So it's either a more posts with no pictures or a lot fewer posts with pictures.

2.  Today - The kids have extra early out this week for parent teacher conferences - so we pulled them out at lunch time and told them they had dentist appointments but when we were really taking them fishing!  We had so much fun except for the wind.  We went to Dead Horse Ranch in Cottonwood AZ.  We have been camping there several times with Kim and Kindy and one time with Karen and EVERY TIME WE GO IT IS WINDY!!!!!   Maybe we will learn one of these times.

3.  Valentines Day - I had to work all day because of Tax season but when I got home from work - I had to take bryant's car to Costco to get new tires (side note - it was hilarious how many men were buying only one thing - Flowers!), After Costco - I got home and Bryant had a surprise for me - he wanted to take me to the temple for Valentines Day - It was the best way to spend the night with him.  Much better than an overpriced meal and he got me tulips - my favorite.

4.  Webeloree - Max had his first overnighter for scouts on the 15th and 16th - it was hard to leave him when I left - he was crying and then had a rough time during the night - thanks to Andy Hall who helped him so much!!  I was way excited to see him on Saturday the 16th when he finaly got home late in the afternoon!  It made me realize that I am not ready for him or his sisters to be growing up!!!

5.  Saturday - this Saturday is the day that I have been waiting a year for.  The Phoenix Marathon!!!!  I have been training for the past 26 weeks and can't wait for it to be over!  I am tired of spending 3 hours or so each Saturday running, and running and running.  I have 6 hours to complete the race and sure hope that I do it.  This is a once in a lifetime event for me.  Next year, Bryant said that he would run the 10k with me!!  That training will be much better because I will have someone to train with!

6.  Work is terribly crazy right now - Tax season is in full swing and I have less than 2 months left.  Here's hoping that I can make it!

7.  My goals for the year - I have done well with the marathon, reading the scriptures.  We had a FHE on the garden we want to plant and why we need one.  Hopefully it will move past that this coming 2 weeks.

8.  My parents - the more I talk with my parents - the more grateful I am for them.  They are being full time care givers to my grandparents who are 93 and 94.  They are unable to spend alone time or date night since one of them has to be with my grandparents at all times.  I hope that I will be able to serve as well as they have done.  They are truly amazing!

9.  My brothers and sisters - the more I am around other people,  the more I realize what a truly unique family I have.  There are nine kids, all nine are married in the temple, all nine and spouses have degrees, all nine and families are active in the church and we truly like being with each other.  There are some that I don't talk to as often as others but I love being with my family!

10 - Random fact - the thing that I am looking most forward to about finishing my marathon is that I will have time on Saturdays again to deep clean my kids closets and rooms - they have suffered due to my running!

11 - IT SNOWED IN MESA AZ!!!! - Okay it was more like sleet and rain but Bryant and the kids had a snowball fight and there were white everywhere - Wednesday - February 20th  It was awesome and so much fun.  We took the best pictures and those I will post to show my kids in the snow!

13 things for 13 years

1.  Today Bryant and I celebrate our 13th anniversary.  Time has flown by and it seems like I have always been married -here are 12 more things about our marriage years.

2.  I met Bryant two other times before I really remember meeting him.  He and his roommates brought lemon bars to our house - and after that I remembered him.

3.  I said "I love you first"  it was the first guy that i have ever said it to and it was so scary - luckily he said it right back and the rest is history.

4.  For the first 4 years our of marriage - he worked the night shift so I was home alone 4 nights a week.  When he switched to a diferent assignment - it took a little adjusting having him home every night.

5,  He knows that my favorite flowers are tulips and always gets them for me for our anniversary.

6.  He is a better cook than I am and it took me a while for me to get used to him talk about how good a cook is Grandma Ethel was.  It was hard especially when I made something that she used to make.  I don't cook those things any more.

7.  For our 9th anniversary we celebrated it in Hawaii - loved every minute of it.

8  For our first - I was pregnant with Madi - kinda of crazy but lots of fun.

9.  We have lived 3 places our married lives - tempe, gilbert and mesa

10.  We have traveled a ton - he married into a family that likes to travel.  We have gone to WA, OR, CA, NV, ID, WY, UT, AZ, CO,NM, TN, NY,HI and some of those places many times.

11.  He still melts my heart when he calls my Kari and holds my hand.

12.  I still drive him crazy with the way that I park.  It is never where hewould.  or I hardly ever go the way that he would.

13.  Most of all, we still love each other and are crazy about each other after 13 years and we can't wait for more!!

Ten on Tuesday!

1.  It has been one week since Bryant has started working days and I am LOVING IT!!!!  It has been an adjustment with some things.  No more cereal for dinner or nachos every night either, but it is nice for another adult to be with me.  It has been 2 1/2 years since he has been home at nights and the kids are loving it too!

2.  FHE - Last night, we need to do some grocery shopping so we decided to make an FHE out of it and talk about budgets and grocery shoppping.  We gave the kids 4$ to spend on their dinner.  It was so much fun watching them decide what to get.  It wasn't the most healthy dinner but they did not go hungry.  I will post the pictures of what people got.

3.  Running - my marathon is in less than 5 weeks and I am getting really tired of doing long runs and HAVE to go running.  Last week - I didn't run once - I went for three 5 mile bike rides, a couple of 45 minute walks and due to the rain - no long run on Saturday.  It was nice to do something different!

4.  I have been struggling with some things the last little while and I am so grateful to people (who didn't even know they helped) who said things or made comments at the right time.  I have come truly realize that Heavenly Father does know exactly what we need and sends people to help.

5.  I love my tandem bike - I didn;t know how much I would enjoy it but I totally do.  The best thing is that I take one of the kids out with me and we get to exercise and talk.  It is great because they can't get away from me!

6.  This week - we have something everynight this week and I sure hope that this does not continue!  I prefer it when we have nothing at night because then we play games as a family!

7.  Maya - she has been doing a little sleep walking lately and it is crazy to see where she ends up.  Last week she made it all the way downstairs and into the office and on the chair and slept on the chair for a while.

8.  Max decided that he was going to run for Student Council historian.  It is the only office that the 4th graders can run for.  There were about 28 other 4th Graders running for it.  He came up with his poster all by himself and also his speech that he gave to the 4th, 5th and 6th graders.  He didn't win but he got to be class representative which is what he wanted all along!

9.  Madi ran for President of Student Council - it was between her and a boy Unfortanutely the boy won, but she did a great job with her poster, speech and she is class room rep too!

10.  I have a new calling at church - I am the back up piano player for primary.  I love it and it is making me practice at home.  Mom and Dad - thanks for the piano lessons all those years ago!!

random fact - when I type my name fast it comes out Laro - so if you ever get something from me with Laro on it - know that I was in a hurry to type it!

10 on Tuesday - a little late

1.  Why does it mean that life keeps on getting crazier and crazier?  I can't believe that it is Wednesday already and that I missed yesterday.  I can only imagine as the time goes by, it is going to get busier and busier.

2.  Last Wednesday, I went to my chiropractor who I have been going to on a regular basis since April of 2009 for my hip and kne due to running, and thing are going so well that I don't have to go back for three months!!!  I guess the stretchs that I learned from my PT and also my insoles for my running shoes have made the difference!

3. Thursday was the beginning of our cold wave.  It was also the day that Max and I get to do webelos for church together.  As we left, it was sprinkling and the wind was starting to go.

4.  When I woke up on Friday it was 37 degrees and supposed to be 27 on Saturday.  So, I decided to do my long run on Friday instead, and I am so glad that I did!!!  The cold weather brought back a lot of memories from growing up in Rochester.  It made me miss it alittle!

5.  With the cold weather, we have had hot chocolate every day with mint creamer and whipped cream.  Yummy Yummy!!!

6.  Madi and Max are both running for Student Council Offices.  Madi is running for president and it is between her and one other person - it will be interesting to see how it goes.  Max is running for historian and there are a lot of kids running for that.  So - Friday we get to go and hear them give their speechs and when they get home they wil know.

7.  Max is becoming more of a boy - not that he is not already one - but on Monday he came home from school and I had to sign a paper that said he talked to be about him not being obedient.  Monday - during recess- he and some other boys were playing with some ice and he made a poor choice.  Needless to say, he has lost time on his IPod touch - he has learned his lesson (hopefully!!!)

8.  This has been the longest cold streak in AZ since 1960.  It is crazy that it was warmer in NY than in AZ.  Our orange trees, lemon tree, peach tree and other trees have  suffered, hopefully not too much!

9.  Bryant only has to work one more night and then he will be working days.  Since he won't be going to church on Sundays, I am looking for ways to make my home a place that is a refuge from the world outstide.  So if you have any thing that works for you, let me know!!

10.  Random Fact - One reason why I love the cold weather is that I get to wear my sweathers that rarely see the light of day for most of the year!!!  That is the one thing that I miss about living in AZ is all the cute sweaters, coats, scarfs and etc.

Ten on Tuesday

1.  This week has been a long one.  Bryant has worked every night since Thursday - which means I have not had a solid night of sleep since Wednesday - I was really feeling it today.

2.  I tried to add pictures today - but I was unable to - it didn't give me any place to select the pictures - so I am not quite sure what to do.  Any suggestions

3.  I read an article that from a blog last week that I totally needed.  It was title Drop of Awesomeness.  It talked about how we are awesome all the time but we have drops of awesomeness that we add to our bucket and the rest gets taken care of by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  It has helped reign me back in and helped me focus on trying to have at least one drop each day. 

4.  Marathon - I think the hardest thing about running in a marathon is the training.  I have been training since the end of August and I am tired of running but I still do it.  It is amazing to me how 9 miles this coming Saturday can seem so short.

5.  Keeping my room clean - It has been one week and I am still doing a better job than in times past.  I have even started clothes away after I wear them and not just dropping them on my favorite chair in our bedroom.

6.  Digital Picture Frame - I know that these were all of the rage a couple of years ago but I wanted one for Christmas this year so that I could have it with me at work.  I got all of our digital pictures on it which goes back before we had Maya - I LOVE looking at my kids in each stage of their lives.  I love the fact that we had fun when they were little/  I love the stages that they are all in right now.  It has helped me truly remember how much fun I have with my kids and how I want to keep having fun with them as they get older!

7.  One funny note - on Saturday - after I had run 13.5 miles in the morning, that night - Maya said to me "Mom, you didn't make your goal today!"  I was like - what goal?  She said you goal of doing some sort of activity outside today (ie exercise)  I reminded her of my run and she totally laughed.  I am glad that I have her to remind me of my goals and hopefully help keep me on track!

8.  Sunday night - a phoenix police officer got shot and was saved by his bullett proof vest, Bryant was working so he got to deal with everything that goes with that but I have come to realize that the older I get, the more affected I am by this and the more I pray every night and day that he comes home safely!

9.  Happier note - Madi and Max both have decided to run for Student Council offices and so far, their record has not changed from mine.  It is great hearing them come up with their speeches and trying to figure out what they are going to put on their one poster that will hang in the caferia.

10.  Random fact - I am not sure how many people actually read this but i'm trying to use it more like a journal-to help me remember stuff!

10 goals for 2013

Since today is January 1st, I have been thinking a lot about what goals I want to accomplish in 2013.  So here they are:

1.  Complete a marathon - Right now I am set to do it on March 2nd - it can't come soon enough!

2.  Plant a garden - we have tried once years ago - and failed miserably - but this year we are ready to try better.

3,  Keep my room organized - it is the room in the house (besides my office) that gets cleaned the least.  I have bought some containers today that will hopefully help me do it.

4. Attend the temple more - I normally do a good job at the beginning of the year and then I taper from there - I need to not taper this year.

5.  Make my home a haven where the Spirit can be felt - With Bryant changing shifts and our time changing, Bryant won't be able to go to Church for the next year - so it is my goal to make our home more of a haven so he will feel the spirit when he is here.

6,  In connection with #5, make sure I have patience with my kids on Sundays. - this will help with have the spirit here.

7.  Use it up, wear it out or do without - as I am collecting our receipts for our taxes, I am amazed at the "things" that we have spent our money on.  There is no need for this, I need to do better!

8.  Have a home cooked meal every night (or almost every night) - I tend to get lazy when it comes to cooking dinner.  The one thing that will motivate me is that Bryant will now be home for every dinner - which means the nights of cold cereal are over. - darn it!

9.  Write in my journal - I have done better but I need to keep it up.  It is a great way for me to get rid of stress and things that bother me without me taking it out on those whom I love the most.

10.  Be a good listener and friend - I have people who I admire about the amazing way that they listen and encourage others - I need to be that way!

Hopefully when I look back 12 months from now I will be a better person than I am today.  I guess that it is really what it is all about - being a better person than you are today.

Random thought - I love Hot Chocolate - I am lately had it with York Peppermint pattie creamer in it - so yummy!!!

10 On Tuesday

1.  Last Wednesday was a great day.  After the dinner that night, we played games together as a family - my kids love it and so do I.  I love the time we spend together when everyone is happy!

2.  Thursday - was Webelos - all day it looked like rain and I was hoping that it would so we could cancel it but it held off.  Bryant came and did the handyman activity badge.  Most of it is about car stuff so the boys had lots of fun doing that!

3.  Thursday - Also was the Kids winter sing - they did a great job and Bryant was even able to attend.  It has been a few years since he could be there.  As we were leaving, it started to rain.

4.  Friday - it rained and rained and rained.  We thought that we were living in Seattle with all of the rain.

5.  Friday we also did the annual gingerbread houses making with the Rapiers and Wolfleys.  But this year we made the houses out of rice krispy treats.  Delicious to eat and the stuck together very well!  They seemed to be a hit.  As the kids have gotten older, their houses have become more creative.  We missed Tanna and Drew though.

6.  Saturday - I was supposed to run 9 miles on Saturday but only ended up doing 6.5.  It was super cold (for AZ - 40 degrees) and I was having a really hard time taking deep breaths.

7.  Saturday - it keep raining and raining and raining all day long.  It was awesome but Bryant was FREEZING at work, luckly I had the bed nice and warm when he got home (the heating pad helped too)

8.  Sunday - was a low key day with church and all of the good stuff that comes with that!

9.  Monday we had Family Home Evening and we are working on memorizing the articles of faith.  We all 3 kids working on their Faith In Gods, I thought it would be a great way to all do it together!

10.  Today was a great day - I got great news at work, am able to see Bryant tomorrow and it is one more week until Christmas and we had a mini piano rectial at our home with their piano teacher and their Christmas duets.

Random Fact - I know need to wear my glasses more than going without them.  My kids think that I am getting really old!!