A Very Long Week

This is what a very long, stressful week results in...

however, I'm not sure what Miley's deal is?  Hmm, maybe it was getting dressed up that tired her out?!?

Jake and Cali

I actually have some pictures to post that I took today when I came across my camera while cleaning the house.  I realize I post a lot of pet pictures, but that is because my other babies are in school all day.  If they were home, I would have taken their pictures, too.  I love my kids and my pets!!

Jake trying to sleep in the sun, but not exactly in the sun.

Jake hugging the chair and sleeping in the sun.

Cali is sitting outside looking through the window and blocking some of Jake's sun.

I think I woke him up while taking pictures, at least now he is standing in the sun.

Cali looking at me through the window while I take her picture.  She's so weird, she wants outside, I put her outside and then she runs around the house and wants right back in.  I guess 50 degrees just isn't warm enough for her.

I really don't know what to blog about.  I worked today, Brad is STILL working, and I have to go to work by 6 tomorrow morning.  The girls and I didn't get home until almost 7:30 tonight and then we ate, cleaned up a bit, showered, and headed for bed.  Therefore, I don't really have much time to even think about a blog, not that it matters because I don't usually put much thought into them anyways.  I was so busy I didn't even get a run in today, and I hope to get one in on one of my rest days this week to make up for it.  Well, have a good night everyone! 

Not much going on here today, so I am posting another old picture...

Thunderstruck 2010

Over the weekend we travelled to Casper for Thunderstruck Dance Competition.  Both of the girls danced beautifully!  Makenna got 5th overall for her solo in her division (we still think she should have had first).  Alanna and her friend did a duo that placed fifth overall in their division.  Two of Makenna's group dances placed first overall and two of Alanna's dances placed second overall! 

Even though the competition was disorganized, it was the first time I actually got to sit and watch most of it.  It seemed like a long day, but really wasn't all that bad.  We got to the competition at about 9:30 in the morning and left around 7:15pm.

The most frustrating thing was trying to find a place to eat afterwards.  All the restaurants were packed.  We actually ended up back at our hotel thinking we would just eat at the restaurant there even though we knew they wouldn't really have many choices for a vegan meal.  So after sitting in the car a few minutes we decided to go back and try On the Border.  We only waited about 25 minutes to get in, and man, was it worth the wait.  The food and the service were EXCELLENT!  Brad and I ate portabello mushroom and vegetable fajitas and the girls had bean burritos and sopapillas. 

When we got home Sunday around 1:30 in the afternoon it was so nice outside that we went to the fishing lake.  Brad and I ran and the girls rode their bikes. 

It was a busy but fun weekend!!

Alanna and one of the twins she dances with (not sure which one).

Alanna and Keara

Alanna, Keara, Mandy and Macy.

Alanna and Keara right before their duo.

Alanna in her tap costume. 

Alanna and the twins.

Alanna in her lyrical costume.

Makenna eating a cookie in her tap costume.

Makenna and her friends in their lyrical costumes.

Makenna, Alanna, and Lachlyn at On the Border.

Lachlyn moved to Casper about 2 years ago and we try to see her each time we go to Casper. 

Alanna misses her.

Yikes!  What is she drinking?

Brad with his Blue Moon and the girls with their virgin strawberry daiquiris.

Me and Brad at On the Border.

Alanna feeding the dogs supper outside Sunday evening.

Makenna doing the splits and wanting me to take her picture.

Makenna posing for me again.

Jake and Miley exhausted after a weekend with Cora and her dogs!

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Another vegan cookie recipe, and they were so good.  I made these Friday and took them with us on our trip to Casper. 

Mexican Snickerdoodles and Refried Bean Stuffed Baked Potato

I finally got my pictures off my SD card so I can post pictures of what I made yesterday.

Vegan Mexican Snickerdoodles from the Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar cookbook.

They were very, very good!

Baked potato stuffed with refried beans, salsa, tomatoes and green onions.  Mmm, very good!  I had wanted to make potato nachos, but was running short on time, so I just used a baked potato instead. 

Training Day: 17

I was supposed to run 3 miles today and have Friday and Saturday as rest days, but I decided to rest today and run tomorrow.  Don't worry, though, I didn't really "rest" today, I have been super busy getting things ready for dance. 

I was actually going to post pictures today, however, I can't get them off of my SD card for some reason.  Hmm, I thought Brad "fixed" my computer!  Honey, at some point you will have to come home from work to re-fix my computer!!  (Another late day at the office; it is definitely time for a vacation!)

Just Another Random Picture

It has been awhile since I've posted a picture; (hope I'm not boring anyone with my Training Day posts) so I decided to post another random picture. 

Here it is:

Brad is trying to fit Alanna in a diet Pepsi box when she was about 4 years old.  That is the ugly blue carpet that was in our living room before we replaced it with laminate.

Training Day: 16

Ran quarter mile intervals on my treadmill today.  I also walked the dogs this morning and went on another walk with a friend this afternoon.  It was such a beautiful day again.

Training Day: 15

Ran 3.5 miles on my treadmill this morning and then went for a nice walk outside with a friend and our dogs.  It sure is a beautiful day! 

Training Day: 14

REST DAY!!  I wasn't even sore from yesterday's run.  I look forward to running outside in the sunshine tomorrow.

Training Day: 13

I ran 6 miles on my treadmill today because it was cold and windy again today.  I am so thankful that I have my treadmill this year, what a great investment!

Cats Get a Haircut

Training Day: 12

It was warm outside today with 20+ mile/hour winds so I ran 3 miles on my treadmill again.  Maybe tomorrow it won't be so windy!

Training Day: 11

Did another 3 mile run on the treadmill while watching part of a movie.  I'm hoping to run outside tomorrow!

Training Day: 10

I had a productive 3 mile tempo run on the treadmill today.  It felt so good to breathe through my nose while I was running today, what a difference it makes! 

This is the book I am currently reading to go along with my training program and new vegan lifestyle:

Going Vegan!

So a few weeks ago, after we watched the documentary The Beautiful Truth, we decided to go Vegan.  At first Makenna was not happy and Alanna was pretty excited about it.  Then Makenna became very interested in it and Alanna didn't think it was so great (she loves her cheese).  So over the last few weeks we have been educating ourselves on this new lifestyle.  As of right now, we are learning to adjust our diets and the way we think about food. 

We've had our ups and downs.  For example, there have been two times that Alanna has come to my car after school saying that she didn't eat the lunch I packed because she "forgot" she had it.  And another time, she told me that she "forgot" she was vegan and ate the pizza at school.  However, for the most part it hasn't been too bad.  We eat lots of salsas, beans, pastas, grains, nuts, fruits, and veggies.  You never really notice how many items are in the produce section until you go vegan.  It has definitely changed the way I shop.  Now I can be in and out of the store in far less time than before, because I only shop for produce, beans/pastas/grains/seeds, and non-dairy milk. 

We realize that people may think this is an odd choice, but we think it is the right one for us right now.  For instance, the guy at Starbucks that knows who we are and what our "usual" order is finally asked me tonight, "So are you guys all lactose intolerant?"  I just started laughing, and told him we were vegan, and then had to explain what that meant.  After that we sat at the drive thru window for almost 10 minutes waiting for them to make 3 soy drinks while we discussed what vegans eat. 

So follow along and see how we are doing! 

Training Day: 9

Well, training didn't really happen today.  Still hoping for a better day tomorrow.  I still can't breathe through my nose, Alanna stayed home again today, and now Makenna is sick with a sore throat and earaches, and to top it all off I worked today. 

Time for another random picture...

I know it has been awhile since I've posted any pics, so here is another random picture from my files:

Jake, looks like trouble to me!

Training Day: 8

Well, today was a little better than yesterday.  Alanna did stay home again, but was feeling much better by the afternoon.  I was also feeling a little better than yesterday, but it made it difficult to run because I was too congested to breathe through my nose.  I did manage to run on the treadmill and I did some toning exercises. 

Training Day: 7

Well, today was a stretch and strengthen day, neither of which I have done yet.  I came down with a cold last night and at lunchtime today I had to pick up Alanna from school with a stomach ache.  So, today hasn't been as productive as I would have liked, however, I did manage to do some laundry, make supper, and rhinestone Makenna's solo costume.  I'm hoping tomorrow will be much better!! 

Training Day: 6

Yay!  I got my run in before 10 this morning!  Brad got up this morning and I asked him if he was getting his running clothes on, and he said, "yes."  So I said, "Really, well let's go then."  And off we went.  It was a little chilly and pretty windy, but it was a good run. 

Training Day: 5

Well, I didn't run like I should have today, but I did get Brad to walk with me.  It turned out to be a nice day after the fog and clouds lifted this afternoon. 

Training Day: 4

REST DAY!  Yay!!  It's a good thing it was a rest day because I worked today and it was cold, rainy, and foggy today.  

Training Day: 3

Oh, another beautiful day to run outside!  I didn't even have to wear my long sleeve shirt today.  I had a good run considering my legs were sore from yesterday's sprints and my arms and shoulders were sore from lifting. 

Funny Spelling Test

Alanna brought home her spelling test the other night, and this is what it looked like:

This is what the teacher wrote:

I'm not sure if there's something wrong with me or what, but when I saw this paper I just cracked up and couldn't stop laughing.  I asked Alanna what happened and she said, "The teacher was taking a minute or more between each word and I was bored so I started writing them in cursive."  If you know Alanna very well,  I'm sure you can see the humor in this.  Oh yeah, and when I was finally done laughing, she said, "Oh good, you're not mad then?"  I replied, "No, but next time don't write them in cursive."

Training Day: 2

Well, I didn't run outside today.  Instead, I ran quarter mile sprints on my treadmill which wasn't too bad.  Brad even got up and went to the track this morning at 5:30. 

Honor Band Concert

Makenna had her Honor Band concert tonight.  All the 6th grade band members in the school district have the opportunity to audition for the Honor Band.  Makenna tied for first chair out of 10 flute players!  The concert sounded great!  It is so amazing to hear how well 6th grade band can sound.  We were really impressed and so proud of Makenna for putting in the time and effort to play in the Honor Band! 

Way to go girlie!  You did an awesome job!

Training Day: 1

I officially started my 12 week training program today for the Deadwood Half Marathon in June!  It is beautiful out today and it felt SOOO good to run outside in the warm sunshine!  Training would be so much easier if it was like this outside every day. 

Alanna in the news!

This is the picture of Alanna in Sunday's newspaper.

Our local newspaper did an article on schools that collect Box Tops and they came to our school one day while we were counting and collecting them.  They took pictures and this is the one they put in the paper.  Oh yeah, and I also made it into the paper, that's part of my body in the picture beside Alanna.  Here is the link to the article if you're interested, however, Alanna's picture is not in the online article.

http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2010/03/01/news/yesterday/news05.txt