So once again I have been doing some more blog reading.  I came across this blog Minnesota Mom. You should check it out.  I really enjoying reading her blog every day.  Although I don’t know her personally, my shout out goes to Margaret on the new blessed addition to her family:)

On that note, I am really looking forward to the coming months of have some more nieces and/or nephews in my Family. On sister due in July and one due in August, our prayers are with them.

Happy Tuesday y’all!

So I decided to start racing again.  Although it is really a jog right now for me.  Wow, it has been a long time since I have done this.  Maybe too long!

Lisa and I at the start of the race

I did the Dam to Dam 5k.  Rob and the girls came out to cheer me on!

The girls and I after the race

It was a great experience, but was warm.

Looking up my time.

I did not do too bad.  Came in at 31:28.  Just a little over 10 minute miles.  I was hoping for 30 minutes but I will take what I got:)

I am looking forward to the BIX this year and doing a half marathon next year!

Summer time has officially started with sunshine and the pools being open.  The girls were way excited.  Our daycare provided was closed on Friday, so I took some time off and spent the day with my little ones.  Boy, did we have a blast:)  We started out the day mowing the lawn and then lots of play outside.  The weather was great and he girls were anxious to get into the swimming pool.  I set up the pool at home for them to enjoy.

Cele splashing after the slide and Lia patiently waiting her turn!

As you can see they loved the slide and splashing out as much water as possible.  The girls then decided to make hand prints.  They would dip their hands in the water and then place on them on the driveway.  They were so proud, as was I!

Cele and Lia handprints

We also spent the weekend at the aquatic center.  Rob and I took the bikes out with the girls in the burley.  It is great exercise and family time well spent.  Although I hope by the end of the summer I can make it up the hill with the burly without huffing and puffing!

The a news anchor was at the pool taking shots and I got interviewed for the news along with Cele, but missed watchin it:(  We talked about the start of the summer and the pool finally opening for the first day!  The girls are looking forward to swim lessons.

I am excited today is Thursday for many reasons.  It means it will be the start of my weekend as I have Friday off!  Looking forward to mommy/daughter time.  The girls are just as excited as I am!

This evening will be a date night, one in which we have not had in a long time, thanks to our neighbors for watching the kiddos.  Plans are to grab some dinner and then off to see a movie.  Wow, I can’t remember the last night I went to the movies.  I am totally looking forward to some time together.

I am also almost finished with this term in school. Only 8 more classes to go and I offically have my BA with a minor in criminal justice.  Totally stoked.  (totally had to use that word since a friend emailed me using it)  The end is almost in sight and the count down has begun.  Look out, I might just accomplish one of my life time goals:)

Lastly, for Thursday is here, means 2 more days until the Dam to Dam.  I am excited to run my first 5K in like 9 years.  Another goal being accomplished. Next on the list, the bix,  a few more 5ks, and then a half marathon.  Sisters, I except you all to be running a half marathon with me.  Michelle I am counting on your for the Bix this year.  Get in the training mode!  So lets make it a girls day for the marathon and find one to do together!

So my blog shout out for today is…drum roll please...i needs to be U.  It is remembering why we are here on this earth and our call to live our lives.

Yeah Friday has finally arrived.  Plans to hang out with my bro, the  neighbors, go to the cabin, and lots of homework this weekend.  Trying to get into the swing of things again with school.  The end is almost in sight, this is what I keep telling myself at least.  7 more classes to go!

Today, I had the opportunity to spend some time in Ames volunteering with the Special Olympics.  I had a great time and it was great time and so inspiring.  Tomorrow we head back to watch my husband’s cousin run.

I am blogging while my kiddos are in the bath.  This may or may not be the best thing. Lia decided it would be a great idea to take the entire bottle of soap and dump it into the water because she wanted more bubbles.  More bubbles is what she got!  Oh I remember the days of making soap beards.  Watching my children do the same things, makes me laugh!  Cele is rubbing soap on the tiles and singing “washing the windows, oh washing the windows”.  Hopefully that means in the future I can recruit her to wash windows in the house.  I will so politely remind her how she use to sign this song!  On that note, off to water the grass.

Today I would like to share another  blog and group I becoming more and more interested in GIT (Girls in tech).

Check it out!  It is really interesting and I am looking into starting a chapter in my town.

It has been a busy Month so far.  Started back to school in hopes of finishing my Bachelors degree in February!  So between family, work, and school I have been keeping busy.  It was an eventful weekend. Hosted a party on Saturday with the firepit going and several people. Then Saturday hosted some more friends into the early morning hours.  It is amazing, we talk non-stop and realize how late ( or you could say early) it is and needing to call it a night.   Luckily my husband went to bed early so he helped with getting the little ones ready for Church in the morning so I could sleep in a little longer!  We all then headed to Church and as a family tradition went a grab some brunch afterwards.   I love Sundays!  It is a time to spend with God and family:)

My inspiration today, “The Biggest Loser” husband/wife.  So Rob and I have challenged each other to lose weight and stay healthy.  We will be weighing in every Sunday for percentage of weight lost.  We weighed in today and set our goals.  Something to keep us motivated even more.

Lia and Cele enjoyed their first Sunday bike ride with Rob and I.  It was great and peaceful.  We road around town, checking out new developments, houses going up, and of course the aquatic center. The girls are excited for swimming days.  They noticed today the pools have been filled with water and can’t wait to get in.

Oh the joys of Summer.  I am looking forward to many days outside!

So I have decided to link out to some blogs I enjoy reading. This blog is a great read and a remembrance of truly how life is a gift.  So check out Call Of Duty Mom and “What I wanted to say…”

Nothing like making up the time I should have blogged but did not.  So here is what I have been working on.

Here I am pondering what the next step will be. I have decided to undertake that idea of planting. Rob had a business weekend, so I decided I would conquer something on my “to do” list. It was a undertaking that took more time then I thought.  It was a great time and the end product was well worth all the sweat and time.  The girls too loved helping me by digging up some dirt. It is great to have some good helpers:)

Now the fun begins. After doing some digging and and planting it was time to lay out the tarp.  It was not as bad as I thought it may be. All I needed to do is cut around the tarp where the plants were.  It was easier to lay it down after I knew where I wanted my new plants to go, as some of the plants stayed.   I wanted to add some color.  To look at the flowers grow and bloom is amazing to me. The little things in life.

Next came laying in the rest of the edging brick. Now that was a challenge to me as I did not know what I wanted to do. I had picked up 3 different types  and went to the store several different times before it was all said and done.  Remember this was the first time for me to put a planting plan together and lay it all out.  I will be better educated next time, I hope, and it won’t take several trips to the store before I decide what I want.  That is a down fall for me. I saw one time a brick the first time I went, and then when I saw an even better one when I went the next time.  Then I went to a different store and thought I was getting the same brick because I needed some more, but it was not the same.  I found a similar type, but one set of bricks was larger then the other.  Note to self, be a little better prepared.

All in all, it was all worth it.  I feel that the finished product was well worth it every step of the way. Like in life, things are thrown your way that are not expected, but you figure your way through it and accomplish what is set out before you.  So this is my garden of flowers, my project!

I will remember as my garden grows, I too will continue to grown in life spiritually, mentally, and physically.