Winners of Fitness Challenge and a Giveaway!

We have a 1st place and a 2nd place!

I won!!
just kidding...I wish I won!

First place goes to Kim!
Second place is Lisa L.!

Thanks to both of you for all your hard work and great examples!

I know we did not have a prize...so I hope you feel healthier!

In honor of healthier motherhood... I am giving away a yoga video...that way you can do it in the comfort of your own home while your kiddos are sleeping, or with you them!
I have blogged about my 3 favorite...the winner may choose from anyone of these videos!

Kundalini Yoga

Bryan Kest Power Yoga

Shiva Rea Yoga Shakti

Ways to get into the Random drawing that will be drawn by my kiddos!

1. Leave a comment of which yoga video you would like
2. Be a follower of either my family blog or my running blog!
(if your both---go ahead and comment twice!)
3. Participate in this next 6 week fitness challenge or the last one that we just finished!
4. Post about this giveaway on your blog!
5. 1st and 2nd place winners of the fitness challenge!

The winner of the yoga video will be announce Monday the 6th!

I hope everyone is having a great day...and don't forget tomorrow is April Fools Day...so much fun for the kiddos!

Family Night Egging!

This is a family favorite...make treats, leave them and then make a quick get away....
Hopefully without getting caught!
I found this cute sign on Executive Homemaking!

Brooke decided to make disguises for each of them...so that if they were caught they would still be sneaky!
She made two rabbit masks and two chick masks!
Too Cute!

The we picked 3 houses and egged them with candy filled plastic eggs!

Seriously a Blast!

Abstract Easter Chicks!

The kids made these cute abstract Easter Chicks this weekend!
They are putting together the centerpiece for the table!
I'm excited to see what they come up with!

I don't know if any of you are having trouble loading pictures onto your blog?
I can't load more than one!
I don't know why?

I wanted to show the steps to making these cute chicks...
and show how the kids can do it ALL by themselves.
I am all about crafts for the kids...that the kids can actually do!

First they made feet out of self drying clay...while it was still wet they put the straws in the feet.
The next day they painted everything!
The feet- made of clay
The body- made craft balls
The feathers and beak - which they drew on card stock ,cut out, and them painted

Then they connected the body with toothpicks
And the legs with toothpicks

I helped them hot glue the beak, feathers, and eyes on!

Whaaa Laaa
Adorable chicks!

Another 6 weeks!

These are my favorite protein bars.
I have been eating the same ones for 14 years...and I don't personally like the new flavors.
I just like original honey peanut!
What is your favorite quick snack bar?

Thank you to ALL of you who participated in the Fitness Challenge!
It has been tons of fun!
Today is report time again...
How did you do last week?

I got 20 points!
I wish it was more...but at least it was 20!

Tomorrow I will let you all know who won...I wish there was a prize...but the prize is a healthier life!
How do you put a price on that?

I am going to start today and do another 6 weeks!
For those who want to ....LET'S DO IT!

Mothers Need Friends Too!

I Love all these mothers...they have been the best friends to me!
I live hundreds of miles away from any family...and yet anyone of these ladies would drop the world to help me, in a time of need!
We are all busy mothers!
So we don't get together very often...
but when we do, it is a BLAST!!!

On the way to the Progressive Dinner, Brooke said, "Mom, you really need to set aside time to hang out with your friends! Every thing you do is for us! You need some YOU time! I am going to talk to dad about this!"

Family Faith Friday - I LOVE CHILDREN!

I love when I see kids care about their sibling!
I invited a friend over for Luke to play with! He is one of 4, being raised by my dear friend, on her own! So as you can suspect, finances are always a challenge. (Although she does a marvelous job)
This story is just too sweet not to pass up on...
I walked in the kitchen and my boy was eating a granola bar...so I asked the friend if he would like one!
He pointed to his bulging pockets and said, "I am waiting to eat mine with my sisters, brother, and mom!" Then he reached in his pocket a pulled out a granola bar..."see, I have one for each!"
I almost wanted to cry!
Not because I felt sorry for him, he is well loved, well fed, and well taken care of.
But there is something special that comes from humble circumstances that can not be duplicated in plush situations!
It brought back memories of watching my little brothers and sister doing the exact same thing.

My little brother Jeff, was at a church class party and they all went to Dairy Queen to get a Blizzard. By the time he got home his Blizzard was melted and only 1/4 gone. We asked him why he did not eat his whole Blizzard? He responded, "I wanted to share it with my sisters!" Which he had four of them! Not only was he going to share...but equally share. He saved them each the same amount that he ate. Probably the first Blizzard he had ever had ...and most likely the last one for a very long time...yet he shared!

Here is one more...I don't remember this one, but my mom has told me, and it is so dear! My oldest sister, Julie, (she is the oldest of 12), when she was in kindergarten, the teacher would give them an M&M at the end of the day! JUST ONE M&M! Every day Julie would save that 1 M&M, and she would hand it to my mom and ask her to split it with her younger siblings! How easy would it have been for that sweet little 5 year old girl to just eat her single M&M....but she knew that her younger brothers and sisters would enjoy it also...and so she shared!

Still today, Julie and Jeff, one is the oldest, the other the youngest, still think of their siblings before themselves!

What is Family Faith Friday?

It is my own new Friday Post.

My mom suggested keeping a log of Faith Building Stories that happen in our lives. Then we can reference them for years and our kids can reference them as well. I love to read Faith Building stories of my ancestors...so why not keep a log of our own?
I don't think there is any story too small...everything will have meaning later, as it teaches lessons learned!
I hope to slowly build a record of my Faith building experiences and hope to hear some of yours.
I wasn't sure when I would start...and then our friend brought back memories..and so today is my first day!

Sky Watch Friday!

I had so much fun watching the sunset on the beach in Florida...especially after a LONG winter of little sun!

These are three stages of the same sunset!

If you would like to join sky watch Friday click here!

The Best Peanut Butter Cookies EVER!

My husband grew up in a family who knew how to cook and bake! He has such great memories of fun times and great food!
My mission for the last 14 years is to try and make cookies that match his high expectations!
His favorites are Peanut Butter and Snicker Doodle!

Here is my FAVORITE Peanut Butter Cookie recipe ever!

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 1/4 c flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla

extra sugar to roll the dough in!

Beat the butter and peanut butter for 30 sec. on medium high. Add 1/2 c. flour, sugars, egg, baking soda, baking powder and vanilla. Beat until combined. Beat in the remaining flour.

Roll 1 in. ball is sugar, and then take a fork and make your criss cross marks.

Bake 375 for 7-9 minutes

When you take them out they should be soft and lightly brown.
I always gently tap the cookie sheet on the counter, so they flatten out!

Grab a large glass of COLD milk and dig in!

If you are on the fitness challenge...these don't really fit....but they are delicious, so save the recipe for a great treat!

I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my Goodness....I won a decluttering package!
YIPPEE!
The above picture is the one posted from activity mom...about her pantry needing to be organized!
I am afraid my before pictures do not look that beautiful!
I originally thought this was her after picture.
No wonder I love her so much!
If you have not checked out her blog...you really should it is wonderful!
And the best part is ...simple...she makes everything simple!

Here is her finished product!
I am so excited to have help organizing...I get to pick a room or an area and then Complete Organizing Solutions will help me organize it.
What room?
You think they will go for "MY HOUSE?"

I am excited to post my before and after pictures!

THANKS NICOLE!!!!

BTW This is my first giveaway win!!!
It is truly fun and exciting!

Spring Break 2010

We headed down to Florida to warm up from our very cold winter.
When we got there...it was cold.
So even though we did not have beach weather...we had sunshine!
And we LOVED it!

Monday morning we got up and my phone rang...
It was my dear friend and neighbor from home.
I couldn't believe it when she said that she was in the area..
and we were able to meet them for lunch!
We have not been able to get together since last summer...
I guess we both needed to head south!

We had to find other ways to have fun, since the beach was FREEZING and WINDY!
I don't know what the kids planned to do with that tree.. (wink)...
But I can tell you they climbed for hours!!!
I even climbed with them and it brought back lots of childhood memories!

We walked next to the same pond that we had just seen an alligator, 100 yds away, 5 minutes before...
Not the safest place for my little ones!
(I did help them relocate)

This is how you know that you take lots of pictures...
When your two year old poses every few minutes...
and then insists that you take a picture!

We had monkey bar contests
21 times back and forth was the winner!
Brooke and Chelsea can get VERY competitive!

We did a family obstacle course!

Which Luke did not think was fun..and so instead he was off dancing!
The kid has moves!
And he'll dance forever!

At the end of the day...we wore them out!
And everyone slept through the night...every night!
Which for this mom does NOT happen!
So I have to say...I got the rest I needed....and we had a BLAST!

Check here to see the workouts I was able to fit in!

My Detour!

Good Morning all you Fitness Challenge Friends!
How was your week?
I am so excited to hear how many points have been racked up!
I am NOT as excited to tell about my points.

Let me start by telling you about the trip to Florida...
As you all know...I love road trips!
We just pile in the car and hit the road....wherever it leads, we go!
This time we did have a destination...and so we needed to head in that general direction.
Well, my dear Mark, loves to get off the highway and take country roads!
This is a picture of our country road we started on!
We drove on this windy road for about 3 hours.
The first hour we loved...but then we were stuck...we couldn't figure out how to get back on the highway.
Our car has a navigation system....but we were remote enough that it couldn't help us!
And so we drove in what we thought was the right direction for another 2 more hours...only to find out that we moved 1 hour toward our destination.
Basically 2 hours were gone, plus what ever time it would take for us to get back on track!

With that said I want to move to point 2 and then I will combine them both.
The trip down we ate perfect.
We passed on the ice cream that all the kids got!
We munched on raw nuts!
We stopped all eating at 7...even though we were driving until 1am!

I was proud!
I was confident!

Now to combine the two!
Day 1 was the only day that I stayed on the road to my goal!
From Day 2 on ....I took a detour.
One I thought I could just get off and jump back on the "highway"....but instead I found myself lost....and unable to get back on track!
I thought getting my runs in would help...but I was too far gone!
By the time I found my path again (yesterday)
I had gained back 5 of the 9 pounds I lost!

No worries...I am back on track....and I am going to stay on the "highway!"

Did that make any sense?
or did I just ramble a bunch of nonsense?

Okay....my points.....14!

This is our last week for the 6 week challenge!

Does anyone want to go for another 6?
Think about it and if you are in let me know!

In the Middle of the Night!

The problem with vacations is it messes up my schedule,
and leaves me with a mountain of laundry and a car full of stuff...I don't know what exactly is in there, but I know it is FULL!

So here it is 12:30 and I am laying in bed, knowing that my 5:00am alarm is coming soon...and I can't sleep.
I am thinking of all the fun things coming up!

My first 5k for the season
April Fools Day
Easter
Gymnastic meets
State gymnastics
Daddy Daughter Dance
Chelsea's birthday
New Neighbors
Family Home Evenings
Young Womens
Fitness Challenge almost ending and I want to extend it!

So many things buzzing in my head...

And then I got stuck on the Fitness Challenge...
It's Monday again...time to report!
What could I post about...that would be helpful!

Prayer
That is what came to mind!
Every morning I pray!
I pray for help with improving my health...and you know what... it works!

That was ALL it took and my sleep for right now was over...
I had to get up and post about the most important aspect of my everyday!
I have to give credit where credit is due.

Prayer

I pray!
Daily!
All Day!

The Lord gave me 5 beautiful children!
He trusts me to raise them to follow him!
It's scary really!
I am not worthy!
These kids are amazing!
Everyday I am in awe...they are a supreme species!
Way better than I ever was or ever could be.
They are little and yet I learn every single day from them.
How am I suppose to raise them?
I can't do it alone!
I need HIS help!

And so I pray!
I ask for his help and guidance!

It works!
He gives me the strength that I need to get through every day!
He gives me the understanding I need to teach my children of truths!
He humbles me so that I can be lifted up by him, so that I can have a house of the LORD!

I am so happy to be able to talk with the LORD through pray.
And I just want you ALL to know that he is the center of my home!
I know he loves me!
I know he loves you !

Now I am going to go to bed and sleep....I hope!
I think I will pray and ask for help to clear my head for now...it is time to clock out...until 5!

Ready for the bus!

Every morning ...
She get ready for the bus!

Creating Space!

I guess my two oldest girls needed some space of their very own...
away from all little hands!
I walked in their room, and could tell they were up to something...
Plus the two top drawers were missing from their bed.
I asked, "What are you guys doing?"
"Nothing!"
That always means ..... Something!

They had each gathered a little container of supplies...
While they were gone...
Gone Where?

They both found a cubby behind the drawers...that they can fit in...barely!
And they have a pillow and then their stuff and and a flashlight.
I thought at least they could probably see each other...but NO their is a board in between them.
I laugh every time I find them in their...it is truly NOT comfortable...
But if it gives them what they need...

If it makes them happy....then I'm happy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I brought a Leprechaun with us to Florida!
This morning I put a little gold glitter on each of the kids pillows....and a gold kiss under!
All day I have left clues to where the Leprechaun has been...and maybe his gold is there too?
They will find gold glitter in random places...and Green treats to go with it...
Until, they find the Gold!

My Kids love mysteries!

Q is for....

Quilt!
We have 3 letters left...but I am not doing them as fast, because Luke knows the letters and is more interested in other activities.
We will finish the last 3 so that he will have created his own alphabet wall....
which he is so proud of and shows everyone who comes over!

For Quilt we used Confessions of a Homeschooler activities...
She makes some super fun worksheets for each letter!

And then we had a QUIET, QUICK, QUILT picnic!

Luke has enjoyed playing alphabet memory!
They match up the lower case with the upper case!

Even Annika likes to join in and every time she gets a match she celebrates..
hugs, high fives, screams of joy! =)

After the game, Luke likes to put all the same colors together...or to make different patterns.

Fitness Challenge!

If you are doing the fitness challenge...it is Monday again!

How many points?
I will tell my points in the comments...since I am out of town and I had to do this post before I left.
I hope to report good news....and that I was able to stay on track...even on a road trip!

I am eating a ton of salads on this...
and I just wanted to encourage others to do so also.
This is my all time favorite dressing...as you can tell....it is almost gone!

If you want a super light salad dressing...just use lemon....it is surprisingly delicious!

I try to make a new different salad every day...so that I don't get bored!
So far it has been fun and I have enjoyed everyone of them!

Good Luck this week!

Road Trip Pails!

We are off to Florida for Spring Break.

Which means we have a 18 hours of drive time!

We love road trips...and one thing I try and do is come up with fun activities for the kids to do....I surprise them.

I found these cute pails at Target
We decorated them with Sharpies

And then I filled them with surprise activities to do on the trip!

Activity Book
Markers
Toy
Fruit Snacks
Granola Bars
Hand Game
Chap Stick
Bubble Gum
Tic Tac Toe
Hang Man
and much more!

After the Pails will double as a sea shell holder! =)

What are doing for your Spring Break?

The Gold is Near!!

More St. Patrick's stuff...
Rainbow cupcakes...
These have become my favorite kid cupcakes...no matter what time of year!
LOVE THEM!
The best part is that the kids eat them all...not just the frosting!

Make lots....they will want more!

And for all my fitness challenge friends...I did not even have one lick! =)

Sparking the young minds!

I have seen these melted crayons all over the bloggy world...but have not made them yet...until NOW!
Absolutely LOVED it!

This was an activity for school...since St. Pat's day is right around the corner....and rainbows are a must....for that is where the gold is!!!

The kids all helped unwrap the crayons...
which I must say, for us, took a while.
I don't know how kids manage to always take off the wrappers...they really aren't that easy!

TheN we baked them at 200...
And this is where the excitement began!
Luke was so intrigued ....why did the crayons melt?

What will happen to ___________ if you put it in the oven?
His little mind was just turning!

He couldn't believe that for school he made something special to give his sisters when they got home!

Luke started to make "cookies" for his sisters!
He tried all kinds of combinations!

goldfish and water
oranges and milk
asparagus and bananas
graham crackers

After we tried each one...."yummy" =(
The I helped him make NO Bake Cookies!

I love how he helped me stir... he held my upper arm the entire time...he was afraid of getting burned!

He used a small ice cream scoop to put the finished product into mini muffin tins!

When the girls got home...
Luke met them at the door, with the BIGGEST smile ever and a great big
"SURPRISE"!