3rd Annual Super-Duper-Cooper-Looper Marathon

On Saturday May 28th, 2011, we had the 3rd annual Super-Duper-Cooper-Looper Half Marathon. What a smashing success! Thanks to everyone who helped out this year. We had a great time, and thanks to everyone who came out and participated. We had 54 recorded finishers. Great job everyone. A special thanks to Doug and Connie Asay who came out just to help, and Dave Burton to helped with the aid stations as well. We couldn't have done it without your help! Now, I only have one picture to post, sorry! That is what happens when I participate. It is of the wisest of the bunch who finished (way to go Grandma!) and one of the youngest (almost), great job as well, Chase!

I am not going to take the time to sort the times by first to last, so just scan down the list to find your number (if you remember it) and your time. Just remember, these were bikers, walkers, and runners mixed in. Next year I'll try to keep track of who did what.

301 Oakli Burton 1:49:08
302 Chase Burton 2:00:15
303 Bryce Burton 1:16:54
304 Ambri Burton 1:29:55
305 Kari Burton 1:48::45
306 Mike Dedera 1:55:55
307 Jodi Dedera 1:29:58
308 Maddi Dedera 1:23:55
309 Mya Dedera 1:28:58
310 Danny Dedera 1:57:53
311 Angie Dedera 1:29:13
312 Josiah Dedera 1:24:00
313 Lilly Dedera 1:29:13
314 Steve Farrar 1:54:12
315 Kris Farrar 3:04:16
316 Kraig Farrar 1:42:25
317 Joe Phair 1:42:10
318 Katie McGowan 1:58:28
319 Kyle Latimer 1:39:10
320 Goldie Burton 2:00:23
321 Jamie Stover 3:26:51
322 Raine Morris 3:26:47
323 Debi Burton 2:15:43
324 Jamie Pierce 51:36
325 Cody Bush 1:16:50
326 Garrett Burton 1:17:03
327 Jenna Burton 1:29:46
328 Sam Burton 1:39:28
329 Kelly Merrill 2:11:08
330 Sarah Merrill 2:11:08
332 Maria Burton 1:39:28
334 Tom Burton 1:39:30
335 Nathan Tolman 1:40:22
336 Nick Tolman 1:17:06
337 Satina Tolman 2:10:19
338 Tatiana Tolman 1:40:22
339 TJ Hafner 51:36
340 Heather Clark 2:05:42
341 Jason Hawthorne 1:28:09
342 Angela Smith 2:07:07
343 Bethany Marteeny 1:29:54
344 Doug Marteeny 2:28:39
345 Hannah Marteeny 1:11:08
348 Allison Parmenter 3:04:17
349 Jennifer Madsen 2:06:28
350 Rachel Madsen 1:21:01
351 Larry Sykes 1:18:57
355 Teresa Gardner 2:17:21
356 Rob Simmons 55:22
357 Andrea Simmons 55:22
360 Crystal Sublett 1:57:32
361 Paul Tappana 1:27:57
364 Brady Tappana 1:32:57
365 Ryann Tappana 1:27:57

If I have made any typo-s or left anyone off the list, please, Please, PLEASE, let me know. The list was very long this year (a good thing) and I could have made any number of mistakes. Feel free to pass the good news along to everyone who is on the list so they can check out their good work! I'd be happy to post pictures as well, if you would like to email them to me as well.



This is the logo that Bryce designed for this year's race. It was also on all of the finisher's medals. He did the design this year for his Art Merit Badge that he successfully completed after the race was over. Bryce is a Boy Scout and is now working on his Eagle Project. Awesome job Bryce!




Great job everyone, and thanks for coming out. We'll see you next year!

Water With No Ice

I have a really great frend.

I mean, you know... how many people can go out with you and order your drink and get it just right for you? Your spouse? Probably. Your best friend? Maybe. If you go out with them a lot. But how many people order water. With no ice? Me. I know it's not that big of a deal, really, but just a random thing that I was thinking, here. In the wee hours of the morning. When I should be sleeping. As the train is just going by. But I am actually working on a project. But instead I'm thinking of my really cool friend. Who ordered my drink for me yesterday. While I parked the car. You are so cool. Thanks Jamie!

Scripture Fix-Up

I finally got around to changing the tabs on my scriptures. I had some that fell off and I couldn't find them to put them back on, so I HAD to replace the tabs, because I didn't want to replace the scriptures. I decided to shake it up a bit and make them PINK. Yes, I knnow, big surprise. I also decided to go an nontraditional way, and do it in my own handwriting. Several years ago, I had my handwriting made into a font, so I did not have to write them all out. Here's what I did:

sad. missing. labels.

Print out the new tabs onto fun colored cardstock. I couldn't use plain-jane black, that would just be boring. Plus I can't print on black. Make sure you test so that your words will fit in the small space.

Remove the existing tabs. I did this one at a time, so I didn't get anything mixed up.

Cut out each new tab with a circle punch and put glue on the back of each circle. I used a glue stick.

Put it in the right place and rub it down so it is secure.

Trim the new tab so it is flush with your page.

See the awesome progress?

Now it is done! Sorry for the bad picture, it got late and I had to use the flash.

It turned out so great! I am glad to have it finished. Now I have fully functioning tabs again.

What I've been doing...

Well, because blogging about what I do on a weekly basis clearly didn't work, here I am today. I guess I can only do what I can do. Today you get pictures! Yea. I can't remember how long it has been since I posted with pictures. I guess I just could go and look. I wanted to actually show some of the things that I've been up to. I'll also tell what the kids have been doing as well.

First off, I'll SHOW what I've been doing, I'm super excited about this, and so are the girls. They are begging for them:

and

The problem for the girls is that they are too big because I made these to fit my wrist. I guess I'll be making some smaller ones for them today. I can't wait to make a black one too, that is next on my schedule. I'm thinking of putting them in my etsy shop, what do you think of them? Do you think they'll sell?

I have also been making more watch bands. These can be found in my etsy shop.

I also made these:

So that's the "crafty" stuff that I've been doing, at lest that I have pictures of. I have more projects in the works, so I can't wait to get started on those.

Other things that have been going on:

I'm still doing my 5 miles a day, every day. It is hard, but still worth it. I have a new cell phone (Yippee) that I don't know how to use (um, yeah). I got it for Christmas and it is awesome (I think), but I know it's better than the last phone I had. The kids love it because it makes the transformers sound every time I open it. I did get a hands free device (Thanks a lot OREGON) for it that I love/hate. All the kids are doing swimming right now. They all love it. Bryce and Ambri are having swimming lessons at school every day and Chase and Oakli are doing their lessons at night. It makes for a crazy Tuesday night, but it is worth it. Bryce has scouts on Tuesday nights and soccer practice just started up again for him on Tuesday nights as well. Ambri is loving achievement day (which is at night), also on Tuesday nights... did I mention that Tuesday's are our FAVORITE (not really - or crazy, or something like that...). Bryce and Ambri also continue to very well with their piano (thankfully that is NOT on Tuesdays). Doug is super busy trying to get all the blueberry plants pruned and it is taking a LONG time this year, but he is doing a great job with "Hose-A" and Hose-C". (For those of you that don't know, "Hose-B" quit a while back... really... hehe...)

...

looks like my "new attempt" was not so successful. i suppose i could blame it on being busy, or reading other cool blogs, the fact that Bryce had another birthday (darn that kid, stop it!), the laundry continuing to pile up...even though i don't want it to, or maybe the fact that that i did Christmas cards, made awesome gingerbread houses at kindergarten with Chase and Oakli, reading hordes of Christmas cards (thanks!), took Chase to the ER on Christmas Eve to get "glued" back together, had a great Christmas, cleaned up Christmas, put away all the Christmas decorations and celebrated New Year's too. maybe it is that i've re-discovered crafting again...in many different forms, swimming lessons for Chase and Oakli, scouts for Bryce, Achievement days for Ambri, 5 miles a day for me (still), sewing projects (only the necessary ones - darn those scout shirts!), movies, a messy house that i haven't cleaned, jewelry projects that i want to get done, messes that i don't know how they got there, a new church calling that is giving me "panic", major kid drama, ice skating on our pond, Doug's new High Council assignment with the Spanish branch, Ambri's (I mean Bryce...) careful planning each day to get her hair and clothes just right for school... maybe just maybe it is one or two of those things... or maybe it is just sheer laziness.

in any case, i'm still here, in one form or another.

A New Approach

Well, no big surprise here, I didn't come back to make that blog entry. I have just been so busy, but who hasn't, right? I read a new friends blog today and I decided to steal her new approach to blogging. I'm at least going to give it a try and see how it suits me. She did more of a journal entry for the week. (Thanks for the idea Madeline.)

Last weekend we took the kids to Bend and we had such a great time. Apparently we missed a pretty "awesome" rain storm. I use the punctuation marks because it must have rained a ton. We had awesome sunny weather and it only rained a smidge for us, which was mostly at night. It still amazes me how different the weather can be only 2.5 hours away, just on the other side of the mountains. We had a great time swimming, sight seeing and just relaxing. We always love going to Bend.

Monday saw us back to the usual routine, although Doug, Oakli and I did go to Salem for "lunch". Doug made it quite clear that it was a date, and not a reward. You see, we have this standing deal, that if I clean the house, he'll take me out to lunch at my favorite restaurant that week. We happened to go there, which is the "Best Little Roadhouse", not to be mistaken with "The Roadhouse". We had to go to Salem to the scout office to get Bryce his new scout things, now that he isn't a cub scout any longer, so why not, right? It was the best. I don't ever get anything special, just a salad, but there is just something about that place! I have tried to re-create the salad and bread, but I just can't seem to get it right.

We have a former neighbor who was a fighter pilot in WWII. He passed away 5 years ago and was buried in a family cemetery about 1 mile from our house (on family property - we don't live by a cemetery, per se)... so for FHE we decided that we wanted to do service and clean up the cemetery in his honor. Because Veteran's Day on Wednesday, we thought it would be nice because his widow may come out to visit the grave. We don't know if she was able to come, because she is VERY sick, but it was nice for the kids to do some service anyway. The grass needed mowing badly and the leaves had not yet been cleaned up, so it was a great opportunity for our family. Right when the kids got off the bus, we grabbed them and ran down there. We were loosing daylight fast, so we needed to go quick. We had 2 lawnmowers, 3 rakes, 2 garbage cans, 1 edger, 1 blower, 4 kids, 1 dad, 1 mom, 2 girls that had to go pee, (hello, why don't you go when mom tells you to BEFORE we leave the house???) and 0 complaints. We got the job done and it was amazing. Bryce and Doug ran the lawn mowers, I ran a rake, and the 3 youngest kids ran their 2 arms picking up wet piles of leaves. We even had to work some in the dark, but we got it done.

Tuesday found Oakli and I spending the day at Kindergarten. Oakli loves it because she thinks she is part of the class. She joins in with everything and loves it. She blends in well and you can hardly tell that she is not a "kinder". I love going to help out, but it is so exhausting. Mrs. Graham is the best and needs so much help to get all the projects done. I normally go in only once a week but try to help out as much as I can with things at home. (My Cricut is working double-duty as I am typing, so my hand doesn't have to do all the cutting out of candy canes for her... boy- or girl- am I smart!)

Wednesday saw us all home. I still don't understand why they can't celebrate Veteran's Day on a Monday or Friday if they are going to give the kids the day off school. It was a bit crazy having them all home in the middle of the week. It was only yesterday, and I really don't know what we did yesterday. I do remember vaguely that I had them clean and do some chores. The kids did get their piano practicing done, but looking around right now, I'm not sure what else they got done. I do remember giving them chores to do. Funny thing that is. Mess, I guess that is life, right?

As for some random thoughts, I am enjoying helping out in the kindergarten class a lot. Mrs. Graham has 30 kids in the morning and 30 kids in the afternoon and she has no help except for when parents come in and help, so I feel like I need to be in to help when I can, except that I don't think that I can help more than once a week, because it is so draining for me. (Some years she gets an assistant, some years she gets no help.) I would never make a good teacher. Some days I come home with a migraine. Some days I feel like I should have done more. Some days I wonder why she does it. Some days I can see why she does it. Chase is the 3rd child of ours that has had Mrs. Graham. In years past we have been able to help out the kindergarten in the financial department than we are able to this year, so I feel bad about that. Maybe that is why I feel like I need to be in the classroom helping more. When Bryce and Ambri where in kindergarten I couldn't be in the classroom as much because Chase and Oakli were little babies. (Sigh).

I still can't keep Bryce "in Books". He continues to read me and his teacher out of every book he checks out from the library. He always has his limit checked out and can read through a very large book in 1 day. It truly amazes me. I can't even keep up with what he is reading. He also loves to play the computer and DS as much as he loves to read too, so he isn't a "nerdy" child, thank goodness!

This year has been very hard. I hope next year is a better year. I do have to say though, if this year wasn't so hard, I wouldn't have learned the lessons I needed to learn.

I'm very behind on my jewelry making. Bad, Kari. Another side effect from Kindergarten. The kids are addicting. Well, maybe not the kids, (that sounds bad, but it is different when it's your own kids...) but I do feel a strong urge to help out wherever I can. I guess that is why there are still no pictures posted here. (Sorry Jaclyn). I was thinking that on the long drive maybe I could post some. Yes, I just said it, ON THE LONG DRIVE... for those of you that are reading this that are "Utards" (and I say that so affectionately - because I still consider myself a Utard - that is what Doug and I call us - you, me, I, whatever) we are coming for Thanksgiving. If Mom doesn't know, I sent her a text. I do need to call her. See... I do have procrastination in my veins. I'll email, I promise. This is one of the most "last minute" trips I think I've ever planned, except for a funeral trip.

Gum

Funny how little things trigger memories of people. I was reaching for a piece of gum today.

Those of you who know me well, know that this is something that happens MANY times each day. For some reason today I thought of Amy C. while I was chewing my gum. I don't know Amy well. I was at her house once, and she was at my house once too. When she was at my house we were working on a project for her and she saw my “gum jar”. I think she was shocked. (I would have been...) Some people have candy jars. I don’t. I have a gum jar. It just makes more sense for me to empty all my gum into a big jar, rather than trying to fish a piece out of a pack each time I want one, or even trying to find a pack for that matter. Amy shares my same love of gum. (She probably doesn't have a gum jar though.) I don't really know if it is a love, or an addiction, or what the exact word really is. I started chewing a lot of gum when I want3ed to loose weight. It made more sense to me not to eat food if I had a fresh piece of gum in my mouth. I don’t really know what the point of telling all of all you this is, other than the point of me saying that I thought of Amy today. Amy moved away this summer. Amy is a great person, although I didn't ever get a chance to know her well. From what I did know, she has a personality like no one I’ve ever met before. I’ve wondered if I’ll ever meet anyone else like her. Probably not. Hang onto your seats, Utah… here comes Amy!

I'm on Strike!

Now, don't go getting any ideas now... I'm still:

I don't know that it was ever officially discussed before, but I think it was mentioned previously how difficult it was to blog every day for a whole month. I'm not saying it can't be done for some people. I know there are a lot of people out there that make a lot of money doing it every day. I'm sure that if someone wanted to pay me a lot of money, I'd change my attitude really fast. But, because no one is beating down my pathetic front door, my attitude is still the same, blogging everyday is not for me. I will, however, be back. Just not yet. I think about it often, so I wanted to let you know (if you are out there) that I am still here. I am still trying to enjoy the last few days of sun that we have in Oregon. I am swamped with soccer 6 days a week (but loving it!), canning, and am now enjoying what is a quiet afternoon once in a while. Chase is in school now in the afternoons, and Oakli still loves her naps, when she gets them. I am proud to say, some afternoons it is quiet. Sitting here thinking about what happens during those quiet hours, I cannot even begin to recall, but I'm sure that something productive happens (I hope!)

Once the rain starts to fall and soccer ends for the Princesses, Elves, Tornadoes, and Renegades I'll post pictures of the kids in action and begin work on scrapbook pages (I hope) and who knows what else, but until then, we are still here and I'm still reading your blogs too!

Final Day ~ Day 31

Today is my final post of the post for a day, for a whole month. I do confess that I had many things planned for the final day. Many just slipped my mind, some just don't seem relevant any longer, and others just make me feel more tired than I already am. This was very hard to do. Many of you already know that, if you've been following my my posts, you'll know that, because I've said it more than once. I don't know that I'll ever try this again. I've liked the challenge, but the stress has been very hard. I don't do well with stress. I'd rather do things on my terms, and knowing that I "have" to post every day, has been stressful for me. There have been a few days that I have nearly forgotten to post. With all that said, here are a few things for the final day.

July truly is my favorite month. Yes, it is my birthday month, and that is part of it, but not all of it. I love to be warm, so that is a big factor as well. So farewell to July. I had planned to "honor" the 7th month of the year with all kinds of 7 things today, but honestly, I can't remember what I was going to do today. Such is the life of a mom. I did walk 7.7 miles today, if that counts for anything. Maybe I'll work on freeing 7 flies from the house, because they are really starting to drive me crazy. It is easier to get them out the windows than it is to hit them with the swatter.


Yesterday while I was sitting here (probably wondering what I was going to type) I saw a neighbor lady walk by. She was definitely out for an "exercise" walk, but she was talking on her cell phone. Okay, pet peeve here. Why do people talk on their cell phones, why they are trying to get exercise? I just don't get it. I can understand an emergency or something like that, but not while you are exercising. Whatever. I didn't really think much of it, until she walked back by going the other direction. It was like an hour later. By this time I was out picking raspberries, and she was (still?) talking on her cell phone! Some people. Sheesh! This is going to sound rude, but maybe that is why her butt is still kind of big. She can't really walk very fast and have a conversation on her cell phone the entire time she is trying to walk.

I think I'll go make dinner now, now that it isn't bed time and I don't "have" to try to think of something to blog about. I fully intend to continue my frequent blogging, just not every day. I'm hoping for a few times a week. I find it truly enjoyable, and I'm hoping that by spreading it out a bit, I can put more substance to it (compared to the last week).

Thanks for all of you who have read along with me over the last month!

Migrane Update ~ Day 22

Today I decided on a migraine update for my daily blog. (For the record, it is still really hard to do this EVERY day.) Back to my migraine update. I'm now on my 3rd RX for the migraines. I think that this medication that I am on now is working. I have still gotten 3 migraines in 19 days, but it is way better than every day! Even with the first two medications I was still getting headaches 4 out of 5 days. I'd say that this medication is a success.

Happy Birthday ~ Day 17

Today has been exceedingly long. I won't blog much today because I am so tired. Maybe more tomorrow, except that my sister commented "...there is no tomorrow, there is only the NOW." Maybe not.

Today was my birthday.

Tomorrow is Doug's birthday.

Yesterday was the fair.

Today was the stake Pioneer Picnic (we were in charge of).

Tomorrow is a blueberry picking day.

Tomorrow is (maybe) Harry Potter 6 day.

Tomorrow is apple pie making day, maybe. I want to enter one in the fair. There is a contest and the 1st prize winner gets $100.

Here are 2 very different but quite the same pictures from the fair yesterday. My girls on 2 different rides, having a great time. (Oakli is only on the top of the ferris wheel, but it may as well be the top of the world!)

In Honor of... Gin Rummy? ~ Day 13

Today was a busy day. Tomorrow will be worse, I just hope I have time to share. Back to today, because tomorrow hasn't even happened yet.

The county fair opens this week. Last year my two older kids discovered the novelty of entering items in the fair. I told them what a great idea this would be, because if they get 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, they get money along with their ribbons. They were definitely in. So last year Bryce won $60-some odd, and Ambri around $25. Of coarse they thought this was awesome because they didn't have to do that much work to earn that money. Well, they still had to do the work, but it was basically just going through the fair book and seeing what they had already done through out the year that we could gather and enter. So the same thing is happening this year. I don't think we'll have quite the success that we had last year, but I guess you never know. Today was the drop-off for the arts and crafts/hobbies stuff and tomorrow is the baked goods. We are affectionately calling tomorrow our "baking day". Wish me and my waistline luck, I'm going to need it.

So onto the title of the post. Tonight for FHE, we went to "Grandpa Ritchie's" house. If any of you are locals that read my blog, you may have heard of Harry Ritchie Jewelers. Well, it isn't Harry who is "Grandpa", but I believe it is his brother. Anyway, it is this really cute old man that Doug does landscaping for that we went to visit. He is so nice to our family, and he doesn't have any family that lives close. Doug trades landscaping for jewelry, and at the last contract renewal, he had beautiful gold bracelets for the girls. He didn't know how to spell their names, (who would, right?) but he wanted to get their names engraved on the gold plate part. Tonight we went to pick them up, and to take him some blueberries. We had a fun time visiting. While we were there, Doug saw a deck of playing cards on his table. Doug asked him if he played cards, and he said yes, he played Gin Rummy. (Oh no!) Doug promptly volunteered me to play with Grandpa. Doug asked if he was any good, and Grandpa, said "Yes!" I shuffled and dealt the cards. After the first game, he declared we had to play again (I won). We played again, and he won, but he didn't go all the way out. He said he needed to show me how to go all the way out (which I did the first hand, but he must have forgotten - I'm sure...) and I whooped him again. Afterward, I felt kind of bad. He told me how competitive he is, so I agreed to come back and play with him again. I'm not sure he knows what he is in for. I am certain he thinks that it was all luck for me tonight. You see, my Grandpa taught me to play gin when I was a teenager. I spent MANY, MANY hours playing gin rummy with him. I could even beat him once in a while. I'd have to say, I was schooled by the best! Way to be a great teacher, Grandpa, I love you!

In other news, today Doug also gave Chase a haircut. Hunh.

I Grow Red, White, and Blue... Sort of ~ Day 2

Happy July everyone... again!

I wanted to show you my patriotism by what I am growing. My most important things this year are red, white, and blue (sort of).

RED: (I think the most important - of coarse)

Here's my close up. If you can tell, this raspberry is in the palm of my hand. I'm showing this picture for size. It's it so pretty? (and HUGE?!?!?!) I think they are the most important because raspberries are my favorite fruit. Doug has worked long and hard to get me the perfect producing plants. They grow big berries that taste awesome. This year he planted me even more plants, despite the fact that I am the only one in the family that really LOVES them. I now have 95 plants! Yes, I have counted them.

Next is WHITE .

Well, it really isn't white, but it was the best I could do. It is rather patriotic though. Just think amber waves of grain. You get the point. We have have 17 acres of wheat that we are growing this year. Our kids love it because they run and play in it, and literally get lost in there. The wheat is taller than the kids are. Too fun.

Last is BLUE.

I would have put this one first, because technically it is the most important to us financially, but it just didn't fit with my post, red, white, and blue. Again, you get a close-up for WOW factor. Love the size of those babies! Those are my fingers next to the blueberries on the plant.

What do you get when you have a blueberry plant that is over-worked, and under-paid? A really good blueberry plant! This one is totally LOADED and ready to be picked.

A post a day... for a whole month???

My sister has done this thing where she has done a post a day, for a whole month! I have to admit, I love reading her posts each day. Some days they are long and thought out, some days they are just quick right before she hits the sack. I have to admit, I have thought about what a good idea it is, and how much I would like to do it. Well, "like" is the operative word. I think it is a great idea, anyway. Well, she is doing it again, and I mentioned that if she ever did it again, I may try it. She started it yesterday (I know, not at the beginning of the month) so I am thinking that I may gear up for the month of July. Summers are so busy, so I don't know how long I'll last, but I think I'm going to go for it.

On another totally strange, but "pee your pants" it's so funny note... here is a link to a post my cousin did on her blog. I think of it often and how funny she is. She doesn't post often, (meaning a post a day) but when she does, her posts are very funny. This post will only be REALLY funny if you've actually borne children, but happy reading to those of you who haven't, anyway. Here's the link: Someone who knows my pain.

Super-Duper-Cooper-Looper Half Marathon

Doug was very kind to set up a half-marathon for us this past weekend. We invited many to join with us, and we had a great turn out! Here was part of his announcement:

We are making final preparations for the first, possibly annual, Super-Duper-Cooper-Looper-Half Marathon on June 6, 2009 at 7:00am. Yes, 13.1 miles of pure fun and joy (well, it can be). The course is set to run on flat, paved roads going through beautiful, Willamette Valley farmland in the Dever-Conner area of Northeast Albany. The race will start and end at the Burton’s home. Anyone of any age, that thinks that they could finish the course is invited to participate. Running, jogging, walking, biking, blading, crawling (bring knee pads if you are going to do that), are all permitted this year. If for some reason someone is not able to finish the course we will arrange for a ride to the finish line. Aid stations will be at miles 2, 4, 6, 9, and 11 with bananas and orange slices at the mile 6 station and bathrooms at miles 2, 4(?), 9, and 11. At the end of the race, at the finish line we will also have some drinks with some light foods and snacks.

Here are the results of the marathon. If you don't find yourself right away, check for another category. The results have been broken down based on the method of completion. (I've left off your last name for privacy. If you want me to put your last name up on the site, just email me.)

Runners:

1. Matthew K. (#128) 1:27:00

2. Kyle M. (#117) 1:49:00

2. Bill H. (#129) 1:49:00

3. Larry S. (#127) 2:00:00

4. Maria B. (#123) 2:31:00

Walkers:

1. Kari B. (#114) 2:45:00

Adult Bike:

1. James C. (#135) 49:00

2. Brent B. (#131) 50:00

3. Preston B. (#124) 59:15

4. Jaclyn B. (#116) 1:25:00

5. Bart B. (#115) 1:25:00

6. Afton B. (#119) 1:35:00

7. Steve B. (#118) 1:35:00

8. Paul T. (#134) 1:39:00

9. Charisse B. (#130) 1:59:00 (ran 4 miles, then biked)

10. Tom B. (#122) 2:31:00

Youth Bike:

1. Jordan M. (#105) 59:35

2. Sarah M. (#104) 1:00:41

3. Sarah C. (#106) 1:00:42

4. Bryce B. (#101) 1:08:00

5. Ceana B. (#109) 1:08:00

6. Matthew H. (#112) 1:15:40

7. Chase B. (#113) 1:25:00 (rode with #116)

8. Oakli B. (#103) 1:25:00 (rode with #115)

9. Brady T. (#132) 1:30:00

10. Kerry T. (#133) 1:39:00

11. Kaeli B. (#110) 1:40:00

12. Caiden B. (#111) 1:40:30

Other:

1. Tyler B. (#121) Roller Blade

2. Jace B. (#107) (rode with #121)

3. Traeden B. (#108) (rode with #121)

4. Porta Potty (#136) 2:27:00 (Tractor)

Ambri and Oakli's Bedroom

I finished painting Ambri and Oakli's bedroom today. It took me a week to do, and I'm beat! I've wanted to paint it like this for a long time. I saw the idea and thought that if I waited long enough the idea would wear off, but it never did. The painting bug hit me a few weeks ago, and this is my 3rd room. The other 2 rooms I painted "normal" though. Bryce is lining up for his room next. The problem is, I'm worn out!

I like the walls so much, I don't know where to put the girls beds. Up until right be3fore I painted their room, we had them bunked. Mainly to keep Oakli up on her bed during naps (she was on the top bunk and she couldn't get off) now they are both on the floor. I really just want to put both beds outside with the "shracoons" (that's what my younger kids affectionately call raccoons) and have all the walls showing. Does anyone object?

Did I mention how much I now dislike pink? Let me start by saying, I've always liked pink and brown together, I think they look really classy together (don't knock the blog background). Sure pink is a great color for clothes, jewelry, flowers, cotton candy, subtle nail polish, shoes, hair ribbons, stickers, bathing suits, toothbrushes, stuff like that. But paint in large coverages... I think I'm going to have to re-evaluate my thinking on this one. I knew there was a reason that I never wanted to paint their room pink. The other two walls are plain pink, 2 different shades. One wall has the closet on it, the other wall has the window. Their room glows pink. It's like... radiation pink. Pepto pink. The brown wall and flower wall is awesome. It's just too bad that you don't see those walls first thing when you walk in. You have to turn around after you go in. You have to get radiation poisoning first, then feel like you are going to choke, then turn around and try to realize that there are two really cool walls in the room. The cool-ness factor has worn off, and by now the flower walls are only semi-cool, because you are suffocating in the radiation poisoning you have just committed yourself to. I wonder what would have happened if I would have painted the closet doors pink as well? (I did leave those white.)

It's all good, because I'm still super, euber proud of the (awful) (awsome) pink, and slightly brown room that I slaved over for over a week on. I am awesome!

~Kari

Food Storage Wrap-Up

I've had lots of sticks in the fire these last few weeks, so I'll wrap up the food storage issue and then hopefully in the next day or so get a few pictures posted of the project that I've been working on (It's still a secret - okay, I'm painting the girls bedroom. It's taking so long because I'm doing each wall different, and two of the walls have designs on them. Some secret, eh?).

Food Storage, focus.

I think I have devised a pretty good system that is working for us. It looks like this:


So after I got everything inventoried and figured out what I needed more of, I made this little chart and hung it on a clip board. Now only send out people for stuff that can write and each time they take something out of the storage room, they have to write it on the list. It is actually working really good. Now when I go shopping, I know exactly what to buy! I have a master list on the computer that I can compare it to if I need to, but this is working so well! We have actually gone through 3 of these already. They don't have to writ3e (note the previous post on my "3" relationship) down things that are canned b3ecause that will just get replaced in the summer - oh I can't wait for summer - when I do canning but anything that is purchased goes on the list. It was just nice to get everything inventoried, organized, and things purchased that I was running short on. Here are some other pictures of how it looks now...

Food Storage, Comments please

I'm taking on the unpleasant, and yet never ending task of the FOOD STORAGE ROOM! I'm wondering if any of you actually inventory your food storage, and keep a running inventory of it? I'm thinking this may be a good idea so I'm not guessing what I need to buy each time I go shopping. Does anyone have a good system that they are willing to share? How do you keep track of what you take out of your storage? Today I got everything inventoried and I know what I need to buy, I'm just debating on how to go about tracking everything. I really don't want to keep doing an inventory every couple of months, it was way too much work! Maybe I'll post some pictures when I get all the things purchased that I still need. Ideas please?

Weight Loss, No More!

It is finally over, and yes, I have emerged the victor!




I do have to admit, it was not a surprise to me. Over-confident you say? I argue, nay. My reasoning is, 4 months of consistent HARD work. This family weight loss challenge started November 4th, and I was off and going with a bang, and I didn't stop (and still haven't). I don't really know how the others have done, because most of the rest are in Utah and I only have one brother here in Oregon. And I have only "spied" on him once. So how do you loose 37 pounds in 4 months you ask? Consistency I tell you! It can be done without any crazy fad diets or starvation tatics. Yes, I did have to cut back, but I didn't starve.


Exercise... well, you learn to live with it. Just short of taking my scale with me on vacation (now that would be crazy!) I still did exercise while I was on vacation, half way around the world. (We were supposed to weigh in 3x a week as part of the rules of the competition. We made a special arrangement while we were on vacation.) It gave a new perspective on my vacations though. I'm still glad I did, no matter where I was. It was nice to make the time for it.


On average, I walked at least 5 miles a day, and I still do 6 days a week. The thing that got me motiaved to start walking those distances is Doug and I started doing half-marathons. I don't run. Running is like a 4-letter word for me. I don't like it, and I don't think I ever will. Now walking a half-marathon, that is something I can do, and I have actually gotten faster at. While we were in Hawaii in January, we did one. I've done 3 now and they are gettine easier all the time. The more weight I have lost, the easier they get (go figure! - no pun intended there...) So now that I am in shape for them, we intend to do more, and I don't have to keep the training up for them, it just comes naturally. I can decide that next week, "hey, I feel like doing that half-marathon". No problem! It is a great feeling! I just keep my iPod loaded with music that keeps me moving to a pretty fast tempo and I am good to go. During the winter months, I get a lot of shows caught up on while I am on the dread-mill. So as you can see, it isn't something that I really enjoy, but it is nice to get on with my day once the exercise is done. Now the challenge begins to maintain the new body that I have worked so hard for, so I will probably maintain the lifestyle that I have grown accustomed to for the last 4 months, with only a few changes. I don't know yet what those changes will be, but they will be few and far between. Another change that I have noticed is that I can confidently say that I have overcome the addiction to food. Sure I still want certain things once in a while, but food is just the stuff that fuels my body now. I don't crave stuff all the time. When I am bored I look for something to do, rather than for something to eat. Now, if I can just keep that up, then I will be good for a good long time.


For those of you who are dying to know, I am now a size 4.

One side note: I am working with a neurologist to get my migrane headaches sorted out. I am on a new medication now to prevent the migranes in the first place. This has been really good for me because it has forced me to drastically reduce my sugar intake, which has probably been a major factor in my migrane triggars. I had some of those yummy girl scout cookies (which really weren't that good), and yep, I got a migrane right away. I got a little carried away and had too many cookies, it wasn't just a cookie or two.

~ Kari