April Cara Box

I joined in the fun of Cara Box hosted by Kaitlyn over at Wifessionals.

I was paired up with Robin at That's So Pretty/ and Kayla at Green Mountain Couple both wonderful bloggers and fun partners. I sent to Robin and received from Kayla.

Here is what she sent me and can I say I LOVED it!!!

Gardening gloves - so glad she sent me new ones last year's have holes in all the fingers. Yikes

Seed packets - I actually got two different kinds some prepackaged and some seed tapes she made can't wait to plant these.

Lotion - it smells heavenly and is perfect size for my purse.

Airheads - ok these were for my girls and they weren't letting me forget it either. They had to have a desperate picture because I had to go find them. Two girls hid them.

And a very sweet card. Thanks Kayla I loved getting to meet to you and your blog is fabulous.

If you are interested in Cara Box go check out the rules and how-to on Wifessionals.

Brook
Sent from my AT&T HTC One™ X

Silver & Bronze

Oh yeah those are my girls. So proud of them more about these medals and our weekend tomorrow.

Brook
Sent from my AT&T HTC One™ X

Friend(s)

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday

Word today: Friend

I don't think I can write about just one friend, I have a group of friends they have been with me since elementary school and they are the best group of friends a girl could ever ask for. We weren't always hanging out together in high school but when you get us all together in a room we can talk for hours with no weird awkward moments and no breaks. We celebrate the highs and lows together and are there for each other at a moments notice.  We have been mad at each other, loved each other, been to weddings, visited in the hospital after a new addition to our group arrived and in general if something good happens I want to share it with this group of ladies first.
We are a diverse group in religion, but true to the core we all have the same basic beliefs in the way we want to raise our own families and live life, and if we don't agree we can agree to disagree and that is OK.
All through school this group of ladies has kept me from losing my mind, made middle school bearable and high school so much fun. I can only hope that my girls have at least one friend who is as wonderful as my 7 best friends are.
Ladies we have girls nights and still text, email and call each other but I want you to know I love you guys like you are family heck you are an extension of my family I cry when you are sad and am so happy for you on joyous occasions. I cannot imagine my life without you guys. I can't wait to see us as little old ladies man that is reality TV in the making.
 

Snow Snow

Snow snow go away come again in November. Ok don't want to sound ungrateful for the much needed moisture but I would be lying if I didn't say I am over it. Rain is fine with me at this point but I have had enough of the white stuff. Warning after a good dose of rain I may complain again about the mud that L, K and two dogs drag in but that is for another post.

Hope you are all staying warm and you can share the sunshine if you have some your way.

Brook
Sent from my AT&T HTC One™ X

Saturday Thoughts

I think my random thoughts yesterday helped as I want to write even more so while sitting here waiting in line to get coffee as surprise for the hubby I shall write.
I have wrote about ups and downs and try to keep the downs to a minimum not because I don't have them but because they are private and sharing them is not always fun.
But I did a five minute Friday post a couple weeks ago titled broken and it was a little more private than normal on the down side. Well I wanted to share that since posting and of course talking to my hubby. A bad week is just that a bad week nothing more. We all have them and sometimes when we are feeling that way it transfers into your relationships unknowingly. Just talking to your spouse can help immensely as most of the time they don't know that they are projecting those feelings outward.
Thank you to everyone who has asked and been concerned it is always good to know that we have amazing family and friends.
Hope you are having a good start to the weekend I know we are.

Brook
Sent from my AT&T HTC One™ X

Jump

Linking with with Lisa Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday, five minutes of writing no editing no back tracking. Yes that sounds like fun to me.

Here we go this weeks prompt: JUMP


Jump on the wagon, jump take a flying leap.  This word seems to be hard for me this week usually whatever word she posts something instantly comes to mind. This week not so much, this week I am really having to think and while I am doing that I am typing. Yeah this will do for a five minute post you envisioning the smoke coming out of my ears, the gears turning. Oh Lord this could be a long post if I don't get some inspiration soon. But alas no inspiration is coming I have nothing.

Funny though I am jumping, jumping for inspiration, looking in all the wrong places I am sure I love writing I love sharing my thoughts and sharing cherishing moments in my family life. Recording memories for later. I jumped you could say right on the blogging bandwagon. I started and now I can't seem to stop I don't blog about everything but I give anyone who wants to visit my blog the chance at a glimpse into my life my world. You can choose to follow me or not that is OK. I just hope that in some way I inspire someone to write themselves, to share, to smile, to rethink something they are doing, to better themselves. I jumped and I have no intention of jumping off.

There you go five minutes of randomness, hope you enjoy it.

So What Wednesday

It's that time again. It's 'So What Wednesdays'. Time to link up with Shannon over @ Life after I "dew".

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

I am a couple months behind on my bookkeeping.

I don't use Facebook for awhile.

I haven't mailed out my baby-shower-in-a-box yet baby isn't due until June.

If new latte place in town serves topless.

What are you saying 'So What' to this week!?

Brook
Sent from my AT&T HTC One™ X

Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies

So is your mouth watering yet because it should be. These cookies are so delicious I was a little skeptical about them as they are green and use sugar cookie mix I don't love sugar cookies. However they are a new favorite in our house in fact hubby, his brother, and a friend tried them and I got rave reviews.  So here is the recipe it is from gonnawantseconds.com.  

Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies

1-17.5 ounce package Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix
1-3.4 ounce box pistachio instant pudding and pie filling
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
2 eggs
1 cup roasted salted pistachio nuts roughly chopped (I used unsalted)
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven 350 degrees
In large bowl stir cookie mix, pudding, and flour. Add melted butter and eggs and stir until incorporated. At this point my dough was very crumbly.
Add pistachios and chocolate chips mix well.
Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto parchment lined cookie sheet. I had to roll mine into balls as my dough was crumbly but they turned out great.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. Don't over bake if you bake them too long you will lose the soft texture and they won't be as green. They will not look done but take them out and let them sit on the pan for about 2 minutes.
Cool on wire rack. Store in an airtight container. Makes about 2 dozen.

Hope your family enjoys these as much as mine does. Yummy


Brook
Sent from my AT&T HTC One™ X

Here

Another Five Minute Friday with Lisa Jo Baker. I really do love these so let's get onto writing.

Here I am!  Funny the first thing that came to mind was washing my face. I love washing my face at night right before bed, sometimes after a workout. I love it that fresh feeling. That here I am feeling, because it is me under the makeup, sweat and dirt. I love that I can strip it all away at the end of the day and it is just me. If someone were to stop by that would be ok I don't mind at all being seen without makeup. I just love that end of the day here I am feeling. No matter what my day has looked like stressful out of control I can wash it all away. Here I am!  

Brook
Sent from my AT&T HTC One™ X

Math Ughh

Yep that is how I really feel. 4th grade math drives me crazy or maybe it is the way L acts when we are trying to help her with her math. Note to self my parents were not compete idiots when they were trying to help me they just learned it different and the bed way made no sense to them oh wait that is how I feel. I mean really I am trying to help L but I don't understand the instructions. A very late night call to her teacher to leave a message stating that her homework is not compete because there was a lot of tears being shed and yelling happening. I am hoping she doesn't have to sign the book because it is late because I am the one who made her stop I couldn't take out anymore. I want her to like school not hate it I want her to have the confidence to say I don't understand that can you give me some extra help. I cried with her tonight she said the teacher explains all the ways to do it to the whole class and I still don't get it. That is not ok I know her teacher will be sad to hear this but I don't blame her L never said anything so she would never know. I am going to get this right for her she will learn the way that works for her she will not feel like she is the only one who doesn't get it. Mama will make this better I am in her corner and when we get through this she will know that and know that her teacher is in her corner too.

Wish me luck!!

Brook
Sent from my AT&T HTC One™ X

After

I am way late in linking up with Five Minute Friday over at Lisa Jo Baker. But I have to participate because I love this random writing style.

OK so here we go the word prompt this week is after. And I can tell you that I am glad I am linking up late because After this last weekend I need a week and a weekend to get my house half cleaned up, get through the mountain of laundry (seriously people it comes to almost my hip) and get the camper cleaned.  You will see in my previous post it started to snow while we were packing up and the inside of my camper looks like I let the girls make mud pies in there. Oh well I don't mind the after I just get overwhelmed at first. So here is to the after the reminder that we had a great weekend, had some quality family time, spent time with great friends and met new people. We had some new experiences some I would repeat some I would not (see my previous post) and made great memories.  My only regret for this after is that I brought my camera and took maybe five pictures total, yeah I regret that one for sure. But I told a friend on Facebook that was bummed she didn't take pictures, that just means it is a memory that I get to keep and not share and we all need times like that. I am happy that we are to the after and excited for the next one.

What comes to mind when you hear the word AFTER?

Pipestone 2013

Here we are the first race of 2013. This is pretty exciting it is not only the first race but it is a qualifier for a national race, Big Sky. Oh the possibilities. So the girls raced yesterday and did great they have never not finished a race ever and today was no exception K got 3rd and L got 5th, they did awesome. After the race we hung out and had dinner and got daddy ready to race. He volunteered and helped sweep the races on Saturday but he was racing Sunday. This racing stuff could drive a mama and wife insane it is stressful waiting for your kids and hubby to come around for a lap when they have been up in the mountains climbing rocks and going through mud and downed trees. YIKES!! Thankfully the crew of Lone Peak Racing let me volunteer and help out and that kept my mind busy, and I am sure I drove them a little crazy with my constant checks on which position my husband was in. Thankfully they were good sports.

So Saturday the girls raced and they did well so Sunday came and Daddy was up. Before he raced though we had a small situation with K, she made a friend at the race a very nice little boy and she came over and asked if she could go walking up the trail with him and his mom, as there was a parent with them I of course said sure. Well an hour and half later I see his mom but no kids. Panic settled in she said they started to run ahead of her and becuase of hte bikes they couldn't hear her yelling at them to stop, they were on the trail with no adults and I cried. This part has a good ending we found her well her daddy found her and she was grounded to the camper or the pits for the rest of the race, she was mad at us but I have never been so mad and so happy to see her little face before so I will take her being mad at us. So after that daddy was officially up he started out pretty good, but his first lap time was around 30 minutes and that made me nervous sure enough on his third lap when he pitted he said he had wrecked a lot, but he wasn't stopping. So I sent him out for a few more laps with the words I love you, keep going and you are in 13th place.  That last line is usually the one that gets him, you see the benefits of being with someone for 12 years is that I know what to say to get him to try harder and believe in himself more. I knew he could get in the top 10 and qualify he just needed to believe it. So telling him what position he was in made him realize he was doing well and that there were people in front of him that he could catch up to and pass. He did too finishing in 8th position. I am so proud of him and he was proud of himself. Love that smile on his face. As we were loading up to come home it started raining and then finally it snowed. The inside of my camper looks slightly muddy but it can be cleaned, and we got out of there a stop for dinner and we made it home in time for showers a basic camper unload and bed. Man was I tired and I didn't even race.

Fit Mission Update 1

So I have been still using Myfitnesspal and it has been working great, I have to admit I am not great with staying under my calorie allowance and Easter definately didn't help that. I didn't even log in on Easter and figured that was ok, I was not going to sit and count calories while I was supposed to be spending quality time with my family. 

I am back on the wagon this week though, Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred was done Monday, Tuesday and today I went to the gym and ran 36 minutes I know an odd amount of time but it consisted of the 500 Calorie Treadmill Workout just knocked off 10 minutes of the total 40 because I only have an hour lunch and have to account for drive time and getting dressed.  I got back to the office today though and a coworker asked why I don't run outside.  Funny I am not opposed to running outside I just have a routine of driving to the gym but with the weather so beautiful this week it is in the 60 I should probably start looking at how I can do my treadmill workout outside it burns a lot more calories I am sure of it and I do enjoy the fresh air. 

So back on the wagon for me eating better and watching what I put in my mouth I don't not eat sweets or not eat this or not eat that I just watch how much I consume. I don't need sixteen hundred treats every day one will do just fine and I tend to use the smaller salad plates for dinner instead of the huge dinner plates.

How are your fitness goals working out? Any tips, tricks or inspiration?

Thankful Sunday

Wow can you say late, well I can I am running late. Too much going on not enough time in the day, but here goes nothing.

This last week was a busy one from Easter Baskets to the Bunny almost being revealed.

So that story well I took pictures on my cell of the girls' easter baskets to post on my blog you know how fun, well I didn't erase them off my cell and the next morning K was getting the weather forecast off my phone and pushed the camera button and what to wandering eyes appears but an easter basket. I blew it off and told her the bunny must have sent me a picture of their baskets in case we had trouble finding them. I know quick thinking well it was really lying and I even felt a little bad but not too much I will keep the magic of the Easter Bunny alive as long as possible because I know when they figure that one out there goes the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus. I can't handle them growing up all at once, YIKES!! So the myth remains in tact for awhile longer.

The weekend was jammed packed with fun, Friday daddy took the girls riding they were trying to go to the top of Hedges but didn't make it the snow was definately not encouraging, but they had a good time and I met them at York Bar for a delicious burger after so all in all a good day.  Saturday daddy went riding with a buddy and us girls were left to do some house cleaning and a little thrift store shopping.  Goodwill had what we needed.  I have a story about thrift store shopping later.  Sunday the Easter Bunny came and we had places to be, over my parents for a little hunt my mom loves holidays because of kids so we go over there so she can have a little fun with her grands by herself.  Then out to East Helena for the VFW egg hunt which is always a good time we saw some friends and got some prizes.  Then to my grandparents for linner, lunch and dinner mix, and another egg hunt plus playing with kick balls and chasing bubbles.  Then to Shane's mom's house for a little gathering to see his Grandma.  It was a fun week and weekend even with time running away from me. Hope you all had a fantabulous easter and got to spend good times with family and friends.