What Joel and Leslie REALLY did on their vacation.....

Well we all know that it began with 7 trips back into the house for kisses with Zack. The kid was so ready for them to leave by then so that he could play with his toys that he actually threw one at them on their last attempt for a kiss.
Then they began driving toward their destination and low and behold they had to turn around to go back and make sure that all the doors were locked on the house.
Finally on their way, Joel was pulled over for speeding. After talking to the cop (also a hurting packers fan) they were able to get away with no ticket.
Arriving at the Genesee home they began to unload the car an realized that they left the bag with their toiletries including deodorant and toothbrushes at home. Figuring that they would take a ride to the nearest wal greens to pick up supplies they laughed it off. Checked into their room and thought of what to do next. Begin exploring. They went for a walk down one of the peaceful trails and were thoroughly enjoying each others company, when a mouse crossed their path. Leslie jumped into Joel's arms and refused to get down. Joel finally convinced her to get down and as soon as she did a snake came slithering by chasing the mouse. AGH! Back to the house they headed.
By now it was almost dinner time and they gathered around the table to have dinner with the hosts and other couples. Joel attempted to talk to another pastor about football unfortunately the other pastor said he was glad that Kurt Warner and the rams were in the super bowl. Joel stopped listening. Leslie struck up conversation about babies and pretty soon was comparing baby poop stories with other moms. After dinner all the guests began to play charades. Joel acted out being a cheese head and some guy from the office. No one guessed what he was so they finally told him his turn was over. Tired after a long day they headed off to bed. They had forgotten to go to the store so skipped brushing their teeth.
Day 2 began with the sun rising and a rooster crowing at 6:30 am which didn't help with Joel's plan to sleep in. That's ok he said. "Lets go fishing today!" Joel and Leslie went down and had breakfast with all the others. During breakfast Leslie and Joel devised a plan of bringing a lunch to the pond and catching fresh fish. After they had eaten the host couple helped get them supplies and show them the way to the pond. They headed down the trail. Leslie watching wearily for mice, and snakes, and Joel ready to drop all his stuff and catch her if need be. Arriving at the pond it was a glorious morning. They set down their tackle boxes and picnic lunch. Leslie grabbed a book that she was planning on reading and settled under a tree. Joel loaded up his pole and got ready to cast. The first one just went a few feet out so he reeled it back in. He then gave it a big sling and heard a yell behind him. Figuring that Leslie had just seen another animal, he concentrated on his line and trying to see how far it had gone into the pond. Hearing another yell from Leslie forced him to turn around. She had the fishhook stuck in her nose. (when you see her pretend like she got her nose pierced on purpose). Leslie was done with the fishing seen and headed back bravely by her self to fix up her nose and take a nap. Something you can't do to much as a mom. Joel continued to fish. He caught a tree limb, his lunch box and a fish the size of a candy bar (regular size not king). Proud of his catch, but with no where to keep it he threw it back in. Early afternoon came and he headed up to check on his bride. Leslie was snoring peacefully with Zack's baby blanket snuggled in her arms. Joel sat in a chair by the window and began to read. Unfortunately he fell asleep, and awoke with a horrible Crick in his neck that made him wish that Jed was there. Late afternoon came and the both awoke and decide to take a ride to town to get their needed toiletries. They found a local drug store and picked up all their supplies. Arriving at the counter Leslie waited for Joel to pay and Joel waited for Leslie to pay. Each thinking that the other had brought the envelope of money for "general supplies". When they discovered neither had it, the pulled out their visa card the next best thing right? Unfortunately the store did not accept visa. Only MasterCard. They headed back with out a single purchase as all the other stores were closed. Returning just in time for dinner they told the story of their trip to town, and the host couple said that they should have said something because they had extra supplies, and that they would get them for them after dinner. Thankful that they could brush their teeth that night they began eating the spaghetti and garlic bread. (With extra garlic). After dinner, all the couples retired to the sitting room and began telling stories and laughing. After one particular funny joke Leslie couldn't take the non- teeth brushed thing anymore and reminded the couple of their promise. Leslie followed the wife down to a storage closet. Once their it was discovered that all the toothbrushes were gone. And the toothpaste too! She was able to score one old spice deodorant to share with Joel and one bottle of pert plus shampoo. She headed up to take a shower and wash her hair. Looking around the room she tried to think of something that she could use to brush her teeth. The thought occurred quickly that she maybe able to sneak into someone else's rooms for a little toothpaste(to use on her finger), as everyone was down stairs telling stories. She snuck into the room across the hall, the one that the nice pastor and his wife from Oregon were sharing. As she was putting a little bit of toothpaste on her finger and about to leave the room, the light suddenly switched on startling her. Luckily it was just Joel, he had seen her tiptoeing across the hall. What a great idea he said, let me have some toothpaste too. Leslie put some toothpaste on Joel's finger and they were about to exit and go back to their room when they heard a noise in the hall. It's the couple who were staying in the room they were in. Thinking fast Joel grabbed Leslie and pretended that she wondered into the wrong room. The couple who's room it was had their backs to them but turned around startled at the noise behind them. (Joel and Leslie could have snuck out with out being seen.) Joel quickly explained that Leslie got lost on her way back from the bathroom and he had seen her go in the wrong room. Joel pulled Leslie into their room and shut the door. Both fell down laughing on the bed and knocked off a lamp onto the floor. It broke. (Bet that's how Mike broke his.) The other couple shrugged their shoulders but wondered how Leslie got lost on the way to her room when the bathroom was inside of the bed rooms, but chalked it up to them being Californians. The broken lamp and the close encounter had Leslie and Joel laughing so hard that they began crying. And then they wiped their eyes. Both forgetting that they had toothpaste on their fingers. Which was now in their eyes. Stinging and burning they flushed them out in the sink, but no longer had toothpaste. Ahh, they decided time for bed. First thing in the morning a trip to the store. Across the hall the Oregon couple wondered how their toothpaste ended up on the floor and with out the cap on. But shrugged their shoulders and got out a fresh tube.
Day 3. Began like day 2, rooster crowing at 6:30 am. Joel put a pillow over his head and went back to sleep, for five minutes. Until Leslie made him get up. She wanted to get breakfast and go to town. So down the went. Trying to not talk to closely to others as to contain the morning breath. The ate breakfast and drank some coffee. They also encouraged the host couple to stay out of their room, until they got back from the store with some super glue for the lamp.
In their car they hopped and off to the store. Making sure that they had the cash envelope they drove happily to town. Rushing in the drug store Leslie grabbed toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, visine eye drops (for their irritated eyes) and deodorant oh yeah and super glue. At the counter they paid for their purchases and the store owner even offered to allow them the use of their bathroom to brush their teeth. Back on the street they began walking around. They spotted and in and out burger. Joel said "Leslie, we are on vacation, I could really go for an in and out 12x12 burger and a large soda to wash it down." Leslie said "I guess". So in they went Joel ordered the biggest hamburger he had ever eaten. And he finished it all! Only took 3 hours.
Later back at the house Joel didn't feel to well so he laid down for a nap. Leslie went down and played checkers and scrabble with some other guests. Pretty soon it was dinner time. Leslie went up and go Joel to wake up and tell him to come down for dinner. After dinner they began discussing how they were missing all their favorite shows. So they began acting out scenes from LOST and 24. Other people looked at them weird, but the strange looks increased when they asked them to pretend to be Simon, Paula and Randy, so they could pretend to be watching American idol. People just shook their heads and said that couple....they're from Redding.
Day 4 would have began like day 2 and 3 but Joel and Leslie were smart and had bought earplugs at the store the day before and they remembered to close the shades before going to bed. In they slept, through breakfast and past lunch. 2pm to be exact. The other couples were begun to worry, they wondered if they had to leave during the night or if they were just mocking another show. Finally when they came down stairs in the early afternoon, people just smiled knowingly as why they had been in bed all day. Those details I can not disclose as this is a G rated blog.
Soon after Joel headed down for another try at fishing, and Leslie began knitting booties and hats for Zack. Upon seeing the choice of colors that Leslie was knitting with another wife asked if she was expecting another baby. Leslie explained that no these were just packers colors and Joel liked them best. "oh" said the other wife although she had no idea what "packer's colors" meant.
Dinner was uneventful for once and Joel and Leslie retired early to begin packing up and put back together the broken lamp. Joel glued it back together and went to turn it on, but his finger was stuck to the switch. Leslie got some soap out and was able to help free him and the carefully set the lamp back down. Enjoying their last night of slumber with out a baby in the next room, they slept like babies but remeberd to set an alarm clock.
Day 5. 8 am. The alarm went off. They jumped out of bed and began picking up their stuff to go home. After a quick breakfast the started packing up the car. Only to find the toiletry bag in the trunk. oops. The drive home was fast and hit no major bumps, and they were able to reunite with Zack who was so happy to see his mom that he hugged her for 27 minutes straight, then took off his diaper and threw it at his dad.

Goodbye pink room!

Tim and I finally got around to painting the scary pink room. Now it is just normal!
Before.
After.

The biggest loser...

I can't believe that no one has blogged about this seasons biggest loser yet. Seriously who wants Joelle gone? And was anyone else totally mad when they voted off the red team instead of the silver team last week? GRR! I do feel bad for Carla her partner at home who is working hard to get herself in shape for when she gets to come back. Unfortunalty Joelle has burned bridges with almost all the other teams. I think they are just keeping her around because she is consitantly in the below the yellow line area.
The orange team of the two young boys is so sad. I am so glad that they have been kept in the game. I didn't like seeing the one at home eating fried chicken and at a buffet. But Ron's heartfelt speech before the first elimination where he said that the orange team needed to stay actually brought me to tears. His son is only one year different in age than those boys.
Tara on the green team (the former models) is one of the most competitive people I have seen on there. She puts her heart in every challange and goes for the win. I worry that her partner at home isn't going to put in the work and may pull her down.
Oh and I love that guy on the blue team. Filipe he cracks me up!

Cereal addicts, Zumba, Reno and a new toy.

Kara is into cereal right now. All she wants to eat is cearal for breakfast. And 3 bowls if I will let her. Jason has a yucky cough cold going on. Poor guy has had a hard time sleeping, but seams better today.

Ahh a new season of the Bridge Biggest Loser. Fun. I love the accountability that it provides. Knowing that Monday mornings I have to post my weight on the internet keeps me a little more in check. I was also happy that I had not gained anyback during the Christmas break. A major accomplishment for anyone who has ever done December at Cattlemens. Cookies, cake, coffees and candy are the standard for banquets.

So my friend from the gym texted me other day and said lets try this class beginning on Monday, Zumba. I thought OK, but don't laugh at my rhythm. Yesterday morning was the first class and it was lots of fun. I was so bad at the moves but who cares. And it was a good cardio workout. One hour burned over 600 calories, and that was even with sitting out a song (i twisted my ankle on the like third move). Tomorrow I go back to show off my moves again.

Tim and I are going to Reno at the beginning of February for a Montley Cure concert (I actually have no clue what they sing really) and it will be our first vacation away from the kids. I am nervous about leaving them for two nights with Tim's dad and step mom, (since we have never been away from them) but I think they will be fine and have tons of fun. I will probably be the one crying:) I am very excited for the vacation though! YAY!

I got this new Nike+Ipod thing. It plugs into your ipod then has a senor that goes on your shoe. When you run it tracks how far, how long and how fast. Then when you plug it into your computer it uploads to nike.com and you can see how you run. So cool. You can also put in goals and challenges. Right now Heather and I have a challange of first to 50 miles. Its so cool I love it!

Thats about all my thoughts right now. Thanks for listening to my ramblings...

The 5th M...

Music....how could I forget?
I need new work out music, any suggestions?

My four M's

1. Motivation. What motivated me. My Kids, my husband, my life. I didn't want to have health issues, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure all run in my family. And the biggest contributor to those are being overweight. So I thought about it and I wanted to be active for my kids, to be able to be a healthy example and be around to spend lots of time with my grand kids.
2. Mindset. I am a believer that you won't ever lose weight until you are ready. I tried to lose weight many many many times before. But I never cared enough to see it through. After a few days I would give up, but one day I decided that it was time and that was it, I was off and running (literally)
3. Momentum. Once I got started after a few weeks, I was feeling so much better. I never believed when people said that it gives you more energy, but now I know it does. And when people started noticing that just pushed me more.
4. Maintaining. The one I haven't gotten to. I maintain my workouts and am going to work to lose the rest of it. Then it will all be about keeping it up. I don't ever want to gain it back.
January 2008

November 2008.(its the latest picture I could find of myself)

a blessed year 2008....and my new resolutions.

-Tim and I bought a house.
-We also strengthened our relationship and its awesome!
-I finally accomplished a goal of losing weight, and hope to finish it by May. (and my 30th birthday)
-I have made new friends, and learned to appreciate good wine.
-Both my children now sleep all night long! and are waking up after 7am generally.
-I took up running which I love! I can't wait until October and the woman's marathon.
-We found the Bridge where we feel at home every week and people love us:) and Kara can't wait to go everyweek.
2008 It was great.(like my rhyme?)

My 2009 resolutions....
Have a cleaner car. (Jenn, didn't you say you had something that would help me get the chocolate milk off the roof upholstery?)
Have a great 30th birthday and achieve my goal by then
Run the half marathon in SF.
Think about a new job...
Take the kids to Disneyland.
Finish painting and repainting my house.
Finish my kids bathroom (Leslie this is your job to keep me on my toes for this)
Repay off all the credit cards we have used for home improvement stuff.
When those are done, try to talk Tim into a new car.
Start saving every month.
Pray more and worry less.

Thanks Joel!

I want to thank Joel for making the comment today in during his sermon "you know there are some kids that you just want to kill because they are brats but you can't because their parents are right there....." Which caused Tim and Brenda to look at me and laugh....
Thanks now I know your true feelings on my princess! I am not sure if Tim could feel my glare but.....