Running Moved

I have decided to move my blogging about running and weight loss to a new blog. That way this blog can be strictly for my family and our activities. So, I now have four blogs. If you are interested in following them, here are the links and subject matter:

My 3 Munchkins; our family and activities
One Crayola Short; Art Education blog. My lesson plans and professional development.
One Reader's Reviews; book reviews, mostly for Booksneeze, Tyndale Blog Network and Blog 4 Books
Run!; Running and weight loss

2012

It occurred to me as I was sealing my Christmas cards that 2012 was a pretty good year for our family. I probably should have included some type of letter with my card for people that don't get to see us often to know what we've been up to. Here's what I would have written, if I'd been on the ball, had time, and the printer worked. 

January, Momma started trying to eat healthier and training to run in her first 5K. 

Momma's first 5K, The Race for a Cure TC

March, Gracie turned four and Momma attended her LAST Grad School weekend. EVER. 

She just discovered where we took her for her birthday. The Depot in Minneapolis to swim.

May, Momma graduated with her Masters of Education degree from UW-River Falls, and we put a bid on our first house. EVER. Momma ran in her first & second 5Ks.

Momma's graduation day!

Our first house!

June, we closed on our first house, Jerry turned one, and we spackled, sanded, and painted every wall of the house between Daddy's work shifts and summer school for Momma. Momma also took an online class through UW-Stout to have her first student teacher in the fall. Gracie had her first dance recital. EVER. And joined her first T-ball team.

July, we moved into our first house! Momma ran in two more 5Ks.

Color Run MN

August, Momma met her first student teacher and had to go back to work and ran in another 5K.

September, Momma started her ninth year of teaching elementary art (fourth in Hudson).

October, Brianna turned three! Momma ran in another 5K.

November, Momma started looking into the benefits of obtaining her National Board Certification, Daddy actually had an evening shift for Black Friday! Momma ran in her first 10K.

First 10K, Diva Dash for Ovarian Cancer Research

December, we had our first Elf on the Shelf, Robar, visit us, Daddy has Christmas Eve off! Momma has lost 60 pounds.

Salt Dough Ornaments & More

I try to come up with lots of fun things to do on the weekends. Daddy is working until around 3 a.m. so I try to either go someplace or have a fun activity that will keep the kids quiet most of the morning so Daddy can get some sleep. This weekend we trekked out to the Dollar Store for goodies. 

Painting Christmas suncatchers/ornaments from the Dollar Store.

 We made salt dough Christmas ornaments. It's pretty easy, there are lots of sites with the recipe. You can either let them air dry for a few days or bake them for about an hour. We decided to bake ours, and I forgot about them. They turned a tan-ish color by the time I remembered them, but they're still fine. We used a straw to make a hole in the top that is big enough to put a ribbon through it.

So excited to start!

Gracie made all Christmas stockings. I think she made 10 of them. 

Bee learning how to hold the cookie cutter.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Ten on Ten

SNOW DAY!

Robar (our elf) was riding Gracie's stuffed horse.

Painting their salt dough ornaments that they made on Saturday.

My assistant bakers~I think there's too many chefs in the kitchen...

OoooOOooooOOOO!

Jerry carried around an unopened bottle of vanilla all morning.

Licking the beater!

Nom Nom Nom

"I don wanna go bed!"

I couldn't find Robar, so Hulk took over-ironed Gracie's newest Awana badge on her vest.

Dresser Makeover

Score! Upscaled a dresser Daddy found on the side of the road! Now to rearrange my closet...

10 on 10

My first 10K!

Diva Dash starting line

Laundry started as soon as I got home-these are clean, waiting to be put away.

Coloring time

Before, back yard

1 96 gallon waste container and 8 bags later, not finished.

Off to Target!

Bath paint.

Manicure with the girls.

Our elf on the shelf has come early!

Halloween 2012

After several costume changes, here are the 2012 trick-or-treating photos.

 

Snow White, The NOT Cowardly Lion, and Belle.

Gracie kept making a sweeping motion with her arm and sweetly saying "Bonjour. I am Belle"

Ironically, as we were leaving the house Snow White asked me for an apple...

I LOVE my new city. We hadn't even gotten to the end of our driveway when a police car pulled aside. The officer gave the kids candy, but also glow stick necklaces! They were thrilled.

More Fall Fun

Our yard was getting seriously ridiculous.

So we decided to rake a bit tonight.

Ok, I did most of the raking. ahem. ALL.

So sweet

I'm drowning!

My handsome boy...

had so much fun!

Playing Rapunzel

Raise the roof!