Halling Go To Alaska

So, my first thought was to take a picture of all the little feet in my house, from cats to dogs to kids.  And then I went on a little hike last Sunday as part of some prescribed quiet time.  It was lovely.  And it got me to thinking about where my feet tread in life. The reflection of my feet in the side of my truck after my run before my hike. I was planning on heading to a place I used to go in high school.  Right on the edge of town - less than 5 minutes from my house - there is a small area of rocks on the side of the mountain that I used to climb with a friend.  I wanted to sit on the top of those rocks and just listen to the silence.  And here is that spot.  Unfortunately, the people who live at the base of this hill obviously own the land up to the hill and put a fence al the way to the base of it.  So I drove up the dirt road a bit to the south of this spot and found a different spot.   Looking down at the town I grew up, it still lo...

...to our Nation's daughters.  That was Jade's challenge this week.  I have to admit my first reaction was that this was going to be easy, I've got three of them living under my roof.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I didn't want to write something fluffy or silly just for the simple fact that I have three of them under my roof. So here goes nothing. To the Beautiful Daughters of Our Nation: This world you now live in is so different from the one I grew up in.  High-end technology when I was just starting in school was a VCR.  And they were big.  A night out as a family usually meant McDonald's, and we loved it.  I love that my parents allowed me to be a child and to have fun and be silly and to have few responsibilities.  I sure had fun.  But I realize now that maybe I had it too easy.  I say this because I am constantly telling my own daughters that life isn't always easy.  That you must work and someti...

I haven't done one of these in a couple of weeks.  Life has been that busy, that I've barely had time to blog. This week is going to be intermittently crazy.  So let's get the list going. I am planning on getting everything I need for CCD tomorrow done today.  I am planning on attending my community fundraiser dinner at Claim Jumper restaurant tonight.  Yes, the fundraiser is for Team In Training.  (I am sooo close to reaching my goal.  Feel free to donate to the cause and help a girl out!) I am planning on spending 4 hours, no more, at an audit meeting tomorrow morning.  (Not a personal audit - don't be scared for me! I am planning on getting all of my runs in this week.  (I've already finished today's.) I am planning on getting as much work done as I can during the day to ease my nightly workload.  I'm planning on enjoying this week - in anticipation of the Easter Vigil this weekend where T will be initiated into the Catholic Church. ...

March 21 This is my rash. It is *finally* going away...now that I forked over my co-pay to see the doctor. Who I want you to know, looked at me after I explained its history and said, "Mmm, that's really interesting. Not sure what to tell you." Yes, I pay good money for this.  But I reminded him that he has a Team In Training letter sitting on his desk at home from me.  Hopefully he'll remember to donate.  March 22 I apologize for the crappy picture.  Cell phone.  Sass lost another tooth. I didn't even know she had one that was loose. Go, mom of the year! March 23 Love the new and growing pine cones in the neighbors' yard.   March 24 My gymnast. They were doing handstands with shoulder touches. Crazy. March 25 Let it be known that I wore a skirt. But isn't it pretty.  Love Old Navy. March 26 T and I had a date last night.  We enjoyed drinks and yummy delicious appetizers at a quaint, local restaurant that has been around forever.  Some of the...

I  missed last week's You Capture, which made me sad.  Last week was so insanely busy, so I think I needed this week's challenge.  It's very simple.  "A Moment". One of the things that made my life extra crazy last week was our trip to a museum on Friday with the homeschool co-op we participate in.  It was a fun exhibit entitled Animal Grossology.  We learned about dung beetles and snails and cows producing methane gas and poop and blood suckers, oh my!  A good time was had by all. After the museum we all headed over to the park and had lunch and the kids all ran around crazy.  Sweet Pea was digging the swings (on her tummy), SmartyPants was busy on the monkey bars practicing her pullovers, and Sass? That girl was busy and loving being in the middle of all the chaos of fun surrounding her.  There was a game of freeze tag going on - essentially boys against girls.  Not really sure what kind of crazy rules they were playing by, and I did h...

Time, it is a strange beast.  Since the beginning of this year (2010) I have been thinking, okay, once we get through this  point it will get easier.  And then that point hits, and I think, okay, once we get through this  point it will get easier.  Well, you know what? It hasn't.  And I shouldn't be surprised about that fact either.  That is the nature of life. That is the nature of the life we choose  to live.  I have three kids.  Gone are the days of a toddler and a baby where I could just hang out at the house with them and play and spend days in my pj's.  Gone are the days of snuggling with T in front of a movie uninterrupted.  Gone are the days of miracles and wonder.... no, wait.  Sorry Paul Simon reference. Time has a way of moving so fast and yet so slow.  I mean how can my kids be 9, 7, and 4! Come on! My baby is 4?  Really?  But I'm glad she's not a baby anymore.  She didn't sleep through the ...

March 14 My sweetie before our 10K in 28-degree weather. March 15 This picture?  Warms my heart with its sweetness. March 16 My girls, my mom, and my mom's "special" kitty. (The "special" kitty story is for another day!) March 17 This is Sophie.  She is one of the gymnastic coach's dog.  I love her face here, mid blink.  March 18 Cute flip-flopped Sweet Pea foot at the pool. March 19 Playing at the park after our trip to the Animal Grossology exhibit at a local museum. March 20 The view of my computer after I was done working at midnight after scrapbooking all day.  ( The background is a download from The Pioneer Woman.)

Here is a link that hopefully will make you cry.  I say hopefully, because I believe that we need to remember and keep being reminded that each number is a father/mother, sister/brother, son/daughter.  Each one matters and is a loss to someone. Please read this post. Thanks to Bouhammer for the heads up on this post.

First I have to say that I can't believe it's already Thursday.  This week has been insane, and it's not getting any better, but I really wanted to participate in this week's Tell It To Me Tuesday . This week's theme was friendship. Friendship is such a tricky endeavor.  I'm not sure there has ever been a time in my life where I have taken friendships for granted.  Maybe that has to do with the fact that I moved every two years until I was 11.  I knew how important friendships were.  I cherished the ones I had that were true.  Moving to the town I now live in back in 1987 was rough. This was a small town, and in some ways it still is.  We had always moved to places that were fairly transient.  We lived in Guam for two years before moving to Northern Nevada.  Guam was a place where there was diversity and differences were lauded instead of looked down upon.  This town I live in was very small and very static.  There wasn't a lot of p...

For the next 2 weeks over at the  Sisterhood , we are having a  Team Shrinking Jeans Bash ! What is this Bash I speak of, you might be asking? It's a HUGE party with door prizes and an awesome Grand Prize of $400 cash! Yes, cash! What is Team Shrinking Jeans anyway?  Well, a group of 16 Sisters and one Brother are training to run the San Diego Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team in Training Program (TNT). Through TNT, Team Shrinking Jeans will be training for the race AND raising $48,900 for LLS. Isn't that amazing? You can read more about our amazing team  here , and find out why each of us is doing this  here . How can you join the Bash?   Simple!  Donate  to Team Shrinking Jeans through our secure online  team fundraising page . For every $5 you donate, you'll be entered to win one of over 30 fabulous door prizes. If you donate $25, not only will you get 5 chances to win door prizes, but you'l...

March 7 Warm temperatures, a nice breeze, towels on the line. March 8 Kitty paws on a windowsill. March 9 My cute Sass! March 10 Cantalope from Costco.  It was very juicy and sweet. March 11 ( I'm totally cheating on this one. This is where I spent March 11th. But I took the picture tonight.) March 12 My sweet SmartyPants made this card for me and slid it under the bathroom door while I was in the shower.  Days like these make up for those "other" days. March 13 What Sass and I spent the morning doing.   (Shh, it's a surprise for T!)

I am going to admit right now that I feel like crap.  I'm praying I'm not getting sick.  Didn't anyone remind my body that getting sick does not fit into my schedule?  So, with that said, I did attempt to find some "quiet" pictures this week.  But my week is rarely quiet.  So here goes. My backyard.  From this picture, it looks quiet and peaceful.  And actually it was.  All the craziness was going on inside the house. And this one?  It reminds me of playing hide and seek.   Being extra quiet while peeking out to see if the "it" person is coming. So there you have it.  My "quiet" pictures.  What did you capture this week?

I've learned so many things over the years that I have walked this earth.  I've learned that I can rely and depend on my parents.  I've learned that in order to be open to new opportunity, my heart has to be open as well.  I've learned that sometimes being vulnerable can hurt and help.  I've learned that trust is one of the most important aspects of life.  I've learned that no matter how much I think I want to be alone, I'm always surrounded by those who care.  I've learned that sometimes being scared is a good thing.  I've learned that having kids is the most heart-breaking and awe-inspiring experience.  I've learned that working hard in relationships pays off - just not always in the way I anticipated. I've learned so much, and I will continue to learn every day.

February 28 Booth sales with my Brownie. March 1 Waiting for a prescription to make this sad face feel better. March 2 The hand weights I have yet to use.  March 3 The game T and Sweet Pea played. March 4 My first pair of Nike's. Total mileage = 642 March 5 Brownie sundae from Johnny Rocket's! March 6 Gold Medalist  Vault - 9.8

Hopeful. In a swimmer before her lesson. In drugs to allow healing so we can all sleep. (also in the chewable kind thought to be better than the liquid) In the thought that I might get rid of Christmas before Easter shows up. Hosted by Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry