I am hoping to keep track of the books I read throughout 2013. I want to see just how many I can/will/do read and blog them to reflect on them. Also, to share any I've read that others may enjoy.
This will include Kindle books, real books, E-books (ones you download from the 'net)...
I don't have a specific goal, but I know I can do 30 in 3 months if I set my my mind to it. So, on average 10/month would equal 120.
So look here occasionally for a book recommendation, ok?
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Reflections...
Today is our 10 year anniversary! It's cold today, just like it was 10 years ago!
We had a good weekend! Friday, we took Isaac up to meet friends for his sleepover. We flew home to let the dogs out and give them dinner and then headed to Des Moines. We had dinner at O'hana Steakhouse (one of our favorite places) and it was delicious! Mark had his scallops and I had chicken and filet mignon. SOOOOOO Good, but I was so full!
We got to sleep in a bit on Saturday-meaning at 730 I got up to let the dogs out and feed them. Then I went back to bed until 9. It was strange being home on a Saturday!! We didn't do much, but went out to lunch at Texas Roadhouse (I was still so full!) and watched ISU on tv.
The weather reports were not good so I ended up going to Fort Dodge to get Isaac so Mark wouldn't have to travel in the ice/rain/icky stuff. We had a quick supper then home again.
I worked Sunday as usual.
>>>>>
We honestly had people tell us "this marriage will never work". If I were a petty-type person, I'd stick my tongue out and go "ha haha. You were wrong". But I won't.
Looking back, as I say every year, it's been an adventure.
We've been through the threat of deployment, an actual 18 month deployment, me being a "single mom" for 14 months. What else....selling our Boone house, moving to Ogden and then moving to a different place in Ogden, we built a house from the ground up (without killing each other in the design process! Ha!), moving to Ames. I've been through nursing school and am now working as a nurse. Almost another deployment just at the end of my first semester of nursing school. Mark got out of the army and is now a student and working in Ames at the hospital. Our boy is in school full-time, we have 2 super cute dogs (who, by the way, have a new title: Beauty and the Beast). A couple drives to Texas. I could go on and on.
I know I'm not an easy person to get along with. That's not something that is new to me. I'm stubborn, sometimes I have a temper, I can be crabby. He loves me through it all.
We joke about our wedding because it was thrown together so quickly. I sometimes wish we had done things differently or were able to plan more, but the important thing was we got married, we're still married and moving forward!
I have never been one to look forward too far or be to excited about what's to come. I must say that I'm anxious and excited to see where the next years take us! Love you, Mark!
Here's a couple photos I found of us. I don't have many on my computer or phone of just the two of us. I should scan in our wedding pictures!
We had a good weekend! Friday, we took Isaac up to meet friends for his sleepover. We flew home to let the dogs out and give them dinner and then headed to Des Moines. We had dinner at O'hana Steakhouse (one of our favorite places) and it was delicious! Mark had his scallops and I had chicken and filet mignon. SOOOOOO Good, but I was so full!
We got to sleep in a bit on Saturday-meaning at 730 I got up to let the dogs out and feed them. Then I went back to bed until 9. It was strange being home on a Saturday!! We didn't do much, but went out to lunch at Texas Roadhouse (I was still so full!) and watched ISU on tv.
The weather reports were not good so I ended up going to Fort Dodge to get Isaac so Mark wouldn't have to travel in the ice/rain/icky stuff. We had a quick supper then home again.
I worked Sunday as usual.
>>>>>
We honestly had people tell us "this marriage will never work". If I were a petty-type person, I'd stick my tongue out and go "ha haha. You were wrong". But I won't.
Looking back, as I say every year, it's been an adventure.
We've been through the threat of deployment, an actual 18 month deployment, me being a "single mom" for 14 months. What else....selling our Boone house, moving to Ogden and then moving to a different place in Ogden, we built a house from the ground up (without killing each other in the design process! Ha!), moving to Ames. I've been through nursing school and am now working as a nurse. Almost another deployment just at the end of my first semester of nursing school. Mark got out of the army and is now a student and working in Ames at the hospital. Our boy is in school full-time, we have 2 super cute dogs (who, by the way, have a new title: Beauty and the Beast). A couple drives to Texas. I could go on and on.
I know I'm not an easy person to get along with. That's not something that is new to me. I'm stubborn, sometimes I have a temper, I can be crabby. He loves me through it all.
We joke about our wedding because it was thrown together so quickly. I sometimes wish we had done things differently or were able to plan more, but the important thing was we got married, we're still married and moving forward!
I have never been one to look forward too far or be to excited about what's to come. I must say that I'm anxious and excited to see where the next years take us! Love you, Mark!
Here's a couple photos I found of us. I don't have many on my computer or phone of just the two of us. I should scan in our wedding pictures!
 |
| HOMECOMING! One of the best days EVER!! 18 long months of separation. September 2007 |
 | |
| I was 6 months pregnant. This is the day that Mark left for Ft. Hood Texas for 6 months | before heading to Iraq. April 2006 |
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Anniversary celebration...upcoming!
I am very excited and happy!
This weekend, Mark and I are going to be celebrating our anniversary.
10 years!
It's hard to imagine! It's not technically our anniversary until 31 January but that's a Thursday and Mark has class. He doesn't work this Friday night and I have Saturday off. AND Isaac is going to a friend's for the weekend!(Thanks, Henry Family!) I have to work Sunday and Mark works Saturday night, but still!
Our plans aren't much but we are heading to Des Moines Friday night for dinner at O'hana Steakhouse. We haven't been there in forever and I'm excited!
It's a hibatchi style restaurant with the "show". There is so much food....mushrooms, rice, vegetables, soup or salad, your main dish.
Saturday, I hope to seep in (well until 2 puppies wake me up) and then be lazy!
I need to see if I can dig up the message that the pastor read that night. And the pictures!
This weekend, Mark and I are going to be celebrating our anniversary.
10 years!
It's hard to imagine! It's not technically our anniversary until 31 January but that's a Thursday and Mark has class. He doesn't work this Friday night and I have Saturday off. AND Isaac is going to a friend's for the weekend!(Thanks, Henry Family!) I have to work Sunday and Mark works Saturday night, but still!
Our plans aren't much but we are heading to Des Moines Friday night for dinner at O'hana Steakhouse. We haven't been there in forever and I'm excited!
It's a hibatchi style restaurant with the "show". There is so much food....mushrooms, rice, vegetables, soup or salad, your main dish.
Saturday, I hope to seep in (well until 2 puppies wake me up) and then be lazy!
I need to see if I can dig up the message that the pastor read that night. And the pictures!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
another year
It's "that time of year" when one is supposed to write resolutions and expect themselves to stick to it for the coming year.
Last year, I made a resolution or goal, to give up Mountain Dew completely. I was doing really well until April-made a recipe that called for it. Drank the last 2 oz and thought it tasted disgusting. That was it until August when my dad got sick. Then I was back on it-not daily, not even weekly but enough to know that I wanted to stop.
Guess what? I am strengthening my resolve this year. NO recipes with it! No drinking it...no matter what! 10 days so far..... and even more, as I was thinking of this the last 2 or so weeks of 2012.
Another: lose weight. Always an ongoing thought/"I should...."/pain in my butt. I'm determined to become motivated and do it. I lost like 11 pounds last year and then basically gave up. I did well over the summer, walking the dogs 1-2+ miles almost daily. This winter isn't going to cooperate like last winter where I was able to walk nearly every day. Debating on the fitness club not to far from us. But...I don't want to go alone. I need to get the treadmill put back together from our move so I can start using that at least. I got on the scale a few weeks ago at work and was just appalled at the number. APPALLED. Wanting to throw up. No wonder my scrub pants hardly fit.
I need to make better food decisions too. It's hard to give up the stuff you like for the stuff to help keep/make you healthy. I cleaned and organized my pantry today so now I can see everything in there. I also need to become more focused on a correct serving size for stuff. That will help.
I'm making it my goal not to eat after 8 pm. (for now) Some nights I end up working past 7 so want to still have the option to eat supper. As the year progresses, I intend to make this 7 pm. We normally eat between 530-6 so it should work out, except on the very rare occasion.
The never ending battle of water consumption. I will do really well drinking A LOT for a day or two, then the next few days I will not drink any. Always been my pattern and it's difficult to stop. Any ideas?
Here's to a healthy, happy 2013!
Last year, I made a resolution or goal, to give up Mountain Dew completely. I was doing really well until April-made a recipe that called for it. Drank the last 2 oz and thought it tasted disgusting. That was it until August when my dad got sick. Then I was back on it-not daily, not even weekly but enough to know that I wanted to stop.
Guess what? I am strengthening my resolve this year. NO recipes with it! No drinking it...no matter what! 10 days so far..... and even more, as I was thinking of this the last 2 or so weeks of 2012.
Another: lose weight. Always an ongoing thought/"I should...."/pain in my butt. I'm determined to become motivated and do it. I lost like 11 pounds last year and then basically gave up. I did well over the summer, walking the dogs 1-2+ miles almost daily. This winter isn't going to cooperate like last winter where I was able to walk nearly every day. Debating on the fitness club not to far from us. But...I don't want to go alone. I need to get the treadmill put back together from our move so I can start using that at least. I got on the scale a few weeks ago at work and was just appalled at the number. APPALLED. Wanting to throw up. No wonder my scrub pants hardly fit.
I need to make better food decisions too. It's hard to give up the stuff you like for the stuff to help keep/make you healthy. I cleaned and organized my pantry today so now I can see everything in there. I also need to become more focused on a correct serving size for stuff. That will help.
I'm making it my goal not to eat after 8 pm. (for now) Some nights I end up working past 7 so want to still have the option to eat supper. As the year progresses, I intend to make this 7 pm. We normally eat between 530-6 so it should work out, except on the very rare occasion.
The never ending battle of water consumption. I will do really well drinking A LOT for a day or two, then the next few days I will not drink any. Always been my pattern and it's difficult to stop. Any ideas?
Here's to a healthy, happy 2013!
Friday, January 4, 2013
Christmas....Christmas Break
Isaac didn't have school on the Friday before Christmas either. They didn't cancel until 6AM, which made me a little mad. We just hung out at home and ventured to BK and WM later in the day.
I worked my usual weekend before Christmas. Mark worked Christmas Eve night as well as Christmas Day night.
We had a good supper at Texas Roadhouse on Christmas Eve before Mark headed to work.
We let Isaac open a few of his gifts on Christmas Eve, just because he gets bored doing it. I got to open mine too: a new knife block (what I wanted!) and a Keurig from the "puppies'. That was not even on my radar, let alone a Christmas list! But I am loving it! It's awesome getting to try out different coffee flavors and have hot chocolate at just the push of a button!
Christmas morning, Isaac was up around 730 so we got up and he opened his gifts. He loved everything, especially his castle and all the accessories to go with it.
Mark headed to bed and Isaac and I headed to Humboldt. On the way, a bird decided to end his life by flying into my windshield. Nice.
Just a small bunch of us in Humboldt, but it was nice. Isaac got more gifts: a nutcracker, a Cy Hat, a gift card to Wal-Mart and other stuff. I made out with gift cards: 2 to Starbucks, Kohl's, Wal-Mart, cookie sheets and kitchen towels. Overall, a good day!
On the way home, we drove through Boxholm to look at CHristmas lights. I slid off the road. Fun. I tried to rock myself out but it didn't work. Mark was getting ready for work so he couldn't help. Luckily, a house had a bunch of cars so I went there and knocked. They were able to pull me out! Yay!
Christmas break was pretty laid back. We were invited to a neighbor's for supper one night, we watched their kids one night, Isaac's friend came and stayed a few days. We went to Chuck E Cheese on New Year's Eve. I worked New Year's Day.
Isaac went back on the 3rd and I think he was happy to go, although he wouldn't admit it!
I worked my usual weekend before Christmas. Mark worked Christmas Eve night as well as Christmas Day night.
We had a good supper at Texas Roadhouse on Christmas Eve before Mark headed to work.
We let Isaac open a few of his gifts on Christmas Eve, just because he gets bored doing it. I got to open mine too: a new knife block (what I wanted!) and a Keurig from the "puppies'. That was not even on my radar, let alone a Christmas list! But I am loving it! It's awesome getting to try out different coffee flavors and have hot chocolate at just the push of a button!
Christmas morning, Isaac was up around 730 so we got up and he opened his gifts. He loved everything, especially his castle and all the accessories to go with it.
Mark headed to bed and Isaac and I headed to Humboldt. On the way, a bird decided to end his life by flying into my windshield. Nice.
Just a small bunch of us in Humboldt, but it was nice. Isaac got more gifts: a nutcracker, a Cy Hat, a gift card to Wal-Mart and other stuff. I made out with gift cards: 2 to Starbucks, Kohl's, Wal-Mart, cookie sheets and kitchen towels. Overall, a good day!
On the way home, we drove through Boxholm to look at CHristmas lights. I slid off the road. Fun. I tried to rock myself out but it didn't work. Mark was getting ready for work so he couldn't help. Luckily, a house had a bunch of cars so I went there and knocked. They were able to pull me out! Yay!
Christmas break was pretty laid back. We were invited to a neighbor's for supper one night, we watched their kids one night, Isaac's friend came and stayed a few days. We went to Chuck E Cheese on New Year's Eve. I worked New Year's Day.
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| The chocolate fudge layer cake I made for Christmas |
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| Isaac and his Aunt Kate |
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| A new scooter! |
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| And the stockings were hung... |
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| "from the puppies" to me |
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| From Isaac |
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| Not a great picture, but oh well! |
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