Running, Red Rocks and Hopefully a Partner

I have decided the only way to get my butt back into running is to register for a race. My friend Nanette has been asking me for months to do the Red Rock Relay in Moab. I was hesitant because of my IT band issue but it has felt pretty good lately and with some continued stretching and strengthening, I think I can do it. I haven't ran (other then just a few short runs) since my half marathon in October. I am really excited and nervous but I think it will be good. Now, I just need a partner. I had Audrey talked into it but after seeing the maps of her runs she is feeling not so confident and is worried she doesn't have enough time to train. I keep telling her she can do it with a lot of work and commitment. So she is going to do her best to prepare but she has been working on getting understudies just in case. So now all I need to do is get running and get me some new running kicks! Wish me luck!

These KIDS!!!

I look at my kids and I can't believe how big they are all getting. I look at my 2 cute nieces that will be going to Jr. High next year. My 1 niece will being doing her last year in elementary. Evie is halfway done with elementary. My oldest nephew will be a senior in High School. Where has the time gone?!?!

Jake is getting to be a big boy. When I took him to his 2 yr check-up the doctor talked to me about having Jake's hearing checked and some tests because of his lack of speech. I haven't done it (horrible mommy) mostly because he has started talking more since then. Nothing close to how much my girls were talking but it's getting better. Maybe it's a boy thing! I haven't started the potty training but Jake (on his own) has gone pee and poop in the potty several times. I should just bite the bullet and just give it 100%. I would love to not have to change diapers but in a way it makes me sad he is my last baby and that part of my life... changing my kids diapers... will be over.

Another part that is over... we took the crib down. It is pretty hammered after 3 kids. Plus Jake was trying to climb out of it and I was terrified he would fall and break his neck. We made the mistake of laying with the girls until they fell asleep when they were little. I refuse to make that same mistake with Jake. For the most part he does pretty good in his bed. He will come out a couple times but we just tell him to go back to bed and he eventually falls asleep. He looks so small in this big bed.

Valentines Day!

Valentine's Day!!!! We were actually in school this year on Valentine's. We are usually on a track break. The girls were excited to do Valentines at school and have a party. I checked them out of school a half hour early... Brett wanted to take the girls to a movie. They were so excited to go on a date with Dad. While they were at the movie I made a Valentines dinner and had it all ready when they got home.
The Valentines bag is from Brett and I. It had some candy and a few little things. The girls got a flower delivered from Uncle Nick and Aunt Lulu. Sooo cute! They were sooooo excited.
The dinner table... note Jake has the cheap stuff because he can't be trusted! We had yummy chicken with a creamy sherry wine sauce, couscous molded into a heart, mashpotatoes (minus the pink food coloring... that was all used from my girls making some witch potion in October), rolls, corn, salad and pink cupcakes for desert.
My rose from Nick and Lu!
Oh yeah... and we had sparkling cider. Some one loved it!!!
And the aftermath... yep this is what happens when you drink too much. Just kidding. Last night I was playing with the kids and Evie was suppose to land on her feet but she landed on her bum and elbow. Good news though... no cast just going to be really sore for a bit. That was our Valentine's Day.
Brett and I did get to go out for dinner and a movie with some friends Saturday night which was nice. (Thanks to Josh and some really great friends)!

Coupon Deal

This week I have been kinda tired and I bought the Sunday paper and only half of my coupons were in there. So I have been a little lax on my deal finding. But here is one good deal. At the Smiths in Herriman they have a grocery cart up front full of Pringles (just 2 kinds) they have the manager sticker and they are marked down to .79cents. You can get a Pringles coupon online for buy 2 get $1.00 off. So that makes them only .29 cents each.

Here is another deal. In the Sunday paper Walgreens has a coupon for Charmin double rolls basic 6 pack for 2.99. A few Sunday's ago there was a coupon for $1.00 off any Charmin toilet paper. So I got my toilet paper for $1.99.... not too bad... not free but I'm still figuring this out.

Colgate toothpaste for 8 Cents!!!

Okay so I DVR Ellen Degeneress every day... I love her! So a couple weeks ago she had on a guest who calls herself "The Coupon Diva". She was also on a TLC program called Extreme Couponing. It took 2 seconds and I was amazed at what these people save by using coupons. It's not just a coupon here or a coupon there... they really spend the hours doing the math and research. One lady says she hasn't paid for toothpaste or deodorant in 35 years... ummm, yeah I don't want to pay for those things anymore either. I thought I am going to do this. I didn't realize how hard this was going to be. This is going to take alot of practice. I searched and they don't have any "free" sites on the internet that will give you where the really good deals are. Really... that's where we are today... everyone wanting to make a buck. So even though I am not great at this and I can't guarantee I will always have a deal to share. I will share my really good finds... yes, for free to all my penny pinching friends or my friends who just love a deal.
My deal this week. In the Sunday's paper there was a colgate coupon for .75 off on a colgate toothpaste. At Smiths this week they have there buy 10 deal. So you don't have to buy all toothpast you can buy other items. So when you buy 10 of the participating items and using your Smiths rewards card the Colgate toothpaste is .83 then use the .75 off coupon and you spend a whole .08 cents on a tube of toothpaste. Your Welcome!
My favorite flavor Cinnaburst. I personally like Crest better but you can't beat 8 cents.

CrAvInG or AdDiCtIoN

I will start this post off with "No I am not pregnant" that will be the first question that pops in your head. So... I have really been fighting some cravings that have turned into addiction.

This (dill pickle with tabasco) is what I had for a snack today... it's NOT what I crave but it's what I ate that was as little calorie as possible to get my mind off what I really crave.

Addiction is an uncontrollable compulsion to repeat a behavior regardless of its negative consequences. This is what I crave and have a serious addiction for. I have never loved McDonalds until recently. I seriously have no idea what my problem is. I know it's not good for me but that has not stopped me from eating it. I wont tell you how many times I have had McDonalds in the past 3 weeks... just trust me, it's alot.

So I found this picture on the internet (who would pose for this I have no idea) and I will keep this image in my head every time I have a craving for McDonalds. I have an addictive personality and I get hooked easily. I do it with everything. I just need to get back to being addicted to eating right and running. Wish me luck!
My girls love to put make-up on. This is Lydia after she got dolled up with her new make-up kit from Christmas.
He does everything his sisters do. This is Jake after putting make-up on.