Who are you? Who, who... Who are you?

Okay, so you all know that I absolutely love having followers!  I get so excited to see that people actually are interested in what I have to say. 

But.

I really want to know who you are. 

I also really want to know what you look like.

So leave me a comment telling me about yourself. 

I would sooooooooooooo love to hear from you guys.

And.

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you for following my blog. 

mwa!

Raspberry Time!!!

Going on a berry hunt,

Gonna pick some juicy ones!

For years Aaron has been telling me about picking raspberries up at McKnight.  Finally this past Saturday we drove up to the mountains to pick these famed raspberries.   I have never been up the McKnight road so I really enjoyed the scenery, it was beautiful.

Once we got high enough it was time to hunt for raspberries.  There weren't as many as we expected because someone had beat us to the punch!  But we picked enough to keep the girls excited and happy.  We even had enough to bring home. 

I am tired...

I am tired of looking the way I do and want to be able to fit into my old clothes again. 

I am tired of buying bigger and bigger clothes. 

I am tired of feeling crappy all the time.

In high school I was a three sport athlete.  I never had to worry about what I was eating, my metabolism was lightning fast.  I remained the same weight for about 10 years.

I coasted on that metabolism ride for many years even after high school when I wasn't involved in so many sports.  Even after gaining 50+ pounds with my first child.  I lost all that weight very quickly...without even working very hard at it.  I became very spoiled and took my metabolic rate for granted.

But the metabolic ride has dumped me off in the deep end of cellulite.  And I am tired of swimming in all that cellulite. 

This summer I made the commitment to start working out.  I'm not all nazi-exercise guru because I just don't have that kind of time or enough babysitters.  Unfortunately there is not a gym here that has childcare. 

I started going to the gym early in the mornings and doing some cardio and lifting.  Since school has started I have joined the small gym in Lordsburg and have managed to exercise there several times. 

I also have dusted off several of the workout DVD's that I have bought over the years and have managed to do them.  I DVR'd Gilad from FiTV.  My newest video is Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred.  I am trying to make it varied so I don't get bored.

I have found a blog written by a personal trainer and have learned some great tips from her and even downloaded some of her workouts.   I tried her lower-body one this afternoon...OUCH!!!

I know I am not doing as much as I should be...but I am proud to have finally gotten started. 

First day of Pre-K

Kylee's first day of PreK was today.  She did fabulous.  She has been so excited to get to go to big school and even ride the bus. 

I know I am always optimistic at the start of any new academic endeavor for her, but I really think that she will do awesome in PreK.  Montessori gave her a great start and she will be able to really move ahead with her learning. 

Heck, the kid could already count to 100 by herself...so she is ready to conquer the world!!

8th Grade- where does the time go??????

First day of 8th Grade

I could get all philosophical on you, but I won't.  It's too hot and I'm too tired. 

Just enjoy it for what it is- a picture of my first born as she begins her last year before high school.

Oops, stop me now...I'm starting to feel philosophical after all.

See ya!!

I heart Panera

I fell in love this summer.

I fell in love with Panera.

They make the most delicious and delectable bagels on the planet!!!  And super yummy spreads-- oh it makes my heart go pitter-patter just thinking of it. (Not to mention that now I'm drooling...)

My favoritest bagel is the Cinnamon Crunch where cinnamon and vanilla chips flavor the dough, topped with a sweet, crunchy shell of cinnamon & sugar. 

Oh. My. God.  I had died and gone to bagel heaven.  Be still my heart.

Mere words alone are not adequate, you must get yourself to the nearest Panera and have one for yourself.  You will thank me.

Sadly, the closest Panera to me is 445 miles away.  (Aaron, how do you feel about a road trip?)

Oh, how I miss Panera. 

Back To Work

Summer break is over.

*sniff*  *sniff*

It's back to work for me at 0800 tomorrow.

Tomorrow is also Kylee and Krysten's first day at their new daycare.  Kylee will be going there until her PreK school starts (which is across the street from the daycare).

Tracey first day of 8th grade will be on Wednesday.

Lots of new changes for us this year and some things have remained the same.

Here is one of the schools where I work. 

My Big Trip- the extended version

State #1  Texas 

Almost immediately after we crossed into Texas we hit rain.  Lots of rain.  All the fields were flooding and it was flooding over the highway.  There were long stretches of the road where I couldn't see the pavement.  I had never seen flooding like this.  (The next morning I saw on the news how extensive it was...12 inches in OKC)  I was on the phone with my dad asking for weather updates and what the storm was doing.  He said that it was circling around for more and going the same direction as me.  Well, that certainly changed our lodging plans for the night.  I had planned on camping KOA-style in Abilene.  Instead, I wisely chose to find a hotel.  It poured that night.  Like crazy.  It was intense.

The next morning we continued on to Dallas where my friend Terah lives.  She was my bestest friend in high school and I haven't seen her in years.  So we stopped in for lunch.  My younger girls fit right in with her girls and they had a blast playing while I got a chance to catch up with Terah.

State #2  Arkansas. 

I learned right away that they've got pretty skimpy family trees thar in Arkansas.  We stopped to eat at a truck stop...

Anyway,  Arkansas is where my children saw there first lightning bugs.  They loved watching for the little sparkles as we drove through the night. 

We stayed in the KOA in Little Rock.  This was our first experience with humidity.  Holy jalapeno!  The campground was really nice, I just wish we would've had time to get to go for a swim.  We sure needed it!!

State #3  Tennessee

My girls first glimpse of the Mighty Mississip.  I was so excited to be in Memphis.  There was a fabulous visitor's center right across the river (at the end of this bridge) where we parked.  We took the Trolley to Beale Street where I was looking for somewhere local and authentically Memphis.    However, most of the restaurants along Beale Street are 21 and older only.  Seeing as that I was a single woman with 3 underage children (2 of which were in strollers), we had to find alternative locations :)  So we ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe but we didn't care...it was air conditioned!!

After that we went to Graceland.  While I didn't have any deeply spiritual experiences there (I don't really even like Elvis), it was kinda cool.  For Elvis fans.  We were most definitely the youngest people there...by decades!!  Actually the more I think back on it, the more I liked it.  Graceland was definitely unique and pretty interesting to see a slice of Americana.  

I am glad we stopped in Memphis, it was a lot of fun and I'd really like to return to that city.

State #4 Kentucky

We went through Kentucky pretty fast and there wasn't much we saw since it was dark.  We did however spend the night in a motel in Paducah, KY. 

State #5 Illinois

We were headed to Champaign, IL.  Home of the University of Illinois and the Fighting Illini and also, my aunt and uncle.  Technically they're my first cousins, once removed- but it's just less confusing to say aunt and uncle.  We were in Champaign for several days.  We got there just in time to help them move in to their new house and help them unpack.  Their kids Jonathan, Darren, and Becky also came from near and far to see me.  Well, maybe not just me, but I can pretend that was why.  It was great to see them again. 

Jill (my aunt) took us on several adventures.  First she took us to Springfield, IL to the Lincoln Museum.  Oh. My Goodness.  It was so awesome.  They had it set up in two different time periods in Lincoln's life- his childhood and early adulthood, then the White House years.  They had a show called "Ghosts in the Library".  It wasn't really a movie, it was like a performance...but with special effects.  It was so cool.  We also visited his tomb and rubbed his nose.  Not his real nose, a bronze nose, LOL.

Jill also took us on an adventure to Chicago on the train.  I was very excited to get to ride the train since it was my first time.  We were on early enough that they were still serving breakfast in the dining car so the little girls and I went up and had breakfast.  They loved it.  Chicago was incredible.  Never in my life had I seen so many tall buildings.  We shopped along the Magnificent Mile and saw many things that I've only seen or heard about on TV.  Such as the Omni Hotel, where Oprah's guests stay.  I so, so, so want to return to Chicago and explore more of what it has to offer.  Shedd Aquarium and Millenium Park and Navy Pier and the Sears Tower and, and... the list goes on and on!!!

State #6 Wisconsin

This was my favorite state because I thought it was the prettiest state of all.  The farms and the buildings were so picturesque located snug in the valleys.  And there were actually a few hills!  First we had seen since New Mexico. 

The Wisconsin Dells.  How can I even begin to describe the place?  It's like Vegas, but only with water parks.  There are a ton of them, indoor and ourdoor, big and small.  It looked like so much fun and I'm definitely putting that on my list of family destinations.

A side note about Wisconsin.  At one of the rest areas I found a sign that was about Aldo Leopold.  Now, if you are reading this and you are from the Silver City area then you know who I mean.  If you aren't, sorry, I don't mean to leave you out.  Anyway, I had no idea that Aldo Leopold lived in Wisconsin.  I thought he was from around here since we have the Aldo Leopold Wilderness just down the road a bit. 

State #7 Minnesota

Minnesota was great.  I wish we could've spent a lot more time here.  The rest of Jill's family lives in Zumbrota, MN.  I have visited here numerous times as a child and teen.  I have lots of fond memories of spending time on the farm and at my great grandmother's huge house.  It was great to get to see all the Minnesota relatives again, I've missed them!!  I am so glad that I was able to take my kids to see the farm and meet all the family there.  Tracey and Kylee learned how to milk cows and Krysten got to bottle feed the babies.  We got to visit some friendly deer and see their triplet fawns.  They were too cute! 

I can't wait until we get to visit the farm again!  Tracey even wants to visit sometime again soon on her own and get to stay awhile!  I would love that for her, I know I treasure those memories I had as a kid getting to do the very same thing. 

State #8 Iowa

Lots and lots of cornfields.  But that was really nothing new since all we had seen since leaving Dallas was cornfield after cornfield and a few soybean fields thrown in.  Iowa did crack me up when we passed a casino that was in a big red barn!

State #9 Missouri

I think Missouri would be my second favorite scenic state on our trip.  There were more hills and less fields.  I like Missouri, I would love to take my kids to St. Louis.  Definitely reason for another road trip!

Staet #10 Kansas

Ugh.  Kansas.  If I never return to Kansas that will be too soon. 

In Kansas we left all the trees behind and were in flat prairie.  It was the first time in 2 weeks that I didn't feel claustrophobic as I drove down the highway. 

We camped at the KOA in Topeka and it was actually pretty fun.  There was a playground for the girls (much needed) and the next morning the owners served us a home-cooked pancake breakfast.  Also, during the night a bunch of baby ducklings had hatched so we got to see those.  I never knew mama ducks could hiss and growl, but this one sure did!

It felt like it took an entire lifetime to get across Kansas, and I was ready to be home.  I think that's probably why I'm not fond of Kansas. 

Just before we left Kansas we stopped in Liberal where they have the Land of Oz.  You can visit a replica of Dorothy's house and follow the yellow brick road. 

State #11 Oklahoma

Oklahoma took about 45 minutes to get across. 

Texas, again.

We briefly cut across a corner of the panhandle.  We passed by some of the biggest feedlots I have ever seen in my life.  Wow.  My dad said they have like 10-15,000 cows each!  Crazy.  Texas is where we finally left the grassland and entered more of the scrubby ranch country that I'm accustomed to.

State #12 New Mexico

Home sweet home.  Almost.  Too bad this sign was still about 8 hours from home. 

We spent the night in Logan, NM at another friend's house.  She and I were next door neighbors growing up.  Well, as close as we could get being 7 miles apart.  Amy and her family graciously welcomed us into their home and fed us a wonderful meal.  Despite me only calling her that afternoon.  Her girls and mine are near the same age and they had a fabulous time swimming and playing. 

After Amy's...next stop Silver City!!!!

It was good to be home.  I really, really enjoyed my trip.  I'd been dreaming about doing it for several years.  Many people asked me if I was scared and no, I wasn't.  I really enjoy traveling and seeing and experiencing new places.  So it was a great adventure for me.  My GPS was a huge help in navigating cities and Tracey helped navigate along the highways.  All of my girls got to see a huge part of America's heartland and will have an experience they will always remember...well some of them will anyway, maybe not Krysten- haha.

Total, we traveled 4000 miles. 

And yes, I would do it again.

Our newest family members.

The first kitty is Misty. 

She is Krysten's cat, but she still lives at the ranch because Mama didn't want to have 3 grown-up cats.

I regret not bringing her anyway. 

The other kitty is Muffin.  He came home with us (because I was under the impression that he was a she).

Many of you saw on FB that one of the kitties bit me.   After I had caught these I decided to catch the snowball white one.  He/she was doing okay in my arms, but I hadn't yet got the chance to completely calm him down when Krysten came running up to me.  That was when the cat completely flipped out.  He sunk his teeth into my finger.  Oh Lordy, it HURT!!!  I had to wait for him to release my finger before I could release him because I was afraid I would lost part of my finger!

Normally I don't worry about cat bites and scratches.   It's part of the package when trying to catch and tame wild kitties.  But this one was pretty deep so I thought that I might need a tetanus shot. 

So my mom called the local doctor in Quemado (who's only there 1 day a week) and asked him.  Well, this doctor freaked out since the bite was directly on the knuckle (not a good place...who knew?) and said I needed antibiotics ASAP. 

Now, it's important to know where I was.  I was over 150 miles away from my own doctor, 70 miles away from the nearest pharmacy, and 25 miles away from the nearest doctor.  Literally in the middle of nowhere.  Antibiotics and a doctor visit weren't simple things. 

So my mom and I drove 45 minutes to town to see the doctor and get my prescription.  I ended up getting my tetanus shot too. 

Then we drove another hour to fill my prescription. 

I am happy to report that I have not died of any horrible cat germ diseases and my finger is recovering just fine.