Bull riding

At this game place they have a mechanical bull. Toby, Cyrus, and Courtney all tried it! Very hilarious!

Humidity

We curled Courtneys hair. It took me 35 minutes. When she got home she let me know that by the time she made it to the bus stop it was straight again! Oh well, I got a picture out of it.

Moms food

I took this picture as proof of successfully making monkey bread. I usually only have enough for two pans which means it didn't rise enough. But mothers day I completed one of my lifelong goals.

Cyrus braces

Cyrus added a new experience to his lust for this year! A new grill! It was much cooler before he actually had them and experienced the pain! But something new non the less.

Cera with shoes

So Cera thinks for some reason shoe laces are not supposed to stay in shoes. I have to hide my tennis shoes or she takes the laces out. Weird I know.

Everytime she takes her shoes off, she spends ten minutes taking the laces out.
Today Toby left his shoes out. She took the laces out, but stepped it up by somehow getting the plastic off the ends of the laces, making them pretty much unusable.

Just awesome. While he was putting them in I explained that is why the house looks like it does. She thinks everything should be torn in pieces.

So cute to watch until she has done it to your shoes or you need her to get her shoes on quickly.

Courtneys Birthday

Well after figuring out this different computer and getting the website to not be in japanese.. I hope to have this figured out.
Today was Courtney's Birthday. She turned 11. I can't even believe it.. All the stuff that we have done in a short 11 years.
Funny that today she had no problem waking up early. Every other morning I have to wake her up 5 times.

We had a great day. She opened presents in the morning and then I took treats to school. No they were not homemade. She requested cupcakes from the commissary because that is "what all the kids bring". I guess you are supposed to order them.. so instead I took very healthy candy bars for everyone :)

She seemed to care that I showed up and did something for her. Their classes don't have parties or anything, so I am not ever really at the school.. so I think she liked the random showing up.

Then we all went to dinner at Macaroni Grill. I know we live in Japan, but she got to pick and since we get the benefits of eating American on a military base if we want.. she went with that option.

We have been doing fantastic at not eating out.. so going out with the family has become quite a treat. Once a month maybe!!! Other than that is home cooked meals.

After, we just came home and hung out as a family. She was drawing and watching a movie with Carmen while Toby gave me a blessing for my new calling I am completly not qualified for.

All in all it was a great day.

So glad for Courtney. She is going to be a great mother someday. She is so patient with the girls and such a help around the house. She adds that sweet quite spirit to our home and reminds us that we should be going to church every Sunday! :)

What a fantastic daughter I have been blessed with to be an example to me. Love you Courtney!!!!!!!!

YAY for running

In the past couple months I have been ramping up my running. The elevation factor here makes it easier for me to breath. However, there is not one place on this island that is flat ground. So, if I want to run farther than a mile I have to run up and down hills. I used to do interval training all the time on the treadmill and that has come in handy.
I have actually found a good pace for me, and good music to not be bored. Last week I ran a couple days at 5 miles and one at 6. I ran Tuesday 6, and then Wednesday I thought I would be sore or something. I wasn't and actually my body felt really good.

I ran 10k on Wednesday and was super thrilled that I did not hardly break a sweat and could sing to my music the whole time. I should probably run harder but I enjoy my pace!

Why this is important? Well, while Toby was gone, I wanted to run a marathon. I dropped 60 pds and actually started getting into shape but never did the marathon!

Next March there is a half marathon on the island that I am doing and I am actually going to train for it to get a good time not just finish..

As far as a full marathon, I have to wait until another time, cause I will miss the one that is happening this month.

I have really started to have a love relationship with running and how it mentally helps me..
I also need to thank Dave Mathews Band, Rascall Flatts, Brittany Spears, Pink, Lada Gaga.. the list could go on.. for providing me with the music to not get bored or I would never go out.