Day 4 & 5

Falling behind here...

Things are going great. Yesterday, I ran 1.61 miles & biked 6 miles. Today, I did a full body work out with weights. I found an awesome website full of routines, www.muscleandstrength.com. Every exercises has a video showing you proper form. I also completed a second workout playlist. Things continue to go well.

As for a new goal, I've been talked into joining a group of sisters doing the Pink Cheeks triathalon. It's considered a "sprint" triathlon: 5K run, 10 K bike, and 30 lap swim (not sure what size the pool is). I'm actually getting really excited about it. I'm already jogging 1/2 the 5 K & biking 10K three days a week. I just need to get swimming down. My friends reassured it's not crazy competitive. Apparently there is an older man that runs it in a tutu.

It will be a fun road trip with some awesome sisters!

Pictures of my boys...

It's so hard to catch still pictures of moving kids... but these are some good ones. I hope to get more shots of Alvin and Paul that aren't just blurrs :)

My three boys

Rilie with bed head. So cute!

A box and a flashlight... what else could a boy need.

Paul & Rilie tickling.

Check out Paul's missing tooth.

Alvin & Rilie sword fighting

Day 3...

Day 3.. It took me 28 min 22 seconds to finish 2 miles. I'm pretty proud of that, Wednesday it took me 15 minutes to do 1 mile. Today, I ran for 1.5 miles straight. YEAH!!! I biked 5 miles on double the incline. Today, total calorie burn +500. Total for the week 1500 calories.

There is a 5K at the end of February, but I"m nervous about cold & ice. My friend said they probably keep the streets/path pretty clear. She's probably right. Would I be ready by then???

Day 1...

Day 1 of Working Out

I am blessed with a ward full of sisters that love to run races and the like. For a year they've been encouraging me to do a 5K with them. A couple weeks ago, a friend who is training for a triathlon found a great deal at a local gym. It's affordable and has a free day care for our little ones. I spent the last week thinking about it: Will I commit? Am I wasting our resources? On Saturday I made the decision: Yes, I will commit! Which was cool, because our Home Teachers came over on Sunday and shared the message about the need for missionaries. They talked about the different aspects for couples to prepare: Spiritual, financial, and health. He encouraged us to read D&C 89 and see how it can help us prepare for a mission when the time comes. Another affirmation, that this is what I need to be doing.

I now have a schedule in place. I'm really hoping and praying I can stick to it. Up early to read scriptures & take my medicine, guide the kids in their morning routine, get Rilie ready, eat breakfast, take the kids to school, head off to the gym, back in time for lunch and naps. It's a delicate balance with some key components. I can't eat breakfast for an hour after I take my medicine (so, can't be late there). If I over sleep, scriptures study and medicine are missed and mom, kids, and Rilie are overly rushed out the door. This also means, mom and dad can't stay up late... which was developed over the last semester when he didn't get home till 10pm.

The good news is not only will working out & study the scriptures not conflict anymore, I have naps to pull together Primary & Family business. There are a lot of good things that can happen, I just hope I will make them happen.

Here's to Day 1!

New Year & New Resolutions...

Hello All,

Although, I must confess... I feel like I'm typing into cyber space waiting for someone to pick up my digital note in a bottle. If you're out there... please let me know.

I don't typically make "New Year Resolutions". I think it's a silly time to make a resolution. The holidays are busy, emotional, and crazy (in the good way and sometimes the bad way). How is one going to make a healthy realistic goal that builds one up, rather than tear them down even more? Anyways... regardless, I feel drawn to making one this year. This year's goal is a return to simplicity. It's an easy goal I return to about every few months. I go through my calendar, agendas, and to-do lists. I nix off the items that aren't essential, and enjoy the next several weeks of being a mommy, wife, and friend. After a couple months, some more non-essential craziness clutters my life and we start over. So, here's to another SIMPLE new year :D

The holidays have been wonderful. We are so excited to go to my parents' cabin. Alvin & Paul are really excited to go snow machining and shoot off fireworks.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! This morning has been wonderful. This year, we went minimal on presents and it's been nice. I must admit, I was anxious for them to wake up and enjoy the morning as a family. I couldn't fall asleep until after midnight and was wide awake by 5:30am. Nick and Rilie woke around 6:30am and Alvin & Paul around 7am.

One of our traditions that I love is the kids help pass out the gifts, then we open them one at a time talking about the person who sent the gift. The boys opened their stockings: Pezz Dispensers, Bath Toy, Travel Game, a few goodies (emphasis on few). Santa graced our home with a box of home-made blocks for all three boys to share. Alvin & Paul were so cute, they opened their cards first and we talked about who sent them.

Last night, we visited with Grandma & Grandpa Anderson. Aunt Tasha & our cousins the Moses were there. Grandma Anderson put together a lovely Christmas activity for the kids. There was a paper tree with ornaments all cut out ready to be glued on. Each ornament had a number & scripture on it. Each number lead you to a question that the scripture answered. It was a great way to bring us back to the reason for Christmas. The kids enjoyed all the matching and gluing. Hannah and I always love singing Christmas Carols together. She has such a beautiful voice. Nick received Talisman, a role-playing board game. He and most the house enjoyed learning how to play it.

After the Anderson party, we drove around town looking at Christmas lights. We found a whole neighborhood decorated from roof to foundation. It was amazing! Nick and I shared what we liked and what we didn't. We keep talking about when we have a home and how we want to decorate it. After that, we helped our tired boys get into their jammies (Alvin, not so tired). We read the children version of the Christmas story & put out Egg Nog and Auntie Sam's truffles for Santa. Alvin's plan: Stay awake all night and once he heard the jingle bells of Santa's sleigh, he would fall asleep.

The morning has been so peaceful. I think toning down the gifts and treats made a HUGE difference. The boys have been quietly building with their Legos. Rilie went back to sleep awhile ago... and Nick and I are ready to take a quick snooze.

Merry Christmas to All!

Becki

Deck the Halls

I want to find a Christmas backdrop... any suggestions?

Tis the season, and I don't want it to slip by to fast. I want to enjoy baking, giving, and singing our way through the Christmas season. So bring out the red marker and block off my calendar for festive memory making fun!