Merry Christmas 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my wonderful friends and family!

Oswald Christmas tree!

Hanging out and waiting for the kiddos

Unfortunately, Greg and Sarah and Greggy won't be here today, but soon they will.  Time to go make some Christmas goodies for later today.  Have a great day, no matter who you are with! 

Today is the ultimate "be a joy giver" day!  Have fun

Pictures, baby!

I am feeling the need to post some pix, so here is a little fall and winter update!  It's been a long while since I posted here, though I have been making calendars and other (secret) things with pictures- so it isn't like I haven't been doing things.

A dusting of snow on the roping and ribbon

Here are a few favorites from the past few months

Look at how big this little girl is getting

swing!

Oh, fall, how we miss you

First snow of the year...

Washburn

Washburn

Washburn

On the woods road

The beehives- they now have black tar paper for wind break

Little Greggy having breakfast

The doggies are looking for something- find the tennis ball!

Suspicious

The way back field, big and little trees in flux

Find the joy in your everyday, not just the Holidays.  It is all around you!

A weight lifting hiatus that needs to end

Today was the first day that I got back upstairs to do some weightlifting- such as it is- since I was sick almost 2 weeks ago.  I feel exhausted from both the day and the extra bit of energy you can give to lifting when you haven't for a while.  These last 2 days before Christmas break are killers. NO ONE wants to be there, and let me tell you, contrary to what the kids say, we ARE doing something at school.  Don't believe them if the say that they didn't do anything all day.  That is bogus.

Anywho, I have a lead on a semi acceptable gym that I sort of forgot about at one of the motels in town.  I am going to go and check it out, but I plan to continue using my home gym, as the convenience of being home is hard to beat.

I have to say that there are some good things that I have discovered being without a gym for a while.  First, my hand and arm numbness is pretty much gone- so no waking up not able to feel my hands.  Next, knee pain I had been having is gone, too.  I have been able to do some good low squats using the big kettle bell for extra challenge.  Another plus is I have been able to really pack a lot of workout into a short period of time, so I've been able to get a few more things done at home during the week.

BUT I miss the people, I miss the challenge and I miss the workout.  I NEED to do some hard core bench pressing, some lat pull-downs, and bar work.  I need to get back to it.

Unless something else opens up here (note to anyone interested: there is a void here and it needs to be filled!) I will have to make due with my own little setup and hopefully can fill in the gaps with the equipment that the motel has.  Better than nothing, let me tell you.

On that note~ look hard for the joy that has been missing in your life!

December musings

Well, hasn't it been a long time since I wrote on here??

A quick catchup-
(HAHA- I call catch up days ketchup and mustard days in the elementary school.  They think I am hilarious)

Hunting season happened and winter hit with a vengeance.  Like so much freaking snow you wouldn't believe it, unless of course you live here, and you can.

Hunting season was not good for the hunters this year, but it did allow lots of time spent with the boys and later on in the week, little Greg and Sarah Jane.  Unfortunately, Jon and Sarah did not make it up here for Thanksgiving because of a bit of illness!  That was a bummer.  However, it was a nice week.

I have my Christmas decs up- yay- and now have to spend time wrapping to add to the festive look of the house.  I so enjoy Christmas time and the music and the silly movies and the colors.

I also had an unfortunate bout with a stomach ailment that is taking it's sweet time going completely away.  I after 4 days my coffee still isn't tasting too hot this morning, so that isn't too wonderful.  Booo.

I am not adjusting very well to no gym- it makes me still sad. I have picked up some kettle bells and dumbbells and will get a few more things yet and rock on with it.  I can still pick up the 50 lb horse feed bags with no issue, so I must not be back to square one yet.  :)

IN other news, I have been doing my Lola a day pictures for almost a year now, and I am secretly relieved to almost be finished.  It will be nice to NOT have to take a pic of Lola every day, though it has been an interesting thing to do.  I will do some sort of movie with those photos!

I got a few good snowshoes in at the beginning of December, but NOW it has been warm and when the sun comes up I am afraid that the snow will be virtually gone.  AND it will be a stupid skating rink out in the driveway and it will look really ugly.  Let's cross our fingers for a refresher of snow soon.  I mean if it has to be cold, there should be snow.

So there is a week and some change left of school before an ALMOST 2 week break, which is so seriously needed.  Gathering our resources in the teaching world and digging in baby!

I have one other piece of exciting news, that I will talk about separately at another time.  :)

Pictures will follow.  I want to do more picture posts again, since I do not like having a neglected blog.

Hope you are finding Joy in your December!