Half Marathon Here I come

So I did it... I signed up for a half marathon this coming July. Training starts this Sunday!!!!

The Last Ballet Class

In Lilah and Cali's last ballet class today, they were trying standing with their feet in a "V" shape for the first time... more complicated for these little girls!

A fun action shot of Lilah, she is so good at following what the teacher asks!

Lilah and her little friend Farah... Cali was having an off day so she didn't want to be in the picture! Maybe another time!

A little tour....

At work today I got to see the bulls. They are all moving out which is sad, but I still wanted to see them as I haven't had the chance. Bio-security is tight so you can't just go into the barns. So today I had a little tour... The bulls were really neat to see, they all had personalities... glad I didn't miss the chance to see the top of the gene pool!

This bull was playing shy... they are used to their handlers, so I weirded some of them out.

I wanted to take this one home, he is sooooo cute! I loved his color and curly hair! I don't think my landlord would let me have him in the back yard....

Get out of my house!

This bull didn't like me being in his barn and he didn't hide it either!

Ahoy Tag!

Julie and Greg gave us Sammie's life jacket a long time ago now... I don't know why it caught my eye when we were talking in the laundry room, but it did, and we had a good laugh. Poor Tag... it fits him and we will definitely use it when given the chance. Tag isn't the best swimmer!

Pink Froggy Hop

I was in ballet when I was little and I sure don't remember doing this! Haha... It was fun to see Lilah, Cali and their little friend Farah in their Ballet class this weekend.

Sophie in the Bouncy Chair

I visited Sophie and Cali this weekend and got to see Sophie put in her bouncy chair for the first time... she is a pretty good little bouncer!

I got it!!

My class was warned by our substitute teacher a few weeks ago as to how hard our next chapter was going to be and even gave us a preview.

After Class last week where we were taught the lesson by our teacher... I just didn't get it (and honestly, it didn't seem like the rest of the class did either).

Tonight... after days of reading and going over stuff... I GOT IT!! Its still hard, but I finally got the concept... stupid present and future value of bonds >:S <--- yes that is a frustrated face!

Pre-Approved for a House!!

Brian and I were pre-approved for a Mortgage! Last weekend we sat down with a mortgage consultant to go over what's involved, what we can afford, etc. Even though we are not ready to buy a house just yet, we wanted to know where we stood in terms of what we could get. Gotta say... pre-approval is pretty cool cause you know you can buy that house when your ready! Yippie!

We have a couple variables that are making us hold back for the moment... paying off as much debt as we can and also, the location of my job will be moving most likely by the end of the year. We love where we are living currently and are happy to stay until we are ready to purchase, which might be as soon as next Summer (2012). So this is going to be a tight year for money as I have a plan to have most of my debt paid off in 15 months. (Sorry everyone, no gifts, crafts, etc... I just can't afford it) Wish I didn't have that debt but, hey... I over extended myself way too much when I shouldn't have and now I have to plan for the future. Good thing I enjoy Mr. Noodles...

Tag's hurt paw

Tag hurt his paw a week ago... Then made it a but worse by over doing it so we tried to fix it up... It didnt last long!!

Cali's Skating Birthday Party

We had a nice time at Cali's Ice Skating birthday party... I feel so bad that I only got 3 pictures and non have Cali in them!!! Ugh... anyhow, check the family blogs for more pictures, haha... I was ice skating! :)
Turns out Brian is quite the ice skater!! I had no idea...

Aaron and Declan playing on the ice....

The ice skating rink.... and that's all I got! Happy Birthday Cali!

Happy Birthday Cali!

Happy 3rd birthday to a very special little girl. I can't believe you are 3 already Cali!

(borrowed your picture mom!!)

Happy Birthday Julie!

Happy 31st Birthday Julie! 31? Geez... you are just making me feel older now! Haha... I hope you have a wonderful birthday with the family! (I didn't take any pictures at your party either? I am doing terrible for picture taking lately....)

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Everyone! Brian spoiled me with 3 heart boxes of chocolates along with a full length mirror! He is outside right now BBQing our Valentine's Day hamburgers. Hope everyone has a nice day...

Happy 2nd Birthday little Declan!

Happy Birthday Declan!

Happy 2nd birthday to one of the happiest little boy's I know! (I didn't take any pictures at Declan's birthday either!!!!)

Race Pics from Last Weekend

So I beat my time last year by 5 minutes and 20 seconds.... Nadia came in 18 seconds before me so we did awesome! (Below is Nadia me and Laura... Nadia's friends Laura and Darcy did the 10km)

There is still light at 5:30!!

Finally there is a bit of light out after work... Here is a sunset Tag and I saw as we were finishing our walk.

Houston Foothills 5 km race

Nadia and I ran the first race we ran last year when we first started running today! It was so cool to see how we had improved in a one year time frame! This time we didn't run together, we did out own time. Last year it took us both 39.22... This year we both knocked 5 minutes off our time... Once the race results are posted, I will put up my exact time. We are both very happy with our progress!! A couple of Nadia's friends came along and did the 10 km, it was really nice to have more people join us! Once I get copies of the pictures, I will put them up!

A trip across the border for...

As it seems, any type of cherry pop we could find!

Brian and I went across the border today to see what kind of deals we could get on regular stuff to try and save money. Gas is WAY cheaper, food stuff is about the same... the Saucony shoes I buy for running are half price, so I will have to go back once I need a new pair. I had to get some cherry coke or cherry pepsi cause I love it so much... Brian found the cherry 7up and I was able to track down my favorite chocolate bars for 50c a piece "Whatchamacallits" which are really the american version of "Special Crisps". Anyhow, it was a fun quick little trip across the line...

Campbell Valley Stomp 5km

Brain and Tag showed up at the finish line to surprise Nadia and I today at our race! Its always great to have Brian there and super cool that Tag can come along now too in Brian's new truck! Special thanks to Brian for taking our pictures... I really wanted to photoshop my belly in the above picture, but... its just a progress marker! Look for that belly to be gone by the end of the year, I want to be fit!!! :)

So this was the first race Nadia and I have experienced where we were faced with mud and puddles in which there was no way of going around them except to go through it! The puddles were so deep in some cases that they came up half way up my shin (lucky I was wearing capris). I also had my first injury on the trail... a broken tree branch stabbed me in the leg when I wasn't paying attention due to the mud puddles. It didn't hurt until I defrosted my body from the cold later.

You can actually see how muddy and big the puddles were just at the finish line here.

First load to the dump!

Brian and I finally got to enjoy the benefits of having a truck today! We took a load of garbage to the dump and picked up more cedar for the roof of Tag's dog house!

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Crazy Dog...

I let Tag out to play in the snow and he lays in it chewing on his bone... crazy dog... its cold out!!

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Now that's dedication!

Nadia and I went to the track tonight and still did our workout even with the snow and ice covered track!

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Unique Snow

When Brian and I were at IHOP with mom and Julie and Sophie today, it started to snow and hail for a short time and this interesting stuff was left!

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2010 in Review.... New Year's Resolutions?

I liked what Stephanie did on her blog... a year in review. So here is mine...

In January Nadia and I decided to do the Sun Run. What a cold month to start training for a 10km. Brian was out of town lots doing installs in Castlgar, BC and Silvan Lake, AB.

February was a sad month. After 6 amazing years, I lost my precious Tiburon in a car accident. I cried for a week (poor Brian!). I was lucky though, other than a sore hip, I had no injuries and felt better in a week. Brian was out of town again... Estevan and some other place! (Noticing he gets to travel lots?!) Nadia and I also did our first 5km race in Fort Langley, Brian was there to cheer us on and then took us to breakfast after!

In March I bought the first of my 2 new cars, a 2005 Mazda 3 hatch back (which I found had a very bad smell about it rather quickly) Nadia and I did the St. Paddy's day 5km run in Port Moody... I failed miserably because both my shins got cramps ugh... so painful and it was VERY cold that day. Brian was there to cheer us on again, thanks Brian!!

April Brian was on an install in Williams lake and on his way back I met him up in Kamloops for a fun weekend at Dad and Jeanie's for one last stay at the house as they finally sold it! We went to the Guns and Antiques show, had an awesome dinner with Dad's friend Wayne and Jeanie's Brother Huey and his wife... it was a fun time. (Dad also gave Brian his birthday present early, a custom knife made by Huey... to this day, Brian is still amazed by this knife).

May was a busy Month. Brian was on installs in Victoria for almost 2 weeks taking a break on the weekend and then he was off to St. John's Newfoundland. Nadia and I completed our first 10km race, the Sun Run!!! We were both so proud of ourselves for all the training we did and being able to complete a run of that distance! And just because it worked out that way, we did one more 10km race in Abbotsford at the end of the month.

June was a special month because after 2 years of Tag living with Mom and Elliott because Brian and I were unable to have him... our landlord generously allowed us to have Tag move in!! Very exciting. Only one install for Brian this month... Kitchener, Ontario. Also, Brian turned 34!

July was a big month in a few ways. I did my one and only wedding this year, a gay wedding in Vancouver, I have never done a gay wedding before and it was a fun experience!! When Brian was on an install in St Catherines, ON I had a big interview which I had a feeling would be my ticket out of GW... the same day Nadia and I did a 20 minute challenge at the running room to get a free hat... haha, it was an aweful ugly red hat. The happiest day in a long time was when I got the call for new job here in Langley and gave my notice to GW in Burnaby.

August I started my new job while continuing to work at the old one. I basically gave up the end of my summer to make the transition happen more smoothly for both workplaces! Part way through the month I decided I was completely unhappy with my Blue Mazda 3 and went and traded it in for a brand new 2010 fully loaded, leather interior Black Mazda 3 hatch back. Sooooo glad I did!

In September I said goodbye to commuting to Burnaby and the job at GW. Brian had a couple small installs in Clearwater BC and Calgary AB. Also, Brian's very first niece Scarlett was born.

October was a busy month! Brian was off to Winnepeg MB and then back to Alberta again. Nadia and I did a 6km fun run at Aldor Acres pumpkin patch which turned out to be a 6km difficult HILL run... I gave it my best as I knew the family was going to be there to cheer me on at the end for a fun day of pumpkin patch adventures after. I flew out to Concord, CA to visit Katie, Ian, Aaron and my new niece Olivia! I had such a great time with them and got to spend so much special one on one time with little Aaron.

November Brian was off to Lethbridge AB. On Remembrance day I took Lilah out shopping at Michael's and we did some baking in Nana's kitchen. It was fun little adventure. For my 32nd birthday I got exceptionally sick and had to skip doing absolutely everything. The timing was also bad as we were all awaiting the arrival of little Sophie who showed up on the last day of the month!

December Brian did an install in St. John New Brunswick... Dad & Jeanie delivered our old but new furniture all refinished and amazing... so exciting, still is. Brian and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary together, can you believe its been that long? Christmas Eve we had an open house at our place for family which was a lot of fun. Christmas was spent with all of you as you know... and New Years, that brings you right up to my blog about the New Years Resolution Run in White Rock on January 1.

2010 was quite a year. I achieved a few goals I set out for myself... I lost weight, I found a better job and ran a 10km race (a few actually) The things I had wanted most for last year will continue on this year... working on my health and fitness, working on bettering my career (School started Jan 5) and paying off debt so Brian and I can get going on buying a house! Specific goals for 2011 are to loose 20 more pounds, run a half marathon and to pay off as much debt as humanly possible while getting more education to hopefully make me more money!! Easy!! :)

Happy New Year!

A most unexpected gift...

I have been wanting to say a special thank you to Mom and Elliott for the Macro lens they got me for Christmas. It is amazing, I love it, and it is something I never would have asked someone else to buy for me... but I have ALWAYS wanted one! I guess its my fault for holding Elliott's macro lens hostage for a few months during the summer. I am waiting for some snow to fall to really go have some fun outside with this lens... it just happened that last weekend I had my camera in hand and the windows on my car were covered with what looked like snow flakes (click on the images above to see them closer). I love the depth of field on the F2.8... wow!!! (for those who dont know, that is what makes the for-ground and background out of focus)

Happy New Year !!

Nadia, Julia (Nadia's sister) and I did the 8 km resolution trail run in White Rock this morning... 62 minutes!! What a great way to start the new year even thoughit was freezing (-5 c)

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Brian's new truck!!

We got a surprise call today... Brian's new Ford Ranger arrived a month early!!

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Tag opening his present

Here is Tag opening his present from Mom and Elliott... he acts just like a little kid!

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Christmas Morning....

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