I Can't Believe I Did It

About a year and half ago I decided I wanted to be a runner.  I've always wanted to be a runner, but never thought I could actually do it.  I made a goal  to run five 5ks last summer and fall.  I started with just walking 30 minutes on the treadmill a few times a week.  There were days where walking that 30 minutes was tough.  My stubborn self would have to fight with my lazy self to get my feet to just keep going.  Then I started running for 2 minutes, walking for 10, running for 2, etc.  Those two minutes of running seemed like an eternity!  I could barely do it when I first started.  I would count down the seconds and at the end of those two minutes I felt like my legs just couldn't go any more!  Then after lots of determination and committment to the gym I trained and finshed a 10K at the Fargo Marathon last weekend!  I ran 6.4 miles in a little over an hour.  What!?  I had no idea I could do that.  It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life:)

Hot Stuff!

It was 95 degrees on Friday!  Here's Mya in her first tank top outfit of the season:)

Summer Here We Come:)

If it's nice out you'll find Randy, Mya, and I hanging out in our backyard every day after work.  Tonight Mya and I decided to clean up some of the flower beds.  There were perennials all over this place when we first moved in.  I love flowers, but the beds were a mess.  We've been working on them little by little since the summer we bought the place.  I want to plant Zinnias behind the garage, so Mya helped me rip out what was there to make room for the new "rainbow flowers" that we'll plant tomorrow night.  Randy and I figured out pretty quickly that it was a lot easier to fill up the back of Mya's gator instead of the wheelbarrow because instead of pushing a heavy wheelbarrow back to the burn pile, Mya can just hop in her gator and drive back there.  Pretty good system we have going:) 

Loading up the gator!

Off to the burn pile!

Ready to dump!

Dakota got ahold of Mya's watering can and bit a hole in it.  Mommy fixed it with duct tape:)

Happy Mother's Day!!

We spent part of this mother's day weekend in Minneapolis with my mom, sister, and Grandma Bev.  My mom took this video of Mya and I swimming at the hotel where my sister works.   My grandma is staying there for a few weeks as she's receiving oxegyn treamtments at the Hennepin County Medical Center for the ulcer on her leg.  She has 3 weeks left, I think, of treatments.  Pray for a speedy recovery for her:)

Family + Timberwolves Game = A Really Great Time!

So about a month and a half ago I decided I wanted to plan something a little different for Randy's Birthday this year. This is right about the time when Ricky Rubio (the MN Timberwolves new guard) was burning up the court (with both his skills and his smokin Spanish good-looks, hee! hee!). Hmmmm- why not go to a T-wolves game for Randy's Bday? Randy is a huge sports nut and I'm a huge Rubio fan/stalker. Perfect! So I collaborated with Randy's brothers and sisters and my sister and the trip was planned! Then... Rubio blew out his knee and he was out for the season:( BUMMER! BUT, we went ahead as scheduled and had a blast!:) A BIG thank you to Steve and Aleshia, Steve and Colleen, and my sis Ashley and her boyfriend Ben. I am so very, very thankful for the family we have been blessed with. We love you guys and it's trips like this that make life's best memories. Oh and thank you Grandma Steph for watching the girls!! Can't wait to do this again... next year when Rubio is BACK!

More Easter Fun

On Friday night we went over to Fergus to Grandma Bev's to dye Easter eggs with Mya's second and third cousins...

Nevaeh, Mareyn, Mya, and Cader

Then on Saturday we hosted to Miranowski Easter and annual Easter Egg Hunt at our house

Penelope

Ready for church on Easter Sunday.  Mya was not happy about being in a skirt.... 



Halle...

Randy's dog Halle passed away last night...  We will miss her so much.  She was a beautiful, sweet dog who loved us unconditionally and protected me, Mya, and the house whenever Randy was gone.  She loved hard, lived hard, and hunted hard:)  She was always full of energy and life.  Her and Randy were very close; she adored him.  We have 4 dogs and Mya said last night, "Halle was my favorite".    Halle was such a lover.  I'm sure she's up in heaven chasing cats or pointing pheasants.  Hopefully Bailey was up there to greet her.  We love our dogs.  It's so hard to lose one.  Rest in peace Hal.  We'll love you forever.

Easter Egg Coloring!

We had a little get together last night at our house for all our nieces. We dye Easter eggs every year...fun times. Each family brings a dozen eggs to dye. This year, however, someone (that person shall remain nameless:) brought a dozen eggs that weren't hard boiled! Oops! We dyed them all before realizing it and now have no idea which ones they are! We discovered this because one of the girls broke an egg and there was runny yoke everywhere! So funny! Enjoy the pics:)

Pretty

The Coloring Crew

My little peanut having a ball.

My neice Jude with a very well placed Easter Tattoo:)

JUDES BIRTHDAY

So Jude's Birthday was last month, so this is a little late, but I had some great pics from the party so wanted to share.  Happy 9th Birthday Jude!

Jude and her gift from all her aunts and uncles.  An American Girl Doll.

The whole crew

Ellie

Mya

Penelope:)

Word.

Florida and Kansas City!

My mom had a business conference in St. Pete Beach Florida and asked if I'd like to "ride along":)  I definitely couldn't turn down that kind of invitation! Mom was pretty busy with work so I spent much of my time sleeping, running, or laying on the BEACH.  It was perfect.  A much needed break from life:)  Thank you Mom!

The view from our hotel balcony.

Me on the beach alone.  Peace. Quiet. Sun.  Heaven.

Mom and I did get a chance to go on a dolphin cruise together.  We cruised the gulf and saw several groups of dolphins and this cool steam ship. 

KANSAS CITY

For those of you who don't already know Randy is an avid pheasant hunter.  Avid meaning completely obsessed with it from September til January.  Each year the Pheasants Forever hold a trade show type thing called Pheasant Fest.  Last year we traveled to Omaha, NE for it and this year (at the last minute) we decided to pack up Mya and travel to Kansas City, MO for it.  We had some great family time.  Kansas City is a reallly pretty city and the downtown reminded me a lot of parts of downtown Minneapolis.

In the hallway waiting for the elevator.

Pheasant Fest was held at the Kansas City Convention Center.  There were tons of different booths and vendors.  Different kennels even brought their hunting puppies.

 They had a jr. hunters area set up for the kids.  Mya and I spent a lot of time hear while daddy looked around.

Mya and I posing in one of the ATVs.

It was a good day:)