Run for the Roses 5k

This past weekend I completed my fifth 5k of the year.  Cross that goal off my 30 goals list!  I am so glad I set that goal because I feel like it has kept me running (kind of) throughout the year.  This summer/fall has been a little inconsistent but it was always on my mind.  I have really enjoyed all of these little races!  I am hoping to maybe get in one more before the end of December, maybe two and hope that I will have more time to run to get my time down.

Sunday was the best morning for a run!  Cool, crisp, perfect.  Although, these are the mornings where I am just not sure what to wear, and of course I over dressed but that's alright. Hey when I got dressed it was in the thirties!   It wasn't too bad.  The race started at 9:00 which was perfect-I didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get ready.  John and Elsie came to this one to watch and enjoy the yummy omelette breakfast that was served after the race.  We met up at Kedra's before heading to Ames for the run.  There we met up with a couple other ladies.

The whole group of runners-Joy, Jill, Heidi, Me, Hillary, Kedra, and Kedra's student teacher (I can't rememeber her name-how terrible am I?)

Elsie all bundled up for the morning. 

I ran the race with Hillary and Heidi.  I wasn't sure how it was going to go because I had rolled my ankle earlier in the week and had just noticed that it was black and blue.  I wished I would have iced it more but played it off like it was no big deal.  However, the run felt really good.  You know how you have some days where it is just a struggle to get your legs moving, well not on Sunday.  It felt good, despite my ankle.  The route was pretty hilly  especially compared to the last race which was completely flat.  I did like how this route was a lot of up and down vs a continuous uphill for the first half and then all downhill for the second half like the Dam to Dam 5k.  It kept things interesting :)  My goal for this run was to do better than the Flapjack 5k that I ran a couple of weeks ago back in September.  Which I believe I accomplished according to my Map My Run app. by over a minute.  We will find out the official time whenever it gets posted.    I plan to update times/pace time in my final 30 goals wrap up which is just about coming to an end!  Crazy! 

After the race, we were served omelettes which were yummy.  Elsie must have been tuckered out because she slept the whole time in a loud, crowded cafeteria with music playing over the speakers.  Oh and we also all received a rose.  My friend Kedra ended up getting first place for our age division too!  I think they said there was 1100 runners which is pretty good for a little 5k in Ames.  

After the race we had another open house for our house so we came home, tidied up the house and then Elsie and I ran some errand while John did cattle stuff.  Another beautiful weekend-I seem to say that every week which makes me feel so blessed!  

Beautiful Weekend

Another relatively quiet weekend here in our home-at least compared to our crazy busy weekends that took place during the summer.  I am really enjoying the slower pace that fall brings to our home.  No packing and unpacking every week to prepare for our next weekend outing.  Don't get me wrong...I just love the busyness of the summer but I also welcome time at home and doing things in our neck of the woods as well.

Of course, having our home on the market and having showings just about every Satruday, our Friday nights tend to be filled with house cleaning and this Friday night was no different.  Which is okay because then our home is clean and enjoyable throughout the weekend.

Saturday morning was just a beautiful morning.  All week I had been looking forward to heading out to the Berry Patch.  I have been there a couple of time.  Once back in 2011 when I was pregnant and once back in June when we picked strawberries.  It isn't a fancy place but they have the best fruit!  I really wanted some honeycrisp apples and at $2.25 a pound I just couldn't pass them up.  So Elsie and headed out to go and pick some.  We went early to avoid the crowds.  Plus we had a house showing so we had to get out of the house anyways.

Elsie loved to pick the apples.  I think if I let her she would have picked all day.  Another great thing about the Honeycrisp apples is that the trees were low to the group-perfect height for Elsie.  Ohh these apples were so good and smells so delicious

Elsie had her own little bag that she filled up and wouldn't let go of until we got home.  She also thought it was a good idea to eat an apple on the way home.  We were driving and all of a sudden I hear a "crunch" and sure enough she is biting into one of her apples.  We ended up walking away with 10.5 pounds of apples. I am looking forward to making some yummy muffins. 

After we got home we had lunch and Elsie just "had" to wear my sunglasses. 

After lunch it was time for nap.  Which meant I had a bit of time to get some stuff done-mainly finish cleaning our screens.  There was bit of discussion with our neighbor Kari over the best way to clean screens so I tried two different ways-one with Dawn dish soap and the other way was hot water and vinegar.  I have to say both did a pretty good job of getting our filthy screens cleaned.  Since I had the hot water and vinegar out I decided to clean a small area on our siding that was starting to get a bit mildewy since it is on the north side.  Well, one thing let to another and the whole addition of our house got clean.  It took us awhile (John ended up helping when he got home from work)

And of course had to sit up at the counter for snack-she loves sitting here-it makes me nervous though.  After her nap she helped me make some apple crisp for dessert after dinner.  She is really into helping me :) "I Do It" is one of her new favorite phrases these days.  So she had to help me stir and "measure"

Also this weekend we had an open house which was scheduled for Sunday so we tidied up/clean again on Saturday night and I hit the hay early because I had a run the next morning.

On Sunday morning I ran in the Flapjack 5k/10k in Des Moines.  I originally signed up for the 10k but with such a hot end of summer and John being so busy I definitely didn't run enough to feel confident in my abilities to comfortably run a 10k so I switched to a 5k which was perfect.  It definitely wasn't my fastest of the year but I am ok with that.  Compared to all my other 5ks (Rosy Cheeks, SCAVMA Scamper, Dam to Dam) I "trained" the least for this one, including my one in February.  And when I say trained I just mean logged some miles.  

It was another beautiful morning!  I wasn't sure how to dress and right before the run started I decided to take off my long sleeve and I was so glad I did.  Hillary and I ran together the entire time and I am just glad I never had to stop and walk.  Going in my goal was to do it under a 10 min/mile pace which I did.  

The race was to benefit Children's Cancer Connection.  This is just an amazing group!  I worked with them quite a bit when I worked out at the camp.  They were my biggest group coming out for two full weeks in the summertime and a couple of retreats throughout the year.  Also, Peyton (JoLene's daughter) was/is involved with this group and has offered support for her through her journey. In fact, they just named a room after her for teens called "Peyton's Place".  

Elsie spend the morning with Bev and they met up with Brandi and the girls at the local Arts Festival.  Sounds like she had a good time and I am glad she got out to hang with her cousins again.  

Sunday afternoon was our open house.  Marc wanted it to be clear to everyone on the street that we were having an open house:) We had two couples come through that afternoon for a total of 13 showings since it went on the market.  But that is where it ends.  No second showings and no offers. John and I have already begun to talk about our projects for our current house in the event that we stay in it for a few more years.  I will try to do a home update soon.   

All in all, it was a great weekend.  The weather was beautiful we spent time with family and friends and we have lots to be thankful for.  

30 Years, 30 Goals-August Update

I accomplished a little this month but I also decided to add an "abandoned" category because I know there are some things I just won't accomplish-these things will probably go onto next years goals :).

GOALS COMPLETED (BLACK):  12/30
PROGRESS (BLUE):  9/30
DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT (RED):  7/30
ABANDONED:  2/30

1. Run 5-5ks (2/5)

1.  Rosy Cheeks Run-February

2.  SCAVMA Scamper-April
3.  Dam to Dam 5k-June
I also registered for a race on September-the Flapjack 10k and have two more races on the books-one for Oct and one for November

2.  Complete Outlander Series by Diana Galbadon.

3.  Get into a consistent routine of exercising at least three times a week.

4.  Take Elsie to a Children's Museum

We went to the Omaha Children's Museum in Febraury

5.  Spend a weekend in the Amana Colonies with John
I actually contacted a bed and breakfast and started to think about the weekend and look at the calendar...however who knows what October/November will look like in our household so I didn't actually make the reservation yet.  

6.  Visit three new wineries in Iowa
1.  Madison County Winery-June

7.  Lose at least 15 pounds

11/15

8.  Send out 10 "Just Because Notes to Family and Friends

9.  Attend a MN Twins game this season
Looks like this just isn't going to happen this year :(

10.  Plan and Carry Out a date night with John once a month

Dec: Dance Club

Jan: Too much snow made us cancel our Jan 30th date night

Feb: Gary Allan Concert in MN-although we were not alone-Marc and Amber joined us

March: San Juan

April:  The Cafe

May:  Well I wasn't the one in charge of this months date night and not to point fingers but we didn't get out :)

June:  Madison County Winery, The Big Steer, and Prairie Meadows
July:  We ended up going out to dinner again at The Cafe and then came home, snuggled with Cinder, and played a new card game "Yhatzee Hands Down".  
August:  Iowa State Fair and Dierks Bentley Concert

11. Enroll in a fitness class:  
I registered and started my yoga class.  I enjoyed my first day so much and can't wait for it this week.  

12.  Become familiar with photoshop so that I want to use it to edit my photos.
I haven't even opened it up yet but I did buy a book about using photoshop...that's a little progress right? 

13.  Set a budget and stick to it
I still set a budget this month but right now it is Operation Spend no Money! now that we have our house on the market, moving incurs extra expenses so for now we aren't really splurging on much.  However, I did spend money the first half of the month buying frivolous items such as new curtain panels for the dining room and family room and new throw pillows for the family room.  

14.  Update window treatments in dining room, living room, and kitchen
I purchased new curtain panels for our dining room and living room.  I really love the dining room ones.  I went with full length panels and they add so much to the room.  (you can check them out in our MLS listing).  I probably won't do the kitchen window treatment because why waste the time in case we won't be living here in a few months.  

15.  Be up to date on photo books
I have started this years books for both Elsie and the family book, have started my pregnancy book with Elsie, and am just about done with our vacation to Michigan in 2011.  Oh and I started our Family 2012 book too.  I just need to get some of these finished. But we are making progress.  

16.  Read 4 non-fiction books

1.  168 Hours:  You have more time than you think

2.  Healthy Tipping Point

3.  How to Talk so your kids will listen and Listen so Your Kids Will Talk 

4.  The Happiness Project

17.  Have an Elsie outing once a month
Well this comes so easy for us...this month we went to the zoo, the science center, the library, the park.  I feel like this is a silly goal since we do so many things with her :).  

18.  Take the camper out 5 times this summer
1.  St. Croix State Park-July
2.  Lake Rathbun-July
Unfortunately the summer didn't go quite as planned and ended up being so busy that we did not get out.  I am hoping to get out one more time before we close it up for the winter but I know I won't reach the goal of five times. 

19.  Finally get rid of all the stuff in boxes that I want to donate.

20.  Attend Church at least one a month (or 12 times throughout the year).

21.  Plan and carry out a stay cation.
Staycation 2013-Day One

Staycation 2013: Day 2

22.  Host a game night at our house.

23.  Work related-Visit a farm site to get a better understanding of the  equipment we sell.

24.  Make the switch to natural cleaning/non-toxic products.
I actually started doing this last month but forgot.  I made up a solution for basic cleaning in the kitchen.  It has borax, vinegar, baking soda, and a tidge of dawn dish soap.  I think it works pretty good.  Also for the floors we swtiched from a swiffer wet-mop (I didn't feel it worked that great anyways) to a steam mop which just uses water.  So happy with the change.  We are slowly phasing out harsh chemicals little by little.  Maybe down the road I will write a whole post on this.  

25.  find a cause I want to support and start a volunteer relationship.

26.  Find and purchase a little black dress that I Love!

27.  Do Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred.

28.  Make 5:30 my standard wake up time and 10:00 my standard bedtime.

29.  Update birthday information for all family and friends.

30.  Twice a month call a family member or friend to chat.

August Date Night-Iowa State Fair and Dierks Bentley Concert

Two weekends ago John and I spent the afternoon and night at the Iowa State Fair for our date night.  We aren't huge fair people, although this will probably change now that we have a child but up until this point, we only go to the fair when we have a concert at night.  Lets look back a little at the previous years...

2007-No Fair-we were getting married

2008- No Fair-No Excuse :)

2009-State Fair with the our good friends Adam and Ruth and Marc and Amber.  We had tickets to go see Gary Allan!  

2010-State Fair with our good friends RAndi and Joe and Marc and Amber.  We had tickets to go see Sugarland

2011-No fair-I had tickets to see Sugarland but they ended up cancelling the concert because the night before they had that big storm in Indiana and their stage/set collapsed.  We did end up going to the Minnesota State Fair with my family that year instead. 

2012-No Fair

2013-Well here we are this year.  We had a great time walking around the fair and enjoying one of the best concerts ever! 

The one thing I look forward to enjoying the most is "Pork Chop on a Stick"  It seriously is the best ever!  I had a pork chop on-a-stick at the MN State Fair and it definitely did not compare the ones at the Iowa State Fair-so it was the first thing we did when we got there. 

After that we spent some time in the Craft Beer Tent sampling a variety of yummy beer.  

I loved the little 5oz cups :)  Then off to check out the "Biggest Bull". 

Then on to the "Biggest Boar"

We ate some more food including:  Ribbon Taters, Deep Fried Pickle Dogs, Mini Donuts, Corn Dog, Lemonade, and Bacon-wrapped Smokies on a Stick (which were terrible and we agreed was the worst decision we made). John also got some ice cream in Ag Building. 

Also in the Ag Building we visited we had to visit the butter sculptures.  This year it highlighted the 100th Anniversary of Lincoln Highway-if you remember from my trip to Idaho we live along the Lincoln Highway and I love learning about the history of it.  

And of course the classic "Butter Cow"

We also came across this window display which immediately reminded us of Elsie-She is obsessed with peppers right now and will go to the fridge begging for "peppas".  I think if she saw this she would go nuts :)

We walked around for a little bit more before heading to the Grandstand for the concert!  

I was so excited for our concert.  I know I mentioned this before but we had AWESOME seats.  We were in Row 1 center stage in the Grandstand.  So yes there were all the seats on the floor but we had a clear line straight to the performer.  Nothing obstructing our view.  We also had 4-5 feet in front of us between our seats and the little fence which means I had plenty of room to dance ;)

Although I was excited for the concert I was excited to be spending time with John :)  I just love our monthly date nights.  

The opening act was Justin Moore and he was REALLY good too!  Definitely enjoyed his performance. 

The out came Dierks.  It was such a good show!  So much fun and of course he know how to entertain the crowd!  I never sat down and never stopped moving!  

I just had to take a pic of this.  During his perfomance of "Home" he asked everyone to take out their phones and light them up.  The whole grandstand was lit up! 

I was so sad when it was all over.  I will seriosuly see him again the next time he comes around.  Hopefully, that will be sooner than later.  

Our June Date Night-I Mean Date Day

On Saturday June 1st, John and I spent literally the entire day together!  It was so nice.  John and Elsie came with to my race in Des Moines, we went to look at a camper-too beat up inside to consider, and then made our way home where John's mom took over watching Elsie while we cleaned up and got ready to leave again.  John and I were taking off to Madison County, IA to check out a winery we hadn't been to yet, cleverly named Madison County Winery.  It was about an hour driver there but was really nice to just sit and chat a little bit (which is the whole purpose of these monthly dates right?).  When we arrived we saw that there was a party bus with a bachelorette party.  Thankfully, they had already done the tasting so they were just lounging outside enjoying some wine.

We had the option to sample 5 wines for free or pay like $2 for all of them...of course we did all of them and also ordered the cheese plate with yummy Havarti and Smoke Gouda cheese. Oh it was so good.  The wine was okay.  I would have to say that there are some wineries we go to where I want to get a bottle of all of them but this place I was very content walking away with one bottle to take home and that was the "Strawberry Blonde".  I ended up getting a glass to sit outside and drink as enjoyed our cheese and John got one of the beers (they also are a brewery but I didn't get to trying any of them because the wine was enough ;).

As we were finishing up our tasting another party bus showed up with another bachelorette party so it was nice to get out of the building and sit outside.

After enjoying our wine, beer, and cheese we stopped at one of the famous "Bridges of Madison County."  At one time there were 19 bridges but now only six remain.  The ones we stopped at was the Imes Bridge which is the oldest bridge built in 1870 and then renovated in 1997.

After the stop at the bridge we made our way to one of our favorite restaraunts:  The Big Steer where we met up with some friends Marc, Amber, Darren and Kari.  We have made it an annual tradition to get to The Big Steer at least once a year for as long as I can remember.  The food as always was delicious and we made it there early so they didn't sell out of prime rib before we could get it (that happened once and it was horrible! haha).  After dinner we had plans to check out the horse races at the racetrack but I was not dressed for the weather and it was really chilly!  So we headed inside to the casino, played a few slots, and hung out.  

It was such a great day with John and of course with our friends we met up with later in the evening!  

Como Park

A few weeks ago we met my cousin Jen and her family (who were visiting from North Carolina) as well as my sister and her family at Como Park in St. Paul.  All of our parents came for the trip as well.  It was a special day also because it was John's Birthday!  I had been to the Como Zoo a few times when I was younger but it had been a few years.  It was fun to go back.  It was also a lot of fun because Elsie just loves animals right now.  

Flamingos at the Entrance-It was at this time I tried to take a picture and realized that I forgot to put my card back into my camera.  Luckily my dad had one that fit.  

Elsie with the map, leading us in the right direction

Looking at the Bison

We made our way to the "Sparky Show" and the kids seems to enjoy it! 

Grandpa with his girls

After the show we grabbed some snacks and took off to see more animals like the cats, monkeys, giraffes, zebras and gorillas!  

The Four Girls:  Piper, Allie, Callie Ann, and Elsie

After checking out the animals we headed back to the car which was parked right next to the picnic area.  We found an open table and pulled out our sandwhiches, pasta salad, fruit, and chips and enjoyed a nice lunch with lots of green space for the kids to play.  After lunch, my cousin's family, Aunt and Uncle took off and we headed back to the park-this time to the amusement park.  It was nearing Elsie's nap time and I was a bit nervous how things would go.  She didn't end up napping while there but did really well and had a great time.  

The first stop was the famous Carousel.  

Then we headed into Como Town.  As we walked in we came across this sign-of course John had to take a picture-it was his birthday after all.  

We tried to shield Elsie from the sun with hopes she would doze but she wasn't into it.  So to the train we went.  

My mom's favorite ride is the Tilt-a-Whirl.  The last time they went on it was at the MN State Fair back in 2011 and I didn't go because I was pregnant.  So this time I decided to give it a "whirl".  It was a lot of fun and boy did we twirl around and around.  

The rest of the time while at the park we strolled along, snapping pictures and watching Tami and Allie enjoy the rides.  Derick enjoy all the different food the park had to offer, and Piper enjoyed a little snooze in the stroller.  

Enjoying a cool treat!

After the rides, we went back into the zoo and checked out a few missed animals and then called it a day around 5:30!  It was a WONDERFUL day spent with family!