Pity Party!!!

So I am going to have a pity party for myself tonight...I am going to enjoy the wine that I love from Cannon Falls and sit and mope! BECAUSE I CAN! You all are invited! (I am sure this sounds so appealing!)

I know when people say they understand they are trying to help...blah, blah blah...However, I will just be this way for a day and then I will be back to myself...I know there are people much worse off that I am...But I don't care today...

PS: I didn't pass my test AGAIN!!! #4 or was it #5 I don't know it feels like a million!

On the other hand...I ran in a race on Sunday...It is one of my favorite races of the year because the finish line is a tunnel of lights and Christmas music is playing! I really don't know how I did because of the snow packed trail, it was fun!!!! From all the rough terrain my back and legs are sore, so I went to the chiropractor today! I love him!!!

HAPPY PITYING!!!!

My graduate studies...

So I thought of a great thesis for my graduate studies...(ps...I am not currently enrolled...) "The correlation of students behavior and the weather" When I say weather, I would like to encompass the moon and the tides as well.

17.8 inches of snow + winds up to 60mph = SNOW DAY! I love snow days... I think it is something teachers dream of. Granted you do want to accomplish things, however, it is nice to have that unexpected break!

I loved decorating our house on the SNOW DAY! The house feels so nice, warm and inviting!

I am going to enjoy this shortened week!

Mr. Miller

Hello all! Joel has recently got the bug to bake! I am not complaining at all... Joel made a cake and it was so yummy! Then, he made a loaf of homemade bread...who knew that Mr. Miller liked to bake!!! Lucky me!!!

Today was the Turkey Trot 5K race and it was so much fun! I love those races... With in this last week I have come to the realization I am going to start training for a half/full marathon! The power and the way you feel about yourself after accomplishing a goal is amazing! I finished with a time of 28:36... 2,300 people ran this race... My husband is taking these pictures...

If you can't see the sign it says, "Runner's line up here..." The very next sign says, "19 minutes and under..." I had a few blocks to go before I got to the place were I was suppose to line up! :)

The last leg of the race was running through the UW-LaCrosse Stadium... The girl in the red is a friend and I am hidden right next to her! I am wearing pink shorts... :)

No I am not the girl in the swimming suit...I am hidden again! You can see my white shoe! :)

So these are the "Butterball Beauties!" Our team name! We are all affiliated with the LCPD in some way...Mostly the better halves!!!

So anyway, Joel and I will be spending Thanksgiving in the Eau Claire area, and I can't wait to see my little sister, Ellie...she has been waiting for me... or so I hear!

Friday!!!

I had so much fun last night... I was the bump and my couch was the log. I just needed a night to myself and stare endlessly at the TV. It was a blast! Then I fell asleep! A perfect night!

So today is Friday, you would think I would be excited for a weekend?! Right?! However, I get to work tonight at Maggies, take a test tomorrow and work at Maggies on Sunday!

...For any of you reading this PLEASE say a big prayer of God's Will for me and the outcome of the test.

Joel has been a busy bee the last few days. I am very thankful that he helps out so much around the house! He had training for the ERT last night and he always enjoys that!

At my school computer....

Yup, that is what I said at my school computer! I now have a long term subbing position and I feel extremely lucky! It will be a challenge however, I can take it on!

Joel and I have continued to work on little projects around the house. We continue to be really busy and enjoy when we have time off together.

I now am working 3 jobs...serving at Maggie's in Onalaska, teaching fitness at Snap, and teaching in the Holmen School District.

Last week we had the opportunity to go to Altar Boyz. Altar Boyz is a musical which has a fictitious boy band who's concerts try to "save" everyone. This was a comedy with religious puns in every song. Afterward, both Joel and I were complaining of our cheeks and stomachs hurting from laughing so hard! It was a great time and wonderful to hang out with some friends!

Wedding, 5 miles and gardening!

So here is a picture of Joel and I at a beautiful wedding! I can't believe the details that went into this day. Everything was beautiful and fancy!

Today, a friend and I ran the 5 mile Ocktoberfest race in LaCrosse...We finished at 48 mins and 40 secs. It is wonderful for us and I feel amzingly powerful after a race like that!

After the race my parents came down to help me garden and get started on fixing the yard! My dad and I worked really hard...Ellie enjoyed watching and my mom went to her favorite place...Hobby "Lubey!"

Catch up!!!

Joel and I went to see Tonic Sol-Fa at the MN State Fair... I love watching these guys they make my day! Joel can seem to talk normally to the guys, I get star struck and giddy!

We then went to the cottage and spent some relaxing time up there! We both enjoy our time up there to the fullest...I can't say that we did a lot, except for lose horribly at bags. Many changes are happening up there as far as the exterior goes. The changes were needed as my grandpa was a great carpenter for the moment and never worried about how long his work would last...I think his name was cursed a many times in the last few weeks!

I started working at Maggie's Restaurant, I enjoy the contact with people! (Exact opposite of my last job) We will see where my path goes with teaching, interpreting and fitness...this is an exciting, frustrating and hopeful time. Wish me luck and pray God's will for my path......

PS..... I had to stop praying for patience........He taught me that already... :) So please don't pray for patience for me! :)

MOE...

I was in a store yesterday and I was listening to a mom and son decide which toy the son was going to get. The mom asked, "Which one will it be."
The son chose.
The mom said, "How did you decide?"
He responded, "This one landed on MOE!"
I thought it was adorable. So next time you have to make a decision make sure you do "Eeny, meeny, miny, MOE!"

Visitor!

My mom came to visit me today! I showed her the changes on the house and we went to Hobby "Lubey" Lobby as she likes to call it! We went out for supper and stopped at the Police Dept. to drop off supper for Joel. I am glad my mom had the opportunity to really see the "ins-and-outs" of the PD.




Isn't she cute...Direct quote by my mom, "This is an icky feeling being in here, there's no handles to get out!"


PS: I have had a rough few days...I got rug burn from scrubbing out paint, received disappointing news on a test, I fell down the stairs and hurt my back and got another rug burn on my arm (the same arm that is attached to the fingers with rug burn on them) and I'm obviously too weak to take out and put in hinges and cabinet doors because my arm is going to fall off soon, (but not the same arm with the rug burn on it)...Boy, things sure need to turn around here and quick.

4 days of painting and 4 days visiting MO.

Wow it has been a crazy week! I am crazy in love with my new house! Here are some pictures. You may be wondering why there is a picture of my fingers in band-aids...Well, funny story. I was so excited to be done painting I thought I would put the roller head on the plactic drop cloth. I would then just wrap up the plastic and throw it away. Well, that was the plan until the roller head rolled out of the plastic...I had to scrub the paint out of the carpet, hence the rug burns on my fingers...Here are the pictures of the house!

Also, we spent some time in Missouri with Joel's brother and family. It was wonderful to see them. We had the opportunity to visit the crown center, the plaza and different hot spots in Independence, MO! I enjoyed it, however, everytime I wanted to take a picture I realized I had left the camera in the car. We were so busy playing with our nephews we forgot to take pictures. I loved playing in the sandbox and listening to the noises a 5 month old makes!

Office before...

Office before...

Master bedroom before...

Master bedroom before...

Master Bedroom before...

Hallway before...with the ugliest teal faux finish

Entryway after...

Dining after...

Dining after...

Ouch!

Guest bedroom...

Hallway to the basement...if you look close you might see where the roller rollered off the plastic...

The after hallway...with beautiful neutral color!!!!!

Joel and I painted and reapolstered the chairs! The top of this table is a chalkboard! Super fun to write messages on!

Office after...

Office after...

Master bedroom after...

Joel and our nephew sharing a moment! (Doing what they do best...watching a movie!)

Hope you enjoyed...I will keep you posted on more changes...I will get better at blogging more often too!

Sore...

So I have rock climbed for hours, interpreted for hours/weeks, typed numberous papers however after painting for 3 days straight somehow the pain in my hands and forearms doesn't compare! I am looking forward to posting the pictures! I love what feels like my new home! I still have one more day to finish everything up!

Away from the internet

Joel and I were away from the internet for a while... We spent 4 days up at my parents cottage! It was so relaxing... well except for the part when we were cooking super and a bat decided he wantd to help! It was also very nice to have most of my mom's side of the family up there for an afternoon. My God-daughter/cousin is almost 3 and had a blast. We use squirt guns and jumped in the lake! It was great to hear her giggle!

I am on vacation this week! All of it will be spent painting...Thursday morning we leave for Missouri to visit Joel's brother, sister-in-law and nephews! I can't wait! More pictures of the house and trips soon!

Honeymoon...

So a little over two months ago Joel and I spent a week in Aruba! We both loved it! Here are some pictures... We have a ton more so we will just have to get together to see the scrapbook I made! 2 Favorite parts... 1. I never knew what time it was, my stomach always told me though... 2. Everyday Joel and I took the bikes out and the snorkle gear and peddled up and down the coast and snorkled every few miles. Ok, now that I think about it there were way more than 2 favorite parts...Enjoy the highlights!!!

Bathroom...

Ok, so in the middle of teaching summer school I thought I would tackle painting the bathroom. Starting a paint job at 9 pm isn't always the best idea... Hey I got it done and it looks wonderful! We are making progress! Stay tuned for more!

You might be thinking "Is there a change...?" But it fact there has been! It is a brighter blue and really makes the tile pop!

GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL

Hi all, Joel here, Beth allowed this post so don't worry. In case anyone was doubting her last post I can verify a good time was had by all in Canada. I never thought I would go through a whole bottle of sunscreen in CANADA, and still get a tan bordering on sunburn. I also caught a lot of tasty fish that fried up really well. We all ate too much and laughed hard every day. I think this last trip was my favorite vacation behind our honeymoon! Let me know what your favorite vacation was and why.

Trip to Canada...

Joel, my dad, my brother, and 2 close family friends went to Canada at the end of June. This was an amazing trip as I hear. They had wonderful weather and an upgraded cabin. The fishing was excellent and here are the pictures to prove it!

House, Painting and Gardens!

So I love Joel and I's new house...there are just a few things that NEED to change before it becomes a home. One, it must be updated somehow...PAINT is the best way to do that...Here are some pictures of our new house and the first room I painted...After finishing the kitchen (which I think is the hardest room to paint, but ask me after I finish another room), I will come back to painting in a few weeks. :)

Oh and I should mention the gardens...the people that lived here before us did a wonderful job of gardening...my thumb is not green...maybe someday it will turn! Anyway, you can see the evidence of my regular thumb in the picture with the tree...ummm this is our dill garden...I don't think dill is supposed to get that big... :)
Also, honeymoon pictures are to come...stay tuned!

Before....

After....