Well, it is another Monday morning. I'm staring out my window watching the huge crane move rebar around at the site for the new Public Health building as I wait for a couple of tubes of DNA to thaw out so that I can begin my day. I am so glad that it is almost April. I am so tired of cold, wintry weather - not that April and cold weather are mutally exclusive here in Iowa but the odds are definately in favor of warmer weather.
I've been reading a book by Ann Coulter the last week or so. Part of me wants to stand up and cheer but the other part wants to stand up and and walk away in disbelief. The title of her book is "Godless". Her subtitle, "The Church of Liberalism", implies that all Liberals are godless and therefore all Conservatives are God-fearing individuals. There is not much godliness in her writing. She is brash and vitriolic. Her sarcasm, though at times funny, is usually spiteful and demeaning. She certainly isn't doing the conservative cause any favors. At times her writing is nothing short of demagogy which is and should be offensive to all thinking people. Having said that, I agree with a lot of her ideas about the economy, crime, and education. The attractiveness of conservatism is the idea of personal responsibility. It is grounded in the very American belief that we can achieve anything if we are willing to work hard enough for it. However, some conservatives tend to take it too far. They forget that we have a responsibility to each other as fellow human beings - after all, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend on the same God for the very air we breath and all we have (Mosiah 4)? On the flip side, I certainly don't want to pay for the healthcare of someone who has chosen to smoke and drink themselves into the healthcare system. Nor do I believe that a family of 4 needs $900 a month in food stamp benefits. There has got to be a fine line in there somewhere. What I don't believe is that the government needs to define that line for me.
It all started with Michelle Lewis from Ohio, and Jason Clark from California. We met on a bus in Chicago in January of 1992. This is a blog that documents our crazy life.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Star Cake
Tonight was a Birthday Party for Relief Society at our Church. Relief Society is the oldest charitable Women's organization in United States. There was a cake contest and if you wanted to make a cake and bring it you could. I thought up the idea of a star cake. I made 2 long sheet cakes then put my Large Star insert from my springform pan over the cake and used it as a guide to cut a star. I then stacked 3 layers of stars together. I thought sprinkles would look cute. Then I had this idea to make little stars out of starburst candies. I warmed them up for 4 seconds in the microwave so I could roll them with a rolling pin. (By the way never heat them 10 seconds, they look pretty gross. ) then after heating them, I rolled them out and took the small star cookie cutter and cut them. I used two stars for each one on a toothpick so that the toothpick could be in the middle. Then I stuck them in the cake. Even though my idea was unique, the winning cake is shown at the bottom of this post. She deserved to win, her cake was incredible. As a result of the evening I won the Starburst Award which says, "For the cake that was made to be a star!" Too cute. Fun was had by all.
Everything on this cake, even the bees are edible. This cake not only looked fabulous, it tasted better than any cake I've ever had in my life. It was a Lemon-Lime Cheesecake Cake. So yummy. The girl that made it was Heather Gibbons from Coralville, Iowa. I want to have her do my children's wedding cakes someday.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Our Vacation to the Dells
When going to the Wisconsin Dells, I would recommend the Kalahari resort if you have children under 12 and if you want an excellent room that is clean and has lots of space. For older children in their teens the Wilderness resort has a larger wave pool and better slides. However their rooms are crap and I wouldn't stay there again if you paid me to. I would only get a day pass to swim there
.
Cool statues outside the House on the Rock in Wisconsin built by Alex Jordan Jr. We were driving by and decided to stop and snap pictures of all the awesome looking statues. We couldn't get into the House on the Rock because it was closed on Wednesdays.
After all the swimming was done I snapped a picture of everyone. You can tell they were completely exhausted.
The huge wave pool at the Wilderness Resort. Up to 6 foot waves.
Jason on the boogie board. He tried that thing over and over.
Jason trying a trick on the board. This was super hard to do.
Jason on the boogie board. He tried that thing over and over.
I tried it twice and didn't care for it much, can you see the look of fear in my face when you enlarge the picture?
Jason trying a trick on the board. This was super hard to do.
.
Cool statues outside the House on the Rock in Wisconsin built by Alex Jordan Jr. We were driving by and decided to stop and snap pictures of all the awesome looking statues. We couldn't get into the House on the Rock because it was closed on Wednesdays.After all the swimming was done I snapped a picture of everyone. You can tell they were completely exhausted.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Lots of Pictures
Here's a bunch of pictures.
First Caleb's show choir. Can you find him? He did a fabulous job.
Second Pictures of the 4 boys that love to play basketball out front. Daniel, Jared, Brenden and Scott. Almost nightly they are out there. They love to run to the tiny picnic table jump on it and shoot a basket from there. Notice all the water on the ground. The picnic table was full of water and it kept squirting out everytime they jumped on it.
Third A creative way to do Alyssa's hair. I started at the bottom back and french braided it in a circle. She loves it!
First Caleb's show choir. Can you find him? He did a fabulous job.
Second Pictures of the 4 boys that love to play basketball out front. Daniel, Jared, Brenden and Scott. Almost nightly they are out there. They love to run to the tiny picnic table jump on it and shoot a basket from there. Notice all the water on the ground. The picnic table was full of water and it kept squirting out everytime they jumped on it.
Third A creative way to do Alyssa's hair. I started at the bottom back and french braided it in a circle. She loves it!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Spring is coming?
I really don't like rain. I don't mind a good ole thunderstorm but I really don't like prolonged bouts of dreary rain. It has been raining now for about 36 hours. My backyard is a swamp and my sump pump is earning its keep. The chances of a repeat of last year's flood is very slim though. We still had a lot of snow on the ground last year at this time in addition to the rain than never ended. This year, we really don't have any snow left on the ground and this is the first real rain we've had. Talking about the flood, there are still a lot of houses and some businesses that have not recovered. One restaurant that got about 7 feet of water was just torn down this last week. No great loss. It was a restaurant that we called Peking Barffet (It was really named the Peking Buffet). Somebody always got sick after eating what they called Chinese food. Also, Taco Bell finally got torn down. For months, their sign out front said, "20 years, two floods, we'll be back." Just the other day a Lot for Sale sign went up. I guess they are not coming back. Many cities have just recently passed a local option sales tax to help with flood recovery. It's not quite the problem here in Iowa City as it is in Cedar Rapids. They had over 1000 blocks under water.
For the first time in my 38 years, I am beginning to worry about the economy. For one reason or another, I have always been fairly insulated from swings in the economy but that may not be the case much longer. The University is really feeling the pinch and has already been laying people off, freezing salaries, proposing forced furloughs, etc... I am not so much worried that the University will force me to take an unpaided day or two off every month (since I am paid out of a grant, they really can't do that) as I am that they will decide that they will decrease the amount of money they contribute to my insurance and/or retirement. We're keeping our fingers crossed.
Yesterday, I sat for my AFAA exam. AFAA is one of the governing bodies of the fitness industry. There was both a written and a practical part of the exam. I felt I did fairly well but who knows? I may have really blown it. Being AFAA certified will make me marketable just about anywhere I go. The test required knowledge of physiology/metabolism, anatomy, principles of safe movement, elements of class set up, and so forth. It was a little more difficult than I thought it would be but at least it is done. That was the first multiple choice test I have taken in nearly 10 years.
For the first time in my 38 years, I am beginning to worry about the economy. For one reason or another, I have always been fairly insulated from swings in the economy but that may not be the case much longer. The University is really feeling the pinch and has already been laying people off, freezing salaries, proposing forced furloughs, etc... I am not so much worried that the University will force me to take an unpaided day or two off every month (since I am paid out of a grant, they really can't do that) as I am that they will decide that they will decrease the amount of money they contribute to my insurance and/or retirement. We're keeping our fingers crossed.
Yesterday, I sat for my AFAA exam. AFAA is one of the governing bodies of the fitness industry. There was both a written and a practical part of the exam. I felt I did fairly well but who knows? I may have really blown it. Being AFAA certified will make me marketable just about anywhere I go. The test required knowledge of physiology/metabolism, anatomy, principles of safe movement, elements of class set up, and so forth. It was a little more difficult than I thought it would be but at least it is done. That was the first multiple choice test I have taken in nearly 10 years.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
So much going on
My planner is still lost. I have looked all kinds of places. I just want it back. I have some addresses and other information written in that, that I desperately need. Anyone have any ideas on where I should look next?
I have a huge test coming up this weekend. The certification is through AFAA that is the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.
Once I have passed that test I will have my Primary Group Exercise Certification and be able to teach more kinds of fitness classes. It's a very expensive training and I'm only able to do it because we received a tax return this year, so both Jason and I are doing this training. I would have been better to pay down student loan debt since we have a ton of it. However this training was offered at our club and it's very important to do this at this point in our lives. Basically this will mean we can teach at all kinds of clubs and not be limited to just Les Mills classes. Don't get me wrong, I love Les Mills classes, but there's a lot more to fitness then just Les Mills.
I've been asked to teach a new class called Body Sculpt and in it you do all kinds of exercises. I have been reading all kinds of material on how to teach such a class and I've been watching hours of you tube to see how others do these fitness classes. So far I'm gathering lots of new ideas and trying to create my own class. My first time teaching this will be next Tuesday at 9:30a.m. I'm worried.
Daniel is doing super well at his guitar. He has learned so much. Only bad thing is we had to cut back on his lessons. The price went up to $24 a lesson, so now he only gets 1-2 a month instead of 4-5. I felt bad, but just didn't have the extra income to supply such lessons to him. Plus none of his other siblings are in anything extra right now. Everyone wants swimming lessons and tons of other things. I have added some extra Zumba classes to my schedule so I can make extra money, but it's never enough.
I flunked my Protein test at the plasma center. It's called the SPEE test and it's done every 4 months. It tests for several different types of proteins and if you are even the slightest bit muscle sore, or slightly sick and don't realize it or whatever, then you may flunk this test. It's a blood draw and even though my finger stick that day was well within normal range for my protein numbers, the big tube of blood that seperates out all the proteins and tests them came back too low (A TENTH OF A POINT TOO LOW), so now I have to wait 7 more days for the results of a new test to come back before I can donate again. This is a huge bummer since we depend on plasma money to pay bills and now we will be out over $100 of expected income because I flunked. Guess I'll go drink some protein shakes and hope that helps. Wish me luck on that.
I love seeing all my boys playing basketball in the driveway. Right now Daniel, Jared and Brenden are out there with several friends hooping it up. I'm going to go take some pictures. I think most of the neighborhood is out there, too funny.
Tonight is Scout night and I have 4 boys in Scouts right now so I better get off this blog and be a Mom and make dinner.
I have a huge test coming up this weekend. The certification is through AFAA that is the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.
Once I have passed that test I will have my Primary Group Exercise Certification and be able to teach more kinds of fitness classes. It's a very expensive training and I'm only able to do it because we received a tax return this year, so both Jason and I are doing this training. I would have been better to pay down student loan debt since we have a ton of it. However this training was offered at our club and it's very important to do this at this point in our lives. Basically this will mean we can teach at all kinds of clubs and not be limited to just Les Mills classes. Don't get me wrong, I love Les Mills classes, but there's a lot more to fitness then just Les Mills.
I've been asked to teach a new class called Body Sculpt and in it you do all kinds of exercises. I have been reading all kinds of material on how to teach such a class and I've been watching hours of you tube to see how others do these fitness classes. So far I'm gathering lots of new ideas and trying to create my own class. My first time teaching this will be next Tuesday at 9:30a.m. I'm worried.
Daniel is doing super well at his guitar. He has learned so much. Only bad thing is we had to cut back on his lessons. The price went up to $24 a lesson, so now he only gets 1-2 a month instead of 4-5. I felt bad, but just didn't have the extra income to supply such lessons to him. Plus none of his other siblings are in anything extra right now. Everyone wants swimming lessons and tons of other things. I have added some extra Zumba classes to my schedule so I can make extra money, but it's never enough.
I flunked my Protein test at the plasma center. It's called the SPEE test and it's done every 4 months. It tests for several different types of proteins and if you are even the slightest bit muscle sore, or slightly sick and don't realize it or whatever, then you may flunk this test. It's a blood draw and even though my finger stick that day was well within normal range for my protein numbers, the big tube of blood that seperates out all the proteins and tests them came back too low (A TENTH OF A POINT TOO LOW), so now I have to wait 7 more days for the results of a new test to come back before I can donate again. This is a huge bummer since we depend on plasma money to pay bills and now we will be out over $100 of expected income because I flunked. Guess I'll go drink some protein shakes and hope that helps. Wish me luck on that.
I love seeing all my boys playing basketball in the driveway. Right now Daniel, Jared and Brenden are out there with several friends hooping it up. I'm going to go take some pictures. I think most of the neighborhood is out there, too funny.
Tonight is Scout night and I have 4 boys in Scouts right now so I better get off this blog and be a Mom and make dinner.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Crazy good and bad week
So many things to document that are happening, bear with this post it may be long
Ever feel like you are loosing your mind and you loose things and just can't find them?
1. I have lost my Pampered Chef 2009 planner as of 3 weeks ago. It is no where to be found. In 11 years of doing this business I've never lost my planner so I guess I was due, but it's so annoying to be so lost. I need it back.
2. Every one of us have been sick this week. We have all had mixtures of coughing, sneezing, runny noses, headaches, sinus trouble, feeling like we are going to barf and then don't. Or even better, feeling like you are going to barf and then do. Nothing like seeing your breakfast all over again! Heavy head, tiredness, muscle weakness, sore throat, no voice, gagging on your snot and much more. Should I go on? No, that's enough for now.
3. I keep loosing things. My purse, my checkbook, my keys, food I was sure I bought and put in the fridge (although I chalk that one up to having teens in the house, they eat so dang much and they are eating everything, even if you need it for a recipe.) I feel like I have to mark stuff and have a note saying: This is Mom's Sour Cream, it is needed in a recipe, don't touch. These kind of notes I thought I left behind in college, but I'm going to have to go back to them or get a seperate fridge that no one can touch.
4. I closed a large Pampered Chef party for a lady named Janice. It was over $900 Thank you Janice, you saved my February.
5. We found out we need a new tire on our car. Gotta love car expenses.
6. Caleb needs new everything, pants, shirts, shoes and more. He is growing even taller, he is now 6 foot 1 inch, taller now than Jason.
7. Scott's hearing has gotten worse, he flunks all hearing tests. Tomorrow he will finally be checked again. We've been waiting since November to get him re-checked.
8. Caleb has a show choir concert this week. We are going as a family and we are looking forward to that.
9. I have a party at the end of the week. Glad for that.
Lastly
1o. We have a small fun trip coming up to Wisconsin Dells over Spring Break. Jason's boss is taking all the people in his lab with their families there for a day of fun. We are staying at the Kalahari resort. It looks really nice on the website. The site is http://www.kalahariresorts.com
we were going for that one night and we were going to come home, but I found out that it's over a 7 hour drive to go there, so I suggested we buy in another night and extend our stay. Well the prices were outrageous at Kalahari. It only had suites and those started at $299 and up.
For our family size it was $389 and up so that's why I looked into other resorts. I found another place called Wilderness resort and it looks fun as well. That link is
http://www.wildernessresort.com
we already got subs for all our aerobics classes so that's done!
I'm so looking forward to this. Except for the fact that i have to buy a new swimsuit. Mine outwore itself and has become see through in some areas so it's going in the trash!
Other than all that we are Happy and it's one day closer to Spring!
Ever feel like you are loosing your mind and you loose things and just can't find them?
1. I have lost my Pampered Chef 2009 planner as of 3 weeks ago. It is no where to be found. In 11 years of doing this business I've never lost my planner so I guess I was due, but it's so annoying to be so lost. I need it back.
2. Every one of us have been sick this week. We have all had mixtures of coughing, sneezing, runny noses, headaches, sinus trouble, feeling like we are going to barf and then don't. Or even better, feeling like you are going to barf and then do. Nothing like seeing your breakfast all over again! Heavy head, tiredness, muscle weakness, sore throat, no voice, gagging on your snot and much more. Should I go on? No, that's enough for now.
3. I keep loosing things. My purse, my checkbook, my keys, food I was sure I bought and put in the fridge (although I chalk that one up to having teens in the house, they eat so dang much and they are eating everything, even if you need it for a recipe.) I feel like I have to mark stuff and have a note saying: This is Mom's Sour Cream, it is needed in a recipe, don't touch. These kind of notes I thought I left behind in college, but I'm going to have to go back to them or get a seperate fridge that no one can touch.
4. I closed a large Pampered Chef party for a lady named Janice. It was over $900 Thank you Janice, you saved my February.
5. We found out we need a new tire on our car. Gotta love car expenses.
6. Caleb needs new everything, pants, shirts, shoes and more. He is growing even taller, he is now 6 foot 1 inch, taller now than Jason.
7. Scott's hearing has gotten worse, he flunks all hearing tests. Tomorrow he will finally be checked again. We've been waiting since November to get him re-checked.
8. Caleb has a show choir concert this week. We are going as a family and we are looking forward to that.
9. I have a party at the end of the week. Glad for that.
Lastly
1o. We have a small fun trip coming up to Wisconsin Dells over Spring Break. Jason's boss is taking all the people in his lab with their families there for a day of fun. We are staying at the Kalahari resort. It looks really nice on the website. The site is http://www.kalahariresorts.com
we were going for that one night and we were going to come home, but I found out that it's over a 7 hour drive to go there, so I suggested we buy in another night and extend our stay. Well the prices were outrageous at Kalahari. It only had suites and those started at $299 and up.
For our family size it was $389 and up so that's why I looked into other resorts. I found another place called Wilderness resort and it looks fun as well. That link is
http://www.wildernessresort.com
we already got subs for all our aerobics classes so that's done!
I'm so looking forward to this. Except for the fact that i have to buy a new swimsuit. Mine outwore itself and has become see through in some areas so it's going in the trash!
Other than all that we are Happy and it's one day closer to Spring!
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