Happy Friday to You!

Late post tonight, sorry I didn't get on earlier - not a lot to share but I do have some good news!
Today was my weigh in day and I did GREAT! I was down 2# and 2 oz and I was SO happy about that! That made me the "Skinny Chicken Biggest Loser" of the week with my sisters! Yeahhh! LOL I have not won a week in 5 weeks so this was good! So, with this loss I am officially at 63 lbs gone and feeling fabuloso! Good weigh in and I am more than happy with it!!
Let's see, Ed started vacation today so we slept in...ahhh... then we went to the gym and worked out.... ran some errands... took the kids out for an ice cream cone... and then took a NAP! YES! A nap! LOL
Tonight Ed and our oldest boy Christopher went to a movie "Wanted" and I am just waiting for them to get home. Dani and I went for a walk with our little doggie Hershey, about a mile, and that is about all.
Tommorrow is the big bust it out clean house day before Ed's sister, Carla, and her family from TX get here. They are in Co Springs tonight and will be here about dinnertime tommorrow night. The kids are SO excited for them to arrive! Well, we all are, but the kids are dying to see them! Should be a fun, but hectic week!
On Thursday his other sister, Odessa, from Boise, and her family will be here - and possibly his parents too!
Friday is the HUGE 4th of July Celebration here in Idaho Falls and we'll be celebrating with the best of them! Parade, picinics, bbq's, and the huge fireworks display! A huge huge day!
Then Sat everyone heads out to go to Boise to Ed's parents and our daughter Dani will go with them and fly from Boise to Portland to visit Ed's OTHER sister, Tammy, for a couple of weeks! Whew! A lot going on!
So, if I go missing for a few days or a week, you now know where I'll be! I hope to be sharing photos of our visits and the holiday but who knows! If I don't show up here, I'll wish you all a Happy Independance Day now... have a fun week!

Darla

repeat after me...

i love my children
i love my children
i love my children
it does not matter
if they yell, fight
or scream
it does not matter
if they slam doors,
break things and
terrorize one another
i love my children
really
i do

sincerely,
june cleaver (HA!!)

Tuesday

No run this morning. Such a slacker I am! Geeesh! I did go to the gym though, had a great workout there, but skipped running on the treadmill bc I thought I was going afterwords with my sister but they slept in (shame shame) so I skipped it all together. SO not happy with that - get some willpower Darla!
Anyway, like I said, I at least did the gym, 50 minutes total, did floor excersizes and abs/butt routine, ellyptical and some seriously intense incline intervals on the treadmill - then hit the tanning bed for a few mintues! It was good but they STILL DO NOT have the AC working and it is perfectly miserable in there. Talk about working up a sweat - I think the sauna/workout effect could work here - sweat off an additional 2 lbs per workout LOLOL!!! Hope it is fixed soon! Otherwise the facility is beautiful!
Nose is still a mess, feeling like doggy doo still - last night was the worst, just plain wore me out. Today isn't much better and I've grown a stress blister on my top lip too - oh hell yea, why not add one more thing to the fire?! UGH!

OK off to shower and get going for the day. Kids, house, laundry, my life story!

Later - Darla

PS forgot to add, here is a photo of my 2 sisters and I from our Mom's funeral back in April, I am in the polkadots (with the REALLY flat hair), Lisa is the SHORT ONE is in the grey and pink slack outfit and Carlee is in the red suit) ha! I am not so short afterall people HA HA! - OK not the best picture of any one of us but at least then you all know who I am talking about!

Hey Hey Hey it's Monday!

Morning all. Up and going this a.m. - did the new gym, it was awesome aside from the lack of cool air (no AC yet) but I enjoyed it. Did a quick walk/run warmup on the treadmills (ohhhhhh so nice) and the weights and then a good hard 20 min on the ellyptical machine. Going to take some getting used to, new equipment, a lot different than at the YMCA. I think I'll like it though. Oh, and my worries with it being "secure" at 4:30a.m. - not to worry - there were not one but TWO police officers working out this morning so I felt really safe! LOL Can't wait to get into a good routine there!
Also going running in a bit with my sister Lisa - then a busy busy day of house and yard work! No baby today (sick) so I will bust out as much as possible while I have the time!! Hope to get the kids help! LOL
That is about it for now, I'll check in later....oh, yea, my nose is still running like a faucet and I still don't feel 100% but I feel somewhat better so that is good!

Later!
Darla

still snuffin' my nose

Well, I survived the weekend, snuffin' nose and all - still feeling pretty icky but I will live I am certain. I have gone through almost 2 boxes of tissues, I don't know how much Benadryl, three Claritin tabs and a lot of "nosel spray" as our dd Dani calls it. Oh, and much to our friend Blake's dismay, a lot of my fog horn sounding nose blowing (I mean really, why dib and dab at it? If you need to blow then just BLOW!!!) which apparently is rather amusing? Hmmmm? Um, ok?

Had a lot of fun on Saturday and a lazy-ish day Sunday. Going to be a busy week this week preparing for all the family to come visit for the 4th of July. I may not be around here (blogging) much so I'll try to keep you all up to date on things.

OH and before I forget, I need to take a photo and share, but our son Chris got me the FUNNIEST Tshirt ever this weekend - it is a red tee with a big Heinz Ketchup logo on it that says "I PUT KETCHUP ON MY KETCHUP" -- for those who know me well, or even those who sort of know me, well, you get it - or you should! ROTF! I LOVED IT! Thank you Chris! :O)

Health and fitness is on plan, not a lot of working out with the lack of being able to breath through my nose (yadda yadda and so forth) but I've been really good on my food choices and am excited to go start at our new gym (Anytime Fitness) this week! I'll let you know how that goes!

Take care!
Darla

Give me an A give me a B and send me to bed with a hot washcloth!

Oooohhhhhhhh I feel like doggie doo doo.
AKA I feel like crap!
(If you didn't get it)




I woke up slightly "snuffy nosed" this a.m. but
was ok - then during the course of my early morning
run I realized it was getting worse. Not "sick"
stuffy but more of an irritation. Soon I was sneezing
and my nose was running like mad. My left eye was
itching and I realized that I had it - allergies. ICK!
I think between the massive amount of pollen in the air
(floating around like a mini summer blizzard) and
working in the yard all day yesterday combined with
my run this a.m. in an area near our home where they
just sprayed Diazanon (sp???) a couple days ago it all
just ganged up and hit me like a brick!!!
As the day progressed I broke out the OTC Claratin D and
AdvilLiquid Gels... and bought box of super soft tissues,
but now it is apparant that this is not a little sniffle
of a problem. Now I am full blown red nosed, itchey eyed,
sinus throbbing in trouble. UGH! Go figure on the nicest
weather weekend we've had all year!!!!

So, give me an A (Advil liquid gels) and give me a B (Benadryl) and the hot washcloth to put over my forehead and off to bed I go..... ALLERGIES BE GONE! (*please*)

Darla
.....sniff sniff.... goodnight - sleep well

Happy Friday - Happy Bday Chris!

Having a good morning here - got in my run this a.m. and did great. Did 1/4 mile warm up run, a bit over one full mile, then a 1/2 mile - plus my walking! Feeling fab! Getting ready for the big wiegh in! Can't wait! (** I was down 1# 2 oz and now am OFFICIALLY working towards my 70 lb loss!! I am at 61 and going!!!)

Today is also dh's one year ann from his bike wreck :O< Hope today goes much better this year!

ALSO today is our oldest son Christopher's 17th Bday!!!! HAPPY 17 SON-SHINE! We love you and are SO SO SO proud of you! Have a great day! XOXO

OK folks, make it a good one!

Gooooooooooooooooooood Mornin' Blog People!

Just a quick post this a.m. to say I am off to another awesome start this morning! Had a great day yesterday and seeing today as fab too!!
Got up early and dragged my sis Lisa out of bed to go run at 5 a.m. - we did a 40 minute route of 2.34 miles with three runs, a short 1/4 mile, a super short little dash (uphill!) and then a FULL MILE RUN! I am so proud of her! WAY TO GO SIS!!!!!!! It felt good to get back to a longer distance and I am so ready to work on that 2 miles some more! Yeah baby!
Busy today with kids, house and hopefully some yardwork too! We have 2 weeks till' Ed's family is here for the 4th of July and the yard is a nightmare! Lots to do!! Hope to really make some improvements this weekend but a jumpstart today will help! The weather is amazing awesome so I have no excuses! I started the water at 6:00 a.m. to get the one flower/weed bed all soaked so I can pull up all those weeds!! YIKES! Hope I can get the kids to help me too!
OH! Last night I got on the trampolene with the kids! HOLY COW was that funny!? Ed of course took video on his phone to embarrass me to death but I had so much fun anyway! In the end, the kids turned the sprinkler on UNDER the tramp and I got soaked!!!!!!! It was a blast! LOL Total craziness - I'd have never been doing that 2 years ago! Love it!
Baby leaves early today. He has a Dr appt at 2:30 so I only have him for part of the day. Then I guess they are off to Boise for a visit with his Momma's folks - how fun for them! (Isn't he cute??!!)
OK I need to shower and weigh in for today - hope to see awesome blossom numbers! This week is going to be a good one!
HUGS to you and have a mahhhhhhhvalous day!

Darla

PS IT IS ALMOST FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLY GOOD NEWS BATMAN!

Having such a great Wednesday here! Whoowhooooooo! Just jumpstarted about so many things but got a phone call from my sister Carlee and check THIS out for a good day:

- being 42 yrs old and getting ID'd to buy wine and being told you SO do not look like a 42 yr old!
- doing a 6 mile HIKE up and down the Twin Falls gorge in 1 1/2 hours!
- and losing nearly 40 lbs in just a couple of months time!

WAY TO GO CARLEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You motivate, inspire and drive me to do better and more everyday! Love you! XOXO

DarlaLOU

Little by Little

Well, had a great run this a.m.! Went with my sister Lisa to the greenbelt downtown by the river/falls and we did great. We walked and ran and did 2.34 miles in 45 minutes. Not the best time but pretty ok. We did three running sessions, one of them over 1/2 mile and the other about 1/4 mile each. We are going to push for a full mile by Friday! We can SO do it!
Feeling good about weigh in coming up on Friday - not sure why bc my numbers yest and today were not great - but still feel good. I can do this.
Carlee and Lisa weigh in today and I can't wait for the news! They are both just going like wildfire and I am so excited for them! Hope the news is good!

More later.....

Darla

**A quick report- Carlee was down 1 lb and 6 oz and Lisa was up just 2 oz danggit! we'll have to whip this into shape if we want to keep up with Carlee! yikes!**

Gotta get back in the saddle again....

I have been so off kilter the past 2 or so weeks on my running. I pushed and pushed till' I hit that 2 miles then something in me went wonky and I backed off. I don't konw that it was bc I'd finally hit my goal or I decided since school was out I could sleep in more? Who knows?
Whatever the case, I have slacked big time and now my running is the pits. I am back down to about 1/2 mile run and I hate it.
I did so-so on the 5K the other day but that was more due to the heat and the fact that we were running on stinkin' grass. However, even if it had been more on the pavement or roads I don't know that my distances would have been great. I think I not only disspointed myself, but my sister too. Sorry Lisa.
So, this morning Lisa and I did a 40 min walk/run with two really short running distances, like less than 1/4 mile each. I was then fired up to go for some distance but instead came home. WHAT??? was that about? I am going to set some new goals for the rest of this week and next week and really push hard on them. I want to get back to that 2 miles straight and then work to 3 miles! I'd LOVE to be able to go run the majority of a 5k .... I am going to have to work hard to do it though.
So, next time you see me or talk to me - be sure to remind me to get off my butt and get running! OK?

Darla

SUNSHINE!

Amazing - we have sunshine outside! REAL LIVE SUN PEOPLE!! I am loving it! We should hit 80 today and it is just awesome!!

ENJOY your Monday!
Darla

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

To a great and wonderful Dad,
Husband and my Friend.
Someone who works very very
hard for our family -
(and plays hard too).
Happy Father's Day Ed!
XOXO Darla

OOPS! I Did It Again......

I went and opened that dang door and let myself get walked all over yet again - why do I do that so often? So much for growing a set of 'you know what's' that everyone says I have? HA!

Happy FREAKIN' Saturday ....

Done.

We did our 5K this morning and it was awful. It was hot and almost all running on grass and I had no umpf at all. It stunk. Thankfully my sister Lisa was full of energy and drive and pushed me a lot - even so I did not do my best at all. :O( I am really dissapointed in myself. However, at least I went and tried and that is something I guess??

So, here are the photos.(I am the taller one) Before the race and after... our time was 42 min and 49 seconds - Darla

5K number 2 tommorrow!

I am kind of feeling cool saying I am going to go do my SECOND 5K tommorrow! LOL Cheezy I know, but still cool. :O) In the morning my sister Lisa and I will go run/walk our best 5K for a fundraiser for a student who died here in Idaho Falls last winter. It is called the "SKILLER" 5K run and it is in memory of this boy, a HS student who died - the money will be used for a scholarship fund for other students and is very worthwhile so it is double awesome to participate! I'll be sure to come share photos of us when I get home! Wish us luck!!!!!!

Darla

the "report"

friday report

down a "whoppin' big" 4 oz and 1.5 inches

BUT I am back to my 60 lb mark and I am NEVER

going back up past it again...

Friday!

It is early early still but I have been up and out for my walk/run with my sister Lisa. We were limited on time but we did good! I am not up to my long runs like I was just a couple of weeks ago but doing more short intervals again. Kind of bummed but not too fretted over it. It is "all good". LOL We did about 2 miles and then I did one more - total ran, maybe 3/4 to 1 mile but that is all. I need to push back up to that endurance of 2 miles straight. It felt SO good.
Anyway, so far that is the 'report' - after I shower and weigh and measure I'll come back with all the super duper numbers to share!!!

Darla

Almost Friday!

Love Thursdays, they are so close to Friday how can you help but love them! Right?

Had a good day. Overslept and skipped my run (bad) but overall had a good one. Just hung out at home, Ed was off early, had a mgrs dinner out, just a good day. I am going running with my sister Lisa in the morning tommorrow and then we have our 5K race/run on Sat morning! Cool fun!

I started a new "thing" today too. My best friend Lisa introduced me to a type of drinking water called 'Kagen' Water.... basically it is ionized water or water that is filtered for less acid and more alkaline based. There is a lot of info on it and a lot of things it is supposed to do for your body and digestive system but in the long run I figure since I drink a ton of water anyway, and this Kagen water is free, why not try it?? http://www.kangenwaterusa.com/AboutKangenWater.html I am not going all granola or anything but free is free to me and I'll try most anything once. Who knows, maybe this will help me past my big hump on my weight loss right now? Funny thing is, even though I am not loosing a lot of pounds I know I am doing good things for my body because I am down yet another pant size and seeing tons of changes too. THAT is a good thing because if I was not I'd probably get flustered and throw in the towel!

Another good thing.... coming up soon the new gym I am going to go to will open on June 19 !!! I am pumped! It is about 1 mile from our house so I can walk or jog over there, do my workout and walk or jog home! So cool! I can't wait to get back on an elliptical machine! Whee! So excited about this! Oh, and to get back to "real" weight machines too - oh that will be nice! And to think I HATED doing weights at the gym before -- haa ha! No more of that! I am going to be a lean mean fightin' machine baby!

OK - it is getting later, better get moving. :O)
Toodles and be good!

Darla

June-uary 11 , 2008

It is snowing in Idaho Falls. Seriously folks. Snow.

Today is my sweetest of sweet nephew's birthday - Happy Bday Teddy! Miss you!

Did I mention it is snowing? UGH!

I went for my a.m. walk/run and got seriously snowed on, soaked to the skin, snow caked in my hair and ears and my shirt was dripping.... and it sucked but it was a little fun! LOL I have lost it - I know. (must have froze my brain out there or something???)

Busy day.
More later.
:O) Be good to yourselves!
Darla

More pix from our weekend in Island Park

Just a few more photos of our weekend 'getaway' in Island Park at the cabin. A few scenery photos and some of us hanging out, playing cards (my KIDS are poker champs!) and playing in the mud too!
Darla

Back In Time

I am going to bed early tonight. Ahhhh! It is going to be a crazy week, I can just feel it. I am going to get my running in - I am going to get up EARLY every day and go run! I can't wait! I am ready to release some energy and get my mind and body out of this crazy funk I've been in this past few days.
Next Sat my sister Lisa and I are going to do a 5k Run/Walk benefit for a local boy who passed away last winter. I have to be ready! Can't let that skinny chicken sister outrun me!
So... nighty night and I'll see ya bright n' early!!!!!! Sleep well everyone!
Darla

We're Home!

Back from Island Park - short trip - glad to be home. It was wet and cold and muddy but nice to get away even if just for a day or so. I have lots of pix to share but for now I'll leave you with most of what we saw - cold and wet. :O)
Oh and if you haven't seen it, you wouldn't know, but the creek is usually a sweet little trickle down behind the cabin.... right now it is overflowing the edges, about to drown our little footbridge and is a rushing slush of loud water! Crazy! Everything was a muddy and wet mess - hope it dries up soon!
Darla

Go To Your Happy Place Darla

Family.
Quiet.
Nature.
Naptime.
ATV's.
LOTS of mud.
Rest and relaxing.
Cozy cozy cabin.
No phones.
LOTS of mud.
and yes, I am taking my camera! :O)
See ya all on Sunday!

Darla
(yea I know, it is an "old" photo of the cabin but I was trying to hurry...)

I am a Libra

Was looking at Horoscope sites today online and found this one :
http://www.pasqualina.com/
She has a lot of hooey pooey on there but I loved reading the details of the personalities and so forth for each sign. Things like this always amaze me how they are really close to who we are - do I "believe" in horoscopes and signs and things, not really, but they are fun to read and think about! So... here I am : LIBRA

The meaning of sign LIBRA



Seventh sign of the zodiac

Your element: Air
Your ruling planet: Venus
Tarot card corresponding to your sign: Justice
Your lucky color: Pink
Your stone: Coral

Your element, Air, lends you grace and charm. You have a sure talent for delicacy and occasionally for nonchalance. You are very flexible and adapt yourself easily to different situations. You like change, novelty, and surprises. Like all the signs of Air you have a deep fear of boredom and routine. But you don't always know how to do what it takes to escape from them.

You love everything which can make life more beautiful or joyful. You adore all kinds of performance, and you also have gifts and talents in these areas. You have an idealistic vision of existence in which everything must be beautiful, life easy, love successful, and happiness perfect. You may therefore occasionally fall from this great height, and then feel yourself to be helpless. Your tendency then is to let yourself go.
Since Venus, the ruling planet of love, is your cardinal planet, love is the most important thing in your life. Love takes first place during your entire existence. You would like everything around you to be peace and harmony, with never a sign of conflict, tension, deception, or violence. You feel this need for love in an extremely sensual manner. You NEED to love, and in order to satisfy this desire you are very focussed on seduction, and you know how to seduce.

Occasionally this gets you in trouble, since you don't always know how to make wise choices. You run the risk therefore of getting involved with people who want to profit from your need for love.

Your relations to the other signs:

You can deal very well with the instability of Geminis, and this may even attract you greatly, but if you're not careful you may suffer for it. You can have excellent experiences with Virgos, and may even form lasting relationships.

You are attracted by Leos, but beware there as well. You risk boredom or problems of behavior with Taurus, Capricorn, and Aries. A relationship with a Scorpio may be either great passion or complete opposition.
This short, unassuming analysis can help you to better conduct your existence. To learn to know yourself better allows you to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

The people who succeed in life are often those who know consciously or unconsciously to make the most of their talents, their advantages, and their strengths, while understanding how to maintain control over their weaknesses.

Noah Di Oah

A few new pix of our lil' guy Noah that I babysit - he is so stinkin' cute! He turned ONE year old last month, almost 13 mos old now! He is walking and doing all sorts of cute stuff but I had these new photos and had to share!

Lazy morning here. Slept wayyyy in. I could not fall asleep last night - just a very tossed and turned sleep if at all - gave up on the run this a.m. Baby was late getting here. I let Chris oversleep (he wasn't late thank goodness) and just slow going. I have a lot to do today but for now I am just getting going. LOL I'll have to try to go run this afternoon I guess?

Have a GREAT day and a SHOUT OUT to my two sisters who BOTH had a good weight loss for the week - they weighed in yesterday and did great! WAY TO GO GIRLS! Mine is tommorrow and so far it is looking GOOD! Yes!

OK cya and toodles and buh bye!
:O) Be good
DLou

OK things to share.....

I have a ton to catch up on so here is a "brief" but fun detailed photo account of life at our home the past week or two!

Our poochie Hershey before and after a much needed grooming!! (and one of our other pooch Oliver the "bleagle" aka blacklab/beagle mix too)

Doin' the Drive In movie with the WHOLE family, yes, it took 2 cars! LOL

My coolio new New Balance Shoes that are THE BOMB!!! for running! I LOVE these shoes thank you Ed!

A really cruddy photo of my older than dirt Citizen watch that I finally got a new battery in... long story but it is a really expensive watch and the only real peice of jewelry I ever bought for myself. :O) Also my silver bracelet that Ed got me last summer. His Uncle Harry makes them and he bought it for me at the family reunion, I wear it as a reminder EVERYDAY of how far I have come. It is really simple but I love it and rarely take it off - almost never.

And also my fancy finnnner nails! (fingernails) I took the plunge and got acrylic nails put on! It is SO fun! Loving them and love having decent looking nails for the 1st time in my life!

So- that is about all. For now. ;O) ... Also need to report I am being REALLY good this week and my foods are in check AND I have been running like mad (who couldn't in thos hot new shoes??)! I did TWO runs today -- one early a.m. 3 miles and then one late morning 2 miles. (remember I walk/run intervals ** don't go thinkin' I ran 5 miles or anthing CrAzY! like that**)

Later!
Darla