SNOW!

First *real* BIG snow of the year today!
It is a beautiful white winter wonderland out there!

I LOVE IT!

more to come

I have so much to update... but it is late and this is all I have for now.

more to come...

Halloween 2010

So Halloween was interesting this year.
Chris was a monster zombie.
Dani was a freaking beauitiful witch.
Tiff was a prom queen.
Micheal (NO photos!!!) was a red M n M candy!
Lea wore a couple of different get ups but I think she was more into the treats anyway!
Chris OUTDID himself on our yard as usual-- totally creepy scary and awesome!
We didn't get a ton of trick or treaters but still had fun.

WOW!!!!!

ok so I have been 'locked out' of my blog for a couple of weeks
cuz' they changed up the login process and I didn't remember
passwords and so on ... somehow I got in though and I am thrilled

so - there is a TON going on - I have a TON of photos to share
but I don't have them on this pc so hopefully I can get back in
again this weekend! LOL

watch for more...

Darla :O)

too much to share

i have had so much going on lately
and this past week has been a whirlwind
there is simply too much to share
kids daily running
school activities and studies
work work work 'stuff'
another exchange student (temporary)
weather changing
fitness flopping
cars gathering in our driveway
frienships that are on edge
house that needs cleaning
sister that needs nurse-care
and so much more

highlight of the week??
Lea made us German pancakes last night for dinner
they were almost like crepe's ... so delish! so sweet!
we filled them with peaches and whip cream and applesauce
and our newfound LOVE Nuetella - mmmmmmmm delish
It was almost like dessert for dinner!

Played -partied and got no sleep but had a blast!

Went for a few days up to Lava Hot Springs area for a scrapbooking retreat!
OH MY FUN! I had such a great time, what an amazing bunch of ladies and more
fun than adult women should ever have (less a bottle of rum)!!
I didn't get as many pix as I'd like to have but here is the basic rundown...
lots of scrappies, lots of women in jammies, lots of talking about FARTING???
and basically grown women being like silly teenage girls! LOL



So, here is my friend Christy working hard on a page....
she was a sub-in for someone who couldn't come and I am SO HAPPY
we invited her, she was amazing and so fun to be there with!
THANK YOU Christy for coming along (and for driving me up there!)













...we had PLENTY of treats...





Lois and Debbie working on a project together....Cindy rocked out a PILE of pages and kept cranking them out, they were all SO CUTE and she just took advantage of every single minute of scrap time! She definatly rocked our socks off as far as the number of pages she completed!

















Robin worked SO hard at the foods and menus and keeping the kitchen in order
and our bellies full of AWESOME foods! It was one amazing meal after another
and she is to be commended for her hard work!! I have never seen a woman enjoy
lounging in her pajamas more than Robin! WOOOT!!





We had a huge auction with our 'bucks' we earned through the weekend... Robin and Danielle ran the auction and it was a blast! Definatly a highlight of the weekend!!
We even had some of the gals (including JESSICA!!) doing jumping jacks to earn more bucks!!





And then there was a lot of "work" going on .... I caught Robin, Christy
and LaRee all working VERY hard on thier pages! Such deep thought and dedication!
There were some beautiful projects done!























This is the jist of the program here... a WHOLE gym full of addicted scrapbookers in pajamas and A LOT of treats (sugar sugar sugar and coffee coffee coffee) IT ROCKED!





THANKYOU for a FAB weekend everyone!!!!!

Don't miss me too much.

I will be "out" for a few days.
Don't miss me too much! Just me,
some cozy pj's, some seriously
serious scrapalicious time with
the girls and lots o' hot coffee
n creamer....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

buh bye for now :O)

30 People

Guess this is the game, list thirty people off the top of your head and then answer the questions at the end? OK here goes ...


1. Ed Black
2. Lisa Taylor
3. Lisa Brown
4. Blake Brown
5. Robin Gibbons
6. LaRee Jones
7. Carlee Wunderlich
8. Megan Wunderlich
9. Chris Black
10. Dani Black
11. Tiff Black
12. Micheal Black
13. Chris Gibbons
14. Taylor Gibbons
15. Sherann Glorfield
16. Sandy Kuwana
17. Kim Sietz/Brown
18. Lezhai Gulbranson
19. Christy Christensen
20. Sidnie Houghton
21. Heidi George
22. Kathy Forgarty
23. Carlyle Jorgensen
24. Edna Jorgensen
25. Bill Black
26. Tammy Black
27. Odessa Black
28. Carla Otten
29. Shawn McCammon
30. Mindy Taylor

How did you meet number 10?
She is my daughter
What would you did if you never met number 6?
I would not have a job!
What would happen in 20 and 15 dated?
Sherann and Sidnie -? Uhhh no.
If you could Marry 6 or 14 who would it be?
LaRee or Taylor Gibbons - geesh guess it'd have to be LaRee
she is a great cook LOL
Did you ever like 9?
Always! He is my oldest son!
Have you ever seen number 4 cry?
Blake? Indeed I have :O)
Would 4 and 17 be a good couple?
Blake and Kim - probably not!
Would 1 and 2 be a good couple?
Ed and Lisa May - NO WAY!
Describe 8
Megan - sweetheart and my first baby love!
Do you like 12?
My son, he is my sweetums!
Tell me about 17?
Kim was my best friend forever from 3rd grade till NOW!
What is 7's fave color?
Carlee? Uhhh I think Blue? Maybe Red?
Last time you talked to 15
Sherann - it's been a while!
How do you think 19 feels about you?
Christy, I hope she luvs me like I luv her! Like a sis!
What lang does 13 speak?
ENGLISH!
Who is going out with 2
David! (Sweet David)
What grade is 16 in?
Sandy is a forever HS student with her kids in her classes!
What is 5s fave music?
A little of everything...
Would you date 13?
NO - creeper-ish
Is 11 single?
YUPP
What is 10 last name?
BLACK
Where does 18 live?
On Simon St
What do you think of 20?
She is a peach, happiest person I know!
Best thing about 30?
She is a love bug sweetheart! LOVE my Min!

A Favorite of Mine.... read it closely.

The Joy of Womanhood
Margaret D. Nadauld
Young Women General President


Women of God can never be like women of the world.
The world has enough women who are tough;
we need women who are tender.
There are enough women who are coarse;
we need women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude;
we need women who are refined.
We have enough women of fame and fortune;
we need more women of faith.
We have enough greed;
we need more goodness.
We have enough vanity;
we need more virtue.
We have enough popularity;
we need more purity.






I am not a loud, tough, strong, outspoken woman.
I am a tender hearted, giving, doormat of a girl.
I have an open heart and open mind. I am not a
ladder climber over achiever.
BUT THAT IS OK! I am the person God made me to be.
I balance out those strong, tough, outspoken people.
And THEY balance out me.
I am OK with that.
But remember, just because YOU are strong and amazing
I am tender and amazing as well. God made me special
in my own way. XOXO
How blessed we are to all be cut of different cloth don't
you think?

heaven on earth

THIS is my own personal Heaven right here in
Idaho Falls ID
NESTLE COFFEEMATE PEPPERMINT MOCHA CREAMER
mmmmmmm

and with that said...

I had a great day. Lazy morning. Kids kind of
running all over all day. Lunch with Christopher
and Ed and the Mongolian BBQ where Chris challenged
me to eat a jalepieno pepper for an undisclosed
amount of money. I did it! WOW egh? Then we picked up
and delivered a few dozen children around town. Took
Lea n Chris to Walmart. Ed cooked an awesome dinner while
Lea and I went for a walkin' jog (she smoked me) and then
Tiff had an 'emergency' while babysitting (burned herself)
and then some TV and visiting. Marilee Egan came by to
show us her ENGAGEMENT ring!!!! and save the date for March
sometime and now I am falling into bed. Ahhhhhhh
what a long long long LONG day, but a good day.

Last nights run in the rain. Who? Me? Heck Ya!

So, I keep pushing off my running in the mornings.
This week I did SO good on my foods and was trying
to do good with running. I didn't do so good.
Bring in the rain. So, last night I decided I HAD to
go out for a run. Great idea! Bring in : the rain.
We had this amazing awesome cool storm last night.
Thunder,
lightning,
and rain.
Oh and of course, wind.
Eastern Idaho is just not Idaho without the wind LOL.
I waited till' 9pm to go, was planning to head to the
Jr High track and give myself a little bit of an endurance
test to see where I am right now. Cool.
Well, I got down to the end of our street and head around
the corner and it starts to rain. No biggie, the rain would
cool me off and keep me going. I have run in the rain before.
HA!
HA HA!
OK so by the time I get to the track it is a good rain. I crank
up my tunes, pull my sleeves down over my hands and start running.
Did a nice little cycle of run a lap walk a lap and by the 2nd lap
I was SOAKED wet! The thunder was rumbling the ground and the
lightening was flashing and making the field bright and beautiful!I cranked up the music a little louder and kept going.
I was truly enjoying this!
At one point the rain DID start to smack and sting
my skin a bit but overall I was loving it! Very 'freeing' to be out
there in the dark with the rolling thunder and the flashes of light!
LOVED it!
So, after 2 miles I dragged my soggy butt, body and feet
home. I stretched out really good (NO more hip flexor issues) and
came in to warm up. I was so cold I didn't dare take a shower bc I
was afraid I'd lose what body head I had - instead I bundled up in
my warm robe, had a cup of mint tea and cozied in my blanket.
I felt really good!
Insert this morning. My head is throbbing. I feel yucky. I feel like
a drown rat the morning after.
Lesson learned? Maybe all that fun (and faster run times) was not
worth it?

which one?

so, which one - I am thinkging about the scale vs the spirit inside
there is a small difference in weight and then there is how good I
feel inside as well as on the outside... so which one do you like?
sorta vain, I know, but I am just curious what others think about this
as well??

POOOOOOOOEY!

Bad hair morning.
Bad face morning.
Bad body morning.
Missed my run this morning.
Feel like schmucky poo.
Need some serious coffee or something??
Who knows.
ACCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKK!
This day sucks already.

more Yellowstone and Grand Teton photos....

elk...buffalo...moose family...
NO BEARS!

kids...kids...camping....
TONS OF FUN!

Super Happy Birthday!

Had one of the BEST birthday's ever yesterday!
I am a mere' 39 this year... ha ha, still have
a THREE in front of my age so I am still
officially "young" to most of my crowd of family
and friends. Whew!
Anyway, it was a GREAT day and I am so thankful
to all those who treated me like a princess! The night
before Dani's boyfriend Den brought me a purple basket
of goodies and the sweetest card - Loved it!
Then I woke up to flowers and cupcakes and cards from the kids,
Ed bought me Starbucks for breakfast, Robin and LaRee
took me to lunch and got me some really sweet gifts,
Lisa May came by and dropped off a gift at work for me,
I had a sweet friend drop off these FREAKING AMAZING
flowers and a card at work, then back at home I had
a card from my sister Carlee, the kids hung up purple
balloons at home, Ed took me to dinner and WOW it was
a great day! I think I got like 70+ bday wishes on FB,
sung to a dozen or so times, and I just felt so loved.

THANK YOU everyone for a great day!!!!!!!!! XOXOXO

DarlaLOU

tons to share... TONS

I have a TON of stuff to share, and a TON of photos too

but

I do not have time to post it all so I'll have to play
catchup sometime soon. For now, I had to share one
of my fave pix from our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton
last weekend!

Loves! XOXO
Darla

home - sick - tired

been a long weekend
lots of fun lots of crazy times
and somehow I managed to get
the start of a kidney infection
accck :O(
so now I will try to nurse it back
to health and play catch up
at home with house and laundry
and laundry and laundry
Yellowston was wonderful, camping was
a blast but it was a lot of work
and I have a lot more work ahead

SO PUMPED UP FOR THIS!!!!!!!!

The M.A.D. Half Marathon Info - May 14, 2011
Start Times
Half Marathon: 6:00 AM

Venue
Start: North of Broadway on Old Butte Rd,
Soccer Complex Idaho Falls, ID
End: Soccer Complex off Old Butte Rd, Idaho Falls, ID
Brief Description
The M.A.D Marathon is a beautiful race course that begins at the Soccer Complex on the Westside of Idaho Falls, ID and features beautiful fields and country serenity. Marathon runners will run along the acres of planted fields and miles of peaceful roads.

Additional Information
Aid stations at miles: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13.1
All participants receive a tech shirt
Portable restrooms along the race route
Finisher medals will be given to those who complete the course ALL proceeds go to charity.
Because this is a Charitable run, no refunds will be issued.

FANTASTIC weekend!

Chrissy and Jake were AWESOME and smoked us in the RIM2RIM run this weekend
but the three silly sisters stuck it out and we made it!!!!!





Sunday before we headed out of town to go home we
made a trip over to Shoshone Falls to sightsee and
then a hike over to the Hidden Lakes and it was so
beautiful! HOT HOT HOT outside and no one was really
prepared for the trek but it was a blast! The kids loved
it and we even got to see some guys cliff diving into
one of the lakes! It was awesome!

20 Years? Already?

So Ed got 'double' treated at Starbucks the morning of our 20th Anniversary!
I 'snuck' to SB before work to get him a mocha, some apple fritters and a
card... in my gut I just KNEW he and his other mgrs were going to go for a
mocha/coffee run... sure enough, there they were IN THE DRIVE THRU when
I was waiting for our order - so he got a double double shot! LOL


That night we went out for a little dinner at Red Robin... nothing fancy
but a dang good meal - some friends spotted us and sent us a drink and
they came and sang "Happy Birthday"???? to us! Funny!

20 years and still going - and they said we wouldn't make it
5 years.... POOOEY on those doubtful fools! 20 years, 4 kids,
and a wonderful freakin' ride!
I LOVE YOU ED!!!!!!!! XOXOXO