I am angry with Chad for going back home...Psych!

Yes, Chad gets to go home for a few days while the rest of us have to stay here.  I was a little upset by this when I found out.  I want to be able to go home for a few days or more, mainly more, and, so do the kids.  Let’s face it.  He is the one who wanted to move here.  Yes, we chose to move here together, but I chose to do so for him.

I still do not feel like this is home.  The house we live in now is not home to me, it’s just a house.  I don’t feel comfortable here.  When we turn onto the driveway I don’t get that feeling of, “Ah, we’re home!”   It isn’t comfortable.   It’s just familiar.

So, why am I no longer too upset about Chad being able to go home while the rest of us have to stay here?  Let me tell you!  I just found out that the producer-director for one of our most favorite shows lives in our neighborhood.  Seriously!!  The Producer of Psych lives in my neighborhood, MY NEIGHBORHOOD!  Now, you know that I am going to be walking up and down all these streets trying to see if I can see him.  And, yes, I do know what he looks like.  Chad even mentioned putting a sign out on our street corner saying, “If you are the producer of Psych, turn here.”  We all LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Psych.  We have all the previous seasons on DVD, and we are constantly watching them (and we still laugh every time).  We regularly spit out Psych one-liners to one another and the kids often find a Blueberry while we are driving down the road.  We even try to spot pineapples in our everyday lives.  And if you don’t know what in the world I am talking about, you don’t watch Psych.

So, am I upset about not being able to go home?  A little.  But now I have a purpose in Washington, a goal.  I WILL find this man and when I do, I will …well, do nothing.  Before I could even reach him the kids will have pushed their way through (yelling and screaming mind you) and already be performing every Psych scene they can think of or be in the process of singing every version of the Psych theme song before I could ever reach the man.  You know that’s right!

It runs in the family (just not my side)

Chad’s parents will probably appreciate this story more, but I have to tell it because it is hilarious.  Chad’s mother once told me story about him when he was little and running a high fever.  He began hallucinating and was seeing butterflies floating around him.  I don’t know if he remembers that moment.  I have never asked.  But, since we have been together there have been other instances with butterflies.  The real kind.  There was one time we were driving down the road and he started to drive off into the ditch.  After I hysterically very calmly told him to get back on the road; I asked him what he was doing.  He told me he was following the butterfly.  I tell you this because you will know where Cody gets it from.

Jessica was nice enough to blog about our trip to Mt. Baker.  She even put up a video she made about our trip.  If you haven’t seen it you need to, it is too funny.  She missed one of the most hilarious moments of the day though.  While the other kids were using their bodies as a sled, Cody stayed where it was safe, with me and Chad.  I have to say, she is a lot like me.  Some call it fear.  I like to call it commonsense.   Anyway, out of the corner of my eye I see Cody moving across the ice and snow.  Quickly.   I look over and she has both arms stretched out in front of her like a child saying, “Ooh, a butterfly!  Ooh, a butterfly!”    She began to chase that butterfly across the snow covered mountain trying to get it to land on her hands.  The chase didn’t last long though, because the next thing Chad and I see are Cody’s feet and arms flailing in the air.  And with a thud she hits the ground on her rump and back.  All she could do was lay there in the snow, and all Chad and I could do was laugh… hysterically.  After relaying to us, dramatically mind you, that she had to have broken her coccyx she slowly picked herself up and brushed off the snow.  All the while Chad and I are still laughing…hysterically.

Suffice it to say, her coccyx was not broken and the butterfly, unharmed by it all, gracefully floated away.

This is Cody.  All I have to say is I was trying to save the butterfly from a horrible frozen untimely demise.

The Business of Streaking

Did I say that I liked Jessica’s new coach, Joel?  I changed my mind.  Let me explain why.  Joel and his father are both streakers.  Okay, seriously!?  Get your mind in the right place.  Streaking is when you run for at least a mile everyday, fully clothed mind you.  I guess you could try it without clothes, but that would just be gross and no one wants to see that.  Anyway, I was so excited because this was my second day of running for a mile straight (I walked and ran the rest of the 2.23 miles or 2.24 miles depending on where I start my Garmin and where I stop it).  I was SO excited as I bragged about my streaking accomplishment to Joel.  Who then quickly informed me that I actually was NOT a streaker, and that I would have to run at least a mile everyday for a year to actually be considered one.  So, thanks Joel.  Way to bring me down… thanks.  Okay, he did turn around and immediately congratulate me on my two days of running.   And, he did promise Jess one of the coolest gifts EVER if she reached a certain goal.  I won’t tell you what it is though.  You will find out when it happens.  But, it is so cool that I asked him if I ran a 40 minute 5k if he would go ahead and do it for me.  Because I can so totally do a 40 minute 5k.  He told me no.  I think he laughed as he said it too.  But, think about it.  I may not be able to run a 5k in 25 minutes, but I CAN run it longer!  I like to think of it as having more endurance.   That’s right, I am an endurance athlete.  How is that for putting a positive spin on my running abilities?  And as for the streaker business, I may not be one yet, but I will someday.  One way or another...

Okay, as a PS, I really don’t dislike Joel, but he better watch it!  

New shoes, Candy, and Lost a Cat

That's right new running shoes!!!!!!!!! After we went to Jessica's XC meet we went to an outlet mall. There are a couple of things you should know about the malls 1. For some reasons all the outlet malls I have been to all outside. 2. They are very very EXPENSIVE. 3. They are very cold. 4. They all have chocolate stores, YUM.  Here's a list of thing we got. Momma got a Turtle, Daddy got a Carmel covered Apple, Cody got a Turtle, Jessica got sour warms (as usual), Noah got a 27" gummy snake, and I got these sour Raspberry strips. Anyways the shoes I got are BRIGHT PINK, I mean really  they are hot pink. Here's a pic

LOST a CAT

We have lost a cat. We are horrible people. Somebody had left the door opened and our cat Parker escaped, we searched for about thirty minuets when I found her behind the old shed behind the house. I called Jess and told her then my parents unfortunately she ran off somewhere and now we cant find her Hope we find her soon miss her so much. Hope she comes home soon keep you updated.


LOST a CAT 2

She came home! We left the door open all night and she came in on her own around 3:30 in the mourning. Momma heard her and got up and closed the door.


Today Jess did my hair. She did cornrows hahahaha.

Races and Coaches

Jess had her first race this past Saturday.  It was a college race where she ran an open 6k (3.73 miles).  She finished the race in 24:43.  She started out last, like always, and ended up passing 73 people along the way.  No, she didn't come in first place (not even close).  But, she ran against college aged women from the USA and Canada.  From what we could see she was the smallest one on the start line, some of the women actually towering over her.  Maybe some day she will be the one towering over the other runners.  Okay, that will only happen if she is running against kindergartners.  But, running here has been different than in Oklahoma.  Well, I should say, the focus is different.  In Oklahoma it was all about winning that particular race (instant gratification so to speak) .  She trained for the races.  Here it is more about goals and reaching those goals and that takes time (no more instant gratification).  So, it is not always about winning the race.  She was placed in an Invitational already knowing that, not only would she not win it, but there was no way she could win it, that wasn't the goal.  And, that is difficult, Jess is driven by competition. She wants to win...at everything.  Jess not winning is new to us.  That may sound like bragging but I am her mother and I feel that affords me some rights in that area.  Anyway, she is learning to change her mindset a bit and see the big picture along the way, and not focus so much on the here and now.

I like her coaches here.  Jim and Joel are a father and son coaching team.  Jim is very laid back and Joel is always excited.  Jim has not missed a day of running in 40 years and always has a story to tell.  He is here keeping track of Jess's workouts and progress.  Joel hasn't missed a day of running in 15 years.  He, for the time being, is in another state, and calls, emails and skypes to make sure all is okay and that she is doing what she is supposed to be doing, and makes comments on what his father tells him about Jessica's workouts and progress.  He also provides a lot of comic relief.  They both love running.  They love distance running.  Jim is an ultra-marathoner and has a few records to his name.  Yet, he is very humble about it all.  What I like about them, is that it isn't all about Jessica.  There are some of you that will know exactly what I am talking about.  They are interested in all of us, no matter what our abilities.  Jim cheers all of us on when we are at the track running, no matter how fast or slow we are.  Joel gets excited about running no matter what.  Even if I just ran for 45 seconds at a time (hey at least I'm running).   He is just happy your running.  He has skyped Jess and ended up asking to speak to each one of the kids to discuss their running.  Even Cody is willing to discuss it, maybe not do it, but at least discuss it. What she doesn't know is that she is going to start training for a 5k.  Don't tell her.  What she doesn't know...

Bravery in the Face of Uncertainty and Danger

A little retraction, of sorts.  We went to get the plates for the van about a week ago and they do give them to you right then.  Chad's truck's plate, being a work truck, was purchased through the dealership, and they sent it in the mail.  But, they don't give you your driver's licenses right away.  They mail those.  We received ours in the mail two days ago.  They have Chad's height listed as 5'4".  I had to laugh.

With my trusty sidekick, Tom, by my side (okay mounted to the windshield), I ventured out on the roads of Washington for the first time yesterday.  I know you are probably thinking, "Well, it's about time."  I know Chad was.  But, the town we live in has no grocery stores, none that we can afford anyway.  So, I either have to go to Anacortes, Burlington, or Mt. Vernon.  Anacortes I have got down, for the most part anyway.  But, Burlington or Mt. Vernon I don't.  And, like I said Chad never took me the same way twice.  Usually I wait for Chad to come home so he could take me to get what we needed.  Since he isn't getting off when he is supposed to it makes for a late night.  So, like I said, with Tom by my side and a feeling of uncertainty, I did a little shopping yesterday.  First to Anacortes then Burlington, which, by the way are in opposite directions from each other, and I didn't get lost.

I went to Safeway in Anacortes first.  I am telling you this because I am about to brag.  With coupons and sales I walked out of the store spending less then thirty dollars and having saved sixty-one percent on my bill.  If you aren't using coupons, you should.

Then I went to Costco.  I LOVE Costco!!  Almost anything I need I can purchase there and purchase it in bulk.  Meat, veggies, dairy, dog food, cat food, laundry detergents, cleaning supplies, ink cartridge refills for $7.99, you get the idea.  AND, they give Costco coupons.  COUPONS!  Oh, you can get gas there too and it is cheaper then anywhere else.  I love Costco.  The refrigerated areas that you walk into to get the veggies or dairy are frigid, almost freezing, unbelievably cold is what they are.  But two, one gallon jugs of milk for under six dollars, I'll brave the cold.  As a side note, I will have to insert a picture of the milk jug at the end of the post.  I think they are odd looking.  Where does the bravery come into this post?  Right here.  Apparently everyone else loves Costco as well.  Chad and I have learned, the hard way, that there are times to go to Costco and there are times you NEVER go to Costco.  Never go on a Saturday. Never go on a Sunday. And, Never go when people are getting off work.  They become Psycho!  No, really, it is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  They lose all sense of logic and Sanity.  You see, I think shopping is like driving a car.  You keep your cart to your right hand side of the isle.  That way no matter which way you are heading down the isle it leaves room for those coming in the opposite direction.  Not at Costco.  It is every man for himself and don't you dare get in their way or they will run you over with no apologies.  If you think I am exaggerating, ask Chad, he will gladly confirm it.  I swear, about two weeks ago, this lady was trying to kill us in the parking lot.  We were walking towards the store and she turned down the parking lot and was coming our way on the wrong side. She was looking straight at us and would not move over. Let me repeat that, she was looking straight at us, at two adults and four children. It's not like we are hard to see. I thought she was fixing to turn into a parking spot and needed a wide berth to get in it, even though she had one of those fancy little cars, but she wasn't. Then the thought crossed my mind that she was from another country where they drive on that side of the road and she was confused. She wasn't, she was just expecting us to get out of her way.  What would she have done if there had been a car behind us?  Then, I apparently came between some lady and the chocolate covered pretzel sample she had made a beeline for.  I couldn't get out of her way fast enough, her determination was such that I either should move it or lose it.  It was just comical.    Anyway, I made it out of Costco yesterday without incident and arrived home without getting lost. Thanks Tom.

I don't know if you can tell real well by the picture, but the milk jugs are tall and square.  At least you get to see Sophie.  Isn't she pretty.  By the way, the pudding came from Costco, 36 cups of pudding.  YUM!

Going to Baker

Watch the Video, It is awesome!!!
The Quality isn't the greatest) : sorry












I just wanted to add some more pics of our trip, Chad.

 The sun shinning down on Mt Baker.  The peak in the background is the summit of Mt Baker

Looking back down on the parking lot of one of the ski lifts.

The climb up

Snow remnants.  Just think in about a month the snow should start falling again.

Bottoms UP.

Looking back towards the east.

Hey

I just wanted to share a couple pics I took this morning on my way to work.  The two pics are looking back towards the east.  The body of water is the Swinomish Channel.

After work, Tammy and I walked down to the channel.  We walked along the shore until we found some berries to pick.  Of course we had stop and eat.

Another step in the PNW direction

Today was the day that I took off the Pawnee Nation vehicle tag from the van and switched to Washington State plates.  Tammy is one step closer to vehicular freedom.  All I lack is attaching the front plate.  For some reason our front bumper does not have bolt holes for front plates.  Thanks, Ford. 
Tammy and I also picked up our new temporary Washington State drivers license.  They give you a temporary until the permanent license arrives.  Cody is somewhat distraught because she has to take a Washington State written drivers test.  The state of Washington will not recognize her learner’s permit from Oklahoma.  That’s OK, what doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger.

For those who care I ran 1000m tempo runs yesterday.  My times were 4:40, 9:10 (forgot the lap button on that one), 4:30, 4:31, 4:38, 4:40, 4:34, and 4:20.  I was a little sore today so Jess and I ran an easy 31 minutes.  I have come to really enjoy our easy runs.  I enjoy running downtown La Conner.  The other day we mapped out a route that takes us from the house through La Conner, to the end of the pier, north along the Swinomish Channel (very sandy), down a farm road, to Laconner Whitney road, back through La Conner and then back home.  The total mileage is 7 miles.  Good times!

Pic of Mt. Baker in the background.

Driving and Crab Cakes

I drove in Washington for the first time today.  I have mixed feelings about that.  You see, I drove to our library which is only 1.85 miles away.  I told Chad and the kids that there really is no reason to drive that short of a distance.  Instead we walk there.  The temperature allows for it, the scenery is nice, and it really is a waste of gas to drive that short of a distance.  Well, Chad was called into work about 2 this morning and was going to take the rest of the day off so we could run some errands that keep getting put off.  While we were out they called him back into work.  So, dropping off the movies, that were due today, didn’t happen.  That meant I had to do it.  Well, to make it to the library on time I had to drive.  My mixed feelings came in because I felt that I should walk, but like I said, time didn’t allow it, and, at the same time it felt good to drive, even if it was only 3.70 miles.  I forgot how much I missed my van and how much red dirt is in it.  Cody said it felt like home.  Cody is right, it did feel like home.   I have a feeling we won’t be vacuuming it out anytime soon.  And, yes, dad, we have actually vacuumed it out before.

I was content to not have a vehicle.  I really didn’t want to drive around here at all.  Unlike Oklahoma, where the roads and directions actually make sense (thank you Oklahoma land run), Washington’s roads do not.  And, Chad NEVER takes me the same way twice so I never get a good sense of how to get somewhere.  I still haven’t figured out which way is north, south, east, or west yet.

One does not get their license and their tag in the same place like we do in Oklahoma.  You go to one place for your license and another for your tag.  You don’t even get your tag that day.  They mail it to you in about a month.  We may do things slowly in Oklahoma, but at least we are logical about it.

I know no one is going to believe this.  I ate crab cakes today and REALLY like them.  No, really, I have proof.  Our landlord made them and gave them to us.  I thought, “What the heck”, and took a bite, then another and then another.  Our landlord gave us three and I ate 1 ½ of them.  Chad had to share the rest with the kids.  After eating them I had a moment where I thought, “I wonder if I am allergic to crab?”  I swear my face, lips (yes I know that is part of my face), and neck became itchy and my hands began to tingle.  And, I swear my throat began to feel like it was tightening up.  I told Chad and he told me I was fine and to go sit in the shower.  I tell you what.  I could have died and he wasn’t even concerned!  But, the feelings went away and I am fine, so I must not be allergic to shellfish.  And it is a good thing too, because if I was, I would be dead before we actually found a hospital.

The Scenary of The Evergreen State

Hey guys this video is what dad did while we were back in Oklahoma, I think the picture is what mom did while we are here.  I miss every one of y'all back home.

Ryan

The Weather

Okay, let’s discuss the weather here.  Yes, it is cooler than Oklahoma, but, at times it doesn’t seem like it.  The temperature can be 57 degrees and the sun shining, and it will feel like 80 or 90 degrees, with sweat running down your back like a river.  Lovely thought I know.  Or, it can be 57 degrees with gray skies, and you feel as if you are going to freeze to death.  For the past week I have not been able to get warm.  I wake up in the mornings get out of bed and start to shiver.  Chad told me that it was warmer outside and to go out and I would get warm.  It didn’t happen.  I was beginning to think that I would never get warm again, until I went for a run.  After that I was good to go.  Jessica says if I want to stay warm I need to run more.  Cody says just to bundle up.

It hasn’t rained much here.  I think three days total and it was more of a heavy misting and ended before lunch.  Because of this there is a burn ban.  I look out the window and all I see is green… green grass, green trees, ocean green houses (it’s a thing here).  My point is it’s green, but there is a burn ban.  If it hasn’t rained in...like, two weeks, up goes the burn ban.  All of Oklahoma would be dancing a Jig if it was this green there.

The community that we live in has two pools, two sets of tennis courts (four total), and a “golf course”.  The golf course has maybe nine holes.  Anyway, the first week we moved in the kids kept bugging me to go swimming.  I told them it was too cold and they would freeze.  We then heard from multiple people that the pools were heated.  I thought, “Great!  Now we can go and not freeze!”  We walk down to the pool, where by the way, the “lifeguard” was wearing sweats, a hoodie, and converse tennis shoes.  I knew then we were in trouble, for a couple of reasons.  One, it concerns me that the person there to save my child, if something should go wrong, is going to have to strip down before she can jump in to save him or her.  And, Two, the clothing should tell you a little about the temperature that day.  I tried to warn the kids, but hey wouldn’t be deterred in their quest to swim in the heated pool.  Obviously Washington’s definition of heated and our definition of heated are not the same.  In jumped the kids and out they came yelling.  They made such a fuss about how cold the pool was that the “lifeguard” went to check the temperature.   And snidely commented that it was 81 degrees in the pool and should be warm.  And, 81 degrees does sound warm, unfortunately, it is not.  Jess lasted about five more minutes and came out shivering and with blue lips.  The other two lasted a little while longer then decided they were done too.  Cody had enough sense to stay home.

Next time I will have to tell you about the wildlife.

Life in The Evergreen State

Well, the temperature here is very cold.  It has been sixty degrees in the house, brr.  But, it has been fun, Noah and I sometimes play Nerf with some kids that live right up the road from us.  It may be fun here, but, I still want to go back home.  We've been very busy, as dad mentioned, we have been picken' blackberries that make the ones in Oklahoma look like baby acorns.  We have been running on different trails.  One of my friends would love it here.  She loves to run on trails.  There is this race in the summer here.  It is every Monday during the summer.  I went out of my comfort zone and did field events like the triple jump (failed it miserably), shot-put (not to brag but nailed it), and discus (could have done better).  It has been really fun here.  Miss everyone of my friends and family.  Wish you were here.

The first of my conversations in The Evergreen State

So far Washington is beautiful.  That doesn’t mean I want to stay here for the rest of my life, I plan on moving back after a couple of years. 

The house is interesting.  It doesn’t have the front door facing the street; instead it is facing a fence in our “back yard.”  We all have separate rooms, which I thought would be good, and I do enjoy it, but when you share a single room for all your life with two sisters breathing and mumbling in their sleep it becomes awful quiet when you are finally alone. 

Yesterday I had a big scare.  Abigail was sitting by me and Maggie jumped up beside me and Abigail.  In Abigail’s jealous mindset she decided that Maggie was invading her territory (me) and attacked.  Maggie didn’t waste any time in pinning her down and wrapping those enormous jaws around her head.  I was screaming and jumping up and down, and when I saw Maggie bite down I pushed her off the chair and onto the floor, grabbed Abigail, and ran screaming to my dad yelling, “Help her!  Help her! Help her!”  Over and over again until he grabbed her and started looking for a bite mark.  He finally found it on her head and when I went to look at it, it was a giant gash mark on her head the size of the Grand Canyon.  Mom says it’s not that big, but in this situation I am Mom and Mom is Dad (and for those of you who know my mom you will understand).  We took her to the emergency vet and they fixed her up real nice, but we had to wait for an hour and in that time we noticed three sets of people come in.  A couple whose golden retriever, Daisy, had been blind for two years, she wasn’t eating, and she was twelve.  Then, there was a woman whose cat needed to be put down, this made Momma cry a little bit and when they brought the cat out in a cardboard box I started to tear up.  After the cat people there was a man who brought in a kitten that had fallen on a steak knife.  When we looked in the box he had covered the kitten in a pink baby blanket and you couldn’t see the cut.  Dad says that the clinic needs their own TV show.

In case you can't tell that is Abigail's Grand Canyon of a gash.

So, so far Washington has been interesting.  As Noah said there was a Halloween shop with some interesting zombie stuff, and of course there are the rogue, some degrees removed cousins/aunts who try to take your eye out with a birthday knife.  I’m not naming any names but let’s just say Cousin/Aunt Verna’s house is a hoot. 

I don’t know if Washington will ever be home, but for now it’ll have to try and keep up with us.  So far we’re louder, friendlier, and crazier than most Washingtonians here.  So let’s see who survives who first around here.

My Day by Noah

My dad forced me to run yesterday.   We went to a Bellingham track.   I found a boomerang at the track.  When I threw it and it almost took dad’s head off J.  Dad almost took my head off, it was not fun.  Now I know how my dad felt.

Dad made me run a mile without stopping.  He did not tell me that I would not get a rest between laps.  Ryan wanted to race me.  In my mind I was thinking, bring it on.  I almost did not win.  I won by a split second.   I was thinking yay I won.  I could feel my heart beat with every step I took.

We went to a Halloween store and it was disturbing.  There were baby zombies eating their feet.  There was a huge rat eating the inside of a zombie’s body.  It was weird.

I miss all those people that I left behind.  I miss them.   I want to go back as soon as possible.   I miss all my cousins that I left behind, Brice, Jamie and Kiser and Gracen.   I miss all parts of my family.  I miss my friends as well.

First of Chad's Chats

Hey guys just wanted to drop a line and let you know that all is well.  I have resisted starting a blog for a long time.  But it seems this is the best way for all of us to share our adventure with all of you.

Anyway the most impressing thing on my mind right now is the amount of free food the pacific north west (PNW) has to offer.  Honestly you really cannot go hungry here.  I mean check out the pic below.

Of course these also grow wild in the ditches of Oklahoma, but not this size or quantity.  These things are everywhere.  After running one night we picked berries that were growing right next to the track.  When we came home, Tammy whipped up an awesome cobbler.  Also, instead of finding pecan trees in the ditches, the PNW has apples.  There is an apple tree growing in the ditch on my route to work.  The apples are almost ready for picking.  I can see an apple pie in my future!

If fruits and berries are not your thing you could try some of these.

  I'm told these are lichen.  You can eat'em.  My source says they are pretty good eating if you can get them off the rocks.  They are pretty hard to pry off the rocks.  You can't see them in this pic but just to the left of the large rock were some muscles stuck to the small rocks on the shore line.  I've been told they are good eating and easy to prepare.  Just fire up the grill and throw them in.  As they begin to cook the shells will open.  Have some butter flavored with what ever seasoning you like and place it in the shell as they begin to open.  Let them cook for a little while longer, then eat'em up.  I'll let you know how they taste.

Well that's enough for tonight I'm pretty tired from running and shopping.  Tammy forced me to the outlet mall in Burlington.  By the way for those who care my times were:  100sec/400m, 104sec/400m, 97sec/400m, 95sec/400m, 85sec/400m, and 82sec/400m.  There are some marathons coming up in Oct and Nov. that I would like to run.  We'll see if I can get ready in time. 



 

Running around in the Evergreen state

Woke up this morning to Maggie (our dog) running in my room licking her chops like she does.  After a while she sat down by my bed and started whining because, I wouldn't wake up and pet her.  I turned to her laughing and signaled for her to come up.  I have been waking up to this ever since we moved.  It's like I am the only one in the morning who is supposed to take her out!!!  And it isn't like I can just let her outside, WE DON'T HAVE A YARD PEOPLE!!!  It is so frustrating!!!!  Anyway, I'll stop whining :)

After I woke up to Maggie's whining, I had to get ready to run.  I have done a week of training with my new coach Joel.  He has me running everyday which I am not opposed to, I actually really like it.  But today my legs were so dead!!!  I had to run 6x1000m.  I ended up running 4x1000m and two 400s( :  I know y'all really don't care about my running( : HA!!!

You know it really isn't hot until you start running or walking.  I think I am used to the temperature now, even though I know most of y'all would be begging for 62 degrees for running weather, or 62 degrees period! 

After we ran we went to the outlet mall in Burlington.  I think mom had a little too much fun in the kitchen stores( :  She was running all around the stores like a 5 year old saying "I want that"!!!  It was too funny.  Cody of course loved the clothing stores.  Ryan, Cody and Noah almost passed out when they saw a Chocolate factory!  Oh and I loved the Nike and Lululemon outlet stores!!!  They were the bomb!

Anyway I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing before you got on this blog to read my jabbering( :   

Bye Y'all!!!

I miss the beautiful sunrises in Oklahoma L

So, We Have Left Native America and Entered The Evergreen State.

The first time I went to Washington with Chad, we were driving down the road when I saw a man plowing his field.  I kept thinking to myself that something about that scene was off.  There was something odd about it all.  Then it hit me, the dirt was gray, almost black.  I kept telling Chad to look at the dirt, that it was just weird.  Dirt isn't supposed to be gray.  Dirt is supposed to be red.  I knew then that I just wouldn't be able to leave that red dirt behind.  So, on the mantle in the living room of the house we are now in, is a quart sized mason jar of dirt.  Not just any dirt either. One pint of that mason jar is filled with red dirt from our driveway.  The other pint of that mason jar is red dirt from the pasture that Jessica had mixed with cow manure.  Along side of my dirt is a pint size jar of okra seed, a jar of Chad's Papaw's watermelon wine, some OSU salsa, a bottle of Dr. Pepper from the Express Ranch, and the cover to an OU blanket Chad's mother gave me for my birthday.  Turns out that blanket was actually a Washington State Blanket.  No, she didn't switch them.  She actually thought she was buying an OU blanket.  Maybe God is trying to tell me that Washington is home now.  I'm not there yet.