Q and A

So I've noticed I've had a few questions in the comments people have been leaving me. I dont like writing back in the comments section, so I figure I'll take a moment and write the answers here, and a few other things too.

Andrea asked what is a 'Chub'? Great question, I didnt know either and when Grandpa opened them for Christmas I was totally out of the loop and felt dumb, turns out Vicky didnt know either, whew! Chubs are simply smoked fish; but they're hard to find anymore. Apparently they were far more common back in the day, which is why Grandpa and Grandma love them, but have trouble getting them, hence a good Christmas gift, and funny! Also, delicious.

Lindsay asked if I'm following a training schedule for the 5/3 rbr? uhh sorta, kinda, I will eventually? I glanced at the official training guide that the rbr sends out, and I know that with my activity level at this point I'm a little ahead of what they're doing. I wasnt all that pleased with the schedule last year, so I think I might poke around on the internets and see if I cant find one the I like better. It was a little intense, and wearing.

Kari didnt have a question, but she said she's in for training for the race, YAY! she's also in for our trip to the Earthquaken DR next week! WAHOOOOO! :)

Road Warrior: It's been a good week, not so eventful or anything, just good. I'm back in a routine for working out, and I think with it, I'll be good to go for rbr come May. This week I went to the Y Monday morning, Tuesday evening, Thursday morning and I plan to go Friday night and possibly even run outside Saturday - it's been mild.

I hope everyone's doing well, if you're looking for a funny story head over to my SIL's blog!

Happy Thursday!

Perfect Timing

This weekend I had so much fun, and the reason for it is summed up in this post title 'Perfect Timing.' Melissa, my roommate from college, is from Traverse City and was home for the holidays from upstate New York and was still in town for a wedding on Saturday. My other good friend Dana and her husband Matt were at Lake Ann, 'The place to discover life at its best,' to do the music for the Freeze Out winter retreat. SO I got to see both of them in one weekend in one of my favorite places on earth! I just love being around all of them, it was such an encouragement to me! Melissa and I stayed up chatting and eating peanut m&m's (very us) and Dana and I went cross country skiing, tubing and I got to show her around my camp. The weather was absolutely stunning! Sunny and beautiful with shimmering snow, ahh! I only have a few photos, enjoy -

Melis and Me

It was SO beautiful

ahh camp...

Have a great week everyone!

Road Warrior

So I've decided I'm training for the 5/3 25k River Bank Run again this year - I've always been planning on it but now that it's January, I've decided. I wanted to be a 5/3 Road Warrior, but you have to be pretty dedicated to running and training, and unfortunately I'm a big fan of letting fun opportunities trump my gym time. Anywhoo I think that even though I'm not an Official Road Warrior, I'm going to use this blog to keep you updated and myself accountable to the training schedule. So, here goes nothing!

Monday - 3 miles, 30 minutes on Arch trainer.
Tuesday - 30 minutes on bike, 1 mile run, upper body lifting, 0.5 mile walk (thanks Em!)

If anyone else is considering training, I highly recommend it! Let's do it together!

Happy Tuesday!

A Capitol Christmas

For my family's fouth installment of Christmas we packed it up and headed for the Capitol city, Washington DC! It was a big weekend filled with several firsts, enjoy -

Ready to rock, on the road

Full House.

Our First meeting with Ellen

Elle is SO sweet, soft and snuggly!

When we got there Thursday night we had dinner and opened gifts before the kids went to bed - it was fun and they were very excited!

Sam and his tool kit - he fixed the whole house before the weekend was over! :)

Rita and Grace with new hair bows!

Marv, Linds, Sam and Grace - cheese!

Andrea opening her measuring cup dolls - great find!

Sam and Dad - Sam loved his new sock monkey!

Friday all the Verwys Girls headed out for a little Target, Chik-Fil-A and the mall. Grace wanted to get her ears pierced when everyone was there, I thought she'd chicken out, but she did so great!

Before with mom

Getting ready, holding Claire the Bear

The Big moment!

After - mom and baby girl were overwhelmed!

Looking the mirror for the first time

When a girl gets her ears pierced who to bring but a grandma, a mom, two aunts, two sisters, and boat load of moral support! :)

Ta Da! Posing after

Rita and Linds all ready to go Saturday morning

Family pictures around the tree

I see, I see!

Rita was rockin' her new pink Cowgirl boots!

Sam! He was playing a game in which the junk yard dog lunges forward - couldnt have been better timing! :)

Two babies?

Iranian lunch - right before the power went out, DR style!

We promised the girls we'd take them swimming at our hotel, we finally got there Saturday night and then they stayed over too! Oh what fun!

Me and the bathing beauties!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tres Christmas'

Ornaments and Evergreens with packages as yet unseen all wrapped in paper colored bright, reflecting candles in the night with carolers and mistletoe and stockings all hung in a row on fireplaces glowing red with children safely sent to bed! - TSO

This year we had Christmas with the Verwys family, Christmas in Chicago and Christmas at home - all in 2 days! What a fantastic whirlwind of excitement! Enjoy the photos -

Grandpa opening his Chubs

Jim and Vicki - Christmas cheer

Grandma and her new sweater

We drove to Chicago Christmas afternoon and picked Marvin and Lindsay up at the airport, then headed to Michigan Ave to the Conrad Hilton Hotel - absolutely stunning!

The Grand Foyer

A life size gingerbread house, real gingerbread and candy - it smelled so good!

Taxi Cab!

In front of the hotel

Garretts! A Chicago must-have!

We drove home in the afternoon of the 26th and had Christmas at home in the evening.

The tree and all our gifts

Marv and Linds

Mom and the most perfect find ever! A matching bowl for her antique china!

Dad checking out the new garment bag

Merry Christmas from Puff! :)

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season, I was reminded again and again how absolutely blessed I am with family, friends and a Savior who came as an infant for me.

Tomorrow, or really today, we're off to Washington DC to meet Ellen and round out the season with more Christmas!

It has just come to my attention

I never gave a shout out to my new niece on my blog! The other day I posted that I'm going to DC to 'SEE ELLEN' - Ellen is my daring new niece and we're going to visit her this week! :) Check out her mother's blog for pictures!

Coming soon: Christmas weekend photos!

Only one creature stirring

I'm the only one awake right now, even the cat is sleeping on the bed! but I thought I'd take a minute to write about what's going on for Christmas this year.

Already Been:

Department Meeting - very fun, great food!

Annual Meeting - see above post, super awesome!

Angel Tree - 45 gifts, what a blessing to be a part of

Prism Concert - beautiful, cant wait for next year!

Wrapping Gifts - I'm getting better every year :)

Lamb dinner - saw a Christmas Carole <-- CREEPY!

Yet to Come:

Visit Aunt Lois and Uncle Howard - they're absolutely fantastic, cant wait!

Christmas Eve Candlelight service - my favorite service of the year

Christmas at Grams - a tradition, I'm gonna eat me some rolls! haha

SEE MARV AND LINDS - It's like my two best friends coming home, YAY!

Grand Lux Cafe - Yum.

Christmas at home - one of my favorite memories of the last few years

Koning Family Christmas - great friends and a mouse sleepover!

Dinner and a movie with Dana - A cousin pick-me-up! :)

Trip to DC on 31st - SEE ELLEN!

That is a stacked lineup and I cant wait! Bring on the fun!

And all this celebration to remember what our blessed Savior did for us those many years ago.

Hallelujah - What a Savior!