Kyle suggested today during church that we play Baby Elephant Walk while the children are making their way to the front of the sanctuary for the children's message. I couldn't agree more and I couldn't stop laughing the whole time they were up there.

I just bought these stamps at the post office this morning:
I love them! They're making me want to write a letter right now!

I am almost finished with Twilight and LOVING it!

Tuesday Kyle has an appointment in Iron Mountain to have his wisdom teeth removed. He has the received the go-ahead from our insurance company to be sedated during the procedure, which he is obviously very happy about. I'm in charge of getting him from the doctor's office to home. And secretly stopping at Wal-mart while he's sleeping in the front seat. Kyle has stocked up on the following for his post-procedure meals: 6 cans of soup, 4 containers of yogurt (mostly the same flavor), and orange juice.

Week one of marathon training nearly complete (minus a rest day tomorrow).

I did my first long run this morning (five miles, not actually that long at all) and practiced running with my new fanny pack. It, however was also very cold when I left, so I was also wearing a fleece. Halfway through my run, I naturally became very warm and tried to tie the fleece around my waist, causing the fanny pack to ride up to my boobs. Annoying. So, for about a mile I ran with the fleece in my hand. When that got too annoying, I tied it across my chest, kind of like a cape. I felt like some kind of running hobo with all of my possessions on my back.

Also.
Yesterday I quit my job job at Medicare.
And now I'm the cook at camp.
AHHHHH! I know!!!

But, all of the reasons I wanted to take the job at Medicare for the summer actually were not turning out so great. I was still physically exhausted. And anytime I was off I spent completely alone, because- guess what? Everyone else works at camp. I was pretty miserable. And I thought, "I could work at camp, still be physically exhausted, but not be so lonely." I used my leverage to work in trips home for a wedding, my birthday and the Nike women's 10k, going on the women's backpacking trip, and coming in a little late on Wednesdays to get in my long training runs.

And I feel so at home in that little kitchen. Even though I can still remember feeling like I was chained to it a lot last summer. It still feels like home.

I recently saw this bag in a Rachael Ray magazine and love, love, love it! RED AND OWLS?! How perfect!

Kyle and I recently skipped down to Chicago for a few days for Colby's graduation. We caught the tail end of the graduation party Saturday night and had some really tasty leftovers (great job, Lynn!) and then to the graduation and my maiden voyage to Francesca's. The graduation was one of the most entertaining ones I have ever been to. Here's the grad!

I think Kyle looks so cute in this picture!

We also made a trip to IKEA while we were down there for some supplies for my new art/workout room. Here are some before and after shots. They may be disorienting because the room is "L" shaped and awkward to photograph. I did my best.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:
Before:After:

I am IN LOVE with it!

It is a beautiful day today! Over 80 degrees and sunny and wonderful.

I spent the morning in my basement painting my new art/workout room. I chose "Asparagus," but it looks sort of lime-y right now. The man at Ace promised me it would dry darker, so we'll see. I am IN LOVE with it, though. I keep asking Kyle, "Do you think I'll be able to move all of my stuff down here tonight?!" He's all patient and practical about letting the paint "cure" or something.
Patience is not in my veins.
He DID teach me how to paint the last few days, for which I am very thankful. I feel like a much more useful human being knowing all the painting tricks and Kyle is REALLY good at it.

I made peach iced tea this morning and used frozen peaches for the ice cubes- a little trick my good friend Heather taught me. What a lady. It's deeeeeeeee-licious.

I think this afternoon I will work on Twilight and suntan. Maybe even in a swimsuit. And then a run later on. I have to trick my body because I missed my run on Monday and John Bingham recommends not running two days in a row at this stage in my running "career" to give my muscles a chance to recover. So, I ran really early on Tuesday morning and now I'm going to run late today, so my body thinks it's been at least a day. Tricky, huh?

Today I received my first CNA paycheck! I came home to find this sign on the back porch:

Total Weight Watchers weight loss: 26.2 lbs!
I lost FOUR POUNDS this week! That's the most I've ever lost in a single week!
I have now reached my goal weight and in 6 weeks I will hopefully be a Weight Watchers Lifetime Member!

I spent EIGHT HOURS (from the time I woke up until 4:30) at our new computer (a hand-me-down from camp) putting new music on our iPod. I have not put new music on it for a whole year and I was getting so bored of my running music. I am still SHAKING because I am so excited (and because I was sitting at the computer, not eating and rarely going to the bathroom all day). My favorite iPod addition is my 6o something 90's playlist. Fantastic.

Kyle preached his sermon on Sunday morning followed by rave reviews! I couldn't be there, but everyone I've talked to since tells me that Kyle was wonderful- I'm sure he was! I'm SOOOOO proud of him!

Today was the first of my three days off. Tomorrow I'm going to the big city of Iron Mountain for coffee, reading Twilight (the first of my summer reading list), grocery shopping at Walmart, and other adventures. Woohoo!

On this Mother's Day, I'd like to take a moment to share the wisdom I have gained from my mom:

- It's okay to eat hot fudge sundaes, popcorn, or chips and dip for dinner once in a while
- Don't ever buy anything that's not on sale
- Don't ever buy anything that's not on sale without a coupon

Thanks, Mom, for taking me to Africa, for putting me through college, for coming to every volleyball game I've ever played, for reading my blog religiously, for visiting me here at camp, for spring shopping sprees, for throwing a beautiful wedding, for helping me buy my first car, for feeding and clothing me for 20 something years, for always wanting to talk when I call you, for always being excited for me, for loving Kyle, for praying for me, for your love, care, and support. I love you Mom! Happy Mother's Day!

It has been SO beautiful here in the UP. The other day I sat out in the front yard in my Crazy Creek in a TANK TOP giving myself a much-needed pedicure.

Today is my only day off this week, so I am living it up. My plans are to, first, take in a skirt so I can wear it all day, go for a run, do yoga outside, experiment with some more bottlecap necklaces, finish the book I'm reading so I can start Twilight, watch more Jon and Kate Plus 8, and welcome home my dear friend, Ms. Megan Moberly!!!

We have a school group here at camp, so Kyle will be busy with them for the next three days. I watched him leading some game in our big field where they were all doing something with a rope. He looked just as happy as always. AND he has been asked to PREACH on Sunday morning at church! He would say it's more of a testimony kind of thing- whatever. The sad thing is that I won't be there because I have to work- BOO! But, keep him in your prayers- he's nervous but also very excited about the challenge.

Also, 15 days until I start my offical marathon training program! I even practiced running with my water bottle-holding fanny pack a few days ago. I'm sure I looked very cute and not at all dorky.

First an amazing video of Joe and Kassi dancing to Like a Prayer.
Then, some of our New Hampshire-Chicago vacation pictures, backwards.

Love him, love him, love him.

Only the Good Die Young, obviously.

Let's not forget that Kassi sang Mambo Number Five and put all of our names into it.

Dancing in the Dark!

My cutie cousin Bekah playing softball.

Some of my favorites.

Let's not forget that Sam ate strawberries out of the grass that had fallen out of Heather's cup.

Fruity drinks and backyard fun.

My pictures are all backwards...

I love this crazy girl!

And these crazy boys!

Silly billies.

Cuties.

Jenna adding a MOUNTAIN of sprinkles to her cookie

Crazy uncles climbing a giant tree.

Sigh.

Please close up on Jenna's face.

Video of a performance by Kira, Kyle, and Colby:

Two delicious cupcakes from Lulu's in Boston.

Crazy cupcake eyes!

Inside Lulu's

Eating tasty Italian food in the North End.

Eating candy from an old fashioned candy store in Keene.

Total Weight Watchers weight loss: 24 lbs.
My goal (last October) was to lose 25 lbs. within the next year. And I’ve actually done it in four months! Thanks Weight Watchers! Hopefully I can keep it off. I’ve stopped tracking my points (I did it RELIGIOUSLY for the last few months), but I think I won’t want to do that forever. So now I just know about how many points things are and how many I’ve eaten throughout the day and am not being such a stickler. I’m really happy with how I look and feel now, so if I can just maintain that- I’ll be happy.

I finished up my first week of training this week. It’s humbling and exhausting to be trained for so long. It’s really hard feeling like you’re just following someone around all day, every day. But, I’m learning how to do things by myself. Today I emptied a catheter drainage bag all by myself. And I helped a woman off the toilet and back onto her wheel chair all by myself. That might sound stupid, but moving old, frail people really scares me. But, boy oh boy, I calculated my first paycheck and boy WILL it all be worth it!

I convinced Kyle to take me out for fish fry tonight! WOOHOO!