Labor Day weekend/Race

The last two weekends we spent in Elgin. Well Labor Day weekend we actually split between families. Friday we spent watching Michael play football because it was a home game, which works nice for us, since my parents live 5 min away from the school. Here are some photos of Michael. I did not take these, there is a dad who can be down on the field, and his are much better than any I've taken because it's too dark in the stands. :(

This was right after Michael's interception! (He's number 28)

On Saturday Michael and Travis had some competitions going on. I only have pictures of them shooting the bow though. They were seeing who could get the closets groupings or something like that. Bryan, my cousin, stopped by to borrow some camping chairs and he shot the bow for a little while too.

Bryan

Travis

Michael

On Sunday we went to church. After we ate dinner with my family we headed down to Travis's parents' house. On Monday I got to study while Travis helped his dad cut down a bunch of trees and branches. Maya got to go swimming when I took a little break to go outside and watch them.

That pretty much sums up our Labor Day weekend.

This past weekend we were back up in Elgin to once again watch Michael play football because it was another home game! Lucky us! The second photo above was actually from this game. The weekend was pretty laid back. Saturday I did some studying/homework and helped mom figure out how to put audio books on her iPod. Saturday night, my cousins were doing soup kitchen so we all got to watch four really fun and entertaining kids! I went to bed around 8:15ish since I had to get up Sunday morning at 4:00am. YIKES. I slept pretty good considering it being so early and everyone was still up and I was getting really nervous. (ear plugs were lifesavers)

Sunday was the interesting day of the weekend. My mom, Steph, Jill, Travis and I all left the house at 4:30am to head into the city. We used the L to get downtown and then rode the train to the race. The train left late and I started getting even more nervous because I had to meet up with a friend to pick up my bib number and chip for my shoe (for timing.) My mom and sisters stood in line for me for the bathroom (lines were CRAZY long) while I ran to meet Jamie. On my way to meet her, Travis and I ran into Jeff and Sarah Dietz who were there to watch their daughter Tonya run. That was a nice surprise. Well, I shouldn't have worried because the race started about 20 min late! Overall my first 1/2 Marathon went very well. My knees didn't hurt like I thought they would (at least during the race, afterwards is another story). My foot hurt like I didn't think it would. I should have stopped to loosen my shoelaces, which I've done in the past, but for some reason didn't even think of it. My total time was 2:26:01, which includes a bathroom break, and stopping to walk quite a bit in the last 5 miles or so because of my foot. They have people taking photos throughout the race, unfortunately their photos all make me look like I'm about to die! Here are some photos my mom took:

Ok so the start line is at least a 1/4 mile from here!

Getting more nervous, and it didn't help that they kept false starting. :(

If you look close you can see my tan line from my iPod. :) Guess that happens when you run for about 2 1/2 hours.

All done, with my cool medal. :) It's really heavy!

I think I'll be doing this again. I really did enjoy it. Travis wants to run a full marathon in Champaign in May. Not so sure I'm up for that yet.

Back in Full Swing

School is back in full swing and it is keeping me so busy! That's what I get for thinking having only 4 classes instead of 5 my last semester would be a breeze! I have already had one of my group members in a class drop the class b/c it is so intense. He didn't tell either me or the other girl in the group, we found out through our prof. The girl wanted to drop but stayed in b/c he said he would help her get through it. Go figure! So now it's me and this girl who really doesn't want to be in the class. Lucky me...

In another class we will be analyzing a company for our final project. I was so excited b/c I did this in another class last semester and he said we could use the same company if we wanted, but there would be different requirements. But I was thinking well at least I have most of it done, so that's one less thing to do. Then today I was sitting in class thinking well maybe I should challenge myself and do a different company. This way I could refresh my memory with how to perform a lot of the stuff in Excel and learn about how another company is doing. Am I totally crazy or what?

This weekend we are heading up to Elgin to watch Michael play football on Friday and then just hanging out until Sunday sometime and heading to the Blunier's so Travis can help his dad with landscaping stuff on Monday. I am so excited to watch Michael play this year. He didn't play last year and his freshman year his games were too early for us to make it up in time. So finally, I get to see him in person and not just on video! YAY!

The next weekend we will be back up in Elgin because I have a half-marathon in Chicago on Sunday. I'm getting a bit nervous. My training has been going pretty good, but my knees weren't handling it so well. They are feeling a tiny bit better now that I am tapering the intensity and distance so I'm rested for the race. I'm just hoping I can make it through the race and still be able to run afterwards (eventually). :) OK well I probably should get to work on homework. :(

Texting While Driving

Here is a video that is a good convincer for NOT texting while driving. It's pretty graphic, but it'll make you think twice before you text or even talk on the phone while driving! Show it to all the teens you know!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGE8LzRaySk

Weekend/Half of a Week in Elgin

Ok, so once again this was awhile ago...We were in Elgin for testimonies and baptisms. There were five people, but we were primarily there for my sister Jill. It was great to see five people committing their lives for Christ! I also started working on painting Michael's room the minute we got up there on Friday night. Jill primed while I painted the ceiling and then I painted the focal wall the base color (a cream color that reminded me of the cream part of the dirt dessert.) I worked continually on the room through Monday. On Tuesday I painted the furniture a light gray. We still need to put new hardware on the dresser (the flowers don't quite work), find poster frames for some of Michael's posters for the wall above the dresser, and find a new lamp for beside his bed.

On Wednesday my mom and I went shopping with Cindy and Aubrey in downtown Geneva. It was a lot of fun and we saw some really cool things. Maybe once we have a house to decorate I can actually buy some of the stuff. I found this great red coat for fall, but I won't let myself buy any more clothes until I'm done with school. I saw one thing that really inspired me. It is photos of "letters" that create a word. I have started taking pictures wherever I go if I see something that looks like any letter. I actually read most of the manual for my camera so I can get the best use of it while doing this.

This morning after my workout at the track I saw an amazing spider web that had water on every strand because it was so foggy this morning and it looked so great. I decided to hurry home and get ready really quickly so I'd have time to come back and take a picture. I actually got ready in time, but almost all the water had dried so it didn't photograph really well. I was really bummed! Oh well maybe next time.

Canada with the Blunier family

July 18-25 Travis and I went to Canada with his family. We rode up with Trent and Troy. We left from my parent's house around 7:30 and drove all through the night. We stopped for breakfast about a half hour away from the place we stayed. It was pretty good. I actually had to drink coffee because I slept so horribly (but at least I didn't have to drive and was able to try to sleep.) Granted I dumped a couple things of creamer in it. When we got to the resort the boys went out and fished and I took a nap.

It was a pretty uneventful trip, but that's what makes a good vacation. I got lots of reading in and everyone got to fish a lot. I was even able to go running up there a couple times with Troy. He was a good coach. The weather was great for running, very cool. The hills made the runs very challenging.

I went out a couple times during the week and caught 1 whole fish! That's probably my fault though because I would only fish for about an hour before I would get bored and start reading. One day I went out when it was raining and I wore raingear that I took from my parent's house and Stephanie's rainboots. There was a hole in the pants, but I figured the jacket would cover it. Well I was very wrong. For about 4 hours I sat in soaking wet jeans. Let me tell you...not the most comfortable feeling! I didn't take too many pictures this trip. Most of the pictures are of fish and a couple of wildlife.

Trent with his 50" Muskie

Bald Eagle

Troy with his 48" Muskie

Unforgettable Wedding Entrance!

This video is hilarious!

Wedding video

Weekend in Elgin

We were in Elgin two weekends ago. Friday didn't start out so good. Dante had been vomiting for two days. After taking him to the vet they determined he was constipated. He got a lovely enema and came home. As I was walking out the door to go pick up Travis from work so we could head up to Elgin, Dante had an "accident" all over me. So he got to ride in his carrier up to Elgin. About 15 minutes into the drive he had another "accident" in his carrier, so he got to ride in the back of the truck with his litter box. We had to make a couple stops along the way up to make sure he was still alive back there. :) We finally got up to my parents' house about 7:00.

My grandma Conro, and my A. Sarah came over for Dairy Queen cake to celebrate Michael's and my birthdays shortly after we got there. We just hung out the rest of the night.

On Saturday, my mom and us girls went to Huntley outlet and then Algonquin Commons. We all got some great deals at Banana. I had a gift certificate to use at Algonquin Commons from a really long time ago, so I finally got to use that on some great jeans! I always love when I can find jeans that don't need to be altered in the waist. Travis helped my dad caulk the barns. Then he went with Michael to play volleyball at my cousin Grant's. Of course after volleyball they had to make a trip to Cabelas. :)

My dad and Travis on the barn roof.

That night we went to Ju Rin to celebrate Steph's graduation from ISU in the spring. The food was fabulous!

Travis and I

Dad and Mom K.

Our chef, with an amazing beard :)

Steph and Jill

Michael, Justin (Steph's boyfriend), and Jill

Afterwards Michael challenged us to try to pick up a container with our teeth while holding one foot up with a hand. Here are some of those pictures.

This is me

This is Steph's boyfriend, Justin

This is Michael, he got it! (well I did too, there just aren't any pictures...)

On Sunday, Travis, Michael, and I went to a Cubs-Cards game at Wrigley. Our tickets were originally for a game a couple months ago, but it got rained out. I was glad it worked for us to still use the tickets though. Here's some of the pictures from the game.

Travis and I

Travis, Michael, Troy, Scott and Trent (in seating order, not head order)

This says it all!! :)

4th of July

OK I know this is a little behind...For the 4th we were planning meeting up with Neal & Kim and their kids for dinner then fireworks. Then it rained all day Saturday so fireworks got postponed until Sunday evening. So after church we met up with them on campus to eat at Flat Top Grill (we originally met at Chipotle, but then decided Flat Top sounded really good.) Brock wasn't feeling so good, so we were getting kind of nervous that fireworks weren't going to work out. But he drank some Sprite, ate a couple bites of food and started feeling better. We then drove to a cupcake shop that one of my college roommates owns, only to find out it's not open on Sundays! We were all pretty bummed but vowed to come back. We headed to Culver's instead to get our sweet fix.

Then we went back to our place picked up some water and chairs and headed over to a building that's under construction, next to our apartment complex. We got out Neal and Kim's bags game and played until it got dark. The boys colored on their new huge coloring book and Jaci kept trying to grab their markers. Throw a bag or two, go grab a marker from Jaci or the paper or whatever she was trying to shove in her mouth. Eventually she got picked up and got passed back and forth to whoever wasn't throwing. :)

The fireworks were good, but a little ways away. But we got to avoid all traffic so that was really nice!

There are out of order b/c Blogger uploads them funny, but I don't feel like messing with them.

Barefooting!

Here is a video of the barefooters. Jill is first, followed by Steph, Michael, Grant, and Travis. The last couple seconds is of a fall that will forever be etched in my mind!

Also, here is a photo of us girls the only night we went out and actually looked presentable. (and it's the only non-boat picture I have of my mom)

Amazing Video

This video was recently suggested to me (Thanks Erin!!). Everyone should check it out. I know it's long but it's very touching and it really makes you think...Be forewarned, there's a chance you may tear up. :) Just click the link below.

Cardboard Testimony

Tablerock Lake

As usual, I'm failing at keeping the blog updated. Last week we went to Tablerock Lake in Missouri with my family to go boating. U. Jeff, A. Julie, Grant, and Aaron were also there. Usually U. Tim & A. Marcia's family is there, but are going in July this year. We missed them! The trip was typical vacation. Lots of water, sun, tans, burns, eating, and reading. The weather was extremely hot, in the upper 90's. The water offered little relief as it was pretty warm. We were all excited when we would find a rare cold spot and would try to tread water in that spot. Unfortunately it didn't work often. This is a typical day: eat breakfast, try to be on the water by 10:15, ski/wakeboard, eat lunch, read/swim/nap/snorkel/eat some more, then head back in between 2:00 and 4:00ish. Some of the days we just couldn't stand the heat and headed in around 2:00. Some evenings we would go back out and barefoot, well some people would. One of the days we headed over to a swing and jumped off that. Grant and Travis jumped off the cliff they jumped off of last year, except the jump was about 15 feet or so higher this year! YIKES! We got back on Saturday evening, picked up the fuzzy kids from Travis's parents, then hurried home to clean church quick. Today I finally started laundry and putting suitcases and things away. Below are some pictures of the trip.

Michael wakeboarding

Stephanie skiing
The usual kid photo in the bow of the boat
The cliff (Grant & Travis)
Jill & Grant and their coordinating suits (and Jill's glasses)
Dad skiing
I'll post some videos of barefooting later, once I can edit them.

Blog Background

OK, I need a new background for my blog.  Something fun...If anyone has any ideas or suggestions send or leave a comment with a link.  I was looking and I got so annoyed because just about everything is all Imo and sadness and skulls or way to girly (like 13 year old girly).  I would love for some feedback.

Memorial Day Weekend

Last year we started a new Memorial Day tradition and went camping at Kickapoo State Park with Neal and Kim and my parents joined us on Saturday.  It was quite an ordeal to get my parent's a site because you can't put a camper on a site once a tent is there.  Rules...But in the end we had a ton of fun!

So this year my dad was able to come down on Friday early in the afternoon and pick me up.  We went out and got two sites (one for their camper and one for us and Neal & Kim and their kids).  It was a little hotter than we would have liked, especially for setting up.  Travis came out once he got done with work.  Neal and Kim came out once Neal got done with work as well.  We ate dinner shortly after they finished setting up their mansion of a tent.  :)  We just relaxed most of the night.  Neal and Travis played a little bit of bags.

Saturday we got up, had some hobo breakfast.  It was really yummy, but camping food always is!  My mom and Michael came on Saturday because Michael had sectionals for track on Friday night.  I tried to get some studying done (I wasn't very successful).  Neal and Kim played Uno with their boys.

It was a little hot again...hence the lack of t-shirts.  

My mom got lots of baby time in with Jaci.

Of course there was lots of bags games played!  Here is Michael and Neal on one side of the game.  Brock and Cailer were quite the observers all weekend.

We had some fabulous ribs, potatoes, and rolls for dinner and of course s'mores to follow.  It got chilly enough that night to have a cup or two of hot chocolate.  So yummy.

Sunday morning we had pancakes for breakfast with sausage.  Then listened to a Walk in the Word for church.  Neal and Kim had to go back to Champaign so Neal could teach Sunday School.  Since they couldn't go canoeing because of Jaci this year, some of us took the opportunity to go while they were in town.  Dad stayed back and watched the dogs.  Travis and Michael kayaked while my mom and I canoed.  We were a tad sore by the end of the 8 miles, but still had fun.  Some people lost their dog and were hollering for him when we passed them.  I hope they found him, but am very doubtful.  When we got back, Neal and Kim were back and Jill had arrived (she was at an invite in Gridley).  We just sat around and relaxed then ate brats and hotdogs for dinner.  We had a bit of rain while cooking dinner, but it didn't last long.  It helped drop the temperature quite a bit though, so that was nice.  Then it was time for a bags game tournament.  To start off Neal and Jill played my dad and Kim (K-squared).  Neal and Jill lost.  Then Travis and I played my mom and Michael.  We lost, so we played Neal and Jill and were able to take 3rd place.  We don't know who won first place really because both teams kept going over 21 and had to drop back to 11 points.  Finally we decided whoever went over the next time just lost.  The game lasted forever!  Here are some of the highlights. 

My mom is super excited!  This is one of many expression pictures.

Jill is watching the game.
Kim and Michael
My dad and mom
Then of course to top off the weekend, it rained all Monday morning.  My dad and Travis cooked breakfast under the canopy of the camper.  Then we all quickly packed up and headed home.  All in all, it was a very good weekend.  I can't wait until the fall.

Doctors and Water

The doctors are getting quite a bit of our money lately!  Travis had been getting these little blister like things on his hands for about a week, then while we were in Elgin for Mother's Day they showed up on his feet.  So I was able to convince him to go get them checked out.  The doctor said they were mite bites and they couldn't do anything, just don't get bit...Nice...

So since dogs can get mites and Maya had been chewing on her feet (which she sometime does anyway, and had allergy issues last spring/summer) Travis thought I should get her checked out.  Of course they didn't see anything and since we don't even know the type of mite they can't look for a specific one.  They wanted us to treat her anyway just in case.  Umm no thanks....They also wanted us to get a couple other tests/treatments that I feel she doesn't need and they just want the $$$$.  It's so frustrating!  (Side note: On my way to the vet I literally had to cross a river in the road because the water wasn't draining well with the huge storm we had.  It was a little nerve wrecking.  I was really wished I had the truck and not my little grandpa car!)

Then today I went to the dermatologist to get some moles checked out.  I've never really gone and thought I probably should since I have a lot of new ones and I love the sun!  They ended up removing one on my shoulder.  Crossing my fingers that it comes back fine.   So all this on top of all my breathing stuff...we are making all sorts of doctors rich!  Well probably not, but it sure feels that way.

I went to clean church afterwards since I was in the area.  Everything was fine until I got to the sanctuary.  We had communion last night and I found two chunks of the bread.  I thought that was kind of funny.  Then I started vacuuming and it keep suctioning itself to the carpet and I couldn't figure out why it was acting so weird.  Then I looked at my feet and they had little puddles of water around my flip-flops.  YIKES!  There was a ton of water soaked into the carpet.  I tried to soak up as much of the water as I could but there weren't many towels to use.  I ended up calling Brent, one of the trustees and let him know I did what I could but they should check it out ASAP.  I hope the problem gets fixed soon.  My guess is there is a leak somewhere in the foundation or something (but I am by no means a carpenter of any sort, so I'm probably totally wrong) and with all the rain we got it just had nowhere to go but in.  Well now I'm off to get work done on the truck.  I hope everyone has a great day!

Joining the Blog World

Well I thought we would finally join in the blogging world.  We aren't super interesting by any stretch of the imagination but I thought it must be fun if just about everyone is blogging now.