BLOG #100!

Who would've thought I would  have enough things to fill 100 blog entries!! :)  Well here it is!  Blog 100!

Nothing too interesting...

Still loving life here in NC :) I literally LOVE living the everyday life with the Werner family.  I truly feel a part of the fam and just enjoy every minute of being here.  Definitely a GREAT vacation.  Pool days, yummy meals, lots of laughter with the kids and GIRL TIME with Susan.  I love Susan so much!!!  We just had a great talk on Cade's boat bed (where I get to sleep) :) and I just am thanking God for such a wonderful example Susan is to me as a wife, mom and friend.

So I just had a HUGE glass of chocolate milk.  How bad is a full glass of skim milk with 2 heaping spoonfuls of Nesquik?  Is there anything better?  I'm scared I just started a nightly routine...  The worst part is I don't drink it slowly... I stood over the sink and drank it in NO LIE probably less than 45 seconds.  Just GULPED THE WHOLE THING DOWN!  Oh my word it was so good though I couldn't drink it slowly!  It was better than Gatorade.

I'm feeling really sorry for all the Oklahomans that are running in this heat right now- I have some MAJOR respect for you guys.  I ran in a heat index of 101 today and thought I was going to die!  Of course there were some hills and NO SHADE but OH MY WORD it was brutal.  It was one of my worst times for 4 miles.  If NC is bad I CAN'T IMAGINE how bad it is in OK.  I am thanking NY for their "mild summers" YES it still gets hot but when I run at 6 in the morning its at least more like 70 which is so doable and nice.  I have LOST my heat tolerance.  I might end up being a crazy NYer that complains that we are having a "heat storm" when its over 90 for 3 days straight! ;)

SOOOO I know I haven't blogged about my job situation lately BUT I am currently looking for a job... and I have an interview with a company I am excited about so PLEASE pray for me and God's will with my job search!  This is a crazy time in our lives right now but I want to GROW from these experiences and lean on the LORD in these times and not my own understanding!

Off to bed! ;)  Okay or "off to read" 1/2 way through my 1st book on my book list!

Here are some pictures of ice cream night with the kids the other night :) Please look at Alexa's face in the last picture... this is the face she makes if she isn't very happy :) Is it bad that I burst out laughing every time I see it?! :)  

Haha LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

ANOTHER August book list

I guess I read the last 3 books in 12 days... I didn't really mean to do that!  Sooo on to 3 more books!  All still from the community book sale.

 "Goodnight Nobody"- Another Jennifer Weiner book.  I have read a couple chapters and realized there is a MURDER in this book?!  What?!  I was NOT expecting this so hopefully it will be good.  Um HUGE change from "The Kite Runner" though!

"The Scarlet Thread"- this will be another Francine Rivers book :) YAY!!!  OH PLEASE PLEASE PUUUHLLLLLEASSSE suck me in immediately unlike "The Sin Eater"!!!!!!  No idea what this is about... unless it has to do with Rahab in the Bible???  Just thinking by the name...

"A Painted House" YAY a John Grisham book :) I am excited about this one.  Change of pace from the usual I read.




Have you read any of these books?!

Book Review #2

"Litte Earthquakes"- it was a good read.  Jennifer Weiner is a very creative writer and I had fun reading this book.  Each chapter switched characters which I like.  There are 4-5 girls in this book with VERY different lives all suffering "little earthquakes"- this book is "real" and you really feel like you're a struggling mom or a not loved wife or a workaholic, etc.  I would advise this book for a good "break" out of your normal routine of books.  I kinda flew through it!

"The Last Sin Eater"- hmmm...
Oh sin eater.... I really DON'T know if I recommend this book or not.  I am NOT LYING when I tell you it took be OVER 1/2 way of reading this book to actually be interested in what was going to happen!  The book is based in the 1850's and so it has HORRIBLE grammar, etc. so it was hard to read their vocabulary, grammar and so on.  Francine Rivers is one of my favorite authors and I was surprised by this book.  But also bravo to her b/c this is (to me) unlike any of her other books.  I have NEVER (that I can recall) not finished a book (NOT including college books) :) If I start it I HAVE to finish it but I think 70% of people would've stopped trying to read this book 4 chapters into it.  It had a GREAT message in the end and I guess I'm glad I read it?? :)  This is more a book that is great for group discussion and should be assigned to read if you go to a Christian school (my lil sis Julia said at her school she was required to read this!) so anyways... I probably wouldn't have gotten through this as fast as I did except I was in the Catskills with T.J. and I had nothing else to do while he worked all day!

"The Kite Runner"- a surprise.

I did NOT know what I was getting myself into let me just tell you that right now!  I literally thought I was going to be reading about a boy and his kite or something!  LOL boy was I wrong.  This is a GUT WRENCHING, fist clenching, eyes squinting kind of book.  As in I am twisting my body and making "noooo" noises b/c I don't want certain things to happen!!!  This books has some insight of what life was like for Afghanistan kids before their land was destroyed and after.  I would advise on the strong ones to read this book.  I'm GLAD I did, REALLY glad but it was HARD to read some of the stuff and I would NOT read this book lightly... This book stirred my heart to pray pray pray.  Thank you Kendi for sharing this book with me!

The Werner family and North Carolina

I'm here! :)  Kelly is "back with the fam" living and loving life in NC.  Things just feel right!

After arriving at the airport in NC (with greeting cards and running hugs from the kids and Susan) Christian treated us all to On The Border, one of me and Susan's favorite Mexican restaurants!  It is actually the restaurant that we had our "goodbye" dinner 3 years ago.  We  had a great time catching up and then took the kids to their last night at VBS.

Yesterday we had a fun time exercising as a family and pool time, followed with a great Italian dinner.  Today is Sunday, the Lord's day- we went to church (had a great time!) and now are relaxing after our bellies are full of Steak and Shake... which btw I might be gaining 5 lbs while I'm here!!! :)  Off to run tomorrow for sure.

As I type Elle is playing with my hair.  I have never been so pampered!  Elle told me this is what I deserve for coming out here, Elle, Cade, and Alexa massaged me feet, legs, back and face last night with lotion and put me right to sleep.  Lesson #1 with children, teach them to pamper you!!!! :)  You can disguise this as "salon" "barber shop", you name it! :)

Things are going AWESOME, I have missed the Werner family SO MUCH and this trip was a huge gift from the Lord.  Thank you Christian for making this possible and thank you Jim and Suzy for taking care of the pets that also make this trip possible! :)

Here are some pictures we have taken so far...

 The pics of me and Susan in the sun was a hilarious scenario- our poor pupils couldn't dilate in time and we were blinded by the light! ;) How precious are these kids btw?!?!?!  I will post more pictures later b/c I don't have any of sweet Cade!!!!

Coffee time

As many of you know I have recently become an avid coffee drinker.  This has progressed from 1 cup of coffee every other day in the winter to know 1 or 2 cups a morning :) and if we're out for dinner maybe even a cup for "dessert", it is actually sick I know.

Something that made my friend Suzy laugh and me question how weird I'm becoming...

Where do you drink your coffee?  The couch as you read?  The dining room table?  On the patio?  While you run around chasing kids?  In your bed? In the shower?

IN THE SHOWER?!  What?!  Oh I guess that would just apply to me :)

So lately I took my mug of coffee with me in the bathroom while I hopped in the shower, the other day I thought, "Why not just bring it IN the shower with me?!  I could just place it where the shampoo goes and take a sip every now and then!"  Brilliant right?  No really it was!  I have started a new routine.  So yes ladies and gentlemen I take my cup of joe IN the shower with me :) its GREAT!

So... where do YOU drink your coffee?  Or tea, etc.

Try it... I DARE YOU!

Catskill weekend

Our friends Claire and Brian did T.J. a HUGE favor and helped him do some fish tracking this past weekend as T.J.'s technician was out of town.  They got a lot down and worked HARD.  I literally just laid out and read all day- I felt so bad!  But I did take a lot of pictures :)

Doing what I do best- reading and laying out! ;)

 T.J. with the backpack shocker!

 Oh just my gorgeous view...

WHAT A CUTIE!!!! :)

These views never cease to amaze me

The sweet couple- Brian and Claire

I spy two snorkelers!

I'm attaching a video of T.J., Brian & Claire shocking the fish (this does not hurt them, just stuns them so T.J. can get a good reading on them, etc.) It's a really cool process and fun for T.J.  T.J. is LOVING it out there.  He's outside every single day (as you can see by his tan) and just loves being outdoors.

Here is T.J. turning over rocks- he's never stopped doing this!

After a hard day at work (the others.. not me) we had an AWESOME dinner (we ALL got a guacamole salsa burger at a yummy place nearby followed with ice cream!) and played NERTS all night long!  Thanks to Debbie and Mike we are now addicted to this game!!

I am NOT

I am NOT sitting at the computer with a 1/2 gallon of  Chocolate Nutty Cone ice cream with a spoon :)

I'm so proud of myself, I just GOT UP and put it away :) Now I'm really happy b/c I had come to the conclusion I was about to take in 800 calories and I probably only ate 200 :) Good job Kelly... for now!

Well... I'm back from my glorious weekend with T.J.!  I won't see him for THREE WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am going to NORTH CAROLINA PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!  (I'll be there for 10 days) If you know me than you know that means pure awesomeness b/c I will be with the Werner family- the family that I nannied for, became best friends with, and now am just a part of their family! :)  T.J. and I vacationed with them a year ago and had A BLAST.  Here are some pictures from the last time we were together...

I really am beyond excited about seeing my 2nd family! :)  North Caroline here I come!!!

Dog gone tired!

 After running 4 miles with me and Suzy the pups were WORN OUT.  Look at Jade sitting like a lady :)  I should have taken a video just so you could see how heavily they were panting.  I love these dogs! :)  They are the best running partners ever!!

 

A week with the Ross'

Time flies :(  Mike and Debbie have already come and gone!

Some highlights of the trip...

*Running 8 miles with Debbie (we DID it!), T.J. and Mike ran 9.
*Pigging out on delicious meals!  (Debbie made her famous homemade pizzas and sent FOUR back with T.J. to eat while he is gone for the summer)
*Watching Inception & The Book of Eli (still quite not sure how I feel about these movies) :)  Overall I liked them though. 
*Getting lost but finally finding our destination- a great restaurant near Cayuga Lake, eating outside on a patio while it POURED rain around us with the awesome sounds of THUNDER (don't get that in NY very much) and lightning.  See pictures below of rain and the RAINBOW after.
*Taking the dogs and relaxing at the Brooktondale swimming hole. 
*Running around the GORGEOUS reservoir at the Catskill Mountains (picture below)
*Staying at a B&B with Mike and Debbie, sharing a room and hysterically laughing until tears into the wee hours of the night!!!  Need I say why? :)
*Playing NERTS with Mike and Debbie from about 9:30-1am Sunday night!!!  Now our favorite game!!!  And yes Mike and Debbie dominated us!

These are just a few of the many fun things we did.  The weekend was full of love and laughter!  Debbie was able to come out a few days before Mike so we enjoyed doing whatever we wanted!  We somehow ended up working out 2 times a day and enjoying all the workout programs Cornell had to offer.  We took a water aerobics class that I was I think the youngest by 40 years!  Ha!  Debbie was probably 10 years younger than them all too!  It was really funny and FUN!  Please imagine us with water belts and 70 year olds!  Needless to say we were the only 2 in 2 pieces! :)  The instructor even asked me if I "got a workout" after it was all said and done!  I did!

I miss them already and I know T.J. was so sad to see them leave.  HOWEVER we will see them again in September!!!  We are all running a 1/2 marathon together in PA!  VERY excited about this!!

Enjoy the pics!

The patio set Mike and Debbie are sitting on was their surprise gift to us for our 2 year wedding anniversary.  I can't WAIT to take advantage of this!  We've been wanting one for awhile!!! 

My little Ace enjoying the outside

This is the gorgeous double rainbow that showed up after the thunderstorm.

I wish I could say I took this picture but I actually found it online HOWEVER this is the EXACT view we had when we ran at the Catskill mountains, tell me that is not the prettiest view ever!  Definitely was motivating to us all I think!        

Mike took this picture with his Iphone- capturing the Esopus river where T.J. works all day!  

The spots would be all the rain falling down on us :)  This was a great dinner at a restaurant near Cayuga Lake.  We topped the evening off with ice cream from a famous creamery nearby!

So nice to spend some quality time with my husband!  I miss him already.

Book List for August

Off to start my next 3 books! I'm still reading through all the books I bought at a community book sale which I completely "judged a book by its cover" and grabbed books I thought looked good. Like I've said before I don't really love to read the back of a book and see what its even about! I just want to be taken completely by surprise. I just started "Little Earthquakes", so far so good! Each chapter switches the character and I always like that.

"The Kite Runner" I have heard great things about this book and can honestly say I have NO IDEA what it is about. My best friend Kendi is sending this book my way after she read it so I'm anxious to get it in the mail. I better finish "Little Earthquakes" fast so I can move on to this book!

"The Last Sin Eater", oh how I love Francine Rivers!!! I will read ANYTHING she writes. I've heard this book is a little hard to get through but someone else told me it was SO GREAT so we will see!

Have ya'll read any of these books? Tell me what you think if you did, do you have any book suggestions for me?

Thanks! And off I go to read!

Book reviews

A couple weeks ago I posted a blog about the next 3 books I was going to read, "The Host", "Water for Elephants" and "Two From Galilee". In case you are a book lover like me, here is my input on the 3 without spoiling anything! :)


"The Host" definitely a "Sci-Fi" read but I LOVED IT! It did take a little while to "get into it" and I DID have to pay attention pretty hard in the beginning but it was worth it! It's basically about the human race being "hosted" by an alien species and all the adventure that comes with that. The author of this book also wrote the Twilight Saga and that is what made me read this... or else I probably would've never opened it! I can't believe it but I really did love it! It was one of those books that when I finished I was really sad it was over... I "missed" the characters!!


"Water for Elephants"... what a change of pace! This definitely took a little while to "get into" as well... but mostly b/c I was so used to reading about aliens that it was hard to focus back on real life again! :) This book is a fiction book about the life of a man in a circus, what is CRAZY AWESOME is that he is from Ithaca, NY and went to the Cornell vet school! It was SO FUN reading all about Ithaca and it was around the 1920's that the story was placed in which was even better. There are some parts that aren't "easy" to read, obviously there is animal abuse in the circus which is SO SAD and regulations weren't the same back then as now! Overall I am glad I read it. I admit that the last night I sat down to read I started at midnight and put the book down at 2:30 am!!! (and had to wake up at 5:30am!) it was that much of a page turner near the end!


Rumor has it they are shooting a movie based on this book in Ithaca this summer! :) I know that Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson (famous "Edward" from Twilight) is in it... it should be great! :)


Last but NOT LEAST I read "Two from Galilee". I borrowed this book from Grandma Ross and was really excited about it. It is the story of Mary and Joseph that is VERY "real" and told like you are right there with them experiencing this miracle. It's easy to read the story of Mary & Joseph in the Bible and not really feel like it REALLY HAPPENED to 2 ordinary people. This was a page turner and I read it pretty fast. It made me remember that we are ordinary people but can be extraordinary with Jesus. I would recommend this read out of the 3 the most b/c I think EVERYONE would love it. Thank you Grandma Ross for this amazing read! :) Debbie is bringing it back home with her to OK for you!


Posting the next 3 I'll be reading soon...

Happy Birthday Debbie!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

My sweet, sweet mother-in-law just turned the big 5-0-!!! Look at this picture and tell me if you think that is possible... yes I know my mother AND mother-in-law both seem to defy nature the older they get! They only get prettier! I love this picture of Debbie, she has her long hair pulled back and is dressed up like a cowgirl as she helped out with VBS at their church.

DEBBIE is coming to see me today! :) Mike will get here Friday and T.J. will drive up for the Catskills and we'll have a great weekend together. Then we'll all drive back to the Catskills so Mike and Debbie can see what T.J. is doing down there! We will attempt to tube down the Esopus creek :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBBIE! I love you and feel so blessed to have you in my life! Running partners for life! ;)

Nana's Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars :)

Oh you THOUGHT you knew what a good dessert was didn't you? :)

I know many people have their "secret" recipes that is theirs to keep (and if you do that is FINE) I however like to share all mine! :) Why not right?? This is my FAVORITE dessert. It's my nana's chocolate peanut butter bars and I know if she was alive she'd be happy I was sharing it with people! This is literally to die for!

Nana's recipe for chocolate peanut butter bars
you will need:
1 c. butter (or margarine) creamed
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 c. peanut butter & then another 1/2 c. for later(I like to use the extra crunchy kind)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
2 c. quick oats (1 minute oats- like the Quaker brand)
1 12 oz. package of semi sweet chocolate chips
1 c. powdered sugar
2 or so tbs. of milk

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350
*Cream butter and gradually add in sugar & brown sugar. Cream well. (I usually melt the butter 1/2 way first b/c it makes it easier to do this) :)
*Blend in eggs, peanut butter (which I also heat up for a good 20-25 seconds so it can mix better), baking soda, salt and vanilla.
*Add flour and oats, mixing between them.
*Spread this mixture into a 13x9 GREASED baking pan (I usually use glass but probably doesn't matter)
*Bake at 350 for 22-24 minutes. (The original recipe states 30-35 but I think 25 minutes is actually even too long!!) We don't want these suckers to be hard do we? No! :) It will be a nice golden brown and you will be able to tell the edges are done.
*When you take out the pan sprinkle the pan immediately with the whole bag of chocolate chips, evenly distribute them across the top.
*Let the chocolate chips stand for about 5-7 minutes (maybe even a tish longer)
*While chocolate chips are melting mix together 1 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 c. peanut butter (I heat the peanut butter up in the microwave for about 25 seconds to make it easier to mix), and 2-3 tbs. of milk (go easier on the milk you want this mixture not to be too runny!), mix well.
*Spread the melted chocolate chips across the entire top of the dessert with a spoon or fork.
*Then drizzle the peanut butter/powdered sugar mix on top of the melted chocolate chips. I usually swirl it all around on top :)

Then you are DONE! :)

MAKE SURE TO EAT A PIECE RIGHT THEN! It won't be that hard and it will fall apart when you take out a piece at that point but you won't regret it b/c it is SO DELICIOUS! :)

Also keep in mind... I NEVER EAT THIS DESSERT WITHOUT HEATING UP MY PIECE FOR 15-20 SECONDS, it should always be eaten while warm in my opinion with a big glass of milk :)

2 years later...

I could write a novel about how much I love T.J., our marriage and these last 2 years!!! I won't bore you with that :) HOWEVER I will brag on my husband for just a sec! T.J. suprised me with an awesome night at an awesome bed & breakfast in the catskills for our 2 year anniversary! :) I couldn't be any more grateful for T.J. and everything he does for me and is! It's hard to believe it was 2 years ago that we said "I do!" who would've EVER THOUGHT we'd be in NY, and T.J. would be at Cornell... studying fish?! Not me! :)


Our sweet room at The Alpine Inn



The view off our balcony



2 sleepy heads waking up to God's glory behind us!!! We are very excited at this point for the breakfast to come! :)




The AMAZZZING breakfast! :)
I will always remember this time :) I'm just so thankful!