Zucchini Muffins

Z is for Zucchini Muffins

Daryl is the professional cook at our house. While he doesn't particularly care for baking much, he sure is good at it. He whipped up these zucchini muffins one time, and I'll be honest, I thought they were going to taste like vegetables. Boy was I wrong! His zucchini muffins were thebomb.com. They were sweet and moist, and not to mention a tad bit healthier than the other types of muffins I would typically eat. As I mentioned in my tips for healthy eating, zucchini muffins are one of my new favorite snacks.

Zucchini Muffins (Taste of Home Recipe)

Ingredients



•3/4 cup all-purpose flour


•1/2 cup sugar


•1/4 teaspoon baking powder


•1/4 teaspoon baking soda


•1/4 teaspoon salt


•1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon


•1 egg


•1/4 cup canola oil


•1 cup finely shredded unpeeled zucchini


•1/2 cup chopped walnuts


•1/4 cup dried currants or chopped raisins


Directions


•In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Combine the egg and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the zucchini, walnuts and currants.


•Coat muffin cups with cooking spray or use paper liners; fill three-fourths full with batter. Bake at 350° for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Yield: 6 muffins.



I saw it on You Tube

April is quickly coming to an end, and I only have 2 more days of the A to Z blog challenge.

Y is for You Tube

Source

I love youtube! You might remember my Make Me Laugh post where I highlighted some of my all time favorite youtube videos.

Youtube. Oh what would I do without this website??

I am always trying to find new online gems that relate to topics of discussion in my class room. I have used youtube to find commercials to allow us to discuss the hidden media messages and bust through the advertising. I have shown clips on mental disorders, bullying and cyber bullying, the dangers of alcohol and drug use. You name it, and I have found a youtube video to share with my class.

So many times I find myself even saying out loud, "Oh just go on youtube."

Inspire Daryl to want to do a Mud Run- Saw that on youtube.

Scrapbooking techniques- found it on youtube

Remind myself how to do a shoulder special test- yeah I found that on youtube.

Even my dad is a youtube fan. He learned how to tile his bathroom watching youtube videos.

Technology is pretty amazing, and I love this website!!

I may have jinxed myself

Just a few short weeks ago, I had just started this A to Z blog challenge.

I had know idea what to write about for the letter F, but finally settled on sharing some fun facts about myself. I edited my prezi, and was struggling to come up with some interesting facts. I changed them quite a bit before I published. I was thinking of adding " 26. I have never broken a bone"

I no longer believe this is true.

Which brings me to today: X is for X-Ray

Source

This is not my x-ray, but this is what I think is going on with me.

Daryl and I have now completed P90X, and have begun P90X2.

One of the workouts is a plyometric workout which is high impact, jumping, and coming off the ground. Well one of the moves is an intense plyo push up, called something along the line of a diver push up. You are in a standing position, and essentially "fall" onto your hands and do a push up, and explode back up.

Anyway.

I was doing the "modified" move, in which I was kneeling, and then came down to complete the push up, and exploded back up.

A few weeks went by, I had no problems with this work out, even though it is really tough. Then one day after the plyo workout, my wrist started hurting out of no where.

I have sprained joints before, but this pain was different. At first I thought "OK maybe it's just a really bad sprain, and it will go away within a few days."

The pain never subsided, and I told Daryl I thought it was broken. He said "nah, it's probably just a bad sprain, you'll be OK."

I was thinking of how this could have happened.

Light bulb!!

That plyo workout, and the "diver push ups," duh! It was all starting to make sense.

Scroll back up and take another look at that x-ray.

The bone that the arrow is pointing to is the Scaphoid bone of the left hand. That line across the center is the fracture line.

The Scaphoid bone is a carpal bone that sits at the base of the thumb.

Mechanism of injury: FOOSH or fall on an outstretched hand

Positive sign: Pain in the anatomical snuffbox.

Source

Let's recap

Mechanism of injury: FOOSH (yes, Diver push ups)
Positive Sign: exactly where my pain is.

I have been taking medication to ease the pain, but have yet to get an x-ray. It's been about 3 weeks I'd say. It's kind of pointless to get an x-ray at this point, as there really isn't any treatment that can be done.

Maybe it's just me being stubborn or maybe I just don't want to pay for the x-ray, when I already know I broke my Scaphoid. I don't really know, but I just hope it heals in time for me to complete the Mud Run.

On a side note, it's a time like this when I wish I had x-ray vision. Not so much to see through clothing and all, but to see actual fractures. It would definitely come in handy at work when having to refer kids to the doctor.

Weird, True, and Freaky

While sitting at your desk make clockwise circles with your right foot. (go ahead no one will see you) While doing this, draw the number “6″ in the air with your right hand.


Your foot will change direction – that is a fact. Pretty weird, huh? Keep on reading..

Humans are, well weird.

Grapefruit scent will make middle aged women appear six years younger to men. The perception is not reciprocal and the grapefruit scent on men has no effect on women’s perception.


Women’s hair is about half the diameter of men’s hair



Giraffes have the same number of cervical vertebrae (neck bones) as humans- 7. Humans have short, wide vertebrae, while giraffes have long vertebrae.

The average person who stops smoking requires one hour less sleep a night.


Babies are born with 300 bones, but by adulthood we have only 206 in our bodies.

Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.



The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!



The brain operates on the same amount of power as 10-watt light bulb. The cartoon image of a light bulb over your head when a great thought occurs isn’t too far off the mark. Your brain generates as much energy as a small light bulb even when you’re sleeping.



The brain itself cannot feel pain. While the brain might be the pain center when you cut your finger or burn yourself, the brain itself does not have pain receptors and cannot feel pain.


 

The nerve network in our brains is 1400 times more complex than the global telephone network.

Your heart expends enough energy in one day to lift almost 2000 pounds to a height of 41 feet.


An adult has about 10,000 taste buds on their tongue.


The nose can only distinguish 32 basic odors.
 The largest human organ is the skin, with a total surface area of 25 square feet. It weighs about 6 pounds.

We completely change our skin every 27 days. We get about 1000 “new skins” in a lifetime.

 Every square inch of skin has 32 billion bacteria on it.

 One square inch of skin contains: 645 sweat glands; 77 feet of nerves; 65 hair follicles; 97 oil glands; 19 feet of blood vessels.

The body produces over a quart of saliva day. It even helps heal mouth wounds.

An average, healthy male produces over 2 billion sperm per month.

 A female has about 2 million eggs in both ovaries at birth. Only 200,000 survive until puberty, but only 450 will ever be ovulated in her lifetime. An average of 2 eggs will be fertilized in a woman’s lifetime.

In one day,   2,100 Gallons of blood are pumped through the blood vessels.

The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razorblades.


Babies are always born with blue eyes. The reason behind this is the pigment melanin. The melanin in a newborn’s eyes often needs time after birth to be fully deposited or to be darkened by exposure to ultraviolet light, later revealing the baby’s true eye color.

The left lung is smaller than the right lung because it has to make room for the heart.
Of the 206 bones in the skeletal system, 52 of them make up both of our feet.

Over 90% of diseases are caused or complicated by stress.


The width of your armspan stretched out is the length of your whole body. While not exact down to the last millimeter, your arm span is a pretty good estiamator of your height.

The length of your forarm is the length of your foot. Humans are the only animals to produce emotional tears.



Cna yuo raed tihs? I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it

Time to venture out

One of my 12 in 12 goals is to compete in a competitive event.

I am venturing out into unfamiliar territory here.

Daryl and I have been looking for an even we can complete together. We've looked at 5k events. We have checked into a cycling event (MS 150), but realized we were not in shape, nor did we have thousands of dollars to spend on street bikes for the both of us.

Daryl read about a mud run in Dallas. It sounded fun, but in reality, I knew we would not be able to afford a trip to Dallas. And what would we do with the babies? I'm not ready to have them spend the night yet.

I did some research and found a local mud run.



Source



May 26, we will be competing in a 5k mudrun. It isn't just running though. It is a full on obstacle course that will have us climbing, crawling, swinging on ropes, and jumping into, you guessed it, mud pits.

Hopefully this experience will be fun, despite getting mud in every part of my body. We will be competing with my brother, which will be tons of fun. I hope that I am able to complete some of the obstacles, and feel at least kind of tough.

Pictures to come, for sure.

Underwear Time

Let me start by saying, this is post is not what you think.

Daryl, if you just so happen to read this, please don't get embarrassed that I am sharing this with the entire world. I think it's funny, and I needed a "U" topic :) I love you.

So. On the few occasions that Daryl and I get to go out,  (and by go out, I mean we hang out at mom and dad's house) Daryl gets this look on his face when "it's time to go."

You know the look. It's the stare with the head tilt toward the door. And if I don't pick up on "the look," I will find Daryl in a packing up all of our stuff, and barely saying goodbye before he gets in the car.

I have often found myself upset with him because I felt rushed out of the house, when I still wanted to visit, talk, and maybe get a game going.

Our conversation usually went something like this:

Me: Daryl why do you do that? I hate feeling like we are on a time schedule. It's rude when you act like we have to go right that second.

Daryl: Michelle. I'm tired, and I'm ready to go.

Finally, after countless times of having this exact conversation, he finally adds in "Michelle, it's underwear time."

Me: (Laughing) What?! What the heck does that mean, underwear time?

Daryl: You know underwear time. I want to go home, change into my underwear, sit on my couch and drink a beer.

Not really Daryl, but makes for a better visual than what you might be imagining

Me: (still laughing) But you don't lounge around in your underwear, so why do you call it "underwear time?"

Daryl: Well, my sweat shorts.

Me: Oh OK.

It is hilarious when I tell other people this story, and then point out the look. My brother will see Daryl getting a little antsy, and will look at me and say "underwear time?" Yep. You got it. I guess we're leaving.

Love you babe :)

Deep in the Heart of Texas

There are certain things that only a local will know about certain areas, like the best way to navigate through downtown, the local, hole in the wall places to eat, and the "best" vacation spots.

Texas is no different.

You may be able to take the girl out of Texas, but you can never take Texas out of the girl.

I was born and raised in the Lone Star state, and while I might sound a bit biased, I don't think I would ever voluntarily leave this great state.

                                               100% Texan 'till I die -Kevin Fowler

          

Source

T is for Ten Things I love about Texas

 10. People are friendly, and always willing to lend a helping hand.

9. You can see the coast, hill country, and mountains without ever having to leave the state.

8. Texas Bluebonnets on the side of the highway in the spring. This is really amazing to see, and is a very common to see people stopped along side the road taking pictures of their babies.

7. Real Mexican food is Tex-Mex

6. The stars at night

5. The scenery in the Texas hill country- Devil's Backbone is always something to look forward to on a road trip

4. Using the word y'all to refer to a group of people is perfectly acceptable

3. Texas Barbeque. Enough said.

2. There are a lot of unique places to visit

 1. The Frio River

For those of you who can't get enough Texas for the day, a few of my favorite "You know you're from Houston when....."

- You come to work wearing short sleeves, and walk out at noon to find the temperature has dropped 40 degrees.

-You know that the "Killer Bees" are not stinging insects, but were members of the Houston Astros

-Spring is not the season, Katy is not the name of a lady, and 1960 is not the year

-You know that any GOOD chili is made with chopped (not ground) beef, and it has NO beans and NO tomatoes

-You know that "Clutch City" has nothing to do with automobile transmissions

-You call it a "feeder" and not an "access road"

-You know the exact minute to leave work to beat traffic

-You know how to properly pronounce Kuykendahl

Let's hear it. What do you love about Texas {or where you live :) } and what are some "you know you are from ..... when.... from you are from?



So what do you do?

S is for Sports Medicine

I am an athletic trainer, and in the fieldof sports medicine, I have often had this conversation on more than one occasion

Them: "Oh.. you're a trainer??
Me: NO! I'm an ATHLETIC Trainer, not a trainer

There is a difference.

There are a lot of misconceptions of what an athletic trainer does, and what the field of sports medicine entails. For example:

I found this online, although I have forgotten where but if you want to know what sports medicine is about, this pretty much sums it up.

Maybe I should start including this into that conversation?

Them: "Oh.. you're a trainer?? What do you make?"
Me: NO! I'm an ATHLETIC Trainer, not a trainer
Them: Oh that's cool I wanted to do that.

"WHAT DO I MAKE?? I make an ankle sprain that some say should take four weeks to get your child back on the field, playable in a week. I can make driving in a golf cart with lights look cool. I can devise your rehab program after an ACL repair so you can run in that marathon you've always dreamed of. I can tape an ankle before your kid misses 2 mins of play. I can make saving your child's life easier by explaining "getting your bell rung" isn't normal, it can be deadly. I can help you, and your child, survive a heart attack. I can look at a wrestler's pee and tell them how much water to drink. I can make an athlete bigger, faster, better. I can translate "doctorese " from "torn anterior talofibular ligament" into ankle sprain. I went to college to EARN A DEGREE in more than just "water providing" but also injury prevention, evaluation, rehabilitation, administration, and overall problem listening. I do it because I love my athletes, and I love my profession. Today, I might ice your knee, tomorrow I might save your life. I hope I make a difference, what do you make?"

A friendly reminder to all the stressed out athletic trainers who often wonder "Why the heck do I do this again?"


As athletic trainers, we are often behind the scenes and don't always get a bunch of recognition.

Sports Medicine is much more than "put some ice on it" and "drink some water."

I am passionate about this profession, and there are no words to explain the sense of accomplishment when I am able to rehab an injury and see my athletes back on the field and be successful.

Rain, Rain Come Back!

R is for Rain-out

Source

Most of the time I enjoy the rain. It is calming, relaxing, and peaceful. I like watching lightning storms. I can fall asleep listening to the rain coming down on the roof, or listening in on Nolan's sleep sheep.

The rain can be fun to play in on a hot summer day, but it can also ruin an outdoor event that you may have been looking forward to for forever already.

In my line of work, I welcome rainy days. It means practices are moved inside, and the potential for injury decreases significantly. On game days, a rain-out means games are rescheduled or cancelled. While I feel for my athletes, because I know they want to play, rain-outs excite me because it means I get to go home early and spend some quality time with the family.

Today is one of those days!

The baseball game got cancelled and rescheduled. The fields were to wet to play. There was a glimpse of hope that softball might also be cancelled for the night.

But oh no!

Source

Instead of being able to go home early at 4:00, I have been waiting around to "see what's going to happen" for 2 and a half hours!

The game scheduled for 6, has been pushed back to 7:15. If they play, I won't even get home now until at least 9:30.

I know what I signed up for when I chose this career, but come on. This game doesn't even have determination of playoff placement.

Can't we just get a rain-out already??

Sorry for the vent. It's one of those days.

Q is for Quelf

I was struggling with a few letters when I started this challenge. What would I write about for X,Y,Z?? "Q" is also a difficult letter, but I knew that I was going to write about almost immediately!

I am a self proclaimed board game geek!

 

I love to play board games. I love family game nights. They are competitive, hilarious, and cheap family fun!

 

I am working on my collection of board games. I have Cranium, Battle of the Sexes, Scattergories and a few other must have games.

 

One of my most recent additions to my game collection is Quelf, which was introduced to me by my sister in law.



Source

It's a party game, and should not be played if you do not wish to have fun. This game is hilarious! 

First you choose one of these eight wacky characters: Batbileg Chinzorig, Super Monkey Ninja, The Platypus, Mr. Lugnut, Mrs. Pickle Feather, Queen Spatula, The Buscuit Farmer or The Dude


You then roll the dice and move to next color space that matches the color on the die. Draw the matching color card and obey the card. Don't do what the  card says, and pay the penalty.

The cards: Showbiz, Roolz, Quizzle, Stuntz, and Scatterbrainz

Showbiz: Show off your acting/singing/dancing abilities. Draw this card and you will be showing off your skills or lack of.

• Sing a song of your choice EXCEPT in a foreign language (First person to guess correctly, moves ahead. If no one guesses correctly, pay the penalty
•  Pick an opponent. Tell that opponent you will be humming 3 different songs, and that they must guess what your are humming. Song 1: Theme to Sesame Street. Song 2: Outkast's 'Hey Ya'. Song 3: Elvis's 'Hound Dog'. You have until the timer runs out.

Roolz: Draw this card and the rule effects any or all players, and remains in play until another rule card dismisses the rule. Talking roolz require you to say something either on your turn, or on an opponent's turn. Action roolz require you to do (or wear) something. Global Roolz apply to the entire group.

• Every time you draw a card, you must like your teeth and say "Willy Wonka has arrived"
• Go find anything that normally is considered jewelry, and wear it as a necklace for the rest of the game

Quizzle: The person to the right of you will ask you a question that you must answer correctly in order to advance. Some are "traditional trivia" questions, and others are completely absurd.

• At which national park would you find the "Old Faithful" geyser?
• Does a chicken have lips and if he did would you smack 'em?
• Give the middle name of each player

Stuntz: These yellow cards will require you to do some sort of stunt.  Scatterbrainz: Choose a category and everyone provides an example of that category. Keep going around until someone can't come up with an example. The person who can't provide an example or repeats an answer already said pays the penalty.

•  Balance a book on your head and walk 20 feet backwards
• Put your forefingers in your ears, your thumbs in your mouth, and your pinky fingers in your nostrils. Once everything is in place, you must say the following three times, at the top of your voice: "Feels good, don't it?"

• Things you wear on your hand
• 'Ways to get your leg out of a spring loaded steel trap' OR 'Types of insects most people find annoying.' You choose the topic
• Things that would taste disgusting if covered in onions

Basically this game is just a really fun time. The hubs is not about games or being silly, and even he had a fun time.

It's a great game for folk of all ages. I have played with my in laws, as well as with my parents and my brother. Everyone has had a great time and lots of laughs while playing this game!

Played before? What's your favorite Quelf moment?

Haven't played? Are there other party games that you have fun playing every time you play?




 

The Purpose Driven Life

P is for the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

My husband attended mass on Ash Wednesday with his mom and the babies. He came homes and told me about the interesting homily. He told me that the priest was talking about preparing for Lent, and how instead of giving something up in the traditional sense, that maybe people could work on taking something on.

Not taking something on like more responsibility, or increasing those bad habits that we have, but taking on something that will increase your spiritual relationship with God.

Daryl that's a great idea.

We talked about things that we could do, and we agreed that we would look into finding a daily devotional book. I have never been one to feel comfortable with bible and scripture studies. Maybe it is lack of knowledge in how to do them. 

We went on our monthly date night, and stopped by the book store so we could find a devotional book together.

The books were a bit over priced, and we left empty handed.

I talked to a coworker about any recommendations for a book, and he handed me his copy of The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.



Source

I was excited, as this is exactly what I was looking for, a reading, and then discussion questions that would help you reflect and guide your discussion.

We read the book together, and that didn't work. We then tried to read the book separately and then discuss it together, but it didn't exactly work out for us. I would ask the discussion questions, and our conversation would come up short. They lacked depth. Daryl participated with the first few readings, but then sort of gave up, as this was not "a Catholic devotional" book.

I wanted to continue and at least give it a go. I wanted to have a better spiritual relationship with God, and was on my own in reading the book.

I have read a lot of it, but have yet to finish.

I was able to find additional reflection questions to supplement the readings. Even though I have been reading the book alone, I feel I am really able to reflect and think of things in a new light.

This is the first devotional book I am reading. I am enjoying the spiritual growth, even if it's not a "Catholic" book. It's a start.

Is there a devotional book that you have enjoyed? Are there any devotional books you have found to be beneficial to read as a married couple?

My biggest question is how do you get the depth in the discussion? Daryl comes off as being a bit reluctant at times, and I'm not the greatest at coming up with questions. I would like to attempt to go through another book with him, but I also want him to enjoy it and actually discuss.

Opportunity ... it's now official

Opportunity has knocked on my door, and I have answered.





Source


My coworker has been training me for the past few years to take over whenever he decided to leave.

That time has come, and it has left a huge career opportunity on my plate. Next fall, with the hopes that things go according to the plan, I will be up for a promotion as a Head Athletic Trainer.

I am extremely excited about this new career move. I feel like I am ready to head my own program. And I could definitely use a pay raise.

While my coworker and I have talked about this transition for a majority of this school year, it hasn't really hit me yet. Well, not until the past few days.

A letter of resignation has been officially submitted. The job has been officially posted. The posting was just approved today, and I am already having resumes being submitted.

I am not going to lie, I am a little overwhelmed with the resumes. I don't even know what to look for. I mean there is a lot of pressure. Will this person be knowledgeable in their skills? Are they motivated to build the program? Are they going to be on board with my ideas? If I have a large pool of applicants, how will I be able to weed out the ones I'm not interested in?

Oh my goodness the questions are racing through my head! If you are in a position of being in charge of hiring, do you have any tips for going through and evaluating resumes?

Even though I'm stressing overwhelmed nervous anxious excited about the interest in the job, I don't even know where to begin.

This is an excellent career opportunity! I can't say that enough. I am excited about building the program, student interest, and I do have big plans for the sports medicine program! I have tons of ideas, and can't wait to make them become a reality.

Source

What opportunities have been knocking on your door lately?

NO!

It's funny how we often times don't realize we do something until it is pointed out to us. Perfect example- those things we do or say when we are nervous- like saying "um" "uhh" "OK" or "like" when we are giving a presentation.

There was an incident that happened in one of my classes, and as a result, I am in complete lock down mode in all of my classes, and will no longer allow my students to leave class. It was brought to my attention by one of my lovely students who said to me "Coach, why are you not letting us do anything anymore? Why do you always have to say no?"

I of course gave this young man the "I have the best students" speech, complete with "my expectations are way up here, and I know that you will be successful, because I have the best students."

While I know this young man was mostly complaining about doing the assignment for the day, it really got me thinking about the number of times I say the word NO throughout the day.

I probably say this word at least 1,000 times a day. And even that might be underestimated.

Classroom Examples

Student: Coach, can I go to the restroom?
Me: No

Student: Coach, can I go to see my AP?
Me: No
Student: But it's really important
Me: I'm sure it is, but no.

Student: Coach, are we turning this in?
Me: No. Not today

Student: Can't I just have my phone out, just this once?
Me: No.

Student: Coach, do you have our test graded?
Me: No, but I'm working on it.

While having technical difficulties with the computer: NOOOO!! What are you doing??

Home Examples

Me: Madeline, NO!

Hubs: Did you check the mail?
Me: No, I forgot

Hubs: Did you work out today?
Me: No. Well not yet. I haven't had time. I have been taking care of the babies all day
Hubs: Michelle....

Me: Madeline, I said no!



Oh. My. Goodness!

Every time I said the word No, I am now fully aware of increasing frequency at which this word comes out of my mouth. I'm not trying to be Negative Nancy or anything, but it sure sounds like I am by always saying no.

I don't like to be told no. I don't like having to say no. I am really starting to hate this word! Sometimes I feel like that NO is all that comes out of my mouth. I can't be the only one. Are there any words that you say too often, and hate that you say them?

Make Me Laugh

There were so many "M" words that I was thinking of writing about, Michelle. Madeline. Mother. The list goes on. I didn't want all of my posts to be about my adventures in motherhood, and I recently shared some fun facts about myself, so it seemed those choices were out.

I love to find funny stuff on the internet, and actually, one of my former students and I love to share funny videos with each other.

Laughing is really the best medicine, as it offers tons of health benefits.

Physical benefits:

• Lowers Stress Hormones
• Decreases Pain
• Boosts Immunity
• Relaxes Muscles
• Prevents Heart Disease

Mental Benefits:

• Adds Joy and Zest to Life
• Eases Fear and Anxiety
• Improves Mood
• Enhances Resilience

Social Benefits:

• Strengthens Relationships
• Attracts us to others
• Enhances Teamwork
• Helps Diffuse Conflict
• Promote Group Bonding

I'm taking a little break today from all the serious posts I have been writing lately, and will be sharing some of the things that Make Me Laugh.

The following videos are meant to be offensive to anyone, they just make me laugh.



I read on the Dating Divas about a Youtube date, and I could totally spend a night with the hubs finding funny youtube videos. 

Did any of these videos make you laugh?  Which one was your favorite? It's hard for me to pick my favorite, as they all make me laugh every time I watch them. What other videos make you laugh? 

A Letter to My Babies

Dear Madeline and Nolan,

I am writing you this letter because I hope that you will one day read it and know how much you are truly loved.

From the moment I met both of you, I was in love. I never understood the instant, unconditional love parents have for their children, until I had you guys. You were both so precious, and amazed me as you knew exactly who I was. I was Mommy. You felt secure as I held you for the first time. You were comforted by me as I was quickly able to interpret your cries and give you what you wanted.

You are both growing up so fast. Madeline you are a handful of a toddler, and Nolan, you are such a happy little baby. I wish I could hit the "slo-mo" button at times and just savor every single moment that much more.

I have high hopes for you kiddos in the future. I hope that I can teach you about all kinds of things.

Love

I hope that the two of you will understand how much you are loved by everyone around you- daddy and I, your grandparents, aunts and uncles, and each other. I hope, that later on when you find that special someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, you will love them wholeheartedly. Yes, there will be bumps along the road to finding this person, but know that I will always be here if you need some advice or someone to talk to. Madeline, I hope you become a young lady who is self confident, compassionate, and the type of woman who expects nothing less than the characteristics of a gentleman in the man she marries. Nolan, I hope that you will posses the characteristics of a gentleman. That you will be respectful and kind to all women, and will honor and cherish your future wife.

Education

Education is extremely important to your future. I hope you both will value your education, and will learn as much as you can. I hope you enjoy going to school, not only for socializing, but because you enjoy learning new things. I am a firm believer that you learn something new everyday, and you are never too old to learn. I am excited to see the excitement in your faces when you tell me what you learned in school. I will be here to help you with your homework and school projects, and I hope you will come to me just to tell me how your day went.

Success and Failures

I hope that you will celebrate your hard work when you are successful in life. You will work hard for your achievements, and you should be proud of the things you accomplish. I hope you will be humbled by the things you have and not be envious of the things you don't. I hope that you will be able to embrace the challenges that come your way. You may not be successful at everything, and you may fail at some things, and that's OK. I will still be proud of your efforts.

There are so many other things I am both excited and worried about you experiencing in your lives. I hope you will be able to have confidence in your self to stand up for your religious beliefs, to say no to negative peer pressure. I want you to know that Mommy will always be there for you. You can talk to me about anything, no matter how tough the topic is, or embarrassing you think the conversation might be. I hope that we will have the kind of relationship where you feel comfortable coming to me about anything.

I love you guys more than anything in the world!

Love,

Mommy

12 in 12: April Check in

It's April 12, and time to check in on my progress with my 12 in 12 list.

I have made progress this month! I will just mention some of the highlights for the month, and not write "I haven't done anything with this one" on all majority of the items on my list. I think I wrote that last month too though.

1. P90X has been completed!! I didn't get ripped in 90 days, but feel stronger and like I have more energy! I didn't stick to the diet, and that probably has a little something to do with the lack of results. But Daryl and I have ordered P90X2, and are already 3 weeks in. I still can't do an unassisted pull up, but I'm working on it.

2. I attempted to make home made goldfish crackers, but it didn't really work out for me so well. My little goldfish cookie cutter out of an aluminum can kept coming apart, and I ended up using the little gingerbread cookie cutter. My crackers were a little more chewy than crispy, and certainly did not look as tasty as the ones from Tasty Kitchen.  I may have to reattempt this delicious snack to redeem myself in the baking department.

5. I am participating in the April A-to-Z Challenge. O. M. G. This is so much fun! Not only am I accountable to blog every day for the month of April, but am getting a little creative in coming up with topics for each letter of the alphabet. I have a handful of wonderful followers, and have been left some really sweet comments! Thank you to all of you lovelies for stopping by and leaving your kind words. I hope I can keep ya entertained. Also, I have found a lot of great, new to me blogs! I am loving the "I can't wait to see what they posted" feeling.

8. So far, we have been able to have a date night every month. It still ends up being the last minute "hey do you want to catch a movie" kind of date night, but at least it gives us something to look forward to. One of these months, I'm going to have time to plan a different kind of date. The Dating Divas have some really great ideas, and I really want to be able to do at least one of these super fun dates.

11. Although not hosted at my house, we have had a few dinner/ game nights between mine and Daryl's families. At one of our most recent get togethers, I brought over Furt for us to test out before our vacation this summer. It was fun. My sister in law and future brother in law got really into the game, as they are amazingly quick witted, and can easily come up with stuff to say or act out. I think if I may have had a few more adult beverages in my system, I would have enjoyed it more. It definitely makes for a lot of laughing.

See, there is progress. What about you? Are you achieving any of your goals for this year?