One year ago today I got a phone call that confirmed an addition to family!!! Hudson LeeRoy Potter made his entrance into this great big world! He soon became my god son and the light of my world! His cheesy smile, the way he tilts his head, curly locks of hair, and his love for a stuffed Santa as just a few things that make this little boy one that brings a smile to my face! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN!!! Can't wait until I get to see you again!!!
Hudson's baptism
Jan. 7, 2012
My spring visit to SD
March 2012
Easter 2012
July 2012
Sept. 2012
Fall 2012
Hudson's first Halloween
Oct. 2012
Seeing Santa for the first time
Dec. 2012
Celebrating Hudson's 1st birthday at Nana and Papa's
For my nephew's 14th birthday {I can't believe he is 14 already}, I bought him tickets to the Nuggets vs. Lakers game here in Denver, and a plane ticket to get back to Sioux Falls, SD. We left Nana and Papa's house the day after Christmas and drove back to Denver to attend this game. Nicholas was pretty darn excited!
We jumped on the light rail and rode it to the Pepsi Center drop off and had burgers at Brooklyn's downtown. Of course, Nicholas ordered a cheeseburger with pickles only! We headed over the the Pepsi Center and watched the pre-game warm-ups and the game! It was a good game with Dwight Howard getting kicked out, another Laker's player fouled out, Kobe Bryant scored 28 points....but the NUGGETS won!!! I always love when an underdog wins!!!!
I took Nicholas to the airport the next day, and well we were there all day long! All I could think about was the lack of sleep I was going to have to suffer through that night at work! I got home at 5pm and had to be to work at 6:45, so with no sleep I pulled a 12 hour night shift and fell into my bed like a ton of bricks the next morning, but it was totally worth it to spend extra auntie/nephew time with Nicholas!!!
I have finally found time sit down and relax since I left Denver on Dec. 21st and headed to western KS for the Christmas! I came back to Denver the 26th with my nephew in tow and I haven't slowed down since. After working 3 nights, I have finally found time to do laundry, pick up my apt., go to the grocery store {something I hate!!!}, and catch up on my DVR!!! However, the time that I just spent with my family was a wonderful time and looking back on our time together in our hometown puts a smile on my face!
I first must say that I made sure that I was with my momma on Dec. 21st...I have major anxiety about not knowing what is next, {yes, yes I know that I am almost 30} and well the talk about the world ending just made that anxiety pop out! I was doing ok with the talk until I saw a post on Facebook with the weather forecast. Friday, Dec. 21st was red with temperatures out of this world...and well at that moment I freaked out a little bit! I planned it out to make sure that I was with my family just in case!!!! We survived, but it was still the thought of the unknown!!!
Christmas 2012...
There is something about the holiday season that makes me smile from ear to ear. The family traditions, pounds of yummy goodies, conversation and laughter that fills the house, kids running around wild, delicious food, presents, decorations, music...and well the list never ends. Spending time with my family tops the list!!! We had a great Christmas filled with love, happiness, and cheer! I do have to say that making a Christmas list of items that you would like to have with the website link attached will almost guarantee that you will receive the things you have been thinking about for months!!! I have to say that I scored this Christmas!!! I can't wait to put my KitchenAid Mixer to good use!!!
However the highlight of Christmas was when my dad pulled a onesie out of a present that said "Papa'sBoy" revealing that Darren and Tori are bringing another boy into the family! As much as I prayed for pink; more blue, trucks, and frogs will be just as fabulous!!!
Mr. Hudson and I on his 1st Christmas!!! {Mia and Gia had to get in the picture too!}
Watching the 1 yr. olds while their momma's went to Tori's house...
I am now preparing to work as we enter a new year! I want to wish everyone the most blessed new year ever!!! I have many plans for myself and I can only hope that 2013 will be a year to brag about!!!
As Christmas is swiftly approaching us, I have been in a place this past week that has be wondering about what I want to do to be a better person in 2013 and the bucket list items are running around in my head. I think about the last bucket list I made in 2011, and I need to revisit that list and see what ones I have actually accomplished {I don't think that it is very many}.
Then I pull myself back into the now, and realize that I don't need {or want} to over see the holidays! I am really looking forward to Christmas this year in a way that I have never looked forward to anything else. I look forward to next week, the drive home with Christmas music, seeing my Godson Hudson and my nephew Nicholas, being nice and cozy under and blanket by the fire place in my favorite chair at my mom and dad's, goofy around with my brother-in-laws with a beer in our hand, dinner with my best friend from high school...and the list could go on and on!
As I look back at my past Christmas', there are always those traditions that never escape my mind...and like everyone else I have favorites...so here goes the list!
1. Favorite Christmas song: "Mary, did you know?" Rascal Flatts sang this song at a country Christmas show and I fell in love with this version! I also love the Kenny Rogers and Wyonna Judd version! There is just something about this song that touches my heart and it isn't a song that everyone knows the lyrics too. I can't tell you how excited I was to hear this song when Christmas music started playing on the radio!
2. Favorite Candy: My Grandma Honas' cinnamon candy. My Grandma always had a ton of treats on the counter for all of us to eat until we couldn't eat anymore! Her cinnamon candy was the bomb dot com! Jera has already asked me to make it for this year, and I made a couple batches last night!
Hard Candy Recipe
3 3/4 c. sugar
1 c. water
1 1/2 c. light karo syrup
1 teas. cinnamon oil {or any flavor you want}
red food coloring
Mix first three ingredients, place on heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Boil without stirring until candy reaches 310 degrees or makes thread in cold water. Add flavoring and food coloring. Pour into a greased cookie pan and let harden. Break into pieces and ENJOY!
3. Favorite Tradition: Christmas Eve with my family! My mom makes appetizers, soups, and usually a yummy cocktail. We eat and then open gifts! After gift opening we usually drive around town and look at Christmas lights and wait until midnight mass. As a family we go to midnight mass. After midnight mass we make breakfast at 1:30 in the morning in our pj's and enjoy our sleepy selves!
4. Favorite Decoration: Nativity Set. I bought a new Nativity set when I was in Rome with summer at the Sistine Chapel. When I first saw this Nativity set I fell in love and honestly I wanted it no matter how much it cost...and well I bought it! I am so glad that I did! I look at is everyday and not only do I remember a fabulous trip I had this summer coming closer to God and my faith, I always remember what Christmas is all about! Every year when I put this Nativity set out I will always be reminded of the trip of a lifetime!
5. Favorite Scent: Peppermint from Bath & Body Works! I love this scent! My candle that I bought this year is already more than halfway gone!
6. Favorite non-traditional pastime: Our family ski trip to Breckenridge in 2007. My parents wanted to take us on a ski trip and we loved it! It was our Christmas present and we all had a great time! From the ski-in, ski-out condo, skiing with Santa on Christmas day, going to Christmas eve mass in Uggs because the snow was so deep, spending time with our "second" family, the Loftus', getting Nicholas ready for his first time on the slops...and I could go on and on! We are planning another Christmas Ski trip within the next couple of years!
Well, those are my top favorite things about the holidays! If I keep going it will be the longest blog in history because I love the holidays and have so many favorite things that are family traditions throughout the years! Here's to making more traditions and memories in 2012! I can't wait to be with both of my sisters, brother-in-laws, nephews, and parents all in one house for several days! I CAN NOT WAIT!!!! 12-20-12, you can not come fast enough!
Well, it's been over a week since I started B210K!
The first week was ok...
It looked like this...
Warm-up: 5 min.
Run: 10 min.
Walk: 1 min.
Repeat for a total of 4 times
Cool down: 5 min.
When I was running outside this workout was not too bad, but one day last week I had to run on the treadmill because I had a class and it was dark outside {or close to} when I got home...and well that workout...SUCKED!!! For some reason, I was really struggling, but the important thing is that I finished the workout...sucking air and all!!!
It has been hard to get motivation to do this program because I am completely intimidated by it...and when I am intimidated it's hard to get off the couch, pull on those sneaks and hit the pavement or treadmill...so, needless to say, it's Tuesday and I just did my first workout of the second week. It actually went well, and I felt good while I was running and even better after I finished! I was glad I laced up those sneaks today and headed to the gym...it snowed last night and has been pretty cold here the last couple of days...and I had another class today so it was almost dark by the time I got home.
This week looks like this:
Warm-up: 5 min.
Run: 15 min.
Walk: 1 min.
Repeat for a total of 3 times
Cool down: 5 min.
Here's to having motivation and lacing up the sneaks tomorrow!
Isn't the the absolute cutest picture you ever did see!!! Mia was in love {lust} with that salmon can for about 4 days! She carried it around everywhere to the point she would carry into my room and leave in on the floor by the bed, when I would put her up on the bed she would stare at it like it was going to disappear if she wasn't watching it! She would carry it to the door when we would go out to tinkle, just to attack it like a maniac when we got back inside! Talk about OBSESSED!!!! :) Oh, but I love her! She is seriously the sweetest little thing and there is nothing better than her good morning kisses after a long 12 hour night shift!
Mia going to town on the salmon can!!!
Did I mention that Mia also loves to lick the remains of Fro Yo??? It's a good thing that she has a momma that loves Fro Yo!!!
Mia also loves her Papa!!! And I think that he secretly loves her more than he would ever say!!! :)
When I was a child, every year we would get a small package from my Grandma Chaput and it was always the Hallmark Granddaughter Christmas ornament. I have ornaments dating back to my very first Christmas in 1983. When I was younger decorating the Christmas tree was one of the greatest traditions that we had as a family! Every other year it was "Grandma's Christmas Tree"! My sister's and I busted out the boxes with our names on them and put up ornaments from the year we born to the current year.
This year I decided to carry on this tradition myself! Last year my tree was black and silver, but this year my Christmas tree is full of memories. Not only do I have the ornaments that I received all those years from my grandma, but I added the ones that I bought when I was on different trips!
Here are a few close ups of some of the ornaments that adorn my tree...
Grandchild's First Christmas 1983
"Granddaughter- You're So Sweet" 1995
"A Granddaughter is a special joy" 1991
"Granddaughter, you are the apple of my eye" 1992
"Season after season, a Granddaughter grows dearer and dearer" 1986
This angel I bought this summer while in Assisi, Italy
This Alcatraz, CA ornament, I bought in 2009 when my cousin got married!
Another tradition that my family has are stockings! My mom has made each one of our stockings the year we were born, or the year that my brother-in-laws joined the family! These stockings have been under our trees for years! I have to say that mine is the cutest and 29 years later it still makes an appearance under my Christmas tree! Now, I just have to remember to take it home when I go to KS for Christmas...yes, Santa still comes at 29 years old!!!
Last, but not least is my little girl in front of the Christmas tree! Last year she was deathly afraid of it, but this year it's a game to run around it when her sister Gia is visiting!
This weekend Tori and Darren made an appearance in Denver to do their Christmas shopping and we pretty much did our own things this weekend! Friday night they arrived and we chilled on the couch and caught up on the weekly dish! I was up and at 'em at 0645 on Saturday morning to go to Boulder for the Colder Bolder 5K...I headed out at 0800 sharp with all my running gear in hand leaving my sister and her husband in bed! After the 5K, my friend Rosa and I headed down to Castlerock to the outlet mall to do a little Christmas shopping myself! I scored both of my sisters presents, a pair of black skinny jeans, and a cute Tommy Hilfiger plush coat with fur around the hood {I have always dreamt of owning a coat with fur on the hood!!!!}...oh and we can't forget the yummy salt carmels and raspberry carmels from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory that I just happen to be indulging in right now!!! :) oops!
As we were walking through the mall Rosa checked her email on her phone and told me that the vintage furniture blog that we are VIP members of and get all of the new furniture before it goes on the website had sent an email. Well, needless to say, I fell in love with a piece...I called the lady at 1545 {3:45}...got the piece of furniture and it was delivered at my apartment at 1715 {5:15}...and I have to say I can't stop staring at it!!! I love it!!!
Saturday night Tori, Darren, and I went out for pizza and a beer, well Darren and I had a beer! Afterwards we had our own little photo shoot!!! Tori and Darren needed a Christmas card picture and I got to sneak in a few with my little sister!
At dinner!
In Belmar with the ice rink in the background
Darren saw this Crown Royal blow-up and had to stop and take a picture to send to my dad! We have some major crown lovers on our hands!
Sunday morning we went to mass and celebrated the first week of Advent and the new liturgical year for Catholics. I love starting new seasons! After mass we went for some lunch and they packed up the jeep and headed back east to western KS!
I love a weekend with my family and friends! It was a perfect blend of both all weekend!
Well, I did it! I ran the Colder Bolder 5K on Saturday with a group of friends form work! We had a blast and I see more races in our future!
Recap on the race:
The weather was more than ideal on Dec. 1st...it was about 50 degrees when we started the race and it only got warmer from there! There were a few times that I was thinking that wore too many clothes! I wished I would have went with that t-shirt instead of my under armour cold gear!
The race started out good, and I was doing fine until I hit the mile 1 mark...the end of the first mile ended with a hill and it was a bad deal from there. I lost my breathing and my legs were barking at me...and well, my side started to cramp. I never could get rid of my side cramp the rest of the race no matter how deep I breathed, how slow I ran; no matter what it was an annoying little cramp that reminded me that I could do better than I was doing for the next 2.1 miles! However, when I finished I had a fabulous cheering team waiting at the finish line! I had a great time and am glad that I did it! Here's to the next race!
Stats:
Place: 580/860
Time: 32:46
Pace: 10:33/mile
These stats aren't what I would have liked to see...but it gives me something to work toward for the next race! Hey, I never said that I was a fast runner, I have just said that I DON'T QUIT!!!!
It's official...I have finished my last C25K (couch to 5K) run and am a graduate of the program!!! I am excited to put my running ability to effect on Saturday at the Colder Boulder 5K!
A little bit about the program:
1. It's actually called Ease to 5K, but I like Couch to 5K better even though I didn't start from the couch! When I started this program this last spring I was completely out of shape and I did start at the very beginning. It worked great and eased you in slowly!
2. I looked forward to the walking intervals in the program each day, then on week 6 the program made you jump to a 20 minutes run...when I saw that I about had a heart attack, thinking "I can never run for 20 minutes straight". I did it and I didn't give up!
3. I wish that the program trained you in distance and not time. Even though you can run 30 minutes at a time, if your pace isn't 10 minute/mile then you won't get 3.1 miles in those 30 minutes. However, I just programmed the runs into the my RunKeeper app, and the last week I programed 3.25 miles and 3.5 miles instead of 30 minutes.
4. I always programmed my runs into my RunKeeper app, even though the Ease to 5K app will alert you to run and walk. I used RunKeeper because it not only gave my my distance, the time, and minutes/per mile, but it also gives you a calorie count. It also interrupts your music every 5 minutes and updates you on the progress of your run! Picture of the app below!
5. After finishing C25K yesterday I felt like I have accomplished something getting me excited to start Bridge to 10K soon! Finishing something that you start gives you motivation that you can do it and to keep going!
6. While running I had to keep reminding myself that the time doesn't matter and just keep my legs moving. When I would finish a run even though I struggled, it was an accomplishment. I also got some motivation from Mama Laughlin. She told her story, was vulnerable, and kept going! When I get tired and her typed words on her blog enter into my head and I "just keep going!"
After Colder Boulder on Saturday I will start Bridge to 10K until January 21st, my first half marathon training day! I downloaded the program last night, and I have to say I'm a little intimadated, but I am going to do it and accomplish another goal! Here's to B210K!!!
After I saw my aunt had liked a motivational quote on Facebook from iDrinktoRun facebook page, I was hooked! I liked the page and their first post everyday is something motivational! I love the quotes, photos, and motivation that they post. The other posts throughout the day are a little far fetched because they go from motivation to running to drink...but these first posts of the day give me what I need to dig a little deeper and lace up the sneaks, pull on the under armour cold gear, strap on my phone, set my RunKeeper...and pound the pavement! I got this little piece of motivation from iDrinktoRun!
Believe it or not, but I'm glad that Thanksgiving is in the books...I'm not trying to be a sour puss, but I get this way every year when it comes to the holidays because I know there is at least one if not two holidays that I will spend without my family at work...and Thanksgiving was that holiday this year. I go into a depressed mood and usually end up crying as I am driving to work...I spared the tears this year, but I was still depressed that I was headed to work when my sister's were enjoying their in-laws, and my parents were with my dad's family in Kansas City...but it's over and now I can look forward to Christmas as we will all be together in KS.
With that being said, I do have to say that I made my first turkey this year! We took in a Thanksgiving potluck to work and I signed up to take the turkey. All the employees got a turkey and a holiday ham from the hospital, so I decided I would make it and take it to the potluck. And....drumroll please....it turned out great!!!
My mom bought this electric knife like 3 or 4 years ago when my older sister's knife shot craps...well so she thought...she got Jera's knife to work and I inherited this brand new knife, never to be used...until this year!! I opened the box and thought this knife was a fancy one!!!
My first turkey...so good!!! I didn't have anything to inject it with, so I made the broth to inject and just poured it in the inside of the turkey and cooked in upside down in the oven! My apartment smelled AMAZING and the turkey was delish!
Friday afternoon, Mia and I loaded the car and headed to KS to see my sister, her husband, and her cute little baby bump!!! It was a relaxing weekend in rural KS! Friday night was spent in downtown Oakley at the light parade, making smores, and watching the city fireworks that weren't about to be set off during 4th of July!
Saturday I got up and went for a run, Tori, Darren, and I had Don's Drive-In for lunch....soooo good!!! We went to church and then Tori and I headed to Colby and ate at the mexican restaurant and went to the new Twilight movie....and I have to say that it was pretty good, but it's hard to believe that series of movies is over!! Now on to the next Hunger Games movies!!!!
Here are the pups in front of Tori's Christmas tree...I'm was shocked that we got them to stop playing for a few snapshots of their cuteness!
CONFESSION TIME:
So, I haven't logged my calories in at least 3 days and I have only ran one day since Wednesday...and well the scale showed my lack of motivation! I knew that I wasn't going to run Thursday because I needed to carve the turkey that I made for work and pack for the weekend back in Oakley...and i knew Friday wasn't going to happen either because I needed to get a quick nap in after work and then drive to Oakley not getting there before dark. Saturday, I ran 3.25 miles...and well Sunday, I was tired and my back was killing me...so it didn't happen!
And well, I didn't eat the greatest either! So, it's back to the calorie counting and running!!! With that being said...I have a race on Saturday and I need to light that fire under my arse...so I'm off to run in 30 degree weather!
I got a phone call at 0dark:30 {ok it was 0845} this morning from a fellow nurse...and a dayshift nurse at that...I answered that phone call with a groggy, you just woke me up voice and I got this happy-go-lucky voice on the other end that I wanted to punch...what did she want?? She wanted me to meet her at Sloan Lake in 15 minutes to go running...I had a list of questions that went something like this...
"What time of the morning is it?"
"Are you serious?"
"How do I get there?"
"Like, right now?"
With every question I had, she had an answer and a good one! So, what happened...I peeled myself off my bed, got dressed, made a cup of coffee, took Mia out to potty, and was then headed to Sloan Lake to complete my daily run!
I would have to say that I am so glad Rosa called me this morning to go for that run because it felt so good and for once today while I was pounding out my steps on that pavement I thought to myself..."I'm so glad that I made this commitment." Truthfully, I can't wait to get up tomorrow morning and do my W8D2 (Week 8 Day 2) run at Washington Park!
After the fabulous morning run we had brunch then headed to Sports Authority for some much needed Under Armour cold gear. Right now the weather is fantastic, but give it a week or so and it'll be the freezing CO weather that we are used too....I have made a vow to run outside as long as the temperature stays above 30 degrees...any lower and you will find me the gym at my apartment complex!!!
I purchased this top....
...and these pants! I can't wait to wear them tomorrow!!!
As I read one blog, I find another blog about weight loss, running, half marathon training...which most of the time I become addicted and then follow them to see how they can continue to inspire me to become healthy and become a runner, but one thing that I haven't had the balls to do yet is share my weight with the world...I don't know that I will ever be able to do that...and for right now I'm ok with that! I have been staying on a 1200-1500 calories/day diet and doing my running/cycling 5 days/week...and in the last 2 weeks I have lost 7.6 lbs...and I am more than happy with that. When I started C25K at week 4 I wasn't counting calories...just running thinking that starting one thing at time it plenty...but then it happened...I was running outside in the opposite direction of the sun and I about had a heart attack with the way my shadow looked as I was running...the thighs, hips, and arse...well they jiggled and jiggled a little too much for my liking....I kept thinking..."I wonder what people that are running or cycling behind me think." So, I started the calorie counting...and I have seen progress on the scale, but not yet in my clothes, body, etc. As the scale goes down...all I can say MOTIVATION!!!!! It's an amazing feeling to have that scale drop 4.0 lbs in one week and 3.6 lbs. the next week (I have only weighed myself 2 weeks in a row). So, with that being said...I still eat what I want but in moderation and I count every calorie that enters my mouth! Maybe, someday I will be ok with letting the world know my weight...but right now it's between me and that little bathroom scale that has made me happy the last 2 weeks for the first time in a long time!
My blog started in 2010 with my adventures as a travel nurse. I stopped updating my blog in 2014. I am now back but for completely different reasons. At 32, I have been diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell adenocarcinoma lung cancer. I am now shifting my blog to tell the story of my fight with cancer.
"I wanna do something that matters, say something different. Something that sets the whole world on its ear. I wanna do something better with the time I've been given. I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life. Leave nothing less than something that says...I was here." ~Lady Antebellum
