Zumba

Ever been to a Zumba class at a gym or local facility? My friend Jennie and I started going to Zumba classes at the local gym and quickly fell in love. It is like a dance party every time. So there was a certification class coming up and we decided to go. It was tons of fun and a intense 8 hours. The picture above is us half way through the training class.

The training teacher was high energy and such a cool lady. She taught us all the moves and instruction. Very neat lady!
This is me with Madalene Aponte the Zumba instructor right after I received my instructor certificate. I am in no way good enough to teach a class of my own, but I now have a better understanding of the moves how Zumba came to be, and had a great experience of a lifetime.

A Mixed Bag Month

Wow! Crazy that I have not blogged for almost a month now. A lot has gone on in that month, I almost don't know where to begin.

Let me start with the happy news:

I finished off my term with a 4.0, yes I passed both my classes with an A. I'm stoked as I worked very hard to get those A's. Now I have a month off.YIPPY! Next term I have paraprofessional counseling 2, Life span and development and art appreciation.

My friend Jennie and I went to Anchorage and became certified Zuma instructors, it was a 8 hour day of training and loads of fun! I have to practice up and get a whole lot better before I would take on a teaching position but wow, that was FUN!

Not so good news:

My cars transmission blew up and has been at the shop for a month now, awaiting a new tranny to be shipped up here so they can fix it. Two days after my car died, my Husbands truck died beyond repair, so we have this hunk of junk 85 subaru that barely runs, some days it runs right and other days it will hardly go.

Christmas is tight, more tight than it has been for, well, I'd say 23 years. I keep telling myself this to shall pass.

Weather news:

It has been cold and dark, and I mean cold and dark........for the last couple days we have not seen above zero at all. Sunrise is at 10 am and sunset is at 3:45 pm. This is not so good for me with limited travel and being stuck at home. I look forward to the daylight slowly creeping back up, getting my car back and well warmer weather which warmer weather will be a long wait.

I hope everyone is well and ready for Christmas.

Blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I hope you all have a wonderful day, and more than plenty of yummy food to eat.
I'm so very Thankful for my friends and family and that everyone is healthy.

Blessings!

Oh So Not Good!!!

Last week was a very difficult week at the old home front. It all started last Monday, I was driving along singing to the radio and my car made some funny noise. I pulled over checked it all out and it looked ok. I called Hubby and told him of the noise and he said"maybe it was just ice falling off the car" so I continued my journey. Well by the time I got home it sounded terrible. So Tuesday off to the shop it went only for them to tell me that my transmission had a hole in it and it is fried. Then Tuesday afternoon my husband thought his truck looked a little funny in the driveway and he went to investigate it. Well the rear end axle is rusted and folded over, so now his truck is toast and can never be driven again. Oh yeah and Tuesday Morning I was in my sons room looking for his math book for him, and I tripped over the cord to my laptop and slammed it to the floor, broken! Wednesday my Hubby tripped over his own feet and knocked my beautiful mirror off the wall. Broken. We have a car that needed a little work that we bought for my son, for when he gets his license in May, it was on the side of the house with a snow plow berm in front of it, Hubby dug it out and has been working on it so we have a car to drive. I have a friend who let me borrow her excursion, although a total gas hog I was very grateful..........well the 4 wheel drive went out on it...........It doesn't have studs and it is very scary to drive now, it wants to go sideways and let me tell you an 8000 pound vehicle that does not belong to me that wants to be sideways is NOFUN! So I have it parked in my driveway. I will call Monday and see if they have found a transmission for my car and see how much it will cost..........where that money will come from who knows.

On the bright side of things I have my homework done and the term is winding down, just 3 more weeks and I get a lovely, well deserved Month vacation.

Wow Really!

Last week, winter came about our little town and dumped a total of 2 feet of snow upon us. This was the first day, I captured a few pictures. Above is what the hwy looked like on our trip to the store. Glad the plows were out.
Went to bed with no snow and woke up in the morning to 9 inches. Must have been a pretty sight but slept right through that,
Everything was getting nice a covered , very pretty.
Had to call in the plow man to get our driveway, I could not get my car out with out his help.

Kickin and Screamin all the Way

Last week I started my English class. It is a block class and only lasts 8 weeks. It is English Literature and my mind is not wrapping around the readings. I get so confused with the readings and how to make sense of it all. I pray that I can make it through the next 8 weeks and pass this class! I'm kickin and screanin all the way!

A Little of This and Some of That

I can't believe it has been almost 2 weeks since I have blogged. So much has been going on I can't seem to keep up.

School has been keeping me busy, and my classes are going good. I seem to have my face stuck in a book quite a bit these days..........I'm always hoping for a read for fun as I call it, but it always seems to be text books that my face is stuck in. I guess if college degrees were easy everyone would have one.......haha

The weather around here has taken a turn for fall, and quickly looking like winter is on its way. Almost all the leaves are gone, it's been in the low 20's at night a few times and the sky looked like snow yesterday, but held off.

I have a friend who is headed to Iraq on Tuesday, and I'm not really liking this, but what can you do other than pray for a safe return. So if you would please keep him in your prayers too.

I have had major fun with canning foods this year so far. I have done, spicy black beans, spicy pinto beans, smoked salmon, salmon, peaches, beets and my new endeavor is making apple butter and canning that.

Oh and I bought a gym membership and I have been going to the gym. I go to zumba a couple times a week, and step on Fridays and the rest of the time you can find me hoofing it on the treadmill and doing other workouts on the equipment. I have been doing this for 2 weeks now and dropped 1 pound.......UGH one 1 pound! What gives!

Mix It Up

For many years I have wanted a Kitchen Aid mixer. I have asked for one for my birthday and Christmas but it has never showed up until a few days ago. My wonderful Husband sprang and purchased me one. Ohhhh so happy am I.

I couldn't help but hug my new piece of kitchen equipment.( sorry I don't look so hot here, just came home from the gym) I love to cook, and this is just the thing to add to my collection of kitchen goodies! Now looking online I have found a bunch of attachments that I seriously think I need, So those go on the list next.
Today I made homemade from scratch brownies, using my mixer to mix them up. Talk about yummy! Tomorrow I will have to hit the gym really hard to work off those 3 brownies I ate tonight.

On, Off, On Again

This past week I have been sick then fine and then sick again. It's the strangest thing. I feel like I'm getting a cold one hour and the next not. Then nauseated and not. Sure wish my body would make up it's mind to be well and stop jerking me around! I know a lot of other people that are feeling the same way, I know we are not passing it back and forth because we all live in different states.

Currently I have a stuffy/runny nose, heavy chest, and feel nauseated. So I'm on garlic, ginger, cayenne, and oregano pills and nauzene.

Any of you have the same symptoms going on?

Friday FlashBack Photo

This picture dates back to 1985. I was engaged to a man in the Army and my Mom took this picture for me to send him. Just showing off a little shoulder....... Needlessly to say we were young and I broke it off with him I didn't think I could wait for his return or when we could be together again.


For more Friday Flashback Photo's to look at or share link up at More Than Words it's a lot of fun to check out other peoples flashbacks.

Shoot Me! 6 of 52

Our leaves on our trees are in full fall colors and gently falling off.
This is my new deep dark hair color. I have never had my hair this dark ever and I'm loving it!


If you would like to see more "Shoot Me" photo's or share one of your own link up at Forever in Blue Jeans Blog, it's tons of fun seeing other peoples photo's of themselves for the week.

Wowzers It's been a long time

Man I can't believe it's been 2 months since I have blogged. Time flies when you are busy doing what who knows.....LOL
Well lets see if I can cap the last couple months.

• All of July I worked waitressing in town and made pretty good money. I fished as much as I possibly could and we canned salmon, smoked salmon and canned that too.
• August I worked most of the month, went to the big city and shopped 3 times. Man that is a record for mall shopping for me....haha It was also my birthday and my son and hubby bought me a new camera. Have yet to use it much yet. Oh and back to school I went, this time taking paraprofessional counseling and English Lit.
  
• September so far and been an interesting month, I have a huge case of the lazys, and it is all I can do to get that homework done. Not sure what is wrong really just that I want to sit in my chair and do nothing. Yesterday I went and got my hair colored and it is a deep dark red, something that I have never had my hair look like before. I LOVE IT!
• October is a new month and I do have plans on going back to the gym, not digging they L' bod these days and have to go something about it, and it wont happen in my chair.......haha Oh and I hope to get back into some form of blogging routine.
  

Shoot Me! 5 of 52

This is my friend Jennie and I being silly at Grandma's birthday party a couple weeks ago. We were having such a great time.



If you would like to see more "Shoot Me" photo's or share one of your own link up at Forever in Blue Jeans Blog, it's tons of fun seeing other peoples photo's of themselves for the week.

Friday Flashback Photo

This is my youngest son Chad in 1994, he loved to wear his food as much as he loved to eat it. My Mom got him the bib "Spit Happens" and she loved it so much still to this day if anyone has a new baby she buys them a "SApit Happens" bib.

For more Friday Flashback Photo's to look at or share link up at More Than Words it's a lot of fun to check out other peoples flashbacks.

Shoot Me! 4 of 52

Both of these pictures were taken Monday while Hubby and I were out fishing together. The fish were just not biting so I had hubby take a few pictures of me.
If you would like to see more "Shoot Me" photo's or share one of your own link up at Forever in Blue Jeans Blog, it's tons of fun seeing other peoples photo's of themselves for the week.

WW.......Hang Tight

On The Bank Of The Kenai

My Husband and I took advantage of my day off and headed down to the river for some salmon fishing.
The day and the river was so beautiful and we were in high spirits of catching us some salmon.
Both of us love to fish and spend time on the bank trying our best to hook them up.
The sun on the river was beautiful and really caught my eye, good thing I had my camera.
Well we didn't catch this time but we had a great day of hanging out together and really enjoyed each others company.

I have a few more pictures but think I will save them for Thursday's Shoot out.

Party Like A Rockstar

Yesterday was Granny's 87th birthday Party, a few years back we had a party for her and she loved it so much that was her request is to have one every year, until she "kicks the bucket" her words.....LOL The picture up top is all the family who could make it to the party, there are tons more family members but they had prior engagements and could not make it. It turned out to be a beautiful day outside and we all enjoyed ourselves.
Grandma, is such a wonderful lady and very dear to my heart, she is wonder woman in my eyes and heart.
Grandma and my Daughter Rachel and Rachel's Daughter Ashlee.
This is cousin and great Friend Jennie and Me and Super Woman and best Math teacher ever Angela. Yes Angela was our math teacher in college, that is how we all met, and is a great friend of the family too.

It was a perfect day, weather cooperated, and I think it was the warmest day yet this summer. Perfect for Grandma to shine on her special day. Everyone made their special dish of food, and we all ate, laughed and had a great time. Grandma, partied like the star she is!

Friday Flashback Photo

I can't remember the date of this picture but I think it was 1991 or so. Ahhhhhh to be young and thin again!



For more Friday Flashback Photo's to look at or share link up at More Than Words it's a lot of fun to check out other peoples flashbacks.

Shoot Me! 3 of 52

My daughter won this cool hat for me on a friends Facebook contest. I was so very excited that she won and gave this to me. I love hats although I think I look silly in hats most of the time. I'm getting use to wearing them when I have a day off from work.


If you would like to see more "Shoot Me" photo's or share one of your own link up at Forever in Blue Jeans Blog, it's tons of fun seeing other peoples photo's of themselves for the week.

Sister Love

This is my Sister, Jane. We are very close and I love her dearly. She has picked me up when I'm down, and been there for me though think and thin. I try to do the same for her, and I just don't know what I would do without her. Sister, you are the Best, I Love you!


To me you are an angel in disguise.
Full of intuition, intelligent, and wise.
Always giving and helping through
Good times and bad.
You are the best friend I've ever had.
If I had one wish it would surely be
To give you as much as you've given to me.
Though I've put our relationship through some cloudy days,
You've been my sunshine in so many ways.
Through trials and tests, right by me
You stood,
And gave me your hand whenever you could.
Thank you so much my sister, my friend
My gratitude for you has no end.

Friday Photo Flashback

This is my youngest son Chad at age 4. He loved having his head shaved when he was younger.

I thought a then and now picture would be awesome to see how much he has grown. (now 16)

For more Friday Flashback Photo's to look at or share link up at More Than Words it's a lot of fun to check out other peoples flashbacks.

Shoot Me! 2 of 52

Me on a nice breezy day walking on the Kenai Beach. I love being on the beach, it is so peaceful and beautiful.

If you would like to see more "Shoot Me" photo's or share one of your own link up at Forever in Blue Jeans Blog, it's tons of fun seeing other peoples photo's of themselves for the week.

WW ....Smoked Salmon

Random Tuesday Thoughts

1. Where has June gone? I can believe that July is just around the corner.

2. Why do friends act a weird when you ask them a dozen questions about life and then get mad because you don't share with them everything they want to know, when no questions were asked? I don't get it.

3.Why oh why does it have to rain so much? I need sunshine on my days off at least!

4.Groceries, wow the cost of them, I should make my whole family go on a diet! Crazy! Went for a big shop today and 400 bucks later came home. What a cycle, push a cart, put stuff in, take it out and put on a belt to be rang up and bagged, back in the cart, out of cart in the trunk, out of trunk in the house, unbagged and put away.

5.I still have yet to watch the movie I have been want to watch" The Memory Keepers Daughter", maybe tomorrow on my last day off.

6. Works been busy, and my body hurts, glad for 2 days off.

7. What is one fond memory you have from a summer as a child?

Okay so I went really random.......LOL

I Got That Broken Feeling

Yes, Yes my Body has that broken feeling this morning, well and did last night too. I work in a restuarant in town serving food. The last couple days have been slow and easy, until yesterday people came crawling out of the woodwork it seems. I ran the full length of that busy restuarant for a full 2 and a half hours, at the beginning of my shift. The restaurant is pretty spread out and is capable of seating 90. I was the only waitress on duty and lets just say I had to put myself on speed woman mode and rock out some food and service. I managed to keep everyone happy and fed, and make $100 in tips during that time. Then the next 2 hours of my shift I had 1 table and made another 3 bucks. But oh boy did I have one heck of a mess to clean and stock for the next waitress coming in.
I though some good sleep and relaxing would fix this broken feeling, but nope no such luck and I will be back at it again today 12-4:30.

I live in a tourist town and the summers are large here. I guess I will get my chance to repair come September when they all go home........LOL

Friday FlashBack Photo

This is me, I'm guessing 13 years ago around Christmas time. It is when we still lived in Portland. Look at the wild red hair........LOL

For more Friday Flashback Photo's to look at or share link up at More Than Words it's a lot of fun to check out other peoples flashbacks.

Shoot Me! 1 of 52

This is my Husband and I out at the Kenai River Festival. We had such a great time out that night, Live music, dancing and friends.


If you would like to see more "Shoot Me" photo's or share one of your own link up at Forever in Blue Jeans Blog, it's tons of fun seeing other peoples photo's of themselves for the week.

WW..The Girl Likes Watermelon

Random Tuesday Thoughts

1. I was going to take the summer off from working, but life had other plans for me and I'm back to work and my hours were just increased. I hope my body can hold out running around that restaurant serving food.

2. I have decided I really need to loose a few pounds and have been working hard on losing them and not finding them again. So far I'm lost a few with many more to go.

3. Ya know a salad with chicken on it for diner is really a great meal.

4. I wanted to go back to Portland in August and the funds are just not there, so we are planning a trip to the State fair. That's about 200 miles or so from home(one way) so we will get a hotel and stay up there and go to the fair 2 days in a row and come home.

5. I have 2 more months of summer vacation and then it will be back to school, this next term will be Paraprofessional Counseling, and English 211, my last English class.

6. I think I will try and work and go to school, which I have never done before. I wonder if I can pull both of them off and still get A's.

7. I just read a good book called "The Memory Keepers Daughter" and found out there is also a movie on the book, so I hope to watch it today before returning back to work tomorrow.

Letter of Intent

Dear friend in EL Passo TX,


It has been days since I have heard from you. It doesn't seem like we should live so far apart. I know it's been years since we have seen each other, and I miss you. I know we both have our own lives, and I hope that one day we can meet up again, and enjoy each others company like we have in the past. You are a special friend and I value our friendship. I hope that life brings you much happiness and joy.

Until we meet up again,

Robyn


If you have an issue that needs to be addressed head over to Julie's & write your letter.

Am I Lucky Or What?

My youngest Granddaughter Willow, and she will be one on Tuesday..
My only Grandson Logan brother to Willow.
Miss Gwen

Miss Emily and she is sisters with Gwen.
Miss Ashlee

I'm such a lucky Grandma couldn't ask for better Grandkids.
Just that Logan and Willow didn't live in a different state so far away.

WW.....Grandma Love