Family Outing at the Zoo

We started Father's Day Weekend off with a bang by taking a Family Day Trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha! Holly was closed on Friday for a much needed day off, so Craig and I decided to treat ourselves too. We had been trying to schedule a date with Delaney's boyfriends to the zoo, but we just couldn't connect this year!
We headed out from Lincoln early Friday morning to beat the heat! We got there about 9:45 after we dropped Izzy off for a play date for a play date at the PetsHotel in Omaha. We slathered on some sunscreen, popped up the stroller, and we were off! Delaney had a ball! We weren't sure if she would really understand or enjoy it, but as long as she had a good view of the animals, she was in heaven! Her little pointer fingers got quite a workout! Being the little fish that she is, she especially loved the aquarium! Here are some pictures! Most of the animals seemed pretty happy so they were fairly active!








It was a super fun day for all of us, and completely tired little miss D out!

Reporting back

Well, I successfully survived night 1 of "Beginner's Luck", the running program I started this week. I'm feeling the pain today, but it wasn't horrible. There were definitely a few moments when I thought I was in over my head, but thanks to my trusty sidekick Kaitlyn I kept going. I'm still a little overwhelmed by it all, but I'm very happy I joined. It definitely helps to do this with a good friend!

I've been trying to take various steps lately to a healthier lifestyle, so this is an excellent addition to my plan. It also helps me dedicate a little bit more time for myself, which I also think helps promote a healthy lifestyle. I'm hoping I can continue with the routine I've had for the past month or so, by getting up early at 6 and doing my run/workout before Craig leaves for work. That way my run or video (depending on the day) is done for the day before Delaney gets up and the craziness takes over. I am also notorious for finding excuses if I put it off to later in the day, so this plan works for me...especially since I don't have to sacrifice any precious time with my sweet little D.

Last night, we had an awesome speaker that provided some serious inspiration! Check out his blog when you have a chance...
http://www.bendoeslife.com.

Also, here's a video he put together of his story!
http://youtu.be/8SbXgQqbOoU

Run Forrest Run

So tonight I start a journey that I absolutely never thought I'd go on. I have decided to take part in the annual Beginner's Luck Running program put on here in Lincoln by the Lincoln Running Company with my work BFF Kaitlyn! I have been jealous of "runners" for a long time, but have long considered myself not running material. Well, tonight I will find out what I'm made of. This program is 8 weeks long, with a weekly training session and a 5k run on the last night. It is designed for people just like me that have no clue what they are doing when it comes to running. They will educate us on everything running over the course of the program. I'm very excited, and a little scared! Wish me luck!

Updates

FYI...our home computer is still on the fritz, so we won't have any pictures today! Boo!

In other news, Delaney is a busy as ever these days. She is a full-on walker/runner! She jabbers all the time, and is learning new actual words on a daily basis. She is still on her hunger strike, and chooses only to eat what she wants when she wants it. Every day it's something different! She seems to be looking more and more like a little kid instead of my little baby. We have a 15 month check up in a few weeks, so we will see how much she has been growing with all of this new found mobility! Delaney had her first sleepover at Me-Ma & Papa Bryant's last weekend! She apparently was a very good girl, and they had a ball spoiling her! She has a big of a split personality some days...one minute she's throwing her food and screaming, and then the next she's giving us kisses! It's adorable and exhausting all at the same time. Just this past Tuesday, she blew me a kiss as I left her at Holly's! That was one of those moments that just makes a Mom's heart hurt!

Craig has been busy with household chores lately. He has been cultivating our garden with some serious TLC. We have attempted various vegetable in the previous 2 years we've been in the house without much success, so this year he took a different approach. We had to replant the entire garden already once this year since a late-freeze killed all our little veggies. We have no replanted everything, and so far it seems to be thriving! We have also started the process of transitioning our home over to satin nickel versus polished brass hardware & light fixtures. This will probably take us several months to complete it all in stages, but it has become and we have beautiful new door knobs to prove it! Craig has also nursed the lawn back to health after a miserable summer last year that killed quite a bit of our grass. It looks so nice right now, and many of our flowers are blooming!

I am about ready to do my last day of the 30 Day Shred. It obviously took me a lot longer than 30 days to complete it, but I stuck with it and have got it done! I am also on my 5th week of Weight Watchers. So far, it has gone great! I have lost over 6 pounds, and I feel better. It is totally doable because there is nothing that I can't have I just have to account for it! It's a slow, uphill battle, but so far it's going well! Next week, I will start a different video series to give myself some variety, so we will see what that's like! Other than all of that, I'm just living the dream as a working Mom!

Chase is here!

Well after a crazy week of welcoming a new nephew, battling a horrendous sinus infection, and dealing with a computer whose hard drive has apparently crashed, I'm back. Obviously, the big news is that Chase Myran Mathistad was born last Wednesday, May 18th! He weighed 6lbs 9oz and was 20 inches long! After 9 long months of secrecy surrounding the name, it's Chase! I absolutely love it, and couldn't have guessed it in a million years!

(Since our computer isn't being nice, I haven't downloaded any picture from my camera, so we will have to do with photos I've received & taken with my phone...sorry they aren't the best quality).

Here's the little guy all tuckered out after a big day of entering the crazy world!

This was my first look at his open eyes! They are a deep blue right now, we'll see what they end up being...it's a toss-up!

So far I think he is built like his mommy...long and lanky! He has a long neck like her and long limbs, fingers, and toes. However, in his face he looks like his daddy! A perfect combo!

He's all dressed up for his venture home! Too cute!

I drug myself out of bed finally on Saturday, so Delaney and I made a quick trip up to visit! (Craig had the unfortunate task of working on Saturday!) We were there for about 24 hours, and got in lots of Chase time! Delaney is still a little unsure of her little cousin. We definitely need to work on being gentle, and she gets quite jealous when I hold him! (Good thing we have no immediate plans for any siblings!)

Anniversary flowers!

Craig spoiled me today by sending these beautiful daisies to my office! Gerberas...my favorite!

10 Years

Ten years ago today Craig and I went on our first date! I can't believe that 10 years have gone by already! We were 17 and ending our junior year in high school! We went to dinner & a movie! We ate at Burger King (ha! true story) and saw Along Came a Spider. Little did we know what we were starting that night...here we are 10 years later. We have done a lot in those ten years, here are a few highlights:

1. Graduating high school (05.2002) We graduated number 5 & 6 in our class of 52...the order is still up for debate!
   
2. Attending & graduating college at UNL (me-5.2006, Craig-5.2007) We said "good-bye" to our little farm towns and headed for the big city of Lincoln! We had no idea this is where we would be making our home!
   
3. Both purchased our first vehicles (me-11.2006, Craig-7.2007) This was a big deal for both of us, and we are just a couple months from having them both paid off!
   
4. Entered the workforce full time (2006 & 2007) We quickly learned what the "real world" was like. We are still trying to adjust!
   
5. Got Engaged (12.12.2007) We were supposed to celebrate my 24th birthday with our friends, but before dinner Craig proposed! Everyone was hoping, but I don't think anybody thought he would ever ask! Best Birthday Ever!
   
6. Bought a house (06.26.2008) We closed on our house about 6 weeks before our wedding, but didn't move in until a week after our wedding right after our honeymoon! Almost 3 years later, we are still making it our home!
   
7. Got Married! (08.08.08) One of the happiest days of my life! Our wedding day was perfect, perfect weather, all our friends & family there to celebrate, we couldn't have asked for more!
   
8. Got a puppy (09.17.08) We saw little Izzy and instantly fell in love! She was and will always be our first-born! Our lives would be so empty with out that little fur-monster!
   
9. Got pregnant (found out 08.07.09) We were blessed and didn't have to try long, we were both a little shocked when it happened! It was a great first anniversary present!
   
10. Had Delaney Jo! (03.19.10) The happiest day of our lives! Delaney has definitely changed us, but I think for the better! Craig shows a completely different side when he's with his little girl...melt my heart!
    

We have traveled near & far together! We have made many new friends! We have lost others along the way! We have left our homes and moved into a home of our own! We have gone from single, to dating, to engaged, to married, to parents! We have laughed, cried, swore, and fought! We have been through a lot to say the least, and we have done it all together! We were so young and naive when we jumped into this with both feet, but I'm so thankful we did! I couldn't have picked a better partner for my life, and I can't wait to see what the next 10 years has in store for us! I love you Craig!