BIRTHDAYS

This week I was able to celebrate the birthday of two fantastic women! Earlier last week I drove down to Clarkston to celebrate my friend Jenny's bday. I love Jenny! She doesn't read this blog BUT she is an extremely loyal and loving friend. She is beautiful, always looks FABULOUS...(seriously...ALWAYS), and would do anything for those she cares about. She takes friendships seriously and I miss her all the time!







I also got to celebrate my "new" friend Cathy's bday. Cathy and I moved to Coeur d'Alene at the same time (our homes closed the same week) so I think we were destined to be good friends. In the 9 months that I have known Cathy she has CRACKED me up with her hilarity (is that a word?), impressed me with her FANTASTIC cooking skills, humbles me with her continuous positive attitude and outlook on life AND she is my Zumba partner in crime. I could go on - but you get the idea.





HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADIES!!!! The world is definitely better because of you!

Daddy

"Daddy's home, Daddy's home, shout HOORAY!

Daddy's home, Daddy's home, time to PLAY!"

That is the little song we made up and that Kelsi loves to dance and sing whenever John gets home from work. It's the cutest thing and John just eats it up! I'll have to get it on tape one of these days.

While Kelsi is definitely a mama's girl at this stage in her life....she sure loves her Daddy.

He tells her stories....

Plays hide-and-seek

Teaches her how to be a dare-devil...

(I just thought this one was cute)

...and walks JUST like him. Poor girl inherited the Calderwood walk. HA!

and not only does she walk like him, she loves to walk in Daddy's shoes....literally.

John is such a wonderful Dad! We love you.

I LOVE THIS THING

John bought me a heart rate monitor watch and chest strap for Mother's Day. I was SO excited because I have been asking for one. I really enjoy working out (for the most part) and in an effort to get some motivation to stop eating so much - this little baby is a gem!

It's not cheap, but not super pricey (like the body bug - which would be awesome)and it tells me all I need to know - heart rate, calories, duration - you know - basic stuff.

I used it this week for Boot Camp 3 times, Step 1 time and Zumba once and anyone want to guess which one burned the most calories?????? Give up?? OK, I'll tell you......ZUMBA! YAY! I burned between 600-650 calories in the other classes, but Zumba came in with a whopping 746 calories! The kicker is I LOVE IT SO MUCH that it doesn't even feel like I am exercising - well it does, I'm dripping with sweat and breathing super hard - but it is SO much fun that the time flies by and I am EXCITED to go each time.

Now if only I could do something about my sweet tooth. :)

Happy Mother's Day

I couldn't let today go by without simply expressing my feelings about motherhood. My mom is spectacular. She possessed all the characteristics that a good mother should have. She was patient, kind, nurturing, compassionate, loving, firm but gentle, smart, talented and firmly rooted in her testimony of the importance of developing a personal relationship with the Savior. I don't know if I will ever live up to her example of what it means to be a mother, but it is something I strive to accomplish.

I am so thankful to be a mother. Kelsi has been such a blessing and has brought us so much joy. I never thought I could love and worry so much! She teaches me every day and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity that I have to be her Mother.

(I know my moms smile is a lot more enthusiastic than mine....but I was her second baby and she is just plain tougher than me.)