fabulous and fifty

my husband and i went to a fabulous 50th birthday party this weekend for my brother in law!

the theme for the night was, " a day in the life of clint."  

everything we did was centered around clint's favorite things!

the party bus we were in even had all of his favorite candies and drinks!

we rode around in a really cool party bus!

 i tried to take a picture of me and the babe in the mirror of the bus! 

 we bowled.

 (me and nicole at the bowling alley)

we stopped at starbucks.

we got ice cream from a cute ice cream truck in the driveway of clint's childhood home.

we went to see a movie.

(the company men) 

we ate maui zaui pizza from round table.

we had krispy kreme donuts.

we went to the casino.

it was 12 hours of fun.

i laughed a lot! 

i was so exhausted when we got home.  

 

i think everyone had a great time!  it was fun to spend the day doing all of clint's favorite things!

~tiff

 

Boehms Candy Tour

on monday we went to boehms candy kitchen in issaquah.  it was super fun.  we got samples during the tour and learned a lot about julius boehm.  he just happens to be a really interesting guy.  we got the main tour of the kitchen where they make all the candies, but we also got to tour his house as well.  

he was a lover of art and music and you could really tell when you went  into his home.

this was one if his stained glass windows.  it's hansel and gretal.  my kids just watched the movie the night before, so it was funny that he had it in his house!

there were also lots of statues.  they were naked.  so, some of the children on the tour (ahem, i'm not talking about mine here...) were interested in various body parts.  

he also built a chapel next to the candy kitchen and they hold weddings there too.  i'm not sure if he was a christian or just liked art, but he had moses holding the ten commandments inside the chapel along with a great painting of man and his maker.  right outside the chapel was this great statue of christ carrying his cross. 

the lighting was bad inside the chapel and it was a normal gray day here in the pacific northwest, so my pictures outside were dark too!

during the kitchen tour, we all had to wear these cute hats.  these three weren't too keen on taking pictures however, so i have just this one!!

we met monti, who was mixing fondant for some candies and doesn't he just look like a candy maker?  he was really very friendly. 

i was also surprised that the gals cover candies with chocolate with their bare hands.  they said it's to regulate the temperture so the chocolate is shiny and not dull.  it didn't seem very sanitary too me.  but, then later, when they filled the boxes, they did wear gloves.  it didn't seem like it would matter too much at that point!

some chocolates covered in coconut.  

that wouldn't tempt me, i hate coconut.

here's a picture of julius.  he climbed mt. rainier when he was 80, breaking his own record to be the oldest man to climb it.  i'm not sure if that record still stands...

here he is holding the olympic torch he ran with.  he really seemed like the kind of man who just went out and lived his dream.  and it just goes to show, it doesn't matter how old you are, or even your circumstances, you can always follow your dreams!

~tiff 

Success!!!

we've had such a good day homeschooling.

they aren't all like this.  some days, it's like torture for all of us.  

really, just keepin' it real!

but, today?  awesome!  

i even have this guy doing composition.  which he dislikes with gusto.

and, no complaining.  just writing.  and, doing well.  it's so great to see them working hard.  like it just became easy.  it's like having to write 3 or more paragraphs wasn't so bad after all.

this really has been such a hard struggle between us.  he doesn't want to write.  i don't want to fight.  and then i don't make him write.  instead we do it orally, but eventually we both realize that neither one of us is winning because lets face it.  we all have to learn to write.  or yes, we might end up homeless.

so,  here's to hoping this trend is a lasting one.  that the fighting over writing is over.  i'm tired of fighting that battle.  i know a new battle will begin, but at least it's a bit of variety!

the effects of being sick on the couch for a homeschool mom is really bad.  especially when you are enrolled in an online school which expects a family to meet progress and attendance goals.  

it means we have to work really hard until the 31st to finish all the lessons we missed last week while mom was passed out on the couch and the only school my kids did was typing their names into club penguin.

this girl is working so hard on math!

lesson after lesson she works.  trying hard to catch up from last weeks major deficeit.

today is good.

i'm so proud of my kids. 

it's a great day to be a homeschooling mom!!

~tiff

Success!!!

we've had such a good day homeschooling.

they aren't all like this.  some days, it's like torture for all of us.  

really, just keepin' it real!

but, today?  awesome!  

i even have this guy doing composition.  which he dislikes with gusto.

and, no complaining.  just writing.  and, doing well.  it's so great to see them working hard.  like it just became easy.  it's like having to write 3 or more paragraphs wasn't so bad after all.

this really has been such a hard struggle between us.  he doesn't want to write.  i don't want to fight.  and then i don't make him write.  instead we do it orally, but eventually we both realize that neither one of us is winning because lets face it.  we all have to learn to write.  or yes, we might end up homeless.

so,  here's to hoping this trend is a lasting one.  that the fighting over writing is over.  i'm tired of fighting that battle.  i know a new battle will begin, but at least it's a bit of variety!

the effects of being sick on the couch for a homeschool mom is really bad.  especially when you are enrolled in an online school which expects a family to meet progress and attendance goals.  

it means we have to work really hard until the 31st to finish all the lessons we missed last week while mom was passed out on the couch and the only school my kids did was typing their names into club penguin.

this girl is working so hard on math!

lesson after lesson she works.  trying hard to catch up from last weeks major deficeit.

today is good.

i'm so proud of my kids. 

it's a great day to be a homeschooling mom!!

~tiff

happy birthday to me....and a check in!

happy birthday to me

happy birthday to me

happy birthday dear tiffany

and now i'm thirty!

 a little over 2 weeks ago, i planned on getting a little less flabby for my 30th birthday. 

i was going to do the special k diet and jillians 30 day shred. 

i did eat special k and i did do 1 of jillians workouts, just not like i had planned.

i also got the flu, strep throat and was on the couch for almost 5 entire days.

and even still, i lost 5 lbs.

i'm teaching an aerobics class at our homeschool co op and, i am so sore from friday's class, i have been hobbling around for days.  that just goes to show how out of shape i really am.  that's what i don't like.  knowing that i used to be in good shape, and knowing how hard i would have to work to get back to that.

what's inspiring is when you finally lose a few, there is a new excitement to eat better.  i had plenty of opportunities this week to eat poorly, but i made good choices.  not only in what i ate, but in my portions too.  my husband makes the greatest ever breakfast.  brussel sprouts, garlic, carrots, egg, onions, sometimes rice, and seasoned so well with fish sauce, sesame oil, salt & pepper.  it's delicious.  and, i get a huge plate full.  i would usually just eat until it's gone, but i tried to eat only until i was full.  that's hard.  it's just like they say, everything in moderation. 

so, all of my hard work paid off and that feels really good. 

my husband and i did some dance central last night which was so fun. it was my first time.  and, i'm feeling like a little friendly competition might be fun with my besty besty neighbor?  she's a good dancer, and i'm not, but it would be fun. 

 you know, just the two of us, looking like fools....

new years resolution...sort of...

i kind of made a new years resolution.  i say kind of, because i really made it in december.  i knew that i had 2 months before my 30th birthday to get in shape!  i'm really not fat, just a little bit pudgy since i quit working out about 2 years ago.  since then, nada.  minus a few games of pickleball this summer, absolutely no form of organized exercise!

so, since it took me a month to actually start to work out, i now have just barely 2 weeks. 

yesterday i started this!!

and, now, less than 24 hours later, my legs are mush.  my arms are sore.  

but, it feel sooooo good.

i also bought this cutie on clearance.  since then, i have been drinking all of my water for the day. 

3 of these equals 60 ounces a day.  

and, just to ensure i'm really going to lose some flabby-ness, i'm going to do this for the next 2 weeks as well!

6 lbs in 2 weeks.  we'll see.  i officially have 15 days.  

i'll let you know how it goes!!

where's the time?

i homeschool.  

i'm also *slightly* lazy. 

it's not a good combination.

i would like my house to look like this...
 

clean, beautiful, bright.
the problem is, when i wake up, i like to watch  my favorite show from the night before. 

then, i like to read some blogs, and drink some tea or coffee.

before i know it, time has really flown by.  it could be 9 am!
i would like to start my day looking like this...

see?  happy faces!  ready to learn.  so cute.
if i just get up and do it, i can get done all the things i need to do.
i want to repaint my kitchen and sew up some burlap and lace curtains.
something a bit like these, but in a curtain and with lace.

so, i am making a goal.  i want to have it all done by sunday!

stay tuned for reveal photos!

~tiff