Another 5k and Another Fall Academy

Fall Academy started last week and I originally signed up for a crochet class but the lady had a stroke and the class was canceled before we started so I moved over to Knitting.  We are making 4 different squares and then joining them to make a pillow.  This first square is a Mitered Square.

I also participated in my second 5k.  Only this time there weren't any walkers (except for the 1 mile fun run) and I didn't know it.  When the gun went off everyone took off running except for one other lady, and old man and me, and they quickly jogged off and left me.  So I sort of jogged across the first intersection then proceeded to walk.  Well a policeman had to follow along behind the last person.  Soooo, I had a personal police escort the WHOLE WAY.  It was awkward and annoying and a little embarrassing.  At every corner, students were cheering me on, which again, was a little embarrassing.  But I didn't give up and I thought "tough s**t, I'm walking and they are just going to have to deal with it."  I was the LAST person to cross the finish line and to make it more embarrassing, they announced my name and number over the loud speaker, which thankfully, most people had already left. I don't know how long it took me, but I think it was pretty close to the last time (a little under an hour).  Next 5k (if I do another), I'm going to make sure there will be some other walkers.

Front Porch

I've been in a "decorating" mood lately so I decorated our front porch for fall.

Game Day

 

Yesterday was game day at the Jondahl house, we look like a drug house on the weekends.  This is a picture of all the cars and Kristen's car wasn't even there yet.  Kaitlyn and Michael come down every weekend and stay with us because she is still working one day/evening at the bar.  Kristen comes down on game day weekends and sometimes on other weekends too if Pat's not in town or her roommates are gone.

 

 

I put my flags out.

 

Yesterday, one of Michael's friends put up a tent (how he got this prime real estate spot in front of the stadium, I'll never know).  So Joe and I went to their tailgate and got some wonderful pictures.  Here's Kaitlyn and Michael.

 

Me and Joe.

The Family (isn't this a great picture?).

 

Kaitlyn and Lindsey

 

 We had a great time, even though we lost - and OU doesn't normally lose at home.

Weekly Update

This week was "doctor" week for me (and Joe).  My annual pap smear and my annual physical were all within the same week. I saw my gynecologist on Tuesday and my internist today.  I had my fasting labs on Wednesday.  All my lab work was good.  Because I've been exercising 3-5 days a week at the YMCA, Dr. Merrell said my good cholesterol level had jumped 20 points - it was already good, now it's even better.  Joe also sees Dr. Merrell and he went on Wednesday for his quarterly visit.  He had dropped some weight (lowest he's weighed in awhile - 216) but his sugar is still not where it needs to be.  His body is insulin-resistant, unfortunately.  He does sooo much better when he's doing things outside - like riding bikes, working in the yard, "playing" if you will.  If we could afford it, he needs to ditch his desk job, it would be so much better for his overall health.

Tonight, I'm going to another "Thirty-One" products party and tomorrow is another OU home game.  I also signed up for another 5K next weekend. This one will benefit the Norman High School PTA - it's called the Reunion Run (I'm guessing it's homecoming weekend).

New Fall Wreath for the Front Door

Yesterday I made a new fall wreath for my front door.  Yes, I got the idea from Pinterest.  I had lots of ribbon hanging around.  I painted the "J" and added the flowers.  The best part was I didn't even have to use a glue gun.

Wrapping Up the Week

This week I tried some more Pinterest recipes.  This is a Fiesta Chicken casserole.  It was pretty good. Had a can of Rotel, can of chopped green chiles, can of cream of chicken soup, cooked chicken, cooked pasta shells, and cheddar/pepper jack cheese in it. Joe and I ate about half of it for dinner one night.

That same night I also made a pumpkin cake.  The recipe calls for a white or yellow cake mix and a can of pumpkin....that's all.  It's supposed to be muffins, but I decided to just make the cake. It tastes good; however, I put coconut pecan frosting on top of mine.  I left any kind of glaze or frosting off so Joe could eat it.  I'll just frost my piece when I get one.

 

 

Today I participated in my first 5k EVER! This is a picture of Maria Gray, my Zumba teacher at the YMCA. I've been taking her classes for 3-4 years AND she's been to Joe's grandfather's (now his uncle's) house in Saint Maartin (her husband won a trip through his insurance company). She took a picture of the honeymooner's plaque hanging in the house and brought it to class and asked me if Joe and Cindy Jondahl October 1984 was me.  I told her yes it was.  I really like her as an instructor - she plays the BEST music for class and she sings too (along with everyone else in the class) while we are working out.  Anyway, I got off track....her daughter-in-law has breast cancer and the school where the daughter works put on a 5k fundraiser to help defray medical bills.  I decided to participate because 1) it's a good cause, and 2) I really do like Maria. Anyway, I walked most of the "race" and did try to jog whenever I was going uphill. I wore my iPod so I could listen to music and I managed to finish in under an hour (53:59).  The weather was great, it was misting rain - but not enough to get you wet. The only down side was the road was somewhat slick so I felt like I was having to take extra effort on each step, which was very tiring.  Will I do another one? Probably so but if given a choice I'd rather do a "zumba-thon" fundraiser any day.

 

 

 



OU vs. Florida A&M

Joe, Kristen, and I sat at the ballgame together on Saturday night. Kaitlyn and Michael sat in the student section.  Joe was taking pictures of us.

 

Here's Joe and Mark.

 

Kristen and I look pretty serious (the game was pretty boring and one-sided).  Do you think we have the same profile??

Dental Hygiene Update

One of the girls in Kaitlyn's class posted this picture on Facebook yesterday.  Kaitlyn is on the right, learning how to take teeth x-rays on "Dexter" their patient.

More on Pinterest Weekend

On Monday, I kept going through my fabric "stash" and decided to go ahead and make the ruffled apron that I wanted to make when I go on the craft weekend.  I purchased a white plain apron from Hobby Lobby and then made my ruffles to sew on.  I found some ribbon we used on another project on another day and added it to my apron.  Now that I finished this, I have realized, I don't need to pay $475 to go on a craft weekend in Wichita, KS.  I have now made almost everything they make during that weekend (and using stuff I already had!).  Cost was minimal - $4.99 for the apron. $3.99 for the metal tray.  $12.55 for chalkboard paint, paintbrushes, and the striped stockings, $0.50 for the swim noodle on clearance at Big Lots. Fun with crafting:  PRICELESS!!

 

Along with my obsession with Pinterest, I found a chicken pot pie recipe (on pinterest) that I thought I would try.  Now keep this in mind, 1) I don't cook very often, 2) my children have never liked "casseroles", 3) I made a low-fat version of this a long time ago...yeah, think I threw that recipe away. Most of the ingredients I had in the cabinet.  It was VERY easy to make, took about 40 minutes to cook in the oven.  Kristen was over, so Joe, Kristen and I ate it.....almost all of it.  It was very good.  If you've ever tried Marie Calendar's chicken pot pie (either fresh at the restaurant or the frozen kind from the store), it tastes JUST LIKE IT.  Yum! I will be keeping this recipe close at hand, and I will be making it again.

"Labor" Day Weekend... aka as Pinterest Weekend

This weekend the girls and their boyfriends came down on Saturday night to watch the OU ballgame on TV (it was an UGLY win).  Then yesterday, Kaitlyn mentioned she saw some headbands on Pinterest that she liked. After she left, I went through my fabric scraps and cut out enough patterns to make 18 of the headbands.  And that's not all of my "stash".  If I went through my tubs in the garage, I'd probably have enough to make about 18 more.  Hmmmm, maybe I could sell them!

I also made my "witches" legs to go in the planter on the front porch for Halloween (also found on Pinterest).  This is a pool noodle cut in half.  I found these cute long stocking-socks at Michaels and stuffed the feet with fiberfill.  Kristen was going to donate these shoes so I kept them to use for witches shoes. Can't decide if I want to spray paint them red or not.

I found this on Pinterest and IMMEDIATELY thought of Lorna.  So, this is for you, Lorna!  Love you!