Couch to 5K

Last October we attended the first annual "Huxman Run 2 Sweat" benefiting the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (http://huxmanrun2sweat.com/ & http://www.nfed.org/ ). The event is organized by some family  members of mine, so, we made it priority to be there even though we knew we couldn't run the race (we were far too out of shape). At the Huxman Run 2 Sweat, there is a 1 mile run/walk, a 5k, and a 10k. We collectively (me, my husband, my sister and my mom) decided we would walk the 5k race (we were glad that others made the same decision). So, we walked the 3.1 miles. We had fun and supported family members and a great cause. After the race we (me, my husband, and my sister) said, "maybe we'll run it next year". And then.... we did nothing about it.


At the beginning of summer, I decided it was time for me to do something about getting in shape. I started by going on walks. I recruited my sister to walk with me. On one of our first walks we talked about how we were going to walk the 5k this year, but we were going to train and improve our times. Next, on my mission to getting in shape, I recruited my husband. We started taking nightly bike rides. Many nights I would go ride bikes with him and then go on a walk with my sister. I was determined to keep myself going, and wanted to keep them going, so I would do whichever kind of workout they wanted. During this time, I also decided that I wanted to run some. So, when they weren't available to workout with me, I started working out with the Couch to 5k workout. It's a workout I've started several times, but never stuck with very long. Somewhere during this time period I got myself an accountability partner. (My cousin Cathy has been great! I'm sure she has no idea how much she has helped me!) Then, summer came into full swing, and it was still over 100* when it was time for us to workout in the evenings. So, instead of getting heatstroke, we joined a gym!

About the time we joined the gym, we all decided that we weren't satisfied walking the race this October. We would train so that we would be able to run at least half of the race.


That race was this past Saturday. We went to Moundridge at stayed the night at Grandma's the night before so we were awake and ready on the chilly (or as my dad would say, invigorating) Saturday morning. My brother-in-law and his wife came to run it with us, too. We all finished the 5k and didn't even have to walk! My brother-in-law came in 2nd overall and my sister-in-law got a medal in our age group, too!

Anyway,  I just wanted to share an updated and about our experience. I'm so proud everyone!


My sister, Kendra, and me

Sister-in-Law Megan, Brother-in-Law Casey, Me, Cory

The Next Becky?

A few weeks ago my family took a trip together. My mom and I decided we were making a stop at Hobby Lobby, the boys (my dad and my husband) decided they were going to take that time to check out the golf equipment at the sporting goods store. That left my little sister to decide which store she was going along to. She decided to stick it out with the ladies and head to Hobby Lobby. She's not usually ecited about a trip to Hobby Lobby, and I don't think this trip was really much different. I made it my goal to help her find some goods to work on a project. Like a lot of other people, we've joined the website www.pinterest.com. She picked something that she had pinned, a bullitin board for her bedroom. The orignal pin had a bullitin board covered in scrapbook paper. When we dicussed how we wanted to complete her project, we decided that fabric would be a better option to cover the board because on paper each time you push in a pin, there would be a premenant hole showing. After we decided how we were going to go about the project, the next step was to pick the fabric. With the fabric chosen and other supplies purchased it was time to get started.

We took pictures along the way to show mom. Here they are:


Cutting fabric is hard work. (She's going to kill me)

Sewing all the pieces together.
"We're not taking this to the 4-H fair, right?"

Ironing the seams open.

Showing Mom and Kyzer what she did.

The finished product. At least for now.
We may add some ribbons to it.

Becoming Becky Homecky

I've had this blog for years. Every year I resolve that I am going to do better at keeping it updated. And every year, I fail.

I thought this would be a good time to talk about my journey to becoming Becky Homecky. For those of you who have known me, you know I've had no business being in the kitchen, and creative wasn't a word I would use to describe myself.

Within the last year or so some of these things have begun to change. I remember one day I told my mom, "I want to bake a cake. But not just a normal cake in a rectangle pan." The next time I went home I borrowed my mom's round cake dishes. I went home and baked my first 2-layer cake, and that was the start of it.



Bow for my niece

My next inspiration were my beautiful nieces. I thought it would be fun to make hair bows for them. So, whether or not they (or their moms) like it, they've gotten several different bows.



MCC Heath Kit Bag

My next desire was a sewing machine. I used to sew when I was in 4-H, until I ruined an outfit I was preparing for the fair. After that experience I swore off sewing for the rest of my life (at least that's what I thought at the time). By my last year in 4-H, I had decided that I would make one more sewing entry for my last fair. I expected that to be the last of my sewing.  Years later.. I found myself wanting to sew something. Nothing specific, just wanted to sew. Mom wasn't willing to give up her sewing machine like she did her cake pans. I got very excited when I looked in the Black Friday ads. Mom, my sister, and I always attend the Black Friday "festivities". So, in the middle of the night we headed out to Wal-Mart with our store map in hand and strategy planned out. I stationed myself at the sewing machine pile waiting for the go-ahead to load my new prize into my cart! My first project was making bags to fill with health kits for MCC. Filling these bags at Christmas is a family tradition, and I was glad to help Grandma in the construction of the bags. My next project was an insulated dish carrier for my Grandma for Christmas. My computer desk has now been changed into a home for my sewing machine (the computer has been exiled to the basement). I probably got a little too excited the day that happened.

It's been fun finding my inner Becky Homecky. My poor mom gets phone calls of silly questions all the time, while I'm brainstorming new ideas. And pictures of projects sent to her phone at all hours of the day (and night). I was a child that could not stand a trip to Hobby Lobby, now I find myself dragging my husband into Hobby Lobby every time we drive past one. It's funny how things change.

In the future I'll update on my projects. Thanks for reading. :)