What Are The Tremain’s Up To Now?

Well, clearly you can see that being a better blogger has fallen to the side. I really don’t take the time to get on here and share the fun things that we are doing like I used to… Here is a quick “catch up.”

Our chickens are now producing eggs. Hank and Molly both love going out daily to bring in the fresh eggs. Molly has become our designated egg washer. She loves the water, and has NOT broken any eggs.

Hank has two more games left in his basketball season. Tomorrow he plays in Maupin (a small town I love), and then has a home game on Feb. 11th.

There is a chance Ron will be travelling for work this month. It was going to be two weeks in the middle of the month, but that has changed. He was recently promoted and loves his new position – both the job itself and the challenges of it.

I’m all but counting down the days until Mid-March – when my parents should be done with their shows and we will get to see them for a couple days. Molly and I stopped there in May when we were moving down from Alaska. I miss them so much, seeing them once or twice a year isn’t enough. Thank goodness for AT&T cell phones and Skype

Anyway… that’s our quick update.

I have to admit that I have wasted the last three hours of my life sitting in front of the computer. The boys are at a basketball game and Molly has been reading, drawing, and entertaining herself.

My goal three hours ago was to change the theme of this blog (background). After I did some messing around I got myself into a situation where I had NO blog. I kinda deleted a few files that were important. Long story short, I got them back. Then I decided to upgrade from an older blog version to a newer one. The software version I am using really has no importance to you, the reader, it only affects me, the writer. When installing the NEW version I messed a few more things up – three hours later I have a new background layout, and am using a new version of blogging software. Most importantly I put my coding and research skills to the test… and solved the problem entirely on my own!

Along with my weight loss/better fitness goals, we are also changing our diet up a little. I am trying to cut out some of the unnecessary fat from the foods that we eat.

This morning I made some great blueberry muffins and wanted to share the recipe I’ve created.

It began as a basic Betty Crocker recipe, but I’ve changed it a bunch… so here goes:

Makes 24 muffins:

1 1/2 cups non-fat milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup applesauce
2 eggs
3 cups wheat flour
2/3 cup white flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
2/3 cup sugar
6 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
2 cups blueberries (I usually stir frozen blueberries in and it works great!)
Optional: 1 minute oatmeal, granulated sugar

Combine all wet ingredients, then mix in dry one at a time, when batter is well mixed add blueberries.

Mix well. Spray muffin pan with non-stick spray.

I also like to sprinkle a little oatmeal and sugar on top of the unbaked muffins. It makes them a little prettier after they come out of the oven and we all know if it looks better, it tastes better

Bake 18-20 minutes at 400 degrees.

Six years ago today I met Hank and Ron at a small church in Sitka, Alaska. Months before I’d seen the two of them together at a local coffee shop, but we’d never met.

The past 6 years have gone by so fast. We’ve made so many wonderful memories together, travelled many roads, and seen many adventures together. We have grown together, and increased our household with a beautiful daughter.

Ron and Hank, I love you both and am excited and happy to be apart of your lives. Thank you for the wonderful memories and for loving me and making me apart of your family.

Xoxox!

We had a great holiday. The kids were excited about all their new things, and we had a wonderful Christmas eve with friends, and Chrismas dinner with our kids.

My new years resolution is being edited a little… a friend has asked me to do a half marathon with her in June… so that is going to replace the sprint triathalon I had planned on. It’s still excersize, right!

Ron has to work Monday and then took the rest of the week off to be with Hank over his Christmas break. We are all looking forward to the week and being able to do things together. Hopefully we’ll get some time out in the snow (uh-if we get snow), or do some hikes.

Christmas cards went out about a week ago to friends and family. Above is the 2009 family picture!

Merry Christmas!

As you can see I have not been a good blogger. I haven’t written since September or so… Since we are 9 days from the new year I though it was time to get started again. While I am at it I will go ahead and post my “New Years Resolutions” here for some sort of accountability. Usually I don’t do resolutions, and if I do, I certainly DON’T tell anyone about them – thus preventing anyone else from knowing my failures… but what the heck. I fail. I fail a lot. So, here world… here we go. I have numerous resolutions.

1) Be a better communicator.
I talk to myself a lot. I don’t talk to others – or at least when I do, it’s surface stuff that doesn’t matter. I don’t let anyone in. So. In 2010 I am trying to better communicate with my spouse. Rather than saying “nothing is wrong,” and internalizing my stress/frustration/anger I am going to make MORE effort to either tell him what is the problem or tell him I need time before I can talk about it. This whole idea/action means a whole other set of issues I have, but maybe I will tackle those in 2011.
2) Begin (and finish) more creative/artistic proejcts
I have not touched my scrapbooks since I was pregnant (2006-2007). I need to.
3) Finish Hank’s quilt
Started in 2007. All pieces are cut. Some are sewn. Will be FINISHED by 7/1/2010.
4) Lose 20#
I feel better about myself when I am skinnier. Currently I am a size 10 (occasionally an 8). Size 6 here I come.
5) Finish sprint triathalon. June 5, 2010. Need to get into running shape and actually DO some biking rather than just LOOKING at my bike.

I am sure there are some other things out there… but I think 5 is enough – accomplish something, yet keep attainable goals.

Oh, and I need something from any of my blog readers. I need your used wine and champagne corks. It’s something that has to do with my “creativity resolution.” So… comment and I will privately email you my mailing address if you don’t have it. Not posting it on here for the world…

Hank started 8th grade on Tuesday. Tuesday was a hard day for Molly. She loves her big brother so much, and she didn’t like him leaving for school! ~As far as she is concerned, he should be home playing with her!

Hank has enjoyed his new school so far, I think. I should know that, right… well, it’s been an interesting week. Kids started Tuesday. He had great things to say. Wednesday they went to school a half day and then went on to a camp about an hour away. When we talked to him last night he was having a great time, and was really looking forward the their evening activity. ~ Mud wrestling! He’ll be home today, so I can’t wait to hear more about it. All I know at this point is something about a huge mud pit and they throw a penny in – and someone has to find it. That is something I would have loved as a kid. As a mom I am not as excited about the laundry that he will be bringing home!

My foot continues to heal. I have a check up next Friday, so we’ll see what they have to say.

Nistassa gets home from Bootcamp late Friday night. We can’t wait to see her. She’ll be home for a few weeks and reports to her boat on October 18.

Friday I went into the great foot doc. He removed the cast (YIPPEE!!!) only to find that it was still bruised, swollen, and painful. He did another exam of it and decided that I also ruptured the capsule in the fifth metatarsal and possibly broke some bone plate too. I got a walking boot and go back in for two weeks. At that point I’ll either be healed or will need an MRI and another series of xrays to determine the ligament, tendon, and bone owies.

Yesterday the kids and I spent a great day with family. A cousin is here visiting from Australia so we had a fun get together with many family and friends. It was a long day, but we all had a great time.

Thursday our furry family member Max – our yellow lab went missing. We were all shocked and worried. He has never run away, or ventured ourside our fence. Hank and I worked overtime to put up flyers around town for him. We also went door to door handing out flyers. This morning a guy called with our furry friend. He was happy, healthy, and in good spirits. We were so happy to have him home!

Tomorrow our labor day plans will most likely include yard labor. I am hoping to get some bulbs planted outside for next spring. Ron and Hank are going to be making some upgrades to the chicken coop.

Nistassa got to call home on Saturday for a few minutes. We recieved exciting news that she has passed all her physical tests, uniform, and some other stuff… and has received her assignment for her first duty station.

She is being stationed on the Coast Guard Buoy Tender Alder. It’s almost humerous to me, The Alder is a sister ship to the Maple (stationed in Sitka – aka: home). She is being stationed in Duluth, MN. She will be home for three weeks before starting at her first station. I can’t wait to see her. I’d love to be able to make the trip across Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, and Minnesota with her… but I can’t exactly bail from my motherly duties here… and I don’t see a road trip that long in Molly’s future!

It is really boring for a person that is so ON THE GO to basically be stuck immobile. I hate crutches. Yesterday the kids and I made a grocery trip and I jumped on one of the electric carts. It made the shoppuing trip much more manageable but also made me feel old. That could have been due to the fact that I also found a grey hair. ~ Yup, too much time on my hands.

I have been working on a quilt that I started for Hank a while back. I am much to embarrassed to admit exactly how LONG AGO. We’ll sum it up and say it was “pre-grey hair.” ha ha.

I am counting down the days until I can get this thing off!