"Why didn't you catch her?" -Coach Nicole

So, lately in Cheerleading practice, we've been doing some more difficult stunts...they have been doing pretty good...but at our last practice, we had a little mishap...

The first words out of my mouth were, "Why didn't you catch her?" And the second words were, "Everyone (except Monica) down and do 20 push ups." 

And Jake, yes, if you would have coached cheerleading I think you would have had a lot more fun! hahaha

Really, though, of all the stunts we do this is an uncommon occurrence. They've probably had this happen 3 times so far this year...only during practice though. 

P.S. Don't you love our practice space? It's a classroom!

Wind Chill Advisory?

We live in MN, so I understand that cold weather is a part of that...

But when there is a "Wind Chill" advisory in effect, that means that it is "Bitterly Cold" as the weather line forecast service put it. Wind Chill from -35 to -50 degrees!!!

Yikes!

It was 35 to 40 degrees on Monday and everyone was talking about how warm it was! Jeff and I weren't even wearing coats...hahahaha, so today does feel bitter! Oh, the midwest!

Super Bowl

So, I was watching the food network while making some dinner and every show kept talking about FOOTBALL food! I'm like, why so much football talk? And then I remembered...the super bowl is this Sunday...on my birthday! It's good because when Jeff and I go shopping, there probably won't be as many people out and about because they'll be watching the game. Neither Jeff nor I are football fans, so it will be nice! I'm excited! I am going to make some cupcakes for my 242 group and for my Cheerleaders. Yum!

Benihana's?

Lately Jeff and I have been getting into trying to cook more "Gourmet" meals...it's been quite fun actually...
Tonight we made steak the Benihana's style since we love to go there and Jeff works there too so he's always watching how the cooks do things. It tasted just like Benihana's, but a little better...(Good job Jeff) and I made a little stir fry vegetables to go with it! Simple, but yummy!!! (I guess that wasn't too gourmet).
The other day I made a pumpkin black bean soup, two days ago I made some south of the border salsa containing black beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado, cilantro, red wine vinegar, cumin, lime juice, garlic, and a few other things that I can't think of off the top of my head. We also made this roasted tomato sherry soup that was really good (we were trying to make it like the one we had at Biaggi's)...
Anyways, it's fun cooking together and it's something we've found that we enjoy doing together. Oh yeah...and I made some cheesecake the other day (but cut the recipe in half...and accidentally forgot to only use half the amount of eggs...so it turned out more like a cheese souffle' than a cheese cake. Still tasty though) I also made this chocolate chocolate chip creme cake loaf that was pretty good, but my reason for making it was because Sarah (my lovely sister) and I have a tradition of buying one from the store and eating it...(and it's so yummy) so I tried to make one from scratch. I mailed her a mini loaf. Hopefully she'll get it by tomorrow...Yay! Jeff baked her some of his famous chocolate chip cookies to put in the lil package too. :)

Have a favorite recipe of your own?

They Make Me Smile...

Those Cheerleaders of mine...I did not know how much I would LOVE coaching them! Geez...I walked into practice today and opened the door to the room we practice in and there was just this huge smile on my face. I don't know why except that I LOVE coaching them! It is just so much fun and they have so much passion and I'm just REALLY enjoying it!!! I was a little hard on them today in practice at the end and did some good conditioning with them...they have a lot of drive and don't give up! I am seriously soooooooo glad that I got to do this this year. :)

Fulfillment

There is nothing like fulfillment. I feel like I've been getting a lot of fulfillment lately. Let me explain.

When you stop focusing on yourself and focusing on others, there is something about it that just gives you so much joy!!! #1 God in my life. Sounds a little cliche' or "written" but it's real.

#2 Jeffrey, Ethan, and my whole family. Again, sounds written, but they all mean so much to me.

#3 and #4 Coaching the 5th/6th Grade Team at Maranatha...those girls are so stinkin adorable! They have so much passion and so much drive. Also, they look up to me a lot which makes me feel honored. 

Another thing is being a 242 Leader in Driven Senior High (The Rock, with a new name). Last week I prayed with a girl in my group to receive the evidence of speaking in tongues and then this week I prayed with ANOTHER girl in my group to receive the gift of speaking in tongues! Last week was the FIRST time I'd ever prayed with anyone to receive tongues...I've done the salvation prayer with people, but never for speaking in tongues. If that doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will! I'm so excited for these young girls to experience what tongues is all about!!!!!!!!!! 

Anyways, I am just happy...I feel like I'm actually doing something! And that whole Arkansas idea still isn't outta the picture...still an idea though...in order to get to the next level, it's like you have to just surround yourself with people that are on fire. People you want to be like. Good examples. None of this lukewarm stuff. Sometimes you have to get out of your "comfort" zone in order to do that. And let me tell you, MN sure is comfortable (except when the weather is -41 degrees with wind chill!!!!)

Garage Sale?

Ever had a garage sale? I never have, but lately Jeff and I have been doing a lot of cleaning out and re-organizing ever since re-doing a lot of our home's interior. 

I have bags and bags of stuff we either don't want, need, or have room for. I keep thinking maybe we should keep it all and do a garage sale in the spring. The question is, is it worth the time and effort?

Have you ever had a garage sale? Is it worth the time, sign making, labeling, setting up, tear down, etc? Can money be made?

I think Jeff and I might have one this spring...now where to store everything until then?!?!?!?

My Cheerleaders...

So, this year, I am priviledged to be MCA's 5th/6th Grade Cheerleading Coach. The team is brand new this year. I taught them this routine in about a week and they did great! I'm SO PROUD of them! I think I have just as much fun coaching them as they have cheering! Check out this homecoming routine...

So there are a few little things they need to work on...but pretty good for the first year, eh? I love coaching these girls!!!

So, I was trying to upload it and it just wasn't working...I'm wondering if the video was just too big of a file. 

Anyway, I put a different one on here, sorry the orientation is off, I wasn't sure how to rotate it since it was recorded that way with my camera...

YES! It worked this time!

My First Post...

It's been a while since I've done a "blog." In fact, I pretty much stopped blogging when Ethan my little 13 1/2 month love was born. But, my sister, Sarah and brother, Jake have convinced me to start blogging again...but this time I won't use xanga...that site is still up though I noticed. www.xanga.com/iamwaitingfortomorrow

Anyways, last Saturday (the 12th) I was in the middle of setting this up and was cut off by a very important phone call from my mom, and so, here I am a week and a day later finishing it up.

After over a year of not "blogging" it's weird to be doing this again, but I'm glad. It will help me stay in touch with the Fam that is in other states.

P.S. Today Jeff asked me when we are going to move to Arkansas...I was really surprised because he's always seemed the least bit thrilled of the idea. Still just a thought I guess...(or a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th thought...)

Jeff is working tonight and I'm watching the food network...I love that channel...but it always makes me hungry! So I'm making black bean and pumpkin soup...a recipe from Jan Suzanne that is delicious, healthy and easy!

Back to the soup making!

Might as well add a short clip of Ethan playing...(with one of his favorite toys...a thermos!)

That's all for now!