Crater's of the Moon

SORRY!!! I'm so sorry for not posting in a while. There's been some drama recently with my blog and I just got it all sorted out. I deleted an email account that I didn't know was linked to my blog and by doing that I deleted the entire blog... Well Paul saved my life after I cried for about an hour and got my blog back up and running but in the process I had reestablish that email address and reset my password. Paul being the super sneaky person that he is, reset my password to something I couldn't figure out and something he couldn't remember so I haven't been able to get on... But now we've gotten everything figured out and know I know what my password is and I'll try to do my best at getting back to this on a regular basis!!!

The sad thing is not to much has happened since I last posted. I figured instead of trying to recap everything that's happened over the last 2 months I'd just start with our AMAZING adventure from today. I'll try not to post too many pictures but I had so much fun!!! Riann is really turning into a sweet girl. We've recently dealt with a lot of temper tantrums and "life ending" fits that I've been really afraid for what was coming over the next year. However for the most part she seems to be getting past most of it and is really a LOT of fun to hang out with. I hope it stay this way and that it doesn't get any worse when she gets closer to 2. This better not be the calm before the storm!!!

Well today we decided to go on adventure. I was having a really rough day and just wanted to disappear. Paul was trying to get Riann down for a nap and I barged into the room and told him we needed to go for a car ride. This is something we used to do quite a bit and so it seemed like a great idea for the weekend I had been having. Paul not being one to say no to anything involving cars picked up Riann and walked straight to the door. In about 10 minutes we had a little bit of food, a few jackets, and we were off. We weren't sure where we were going at first but Paul checked out the map and decided that Crater's of the Moon looked like fun. We hadn't been there before and we both REALLY wanted to do a trip out there so we decided that today was the day.

It took us about 2 hours to get out there... not the amount of time we thought it would take, we thought we were only about an hour away but I guess were about 2... we pulled in and we were pretty surprised right off. I was always told that it was just a bunch of Craters that were made from old volcano's that had erupted and fell apart hundreds of years ago so I didn't expect to be blown away by anything too amazing. As you come into the park everything goes from sagebrush to black lava. The whole ground is the beautiful black rock that just winds in every direction you can see. As we got further into the park we started to realize this wasn't anything like what we had been told. Now if your not really a nature person you may not appreciate how beautiful it really was. To most it's probably just a ton of lava, but if you really get to look at it and see what it's like and take the time to image how it all got there, everything that was created was pretty amazing.

At our first stop we started on a short hike through a small lava field but moved on quickly because there were some pretty nasty clouds coming in. On our way to our next stop we decided we weren't going to rush through the park because of rain and so we got out and really started to look around. Our next stop was a cone that we were allowed to hike up. I think the sign said it was about a 68% incline and it was about .5 miles long. We had forgotten to grab Riann's stroller so we were a little worried about how much she would want to really get out and hike but we started up and she followed. We had to carry her a few times because the paths were too narrow or the hills were too steep or rocky but she was amazing!!! She trucked along everywhere we went and we didn't have to decide to not do anything because she was with us. She was so happy to be there and she seemed to love every minute of it just as much as we did.

Fast-forwarding a lot... We hiked around a few more places and came up to some caves that were in the park towards the end. We were all getting tired and there was only one cave out of the 5 were were equipped to go through so we hiked straight over to it. We hadn't seen any rain until just the very end so we figured it was fine to keep going. We came up on the tunnel and climbed right in. It was pretty rocky but Riann was really patient with all of the carrying and passing off we had to do and we had a blast exploring. While we were in the tunnel there were lots of pigeons that kept flying out of their holes and it kept spooking us. We weren't sure where we were going and at times they sounded like bats so we were a little on edge. Once we finally got to the end of the tunnel and had to hike over the lava fields and back to the car. About this time it really started to rain and we even had some thunder clouds come in over us. We decided because we were pretty much the tallest things out in the middle of the lava fields we had better book it back. We got back to the car just in time and got out of the rain. On the way home we got to see some of the most amazing lightening we've seen out here so far. Our battery was dead on the camera or else I'd have pictures of that too.

I have a TON of pictures but most of them need to be compiled into panoramic shots. As soon as Paul has those together I'll put them up but for now here are a few shots of our adventure. It was soooo much fun!!! I'm so glad we got to spend today together. I have one of the most amazing families and every moment I get with them is absolutely wonderful!!! I love them both sooo much and I'm so grateful for the memories I get to create with them every single day!!!

This is one of the first things you see as you come into the park. It's just a black mass of lava and whatever vegetation can survive out there. There were a few chipmunks but they were too fast and too small to catch with the camera.

Just one of the lava mounds around the first places we stopped.

Paul and Riann walking up the steep cone. At the top it was amazing!! There isn't anything growing anywhere on this thing until you get to the top. There are a few trees and a lot of brush. Up there you also get a great view of the valley and the rest of the main stops in the park. I got some great pictures from up here and can't wait for Paul to get them set up.

It was super windy at the top so we had Riann "fly" down the hill side. We're going to cut Paul out of the picture and see what it looks like...

Paul and Riann at our second stop. This was at the top of another lava cone. The center of this was all hallowed out and there was still snow at the very bottom from last winter.

One of the small caves on the way to the main tunnel/cave we got to hike through.

The road into the caves. You can tell we were getting bad weather on the way in...

The road out of the caves. It cleared up a little at the end giving us just enough time to get out dry.

Inside the cave. I think this might be this year's Christmas card picture!!!

One last shot before we had to get moving through the cave.

Riann our little hiker. She did a great job!!!

My NEW Gym!!!!

So Paul finally let me have a little space at the "top" of our garage to make a gym out of. I have to say I LOVE it!!!! Here are a few shots of what it really looks like!!!

This is the main layout. We have a TV which I will be adding a DVD player to and my work out video's will be going in the blue stand underneath it. There is the elliptical we just got for $80 on Craigslist. LOVE that site!!! I have a weight "stand" over nex to the TV where my hand weights, Paul's perfect pushups,a kettlebell, and a basketball (that is suppose to resemble a medicine ball) sit, Paul's punching bag, a chair for squats and resting, and our scale. We even had the PERFECT amount and shapes of carpet to lay down so that I don't have to sit on the actual garage floor. It's so wonderful!!!

This is the view coming in from the house.

Here is the TV... not yet hooked up...

The new elliptical with my nasty sweat band...

The weight stand. This is going to improve when we can spend more money on more weights...

Paul's punching bag and the view from the back of the garage...

Riann woke up from her nap and wanted to help clean...

She just HAD to sweep the floor!!!

She's pretty excited about the new gym too!!!

The sad thing is I haven't been able to use it too much yet because my schedule has been pretty crazy but it's fun to have a place to look forward to. I can't wait to really get working out there. I just need a treadmill now and maybe a step to do stair stepper videos and it would be PERFECT!!!! Now if only I could find REAL time to get my butt in gear and get out and use it!!! I'm hoping to be down 20-30 pounds by the end of the year and maybe I'll really be able to push through and be 60-80 pounds down by this time next year!!! That would be AMAZING!!!!

Happy Birthday to RIANN!!!!

Wow I can't believe it's actually been a whole year. Its taken me a bit to find time to get these up but I'm glad I can finally sit down and do it. My little baby is growing up into a girl!!! It's amazing how fast time has gone by. It's been so much fun!!! Last night Paul and I sat back and looked at pictures of her the first week and it's amazing that she has grown so much. She changes each and every day and is so much more amazing as time goes by!!! I'm so excited to see what comes. I can only imagine what she'll be like when she's 16 and again when she's 25, 30. She'll grow up to be someone very special and I can't wait to watch it all unfold before my eyes!!!

We love you baby girl!!!! So much!!! Happy Birthday!!!!

My Angel!!!

I don't think they were talking about the candy when they called it
"Fun Dip".

These are her new angry eyebrows... any time we say "Don't give me 'tude!!" This is what we get.

Riding around with Papa!!! She's getting REALLY good at hanging on for piggyback rides. The other day I was working out and she wanted to be held so I threw her on my back and started doing squats!!!

Definitely breaking the rules... There are VERY few places she can't climb on her own these days.

Just hanging out!!!

She's already trying to sneak out of the house.....

LOVES talking on the phone!!!

Can't get enough of the good stuff!!!

Hates just having to sit around....

She's wonderful!!!!

Sorry to keep you waiting... The photo has been submitted!!!!

We got the photo in Thursday afternoon and we chose photo #7. I cropped it a little tighter because she was mid diaper change and I didn't want someone to notice that. You can still kind of tell her shirts pulled up but I think it's okay. Here's how we submitted it.



I really liked it but didn't know if others would too. I'm really glad you all helped us pick!!! You're all AMAZING!!!!

Here's what we're waiting for. This is from the website... "The ten (10) semi-finalists pictures will appear on LIVE and on LIVE’s website on or about the week of March 9, 2009. Viewers will have the chance to vote on-line for five (5) of the ten (10) semi-finalists. Only one (1) entry will be accepted per registered e-mail address. The Viewers will be told on air when the on-line voting will begin and end. The five (5) finalists receiving the most individual votes will be invited to appear on the program."

I still think it's a long shot that we'll hear back but I'll keep you all posted either on Facebook, by email, or on this thing. I think they said that they'll start notifying the contestants by about March 2. We'll see what happens. If we do get lucky and are picked I'll need ALL of your help again spreading the word about voting. We'll see how it goes... I think it would be a blast!!!

Thanks again for all of your help!!! Keep you fingers crossed!!!!

- Cheris

I need your help!!!!

So I'm going to be putting Riann in the "Regis and Kelly Live" cutest baby contest. I've been waiting to do this for about a year now. She was too young to enter last year. We have to put in her entry my 5 pm Friday and I need help. I've think it would be really cool to do because well.... like most mothers I think I have the most BEAUTIFUL baby in the world AND the grand prize is the chance to appear on the cover of Parenting Early Years & win $125,000 towards a college scholarship. The runner up prizes are an additional $100,000 will be divided amongst the 4 runners-up, to be used toward a college education, And, all 10 of the semi-finalists will be awarded a year's supply of Gerber products. Can't say and of that wouldn't help. I know it's a long shot because there are going to be SOOOO many babies but I want to give it a try. It never hurts to put in the effort right?!

So here's the delema... I don't know what photo to submit. The rules are that the photo has to be taken with in the last month and must not be from a professional. That kind of limits us to photos because we haven't taken many since we've been home from our trip to WA for Christmas. We REALLY want to showcase Riann's eyes but once again that limits the pictures we can use. I was hoping if I put a few that we are thinking about on here you guys can tell us which you like best... so here it goes.

Let me know!!!

Picture #1:

Picture #2:

Picture #3:

Picture #4:

Picture #6:

Picture #7:

Picture #8:

Picture #9:

Changing my thoughts...

So a lot has been going on with life recently and I think I need to do a mental overhaul. There are many things I need to go over right now but I'm going to direct this post in one place. Recently life has been a little stressful and I've been caught up in that for quite a while. More recently a lot of talk has been going on about families I know and the troubles they are going through and it's really been effecting a lot of my thoughts and in reaction has been driving my mood towards myself and my own family. I want to take a minute and remind myself of the things I'm grateful for. I love my family so much and each moment I get to spend with them is priceless. I was reminded of that this Christmas when I got 2 wonderful weeks without work to worry about and it really changed my perspective on things. However, when I got back to work it seemed like that new perspective was attacked harder than ever before and I just need to take a minute to reflect on what is truly important in my life.

As you all know I love my daughter. She is in just about ever post I write and so I'm going to just simply say I'm soooo VERY grateful she's here with us and has taught us that there's so much more to life than I could ever have imagined. She's beautiful inside and out, even on her worst days. I've learned so much from her already and I'm prepared to be amazed as the years a head quickly make their way towards us. She is already growing up too fast and it kills and excited me each and every day. 

The main focus of this post now is going to be my husband. I've been struggling lately as I've listened to some of the women I work with talk about their husbands. It's been over a LARGE amount of  time so no, most of this isn't just coming up in the last couple of weeks. It's really been over the 2 years that I've been with this company and have really started developing relationships with other people who are in similar places in life. There is a wide spectrum of women where I work and I can say that we are all good friends. Most are married although some are not either because they haven't found the right one or the one they found didn't 

"stick" for many various reasons. I'm slowing learning many lessons from each of these women every single day. 

Some of the lessons I've learned include things that we have all been told. Things that we've been taught from the very beginning about the relationship between husband and wife and I'm constantly realizing how hard Satan is working to destroy that. Even in the most perfect marriage you will never be immune to the things people say around you. 

The biggest thing that is effecting me right now is the lesson about complaining about your spouse. Unfortunately (wink, wink) Paul gives me less to complain about than I'm sure I give him so I don't feel like I participate in many of the discussions I've heard because I often don't have a reason to, but I am understanding a little more every day that there is so much more to always speaking highly of your spouse in public. I often listen to some of these wives who don't share the same values and beliefs as me and I hear their perspective on marriage and it sticks with me. Not that anyone ever shares more than is appropriate in a work setting but when I hear things that aren't always positive, regardless of wither or not it's about a person or a situation, its hard to forget what's been said and often I find myself evaluating situations, relationships, and decisions in my life that are important against these negative attitudes and it really been changes my perception of truth. I think that's where Satan has his deepest grasp on the citizen's of this world and why it's so easy for so many people to worked up over things that should be relatively easy and peaceful. 

I feel that I need to openly thank my husband for the support he is to me and how much he's done to direct my life in ways that are good and honest. Paul is one of the hardest working individuals I know. I often feel bad because I feel like I keep him back from accomplishing some of the things he really wants to get done because I want to do nothing else but spend time with him. I know when he really got the time to work on our new business and started working out of the house I hindered a lot of what he would have been able to do with it because I was so excited to have him home from work and there to talk to and I didn't want him to sit in the office working on things that weren't with me. 

Paul inspires me. He's driven. He's strong. He's smart. He's patient. I'll be the first to admit it but I have a HUGE fear of commitment. I feel this is part of the reason these conversations effect me so much. I fear long term situations and I often get ancy when I think of having to plan something for the future that is solid. If I can't see a variable for change I will make one or not participate. When it comes to Paul a lot, if not all, of that goes away. I do not fear forever or eternity and often find peace in the prospect that it doesn't matter if I did. I know we all have to find our occasional reminders on love or reassurance, it comes with the world we live in. Lately I think I've asked Paul to give me a little more than normal and he does. We are still working hard on finding our best communication but we're working. We're enjoying time together and we're finding out more about ourselves and each other on the way. I believe life is a constant struggle to improve. Often the direction is a little hard to find but if you rely on the ones you love and ask for the Lords guidance you'll never have to worry taking the wrong path. 

Communication is at the key of every relationship. Wither it's just a casual discussion among coworker or a serious heartfelt conversation between family members or friends it is important that it stay as positive as possible. You never know what those around you might be going through and how they might be reflecting on your words when they compare your incite to their own situation. I know that Bambi's "golden rule" is often hard to follow but if we all work a little harder each day, maybe we can change the mood of our life and the lives around us.   

I dearly love my husband and the blessing that it has been to have him in my life. I am strengthened by his ability to accomplish each and every single day. I often feel as though I am lacking but I know I can improve and that I have LOTS of time to do it. I pray that I can heed my own advice and work harder to keep a positive out look more often in life. One day these many of these lessons I'm learning will stick. I have a hard head to get through sometimes so I have a feeling the Lord will be working on me for a while.... I guess eternity is the perfect amount of time for then isn't it?! I guess I'll have to commit to working on it sooner or later... Maybe now is a good time.