March madness

Have been behind on my blogging.  I hate when that happens.  It's so hard trying to remember everything that happened.  I must say that March was a very busy crazy emotional month, hence the title march madness.  Now I'm trying to catch up on everything.  I can't seem to prioritize my time to actually catch up.  It's very frustrating!

So the end of February my Sister Kate called and told me that they were moving.  It was hard to take that kind of news.  They were going to move to Washington State.  My Brother in-law got a job teaching inmates at the Caunell Prison how to fix cars.  I knew deep down that this was the best thing for their family.  They have been struggling so hard trying to survive.  I have been having lot's of regret that I haven't gone to see them more often. They lived about an hr. away, and it was just hard to find the time.  Now that they have moved it's like 13 hrs away instead of just 1.  I love my Sister, and I always feel uplifted after I spend time with her.  It makes me cry.

I spent a lot of March going out and helping her pack.  The house they bought is a log cabin.  When they bought it the whole house and yard and everything needed so much work.  It makes me sad for them because they have put so much work and money and time into making it look nice, and now they have to leave.  They are so upside down on their home that they won't be able to sell it.  Luckily Justin's Sister is going to rent it.  Hopefully she might eventually buy it.  She wanted the house before Kate and Justin bought it.  I pray that it all works out.

We packed up everything that they would not be taking with them and moved it to the attic above their garage.  Justin and Kate are really into food storage.  They had tons of the 5 lb. buckets filled with with wheat, rice, rolled oats, and beans.  I must have carried 35 of them from their basement to outside.  From there my nephew Jack who is 11 helped me carry them up to their attic.  It was exhausting!  I'm so thankful that their was some beans and oats to give us a little break.  Then I helped move a bunch of other boxes outside as well.  Kate couldn't carry and go up and down stairs because she had just had major knee surgery.

We wanted to get together with everyone before they moved.  Luckily Chris, Sarah, and the kiddos were in town for spring break.  My Mom wanted to take us all to see a movie.  We were bummed when Kate said they wouldn't be able to come because they still had so much to do.  They would be moving a few days later.  Then I talked to my Mom and we worked it out with Kate and came and got her 2 youngest Ruby and Sophie.  We took them for a couple of days.  On a Thursday we went and saw the Lorax, very cute movie.  Had dinner together, chatted, and then we went home.  Friday Chris, Sarah, Gabe, McKell, and my Mom went skiing.  I watched Chris and Sarah's youngest Trace, and of course Ruby and Sophie.  We got together afterwards for yummy dinner, and had some more fun.  We spent the night at my mom's.  In the morning Sarah and I went and did a Zumba class.  I think it will be a tradition to go and zumba every time they come.  We have a blast!

Late we went to a cool castle park and let the kiddos play, and then went back to my mom's house for one last get together with Kate and their family.  Since everyone happened to be in town Kate, Justin, Kaleb, and Dalice spent the night at our house.  They had to leave really early in the morning to make it to their ward to say goodbye.  Chris and Sarah also left early that morning to go back to New Mexico.  It was an emotional day.  I felt like I was living in flashback mode for most of the week.  I hate saying goodbye, it sucks.  I wish that we would have gotten some pictures with each other before they left, but things were to crazy to even think about it.

I also helped another friend of mine move in March.  It was Madisynn's best friend from school.  They were given about 10 days to get out of the house they were renting because the landowner upped the price.  They couldn't afford to stay.  The whole situation ticked me off.  They were going to be moving 2hrs. away.  Major bummer.  Maddie and Kimmie had lot's of play dates while Jenna and Kay packed.  I helped get them boxes, and helped them try and move on the day they were leaving.  They had some issues with not having enough room and trying to decide what to do.  What a stressful time, sheesh!  They got it all worked out in the end and made it safely.  Maddie and Kimmie miss each other like crazy.  I miss all of them too.  It totally stinks that just when I was starting to get to know them better they have to leave.  It stinks cause it's maddie's other half, they were stuck to each other like glue.  We're trying to stay in touch, very hard when life gets in the way.  Hopefully they can move back soon!

Maddie & Kimmie:

Kenzie, Maddie, Kimmie, & Gage Kimmie's little brother:

The beginning of the month I started some challenges that would go through the whole month of March.
Challenge 1- Push ups
Challenge 2- Sit Ups
Challenge 3- Side Plank, Crunches, Push ups
Challenge 4- Daily workout challenges

When I first started I thought piece of cake, and then 2 1/2 weeks into the challenge it started getting hard.  The push ups challenge was insane.  I was only able to do 55 push ups in a row.  Yes 55, and no they weren't push ups on my knees.  Push ups from my feet and bending my arms to a 90 degree angle.  I wish I could have done the 170 or the 80 by the end of the month, but I will take the 55.  Totally awesome for me!  The Sit ups Challenge I knew I could do.  I'm not going to do 200 sit ups any time soon, my back was hurting by the end.  The side plank, crunches, and push ups almost did me in as well.  I was able to do every single rep every day.  Those side planks are almost worse than the push ups by the end.60 side planks on each side is killer!  The Daily workout challenges weren't a big deal for me.  The hardest challenge were the Burpees.  I hate burpees.  I'm so glad these challenges are done, and that I was able to follow through.  I wanted to give up, but that's not in my nature.  If I ever do this again, I won't do them all at once.  I was so exhausted.

I also was able to do a bunch of work for my Mom's work.  So nice to have that connection to have some side work.  We were doing a few different jobs at the same time.  We were putting bars of soap into little soap boxes that we had to assemble.  Then put a glue dot on the back of them, and then stick them to a  thank you card.  Then box them up.  Another job we were doing was taking face plates of a security camera and screwing new ones back on.  Then the last job was taking these cameras and putting wires onto them.  It was very hands on complicated job.  I couldn't have done it without Matt's help.  We did 3 pallets worth,(12 boxes on each pallet with 10 individual boxes of cameras) Each Pallet was worth about $430.  Both Matt and I were totally worn out by the 3rd pallet.  I wish we could have gotten one more done, but I wanted to have fun with my family before both Kate and Chris left.  So we turned down the 4rh pallet, and were able to enjoy time with the family.

March was madness, and I'm glad it's over! I was happy that I was busy, and able to help to others.  The month just about did me in.  I thought things would calm down in April, but so far April  has been just as crazy.  I'll update you soon.