it's official...

UPDATE!
Now we find out we owe THREE times more than we thought we did....!


we OWE on our taxes! Just when I thought we'd be able to pull ahead now another set back. Greattttt

Class # 3... ZUMBA!

Zumba... Defination: fitness program inspired by Latin dance. Spanish slang for "to move fast and have fun"

Boy was this a WORKOUT! Honestly I had a very hard time keeping up. You are kind of expected to already know what you are doing. I wish I could take a beginners Zumba class, but that is only offered on Friday mornings, which I can't so because of work.
I think I will go back! Where else can you do the "Soulja Boy" and the Beyonce "booty shake" to Latin music by Pitbull?!?

I saw the Pump and Jam class going on and I just don't think that it is for me! I had every intention of working that into my workout plan, but I don't think so. I am happy with my plan!
My plan is Monday: Aqua Aerobics, Tuesday: Yoga, Wednesday: Zumba, Thursday: Yoga and then weights etc. in the main gym on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday which ever of the three fit my schedule that week!

Four Years!

It's hard to believe that Alex and I have only been together for four years. It seems like forever and I can honestly say that I do not remember life before him. I thought I would take a little time to blog and reflect on the past four years of "us"...

January 13, 2006... My 21st birthday- and we meet! He was invited to my birthday party by a friend of mine. I didn't know him, but I knew he was loud... and slightly crude, but totally funny! We didn't talk at all that night other than a "hi" and "bye."

January 18, 2006... While being left without a dinner date I decide to wander around Fred Meyer to kill some time (what else do you do in Ellensburg, right?) Alex yells my name and we start to talk... I can't believe he remembered it. Next agenda... go home and look this guy up on Facebook and Myspace!

January 26, 2006... Our first date. He was SUPER gentleman like. We went to a little Mexican restaurant and then rented a movie and watched it at my dorm.

February 4, 2006... We make it official! Kristina Williams + Alex Schiltz = <3

February 14, 2006... He told me that he loved me. WHOA.....

Summer of 2006...


Fall of 2006...

Battle in Seattle. I could have never guessed that one year TO THE DAY in this exact spot this picture was taken he would propose!

June 2007...

Alex GRADUATES!

August 2007...

Celebratin' Graduatin'

October 20, 2007...


March 2008...

I Graduate!

July 2008...

We Signed a Lease! A first of our very own...

Our First Boy- SIMON!

August 3, 2008....

"I DO"

A Hawaiian Honeymoon

Christmas 2008...


March 2009...

Our First Home

August 2009...

Happy ONE Year in Lovely Las Vegas


August 18, 2009...

Our new baby... Ryder

2010...



Four years...
Two Graduations...
One Wedding
One Honeymoon
Two Puppies...
One New House...
Many Vacations....
I can't wait to see what the next Four years will bring us!

Class Number 2... YOGA!

Okay... so I know I said I was going to try "Pump and Jam" tonight, but the fact is, with my schedule it just didn't work out. By the time I get off work, go run a few errands, come home, take care of the dogs...mail... etc. it would be time to jet out the door to get to my 5:00 PM class. So today I decided that I would try YOGA! Now I have done yoga before, many times actually. I took a few yoga classes at Central. I loved how there were so little people there tonight (10 max- evenly spread between men and women of all ages and fitness levels.) The room was warm and dark with super soothing music. I liked it. I don't feel like I got a good workout in though ... :/
I don't know enough about yoga to know if I'm suppose to really "feel" it or not, it's been so long since I have done it. Regardless it got me out of the house for an hour and a half tonight! I am realizing that: I have horrible balance, I don't keep good posture while working out, and I don't freaking BREATHE while I do it. I hold my breath... who does that?!? Well, me apparently.
Tomorrow night it's on to ZUMBA!

Aqua Aerobics

Tonight I tried a new class at the gym... I did aqua aerobics! I went into this thinking it was going to be me and a bunch of old ladies with goggles and swim caps. Welllll.... there was a bunch of old ladies, but NO goggles OR swim caps! ;o)
There were about 7 of us there. Besides one girl who was in her late teens I was the youngest by 20 years or so! I cannot believe how great of a workout aqua aerobics was. I went to a 60 minute class and I was pushed to my limit the whole time and it felt great! I'm defiantly going back next Monday!

Tuesday I'm trying Pump and Jam class! I'll let you know how it goes!

I'm excited.... AND down 9 lbs since January 1st!

New Hiding Spot....

That's right... in the shower. He naps there too these days! Not to mention I have to shut the bathroom door when I take a bath now because he will jump in the tub with me. Ahhhhh life with a 6 month old puppy.

AMEN!

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right. You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

Maybe the best gift of all...

My husband gave me BEAUTIFUL earrings, but this may be the most wonderful gift of all!

I came home from work to a perfectly clean house and Alex laid out his clothes (which I like so much better than my own because they are so warm and comfy) for me to wear. I had a night free from worry and housework!

I just love him!

It's My Birfday!

I really feel like I am getting old... more so than any birthday thus far in life.
Yikes!

Thank you to all who sent birthday wishes! :o)
I love you guys

Why I Love My Job!

I was a little bummed that I would be spending my birthday alone today. :o(
I was working my normal 8am-3pm and Alex was working 3pm-12am, so I was a little sad about not seeing him or doing anything fun , but....
work today was great!

The kids brought cards this morning, brought gifts, and sang to me! It was so wonderful. :o) I had such a great day with them today!
I just thought I would share!

Happy EARLY Birthday to ME!

My mom and sister, Katie came to Vancouver (dad had to work) on Sunday to celebrate my birthday with me a few days early. I got a bunch of really cool gifts, but two (so far) are my most favorites!

I got a bread machine! Alex and I loooooove bread way more than we should, so this is going to be our down fall!

I can watch it cook!

My first loaf! (Italian Heb Bread)


and another birthday gift.......

(Anddddd the picture doesn't do them ANY justice- they are beautiful!)
This time from my husband!
I wanted a pair of small earrings to wear in my top 3rd earring hole. Yes, they are small haha just what I wanted! :o) He wasn't suppose to spend a small fortune on them, but he did. Go figure...
These, of course, came from Alex's dad's new jewerly store. If you need beautiful diamonds go to Rand Jeweler in downtown Vancouver. :o) And tell 'em I sent you of course! ;o)

Sleepy Brothers

Enough to Make a Mommy Cry

just a few short months ago....

today...

where does the time go?

6 Months and 55 Pounds!

What 2010 Will Bring Me...

I be up in the gym, just working on my fitness

Okay so those are Fergie's Fergalicious lyrics, but it's what I've been up too!

Alex and I joined Oxford Athletic Club. There is a special rate and offer right now for employees of the Vancouver School District! All sign up fees were waved and our monthly dues are only $38 a month for BOTH of us! Not only do we have full use of the gym, but also all classes, the pool and spa area. I have a personal trainer for a little while for free and after that it's pretty spendy, so I'll go just on my own from there. I am going to start ZUMBA classes and Turbo Jam classes! :o) I really enjoy that the men's workout ares and the women's area are separate. Couples can workout together during special hours on the men's side only. I enjoy working out with ladies and only ladies! Hopefully I'll be able to whip my butt back into better shapeeeee!

Cheaper than a Payment? Right?

Sooooo after the water heater went out and we had vet bills right before Christmas, now that Christmas is over we have a car repair. It's funny how big repairs all seem to happen at or around the same time. Today we dropped off Alex's truck to get two small (or so we thought) things fixed. Now those two things turned into 4 things costing $1,500. That won't actually fix everything, if we wanted to fix everything it would be five things costing more like $2,100 which its just too much right now. I HATE spending money of stuff like this. Anyone that knows me knows that I do my fair share of shopping, but I think I am probably one of the most thrifty spenders I know. I have been called cheap... frugal... thrifty and a ton of other names and while I used to get offended by the terms when I was a younger. :o) I was the kid who always have a ton of money in the bank and stashed all over my room. I would save and save and save and if there was some I really wanted I would get it. It's just how I've always been. I am the same way now. Yes, I have a fancy purse and a few items around my house that are spendy, but you better believe I budgeted and saved for those items for a long time. No impulse buying for me. I'm a planner.
Now that I am totally off topic....
I'm try to tell myself that a $1,500 repair bill now is cheaper than having a truck payment every month. True right? Neither Alex nor I have car payments. In fact, other than our mortgage we live completely debt free. We are good savers and defiantly do splurge from time to time on certain things, but we always live within our means. It's hard having to pay out such a large sum of money, but doing this once is cheaper than a payment every month. Sigh....
Anyway this blog is pointless to all of you, but is helping me vent.

My Life

New Years in Leavenworth

Alex and I decided that this year we wanted to do something special for New Years. We originally thought that going to Las Vegas would be wonderful, but it just proved to be way too expensive. So what better than a true winter trip to a cute little town in the mountains?!? So Leavenworth it was... We booked the best room we could. We didn't settle on Leavenworth until November, so it was slim pickings for a room, but we're happy with what we had. We left on December 30. First, we dropped off Simon to Alex's mom and then we stopped in Tacoma to drop Ryder off to my family. We arrived about 2pm on the 30th and left town about noon on January 1, 2010. It was pretty cold, but it was BEAUTIFUL- it snowed the entire time!

{Our BEAUTIFUL drive}

{Our Suite}



{Our View}

{Beautiful Leavenworth by night in December}



{Beautiful Leavenworth by day in December}



{♥ December 30, 2009 ♥}

{Sleigh Ride December 31, 2009}



{SNOW!}

{Happy New Year}