Survival Fitness Bootcamp final session for 2012......

 Boot Camp 6pm Class

Kelly Nystrom, Sarah Vodenik, (Instructor) Michelle Kelly, Jaime Tullis, Stacy Askelson, Tracie Adams & Carla Houston

Jess Horst & Tina Prouty not pictured.

This is my bootcamp class.  We started together at the very beginning of February and have continued each session of camp together for the entire year.  We have all come very far over this year.  We have all lost weight, gained muscle, have become toned and overall have become healthy.

Most of all we have formed a friendship that is unmeasurable.  Last year I never thought I would make so many new friends and become so close.  I have lost close to 40 pounds since February and many many inches.  These girls have been there for me through it all.  They are very supportive through out all of RJ's medical problems and everything this year.  I want them to know how much they mean to me.  They truly are another family that I am apart of and are much like my own sisters.  Each one of them has pushed me in one way or another beyond my comfort zone and made me want to be better and really have helped me understand just how strong I am.  Although my success is my hardwork and dedication I owe a big part of it to them.  Without them I wouldn't be where I am today, or doing the crazy things we have done together.

I truly Love each one of them, so THANK YOU PEEPS..........

Oh and I finished my final time at 23:02..........     

Boone's Biggest Loser Season #3 Finale..........

BOOTCAMP BABES

Sarah (me!) , Jenny Wright & Stacy Askelson

This season of the Boone's Biggest Loser #3 turned out great.  The picture above is from our finale.  Our team took 3rd place overall, and Jenny took individual 3rd place!  I ended up with an overall weight loss over the last 10 weeks of 8 pounds.  Although I really wanted more I am pleased with the outcome.  It's 8 pounds less than where I was 10 weeks ago, so it is what it is. I couldn't ask for better teammates than I had.  We pushed each other every week to do more and get healthy.  We are all members of Survival Fitness boot camp so we all worked out at least 3 times a week and then tried to get a workout in on the weekends with each other.  We had an amazing season, way to go Bootcamp Babes!

Friday nights at bootcamp.........

So every Friday night for bootcamp we are tested on some sort of running/excercise.  It just so happens that for this session of camp we are being tested on how fast we can complete the following:

75 push-ups, 50 squats, 75 sit-ups, 50 burpees, 100 mountain climbers, 100 skips with a rope and then run 1.3 miles.... in that order...
I missed the first Friday, but the next two I finished in 28:55, then 28:44.  This past Friday I pushed really hard and completed this task in 24:37!!!!!!!!!!!  It was a huge accomplishment for me. 
The other girls in my class have done amazing as well.  Most of them do better than me, but we all push eachother to do our best and to try and beat our times.  Wednesday will be our last day of bootcamp for the year.

Gracie Jane turns 4years old..........

 Gracie (4) & Lucie(2 3/4)

 Gracie and I at her birthday party!

 Her castle cake

 Mom, Gracie & Dad

 Posing at her bday party, Alex, Gracie & Lucie

 Vodenik Family at Gracie's 4th birthday party!

 Gracie, Lucie and their best friends Ellie & Neve Larson!

Aunt Christy and Gracie!

Happy birthday to my baby girl Gracie Jane.  These past 4 years have flown by so fast, but I have cherished every single moment of them.  You are becoming such a wonderful young lady and I am proud to be your Mom.  You are beautiful beyond measure and have such a wonderful personality.  Right now you love being a princess and dressing up more than anything.  Your 4 year check up went great, you weigh 34 pounds, and have grown 3 inches in the past year.  You are very particular about fixing your hair and we just got your ears pierced for your birthday.  You did a fantastic job and didn't even cry one bit!

Daddy and I love you so much and couldn't ask for a more perfect daughter!!

Happy Birthday to me.........

My 34th birthday was this past Friday November 2nd.  While I don't feel like I am 34 it is nice to know that I am evolving into the next phase of my life very well I think.  Over this past year I have become more in touch with how strong of a person I really am.  I have done things I never thought I was capable of doing and performing at a level of athleticism that I used to have when I was much younger.  I feel very alive if you wish.  I have lost just shy of 40 lbs since February.  I feel amazing and so much healthier. 
We celebrated by going to Spaghetti Works with our family (adults only) that night and then went to Prairie Meadows for a couple of hours.  I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.  RJ surprised me with an amazing "shadow box" but much bigger of all of my 5k races I have done this year.  Best thing ever, hands down.  It was a great birthday, but I have to say that my most favorite thing was that Alex called me on his way home from school to wish me a happy birthday, he hasn't done that since he moved to his Mom's and it meant the most to hear from him and that he remembered me. 

Pufferbilly 2012...........

 Pufferbilly Day Parade 2012

We had a great time at the parade. Alex brought his girlfriend Corinne (left side of picture) with and it was a ton of fun.  I love parades and the girls do to.  Alex is getting a little too old for them so I enjoyed the fact that he sat through the parade for a bit with us ! 

My 4 best girlfriends in the world talked me into going up town to the beer tent for a little bit with them Saturday night.  While I don't drink it was fun to sit and visit with them.  We take advantage of any time we are all together for a photo-op!

We also had a picnic on Sunday at McHose Park with most of our children! Kari wasn't able to attend, but the kids had a blast.  All of the kids are here except Alex, he had already left to ride his moped around the park, lol.  

All in all, it was a great weekend, filled with fun and laughter. 

5 on Friday............

1.  We started really working with Gracie on writing her name and with recognizing her letters and numbers.

2.  I have had 2 MAJOR workouts this week at bootcamp and they have kicked my butt.  Tonight I run the ledges again for our "timed run".  Last time I ran it in 22 minutes, 25 seconds.  Wish me luck.

3.  RJ has been feeling amazing the past 2 weeks and we are getting excited about the possibility in a few months of returning to working!  He is coming up on almost 3 months of being seizure free, now we are just tweeking the medication to limit the side effects.

4.  My Mom is taking on a new job for the next couple of months until RJ can work again.  This will relieve us of a little financial burden and help us out.  My Mom is always helping everyone else, I love her so much.

5.  We celebrated my Mom's 55th birthday this week in Ames at Valentino's.  We had such a good time and the card I got her made her tear up a bit, it was awesome.  I love my Mom more than anything and I don't know what we would do without her.  Over the past year she has been there to help RJ and I with the girls everyday and has helped us move on top of it.  She stays late when we need her to and she watches the girls for the Friday night football games for us.  We are going to miss seeing her everyday until RJ goes back to work.  Love you Mom!!