Patience is not my strong point.

I've been dreaming about running. In my dream I can run far and fast and it feels wonderful. When I wake up I remember that I can't and it sucks. I hurt my knees in June. It's IBTS or runner's knee. I've kept off the running, I've been to the doctor, but I really haven't done much to prevent the problem coming back.

I've been planning to run Wharf to Wharf since March when I started running. It was a goal to show myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. The running has not only helped me to lose 40 pounds, but the mental health has been unbelievable! When I had to stop running, my motivation for any exercise kind of went out the door. I didn't know what to do or where to start. I did some walking, but just didn't get the rush or the accomplished feeling that I get after a run.

Anyway, I was planning on walking the Wharf to Wharf with some other ladies that were walking too. At the start of the race we had to jog, just a little to kind of filter everyone out... It was like giving a junky crack, I couldn't stop running. It felt SO wonderful! I told the other ladies that I was just going to run for a few minutes and then fall back on the right and walk again until we caught up to each other. I'm so impatient. I couldn't help myself and ran the first mile.

The running felt so great that at first I thought that I might be able to run the whole race, but by about .75 miles I could feel my knees. I got to the first mile marker and knew I had to start walking. I kept a fast walk, but by the end of the 2nd mile my knees actually hurt and the limp started. I had to limp out the rest of the 4 miles. I was so disappointed, so frustrated, and so embarrassed with myself for not just walking the whole thing.

I spent the rest of the day in a kind of haze. My husband and I were sitting in a restaurant on the water, eating fish tacos, great weather, and I was just blahhh. I couldn't shake the upset all day.

Today, I feel the motivation to call personal trainer and get my knees back in shape. I don't ever want to be in this position again. Obviously, just staying off the knees isn't going to make it better and I need to figure out what I'm going to do to keep myself from getting fat and crazy again! Today I'm really going to start healing. :)

Our new walk in closet!

We bought our dream home a year ago this last July and we have loved it! However, there are a few improvements to be made here and there. A big one was our master bedroom closet. It only held Bobby's clothes and I kept my clothes in the walk in closet downstairs. This week Bobby decided it was time to move me back in!

This was the closet before.

You can see into Ellis' room from our room. Her closet backed up to ours.

Here are Bobby and Grandpa Knotts tearing down the walls between the two rooms. (The fun part!)

I don't think Ellis quite knows what's going here.

Chandler and Uncle Bryce were a huge help!

Here, they have framed in the new wall in our room.

Grandpa is teaching Chandler how to use a drill. They are making Ellis a new closet.

A new wall in the back of the closet and in Ellis' room. We still have to texture and paint it.

Ellis' closet has dry wall, almost done!

Oh how I love to go camping!

Our favourite place to camp is Shirttail Creek at the Sugar Pine Reservoir. It's just past Foresthill, so it's not very far from our house! The campsites are clean and beautiful. The lake is clear and warm with a small island you can walk out to. We enjoy taking small hikes, swimming, making campfires, and sleeping in our tent. Here are a few pictures from our last adventure!

This is our campsite. It's double size, so enough to fit two families.

Ellis and Rowan would carry their chairs up the stairs to where the car was parked and sit up there. They had so much fun playing in the dirt and swimming!

Grandpa and Grandma Knotts were able to join us this weekend and were a lot of help with the kids!

Grandma and Chandler getting ready to make S'mores!

We may have got a little carried away with the fire on the first night!

Chandler and his S'more.

They like to keep me chained to the stove! LOL

The moon over the lake, so beautiful!

Our backyard in the summer.

We love our new house so much and thought I would post a few pictures to show a little of what life is like for us in our backyard during the summer!

The chickens are always looking for a cool place to relax and roam around the backyard. They are so fun to watch!

You can also usually find Ellis and Rowan lounging around or playing with the tractors. Here are a few shots of Ellis playing in the trailer.

At the end of July the blackberries are ripe and ready to be picked! Bobby picks them and I make the pies and jam!

We are also growing our first garden, very trail and error at this stage!

My green cherry tomatoes.

Zucchini

Romain, Bibb, and some other kind of lettuce.

Onions that I planted too close together and chives.

This is my herb garden. We have sage, thyme, stevia, italian oregano, flat and curly parsley, dill and a patch of celery behind all of it.

Here we have some lilies and daisys to coax the bees and such over.

This shows a view of the coop, fire circle, and barked area and where they kids like to play with the tractors! We have so much fun out here! :D

A night at the State Fair

It's California State Fair time again! Yummy food, fun exhibits, lots and animals and rides. We had a wonderful time!

A picture with the gold bear is always a must!

Ellis, the tomato! This year at the fair we ate chocolate covered bacon, fried artichoke hearts, and brick of  french fries, and funnel cakes!!!

We went through Smokey the Bear's fire safety classes and puppet show. We all got cool bandanas at the end!

We were given enough free tickets for rides at the fair that we were in the midway for over 2 hours!

Me at work! :D

In May I took a small job at Winchester Country Club just bartending in the Grill for all the golfers that come in. Today I got to go out and learn how to work the snack cart on the course. It was a lot of fun with beautiful views!

Me and my friend, Sara getting ready to go out on the course.

A view of the club from the course.

View of the 15th hole.

Wildlife and gorgeous views!