I'm afraid that my husband is being influenced by the creative inspiration of local artists. Little did I know that Washington is a mecca for artisian genius. Rob came home tonight and told me he was considering buying me a new pair of designer jeans, called "Winkers". He said they'd look great on me. I hope you don't mind my being a little cheeky here. What was he thinking? SERIOUSLY? What in the world is the artist thinking?
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
I got an e-mail from a friend today and he was kind enough to share with me this Video. Thanks for thinking of me Brent...
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
This was long over due! The kid is almost 12 years old and we hadn't been able to participate in a camp-out for Scouts. He has two more to go before his birthday in November. Talk about doing things at the last minute. Anyhow, he had a great time and he ate stinging nettle...I know crazy!! The funny thing is that he happened to get a sore throat after eating it and then this morning at 3:30am he woke up because he was having a hard time breathing. I really thought he was having an allergic reaction to the stinging nettle, but the more I listened to his symptoms the more I leaned towards him experiencing a minor case of the "croup". So, rob and I researched on the internet some home remedies and applied them. After some praying and finally some sleep, he woke up feeling better. I love the power of prayer and the much good information we can find on the internet.
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
1 comments
How do I do it? How do I run these many miles? Well, it is called the support and love of a husband and kids. Today proved it. Rob surprised me by waking up early with me and informing me that he was going to help me do my long run today. He helped me gather all the stuff I was going to need to refuel (bananas, power energy bars, gum, and water) and put in our mailbox, as well as water and T.P to bring along in a back-pack that he would carry while he rode his bike.
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
I am trying to decide whether I want to do several entries or just make this one it. We have had a very busy week. We visited our friends the Kopelowitz in Camano Island again, then we picked up my sister Frandi and her Husband Weston in Seattle, Rob had his 36th Birthday, we went to the Lynden Fair, played at the Lake, I ran my first 16.5 miles ever, went to Larrabee Park and camped for three days, went back to Seattle to drop off my sister and hubby at the airport and then we went to visit the Seattle Temple grounds. I feel Like I am missing something. I think I will just make one entry out of this and try my best to let you know about each one of our fun activities. No chronological order: The Kopelowitz~ we went swimming at their community pool and had a blast. It is always such a delight to visit with them. Frandi and Weston visit us for a week~ we tried to do so much with my sister and her husband. This was the highlight of the kids Summer, seriously, they just adore their Aunt and Uncle: 1. Celebrated Rob's 36th b-day~ made him his favorite breakfast "Biscuits and Gravy". He got his first pairs of ankle-socks (he can leave mine alone now) and a new pair of running shoes (I got for $20.00). 2. We went to the Lynden Fair and had a wonderful time. 3. There was a lot of Lake playing and the boys built their own crawdad trap...they caught so many every day. The trap works!! I didn't know we had crawdads in the Lake. We ate them as well, they were yummy! 4. Camped at our local Larrabee State Park for three days. We hiked and played by the beach. We roasted marshmallows and told spooky stories. Rob cooked his first batch of Dutch Oven potatoes with onions and bacon, yummy! Good job Rob! At night we struggled to get enough sleep because the train went by about twice in the middle of the night and then very early in the morning, Sophia woke up the second night and screamed "It is too loud!" Poor girl, she did go back to sleep. But, overall we had a good time. We made a lot of fun discoveries, enjoyed watching a sunset and loved seeing signs of Fall. This has become our family tradition "to go camping every August". It is so much fun! Oh, we tried out our new 9-man Tent and loved it!!! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Tobler for such a great gift! Went to Boomer's for Burgers and Ice Cream~ we love going to Boomer's when we can, especially when family or friends visit. We had such a great time together with trying to share a giant ice cream cone after our burgers. It was hilarious to watch. Thank you Aunt Frandi for being willing to share knowing that you would have to fight off my girls to get any for yourself! heeheeee! Back to Seattle to the airport and then visited the Temple grounds~ We barely got my sister and her hubby at the airport on time. They miraculously made their flight and are safely back home! We then made a stop at the Seattle Temple and walked around the Temple grounds with the kids. We had a chance to come into the front desk and chatted with the Brethren there. James is really excited and can't wait to turn 12 this November and then come visit the Temple again to do Baptisms for the Dead! I ran my first 16.5 miles ever~ it was very hard and I was feeling some different aches and pains. But I managed to run the whole thing in less than 3.5 hours. I literally took my time and Rob and the kids left me food and water in our mailbox, so when I ran by it, I had something to refuel with. I ran my trail 2.5 times. That was very challenging. But, I am still motivated to run that Marathon this October 3rd in Leavenworth, WA. I believe I can be trained by then. So, I believe that sums up our week. I have tons and tons of pictures, but I am going to attempt to pick a few from each activity so that the slide show is not so long and you all can see what we got to do. Enjoy!!
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
2
comments
Ingredients:
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
My Mom and Little Sister Nelsy have been busily creating beautiful jewelry all Summer. They started an Etsy Store online and just participated in the 1st Annual Salt Lake City Film Festival this weekend, selling their unique handcrafted jewelry. I have personally benefited from my Sister and Mom's gorgeous creations and thought I would share their talent with you. If you love what you see and would like to purchase any jewelry from them check out her Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7093142 and also through their blog http://tortugasdesign.blogspot.com/. Mention my blog "toblerbunch" and you can get a 15% discount on your purchase.
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
Juliette never ceases to amaze me. Well all of my kids never do. But lately Juliette has been doing amazing things unexpectedly. She is much like me in the way that she doesn't like to be pushed by others to do things. She likes to learn how to do things gradually and then when she is really ready she just surprises the world. Last week was the bike thing (which she is loving life and cannot get enough biking time in a day). Then yesterday I asked her at Track N' Field if she wanted to try the one mile race. I have been asking her sweetly all Summer, and she would usually say "not today". Well she surprised me with a "sure Mommy" answer. Then she sweetly asked how she needed to breath for her long run. I thought that was very wise of her. So, I gave her some pointers and she left it at that.
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
This is an awesome talk I had to share. Click to watch the video on this website: Erin Maughan Be Still and Know God August 04, 2009 BYU Broadcasting Shared via AddThis
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
Never in my dreams did I imagine that I would be capable of running more than 6 miles in my life. Moving to the Pacific Northwest, specifically Bellingham, has been a source of motivation and inspiration for me. I started doing some running since I was 9 years old. I remember this 11 year old boy challenging me to sprint 100 meters with him and me thinking that I couldn't beat him. Well, to my surprise and his, I did. So he challenged me another three times, and I beat him every time. That was the start for me.
I didn't pursue it much, just did it on the side for fun with friends in school or in my neighborhoods. High School was different. I was picked out during P.E by the Track coach my Sophomore year and asked to run a lap. I ran so darn fast that I threw up after, but I made the team. I wasn't looking to be in the team, but I guess the coach thought otherwise. I am so glad he did! Long distance was not my favorite thing. I loved SPEED. I just loved that feeling of the wind and my feet flying as I sprinted towards the finish line. I did the 100, 200 meter dash, the 400 meter relay, the 100, 300 meter hurdles and some other stuff during Track N' Field season. During Cross country season I struggled to run passed 3 miles at first. It was not my forte. Sprinting was. Anyhow, I injured my back my Senior year. I herniated three discs on my spine (running the hurdles) and was not able to walk for three days. It was very painful.
After therapy I was recommended to never run again. I was heart broken, it was my Senior year. I really struggled for a while with that thought. But, eventually as you can see I got back into running. 6 Months after I was told not to run ever again, I was running 6 miles straight. I have kept running on and off through out the years, but never consistently like the last four. Moving here and having Sophia really inspired me.
I am also surrounded by wonderful proactive people that are very supportive and motivational to me, specifically my Husband. He has made it possible for me to make time to pursue my running. I am not a habit runner. I don't run more than three times a week and I don't have a strict regime or diet to follow. I just enjoy running and try to stay injury-free. I love finding races I can participate in and invite others to join me. I have a small running group that I enjoy twice a week and find very rewarding and inspiring. I love to run with these wonderful and amazing women.
After my miscarriages I decided to run Ragnar again and train for a Full marathon. After running our non-official Half-Marathon I felt encouraged. I have been increasing my mileage every two weeks. I have made sure that my knees and hips have not been a source of discomfort for me by making some changes to my running style. I have also become a slow-pace runner, no more of this SPEED stuff for me (although I do enjoy sprinting the last half to a quarter mile of my runs). I am getting too old for that...I am officially a long distance runner, which is what I hated being in High School. Go figure!?
Anyhow, yesterday, I completed running 15 miles straight in 2 hours 41 min. and 30 sec. I ran about 8.7 miles of it by myself and then joined my running group (friends) to finish the rest. Thank you girls and Rob for your support. I prayed that morning that I would run without difficulties or discomforts, that I would be inspired to do what I needed to do to finish my run injury-free, and I did. The only negative is that I ran out of UMPH, at about a mile to go I was out of energy. I had burned out my oatmeal and banana which I had for breakfast. I need to figure out better fuel on the go.
I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father to have blessed me with the ability to accomplish this. This is the most I have ever ran in my life. I am truly humbled! I have only five more miles to go to complete my training towards running a Full-Marathon (26.2) in December of this year. I am actually still surprised that I have made it this far. But, at ease knowing that all I have to do is pray and continue to do my part. The Lord knows that this is important to me and He is definitely involved in helping me attain this goal. The Human body is an amazing and divinely inspired piece of work!!!
P.S thank you Rob for all that you do to make it possible for me to run. Thank you to my friends and family for your support and encouragement. This is a big thing for me and having you all cheering me on is just wonderful. I never expected so much support. Thank you!
A couple of favorite quotes:
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
At the Tobler house we have these kids assigned to a daily chore, plus one or two extra on top of that one. Every day this Summer the kids have done a variety of chores and have mastered a few. These include cleaning toilets, scrubbing sinks, load of laundry, dusting, vaccuming, etc. On Saturdays they get three jobs on top of their regularly assigned job, and this Saturday was a joy for me. I saw these kids complete their chores without any distractions and they did a great job. We've been having issues with jobs half done and distractions, so we have been setting a Timer. Usually 45 minutes or less. They all did not want the timer this time. They promised they would do their jobs without problems. They did! James was done in no time, of course. Sophia didn't need my help at all. Eliza and Juliette stayed focused. Thank you kids! I truly appreciate your help.
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
For some time now Juliette has been wanting to learn how to ride the bike. At the beginning of the year Rob and I tried to teach her, but she just didn't seem ready yet. So we let it go and figured that the time would come. Well, today out of nowhere she got on her helmet and took her bike down the road. To our surprise she got on and paddled without any help. She finally got it! I think she surprised herself. She just kept squeeling with excitement and yelling that this was the "Best Day of Her Life". How many of us take for granted the uncomplicated things we learn every day in our lives? Here is the simple joy and happiness that lies in a child's life and a great lesson taught of how we should rejoice in all of our accomplishments. Whether they be big or small. We should be grateful that we were able to do it. Congratulations Juliette!
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
I am going to cram one week's worth of stuff all in one post. I think I can do it! Latest on our baby Chick "PeeWee", who is now 2 months old. She has been officially moved out. She is living with the nicer batch of hens and they seem to be getting along pretty well. You can tell that the older hens have let her know that she is at the bottom in the order of things. I watched how she was the last one to eat and drink the other day. PeeWee has to wait her turn. I took her out and held her for a while and talked to her. She seemed pretty happy to see me and very comfortable, still, to be held. She is looking beautiful, and her eyes are very green. So cute! We went to Boxx Berry Farm again this week, this time to pick Blueberries. They were just right and so sweet ! We got a ton and have been enjoying them to the fullest. We also went Blackberry picking right in our own backyard. Rob and I ended up picking the most since the bushes are filled with terrible thorns, not very fun for the kids. They are absolutely delicious this year. I still can't believe that we have this opportunity to pick berries in our own yard. I love the Pacific Northwest. Rob and James went Canoeing down the Nooksack River. It took them about 5 hours and had a wonderful time. James did fall in the water and said that it was a bit scary and cold, but that it was a good experience over all. Rob took his brother Matt about three years ago and was really wanting to share that experience with James. It really gave them some quality and quantity time, which is hard to come by with Rob's job. I was a bit nervous about it. But, I guess it is good practice for all that is to come in the future with scouting and other things. My little boy is growing up. Pretty scary! Rob joins the Facebook World. He has been reconnecting with old friends and reminiscing about the past (his High School days). It has been kind of interesting to see him get involved in searching for friends and then finding out what their lives are like today. He has experienced disappointment and sadness with some and others great joy. He is not sure he likes this Facebook thing yet, but he is sure putting time into it. I keep teasing him that I have more friends than he does...so I think he is determined to change that, heeeheeee! Funny guy! Our Dishwasher is out of commission this week. Rob is in the process of making it work again! James accidentally put liquid dish soap instead of dishwasher soap and made quite a mess of suds. It hasn't been doing very well for months, but I think this just might have made it worse. So we have turned to hand-washing our dishes. The kids at first were not too thrilled. I had to remind them that I grew up washing dishes by hand and that it wasn't so bad. Until, I had to wash dishes from the night before and the next morning (the first day the machine broke). It literally took me an hour. My back was hurting and my feet were a bit sore too. I must be getting old. Anyhow, the kids have actually enjoyed washing dishes by hand. It is fun to play with bubbles and get all wet. It has been good for us to live a little more humbly lately. There is a greater appreciation for many more things, like a functioning Dishwasher, in our lives. We do take so much for granted. It is also good to be reminded of how simple life really is and how we are the ones that make it complicated. The way we see things (our paradigm) makes all the difference. FHE- I woke up one morning this week and told Rob that we needed to spend a little more time teaching our kids with doctrine, about what we need them to learn most on, and make changes in. Well all of us need that. But, I felt inspired to have repeated lessons weekly until the kids (us) got it. Same message every week. We are not telling the kids, of course. This week we tackled "The way we talk to and about others". Basically to use kind words. "Angry, sarcastic words, derogatory names, or mean comments are very easy to say. But it is difficult and maybe impossible to fix the damage done by idle or angry words". Rob did a great job with visual aids and activities to get his point across. The kids had a fun time. He used lots of scriptures and pictures. He then talked about he Savior being the only one that can heal the wounds and talked about the marks in His hands, and how we leave marks on people with the words we use. It was really good! It was a good reminder for all of us to watch what we say more often and to speak of others as if they were right in front of us. He also talked about how "The way we talk about others says a lot more about ourselves than it says about those we are describing". Seriously it was a great lesson. Oh, at the end he gave the kids rubber bands to put on their wrists. They were to pull on it whenever they say a rude thing. The little quick pain was to remind them not to speak ill to or of others. Well, that lasted one day. They all lost them, and we seriously have no more. So, back to the same lesson this week. This will be interesting. Rob took the girls fishing down our creek. This was actually Eliza's choice for a Daddy/Daughter Date activity. She was hoping that it would be just her and Rob, but she kindly accepted to let her little sisters join them. Well, it became a disaster as the little ones were scared on the canoe and they cried and whined the whole time. They didn't catch anything. Next time, she says it will only be her and Daddy! We also enjoyed another week of Track n' Field. Every Monday we go to this local family event and the kids have a great time. It has become our annual/traditional Summer activity. I just can't believe that Summer is almost over. Attending this event every Monday has made our Summer go by faster. Every week, I say "It's Monday already?".
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
3
comments
I weeped as I watched and listened to this video...
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
0
comments
We have had some record High Temperatures here in Bellingham. In five years that I have lived here it has never gotten this Hot and Humid. Thank goodness for the kindness of fabulous neighbors who allowed us to come play at their Beach fronts almost every day this week. I actually set a personal record for jumping in the Lake the most in the month of July, over 5 times. Usually the Lake water is pretty cold to me until August. But this July changed that. Even my kids were surprised and praised me for being so brave...pretty pathetic! Anyhow, we enjoyed the company of our wonderful Lambert friends, who were here for three weeks on vacation and for their Lambert Family Reunion (we played games with them and swam a lot at the Lake during their visit). It will be sad to see them leave. Our favorite friends the Ferguson's came over to play one day as well and we got to meet their new beautiful baby boy Benjamin, who was only four days old then. They remind us of us when we were first married and starting out with our little family. I just love their company and they are such a great example to all of us. The kids just love them, especially Will, their oldest little one. He is yummy! But so is that new baby!! We also enjoyed our neighbors a bit more, who live in Seattle and are here for the Summer with their daughters. It is just nice to have children around this Summer for our kids to be with and play, other than each other. I just can't believe that Summer is almost over. It has gone by so fast. It has been a nice one so far and we are soon going to enjoy family visiting from Illinois and Utah...this will complete our Summer fun. We are also hoping to squeeze in our three-day annual camping trip. If Rob's schedule permits it. We'll see. The kids are really talking about it and asking us when we can go camping. They had a fabulous time last year and we are dying to try out our new family tent we got for Christmas from Rob's parents. P.S Thanks for visiting our blog and viewing our pictures.
 |
 |
| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
Posted by
Tobler Bunch
1 comments
Source: sissyprint.blogspot.com via Francys on Pinterest
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4284255242_22a964d5f5_o.jpg"/>
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee180/juliewuliee/Headers%202/meal%20planning%20magic/linkcopy.png"/>
