Body Balance

Today is Dane and I's official last fast food day. We created a new budget and decided that we eat out too much. So, from here on out we will only eat out if it is with friends and it is limited to once a month. It also was our last soda day! (EEK!) I may struggle with the lack of soda but it will be healthier for us.

We want to lose the weight we both have gained since our marriage by summer. We have decided to accomplish this by walking our dogs more, going to the gym (that i've had a membership to for a while), eating better and cutting out sweets except on special occasions.

We also have started an adventure with Life Force International. It is a company that markets nutritional products. We started on Body Balance on Jan. 3rd. Body Balance is mineral and vitamin supplement in liquid form. Already we have noticed that we feel better. We have more energy when we wake up and it lasts throughout the day. Hopefully I'll be able to report more in the future, for now we are just starting.

I hope everyone is well. Happy New Year and many blessings to you.

Updates!

Happy New Year!!! 2012 has started off well. Both Dane and I have been working the first two days of the year, so this could be a trend. :) Dane and I both are now on 48 hour shifts. This is been current now for almost a month and it's great. We are car pooling which is saving us money. (This is where the never go to bed mad comes in, because it's horrible to ride with your spouse the next morning if you haven't resolved your argument yet! Just saying) It's also alleviated our need to get a second four wheel drive vehicle for the time being. My current car, "Verda" is a chevy blazer and will be going to live with my parents. I am gaining a 1995 Camaro that was my mom's. Great in summer, not so much in snow/ice conditions.

It's been great to have four days off together too. Our 48 is mandatory time away from each other so we are still happy to have the extended time together. Hopefully our travel dreams will become more reality this year.  Dane is working our contract with Rocky Mountain Fire on the ambulance.He loves his new position and is getting along with his new work partner well. I know I'm biased, but he has found his niche, and is great at it.  I'm still working our contract with Longmont Fire. I told my work partner today that I have gained about 20 brothers I never wanted!!! (wouldn't ever give them up willingly either!) I am still trying to decide what my next step career wise will be. Too many options.

Christmas was wonderful with our families. We visited my side in Craig, CO before Christmas. Dane's father's side of the family on Christmas Eve and Dane's mom's side of the family came to our house on Christmas Day. I cooked my first Christmas Meal and thought it came out pretty well. I might actually do it again! My birthday was the day after Christmas. My fire family helped me celebrate with we worked. Dane surprised me with amazing chocolates and a guardian angel necklace.

Our furbabies are healthy and seem to be happy. Buddy and Bree got a new dog bed in our room. Now we just have to convince them to use it instead of our bed at night. Xavier is a momma's boy. He is always following me around the house 'talking' to me. Our fishy died on New Year's Eve. I insisted we bury him instead of flushing but flushing won out in the end. :-/ No more fishies for now.

That's life in a nutshell. I really am trying to become more diligent on here. Guess we shall just have to see. I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year. I look forward to the changes this year will bring. Much love you all.

Oops, it's been too long.

Hello again!
We are so sorry that this is so much later. What a crazy last 8 months.

We got married on May 20th, 2011. Everything went so wonderfully! It had rained all week, and Friday drizzled a little, but the evening was gorgeous! The rain stopped, sun shone through the clouds and we had a beautiful sunset out of it.  We will post a picture as able.  Honeymoon was in Jamaica. We stayed at Couples Resort, Tower Ilse for a week. Our highest recommendations for them. The resort was relaxing if you wanted or there were plenty of activities to participate in. 

When we got back home life returned to the semi-usual grindstone. Dane has passed his NREMT test and is currently working on an ambulance in Denver. He just applied for a dispatching position with West Metro Fire Dept., so we are praying about this new opportunity. He is also working for Stadium medical which provides standby medical personnel to sporting events and concerts. Caitlin is still with Longmont Paramedics with Longmont Fire Dept. Caitlin is also teaching EMT-Basic skills at Front Range Community College. She still plays out at Bandimere with the fire/ems team there. Hardly consider that working though... :)

We have another kiddo. In January we adopted a little pup named Bree. She is now just over a year old and has been a great addition. She has picked up many habits from her older brother, Buddy. Xavier has learned to hold his ground, and leaves the pups confused when he swats at them. 

We are looking for a church in our area. We listened to a book on tape *also in print* named Heaven is For Real. It was uplifting and reminded us that if we have accepted Jesus in our heart that there is another place for us after our physical life is over. Sunday we will try a church that is recommended by some friends. 

So, that's the quicky and dirty on the last 8 months. We will do better updating and filling in the gaps of the last 8 months. Hope all is well!


xoxo 
Dane and Caitlin

The start.

In the beginning... naw, just kidding.

Dane and Caitlin van Loon (well, Caitlin is soon to be) :) We are in the Denver area. We have two kiddos, a 2 y/o 80 lb German Shepard mix named Buddy and a 10 y/o cool cat  named Xavier.

Dane is waiting for his last class tomorrow for his EMT. Tomorrow is finals for the written and practical tests. Then next week it will be his nation registry test! We will be going out and celebreating for him, those able should come join us!  Caitlin is still working at AMR as an EMT. She is at Longmont Fire Department right now. She plans on going back to school in July to get her paramedic certification so she's gearing up early.

We will be getting married on May 20th, 2011 at Heritage Square! We are super excited. Lots of planning has already been done and now we are just hurry up and waiting. Dane has been great and more active than Caitlin in the planning process, but it's been good. Our colors are ivory, black and pink. Details will follow! For our honeymoon we are going to Jamaica. We will be staying at couple resort tower isle in Ocho Rios thanks to Dane's father.

Any who, that's all for now. Will post soon and let you know how Dane's exams went. We are confident. Cheers for now!