Made me smile

As I was walking around this morning picking up misplaced shoes, gloves, toys, and other objects I noticed something new on my wall.

At first I noticed it was my super duper sticky shipping labels, stuck to the wall. I had put them away long ago because we had stickers on doors and walls and chairs and the stickers don't really come off. I was a bit upset when I noticed it on my wall... Again, something for me to clean up after.

Then I saw what was on it and I guess it's that change of heart that takes place. Instead of being angry my heart melted a little. Amber drew a picture and wrote on it "Amber is osum Sam is kool!" And then it says "like pu beecus I am osum" when you look up it says, "mad bi Amber and Sam". Translation, Amber is awesome, Sam is cool. Look up because I am awesome. Made by Amber and Sam.

They each drew a family of snowmen. So cute. I will probably leave it on my wall before I worry about getting the super super super sticky label off my wall.

I'm not the same...

Last year I kind of starting getting fit, it might have even been the year before that, in 2010.  I started running. I mean started! I think the first race I did was a 3k. I thought I was going to die!!  I really am not a runner! 

Even though I had been overweight, and according to BMI and other standards I was "Clinically Obese" which I kind of just thought I was good enough still, I was moving, I was active (or what I thought would be active) I played with the kids.  I wasn't one of those moms at the park that would just sit on the bench because they couldn't play or walk around.  I felt like I often was doing physical things with my family. 

Like I said, I entered a few races, never trained really good enough to really do well at them, basically just barely finishing them.  I would be sore the next 3 days or more from running.  This went through the summer of 2011.  I lost a few pounds but nothing really to notice.  My hubby who is a runner told me to start running and I would drop all my weight that way.  After all that is what he does each year, he gains a few pounds during the holiday, starts running in January getting ready for his big races, and ta-da.... he drops the weight he gained plus more.  Yeah, didn't work for me, plus I HATED running!  It's hard to be motivated by something you dislike so much!

November of 2011, I had a gorgeous perfect friend that invited me to her workout classes.  They started at 5 AM, yes 5 in the morning!  I was like, yeah.... no thanks!!  I am not a morning person.  I would prefer to stay up until 5 in the morning than go to bed and get up at 5 am.  She had done some sort of "challenge" blah blah something and lost body fat.  I was not sure where that fat came from because in my eyes this woman is one of those you want to hate... she is unbealivably beautiful, he hair is alway perfect, she looks good in anything she wears, even when she is shoveling mud she looks cute.  You know the type right...?  Well that is this friend.  I finally decided to try it out.  I thought it would be fun because it was more weight kind of traning and I LOVE weights and being strong.  And anything was better than running!

I go to this class, barely getting out of bed, and here are these other "barbie" workout girls.  I was thinking REALLY?  Here I am, BIG and I can't keep up with them, I am sweating so much I feel like I just stepped out of the shower, and I am having a hard time catching my breath.  Yeah it was that fun. 

I was embarressed to be there with these other ladies that seemed so fit and fabulous, I felt like I had nothing in common with them, I wasn't going to come back!  When I got home I was thinking about it and was really being honest and asking myself, why am I not going back?  The reason I wasn't should be the real reason really to go back.  Be uncomfortable, be imbarressed, what ever it took, I needed to do it to get the happiness that I wanted when I looked in the mirror. 

I'm not talking that happiness when you look in the mirror because you look so HOT and you want everyone to be jealous of how wonderful you look.  I'm talking about the happiness that I could look in the mirror and like who I saw, the happiness that comes from liking the person I am.  Many years I would look in the mirror but not liking what I see.  I knew the person I was/am is an amazing person but I didn't ever see that.  It was hard to see that through the unkind thoughts in my head and how disgusted I felt at myself and the way I looked.

This truly was such a blessing in my life!  My friend surely was inspired to invite me to come with her as a friend.  I was always be so grateful for her to spur me on when I needed it.  The timing was perfect!  The same challenge my friend had done, was being repeated in Feb 2012.  I was up for the challenge of it, and was so glad I did it!  I not only loss some weight but I was finding that person inside again too.  It was very emotional for me and spiritual too. 

This is a picture that was taken in Sept 2009.  I may have lost a few pounds or gained a bit of muscle since this picture and before the challenge, but I was the same weight on the scales really. 

I had a BMI of 38.4 (obese catagory) when I first started working out and then after the challenge I had a BMI of 29.9. Still in the "overweight" catagory.  I lost 6% body fat, and gained 6% muscle. 

I lost 7-1/4 inches off my waist just from the challenge alone. Crazy huh! 

 

The challenge consisted of 12 weeks of workout plans, meal plans, and 4 inspirational sessions.  The things I learned during the challenge I have adopted in my life and my eating habbits and life style.  I became more flexible too which I hadn't really counted on.  I was able to put my wedding ring back on, something I took off shortly after I had my twins who are now 10 years old. 

 

I think the biggest change has really been my attitude, my outlook, and the way I feel about myself.  I think that is the biggest thing I lost.  I did go on to lose a total of 60 lbs which spanned from before and after the challenge until about the time school started again.  With the holidays and other things, I have put a few pounds back on.  I lost a total of 11 inches off my waist and 7 inches off my hips too.  Amazing right!  Something else....  I went from a size 18 (probably really size 20 but I couldn't bring myself to buy that size) to a size 10 in jeans.  Is that amazing?  Crazy really!!  This was all in a 6-8 month time frame. 

 

Sometimes when I am with my husband and we are at a store or something, he wonders off and I do, he can't find me because he forgets I look so different.  Funny huh!  I few times I have seen a picture or video of someone in the back ground and totally thought it was someone else in my family.  Those are the little things that make me smile. 

 

I also ended up running the Epic Relay Race with my husband in August (I think that is when it was).  It is like the Ragnar Relay where it is a 12 man team, each runner runs 3 different times.  It went from Logan, UT to Jackson, WY.  Fun... even if you don't like to run.  I am totally doing this again this year!  (If you are interested let me know, we still need some runners.)

 

With all that being said, it is again that time of year to start getting ready for the challenge if you want to do it.  I am totally signed up for it.  If you want more information, go to her blog for details.  She also has FREE yes, FREE classes on Saturday at Westlake High School at 6:30 am. 

 

I know I still have a way to go, but I feel so much better.  If you have any questions or want more details, feel free to talk to me too.  I would be happy to share with you the things I have learned or have done.  I have wanted to do this post for about 6 months or so, but you know how life gets, and I am also one of those people that feel like it has to go in order.  I am all out of order now...   I'll have to play catch up and go back I guess to do the older stuff. 

The picture below is from Nov 2011, at the Gov. Gala and then the other picture is from July 2012 with my size 18 pants that no longer fit me.  I still have those pants though.... I'm keeping them as a reminder! ;)

Halloween House

Here are some of the decorations from our spooky Halloween house. I know kinda late to post.

The time has come

Most the girls have had hair cuts. Amber has had only a few. Samantha has been wanting one every time the other girls get one. I keep telling her "let's think about it" and hope she forgets or that I can put it off longer. I normally let the girls cut their hair as they want. Samantha has such long beautiful hair I didn't want to cut it.

Every time I brush her hair it takes a while and she cries because its tangled and has knots in it. Recently I was brushing Samantha's hair while she was standing on a stool in front of the bathroom mirror. As I brushed her hair, I saw her little face all scrunched up trying to be brave, trying not to cry, and I realized it was time.

I wanted her hair long, but poor girl was having a hard time each day we brush it. I asked her if we should cut her hair. She still wanted it. And we is.

I think it looks cute. Amber's hair got long again, and she asked if she could get her's cut too. Amber's hair is always awful to brush!

Two girls got their hair cut! And I think it looks cute! I hope brushing will be easier and quicker with less tears shed too.

Halloween 2012

Emily ran out before I could really get a picture of her. She wanted to be a "Girly Girl" is what she called it. She wanted things to be extreme and things she normally wouldn't wear... Lots of sparkles, dark makeup, her hair all done, pink stuff. Not that she doesn't like pink, but she always says she isn't a "Girly girl" and I agree, she isn't super fussy about all the glamorous things advertised for girls.

Lindsey wanted to be a voodoo witch. It was lots of fun making. She looked very gross! I could hardly look at her. Not sure if you can tell but she even had brown teeth. There were all sorts of things hanging from her skirt, snakes a bird, voodoo doll, spiders, skulls... many things from Halloween stuff. Even a rat! Her costume was lots of fun.

Lauren wanted to be a pretty witch, whatever that meant I wasn't sure. People would refer to the girls as a bad witch and a good witch. Lauren was pleased with her costume.

Amber was a princess, Costco costume made easy. We did spray her down with glitter.

Samantha was a fairy which also came from Costco which made it easy.

The grade schoolers, Lindsey, Lauren, and amber had a Halloween parade at school. Lindsey didn't wear her wig or much makeup for school. The individual pictures were taken right before school. I painted Samantha's face like 3 times and then just gave up.

It was my year to take the girls around trick or treating. We got way too much candy and I, myself ate way too much candy too!

Insufficient storage quota

So I got a cool app on my phone so I can download pics and post to my blog. I thought it would be easy. Although after all this time of putting pics on and writing captions and stories, it gives me some error message when I try to publish it. Anyone getting that too? Any ideas how to fix it?

The Dog

The dog is always in trouble, most days I am ready to get rid of him.  It may be because he chewed up someone's shoes or toys or he ran away and didn't come back when I called him.  And then when I go to chase him down he just runs further or barks and won't let me get him.  Then once I do get him, I will grab his collar, he will try to bite me then flop down on the ground making it nearly impossible for me to pick up this 80+ pound mut to take him home, as he continues to bike and scratch me as I attempt to drag him home. 
The girls love him, and sometimes I like him a little too.  He is quite a funny dog when he isn't running away or chewing up things.  He wants to be with the kids. 

When the kids are playing outside he goes crazy, wants to play with them.  He will be alittle too playful when the little ones ride their bikes as he chases them and knocks them over sometimes.

He seems to be doing pretty good with potty training and for the most part minding his manners in the house as far as food goes.  He still begs which I HATE!  He is funny because he will leave a hot dog on the table all night long, and yet if something is on the kitchen counter, which is higher, he seems to think that is better food or its okay to get.  I spent one night making this egg fritata breakfast for Robert and I to eat for the rest of the week, part of a fitness challenge we were doing, and the dog ate the other 5 servings of it.  This is what I found when I came back down stairs.

He left it on the counter and everything, but just ate what he could until I came down stairs. It was a big 9x13 dish with like 18 eggs in it.  Another day Lindsey had made a batch of no-bake cookies.  The cookies were cooling on foil on the counter, he ate EVERYONE of those cookies and part of the foil.  I was so mad at him.  I told him I hoped he got sick.  I basically cursed myself.  I was at a workout class the next morning and got a text that said the dog made a mess, if I didn't have carpet cleaner I might want to pick some up.  I got home with a bottle of carpet spot cleaner.  To spare you the pictures, lets just say it looked like I had a herd of cows in the house that went to the bathroom everywhere.  I guess Amber woke up and saw it and thought it was mud.  I spent the whole day cleaning the carpet.  I spot cleaned it then I shampooed the whole carpet.  He also threw up on my couch that morning too.  He was very close to getting booted out the door!

Whose idea was it to get this dog?

Ok, so maybe I had something to do with getting the dog.  This is what I saw in my mind when I got the dog, and it trapped me. Recently I saw some little puppies and the girls and I went over and looked at them, I felt myself weaken and I was almost pulled into the little girl and dog trap again.  I asked Rob if we could get one.  Seriously, isn't this the cutest thing ever?  Girls and dogs?  It's a trap I was once pulled into...  My mind turns into mush and I can't think straight.  I think how cute and how fun puppies are.  That just looks like happiness right there!

  The next morning was the morning of the carpet cleaning, I was so happy that I didn't get another one.  I'm afraid that one day I will be pulled into the trap again.  I hope I can be strong and think with my head and not how cute the girls are with this little cuddly puppy that will turn into a monster eating toys and shoes, have vet bills, expensive dog food, have to be boarded when we go out of town, and makes everything so hairy!  I hope I remember all that again when I see those cute little things.  Wish me luck!

Sept 2011 Gardens

The Gardens at Thanksgiving Point is one of the favorite places the girls like to go.  If you haven't gone and you have the oppurtunity to, definitely go.  They have many different sections of the garden that are different things such as the Rose Garden, Secret Garden and others I can't remember.  We went out to the pond or water part of it.  They have a little boardwalk over the water.  The lillies were very pretty and the fish were super fun to watch.  Unfortunately I didn't know they had a dispenser for fish food that took quarters, which I didn't bring any. 

 I think Lindsey took these pictures of the flowers. 

 The girls managed to find a few fish food pepples that got dropped on the board walk. 

 We found a little green frog toot hat was blending in with the surroundings, it was hard to see him. It took forever for the little girls to spot it.

 This was another part of the garden, Lindsey was upset so she stopped smiling in the pictures and at times didn't even get in the pictures.  I can't remember what her complaint was, but she did get better later and was happy again.

 There's that beautiful Emily!

 There's cute Amber too!

 Lauren wanted an action picture.  I am glad I caught it at the right moment.  I could have been in big trouble.

 Amber is delighted to get her picture taken again, Lindsey is still upset with me.

 Lindsey is back to her happy self again. 

 Samantha was getting tired of pictures, so she just sat and waited until we were done.

 This was in the secret garden.  Amber was missing from the picture.

 This was a fun little garden too, a carousel.  It's kind of hard to see how cute it is from the picture, Lindsey thought it was pretty fun too. 

 All the walking around made it tiring for the little ones, but they all had no problems rolling down the hill at the amphitheater. 

 The last thing we did was went to see all the waterfalls.  It was a fun time.

 The girls were ready to go home when it was time, but it was a place they ask to go back to often.  I wish we would have visited it more often when we had the membership.  Maybe another membership is in our future. 

Hair cut and back to school Aug 2011

Amber has never really had a hair cut, she is nearly 5 years old.  Her hair is thin and long, wavy and tangles easily.  She asked if she could get her hair cut, at first I told her no, then as I thought about it... my policy is if they want it cut, then that is their choice.  Her hair was so long though.... it was hard to do it.  I think the ease of brushing it was a helping thought too. 

Here she is getting ready to get her hair cut.

 Ready....set.....cut!  It was hard to do it, but I was pleased with the out come, and so was Amber!!

She LOVED it!!

You can see how much we cut off.  I was a little in shock but she was in love with her shorter locks.

August is always back to school time.  The girls picked their favorite outfits to wear for the first day of school.  Lindsey is styling her new outfit, and excited to get back to school.

Lauren is super excited to go back to school and see all her friends and excited about her new class.

Emily is going into 6th grade, she is excited for her new teacher, and I can't believe she will be in Jr. high in one more year.  That scares me!  She is growing up too fast!  She too has missed many friends during the summer months. 

All the girls were ready to go back to school.  I however felt the summer went too fast, and I still had a list of things I wanted to do with them while they were out of school.  I have the same feeling every year when school starts back up.  I am the one not ready for it.