Monday, May 18, 2009

The Trip to California

Disney Land


"This is all fake isn't it mom?!" Aubrey Jean

"You said Disney was the 'happiest place on earth...' that was bad and not happy!" Weston after riding the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and bursting into tears.




"Let's go home!"
Aubrey and Weston around 1 o' clock.

"My favorite 'bad ride' is the Matterhorn!"

"My favorite good ride is the 'pooh ride."

Weston

Monday, May 11, 2009

How I lost the Weight!

So I am going to admit this...before I began; this is a strange/narcissistic type blog entry. Oh well... that is your warning. (I think I know what narcissism is???...I don't know for sure though.) Ok, now to begin! Here is a picture of me after I lost all my weight after having Weston. Mind you...Weston was 3 years old at this time. So Aubrey had taken this picture of me, because I was so happy to be in my skinny pants. ( The funny thing here is I bought these 2 months after Samantha was born...not fair, it totally gets harder with each kid.) So back to the story. Aubrey took this picture and I was so proud I was going to do a blog entry on it. I had lost 25lbs and done it through the holidays. I had been doing a challenge with my sisters and mainly just ate right and exercised and the weight came off. Well, so then I decided to get pregnant again with Spencer and this happened about 5 days after taking this picture. Needless to say, I soon lost the body I had worked so hard to achieve...and was left with a beautiful baby boy and...


This body!
Me at 8 weeks after Spencer was born.

This is the worst picture in the world by the way. Aubrey took this of me and I was going to quickly delete it from my camera, when I thought..."ooooh, this would make a great 'before' shot." So I kept it as motivation. Actually I never looked at it again, but I made the first picture (my skinny one) my screen saver to motivate me to work out/ eat right and lose the baby weight! So, I set a goal to lose 20lbs before my baby was 6 months old. I am proud to report that I am very close to this goal. My weight fluctuates, but I am just 2 lbs shy of that goal. Baby Spencer is 6 months in 5 days. So the other day I was longingly looking at my first picture and wishing I was that thin again, and suddenly I realized, I am. Here is my new picture, taken about a week ago (by dear Aubrey.)

Me Today!

Now I am not just posting this because I think I look totally awesome or even swimsuit ready. I even understand why people get tummy tucks...but that is a whole different blog. I am just journaling the fact that I did it! I set a goal and lost the weight. Here is what I did.

*I have worked out about 5 days a week for the last 4 months. (this means walking, jogging or doing exercises taped off of the tv.) I usually do about 1/2 hour or 45 minutes. Some days I did 15 minutes. What ever I could do with 3 kids. (I had no excuses for this. My secret was to never get ready. Seriously. I used to get ready in the morning, then I wouldn't want to get all sweaty. So now, I look horrible until I exercise. This has helped me a lot. Although, I am sure anyone who sees me before 3 pm thinks I am a total slob.)

*I don't eat after 7:30pm or after my kids go to bed. That's my rule...no exceptions.

* No soda

*Always eat breakfast. I eat a lot of fiber in the morning.

*Other than that...I have pretty much stayed the same. I don't really snack, unless it is healthy...like veggie/fruit or yogurt.

*I have always drank a lot of water, but of course you have to do that.

* I also weighed myself every day and wrote down my weight every Sunday. This showed me when I was at a plateau and also what was working. I also got to know my body better by doing this. Now I am addicted.

So if anyone needs motivation...just know that it can be done. Set a realistic goal (my first goal was to lose the weight in 6 weeks....didn't happen.) Then stick with it!

Also, I would still like to lose 5 to 10lbs and I am not opposed to hearing more advice on how to do it! I have a lot of great friends who have really been a good example to me on being healthy...so thanks all you ladies! I also thought I should add this has been great for my kids. Yes, sometimes they complain when they are drug around in the stroller or have to turn off cartoons to watch me exercise. But usually they love the trips to the park. Weston loves me running around with him and they even exercise with me quite a bit of the time. I have a gift of making things fun...so I finally just made this a priority and it has worked for us.

If anyone read this whole thing...thanks for being my friend. :)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Welcome Max


and here is picture of our newest cousin/nephew...Max A. Isn't he adorable? Congrats to Mike and Mari!

So here it is...

The new hair cut. It turned out a lot like my previous (skunk) photo one. I do have bangs this time, but other than that it is quite similar. I love it already. It is just so much cooler and lighter...better for AZ. Plus it always grows so fast, so for those of you who didn't want it short...don't worry, it never lasts. These aren't the best pics by the way, but at least you can see it. Plus I added cute Spence!




Thursday, April 23, 2009

My Girl


Tonight was a super fun Enrichment night in our ward. We got to bring our Daughters and learn about being Daughter's of God. Aubrey was more than excited. We took our neighbors and that made it even more fun. We took pictures there with a castle and everything, but I didn't want to wait to get those pics before I blogged. So here is Aubrey doing her best to show her bracelet (on her ankle) and her nails at the same time. I love her so much!

Baby Laughs

Weston was so excited that Spencer thought he was funny today. He said..."this is the first time baby thinks I am funny....Awesome!"

"My Best Friend"





So today while playing outside in our backyard; Weston came across his "best friend." Although it didn't really start that way. Let me go back to the beginning. First I find Weston trying to drown his new friend in the swimming pool. He is squirting it him with his new water gun. I start to think I have a furture serial killer on my hands...so I decide to tell him to make this GRASSHOPPER his new best friend. So he quite literally does. He seriously spends the next 3 hours or more, feeding him. Jumping with him. Taking him for rides in his pocket around the yard...then followed by bike rides down the street. The poor little Grasshopper is weak from the initial attempt at his life, so he complies and never jumps a too far away. A few times he gets lost in the rocks, under the tramp and under Spencer's blanket; only to be found again by his best friend Weston. By the time Aubrey gets home he has a home, with food and shelter and of course... a name "Tylone!" Weston says that he is by far the greatest grasshopper ever to be found. Tylone even watches Return to the Jedi (you know you are a true friend when you watch Star Wars together. ) After dinner tonight, Tylone left us. For some strange reason he died. Maybe it was the initial drowning. Or maybe it's the time spent in Weston's pocket...who knows. However, Weston seeming pretty pulled together, wants to bury him. I suggest taking him to the toilet, saying a few kind words and then sending him to the ocean. So we do.
Tylone in the Toilet. Then Weston just started bawling. Uncontrollable grief. He is a mess for the next 45 minutes. Tough day. Aubrey explains that Samantha will take care of Tylone and we will see him again...in heaven. Too cute. Later Weston says he wants to go out first thing tomorrow morning and find another Tylone in the grass.

Saying goodbye

Monday, April 20, 2009

Summer Picnic!

On Saturday we went to the U of A farms for our ward picnic. We had a great time. They had snow cones, cupcakes, candy, crafts for the kids and games. We even got to play a little bit of volleyball which I was pretty rusty at. The highlight of the picnic was when we all participated in the bunny sac race. Good times! Jake raced with with our neighbor Mark and his son Drew. Then I raced against his wife and my friend Tracy. It was pretty funny. It was great to get out as a family and enjoy the nice weather together. Sadly to say the nice weather probably will be short lived. I feel the hot, hot weather right around the corner. I am not looking forward to it. Ugh! (Yes this is similar to Tracy's blog...I copied it, but we did do the same thing...so I saved a step.)
Here is Aubrey and Weston


Go Alyssa...she is in the air.
The dreaded video. I told Jake to just take a picture, no video...and this is what he did. I think my arm looks silly, but at least I am not afraid to still have a little fun. Even if I look like a fool. Plus, we did tie!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Arizona Springtime


So I must admit. I do like the weather in April...when you are in Arizona.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter Pics

Coloring Eggs at Grandma's...so fun.
Spencer smiles... Sunday diggs...