Hello, World! I'm Baaaaaack!

It has been almost 2 years since my last blog post.  I kind of got bored with my blog for a while there.  I keep thinking, "Oh, this would make a great blog post."  But then I never write about it... So, I am going to write about what is going on in my life right now.  You're welcome. :)

The boys left less than a week ago to go visit their mom for the summer.  I miss them already.  Yes, I miss those two stinky teenage boys.  They make me laugh and see things in ways I never would normally see things.

While I was in SLC to take them to the airport, the day before their departure, I was able to visit with some extended family I don't get to see that often.  It was an absolutely awesome evening.  I wish we all lived closer but thus is life.  I took some fun photos of the get together but I haven't gone through them yet.  But all should beware... I am sure I got some awesome not-so-flattering photos of people eating!  You will have to check those out on Facebook.

Today is the last day of this round of FGI8.  FGI8 stands for Feel Great In 8.  It is an 8 week program where you eat healthy foods, do acts of kindness, and lots of self improving.  This was my 4th round (I believe) and even though I have not lost as much weight as I would like, I am still on the better side of the scale than I was a year ago.  At my largest, I weighed 183 pounds.  That may not sound like a lot to some, but to my small 5'3" frame, it is!  Currently, I weigh 167 pounds.  I am trying so hard to get to that 163 mark, just to have lost 20 pounds total.  I am a work in progress, so it is ok. :)  My husband has been doing fabulously though.  Why is it that men lose weight faster than women? It just isn't fair! I blame Eve. Ok, so it isn't Eve's fault, but it just isn't right that men lose weight quicker.  Although I am green with envy, I am proud of my awesome husband's weight loss journey.  He started one round after I started.  All in all, in one year, he has lost 51 pounds!!!! That is a small child!  That is a sack of flour from Costco!  (Yes, I use Costco items as gauges of measurements.)  I am so happy that he is eating healthier and been able to get off of insulin! That is a HUGE bonus!!!  No insulin means his body is healing itself!  (Look away..... *awkward happy dancing*)

Another thing going on right now that makes me happy are my two girls.  They have been doing great this summer with not uttering the words that every mother dreads hearing 15 minutes after school gets out, "I'm bored!!"  They have been OUTSIDE and UNPLUGGED most days!!  I love that more than they probably love hanging out with their friends and such.  Oh, and another HUGE thing that happened this summer, Rebekah FINALLY learned how to ride a bike!!!  Yes, she is 14 years old. Yes, she just learned how to ride a bike.  And yes, I couldn't be prouder.  I wish I could take the credit for nagging nudging her in the right direction to learn, but it was her friends.  Thank heavens for great friends!!!

Tomorrow I get my permanent filling for the redoing of the root canal gone wrong, taking a left turn at hell and staying there to vacation for a month.  I will have to blog about that another time.  I am just hoping all goes well.

Rebekah leaves for the Trek on Wednesday.  I am slightly worried that she will have a difficult time, but part of me hopes she has a slightly difficult time.  Now before you think I am a nut job (which is also possible), I just want her to experience the joys/pains of the trek.  I sewed her an awesome pioneer apron without a pattern.  That's right, I rock! :)

Right now, Bill is making me breakfast and I am so excited to see what he creates!  Then it is off to church to be spiritually fed.  I love going to church.  I look forward every week to getting away from the regular hubbub of daily life and feast on spiritual things.  Sure, I need to feast every day, but let's face it, I am not there yet.  I will be, one day.  I am just happy when I read my scriptures every night for a few minutes.  Which is leaps and bounds better than I was doing a year ago, where I would read maybe once a month.  It is all in the baby steps. Next baby step: toilet training! Wait, that isn't right...

Have a happy Sabbath day!

Breakfast With Santa

When I asked the girls if they wanted to go to have breakfast with Santa, they squealed and began getting ready. But when I asked the boys if they wanted to go, they both looked at me like I was crazy and shook their heads. I have never taken the kids before, so I had no idea what to expect.

It was at Emerald Pointe; an assisted living place in town for the elderly. The girls have gone here many times when they were in dance class. This was the first time I was actually relaxed when in that building. Usually I was stressed trying to make sure I got a good seat (but not taking a place from one of the residents) so I could video tape their performance.

I wasn't sure if the breakfast was free or what, so I brought my checkbook (I had no cash on me). When I got there, I saw a sign that said it was a $5 donation for breakfast (per person) and the money went toward the Alzheimer's foundation. Kids 10 and under ate free. Even though Rebekah is 10, they were still going to let her eat for free. I told them I didn't mind paying for her; the money goes to a good cause. Then we were in a drawing for some prizes. We didn't win, but that was ok.

We grabbed our plates and piled food on them. There was ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, and pancakes. There were a couple different pancake toppings to choose from: regular syrup, hot blueberries, strawberries, whipped cream, etc. Then there were several juices to choose from: grape, apple, orange, etc. Also, there was milk and hot cocoa. The girls were in heaven!! Rebekah even mentioned that it was like having breakfast at a hotel.

At first there was no place to sit, so we were going to just sit on the floor, but some old lady saw us and found us a place. It was sweet of her. She was so short and petite. We sat down and we ate. The food was really good, especially the bacon. Santa came in later and walked around and said hello to everyone and got his picture taken with some of the residents there. It was cute because this one particularly elderly lady (who reminded me of my grandpa Anderson) was very excited.

After we ate our fill, we went and sat on Santa's lap. It was fun and I am definitely going to take my girls next year. I might end up convincing the boys to join us as well. When Nathan heard the words, "All-you-can-eat and bacon" in the same sentence, he was bummed he didn't go. He loves his bacon! :-)

Here are a few pictures from today's morning adventures:

Lily trying hard to cut her pancakes. See the napkin on her chest?? lol

Rebekah trying to use the manners she learned at Achievement Days.

A nice man asked us if we wanted our picture taken together. His wife was from Germany and we had a lovely discussion.

Notice how Rebekah is not smiling in this one? It is because she asked me if her teeth were purple from the blueberries and I told her they were really purple. :-) Which, they were. I should not have said anything though.

Rebekah on Santa's lap. She told him that she wanted a DSi for Christmas. He asked if she was a good girl all year and she paused, then said she was.

Lily asked for the same thing: a DSi. He asked her if she was a good girl and she said she was. He asked her if she fought with her sister and I laughed.

So when it came my turn (why are you surprised I sat on Santa's lap??) I jokingly told him I also wanted a DSi. He chuckled. Then I told him that I wanted a better camera. He asked me if I was good all year. I told him that my kids were alive and he chuckled again and said he would see what he could do.