FITNESS UPDATE...

(Music compliments of my workout tunes on my MP3 player)

Well I am happy to say that I have stuck with it for 3 weeks now!!! I can't begin to tell you how very HAPPY I am and how GOOD I feel! Its amazing at how you can set your mind to do something and you CAN DO IT!!! I truly believe that if you focus your energy into something it WILL HAPPEN! When I first started it took me 30 minutes to walk a mile. I am now doing a mile in 19 minutes! I walk on the treadmill for an hour so that makes for 3 miles a day! WOW it really is happening! Yesterday I decided to add the exercise ball into my routine. As the kids watched TV I worked out on the exercise ball for 45 minutes. After about 15 minutes of doing that I thought that my arms weren't doing enough so I had one of the kids go and get me some cans of beans. I weighed them and they are a pound each so I did 4 sets of 50 on different arm things for the last 30 minutes I was on the ball. My arms are a little sore today but that is all GOOD and to be expected. Today I was laying on the floor doing LEG exercises while Gracie was crying and trying to lay on me the entire time. She finally ended up on my chest as I did my workout so I think maybe that could count for a couple extra calories burned.

I have dropped a pant size and have noticed they are feeling loose but the strange thing is that my shirt size has almost dropped 2 sizes (NO MY BOOBS AREN'T ANY SMALLER!!!) LOL I can actually feel RIBS!!! WHAT I have RIBS under there! WOW how long has that been since I have felt ribs. LOVE THE FEELING! I just can't wait for the day that I can FEEL MY HIP BONES! That is the goal! Still have only lost the 5 pounds but inches works for me for now! LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!

I hope that maybe I can help influence someone out there to get in shape too! YOU TOO CAN DO IT!!! I know you can!!!

Thanks to everyone on your support! One other fun thing is Steve has been working out to for quite some time now and when we HUG we can put our arms all the way around each other! What a great feeling that is!

Love to you all!

Hayli's tribute to her Daddy the fireman!

Hayli loves this poem and with recent events with a large refinery fire that her Dad was first in on she wanted to put this up on our family blog! She LOVES her Daddy so very much and is very proud of him and all he does for our family. We are all so proud of him and he works so hard to make sure we have the things we need. Thank you to our beloved FATHER & my Beloved HUSBAND!!! We love you and are with you every step of every day! Love you FOREVER!!!! Hope you all enjoy this Poem Hayli found!!!

Daddy's Poem
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called
a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down,
staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far
You see he was a fireman
and died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she
closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.
And to her mothers amazement,
she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.

They say it takes a minute to find a special
person, an hour to appreciate them,
a day to love them, but then an entire
life to forget them.

Weight loss update!!!

I am happy to announce that I have officially lost 5 pounds total in 5 days!!! I am so excited that I have seen results for my hard work at getting in shape! I will say that some days are harder than others but I am sticking to it! All good things come to those who work at it! Thanks for all the support and well wishers! Love you all!!!

I lost 2 pounds!!!!

Ok doing my little update on the getting in shape! Have been working out and feeling great! I got on the scale this morning and I have lost 2 POUNDS!!! I am so excited! Some days I am sure this little update will longer than others so today its short and sweet. Just giving myself a pat on the back!!! Way to GO T-KITTY!!!!! YEE HA!!!! Thanks for all the well wishers and supporters love ya!!!!

Getting in shape update...

Well I am Happy to say that I am doing really good at this so far! I have already dropped one pant size!!! I am NO LONGER drinking ANY DIET PEPSI!!! I have switched to Crystal light and Water!!! I haven't even craved or even been tempted to have my Diet Pepsi. I really am so proud of myself! I have been walking on the Treadmill at home for an hour Monday thru Friday. Hayli is so cute...she is my little cheerleader by asking me each day "Mom are you going to get on the treadmill today?" She keeps me motivated to keep going! Thanks Hayli Bug!!! One thing I decided to do is just set in my mind that I am going to do it and NOTHING is going to stop me!!! I will continue to do posts so bare with me on that! It helps me to feel better and it helps motivate me as well! Love to you all!!!

My New Year Resolutions...

Its been quite some time since my last post and I was thinking I should make some New Year Resolutions! I always feel that I set these and fail every time so why do it! But I REALLY WANT TO SUCCEED THIS YEAR!!!

1. Work on being more PATIENT
2. Be more CHRIST like
3. Read my Scriptures
4. Drink WATER!!!! Less Diet Pepsi
5. LOOSE WEIGHT
6. WORK OUT...
7. Be a better Wife & Mom

Wish me luck...(I REALLY NEED IT)

Dancing Santa's...

Click here to create your own video

Feeling the Christmas Budget CRUNCH?

FEELING THE CHRISTMAS BUDGET CRUNCH?

(Warning: this post is not for the faint of heart or easily embarrassed.... It may also be a post with a limited time engagement.)

This was on my Cousins blog about a nifty homemade Christmas slipper craft idea for those on a tight gift budget. It made me laugh and I wanted to share.

These bedroom slippers are soft and hygienic, equipped with potentially non-slip grip strips on the soles, fresh (optional built in deodorant feature), convenient (no more bending over to mop up spills), completely disposable, biodegradable, and environmentally safe.

They come in three convenient sizes: (1.) Regular, (2.) Light and (3.) Get out the Sand Bags.

Materials (per pair):

Four maxi pads

Decorations (optional)

Instructions:

Lay two maxi pads out flat (for the foot part). Wrap a second one around each flat pad to form the toe area/top. Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom foot part. Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers, buttons, ribbons, etc.

Follow the Prophet...

With recent events in our family and also the Country I just wanted to put up a little reminder to follow the PROPHET! I was once told its easier to be good than it is to be bad. The reason for this is you have to go out of your way to make wrong choices. I truly believe this and hope that everyone will hold to the "ROD" and FOLLOW OUR PROPHET. You know when we make right choices things seem to go so much better in life and there aren't as many trials or at least the trials are easier to over come! I am learning the older I get how short life really is and that I need to VALUE every minute that I have with my family! I love you all if anything this is more of a reminder for me! Here is a talk from Elder Neal A. Maxwell...

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.'

This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ... Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted... This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religions convictions.

Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probably, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do.

We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Meeting Challenges of Today," BYU Devotional October 10, 1978

Aunt Dalene...

I just want to take a few minutes to pay tribute to my Aunt Dalene she passed away on Friday November 7th. What an amazing women she was and she will truly be missed by many.

When my sister Valerie called to give me the news I was in such shock I couldn't begin to even believe what she had said. In fact I even said on the phone "are you kidding?" I was in shock...I just saw her not long ago at our wonderful family reunion. She looked so great and I think that is why it was such a shock. My Dad called not long after and asked if I had heard the news and I let him know that Val had called. I told him how sorry I was and asked how he was doing and he just said that he was NUMB! In all honesty that is how I felt... NUMB in total disbelief that she was gone.

As I write this I weep in sadness for how much I miss her! I keep thinking of what a beautiful reunion she is having with her Mom & Dad and also Stan (her daughter Shelly's Husband that past away a few years ago).

I remember all of the good times we have shared with Aunt Dalene and her family when we would go out West for Easter and they would take their trailer out and so would Grandma & Grandpa. I remember ridding in their brown SUV type car and having so much fun. Our wonderful Easter egg hunts and Uncle Barth and Aunt Dalene would always have candy in their trailer (candy bars...YUMMY). Thanksgiving dinners and Grandma & Grandpa's with ALL the family! Our wonderful Christmas parties and white elephant gifts. Such wonderful times we have all shared with one another. Summer parties with water fights and pure fun and enjoyment for all.

When I was working at Kate's in American Fork I got the privelage of doing my Aunt Dalene's hair several times. It was a great time to get to know my wonderful Aunt better. She was such a wonderful person and a great example to others. She reminded me so much of my Grandma and I will truly miss her!

I LOVE YOU AUNT DALENE AND WILL MISS YOU SO MUCH UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!!! Give Grandpa & Grandma my LOVE and please bless and watch over us all!

Cemetary Vist...

This is my Grandpa & Grandma Mayne's grave. We went down to a Baptism on Saturday and I decided that I wanted to go and visit their grave. Every time I am there to visit I always feel a sense of peace while I am there. Hayli enjoys it when we are there and I tell them stories of my Grandparents. I only wish that Kenli & Gracie had a chance to meet them here on earth. They would have loved them as much as I do! We had the camera with us and Hayli said lets take a picture with Grandpa & Grandma so we did!

I love and miss you Grandpa & Grandma so very much!

Trick or Treating...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! This year STEVE was OFF!!!

YAY...Daddy gets to go TrIcK oR TrEaTiNg with us!!!

We started about 7:30 and only wanted to go to a few houses in our neighborhood and then off to Centerville to see friends. I figured the kids DON'T need a lot of candy and we had a late start.

We went and visited "GRANDMA & GRANDPA RICHARDS" Paul was Steve's captain/Family friend and our Neighbor for years when we lived in Centerville. They are like my kids' Grandparents that are close since my Dad is in St. George, my Mom is in Orem and Steve's Mom is in Salt Lake, and his Dad is a Truck Driver so he isn't here all that often. I'm so gratful we have them in our lives...we love you Paul & Joan!!!

So after our visit we went to a few of our favorite houses in our old ward and the MAIN stop was the COTTON CANDY HOUSE!!! This is a favorite of the whole family! We were the last to get cotton candy and he had given out over 350 bags of it this year! WOW that is a lot of work for him & his family! The kids LOVE IT though! Our next house is the "MONSTERS" house...a guy dresses up scary and walks around on STILTS and scares everyone! Once again another favorite! Hayli and Gracie weren't affraid of him at all but KENLI on the other hand didn't want anything to do with him. What was so great about Gracie is she wanted to give him a KISS & a LOVE!!! She is so funny!

Once we were all done we went home and the first thing everyone did was sit down on the couches. I went and put things away and when I came back into the living room everyone had CRASHED!!! I guess we wore them all out!

Hope you all enjoy the pictures!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Charlie...the funny places she sleeps!

Our kitty is so funny with the places she curls up to take a nap. We find her in the funniest place all curled up sound asleep. I decided to take a few pictures when I found her sleeping in a box under the kitchen table. She is such a lovey kitten!

Halloween Party at the Fire Department...

Tonight was the annual Fire Department Halloween Party. The kids got their costumes on and Hayli brought her friend Ashley. Steve had to work but he was working at the station the party was at so that worked out great (not to mention that its just accross the street from our house)! Hayli was a CIRCUS kinda girl, Kenli was CINDERELLA and Gracie was TINKERBELL! They all looked so cute...Hayli's friend Ashely was a PINK LADY the other little girl that is dressed like an Indian is Samantha and her Dad works with Steve at the Fire Department.

At the party we had HOT DOGS and CHILI for dinner and GLAZED DOUGHNUTS they even had SUGAR COOKIES that you could frost and decorate. This year was really fun for the kids since they had a great big blow up toy for the kids to play on! WHAT A HIT!!! They all had a blast on it. Gracie had to take off her wings to play on it and Steve ended up wearing them! He is such a GREAT DADDY!!! We really had a good time watching the kids play and enjoy themselves.

Hope you all have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Love to you all!

Sickness update...

I wanted to give you all an update on everyone that has been sick. Hayli & Kenli are all better and have 2 more days left on their antibiotic. I am better as well other than a little bit of cough lingering around but I feel 110% better than what I was. Gracie the poor baby is still sick. In fact she went back to the doctor today because I think she is WORSE not any better. Her sinus infection is still the same and the PERTUSSIS isn't any better either. She now has a cold in both eyes but heck the strep is gone!!! The doctor put her on a new antibiotic and also antibiotics for her eyes. Poor little thing she just can't seem to catch a break with this stuff. The doctor told me today that PERTUSSIS can take up to 10 weeks before she is completely better! 10 WEEKS are you CRAZY!!!!! That means we would have about 6 1/2 weeks to go!!! I really don't want to go that long with a sick child so I hope this new medicine will help! I'm think I will have Steve give her a blessing to help her recover quicker! I should have done that in the beginning but a lot of times I just don't think of it for little colds... I KNOW this one wasn't little but I just never even thought of it. I guess I need to be more in tune with our Heavenly Father and the needs of the kids...(being a better listener)!!!