Better late...

Fitness Challenge, yes it is still on! I hope all is well. I apologize for my tardiness with my weekly report, but I am a little busy! Actually I'm REALLY busy! My Mother in Law is coming to stay with us for a week, and I am trying to finish all the "projects" that have been waiting for months to get done! Anyway, I'm still working out 5 times a week, but I'm not seeing much weight loss! I need to change up my routine and I also need to eat less through out the day!
I took a look at my before pics the other day, thinking that might help motivate me, but really it didn't do much, other than make my stomach turn a little! Mostly because I don't look THAT much different from those photos!
One month left, I won't give up- 10 lbs to go.......................Well, back to work!

80 is the new 70...

Today is my absolutely gorgeous MOTHER'S 80Th Birthday!!! Yes my MOM is 80 years old today! Happy Birthday MOM! I was on the phone with her a couple days ago and even SHE can't believe that she's 80! She said "80 is the new 70" but I don't think she looks a day over 69!!! Anyway, I thought it would be fun to tell you a few things about this AMAZING WOMAN, that I call MOM...

1. She was born May 18, 1927

2. In Driggs Idaho

3. She is one of TEN children. I believe she is 5th in the line up?

4. She and all of her siblings had to call their Dad, sir...

5. She was a bottle red head, for most of her life until she "gave into the gray" in her late 60's.

6. She didn't grow up on a farm, but they did have cows.

7. Her Dad was a Janitor at the school. So she would tell all of her class mates that she owned the school, and they believed her because they had the keys!

8. I believe they would also help their Dad clean and sometimes even sleep at the school? Is that right Mom?

9. She was a self-proclaimed "Wallflower" at the school dances.

10. She moved down to Utah at the age of 18.

11. She lived in the Beehive House.

12. Her first job was with the phone company (Ma-Bell)

13.On April 26, 1946, she was set up on a blind date with my Dad. Her sister Marge was married to a man named Ted who just happened to be best friends with my Dad. Ted and my Dad were tennis bums, so Marge decided to send in my Mom to "Put my Dad in his place" or in other words get him away from Ted and get a job!

14. It was love at first sight! But it was 5 years before they would say "I do"

15.The "I do's" took place on February 28, 1951
16. In Fort Riley Kansas. My Dad was stationed there for basic training. (Army)
17. She bought her own wedding ring, it cost $7.00. She proudly wears that beautiful ring to this day!

18. She was 23 years old when she married.

19. She was married in a beautiful Burgundy suit, that she still has today!

20. They were sealed exactly four years later February 28, 1955- In the Salt Lake Temple.

21. She had her first child at 24 and her last child (and favorite) me at 45! And no I was NOT a mistake!

22. She has 6 children, 14 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren
23. She has been married for 56 years, and is still MADLY in love with my Dad!

24. She loves her Grandchildren more than anything else in the world! She is always willing to babysit, and she spoils them all!!! And when she does tend, she doesn't just put the kids in front of the t.v.- she plays games with them and always lets them win!
25. I know I just wrote that she loves her Grandchildren more than anything in the world, but really it's more like a tie between the kids and JUDGE shows! She lives for those stupid Judge shows! She watches them everyday, I just don't think it's right!
26. And she listens to the television as LOUD as it will go!

27. She eats lunch and dinner food for breakfast.

28. She eats some kind of meat with almost every meal
29. She is an Amazing cook! She makes THE BEST GRAVY in the world! Oh how I miss GRAVY!
30. She loves DESSERT! Especially CAKE! I use to work at a restaurant called LaCaille.
We hosted weddings there all the time, so I would bring home wedding cake for my Mom. She loved it! She said she never ate a cake she didn't like!!!

31. She is happiest when surrounded by her family.

32. She is very emotional, all of her children (especially me) inherited that lovely trait from her!
33. She is so FUNNY!
34. She does NOT hold a grudge.
35. She is simple. Not in the sense of being Bromidic but rather easy going, easy to get along with- simplistic...

36.This picture above is a painting called 'Tijuana Serenade' My Mom is the woman in the painting. (My Dad is the Artist) This painting is also for sale if anyone is interested, just contact me!
37. She loves to read Readers Digest... I won't say where!

38. She use to answer the phone by saying her full name, instead of hello...

39. She is 5'4 (well she might be a little shorter now-a-days)

40. She didn't get her drivers license until she was 46 years old!

41. She hates to drive! There are only certain places she'll drive too. She doesn't want to turn left or right?

42. She use to let me drive home from church when I was 14 years old! That was SO COOL! Until I hit the garage!

43. She backed out of the garage with the car door open.........TWICE!!!
44. She loves to wear her robe and slippers.
45. Everyone who knows her loves her! But Kasey says she loves her THE MOST!!! Really Kasey does love her more than anyone else in the world!

46. She is very discerning.

47. She is gregarious.
48. When I was little I had a friend named Jessica. She had an older brother named Lars. He was HORRIBLE. He was mean to everyone, especially to my friend Jessica. One day we were all outside playing when Lars came up to me and pushed me down. My Mom happened to be watching from inside. She came running out of the house over to me. She grabbed Lars by his shirt with one hand(the other hand she used to point in his face) and said "If you ever touch my daughter again, I WILL flatten you as flat as a pancake!" It was a standing ovation! All of the kids in the neighborhood cheered for my Mom! He never touched me again!
49. She has a green thumb.
50. She works in her yard everyday! (weather permitting)

51. She has a huge garden.

52. She use to can tomatoes, I don't know if she does?

53. She always has a dandelion digger in her hand when she's outside.
54. She and my Dad go on a walk everyday, (except for Sunday) They usually walk for an hour or an hour and a half. They have done this for about 40 years...

55. They walk in the Mall if it's bad weather.

56. On December 4, 2000- My Mom was hit by a truck while on a walk with my Dad. She was taken to LDS Hospital. It was the worst day of all of our lives!

57. They called her "Zena" warrior princess in the ambulance because she was so tough!

58. She is still in pain from the results of that accident, and yet my Dad says she never complains..

59. She use to always dress up for Halloween. Her most "Famous" costume was as an Indian. I only wish I had the picture to show you, it was classic!

60. She ALWAYS has her toes and fingernails painted.

61. She was there, in the delivery room when both of my babies were born.

62.She was my escort when I received my Endowments.

63. She was also my escort when I was sealed to my Husband and children.

64. She loves UNCONDITIONALLY. Her name should be in the dictionary definition of unconditional love...

65. She has a great love for the Gospel.

66. She loves to serve.

67. She is currently the assistant compassionate service leader in her ward.

68.During tough times she has taken on jobs outside the home, at places like Chase acceptance, Dairy Queen, and Chuck-a-Rama...
69. She flies to Chicago to visit us when ever she can. We love her to come here! I am so proud of her getting on a plane all by herself!

70. Hawaii is the furthest away she has ever been from Utah.

71. She was in a parade once where she was the "attendant" to the Queen. My Dad said she should have been the Queen, she was 100 times more beautiful than that other girl!

72. I use to have this Rod Stewart record. My Mom loved the song 'Some guys have all the luck' She would have me play it over and over...
73. She has a dishwasher, but doesn't use it! She washes her dishes by hand.

74. She also hangs her clothes outside to dry!

75. She loves sports especially the Jazz and BYU. She watches all of the games!

76. She attended all of her children's "sporting" events. She never missed a game unless it was in another state, and even then she would be there when she could! (Now she goes to all of her Grand and great Grandchildrens games)

77. She was very VOCAL at the games. ( It use to embarrass me, now I do it to my kids!)

78. At one time she was the Stake Region Sports Director. There was a team that had a male coach, which at that time was against the rules. So she told the team they had to forfeit the game. The next morning we came out to my Mom's car only to find it covered with Oreo cookies, inside and out! It totally ruined the paint! (Reminder, this was CHURCH BALL!!!)
79. TURTLES are her very favorite candy!
80. My Mom always allowed me to call her by her first name, Irma- Whenever I would call her Irma in front of my friends they would look at me with shock, and say I can't believe you just called your Mom Irma, and I would say I know, isn't she COOL!!!

Mom, you are THE GREATEST WOMAN I know! I love you so very much and miss you everyday! You are an amazing example to all who know you! Dad says he's the luckiest guy in the world to have you for his wife, I couldn't agree more you are truly RESPLENDENT!!!!!!!

I want my MOMMY...

Mothers Day, without our Mothers. Here is a pic of our little family (minus two) on Mothers Day. And even though it was a very beautiful day, filled with love, happiness, and presents just for me, there was still a huge hole in our hearts for our Mothers! Holidays are definitely a sad reminder (as if we need any more reminders) that we are 1400 miles away from almost everyone in the world that we love! I know, I know quit cryin and get on with it!

Anyway, on to the fitness challenge.................. Well where do I start. This weight loss business is really not for me! I must say, through out my life I have been known to be very competitive, motivated, driven- but as I look back at all of the things I was trying to accomplish by being competitive, motivated and driven- they were all things that really just came naturally to me!
In other words, I really didn't have to stretch myself that much to reach the finish line! But with this weight loss thing, I find myself in uncharted territory. I feel frustrated with myself. I can't seem to find my motivation! Yes I want to loss the weight, but I want it to be easy! I want it to be fast! I want to be able to eat whatever I want, and look the way I did 10 years ago! Basically, I want it to be everything it's not!............. Alright, back to the reality of the situation. I'm going to take my own advice and try to be patient! I'll keep plugging along with the "Prize" in mind! I will continue eating "good for me food" and I'll work out 4-5 times a week! I hope my words do not discourage anyone else, but I needed to let you all know what I was going through!
M-

For it's 1,2,3 strikes you're out!

Yes, after almost 3 years of living in Chicago, we finally got to go to a Cubs game. And if judging from the smile on Avery's face you can see we had a great time!

We had a very "interesting" ride up to the ball park on a bus with 30 of my husbands very drunk co-workers! If you ever want to show your teenage children exactly "why" it's not good to drink, just ride in a bus with 30 of them! Kasey was like, I'm NEVER going to drink! But none of that mattered to Avery, he thought it was the coolest thing in the world! He had this smile on his face the entire trip! (not because of the drunks, but because of the bus!) Just wanted to make that clear...

Anyway, Wrigley Field! What a great history! There was so much energy in that stadium, we just loved it! How awesome is that score board! They still put the numbers up by hand! And not just for the Cubs game, but for all of the games that are being played that night!

We sat in the bleacher seats which was fine, for about 4 innings. Then Avery had had it! He started whining and crying and saying "Let me out, let me out!" So Troy and I took him on a walk around the stadium. We were on the hunt to find some milk, which by the way they DON'T sell!

It was a great night. The Cubs won and now we can cross off the last thing we needed to do before moving back to Utah! ( I wish)

Papa, thank you so much for a wonderful evening! Kasey loves her new Cubs shirt, and I still have a little stomach ache from the Chicago dog, which "Yes" I did eat last night! Was it worth it? Yea, as long as I can get the ketchup stains out of my white pants!

(Click on the pic to read the note, very sweet!)

I also want to thank Jill for the delicious happy mail she sent me! It is a tube of her favorite lip gloss, and after using it, I can see why! It is sooooooo yummy! The flavor is vanilla cola! (I need to be careful, I could become addicted!) It tastes and smells just like those little jelly coke bottle candy!

Kas and I couldn't stop putting it on last night! I can't wait to put it on again today!

Thanks again Jill...

DOG the SCALE!!!

FORGET THE SCALE!!! Listen, really listen! If you are exercising regularly and eating well, then look in the mirror for your reference, and ask yourself how you are feeling and looking!

The scale is for those individuals who are "sorta" working out and "kinda" trying to eat better. They're checking to see if they are getting away with it! Believe me, I want to look down at the number on that scale and see a really big drop! But the reality is, it doesn't change THAT much. But when I look in the mirror, I see a change. And every morning when I wake up, I 'm excited to continue on this quest to lose weight and be healthy!!!

Life has cycles, and some weeks are up and some are down. Your motivation to want to exercise and eat healthy is to BE HEALTHY and HAPPY! Movement and food are plugged directly into your emotional state. Nobody said this was going to be easy, and who wants something that's easy anyway? Ha-Ha But really, don't get discouraged, it's only been two weeks! We've only just begun! (plug Karen Carpenter) Try and look at it differently. Make it your new way of life. The reward will come, but it requires a little patience (plug Axl Rose)

Girls, I am so proud of all of you and I'm proud of myself! This isn't easy, but so what! Don't ever give up, be realistic, if you fall off the wagon, get back on! Keep setting new goals, try and make it fun (if possible)

Alright, a new week to look forward to, here's what I'm going to do... EXERCISE 4 to 5 times a week! Food; I'm going to choose one meal a day to eat carbs. But other than that I'll continue the South Beach guidelines...
Breakfast, no more eggs for me YEAH- HOO! I had some oatmeal today and it was alright? Food has really taken on a different meaning to me? I don't really look forward to eating like I use to. I'm like a machine, I eat because I know it's time to eat. I have a snack because it's time for a snack, etc... And really that's fine, I'll continue eating this way as long as I can, but I'm realistic about "ME" and what I need so I'm going to allow myself a "Cheat Day" On this day, I'm going to "look forward" to eating some really NAUGHTY FOODS!!!! Like CAKE!!! I can hardly wait! But I will, I'll wait, and it will only be that much sweeter...

Book of Ruth

Last night, my darling girlfriend Ruth (pictured above) had a few of us girls over to her house for Yoga. We had so much fun, and have decided to make it a weekly ritual.

I had my daughter Kasey take a few pics of us. We really didn't stand this close to each other while we were doing it, we just had to move close so everyone could fit in the pictures.

Thanks Ruth, and to all that couldn't be there, we missed you and hope to see you next week!