they're coming

I have pictures of our trip to Idaho. I actually need to steal some from my sister and the others need to be loaded from our camera....but they are coming.

We had soooo much fun. As usual our visit was way to short, but well worth it. I love hanging out with my fam they are the greatest!!!

Perks

I get up early in the morning to do my work out, for a couple of reasons. One: the house is completely mine, I can work out and then walk to the shower red, sweaty and exhausted; Two: I get the bathroom all to myself for a full 40 minutes...no children and no husband coming and going while I try to beautify myself and Three once its done its out of the way and I have the rest of my day already set in a healthy mindset.

I've decided that I would keep this routine even on Saturday...so yes I got myself out of bed at 5:30 in the am! worked out and decided to hit up wal-mart before the rest of the world remembered it was Saturday after a payday and out of food.

Here, my friends, is one of the perks to getting up this early:

I think sometimes He gives us this view as a reward for getting up early and doing what you need to do...or he could just love us a whole bunch and wants us to remember how perfect this world can be. I love it.

Its gotta a what on its head?

The following conversation happened the other morning while I was in the bathroom curling my hair and the girls had a few moments to play before school.

Bethanie: Its a horse

Juliet: no its a unicorn

Breana: nooooo its a horse!

Bethanie: YA!

Juliet: no, you know hows I can tell....its gotta a corn on its head

silence

Breana and Bethanie: ....oh.

I just about died laughing. They sounded so serious in there mythical creature debate and really...I can see where they would think unicorns would have corns to differ them from horses. I got me some smart cookies. :D

Tagged

1. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?

Oh goodness...Everywhere! I would love to travel to every country! But my absolute top of my list place would be Venice Italy! I'm going there someday and I can't wait!

2. If you could travel in time to any place or to meet any person, where would you go or who would you meet?

Such a hard question...President JFK, Dr. King, President Lincoln are all that I wouldn't mind meeting, but I would have to go with Shakespeare. He's always been an inspiration of mine.

3. What is your favorite holiday and why?

I love Holidays in General, but I love, love love Thanksgiving and Christmas! Usually when our family gets together and its just so much fun. I, like my darling sister, also enjoy Independence day and I tear up as well every time the national anthem is sung or played

....and of course BLACK FRIDAY!!!! WAHOO

4. What is your favorite food?

Well if you don't know all ready...I just love food. I love my moms cooking (especially her tamales!) but my favorite type of food PASTA, Tai food and cake! :D

5. If you had $5,000 to spend on anything you want (for fun), what would you do with it?

Take my family (including parents and siblings) on the Disney cruise for a week. How fun would that be?!?!

or

Lasik eye surgery!

6. What was the most treasured gift that you've ever received?

Besides my children. My husband...I can't imagine loving someone this much and the knowledge that he loves me just as much is just so overwhelming to me. It truly is one of the greatest gift to me.

Also the Gospel. Where would I be if it where not allowed to be here, if Joseph Smith had not been allowed or able to restore it for us? I would not be in a good place and I would most definitely be sad and lost.

7. Who is one of your greatest heroes? Why?

I think this one is a hard one. So many people I would consider in the hero realm....my parents for the incredible hearts they have, my sister D for the incredible inspiration and rock she has been for me....my family in general for the amazing people they are. My husband for rescuing me from thinking I would never be truly loved, my children for making me want to be a better person and Heavenly Father and Jesus for not only allowing me to come and live this life but having the faith in me that I can do it and do it well.


8. Which animal is your favorite? Why?

you know I really don't have a favorite animal. I enjoy cats and dogs and such but I just don't have a absolute favorite.....I think if anything probably a lion. So majestic, powerful and an attitude to boot. :D

I'm suppose to tag other people. so here is who I tag:

Lexi, Ruth and Aprill. have fun

What? That's not an effective way to communicate?

If you know me, and most of you do, you'll know that I come with quiet an attitude. I've always had an attitude and it has helped and hindered me tremendously at various times in my life. Times when said attitude comes into play, when I feel threatened or if I feel my family is threatened, if I'm being talked down too, if someone challenges my parenting skills...things like that. Even if they are not, if I even perceive this to be true I will immediately jump into my attitude.

The other day Brian and I got in a little tiff. He said the girls learned a certain behavior from me, I clearly disagreed and had points to prove this. But instead of calmly asking him to listen to what I had to say, I automatically jumped into my defensive attitude. He completely shut down, would not answer me, would not talk to me. So I say "why is it you can say what you want to say but I don't get to say what I want to say?" his response: "because I don't say it with attitude"

Ok true point. I do...and although I don't think it fair he shut me off completely, I do think it was fair of him to call me out and not continue it until I checked it. (which is suuuper hard for me).

Don't get me wrong...I will continue to stand up for myself, but I will try very hard not to include the automatic defensive attitude. We will see if I can do this.

Luckily for me...he loves me anyway. ;~)

Snacks

I was talking to one of my beautiful sisters today (as I often do) and we were talking about snacking. How often we remember to make our kids healthy snacks and then turn around and eat unhealthy snacks ourselves. I think this is a hard habbit to break...well it is for me anyway. I love yummy foods and lets face it, not all yummy foods are fantastic for you right?!

We are coming up on the holidays where much yumminess will be for the partaking. My goal: to make sure I partake in moderation and eat healthy whenever possible. Not just for main meals but for snacks as well, Drink more water and watch my portion sizes!

I want to lose another 10 pounds by Christmas. Thats five pounds a month. I can do this!!!! And now that I have written it out in a public setting...please feel free to ask for updates and see how I"m doing. It might just keep me in gear. :D

Frumpy days

I've always had a low opinion of myself. I've struggled with my weight for years and it is still an ongoing battle, I've never really been book smart or overly excel at something super fantastic. I have my talents here and there...but for the most part, I'm average.

Sometimes I think I am simply fantastic, or I will catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and say 'dang, I'm pretty today'. But for the most part it is a daily struggle not to focus on the things I don't have going for me!

I know I have this problem of not thinking I'm good looking or thin enough, of not thinking I"m good enough or worth a whole heck of a lot. When I do start thinking like that I try really hard to tell myself something I do well or point out that I have lost over fifty pounds in the last year and the last 20-30 are the hardest to get off. I do, but sometimes the mean me just simply will not go away and she wins. Not often but she does.

The other day I was having such a day. Nothing I did seemed to be good enough or appreciated. the children complained about dinner and homework, I just didn't have the energy to work out (even though I knew darn well it would make me feel better), I was trying very hard to be a good mother, wife and caretaker and frankly I was feeling ugly and fat!!

Brian and I sat down on the couch after the girls went to bed. He asked if I wanted to watch a few shows with him. 'Sure why not...whatever' was the attitude I had.

He sat down, made me turn towards him, touched my cheek, looked over my face and then said:

"My goodness you are beautiful". Then softly kissed me.

It was exactly what I needed, craved and frankly wanted. It made me feel like everything I do was totally worth it and appreciated and that I am not just worth something to someone...I am worth everything to him.

I will definitely have more frumpy days, that is a given....but I know my worth.

Old......

The following conversation happened on the way to school between my three daughters:

Breana: today is my teachers birthday

Bethanie: oh ya well today is my teachers birthday

Juliet: well mine too!!!

Breana: My teacher is going to be 30!!!

silence

Bethanie and Juliet in unison: That is soooo old!

Oh goodness. Do you remember thinking 30 is old? now I'm desperately trying to convince myself that 30 is the new 20! Gotta love it.