Moons Over My Hammy...and other thoughts...

I took a very long walk this morning...the trick is to walk REALLY far in one direction, because then you gotta get back SOMEHOW, right?!

And that gives me a lot of time to think....

-I really hope that I get below that certain "century" mark on the scale soon....

-I have 2 out of 3 kids gone overnight tomorrow....who can I pawn Drew off on.....

-If there was an academy awards for fitness, I would stand and thank the makers of the Enell bra...more than any other piece of equipment, it has changed my life!

-if someone was behind me, they could describe my backside as "moons over my hammies" (which bytheway, is Denny's BEST breakfast!)

-I was envisioning a dream sequence where I am in a race where my brother Matthew is rooting my on from the sidelines...and it made me choke up!

-I thought of my friend, Kris, who made a decision that she wanted something better for herself, got in rock-star shape, and is training as a triathlete...

-I really love Vail...our little town kisses the hills and mountains, Octotillo's stretch out green and beautiful, and the sky was clear and blue...

Walking, biking, or running gives you time to dream, calculate, and solve the world's problems....as Martha would say, "its a GOOD thing!"

Primary

Very recently, I was released from my calling in primary as the chorister. It has been bittersweet. I felt like it was time, and that the children needed someone new.

My throat gets a little tight when I think that I no longer GET to stand in front of those beautiful kids and sing songs about the Savior, "He Sent His Son" required me to sing despite that tight throat! The Holy Ghost really can put a hug on our heart through music!

I have been a chicken, a cowboy, a baby, a snowman among other things.

I have lead the children with a wand, a flower, a spatula, and flyswatter.

We have made cookies for the primary president, gone on an airplane ride, witnessed "magic water" and sung to unsuspecting members we just happen to snag from the hallway.

Favorite parts? Well, all of the above, in addition to...

-hearing kids whisper to their moms when they see me "thats my music teacher!"

-hugs!

-making teachers jump, hop chairs, spin around (and they were such good sports!)

-the bishoprich messages (just TRY not to cry when Brother L comes in, I dare ya!)

Here's my other faves....

Teachers! I feel so blessed to be in a room where people volunteer to teach children the gospel. Many don't even teach their own kids. Genuine love and appreciation are given to the kids from their teachers freely, and it has touched my heart and made me want to be a better teacher, too.

Leaders!....Allison T, Tina, Janelle, Michelle, Mindi, Tracy, Allison, Jillian, and Andrea.

One of the biggest blessings in my life are the women in it. I have felt the Holy Spirit during sharing times, and am so thankful that our kids are being taught by these amazing examples.

I love them ALL very much, and even though we all move on, I know that primary has changed us and bound us forever.

Game on!

Drew is starting Vail Viking tackle football next week and Shayne thought he better aquaint Drew with the basics of the game.

Drew started out using references such as"bad guys" (defense), "good guys"(offense) and the "guy who throws the football under his butt"(center)....

to knowing a little bit about positions, and what they are called.

He is determined to be on the line, and so hopefully he has a chance to be defense/offensive tackle.

I think he has a taste for blood, this one.

We joke that we can't wait to see him get tackled for the first time and how he will react.

And I can't wait to see his cute buns in football pants.

Good times.

Friends!

I feel so blessed that my KIDS have great friends, too. Drew and Paige have such fun together, and Kennedy and Cassidy are two peas in a pod. I am so glad that they have such good

buddies to have fun with!

(Drew and Paige thought this would make for a great picture...I agree!)
(Kennedy and Cassidy made these headbands for the first day of school)

My Workout Buddy

Being that I am participating in an 8 week health challenge, AND that I have been doing Weight Watchers, I have been trying SUPER hard to exercise regularly.
This is hard for me, but I feel SO good when I complete the task, I wonder why I put it off.
Kennedy is doing Weight Watchers with me, and so she has been running with me a few times.
I am so impressed at how she digs deep to push through the discomfort, and love that many times she is waiting for me to catch up. She never complains, and is never the one who gives up first...thats MY job.
I must admit, running with my daughter makes me dig a little deeper too.
We ran around Del Lago at sunset today, and I couldn't think of a better way to spend time with my beautiful daughter!

(I luv you man)

I was able to spend time with a few dear friends today, and I must say, I am pretty lucky.
They are intelligent, funny, positive, wise, did I say funny?
My life is so much richer for the addition of all the women in my life.
How did I get so lucky?
I am not sure when is the right time to tell your friend you love them, but I am saying it right now.
I love you.
From the bottom of my coke drinkin, chocolate loving, dumb tv watching, grateful heart.

The B Word

And I mean budget, jeez, what other word would I be referring to?!
UGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Shayne says we need to crack down, and while I agree, I don't wanna live within the parameters of a budget. I want to budget to work around ME...apparently that isn't a budget then, is it?
He thinks that a budget of $140 person per/month is realistic, and I think he's crazy.
Well, I actually said that part out loud, "you're crazy!"....yeah, we are off to a great start.
I want to be a grown up and actually know what money we have and where its been going (my current system has me calling the bank to ask them how much is left in there) but I aint
saying its gonna be easy....

So you have a lumpy butt? What else is new?

It's summertime, and that means bathing suit season. Because I have a pool, we swim most days. I actually really like being in my bathing suit. When I am done swimming, I like to clean the house in my swimsuit. I have gotten my mail in my swimsuit. I have made a coke run in my swimsuit (I sent the kids in though!).

For a girl who carries a little junk in her trunk...and hips, and tummy and arms....I think maybe I should be more self consious. Here's the thing though...no one is shocked that I am not a size 2 under my clothes, so who cares? My mom and grandmas didn't let opportunities to have fun with us kids because they were worried about what they looked like.

I remember being so self consious as a teenager, but also very aware that I filled out that swimsuit top...girls realize what their biggest assets are early on :)

Best memories for me is us going to Jack in the Box in our swimsuits after a long day at Seal Beach.

My favorite swimsuits come from Lands End because of their cute skirts, long tankini tops and the fun prints...not to mention, underwire, for girls with big knockers.


So here are a few pics of my life in a swimsuit....

So I started out life with a boy's body....


Me and the grandmas...



My fourteenth birthday...looking into the sun isn't pretty....