More of a Good Thing

Here are a few more random pictures of us playing in Park City.

Rach is my partner is crime!

Isn't he a cute boy?

PRESENTS!!  He opened some in Park City (because whats a birthday without presents and cake?)

Some at home with the kids (because the kids were SUPER bummed about not being with him on his birthday, while we were in Park City.)

And even more later with my family.

It was a fun filled weekend with presents and fun everywhere!

Date Night: State Fair Edition

Here are a few pictures from our State Fair/Greek Festival date night from two weeks ago.

I love going to the fairs... I love the smells and colors and the lights!

Colby and I went together for a date night last year and I think we will make it a tradition.

Rach and Andrew - our date night buddies came with us.

These are a couple pictures from Rach's ride on the ferris wheel.

We had some super yummy food at the Greek Festival for dinner and then we headed over the the fair for some dessert and to ride some rides and have my honey win me a stuffed animal.

Everytime Colby sees a basketball game - he HAS to play - Everytime.

The good news is he almost Always walks away with a prize.

Kyah LOVES it!

Too bad summer's over and we'll have to wait another year.

A Revelation of Sorts

I've always heard that eating right and taking care of your body was a good thing to do.  I've also been told to view food as fuel.  I know that I should eat lots of fruits and veggies, lean protein is good and fiber is a must, but since I'm a foodie I tend to eat more than my fair share of the "other" groups too... you know what what I'm talking about - the black sheep of the food pyramid...

Truthfully it's not so much the sugary type things that are my downfall... I like to add cream to things and I'm a huge fan of simple carbs.  Give me a good fatty roll over a piece of cake any day!  Still I like my food and I pretty much eat what I want since I've never really noticed a huge difference when I eat "right" versus when I don't,

But, I've had my own small revelation this past weekend.  On Monday I started my diet, it is based on eating mostly veggies, fruits and lean proteins and eating only what my body "needs" as opposed to what my mind/tongue wants.  Which equates to a lot less food than I would normally "think" I need.  Anyway!  I started on Monday last week and was feeling great!  I had energy, my stomach wasn't bugging me at all, no cravings or headaches really - all good things.

Thursday night we headed up to Park City for Colby's birthday.  For as much as I wanted to adhere to my strict meal plan, for ease and for fun and by some serious peer pressure I decided I'd ditch the diet while in Park City.  Dinner Thursday night was at this fabulous pizza and pasta place.  Probably some of the best pizza and pasta of my life - serious, it was so GOOD!  But, about 15-30 minutes after we finished the meal I wanted to die.  My stomach was in knots, I felt sluggish and gross and wanted to somehow force myself to throw up everything in me. Which of course doesn't happen because I have a stomach of steel and never throw up.  So, what did I do? Ate a carmel apple of course!

Friday I tried to be better, ate eggs and muffins for breakfast, didn't really have lunch since we were doing some mad shopping and then we went to a BBQ joint for dinner.  Guess what happened?  Sick again! 

It's simple really, but there's my revelation.  I FEEL better when I eat better than when I don't.  Maybe it's an age thing, I can't really tell you, but the difference is dramatic.  I started back on my diet and I'm feeling considerable better.  I have energy, I don't feel bloated, my stomach no longer feels like it's trying to outside in itself and I'm happy.

I'm not telling you to eat differently - heck I'm a baker and a lover of all things dessert- I'm merely telling you that it's taken me almost 30 years to learn to listen to my body. 

Park City Trip

For Colby's birthday we decided to take a little trip from reality and "escape" to Park City for the weekend (Not far I know, but it felt like we were an entire world away.)

It was so nice! 

At the Olympic Park

On our way up the mountain for a ride down the Alpine Slide.

We also went down the Mountain Coaster - which was Awesome!

Rach and I went down together and screamed and giggled the whole time.

It was so beautiful up there.

The trees were just starting to change colors and the temperature was perfect!

We ate so much good food while we were up there.

I think we might go back on date nights just for the food.

I haven't been to Park City in YEARS, like before the Olympics - what a seriously cute town!

I want to open up a bakery on Main Street so badly...I am in love.

Birthday dinner!

Sombody's Birthday Shout Hurray!

It's this sexy guys birthday today!

Thank you for making us laugh and not take ourselves or our drama too seriously.

Thank you for all of your "funny things" that keep these kids laughing.

Thank you for making it important to play together and enjoy being a family.

We work hard and we play hard.

 I have a tendency to forget and you are always there to remind me to be a mother first -

everything else second.  You are a great Dad. 

 Thank you for being gentle and taking time for each of us.  My heart wasn't the only one you stole.

This little girl will never be the same.

Thank you for being willing to except me and to become insta-dad.

Thank you for taking us all to the temple and for our regular visits back.

Thank you for being a spiritual leader in our home.

Pretty much this is how I feel about you and the fact that it's your birthday!

YIPPEE!!

Happy Birthday Honey! 

Thank you for all you do to make our family and our marriage a success! 

Thank you for trying so hard to get it right all the time.

I love you!

Day 1

You've got to start somewhere right? 

I have a goal!  A goal to take some control of me.

Today I weigh in at 14 over what I like to be.  Sure I'd still ideally like to weigh 10-15 pounds less than "X" but in all reality I feel good and am happy weighing "X."  However, I am not happy being 14 pounds over "X."  So today instead of just hating it and wishing it away, I'm doing something about it.  (Yay me!)

I know it's sad and kind of silly that I share this here, but someone has to keep me accountable.  The hubs can't really be that guy due to a difference in opinion on how we should go about losing weight and the fact that he is obligated to tell me I look good either way.

My goal is to stay on top of this and get the +14 gone. 

I plan to achieve that by doing my diet (I do a laid out food plan for 11 days) for a few rounds and working out/being active everyday.  I know that diets and things like that can be a temporary fix, but I've done this diet before, it's what helped me get off the 50 pounds after Kyah, and for the most part I've been able to keep it off.  This 14 pounds has been sneaking up on me over the last year... so I'd say keeping off the 50 pounds for almost 4 years is pretty effective - at least for me.

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

I will update you weekly with my weigh in number... thanks for being my support group.

Go Vote!

My super crafty sister in law is participating in a SYTYC challenge here.

She can pretty much figure out a way to make anything you can think of or ask for... she is a handy girl to have around!!

Last week her foot poufs won the thrift challenge and now she's up for vote in the "Knock-off" war.

You will be "bowled" over by these ladies craftiness.

Good luck Celeste!

A Pink Party

One of the good things about having divorced parents (there are a few pro's) is 2 birthdays every year. 

Since Kyah is the attention loving ham that she is, she absolutely hates her birthday.

All the presents and affection are enough to make her wish it were her birthday EVERYDAY.

She was spoiled by her family.  We invited over Colby's family and mine to have a celebration of cake and ice cream and to open presents.

Make a wish and blow the candles out!

Until next year...

4 is Fun!

Since Mr. H would have the kids during the evening of

Kyah's birthday we made sure to make the morning count!

What happens when you ask the birthday girl what she wants for breakfast? 

Multicolored pancake batter!

Butterfly and flower pancakes please!

One of the great things about your birthday?  Opening presents at 10 am.

After breakfast the kids got to play with their friends while the adults did some cleaning.

Then it was off to lunch and Classic Fun Center.

The kids had never been and when Kyah walked in and saw this...

she screamed and then ran.

I seriously love that girl!

They ran and played, and climbed and bounced and then they did it again.

Colby and I laughed so hard at these two.

I can foresee us spending some time here this winter while there is snow outside and the kids need to get some wiggles out.

Then it was off the their Dad's house for Kyah's party and I headed home to finish someones birthday cake.

They say it's your birthday...

A little interview with Kyah, these are her answers, any needed clarification will be in parathesis.

1. What is your favorite color? Pink, Purple & Yellow

2. What is your favorite toy? Girl toys

3. What is your favorite game?  Go fish

4. What is your favorite thing to do? Play, do girl stuff

5. What is your favorite Season? Summer

6. Where is your favorite place to go to on vacation? Disney land (she's never been, but I guess she's hopeful)

7. Where do you want to go on your mission when you grow up? Girls don't go on missions Mom.

8. What do you want to be when you grow up? To be friends (She never wants to grow up)

9. Who is your best friend? Addy, Gavin & Madison

10. Who's your favorite super hero? Those are for boys
11. Who's your favorite princess?  All of them

12. Who's your favorite Scripture Hero? Jesus - Scripture Power

13. What do you want to learn how to do this year? Everything

To my darling girl,

I love you so much!  You bring light and happiness and drama into our home.  You have an endless supply of hugs, kisses and I love you's.  You can wrap the world around your finger and you know it.  You are the glue of our little family.  You have an intense desire to do what's right and even when you rebel against that, you feel sorry instantly.  I love you sweet little spirit and am so grateful to have you in our home.

Love, Mom

You are my Sunshine!

Hppay Birthday Baby Girl!

Don't get it wet

Because the second you do the curls will be back.

Forr church this Sunday I straightened Kyah's hair.

This girl has seriously SO.MUCH.HAIR!

I love those curls, but I think I've only straightened it two other times in her whole life.

Yes, her hair goes all the way to her waist. 

It is so thick too.

I love her hair, except for when I have to brush it and she screams like I'm ripping off her toenails.

I think her straight hair makes her look so much older.

All day she was flipping and whipping it around, she didn't know how to handle her hair straight, it made me laugh all day.

She's such a cute girl - curly or straight.

(As life would have it, she went to her Dad's right after church and then had a water balloon fight.  Guess who's hair came back full of curls?)