Visitors from the East. Idaho. Part I.

At the end of May my brother, Andrew and his wife Alison came to visit us for a few days from Maine.  My other brother, Bryce was also able to drive over from Oregon.  It was the first time in a year and a half that all three of us siblings were able to be together, since Andrew and Alison were married.  This was a great opportunity for us to get to know Auntie Alison better too!  

Princess Olivia had a lot of fun when Auntie Alison wanted to play dress-ups with her!

We spent an afternoon at the park for Memorial Day, flying kites, playing frisbee and bocce and chasing kids!  Uncle Bryce and Olivia flew her kite together!

Zach had just learned how to sit up on his own and he loved watching all the action around him!

For lunch, Andrew and Alison requested "authentic mexican" (as there is not really any good Mexican in Maine).  So the taco bus in Rexburg seemed to be a fitting place...

how many people can you fit inside of a taco bus???

       

The next day, my mom, who was out visiting in Montana, came down to be with her three kids!  We entertained ourselves at i-jump, a new trampoline facility in Idaho Falls.  It was a blast!

                

Some people got lost jumping into the foam pit!....

...while others needed a little assistance getting out!

Brady thought it was a ton of fun and tried to keep up with his uncles as best he could!

Even Zach enjoyed a little time in the foam!

Olivia worked on building towers and then she would slide down the trampoline and crash through them into the pit!

                   

after i-jump we had some lunch and headed over to the Riot Zone for a game of mini golf.  Andrew couldn't resist racing Josh, our cousin!!!  This is CLASSIC Andrew!!!

Later that night we all met up (Andrew, Alison, mom, Bryce, Josh, aunts Donna and Linda, cousins Ben and Rachel and their baby Audrey and our family) at Pizza Pie Cafe.  I failed to get a group picture- but we got a few silly pictures...(using the App on Chris' phone)

               Hannah                    Aunt Linda!

The last day we went bowling in the morning, ate some more Mexican and hung out at the house.  Chris and I were able to go to the temple with Andrew and Alison that night...oh and have a late-night run for, yup, more Mexican! (we took a pic of the 4 of us...but didn't come out with camera phones...)

                                       

Then we had to say bye to Uncle Bryce and headed up to Montana.  On the way we stopped at Mesa Falls to enjoys a short hike and the beautiful scenery.  This was Alison's first time to Idaho and Montana so we wanted her to see some places other than the Snake River plain!

inside the cabin at the falls...we explored and learned more about the animals and insects in that area.

                    

i thought that this tree stump was cool and i was able to take a moment and explain to the kids about how you can count the rings and see how a tree is.

Andrew gave my back a break for a bit from carrying Zach...plus I think he really wanted to "try out" the daddy thing!!!

baseball.

Brady enjoyed playing baseball this spring, with an added bonus of having four of his buddies on his team!

our friend Aaron coached our Golden Eagles ...

his boys, Porter and Ethan are buds with Brady. 

 they also happen to be our "upstairs neighbors" so life for them is pretty good with built-in friends!

Sunday Walk. Twin Bridges.

one of the first beautiful weekends of spring in May we ventured out to a nearby park on a branch of the Snake River.  the fresh air, gentle breeze, throwing stones into the water, exercise...

My personal quest.

So, I've known for some time (like my whole life) that I've needed to lose weight.  I've gone up and down, back and forth, especially since I have been bearing children!  It usually takes me a solid 2 1/2 years to lose enough weight just to get pregnant again (NOT to get back down to pre-pregnancy weight)...so, needless to say, three beautiful children later have each left me with added pounds.

I have watched several friends undergo dramatic weight-loss transformations and lifestyle changes and have been amazed and inspired, as well as overwhelmed and left feeling defeated.  It has always just felt. I.M.P.O.S.S.I.B.L.E.

Back during the winter months I did a post about weight loss and getting serious.  I ended up losing around 9 lbs. and then...well, went back to my old ways...gaining the 9 lbs. back and the low-confidence that got me where I am.

In the few months since then I have made a few self-discoveries.  YES. I am addicted to food.  I REALLY, REALLY like food.  Sometimes I eat something that doesn't even taste that incredible but keep eating it anyway.  Sometimes I eat something that DOES taste incredible and can't seem to put it down.  I just want "ONE MORE BITE."

I have tried to identify WHY am I eating?  WHY can't I let one or two bites be good enough?  WHY must I go back to the jar of chocolate chips repeatedly throughout the day, "sneaking" a handful into my mouth while no one is watching and then walk away feeling "better?"

Do I really use food to cope with stress, sadness, anger? To celebrate when I am happy or with success?  I never used to think that I used food for comfort, but maybe I do?  I certainly have no willpower when something I like is placed in front of me.  Usually I have less of a problem eating at home because I don't buy soda, sweets, chips etc.  I won't buy the foods that trigger me to return to them over and over again throughout the day. BUT when I am at a potluck or a party...or a buffet...FORGET IT.  Willpower out the window.  I can walk in with the best intentions and then let it fly, just like the calories I inhale.

I think I sit down at night with something "good" because it's like a personal reward of a day well done.  I have used it as a wind-down at the end of the day.  When the kids are in bed and things are quiet it's the time I give to myself.  I need to change that.  I need to give myself time to exercise and to reward myself in other ways than with food.

I think part of the reason why I feel angry a lot is because I am angry with myself.

BUT...

It seems that there is never time for ME.  I am mother, wife.  I fulfill all needs within our home.  Everyone else and everything else comes first. And I am exhausted.  How do I go to bed earlier at night so I can wake up before the sun rises, when all is still, to work my hind end off?  It seems that there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that needs to be done unless I stay up until the wee hours of the morning!!  The last time I worked out at 4:30 a.m. consistently for a month I made myself sick repeatedly for two months.

I have to figure it out.  I have to learn to let some things go...

So, I am on a journey.  A QUEST really, to figure out WHY and HOW and to BUILD THE POWER within myself to tell myself "NO!"  I want to live the Word of Wisdom (Doctrine and Covenants 89) and fill my body with good things...I want to FEEL and LOOK strong.  My goal is not to be thin, but to be strong and feel good. 

 I want to go on a trip to Hawaii (maybe in the works for our 10th anniversary) and take a million pictures and not have to delete any because I look awesome, not embarrassing!  I want to run down a beach in a bathing suit with my husband and feel completely free.

I had to write it down...get it out there.  I NEED accountability.  If anyone else wants to join me in this quest, to join me in recording your weekly BODY MAKE-OVER please leave a comment!!!  If you are serious about it and want weekly accountability and support, like I do, I will create a separate private blog.  I know it is possible and I need inspiration!!!

 I am putting it out there...my goal is to lose 65 lbs. total.  I think a healthy weight for my body type, height and age is 134 lbs.  Yup 134, not 135, 134...I don't know it just feels good, to be under 135!  What a dream that would be.  The last time I weighed that I think I was like a freshman in high school and thought I was fat!

Well, here are the stats.  Like I said, I am putting it out there.  I don't care anymore, no more hiding what it is...

May 2012: 196 lbs.  

June 2012: 192 lbs.

July 17th: 189

July 23: 188.8

August 3: 186.4 (down 9.6 lbs)

Considering posting my BEFORE pictures and pictures of progress...not sure if I am that brave...

clogging competition.

We were so proud of Brady for finishing out clogging this past year.  He was the only boy in his class of about 14 girls, and he was slow to pick up the steps initially, but he finally got the hang of it and turned into quite the little dancer!

His last competition was at Lagoon at the beginning of May.  Man are those competitions crazy!  He did an excellent job and so did the girls.  It was so fun to watch our son up on that stage.  Chris and his sisters had performed there many times over the years, so he especially felt nostalgic.  We both felt so much pride for Brady and can't believe how fast he has grown! 

It will be so fun to watch him continue to develop this talent in the future and other talents.  

There were only six of them that competed, which actually made it better I thought with a smaller number of kids to focus on. They ended up coming in 1st in their age group for overall!

You can see the video HERE!!!


It's so cute to see them at this age...he did pretty good despite some stage jitters!



The ladies' man...




After the competition the kids wanted to get to the rides as quickly as their little legs would carry them!  Olivia was very patient as Brady got to go on several rides before she did as we made our way across the park to the kiddie rides.  







Brady decided this year that he was "too old" for most of the kiddie rides, but indulged his sister for a few...

Daddy got to go on a leisurely ride with the kids on the gondola while mommy and Zach watched from below!  I had quite a time with Zach as he was apparently getting sick (he later puked all over himself, me and his car seat at dinner...) and I also forgot his formula, so we had to make a hasty leave of absence from the park to dash across the highway for baby sustenance!  

Zach was a pretty patient boy as he spent most of the day attached to me in the front baby carrier or in his stroller.

Brady got two ribbons and a medal for his performance!!!

We still haven't decided if we're going to have both Brady and Olivia do clogging next year.  It is a big commitment, for time, travel and finances!!!

Zach. 6-9 months.

Tomorrow Zach is 9 months...time for an update!

At 6 months...

(May)

sleeps on tummy

has two bottom teeth

claps his hands

waves hands all around in the air when he gets excited

jumps up and down in the exersaucer

can put his binkie in his mouth by himself

 Olivia always sticks her baby doll "Stella" in the exersaucer with Zach or in his travel crib with him.  

7 months...

(June)

takes good long naps in the afternoon and small naps in the morning and evening

can sit up on his own

starts to army crawl around and explore more

can say "mama" and "dada"

laughs at brother and sister all the time

FINALLY starts eating solids, although he is not happy about it!!!

starts to lean out as he is moving around more
get his two front teeth!

8 months...

(July)

loves to crawl under anything and tries to squeeze through as many things as possible

(when I am in the kitchen and standing in front of the counter he tries to get between me and the cabinets!)

discovered that he loves water and is like a little froggy!

is learning how to wave, and always uses his left hand (Grandpa Graf will be proud!)

still does not like solid foods...will eat baby puffs, banana pieces, graham crackers and will tolerate banana baby food, green beans and squash

is almost crawling...and he can scoot pretty fast to anything he really wants!
has one more tooth up top...for a total of 5

enjoys tubby time and loves the bubbles and splashing in water!

Figuring everything out in life.

You know when you were a kid you just couldn't wait to grow up? Well, at least that's how I always felt.  Now, I look at my children, playing day in and day out without a care in the world and I think how wonderful that would be!

Sometimes I just don't appreciate something for WHAT it is, WHEN it is!!!

I would love to be able to keep up with this blog, and as one of my best friends, Charlotte said, "blog like it's 2009..." In fact, I have often actually stressed out about the fact that I am such a horrible blogger.  I am seldom clever or witty and can't seem to stay on top of posting regularly to save my life.  Weeks usually go by before my dumping of the latest and greatest...

We have already had a very busy summer with family and friends visiting and us doing likewise...long work hours for Chris, me trying to organize and sort through our entire household and two storage areas in prep for a yard sale this weekend, odd jobs etc.  Needless to say I probably have accumulated a million pictures on my camera.  There are so many on there that I really don't even remember what I've taken pictures of!

Basically, for any one who still randomly checks my blog from time to time, I just wanted to let you know that

#1- I am alive...and so are my children (but just barely!)

#2- I will eventually post again...maybe after the yard sale?!

SO, look forward to what is to come...and in the meantime, I am going to try to enjoy life like my children do, with less worries and less pressure that I put on myself to meet demands that I make for myself!

Have a fun weekend!