Catch UP

Our last days in Salt Lake

the never ending hotel stay

getting settled in our new home

Our Favorite Things about Oregon so Far:

Berry Picking

Tons of trees

Not so crowded

Lots of Rivers

No sales tax

Having our own fenced backyard

Having a house

Great Ward

the temperature

being an hour from the ocean

Hail the Conquering Graduate

 We Did It! Justin graduated yesterday. There aren't really words to describe our feelings. Everything we've worked for and hoped for in the last five years has been realized, and we feel so blessed. SO BLESSED. We literally were living on a prayer the last two years, and now that prayer has been fulfilled. I am so proud of Justin and how hard he worked. He never gave up even when things got really hard, and he always tried his best to put family first. What a CHAMP!

We are so excited to move to Oregon, and put some roots down. We will miss so many of the dear friends we have made here. My heart really breaks when I think of leaving my dear sisters in Relief Society. They have changed my life forever, and I will never forget them. I know there will be a wonderful ward to move into, and more wonderful sisters to get to know, but the Forest Dale Ward RS will always hold a very tender place in my heart. 

We still haven't quite figured out where we will live in Albany, but as soon as we do, I will update everyone with our new address.

This is My Mother

 At my wedding

 Mom and I the day I graduated from BYU-Idaho

Granny and Katie the day she was born

Granny and Grace Mothers' Day 2011

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

-Abraham Lincoln

I have an angel mother. She is probably the most kind, most giving, most remarkable woman you'll ever meet. No exaggeration. 

The longer I am a mother myself, the more I realize how incredibly blessed I truly am to have her as my mother. A memory has been on my mind this week as Mothers' Day approached.

When I was in junior high, I got this letter in the mail saying that I was picked to be in the "Who's Who in America Junior High Schools" book. My picture and a small blurb was going to printed in the book, and my proud parents could buy this book for only $$$. My mom saw it for what it was, just a company trying to make money off of proud parents, but I was hurt, thinking that this recognition of my achievements didn't matter to her. My mom saw that I was hurt. In her own quiet way she reassured me that she was very proud of me.  A couple weeks later, despite the fact that we had no money, a copy of that ridiculous book showed up in the mail. I felt humbled and grateful. I realized then I didn't want the book at all-I had just wanted a physical confirmation that my mom was proud of me. I don't even know where that dumb book is now, but that book symbolizes so much to me-my mom's willingness to do whatever she could to show her support, love, and confidence in me. My feelings mattered much more to her than money.

Our Own Oregon Trail

Does this image bring back any memories for anyone? Well, we will be forging our own trail to Oregon in a few weeks...because Justin got a job!!!!! in Albany, OR. We are so excited for this next adventure in our lives. Here are a few pictures of the wonderful place we are moving.


Emerald Gorge



Willamette River

Bridge in Albany, OR

Northwest Balloon Festival, Albany Oregon

A little on the Cranky Side

You know those days where you are awake but you wish you were still sleeping...I am having one of those days. One where the kids do everything opposite of what you say, the little one is screaming all day long, and you just want to be on a date with your husband instead of telling kids to stop fighting.

I try really hard to keep a prayer in my heart, but it doesn't last long before I am chasing down the kid with the open tube of toothpaste or breaking up WW3 between the kiddos, and that little prayer in my heart went right out the window. I try to regroup, and say let's start over. But in the next ten minutes we're back in the rut of screaming and time-outs and "please can this day just be over yet?"

Sometimes no matter what you try, it just doesn't work. There are days you just have to plow right through, and start over again tomorrow. I guess that's what we'll try today...

Oh give me patience when wee hands
Tug at me with their small demands.

And give me gentle and smiling eyes.
Keep my lips from hasty replies.

 

And let not weariness, confusion or noise
Obscure my vision of life's fleeting joys.

So when, in years to come my house is still
No bitter memories its rooms may fill.

I don't know who wrote this, but if anyone knows the author, please tell me. Definitely words I need to commit to heart.

In the Springtime, the lovely, lovely Springtime

I can't remember a more beautiful spring. So beautiful. What a wonderful gift from God to bask in the warm sunlight, hear the birds sing, and watch my little ones gather up all sorts of blossoms. Loving this time of year.

1. katie is always, always, always picking flowers. She's a sucker for pretty things.

2. gracie had her little legs crossed, and I just couldn't resist

3. Grace loves to swing. LOVES to swing

4. no picture. skipped the number

5. enjoying a ring pop (we planted "magic jelly beans" and candy flowers grew)

6. masking tape bracelets (went straight for the flowers once I explained these were nature bracelets--collect different things you find outside and stick them to your bracelet.)

Pre-Easter Egg Hunt---this is I can hardly contain myself, I am so excited

Post Easter egg hunt. Wait, there's something inside this thing. THis year we opted for putting mostly snack items in the eggs--things they don't get very often--orange slices (slight intolerance to them, but girls love them better than candy), goldfish, sunflower seeds, etc.

Easter Day

"What comfort this sweet sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives!"

- LDS Hymn Book 136

Little Girls

 I"m not really sure at what point I stopped thinking of Katie as a baby, but I know exactly when that moment was for Grace. A couple weeks ago, I was holding a tiny precious newborn. And Gracie came running in. She was so surprised to see me holding a tiny baby, and she was delighted. I had just enough time to move before her grasping little hands tried to snatch the baby so she could hold it herself. And it dawned on me: This is a baby...Grace is not. I felt my heart sink. It was hard to swallow. It was suddenly getting very hot in there. Why this unusual emotional reaction? I have no clue besides I'm a female and tend to get all fuzzy and gushy about children....but really why do our hearts ache when our children grow up?

 I can't figure Grace out yet. She is just a little quiet mystery to me. She is so quiet and yet and you can tell there is some intense thinking going on behind those very observant eyes.

Calling "MAAAAAAMA"

chortling, yes chortling.

Running with elbows up and out like wings, and bum a-wigglin'

sneaking sister's belongings

developing a passion for chocolate

"PWEEEEESE"

vigorous nodding, pointing, and motioning

hide and seek

ring around the rosies 

dancing, twirling, and UH-oh FALL DOWN

signing time! 

lives to get a laugh, but doesn't like the spotlight.

TURTLES

and dogs, and cats, and any creeping thing 

Kisses goodnight, and kisses goodbye, and don't forget a squeeze 

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Katie....oh I could write books about Katie. What she has taught me, what she learns, all the funny things she says, all the times I would like to send her off to Grandma's to live, all the heart warming moments, and the day to day adventure she brings into my life.
When Katie gets the camera:

 documenting her new healthy food choice-peas...in her mouth

 inside of her sippy cup

 "Momoo" cooking

her footwear of choice- boots

Katie has led me through a journey--- a quest for understanding. The food issues, the skin issues, the inflexibility issues...I knew after the first few weeks of her life that she was not a normal baby. And I am so grateful for that. I love her just the way she is and because of her "issues" we have changed quite a few things about our lives...our level of activity, the way we eat, and the way we parent. And we are better for it. And she is blossoming into the most beautiful little garden flower. She is so precious, so very, very precious.

Inspiration

I majored in public health.

We talked all the time about helping people make changes in their lives. Sometimes, I need help making changes in my life.

In my Public Health Administration class, we had a guest speaker from the public health department come show us different campaigns and projects they had underway. One of them was a media campaign to reduce diabetes through creating prevention awareness. The speaker showed this poster.

This poster had a profound effect on me. The outline of the figures was the thing that got me. I thought about the difference of introducing just 15 to 20 minutes of physical activity. And not anything strenuous like running or getting on a stationary bike. Just walking to class (which I was doing at the time) or riding your bike to work.

Now fast forward five years...to me now. Over the last year I have been doing small things to be healthier. That was something else we always talked about in classes. MAKE LIFETIME CHANGES. no crash course diets or weight loss plans. Just make small changes in your lifestyle.

Since having Grace working out has been an on and off experience for me. Last winter, I was doing awesome exercises (an exercise physiology major in my RS taught me at an enrichment activity--another reason why we should attend those) after the girls went to bed. I also had cut out dairy. With the simple exercises she taught me and the elimination of dairy and add in way more veggies, I lost all the baby weight from Grace and then some! Woot Woot! In the summer, I walked everyday with my kids to the park or the children's museum. I read a book called the GI Diet by Rick Gallop. Highly recommend this book. No counting calories and oh so simple. Justin and I started to eat even better. Again no counting calories, no eliminating things from our diets (except dairy, I was still nursing Grace). Just portion control. We made our plates look like this:

And I felt better than I ever have. I had energy do all sorts of things, and emotionally, I felt so balanced.

And then we got back to SLC, and I got out of my routine. Somehow, I have struggled to get in a normal workout or physical activity of any kind since moving back until.....I read this girl's AMAZING story of losing 135 lbs.

I felt totally inspired. And I remembered the above poster.

So here I am making small changes like:

• more veggies, less grains (which I LOVE too much, I could eat a whole loaf of whole wheat bread in 1 day I am pretty sure).
• More beans. Lots of beans--they are healthy, filling, tasty and very versatile (and inexpensive).
• A little protein in every meal. (a slice of ham with my whole wheat toast in the morning, refried beans with whole grain baked chips for lunch)
• more veggies at lunch (spinach salad, I take a plate of spinach and top it with slices from 1/3 a banana and sprinkle with poppy seeds, no dressing. Or I eat cucumber slices or steamed broccoli along side leftovers from dinner.)
• if I need a snack I grab a fruit or veggie instead of my kids' crackers
• still off dairy for the most part. Gracie and Katie still struggle with dairy so we just don't buy butter, cheese, or milk. And that is a good thing for my waistline. I do love my cheese.

And inspired by the above mentioned girl, I have tried to incorporate physical activity into my daily life without having to pause other aspects of my life (like not doing my hobbies at night when the girls are in bed because I have to exercise). I make it a goal to get 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week. Here are some of the ways that I get it in:

• walking to the park with my kids and doing everything they do while we are there. Climb, swing, slide, run--they do it and I do it too.
• walk to the post office
• walk to do my visiting teaching
• mop the floor. I know this doesn't sound like exercise, but the way I mop the floor it is. I put on thick XL men's socks and spray the floor with water and sprinkle with comet or spray with windex. Then Katie and I put on fun music and "ice skate" to mop the floor. Such a fun activity and the floor looks better than when I use a mop. Then take off the socks and throw them in the washer.
• Dance time with Katie. Katie can dance FOREVER. She has the stamina of the energizer bunny when it comes to dancing. So this is definitely a workout for me.
• walk to the grocery store
• We have a big church at the end of the block. My girls love playing there because there are lots of stairs, lots of grassy spaces, a ramp, fun places to hide, and lots of pine cones. Sometimes Katie likes to go there even more than the park. Anyway, while the girls run and jump, I run and jump too. I once did kart wheels (I hadn't done one of those since high school, and I realized that those muscles don't get used very often. SORE. When's the last time you did a kart wheel?). And when they are busy looking at pine cones and bugs, I do stairs. Lots of stairs. But if my kids need my attention, I do what they do and don't do stairs. Love that church.
• walk to the library
• walk to Dr. appointments, or church meetings, or get-togethers with friends.
• soccer in the yard with Katie

From my list, you can tell that most of my physical activity is walking. AND I LOVE IT! No workout video for me. No watching the clock to see if I can be done now. Just simple activities with my kiddos. I've changed my mind set. When we have to go somewhere I plan on walking unless it's raining or snowing. I don't think "oh it will be quicker to drive..." I think "oh good a chance to get in some physical activity!"
I don't have a planned workout time, although it's usually in the afternoon after Gracie takes her nap. That's usually when the kids are stir crazy, and I have things done around the house so an outing to the park or library is just what we need. On cold days we bundle up more.

I LOVE this way of exercising and eating. No counting calories or minutes. It's simply eating and being healthier day to day. It's what works for me. I know many women have gym memberships or workout during the kiddos' naps. Maybe they are super women and get up at five and go running. My hat goes off to them. But I have discovered that's not me. And when I try to do that, my kids suffer or I suffer from being unbalanced. This is the perfect balance for me. I feel energized. My body feels good and I am happier.

What works for you? Are you happy with your body? Do you have energy? Are you looking to make some changes? Pick one area and start today. Maybe it's eating more veggies, maybe it's getting more physical activity, maybe it's not serving yourself seconds. Just make a decision and make it a LIFETIME, LIFESTYLE change. Good luck!

(and by the way, I wrote this post while eating four snicker doodles. maybe an extra long walk tomorrow...)