We are growing up!

I have always known that having kids was gonna go by quickly. And don't get me wrong, I have a lot of years left in the mommy trenches, we haven't even hit teen-dom yet. Something is very different about this year. Mabye an example of my last 24 hours will illustrate what I am talking about.

I worked all day doing hair yesterday, then made a quick dinner. Some people didn't like what I made so they made their own dinner. Then Mark was working and I wanted to go out to a girls night out thing so I settled the kids in with a movie, (I now have 2 that can "babysit") and I left. I came back 2 hours later to find Cade in bed asleep, and the rest of the kids still on the floor in the dark watcing a different movie. House still cleaned up. They went to bed (they were so tired form the first week of school they could hardly argue) and I crashed. Nice. This morning Cade Cooper and Wyatt went to the lake with some friends from school. I felt a little misty about them going to the lake without me. I know they will be safe, thats not it, and I'm thrilled that they are out doing something fun, but I think it is that it is such a rite of passage in my mind. I grew up at the lake. That is what 3/4 of my happy teenage family memories are is of the lake, the boat, and it was so much fun. Now my little kiddos are there without me, riding the tube, wind in their face, having a blast. It really makes me want to get one of my brothers to take us out. Anyway, my other point to this story is that I always know that the boys would be off doing things with friends without me, busy and hardly home. I just never thought it would start this early. But it is already starting. I have to say honestly that this is tougher than the first day of school this year. I have a sad little pit in my stomach, like they are growing up way too fast.

On another note, Sadie just came in and wanted me to take her to circle K to get a soda so she can have a treat while she cleans her room. Oh my. Another one growing up way too fast and already picking up my bad habits. Yikes!

PLEASE LEARN FROM MY STUPIDITY,HERE, PEOPLE!!

I am going to put this out to show you whatr NOT to do. This is me in the black dress last month at the wedding. Chubby cheeks, badonkadonk, big round soda tummy. I'm trying very hard to suck it in and twist at a flattering angle, but its not quite happening. Very hard to look at.


This is me with my dad last Thanksgiving. I was ready to run a 10K that day but coudn't becuase I was hosting dinner. I looked good. I FELT good. I was even able to lose 10 additional pounds before Christmas. So the goal is: Get back to where I am here in the pink sweater again by this coming Thanksgiving, and lose another 10 before Christmas, just like last year. I really want this, so I will make it happen.

Its the most wonderful time of the year...:D

Oh can we all sing it together?? LOL I love that Staples commercial when the song is playing and the dad is merrily tossing school supplies into his cart. hee hee. I feel like I have graduated into some secret society that all the big time moms enter into when the kids are all at school. Well, I'm still a "school mom sorority" pledge, since I still have 1 at home, I can take a well-behaved 4 year old just about anywhere, and the little sweetheart played on the computer for an hour and let me nap without interruption. WHEEEEEE!! Did I mention that I LOVE structure??? I do so much better when I have things on my schedule. Speaking of which, I got my Blackberry up and running today, I have needed this desparately! Today was all fun and games, homework was light, etc. You don't even want to see all the crap I have coming up. I will really need the downtime in the days to get me through the afternoons I have coming up. I really do have plenty of time to do everything, if I stay focused and organized. I feel up for the challenge. I've been really good about scheduling things after 9 am, so I have time to get to the gym every morning. I saw some pictures of myself from thanksgiving last year, HOLY MOLEY have I gained. I mean it is very scary. I had no clue how much better I looked last year. It was a teeny bit depressing, but also very motivating. I WILL be looking good again by Thanksgiving. My new strategy for making being thin and fit a PERMANENT lifestyle is to set my big goal for Valentines day 2008. By then hopefully I will have gotten a clue on how to get fit and then STAY there!

OK so anyway.......the first day of school was great!!! The kids did great, Cade says this is the best teacher he's ever had, and it is going ot be the best year ever. LOVE the new attitude! Sadie loves hers too (although she was the only one with significant homework) and Cooper says that even though his teacher is supposed to be the meanest he is going to make her love him be being awesome. Wyatt loved his first day and is really excited to go back tomorrow. We are 4 for 4!!! Dayton had a great day too, I'm hopefully gonna keep him busy enough so he dosen't get bored.

On another note....I got the WEDDING PICTURES!!! Finally! I love them. Well all the ones without me in them :/ Oh well like I said, it was a gut check. I'm posting a couple, but it will be really hard to pick the best ones, they are ALL good!

I'm It

1-If you had an extra 3 hours a day what would you spend it on?
Reading my scriptures and doing service, Ideally

2-What's the one thing that's changed most with having kids?
My time is no longer my own, and even when I do get away from it all.....I'm still concerned with the kids, hoping they are OK, etc.

3-If you were given $10,000 and had to spend it on travel, where would you go?
On a LONG cruise to Hawaii and then take my kids to Panama to visit family and vacation

4-What's your favorite restaurant? What's your favorite meal?
Right now my favorite is Firebirds for a Sirloin Salad and Lobster Queso Spinach dip.

5-What will your life be like in 10 years?
A LOT more quiet but probably not any less busy

Cool Tag, thanks, Nicole! I tag anyone who hasn't been tagged!!!

Well I think its like 4 am, I was having some girl issues last night after we got back from the park and while curled up in a ball on the bed, promptly fell asleep really early. I'm feeling better now but I slept like crap. and I have a SUGAR withdrawl headache. Its been off and on since Sunday.I was about 90% sugar-clean all weekend, then yesterday was my first hardcore no sugar day. This weekend I passed up Mark b-day cake, (which was cocounut cream pie that I dislike anyway) the Sadie made a giant pan of brownies on Sunday of which I had NONE even though they were some leftover monday morning, I didn't touch them. The 10% was an accidental pack of fruit snacks, and some lemonade, and 4 m&m's and about 5 Junior caramels. I have had NO soda. It has made a huge diffference. Here's really why. Its not the actual DC for me. Its that there are a whole list of bad things that I just cant' eat if I can't wash it down with DC. For instance: Any kind of chips, shelled peanuts, Candy bars, Taco bell, and for everything else, it really takes the excitement out of the food. Besides the fact that when I drink DC my water intake quickly goes to next to nothing, and now I am forced to drink water. Now today later I am going to the lake, and I will have to drink water, no soda. I am thinking I will bring a sugar free Rockstar, as a treat. Mabye not, I can't decide. Mabye it will be my reward for getting down 2 liters of water before we go or something. Anyway, it has been really good so far. I have managed to eat some bad food, but it is dramatically improving.

Today we had the super excitement of finding out who the kids teachers were going to be and who was in their classes. My best news was Cade's class. He got he teacher he wanted and is in (as requested) with his best friend Cole and Coles twin Emily. I am SO HAPPY!! 5th grade is really tough, and having that little boost will be really good. Sadie got a new teacher, and one of her really good friends is in her class with her, and Cooper has a new friend in his class. I asked Cade if Coopers teacher was nice and he says "In my opinion (long pause) -No" LOL Oh well. Cooper is usually such a good boy, I'm not worried. I didnt tell Cooper what Cade said. He can find out if its true on his own. Wyatt is pretty excited about his class, he knows a couple kids in there which will help. I wish ELLIE was in his class, that would have been so fun, but oh well. They have fun meeting new kids, its good for them to have to get out of their comfort zone. I'm so excited/sad for Wyatt going to school. I can't imagine him eating lunch at school, going to P.E., music, library, all that big kid stuff. Even though I know he is beyond ready, it is so mixed for me. awwwwwwwwwwwww.

Alright, I'm gonna try to go back to bed. I'm really trying to relax and take it easy this last week before school, its the calm before the storm!

Blah blah

I am now officially 3 for 5 on workouts for the week. DANG!~ I went for a walk with a neighbor tonight and we made a pact to go 1 full week with NO sugar. Did you hear that?? WHAT???!!! I agreed to do this. youch. I neeeeeeeeeeeeed a detox, this will have to do it for me. This also includes diet soda as off limits. I'm going "ok, that sounds hard, but I need a big wake-up" and she says......."Starting now. Right now, tonight" Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I need a DC SO bad right now. I was gonna sneak off to Circle K as soon as the kids fell asleep and snag me one. But I promised and committed, so I must adhere to my pact. Anyone else want to join us??


I am getting new phone. Hopefully by Saturday it will be here. YAY!

Okey doke I am off to bed.