Family Photos

Some of the pictures from our family pictures. I like the ones of the kids the best!!

Arizona Times

I wanted to share some pictures from our trip to Arizona this past week. There will be more where these came from because I haven't posted pictures from all the trips we've been taking.

 But here's a start.

This is an awesome place called Jump Street. It's basically trampoline land. The kids had a Blast! We will definately be going back!!

We took a trip to the grand canyon. It was memorable because we were only there about 45 min. before we got rained out! :) I didn't get good picts of the rain, but some of the group picts were fun.  

This series of sister pictures has a great story. Pict. #1 Family picture FAIL. Stephanie called it the prom pose! Pict. #2 is when Stephanie realized that had something weird going on. We'll call it the "what the hell" picture. Then Pict #3 is the "no way" and Staci is still hanging on. Our belly's hurt from laughing. Then Pict. #4 we finally got it right. Good times!

 Outside the cabin we have some really good times. The kids getting eaten by the rocks, rock jumping, finding sticks and making bow and arrows, fire and marshmallows. It's so relaxing and beautiful there.

And finally our little outing to down town Williams. I really didn't want to go, but I was glad I did. Everyone enjoyed walking around and it was a beautiful day! Williams is the cutest little Route 66 town ever. It's a tiny place, but plenty to see and take in.

Pictures

Another great day!! But first, these are the pictures from Cascade Springs yesterday.

Cool little pathways made from wood.

The springs coming out of everywhere making cool little waterfalls.

A handsome boy being boy!

Me and the boy on one of many bridges.

Us, having a great time.

Beautiful mountains!! Everywhere!!

This is today at the Olympic Park. We did the Alpine slide and the zip lines. LOTS of times! :) 

At the zip line.

Over the edge!

Ski lift.

Us in front of the olympic ski jump. We got to watch some people training for nationals here. It was really cool!! We had a wonderful day!

Hanging out in Utah

 Baillie, Brodric and I are hanging out in Utah while Carter is at a BYU Music Festival. (Band Camp) :)  And today was a nice day. Well, mostly.

We kinda got a late start but we found a secret surprise for Scott for Father's day. We were all so excited about it! Then we drove up American Fork Canyon in hopes of going to Timpanogos Caves. They had a big waiting time though so we scheduled to come back on Friday morning and we headed up the mountain to go to Cascade Springs. It was such a pretty drive!! Baillie and I really don't like the edged os the road and the drop offs, but besides that we loved it!! We took a few pictures that I hope to share later when I have a card reader.

Right now we are in Park City, and we hope to have a fun filled day tomorrow at the alpine slide and the zip lines. Baillie has been in a horrible mood tonight, it might be due to her feeling ill, but we're not sure. I hope she isn't sick and can still play tomorrow! It would stink if she was sick for real.
I will post pictures as soon as I can.

Partied too hard?

Home sick today with Bay and Brodric.
I think Brodge mainly has a sunburn from yesterday. Big pool party yesterday. We had a great Memorial Day party. Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches, fruit, friends, sun and lots of fun.
Baillie and I, just some stomach thing. It's been hanging around our house a few days now. Not fun.
Here's some fun though!

This pool was really hopping! Lots of kids enjoying themselves!! 



 Goofy boy.

 Girls will be girls.. Pushing each other in the pool, not so good though.

 We got these pop ups, they make all the difference! That's Troy cooking some of the chopped steak for the Philly Cheese Steak. YUM!

 Visiting and more visiting. Good people!

 At the end of the afternoon, when everyone had had a lot of sun, most of the kids ended up in the house watching Psych... What? Kids....

Happy

I'm happy to be blogging again. I don't know why I fall out of the habit. Probably time. But I'm glad to remember now.

I was out for a couple of hours this morning doing yard work. My hands are all sensitive now, like I may have gotten blisters if I went another second. So I didn't. But I got a lot done. I love spring and being outside and doing yard work! Seriously.

Scott and I decided we wouldn't have a huge garden this year. But we wanted something. So we got a little unused garden bed in the front yard and we prepared it for our garden. I'm excited to see what we can do with it. We'll grow a few things.

This time of year always makes me happy. The greens of new grass and the bright colors of flowers make me happy! Baillie and I are going to work on the flower garden. We are going to plant these flowers we bought the other day and also add a couple more rose bushes. I also need to plant some other bushes in the front.

We have a ton of work to do in our yards still. We have a ton of work to do everywhere. Someday we'll get our projects done. That was a lie. We'll probably never get everything done. :)

8 Months

Eight months ago I has gastric bypass surgery. I made the decision long before that and it took what seemed like a life time for it to come to fruition. Now I'm looking at it from the view of 130 pounds lighter. It's been an interesting, tough, amazing, incredible eight months. It's kind of a miracle if you ask me!

I'm healthy. I eat healthy foods. I try to stick with things I know are going to increase my strength and health. Protein shakes, greek yogurt, fruit and hopefully vegetables. I eat a lot of nuts, and chicken. I am doing my best. I also take my vitamins nearly every day. I want to do that forever so I can keep my bone density (and every other good thing vitamins do for you). I track pretty much everything that goes into my mouth. That's not to say I don't eat unhealthy things. Because for sure I do. Like last night for instance... the left over Easter chocolate was calling my name. I tracked every bite and ate about 430 calories of junk! So you see, it's not all fun and games. I do my best and sometimes I fall short. I am trying though and I am getting back on track when I loose my way.

I move a lot! My goal is to walk every morning with a partner, (I guess alone would work too, but it's much better with a partner!) Right now we do about 4 miles a day. There are days we don't go, but we celebrate every day we do go!! I have also joined a gym. I try to be in the gym at least 4 days a week. Sometimes it's for a one hour class. On Mondays I do two classes back to back. And a couple days a week I don't go at all. But I'm super grateful for the gym and my ability to go. (And I really enjoy the classes... even when I'm really tired!)

 My body has been wonderful and has responded to the efforts. I am grateful that I have the energy to do what I am doing. Without clothing my body isn't very amazing... :) I have lots of loose skin, and still some remaining fat pockets throughout that skin. It's kinda yuck... But I know I am building muscle and when the clothes are on I don't think it looks all that bad.

I'm not sure what my weight loss goals are for myself. I thought I wanted to loose exactly half of what I was. That would mean I would loose 153 and weigh 153. But from where I am today that would mean loosing another 24 pounds. I think my body can definitely sustain that, but I wonder what people would think. (Already people are commenting that I can't loose any more, and oh my goodness, "you are getting too skinny". But really, they don't know my body and they don't know where I'm at.) On a healthy weight chart it says that for a person my height I could weigh

5'9"	129-142	139-153	149-170

 that is the numbers for a "small frame", medium frame, and large frame. I don't know what frame I am, but let's suppose I'm a medium frame (although I tend to think I am probably large framed) the high weight is right where I want to land... 153. I do think that it would take a while for me to get there. I don't think I would drop the weight quickly or without a lot of effort. But I could still be healthy and weigh 153. With that said, I could also be perfect at 165 or 170. Actually, I am really perfect at 180 or 190 or wherever I am!! I don't think it matters much. I'll just keep eating healthy and working out. That's what matters most.

The next question is how has this effected my family? And my answer is, I don't know. No one talks about it much. I don't want to bring it up or sound fixated on it. So I don't. I guess maybe I should a time or two. Just to make sure everyone is ok with everything. They all know my proetin shakes are precious around our house and there are always greek yogurts in the fridge! :)

So that's my story as I begin my 9th month since drastic life changes. I hope it is an eternity of change for me. I hope I continue to make healthy choices and keep myself free from disease and hurt that weight carries with it! I understand it well. I lived it and I continue to battle the mental fight of loving and desiring food, healthy or not so healthy!

Six years ago I looked into the surgery and I knew it wasn't for me. I watched my sisters and others as they had success and found some peace from carrying extra weight. But still it wasn't a choice I was willing to make. When I was diagnosed with diabetes I felt like I had no other choice. I obviously couldn't do it on my own. I felt like a failure. I felt like surgery would mean I had given in to the ultimate failure. But I had no choice except to embrace it. I wish I could of lost weight without surgery, but I know that would never have happened. And I couldn't hope or wish it to be reality.

Today I am ever grateful that I have this tool and that I was able to rely on it for a bit of the focus or strength I didn't have inside myself before. I have taken advantage of all the tool has offered. (I am keenly aware that it is only a tool and that I could easily eat myself right past it, and that is why I am so vigilant about my daily calorie intake.) I feel blessed and grateful.

Super Sunday

Last year we watched the Super Bowl together as a family just to say we did. Or maybe so that when the talk began at the water cooler, we wouldn't be left out. Other than one game a year, we're not really foot ball people. I like sports so I wouldn't mind watching with my sons sometime, but it's not really our thing.

But the rest of the day was super too. We had a nice three hours of church. I substituted for Brodric's class in Primary, as well as for the singing time lady. It was nice spending time with the kids in Primary again.

I'm grateful for Super Sunday's spent with my family!

Speaking to the Regret

I am blessed to walk with a wonderful woman every morning!! Today our conversation included the sadness and regret that I have felt this week. My wonderful friend gave me such sound advice regarding those feelings and struggles. I believe that I am a good person with good intentions. I love people and I try to understand them and work well with them. I fall short of perfection all the time and sometimes I'm even on the side of being a bone head. But I know that I am good person. I know my heart,  Heavenly Father knows my heart and I hope that my friends and loved ones know it as well.

I can only do my best. I need to strive every day to do better and be better. To love others and to make my words be words of love and encouragement. But I will fall short. That's just the reality of life. Sometimes I'll make stupid comments or say the wrong thing. In these situations I can not beat myself up about it!! I have to apologize for it and move on! And when others can't move on I need to be ok with that too. That's their journey.

My friend shared the analogy of a baseball player running the bases. He doesn't run past first base and then pick it up and carry it to second base with him. And then run on to third, grabbing second and carrying it as well. He Touches those bases, has that experience and then moves on! And that is what we have to do. We can't carry it all with us. We have to move on.

I'm grateful for wonderful people in my life who help me to realize the and see clearly the things that sometimes gets clouded in my own mind. I am so very blessed!

I saw this today and thought it fits me perfectly! I't not exactly what I was talking to in this post, but oftentimes I let my direction go this way and it doesn't do anything good for the situations I may be going through. It only makes it worse. So I thought it was appropriate.

Regret

I have the problem my grandma calls "diarrhea of the mouth". I say what comes to my mind. Sometimes I don't have a very good filter. Maybe no filter at all.

This week, I said something really dumb, speaking (or in this case, writing) before I thought through what I would say. I hurt someone I love with all my heart. The thought that I caused this person to feel any added pain in their life has filled me with sadness. I would never want to hurt this person on purpose. Never! And yet, I did.

This week I was made aware of a past action of mine that may have led people to question my character and leadership abilities. I was again saddened by my lack of ability to portray who I think I am, and instead I came across as a person who may not be fit to be a leader. I feel cut to the core and have begun to question myself, my abilities and my own motives!

This week I have lamented again over the loss of a friend because of a misunderstanding many years ago. There is nothing I can do about this one. I tried with all my might to right a perceived wrong, but the loss is still present and continues to hurt my heart even to this day. Again, something I said was misunderstood and I hurt someone else.

I'm not sure where to go with the reality that I hurt or offend others with my words. I'm not sure how to change myself. It is never my intention to hurt, but yet I do. It is on my mind and weighs heavy on my heart and for now I will ponder and pray about how to make change.

I wish I could take it all back. I wish there was no regret.

Welcome Home

Well, we're home! Got home yesterday afternoon to really happy kids and awesome grandparents! We were exhausted from not sleeping much the night before, packing, blogging, etc. So we went to bed at 7:30 in anticipation of the week ahead.

This morning I find myself alone for the first time in 4 weeks! I like my mornings alone to exercise and get a few things done. This morning as I was picking up a bit I came across lemons my friend from Mesa gave me. She had two trees packed with lemons, so I thankfully took a bunch! Some of them were wilting so I figured I better do something with them! I juiced over half of them and now I have beautiful lemon juice that I am going to try to make something with! Doesn't that look yummy?! 

Looking forward to the week ahead! I made some goals for myself last week while I was relaxing. Now, if I can just not let myself down!! :)  Happy Week!

Just Enjoying

So, I didn't put anything up for yesterday, but this is the picture of the day. Scott floating in the ocean! He was only out there a few minutes, but he had to do it.

We walked on the beach for over two hours yesterday and afterward relaxed the day away!

Today was another road trip, this time to Mobile, Alabama. I love Alabama. I love rednecks. I love southerners! Scott was excited to get some boiled peanuts. Bleck! He got a whole pound and liked them! No, I didn't eat any!! I tried to take some pictures of this disgusting thing. The blurry peanut was so huge! You can't really tell in the picture. Scott was happy. 

We drove around the old areas we served in and tried to recognize a few things. Then I wanted to take a trip out to Dauphin Island. It's a neat little strip of island that has a bunch of houses all on stilts. So we did! We went, over the scary bridge right into chaos! They were just finishing up a (pre) Mardi Gras parade and there were a million red necks and good 'ol southerners! It took us forever just to get the 7 miles down to the end of the island! This is the bridge going over to the island. It's about a mile long. I get freaked out on bridges! Breathe Billie, Breathe!

This is a few of the rednecks just sittin. I think they were too drunk to move. Had wait for it to wear off! I wish we could of taken more pictures of people because they were funny! But it's kinda weird when you're going about 2 miles an hour. People wonder why you're taking their pictures!

And this is what we came to see! These houses up on stilts! And there were not a few of them. For this tiny little island, there were probably a hundred! I couldn't believe how big some were!!

This one had a foundation that was built right into the ocean!! It was the last one on the island so I'm sure it gets the brunt of any weather! But wow!! 

This older one was what they mostly looked like when I was here 20 years ago before hurricanes knocked them off their stilts and FEMA bought them new houses to put on the stilts. There are still some smaller old ones and there are plenty of large new ones! They are pretty cool.  

At the end of the houses there is maybe a half mile of just beach out into the ocean. and just in from where the water breaks there were millions of shells. It looked like desert landscape, only all those things you see in the sand aren't rocks, they are shells! It was like a moon walk or something! 

I am a compulsive shell hunter! Always on the prowl for the prettiest one!  Scott was trying to do a sillouette picture. I think it turned out pretty cool.

I found one! Very vibrant color! I thought this picture was cool too. Ocean behind me, all shimmery from the late sun.  

After we walked out on the sand bar-ish end of the island we turned to look back. Those are the houses at the end of the road. Each of those facing the water on a different side. That's all the wider the island is! Pretty cool actually. You should look it up on Google maps!  

And this is me doing what we did most. Driving!! We drove to Pensacola where Scott served for most of his mission. Of all the things we didn't remember, this was a nice surprise because he actually remembered things in Pensacola! Yay, success! We met up with an old friend from the mission and had dinner with him. It was nice to visit and talk about the grown or non-growth of the areas there. 

Now we're home (in the condo), packed and ready to go to the airport at 5:30am! I'm so sad to leave. I'm looking forward to seeing our kids for sure, but I am going to miss this place! I can't believe it took us 20+ years to get back here!! It is so amazingly beautiful. I love the California beaches, but they don't hold a candle to the beaches here! I'm sure there are other more beautiful oceans than even this one, but I can't hardly imagine it. God is so good to make these wonderful things for us to witness! I feel so blessed to be able to take a trip like this. Scott and I are blessed to be together 20 years! The next cliche thing to say is, "it hasn't always been easy", and it really hasn't! But somehow we are still together after 20 years and we'll do our best to keep it that way. Who knows, maybe in another 20 years we'll come back to the Emerald Coast to celebrate again! (Dangit, if it takes us another 20 years to get back I will be really sad!!)

All in a day in Ft. Walton Beach / Destin

All in a day. Walk on the beach. 300+ pictures. Sailing. Kite shop and dinner. I'll try not to put all of the pictures up, but it's hard to pick just a few! :)

Scott loves the ocean and wanted to get in the whole time we were walking. Tomorrow is his day. He's going to swim in it! He said it's actually warmer water now than the Pacific Ocean is in July. I'm sure he'll be in!

It's tricky getting people to take your picture. That's the hardest part. Wait, I changed my mind, the hardest part is walking on the beach and not picking up shells! (That's what I'm holding in my hand, the catch of the day!) We met an old guy who found a tiny little sand dollar and then I needed one!! We found a bunged up one. Tomorrow we'll go look for a perfect one! 

Cool fish surfing! They would go over and over. I guess surfing is fun for everyone! :) 

More pictures... 

 Our little sail boat. Good times!

 Peaceful.

 Kinda cold this time of year, but not too bad.

Dolphins! We saw them several times, but not enough for me. I wanted more and more dolphins! 

 Some of these homes and slips in the Destin inlet looked like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous! There were TONS of boats out there!

 And to end the day Scott was in his element! Learning about Kite boarding. That scateboardish thing he's holding goes to a kite so you can have lots of fun on sand or snow or anywhere else! Some day I'm sure he'll try it!

It was a nice relaxing fun day! We decided the next time we take this trip we want to do it with another couple to share with the cost of the condo (because it would seriously make it really cheap) and the rental car and of course to take pictures so we don't have to bug the snow birds to take them for us! Any takers??