Still Goin' Strong!

Just a quick update...zero caffeine going on 2 weeks now! And I am still exercising 3-4 days a week. It's getting better and easier everyday. I just put some rocking music on and BAM! the cardio-torture is done. More updates to come!

Bedtime Stories

One of the best parts of my day is bedtime. Not for the obvious reason of alone time for me, but for our little routine of getting jammies on and having me hoist Luke up, so he can slowly scan the bookshelves in his closet and me say "do you want this one?" and Luke quietly laughing say noooo, and this goes on for a minute or so and he'll finally choose a book. We always do bedtime stories in Lukey's room with him in bed surrounded by Rexy, his batman donned t-rex, and Bunky, his polar bear, both of which he named. We read the story, pick someone to say our prayer, and sing Families Can Be Together Forever. Everynight.
Tonight Mia wanted me to say the prayer and asked if I would pray for Aunt Stephy. Don't know why, but of course I did. Mia is very spiritually intune and sincere I just really needed to say how much I love her. She is my sweet angel and I am lucky to be her mom. Earlier tonight she came to me and said "Mama I love you. I remember when you were growing up and I was watching you and I was so excited because I knew you were going to be my mom." So darling. Sometimes Mia will ask about Beau and I about getting married in the temple, and we tell her "You and Luke were there Mia, you were watching us get married and you were so happy because you knew you would be born soon." So that is probably where her comment stems from. But none the least, so sweet to hear.

THANKSGIVING

We had a great thanksgiving this year. Lots of great food, and family time and turkish dancing. I have an aunt who is from Turkey and she and her friend were teaching us all some traditional turkish dances which was so much fun. I made rolls this year and man can I bake! :) My brother Danny and sister Becky made desserts. Trifles, and cheesecakes and pies oh my! Ok, that was lame. Here are some pictures of our day.

I'm off the juice!

I'm going cold turkey, (no pun intended) and cutting off my "juice". Yes, the cold, dark, bubbly heaven that I drink way too much of. It is day one and I've got a headache. I'm going to tough it out and work through the pain, I NEED to. Why one would say? I've come to the realization that I am actually relying on this sugary goodness to get through the day. I don't like the feeling of my body being addicted to something. And also in this month's issue of the Ensign there was an article about the caffeine/energy drink craze very interesting if you haven't read it or if you don't get the Ensign you can go to LDS.org and find the article there. My other huge reason is I want to lose the LB'S! So I started my cardio regimen today as well; my goal is a 5 pound weight reduction by the end of the month...ok, maybe 3 but one can dream. I am really hating my body right now and feel like Fat B@$%^!* from Austin Powers, "I want food! Get in my belly!" I'll keep posting about my progress and hopefully be skinnier and healthier next time you see me.

Beau's 30th birthday SURPRISE!

My old man is, well, old now. Beau'Don turned 30 earlier this month and I was able to pull one over on him by surprising him with a weekend in Chicago to see his favorite football team the Bears! He had no idea, so it was perfect to be able to give him something he actually wanted. I usually do the most lame things for him, so he was very deserving. We had a splendid time and were able to spend time with Beau's aunt Julie which was really great. Here are a few pictures of our weekend. Walking back after the game, Grant Park is where Barack Obama gave his victory speech.

The big game, up way, way high...

Freezing our giblets off.

A view of the city.

Beau's very own night in the museum with Sue, the world largest T-Rex.

An amazing library at the University of Chicago.

Happy Birthday my love!

NKOTB Forever!!

This how close I was! Jon doin' his thang!

I'm rocking new bangs...what do you think?

Angel, Karen, and Me

Ok so if you go back to previous posts, you can read about my first concert ever when I was 12 years old. It was the New Kids On The Block! When I was 12 I was convinced that Jonathan Knight waved at me even though I was in the rafters, because I was holding my neon orange poster proclaiming my love for him! Flash forward 17 long years later...Again I am convinced (or very delusional) that he once again acknowledged me and this time I have PROOF! So I hope the video uploads. So I will set it up for y'all: I wasn't very close to the main stage, they were decent seats, but then...lights go off, attention shifts to the main floor and the Boys are now 20 feet away from me! I hurridly raced down the aisle to get as close as possible with camera in tow. I set it video and was all the while screaming wildly. Then it happens, a small break with a song and Jon has a perfect view of me and my new bangs, he looks up makes eye contact and waves!! This is where the video goes crazy because I begin to jump up and down and scream "He waved at me, he just waved to me!" This is where you can either be convinced or call me delusional. Then they jump down off the center floor stage and walk past me now I am 5 feet away. I never thought of myself as a fanatical person, but I guess I learned something about myself, I can get freakishly excited in the right situations. This time there were no tears in the binoculars, but I will admit to getting a little teary eyed when the show started. It really was taking me back to when I was that 12 year old girl seeing her first concert with her biggest crush.

Did you see it? Did you see it?! I wish I didn't freak out and ruin it but IT was there!

A few Random Facts About Moi

1. I love handbags-I have alot of them and am always scouting more. I think it started when I went to New York a few years ago and got I got me some fakies. You know the ones, Coach, Prada, Gucci. Then I got an urge when we went to Hawaii to get a real Coach but I just couldn't do it and spend the cash it takes for a real one. I walked away. It was hard. Beau, however did the spending for me and got me one! I went home a few days early with the kids and he stayed and while he was there, the little saint bought me just the one I had been eyeing. And yes, it was on sale and it was an outlet.
2. I really like perfume. However, I only like the expensive kind. I can't handle "celebrity" endorsed scents, that to me smell like poop wrapped in a flower sprinkled with allspice. I don't like drug store crap. I'm not completely materialistic but thus far this list doesn't seem like it.
3. I dislike driving. Especially when it's somewhere I don't know where I'm going. Anyone who has driven with me can attest. I freak out, and will run down pedestrians, orange cones whatever is in the way unless the passenger can calmly talk me down and tell me exactly what to do. It's like I don't know how to drive anymore if I am put in an unfamiliar position. And parallel parking-forget it!
4. I stay up way to late watching recorded t.v. (I know I'm lame) and I LOVE sleeping in (I know I'm lazy). Then I wake up thinking "man I need to go to bed earlier and get up and exercise before the kids get up." Then nighttime falls and Oprah and One Tree Hill are calling out to me
and so the cycle continues....
5. I tend to agree with people's opinions way too much when I really don't agree with them. I'm working on it. It's my people pleasing ways that get me in trouble, mostly with myself. And who cares if we have differing opinions because we all know we have them and everybody else's stinks-right?
6. I like scary movies. I can only watch them with Beau and he has to be sitting next to me. I like the slasher kind not the possessed kind.
7. I once applied at a strip club (as a joke) and when I went in to ask for an application, not really sure if that's the correct protocol for that type of employer...anyway, I was turned down because-get your air quotes ready "it wasn't the hiring season". I think the dude took one look at my rackless rack and made it up on the spot.
Well, now that you know me a little better, what are some random facts about you?

Fall photoshoot

I went to Fernwood to take some pictures of the kids and to practice my skills. I have ALOT of practicing to do, however, these were some of my favorites.

Halloween/Fall Time

My cute aunt has a summer swim party, a halloween party, and a christmas party for my dad's side of the family. I always look forward to going because we always have such a fun time and we don't see each other very often. This year our family theme was Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein-large and small.
The best photo of the kids. No one will look when you want them to.

Mia was extremely upset at me for making her eyes dark. I thought she wanted to look scary! So when she took one look at herself in the mirror she was immediately upset. "Mama I want to look pretty, not scary!" Whoa, so I washed her face off but not before laughing hysterically at her because she did look pretty ridiculous. Hey, I never said I was a make-up artist. She was such a good sport for at least letting me take some pictures of her as a monster bride. Little Frankie and his Monster Momma.

The Frankenstein family portrait. Twin brides.

The Mr. and Mrs.
I have been reading hair blogs and tried one on Mia. I love doing Mia's hair and she lets me do it as long as she can watch cartoons.

This is called the flower bun. I thought it turned out pretty cute.
This was Mia on her picture day at school. When she came home that day she was crying hysterically because some kid who was older than her, pushed her down and threw a plastic bottle at her head. Poor little muffin. I was furious as was Beau and he called his parents and got it cleared up.
Three little pirates.
Beau actually mowed the front and back lawn with this little dude on his shoulders.

End of Summer

These are just some pictures from our days of summer.
Our yard and waterfall that we worked hard on.

This is just some random girl, but I took it during my summer photography class. My little cousin Khan, holding Mr. Sun.

End of summer swim party at Aunt Connie's.

Little mermaid Mia. Our last night from our summer vacay in Mexico...can't wait 'till the next one!
Day at Lagoon.