Juice Fast: Day 7

Total Weight Loss - 12 lbs.

I am over half way done!!! :) YES! And oddly - as much as I could definitely eat sweets after this fast I am mostly craving COOKED vegetables... not raw and juiced vegetables.
Today was a really hard day. I felt angry a lot and just plain hungry. Last night we ran out of a lot of food and I wasn't able to get more until this evening. So both Cody and I were angry and HUNGRY (that and we were up late last night getting Cody registered for Fall semester! This day more than any other I have just wanted to stuff my face with whatever food was in our cupboards! I made Mac n' cheese for the kids and I REALLY wanted to eat it!

We are also playing around with some smoothie recipes that include fresh juice like apple, and others. I enjoys those a lot they are usually VERY tasteful and seem to have more substance. I hope this isn't cheating - but it is all fresh!

Juicing Fast: Day 5

Weight Loss : 205 lbs.  -  9 lbs. = 196 lbs. I pretty much lost the most weight the first day. :(

I know I know. I didn't report on day 3 and 4. Bad me.

Anyways, I'm half way done! Yeah!
I almost broke on night two when I was at a policy council meeting for Joseph's preschool. They always provide dinner. That night dinner included a giant chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookie! The lady next to me pulled hers out to eat and I really really really wanted one. I am very much a cookies and brownies sort of gal and I can't wait to eat them again... in moderation. :)
Also yesterday I was making the kids peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and out of habit I licked the knife! oops!

Although, other than that it really hasn't been that hard to avoid eating everything else. I am finding that I think I have a lot more will power then I thought. I usually give into things quickly because I just think I don't have will power

Also, I'm not sure I am really doing this right. I HATE the green drinks and supposedly you need to avoid eating too many fruit drinks because they are high in sugar.... whatever. I'm still eating A LOT healthier then I was. And then cleaning the juicer is just a pain. I pretty much don't drink anything until 10am or later and really only have like 4-5 drinks a day. Like today I didn't drink anything until like 1pm! And oddly, the first few days I felt really hungry with growling stomach and all, but now I really don't feel hungry very much. Although one of the main reasons I wanted to do this was to get more energy - I really have not felt any different in that regard. Probably because I am eating very little.

Mostly I am looking forward to eating cooked vegetables again which are my favorite.

Juicing Fast: Day 2

Day two - 199 lbs. 

WOW. I was a little surprised to see THAT much weight gone. of course, I really didn't drink much yesterday either. Part of it was laziness and part food shortage. 

I tried Joe Cross's (the guy int Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead) Mean Green Juice and it was disgusting! I HATE celery...it is literally my least favorite veggie. I can't stand the texture of it or the taste. So I don't think I will be revisiting that juice. I will have to find a new veggie drink. 

I don't mind the fruit ones....although it's only day two and I am getting a little tired of them. 

We have left over chocolate for the kids from St. Patrick's day.... and I making the kids food is hard. Even things like hot dogs which I don't love sounds really good right now. I wonder what it will be like to CHEW or CHOMP down on something next Friday. I think I am going to try and down a LOT more water to help me not feel like I always have to be drinking juice.

 

Juicing Fast: Day 1

Starting weight: 205 lbs (And no I am not going to show you a before picture)

Morning.

I am really looking forward to this.... as well as feeling really....scared. I have never challenged myself in this way and I really want to make it all ten days. I'm not going to lie, I am excited to see how uch weight I loose. But mostly I am looking forward to having more energy. Right now I am drinking my FIRST juice on the diet. It is actually VERY delicious. Okay so my blogger is doing something weird and writing is very difficult right now... but I will write more later.

#10

So I am loving our new apartment. There is a lot of light and a balcony and a window in the kitchen and Cody's stuff tucked away in it's own room. Anyways here are some pictures....

The Print near the bottom of the lady's hair blowing in the wind is from Cody's wonderfully sweet teacher Bethanne Anderson. I haven't met her but Cody always talks so nicely of her! She gave us this print which she did and some other little gifts for Louise. I LOVE that print. 

Rylee's. The bottom painting Rylee did herself! And it just so happened to look like a dancing ballerina I had to put it up! The flowers are from when she was born... Cody gave her and I flowers. I dried them and put them in that frame. 

We added a rod lower down so the kids could grab their own clothes and get themselves dressed. 

The New Duvet. In this corner I am going to make lots of Oragami cranes and hang them like a mobile!

Eventually Cody will draw portraits of him and I to hand above our bed! The lamp I found at a drop and swap. it was black and had no shade. i recently spry painted it and i found this awesome 'faceted' shade at target awhile ago. it is kind of 3D with triangles. 

Cody painted this for my Birthday. 

I have struggled since we were first married to have a picture display above our couch. It has always just stumped me. But I think I finally have something here. The long frame Cody will draw the spire (just the spire) of the Columbia River Washington Temple where we were married. Next to Joseph's picture I will put one of Rylee and one of Louise. On the other side I want to put a wooden 'R' for Robles. So it is half way done and further then I have ever gotten. 

I love my rainbow book!

And this bonus... since St. Patty's day  is coming up!

Someday...

Maybe I shouldn't long for the future so much. Although having dreams is nice to have! I haven't been all that anxious or impatient for Cody to be done with school...until we figured out his graduation date. Now.... oh man. I find myself trying to placate myself with things we don't have that would be REALLY nice to have by saying "someday....". And maybe that someday seems a little closer because the end is in site.
-Someday we will have our own washer and dryer (some people who have lived here in this community have commented that an upside to a laundry mat is that they can get their whole bundle of laundry done at once. I guess I should also try and be optimistic, but actually I like the idea of being able to wash smaller loads through out the week - especially when the kids pee on sheets and clothes should be washed sooner then later)
-Someday we will have a dishwasher
-Someday I can buy the kids newer non-expired car seats
-Someday we will have a wonderful spacious Van (I am not one of those van haters. I LOVE vans, they are spacious and I first learned to drive with my mom's van. I would take a van over an SUV ANY day)especially since I plan to fill it with kiddos. :)
-Someday I will be able to put the girls in one room and Jojo in his own room and do gender specific decorations
-Someday Cody will be able to have his own Studio Space connected to the home so he doesn't have to be so far away.
-Someday their will be enough storage space so everything has it's own place and I don't feel like I am living on top of things.

Being in school is a fun and wonderful experience that I will never forget...and I never want to forget. But I am still pretty excited for things to come...however long it may take.

Dressing Your Truth and Energy Profiling.

Sorry for all the non-kiddie posts. Not too much going on. Just school and preschool and naps. But I have been wanting to write about this for quite some time.

If you click on the picture it will take you to the website.

This is kind of my obsession right now. I was introduced to by Rebecca last year. She is a friend I made when we first moved into the ward last year. I saw it on her facebook and checked it out and have been going back ever since. The idea behind Dressing Your Truth is based off what is called Energy Profiling (and honestly it is Energy Profiling that I am more interested in then Dressing Your Truth...partially because Dressing Your Truth costs way too much for me right now!) 

I honestly don't think that I can explain Energy Profiling in this post. The year's worth of information I have gathered is swimming in my brain and I might confuse you. If you go to the website and enter in your email then you will receive one video a day that explains in depth what it all is. It really is very interesting.

But, because of what I want to tell you of what I have discovered about myself I will have to explain a little about it. 

Basically it is a type of Personality test/profiling. Except it is a lot more then that. There is actually no test to take. You learn the material and through your own intuition you determine which type of energy you are. also, it is so much more then just a personality profile. As the founder Carol Tuttle (they live in Utah and are LDS, just an interesting side note) says, Personalities can be altered by society and expectations. It is about the way we move and the energy we give off and even based on our facial structure! 

I know that this may sound a little crazy (I thought it did at first, but the more I heard the more it made sense)

There are four types of energy that people exude. We have all the energies in us but we only have one dominant energy that we express. Later I learned that we also have a strong secondary. 

The Type 1 Energy is like air - It bright, animated, uplifting, and fresh.

Type 2 is like water (fluid and flowing) - Soft, subtle, comforting, detail oriented. 

Type 3 is like Fire (active, reactive) - Pushing, Rich, dynamic, Determined. (Carol Tuttle is this, and Bailey - if you read this I am pretty positive you are this as well! :)

Type 4 is like Ice - Still, Bold, striking, exact. (a lot of celebrities and models are this type)

Here is a REAL basic idea of each type. 

It has been interesting to read about these types and see myself in them. After all the info I have gathered and videos I have watched I know that the two I express are Type 1 and Type 2. I am still trying to figure out which is dominant and which is secondary. I honestly feel that I dominate with Type 1 though. So much of what was said applies to me and now makes sense and to why I do things the way I do. 

Some examples - 

Type ones crave change. I actually didn't' realize this until I heard it. You always here people say how hard change can be and I usually just shake my head like I get it. But actually, as I thought about my past I realized I am love change. All the times I rearranged my bedroom and came up with weird ways to place the furniture and the amount of times I have changed decor in my house. Type ones also are open to all possibilities - anything is possible. No one I get to indecisive with renting a movie or picking out Ice cream. I honestly could take anything! Also, they jump from activity to activity, this is why I now know that if I want to do a project and have it done by a certain date I have o give myself a LONG time because I will work on one project and jump to another that seems more fun at the time and jump back/ That's why when putting together an event (like Jana's wedding reception) I found it hard to stay with one project and get it done, I'm sure a lot of people thought I was rude just up a leaving a project before it was done and going to something else. Type ones also have a great ability to come up with ideas. I do that! But then a draw back could be that we come up with so many possibilities and ideas we tend to drop the ball. That is me to a T! Type ones are also pretty social (not me so much) but I do LOVE people and I love to be around them. I love the idea of doing things for people and come up with ideas but then (sadly) I don't always follow through. But because a type one is all about other people they tend to give their power over to others. Because they want others to have fun (for a type one it's all about fun) they will give up what they want to others can have fun. I can think of two times this happened with Cody, Nathan, and Nina. We were all hanging out and we decided to rent a movie. The first time Cody Suggested Iron Lady, I had NO desire to see the movie but I didn't know if Nathan and Nina did so I didn't say anything because I didn't want to be the one person to say no and ruin the fun. Again, another time, Cody suggested Lincoln. Again, I had NO desire to see the movie but did not want to ruin the fun for others. Also, Type 1's are talkative. There have been times before I learned about this that in Cody's family I would just start talking and talking and then when I was done I would feel really dumb and think "Why can't I just sit quietly and not talk to much?" Now I know. That's just my nature. It's who I am. When I am comfortable and feel safe around people I open up more and act more like a Type one. 

I also see Type 2 in me. Mostly that I can be pretty sensitive and emotional. And FYI! Cody is a wonderful Type 2 ( I believe Secondary Type 1)! :)

Also keep in mind there is a way to look at your facial structure and determine your type. I have a super hard time with this though. I don't get it. 

For example. Type ones will have a lot of circles and points of stars in their face. Oh heck, watch the free videos when you provide your email on Dressing Your Truth Website. 

Carol Tuttle has also made Dressing Your Truth for Men (it opened last month) 

and The Child Whisperer - how to parent children true to their type. I am reading it right now trying to determine the kids and even myself and Cody. Because I am a Type 1 I have a hard time determining other peoples types because I am the Type that is open to all possibilities and I can see all types in people. Right now I think that Joseph is a 2/1 and Rylee... I see 1/2/and 3 in her!

Cody told me once of his concern that this is just another way to stereotype and label people. I thought about that and I don't believe that at all. I feel like I have been less judgmental of people because I understand this. I feel like this actually breaks stereo types and helps people embrace themselves and not what society thinks they should be. At the time Cody was more cautious of this, I have since shown him the way! :) although he is not as into and I am. :)

Anyways I am completely rambling! Please check it out so I can talk your ear off about it! My mom can attest to me talking your ear off about it! :)

Super long post I know I am just very excited about this!

How My Inability to Say "No" Got Me Landed as Mountainland Headstart Parent Policy Committee Secretary (and the longest blog title ever!)

Headstart is an awesome place. Because it is government funded and free for the families they require a lot of volunteerism from parents to help keep the place running - and because one of their mantras is that parents are their kids first educators. So at orientation I learned of the many parent offices that a parent could get involved in. I am feeling pretty tired a lot and with a baby coming in January I was only planning on showing up to Jo's class to volunteer. But I can not take Rylee. So, as I may have mentioned before, I HATE asking people to babysit (mostly because around here if someone babysits for you the idea is you will pay them back by babysitting for them - I'm awful but I hate babysitting for others) so I haven't as of yet done this.
The first parent meeting for Joseph's preschool (Mountainland Headstart) was only announced the day before it took place. Out of about 100 parents (I actually don't know how many parents there are but this is a guess after calculating all the kids) only 8 showed up, of which I was one. I knew they would be choosing/voting for the Parent Planning Presidency as well as other parent officers that night and I had contemplated being Parent Planning Secretary because they get to make fliers and I enjoy doing that and I kind of liked the idea of getting involved in Joseph's school. I have a great desire to be part of PTA when that time comes and to fill my time with community service. It seems honorable and like a way to give back. But like I said earlier I was feeling overwhelmed at the thought of doing this. So I decided not to volunteer myself for any office....Until I got the meeting and saw 7 other parents besides myself. They were electing 6 positions. Great. I knew I would probably have to volunteer for something. The time came when they were calling for Policy Council Representative (someone who meets with one rep from each Mountainland Headstart facility all over the county and talk about...well, policies, and who to hire and fire, and how to spend the budget, ect. Pretty nice sounding job. and they provide dinners at the meetings and reimburse you for babysitting (no babysitting to repay) so I thought "well, if I am going to volunteer for something, it might as well be that." that and there was an awkward silence as no one raised their hand.... So I did. Little did I know at the time that that meant I would be going to about three meetings a month (Policy Council Meeting, Parent Planning Meeting, and Parent Meeting!)
That was only the first part. A week and half ago I went to the first Policy Committee Council Meeting at which we received training (much of which was over my head!) and we voted for the policy council presidency. I had absolutely NO intention of running. And then when it came to voting for secretary no one, again, volunteered. And then, out of no where, a girl that I hardly knew who was in my ward when we first moved here and then moved out soon after volunteered my name for Secretary (she herself had just been voted Vice Chair) I was shocked! Why me, I don't think we had ever talked before that night. I am 7 months pregnant for crying out loud! "Just bring your baby, they said" (long silence) "Fine, I'll do it." I finally said.
So, what have I gotten myself into!? I guess it isn't too bad..... I have to email the council just before every meeting to get a head count so they can make dinner enough for everyone. Those that don't email me back I have to call (honestly, the biggest draw back for me, I HATE calling people) I also have to take minutes at the meeting (and I realized when I got home from the meeting that our next meeting is on Cody's birthday!! So I am trying to find someone to replace me for that evening) Also, new this year. I am supposed to go to Parent Planning Meetings (as a side note, everyone on the parent planning presidency is Spanish speaking...it's interesting being on the side of having to be interpreted for... but their enthusiasm for what they are doing is awesome!)where we plan and carry out activities or lessons for the Parent Meetings where parents in our group come to learn something from a survey that was taken before school started. I also have to go to the Parent Meetings and report what happened at the Policy Council. So like I said... three meeting a month!
I can't believe what I got myself into. Me! The girl who has to take like two naps everyday and will be having a baby in January and has melt downs when I feel too overwhelmed (and it doesn't take much to overwhelm me). I feel as though I was pushed into being more involved like I had wished for. I guess wishes do come true. *sarcastic laugh* I try to look on the bright side and think maybe this will prepare me for PTA and other community service to come in the future. And honestly, it is the only time I am around some people who not members of the church - therefore giving me opportunities for Missionary Service... YIKES!

Something You May Not Know About Me

Ever since my mom got a video camera for Christmas so many years ago I have loved taking video. I can't tell how many times I would take the video camera and film the most random (and boring) things. Like our house.... my bedroom. Or just set the camera down and talk to it. (need a friend much?) yeah, I was weird (still am though)

At my High School Senior Party they had a room full of prizes and they would draw kids' names and those kids could go into the room and pick one prize to take. I was the third of all the kids in my senior year to be called. I had the pick of anything in the room. An Ipod, a TV, a camera, a microwave (o lala). Out of everything what did I chose? The Video Camera!!! Duh! And I used that camera! holidays, crazy college roommate dance parties, and random boring stuff ;)
Sadly all the videos I took disappeared with a bunch of my college stuff that was being stored in a shed that collapsed because of too much snow in Rexburg... (go figure).

Just out of High School I discovered a new hobby. Making videos. Specifically, Music videos with clips from movies or TV shows that I liked at the time (Harry Potter, Road to Avonlea, CSI:NY)


(here's an example of what I mean. Now, mine were no where near this good)
and I understand if you don't watch the whole thing.....or even any of it. I discovered that there are many people who don't like this stuff....but I did. Especially this one....it's so nostalgic to me of books that made me love to read.

You won't find any of these videos anywhere though. I would download the movie or TV clips from Youtube and then use Windows Movie Maker to edit them and put them to music. Not the greatest resources but it's all I had. Because of the way in which I downloaded the clips Windows Movie Maker wouldn't let me save projects into movies. Which meant I couldn't upload them to Youtube and become totally popular with lots of views! (totally kidding) but this made it difficult to save. In order to 'save' them or be able to watch them I had to have every single clip I had downloaded on my computer. If I deleted one clip it would disappear from my video.  I eventually deleted them all for two reasons.....
1. It was taking up space on my rinkidink laptop and slowing it down
2. and People didn't like them...
And not so much because they were bad....although that could have been a reason too, but because they thought it was weird and that I, in turn was weird too. The few people I'd get the courage to show them to did not offer me a lot of encouragement. They'd half heartedly watch and then give me, what I felt, was an untrue compliment.
I didn't continue much after that. Maybe it was kind of weird. And probably a lot of wasted time. But I don't regret trying it. It made me further realize what my dream job would be.....Editing.

Movies? sure. But mostly Movie trailers. Which I wasn't sure was even a real job (not just done by a movie editor) until I saw a movie where Cameron Diaz's character edited movie trailers for a living. Awesome!
Also I have always been fascinated with Videography. Most of which you see are wedding videos. or even filming and editing a short documentary type movie.

After the tragic collapse of the shed on my things I still had my camera and had it until more recently. All those videos were on small video tapes. We have about 7 of them and recently have been getting them turned into DVD's at Cody's work. Watching little baby Joseph has been so much fun to watch (poor Rylee - the camera broke just before she came and we don't have nearly as many videos of her :(

All this rambling has a point I promise.

A while ago when I was having a particularly hard time and was getting extremely irritated and angry with poor Joseph I heard a song that brought me to tears and made me stop and remember that Joseph is just a little boy and doesn't try to annoy me and he won't be little forever. The song is called Hourglass by Mindy Gledhill (You can listen to it on my grooveshark player on the sidebar) I love this song. And so does Joseph he loves the part that talks about Peter Pan. Once I heard the song I knew I wanted to make a video for Joseph of him from when he was a baby until now. But that thought quickly left with so many other things on my mind (namely, school)

A couple of weeks ago Cody gave me a blessing (which I ask for a lot) and in it I was advised to develop talents that had laid dormant for awhile and to get the kids involved in my hobbies. At first all I could think of was Scrapbooking which I used to do. And I have no interest in doing that again. Also I couldn't figure out how to get the kids involved in a hobby of mine. Hobbies are supposed to be just for me....right? And then, as I was thinking about it a couple of days later I thought of how I always loved to make videos, something I had stopped doing but was always in the back of my mind. And the blessing made more sense and I knew how to involve the kids!
I made my first steps toward achieving this goal last Friday. The kids and I went to Cody's work with him and I put in a movie for the kids while I tried to work on my video. Rylee is just not that easily distracted so we didn't get much done. We've also been renting DSLR cameras from Cody's work so I can take video of the kids just being themselves to use in the videos.
I'm really excited about this and I will keep you updated.

The two videos I could upload because I own the pictures. They are picture slideshows which are not my favorite and they are kind of cheesy and lame, but hey! The Family one I made on the plane to Disneyworld!
My YouTube Channel

Lesson to learn: Even if someone is doing something you think is weird.... please support them if it is something they love. You never know what it can turn into! :)

What Do LDS Women Get?

Sheri Dew (former General Relief Society President and President of Deseret Book)

This is a subject that I have been thinking a lot about. I realize that not all women in the church feel this way (that men and women are equal). It makes me sad...and I'll admit, at first, angry. I struggled with it and stewed over it. I didn't like feeling that way, but I did. It was a journey and took a while but I've come to understand that we are all children of God and he loves those struggling with this issue just as much as he loves me. His love is infinite. And I should strive to make mine more infinite. 

And this experience also helped me realize a great gift that I have been blessed with. I have been blessed with parents who never made me feel less as a person just because I am a female or that I couldn't do just as much as anyone else (And now realize with sadness that not all women were raised this way).
I have a great testimony of the power of the priesthood which I love immensely. I also have a very strong testimony in both personal revelation and our living prophet today President Monson. 

A couple of Saturday's ago our stake Relief Society had the great opportunity to have our General Relief Society President Linda K Burton come and speak to us. It was a wonderful experience, and one of the many things that I took from that meeting was the testimony that Sister Burton has of the General Authorities  and their love and admiration for the women of the church and how much they are aware of us and pray for us. I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

So, what did I do on my first day of no school?

It was the first day of Christmas Break
I finished my last assignments at 9:30pm on Saturday.
So what did I do my first day of vacation?

I sewed Rylee's Stocking from this old sweater which had grown a hole!

Made these snowmen cookies {tutorial found here}

For our visiting and home teachees, and Jojo's Nursery leader. 

Joseph is moving to Sunbeams starting the new year!! I can hardly believe that we are finally going to have a primary aged child! He is growing up sooooo fast!
Thanks Mom and Emilee for the Christmas Cards {You can see them on the door!}

Played with my kiddos!

And we went and saw Wreck-it Ralph for FHE. Cody has been wanting to go the movies for the longest time!!! now that we are out of classes we have more time. I LOVED it, it was such a creative story and so well done. it was great! And Rylee was pretty good! (usually I have to take her out because she is so wiggly) 

OH! and I can't forget to mention the WONDERFUL short Paperman before the feature. A very beautiful love story. Visual awesomeness!

My Oldest Sisters Funeral

My grandma and grandpa are very near where Rochelle was buried. I put carnations from Rochelle's casket on their headstone.

All the girls.

All 10 grandsons. Wearing pink.

We did a Balloon release

To Rest

My sister passed away last night after the kids went to bed. It was also her daughter Kamden's birthday. But we aren't too sad by this, it's sort of a special day for them both and Ryan said in years to come they can celebrate her birthday and then go take flowers to Rochelle's grave. We are all surprisingly doing well and at peace. I find comfort in thinking of all the people she is seeing again. Our grandpa and grandma and so many others. Her life and death is a great example to the rest of us to learn what she lived so well, to serve others. In serving others we come to be more fulfilled the way she is now in the spirit world.

I am making a slideshow for my sisters funeral and in going through all her pictures i found this! Me and Rochelle on a camping trip. I've NEVER seen this before. And now, obviously, it is one of my favorites.

http://rolumpybreast.blogspot.com/

I got to see my sister Rochelle today. It was nice because I haven't seen her since before her surgery . ( for those that don't know, she had a new type of surgery to remove two tumors from her brain, two weeks ago). They have moved her from the hospital to her home for hospice. She is more comfortable there, although I know she liked the hospital because they could control her pain better, but I think they have her pretty comfortable at home. They put a hospital bed in but she just lays on her bed because the hospital bed is so uncomfortable. I know, I layed on it.

My sister Chauntel is down here to help out at Rochelle's house (lucky her! She's in a position that she can do that right now, and it is so helpful). My sister's friend Danielle and her sister came over to take last family pictures of the family. Kendall put Rochelle's makeup on. We were busy putting together outfits for everyone. The theme was black white and grey with a bit of pink. They turned out really good, even though Rochelle was coming in and out of it a little bit, they are such a beautiful family. I was getting emotional when they were doing pictures of just Rochelle and Ryan. He was kissing her cheek and then they would kiss. It was very tender. I love my brother-in-law. Rochelle and Ryan got married when I was Ten! I consider him a brother, and I know he treats Rochelle SO good and I really liked observing that tender moment. When I first found out there was nothing more the doctors could do for Rochelle, well honestly I wasn't that shocked, but obviously upset, but I think I might have been a little in denial I kept thinking, oh she could still get better. And I didn't know what to tell people, especially since my sister and brother-in-law were also not ready to 'give up'. But they aren't giving up, that's what's so great about the gospel! I'm so glad I know about the Plan of Happiness (what a great name) because I know she will go to paradise and not feel anymore pain and she is sealed to Ryan and to her children, and I will get to see her again. So now I am ready to say- My oldest sister may not make it to Halloween, and I am sad and scared for her family, but I am also happy for her. She is a wonderful sister, wife, mother, daughter, and friend. And so strong! I think there is no denying she is the strongest in our family. Cody and I were laying in bed a couple of nights ago and he said "Rochelle's a very Christ-like person, isn't she." He told me about how when we first saw their family one of the first things Rochelle asked him was how his back was (which had been hurting him really bad for awhile), and here she is with Cancer and having her own pains and a million other things to deal with.

overwhelmed sometimes

Sometimes I wonder why it's so hard to get myself motivated to do something. And then when I finally get gun-ho about it it slowly dissipates into nothing. grrrr! I think that there are some people out there... the really determined ones... that get their mind on something and just follow it through to the end. stinkers. And then there is the rest of us... our minds are filled with a million things we need or wish to do and accomplish and we get so down on ourselves when we don't get it ALL done in one day. I think this is where patience must come in. Patience and persistence. Continually working at something and actively waiting for something to happen. I don't think either are an especially good trait of mine.
~Eating Healthy {but that doughnut looks so good}
~Making sure Tipo eats his veggies {but how can I ever expect him to eat them if he never sees me eat them because I hate all vegetables}
~Don't forget his medicine {I can't remember did I give it to him already?}
~Don't spend your whole day inside {But my book is so good and it is soooo hot outside}
~There's a pool outside....use it {I just took a shower and put my make up on, I don't want to spend forever getting ready for the day again}{Sometimes I hate being a girl}
~Make sure Tipo takes his naps on time or else he will be grumpy. {But he doesn't want to and he is so cute right now}
~Make sure Tipo doesn't sleep too long or else his schedule will be off... and he will be grumpy. {but I'm enjoying the silence and I can get so much done right now}
~Cook dinner for Cody. {He's a little picky 'love you hun' and I don't enjoy cooking or standing in one spot forever}
~Take a shower right after you put Tipo to bed at night so you don't have to spend so much time in the morning. {But I can get so much done now, and it's Cody and me time}
~Make sure you do your cleaning chores each day so your house doesn't get gross. {ugh, Chores.... I just want to read}
~Exercise! {ugh, I hate running in the heat and on streets were cars are constantly passing, I can't go work out at the school until 6pm, whose gonna watch Tipo, I feel dumb when I've been at it for a minute or two and I'm already sweating like a grown man and I'm practically wheezing "no sir, I'm okay just a little out of breath", what there are no TV's in the school gym to keep my mind off the fact that I am running?! they had them at BYU-I!}
~Read your scriptures. {I try to do that only to find that I can't remember what I just read, but then Joseph gets into the toilet and I have to clean him up and then tons of other stuff happens, does that still count?}
~Say your prayers individually, as a couple, and as a family with a wriggling kid morning and night
~Visiting Teaching {oh yeah, I was suppose to call her!}
~Write in your journal {it's been awhile and now I have so much to write to catch up on, not to mention Joseph's journal too}
~Talk to your family {Do they want to hear from me?}
~Keep up on the dishes or it will look like a bomb went off and it might get stinky {One of my weaknesses, I've never been good at this.... and the dishes pile again right after I just finished cleaning them!!!}
~Take Tipo for a walk {It's hot}
~Associate with people {oh yeah, I would if I had any one to associate with, it's hard when we're both wallflowers}
~Make sure you teach Tipo about everything before someone else does {how do I know if it's time to teach him, what do I teach him and when, Will I teach him good enough, when do I discipline and how??????}
~Give Cody little surprises he likes it {You can't give a guy flowers}
~Give service!!! {I want to, it's kind of hard though, We're not in a home ward, if ya know what I mean}
~Apartment hunting {SOOOOOO frustrating, it's either too much, too far away, or too trashy! Please let us live on campus!}
~Apply for school {I admit I'm a little scared to do this, what about Tipo? what will I do with him, and when another one comes?}
~Attend Temple {Does any want to watch Tipo for three hours...really?}

Grandma S

So awhile ago my mom sent all us girls an email with a recipe for mini chocolate chip pudding cookies. In the email she said this was something Grandma Schultz made us quite a bit. Well, I was feeling a little bummed because I had no memory of these cookies and grandma making them for us a lot. After all I was only in 3rd grade when she passed away. One night a week or so ago Cody was craving sweets. I try to be strong and say 'no' because I'm trying to be healthier. But then I remembered that recipe mom gave us. So I said 'okay', hopeful that in making and eating these cookies a wave of memories might come back to me.
Well, as I mixing the cookies a memory did come back. Of many times sitting on the counter next to Grandma's Kitchen Aid and helping pour in ingredients to make cookies.... I'm thinking now that it must have been these cookies.
As I actually tasted the cookies I remembered them! I do remember these cookies that are fluffy and have mini chocolate chips in them!!! It made me happy.
I wanted to put a picture of grandma on here but the best I could do was take a picture of pictures.
There is one of us sitting at Sunday Dinner. In this picture Bailey was the lucky girl who got to sit next to grandma. I remember wanting to sit there all the time, I think we had to take turns so we all got to.