Mini Vacation

A few pictures from our trip to southern Utah to visit family; too many to choose from so just a few of my favorites. Here are a few hightlights from the trip; we got to hang out with Troy's family we only get to see once a year, taking trips to the mountain, (looking for pine cones, building a fire, enjoying wildlife), Troy finally got to go shooting, stopping at Hole 'N The Rock and taking a tour, but the best part of all was we got to spend a whole week with Troy (free from work). As you can tell from how dirty Jaden is, he absolutely loved the trips to the mountains, as did I. The best part-spending time with family, worst part-stomach flu we picked up the day we left. :( Thanks family for the fun times.

Summer Pics

Some new pics of the kids.

Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

Got this email, wanted to share.

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4.) When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to________ today.'

5.) Live with the 3 E's --Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.

7.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

8.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of Six.

9.) Dream more while you are awake.

10.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are
manufactured in plants.

11.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

12.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17.) Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.

25.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26.) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27.) Forgive everyone for everything.

28.) What other people think of you is none of your business.

29.) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!

30.) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31.) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.
Stay in touch with them.

32.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. God provides remember?!

34.) The best is yet to come. (in Heaven)

35.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36.) Do the right thing!

37.) Call your family often.

38.) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
'I am thankful for __________.'Today I accomplished _________.

39.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40) Even if you are older... Remember respect is not deserved, it is earned.

41) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE'S A GIFT ... UNWRAP IT!

Love vs. Hate

Random thoughts... Exercise, for me.. I love how I feel after I do it, however I am not sold that I love it, I don't hate it, just not sure that I love it. I do love having that time for my mind to just go where it may, a little "me" time and a break from everything else.... But I have often wondered if it takes time for people to love it or if you never do, you just do it for the way you feel when you are done??? Maybe I am the only one who does it but doesn't love it? Maybe everyone who does it loves it? Maybe I just like it.. Well enough of my rambling thoughts... onto my post...

For the last 6 plus months all of our exercise stuff has been sitting in our living room downstairs, and although I used it in there I hated it there. We had a room for it but decided upstairs was getting too crowded and moved the older kids downstairs. So my sweet husband in his free time(the tiny bit he had) turned our storage room into an exercise room. It was amazing that the room went from shelving from floor to ceiling and shelving all down the middle of it, to an awesome workout room.. Thanks sweetie, your the best.. :)I absolutely love the way it turned out, from the carpet to the energetic colors, to the vinyl saying (can't see it in the pictures) but it says "the only difference between the unattainable and the attainable lies in a person's determination." So I am hoping that since I love the room so much I will start loving the exercise too(right?)... He even put a little fridge in there stocked full of bottled water.... :) Love it!!!!

80's Flashback

We took the kids Roller Skating this weekend, to get away from the cold and rain. I was actually surprised how well they did on "skates" not blades. They had the best time, and as I watched them I was having major 1980's flashbacks of Roller Skating. Growing up in a small town Roller Skating was really the only thing there was to do for fun. I remember many nights at the ole Roller Rink. The things we did on skates.... the limbo, the number game, the races, the disco skating, requesting songs etc. (I wonder if they still do any of this.) And then there was trying to skate by putting one foot in front of the other, or backwards skating (only the pros could do this). Until I watched my own kids skate I had forgotten the great times I once had on skates. Good times... :)

Picture Perfect

Just a little reminder that they can all be little sweethearts and love one another.

My Mom...

As Mother's Day approaches I would like to tell my mom how much I love her. My mom has endured a lot of hardships in her life and yet has always managed to overcome adversity and keep her head up, I truly admire her for this. She has been a great example of what a mother is to me and my siblings. I hope to be half the mom to my kids that she is to us. Some of the qualities I love and admire her most for; she is honest, unselfish, loving, kind hearted, friendly, giving, has unconditional love for her children, funny, strong and a little outspoken(love ya mom).

I am lucky to have her so close to me and to my kids. I know that she would do anything for us and is always there whenever we need her. She is an even more amazing Grandma, and for that I am so blessed. I mean come on how many Grandmas will play deer hunting, get on the floor and crawl around like a deer so Stockton can pretend to shoot her(he used to LOVE doing this with her), or play Nascars with Cole, or take Courtnee shopping just to take her, or walk with Jaden so he could take the puppy for a walk, or the endless number of sleepovers with the kids so they could just hang with Grandma(the list is really endless).... I love her for being my mom and I cherish her for being my friend.
Love you mom, Happy Moms Day... :)