Thinking Tuesday...

I can't believe it is JULY already! How time flies!!! Two important events the beginning of July....of course the 4th of July celebrating our freedom and this great country we live in AND my birthday! Been a fun month so far. Thoughts....

- My new passion is TRX. I did a post on my fitness blog on TRX. All I can say is I love it. If any of you come to St. George, we will do a workout together. By the pool. How awesome is that?

- Emma and Gabe spent a week camping with my family (note, there is one child I DO NOT recognize in this picture....)

- Getting used to the heat in sunny St. George. In fact, I sit typing this by the pool...I know, rough...

- Emma asked Gabe why it is so hot in St. George. Gabe's response: "Because we are closer to the ozone layer." We might need to do some extra homework this summer.

- Birthday fun included a shopping trip to Vegas! We are so close now. Just me and Jesse!

- We decided a show was in order for the birthday celebration and went to see the Cirque Du Soleil show "LOVE". Amazing. Highly recommend it.

- Routine. Getting the kids on more of a routine this summer. They need it and so do I.

Thinking Tuesday...

Oh boy....moving is hard! Change is hard, but good. I keep reminding myself of that. This week my thoughts have turned to...

- Summer!!! Yeah - I think it is officially here, right?? I am excited for our first summer in St George.

- Speaking of summer, this salad speaks summer to me. Check it out HERE.

- Parents: My parents and Jesse's parents were troopers and helped us back up and load the moving truck. I love them.

- I have decided that you should pretend you are moving once every 6 months. I threw away SO much stuff! Stuff I didn't need. (Jesse calls it crap)

Thinking Tuesday...

Thinking today...

- That I would like to go back to Disneyland and not have to face the real world....and spend a week with this cute face:

- Boxes....I need boxes! If anyone has any extra boxes, send them our way!!

- Finding your way around a new town is HARD - especially when it comes to grocery shopping!

- Lazy Saturday afternoons by the pool. I need more of those.

- Looking for houses.

- The headphone jack won't work on my phone and TV is getting boring while I workout.

- Missing my Treehouse Peeps.

- Since moving, my kids have probably watched as much TV in 3 weeks as they have in the past 3 years!

- Airconditioning...we would melt without it!

Princess Emma

Emma turned 5 this year and for her birthday we took a trip to Disneyland....just Emma and Mom! We stayed at Paradise Pier (I highly recommend paying the extra money when you have little ones who don't want to spend all day at the park) and literally had a ball! Here is all the Disney fun we had:

- Rides, rides, rides....her favorite was Splash Mountain (which scares the bajeepies out of me) and the Matterhorn. She is a daring little thing!

- World of Color...we did a special Italian dinner that night and then got front row seating to the show which was spectacular!!!

- Bippity, Boppity Boutique Princess Make-over...probably the highlight of her trip. She loved getting all princessed up. That hair-do stayed for about a week. I know....gross. But she loved it.

- Meeting Mickey...a MUST on her list.

- Character Breakfast....she got to meet most of the princesses in one shot! She also got sang to and had a brownie for breakfast.

- She got lots of attention from the Disney workers and just people in general when she wore her "birthday button" and was dressed up as a princess. Everyone told her Happy Birthday and called her Princess Emma. It was really cute and made the trip that much more special.

- I love this little bug! I wish I could do this every year!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA!!!!

Flashback Friday...

I know that ALL moms say they have the cutest babies, but let's get real here...most newborns ARE NOT cute. At all. Except for mine. Look how stinking cute Emma was....

She is 4 days old in this picture. It is probably my most favorite photograph of her. All that black hair. Wide eyed. I love this girl so much.

Thinking Tuesday...

On my mind....

- I wish I would have watched American Idol this season. Scotty is a cutie-patootie! His number with Tim McGraw was amazing!

- My jaw hurts from chewing so much gum. I have been driving a lot and chewing gum keeps me awake!

- I really want to go back to Hawaii....

- Taught my last class at Treehouse on Saturday. One of the hardest things I have I ever done. I love those members so much. It is incredible how close you can get to a group of people over 7 years of teaching. Bawled. My. Eyes. Out.

- Someone is celebrating a special day this week! Here she is at 6 months old. She turns 5 this year. My baby is 5 :(

- Packing. Still just thinking about it and taking no action...

Guess who has a birthday this week??

Let's Celebrate!!!!

Time Flies...

14 years ago last week (May 17, to be exact) Jesse proposed to me. What a wild ride it has been!

Some things you may or may not want to know about us.....

- We met at Idaho State University our Freshman Year of college.

- We only went on one "real" date before he left to serve a mission for our church. It was to a Brooks and Dunn Concert.

- We wrote every week for 104 weeks while he served his mission in Brazil.

- He returned home on May 16. (yes, you do the math)

- He proposed in front of the Idaho Falls Temple. On one knee.

- His mom picked out my wedding ring.

- We were married 2.5 months later.

- We have been best friends from day one.

- The ride is sometimes bumpy, but we hold on for dear life!

Thinking Tuesday...

Not feeling like I can really organize my thoughts this week....lots of craziness! But here are a few things going through my mind.

- Friends: I have the most incredible friends. Friends who are helping me with my kids while Jesse and I are traveling back and forth. Friends who are offering to help in any way they can - and I know they mean it. Friends from the gym who I will miss like crazy. These are my peeps from the gym....we are all there at 5AM! LOVE. THESE. LADIES.

- My Mom and Mother-In-Law: So sweet to come stay with my kids. What would I do without these to women?

- Justin Bieber: What you say? I know, I know.....but isn't he cute? We watched the Justin Bieber movie this weekend. I didn't know much about him, but he has a pretty cool story.

- Colbie Caillat's new song, I DO. I could listen to it all day long. You can listen HERE.

- Packing: The thought has crossed my mind, but I try to push it immediately out. We got a lot of crap in our house! Ahhhhhh!!!

St George Update

Quick update on our move to St. George! Here's an overview:

- The company that Jesse is a trainer for (and I do their nutrition side) is relocating to St. George. It is a weight loss retreat, so sunny St. George is PERFECT! It is Real Life Fitness and Health.

- The retreat will be ran out of Green Valley Resort. Ya'll should come visit me. Just sayin.

- Jesse moves this weekend. I will be back and forth until the kids are out of school.

- We will TRY to sell our home. (try is the key word here)

- The kids are super excited - Emma thinks it's a vacation.

- I am incredibly sad to leave our home, friends, Treehouse members, church, etc...but am also extremely excited for the change.

- Our other company, LIVE THE LIFE, continues to run just as usual. It is online, so we can do that one anywhere. Bonus!

Thinking Tuesday...

This week one thing is on my brain......

We are moving to St. George! Hold on tight - the next weeks are going to be crazy!!

I also made a yummy new recipe which is DE-lish! Garlic Shrimp Polenta....find it HERE. You have to. Even my kids liked it!

ThinkingTuesday...

What a week....I had a skip in my step this week as the sun peeked its head out. Can it be true? Is Spring finally here???

Thinking about....

- My Mom - one of the most beautiful and Christ-like people I know. Along with my Dad. She's cute, huh?

- Figured out how to make creamsicles - YUMMY!!!! Go HERE to learn how.

- Gabe's 5th Grade Campout.

- Emma is reading to me. My baby is reading....how did that happen?

- The land of the free. I am proud to be an American!

- MS Walk 2011. I carried this little stinker for the majority of the 3 miles. The weather was okay for us - it did snow part of the time.

Happy Week! I hope it is sunny in your neck of the woods!

Flashback Friday...

With all of the High Schools celebrating Prom lately, I began to reflect on my own Prom dates. The beautiful dresses, the flowers, the all day dates (did anyone else have those? Insane), late nights, dancing with friends, Promenade, etc.... In reflection I had to share this picture from my Junior Prom. I just couldn't help it. I might regret it later, though.

click to enlarge to get a good laugh

FACTS:

- Junior Prom: Spring of 1993

- Date: Jed Smith

- Jed's Hair: Permed

- My Hair: Looks like a bad version of Marge Simpson

- Bobby Pins: 210

- Hairspray: 1.25 bottles (that is for both of us)

- Date: All day and involved bowling and Italian Food

- Curfew: Breakfast (hey - I was a good kid and my mom trusted me)

I got a good laugh when I saw this, I hope you do, too! Happy Friday!

Thinking Tuesday...

I think Spring might be coming. I'm hoping. I need it. My soul needs it. Here are some things filling my thoughts this week....

- Easter....we had 2 incredible talks in Sacrament meeting on Easter Sunday. The messages are still playing over and over in my head as they have touched my heart.

- Sunday I wore a bracelet I gave to each of my sisters and my mom last Fall on a Girls Trip. They are always on my mind. I love each of them and always want them to be happy. Wonder where we will go on our next trip??

- The 2011 MS Walk. Our family signed up for this to support those we love with MS. Particularly our cute friend, Tara, and Jesse's dad. It is happening this Saturday. Come join us!

- Weeds...we've got A LOT of them. And they need to go! I see lots of weeding in our future.

- Emma's Birthday. She will be 5 this year! It is coming up and guess where I would love to take her? Here's a clue....

- Jesse and I have been talking lately how Gabe turns 12 this year. 12. How did that happen? He gets the Priesthood this year. Whoa.

- Creamsicles....trying to figure out how to make my own version of this yumminess. I'll let you know when I nail it.

- Pizza Pinwheels...Gabe is obsessed with these. Super and easy and yummy. ALL ages will love these! Confession - I love these. You can find the recipe here.

- Carrie Underwood singing "How Great Thou Art" with Vince Gill. I am a country girl at heart and this song brought me to tears. Watch and listen to it here.

- Summer - oh wait, haven't I included this like the past 4 weeks?? Can't wait!

Flashback Friday

This picture brings a flood of memories with it....

It is April 2000, and Gabe is about 7 months old. The reason it brings a flood of emotions is that we had just brought him home from the hospital after a fight against Bacterial Meningitis. I can't help but smile when I see that smile on his face. We missed that smile for about 3 weeks while he was sick. I love my baby boy...even if he is almost bigger than me now!

Thinking Tuesday....

New week...new thoughts....

- Summer...of course

- Spring break - my kids were on 2 different weeks (why??)

- Salads - try this Sweet Mustard Dressing so yummy!

- Got a note from the school that said there were only 34 days of school left. What???

- Tangled: can't get enough of this movie! I love it!

- Easter...why is pastel candy so good?

- My kids smell like puppies right now.

Oh, just wait...

This little firecracker will grow up to be a fashion designer someday. I gave up years ago trying to dress her. Yes, she was already picking her own outfits out when she was about 3. And they were creative, mismatched, but somehow she pulled it off even at a young age. I don't want to stifle her creativity. She is very carefree and creative. I want her to be "Emma", not who anyone else wants or thinks she should be. I love that about her! Just wait, one day you will see "Emma Allen Designs".

Weekend Funny...

This weekend was Conference, so we decided to visit Mom and Dad (and conveniently leave the princess for a few days.)

Mom and Dad still live in the house I grew up in and it contains so many memories for me. While we were watching Conference, I hopped up to use the bathroom. When I went to leave the bathroom, the door would not unlock! Now - it wasn't a new knob....same old knob I have locked and unlocked a million times. But it seriously would not budge. So, I did what any women stuck in a bathroom would do. I started screaming and pounding on the door. "MOOOOOOMMMMM!" I actually started giggling because it reminded me of when I was younger and there was no toilet paper. "MOOOOMMMM! I NEED SOME TOILET PAPERRRRR!"

Luckily, Jesse heard me and came to the door. In his calm voice, he answers me, "You're going to be yelling for a while." He tried to help me unlock the door and then we were just laughing our heads off. Then ALL of the troops came....Mom, Dad, Ray, Paula, Ashley, Gabe....I kept overhearing Gabe say "This is going to be a great story tomorrow at school!" Great.

To make a long story short, Jesse had to get a ladder, climb through the window and take the entire doorknob off. All the while laughing.

My parents bathroom door now has a rather large peephole. Sorry Mom.

Thinking Tuesday....

Filling my thoughts this week....

- I have a canker on the top of my mouth that is killing me!

- Got a couple of new purses by Miche and love, love, love them.

- Spring break...and staying home. I think that is breaking Gabe's heart, but that is life sometimes.

- Emma's BFF's birthday party tomorrow!

- Listening to these 3 men and others this weekend. Can't wait to be uplifted....

- Jesse's broken phone...to wait or not to wait for the iPhone 5?

- My Mom's homemade bread.

- My ice maker broke - people this is a big deal. We use A LOT of ice.

- The sun. Still.

Thinking Tuesday....

Thoughts filling my mind this week....

- Sunshine...I need some.

- Gabe's Maturation Day....so glad Jesse is attending that one.
- Strawberries...we are going through oodles! But happy my kids love them.

- Intervals....Spin class is intervals this month. Love me some intervals.

- Emma's new make-up...can you say drag queen? I was too embarrassed to snap a shot.

- Spring...come on, already!

- Taxes...still haven't done mine yet. Ugh.

- Biceps...I tried a slower pace for lifting today. Pretty sure my hair isn't getting washed this week.

- Jam...I'm out of my Mom's homemade raspberry jam and need more.

- Sleep...I need more of it.

- Friends...we had our best friends from college come stay 2 nights with us last week. Don't you just love those friends that you can pick up right where you left off with?

- MS Walk...we signed the whole family up. April 30 - come join us!

Why??

I've been thinking a lot about blogging lately.....I love me some facebook, but I miss my blog. I have slacked...big time.

I have always wanted to do a Fitness Blog, which I did, but still want to post on my family blog. So my question is, what keeps you blogging? What inspires you? What do you post?

I can think of one for sure.....I want to document these little lives and the funny things they say.

Life is flying by. It kind of scares me. How about you?

I'm not cheating on you....

I have started another blog. There is no other way to say it. I am not cheating on this blog. This will always be my family blog, but I started another one to share fitness and nutrition tips for you and your family and just things in general that I love that relate to fitness. It is called Healthy Mama Happy Mama. Come on over and see me there and become a follower! Go HERE.

Somebody...

...had a birthday this weekend....

Isn't he so handsome? Emma was trying to figure out which one of us was older. She guessed Dad - her reasoning: he is bigger and stronger!

We didn't have anything planned....story of our lives. We both work a lot then just want to spend time with the kids when we aren't working. So, on a whim on Saturday, we headed to Park City for some shopping and then to Salt Lake to spend an evening at Little America.

Such a beautiful hotel. The kids couldn't wait to get there. After every store they would ask, "Are we going to the hotel now?" They just wanted to swim and watch TV. And Emma packed about 12 outfits for one night.

A much needed weekend of just "US". I think we need to do it more often.