Funny things this week

I have to relate some funny things that happened this week.

1. Opening the washer to switch the laundry and finding my Crocs that Hannah put in there when I wasn't looking.

2. Hyrum said, "Mom, can you be my big helper? so I would feed him dinner.

3. Hyrum continually singing Linkin Park songs (I run on the treadmill to some).

4. Pictures we took today:

Paige the chimp

My cyclops son


Paige has some junk in the trunk


Hyrum without a head


(Turn away if you are squeamish)
5. An old companion remembering a funny story from my mission with me. This member lady answered the door and shook our hands as we came in. Then she tells us that she was late coming to the door because she was inserting a suppository. Then my horror as I realized her hands were dry when I shook them - Ahhhhhh!

The Difference In Brothers And Sisters

Sisters have a great bond. (Refer to my sister's blog) This starts very early - very spiritual and on a deep level. However, brothers also have a special bond, it's just different. It usually involves laughing, wrestling and overall harassment. But when Hannah and Paige want to really play hard then they go to Hyrum. No one can make the girls laugh like their brother. I have never heard them laugh as hard as they do with Hyrum. In these pictures Hannah was convinced she was goes to sit in Hyrum's lap, no matter what he thought. She backs up and plops into people's lap - her aim was good until Hyrum would move at the last minute.


But the girls have a kinship and Hannah looks up to Paige like no one else. She tries to mimic her and be a big kid just like her. Paige is patient and takes the time to show Hannah things and read to her. I love watching my kids interact - I'm learning so much!


This picture is just because Hannah is so stinking cute with her little pudgy hands!

Our White Winter

For the first time since we've been married, the snow has actually stayed for longer than a week. I love it and as you can see, we've all been enjoying it. Here's me pretending to snowboard down the side of the hill behind our house. We had to 4wheel up the hill and as hard as it was to get up, it wasn't very steep going down. I'm obviously not going very fast if the dog can keep up.

Here's Kaylonnie, Paige, Hyrum and Jace on the back of the sleigh.

Hyrum always has to sit with Grandpa.

Poor Bonnie and Penny only get used twice a year. Once for a sleigh ride and once during the 24th of July parade to pull a wagon!

Thanks to Britt and Wade for the rides! It's a good life if you can snow-machine in your frontyard!

The kids love to sled down the driveway.

Paige has figured out how to snowboard on the sled. She has even done this behind a 4wheeler.

Anyone Interested?

When I had Hannah I gained a lot of weight. No really, a lot of weight. Six weeks after my c-section, I started walking on the treadmill again and trying to get back to normal. Well, it didn't work. After a couple months I realized having babies over 30 wasn't going to allow my body to just bounce back with little effort anymore. I decided to kick it into high gear and get some shape back. It worked really well. I lost an extra 30 lbs on top of what I had lost previously. I am ready to do it again. (not 30 lbs, more like 15-20) I have had a lot of people ask how I did it ( it only took about 2 months). I have gained a little back over the holidays and want to do it again. If anyone is interested just leave a comment. The rules aren't complicated, just strict. But I am only going to do this for 6 weeks. If some want to go longer, that's great. I might too, we'll see. This is really all about wanting something so bad, you are desperate. I am not saying "follow me, follow me!!", but if you want some support and to lose some weight then do it with me. So, if you're interested these are the rules:

1. No sugar! I know this sounds crazy - but nothing. Not in yogurt, cereal, or even salty snacks (it's in some of them!). Remember - it's only for 6 weeks! Natural sugars are great like in dairy and fruit.

2. No eating past 6:30. This is really hard for some. If you have to skip dinner and just have some kind of snack at 6:30 - so be it. But stick with this rule.

3. 10 minutes of exercise everyday but Sunday. This will differ according to how much you are used to right now. It might be walking, running, biking, or whatever. Just as long as it's 10 minutes of constant exercise. If you want to do more, then do it! It's really not that much, but it has to be at least 5 days a week.

4. Do not exceed 1300 calories a day for a woman/ 2000 for a man. This is done by having approx. 200 calorie meals/ snacks about 4-5 times a day (about every 3 hours) and then a regular meal somewhere in there. Mine is usually dinner, but sometimes it's lunch. This is where the mental part of this diet comes in. You just have to get used to not always feeling full and not always having something in your mouth. (That's a hard one for me) Portion control! Calories can be really hard to count - just try to eat about a 1/2 cup of whatever you want. It doesn't have to be just protein. I eat a lot of yogurt.

This will feel like torture for the first week, and then you will get used to it. I just want to be healthy again and have enough energy to keep up with my kids. I don't want to be fat anymore. I don't want to be the size I was at 20 - just a healthy somewhere in between.

Oh, I don't do weigh-ins. That's up to you. But do write down everything you eat - it makes it easier to count calories and if/ how much you cheat.

I am starting January 15th. That should be enough time to get all the sugar out of my house!

Lots of love,
Mindy