Wanna See a little Offense?

Our little football player

Video of Jacob learning to play defense! He's the one in the red shirt. Whoop!

The good things in life......

The last two weeks have definitely not been my best or favorite by any means! I had thought numerous times of blogging about how my life stank and if one more illness even crept near my door - how I was going to seriously FREAK OUT! Instead, and after reading a very sad situation of a friend of mine - a real trial in their lives - I've decided to post some of our recent pictures. You know, when things go wrong and we're reminded of the important things in life, everything else CAN go by the wayside! On a bright note - Sam and I had an awesome weekend in Cedar City reading the entire Book of Mormon in 23 hours (with a nights rest in between the two days). A wonderful and uplifting experience that I hold so dear, I'd rather not blog about it. This is the trial of our time, to endure all things.......

So on with the crazy irish photos.....















Jacob started pee wee football (full contact) a couple of weeks ago! This kid was destined to play and he loves it! Doesnt he look so cute in his pads and helmet?

Dumpster Diving

I have no shame in the fact that I LOVE to find treasures in others peoples trash! I have found great things over the years, like the gigantic picture that hangs over my Mams bed, scooters, luggage, chairs, chalk/white boards, fans, kickboxing equipment, sofas, chandeliers..........the list goes on. There is a whole art in how you actually pick up the TREASURE...... mostly in the morning but sometimes the night before (so it's dark and the neighbors cant see you)!!! I usually drive by first so I dont pull the van to a halting screeeech, then when I go back I'm prepared with which door I'm going to fling the item in through and take off. This also gives me time to unbuckle and check if anybody is watching. Even though I've no shame, I don't like for people to see me picking the stuff off the sidewalk BUT I have to say that if it's really worth it, I don't care who sees. I have at times, knocked on the door (of the owner of the "trash") and asked them if I can take the TREASURE or in the case of the leather sofa, if they would mind holding it for me.....lol.....this is sounding more ridiculous as I write!
Well so my story for the week is this...... I got a great piece of luggage from a neighbors trash about 5 months ago. A purple expandable suitcase with ZERO problems.....WHY throw it away I wondered but who cares, I will rescue it from certain crushable death......so I took it. I've used it and it's great!

So, I was driving by the same house during the week and what do I see but another suitcase - these people obviously have a luggage problem. I flipped a U-turn and Baili said right away "WHAT ARE YOU DOING MOM" She was on to me!
"Um, I'm just going back there to see that suitcase"
"MOM????"
"Baili, it's the same place as I got the purple one" (Like I was talking about a department store or something - HA!)
Then Baili says, "well if we ever have to bring our parents in to school to tell the class what they do for work, I'm bringing you and telling them you take other people's trash!"

Quick stop, seatbelt unbuckled, chuck the thing in the front seat (after all it was garbage day so if it was broken I could put it back in the trash and no one would ever know the difference)
VIOLA - done.........and it's perfect - not a broken zipper or a bent handpull for when you wheel it. YAY another trash to treasure story......
Oh btw.....if you think I'm the only one that does this....think again.....I just saw a story on CNBC about a guy that makes his living of dumpster diving - he's found new (in the box) shoes, watches, other expensive junk in peoples dumpsters but he actually gets in those big dumpster cans and searches around - now that's not for me....kindly leave it on the side and if it's worth taking, I'll get it!

THE MAN I LOVE

I just want to announce to the world, how much I love this man! This valentines we sorta renewed our vows - on a sandy white beach, with romantic music and a flowing white dress - HA - I wish......but that's the great thing about love, you don't need roses or music or a romantic location to feel it. We have had some great times over the years and made lots of good good memories. Sometimes it seems like forever and other times just seems like yesterday that Sam was pounding on my apartment door begging me for a date!!!! lol....just kidding. Sam has always been my partner in crime......we compliment each other and what I lack, he has! No marriage is perfect so I wont make out like we don't have trials, but I LOVE that our commitment to each other has always pushed us through the hard times. Over the years and especially as our children have come in to our family, our love has grown and life has gotten fuller. It's been great to share all our dreams with one another. We have really enjoyed our trips to Ireland and Mexico to rejuvenate and reconnect. I know that life will only be better with Sam by my side and I'm so thankful to have such a good person as my companion forever.

Weight Watchers Lifetime!!!!

BEFORE : picture taken August 2008

AFTER: picture taken March 2, 2009

Today I became a weight watchers lifetime member. Woohoooo!!! I reached my goal weight 6 weeks ago and have maintained it for 6 weeks. I dont ever have to pay for another meeting again...well, if I continue to maintain, which I plan on doing. I've been tracking my weight and measurements since March 2008 on http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/ and was shocked this morning to realize that I have lost a total of 21 inches off my body!!! I only started weight- watchers on Sept 15th and the majority, by far, of loss has been since then. I've dropped 2 dress sizes and 18.6 lbs. I also dropped 10% body fat. As most of you know, I love working out but I have learned to eat properly which has been a great learning experience for me. I still have my bad days and bad habits, and at times I can actually hear the chocolate chip cookie dough calling for me *LOL* but I now count and track everything I eat and feel accountable for it - no more excuses!!
I feel healthy and excited about the energy & confidence I have and that I did something that I thought many times was impossible.

I'm In Training

My Mam called me this morning after reading my blog and was dying to know what the next blog was going to be about. I knew she wanted to ask me if I was preggers again but NAY.......she will have to wait to hear those words from one of the other "DEVINE" girls!!!

My news is that Ive signed up to take part in the RAGE IN THE SAGE triathalon. It's April 18th (yes of this year.....aaagghhh) and Im really excited. I went back and forth on doing it and actually decided not to, there wasnt enough time to train, ummmm I dont swim, like laps with proper breathing, and did I mention Im not a runner either. Now give me a good spin class and Im there, although last time I was on a real bike was when I was 16 on a mini mission with the sister missionaries in Ireland. Well no, there was one time in FL, Sam and Kati and I took a bike ride and they smoked me, all the time making fun of how I was riding.

Why did I change my mind then?

Well I think it's going to be great. I dont care about my time or where I place (preferably not last) but I love the challenge, well the idea of the challenge anyway! I've started to run and can do a little over a mile without having to call EMT's so that's a start. I will don my new speedo swim suit with matching swim cap and goggles tonight at the gym for my first training session with another girl thats doing it. I WILL BE HOT......I just know it.....ROTFL....(rolling on the floor laughing) But I do get to wear a wetsuit which I think will be an experience all in itself.

Anyway, cheer me on from wherever you are and pray that I dont injure myself before the big day. I actually just learned today that you gotta fix your own bike if it breaks on the race sooooo, that will also be a new learning experience. Oh by the way, anyone out there have a road bike I can borrow because I dont actually have one??? Minor detail that........

What's New?????

SO I’m sitting at Kami’s dentist for a few hours, gone through all the magazines I can handle and thought I would finally blog a bit. This was my excuse for not joining the blogging world sooner, that I wouldn’t stay on top of it. But really it’s only been like a month or something……what’s new, what’s new??? Well since Trudi’s wedding, we’ve been busy with a new house we bought. It’s actually in our old neighborhood, where we lived before where we live now. We know the cost and pricing for the exact house. It amazes me what we paid for our original house (from the builder), what we ended up selling it for, and now how much we just paid for this new house! I only have Sam to thank for his impeccable timing. This housing market is INSANE. Did you know Nevada leads the states in the foreclosure crisis – yep.......crazy! Well anyway we got a great deal on this home and were excited to do a bit of fixing-up. We repainted the entire house, put in new baseboards and new carpet, cleaned & fixed up landscaping and painted the concrete garage floor and patio. I love taking something, like a house, and changing it. Seeing it go from a dirty, stained mess with minor plumbing and other repairs to practically a new house, is really exciting to me and we love the finished product. Hopefully Mandy and Lucas will be moving into it in the next month or so which we would love because it would be so nice to have them live closer to us.
The children are all doing well and staying busy with their various activities. Baili is playing on two soccer leagues right now and getting ready to start the regular spring season. She is excelling in soccer, playing defense and goalie. She is motivated, competitive and learning great things with the Ballistic club. Jacob is back at Tae Kwon Do and gearing up for his first Football season. He seriously loves football. He was funny during the super bowl - he wasn’t interested in watching the whole thing because we had friends over and he was playing with them but he would come check in on the score every 10-15 minutes to see if the Steelers were winning. I was very concerned about the ramifications in our lives, if they lost and how I could cope with Jacob…ha-ha….just kidding but he was very intense about “HIS” team winning the bowl. Ryan is doing great at preschool and takes gymnastics class weekly. He has done well since he started TKD and in just a month and a half has improved with the discipline from Master Allen. He is hilarious to watch when they spar (fight) in class. My little jumping bean!!! He just bops around and when he remembers to be aggressive, makes a scary “grrrrr” face at his opponent. He has developed a nice roundhouse kick and is trying to work his way into the high-belt class (Jacobs’s class) even though he is only a white belt. Funny little guy!
Kami, well I was just told she cried the whole way through her “SEDATED” filling. I’m thinking if Sam and I play our cards right we could make a whole lot of money out of this little girl and her acting abilities……. J She started a creative movement class (she calls it ballet) and I love to see her shine and enjoy herself during the class. The teacher is an eccentric older lady which is right up Kami’s alley. It’s so cute to watch Kami’s facial expressions as she dances with ribbon, walks like a mouse or elephant and sinks into her own dancing world.
Sam & I have started a new early morning routine that we’re loving. We’re read together in the morning and Sam has started to use his father’s day gift – the treadmill. He’s looking good and I think he’s feeling great! Now that is a perfect lead-in to my next post…..