They grow so fast!

 Sarah was born in 2008 in Idaho.  She is our oldest and she is such a wonderful girl.

 She loves to learn and have fun.  She loves to dance and exercise and be a goof. 

 She loves to pose for the camera.  She makes a great little model.

  I can hardly believe that she gets to start school this year.  She gets to start in the public school system in the pre k this year.  She is so excited.  Tonight we get to go get her all enrolled and go from there.  I can hardly believe it.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures.  That is every March of her life.  Man she will be 4 next month.  Time flies so fast.

Monday's recap

Today is Tuesday for anyone who wasn't quite sure.  Sometimes I wake up and I am just not sure what day it is.  I have to keep looking at the calendar to remind myself.  Tuesday's are usually that day for me.  Monday is the beginning of the week so prettty easy to remember and then Wednesday's I have Young Women's in the evening so it is pretty easy to remember but Tuesday's don't usually have a lot.

There that is my random thought this morning.

Well yesterday was really good.  I did get into my sewing room and got most of the the pull over bibs cut as well as the ribbing for the neckline.  After that I didn't really want to us my serger while my daughter was napping.  Although it isn't too loud it is still louder than my sewing machine and does wake Yana up.  So I decided to work on the cute pants for my girls that I started a week or so ago.  One is almost finished and the other has about 2 steps before it is finished.  I'm really excited.  They are super cute.  As soon as they are finished I'll have them model them so I can get some pictures to share.

After nap time and snack time we went to the park and then came home, grabbed the basketball, some water and jackets and went back over by the park to the basketball court.  We were going to play basketball for Family Home Evening.  My husband didn't even get off work until 5:45 last night and by then we were getting really bored.  Don't get me wrong it was fun and Sarah and I chased each other all over.  We also had to chase Yana down several times to keep her from putting the nasty garbage that is strewn all over, in her mouth.  She also wanted to suck on the rocks.  So we left and went for a walk until my husband got home.  Then we went out for dinner and ice cream and came home.

After the girls went to bed I went for my jog and almost over did it.  I decided to do speed work.  So I set my phone up to have a 5 minute warm up followed by a 30 second fast run, 1 minute steady run, 45 second fast run.  That was supposed to be followed by another minute of steady but for some reason the 1 didn't stick so it went straight to another 30 second fast run.  I had it repeat 10 times and then had a 5 minute cool down.  I was exhausted and felt like some of the contestants on the Biggest Loser.  I wanted to leave my dinner on the side of the road for about half of the work out.  I kept going though even if I was getting a little slower and slower with every repeat.  I still ended up getting my 3 miles in with and average pace of 10:30 minutes per mile.

Then as soon as I get home we start playing musical furniture.  When that is all said and done we cleaned the kitchen and went to bed.  At some point before cleaning I laid down on the floor and did my 100 crunches for the day and almost couldn't get myself back up.

I am still exhausted this morning and still have my Biggest Loser workout to do.  But the number on the scale went down and although I'm tired I feel really good.  It is going to be another busy day with phone calls and running around town. 

Have a great day.

Biggest Loser week ?

Well last week I didn't do to well keeping up with anything online.  I didn't even send out the weekly Biggest Loser challenge.  It was just one of those weeks.  So I'm trying to start the week out on top of things.

 

This week the challenges are this:

 

Abs.  I don't care if you do sit ups or crunches.  I don't care if you are standing or lying on the floor.  You can do bicycle, normal, reverse or however you want.  We just need to do them.  I'm thinking that we can do at least 100 a day.  So that is the challenge.  Do at least 100 each day.  I would encourage you to do more if you have time and energy. 

 

The other challenge is also physical but should be good for all of us.  I don't know how many of you feel that if you have to modify an exercise that it isn't worth doing.  That it just doesn't work you out.  Well this week I want all of us to modify our exercises for at least one set.  So if you are doing squats and you do 3 sets of 25 I want you to modify them for 1 set of 25.  If you do jumping jacks modify them.  You don't have to modify everything.  Just one exercise each day at least one set.  I know that I have to alter my lunges after so many.  I do just fine on the right leg but it starts to hurt when I switch to my left leg so I alter them.  Something just doesn't feel right.  Believe it or not even with the modification my leg is still getting stronger.

 

We need to remember that this is a process that takes time.  Sometimes we have to modify things and we can't let that get us down.

 

 

So this is what we are doing this week.  If you are following along.   I encourage you to join us as well.  Even if you don't want to lose weight.  These things can help you maintain and stay healthy.  Have a wonderful Monday.

Ummm....it's Friday!

Ok I'm so sorry that I haven't posted since last week.  It has been one of those weeks when it started and finished and I didn't notice.  My husband went to Texas Monday and gets back today and life has been interesting.  A friend lent me the "Hunger Games" series and I read them.  Started a 1000 piece puzzle and altered a dress.  I'll try to be a little bit more on top of things starting Monday.

Everyone have a great weekend.

Dentist's apt

I'm going to the dentist's today.  The going to the dentist part isn't scary at all.  I've spent a lot of time in the dentist's office growing up.  I also spent a lot of time in the orthodontist's office.  They pulled a lot of teeth and straightened the rest of them.  The only thing that makes me nervous is the fact that I haven't been to the dentist since before I met my husband.

I went after my mission but before I met my husband.  Things were good but after we got married we didn't have dental insurance and going to the dentist's office when a college student isn't cheap.  Part of it also was the fact that I just never made time for the dentist.  I remember having some of the nurses in the dentist's office who were so nice and kind and patient and others who just made you feel horrible because you didn't brush or floss perfectly and that you even had a need for the dentist.

That is where I'm at today.  I'm nervous because my teeth haven't been cleaned in over 5 years.  I'm sure the nurses are nice but it is still there in the back of my mind.  I've heard wonderful things about the people at this office.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Wednesday!!!

Well it has been an interesting week.  It is the 7th week of our family Biggest Loser competition.  I've ran once so far and hopefully I'll get in another couple runs this week around the weather.  I was able to go pick up my sewing machine yesterday and that was exciting.  I have missed it a lot actually.  I used my serger a lot but it just wasn't the same.  There are still things I just can't do without my sewing machine.

After we picked up my sewing machine we decided to buy some roses and surprise Josh at work.  So we drove over and went inside.  The security man called his desk and left a message.  We weren't in a hurry so we waited.  We only brought in 3 roses.  One from each of us.  My husband called back in a few minutes and was asked to come up to the desk.  When he walked around the corner there we stood with 3 roses.  We visited for a few minutes and then we left.  We got in the car and drove to the parking lot next to where he parks.  We took out 3 more roses and all the petals that had fallen off.  We walked over to his truck and put the 3 roses on the seat and spread the petals around the dash and seat and then came home.  It was fun.  I put the rest of the roses in vase and put them on the table.

I started altering a dress today and it is turning out beautifully.  I started working on it while my kids were upstairs playing.  I finished organizing my sewing room and then started working on the dress.  It looks much better than I envisioned it would.  I didn't take before pictures because I forgot but I'll take some after photo's to share with you.

No I'm looking up bike safety and maintenance and information on how to enroll Sarah in school this year.  Have a good afternoon and be safe.

Biggest Loser week 7

Well it is week 7 of our Biggest Loser family challenge.  Last week we were supposed to set a weight loss goal for the week and then get an additional 30 minutes of exercise every day except on the rest day(s).  It didn't matter what type.  We just needed to be active for at least 30 extra minutes.

Well I didn't reach my goal.  I did lose weight but I set a high goal in order to push myself.  I only ran once due to weather and other things coming up.  I did my Biggest Loser wii workout the 3 times it was scheduled and I used the bottom step in our house for step ups and it was a good week. 

This week we have a challenge to eat 1 extra fruit or veggie each day.  I know I will struggle with this because some days I do really good and eat lots and then the next I don't eat any.  So I bought several different veggies at the store this morning and already had some with lunch and I'll have some with dinner.

The other challenge is Jumping Jacks.  I want us to see for ourselves the difference from week 1.  Week 1 we did 1000 jumping jacks.  I know it was a lot for me.  I did it but I kept thinking to myself that I was glad it wasn't more.  Well this week the base goal is 1000 jumping jacks but I want each of us to set personal goals to do more than that.  I am going to do 2000 jumping jacks this week.  That is my goal. 

It snowed last night and this week is going to be hard to find time to run but I will try.

I also need to find time to ride my bike.  I need to start training for the Oklahoma Free Wheel in June.

I hope you are all doing well with your goals.  Keep going at it.  Don't give up.

Yesterday's walk

 Yesterday was one of those days.  I woke up and felt great for being tired and I wanted to go through the day without getting mad at my children.  Ya that didn't happen.  The morning was hard.  For some reason I was just mad and upset about everything Sarah and Yana did.  So after lunch and nap time I was looking outside and although it looked chili I decided we needed a walk.  So we got bundled up and went around the block.  Yana had fun.  She seemed to listen a little better this walk.  I still had to pick her up periodically to get her passed distractions.

 This is at the first corner and Yana and Sarah were just too cute.  Couldn't help myself.

 This was one of those distractions I had to eventually just carry her passed.  She eventually walked passed it but then went back.  It was good though because it also shares how tall she is compared to her sister.

 Sarah loves having pictures of her.  Every picture she asked to see it and I just had to tell her that she could wait and see all of them on the computer when we got home.

Our old neighbor (3 houses down) has a cute dog and when Yana saw the dog she just stopped and then kept trying to get to the dog.  He was really nice and crossed over to our side of the street and let her visit with the dog.  She was so cute.  She squealed and giggled and just have fun.  Sarah got in and had fun to.

It was a fun walk and it was really good to get out.  Afterwards there was cleaning, dress alterations and cooking dinner.  Today is even more chili and they are saying there is a chance of snow.  I say bring it on but I'm not really wanting to take my children outside in it at this point.  They just got over being sick and I don't want to send them right back into it right now.

Tired of being tired!

Well lets just say I do not have a lot of energy lately.  Yesterday after my husband went to work I then sat down and read my scriptures and then went back to bed.  I didn't get out of bed until Sarah came into my room.

Then after lunch I was cuddling with Sarah on the couch while Yana was napping and I fell asleep for a couple of hours.  I was still tired after that.  On top of that I just wanted to eat everything in the cupboards.  Thankfully I didn't.  I tried to be good and I was despite my cravings.

This morning I woke up to Yana crying at 5.  I changed her diaper, fed her again and noticed that she didn't get her last bottle last night while I was touring the hospital with my young women's group.  The problem wasn't that she woke up but that she didn't want to go back to sleep.  She cried for a while.  My husband went in after he noticed I wasn't going to and when he came back and she was still crying I think he understood me.

We both tried to go back to sleep and I think I got an extra 20 minutes before I had to get up and make my husband his lunch.  I did stay up after reading my scriptures though and did my biggest loser challenge on the wii.  I lost 2 pounds over the last week which was good.  In order to make my goal for Sunday though it is going to be hard.  I'm so tired and working out makes it that much harder to find that desire to workout.  I did 300 hundred jumping jacks and my 20 real push ups this morning and planned several more workouts for the day.  After lunch I did step ups on our stairs for 10 minutes.  I plan on another 10-20 minutes of step ups today and a 30 minute.

I am trying to eat more veggies and fruit today to help my body have a better chance of losing weight.  I have emptied my bottle 3 times already.  It holds 24 ounces.  I'll empty it a few more times today so long as I stay focused.

Well I needed motivation to do what I know I need to do today and that is why there is this shpeel.  I hope you all have a great day.

New surprise project

Yesterday afternoon I went with a friend to JoAnn's to buy some material to alter her "mother of the bride" dress.  While there I saw some very cute material and just had to buy it.  It is for my girls.  I even got everything cut out last night after the girls went to bed.  I'm very excited.

Lately I've been missing the home made clothes for my girls.  Yana is wearing Sarah's old home made clothes.  I haven't made anything for Sarah except for dresses for at least a year.  I miss it and so I'm gonna work on it.  I have my serger and I can definitely do children's clothing with my serger so here I go.  You will just love it.  The material is sooooo cute.

Sarah is really excited.  She also wants me to make her an outfit with valentine's day material.  I don't know that that will get done before valentine's day though so I'm not sure I'll even buy the material.

I hope your all having a great Wednesday.

I miss my sewing machine!

Well I took my sewing machine in yesterday in the afternoon.  I had to take it to town.  I didn't make it down there until after 4 which wasn't the brightest idea on my part.  It was in a part of town that had me wondering where I was at.  But the store was nice inside and the people as nice as ever.  They loved my girls.  They kept telling me I should buy an embroidery machine.  Like they really need to tell me that.  I already want one.  I would love to buy one.  That would be the last piece of the puzzle and someday I will have it.  Right now I'm content with what I have though.

Well today I pulled out all my patterns and adult and chlidren alike.  I wanted to find some things to make for my family in between other projects.  Yana is wearing some of the old clothes I made for Sarah when she was little and I just thought to myself that I haven't made anything for Sarah other than dresses for a while and I miss seeing them in cute little clothes that I made.

I also pulled out a dress pattern for myself as well as a shirt pattern.  I pulled out my husband's button down shirt pattern to make something for him.

I am very excited.  This aftenoon I will be going to to Joann's with a friend who needs her mother of the bride dress altered so it will be fun to look at the material and see what there is.  I will start cutting out material and getting things ready for when my sewing machine gets back.  I also have my serger so I can still sew quite a bit. 

I'll let you know what I decide to do first.  Have a good afternoon.

Playing catch up

I was thinking back and realized that I haven't been sharing pictures for a while so I'm playing catch up while I take a break from the days activities.

 Yana loves her big sister's rocking chair.  Well she loves everything Sarah plays with.  She has gotten big enough to climb in the chair and actually tries to rock it.  Big sister wasn't very happy.  This was in the old house.

 Our new house has stairs which have been the cause of nervousness - wondering if Yana was going to end up rolling down them, as well as fun for the girls.  This is another use for the sleeping cushions.  We take them to the top floor and she holds on and slides down them.  She loves this.

 Here is my sewing room after we got all moved in.  Thankfully it doesn't look like this anymore.  It is somewhat organized. 

I still have several things I want to get hung on the walls but for now I'm just glad it doesn't look like this anymore.

I hope you are all having a great day.  I guess I better get back to work if I'm going to get everything done today.

Biggest Loser week 6

Welcome to week 6 of our Biggest Loser challenge.  Last week we were to drink 8 8oz of water each day and set a goal for how many pushups we wanted to do and then do our best to reach that goal.

I loved the water part because I have found that if I drink a lot of water I don't snack as much and on the days when I drink lots of water I tend to lose more weight.  So I drank like 12 8oz glasses of water each day.

As for pushups I set a goal to do 100 pushups last week and I did them.  I ended up doing better than I thought.  I figured I would end up needing to do a combination of "girl" and "guy" pushups.  Well I'm proud to say that I did all 100 pushups "guy" style.  Or the real way.  I did 2 sets of 10 for 5 nights last week.  It was awesome and my arms are sore but I feel so much stronger.

We all did really well.  Some people hit their goal and passed it by.

This week the challenges are to first set a goal for how much weight we each want to lose this week alone.  I want to lose 3 pounds.  That is my goal.  I need to lose 6 pounds by the 17th which my 5 year anniversary with my husband.  That will put me back at my weight when we met as well as when we married.  So that is my goal.  Last week I did the same thing.  I set a goal to be to a certain weight and by darned I did it.  It kept me more focused.

Then the other challenge this week is to add an extra 30 minutes of exercise each day.  I'm thinking more like at night when watching tv exercise during the commercials for a half hour.  Or just exercise while watching your favorite show.  Some people exercise at night so I recommended maybe exercising for 10 minutes in the morning.  A 10 minute walk at lunch and finding another 10 minutes somewhere in the day.  I'm not thinking extreme exercising.  They could walk in place for 30 minutes at night or side steps.  Just get moving to burn more calories.  It should help each of us reach our goals.

If you would like to join us please feel free to share your goals with us.  This has been fun challenging myself and competing (friendly) with friends and family.  It just helps me push a little harder.

Have a great Monday.

Valentine's day Runners

 Well I finally finished the table runners.  Last night we had a craft night and it was a lot of fun.  I finished one last night and the other one this morning. I had lots of fun with these. 

 I decided to go with a fun material on the back so they can be turned over to the back and still be really cute.  I mailed them off this morning.

As for the third one I was working on.  It will not be finished in time for Valentine's day because my machine needs serviced.  I keep cleaning it and it has come up with a new sound that isn't normal.  I love this machine so in order to take care of it I need to schedule a maintenance at a place in Tulsa.  I'll let you know when I start sewing for my store as soon as I can.