HOME SWEET HOME

For the past 2 1/2 months, this is where I have been almost everyday. The kids are as tan I have ever seen them. We rented a condo in Las Vegas for the summer. We had a lot of fun doing a whole lotta nothin! It was a wonderful summer and we spent a lot of time at this beautiful pool. We enjoyed seeing old friends, staying up late, sleeping in, watching TV, and playing games as a family.

This morning when we left Las Vegas I was kind of sad to leave the rest and relaxation we had enjoyed during the summer. But yet I was ready to come home and start having a normal routine again.

Then as we came to our freeway exit and I saw beautiful Mt. Timpanagos, I was SO HAPPY to be home. I love when Mt. Timp is bald (no snow)! It is beautiful. When we arrived home, it was 69 degrees. I couldn't believe how cold I was! I know it will warm back up but it was surreal going from the hot desert to the cool mountains. I LOVE Utah and living here.

There's no place like home!

A BIG THANKS to our wonderful neighbors and friends who looked after our house, mowed our lawn, pulled our weeds etc. We love you and appreciate your kindness and friendship!

NEW DIGS

I heart The Meadows Mall. I know my Las Vegas friends are thinking...WHAT? Are you nuts? But I really LOVE Meadows Mall. It is in a horrible part of Las Vegas and the locals call it "Ghetto Meadows" but I ALWAYS find THE BEST deals there.

Daren and I were shopping there recently because I have very few clothes that fit me these days. I found this beautiful red (my favorite color) jacket. I LOVED it and it was 50% off. He could tell I was eye-balling it BIG time! I put it on over my shirt and fell in love with it. I put it back on the hanger and started to put it away because I didn't want to spend the money. The kids need school clothes, shoes, etc. more than I need a new red jacket.

Daren said, "Hey I will put this away for you." But instead of putting it away he walked straight over to the cash register and bought it! It was so sweet. He also bought me one of the most BEAUTIFUL dresses I have ever had to congratulate me on the new healthy lifestyle.

Thank you SO much Daren for the fun trip to the mall.

FIRST HIKE

We have NEVER been on a hike as a family...until this weekend! Daren has gone with the kids, Tanner has gone more times than I can count with the Boy Scouts but today was the first day we ALL went.
It takes a MAN to carry the PRINCESS backpack with water and snacks!

The kids dragged me up a large red rock mountain.

Since I am afraid of heights, I was REALLY nervous.

It was fun to spend time hiking as a family.

It made me really nervous that the kids kept climbing on rock formations that were really large. Daren kept telling me, "THAT'S WHAT KIDS DO!" But they had SO MUCH FUN!! I tried to just relax and enjoy watching them.

As we were walking back to the car I heard Abby and Tanner talking. They were sharing with each other their favorite parts of the hike. I heard Abby say, "My favorite part was watching mom climb that really big rock with us." My heart melted. I'm so glad to be doing things like this with my family.

FASHION SHOW

The girls were in the Back To School Fashion Show at Dillard's today. They were able to pick out 2 outfits to model. We had a lot of fun shopping this week at Dillard's trying on outfits.

After the show, they had a drawing for several prizes. They had a Nintendo DSI, gift certificates for shoes, jeans and a backpack and a candy basket.

Tanner WON 2 out of the 6 drawings! We couldn't believe his luck!!

He won a $60 Ecko backpack and he could pick ANY pair of jeans he wanted. Of course, I said...PICK THE MOST EXPENSIVE jeans but they were kind of girly looking. So he picked a sweet pair of black DC jeans that were $46. So he won over $100 worth of merchandise!

It was a fun day!

TODAY IS SOMEDAY

I've always had a stack of clothes that I have never wanted to throw away because "SOMEDAY" they would fit. They were shorts, capris and shirts that I have always enjoyed wearing but over time didn't quite fit anymore.

But TODAY IS SOMEDAY! It has been SO fun to wear my smaller clothes again! (Although these work out clothes aren't the ones I've been saving for years.)

This is one of my heroes. Her name is Lisa and she likes to kick my butt 2-3 times a week. But thanks to her, in 5 weeks I have lost 10 pounds (15 since May) and 4% of my body fat! To celebrate this, she made me do push-ups. I think the last time I did a push-up was in like the 2nd grade. And, I ACCIDENTALLY spit on her while doing them. Yeah, that was embarrassing.

She has watched me puke, get dizzy, cry, and have a complete meltdown on the gym floor. Oh that was fun...like 20 big in-shape guys were all around us training while I'm having a meltdown. She has seen it all and has NEVER made me feel stupid or out of place for not knowing my way around a gym. In that meltdown I learned that it's okay to be patient with myself, not to think in black and white terms and to celebrate my accomplishments--even though those accomplishments might be small baby steps. She has taught me how to run. I can now actually RUN on a treadmill. That has NEVER happened before and I can't wait to hike the "Y" later this fall. Daren and I went to the gym TOGETHER for the first time in our marriage the other day. I felt confident and strong as I showed him around.

Lisa has truly changed my life. But not only my life...my family's life. The girls LOVE to exercise with me. Abby likes to do "butt sit-ups" and likes to carry my 10-lb weight around like it's a babydoll. Tanner and I have plank contests. He always wins but that's okay. It's fun to be active with my kids.

I am still hoping to do a 5k this fall. I'm SO grateful to have found Lisa and be the recipient of her talents!

THE TAN MAN

Tanner came home from Scout Camp, I have NEVER seen him so TAN! 8 Merit badges, 2 fish, tanned skin, and a great week!

So glad he's home! My nephew went to Scout Camp this week too and my sister-in-law asked me if I missed Tanner. Not really, I said. Then Wednesday came and I really missed him. No texts, calls, driving him places. It's good to have you home Tanner!

SCOUT CAMP 2010

Daren and Tanner left for Scout Camp this week. Daren came home today and didn't smell too bad!

Some things I know for sure:
1. Tanner's toothbrush, soap and toothpaste will probably be as fresh and new as they were when he packed them.

2. He will stink and be dirty.

3. He will have a million funny stories to share.

4. He will have earned a lot of merit badges.

I am just hoping I am wrong about #1 & #2.
But probably not.