Braces!

So, we finally made it to the day Madi has been waiting for! BRACES!! Little did she know what she was in for!

How come they didn't have this device when I got mine on? This made for a very fast placement of her braces!

I love this picture, because i told her to smile and it really looks like she is trying to, lol she must think I'm the most embarrassing mother but, i don't care I thought it was fun!!

She picked red and blue bands and on the way home I had to laugh because she was looking in the mirror and Say's " I should have picked bands that accented my eye's!! Who thinks like that?? So funny.. Today she is on ibuprofen and not eating much and a little cranky but, this will pass in a few days and she will get used to them..

Samuel Jefferson Adair

This statue is my Great, Great, Great Grandfather who was one of the men that Brigham Young sent to settle Dixie! It was fun to see this large 7 foot statue and I'm so glad my children were able to see him too!! Got to love Genealogy!!!

Hiking the "Y"

Here we are at the beginning of the entrance to the "Y" mountain! I went to bed Sunday night filled with anxiety about this hike we were about to go on, I layed awake all night trying to tell myself that I could do it and when it came time to really head up that trail i was so scared! I didn't want my children see me fail!!

I was a little nervous that John was not with us because I knew I could only help myself at this point make it to the top. I didn't worry about Madi and Marisa, i knew they could do it, it was more Shelby and Dakota i worried about. This might sound a little crazy but i told them they couldn't hang on me or I'd never make it!! Shelby walked up like it was just a walk in the park, Dakota struggled about half way but, he and I had a talk and we put on our brave faces and kept moving!

When we finally arrived at the top, i just wanted to cry! I made it, I made it!!! I would never have been able to do this had i not had the support of my sisters and my kids! My sisters helped with my kids and i am so thankful!!

The kids and I at the top! All of us so happy to have made it! It's not a long hike, but straight up and going down was a challenge!

Shelby and I hiking the last stretch:) We all had a blast and want to do it again soon! Karen and I have made plans to hike Timp at the end of summer. I better get loosing those last 40 lbs:)

Me and 3 of my cute amazing sisters, Julie, Shari and Karen! We missed you Shelley!

End of School Programs

Shelby had her graduation from 1st grade today! I enjoyed their program. They had planned to have a picnic in the park after but we had a huge snow storm so we had the picnic in her room! It was fun to spend some time with my sweet Shelby!

Shari with some of shelby's friends!

Doing a little dance to their song! This was my favorite:)

Getting ready for the big program, i think they were very nervous! They did a fantastic job! Now, on to 2nd grade!!!

Madi participated in a 2 month program called NOVA, it used to be called DARE. They learned a lot about drugs and other important things like how to pick good friends and to be good examples to others around. This is Madi getting her certificate for finishing the program. So proud of you Madi and for the great good choices you make.

Dakota had to make a simple machine, he and his dad made a crane with a pulley and magnets.Here he is demonstrating his machine! He worked very hard on this and I'm so proud of him!

The fourth grade student always put on a recorder concert for all the parents, they have worked on their songs all year! Always a great program!!!

Mother's Day

We had a barbecue at Chris and Kristen's home on Sunday, and I'm so glad the weather was clear for and hour or two! We gave my Mother a stepping stone for her garden and she loved it!

Not sure what Madison was staring at but this picture shows her new hair cut! She looks like a teenager now! Yikes she will be one in October!!!

I am so amazed at how into my weight lose program my family is! Jordan bought me some workout shoes, he even got me the same ones i have but different color. I love them!! John and the kids got me my very own IPod, now i don't have to borrow Madi's!!! Madi stayed up late on Saturday putting songs on it so i could jump right into my workouts!! John made me breakfast in bed and made Gluten free whole wheat waffles! My family is the best and so thoughtful and loving. I had the best mothers day ever!! What a blessing it is to be a Mother and to have these wonderful children to take care of! My life would not be complete without these 4 special spirits and a wonderful husband!!! Thanks for making Mother's day special and for your support and love!

My little Cub!

Dakota is playing big boy baseball and is on the Cubs! He is enjoying every minute of it! I am thrilled to have him enjoy the sport as much as I do! He is in the learning stage and is so dedicated. I have had to miss a few of his games due to soccer in Salt Lake but we are done with soccer this week, so I can go to the rest of the games!

Here he is running to first base but wanted to drop his Bat off first! Always so kind and worries about others. WE LOVE BASEBALL! GO DAKOTA:)

Womens Conference

I had the opportunity to spend Thursday at Women's conference with my Mom, Sisters and Friends! We had a great time and enjoyed the classes. We left at 8 A.M and got home around 10 P.M. I have been such a freak about my exercises program and was trying to figure out how i could fit that in so i ran stairs in the Marriott Center, have you ever gone from bottom to top without holding on to the rail? Let me tell you, that is exercise!!!!
We attended the concert that night and the MC was Hillary Weeks! She is an amazing LDS singer/songwriter and has the funniest personality! The music was fabulous! Best day I've had in a long time:)

Look at all these women in one place!! OK, there were a few men....

P.S... Thats Hillary standing next to me!! Julie and I got brave and went down to the floor to get our pictures:)

Back in the game!

Madison has been given the OK to play soccer again! Although she still needs a lot of therapy, she has improved a lot in the past few weeks! Do I worry that she is going to get hurt again? YES, i worry every single practice and game! She has a great coach that can see when she needs a break, or moves her around the field to a place where there isn't too much running. Madi is a very strong girl and with her determination I know she will be an amazing Soccer player in the years to come! We are so proud of her!

The fields they play on are so huge!
We got to the game really early so while the girls were chatting I was catching some ray's!!

Scera Park Singers Alumni

It's very hard to really see these pictures but I decided to post them anyway. A very special surprise was planned for Ms. Greaves the 6Th grade teacher. She has been teaching for 40 years and she started a school choir back in the late 70's called the Scera Park Singers. All who could come on Friday were invited to come sing for her a few of the songs she taught us. She had no idea and when they opened the curtains and we were all standing there the look on her face was priceless! We had her lead us and it was if we went back in time!!

Jennie, Steve and I were great friends from Elementary through High School! One of Madi's best buds is Steve's son!

Here we are again with Patti Greaves! The best teacher there ever was!! She was an inspiration to all of us, and especially us who enjoyed singing, she gave us the courage to use our voices!

Madi was taking pictures from the very back of the gym so they are way blurry. It's funny how nervous we were! It was just like old times!

We had a great time, I enjoyed seeing people i hadn't seen since 6Th Grade! Channel 2 news and ABC 4 news were there and aired that night and Dak, Shelby ,Madi and I could be seen! John, Jordan, Madison and I have all had Patti! I told her she could not retire until Dak and Shelby made it through her class. Thank you Patti for all you have done for our family! We love you!

A 9 Year Journey!

After 9 Years of watching Biggest Looser, I find it amazing how many lives have been changed not only on the show but for those of us that watch it. I was on Facebook yesterday and I could not believe how many people were so excited to watch it last night. I know I have Blogged about this before but, for some reason last nights episode made me realize why I have been over weight my entire life, and here it is.... I've always felt like i have let people down because of my weight, sounds weird but, when you go through life feeling like you don't deserve love from anyone because you are over weight is a life long struggle for me and not feeling like i fit in anywhere has been difficult. It was easier to hide behind my food then to fix my problem. I thought about this for a long time last night and I wondered why my weight lose program is so different this time, why I am so determined, and then I realized the difference is, that I'm doing it for myself this time. I have had a huge awakening this past year with my health and I have chosen to change my way of living, to become physically, Emotionally and mentally strong.

Lately I have had a few women ask "When do you find the time to take care of you?" My answer is... I don't let anything get in my way! I need 2 hours a day to exercises, and track my food. I've had to say NO more often, I go to bed early so that i am rested for the next day, I'm totally focused!! It has to be the right time for YOU! I have spent so much money on my stupid diet fads, money I will never see, but now I KNOW that my life is worth so much more then money!

I am so grateful to all the contestants on The Biggest Looser, for their stories that inspire me for the trainers and all of the advice they have given. I would not be this determined without this show and now I know I can do this! I'm doing this for me:) I'm grateful for the loving support of my husband and my children, for the times when they push me, for when they eat Ice cream after I go to bed! So, for those of you that are struggling, find out whats holding you back and move forward, whether it's with weight or any other trial, You can do it!