Burned out...or at least I think I am!

As *swimsuit* season approaches I have found myself in a PANIC! I am not exactly where I want to be weight or size wise and have felt the need to step things up a bit...okay, maybe A LOT! I am eating all day long...but staying within my alloted calories, carbs, fat, protein...yadda yadda yadda (yes, I actually track all of them..faithfully!). I have been exercising AT LEAST 7 hours a week now...I know, sick and probably oh SO wrong. I stay up late at night to visit with Clint and get up with the chickens to go to the gym...usually only getting about 5 hours of sleep each night...ummmm, can you say durgh!

Last night was kind of my *aha!* moment. Yesterday I attended a super INTENSE muscle class in the morning and then went back at night for a Zumba Class. I came home and found myself with ice packs on my shoulders and arms, then soaking in a HOT bath and then once my body was warm (from the bath) I took the electric massager and ran it over my shoulders, back, arms and legs for about an hour. Clint looked at me and said "Ummmm, do you think you are over-doing it???"

I must say that I have lost a little bit of my glow and am a bit irritable at times. I am sure it is from my body being weak and ULTIMATELY from the lack of rest AND sleep! My body isn't even reacting to the all the extras that I have been doing just to lose the weight...instead it has decided to head in the other direction by adding numbers on the scale...how frustrating!

I have a new plan and I can't take all the credit for it because this was actually Clint's plan and ALL that he will allow...because he seems to be a little concerned about me. For the next month, I am only allowed to go to THREE classes per week...ohhhh, it is going to be SO hard to choose! But I do think this is probably what the doctor would order also, right? I have injured my right arm somehow and it is pretty painful to lift weights right now...so, for my arm's sake, I guess this is probably a GOOD plan.

I cannot wait for the day til I get all this healthy living figured out...or at least firgure out how my body works...because seriously, that is SUCH a mystery!

Does "NO" mean "YES"?

I am in SERIOUS need of learning some reverse psycology real quick! It seem like whatever I say, EVERYONE does just the opposite! Is it just me thinking one thing and not realizing that something else is coming out of my mouth???? Hmmmmm....it is all a mystery! Here are some examples:

I say: "No"

They hear: "Yes, go ahead and do that!"

I say: "Clean your room",

They hear: "Go and play in your room for an hour...or at least until it is messier than when you first got in there!"

I say: "Make sure to lift the seat when you pee"

They hear: "Go ahead and pee ALL OVER the seat so that when Mommy and Rachel sit down we are suprised with a WET bottom".

I say "Hang up your coats and backpacks"

They hear: "Be sure to throw your coat & back pack on the floor somewhere I can't see it so that I don't know you did it"

I say "Don't fill the tub too full"

They hear: "Fill the tub so full that half the water overflows onto the floor and don't forget to splash EVERY wall in the bathroom with water."

I say (mostly to Rachel): "Don't pull EVERYTHING out of that drawer.....one thing at a time please"

She hears: "Throw EVERYTHING out of that draw, as fast as you can!"

I say: "Lock the door so that Rachel cannot escape"

They hear: "Leave the door wide open so that Rachel can get outside and run in the middle of the street".

I say: "This is Mommy's makeup"

She hears: "This is Mommy's makeup that Rachel can play with ANY TIME!"

I say: "Don't EVER touch my office computer"

They hear: "Only touch the office computer when I'm not looking"

I say: "This is MY Chocolate...don't touch!"

They hear: "Wait until I am not watching, then eat my chocolate as fast as you can before I know you did it!"

Anyways....I am sure you get the point! Kids are just too funny! I swear that WHATEVER I tell them not to do...it is as if I just gave them the idea of something really COOL to do! Little Stinkers! And I am so SURE that my kids are the ONLY ones that do this too! *wink*

Spring Fever!

I have to say that the weather for the past couple of days has been BEAUTIFUL...and oh SO refreshing! The boys were able to get some new tubes for their bikes and have been outdoors ever since! Clint is out working on his boat...since this weather ultimately makes him excited about going boating! And Rachel has been out on her little princess scooter riding up and down the street...just happy as can be, that is...when there are no doggies around!

I think that this sunlight and little bit of warmer weather is just what the doctor ordered for ALL of us! There is just something so wonderful about the beginning of spring...or at least I sure hope this is where we are? Which, with living in Utah..I am sure there is still snow to come, but I am just going to enjoy today...the light, the birds and the fresh air smell.

Princess Academy

Rachel went to a Princess Academy at the Pleasant Grove Rec Center today. The did some fun projects, got their finger nails painted, had some princess treats and just really had a great time. There was about 7 adult princess' dressed just like this one in the picture above....Rachel thought she was literally in HEAVEN! When they were leaving, they got a princess wand, some chocolate and a goody bag with lip gloss, finger nail polish, a note pad and some other yummy treats. Rachel was also given a little tiara at the academy, she was so excited that she was able to bring it home! What a wonderful little thing that the PG Rec put on for these girls...I will take Rachel back again!

Lately I haven't felt like myself...I am so tired all of the time, moody beyond belief (just ask Clint! LOL), anxious, stressed, etc. and to top it all off I have been gaining weight like CRAZY! My clothes are still fitting the same, but the scale number just keeps climbing. In response to seeing this happen, I have been stressing on every little bite I eat and have added extra exercise during the week...in fact, last week I attended 7 classes and STILL managed to gain 3 lbs...what gives????

So today I felt the need to get to the bottom of this...I needed an answer! Not only to improve my outlook, but to also save my sanity! I was browsing the internet today looking for ANYTHING that might fit my symptoms and I found an AWESOME article that just fit! Here is what it says that I *believe* I am suffering with and all of the symptoms that I am most definitely going through!

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder
According to the Mental Health Foundation, one person in 100 suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, a form of depression that tends to occur from September to April.
Symptoms include low energy levels, extreme tiredness and sleepiness, a lack of concentration, apathy, irritability, anxiety, a loss of libido, mood changes and a weakened immune system so there’s a greater chance of catching colds and flu.
And it’s not good news for anyone who’s trying to lose weight, either. SAD typically causes carb cravings, so that we overeat and then weight gain.

I know that I am NOT overeating, but the rest just makes sense!!! So basically, I am just suffering from what we all call the *WINTER TIME BLUES*! The article had MANY great suggestions for activities and foods that I could be incorporating into my day to help...so we will see if I can come out of this real soon!

I am SO ready for some Sunshine and longer Sun light during the day!

Where does the time go?

My main computer is having technical difficulties right now, so I have been using my *OLD* computer until I can get things resolved.

Today I was browsing the computer and wanted to check and see if I had any pictures saved here....well there was! These pictures were so PRECIOUS I just had to share! I can't believe how little, sweet & innocent they all look. *sigh* I remember how excited Brock & Kory were to have a new little sister in our house. They were so cute and sweet with her...always saying, "Be careful, she is just a little sweetheart". Too cute! I just added this picture because I thought it was so cute of little Rachel in her Christmas jammies...awwwwwwww.This picture is PRICELESS!!!!!! EVERY time Clint would get out the crackers and the can of cheese Rachel would come running just so that she could share with her Daddy!

Okay...so I just HAD to add one more! This picture just makes me ache to hold that sweet little baby body! Why is it that when they are sleeping, it is like they are so angel-like? Clint has ALWAYS been the favorite for anyone to snuggle up to (including me). He has such big arms and he is always so warm...it NEVER took long before any of my kids were fast asleep in his arms.

It was great taking a walk down memory lane....ALMOST makes me a bit baby hungry......"ALMOST".

Rachel is a GIANT!

Today Me and Rachel went to Chuck E Cheeses with Shannon and her little girl, Cambree. We had such a great time...AGAIN. One thing I noticed however is how BIG Rachel is...wahhhhh! My baby looked so big compared to tiny little Cambree! I know that they are a year and a half apart, but still...it seems like only yesterday when Rachel was that small!Anyways, here is a picture of Rachel and Cambree at Chuck E Cheeses...they were at the prize counter picking out their most *valuable* prizes they had earned from tickets. Cambree was so cute...every time Rachel would look at her, she would squeel, you just gotta love 2 year olds, they are all SO alike. I remember when Rachel used to do stuff like that! If Cambree wouldn't have been so scared of me I would have picked her up and gave her a bit SQUEEZE, what a complete CUTIE! (I love the look on her face in this picture!)

25 Random things about me...

Okay, so Shannon tagged me to do this, so here it is!

1- I am a hair picker...I could pick at split ends for HOURS if I had the time.

2- I am DEATHLY scared of fish!

3- I have never been and will never be flexible.

4- My dream vacation would be to go to Hawaii someday...but of course I would have to convince Clint that he won't die on the plane flight there.

5- I CANNOT sleep when Clint snores, which he only does when he lies on his back...so when he does this I kick him and he rolls on his side...shhhhhh, don't tell him!

6- I could NEVER be a public speaker...I get sick to my stomach at even the thought of having to speak in public.

7- I am scared to drive on the free way.

8- I LOVE to read and since having kids I rarely have time to do this.

9- I LOVE to shop.

10- I love weight lifting. I don't ever want to look like those body builder ladies...but I wouldn't mind having a low body fat percentage and having beautiful lines on my body. (Yeah right, keep dreaming right?)

11- I am VERY shy and easily intimidated. Most people probably think of me as an unkind or unsociable person...but it is not true, it just takes someone saying Hi to me for us to be friends!

12- I get anxiety quite often...even more so now with being a Mom. I am always envisioning things that can happen in any situation...usually for the worst.

13- I LOVE to go to Church. I am not one that needs to be forced to go...I love to go and I love the way that I feel when I am there and when I come home after. Now if I can just convince my kids to feel the same way!

14- I NEED for my home to be clean and ironically I HATE to clean! However, I still do it because really...who else is going to?

15- My worst pet peeve is people butting in line! You may be surprised how many times this has ACTUALLY happened to me!!! It makes me feel invincible at times!

16- I spend way too much time on the computer.

17- I am HORRIBLE at remembering other peoples names, but NEVER forget a face!

18- I would LOVE to have another baby, but am scared of the delivery...because as many of you know, it NEVER comes easy for me!

19- Me and Clint sleep with separate blankets in bed. This is probably Clint's BIGGEST pet peeve...he wants to sleep like normal couples, with a sheet set and comforter on top. I do this because A. it is the blanket that I have had since elementary and it is comfy and B. my hips ache at night and this way I can bunch up part of the blanket and put it in between my legs!

20- I still break out as if I were a teenager! (with pimples, that is)

21- I cannot stand to be cold! I could live someplace where the weather is nicer year around...but I don't because I would miss my family and friends.

22- I eat Peanut Butter & Syrup on my waffles & pancakes.

23- I am scared of the dark and will run up the stairs at night as fast as possible because I fear someone is chasing me!

24- I will NOT watch scary movies! When Clint is not home at night, this is when I remember all the scary things I have seen in movies...so I just don't watch them anymore!

25- I am writing this at midnight on Saturday Night because for some reason Rachel just woke up and thinks it is time to eat.....ummmm, okay.

Lunch with friends...

Today I went to lunch with two of my High School Friends...Sasha (College) Stevenson and Shannon (Miller) Archer at Mimi's Cafe. We had such a great time and it was so WONDERFUL seeing both of them. Lately I have been feeling like such a loser...stuck in the house, no friends, no social life....so you can see that this for me was quite a breath of fresh air!!! Shannon just had a baby a few weeks ago and SERIOUSLY you would NEVER know! She looked so beautiful and small, it actually made me a little jealous...I NEVER looked that great after having kids!!! And Sasha...thinner than EVER and being a little miss *career* woman has so much going for her! It was great to re-cap some of our memories, talk about our kids and just life in general....it made me wonder why we hadn't gotten together sooner???? hmmmm???? All I can say is....I can't wait until we get together again!!!!!

ZUMBA!

Oh my gosh! Today I tried my FIRST ever Zumba fitness class...AND, I LOVED it!!!! Zumba is a mixture of different types of latin dancing with aerobic moves added in...and it is all done to latin music. There was a lot of cha cha, hip movement, booty shaking and belly dancing. The greatest thing about it was that ALL of the women that attended had about the same amount of coordination, so noone felt silly or out of place. The instructor was awesome and really sweet! I can't say that I was challenged like all of my other aerobic classes, but I did sweat and finished by running on the treadmill for 20 minutes, leaving me feeling so complete with a GREAT workout for the day! So...any of you that would LOVE to join me, I will see you at 6:00 AM, Monday or Friday at the Pleasant Grove Recreation Center!!!! Hope to see you there...you WON'T regret it!!!!!

Rachel's Princess Birthday...

(Note: the ADORABLE princess house in the background was a gift from Grandma &
Grandpa Tomlinson...it was a HUGE hit at the party!) Rachel had such a WONDERFUL day yesterday....a day for a PRINCESS!!! It started with a Princess Party with five of her friends. The friends were all invited to wear their princess gowns and they all showed up looking so BEAUTIFUL! We started the party out by having the girls make their own crowns w/stickers and magical wands with decorations added.

Then we played the game "Pin the tiara on the Princess" in which we blindfolded the girls one by one and had them to stick their tiara onto a picture of a princess, whoever was the closest to the Princess' head...got a prize! For the prize, Isabella (the winner) got a princess barbie night light.

After the game, the little girls sat around the table for a princess tea party w/ several miniature treats. I made miniature sandwiches, then they had miniature brownie bites, miniature sugar cookies, cheesy fish crackers, cherry gummy hearts, jelly beans and punch in a princess goblet. We then sang Rachel "Happy Birthday" and she blew out her candles.

Then it was time to open presents....Rachel got some princess dolls, chocolate (who knew?), a book and some dress-up makeup.

After presents were opened we played Princess Ball Freeze. We played a CD with princess music and the girls danced around until the music stopped, in which they would FREEZE...then continue when the music came back on...this was so fun and CUTE to watch...the girls sure LOVED this game!

When it was almost time for the girls to leave they sat back down at the craft table and made some Princess Clay (Pink play-do w/glitter mixed in). When the girls left, they were able to take their crown & wand that they had made, their Princess Clay, their Princess Goblets, a princess necklace and a CD that I had made for them with all of the Princess Songs that we had played at the party. I think the party turned out to be a HIT! Oh...and I have to say a special THANK YOU to Skyler and my Mom for helping me with this party, I couldn't have done it without you guys!!!!! LOVE YA!

After the party was over and cleaned up, me and Rachel had some lunch and then headed up to my room for a nap...I was EXHAUSTED! My nap was cut short by someone at the door, but Rachel sure got in some much-needed sleep!

Later that evening, my ENTIRE family came to our house for another Birthday Party. We had Pizza, opened gifts and had a super CHALLENGING head stand competition....I think I won, thank you very much! (*wink* he he he) Rachel got such cute things for her Birthday! Kellie's family gave her a miniature Princess Belle that had clothes to change her in. Last night just before bed we had to change Belle into her Princess gown to go to bed in, then Belle slept next to Rachel in her bed...so cute! Misty's family gave Rachel a Princess Swimming Suit, she called it her "jammies", she just HAD to put that on immediately and show it off to everyone at the party. Papa, Grammy, Skyler & Brayden gave Rachel Money, Princess Bubble Bath, a Princess Towel (in which she used as a blanket last night and a towel this morning after her bath), a Princess Movie (that she is watching for the third time right now) and a Princess outfit (which she wore to school today and got SEVERAL ooh's and ah's from all the other girls in the class). Me and Clint gave Rachel a WALL-E (Yep, we found one and she LOVES it!) She kisses it and says "I love you WALL-E" all the time, she even talks to him like he is her baby...in fact, I think that WALL-E is taking a nap right now, on the floor with a blankie on! So cute!)

So...as you can see, Rachel had a WONDERFUL birthday and was SPOILED, once again! The one thing I am so very proud of however is that she seemed really appreciative of ALL the gifts she received for her birthday...which makes me so happy!

Happy Birthday RACHEL!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet, sensitive, dramatic, loveable, beautiful, energetic, giving, social and chocolate-loving little girl! I can't believe it has been FOUR years, wow...time flies! It has been so fun having a little girl, especially one that is a little princess. I love that you show interest in a lot of things that I did when I was a little girl...dressing up, singing, playing with barbies and also playing with matchbox cars. I hope your day is WONDERFUL, I LOVE YOU!