19 down!

My hard work is paying off. I am seeing results. When I weighed myself this morning I had lost 3 more lbs!!! So that is a total of 19. If I lose one more, I will have officially lost more than I ever have! When I was on Weight Watchers I lost 19 lbs in 9 months. So, I am very excited and very proud of myself for sticking with it. The Nutty Fudge Torte is gone. The kids ate the last of it last night. I did have one small crumb, I had to try it. But I did not give into temptation. I had an orange for dessert last night. I feel very good about my progress and all of my hard work. Thursday, I hurt my back, though. I don't know what I did, but it is killing me. So I haven't walked in 3 days. (Meaning exercise) SO I need to get back on track tomorrow. I don't know what to do, though. Is there a way I can exercise without hurting my back further? Any ideas?

No Tuition!!!!

My husband is the BEST!!!!!!!!! I am so excited that I can hardly type fast enough!!!!!! Justin called the school today and I will have a FULL TUITION WAIVER!!!!! NO TUITION!!!!!! So I will be able to start this fall!!! I just can't believe it! I am so grateful to him for making this happen for me and for supporting me in this. He has been nothing but an encouragement, even when I have been a humbug. He has told me that we can do this, and he has made it finacially possible as well. And I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for making this happen. I know that this is divine intervention! So, I will register for a class this fall to start the process of trying to get into the BYU-I nursing school! This is a dream come true for me!!!!!!!! I am sooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!

Back to School

SO I have decided to go back to school. As you know, I already have my BA in Theater. But that degree is soooo useless. I might as well have gotten a degree in under-water basket weaving. So I have decided to go back to school and pursue a degree in Nursing. I put my application in a few months ago at BYU-I and have been waiting to hear if I have been accepted for the winter semester (Jan). But yesterday I found out, that since I already have a bachelor's degree, I am not eligible to go to school full-time. I am also not eligible for financial aid. Including student loans. Justin was not phased by this. I, however, live on the planet Earth and realize that on a professor's income, there is no possible way to pay for college. If Justin were CFS-track (meaning permanant or "tenure-track") then it would be free tuition for me. But he is not, and so it is not. So this great idea has been put on the back burner for now until I can save up enough money for at least one class. I really didn't think it would be this difficult. But that is okay. I will take it as it comes and see what happens. But at least I have been accepted to the school. And if I wanted to (or were able to) I could start taking classes this fall. But I can only go part-time as a non-traditional student. Because of my blasted degree. My useless degree is totally holding me back! What was I thinking going into theater? I was going to be a teacher. But I woke up and realized that #1 there are not very many positions out there for theatre teachers, and #2 I don't want to teach a bunch of teenagers. Anyway, I will be able to go to school as a non-traditional student, but I just can't take more than 2 classes a semester, which is fine with me, at least until I get into the nursing program. (If I get into the nursing program.) So my dreams are not dashed, just put on hold for one semester.

Book Club

I was talked into having book club at my house last night since otherwise, I would not have been able to go. Since Justin is at rehearsals all the time. Anyway, I cleaned the house ( I am amazed at the little effort I needed to clean it since I have been cleaning it twice a week.) and I made an amazing dessert. No, I mean AMAZING!!! It is called Nutty Fudge Torte. Oh, my, it looks so good. (I am looking at it on the cake plate right now, under the dome.) I was all prepared for a great book club. I even read the book. I was not very excited about it. It was a memoir about a girl who grew up in Cambodia during the Kmer Rouge (?) reign. So depressing, right? I would much rather have read a bunch of mysteries. But I read this book and was surprised to find that I quite enjoyed it. Of course, it was sad and devestating. But the author has an amazing gift for story telling and writing. The book is called When Broken Glass Floats. Anyway, so I was ready for book club last night and only 3 girls showed up!!! And one of them wouldn't eat the dessert. So only 2 people at the dessert. And I have more than half a cake left over. It is staring me in the face. I think I can hear it calling me! Yes, yes, I hear it saying, "Jenny, come take a bite of me!" In the beautiful chocolate seductive voice that only a Nutty Fudge Torte could have. Okay, now it is singing to me. This has got to stop. I am going to have to have a peach. Okay, that was good. But it sure wasn't chocolate. I told my friends that I have not lost a pound this week. I am totally bummed. And they are all like, "Oh, you are gaining muscle, " and "Your body is retaining water, " and "Give it more time." Those are lovely sentiments, but I want to see results on that scale!!! I want to lose pounds!!! I know I am losing inches, but I am sorry, I want to be able to say that I have lost this number of pounds. And I still haven't seen the fat blobs falling off yet. I am waiting!!! I am doing sooooo well on this diet and exercise regime. Even though I hurt my leg when I was walking yesterday. I still went out today. So what is up??? I will keep on keeping on. No cake for me. Not even the chocolatey goodness of a Nutty Fudge Torte.

6 and 1

Well we had another game tonight. The kids were shivering from the cold. It was dark and rainy and a little chilly. But delightful, I will not complain. Only 4 from our team showed up, and there were 9 on the other team. The other team also had 2 kids that were HUGE! I swear they were at least 20 years old. Ok, not that old, but come on! They could not be 1st graders! Despite these factors- and that our team had to play the whole time with NO subs and breaks, they still won! They creamed them! Caroline got another goal this week! The final score was 15 to 1. Oh, yeah! It is nice to be on a winning team this season.

Free Meal

On saturday we went to TGI Fridays for dinner. I am not a big fan to begin with. But Justin's parents were here and wanted to try it. We have gone once before and the service was horrible but we thought it was just because our waitress was like 100! But this time we had a waitress who was not quite as mature. And the service was worse! She didn't refill our drinks and we waited for over half an hour just for our food! And that was after waiting 15 minutes just to order. Justin talked to the manager. He said that he was very disappointed in the service and when he took Hilton to go to the bathroom, he wouldn't let him go because it was so dirty. So I ended up taking him. This TGI Fridays is brand new. It has been there, maybe 2 months. Anyway, we got the entire meal free. Everything. And the manager said to have dessert too. Even the waitress came by and said that we could order as many desserts as we would like. But when we were done eating, the waitress was nowhere to be found. We waited about 10 minutes and then gave up on the whole dessert idea and were just happy we didn't have to pay for the meal. Justin didn't even leave a tip, he was so angry! My mother-in-law's food was good, the kids liked theirs, and so did Justin. (Even though his came out after some of us were already done eating.) But my food was so cold!!! And so was my father in law's! Our vegitables were ice cold! It was as if they took them straight from the freezer and put them on the plate. We will not be going back there anytime soon. (thank goodness)

Two Accomplishments

Well, yesterday we purchased Buzz Lightyear! Hilton has done so great on potty training!! So he got it and loves it, and I am proud of him. He had a little accident today, but it was at home because his sister was tickling him. But he went potty at church! And we went shopping all day yesterday and went at the stores and restaurants and no accidents! Yea, Hilton!!! I made a lovely lemon cake today. I usually make dessert on Sunday. This is the 2nd sunday in a row that I haven't been able to eat it. But everyone liked it.. I am going to have some fruit. Yea... But I feel good about it. I exercised 7 days this week! I even went walking today. I feel better when I do. So I will keep on...

Jackson Hole

Yesterday we went to Jackson Hole, WY. It was a lot of fun! Justin and I haven't been in forever. The last time we went was when we were students here! I cannot believe all of the shops! I was in shopping heaven! We could have stayed there for an entire weekend. We weren't able to do all that I would have liked. But we are only an hour and 1/2 from there so we will go back. We got there at lunch time and said we were going to immediately find somewhere to eat. But I, being the shopaholic that I am, had to stop at all the cool shops along the way. I just couldn't resist going into Cold Water Creek, and the cute toy store with way over priced toys and clothes! So we stopped and shopped and by the time we finally got around to eating... we were starving! But it is better that way. We had these gorgeous burgers at the Cadillac Grill. Oh my word, they were so yummy!!! Justin had a Buffalo burger! I didn't eat my bun, and I had a salad instead of fries. I was a little sad about that, but okay with it. After eating we moved on to more shopping!!! I LOVE SHOPPING! I got a Jackson Hole T-shirt and hat, and I got each of the kids ball caps, Justin got an old man hat. He looks like a golfer, or a kid from Newsies. And we went to a candy store and I let the kids get some. I got some sugar-free fudge. Just delightful! I never knew sugar-free could taste so good. Justin tasted it and he said it is just because I haven't had sugar in a week. (Whatever, that stuff is GOOD!) So, overall it was a great trip. The worst part was going over the Teton Pass with Justin driving. Now, I love my husband. I do!!! But he is not my favorite driver. I swear we were going to turn over. If you have never been on the Teton Pass, it is sooooo curvy and you are soooooo high up. It makes me want to hurl just to think about it. It is beautiful! Gorgeous scenery! But... ugh... Anyway, a successful trip. I think today we are going to Idaho Falls. Justin's parents are here, visiting. Idaho Falls is not exciting. But maybe we will get to do more shopping!

Potty training... cont...

Well, the potty training saga continues. I have started putting only underpants on Hilton all the time now. Mostly because it is cheaper to wash a pair of underware with all of the other laundry, than to buy pampers. He is progressively getting better. Yesterday he only used 2 pair! That is his best so far. When we went to Caroline's soccer game last night he told me he had to go potty so I took him to the port-a-potty. It was a thrill for both of us... He went potty standing up ( wouldn't let him sit down) and then insisted he still had to go. If I had let him, he would have stayed in there all night. I don't know what the big deal was. But I promised him I would get him a Buzz Lightyear when he no longer has wet underpants and he always goes on the potty. It is a great incentive. So we are getting there, slowly but surely. I haven't changed a poopy diaper in a week! It is just the peepee we have to work on...

GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight was Caroline's 6th soccer game and she got her first goal tonight!!!! Go girl! The next Mia Hamm lives in Rexburg, Idaho!!! They are now 5 and 1! They have only lost one game!

Diet Update

I weighed myself today and I have lost a total of 16 lbs! I am so excited! 4 more to go and I will have officially lost more than I ever have on a diet. So here is to hoping! And 4 more pounds! I can do this. I have been extremely sleepy lately. I think it could be the lack of sugar. No sugar for an entire week. It hasn't been as horrible as I thought. The other night I wanted dessert so bad. I had a handful of carrots. Last night I made some sugar free chocolate pudding, and it was delicious. I only ate one serving! 1/4 Cup! I am so proud of myself. If I do say so, myself... So there is the current diet update. I will be expecting flowers and cards with money soon from you all... thank you...

Morning Musings

Some may call it invigirating. Some may call it refreshing. I call it insane. Waking up at 5:30 am is the worst thing in the world. Okay, okay, war is worse. Murder is worse. But waking up at 5:30 am is right up there. Isn't it interesting when it is Christmas morning you have no problems waking up in the wee hours of the morning? Or when you have to get up early to go on a trip... no problem. (my husband insists that it is just me and 6 year olds who are like this.) But when one is woken involuntarily by their 3 year old at 5:30 am it seems like the end of the world has come. I tried taking him back to bed. After his usual wake up call, "It's Morning!!!" I tried to tell him, "no, it is not morning yet." I took him back to bed and laid down with him for about 15 minutes before his singing and kicking forced me up. He is no fool. It was light outside! Of course it was morning! So, I took him in the living room, turned on the only cartoons I could find, made him some breakfast and I tried, mightily to nap on the couch. This wasn't going to happen. His singing contiued and I could not relax knowing I have an entire day of cleaning ahead of me. For those who are unfamiliar with the singing of Hilton, it is constant. He sings nonsensical songs that he makes up. There is no identifiable toon, just musings of his own. I have never heard a child sing so much. Right now, for instance, he is singing to and about his Mr. Potato head and his hat. Charming? Perhaps... but definitely not at 5:30 in the morning. I hate 5:30 in the morning. I have always wanted to be like my mom... up at the crack of dawn, ready for the day, cooking and cleaning the moment her feet meet the kitchen. That is what a mom is supposed to be. But that is not me. It takes me a good while to wake up. I am not fully awake and ready to face the day until 8:00. I have to eat, walk, and sit on the couch for a while first. No matter how early I wake up. Except, of course, for today. Today is the exception. Today, I am awake. Not alert. No, not the least bit alert. But awake. I will not be taking a little cat nap this morning. Now I have to go eat some yogurt and get ready for my morning walk. It is 7am. Hilton acts like it is the middle of the day. Caroline has been up for about 20 minutes. I have a busy day ahead. Cleaning, shopping, entertaining my children. I hate 5:30 am. (Please don't judge me for my spelling errors.)

Retro Bathroom???

Okay, okay... due to requests to view this gorgeous bathroom, I have decided to give you a peak. I don't know what I am going to do with my cute "ducky" themed shower curtain, towels, etc. It will definitely not match the pink and green!

Our new abode

I was inspired by a fellow blogger, Christine to post a picture of our new house. For all of you former Rexburgites, it is on the corner of 200S and 300 E. It is one block west of Lincoln Elementary up on the hill. This is an old house, but it is a great deal for us right now. We only have to sign a one year lease, because who knows where we will be in one year? It is on a corner lot, which gives us lots of lawn. And the landlords have given us a lot of free reign with the lawn to plant flowers, a garden, etc. I am not going to show you the pictures of the grotesque pink-tiled bathroom with contrasting mint-green tub and sink. My friends keep telling me retro is in! Okay! This is soooo retro! But it has a beautiful back yard, and cool stuff inside. We will be moving the last week in August. So I will start packing soon! I get very excited about moving. And the best part about this move is that it's only across town instead of across country! (This picture was taken in the fall, there are leaves on the trees, now!) DIET UPDATE: Going well! Still exercising still dieting. I had to lose 3 lbs that I gained back, and I lost an extra one! That is 4 lbs this week! Yea! But much to my dismay, it did not fall off while I was directing the music in Relief Society.

Zoo

We went to the zoo yesterday and had a blast! It is really nice and clean and set up really cool. THe kids loved it, but maybe I did more. I love the zoo. I love to see animals. I really get a kick out of it. I don't know why. Anyway, I think Caroline's favorite part was the flamingos. She went crazy over the flamingos! Hilton loved petting the goats. He didn't want to touch the sheep, though. That was weird. But they had some baby goats that had just been born on Sunday and they were soooo cute! And a baby camel, and a baby zebra and 2 baby kangaroos. CUTE!!! I let the kids get something from the gift shop because you have to conveniently go through the gift shop in order to get out of the zoo. But every thing was very reasonably priced! Caroline got a stuffed Kangaroo with a joey in her pouch. Hilton got a snow leopard grabby head. I don't know what else to call it! We had a picnic there and we went with my friend and her 2 kids. It was a huge success! Day 3 of the diet went great. I haven't cheated and I have been walking. So it is going well! I will keep it up. Now everyone is freaked out about my diabetes so I have the whole world keeping track of what I eat. Very encouraging. I feel like Nicole Richey. I am a STAR! Anyway, I will keep everyone posted on weight loss and diet and let you know if any limbs fall off in the process...

DAY ONE: DIET

I got through my first day on the diet. It wasn't hard because it was the first day! No big deal. Today probably won't be hard either. It is this weekend that will be hard. I walked yesterday and did well. I will keep it up. I wish one day of effort provided results, though! I wish that I could get on the scale and see my efforts pay off. But I know that it takes time. My doctor said that in his experience, after the first 20lbs, it starts to fall off. Is that 20 lbs after the 13 I have already lost? Or does that mean I only have 7 more before it starts falling off. And will I need to start carrying around a broom and dust pan when it starts falling off? Where does it all go? Could it fall off at inopportune times? When I am at church leading the music, will a huge, fat-blob fall off of me? Will I be embarrassed? I can't wait to see what happens. Of course, I am skeptical. I have never lost more than 19 lbs before. That is not true, I have lost way more than that, but it is losing and gaining and losing the same 10 lbs every time. I wish I could add up all the weight I have lost and say, "I lost 87 lbs!!!" Of course, then people would look at me sidways and think, "How big was she before!!!???"

Tying shoes

Caroline learned to tie her shoes this morning in record time! I was amazed at how quickly she picked it up! maybe she is average, but I think my child is brilliant at learning stuff. I must say that I am very impressed. Although, she is 61/2, so she should probably already know how to tie her shoes, but she has never had shoes to tie before!!! So GREAT JOB, Sweetie! I am so proud of my girl!

Doctor visit

I went to the doctor today and received news that I was not happy about. My blood sugar is no longer under control. I now have to be on a very strict diabetic diet. No sugar, no refined carbs. No fun food. I have to exercise 1 hour a day, 6 days a week. And he doubled my prescription. There is another medication that he would like me on, an injection. Except my insurance doesn't pay for it and it costs way too much... Soooo... now what? I don't know. I just can't afford it. Hopefully this new diet and stuff will get it under control and when I go back in 2 months he will say I don't need it. This totally sucks. But it could be worse. But I am worried that I can't do it. It is such a daunting task. I know I will be miserable. I just hope it works. I hope my blood sugar evens out and I lose weight. That is the goal. If I lose weight all of this will probably go away. Then no more health worries... Right???

Happy Birthday, Nicole!

Today is my cousin, Nicole's birthday. She is due to have a baby girl any second! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Nicole!!! I am so excited. I bought Hilton some Finding Nemo underware and Hilton is determined to keep them clean. He has gone potty once this morning! Maybe this is the turning point! Maybe Hilton will decide to be potty trained today! Oh frabjous day! Calooh Collay!!! I would be soooo happy! He starts preschool in less than 2 months. He has GOT to be trained by then.

Clean???

Maybe my standards are too high. I am soooo tired of the kids' rooms. I clean them, or they clean them, and the next day, they are a disaster again. Maybe they have too much stuff. I am sure this is the case. Which is why moving is so good. When we move (which is a yearly ritual now) Justin takes the kids out one day and I get two garbage bags and go through all their toys. This year will be no different. Thank goodness. I can't wait to get in there and get rid of all those happy meal toys and puzzles with missing pieces and toys that have been living in the bottom of the toy box for a year now. I really try to keep a tidy house. It seems like my mom always did a much better job than I do. I clean, and clean, and clean... it will never end. I have said this before, the only satisfaction I get from cleaning are those few moments right after I have just finished cleaning, and I can sit on the couch in the clean-ness of my house and be happy for a little while. And then the kids come in and wreck it all. Or Justin hangs his blazer on the back of a chair and leaves his Pepsi can on the counter. What is the secret to a perfect house? What is the secret to always having that clean, quiet?

JOY

I am reading A Circle of Quiet by Madelein L'Engle. I loved Two-Part Invention so much that I wanted to read the entire series. That was the 4th in the 4 book series. This it the first. There is a particular quote that I want to share that is so lovely and profound. I hope it touches you. When she was very unhappy she had to go to a party and a woman came up to her and said "You're a very happy person, aren't you?" " I had, at that point, legitimate reason to be miserable. But her question had stopped me in my tracks. I looked at her in surprise and gratitude and said, 'Yes. I am.' This was ten years ago. But the answer is still the same. The better word, of course, is joy, because it doesn't have anything to do with pain, physical or spiritual. I have been wholly in joy when I have been in pain-childbirth is the obvious example. Joy is what has made the pain bearable and, in the end, creative rather than destructive."

Soccer Season

It was the first game of the season for soccer tonight. Caroline is one of 7 team members. 2 girls and 5 boys. Unlike last year, her team is really good this year! They totally won the game. Caroline even got the ball a few times and took it all the way down the field. She even managed to stay on her side instead of making goals for the opposing team this year. She had a great time and is really looking forward to this season. And her "best friend" from kindergarten is on her team with her. (the other girl) I just hope she sticks with it! We even bought shin guards... and a lot of parents were impressed with her! GO CAROLINE!!!!!

***4th of July!!!***

We had a fun Fourth of July. In the morning we got up and walked down the block to wait for the parade. We had to wait about an hour and a half, and the kids were constantly asking "When's it gonna start?" Well, it finally started and it was lots of fun! They threw lots of candy and it was funny to see how polite Caroline was being. She wasn't getting any candy at all! Finally she got the hang of things and started to hold her own. Hilton was just too slow. There would be a piece of candy right at his feet and he wouldn't even see it. But he ended up with a few pieces, and his sister shared. The parade consisted of about 5 floats, lots of horses, and tons of trucks with hoochy mamma kid dancers in the back. There must be at least 6 dance studios in this town and they all dance like pole dancers! There were 3 year olds with halter tops on writhing around on the floor of the flatbed truck as only a 3 year old can. (Awkwardly!) There were cheerleaders which Caroline got a huge kick out of, and the local dairy handed out free chocolate milk. It was definitely not Mardi Gras, but it was fun, and only a small town could do it. We love it here! After the parade we went across the street to Porter Park where there were booths set up with food and treats and stuff. We had no money, so we just looked around, but it was good to know for next year! Then, later, we met Justin's sister, Jennifer, and her husband's family at Freeman park in Idaho Falls. The kids played frisbee and volleyball and the adults caught up with all the goings on in the families. We were there for several hours and then we went home to watch the fireworks in Rexburg. They were not spectacular, but they were sufficient for the kids. Justin and I were discussing 4th of July and what a redneck holiday it is. Who in the world thought that watching fire in the sky should be a part of this holiday? And how in the world were fireworks discovered anyway? They must have been discovered and not invented... A mere mistake, made into a phenomonon. I can't believe how much money people spend on those things! We saw a package at Sam's Club for $500!!!! That is for someone with more money than brains. Although the people I saw buying them looked like they were lacking both. All in all we had a great day. The kids slept in until 8 this morning! So it was okay that they stayed up until 11 last night. As long as I got some sleep! Although we didn't go to bed until well past midnight because we were watching Charlie Rose on PBS. Now that school has started for Justin though, maybe I will start getting to bed a little earlier. Doubtful...

House Part Deux

Over the weekend Justin and I were just throwing back and forth whether or not we should take this house! Justin's main concern was the 1 bathroom. I was concerned about how small it seemed. And the bathroom problem. We have really gotten used to 2 bathrooms. So when we got home, the renter of the house phoned and said that she had a long story, and it in no way would effect if we could rent the house or not. Apparently, over the weekend, the house that the people that live in the house we were looking at, fell through, and they didn't want to leave. But another house that the renters rent out came open over the weekend. It was 3 bedrooms, with 2 bathrooms, and it is lots bigger!!! But the yard is a little smaller. But a normal sized yard. It is on a corner lot. There is also a dining room, which the other house did not have and 2 fire places. The basement is unfinished, but the entire main floor is more square feet than the whole entire other house. But the rent was way out of our reach. But we said we would take a look at it. The bathrooms are soooo 50's. Pink tile, and green sink and tub! The other is brown tile! UGLY! And there is some ugly wall paper in the master bedroom. But the livingroom, dining room, and kitchen are all very new looking and nice. There is a huge laundry room and garage. The basement is not finished and we would not let the kids downstairs, but there is a food storage room and tons of storage space. I instantly knew this was perfect for us. But we just could not afford it. It has a great yard with lots of potential. And the back is all fenced in. It is literally a hop, skip and jump to Justin's office and you can see the elementary school from the front yard. OH! And there is also a 2 car garage! 1700 sq feet of house. And Justin being the wheeler and dealer that he always is, got them to lower the rent sooooo much, that we will be paying only $25 more than the other place. And the utilities are the same. We know that this happened for a reason. We are supposed to be in this house and I am so grateful. All those reservations have totally disappeared. This feels totally right. We will be living in a beautiful neighborhood filled with a ton of faculty from the University. I am so amazed at how Heavenly Father works. He had it worked out for us so that we would get this house, I am sure of it. Because the price they were originally asking was more than fair. We never would have even gone to look at it because it was so out of our range. And look at what happened! This is more than a blessing for us. We are going to be living in an actual house! No more apartment or duplex! YEA!!!

Weekend

This weekend we went down to Utah. Justin's dad had a huge 70th birthday party and he LOVED it. It was his first birthday party ever! He grew up in an orphange. Anyway, we saw Justin's brother and sister and their families. The kids LOVED seeing their cousins. It was good for them. But they are exhausted. They are still in bed and it is 8 am! We had to come back because Justin's first day of school is today. He doesn't hink he will have any students because they have off tomorrow. So, here is my funny story. I had forgotten my contact lense case. So I put my contacts in two cups on the counter. I told Justin this. But in the middle of the night, he must have forgotten. He drank one of my contacts! So I had to wear my ugly old glasses all weekend. If Justin has trouble going potty, we know why!