Family Pictures!

Here are my favorite family pictures we had taken two weeks ago!

We are going to send out little Christmas letters of sorts which picture should we use?

Family Pictures to come!!!

I just thought that I would let everyone know that my friend took our family pictures this past week and soon we will have a few to share. It was so nice of her to help us out and she did an amazing job. She used to be our next door neighbor, then I have been working with her in my calling, and now she will be moving and will greatly be missed. Anyways we will update more later I am trying to catch up with school and it isn't going well... why did I take an online class???

Amazing web filter!!!

BYU-Idaho has just put up the link to a web filter. It is so easy to use and just blocks the stuff we DO NOT NEED. I have used other filters and it makes simple things like checking blogs, getting on facebook, and looking at gaming sites more of a stress then a relief. This is so simple and lets me do everything I want with out the worry of the trash coming into my home. Here is the link to the school page where you can read up and then down load the program. And in case I didn't say it before it is great and FREE!!!!
INTERNET FILTER

NEW BLOG

A Place to Call My Own is my new personal blog. It is for all my thoughts on things other than kids. I love to write and somehow over the years have stopped. So if you want to just sit back and laugh, smile, cry, sigh, and all the many other emotions of women than go there.  The address is easy to remember it is just my first and middle name! (For those who don't know my middle name is michele, and yes only one L).

Layla turns 4!!!

The Birthday Girl opening presents!

The CAKE!!! (I am so proud!)

THE SLUMBER PARTY!!!

My Little Singers

These two little ones crack me up when they sing... they have to out sing each other. And incase you can't tell Isa is winning lately! This is about how loud she sang last sunday in their primary program. I couldn't help but cry, laugh, and hide behind her while she sang. They really shouldn't have the mom's come up... we get too dang emotional!

Halloween Part 2

I am so slow these days at posting. I start the post first thing in the morning and it takes about 2 days to finish! Anyways here are so belated pictures of our Halloween night!

YEAH for PROP 8

In case you hadn't heard Prop 8 Passed in California yesterday. It is interesting that when we were faced with the challenge of picking a new president and the world is watching the history of this country change the Lord lets us have his freedom. However when the very core of his plan is being destroyed her steps in and tells us what to vote. I will support the president that we were all free to elect knowing the Lord will guide us if we will let him. I am happy that when the Lord stepped in and told us what to do we followed through and therefor he is still with us. So let's all celebrate FAMILY!

Fitness Goal!

I am taking Health and Wellness this semester with Brian and I am learning a lot in this class that I probably already new but it is finally registering. My new goal is to cut/burn 3500 a week thus loosing 1 lb each week. I am going to burn 300 calories a day more than usual. 

This is going to happen from standing instead of sitting, walking more steps each day, and building muscle so that each thing I do in my everyday life helps me burn MORE. 

(Standing and marching in place while I fold my 10 loads of laundry is really going to help!)

Then I am just cutting out 200 calories from my diet. This might be one less cookie, no soda, 40 calorie wheat bread instead of white, skipping the cheese or cutting the condiments. It doesn't take much to cut 200 calories a day.

(You don't have to eat a lot less you just eat a lot better!)

Hopefully this will help me reach my goal even if it takes a while. I have been over weight for 4 years so what is a couple months longer to finally fit into those skinny jeans!

I VOTED!

Today was a great day because for the third time I was able to go vote in the Presidential elections. I am glad that I live in Idaho where it only takes about 5 minutes to get in line and then cast your vote. However it would be nice to still live in Missouri one the big battleground states that can make a difference in the way things sway. But I will be joining millions of people tonight closing their eyes and crossing their fingers as they announce the numbers. 

 And to top it off last week I had to renew my licence so it wasn't expired for my vote and it ended up looking....

AMAZING!!!

I have always had the typical pathetic mugshot for a license but not now! Most days I sit around in sweats and think to myself "when did I last shower!" But I am happy to see I still clean up well! Thanks for my little vain moment every women needs it every once in a while right?!

Mom's Special Day

Every Year my Parents do something special for me on October 30. It is the day they flew out to Dallas Texas to pick me up from my foster parents and bring me home to my family. After 26 years they still remember to make it just a little extra special for me. So after dropping Nana off at the airport we went out for lunch and shopping. We went to a little restaurant 5 in Dinner in Idaho falls and then off to Kohl's. It was fun to spend this special day with my own daughters! Here are a few cute pictures from our lunch!

Halloween

It was wonderful for the Bergstrom Family this year! The girls were princesses of course! Here are a few pictures of the girls all dressed up ready to head out for a night of fun!

For all of us that are guilty of blog stalking just for the fun of it !

Today I was somehow tagged just for blog stalking. So for all those that are reading this post with or without my knowledge you are now tagged as well. I know you are probably thinking that I don't know you are reading so you don't have to fill it out. That is fine but from now on when you look at my blog you are going to think to yourself... does she know I read this and didn't try out the tag?  So to keep from having a guilty conscience I am completing MY tag!

Church calling you would HATE to have-

Fellowshipping, I know it is easy but I am SO SHY! (For those of you that secretly read my blog cause you are too shy to admit it... trust me I'm more shy, I just usually pretend I am not to avoid an anxiety attack!)

Saying you say the most often-

What the heck? - somehow my family always keeps me in a constant state of shock! 

Don't even think about it? -my kids are testing the waters to see who is boss right now!

One day I will... - I will be the first to admit that I talk big and do little!

Saying you hate to hear other people say-

'Sup, sitch, buggin', tight  - Look in the mirror dude, you are white! These are saying but words I hear all the time in Idaho. Unless I am mistaken there aren't 'real gangsters in Rexburg?!?

Most rotten thing you did today-

Spanked my kids for not taking a nap while threatening them their Nana won't come home until they sleep! - don't worry I got mine they didn't nap AT ALL!

Explain the fourth picture in the fourth folder on your computer-

This is a picture of my lifetime friend Julianne! I went to her reception in Idaho Falls to see her in her newlywed bliss! LOVE HER!

A picture you have of people you don't know-

These are the abs that I will someday have. I don't know this lady but she is my secret hope for the future!

Secret dream-

Try out for American Idol, I really want to try but and afraid they will tell me I suck!

Favorite place to spend money-

Kohl's... it is really the only place that I find stuff that is CUTE AND FITS!

Personal indulgence-

Nail polish! Every time I go to West Coast Beauty Supply I pick up a new O.P.I. color. It is my little $4.25 spurge! Nail polish always looks good no matter your size, weight, or ability to be stylist!

Least Favorite Celebrity-

Verne Troyer- little person or not he is offensive Tila Tequila, Flavor Flav, pretty much all MTV reality tv stars

Girl crush-

Selma 

Jessica

3 goals, 1 long term, 1 day to day, 1 silly-

Exercise 5X a week and like it, Find that special moment that makes me love being a mom, Donate my hair to locks of love just to grow it out all over again!

3 things you collect or obsess over-

Hair products- I love to try everything new and get those little dollar samples

Jeans- I spend hours finding the right pair of jeans. I always have to get at least two different opinions before I buy them.

Home Decor from Hobby Lobby! Anyone that shops there knows they are addicted too!

Alright so if you finished reading this post you are tagged and better reply!

Tagged Again

One of my friends tagged me and since I am lazy I thought I would fill out the questions I haven't answered and then put the POST where I answered the rest!

5 Snacks I Enjoy:
1. Ice cream (this would be a good reason I had to have my gall bladder out!)
2. Hot tamales (MY FAVORITE!)

3. Chips and Salsa ( I am hispanic!)

4. Cinammon Popcorn

5. Cookies and Milk 

Think I have a sugar tooth maybe?!?

My 8's

8 Favorite TV shows I love to watch

1. Criminal Minds

2. The Office

3. One Tree Hill

4. Heroes

5. John and Kate Plus 8

6. Everybody Loves Raymond

7. The Cleaner

8. Lost

8 Things I did yesterday:
1. Went to the doctor to check stitches
2. Watched kids play at McDonald's

3. Ate solid food!!!!

4. Put on pants other than pj's

5. Wore a bra (don't get me wrong I usually do, it just rubs my stitches right now)

6. Pulled out dinner for my family

7. Laid on my side for a whole hour!!!!

8. Read a part of Breaking Dawn (finally!)

8 Favorite places to eat:
1. Manny's

2. Figlio's

3. Houston's

4. Hulahan's

5. Panda Express

6. Craigo's

7.  Chili's

8. Cafe Rio

8 Things I am looking forward t0:
1.  Eating real food everyday

2.  Christmas

3.  Summer

4.  Being able to stretch without pain

5.  Kids that clean their own rooms without being asked

6.  Brian GRADUATING

7.  Talking to my friend Denise

8.  SLEEP (isn't this what every parent looks forward to!)

8 Things on my Wish List:
1.  Making money for life not just to pay off debt

2.  My own home with 3 bedrooms minimum

3.  My own garden 

4.  2 cars

5. Travel to the world

6. Learning photography

7. A BOY (NOT NOW but one day!)

8.  Fitting into my skinny jeans

8 People I tag:
1. Kristi Clews

2.  Stacey Coons

3. Jenni Warner

4. Julianne Weaver

5.  Cindy Fullmer

6.  Sarah Southcott

7. Christina Bergstrom

8. Owen Family

The obsession continues

Layla and Isa love being princesses and are totally in love with dressing up. Thanks to Nana they have even more outfits to wear. Here is just a sneak peak into their fashion show to come!

It's worth it right?!?

Heading into surgery!!!

After waking up all finished!

I HATE IV's !

Well the surgery went well and I am at home comfy on my couch trying to recover. After having two c-sections you would think this would be a breeze but it isn't. I hardly have a voice thanks to the parametic student who learned how to put in a breathing tub on me.... I am rubbed raw. And than The are 4 insitions on my stomach that itch like crazy. The large insition of course is right on my diaphram so every deep breath, cough, laugh, or hiccup are near death painful. But after drinking broth and juice for a couple days it is nice to finally have a piece of bread and that must mean I am always through the worst of it. All in all I am glad I had this done I just wish their was a much less painful way! 

Kid Tag

So the girls best friend Adi tagged them in this cute tag last week. Here are the girls answers...

1. What does mom always say to you?
Isa: I don't know
Layla: Number 1

2. What makes mom happy?
Isa: Snow
Layla: Smiling

3. What makes mom sad?
Isa: I don't know
Layla: When its dark

4. How does mom make you laugh?"
Isa: Running
Layla: Snow

5. How old is mom?
Isa: Running
Layla: 3 pounds

6. How tall is mom?
Isa: Big
Layla: 2 pounds

7. What does mom like to do?
Isa: I don't know
Layla: Go running

8. What is mom's job?
Isa: I don't know
Layla: Go running

9. What is mom's favorite food?
Isa: I don't know
Layla: Apples

10. How do you know mom loves you?
Isa: Layla says sorry
Layla: You hug

If only I was the person the girls described I would be fit because I apparently really like to run. And my favorite response is that Layla says I always say one... that would be me counting to five before time out. In case you can't tell they go there a lot. Layla and Isa tag Payton, Tally and Bergen, Carson, and all their friends in Rexburg!

Tagged again

10 years ago I....
1. Was 16
2. was driving a bright red neon
3. was in our high school musical Cinderella
4. desperately wanted a date
5. worked at a movie theater

5 things on my "to do list" today
1. Make a weeks worth of meals for my freezer
2. Run errands
3. Clean my house
4. do the laundry
5. polish my nails

5 snacks that I like
1. Hot Tamales
2. El-fudge Cookies
3. popcorn
4. ice cream (this is probably why I need my gall bladder out!)
5. ALL FRUIT

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire
1. Pay off all debt
2. Got to Disney world with my kids
3. Go to Vanuatu with Brian
4. Buy a home
5. Open my own salon

5 places I have lived
1. Blue Springs Mo
2. Independence Mo
3. Provo UT
4. Rexburg ID
5. ???

5 jobs that I have had
1. Movie Theater
2. Bank data Entry
3. Bank Teller
4. Kid To Kid
5. Hairstylist at Regis Salon

I tag Kristi C., Julianne, and Tiffany H.

Prop 8

Why we need to get everyone to vote YES for Prop 8. It effects everyone. My cousin had this video on her blog and I thought it was so good I had to put it here. We have the opportunity as Rexburg citizens to help get this proposition passed. There will be a call center where we can go and round up more voters here in a little while. This video shows why we need to do all we can to help pass this bill. 

MY MOM IS THE BEST!!!

So I am going in on Tuesday morning to have my gall bladder removed. And as I had feared I am going in the day after my mother-in-laws four day break from work. So that leaves me with very little help. I tried to be positive and think... "it will all work out, it always does." But inside was total fear. 

Internal thoughts-

I can find friends to help with the girls

I can have the relief society help with food for my family

But my house will be a wreck

we will run out of clothes to wear

the girls will begin to smell and get sticky cause I always do baths

And I will never heal because I won't just rest! 

There were many more fears these were just the beginning. Then I called my mom and she got may dad on board for her to come out for 10 days to help. Somehow she knew, like all good mother's do, that I would need her and she was in her mind already coming before she heard the worry in my voice as I calmly said, "don't worry mom we will figure something out!"

So Monday my wonderful mom and best friend comes out to help me with well.... my life! She is just the greatest and always makes me feel like I am the wonderful daughter she always wanted and really nothing can beat that! I love her more than anything and if having surgery is what it takes to get her to come see me again then that is fine with me. I miss her just that much!

Cholecystitis and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

It's official... I am getting my gall bladder out. I meet with the surgeon on Monday to schedule my surgery. I am nervous but excited. I also found out that my body is attacking my thyroid and it is getting to be a loosing battle for my poor thryoid. So I am uping my medicine a ton and hopefully I will start to feel better. So between the surgery and the mega medicine I should HOPEFULLY start to see the pounds shed.

It is times like now that I am glad the girls are so wonderful because the trial to get them here and the consequences of their birth is really slowly killing me! If we want a boy we might just have to adopt because it isn't looking like I would make it through another pregnancy.

Weekly Fitness Focus!

Alright so I am really going to get serious with this whole weight loss thing. I am going to post a little fitness inspiration, thought, or fact each week. These are for me to be determined to work hard and learn at the same time. It always makes it easier when you are enjoying what you are doing and now I enjoy learning!

Don't you just hate her!

Okay no mom really looks this good after 3 months.... but you know we all know someone who does. It just isn't reality for those. I remember crazy people telling me I would loose weight nursing... YEAH RIGHT! I thought that since I was a size 2 before getting pregnant I would bounce back just like Jessica but no no I PROMISE I don't look anything like this under the clothes! But I will keep trucking along one pound at a time till I too look this good. And yes if I actually ever look this good I might just strut around in a bikini too!!!

Cute Bags!

My friend had a little post with handbags and I thought they were so cute! This is the one I like best. I really liked their green bag but I already have one that color. I am totally a bag and shoe girl and will never have enough! Check them out HERE and see which is your favorite!

Kansas City Zoo

It always amazes me how easily entertained kids can be. When we took the girls to the Zoo it was hot and humid like any good Missouri summer day. It didn't slow the girls down they loved every minute checking out the animals! Here are some of our highlights!

The girls were is shock at how close the lion was to them

My Beautiful girls

gosh I love 'em!

 Watching the Seal Lions

Okay is anywhere is eastern Idaho this green... I think not!

Alright so I know I am putting a lot of pictures of the girls on the train but come on isn't Isa just too dang cute or what?!?

GREATEST PAPA IN THE WORLD!!!!!

I love my dad more than anything! He is the best father in the world. Sorry to all of you who think you have great dads because mine really is the best! And the best part of being a parent is when your kids really understand you. The girls know I love their Papa and they love him too. Yesterday Layla saw a picture of my dad while I was picking up. She told me it was Christmas and we needed to get ready for the plane. I was surprised and told her it was almost HALLOWEEN not Christmas and she just cried. When I tried to calm her down I nearly cried because she said, "It has to be Christmas because I miss my Papa!" 

More Adventures!

Okay from the look on the girls faces when we took them out to eat at two really fun restaurants in KC Kansas you would like they had never left their home. Anyways here are some of the highlights from the couple meals out on the town!

Dinosaur Restaurant

Legends Outdoor Outlet

My girly girls!

Loving the animals in the Rain forest Cafe

Layla and her Papa

Belated trip pictures!

Things have been a little crazy lately and I have been behind on posting. We took a bunch of really great pictures while we were in KANSAS and here are a few. 

MY WONDERFUL GRANDMA 

Four Generation picture

The girls were a little confused that there were three different "mommies" there so we had to name them different. I am Mom, my mom is Nana, and my grandma is Grandma T. I am still not sure if they understood but they sure did love her. It is fun to see them dress up and dance for her just like I use to. She is just so wonderful! I LOVE IT!