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!

Finally finding answers!

For the past 7 years I have been struggling with what doctors said was IBS. Today I went to the doctor again for the horrible pain, (I had a placental abruption and was near death so trust me I know pain!) and he said that he thinks I have gall bladder disease. So next week I am going in for a Hida Scan. It is going to cost an arm and a leg that we definitely don't have but will be so worth it! I am not a big fan of surgery but at this point I will do ANYTHING to feel better. So lets just pray they find that I need to get that darn little organ out! Wish me luck!

Not about the number

For my first weekly post I thought I would totally put myself out there and discuss all the things that we all think but don't "talk about". My new weight loss plan I'm sure makes some of you think to yourselves, "Why does she think she needs to loose so much weight, it only makes us feel like she thinks we need to also." Or maybe you think I am just vain to want that super slim toned super model body. 

THE TRUTH is that it isn't about the body fat, weight, or muscle tone. It is about being true to myself and taking care of what I have. I don't want you to think that I am one of those girls that compare themselves to everyone around them. I only want to feel good. 

When I got pregnant with Layla 4 years ago I was in good shape, felt great, and was happy. I ended up getting a thyroid disease that I will have for the rest of my life. I am constantly tired, stressed, gaining weight while eating healthy, and just feel plain gross all the time. If I skip my meds or a day I can feel the change. And even when I constantly take them I just don't feel right. 

This loosing weight and getting back to who I was before the kids is my way of taking charge of my life and the way I feel. I don't want to look back at life with regrets. My teacher yesterday said something that really hit home. He was talking about not comparing ourselves with anyone but our self and the person we can be and should be. He said we should look at "WHAT YOU HAVE DONE COMPARED TO WHAT YOU COULD HAVE DONE!" 

I look back at the last four years of exhaustion and know that if I had eaten right and exercised I could have FELT better. I might have Had that energy of a single 21 year old. Instead I feel like the tired unnoticed stay at home mom. Why live in a fog of what should be or could be your life. I am taking a stand and doing something about how I feel. It isn't really about how I look, though we know we all want to look a little less jiggly. You just cant really measure or chart your progress about how you feel. I don't know if this makes any sense at all but oh well. 

As a mother and wife I am always taking care of people and I really do enjoy it. But I have learned that unless we take care of ourselves we will have less and less to give. 

Watch me Shrink!!!!

My good friend Jenni is starting to update her blog each week with her weight loss update. I am joining her in the fight to get back our bodies. 

I finally hit the 3 and 6 week slump this past month and man it did not do my body good. So I am in a race to get to the REAL MARILEE by Christmas. I am taking a health and wellness class at school and HAVE to work out 4 times a week. 

I will have a little section on the side where I will update my progress each week. I am also going to post new HEALTHY recipes and workout ideas whenever I get a chance. Wish me luck and don't make fun!!! 

You think it is too big of a goal to want these abs by next summer???

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN

I know that all of us mothers hear the stories of children being taken, abused, and murdered on the news everyday. But I know that this is just a fraction of 1 percent of those that are abused. If you sit at home and do nothing to help then you should really be ashamed. As mothers we must take a stand and pass the laws and fund those that can help. Oprah did a wonderful job this week in her show talking about this issue. I have already contacted my senate members to pass the Child Protection Act. Follow this link to her site and you can too. We can't complain if we aren't helping. OPRAH Also to see the recap of the show just click HERE

Happy Birthday To ME!!!

For the last 12 years I have been going to the same restaurant every year for my birthday. There has only been one year I missed going there and getting the same great birthday treatment and that was when this cutie was born. 

The amazing restaurant is Manny's off Broadway in downtown Kansas City! I not only love the food but they have a live mariachi band play on weekends. And they sing romantic songs in Spanish and you feel like you have left the US and ventured to Mexico for the short time you are there.  The best part of going to this Mexican restaurant is because it is authentic... looks it, feel it, sounds it, and most importantly tastes it. I am really picky when it comes to food and this is BY FAR THE BEST!!!! Anyways enough raving here are some more pictures!

Brian and I actually dressed up!!!

The band that sang Happy Birthday to me twice. 

Layla totally enjoying the food just like her mom!!

Fishing at Lake Tapawingo

For my birthday our family went out on Uncle Bill's boat to fish. We didn't really fish for long but rather relaxed and enjoyed good old Blue Springs. It was a great being of my day!

Home Sweet Home

After a long 19 hour drive and a day trying to get things organized we are home and happy to be so. We had  great vacation and I had a wonderful birthday. Today we are unpacking and running errands but after we get settled we will post a ton. It is amazing how much you can miss in a week. I checked most every one's blogs a couple times when gone but today I thought I would see how many new posts I had to read on my Google reader and it is almost 200. I think I am behind what do you think! I will post stories and pictures soon! Love you all!

Enjoying Kansas!

In case you can't tell from the picture we are totally enjoying a relaxing time with my family. Everyone loves spending time with Nana and Papa. We are having a blast and will have tons to update you on when we get back Sunday.