It's about the Climb

Since January I have been struggling to lose some weight. I have had some ups and downs. It feels like I've had more downs then ups. I think that's how most everyone feels when they are trying to improve something about themselves. Lately I have been feeling like I am standing on the precipice of change. Yesterday I crossed over and hit a huge milestone. I am no longer obese, just overweight and have lost a total of 20lbs. I still have a long ways to go. The feeling that I have right now is hard for me to describe. One of my new favorite songs came on the radio this morning and it described perfectly the journey that I am on. The song was The Climb by Miley Cirus. Yes, I know, I am a cheeseball. In fact, I've been waiting for this song to come on. As I was driving down the road listening to and singing along with the song I began to cry. This song spoke to my soul and it is now my new theme song. Yes, again I know that I am a cheeseball. But here are the lyrics:

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another Mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side.
It's the Climb.

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking!!!

Weight loss has always been a mountain to me. This time it's about my battle, about the climb. The things I'm going through and my experiences that will get me to the other side. Who knows who I will be on the other side, who knows what I am going to look like when I get there. I don't know how long it's going to take me, but I'm in it till I reach the other side. As I was singing and crying I realized that I am in the middle of my climb. I have made it half way and I can't believe how many times I've picked myself up and dusted myself off and kept on going. It is empowering and I can't wait to see where my climb takes me.

Pencils, Pens, Toilets and Cell phones.

Grace with her cousin Alleah.

Take a look at those hooded eyes!!!

m

"hello, hello, anyone there?"

A few people have been requesting more pictures of Grace. So here you go Aunt Mel and Jessica. I hope this satisfies your thirst for more. Grace is the busiest little thing I've ever encountered. The only time she is still is when she is sleeping. Other then that she is constantly on the move. Her favorite things right now are pens and pencils. When the rest of the family can't seem to find a darn pen or pencil, Grace manages to find them no matter where she's at. This evening she was outside and collected 5 of them. I asked her what she had found and she quickly turned to pick them all up. She gets so ticked every time I wrestle them out of her hands. Most of the time I will find her with a pencil in one hand and a random piece of paper in the other. Every now and then she will pause to make her mark. More times then I would like to recount I've found her dipping the pen or pencil in the toilet. Disgusting, I know. She loves to dip other items in the toilet. Like the dog's food. Of course dog food dipped in toilet water is just to hard to resist. She quickly shoves into her mouth. I don't have photos of this because I would rather get my precious daughter out of the dirty toilet then capture the precious moment.

Grace's other weakness is the cell phone. When ever she catches a glimpse of mine or my mom's or anyone's for that matter she pounds her chest, signing please, in addition to saying "eeeese". She can't say the pla part of please, but she definitely has ease part down to perfection. At first it was quite endearing, now there's a huge scene when ever she doesn't get the cell phone and pronto. What monsters we quickly create when we believe something to be cute at first.

Grace keeps us on our toes, keeps us entertained, keeps us laughing, keeps us filled with joy.

Holy Wood and Water Batman!!!

Cute candid picture of Grace

Grace with Grandma Donna.

Jaren holding Grace
Grandma Donna and Papa Woody

Grandma Penny, Jaren and Grandpa Rick

Jaren holding Alleah

Uncle Cory and Aunt Kelli

The official sign.
So cool!!!

Jaren pointing out his accomplishment.

Jaren is so lucky to have both sets of
Grandparents to come and support.

Monday and Tuesday were crazy busy days spent running Jaren to and from BYU. He had to set up his Science Fair project for the Regional Competition. There were about 250 students who made it to Regions. We were just so proud of Jaren for going this far. We kept telling him that it's been a fun and great experience.

On Tuesday it was such a rush to get out of the house that I forgot to grab the camera. Lame, I know. I thought, well, I've had my camera with me every other time when he's won. This must be a sign that he probably wont be getting anything. I'm such an optomist aren't I? I think I was just trying to not get my hopes up as well.

They shuttled the families up the the JSB building for the raffle and award ceremony. Cosmo, the BYU mascot, was there to hand out the raffle prizes. Not to offend any of you science finatitics out there, but come on people. Add a little pizaze, shout for joy, scream for excitement. Nothing, not a peep came out of the kids when they won a prize!!! What is that all about? I told Jaren, if your number comes up I want you to act like you are excited!!! And he did, it was fun to watch him run down and get is gift certificate for an apetizer at TGI Fridays.

The award ceramony was quite lengthy. Kind of like this post. We got down to the 2nd place awards when Hannah approached us and asked, " So it's 1st place or nothing at all?" Pretty much sista.

Jaren's name was the 3rd one called for 1st place. I was super excited for him. My emotions welled up and I was bursting with joy for him. Brent quickly handed me his phone and I ran up and took some pretty lame photos with the stupid cell phone. Urgghhhh. I'm so mad that I left the camera at home.

It was a great ride. Jaren learned a lot and had a great experience. Thanks to all our family who came to support Jaren.

What do you do when the Husband's away?

Paint the kitchen of course.

Several years ago Brent came home on a Thursday with some brown paint swatches. He asked me which color I liked the best. I pointed to the one I liked and he picked out the one he liked. Friday he came home with the paint. On Saturday he painted. I didn't like the brown very much at all. I felt like I was living in a cave and it never felt clean. So while Brent is camping in Goblin Valley I decided to brighten the place up and paint over that depressing, repressing, cavelike brown with a bright and cheery yellow. The pictures don't do it justice. No, it's not a super bright yellow, more like a dark buttery cream color. But it's bright and welcoming and great for spring.

Along with the taping, and painting came the cleaning. I never realized how disgusting the tops of my cupboards got. So I cleaned the tops and fronts of all my cupboards and my fridge. It feels so great to have such a clean kitchen. Not only are my walls, and cupboards sparkling clean, but last Saturday I spent 4 hrs scrubbing the groat in between my tiles. Just think of all the calories I burned doing these activities.

I LOVE my new kitchen. I can't wait to see Brent's reaction when he walks in.

Amy asked me if this is going to be a trend with us for the next 30 years. One of us paints the color we love while the other deals with it for a few years. Then the other paints with a color they love while the other deals with it for a few years until they can't stand it any longer and secretly re-paints again. Keeps us on our toes and guessing. You'd think with all the hundreds and hundreds of colors out there we could agree on at least one, right?

Yellow will have to do for the next few years. It's a good thing it's not my turn to paint. I'm DONE with that for a while.

Happy Birthday "Jekka"!!!!!!!

Today is my one and only sister's birthday. She is one of the most amazing people I know. Jessica is generous, loving, full of praises, a tremendous mother, a superb Aunt, the best sister anyone could ever ask for.

Growing up she and I fought like cats and dogs. We just did not get along. It wasn't until I had Jaren that we finally became great friends. It makes me sad to think that it took so long. But things happen for a reason. I will never forget seeing her bound down the stairs many many summers ago on a surprise return home from Nantucket. In her hands she had frozen Hagan Daz sherbet and a beaming smile. I don't think I could have survived that summer without her. She is truly one of my greatest friends. It makes me even more sad that she lives clear across the country from me. A girl needs her sister!!!

Happy Birthday Sis!!! I am so exstatic that we are as close as we are now!!!!

More greens in our bellies.

Grace enjoying her green pancakes.

Beckham not wanting his eggs to touch the syrup.

Hence the seperate bowl.

Hannah enjoyed her pancakes smeared
in peanut butter and jam.



Annika being shy.

Isabel loving her green eggs and pancakes.

I don't think I would have eaten the eggs

if I were a kid.

Aren't my kids Ceeeeeute?

Notice they all have the "Wood" smile.

No teeth showing.

In an attempt to be a "fun" Mom I put together a green breakfast in honor of St. Patrick's day. The kids were asking me this morning why we celebrate St. Patty's day. I have no idea. The kids had fun picking out their green outfits and eating green eggs and pancakes. Green is not the most apetizing color when it comes to food. Unless the food itself is naturally green, like lettuce, or asparagas, or brussel sprouts. We all need more green in our diets. I know I do.

So that's what a thong is...

Last night we were watching one of our favorite shows together as a family, The Amazing Race. We love this show. Towards the end of the show they came to a road block. As some of you know a road block is a task in which only one person can do. In this Road block the person had to run 1.5 miles in their skivies, or underwear, in below freezing weather in Russia. One of the girls that was going to run thought they were going to provide her with a little outfit. Well, she was wrong and had to run in her "thong". From the back couch I heard Isabel take a gasp and exclaim as she watched this girls' rear end being blurred out, " That's what a thong is?" Yes, Isabel, that is what a thong is.

Jarenism

This morning we were all being entertained by Grace, like we always are.

I heard Jaren say," She's like a T.V. show you could watch all day."

Aint that the truth!!!!!

Mom, what's a thong?

Current picture of Isabel being super cute.

One Pirate in his bra and thong.

.3 pirates in their bikinis.
I know I shouldn't laugh, but it is funny.

Isabel's homework assignment this week was to find a poem that she could share with her class. I had her pick it out on a website with poems catered to children. She picked her poem and began to draw pictures to go along with each stanza. Being the trusting person that I was, assumed that the poems on that site were safe. Hello, it was a children's website. Wrong-o. Isabel came to me and asked me, " Mom, what is a thong?". I told her that it was another name for flip-flops. Which is true, that is what I called them when I was growing up. Now-a-days thong means something completely different. Stupid English language having one word with different meanings.

That evening I shared the pictures and poem with Brent. I laughed and laughed, he didn't find it so funny. How silly was I to think that any site would be completely child proof. The next morning I had to explain to Isabel what a thong was. I described it as underwear that shows your butt cheeks and that it wouldn't be appropriate for school. She screwed up her face with a look of disgust and a little bit of humor and completely agreed with me.

Here's the poem:

Pirate's in bikinis

We's pirates in bikinis
singing proper pirate songs,
while wearing scary pirate hats
and teeny-tiny thongs.

We prance around the poop-deck
in our bathing suits because
we plunders much more booty
in our itsy-bitsy bras.

In fact, when we attacks a ship
we needn't lift a sword.
We makes our victims laugh so hard
they tumbles overboard.

And as we takes their treasure
we sings proper pirate songs,
while wearing scary pirate hats
and teeny-tiny thongs.

So if you sees us coming,
bag your swag without no fuss.
We's pirates in bikinis
and your loot belongs to us.

--Kenn Nesbitt

Brent didn't want me to share this story. It was just to funny not to document. And YES, I've learned my lesson. I need to double check everything that my children get from the internet, even sites for kids. I realize that I am far to trusting in a dangerous world.

Classic

Last night Brent was getting frustrated with the girls. They were doing something they shouldn't down in the basement. I heard him exclaim, " How many times have I asked you NOT to do that?" This was Annika's reply, "Today? Zero." I'm laughing just thinking about that.

We are a people that need constant reminding. It doesn't get any better as Adults. I'm constantly having to remind myself to be kind, to exercise, to eat right, to do the laundry.

Soak on This!!!!

Jaren and his award at the Regional Science Fair.

Great picture Brent took of him recieving his award.

Me(I obviously need to wear makeup everyday now) with Jaren.

Brent and Jaren.

Yesterday was a crazy day. I ended up stepping out the door sooner then expected. Consequently I was gone from home longer then I anticipated as well. I didn't get a shower, my hair looked like poo, I didn't put any make up on due to being in such a rush. For the sake of my posterity I still am going to post the hideous picture of me. Which is besides the point. This post is all about Jaren.

About a month ago Jaren was required to enter the School Science Fair. It was one of his required projects for 5th grade. Other wise it would not have happened. I am not a fan of Science. Luckily, Brent has a Father who gets into those types of things and helped him out. His project was on how absorbent different woods are in water. The day of the school fair arrived, Jaren dressed the part by putting on a nice button up shirt but kept it casual by having me roll up his sleeves. I made it for the award ceremony and didn't get nervous until they started announcing the names. I had butterflies for the kid. Of course they announce everything by alphabetical order. When they called his name I was surprised and to be honest, being the boob I am I got veclemet and had to control myself. Jaren would have been so embarassed if he saw me crying. Needless to say I was very proud of him. He was invited to attend the District Science Fair which happened last night.

Which brings us back to my crazy day. I rushed Jaren over to Mapleton Jr. High after he got home from school. Once again he dressed up, even more so this time with church pants and tie. He was so well composed. I helped him set up and left him there, in the hands of the judges. The whole family went back to browse the other entries and to be a support for their big brother. Finally the time of the awards arrived. They started at the beginning again and Jaren said to me, " I didn't make it." I pointed out to him that it was read in alphabetical order again. Grace got fussy so Ihad to take her clear to the back of the cafateria where the awards were taking place. Mrs. Stirland, his teacher, asked if we'd write down all the winners from our school. As they announced Jaren's name I became veclemet once more. He was thrilled. Now he gets to go to BYU for the Regional Science Fair. He will be one of 850 students. Jaren couldn't be more excited. We couldn't be more proud of him.

8 years and counting

Isabel and Annika

Not affraid to be a apart,
always thinking of the other.

Life would be boring without them!!!

Annika, very sweet and very mild.

Loves to read and color.

Content to be by herself.
A peacemaker.

Isabel is always full of energy.
She is like a bull in a china cabinet.

Fierce friend.
You always know where you stand with her.

Full of wonderful comments and advice.

Wait a minute, I thought 8 years ago, I'm late. I haven't started my period yet. Calm down, you did just stop nursing Hannah. But there was that month that I didn't have birth control. Panic now grips my entire body. I run and get a pregnancy test. I dip the stick and I have to leave the bathroom. There's no way I can be pregnant. NO WAY!!!! I am enjoying Jaren and Hannah too much right now. Sure I want to have more kids, just not right now. I am 6 weeks into Body for Life and I look amazing. I feel amazing. I slowly walk back into the bathroom and look at that stupid stick and there flashing before my eyes are two pink lines. I'm pregnant. Hannah is just 1 year old and Jaren is 2 and half. I phone Brent and begin to cry. How could this have happened. I'm not ready to have another baby. I cry and cry and cry and cry for months. Trying to come to terms with the fact that I will be having a 3 child. When people find out they are no help. Oh, the 3rd child is the hardest. You only have 2 hands. It's such a huge adjustment. Thanks, thanks a lot people. My belly begins to swell, and soon. I don't think anything of it since it is my 3rd pregnancy and my body is ready for the growth.

The day of the ultrasound comes, I am 21 weeks long. Brent and I decide to bring Jaren and Hannah along with us so they can see the baby on the screen. The technician swipes my belly, once, then backs away toward my file. She asks me why I am here. I reply the usual, to find out the sex of the baby and all that good stuff. " let me tell you why I ask. Here is one head and over here is another head." I literally scream bloody murder, the flood gates are opened and I begin to cry. Brent starts to cry. I think he cried out of joy, I cried out of complete and utter horror. I thought to myself, " What the heck am I going to do now? If 1 was going to be so diffult, what is 2 going to be like."

After finding out that we were having 2 baby girls we took the long walk to the Doctor's office with our two other children in hand for the "twin talk". As soon as we walk into the Doctor's office he begins to laugh. Ya, laugh it up big guy, this is SOOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!!

I had Isable Charlotte and Annika Patrice March 1, 2001 by c-section. Which is another story in and of itself.

Life was hard those first months. Thank goodness I was living with my Mom for the first 6 months. Life didn't get much easier. We then moved out and I was pretty much a single mother since Brent left in the mornings at 6am and didn't get home until 6pm. I was a machine, feeding, changing diapers (there were 3 in diapers), cleaning up, putting down for naps and starting all over again. Feeding, changing diapers, cleaning up. Not the life I had imagined for myself.

The only thing that got me through that rough time was the knowledge that Heavenly Father knew me better then I knew myself. He knew I could do it, I had the strength and he helped me through it.

Life is much different now. I have two vibrant very different, very unique little girls. I couldn't imagine my life without them. God has a plan for all of us, mine included having twins.