'Wicked'ly Awesome!

For Christmas last year Ben's parents so graciously gave us tickets to Wicked. We were able to go the weekend before we left for Kentucky... It was so worth the wait!

On Friday, August 20th, we dropped the boys off in Rexburg at lunch time and headed to SLC. We checked in to the Radisson Hotel.

Then we headed to dinner at the Rodizio Grill in Trolley Square. It's the closet thing to some of the Brazilian food that Ben used to eat on his mission, so he was excited. And I was too... because it is really good. 

After dinner we browsed a few shops, and I got a new skirt made by the wife of the Asian man that ran the little shop. We then hurried back to the hotel, changed, and walked to the Capitol Theater. 

If you count 11 rows back on your far left... that's where we sat! The seats were amazing. The show was even more so!

'Wicked' for those who don't know the story line is the back story for the Wizard of Oz. It is how the Wicked Witch  and Glinda became who they are in the story we know. It made us laugh, made us think, made us cry (okay not really but it is a little emotional times), and it is so worth seeing if you ever get the chance. 

Saturday we did a quick check out of the new City Creek Center Mall and had breakfast at Kneader's there at the mall. This mall is quite spectacular when it comes to malls. Some is indoors. Some is outdoors. There are little creeks, water features, and an outdoor fireplace, and it's huge!

The Salt Lake Temple was closed, so we checked out of the hotel and headed to Bountiful. We enjoyed a lovely session in the temple and then headed to In'N'Out for lunch. I have heard a lot about this place and how awesome it is... I have to admit... not so impressed. Ben and I both agreed that Five Guys is way better and they are here in Idaho Falls. But now I can say I've been. 

We headed back after that and picked up our kids. It was an amazing weekend on so many levels. We needed the overnight get away without the kids, the show was amazing, and the weekend was relaxing. It was just AWESOME. So a big thanks to my in-laws that made it happen... Tickets to the show AND free overnight babysitters! THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

Time for Change

I bet you were wondering if I would be back once I finished my blog posts on Kentucky... Well, here I am!

So I wanted to touch on a more serious note today. It's time I had a little honesty session with myself, and if I share with you then maybe, just maybe, it will help you and you can help me too. 

But then it'll be back to updates... I have plenty of them. ;)

As I hinted at when beginning my Kentucky posts, 

I've been struggling... emotionally, physically, at times a little bit spiritually, and mentally. Let me tell you a little bit about it, but then I want to focus on the next step... change. 

I believe that part of change is confronting the past, so I can better look to the future. So here's the short version of what I'm about to confront... 

My whole life I have struggled with body issues and self-worth. I remember being called names like "the jolly green giant." It was hurtful. I cried, but I dealt with it and most of the time I was happy. 

I want to stress that most of the time I am STILL happy, but struggles come. 

When I was pregnant with Gavin I gained a lot of weight and was alone a lot. I really began to struggle. Then once he was born, I had postpartum depression. It took a while to get out of that, especially since at the time I didn't even realize what I was dealing with. Xander came and once again I had postpartum depression, at least this time after awhile I was able to put a name and face to it. This was also at the same time we were first learning about the extra struggles my sweet little Gavin was going to be dealt in life. Again... hard. And then Landon came and so did the postpartum depression. I was more aware and ready this time. After a couple of months I even decided to go on medication. The medication helped. I gained a lot less weight with Landon because I had gestational diabetes and was on a strict dietary plan. So I got busy and started losing weight. Between exercising, eating better, and my medicine I felt a lot more in control. 

Then last August, we decided to put our home for sale. Long story short... it's still for sale. Then add in caring for 3 crazy, busy, silly, active boys and life in general, I didn't have time to worry about myself (or so I thought). I ate not only when I was hungry, but also when I was happy, celebrating, sad, mad, bored, or frustrated. It has been a downward spiral for me physically since. I tried to do something about in the spring, but it was short lived. 

Then about 2 to 2 1/2 weeks ago I had had enough. It finally reached the point where it was more painful to keep on the road I was then to change and follow a new path. I started disciplining myself and using portion control and self-control. I've lost 5 pounds already. I'm getting up earlier. I'm blogging again. And on Monday I'm getting ready to start a 90 day challenge with a small group of people led by my friend  Mindy Rose. 

SO here is what I've learned so far 

and how I'm going to use it to change me:

• Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. I have always loved the Lord and even though I trust in Him, it is hard to be totally unwavering all of the time because I don't understand or can't truly comprehend His plan for me all of the time (OK most of the time). I'm terrible at waiting, especially if I am not sure if there is anything else I can do about it. So as part of my change and motivation I created this in Picasa, and I'm going to print it and put it on my fridge. (The picture is of a hot pot in Yellowstone that we took a few years back.) I need the serenity prayer's reminder each day in my life. I need to trust more wholly in the Lord.

• I am loved. My husband, my children, my extended family, my friends, my Father in Heaven all love me. AND they love me unconditionally... including the condition of my body. I struggle with remembering and knowing this. It's hard to understand how someone can love me so much when I am not sure I like myself. But the goal is to accept their love for me, especially my Savior's, so that I can better love myself as I am and as I am changing. It's okay to be a work in progress. AND then by accepting love I can also love deeper in return.
• Through the Atonement of the Jesus Christ anything is possible. Always easy... no, but always possible. These changes won't be permanent if I don't involve the Lord. I want this to be more than a physical change. I want this change to affect all parts of me. If I want the change to last I have to make be continually making and keeping up changes. Again I will have to accept the fact that I will always be a work in progress, and it is okay.
• No matter how hard life is, I always have something to be grateful for. Ben and I have been trying to be more aware of the day to day workings of the Lord in our life. As our awareness increases we just have more and more to be thankful for in our lives.
• I would never want a life different from the one I've got. As we have been getting ready to start our challenge, Mindy asked a few questions... one of which was when we were our happiest. For me it was the day I was married to Ben, and each of the births of my children. My family is my life, and I would never change that. We were also asked to hang up a motivation picture on our fridge. Here is what I printed off to hang up. 

• Last of all, I can do hard things. I may not always get it right, but with time, faith, and the Lord I will... even if it takes me my whole life and after! Hard things are what makes me... well, me. And hopefully, each hard thing I have and will encounter will change me for the better. 

My goals I'm beginning the next 90 days...

1. Lose weight, exercise, and become more healthy.
2. Begin figuring out how to take time for myself so I'm a better wife, mother, and person without letting it take away from my family and other responsibilities... aka BALANCE.
3. Be more forgiving of others and myself.
4. Count my blessing everyday.
5. Learn other ways to cope with stress and depression without having to go to food or take medication.
6. Have fun and enjoy my life.
7. Never quit or give up on myself.

So there you have it. Sorry to be so long winded, but I needed to write all of this down... it's part of my journey. Thanks for helping me begin.

Kentucky Visit Part 3: Indiana and Silliness

Of course a visit to Kentucky means a visit to Indiana. I still consider Indiana my base. Kentucky just happens to be where my parents live now.  So we gathered everyone up into two cars and headed north.
First stop was Grandma Jenkins. She helps with my cousin's little boy Hayden, so she was well stocked for little boys. Xander loved the Sponge Bob video game and Gavin loved the little trike. And eventually we got most everybody smiling at the same time for a picture.
Second stop was Grandpa and Grandma Shoaf's farm. The boys loved the cows, the dog, the playground, and all the room to run. And you'll notice we kept adding more and more people into the pictures at their house.
And our last stop was Grandpa and Grandma Jane's house. They were kind enough to feed us a yummy dinner before had to head back to mom and dad's. The boys liked their sand table and Grandpa got out a race car for Gavin to take apart and put back together. Gavin was totally concentrated on that car until it was done... hmmm... birthday present idea for next month? The boys were getting tired by this point but we managed to get a few pictures, though the lighting is off... grr. Oh well.
It was a great day! We are so glad we could make it up and see all of the GRANDparents. They sure are great ;) hehee It wouldn't have been a complete trip without this run to Indiana.
 

 

As I was packing and cleaning up in the basement, Adam and Karina decided to have some last minute fun with the boys and build a fort. Look at those goons! They had lots of fun being silly (the two big ones as much as... or maybe even a little more than the two littler ones!) 

Before heading to the airport we made a stop at the mall to meet up with Tyler, Beth and Hudson. Tyler works at Sears, and we were able to stop on his lunch break to say hi and bye. The kids played in the little play area, and then Grandma spoiled them with a ride on one of those little mall carousels. They thought it was SO cool!
From their we said good byes, and mom took us to the airport. We made it home with little craziness... except we literally walked off the first plane down two gates and got on the second. We had been late because of lightening. At least we didn't miss our connecting flight! The boys were exhausted by the end of the trip, and we were all ready to be home, but since then I get asked most days when we are going to fly back to Kentucky again!
Thanks for all the fun! We love you and miss you.

 

Kentucky Visit Part 2: Dinosaur World

Look at me... here I am day two... part two!

While visiting my family they had one REALLY special outing planned for the boys... DINOSAUR WORLD! And boy did they hit the nail on the head. My boys were in Dinosaur heaven. It was a relatively little place just off the interstate, but it was totally perfect for the boys. And we were able to have Tyler, Beth, and Hudson, and Grandpa and Grandma Jane tag along too! It was a whole family affair.  

Here we are in the jaws of danger!

We checked out the dinosaur playground and the little indoor museum with fossils. Check out Karina texting... how could you get bored at Dinosaur World?

They also had an area where the kids could go dig and uncover a "dinosaur skeleton." All of the boys liked digging and brushing and playing in the sand, but I think Xander was the most excited about uncovering a dinosaur.

Then the boys were able to do a real fossil dig! They were able to sift through the sand and find little fossils like sharks teeth, pieces of fossilized sponge, and an assortment of other small fossils. They had 15 minutes to dig and find as many as they could. At the end of the time, they were allowed to go through their discoveries and choose three fossils to put in a little bag to bring home.

AND THEN WE SAW DINOSAURS!
Not real ones of course ;)
They have a little walking path that leads you around to see the dinosaurs (and a few mammoths). The best part was probably when my brother Adam went and got eaten by some of the dinosaurs... take a closer look. It was too funny. It was a great morning. We loved hanging out with everyone in spite of the heat climbing skyward as the morning went on. Thanks for taking us mom and dad! The boys are still telling everyone how they went to Kentucky and saw dinosaurs!

AND THE FINAL KENTUCKY INSTALLMENT TO COME TOMORROW.
Same bat time. Same bat channel. So tune in.

Kentucky Visit Part 1: Hanging out

I'm going to start on a serious note
and then we'll get to the fun stuff...
I'm sure on occasion their are a few of you that have wondered where in the world I have to disappeared to. A blog from me is a rare site these days. Ben is now more often the one to blog.  Well here is it... without going into all the details... the honesty of the situation... I have been extremely overwhelmed this last year. Just take one look at me in these pictures and you can tell.
I don't like it. AT. ALL. PERIOD.
But I'm embarking on a change. I'm really trying to figure out how to balance me and my life. AND with that I am recommitting myself to blogging because I enjoy it when it's not another "to do." And I want to be better at keeping track of our family... for them and for me.
So bare with me and tune in again...
I'm bringing blogging back.

OK... enough of that.

At the end of July we were fortunate enough to go visit my family. We took off to Provo after Ben got off work and flew out the next morning. AND YES believe it... Provo does have an airport. And it was actually cheaper than flying out of SLC. The boys traveled really well (Except when Gavin disappeared in the Denver airport for 2 minutes because he wanted to ride the escalator... so scary.) We ended up getting Landon his own seat, and I'm so glad we did... much easier. Here they are on the plane and calling Grandma to tell her we were on our way!

The first days were filled with hanging out around Elizabethtown and my parents' home. My boys are boys. They loved the riding lawn mower. Uncle Tyler was gracious enough to give them rides. He even let Gavin drive it by HIMSELF! (He walked along beside him.) One of my parents' neighbor also let Gavin drive his lawn mower. That boy was in tractor heaven.

Just plain ole silliness went on.

One day when Landon was napping, Ben, Dad, and I took the boys to a park called Funtopia. And even though it was stinkin' hot, it was a LOT of fun and super cute. 

On another evening we went to check out the geese and play at another park. This time Tyler and Beth's little boy Hudson came with us while they had a date night.  

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we celebrate the 24th of July as Pioneer Day. Often times wards or stakes have parties to get together and remember the pioneers and eat and play like they might have. We pulled taffy, the big boys participated in sack races, Karina had to be carried over the finish line (the lazy bum), and enjoyed some yummy food. Take a close look at the sequence of pictures of mom and Alexander... it's too funny. He's such a little ham.

And last of all for this post... some wild life. One day when mom was outside with the boys, out of the corner of her eye she saw a hawk swoop in for a kill (one of her many squirrels). But the hawk mostly missed because he sat in the tree for a while trying to find his prey. And we spotted this squirrel making a weird barking/whining sound with his throat. He didn't appear to be hurt, but he sure was terrified! Crazy, huh?

Come back tomorrow for installment number two: DINOSAUR WORLD!

Wicked

We are off to go see Wicked in Salt Lake City tonight!

Can't wait - Best Day EVER!!!