Alive... I think

December has proven itself to be super busy!! In fact, I'm laying in bed not doing my math test so I can catch up with my blog readers! ;)

Christmas came and went too fast! The kids were in Utah so Bry and I were able to "date" a bit while they were gone. It was fun playing newlyweds but I missed my babies too much! Christmas Eve I think was the hardest on us. We didn't have any where to go so we went to dinner but there was like NOTHING open! It was horrible! We ended up going to Monte's on Mill in Tempe, it was super yum!

Last night we enjoyed "Christmas" with the kids when they got home. It was fun seeing their reactions! It just stinks that all that time and energy goes into less than an hour of unwrapping! Andy loved getting a cell phone and hasn't stopped texting yet! Natali loved getting an electric keyboard and has played non-stop for us! Giovanni loved getting a portable DVD player {he's a movie junkie} and hasn't stopped asking for more movies! We loved getting our kids back and spending time together.

We hope you had a Merry Christmas and were able to spend it with the ones you loved.

November

What in the world happened to November?! Oh, that's right... I was working! Which, btw, I love my new job! I have been working long hours Monday through Thursday so I can leave early on Fridays, it works out nice but I miss my lover buggers and wish there were more hours in the day to spend with them.

So, here is a quick run down of November's main happenings-- first up-- my 28Th birthday! The week before I went to a super fun girls night dinner with my favorite girls! {I have a pic but it's on my camera and I can't find that at the moment} We enjoyed yummy food and great conversation! Thanks, ladies! The next day I celebrated with my parents and then Friday I celebrated with my family. The kids spent the night at my cousin's house on Thanksgiving night and so Bry and I got up super early to do some black Friday shopping and then he surprised me by taking me to Avante to get my hair done! I was in desperate need of change, and let me tell you change was had!! I'm in LOVE with my short "Mormon" hair as my family and I lovingly call it! Friday night we went out with our good friends the Bradshaws to dinner and play pool... way too much fun!! As sad as I thought I'd be to turn another year older I actually am enjoying it! Thank you to all for my birthday wishes and the sweet gifts! I was so touched by everyone being so thoughtful!

My new haircut!! I totally am loving it sooo much!!

My love and I on my birthday!





Thanksgiving is up next! Thanksgiving morning I went and did the Cheshire 5k! I hope next year to be with all of you I saw who ran the whole way! I had fun and was loving the nice brisk air! I had Thanksgiving at my house again this year, but we did it a little different than in the past-- we skipped turkey and decided to do a Mexican theme! Enchiladas, floutas, taco bake... yum!! We had traditional desserts of pumpkin pie and cobbler, but besides that it was all a fiesta! We even had a pinata! It was a total blast! I am so blessed to be surrounded with amazing friends and an amazing family. I don't know what I did to get so lucky!
Hope you all had an awesome holiday and were able to spend it with those you love.

Last- I finished my first semester of college!! I managed to pass my English class with a B and my Art History class with a C-- 79% you'd think I could have gotten that pity 1% for a B lol. I'm still taking my Math class until the middle of January but so far I have an A in there! I'm pretty dang amazed at myself!

And that was November in a nut shell!! We're doing great, the kids are growing like weeds, and getting funnier by the minute! We're just busy and trying to enjoy the time we do get together.

Now can you believe 24 days until Christmas?! Let's see if I can blog again before then! :)

Spooky!!!

The crew Andy, Giovanni, Ma, Nate, and Nati

Wonder Woman Natali

Giovanni the Vampire

Andy the 1920's gangsta

These guys have so much fun together, I love it!

This Halloween was a fun one for us! We were lucky to spend it with great friends and family... It's become tradition that we go trick or treating with the cousins so we had fun with 5 little ones tonight and 7 adults walking the neighborhood while Bamba {Bry's Mom} passed out candy at our house.

We also started a new tradition this year of having the "great pumpkin" come to our house and if the kids choose they take 10 pieces of candy and the rest is given to the great pumpkin who then leaves them money but takes their candy. Natali and Giovanni were all over it, but Andy was overly conflicted and opted out at the last minute.... we'll see how it goes in the morning when the other kids have money and he doesn't. lol.

So here are my cutie pies! Happy Halloween, guys! I can't believe it's already November!! Yikes!!

Oh... and did you notice we died our kids hair? lol. Yep, it's permanent, but we're sure it will wash out eventually... and for now they think we are the coolest parents EVER! lol

Sneak Peak

Last weekend we got family pictures taken with Bry's family. Chalice Leaman {click on her name for her site} did the pics and I'm in love with what I've seen so far!
Here's a few for your viewing pleasure! ;)

Bittersweet Faith Leaps

About a month ago I posted on my facebook status "Autumn is taking a leap of faith" and today that leap is officially happening. After long hours of prayer, what our family needed to do was made extra clear to both of us, so that day Bry put in his notice at work. His company asked him to stay an extra 2 weeks to help train his replacements, and being my sweet hubs he said yes. Well, today is his last day of work. Starting Monday Bry will be going back to school full time and being Mr. Mom while I go back to work full time. {don't worry- I'm still going to be going to school, too!}

This is obviously a huge change for our family, but also one that we have sought guidance from the Lord with and we know what we are doing {while be it scary at times} is the right one. When Bry put in his notice we didn't really know how exactly the whole money thing would pan out but we had a feeling it would work out, and it did. The next day at my fat dr {I need to stop calling it that, I know} I was talking to my friend who is the office manager and she was telling me they needed someone and asked if I would be interested in working there. Up until that point the thought of me going back to work hadn't even crossed my mind. I will be starting the job next week. It's truly amazing how the Lord paves the way when you finally decide to listen.

I know this isn't going to be the easiest of changes for any of us. I enjoy my time during the day to do what I want, and am still trying to figure out how in the world I'll ever catch up with my TV shows {wink, wink}. The kids are trying to get used to the thought that they might not do another craft project after school for a while {though I have book marked a bunch of craft blogs in the event Bry decides to get crafty on us!}, and Bry is trying to remember what it's like to be a full time student and cook, clean, do laundry, and get the kids on time.

We are excited for this new unexpected chapter in our life. We are both sad to be saying good bye to some amazing co-workers Bry has had over the past year. That being said, we are also excited to say good bye to long hours and never having our daddy and hubby around.

So... ready or not... leap of faith starts NOW! :)

Lucky Ducky!

I must start by saying I NEVER win ANYTHING! I can remember being in a pumpkin carving contest at our bank in our small town when we were growing up and my sister won and my parents hid $5 under my pumpkin because they felt bad.... sad, sad.

Anyways, I think my luck is changing! I'm an avid reader of Seriously So Blessed {one of the funniest blogs around!} and I entered one of her giveaways, well yesterday I noticed she posted the winners- I couldn't click fast enough and I see MY name next to this super cute hoodie!


Isn't that so fun?!

My Journey...

I haven't blogged in a while about my weight loss... Perhaps I feel you all are getting tired of it. My motivation needs a tune up, school is kicking my booty, but I realized today that I should be good and proud of my progress.

I've been contemplating telling everyone just how fat I used to be-- but I've decided against that. lol. Maybe once I reach my goal I will post it... that's to be determined though. lol

About my goal... a lot of people have asked me what my goal is. To answer that, my goal has never been a number. My goal is to feel good about myself when I look in the mirror. To be able to shop in a store and not have to buy plus size clothing {which I no longer have to do! YAAY!}. My goal is to be happy with my appearance, which is loaded right there. I know that I will never be a size 2- I'm 5'9" for cryin' out loud, that won't happen. lol. So... my goal, my dear friends, is to be the best me I can be. If that means I stop losing weight next week, perfect, if that means I stop in 20lbs- great! But this whole journey is so emotional that I just need to love me for me.

I was telling my friend the other day I still look in the mirror and see the "old" me. I still think my stomach is huge, my butt is giant, and my thighs are disgusting. It's all so mental. I know I've lost weight, I see the scale. But as a woman that's been overweight for so long I think there's a little voice inside me saying "it's just not good enough". Day by day I'm trying to get better, to love myself, to appreciate my body the way it is. Today I noticed I walked 4 flights of stairs and then about 8 city blocks downtown Phoenix and never once lost my breath. It was amazing. Small victories like those remind me of how far I really have come. This past weekend my hubs text me a quote from Preisthood session. Elder Uchdorf, "The Lord doesn't, nor should we, compare our efforts to others" I'm sure he was meaning this pertaining to the Gospel, but I am guilty of doing this in all aspects. So that's another thing I'm trying to do is not compare myself to others.

So, to date I've lost 110lbs in my 8 months since having my band. I've gone down about 12 dress sizes and 3 bra sizes {sorry if that is tmi- but I think it's so funny how small they are now! lol}. My wrists have shrunk so much that I had 3 links taken out of my watch and I no longer need chain extenders for my necklaces. I also cross my legs ALL the time now! I can paint my own toenails, too!




This picture was me at my sis-in-laws bachelorette party late last November. This is for sure a "before" picture.
This pic is me Saturday night... It's amazing to look at the difference... Crazy!

Thank you, my sweet friends, for all your support, encouragement, and love throughout this wild and crazy journey!