My Christmas Wish for You

Ms. Thunder Bumper Challenge #2

If I was loaded and could buy you all a great gift this Christmas it would be a digital scale. It serves so many great purposes like knowing exactly how much hamburger you're putting in the bag when separating up the family pack from the grocery store to knowing exactly how much you are eating.

It's vital for a family trying to live healthy since learning portion size at a young age will be vital to helping our next generation.

It's also a vital tool for those of us trying to lose weight. I've been thinking about this post this week because of an experience I had.

I was trying to add a little protein to my breakfast of cheerios and banana. I decided some milk with chocolate protein powder would be a great idea. So I pulled out my shaker, did a 4oz. milk 4 oz. water ratio and then got the protein out. It's been a while since I had used the chocolate so I looked to see how much a serving was. The label said: Serving Size 1 Heaping Scoop (39 g)

Hmmm, this scoop is really big. So I pulled out my scale and stuck it on there. It was closer to 55 g. Wooza. That would be a lot more calories than I wanted. So I adjusted the serving to what I really wanted.

No wonder it's so hard to know exactly how many calories are in things. They are giving an estimate sometimes...ahh, it can be so frustrating. I had this happen with baked chips too.

So, if I could buy one for each of you I would. It serves so many purposes.

Here is the challenge. I want you to tell us about what you'd want to gift to each of us because it makes your life easier. It can be your favorite drinking cup or cooking instrument, your favorite DVD or cook book. It can be whatever you wish we all had because you love it so much....scriptures don't count. I don't think there is a single one of us that doesn't have them :-)

I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Absent

I know I have been absent for quite sometime. I have a lot of thoughts on my mind lately. As I try to sift through everything, I feel overwhelmed. Unfortunately this blog has not been a priority. I haven't given up, and I will be back. I have to take a moment to sift through everything. My mom was diagnosed with Cancer and is having surgery on Monday. Not only am I sick to my stomach about it, but I am also angry with myself. I know, not a positive thing, but it will pass, and I will use that anger to do positive things in my life. You see, I always thought there would be so much time. There would always be enough time to get in better shape to run with her. I procrastinated, and now, I felt like, overnight my time ran out. So, naturally I was angry. Running with my mom, was never just a run. It was developing a deep relationship. One that can only be created through hours of intimate conversation. One only created by the relationship, and support of running. Accomplishing amazing goals. As I sat with her one day and talked about my frustration, she reminded me that I had promised to run another half marathon with her. That she was going to get better. I've made a promise to myself, I will do whatever it takes, to get to that point, so I can still have those intimate moments with her. I am desperate for her. A temporary setback, but I'll be back stronger after the year comes to a close. After my mind can settle from all my worrying.

Thankful

I know I'm totally late but since Audrey didn't post her Thunder Bumper today, I'm sliding this in at the very last moment possible!! I am thankful for a lot of things, but the thing I am thankful for the most, is my FAMILY.

My Dad is the most calm, loving and positive man I know. Even when things are less than great, things are "GREAT!" He gives the best hugs and always has great advice. He works way harder than any person should at both work and church. He is super passionate about everything he does which is an awesome quality to have. My Mom is a lover. She has 5 crazy (or previously crazy) kids who have taken her through hell and back, but she still loves each and every one of us to death. Having someone love you despite your faults, mistakes, etc is the best thing one could ask for. A lot of parents can't do that, and she is amazing for that.

Being my oldest sister, Audrey has been the person I've looked up to all my life. Since I am 11 years younger than her, I didn't get much time with her before she left for college, but I still wanted to be just like her! Now that I'm "grown up" I admire her even more for her super woman capabilities in being a mom, cleaning, organizing and just being plain awesome. Her (fast) husband Chris is pretty awesome as well. They are also parents to the funniest kids I know.



My sister Heidi definitely keeps things interesting in our family and I love her for her energy and loving personality. She's creative and never gives up on what she wants. My niece Makayla is officially a teenager and that is kind of freaking me out! She's wearing makeup and in middle school and that is just too much for me. I am thankful for how strong of a person she is!!


I am so thankful for my brother Tyson & his 2 (almost 3) sweet girls. They are the best people to hang out with and are always doing something fun. I can always count on my brother to be there for me in anything I do. He definitely has my Dad's positive attitude and is such a hard worker.


I am so thankful for my brother Jared for his super persistence to achieve his goals. He works hard at everything he does from work to sports and is totally in love with his family. I am also thankful for my sister in law for being so funny and putting up with my crazy brother. I don't know how how she manages with 4 kids, but they sure are a cute family!


Sorry for the long post! Without my family, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I am so lucky to be able to call them my family! ♥

The Queen and her sneakers

The Queen is here to visit with us for all of one and half days. My kids are loving all the Queen's attentions. And so am I. But here's a few other little details that make me love and admire her as a healthy wife:

1) She brought a lemon (for fruit tea) and a carton of fresh raspberries.
2) She brought her sneakers, just in case.
3) She brought her own protein drink.
4) She brought 4 bags of freshly baked ginger snaps and hasn't eaten a single one.

Isn't she awesome!?

Dexter Brian

I don't know what kind of face my daughter is making...but the rest are pretty cute, if I may say so.


Here is a picture Mindelicious requested. He's pretty chunky! Actually, most of his weight is in his cheeks, which have thinned out a little bit.

Gratitude - My First HWHL Rambling Video

This is why I prefer writing to public speaking - editing! Otherwise, I go off into tangents and am a babbling mess, but I thought it would be fun to try something new for the HWHL blog! Let me know what you think!

Husbands Are Evil

Me: Matt, what cookies do you feel like you absolutely HAVE to have for Christmas?

Matt: Peanut butter balls...russian tea cakes...ginger snaps...spritz cookies...truffles.....toffee

Me: Ummmmm, okay. Can you pare it down at all? Do we have to do the tea cakes and the spritz cookies?

Matt: Mindy, Christmas only comes once a year!

Me: Can you pick just one to leave off the list?

Matt: That's like asking me to pick one of my children to hand over to the nazi's.

Mindy: (rolls eyes)

As all good little recovering addicts know, avoidance is key. Alcoholics don't go to bars. Sexaholics don't go to massage parlors. Sugarholics don't bake 16 batches of cookies and store them in tins above the fridge. Dear husband, I love you and all, but STOP ENABLING ME!

Here's to a better week?

I didn't do so well last week.

• 3~~the number of times I exercised 
• 1~~the number of times I drank all 64 ounces of water
• 3~~the number of days I got my veggies all in
• 2~~the number of days I stayed under my calorie goal

However,

• 7~~the number of days I read my scriptures!

You know what? That's great improvement!
I'm happy to say I'm still on track for my thirty point bonus.
I think it might be the best thing to come out of this challenge for me right now, getting back into the swing of things spiritually.


Today, I didn't exercise because my hubby came home early from work. It's too embarrassing for me to exercise in front of him. Maybe I'll double up tomorrow. AND I missed my calorie goal by six points! That really bites. Water intake? nah. Didn't make it either. But it's OK. It's still early in the week right.
Hoping tomorrow will be a better day.
How are all of you doing?

Bake sales are evil

The reason we all have issues with sugary sweets is that bake sales were unrestricted and omnipresent when we were young. But all our children's health problems are about to end thanks to a new bill that would give the government power to limit school bake sales and other fundraisers that health advocates say sometimes replace wholesome meals in the lunchroom.

I'm so glad the government has tackled this issue head on because we all know this fundamental truth: bake sales are evil.

Hello Everyone!

I've been gone for a little while. My tonsil and deviated septum surgery went well. I thought last Monday that I was back and ready to jump back into life full force. I think I over did it. I slept and slept and slept the days following my surgery. On day 10, I decided I better stop taking the narcotics because my Mom had to go home to Utah, and Chad had to go back to work, and I was needed in the world of Reality. Once I was off the pain meds, my body felt so much better, and I slowly started easing into exercise.

This week was rough though. I felt like I had the flu every day, and went back into the dr for a follow up. She said my throat was still about 5 days away from being healed, and until that happened, I would feel tired and sick.

So I rested as much as I could on Friday, Saturday and today, and hopefully tomorrow I will feel more like myself.

I've missed you guys! Rebekah, I'm so glad you're back too! Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm so glad to have the surgery behind me. Now I can't wait to get back to running and burning off all my built up energy from the past 3 weeks. There's a lot stored up!

Sorry about the rambling. I'm having a hard time putting my feelings into words...it's been an emotional ride.

Big

I had my baby on Thursday. He weighed 9 lbs. 6 oz. and was 21 1/2" long. For my 5'2" frame, that was quite the haul I was carrying around!! We're still in the hospital due to the c-section and some feeding issues with the baby (I can't nurse because of some medicine I have to take...for the rest of my life, and the formula isn't staying down well). But, as soon as I recover, I'm back with the HWHL program. Looking forward to it!!