I've been there!

So, you know how the TV show Survivor goes to all these exotic places? Well, they are going to Tocantins, Brazil this season and I have been there. A small part of it was in my mission (Belem, Brazil). I may have to watch it this season. I'm not usually a huge fan, but I haven't given it much of a chance either. The circled states were in my mission.

Some tips, if you are interested

After my last post, some have asked some questions. So, I thought I'd list a few things that helped me lose weight. First, my weight loss has been very slow and steady. In 5 years I have lost 35 pounds, with 2 pregnancies in there to throw things off a little. Anyway, here are the things I've done that have helped.

• I never "dieted", but made gradual--very gradual-- lifestyle changes. I tried cold turkey to quit sugar and eat totally "healthy", but I never could stick to it. Moderation is how I live.
• I try to eat dessert only on the weekends. Doesn't always happen. My sweet tooth has been my biggest challenge. If I could just cut the sugar a little more I would lose the rest of the weight fast, I just know it.
• I got a food scale (just a cheap $5 one) to get a better idea of portions. I was really surprised what real portions are.
• Replace most things with fat free or low fat versions. When it doesn't compromise the flavor much. I refuse to eat gross food just because it is healthy.
• I Chew sugar free gum when I feel like snacking.
• On and off I have counted calories, or Weight Watchers points. Just to see where I am at.
  
• I exercise consistently. 5-6 days a week. For 30-90 minutes. That is mostly speed walking. I threw in the Jillian Michael's video when I hit a plateau. Seems like that shook my metabolism or something and helped me lose a few more. I recommend it. It is intense, quick, and doesn't get old (at least it hasn't yet).
• Not sure if this actually helps much or not, but watching Biggest Loser is pretty inspiring and motivating too.

Do you have any tips for me? What have you done?

Another goal reached

I've had a goal for years to be in the 120 pound range, and I am! I can't remember the last time I was in the 120's. Junior high maybe. I've been chubby most of my life. I still have a few more pounds til I reach my goal, but it feels good to reach these little goals along the way. I am pretty sure it has been the "Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred" workout video I've been doing faithfully for a couple of weeks that helped. It is pretty intense. Also, my faithful walking buddy, Alicia. We've kept each other speed walking for the past 2 years.

An engagement picture. I was about 20 pounds heavier.

Rub a dub dub, Tanner & Dallin in the tub

Popeye?

There was something about this picture of Dallin that reminded me of Popeye. Don't really know why. Maybe just the one eye that is a little squintier. Or the way he is holding his arms. He gets the one squinty eye from me.

Latest project

I got these pillows a year or so ago and they are falling apart and looking really lumpy. So, I decided to salvage them by making covers for them. I am pretty happy with how they turned out.

Interview

Nate heard today that Eastern Washington University wants to interview him. They interview about half of the applicants, so we aren't counting on anything. But we'll be heading up to Spokane February 20th-21st to check it out. Interviews are so inconvenient! We'll probably have to ditch Tanner (leave him with Jordan and Michaela) and just take Dallin. We'll have to stay overnight somewhere since everything starts early the 21st. Still working out those details.
We feel really good about ISU's program, so this place will have to be amazing, not to mention, they'd have to accept Nate, for us to go there.

Just a phase, I hope

Tanner won't let Nate help him with anything: taking a bath, getting him a drink, putting him to bed, pushing the stroller, etc. He always says, "No. Mom do it." If we insist that his dad helps, he cries. It was cute at first because I felt loved, but now it is annoying. Has anyone else's kids done this?

Helping out is fun to do . . .

. . . fun to do, fun to do. Helping out is fun to do . . .

















. . .until Mom takes advantage and makes me clean the kitchen, entry way, and bathroom.


Tanner actually mops pretty good. Who knew?

He's IN!

Nate got a letter from Idaho State University yesterday, and they've offered him a seat in their Doctor of Physical Therapy program for this fall. We're so excited he is in somewhere. He is waiting on 2 other schools still, but the only other one he'd even think about now is Eastern Washington. But have a guarantee that we're going somewhere, and it is great to have that assurance. We've been in Rexburg too long!

Wanna be Sushi Chef

I love California rolls, but for some reason they are kind of hard for me to perfect. I am almost there. Found this sushi rice recipe that I like. In case you don't know how to make them and want to try. You make this sweet, sticky rice and put it on Nori (seaweed wrap). Put on cucumbers, avocado, imitation crab, and roll it up. You can dip in soy sauce if you like. I like a spicy citrus sauce better though.

Sushi Rice

• 2 1/4 cups Japanese sushi-style rice
• 1 (4 inch) piece konbu dried kelp (optional)
• 3 cups water (I'd add more, maybe a whole cup, it was a little dry)
  
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

Place rice into a large, deep bowl. Fill with cold water and rub rice together with hands until the water turns milky white. Pour off the cloudy water, being careful not to pour out the rice. Repeat 3 or 4 times until you can see the rice through 3-inches of water.
Drain the rice in a fine strainer, then place into a saucepan along with konbu and water. Allow to stand for 30 minutes. Stir together rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved in a small bowl, set aside.
Cover, and bring rice to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to stand for 5 minutes.
Scrape rice into a bowl; remove and discard the konbu. Stir in vinegar mixture until well incorporated and no lumps of rice remain. Allow to cool at room temperature. For a shinier appearance, use an electric fan to cool the rice rapidly.

Dynamite Spicy Sushi Sauce
½ cup (low-fat) mayonnaise
2 tbsp Sriracha hot sauce
¼ tsp roasted sesame oil

Whisk the ingredients together until well blended.
Store in fridge.

Drool & High heels

Feeling the burn!

I wanted a change of pace with my workout, and to try to get past this plateau I've hit with my weight, so I got these DVDs to do along with my walking. They are great! Nate and I are fans of The Biggest Loser TV show and these are the trainers on it. I like Jillian's mixture of strength training, cardio, and abs. She claims that done all in one really intense workout, it is the best way to lose weight. We'll see how it goes. It's funny, I hit a weight that I thought I'd be happy at, but now I am thinking I want to be 10 lbs less. I'll let you know if, no, WHEN, I reach my goal. ;)

Yum, Feet

Dallin is teething and puts anything in front of him in his mouth, even feet!

"Mommy, I'm happy."

Tanner and I were hanging out reading books and coloring before bed and he turned to me and said, "Mommy, I'm happy." And he leaned in to give me a hug. Isn't that sweet? Melted my heart. It was so good to hear him say that. That is one of the main things I want for him in life.

Snow, snow go away. . .

Come again another day. . . or NOT!

Like most of you we've had storm after storm here. There are a couple of feet on the ground now. Sad thing is it will be on the ground until about April. Tanner enjoys playing in it though, and tries to help shovel it.

Our quiet Christmas

Tanner got blocks for Christmas, so we've been playing with them a lot.




I made a big lunch for us. Ham, potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry salad, jello salad, rolls and ice cream sandwiches. I love to cook, so it was fun.


Christmas is a little too quiet this year. Everyone is out of town but us. It's been nice, but a little boring. Bowling alleys are closed, besides that there is a snow storm right now and no plows out.

Our Hair Cuts

I guess I will never have long hair. I get determined to grow it out, then it reaches my shoulders and I am dying to cut it. So I do. I love the cut though. Short hair is great. Easy. My friend, Tristin, did an awsome job as usual. And her husband was so kind to watch my boys while she did it.

So you are wondering if Dallin really got his hair cut. Well, see the dark area on the back of his head? It has hair that grows twice as long and about 3 times as thick as the rest of his hair, so we trimmed it up.

Brothers

Dallin's head is as big as Tanner's already! Even though his head is big, so is his body, so he doesn't look disproportionate.

Latest project

I saw a few of my friends did these JOY blocks at an Enrichment activity at church--and I am such a mooch--I got my friend Alicia to get me a set if there were any left over. It was so fun and they make our apartment festive. Thanks Alicia! And the 79th Ward who shared with me.

With the left over paper I made some magnets too. HOW TO: I just used mod podge to glue paper onto a clear glass rock (like the ones you can put in fish bowls, but bigger) and put a magnet on the back.

I love this Fresh Food Feeder that Dallin is chewing on. I know some of you use them, but for those who don't know what they are, you put food in the mesh bag and they chew it or suck it up without getting big pieces to choke on. Here he is eating a piece of pear.


Then this is Dallin feeding himself his bottle. He gets it all over himself sometimes.

Another reason I love Christmas

Sugar Cookies! We got together with Alicia and David to make sugar cookies and frost them. I don't know how many knives we went through because the boys kept licking the frosting off. It was lots of fun. We watched the Polar Express too; one of my favorite Christmas movies.

Dallin's stocking

Finished. Finally. I started it before I was even pregnant with Dallin, knowing I'd have another kid eventually. I'd put it down for months at a time, that's why I didn't finish sooner. I am not happy with it, but it will have to do. I guess I could fix the pointy toe at least. But the dumb cording is warped making the whole thing funky. I don't know how to fix it. Oh well. Whatever. Kids only care about what is inside right?

Snow day

We got snow yesterday. I bought Tanner a snow suit and boots so we tried them out. He loves the snow until his hands get too cold.





















Wish I had Dallin's flexibility.









You can see Dallin's teeth in this one.