Sometimes We All Need A Little Time Away!

July 24th in Utah is Pioneer Day, it is basically a day to say the settling pioneers were "Awesome"! It is also a state holiday so that means a  day off of work for most so when we heard for sure that Adrian had a 3 day weekend we decided to celebrate pioneer day 2011 style......

.....in a condo resort by a lake....well...not exactly pioneer style... but my kind of pioneer style......pools, hot tubs, A/C...... and a million dollar view of the lake.......

This beautiful view and condo are in Huntsville Utah. It sits below Snowbasin ski resort and is only about an hour and fifteen minutes from where we live and is one my favorite places in Utah.

The condo was fully loaded with all the bells and whistles including a hot tub on the deck...

And a community pool.... that we learned is always empty in the evening and the perfect time to go.....

The first day we were there we headed over to the monastery because we heard they sell over 14 varieties of honey that they harvest themselves but I guess it is not in season yet so we settled for some preserves instead. Visitors can stay and listen to their chants that they do seven times a day. They are self sustaining and the land that the monastery sits on is beautiful.

The second day we were there our friends/neighbors came up to visit for the day. We headed to the lake and rented a wave runner. The wave runner ended up dying out on the second run and dumped Adrian and Kaity and our neighbor in the lake...stranding them until they could flag someone to bring them back in. I think Kaity has been officially traumatized and we will see if we can ever get her on another watercraft in the near future.

It was a mini vacation....and wonderful! Most of the time was spent in the water and just being together as a family. The kids had a blast and did not want to come home. We stayed at these condos about 4 years ago and we will try to make this trip a yearly tradition, it is close to home but feels like you are a million miles away from the day to day grind.

Eat, Drink,and Be Merry Today....... for Tomorrow I Will Be In Puerto Rico!

Some time ago I hinted I may be going to an exotic location ....well  now I know I WILL be going to an exotic location! Details still being worked out but it looks like it is going to be the Eastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico being our first stop. This trip will be with my mother, sister, and my oldest niece Gabby. This trip will not be until next March so why am talking about the subject now?...well, I am excited, but what do all woman do as soon as they hear they are going on a vacation that involves wearing a lot of these......

that nasty but necessary word....................

I started a diet last year...actually did really well ...50 pounds well..and then the holidays came and then vacation came and then ice cream, chips, peanut butter cups,cookies, hamburgers, and pizza came. I gained 12 pounds back of the 50 I lost.......pthpttffffff!

So today is day one of refocusing and getting back on track. First things first, the twelve pounds I gained needs to go bye bye quickly so it is strict diet for the next 25 days...detoxing, cleansing...getting my mind and body in the right frame of mind and then I will commence to exercise and getting the family on board my healthy train for the next few months and hopefully permanently...

So why am I writing about this? This is my accountability...if I do a quick post once a month about my progress and the 5 or 8 pounds I have lost...a goal, some progress...something to write about.

There it is....a goal....a goal that is never ending with me....ughhhh weight...my crux....my weakness...usually the reason for any sadness I may have........anyways before this turns into a therapy session....

Time to go make me my protein shake close my eyes and think about March................

Guess What 10,000 Dollars Gets You?

Guess what ten thousands dollars worth of these get ya?........A free day at the local waterpark! Ya, ya, I know it does not sound like much but the kids love it none the less. Actually the twins orthodontics place does this party every year. They rent out the park exclusively to their patients and friends and feed everybody and hand out incredible prizes at the end of the evening. Not cheap prizes either...playstations, xbox's, wii's, psp's, bikes, and the list goes on and on. You realize how much these orthodontists rake in when you see all the metal on the 100's of kids mouths wandering around the waterpark.

Anyways because of my schedule today we could not stay for the dinner and the prizes....Boooooo! I did manage to click a few pictures from the day and made some observations today.

1. I will not be buying a swimsuit that ties around the neck next year. Without getting into grand detail, I have a large bust and that is a lot of weight tied up around my neck......I know TMI..I don't care it is my blog and I can give TMI sometimes...maybe I need fake boobs, they don't need any support......TMI, I know!

2. Woman actually still smear their body with babyoil to get that golden tan? I like a little sun but I am not going for the worn out leather look. I would like to age gracefully and not look liked tanned hide when I am 60.

3. Getting pictures of my twins is like getting a picture of Sasquatch. I have numerous pictures of Makenzie because she is vain and wants to be in all pictures but the twins on the other hand have to be preyed upon like a voyeur lurking in the shadows.

4. I am officially "that" mother today. I did not get my hair wet once today! You know those mom's, the mom's that swim in the pool with their hair never touching the water and their makeup perfectly in place. I did not have makeup on but I had to do my hair because I had other things to do today so I was "that" mother today, that one that swam around with her head above water....next thing you know I will be wearing my Jackie O glasses and high heels to the pool.

5. I may be addicted to McDonalds Pineapple Mango Smoothies....I crave them....I may or may not have stopped on my way home from the pool and got one......mmmmmmmm!......I may or may not have to get one tomorrow too....

6. I am addicted to my instagram app on my  newly replaced iphone...so here is some pics that I instagrammed.............Enjoy!

Gods Handwriting

Do ever stare at your children or those you love and are taken away with all the beautiful things about them. When you love someone so unconditionally all you see is their beauty. It is so easy to see the reality of your children's beauty, it is so easy to admire it, and it is so easy to realize what a blessing they are.

Mackenzie's eyelashes reminds of precious toy babydoll eyelashes. They are straight, thick, dark, and full. I find myself staring at them when she sleeps as they flicker and flutter as she stirs in her sleep. Her inner and outer beauty are breath taking.

The twins look the same and have a lot of the same outer beauties but they are so uniquely their own people. They both have these delicate hands. Their fingers are long and slender and are the envy of many woman.

Their eyes have been called "Genie" eyes. They are magical and mesmerizing. Their eyes are green and are  accessorized by long thick full eyelashes. They have been told since they were very little that their eyes are truly the window to their soul.....beautiful.

Their babydoll eyelashes, delicate hands, and mesmerizing eyes have Gods handwriting all over them.....

Whats on your ipod rotation this summer?

I love music, I am always on itunes listening to music, I always have the radio on in the house during the day. I love all kinds of music! I will listen to twangy country, rock, pop, alternative, oldies but goodies...etc. Anyways here is a few of my favs for the summer...



Love this album! The popular song off this album is called My Body..LOVE that song!

This album is okay but I love this particular song it makes you want to get up and move.

Hello! Does this song not remind you of Woodstock and patchouli.It has that late 60's early 70's folksy groove to it and that is what I kinda like about it.

Have loved Adele since her first album This album has more of a rock blues feel to it and I like it.

Jessie J rocks! She has that pop/rock/RB thing going on and I have an affinity for rocker/pop girl singers. I think that stems from seeing Pat Benatar singing Love is a Battlefield on MTV when I was young.

Whew!..we survived another 4th of July!

There it is...the end of a whirlwind month! This is the leftovers of our final firework of our firework show. Utah legalized the normally illegal fireworks this year. I am still trying to figure out how a bottle rocket is still illegal yet this monstrosity of flames is legal. I cannot begin to describe the giddiness that my husband expressed for this particular firework, his giddiness that he could freely set off his normally illegal fireworks, his giddiness for all the fireworks that shoot up in the air and make a big bang, his giddiness that he did not have to sit through the normal store bought boring fountains that all look the same after awhile...yes folks he was just plain ol' giddy this 4th of July.

So let me back up a little. I have been so busy since about the middle of May, life needs to slow down a little so I can catch my breath. I have seen my niece graduate college, spent a week house hunting/ property searching for my mom (which has been put on hold for a couple years), road trip with my sister-in-law Rachel, fathers day, birthdays, bbq's, various obligations and activities, and somehow in the middle of all that...school.

My last post I expressed my love for the apps on the smart phones. I expressed my "wanting" an iphone and sure enough I have a hubby who spoils me so I am now the proud owner of a ........

broken iphone.....
I was putting a bowl away in the cupboard and the bowl slipped out of my hands, hit me in the mouth and bounced off my mouth and landed on my new phone.....thank god for phone insurance! I now have a broken phone and a bruised lip!

4th of July weekend! Normally my sister is here for the 4th but things did not work out this year but my mom and my Aunt Jackie came down. They came down Thursday and we went and had a great dinner at a local restaurant, Sostanzas. Friday we headed down to Thanksgiving Point. It has everything from a dinosaur museum, theaters, shopping, working farm, dining and a large garden.We went to the gardens area and hung out in the children's garden and had some lunch. It is gorgeous! ....and even better, you can get a golf cart to ride around the gardens.

Saturday I had other things I needed to get done so we meet with them later in the day and headed to Ruth's Diner. It is in emigration canyon and has a great outdoor dining area tucked up against the mountain side and has live music in the evenings. Sunday we changed our plans around because of the weather and headed down to Gateway mall and went and saw Mr. Poppers Penguins and did some shopping.

Monday we did the parade and went to the park to enjoy the activities. Adrian smoked a beef brisket that was amazing! It melted in your mouth..sooo good!

Then the lighting of the fireworks commenced! Our street looked like a war zone, fireworks shooting off left and right up and down the road. The positive side to the aerial fireworks being legal now is everyone on the road can enjoy your fireworks. Then of course the city fireworks display which can be seen from our front yard...AWESOME!

Fun, fun weekend. Love sharing this town and 4th with my family. So glad my mom and aunt got to come down and spend time with us. Here is a few pictures from the day...............

mm