Boot Camp

My sister, Amy, asked if I wanted to do this free week of Boot Camp with her, her friend, and her sis in-law, Tammy, I was hesitant at first, but decided I needed to get my big tush in gear and lose this baby weight, so I went.
ME OH MY! I am sooooo out of shape! When we were first getting started I thought "Man, this isn't so bad" then about 20 minutes into it I thought I was going to die!!!! They had 4 different groups with 4 different trainers all working on different areas of the body. So it was a total body workout. I think my body is in shock, and offended that I would do this to it after NO workout for at least 1 year. There was probably only 10 minutes of the workout left and I had to quit. I felt like a quitter, yes.. but I didn't want to throw up all over their gym. Instead, I came home and threw up. Too much info? Sorry. Anyway.. thanks Amy! We'll see if I join you on Friday!

The Frontrunner

We did it.. so we could say we did it, and I don't think we'll do it again .
As everyone knows, the Frontrunner was offering free rides for a few days. We were going to go Saturday, but heard how long the lines were, and how crowded it was and opted out. Landon was really bummed (ok.. I was secretly bummed too) So we coerced Dave into taking the day off today so we could ride it to Salt Lake and hang out at the Gateway. We didn't have to wait in line at all, which was nice! However, when the train got to us, it was already packed with people. So Landon and I found a seat near the window and Dave had to stand in the front with Dawson who was being VERY fussy. We boarded in Clearfield, and I swear it took us an hour to get there with all the stops. I got a little nauseous (which isn't unusual for me) which may have made the ride seem longer. Landon LOVED it, and thought it was sooo cool to ride a real train. That's all that really mattered I guess.
We thought the gateway was going to be closer than it was, it still wasn't far, but my ankle still has issues, so it was sore and swollen by the time we got there. So we decided to make it quick. We took Landon to Build a Bear. He has been wanting to build one for so long, so we thought it would be fun to do today. Right when we walked in I saw this hideous Dinosaur on display. Right then I knew that was what he was going to pick. He's not obsessed with dinos by any means.. but I knew my child and of course, it's what he picked, even thought there were tons of cute little fluffy bears. He named him Argo. Don't ask me where he came up with that one.

The ride home was much more enjoyable, since everyone gets off at the SLC stop, there was plenty of room. We got to sit on the upper level, Landon thought that was sooo cool. We all got to sit next to each other and Dawson fell asleep and slept most the way back. Overall, it was a good time, but I don't see us doing it again anytime soon :)

Here are some pictures of our adventure.

Getting ready to board the train. Like my new stroller? I LOVE it, Landon can easily hop on or off as he pleases, he can also stand or sit.
Landon adding fluff and a heart to his new dino friend.
Us on our way home.
Landon and Argo.

Dawson is 3 months!

Today Dawson turned 3 months old. I LOVE this age! He is such a sweet little guy and I love him so much! He is not as fussy as he was earlier, he's a dang good nurser (which we struggled with Landon) He is SO good in fact that he is now too cool for a bottle. I on the other hand DO NOT find this cool at all. If I go anywhere without him I have two hours tops before he will scream for me! It is sooo frustrating, but at least he is eating, right?

He also loooves to smile at anyone who will give him attention, and he loves being held upside down (not for long, I promise!). Whenever I do this he giggles! He has the cutest giggle in the world. He also loves his swing. What would I do without it? He doesn't liked to be snuggled to sleep (which I love to do with babies) he likes to be in his swing to fall asleep, hopefully we aren't feeding into a bad habit!

My friend, Jenni, came today and was nice enough to take his pictures. She does amazing work! I will post his pictures as soon as I get them.

My New (somewhat weird?) loves!

1) Costco. I never really cared for this place, weird hours, crowded, no need for bulk. But recently we've been shopping there more. We now buy our diapers, and wipes there. We also bought our camera there.. and can I just say that I LOVE going? They have THE BEST return policy too, you can return ANYTHING, all you say is "I don't like it anymore" not questions asked, they take it back. I get so excited to go, this may be because I am stuck home all day with kids and the thought of going anywhere excites me. Landon also loves going. We like to go on Saturday, right after naptime. Landon is hilarious, he gets all his samples and lines then up in the cart next to him, maybe this is why I love going so much, Landon is so entertained by the food that he is GREAT, which doesn't happen often while shopping. Even Dawson seems to love the atmosphere.

2) Viactiv Calcium Chews. Dave thinks they are gross, I love them. To me, they taaste like a chocolate candy. My family has a history with osteoporosis and arthritis, so why not pump up the calcium intake? Especially while breastfeeding you should increase your calcium intake.

3) Fiber One bars. Yet again.. Dave does NOT like, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE! I am always trying to look for ways to increase fiber. My mom would always eat these and I thought they would be gross, but I tried one, and now I am hooked. I got a whole box at costco , the oats and chocolate flavor, and they are delish! My mom's favorite are the oats and caramel, I have yet to try those. CAUTION: do not eat more than one a day...

4) Gatorade G2. I know.. artificial sweeteners, not good for you. I have always loved Gatorade, and now they have the lower calorie one that tastes the EXACT same! SO if you like Gatorade, give it a try!

5) Landon's gummy Superman vitamins. Have you tried those kids gummy vitamins? The ones with the sugar coating? They are sooo good. Landon yells at me when he sees me eating them though :(

6) Fat Cats. has anyone been there? I don't know if it's called Fat Cats, or the junction.. or whatever.. but it is now a favorite place for our little family to go. We like to eat at Costa Vida and watch all the macho surfers bif it next door. Then we head over to the arcade where Landon goes crazy (ok, Dave and I also love the arcade) they have games for all ages. They have mini golf, and bowling. It is always clean, and the staff is very friendly. If you are looking for a fun place to take your family, this is it.

7) Aveda Sap Moss Shampoo and Conditioner. Anyone who knows me well, knows I have somewhat of an obsession with shampoo and conditioner. Growing up, I would always save my money and buy my very own bottles. I would hide them in my room when not in use so my sisters wouldn't use them. (I was greedy, but all that babysitting? come one!) Lately, I haven't liked my hair, I feel like it is dingy and lacking shine. So, my hairdresser suggested using Aveda Sap Moss. I know this stuff is WAY expensive, but I think your hair is worth it and it's something I am willing to spend money on. (Dave I think just rolls his eyes as he uses his Suave for Men) Anyway, the Sap Moss has a very strong odor, and if Landon (who has a VERY sensitive sniffer) is in the bathroom while I am using it will cry. It stinks, but the results are nice, it makes my hair SO SOFT and silky I love it. Even better, I can go up to three days without washing it, which is rare for my oily hair.

Potty Training.

Landon is now 3. We need to potty train him, and he is showing all the signs of being ready. We tried like 3 months before Dawson was born.. and the results were NOT good. He would freak out anytime I would suggest going potty. I called our pediatrician and he said to wait till a couple of months after baby.

So here we are. My question to all the potty training professionals out there is... do I go for it now? Or should I wait till after our trip to Yellowstone? Our trip is planned for May 22nd. If you have been to Yellowstone, you know that all you do is pretty much drive. Would this be hard with a newly trained kid? Should we wait until after then?? Any advice is great!

This one's for you Dave

Today is Dave's birthday. The big, dreaded 3 0. I was going to plan a big surprise shindig for him.. but breaking my ankle kinda threw the party planning out the window. Instead, I arranged for sitters for the kids and took him golfing (which he always wants to do, and I don't like) and out to dinner. We went to McGrath's fish house. I don't like Seafood.. but they have THE BEST Sesame chicken. We had a great time.. thanks to Amy and Stephanie for watching the kidlets. It's nice to be out and know they are in good hands!

So, as Dave and I were out I was thinking about how blessed I am to have him. He is mine and mine for Eternity. I thought I would list the top reasons why I love him and here they are. No particular order.

* I am always treated like a Queen...yes, this has to be NUMBER one:)
* How he always strives to do what's right, no matter what.
* Always complimenting me, even when I know I don't deserve it.
* Such a good daddy.
* Worthy priesthood holder.
* Never heard a swear word slip his mouth
* Has never yelled at me. (wish it was even stevens...)
* Can make me laugh and smile, even when I am in the worst of moods.
* His somewhat crooked smile.
* His tallness.
* How he treats his whole family- especially his mom
* How he will sit and watch a good chick flick with me.
* How smart he is about EVERYTHING.
* How athletic he is.
* His back messages.
* His love of the outdoors, and teaching me about outdoorsy stuff.
* How he'll do things most hubbies wont.. (buy tampons, curl my hair, paint my toes, etc.. sorry if this one embarrasses ya Dave)
* How he teases me out of love.
* How he can take a joke, and throw them back.
* His willingness to help anyone.
* His desire to set and have goals.
* His albino eyebrows.
* The fact that he always tries to put me and our children before himself. WE LOVE YOU DAVE! Happy birthday! You are the best Husband and Daddy anyone could ask for!
This is my favorite picture of Dave as a little tyke. Isn't he cute?

This is beautiful.

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Happy Birthday Landon!

WOW! Hard to believe I have a 3 year old! These three years have FLOWN by, and Landon is definitely growing up WAY too fast! It's sad!

I was talking to him the other day, and realized that I was having a full blown conversation with him. It was a weird realization for me, don't ask why.. but it seems just yesterday I was bringing him home from the hospital. It made me really think about how you need to cherish each stage of life they go through. Seems like too much we say " Oh, I can't wait till he's sitting, or crawling, or walking" Soon enough you blink, and they're grown up!

We're grateful Landon is a part of our family. He adds spunk, attitude and a whole lot of fun!

Right after Landon was born. Don't mind my swollen face.
Landon demolishing his cake on his first birthday.
What a big boy! He had a fun party with some of his friends and then two separate family parties. What a spoiled boy!

Gas Saving Tips

Dave sent me this email today and I found it interesting, and it had some good tips to save at the pump!

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS

I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon..

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose , CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold . Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.

A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3)stages: low,middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas t ank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space.. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some f the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will h elp you get the most value for your money.

DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!

WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON

Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor.

An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia . Just buy from gas companies that don't i mport their oil from the Saudis.

Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends.

I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.

These companies import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell........................... 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco......... 144,332,000 barrels

Exxon /Mobil............... 130,082,000 barrels

Marathon/Speedway... 117,740,000 barrels

Amoco............................62,231,000 barrels

Citgo gas is from South America, from a Dictator who hates Americans. If you do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18 BILLION! (oil is now $90 - $100 a barrel )

Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco...................0 barrels

Conoco...................0 barrels

Sinclair..................0 barrels

B P/Phillips.............0 barrels

Hess........................0 barrels

ARC0.....................0 barrels

If you go to Sunoco.com, you will get a list of the station locations near you.

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing. But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of gas buyers. It's really simple to do.

HIP HIP HOORAY!!

Well, I have been anticipating this day for 6 weeks!! I went to the doc last night.. and I can officially STOP wearing the boot cast! I threw it away right there in the doctors office! I finally feel like life can resume and get back to normal. I can start working out soon and hopefully shed some of these extra baby pounds! I can take my kids on walks, and most importantly.. I CAN DRIVE!!!!

There is only one downer.. I was looking at my ankle, and it is still very swollen, I asked the doc if this is normal. He told me to pretty much plan on it being swollen for a year, maybe longer. Crazy huh?? At least it is going to be flip flop season, and I wont have to feel sad about not wearing my cute boots huh?

So, now if anyone wants to get together, we no longer have to do it at my house! Call me! I'm dying to get out! :)