Health Challenge

Several weeks ago I was talking to a friend about my issues with food.  They are many.  I seem to be always either eating to my hearts content, or starving myself until my jeans fit right again.  It's a vicious cycle.  With all the crazy of moving I got into some VERY bad eating habits.  I wasn't too worried about it because even though I had been eating horribly I had actually lost weight because I was so busy and working hard for an insane amount of time everyday.  But then the working stopped but the habits I had formed didn't.  I just couldn't seem to get back in control.  All I wanted to do was eat cookies and ice cream.  All. The. Time. 

So while I vented to her she mentioned a health challenge that she had seen on a blog that she wanted to do.  Basically you get a bunch of people to put money in a pot, earn points by having healthy habits and losing weight.  We decided to do it, thinking we would maybe get 5-6 friends to do it with us.  Well, after a message on facebook she got 21 women in our ward to sign up.  This is good for 2 reasons.  1. There are a lot of us working toward being healthier and taking care of ourselves.  2.  There is a lot of money to be won!

So now it seems the greater portion of our relief society is drinking more water, exercising, eating more fruits and veggies, and cutting out sugar.  All trying to earn points and win a healthy body and some cash.  We're only a week in to a 7 week challenge, but I'm motivated.  I had some habits to break anyways and if I can get some money out of it too....then I'm in!  Game on :)

Ainsley's First Recital

Ainsley had her first piano recital last week.  She takes a group lesson and so for the last few months they have been practicing playing as a group.  For the recital each class played 4 songs together.  They each played a line of an ensemble and so while their parts were quite simple, the songs sounded great when they all played together.  They had to be aware of what everyone else in the group was doing and that their counting was right, which I think is a great skill for kids to have.  Ainsley of course played beautifully!

I'm not sure what this look on her face was about but I'm glad we caught it on film :)

Owen and Emmie were not very impressed with the recital and entertained themselves with a bit of picture taking. We go several beauties.....like these....

Doesn't John have nice ears? :)

Owen's new sport

Owen constantly has a long list of things he wants to sign up to learn.  Karate, football, soccer....You name it, and there's like a 95% chance Owen wants to do it.  Unfortunately his parents don't have unlimited time and money, so his sporting ventures are limited.  But this year we signed him up for flag football with one of his friends. He has really liked it.  And we have liked that it is only one day a week for 4 weeks.  I think he's learned a decent amount and he's even a decent quarterback....receiver, not so much.  Maybe I'll break down and sign him up for an actual league in the fall, when it's a little warmer and we want to spend a little more time outside!

Birthday's

Among all the chaos of our move this year John and I celebrated the day's of our birth.  My birthday was right before our move and we were living in boxes...literally. John took me out that weekend for dinner and some shopping.  And it was a nice enough day on my actual birthday so we got out of the house and went for a walk along the Eagle river and then went to my mom's for cake. 

I took John to lunch at Cheesecake Factory for his birthday since I knew the bulk of the evening would be filled with a 3rd grade music program.  After Ainsley's music performance we came home and had birthday milkshakes.  Because I guess that's the new thing to do.

And then Sunday we had people over for cake and ice cream and  John got to open his presents.  Poor John is still waiting for his gift from me.  I bought him a cheap desk and I'm in the process of refinishing it.  It's taking forever....he's sure to get it one day!

Ainsley's Music Performance

Ainsley was quite the star at the 3rd grade music program this year.  The program was on John's birthday.  I thought it was  little weird that they held it on his birthday and yet didn't dedicate the performance to him, but whatever.  Ains got to have a singing solo and played the piano during one of the songs.  Way to go Ains!

More Easter

Easter this year was full of egg dying, egg hunting, candy eating, and also a little garage sale shopping.  It was great.  Friday night we dyed our eggs so that we would be ready for the Easter Bunny the next morning.  The Easter Bunny brought our baskets on Saturday morning this year.  It worked well and we were glad he was so accommodating. We put on a little Easter egg hunt for the kids at my parents because I hate going to the big ones.  It was perfect.  When we pulled up to their house their neighbors were having a garage sale, so we did a little shopping.  We walked away with 6 strands of Christmas lights, 2 tennis rackets, a sprinkler, a magnifying glass, a bat, 3 tiki torches and 2 bottles of tiki oil for $10.  Not bad for a little Easter shopping.  After the egg hunt we went to a baptism that afternoon for Owen's good friend Jaren.  I took Ains and Owen and then the whole family got to go to a dinner his family had.  It was a fun and busy Easter Saturday. 
Easter Sunday Owen gave a primary talk and did a great job.  He is quickly becoming a fabulous reader.  I was naughty and skipped a bit of primary.  And the we had my parents and Rachelle and Michael over for Easter dinner.  We were all able to fit in my kitchen!  It was magical!  And now for your enjoyment....a ton of pictures :)

Ainsley's (nearly non-existant) Easter Photo Shoot

Ains had a rough morning (as she often does now) and tried to smile while holding back the tears and grumpiness still present from the meltdown she had had moments before.  Life with Ains is proving to be difficult lately...I wasn't expecting the crankiness and emotional-ness to start so soon!

Owen's Photo Shoot

Emmie's Eastser Photo Shoot