Weight Loss

So we are getting close to being able to be sealed in them temple and I am really excited we have sent our things in and are just waiting for one more letter from the respondant... if she will even write one. The other preparations on our part our going well. Except for one... After Allyse, my temple dress doesn't fit. I have just been renting one and not even bothered to try mine on.

About a week and a half ago I tried it on, it didn't fit! I felt so depressed. I hadn't really gained weight with her but I have gained weight since having her. I have wanted to do weight watchers for a while, but to be honest with a custody battle being waged, we just do not have the money. Yet I kept thinking to myself that I had to find something. I had to start something.

A little searching on the web and... I have begun the atkins diet. It is not something foreign to me as I did it as a teenager an at times in college, and it worked well for me. I have been at it for about a week and a half.  I am happy to say that I have lost a few pounds! I still don't fit in my dress yet, but I hope to by June.

For all those people who know me, I enjoy baking and cooking. This diet has been especially hard as I generally can't have most of what I bake. I miss baking, but in the end I do not think that I will miss the weight.  For all of you out there in cyber space, any tips on weight loss with a picky family, a full time job and a budget?

Long time no see... or should I say write?

I have been thinking a lot lately how I had such great intentions about keeping up with a blog, and have come to realize even though I totally sucked it up for almost a year and didn't post a thing, I could still do it. There is so much going on in our lives that I just have not had time. Between work, the kids and trying to keep up with the house repairs how does one find time? 

To recap what has happened in our lives over the last several months is no easy task but here goes nothing! I will bullet it out so it is easier for me and you the reader! Our top ten most important things this last year were: 

1. Two Vacations for the family. We went to a family reunion in Oregon and had a great time seeing family we hadn't seen in ages. And then we went to Las Vegas! 

2. Both Jason and I moved Jobs. Jason now works for century Link and I still teach 6th grade but at a new much closer school in Clinton. 

3. Jackilyn started school! She loves being in kindergarten and learning! 

4. We have continued pursuit of custody of Jackilyn, hard but worth it for her well being. 

5. Allyse passed many miles stones in crawling and then walking! 

6. Both girls celebrated a birthday with fun princess party! Jackilyn turned 6 and Allyse turned one! 

7. This year we are proud to announce we are in the final stages of having our sealing in the temple. We are waiting for the final word from Salt Lake!

8. I started crafting.... and relearned to sew.

9. We got a new "used" big gas guzzling durango. (not my idea!)

10. Jason finally got a  much needed set of glasses! 

Missing my Camera

I am sad to say that my camera was stolen at school this past year so, I am a little short on the pictures, other than the ones that I can take on my phone. Usually by now I have taken dozens upon dozens of photos documenting our lives but, alas, some 6th grade punk now has my camera! I have been in the market for a new one but every time I have set the money aside for it, something goes wrong and it is needed elsewhere. This summer, so many things have happened and I have not been able to hardly take a decent picture.  Things that I only have crappy phone pictures of!

1. Allyse has started to crawl
2. Jackilyn getting new school cloths (ready for Kindergarten)
3. Allyse's new sipper cup and her figuring it out!
4. 4th of July Fun with both girls
5. Remodeling the bathroom
6. Mother's day and Father's day

and may others. I just hope I get a new camera before school starts in the fall!

Oregon

Well since Kyle came to visit me in Utah, I had to bring him home. I was going to fly him home but my mom really wanted to see Allyse, since she doesn't get to see her very often. So I ended up driving up to Oregon to visit for a week. The first day here we relaxed, and caught up on some sleep. Then we went to the Portland Rose Parade! I hadn't been in a long time. It was fun for Allyse too! She loved the colors and the music. I only wish that Jackilyn and Jason could have come with us for the week. It is just not the same with out them. I also had the chance to take Allyse to some of my favorite places to go as I grew up. I know she won't remember but it is still fun! We went to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, the Lincoln City Beach and Mo's! I loved watching her on he beach. She was so cute when we put her feet in the sand! 

    

I gave my resignation!

I have to say I was relieved to finally hand in my resignation at work. Its not the people I work with or the hours, its the ever rising gas prices and an hour long commute with a baby at home. And the fact that every fifth grade teacher says that the kids coming up into sixth grade are the most naughtiest kids they have had in a very long time and maybe ever!  I have been honest with my boss since day one, so I didn't surprise her with it. She was even gracious enough to offer to have potential job offers closer to my home call her. I really appreciate that.

I am not sure I want to go back to work at the end of the summer, I would love to just stay at home with Allyse. As mentioned before I am surprised that I want to stay home so bad, since I always thought I would want to work, but one look at Allyse and I was forever changed!

Catching Up....

Allyse has started moving all over! She rolls and rolls and turns her little body in a full circle. She has also learned to scoot her self around! I was not ready for this yet! I will be spending the first couple of days of summer vacation baby proofing the house! Next thing you know she will be crawling!

She also LOVES and I mean LOVES her baby walker. She is fascinated with throwing her toys off and then watching you pick them back up. I think she thinks it is a game. If you don't pick up her toys right away too, she gets mad! She also gets mad when you take her out and she is not done playing. My brother Kyle came to stay with me while Jason went on a business trip to Colorado, and he says that every time he goes to take her out of it, she screams!

On the note of Kyle, I have enjoyed having Kyle here to visit. When I first found out Jason was going to Denver for two weeks I was a little nervous. I was going to have to stay at the house all by myself with just little Allyse. Normally it wouldn't bother me, but I have some neighbors that are, well lets just say they are less then desirable characters and they make me nervous. After my mom found out, She sent my little (but bigger than me physically) brother to stay with my until Jason got back.

Did I mention that she has also learned to suck her thumb! Here she is sucking her thumb while we were at the book store. I think it is funny that she matches Kyle. They are both wear flanel! I also noticed just now as I write this that my baby is going to have to heave her first hair cut soon. Her bangs are getting really long and are in her face. I have a hard time believing that she is 5 months old tomorrow. Where did the time go? I feel like it was just yesterday she was a newborn, and now she is growing, growing, growing!

With Kyle here, we have also gone on a few outings. Since Jason got home Friday night we slept in on Saturday and then had a family outing. We took Jackilyn to Hill Aerospace museum. She thought it was cool to see all of the planes. Her favorite part though was getting dressed up and getting into flight simulator that they have for kids. Even Jason had fun when he sat down and played the fight simulator game!

       

      

Allyse's Blessing!

This Sunday we had the opportunity to give out baby girl a blessing! Her daddy gave her a beautiful baby blessing. We have been waiting for the right time and finally just decided to go ahead and do it. (We were hoping my parents could have been there but it just didn't work out.) We had lots of family though that was able to be there. My grandparents came along with several of my aunts. Most of Jason's brothers and sisters also came. Over all we were very supported by our families. I am so thankful that Jason was able to give her the blessing.
This morning though was a little hectic as I got both the girls ready and Jason had to run to Nola's (my mother in-law) to take over some of the food for the luncheon. Also thanks to my mom for telling me not to put her in her dress until the last minute. Since I got up early, we had bathed her and I got her dressed only to have her poop all over her outfit! Thank goodness her dress wasn't on! We got to the church ok though and didn't have any more accidents!!