Motivation...in its smallest form

Motivation-need it, want it, don't have it (some days). Losing weight/getting into a healthier stage of life is no easy thing! I think the last year or so I've been in denial in some way....thinking my body would just put itself to rights again-pregnancy and just life in general really took a toll on my body. I'm lumpy in places I wasn't before, I'm the heaviest I've ever been (besides the last trimester of my pregnancy), and I can't find clothes to fit the way I want. This isn't going to be a big post complaining, so hang in with me. I've come to realize two facts: 1) This is totally something I can change! I'm not forced to stay this way, I can change it easier than I think 2) I need to do this now, so I'm a better influence and example to my kids. They are my "motivation in its smallest form."

I am much better at getting outside and going for a bike ride or a walk, than I am doing an exercise video. The gym? Ha-even if one was close I wouldn't go. However, on rainy days it just makes it impossible to load up two kids in the bike trailer and cruise around town on my bike (plus, due to some goatheads, I have flat tires...grrrrrr). Reluctantly I pull out the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD I have. I always hate starting a workout, but never regret it when I'm done. I can't even use the excuse that my kids won't let me exercise...they happily play with their toys. On this particular day, McKenzie was intrigued with the movements she saw on the screen. As she watched the arms crossing back and forth, she started to imitate the movement! This happened progressively during the 20-min work out...she would study the moves and try to imitate it (mostly just arm movements). I realized then that I'm setting a good example for my children now, with them so young. If I change my eating/exercise habits now, it will be better for them and for me. They'll grow up having good habits from the start...how can I afford NOT to make the changes now?! No waiting until later...the time is now!

I'm not focused so much on losing weight number-wise, I'm focused more on being in a place that is more suitable for my lifestyle, where I'm more comfortable with my appearance, and I'm healthier. I know of a few people right now that use, in my opinion, drastic ways to lose weight in as little of time possible. I don't want that: to lose pounds instantly only to put it back on once the "diet" is over. I want to change my lifestyle: be more aware of my food intake, bump up the exercise regiment, and instill good habits in myself and my family. So many of you have been an inspiration to me through your own stories and motivating words. Thank you, and good luck to us all!

Monday Quicky

This will be a quick post as I have limited time. We're at my parents house and my kids are sleeping so I thought I would add a post. Life has settled down quickly in our house and it feels so natural to be there! It gives me reassurance that this was the right thing for us at the right time, and I'm so grateful we listened to the promptings and feelings we had. That leads me into the first in a series of house-buying posts as requested from Chandee. :)

Always, always, ALWAYS trust the Lord in what you do. We've done a lot of praying within the last year or so about where to live, what to do, etc. Our realtor showed us this house on a day we were looking at another joke-of-a-house. As we pulled up to it, my heart started pounding and I just knew this was our house. We did the walk-through and it just felt like home. Looking back, I realize we never did really sit down and pray about whether or not this was what we needed to do. It felt right from the beginning and as we moved forward the peace grew. We gave it a lot of thought and weighed out pros and cons, etc. I may have said desperate pleas that it would work out, but I know Heavenly Father was guiding us the entire time. When things got tough I worried it wouldn't work out, but something would happen to give me reassurance. Every time I started to doubt our decision to buy a house the feeling of peace would come over me and all doubts would vanish. The completion on the extension of the house got pushed back numerous times and the closing date got pushed back, but I realize now it was exactly how it was supposed to happen. So whether you're buying a house, deciding where to go to school, or any other decision in your life, trust in the Lord that He is aware of you, and will guide you. It may seem like a whirlwind of chaos and it doesn't make sense, but it will and you will forever be grateful that life worked out the way it did. Stay true to what you know and what you know in your heart is right. :)

Goodbye...for now!

Drum roll please........WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! Today at 11:00 we signed a HUGE stack of papers, were handed a key, and were told congratulations. We walked out of the title office in awe that we actually had a house.

Pretty snazzy huh? The wall/window by the door used to be a porch, but the owner extended the living room into that area to make it bigger. It made a huge difference!

Tomorrow is the big moving day and boy are we ready! It's been a long time coming, and we feel so blessed to have a beautiful home to be moving into!! A friend of mine (who has an amazing blog by the way, check it out! notsosloth.blogspot.com) suggested I blog about our experiences/lessons learned in the house buying process and entering the "real world" after living as students for three years. Here's your first lesson in the real world: a house doesn't come with landlord-paid internet, hence the reason it's goodbye for now! (I realize not all apartments/rentals have internet, but the majority of the ones we lived in did). Until we get settled and get a budget set we won't be getting internet. I'm hoping it's not too long till we do, because the majority of our bills are paid online. Until that blessed day arrives, I'll be making a trek to my in-laws house or the library to use their internet. So the blog will probably be put on the back burner. I LOVE the idea of blogging about our experience, and maybe some of you out there have more experience in the area than I do and can give tips on making it easier. I feel like I've aged about ten years just with all we've gone through in this process. My plan is to "blog" the experience in different segments, written out in Word, then post them as I get a chance.

So until next time, thanks for reading and THANK YOU for leaving comments!

Change...it's a good thing!

For months I have felt in a 'rut.' Since Andrew graduated last April, we've been living with his family. As an intern, he wasn't making enough that we felt comfortable moving into a place of our own. Had we been on our own and I could have worked, we would have been fine. Now that two kids have entered our lives there are four of us to look after instead of just two. We made the decision long before having children that I would stay home with them. Hence the reason we are still living with my in-laws. The internship was technically over in September, so we figured a few months at his parents, he would get a new job, and we'd be out on our own!

9 months later....we're still here. I love my in-laws as much as I love my own family. They have been so generous and willing to let us live here until we were able to move. As difficult as it has been at times, I've been grateful for a safe place to live with my family. If they hadn't been here, we probably would have only been able to afford a "less than desirable" place. We no longer have the luxury of needing the occasional student loan until the next semester's grants/scholarships kicked in. What we get every two weeks is it until the next paycheck. Let me tell you, it's a scary thing living paycheck to paycheck, especially with two young children who require so much.

Enter change #1: Andrew's boss and the higher bosses have been working on a new position for Andrew! It is a Management Trainee program where he'll be doing a lot of research with new potato varities and many other duties I can't describe. This program will lead him into a management position and give him the skills he needs to go wherever he wants within the company. He applied for it last wednesday and by the end of this week or next he'll be starting! With this new position comes a new salary, much higher than what he is making now. Which leads us to....

Change #2: WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! We started looking at houses last August, figuring the process would take time, and it would take awhile to find what we wanted. The house we found has been a long time coming...waiting for an extension to be built on to the house, carpet/vinyl changed throughout the house, and TONS of paperwork. The whole process is proof Heavenly Father watches out for us. The closing date has been pushed back a couple of times, and we are closing this friday, right around the time Andrew's new job will be starting! It's a 1400 sq ft, 4 bed 2 bath home in a nice, quiet subdivision in Homedale. We were able to stay in the ward we attend now, which is a huge blessing in itself!

Needless to say, I feel we're getting out of the "rut" and finally starting the life we've been working so hard towards the last three years.

P.S. I promise this won't be long, boring posts every time. I'll start adding pictures in the next posts. :)

Motherhood

Since deciding to change the blog up a bit, every day I think of so many different things I want to write about. The moment I get on the computer, all my thoughts go kaput! Maybe one day I'll get the hang of it and actually remember. :)

Braydon and McKenzie are almost a year old, and boy has it been one of the most challenging, rewarding, fulfilling years of my life. We were in our own apartment for only two weeks after they were born before we moved to my in-laws house, and have been here the last 10 months. There have been moments of difficulty for me to raise my children in a household that wasn't my own. Too many times in my life I have been swayed by others' opinions and advice. It has always been well-intended and helpful, but I often lost myself in focusing on their view on what I should be doing. This "issue" I have of doing so has put a strain on my self-confidence as a mother. I feel I haven't been the mother I could/should have been, because I was too willing to change my thinking to match what "experienced" mothers told me. I am learning about myself and realizing I have opinions and determination to raise my children the way I believe is right.

Raising twins is such a unique challenge, one that you really can't understand until you have twins of your own. Strangers in the store will tell me they know what I'm going through: they had two kids a year apart, etc. No, you DON'T know what I'm going through. Because it's not something I'm "going through," sounding like I'm in a rough spot of my life waiting for it to get better. I am enjoying life with two beautiful, precious children and an amazing, caring, honest man by my side. I have my "hands full" of love and joy, not full of trouble as people tend to associate with twins. I have the opportunity to spend each day with two very distinct personalities, and learning to adapt to each one. I'm learning that routines are necessary to stay sane, even when I receive criticism for maintaing those routines. I'm learning to be strong and stay true to what I know.

To all you moms out there, whether you have one, two, three, five, however many kids, WAY TO GO! What you're doing is one of the hardest things you'll ever do, yet one of the most rewarding! Don't ever let anything make you doubt your ability to be a mother. Your child is your child, who knows them better than you? It's okay to ask for help and advice, to learn from the best of them. My mother and mother-in-law have been great mentors to me, but I've also learned to stand on my own two feet. I know what my children need and how they work, so I'll be darned if I let anyone tell me otherwise! To every mother out there, to every sister, aunt, cousin, grandma, any one associated in any way of raising a child, listen to your child, and your heart, and do what you have to do. I believe in you.

Blog Makeover

When I started this blog, I wanted it to be a place to document my life, whether mundane or exciting, whatever the case may be. In this way family could be involved in our lives and I could share photos, news, etc. I have failed to do as much as I anticipated. Life gets busy and much greater, more important priorities take up my time. I have two beautiful, very active 10 month olds that require attention, and I'm delighted to spend so much time with them. I have found, however, my self confidence, interests, and "me" time has gotten lost. My priorities have naturally and rightfully shifted, but I've lost the priority of myself. Hence the reason for this blog change.
    I intend to make this blog a place I can share my thoughts of life in general, difficulties I face, or joys I experience. I fully intend to include my family: what would I be without them?! I thrive on human interaction and I love to be in the midst of crowds and meeting new people. This blog will help me to have "adult" conversation and keep my mind active. I have seen a few blogs that are such inspiration to me and I want to attempt to do the same. I want to write at least once a week: if not more. I hope you enjoy this journey with me and please leave me comments!

*A new header/title is on its way....still working on it!

I'm still here...are you?

You know, I aspire to be a great blogger. I dream up amazing blog posts in my head that never quite make it onto the actual blog. However, I'm aspiring to be a great mommy and I'll be darned if that takes up the majority of my time. :)

Long story short, Braydon and Mckenzie are hilarious. Braydon squeals like a monkey and roars like a dinosaur. He breaks into fits of laughter when he's being tickled or when his uncle Jeremy is around. McKenzie has discovered when she makes faces people laugh. She kept the ladies in Relief Society entertained by making faces at them. Both are trying to crawl, McKenzie still rolling away and eating everything in sight. We're looking forward to Christmas as a family!

We made an offer on a house in Homedale, and we're playing the waiting game right now. Waiting for work to be done on the house and an appraisal to be done before everything can close. It's 4 bedrooms, 2 bath, and we're stoked it's still in our ward! It's a nice starter home and we're anxious to get everything done so we can move in. We'll also have room for visitors, so we can be social again, and my family can come visit! I sure miss them, and am excited for them to visit us in our neck of the woods. Andrew is still chugging away at work, and has a new position starting in January. It's been a long time coming, and it's going to come about at a perfect time! I'm so proud of all he's accomplished and everything he's acquired up to this point. He has been so patient and worked so hard. He is starting to go places and I'm grateful me and the kids get to be a part of the journey with him!