Another Week of Fun

My blog titles aren't very exciting but we've just been doing so many fun things this summer that I have to cram them all in a weekly post!  We usually aren't this active  :0)

We had our monthly date night last Thursday and thought it would be fun to invite some friends along.  It's been so long since we've done the classic dinner and a movie that we thought we'd give it a whirl again!

 We saw Super 8.  Anabel and I liked it and as my BIL/SIL said, it definitely was a mix between ET and The Goonies.  We were entertained.  The guys, not so much!

 Again to Lagoon!  We love this place.  The kids NEVER get sick of it.

On Friday, we headed to the Annual 24th of July party at the Clarks.  Since our anniversary usually falls on the same day as the party, we usually don't make it but this year it worked out!  Lots of family, food, fun and fireworks.  This is the only picture I took.

On Sunday we had a cul-de-sac bbq.  Its been way too long since we've all gotten together!  Again, lots of fun hanging out together.  The guys went all out and bought a ton of fireworks.  The favorites were the big, professional looking ones that used to be illegal.

The dogs always love our parties.  They had so much fun running around together, all 7 of them, trying to eat whatever human food they could get their paws on.

On Monday, the Newell's invited us to the 24th of July parade.  We watch it on TV every year but have never made it in person.  It was actually a ton of fun.  The weather was perfectly overcast and the floats were awesome.  We've decided to make this a tradition and go every year now.

We got to the parade at 8:45am, found great seats and enjoyed looking at all the floats dedicated to the Utah Pioneers.

We were at the end of the parade so it took a while for the first float to get to us but the kids found ways to entertain themselves.

Always a mother!  :0)

 Like father, like son.

 Finally the parade starts.

 We didn't know Ariel would be there!  That was definitely a treat for the girls.

 My Aunt Susan was asked a year ago to be in charge of designing a float for 2011 and although she said it was one of the most stressful things she's ever done, I think it turned out AMAZING!  I love all the detail and all the perfect, tiny little houses.  So cute and classy looking.  Way to go Susan.  I love the way it turned out.  It's old school Salt Lake City and I love it.

I wish I could have gotten closer so you could see ALL of the detail.  It was incredible.

 Go Utes!

I just love July.  So many parades, parties and fireworks.  So sad it's almost over.

Jake's brothers family is visiting from out of town so that's been fun for all the cousins.  After spending FHE together on Monday night, the kids all dispersed to different houses for sleep overs!  Lydia, Elle, Lizzy and Esther slept over at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Lydia was so excited.

They said the girls were having the time of their lives.  I'm so happy that they all get along so well and can have so much fun together.  I loved sleep overs growing up...but who doesn't, right?!

On Tuesday we met up with the fam again for some Kangaroo Zoo fun.

 Elle, Lydia and Esther had so much fun running around together.

I'm so sad summer is almost over and back to early sunsets, early bedtimes and school!!!  I just hope the last part of our summer continues to be this much fun!!!

Nine Years!!!

For our anniversary, Jake surprised me with a fun evening out.  He started by taking me to an italian restaurant we've always wanted to try.  Cafe Fresco.  Very good.  I LOVED the ambiance; all of the vines everywhere were gorgeous.

Since it was our anniversary, we ordered two desserts and they surprised us with this plate.  Although small in quantity, the desserts were delicious in taste!

Then we headed to the next surprise, a one night stay at The Grand America Hotel.  I can understand why it's a five star hotel; it was beautiful.  I only had my long lens so I couldn't get the whole room in the picture.  This was the cheapest room they had and it was huge.  The marble floors were gorgeous, the chandeliers were beautiful and the Courtyard was perfect!

The view from our hotel room.

We took a few pictures in the courtyard with the timer.

It was a wonderful anniversary.  Jake and I had so much fun together.  I'm so glad to be married to such a wonderful man who takes such good care of me!  I love you honey!  Thanks for a memorable nine year anniversary!

Oh, and I forgot to mention:  a HUGE thank you to all of my friends who fed my kids dinner, took them to Lagoon then fireworks after at their house!  You guys are the best!  And thanks Duck and Bird for taking them overnight!  You are all amazing!

Cholesterol Test Results

After 20 years of having high cholesterol, you are now officially looking at a woman who's cholesterol number doesn't have a big H next to it (High).  

After reading a very eye opening book called The China Study, I finally took matters into my own hands and did something about my cholesterol.  I have struggled with high cholesterol my whole life, never knowing how to lower it, figuring that I was cursed with bad genes, knowing that one day I would be on medication for this disease!  Wrong!  I was so ignorant but after putting some knowledge in my brain, I realized I was wrong and I could do something about it.

My plan was to be a vegan for six months, then compare my new cholesterol results with my old ones from 2009.  I lasted as a full fledged vegan for four months which was super easy, then I lost steam after our Disneyland trip and became vegan-ish for the last two months (eating vegan during the week but splurging a bit on the weekends with the more unhealthy choices such as cheese, butter, etc)!

On my quest I found some really awesome vegan recipes.  I especially loved my Vegan Pumpkin Muffins (no eggs or butter).  So delicious.

My Results:
2009 Overall Cholesterol: 223H
2011 Overall Cholesterol: 183
40 points.  Are you kidding me?!!!  So awesome.  You have no idea how long and how hard I've tried to lower my cholesterol.  Who would have thought veganism was the answer!

Below 200 is normal and that was my goal in this 6 month trial. YAY!!!!  But my longterm goal is to get to 150 or lower since I am at such a high risk of heart disease (family history, those darn genes).  But I know I can do it!

2009 LDL: 146H
2011 LDL: 112H
I still need to work on this one.  This number is a major risk factor in heart disease.  Below 100 is normal and I've read that it can lower up to 40% after a year of diet and exercise.  Well, it's already lowered 34 points so I have high hopes that it will lower at least 22 points by next year (my goal is below 90).

I'm fighting for myself and I'm fighting for my family!  I want to be around for the next 60 years.  I want to see my children get married.  I want to travel the world with my husband.  My risk of heart attack or stroke were getting higher every year and I'm so thankful that my eyes were opened and I've made this change while I still have the chance for a healthier life!  I love those three so much and I'm so thankful for this chance I've had to change my habits so I can teach them to my children.

It's so ironic to me that heart disease is killing so many people, yet there is prevention and a cure: healthy eating and exercise.  The China Study was such an eye opener to me and I'm so grateful to have read it and realized that I don't need to take a pill to be healthy.  I've read that a lot of cholesterol pills have been taken off of the market due to too many toxic side effects to the body!  Oh, well that sounds like something I want to sign up for!  Not!

I am my own personal study on living a healthier lifestyle by eating a mostly plant based diet and it worked.  I have seen the results and I am a success story. I am living proof that it works. I have lived with this disease for 20 years and guess what?  I kicked its A.  After all of these years of feeling defeated, I finally took action and it worked.  I still have a ways to go, but it's a GREAT start!

Heart disease is the number one killer in the US and I have experienced the cure.  We can all have it if we so desire.  It just takes dedication and hard work; just like any other thing in this world that's worth obtaining.

Nate is 13 Months and Girls' Trip 2011

Nate is such a joy in our lives.  I seriously can't say it enough.  He is just so happy and so fearless!  He's very outgoing and loves playing with everyone...even people he doesn't know!  Basically, he's the complete opposite of Lydia!  And I love that!  I love how opposite their personalities are, yet I love both of them so much.

Nate became a full blown walker on June 28th at 12 1/2 months old.  He loves it and thinks it's so cool that he can get around on his feet.

He got his first haircut on Wed, July 13th.  It was so fine and thin but was SO long that I just had to finally cave and have Heather cut it.  My camera flash wasn't working for some reason but here's the before.

And the after.  You can't really tell in the pics but his hair was so fuzzy in the back and long in the front...now that's gone.  His strawberry blonde hair from when he was born....gone.  Now he is about as toe head as you can imagine.  It makes me sad, but I did want a little blonde boy; I just have to keep reminding myself!

He says three things:  Mama, Dada and Baba (bottle).  He's a man of little words but makes up for it with how active he is.  He climbs (or at least tries to) on everything and really keeps me on my toes!

He has the funnest personality and loves everyone.

He still takes two naps a day; still has eight teeth and is finally sleeping through the night.  There have been no further signs of ear infections so I know that has helped his sleeping habits a ton.  But I'm sure more teeth and more sicknesses will change all of that!  We love you buddy!  Happy 13 months.

Girls' Trip 2011

Due to scheduling conflicts, our girls' trip this year was limited to one night in Park City!  I think we had twice the fun since we knew we only had 24 hours to make fun memories!  We stayed at the Westgate Hotel and had a fun view up high.  This was our fourth consecutive year going somewhere fun together; I just love this new tradition we've started.

Duck and I were the first ones there so of course, when left alone and bored, out comes the camera, crazy poses and lots of laughing!  Don't judge!

Normal.

Smouldering.

I have no idea.

Hit it!

We then met up with the other ladies and our MIL Sue, for a delish mexican dinner.

Then we met up with the last arriving SIL Sarah and our adorable niece Abigail.  She's 14 and definitely old enough to now join in our fun, SIL trips.  We played games until 1am and talked until 2.  So fun.

We slept in til 9:45 (oh yeah), ate out at a yummy breakfast then hit the outlets.  I think I got the best bargains EVER!  They had a wheel at ON, I spun and got the best discount on the wheel. What a fun afternoon and of course an amazing night with the best SIL's a gal could ask for.  Thanks ladies for the fun memories!