Happy Birthday Bella!

This week my niece Isabella Lovato turned 2! She is so beautiful with her blonde hair and blue eyes...she is turning into a little lady! We had a great time at Greg and Alex's house, what a party! What a spoiled little girl...check out all her presents:
Not a baby anymore!
Lauren had a blast on the bouncy house!
Jamie loved the slide on their new swingset: Doesn't he look like a little boy...that's my baby!
What goes up, must come down...he did this over and over!

Flashback Friday: Duplantis girls

I have seen this on other blogs and always loved it. I don't have many "old" pictures on the computer, so this one is courtesy of my cousin Amber. If you didn't know it, I have approximately 27 aunts and uncles and 40 cousins (that is both sides combined). I have always loved being around my family and have always especially loved going to Louisiana. This was one such trip, maybe the summer between 2nd and 3rd grade. I am so lucky to have so many cousins around my same age...I love it. Pictured in this photo are: Amber, Me, Melanie, and Nicki. We are all within a year apart, but this is one of the rare times we have all been together at the same place at the same time...Amber lives in Oregon, I live in Utah, and Melanie and Nicki live in Louisiana. Let's get together again sometime soon guys!

Diet Update: Week Five

Okay. Here is the latest update. I have heard about a program through one of my Scentsy friends, JoLynn, called "Take Shape For Life". So...I called today and ordered the system. It should be here in about a week. Matt is sceptical and he has the right to be, I have tried and failed at almost every diet I have tried. So how did I celebrate this new choice....I am doing my normal pre-diet ritual and I am pigging out. Why do I do this to myself? I don't know. But I do have hope that this will be the last diet I ever have to do and the beginning of something great. It is drastic, but I think that is what I need. My weight today: a half a pound away from what I weighed at the start of this diet thing 5 weeks ago.... Wish me and my extra 56 pounds good luck!

Changes

This past week brought a few changes to our lives. First, Jamie got his hair cut, really short! I kept bugging Matt to get it done, and when I nearly cried for it being so short he replied "That is what you get when you send me". After all the attention that Jamie got with his haircut, Lauren just HAD to have hers done too. One Stop Body Shop's owner gave her a cute bob with some layers for her straw-straight hair.

This photo was taken after Matt and I had spent hours working in the basement, sorting everything into three piles "taking to new house", "garage sale", and "garbage". A lot of stuff down there had not been moved for 5 years. It will be this weekend's project as well. It already looks a lot different down there ..what a change!
So, we now have our shingles on. At the last minute, we changed from our original shingle wich was black with red and blue accents to this browner shingle "Rustic Slate". This was one of my original wishes and was glad that I could sway Matt to give me the one I wanted...even if it cost us $100 to change it!
From the back:
From the front:

We also have some heating and air gadgets...the appearance is starting to change as we get stuff actually going IN the house now!
Some of the plumbing for the waterway, it has been neat to watch this being built:
Another change this week is that they have begun to frame the two houses to the east of us, and continue to frame the house three houses away (man they move fast!):
Our view to the west, the "Oquirrh Mountains":
We look forward to the upcoming changes.....

Funny AND not so Funny...

My Aunt Bonnie sent this to me, I thought it was funny: Tammy I hope you like it:
Something NOT so funny...is my weight..ready for update week #4. I quit. I didn't gain or lose this week. But you heard my gripes about last week...still more of the same. I am not throwing a pity party or anything..but I absolutely HATE the way I look. I love everything about my life, my husband, my kids, my family, my job, my new house, but I hate my body. I hate being short, I hate having three chins, and five bellies. It is my fault..yeah yeah I know...and Leo, I know you are going to be mad at me for saying all of this, but it is the truth. My weight is posing a serious health threat to me and I just don't think I will ever change. I diet: I am miserable. I am fat: I am miserable. I feel like "Fat Bastard" from Austin Powers who says "I eat because I am sad and I am sad because I eat" or something like that. I feel like a prisoner in my own body, my clothes are all too small and I refuse to buy bigger clothes. I don't know how to change these facts for me:
1) I HATE to excercise
2) Healthy food tastes like crap
3) I love candy, sweets, sugar..it all makes me happy
4) I just plain enjoy eating..who doesn't?

I want to feel good about myself and I want to be healthy so I can be around for my kids. Any ideas? Please help before I need the use of a wheelchair to help get around.

Fully Framed

Well..after a mere two weeks, the framing in the house is complete. These framers were amazing and we think they did a GREAT job! We can't wait to see what is next!
Lauren's room, above the kitchen:
Our house from the back, you can also see the four other houses that are in various stages in our circle:

The front, I love the columns on the porch:
The front door, from the inside:
The stairs, going up, above the stairs going down:
We love the windows in the "Great Room":

A view from the loft, you can see where they are starting to make the waterway:
The loft windows, and in the background, good old Discover Card (in West Valley):
The garage steps, and for now, you can see into the office and the front door:
The waterway bordering our property, can't wait to see it going!:

Diet Update: Week Three

I am sad to report that I have gained back 3 of the 4 pounds that I lost. This seems to be the story of my dieting efforts lately (I am sure all the Labor Day cake didn't help). I am very discouraged and starting to believe the mantra of my TV hero Gregory House in that "people don't change". I know that it is my fault that I am fat...eating too much, eating the wrong stuff, and not excercising enough. I always get bitter when I see other people who are naturally skinny and they have habits just like me. I flash back to when I was dancing on the University of Utah's dance team and my coach wouldn't let me perform because I was too fat. I remember going to Wendy's with the whole team and they are eating burgers and fries and I am miserably eating a salad. I wish that I could be 140 pounds again like I was back then, but even then I was "too fat". I know that I made the mountain, I just don't know how to climb it. What is a fat girl to do?

The Roof is on Fire!

Okay, it isn't on fire, but it is up. It is starting to feel like a house now and you can even see the house from inside Discover Card. Cool huh?
A view from the front:
A view from the back:

And from the inside:
From the "Great Room":
We also have the wrap-around porch:
The kids always love to visit:

Happy Labor Day!

We were very lucky to spend the holiday with Matt's family. We had a lovely BBQ and a cake making contest...I don't think I will be able to have any sugar for at least a week because of it. Thanks to Matt's dad Leo and his wife Tina for going out of their way to make it a wonderful day for all of us! I always love the opportunity to hang out with family.

My handsome boys! Matt and Jamie:
Jamie just loved eating Otter Pops, sitting on the steps and kicking his legs, he is becoming a little boy and he is so fun to watch lately (if you can stand his constant whining!):
Lauren loves her "Papa Leo"
Lauren, and my niece Isabella on the bouncy house Leo and Tina got for us:
Lauren, Grandma T, and Me (it was FREEZING outside, even though it was sunny):

Matt's sister Kristen and her husband David, (I think David ate more Otter Pops than all the kids...notice there is evidence in his right hand)...and note one of the aforementioned cakes:
Matt's brother Greg, his wife Alex and their daughter Isabella. Alex is expecting their second child in March and we all are sooo excited:
The lovely hosts, Leo and Tina:
My family...Matt, Lauren, Jamie and Me. What a great day!

Happy Birthday Dad!

On Sunday we got to celebrate my dad's birthday! We got to eat together at Sizzler followed by cake and ice-cream. I am very lucky to have such a great father who has always been supportive, fun, and loving! Happy Birthday Dad! I love any chance to hang out with my family. Note my two cute little sisters Ashley and Sarah who are both currently single!

PS. Gustav made landfall on Monday! Luckily it ended up as a catagory 2...none of my family was harmed, although they are currently without power. Sheesh. Thank goodness!