arctic tundra

this month has given us such frigid temperatures...
i'm positive i've never experienced so many single digit degree days in my life.
yesterday we experienced freezing rain and mitch lived to tell me about his nightmare of a commute.
he's currently in training and drives out past the airport everyday.
his typical commute averages an hour.
yesterday.... 3 hours!!
he saw one too many accidents happen and the aftermath of many many more.

my drive to work was not nearly as treacherous
but the ice covered roads did make me nervous.
pulling into work and having the jeep slip and slide all over....
i'm ready for a thaw. or even a nice layer of fresh snow.

snow and a sad mister

mother nature gave us a beautiful blanket of snow this weekend.
it was a pleasant surprise.... but it's really really really cold

mitch came home early from training in slc friday
gratefully i was able to leave work and go with him to the doctor
my poor mister was absolutely miserable
turns out he is fighting kidney stones.
a few prescriptions later and two shots in the bum (pain killer and muscle relaxant) we were on our way home.
i'm so grateful for wonderful staff at work and being able to take the time to be with mitch.
i haven't ever seen my sweetheart in such horrible pain.

saturday i worked all day.
mitch was such a trooper and endured a day by himself
i was happy to get a text around 4 letting me know he passed his stone.
there was a cup waiting for me once i got home..... with his stone waiting to be oohed and awed at.
(good thing that is right up my alley)

today he still was feeling miserable.
i kissed him good bye and headed to church.
it was the primary program today.
i'm very lucky to have my class
they are such fabulous kids.
i was able to head home to take care of my mister during 3rd hour

i don't envy my sweetheart
i can't even imagine the pain he has been going through.
mitch has a very high pain tolerance too....
he woke me up from my nap today to let me know he passed another stone.
my poor sweetheart

the last few days i'm incredibly grateful for wonderful family, friends and neighbors
as well as medication to help with the pain and antibiotics.

starting Monday off right

I was never one for exercise growing up.
I ate what I wanted when I wanted
Drank way too much soda
I was small and I loved it.

When I got married I was a size 2.
I loved it :)
I felt confidant and was incredibly happy with my body.

Over the past two years I had gained weight.
This winter was a low point for me.
With finding out I'm Hypothyroid and had mono on top...
I was constantly exhausted. {I'm not even exaggerating.}
I never wanted to do anything but sleep or lay down.
And along with the horrid fatigue I was experiencing....
the scale began to climb....
I had enough in January.
135 was too heavy for my personal preference.
I didn't feel good about myself
and I wanted to make a change.

Mitch and I joined Gold's gym
My goal was to make it there 3 times a week.
2 months later I'm pleased too say that I've kept that goal and have made it 4-6 times most weeks.

There are two things that are making a wonderful difference in my life and the way I view myself.
Yoga and Pilates.
It's seriously one of the best parts of my week.
Monday and Friday mornings I've been going to yoga.
It has been the perfect way to start and finish the week.
Monday and Wednesday night I attend Pilates.
I've seen a difference in my body and strength.

I've discovered that working out not only boosts my self image...
but also my energy and mood.
I never thought I'd be someone to fall in love with exercising....
It has become something I love and need.

This morning I got up and headed to yoga just after 8.
It was a beautiful morning.
Mother nature decided to wait until March to grace us with snow....
I enjoyed the beauty of it as I drove to the gym.
Happiness flooded through me.

Yoga was absolutely perfect.
My body needed it as always.
I left energized and eager to start my week.
{Monday's are a million times better after yoga}
Grabbing breakfast burritos for Mitch and I
Looking at my snow covered flowerbed....
Changing and hurrying to get to work on time...



Hello Monday.... Thanks for the fabulous day!

An unexpected winter day

March arrives yesterday and winter decided to join in...
We've barely received any snow this year.
So Mitch and I were surprised to see 4-5 inches of snow outside this morning.

Its my day off
I had big plans for today...
Yoga, jogging, cleaning, getting ready for our double date with Abby and her boyfriend tonight...
maybe a little work
But the snow changed my plans.
Mitch's car doesn't like the snow...
And driving him to work in the Jeep wasn't going to fly.
{it's amazing how simple arguments can fluster both of us so much}
Grabbing my yoga mat out of the Jeep and doing some deep breathing
I calmed down and let Mitch take the Jeep.
A good thing too since the roads are horrible {for once this winter}

It's days like today that I could let the change of plans upset me
and it almost did...
But instead I figured I'd embrace the day 'stuck' at home
Enjoy a quiet morning in bed,
catch up on pictures, blogging and reading my blog roll...
snuggle with the boys,
snap a few pictures of the snow cover yard
breath,
maybe bake something,
roll out my yoga mat,
tidy the house,
and enjoy my day at home.

My snow angels

I'm still wishing for snow....
In hopes that mother nature might hears my wish and grant us a white Christmas
I can't resist sharing cute snow picture of my boys from last year.
Cezar's little tongue is too cute and his snow covered nose...
I just wanna smooch him.

Both Jake and Cezar love playing in the snow
Hoping we will have many snow filled play dates.

Christmas wish...

{Christmas 2010 @ my parents}

Can I just say how much I love good days? Yesterday evening I was alert and chipper and today I've felt great and alert. It's a nice change of pace for sure. Feeling exhausted all the time and far below par isn't my favorite. I pray this energy and mental alertness sticks around through the holidays!!

I held my breath this morning when I saw beautiful snow flakes quietly falling, that it would stick around and maybe even coat the ground. It didn't work. The sun made its way out and is gracing us with a gorgeous *cold* sunny day. Mitch and I are wishing hard for a white Christmas. It's Utah... we are supposed to have lots of snow for Christmas. 

We've just about wrapped up Christmas shopping... last on the list - the boys. I'm totally the girl who needs to make sure there is something special under the tree for my fur babies. Mitch finally gave into me {HA} Christmas is supposed to be special for everyone including the boys :) 

A sprinkle of white

We woke up to our first snow of the season.

It wasn't much to speak of...

But the boys loved romping around in it before I made my way to work.

I love watching them run around and roll in the snow :)

All in {one} day

Here in Utah... Wait a few hours to decide if you like the weather

Morning vs. Evening

{merry Christmas}

Woke up to fluffy white stuff this morning

Hello Snow

Waking up this morning, feeling incredibly dizzy with a horrible headache, Jake piping up...
I finally roll out of bed to let the boys out....

UM... hello snow....
I wasn't expecting you. I'm bitter that you've showed yourself again.
Yet its hard to be mad at you when you are falling so beautifully....
Maybe I'll snap a few photos of you as I make my way to work this morning...





{Pictures taken from a previous snow fall}

Dreaming of white

Don't get me wrong, I'm SUPER excited for Spring!!! But lets be honest, its January!! This month is supposed to be filled with snow!! The above pictures are of the last snow we got in PG. Um HELLO weather - I wouldn't mind getting some more! It drives me crazy when the weather people keep telling us that we are supposed to be getting more snow and as I sit here at my desk and look out my window.... I see BEAUTIFUL blue skies.

Dear Mother Nature, Please send some beautiful white fluffy snow my way. Sincerly Me

Waking up

.... to SNOW!! Its October 27th!!! I woke up around 6:30 this morning and couldn't figure out why it seemed so light outside. Didn't bother looking out the curtains.... 7:30 rolls around and I finally make efforts to get out of bed and ready for work... pull back the curtains....


I quickly dress, grab my camera, grab the boys and head outside. Jake LOVES the snow!! Today was Cezar's first snow :) I was excited to see his reaction to it... he wasn't too sure of it. He didn't want to potty in it, play in it... I only convinced him to run in the snow was by running in it myself. LOL. We had 6" in our front yard!! Cezar practically 'swam' through the snow he was so small. :)

(Mommy... its COLD.... please put down the camera and hold me!! )

He's SO cute and I can't wait until he finds the snow as much fun as Jake does! I plan on trying out snow shoeing with Jake this winter. I would think Jake would have a blast bounding through the snow :)

Work was good. I was cramping most the morning :( The pumpkins were covered with snow and I laughed as I watch Lupita spray them all off with the hose. Luckily the sun was on its way out and it turned into a beautiful sunny day. Cold, but sunny. My vitamin I finally kicked and I my mood was on the upward swing :) I ate left over potato soup that I had and shared the extras with Lindsay. We were both in excellent moods this afternoon and it made it rather fun working together :) early afternoon I started thinking about last year at the same time... I was just leaving work to go finish wedding tasks, packing, and hoping that I had everything ready. Wednesday was the last day I worked for the week. All of October I had trouble focusing on work because the wedding was such a big thing. AH the memories :) I loved getting married, but I'm very grateful I'm only doing it once. LOL. Weddings are stressful. ..... anyways.... Today was a wonderful day. I got off around 5:20 and came home to walk the dogs :) Cezar did much better on a leash today. He was such a cute monkey too! He wanted to greet everyone we passed!! I'm glad he is people friendly! I hope he stays that way.

Mitch and I went grocery shopping tonight. I'm making roast tomorrow. YUM I'm so excited!! Now I'm busy downloading pictures, drinking delicious hot cocoa from my beautiful birthday mug from abby and listening to my boys playing. Hope they tire soon... yea right. lol.