My 50-50-50 Challenge!

I have never really set any New Year Resolutions before.  I guess I just know myself too well and knew I wouldn't finish or I wouldn't complete them within the year (big time procrastinator and don't like doing the same things over and over).

One year (many years ago) I set a resolution that I would not drink caffeine or soda for a year.  I actually accomplished that one!  But then when the next year hit I didn't go a day without it.  This year I have tried it and I go about 3 days with a headache and then I give in and my headache goes away.  UGH!  I guess it's better than drinking it everyday.

WELL...I decided to try a 50-50-50 challenge this year and I am actually really excited about it (meaning they are challenges I actually want to accomplish for my self-esteem and enjoyment) and I am keeping up with it so far.  Yes, I know it's only been like 4 weeks but hey, it's better than nothing:)

Hopefully...no...I WILL accomplish my challenges by the end of the year!

I don't really know where I came up with the 50-50-50 idea.  We were driving home from Blanding on New Year's day and it just popped into my head (a resolution revelation:).  I thought about 3 different areas in my life I wanted to work on, change, or do and I came up with this...

1-Read 50 books
2-Lose 50 pounds
3-Deep clean and de-clutter 50 sections of my house


WHEW!  Sounds exhausting and like too much to do but it's not really that much since I have a whole year to do it in.  There are 52 weeks in a year right?  Well then that's about 1 book a week, 1 pound a week, and one section of my house a week.  I can handle that.

My progress so far...
1-Read 50 books:  So far I have read a book a week.  Since I am teaching right now I am reading shorter easy read books and then when summer is here and I don't have to work I can read the longer harder books I want to read.

This week I am behind (haven't even started a book and it's already Thursday).  I only read at night once my kids are in bed and I am ready for bed but this week has been so crazy I go to bed too exhausted.  If a book is too good to put down I read too long and don't get enough sleep which can add to my exhaustion.  I am trying to get the house ready for my son's birthday party.  I have to stay 3 hours longer at school twice this week because of parent teacher conferences and with not much to do at work and no parent's to meet with (being a PE teacher is the best!) I guess I have some free time to catch up on my reading.  I seriously love reading and am getting the chance to read books I have wanted to for a long time.  But I also need suggestions of good books to read because I don't have that many on my list yet.

2-Lose 50 pounds:  Ok, so this one is not going so well.  I have worked out a couple days so far (with my son after work-so fun!) but I let myself get busy in other things and I am eating ok.  I could be better.  I went to my weight-loss appointment (last one was around Thanksgiving time) and I had not lost any weight.  My doctor was actually very proud because I lasted through 3 holidays and didn't gain any weight and maintained the 30 lbs I had lost last year.  He said he gained 10 lbs so I needed to pat myself on the back for not gaining any and now it's time to start losing pounds again!  YES!

3-Deep clean and de-clutter 50 sections of my house:  I am always cleaning my house (with two kids and a husband it's much needed).  It drives my husband CRAZY!  He doesn't understand why I always have to clean and I can't just sit down and relax.  Well, I clean and then I relax after the work is done.  Or I clean because I can't relax or sleep knowing my house is a mess.  Is there something wrong with me?  I tell Danny I HATE cleaning but I can't not clean because I hate living in a dirty house so it just kills me either way.  But I came to the realization the other day (and admitted it to Danny) that I actually LOVE cleaning I am just in denial and don't want to admit it out loud because who loves cleaning?  I must be CRAZY!

And its only been the last couple of years that I have been like this.  It's gotten worse since I started having kids or is it because I am nearing the dreaded age of 30 ha ha!  Anyone who has known me my whole life knows that I was not like this when I was growing up.  Just ask my mom and dad.  I hated cleaning, complained or just hid stuff under my bed.  I also have some serious OCD perfectionism in me and it's getting worse too (but that's another post:)

I clean the main big parts of my house that need cleaning every day but then I need to really deep-clean and de-clutter the rest of my house so I am making it easy on myself and only doing a small section in a single room a week so I can find the time to get it done.  I thought about my house and how I could divide it up 50 ways.  Each room in my house is divided up into sections or parts (like carpets, walls, closets, toys, furniture, appliances, etc.) so I am not trying to tackle the whole room at one time.  And I even included my car, garage, outside, etc.  Last week I cleaned my dishwasher.  Yes, you read that right.  I cleaned my dishwasher.  I cleaned out the drain and sanitized and scrubbed the outside (lots of little fingerprints in my house).  Simple enough to deep clean one dishwasher instead of trying to deep clean the whole kitchen in one week.  Especially with my busy working mom schedule.

Well, there you have it.  My 50-50-50 2012 challenge.  I. CAN. DO. IT.

P.S.  I started this blog mainly because my parents and in-laws live so far away and I wanted them to keep updated on the lives of their son and daughter (also a good way to keep a journal) and of course to see pictures of their adorable grandchildren.  I guess I also started this so I could vent and get out some of the craziness in my head.  Thanks for reading.  Or if no one reads this I still feel better because I got it out.  I wonder if I have helped anyone feel better about themselves because now they know someone who is crazier than they are.  Or maybe they are as crazy as me and that feels good too knowing they are not the only one.  I do know that I have inspired some on their own weight loss journeys and it feels good to hear from them and to have them tell me that it is because of me they are inspired to start on that better path.

Ok back to my busy life.  I am done typing now.  SERIOUSLY:)  

2011 Family Letter (Take Two)

I heard from a lot of people that they could not view our 2011 family letter.  Which is weird because I can on my computer (maybe the program I used not everyone has?)

So... I will just type it again in this post.  You miss all the pictures but you can always just scroll down and see all the adorable pictures of my kids:)  I just posted a whole bunch so if you haven't seen them yet just see the previous post below.

Our 2011
Danny: Still working as a mechanic at Niels Fugal and Sons, fishing, golfing, fixing cars, stay at home dad on Fridays, 4-wheeling, hunting, playing basketball, softball, bear den leader.

Aleena: Still teaching Elementary PE, losing weight, mommy of 2, always cleaning (by choice), bear den leader, RS pianist, teaching piano lessons.

Memphis: Turned 2 in January, talking, copies everything we say, knows letters, shapes, colors, numbers, loves to play, great older brother, 1st concussion, no more naps, loves nursery, has to sleep with a flashlight, loves mariocart wii and the ipad, fearless like his daddy!

Kayzee: not good at sleeping, only 4 teeth, started walking in August, turned 1 in September, loves to climb all over her older brother, loves books, scared of everything, loves dolls, such a girl!

I will include one picture of our family.  This was taken at Kayzee's first birthday party.

A lot has changed since that letter.  Memphis is turning 3 at the end of the month.  Can't believe my little boy is growing up so fast.   

Double the Christmas, Double the Fun!

We got to celebrate Christmas twice at our house this year.  The only reason being that we were traveling down to Blanding for Christmas and there was no way I was hauling ALL the presents down there only to haul them all back home.  So we had a THORPE Christmas and a ROYER Christmas.  Good thing my kids are still young it didn't really matter.  They just loved opening all the presents and playing with their new toys.

A Thorpe Christmas

I was debating when to open all the presents from my side of the family because we have a pj tradition for Christmas Eve but there was no way I was waking up at 5am (or waking sleeping children) so we could open presents before Danny left for work.  We were leaving for Blanding on Friday as soon as Danny got home from work so we decided to have a mock Christmas Eve.  We had the kids open their pj's from their great-grandma Astle on Thursday night.  Then Danny took them upstairs and while he was putting them in their new pj's I hurried and brought all the presents up from our basement and put them under the tree.

Then Danny brought them down and we opened all the presents from my side of the family.  Thanks mom and dad for all the gifts.  You sure know how to spoil your grandkids:)  Wish you could have been here.

Thanks grandma Astle for the cute pj's!

 Memphis LOVES trains so we got him a wooden train set.  It is just a small starter set but his birthday is coming up so we can add to it:)  Actually, once he saw the train set that was all he wanted to play with.  We had a hard time getting his attention long enough to open the rest of his presents.  Danny eventually just opened the rest of his presents and I opened Kayzee's.  Oh well.

 Thanks grandma and grandpa Thorpe for the memory game.  Memphis is actually really good at it:)  Memphis got to talk to grandpa after opening his presents and he is talking well enough he actually had a conversation and answered my dad's questions.  So fun!

 Memphis and all his toys!

 Kayzee got a lot of new dolly's this year but the cutest thing was when she opened this dolly she was so excited and hugged it the rest of the night.  She got this one from her babysitter Kim.  Thanks Kim!

 Kayzee's toys

 Some of mine and Danny's

   

A Royer Christmas

We left for Blanding Friday afternoon.  Danny had till the 31st to fill his elk tag (hunting with his dad down in San Juan County) so we were going to Blanding for 10 days.  And sadly no elk this year.  Danny was really bummed about that.  It was a fun-filled 10 days and my kids were sure spoiled by their aunties and grandparents.  

 The Royer crew there for Christmas morning: Danny, Aleena, Memphis, Kayzee, Bruce, Peggy, Teddy, Nita, Emily, Mary

 Memphis and auntie Nita

 Kayzee and Grandpa

 Memphis saw me point the camera at him and this is the face he pulled!

 Kayzee did NOT want her picture taken!

 Danny's youngest sisters Nita, Mary, and Emily

 Memphis and Kayzee LOVE puzzles...Thanks grandma Royer!

Danny's brother Teddy just returned from his mission a few weeks ago.  It was fun to see him again and he hadn't met Kayzee yet.  His niece and nephew sure do love him.

 Church was at 11am Christmas morning.  Thanks grandma Thorpe for the adorable sunday outfits!

The rest of the week was spent playing games, hanging out, reading books, watching movies, eating yummy food, going on walks, playing at the park (the weather was beautiful all week), doing hair, and having fun.  This was the first year I was actually awake at midnight for New Years since having babies.  It was a fun game night.  

 Memphis being silly:)

 Kayzee being adorable:)

 Kayzee and grandpa

 Getting ready to go hunting

 I love doing hair and I actually had some willing heads to play with.  Can't wait for Kayzee's hair to grow out more.

 Nita and Mary

 Fun at the park

 Kayzee loved the slide.  Here she is with grandma Royer

 Memphis having fun on the swings with his aunties

I also have some fun videos but that will have to be in another post.  Happy 2012 everyone!

2011 Family Letter

Life

Just an update on our lives during these crazy holiday months.  And of course some pictures of my adorable kids.

I was getting out the Christmas decorations and Memphis found this hat and wanted his picture taken.

 Kayzee's hair is so beautifully curly after a bath but once her hair dries it goes straight so I had to get a picture with her curly locks.

 Playing peek-a-boo...where's Kayzee?

 I got this dress at Kid to Kid for $2!  She got a lot of compliments at church.  Love my pretty girl:)

DANNY:  Still working hard (there is a hint of more hours at work) and doing side jobs.  We went to his work's Christmas work party and they always have raffle drawings for prizes and we have never really won anything.  Well this year we would have won a 37 inch TV but the guy who cut in line in front of us won.  The next prize was an iPad and I told Danny I would rather win that and then they called his number!  We were both in shock at first but now we have a really nice iPad and we LOVE it!  I have always wanted one but never had the money for it so getting one for FREE is even better:)

ALEENA: So I went to the specialist to finally get my crazy root canal finished.  The shots all wore off 1/2 way through the procedure and nothing he gave me worked after that so he tried to hurry and finish and I just cried.  Worst pain I have ever felt (even worse than giving birth to Kayzee a naturale!)  And he tried to do the root canal through the temporary crown so it fell off and he couldn't get it back on and my dentist couldn't see me till the next day so I couldn't eat anything for 24 hours.  Finally today I am pain free and have permanent crowns.  Hopefully that is the end of it all and now we just owe the two dentists thousands of dollars.  UGH!

I also went to my doctor for my first month of weight loss weigh-in.  I got on the scale and I had lost 20 lbs!!!  The doctor said I had lost the most weight he had ever seen out of all his patients in one month.  I didn't even exercise I just ate better!  The doctor had told me to not change what I was eating just eat less so that is what I did.  But I also stopped soda and fast food.  I didn't really count calories I just ate fewer snacks and watched my portion sizes.  I also only ate half of what I used to eat for dinner and ate the other half for lunch the next day.  Now I am having trouble losing more so obviously I need to add in exercise.  I have done really well maintaining my weight though this month.  Now the exercising begins!  So my total weight loss for 2011 is 30 lbs and I want to try and lose 50 more!

I don't have the gym to teach PE in for the month of December (because of all the activities going on) so I teach Health.  I have a trailer to teach it in and let's just say it is the worst part of the year.  The kids would rather be doing PE and it's the holidays so it is just a hard few weeks.  Oh well, it is over with and I actually kept up on my grading and got all 5,000 assignments graded before my Christmas break!  Now I can enjoy my time off with my kids.  I teach a certain health program that the school district recommends and I have to report what lessons I teach to the state of Utah for funding.  I just found out that I was chosen as the best rep for the program in the district so I won a free concert for our school!  It's nice to have all my hard work recognized! 

MEMPHIS: Memphis is talking better everyday and is so smart.  He figured out the iPad really fast and loves to play all the games we got for him on it.  He is getting better at obeying and usually just accepts when I say no by saying, "Ok, mommy" with a very sad face but at least he doesn't throw tantrums like he used to.  And (SHOCKING) he has made it all the way through 3 sacrament meetings.  Puzzles are the life-saver.  Now it's Kayzee we are always out in the hall with.  And she will finally go to nursery with her brother in March so maybe Danny and I will finally be able to enjoy all of church!

Memphis is also very funny and likes to laugh (even fake laugh).  The other day he was eating fruit snacks.  He bit one in half, stuck the other half to his nose and said, "Look mommy, I'm a clown!"  Then he started laughing hysterically at himself.  I have no idea where he learned about clowns but it was really funny.  Today he was eating lucky charms and he grabbed the green hat shaped marshmallow that has a clover on it, put it on his head and sang, "Yo Ho, Yo Ho a pirate's life for me, mommy I'm a pirate!"  Seriously where does he get these ideas?  He can actually have a conversation on the phone and has answered questions; it is amazing to see him grow up.  I LOVE MEMPHIS!

KAYZEE: Is still not sleeping through the night except for the past week.  She is up every 4 hours screaming and the dr. said just let her scream because we have tried everything.  This past week has been nice so hopefully she is FINALLY outgrowing this whole not sleeping thing.  She is also still on a laxative.  The dr. said she might be on it for the rest of her life but he hopes she grows out of it too.  Her belly button hernia is still there but it is slowly going away but if it is still there by September than we might be contemplating surgery to fix it.  My mom said that is what happened to me so hopefully it goes away on its own.

Kayzee had her 15 month well-baby check-up.  Her weight and height were exactly the same as Memphis at 15 months (crazy!)  25 lbs and 32 inches (75%).  She also got her shots and this time she didn't even cry!  Go girl:)  She LOVES books.  She always has a book in her hand or is always saying book!  She also is very friendly and will try to cuddle with anyone.  She loves to laugh and fake laugh like her brother.  I LOVE KAYZEE:)


***We are going to be having Christmas twice this year.  We are having a Thorpe Christmas on Thursday and opening all the presents from my side of the family.  Then we will be having a Royer Christmas on Christmas because we will be in Blanding.  I didn't want to lug all the presents down to Blanding just to lug them all back so that is why we are doing it all twice.  We will be in Blanding for 10 days so hopefully that is enough time for Danny and his dad to get an elk!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Late Thanksgiving

I have been so busy I didn't realize I never posted about our Thanksgiving so here it is.  I have a lot of updates but I will just post about our Thanksgiving for now because it's back to being busy.

We drove down to Blanding to spend 6 days with Danny's family.  Danny has an elk tag down there with his dad that he needed to try and fill so we left Tue right after we both got done with work.  They did not get one this time so we are headed back down for Christmas so hopefully they get one then.  Danny and I have made the drive in 4 1/2 hours before but with 2 kids and holiday traffic it took us 7 hours.  UGH!  And Kayzee cried for most of it making it worse.  Oh well, we made it safe and our trip home only took about 5 1/2 hours because we stopped at a park in Price to let the kids run around.

The days were spent playing games, watching movies, going on walks, playing outside (the weather was beautiful), relaxing, enjoying each other's company,  laughing, reading, sleeping, eating, singing Phantom of the Opera (and laughing), playing piano duets, etc.  We had a full house (15 people) and it was a lot of fun to spend some time and get to know better some of Danny's side of the family.

The yummy food

 Kayzee and her auntie Mary (the only one with blonde hair and blue eyes:)

 Nita, Brenden, Lindsay, Emily, Grandma Rosalie, Grandpa Wendell

 Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, Mary

 Jerusha, Josh, Brenden, Lindsey, Emily

 Me and Nita (amazing chef, played piano duets with me)

 Nita had her senior gold and green ball and the first part of the dance families were invited and Kayzee had way too much fun dancing and running around the gym

 Mommy, Daddy, and Memphis during a slow dance

 Kayzee dancing to YMCA!  Seriously she was really good at copying everyone:)

 YMCA!  She did so well at doing the letters she clapped for herself...too cute!

 Memphis had just woken up from a nap before we got there so he enjoyed just eating a root beer float with his daddy.

 Daddy and Memphis

We had a wonderful time and came home to our busy lives.  Another post to come!  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well:)