Picnic in Cascade

This is about 30 minutes from our house and it's just gorgeous.

Great place to enjoy our lunch.

Phoenix

We got to meet Kayla Nicole Robinson for the firt time.

Michaela loved seeing another baby. What a sweetie!

We're so happy for you Nate and Rachel!

This was my last time to hang out with my sister before she moves and it was a sweet time.

Lots of relaxing since the new baby was keeping her pretty tired.

Uncle Mark


Aunt Monica

My new menu

Not sure if it's turning 30 or losing all my baby weight and still being heavier than I want but this year I've finally started changing the way I eat. thought I'd share a few of my new favorites.

Chicken or Turkey sandwich. 8 Reduced Fat Wheat Thins
Whole grain bread
Chicken or turkey
cucmbers
tomatoe
red onion
avacado
sprouts
Honey Mustard Dressing

Meal: 350 Calories 11gm fat

I'm not a mustard fan and love mayo. Using 1/2 Tbs Honey Mustard Dressing makes this sandwich so sweet and only ads 20 cal and 1 grm fat.



Pancakes are my favorite for when I'm super hungry and want to eat everything in my kitchen and Charlize loves them. I can have 4 pancaks with syrup and stay under 500 cal. and it keeps me full for 5 hours. and costs less than $1. Although it's not the most nutritious meal it's much better than trying to fill up on fast food. We have this one about once a week. They key is to stay away from butter. Walmart has butter flavored syrup that has great taste but if you really want "I can't Believe it's not butter" has a spray that is zero cal and fat. (their spreads are no healthier than any other brand).

Another favorite is Talapia with Long grain wild rice and green beans.

Albertson's has individually packaged Talapia that makes it easy as I cook for one. Bake with lemon juice, spices and you have a great meal for 275 cal. and 2 grm fat.

I've also been going online looking over menu nutrition and deciding now what I will order at each restaurant.

IE: at Mc Donalds I get Classic chicken Sand with no Mayo. (I ad a little ketchup so it's not too dry) and a side salad with light italian dressing. Only use half the package. Now that I know that is my Mc Donalds meal it helps me order quickly without giving into frys or fatty burgers.

I'm also starting Jillian Michaels 30 shred video and walking/jogging with the girls in the stroller and drinking a lot more water. I also bought 5lb ankle weights and am wearing those around the house. I really feel it going up the steps by the after noon. Hopefully all this will ad up but I can tell you I feel better already and have lost a few lbs and am fitting into some old clothes that I haven't worn since before babies. 30 more lbs to go!

1st Hair Cut

At 2 1/2 years we finally got Charlize's first hair cut. Mostly just a bangs trim. She sat so still. I was shocked. We had talked all day about going to "get a haircut". She was so patient but after I told her she was done and could hop down she got very upset. "No mommy, get a hair cut. Where my hair cut?" I think she was looking for something she could put in her hand and take home with her. =)

Our Cuties

Valentines Day in keeping a tradition from my mom we made heart shaped pancakes. I also added heart shaped sprinkles which were a big hit. Mike had to work open to close so we invited some other ladies and kids from church who were going to be alone for the day.

Baby Shower

The ladies at Emmanuel Bible were so kind to throw us a baby shower for Michaela. We played some great games, got some great black mail pictures (I finished my bottle first) I even beat the 1 year old! ha! and was blessed with enough money to buy a double stroller that has alredy been to the mall and throgh mudd and snow on our bike path. I love it!

If your 2 year old has been quiet for a while . . .

You might find this . . .

Or this . . . .

Or this . . .

Monica and Reagan came for a visit!!

Way back in January Monica and Reagan were able to come for a visit. It was such a great time of talking, cathing up, chasing kids, going to a childrens museum, playing in the snow, painting a dresser and showing off our town and church.

It might be 25 below . . .

If you fingers stick to the mail box.

If you run the heat all day and can't get the house above 66.

If your kitchen pipes freeze.

If your mail box freezes shut.

If you can see your breath inside the house.

If your car requires an extension cord to start.

If your daughters lips are turning blue because she took her socks off in the house.

If stepping outside literally takes your breath away.

If the wipes you left in the car are now a frozen unusable block.

If your windshield wipers freeze to the windshield.

It's been a little different than Arizona =) But we like it here. =)

Up North

Wow, it's been a whirlwind of a few weeks. We arrived here Nov 13th safe and sound. Mike's parents were so glad to see their girls and meet the newest one finally. They met us at the airport with so many sweet gifts to brave to cold air outside. Mike was still driving and he and my dad made it here the next morning. We unloaded the Uhaul and Mike showered and took off for work even though he had been up driving all night. The next few days were a blur of, "yes, I have that, I just don't know where yet" and "um, I think there are clean socks in that pile" and "Which one is crying?" but we made it here and I enjoyed showing my parents around town. Had a great Sunday at chruch http://www.emmanuelbible.org/ and am really excited about getting involved here. People are friendly, teaching is great, they have nursery!!!! Wooo Hoooo!!!

Three days after arriving we had our Grand Opening at the store. Just to give you a little picture. At openening we had 45 employees with less than 2 days training. Our opening week was the 3rd largest in Little Caesars history. We had people lined up out the door from our store past 3 others stores in the strip mall to albertsons front door. Mike worked 134 hours that week. Getting home at 4am, showering, sleeping 2 hours and back by 7. Grand Opening night he didn't sleep, just showered and went right back (second night of the week he missed sleeping). By now we have over 100 employees and some how still can't stay staffed. amazing how many people want a job but just can't work! =) We're doing the business of 4 average stores each day so it's busy but we've ordered extra equipment and supplies and are getting more efficient. Still learning how to handle things like scheduling and employee issues. We are so thankful for the work. It's been a long wait.

At home it's been a little different. Quiet as far as people go. Lots of training issues with Charlize the first week. Seeing some real fruit the last few days (saying, "Okay mommy" "please" "thank you" without prompting) Michaela is doing well. Slept 7 hours straight one time a few nights ago. Hope that starts to be the norm soon. I get internet at home in a week. Shang-hi'd Larry's lap top today and found health ins. and car ins. during nap time. Phew! Charlize has had a nasty cold that has been keeping us away from church and friends. Praying this will clear up real soon so I can start to make friendships. It's been a long two weeks of only 5 minutes a day of adult interaction. The guys are on a rotating schedule by now. Larry opens and Mike closes. So he goes in around noon and gets home between 1 and 2am usually. then sleeps till work the next day. It's been a challenge to try to keep the house quiet and our room off limits all morning but I think after he gets rested up we'll be able to have some good family time in the morning. It's going to require some creativity on my part to change my schedule so this time is used best.

So much more to say but I need to be dilligent with the rest of life. Thanks for all who have been checking in. I get internet next Friday and will answer back then.