Sixteen Candles Birthday Surprise

It was Hannah's birthday on Tuesday.  She really thought we were going to give her a surprise party then.  I wanted to do something, but she always catches me planning for her.  Well, I got one in on her!!  I went walking one morning to her friend Kimber's house and we planned a party for her.  Only we planned to do it a day early.  Hannah didn't even have a clue.

Sam and I took her out Monday to the local Taco Time just to grab dinner.  I then suggested we go bowling for FHE.  When we got to the bowling alley, there were a ton of cars in the parking lot.  I said, "I bet they have league night, we might not be able to get a lane."  So Sam said he would go and check.  He went in and then came back out and told us they had a lane we could have.  tee hee hee.

So we went in and Hannah didn't suspect anything at first until I told her to go down to the last lane.  There were all of her friends as well as a brother and 2 sisters.  They had balloons and presents and all yelled Surprise!!!  It was perfect.  She turned about 5 shades of red. 

After bowling we came back to our house and had a BBQ and Birthday cake.  The kids watched Elf (go figure.  I guess you have to be a teenager to watch this in the middle of summer) and had a good time. 

It was so fun to finally have a surprise party that she didn't figure out!!!

Together time

So since we've moved we've had a lot of together time.  Poor Hannah must think we're the most boring people in the world.  But I love the time that we have, because I know that before too long she will be gone off to college and we'll never get the time back like we have right now.  I know this from experience.  I thought when my boys got home from their missions that they would want to spend more time as a family - WRONG!  They were interested in starting their own lives (which is how it should be).  However at the time I felt totally dissed.  But now that Park is married and we love his wife, Mad is married and we love her husband, Log is gone to school and doing his own thing I realize that this is how life is.  We do get together at least once a month for a family dinner and game or movie night and we love that, but it will never be like it was.

Hannah went to the Temple with us last night and did baptisms while Mr. Cornaby and I did a session.  We found her talking to the Temple workers when we were done and she'd had a good time.  Although it started out a little rough, but alls well that ends well.  Anywho, after we all went to Farr's Ice Cream after and got a double scoop and enjoyed our drive home together.  It's fun to have this time.  I cherish it!!

4th of July

Every 4th of July my family gets together and we have a family B-B-Q.  We had a wonderful time talking and laughing.  However, this year our family was a little smaller in size.  My younger sister and her family have moved to Arizona.  My son is also in Arizona right now working (mostly playing, but on his off time working.) My neice and her husband are now living in Atlanta and her older brother and his wife were working.  My other nephew/son (we like to claim him as our own as often as we can) went home to spend time with his family in AZ, so we were fewer in number.  It is interesting to watch and see how family changes as time goes.  The kids grow up and everyone moves on with their lives.  I miss the old family get to-gethers.  I love when everyone is here.  We usually go to my aunt's house after our B-B-Q to watch fireworks, but we didn't this year as they had had them on Saturday.  I missed doing that and seeing my cousins and their families too!  This was a different year, but I really still enjoyed it.  I love the 4th of July.  I think it's one of (if not) my favorite holiday.  The weather cooperates in July and everyone always seems to be so happy.  This year, after we got home from our Family B-B-Q, we sat on our deck and watch fireworks.  They were beautiful against the twighlight sky as the stars were just coming out.  Just so relaxing!

Sam, Hannah, and I  were able to go to a rodeo that is nearby our house on Saturday night and it was a lot of fun. It was small but well worth it.  I loved how they always rever the flag and it seems much more patriotic than so many of the other things we've done.  Everyone seems to get into the spirit of things and we had a down right good time.

Sunday we enjoyed singing hymns that were patriotic and had a down day at home.  Totally loved this, although I missed seeing my kids.

On Monday we took Hannah golfing and started the day with an interesting game.  We played at a nearby course that is all on hills.  You golf up one hill and then down the next.  Hannah didn't have much fun, but we had a good time watching her and driving the carts up and down the hills, and the scenery was beautiful.  We were surrounded by wheat and safflower fields.  I lost my ball a couple of times and hope the farmers didn't mind me going out into their fields to get them.  All in all I'd have to say that it was a fun holiday and I loved being with family.

Counting Calories

Okay, I know it isn't a wonderful subject, especially during summer.  However, I've tried just about everything and still can't seem to lose the weight.  I've done the green smoothie thing, the protein diet thing, the salads for every meal thing, and anything else I can get my hands on.  So I finally went to see a friend's husband who is a dietitian.  He and I had a good talk and I am now counting calories.

What amazed me was how I thought I was eating so smart and taking in just fruits and vegies in the green smoothies, but boy do the calories add up.  And I was having at least 2 a day.  I do still think that eating more vegetables is good, however I think I will be cutting down on a lot of the fruits.  It seems that this is where most of the calories are coming from.

I also like the fact that although I'm counting calories, I can eat most whatever I want (within reason).  If I eat something high in calories this morning, then I have to really behave the rest of the day.  So needless to say, no pancakes and such.  I really enjoy just a couple of eggs and I'm good to go.  I was also short on my calories yesterday by 100 calories, so if I go over by a couple of calories today, then it all equals out in the long run.  I feel more in control and maybe this is what I've needed all along.  I will tell you that I am much more aware of what goes into my mouth and I don't seem to be mindlessly eating as I go through the day.   Hopefully this will help and I will let you all know how it is going as I walk this journey I call weight loss!!

I also got this cool new food scale and am excited to use it.  Pretty cool huh?!!!