NO WONDER I'M GAINING WEIGHT !!!!!

As you know, I've been getting up and going to the Rec Center in the morning at 5AM! (I have to get up at 20 to 5! It really sucks! I'm not an early riser but I know I have to do something! My weight has skyrocketed! (again....as you know!) LOL
Well, in the past 3 weeks I've gained 3 Lbs! YES! GAINED! I want to cry! I'm hoping it's muscle. Muscle is heavier than fat! Then again, the work situation has been stressful and I'm not sure that has anything to do with it. We are getting very little work! I only placed 3 people this past week! That is HORRIBLE! I had over 70 people call on Monday of last week. Calling to see if we had any jobs! Some of them are getting very desperate and SOUND very desperate! They beg me to give them a job! I try to explain that we have no jobs! We have to have an order before we can send anyone out and they are just not coming in! One lady was crying and said she was going to lose her home if we didn't find her work! One guy was saying he had 4 boys and he needed to put food on the table! It's getting to me and then on top of that, I worry about my own job cuz how long can I keep working if the business is not making any money???
The Result!! I"M FAT! Not PHAT! FAT! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

AN EVENING WITH MY DWINDLING FAMILY........

As most of you know, only two of my children live in the area and the other three are spread all over the country. Now Scott and Jill are leaving for Arizona where Scott will be working for the Boarder Patrol. (like his little brother Chris)
I don't get to see Traci and Jason very often due to Traci's schedule at the hospital. She works weekends. Scott will be leaving this Friday morning early so I asked if they could come over last night along with Traci and Jason so we could wish him well. It was a nice evening and fun to see the grand kids.

Caden, Andrew, Jason Sophia, Isabel and Traci.

Jill, Scotlyn, Mostyn, Scott , Hawkins and Claire

Scott will be leaving the family behind for a month while he finds a home. He has to start work on Monday the 2nd of Feb. so it will be a rush trip for him. It's a long drive to Sierra Vista, Arizona and then he'll be un-loading their belongings, getting his friend Mac to the airport to fly back to Boise and then off to work bright and early Monday morning. ( Mac is driving one of their vehicles down) Jill and the kids will stay here for a month and then they are off as well. Sure will miss them. They have been such a good support to me. We will miss them and look forward to the day when they will move back to the Boise Valley.

BEST OF LUCK SCOTT !!

BOLD

I'm here at work late today and I'm a bit bored so I will take the BOLD Challenge Michelle!!

Bold the items you have done...

1. Started your own blog (with Heather's help)
2. Slept under the stars
3.Played in a band ( if grade school band counts)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (and Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lighting storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre (does eating at the Mona Lisa in Nampa count? LOL
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when your not sick
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or a sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (some of them)
35. Seen an Amish community (from the car)
36. Taugh yourself a new language (Pig Latin LOL)
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal (gave him money, not sure if he used it for food)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on the beach by moonlight
46.Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the Eiffel Tower in Paris (only the one in Vegas LOL)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (snorkeling)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive in Theater
55. Been in a movie..... (only home movies)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching (yeah, everytime I take a shower.... how sad!)
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (I was in the plane when my x did and I had on a parachute and the pilot told me I had to jump if he told me to. I was scared spitless)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a Helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Cavier
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the changing of the guard in London (only in Washington DC)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motocycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (Yes in a plane and we thought we would crash at the bottom because we were out of gas. Heavenly Father does answer prayers, ask me sometime! Scariest thing ever!)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your own picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (only once)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (X killed it, I prepared it) Yuck I might add!
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury (I was called but they didn't pick me...oh darn)
91. Met someone famous
92. joined a Bookclub
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (bobbed was more like it)
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee ( I use to milk bees for a summer job in High School. I averaged 20 stings a day) not a fun job!
100. Visited Italy

I ALSO TAG ANYONE WHO DARES TO BE BOLD!!

OUR DEVIOUS DAY FOR DEEDRA! WELL, SNEAKY MIGHT BE A BETTER WORD!!

OK, so most of you know that we were contacted about a "Surprise Party" for Deedra by the Young Women's President. In the beginning, we were under the impression that is was a "Birthday Party" . Tammy was trying to figure out how to keep Deedra at the house so the President could come pick her up at home at a specific time. We told Tamara that we would make arrangements to go over to her house and she would be under the assumption that we were there to visit and fix the bassinet! All the rest of the family was to go to Deedra's ward at 6:45 to be ready for the BIG SURPRISE! Then the president was to pick up Deedra at 6:45. Well, Sunday, when we actually did hold the "Semi Surprise" party for her at her house, Tammy comes with the revelation that the Young Women's party was actually going to be a "SURPRISE BABY SHOWER"......all plans have changed now due the the fact that Michelle is throwing her a shower this Saturday, which we are all invited to. OK, we (Tony and I) are still the rue for the young women's plan so we go to Deedra's last night and Tony actually fixes the bassinet. I play with the kids and make small talk with Deedra.
Nikki, shows me her new play dress that a friend gave her. I really don't know where she picked up this pose but it actually looked pretty good with the dress!
Our little "Budda?" LOL She can be hilarious!

Garrett doesn't want to be left out so he poses for picture after picture, grins and says "cheese" over and over...............

And over and over..........................................................................

So much so that we find him in his room with his toy camera trying to take his own picture and saying.........you guessed it! CHEESE!!!! Way cute!


By 5 to 7, I'm beginning to wonder when the Young Women are going to come and pick up Deedra?? Is it still a go? Did we get our wires crossed? We were puttering around in the new addition and Deedra is telling me how excited she is to watch the new season of "LOST" which starts at 7 PM !!

YIKES! (IN 5 MINUTES!!!) so I excuse myself and say I have to use the can. I go to the bathroom and call Tammy and say "What's going on? Are they still doing this? Deedra wants to watch LOST! Tammy assures me that they just left the church to go pick her up. Soon the door bell rings, Deedra goes to answer the door. Soon she comes back and says "Are you here to watch my kids?" We play dumb (something we are VERY GOOD at) and say "What?" She explains that someone is there to pick her up to take her somewhere.....we go into the living room . After getting a story from the Young Women's President, I tell Deedra that I will take the kids to my house. "Give me your Van keys, I have no car seats." They proceed to blindfold her and I load the kids up, Tony goes home and all systems go!

I think she was wise to what was going on by now but it was fun to follow her to the church and partake with the girls and their leaders. They had some good eats!

The whole lot of us SNEAKY WOMEN and Deedra!

She got some really nice gifts !

Jack Jack will be well taken care of!

It was fun and that is one happy little mother! It was a fun evening and I was happy to be a part of it! Sorry you missed LOST! Was it worth it?

Deedra's "SEMI SURPRISE " Birthday Party

We tried to kinda surprise Deedra on Sunday evening. I made a big ole Apple Crisp (I figured she was sick of cake after all the parties this past week) and some rice krispie treats. We were all to meet at her home at 6:30 but Tony was late getting home from his Sunday Singles Meeting so he and I and Scott and Jill showed up after everyone was already there! Oops!
SURPRISE!!! WE'RE FINALLY HERE!

Deedra, with her feet up and enjoying some apple crisp and ice cream! Kiddo in the background and I can only see the whites of his eyes! LOL

Ellie's blocking most of that belly but she's ready to POP!

Scotlyn and Jayden! Our "Birthday buddies! They got along fabulously!

NEED I SAY MORE!.....They were soooo cute together!

WOW! Does she ever look like her mommy in this picture! A little resemblance to Alvin the Chipmunk too! LOL

Who's got more hair? Face or head! LOL..... I guess Hawkins is going in for a haircut Monday! Do ya think he needs it ???? I know he has two beautiful brown eyes under there!

It was a fun evening! Thank you Deedra for allowing us to bombard you last night! It may be one of the last "Hurrah's" before "Jack Jack" comes! YAY!

Not long now!

STARTIN THE NEW YEAR OUT RIGHT !

Well, maybe saying "startin the New Year out right" was stretching it a little cuz I didn't start till the 8th of January, but that's pretty close to January 1st! We went to Michelle's Birthday party and Nate told me how Melissa was working out at the rec center and I should go. I started the very next morning. I get up at 4:40 AM and I'm at the Rec Center at 5AM. Since I started on a Thursday, I walked on the treadmill (at a pretty good clip) for 1/2 hour.
I then went to the stationary bike for another 1/2 hour. Then we stretch out and go home. I'm home by 6:15 or so, take my shower, get ready for work and then go to work by 7:30. I felt really good Thursday and Friday but I looked forward to the weekend and some rest.

Monday morning came and we went to a step class! Let me tell you....."IT KICKED MY BUTT" !! My face was beat red when I left and my clothes were drenched! It was all I could do to go up the stairs when I got home!!

This is my schedule!

Monday: Step class (Honestly, I'm scared for Monday)

Tuesday: Treadmill/stationary bike

Wednesday: Zumba class ( a low impact dance class but it worked me hard too!)

Thursday: Treadmill/stationary bike

Friday: Treadmill/stationary bike

So far, I'm sore but I feel like I have more energy during the day. At least till about 8 or 9 at night and then I crash! I have to get to bed early but that's not a bad thing! I am looking forward to the day when it actually starts taking pounds off me! It has curbed my appetite too so hopefully SOON! In the meantime ....my motto will be:

"Early to bed, early to rise....

will take this meat off my thighs!"

LOL

LaVerne

MY WEEK IN PICTURES!

As I said earlier, we came home from Salt Lake last Sunday evening. Nice dry roads. We woke up Monday morning to a winter wonderland ! It was so wintry that I refused to leave work at lunch time. Too slick and I wasn't going to chance it! After work, Tony took me to the bank to deposit my check and then we went to deliver a gift to Katelyn from Danae.
It was a cute little farm set. Her mommy was glad there was a little lamb in the set. Now she won't take the nativity out of storage to get the lamb, she'll have one of her own! LOL

Grandpa and mommy had a fun time playing with all the parts too!

Tuesday it snowed again. I took some pictures from the back door at the office!

Looks like I'll be staying in again at lunch! I hate driving in this stuff and there's really no need to go out at lunch anyway. If I did, I'd just spend money!

Wednesday night I went to Jill's to help her do some packing. She really has most of it done so I just did a little of that. I touched up some spots on the walls with a little paint. She had filled some holes earlier. I shoveled the driveway and sidewalk and I got to feed Scotlyn some carrots! (Best part of the evening!) Here is a picture of her and her cute little stained face! ..... Darn those carrots!

Thursday night we went to Michelle's birthday party! She turned the big 30!

"WOW! I need help blowing out ALL these candles!"

"Thanks Alex"!!!

After enjoying the cake and ice-cream I resolved to go to the Rec Center with Melissa the next morning. She has been working out every morning at 5AM since the New Year! Heaven knows I need it! Tony and I went home from the party around 9PM and I went right to bed! I got up at 4:40 AM and was at the Rec Center at 5AM. NOW, if I can keep it up 5 mornings a week! It was a good workout! At least I broke a sweat! If I can do it long enough to make it a habit, maybe I'll finally succeed at this weight problem! COULD SOMEONE SEW MY MOUTH SHUT! That would certainly help!

NEW YEAR'S IN S.L.C. UTAH

Tony and I went to Salt Lake City with Mom and Dad Norton to bring in the New Year! Dad Norton had an eye appointment and Gideon was being baptized and we haven't been able to celebrate "1st Night" in Utah for a couple of years so we decided to go ! We thought we'd brave the roads and winter conditions so we took off on Tuesday night the 30th right after work. The roads were awesome! Dry all the way! We arrived that evening around 9PM or there abouts!


New Year's Eve, Diane and Jess, Debbie and Robin and Danae all came to the condo to eat. Diane must have slaved all day. She made pizza's, relish trays and Brownies ! TO DIE FOR!! We ate, visited and then Jess, Diane, Tony and I left for the events on Temple Square while the others stayed to play games at the condo.Here we are waiting for the Trax. (Jess, the most adorable fun loving man you'll ever meet, with his usual "Picture Scowl")

Diane, Tony and me....brrrrrrr, it was cold but it wasn't snowing like in years past!

The beautiful Salt Lake Temple with all the lights! I always love to see it at Christmas!

I took this picture from atop the "Joseph Smith Building" at the observation room! AWESOME!
The 4 of us had a great time enjoying the talent that was shared in the Assembly Hall and in the Joseph Smith Building! We listened to all varieties from Opera to Blue Grass, Big Band and Blues My favorite was the Blue Grass Family! They were so fun to listen to! A Father, Mother and their two daughters. Man, they were talented! I loved it!

Friday, New Years day, we drove to Bountiful to spend the day with Debbie and Robin! We had a lovely dinner, played games and watched a movie. Daryl and Karla came as well so we were able to enjoy seeing them again. I took this picture from Deb's living room of the Bountiful Temple. It almost looks like a black and white photo. They have such a gorgeous view from their home!

I took this picture of the Salt Lake Valley & the beautiful sunset from their kitchen window! Unfortunately, you can see my arm in the reflection of the window and the cake plate etc but you get the idea! THE SUNSET WAS BEAUTIFUL! We saw mule deer in their yard and on the streets while we were there too!

I want this nativity scene for my yard!! On Friday, Mom Norton and Debbie went to the Library to work on genealogy so Tony and I went back to Temple Square and checked out some more of the Christmas Scenes! Good thing we did because as we left to go over to the Joseph Smith building to watch the movie in the Legacy Theater, they were starting to take down the Christmas decor! I loved the Nativity! Life Size! The wise men, shepherds and all!

It was so cool!

A picture of the Temple on a cloudy January 2nd! Still beautiful and inspiring!
After our visit to Temple Square we went back to the condo and met up with Deb and mom and dad and went to PF Changs for a late lunch/supper! It was delicious as always! We spent the rest of the day lounging in the condo and watching the Sugar Bowl! WAY TO GO UTAH! We were cheering for ya!

Saturday we traveled to Taylorsville/Kearns to Gideons baptism! WOW! Did they they ever get the snow! A BIG STORM came in Friday night . SLC didn't get much but down South it sure did! The baptism was so nice! Derek gave Gideon such a nice blessing at the confirmation. Afterwards we went back to their home for hoggie sandwiches and a nice visit! Tony and I left after a couple of hours and drove to Sandy to see my sister Lorie and her husband Dave. We also saw Amy and Jon and Erin came over! It was nice visit there as well.

We went back to the condo to visit with the twins and Jess and we watched a movie and played Uno till bedtime. We left Sunday morning around 11 AM and got home last night at 5PM. We unloaded, did laundry, took down the tree and hit the sack! We woke up to snow galore but thankful it didn't hit while on our trip. It was a good New Year's weekend!