I survived...

I survived my first two fitness sessions!!!! I think they went pretty well, considering the circumstances. I couldn't get my mp3 player to sync with the sound system and had to improvise with borrowed music. So, I guess I'll just have to buy myself a new ipod!!! Other than the music thing I think it went well. I don't know about the ladies who joined my class but I sure got a good workout. I am soooooo sore from all the practice and workout sessions that I just feel exhausted. Once I get some more routines planned and have a good feel for it all I think it will go pretty smooth. So, stayed tuned for more updates!!!!

New Year....not quite sure if I'm happy about it

I know you all are just dying to know how my Christmas went, right??? It was great!!!!! We had a great time with family on both sides....no major arguments, no major tantrums from children, and Santa brought everyone what they really wanted most!!!! Well....I can still think of many things that Santa didn't bring me but they are just worldly possessions that I probably don't need anyway.

It has been nice the last week or so because Randy has had a break from school and I've gotten a break from the kids!!! He is so good to play with them and keep them busy so I can just get things done. Only one more week until he goes back to school :( However, at least he passed his classes last semester so he can go back!!!!! One semester down, 5 more to go!

So the new year is here and it has brought with it lots of good and bad things. I'm not so sure I'm happy about the new year because it just means that time is flying by, my kids are growing older and I am getting older! But, at least I still look like I could be in high school so guess I shouldn't complain.

I guess this is the time of year that most people are making resolutions. I have decided to NOT make any resolutions!!!! If I don't make them, there is no breaking them right??? However, I read a quote the other day on the top of the month of January on a free calendar I picked up and I think I will just make that quote my motto for the year:

"Let us live so that the spirit of our religion will live within us, then we have peace, joy, happiness and contentment, which makes such pleasant fathers, pleasant mothers, pleasant children, pleasant households, neighbors, communities and cities. That is worth living for, and I do think that the Latter-day Saints ought to strive for this"
Brigham Young

So, that is what I'm going to strive for this year! Focus on my religion and just try to always do good. I find that when I am a slacker on my religion....everything else in my life goes to pot!!! So much for making resolutions, it looks like I just made one. I guess I better stop typing now before I make any more!

On another note...we have possibly good news. We got an offer on our house!!! Yes, it is much lower than what we owe on our home. Yes, our home isn't even valued at what we owe. And sadly yes, our only hope to sell is if our bank allows us to do a short sale. I guess it is our only option left in this crappy economy. So I guess I am happy but still frustrated that we have to practically give away a perfectly wonderful home. What is sad is that we can't even get half the home where we live now for the price or our home in Missouri. I guess that's life. I just need to be grateful we have an offer. We still have a long road ahead dealing with the bank so all your prayers will be much appreciated!

I have also decided to take up another job on the side. Starting on Monday I will be teaching Yoga/Pilates and Bosu/weights at the new gym that opened in my town. I'm really excited because it forces me to stay in shape....something that I have been a slacker at since having children and it gets me out of the house at least once a day. Don't get me wrong, I love being a mother, but sometimes I just need an outlet!!! I'm really excited about this but also stressed at the same time. Sometimes I just enjoy doing exercises but the added stress of having to teach it is a little different. So, wish me luck!!! I will definitely need it this next week!!!!!

I hope you all have a great 2010!!!!!

AHHHHH!

Do not be fooled by this cute, innocent looking little boy!!! He is a menace to all!!! Yes that is right. To all children out there, when you see my little Rykes Bikes coming near....run in the other direction. He has become so violent and such a little biter!!! He has always been a little biter and we have teased him by changing his nick name, Rykes Bikes to Rykes Biter. Well, he has officially earned his nick name. I think over the past two weeks he has bitten me, his brother, and most of his cousins multiple times. He even bit baby cousin Lucas who is about 8 months (I think?) on the cheek!! It was way bad. I don't know how to stop him either!! I have tried slapping his mouth after he bites and also Cyenne pepper in the mouth. I think that has worked a little because he is biting less, but he is still biting. He is going into nursey in a couple weeks and I just fear that he will bite everyone!! Some people have suggested biting him back but I just don't think I could do that. Any suggestions???
He also is throwing the biggest temper tantrums and he gets so aggressive! I didn't think an 18 month old could be so aggressive and have so much rage. He screams and throws himself down on the floor. He hits, kicks, and pinches me when I don't let him have things. Oh, he is just a little stinker!! I guess I should've known that with such a mellow and easy first child that my second would not be the same. Ryker has been my trial from even before he was conceived, while I was pregnant, and every day of his life so far. I guess I will just have to keep on enduring it!! Even though he is such a little stinker, I love him to pieces!!!! He is starting to talk a little and he is starting to understand little things like sit down, go get your shoes, and where's your nose? I have a feeling his favorite word is going to be "NO" because that is what I feel like I say to him about a million times a day!

Turkey Day

I didn't do a very good job of taking pictures on Thanksgiving so this is what you get! I could not keep Ryker away from the table favors. He went around to every chair eating all the runts and drinking everyone's left over drinks. No wonder why he's sick this week.

Here is our lovely turkey!! I absolutely love getting together with everyone for Thanksgiving and eating Turkey. This was my first Thanksgiving with my family in about 6 years and it was so fun to finally be able to eat with them. We had the best sweet potatoes ever and lots of other yummy food to go with them. The pies were great....that is the ones that weren't burnt. I'll have to tell that story another day. Amy, I hope your living area doesn't still smell of smoke!

Here is some of the crew...not everyone made it in the shot. At least the important ones are pictured. J/K!!

This is us afterwards....so stuffed of food that we wanted to puke!!!! But it was well worth it!

Is it just me?

This time of year always seems to be busy with the holidays, but for some reason I feel like there just isn't enough hours in the day to get everything done. Is it just me or is time just flying by so fast? Ryker has started saying a few words, well actually he only says one, SOCKS! It is so cute to hear him say socks, over and over and over. He loves to go outside and so when I tell him it's time to get our shoes and socks on he gets so excited and just starts saying "socks, socks, socks". Usually the only time we go outside now that it's cold is to take Rayden to pre-school. Ryker gets so sad when Rayden gets out of the car and runs into school. That kid deffineately has some separation issues.

Rayden has really been loving pre-school. I'm really glad I held him back a year. I kept thinking I would regret it and that it would be such a hard a year with him home but so far it has been a really good thing for him. I went to help out at his school the other day and it was good for me to see the other kids look up to him. They would all ask Rayden to help them open the playdoh and he was so cute with the younger kids. I think it has really helped him learn how to be a leader and not a follower all the time. He knows how to make his own decisions now and not to just do what other people do. He's also doing so much better with his speech. I really feel comfortable about our decision and I know that it was the right one. I just can't believe he is getting so big! Some days I look at him and think - "I'm too young to have a kid as big as him!" Then I realize that there are people my age who have one or even two or more kids than I do and I'm grateful that I just have two precious boys!!!

Life is good. I love being a mom and I love watching my kids do their funny little things each day. I don't love when they tear apart the house every other second but I guess that goes along with the whole mother thing. You would not believe how quickly that Ryker can destroy things...I better watch out because everyday he grows older, he learns more and more things he can get into to!!

We LOVE TOFW!!

My sisters and I have a little family tradition where we go to Deseret Book's Time Out for Women. If you haven't ever been before...you need to go!! We've been to Las Vegas, Kansas City, and St. George. Basically you go and get together with thousands of women and listen to some amazing speakers and musical artists!!! Here are some pictures of us being cute and silly!!











The most important thing I learned from the TOFW weekend was how much I rely on my family and my sisters to get me through each day!! They truly are my best friends and I love them all so much. I also realized how much I rely on my Heavenly Father. He truly loves me and knows my strengths and weaknesses. He lifts me up when I am down, comforts me when I'm sad, and answers my prayers and guides me when I'm lost. I am so grateful to have the knowledge of eternal families and the eternal plan of salvation. Without that knowledge, I would be lost.

Scary Halloween!!

We started off our Halloween by decorating sugar cookies with friends and cousins!!! We had cookies, cookies, and more cookies!

We got together with all the cousins to go trick or treating! It was so fun to see all of thier costumes! They ran around the neighborhood so quick and got so much candy! I don't think I ever had as much energy as all of these little boys had on Halloween night!

Here are the two pirates!! They were having some pretty cool sword fights together.

Yes, I decided to dress up this year. As I went around my old neighborhood where I grew up everyone just thought I was one of the kids! I guess I'm glad I still look young....it's annoying getting called a teenager but I'll be grateful when I'm older and hopefully I'll still look young!