Farewell May

May has brought us lots of rain and cool weather this year.  I'm grateful for the rain and the beautiful flowers we've been able to enjoy.  It's been a good month (except for the cold) and now I'm looking forward to what June will bring - warm weather, sunshine, boating trips, Summertime!

Weight Loss - The Ongoing Battle!

My weight has yo-yo'd up and down since having Winston.  It's been an ongoing source of frustration for me.  The facts are that I'm older so it's harder to lose weight than it was 10 years ago and my free time has been next to non-existent since Winston was born.  I made progress last year when I did the HCG diet but since I didn't have time to work out regularly, I put back on most of the weight I had lost within 9 months.  Winston has reached a point where he can start helping and doing things for himself and I finally have time to exercise on a regular basis.  In January I again began the task of losing those dreaded excess pounds and getting back in shape (New Years resolution of course).  Anyway, through a lot of hard work, diet and exercise, I've been able to drop just over 20 pounds!  I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel.  Today at the gym (I have a membership at a small gym by our home), I had an experience that drove home to me how far I've really come.  While I was lifting weights, the gym manager/owner came up to me and asked if I would be willing to be in a commercial they were filming for their website.  I was hesitant to do it but agreed when he said they were filming several people.  I thought he meant they would be filming everyone who was there working out but when it came time to film, it was just me they were filming.  He explained that they were compiling clips of some of their members to show case the gym on their website.  They had me do several different weight lifting activities and even though I was kind of embarrassed, it was great to receive recognition that I'm finally looking fit again.   Of course, I still have some problem areas that need work, but I'm in a good place in my life right now.  I've waited four years to be able to get back in shape and it feels great to finally be headed in the right direction - not to mention how great it is to finally be able to fit in my pre-pregnancy clothes again.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday - the second one since his passing.  The grief and pain I experienced at his sudden death has subsided but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of my Dad and miss him.  The good thing is that with the pain mostly gone, I can now remember the good times and smile.  I can think about all the good memories I have of my Dad and not feel overwhelmed with sadness.  He was a wonderful father and even though I can't ask for his advice about the current happenings in my life, I have his words in my mind and in my heart - he'll always be with me.  If I could, I would thank him for the legacy he's left - his teachings and example still influence my life and probably always will

I thought it would be fitting to post the last family portrait taken of all of us before my parents left on their mission showing my parents posterity.  Our family is now too big to fit everyone in the frame.  This picture was taken in 2000 and there have been a few additions since then - several grand children and great grand children.  At the time, Brad was the only one missing from this picture - stuck in a traffic jam coming home from work and the photographer couldn't wait.  Happy Birthday Dad.  Your legacy lives on through us and you will never be forgotten.

So Proud

I took Winston to get his hair cut last weekend.  He loves getting his hair cut and was so proud of his new do that I just had to take his picture so I could show off how handsome he looks. 

 Here are some more pics I took this morning.

He's such a cutie!

Top Ten Reasons I'm Excited for SUMMER!

I'm trying to not think about the fact that we had 4 inches of snow this morning so I thought I'd focus on the top ten things I love about summer.

Here are some of my favorite Summer time activities - not really in any particular order. Depending on the day and my mood, the order changes all the time. :)

1. Trips to Lake Powell - always the best!
2. Sunshine and heat - I love to be out in the sun.
3. Boating - I can't wait to water ski for as long as I can go.
4. Early morning jogs before the sun comes up - so peaceful.
5. Bar-b-ques - the real kind. I love that Brad loves to smoke meat. YUMM!
6. Having a tan and feeling the summer sun on my skin. Ahhh.
7. Summer flowers in the yard - call me crazy but I really enjoy working in our yard.
8. Outings at the park - for picnics, playing tennis, playing baseball, family gatherings and fireworks to name a few.
9. Summer Concerts. I love a good outdoor concert on a summer evening.
10. Evening walks with Brad and Winston through the neighborhood - it's great to reconnect with our neighbors after being cooped up all winter.

Feel free to share some of your favorites.  :D

Cool Cars

For Bo's last P-Day, he and his companion went to a car museum.  Bo loves cars - you could even call him a car fanatic - so as you can imagine he was in heaven.  He sent these pictures home to share with us - a few of his favorites.

These are called Gull Wing Mercedes and are some of the rarest cars in the world.  They're worth upwards of around five hundred thousand dollars apiece.  Wow!

An old Rolls Royce that Bo really liked.  What a beautiful car.

 Bo said this is the kind of car that Hitler rode around in. I'm not surprised he included this one.  Bo enjoys history (he gets that from his dad) and has been checking out all of the World War II sites he can find.

One Year Later...

A year ago today was Winston's last surgery.  What more can I say except that it has made all the difference in his life.  His health has improved dramatically and his physical abilities are finally where they should be.  He can run and climb and jump and tumble like a regular 3 year old.  Before his surgery, he couldn't do any of those things.  Going into this last surgery, we weren't sure if it would be a success.  There was the possibility that Winston would end up with life long restrictions on his physical activities - all sports and activities with any kind of physical impact would have been off limits for him.  This would have been a hard thing for Winston.  He loves all sports and is as rough and tumble as boys come.

Before his surgery, my heart would break a little every time I thought about and wondered if he would be able to live a life without physical restrictions.  I want so much for him.  I want his life to be full of all the things that bring him happiness -  to be full of joy and fulfillment.  The success of his surgery is nothing short of a miracle.  He's had so many miracles in his short life - he is a miracle.  I would be remiss if I didn't express my deep gratitude for this wonderful little boy; for the joy he's brought to my life; for the inspiration he is to me - he never gives up even when the going is tough; for the prayers and blessings he's received to help him through those rough spots; for the doctors/nurses and their incredible abilities to fix the things wrong with his little body; for the love and support of our family and friends; for the quality of life he will now enjoy; for his life. Winston, you are my hero and I'll always be right here to support you and cheer you on. 

Here's a picture from the day after his surgery last year.

Heidelberg Castle

Just a quick post today.  Bo sent this picture of the Heidelberg Castle and bridge with his email last week.  He said they're both famous over there but didn't say what they're famous for.  Bo always has been short on words when it comes to telling me about things.  :)  I guess I'll have to do some research on this to see what it's famous for.  Anyway, I thought it was a great picture and it shows how beautiful the area is where he's at right now.