8

Veggies. Fruit. I feel really lucky that I like most all of them. But I'm facing a new, although self-imposed, challenge...eating 8 a day!

I cannot diet. Nor do I really want to...I want to make better choices that I can live with my whole life. I want to lose weight in a healthy way and never be where I am now again. So, I have chosen to focus more on what I CAN eat than what I CAN'T eat...it's a mental thing. Instead of telling myself I can't have Dr. Pepper, I tell myself I can have 8 glasses of water a day...and I naturally have very little room for the nectar of the gods. :) I don't tell myself I can't have dessert or chips, but after I have eaten the fresh stuff I need to, I am too full to even think about a chocolate cupcake! I know, it's very weird...

So this is the second week of trying to get in 8 servings every day, and although I have done pretty well, each day seems to be more of a challenge. I think I am bored...so I need suggestions!! Already I add multiple fruits to my smoothies, drink V8, add more veggies to my eggs or casseroles, always eat 2-3 with dinner...but I'm sort of stuck in a rut.

What are some easy and delicious ways you vamp up the fruits and veggies in your diet?

Potty Chair

I just found the most awesome thing!!! As you all know, I'm a die-hard BYU Cougar fan...go Cougars!!! Check this out...eventhough I only have 1 child left to potty-train, I'm really thinking about it...





A potty chair that plays the Cougar fight song!! I need this!!

Heaven in a Cup

Seriously. Have you ever had it? No joke, it's the yummiest...I don't even have a favorite thing, it's all pure divinity!!!
And I've been eating much too much of it lately. Can't decide which I want more...a size 8 or a cup of delectable frozen custard?! A real toss-up...

Just a House

I have no good explanation for why I am on the computer--blogging--at 10:26pm on the eve of my big move. It certainly is NOT because I don't have 4 million and 9 things to do...the refrigerator has not been cleaned, the toys have not been packed (or even picked up), the pantry is still full of food, pictures are still on the wall, clothes are still in dressers and closets. Okay, so if you can count you realize that I didn't just name 4 million and 9 things...but you get my point, right?

I think I am trying to avoid the FINAL de-robing of my home. It still feels like my home with the pictures on the wall and my fun vinyl quotes. It still feels like my closet when I go get a shirt off the hanger. It still feels like my kitchen when I prepare a snack from a full fridge and well-stocked pantry instead of boxes. It most definitely still feels like my home when I trip over trains on the stairs and barbies on the family room floor.

I'm not ready to let go yet.

But it's just a house, right? A home is my family...and, thankfully, each of those precious faces will be joining me in our new abode. And we get to see more of each other since we're giving up 1,000 square feet!

It's just a house.
It's just a house.
It's just a house.

But it's MY house. My home.

I will really miss the gorgeous trees out the back in the fall, all lit-up in red and gold and orange.
I will really miss the gigantic bedrooms for my kids.
I will really miss our wonderful next-door neighbors, the Stowes.
I will sort-of miss the neighbor boy walking into my house (and my bedroom) unannounced.
I will sort-of miss 3 bathrooms and 2 living areas.
I will not miss the sloping backyard.
I will not miss the stairs.

I will miss my home.

But it's just a house.

House Pictures

So this post is just kind of "FYI" for the people who have requested pictures of my house. These photos are from last spring when we had it on the market--I don't dare take current pictures because we are in chaos! :) Packing and tossing stuff out, we are moving next week. The house will go back up for sale, but not until we are out...I can't even stomach the thought of living here and keeping it "show clean" with all my kids and daycare...nightmare! I learned a long time ago that "clean enough to live in" and "clean enough to show" are different things. :)

Family Room (basement)

Downstairs Bathroom
Girls' Bedroom

Boys' Bedroom

Kitchen/Dining

Upstairs Bathroom

Master Bathroom--redecorated since this pic

Master Bedroom--redecorated since this pic

Nursery--now it's the office

Living Room

Front of House

Ellie's Morning Attire

This morning Ellie came up the stairs wearing this! She was also demanding breakfast and her Uncle Jarom. This girl loves her some strawberry oatmeal and Uncle Jarom!! It is now 9:30...and she's still wearing most of this. The sunglasses proved too annoying to eat in so they had to go. Spencer snatched one of her necklaces and there was a small scuffle regarding Spencer's crocs...but in the end, Ellie Almighty won and now she's sitting on the couch in her morning garb, watching "Max & Ruby", her tummy full of strawberry oatmeal...but still no Uncle Jarom.

He's at school. You know, that wretched place that snags all her older playmates for hours and days and years on end. Not sure how this little thing will make it through when Jarom goes on a mission in a year and a half...and then to college...and then gets married and lives far, far away. I'm not gonna tell her about all that stuff yet.

Background

Yes, I know my background has been the same since I started my blog. Yes, I know there are ways to change it. Yes, I know there are kazillions of ADORALBE blog backgrounds available...but I am just computer-challenged enough that I don't have the energy to figure it out again. :) One of these days (soon, I hope) I will get around to changing it up for your viewing enjoyment! Until then...pink it is.