Tagged *8 Things

I tagged myself because I am bored!

8 Things I did yesterday :
1. Dropped my sister off at the airport and said goodbye:((
2. Went to Church
3. Taught Primary
4. Did the Bills
5. Freaked out about no money!!
6. Called my mom7. Did some wash and dishes (yeah, I do that on Sundays..naughty.naughty)
7. Held my babies and just loved them!
8. Watched the Rookie

8 things I look forward to:
1. Having money after Ricks fellowship ends
2. Ricky’s first smiles
3. Getting a house and decorating it!
4. Buying a really nice purse and sunglasses. Like a few $100 nice!
5. Getting back in shape and July 23rd, Can’t tell why but I am excited to get there.
6. Having NO Debt anymore. Onward to 2012 to be debt free or bust!!
7. Second Vehicle
8. Summer 2010 for the Hutchins reunion in Oregon on the beach in a beach house and having money to go!!! YAY!

8 things I wish I could do:

1. Sing. I sound like a frog!
2. Sew better. Straight lines should not be hard darn it!!!!
3. Spell. I am phonetically and grammatically retarded. You would be shocked if I did not use spell check!
4. Stick to a work out routine dang it!!!
5. Remember to read my scriptures daily.
6. Get organized to run the house efficiently
7. Get back to Italy with Rick!
8. Spend more time with Family! Both sides!

8 shows I watch:
1. HGTV: EVERYTHING
2. E! News (Sad but true!! –I LOVE IT)
3. MTV’s Hills (Again, sad but true!!) - hope to love it even though LC is gone now!
4. Discovery Channel’s Cash Cab (I want to be smart and it is Jeopardy in a cab ride!)
5. FLN: Sarah Richardson’s shows (Sarah’s House, Design Inc., Room Service)
6. Curious George (I love to watch this one with Jakie at 8am while we have our cereal together).
7. America’s Next Top Model Marathons. I don’t follow the season until they are all on for like 48 hours or so.
8. FOX NEWS: All of it!!! Greta, Shawn, Glenn, Britt, Martha, Cavuto, O’Reilly (and Rush when you guest spot and on the radio), you all rock my world! The news frustrates me daily by because of the state of our sad Government, but you are the only one giving it to me strait! If you don’t know any of them you got to watch! Fair and balanced is the truth!

Other favorites: Malcom In the Middle, Frasier, Seinfeld, Deliver Me, King of Queens, Deadliest Catch, 24, Ghost Hunters, Kardashians, Real Housewives of NYC and OC, and a few others I cant think of.

8 people I tagged:
”Toca Te”! (You are it! If you are reading this you have officially been tagged!)

Visitors In Town For The Week of the 4th!

We had such a wonderful and in particular, a wonderful 4th of July! My sister Amy and her daughter Lauren came to visit from the 3rd -11th and we loved it! We planned to just hang out and do nothing all week (we just wanted to catch up), but ended up waking up on the 4th and deciding to go to the Butler County Fair. We drove up to Buttler and took the kids to see the what they had, but after getting there we decided to just spend our times on the rides. The kids had a ball and we parents really enjoyed watching. Amy, it was a blast having you both here and we can't wait to have you back! I loved having someone to pass the day with and will surely have with drawls. I know Jakie sure will miss Lauren too. I will have to call more often to get my Amy/Lauren fix! We wish Orly and Dominique (husband & Son) could have come and hope to see them soon too! Here are the out-takes from our great day on the 4th. Jakie and Lauren on the first ride of the day!

Jakie just adored Lauren! He was so sad to she her and Amy go. We all were. Thanks for loving our boy sweetie. Come back and visit anytime you want!

Oh The Summer Days

Does anyone else miss being a care child that could run around wet in a park? I took Jacob to a local park to play with friends and had such a fun time. The park turns on the sprinklers from 1-4pm during the month of July and August for kids to run in and play. I was hoping Jacob would love it and just as I hoped he freaked out. He saw the water spouts shooting water 10 ft into the sky and squealed with delight. He just loved playing on them. The set up was super simple but it was right next to a huge castle like slide/bridge and he had a ball going between them. As I sat and watched his little white body run in and out of the water with the other kids I thought about when I was little and getting to play in water (pool, sprinklers, slip & slide, any water) was the best thing there was to do. I loved being wet and laying on the warm cement, cold soda pop and sandwiches while wrapped in a towel and the snugly feeling of warmth that I had on the ride home as I dozed off. I relived it all today as I watched Jacob and thought how grateful I am to have such wonderful children to watch and re live it all again through them. Here are a fun few shots that really showed the fun Jacob had. I love his irrepressible spirit and wonderful personality. The lollipop and water together were just about heaven for him!

Being Super Good Examples To Our Kids

Well we were revealed to the ward again today. As you may remember from posts past, our little Jacob is way to honest. While out having the baby Jacob answered a question in primary that embarrassed Rick and I. He was asked what was happening in his home today (June 7th) and he replied that his Mommy and Daddy like to argue and that was what was happening. I think that they were looking for door number two in the form of the reply " my new baby brother is being born today". Nope, not our child. Why reply that way. Lets rat out mom and dad!

So, today when a little girl visiting was asked what she liked most, we were informed that Jacob decided to answer for her. He raised his hand and said, "I know what she likes best, she likes to ride bikes with friends" (something Jake did recently so of course it had to be her favorite thing). The little girl said "no, that is not my favorite thing", and then told what she liked best. Any child might be upset that they were wrong in their guess but our child took it to a new level. We were told that following the reply from the little girl Jacob hung his head and quietly said, "aaaaawwwwwweeee. Damn it, Damn it, Damn it! Yep, you read right. He said that in Sunbeams.
Man, we are going t have a talk. His teacher assured us that it was funny and not done mean. He said it to himself as an expression of frustration for being wrong but this is not his first time with that word. It seems to come up in funny situations. He first used it with his Thomas Train as he ordered him "move it Thomas, Damn it!" (-around 2 years old) and then there was the time he used it at our friend Kim's house around 3, and now at 4. I hope to cut that out before we have to deal with it at 5. I am probably the culprit in our house. I don't mean to say that but a stubbed toe, overflowing sink, or at times Jacob blowing zerbets on me as I try to get out the door in time. I need to repent. Our bishop laughed as he was recounted the story after church and I admitted I have been naughty. Luckily there is a chance to make amends. I Will add that to my many prayers of forgiveness for such absolute imperfection on my part. Luckily, I don't have to be perfect. I just don't get to be imperfect on purpose. Hope I get to keep the Primary Presidency calling! Just kidding. Were the most fallible of all of the moms for sure. We just get to be reminded on a weekly basis by our kids that tell too much of the truth!
Our Sunday conversation outside of the Primary room before going in will have to sound something like this: "Remember Jacob, no hitting, spitting, running, poking, gassing, laughing at gas, talking about gas, turning around in your chair, playing with girls hair, talking out of turn, twirling your tie around, taking off your tie and whooshing it around your head, telling embarrassing stories or saying naughty words." Essentially, don't be Jake??? Nah, better yet the Lord has me in there with him so I can just correct each thing as he thinks it up! Gotta love that kid. Never a dull day with my Jacob.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be A...

For years I have wavered on what I should do when I grow up. I have always loved photography and wanted to learn more. I have tried to be artistic in whatever I do, but now as a mom I sure love photographing my kiddos and anything that we enjoy in our day. I think it is what I want to do. Sad that at 30 I have finally made my decision, but I think that the reward of loving my career (something I don't think I would have had with any other choices) will be enough. What do you think?? With formal training, great equipment and media apps, could I go pro someday? Anyone saying no..... You are a hater! Just kidding. Well, here is what I worked on today. I wanted to capture Ricky exactly as he was. Tender, sweet, pure and so angelic. Did I succeed?

I don't just want to do kids. I definitely want to do some of everything (kids, occasions, families, artistic stuff,etc.) Maybe I more of an essence type of free lance work. You know, the kind of photography that captures a moment in time. It could be anything really. I just want to do projects and shoots that sound fun and interesting to me and a client someday. That could be anything really. I have a long way to go, but wish me luck! I will get to go to school in about 2 years. Until then......Lots of practice and work on my own. At least I have a direction now. Thank goodness. I love to have a direction.

Oh The Summer Days. What has Jakie been up to. Funny Day Story

(I can't decide if this story is a testimate to Jacobs' undying resilience, or an account of his worst day ever! Read on and let me know what you think:)

So, I have been feeling terrible about being home so much all day, every day that I decided to get out. I met up with a friend of mine that has 2 sweet boys and our plan was for them to ride bikes. Jacob has been earning his bike with good deeds and did not have one yet so Gene lent us a big wheels bike that was just hanging around her house. We went to the park and got all of the bikes out and since there were all normal bikes with training wheels guess which one Jacob did not want to ride! All of the kids ran to saddle up and Jacob ran for my friends little boys bike. It was the one that would have fit him best, but, the little boy wanted to ride it (rightfully so!!). So, Jacob broke down and begged the little boy to let him ride it. As all of the kids rode away I tried to help Jacob on the big wheel bike but there was no fooling Jacob! He knew that it was the only one of it's kind and if no one else wanted to ride it, then neither did he. I helped him try after shaming him into it but unfortunately, the seat was a little too far back for him to ride it comfortably. He decided he was done and just pouted. He chased the youngest boy on the bike telling him that he needed to share and each time I had to lecture him and remind Jake that it was not his bike. Finally, Jacob looked at me and said, "that is it. I am going to pray!" I had wide eyes as I asked what? Yep, I heard right. Apparently, Jacob decided that he was going to go pray to the lord that he would help the kids realize that they were being naughty by not sharing with him and that they would then do so. Off he went to a park bench near the end of the parking lot and he sat there in prayer. After a while, my friends oldest boy finished for a moment on his larger sized bike and Jacob was all over it. He was gleeful as he jumped on and tried to pedal but the bike was about the size of a 7-8 year old rider. It had training wheels but as Jake propelled himself he flew off each time. He cried each time and then got back on. I held the back for him, but after a front flip to the right over the handlebars, I decided he would kill himself on it I had him get off. He sat in sadness for a few minutes and then decided he wanted a snack. I got him one and he wandered around for a few minutes until he met up with my friend that took her dog for a leak. Yeah, a leak. Well, Jake got curious and wandered right over to the tree where the dog was doing his business. Unfortunately for Jacob, he was not aware that a dog lifting his leg on a tree meant that there was a high chance of precipitation (if you know what I mean). Yep, if you just got what I meant, I confirm. Jacob got peed on! His bare left leg was covered in it and my friend and I cracked up. I bet that is something he will never do again! We washed Jacob down and off he went. He decided if he could not ride a bike then he would run faster than all of them. He ran around a hockey rink sized lot so many times I lost count. He rejoiced as each time he beat the bikes and laughed as they pedaled fast, fast, fast, and failed to overcome him. As the day wore on the youngest boy we went with was done riding and Jacob got to ride the little bike that was just his size. He got on that thing and away he went. He must have ridden over 1 hour on it just going in circles. You have not ever seen a happier child! Sure he flew off a few times and rammed a silver trash can, but he had a helmet so I just called out to make sure he was alive each time. He would jump up and say "I'm okay mommy. I don't want to stop!!!!? Each time a little more worried than the next as I am sure he was just waiting for me to yank him off at any second. Well, we did that for a few hours and finally right before going home a little boy came to the play area that had a motorized car (looked like the barbie corvette) and his eyes got huge. He looked at the bike and sadly said, oh, I don't have one of those. I said, nope kid you don't. Don't worry because no one else does or will either. He got the meaning and off he went sure of himself again. Unfortunately, our day ended with Jacob being dragged off of the bike for trying to run over the little boy in the car with a mob of about 6 other bikes. Somehow he thought that it would be fun to play motorized bumper car/bike. I tried to explain that the car had the advantage and could literally run him over, but he just looked at me and said. "I'm just trying to have fun. Why wont you let me have fun!" We packed it up, thanked everyone and had a conversation on the way home about what fun is and how we talk to mommy. He said he was sorry and that the day was fun except for getting peed on. He reminded me that it was naughty of the dog to pee on people and that his dog would not do so some day. I got him an ice cream on the way home to help drown the pee memories. Ahhh, I love this kid. He is such a funny boy but so sweet. Every day is an adventure and I wish I could recount ever story. I figured if you get peed on though, you tell about it! Miss you all! Enjoy the pics of Jacob at play over the last few days. I am experimenting with my camera so they are random, but of a wonderful subject none the less!

Me Just Being An Angel: (this is moms favorite way for me to be... Well this and laughing!)I love To Love "My Baby Ricky":Oh The Hours I Spend Just Being A Silly Boy:

Bike Time Baby!!! I can't wait to get one of my own!

Popsicle Paradise - It is the best part of summer!Bangin Around With A Broom!

Hunting Rolly-Pollies! 1st Find them themthen make them turn into balls en I examinte them thoroughly and squish them!!! Yep, I'm all boy!Last, I cry about them being dead. "Oh, I had to do it", I say with remorse every time.

Getting Back In Shape!

Well, It is finally here! The time at which I can see what damage was truly done to my body after having a such a huge kid! And the verdict is......... surprisingly, not so bad! I was convinced my whole pregnancy that surgery would be my only option, but my body amazed me. I am not kidding, I was measuring 45 weeks pregnant (yeah, you should only measure 40 ever!) at 38 weeks just before I delivered and I was so swollen that my sandals barely fit. Well, not 14 days later, I fit into my clothes again! My tummy went down almost to flat and all of the water was shed in that first week which means that I now stand here a cool 47 lbs lighter. YAY!!!
Yep, between the baby (almost 11lbs ), all the blood & baby stuff (close to 14 lbs) and then just the water and amniotic fluid (they said it was close to (22lbs). All of that lost over the last 2 weeks and the swelling going down left me looking pretty normal again! I Am thrilled. Don't get me wrong, I have some serious toning and firming exercises to do, but I may not have the 1 year + process ahead of me that I was anticipating. I am setting my sights on December (my b-day) to be in better shape than before Jacob was born. I am almost exactly where I was right before having Ricky so I am hoping that I can achieve my goal that I set.
During the pregnancy the only thing I could stomach was chicken sandwiches from Chick-fil-a, and other crap that I could keep down. It was horrible because I was famished all of the time, but everything tasted like it was made with glue and made me sick when I did eat. Now, miraculously, I don't have much of an appetite at all. I just kinda want something small here and there and that is it. Fast food sicks me out now (thank goodness) so I just have things on hand at home all day that I can eat and that wont set me back. Before pregnancy I kinda followed a great eating plan called the ABS Diet. It was a great plan that incorporated all of my very favorite things are consequently good for you. There is no diet, no menu, no structure, just suggestions on the 12 types of food to eat as often as possible, and suggestions on portion sizes, though over eating on the 12 foods would be tough to do. I do not ever believe in diets because they are generally going to be a fad that ends and then people gain all the weight back and fail, but this was already the way I eat, so with a few modifications (eating more times per day, exercising more regularly, etc) it totally works for me. I figured I would put this out there and let people know how great it works. If you dig it, give it a try and let me know how it works for you. It sure beats boot camp at 4:30am every day and starving on any other plans. If it is done with 3 days of strength training (only about 1/2 hour at a time) and 3 days of cardio (1/2 hour or more at a time) the pounds should just melt away!! The book by David Zinczenko (The ABS DIET) has tons of work out routines that are short, to the point and make a huge difference in building lean muscle that eats the fat for you. Anyway, give it a go if you are interested. I sure am.
I started the eating portion last week and I am full (actually, I have to set reminders to eat every 3 hours or I forget because I am not hungry), I feel energized and good. I get to start the exercise on Saturday which will be 3 weeks after the baby. That was the minimum amount of time Dr. said I could wait to exercise. I cant wait. Swimming 3-4 x's a week and light weights and toning will be 3x's a week to start. Eventually, I would love to add plaits to my regiment and just mix it up often. Those are all of my favorite exercises so I hope I can stick with it. I will give an update as I go if anyone cares.

If you are interested in checking it out, here are the foods that are suggested on the Abs Diet (Again, there are no real recipes, just suggestions. Do with them as you will.)

1. Nuts:
Almonds, peanuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, pine nuts, avocados, sunflower seeds (raw or very very lightly salted)
Tip: Eat -24 or 2 handfuls per day toward late afternoon.
2. Beans and Legumes:
Soy beans, pinto beans, black beans, green beans, lentils, peas, hummus, edamamme. (not baked or re fried beans).
Tip: Sub black beans for ground beef in meat heavy dishes to eliminate saturated fats and add fiber.
3. Spinach and Other Green Vegetables:
Spinach, broccoli, asparagus, peppers and some lettuce (not iceberg)
Tip: Use olive oil and garlic to make them taste better in dishes.
4. Dairy, Fat Free or Low-Fat:
Milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese (not frozen yogurt)
Tip: Drink a glass of 2 percent milk before dinner to help take up some of the room in your stomach. Make and instant desert or post work out pick me up with a scoop of chocolate powder added to a glass of LF milk.
5. Instant Oatmeal, Unsweetened, Unflavored:
Oatmeal and other high fiber cereals. (no high fructose corn syrup or sugar in oatmeal)
Tip: Add a little cooked oatmeal to a smoothie for increased fiber or have oatmeal hot with frozen berries and 1% milk for a good after dinner snack.
6. Eggs:
Eggs, egg whites
Tip: for a quick breakfast: mix two eggs in a bowel and nuke them for 60-90 seconds. (creates instant scrambled eggs.
7. Turkey and Other Lean Meats:
Turkey, Chicken, fish (salmon and tuna are great), shell fish, Canadian bacon, lean steak like extra lean ground beef, tenderloin, London broil and flank steak. (not sausage, bacon, cured meats, ham, fatty cuts of steak).
Tip: Eat flax seed-ground or oil. One teaspoon is loaded with omegas & fibers. Sprinkle in Oatmeal and smoothies daily.
8. Peanut Butter:
Peanut Butter (all natural and sugar free) and almond butter
Tip: Limit yourself to 3 tbsp a day because it is high in fat. A perfect snack is a PB on whole wheat toast with crushed berries.
9. Whole Grain Bread and Cereals:
Whole-grain bread, whole grain cereal, brown rice, whole wheat pretzels, whole wheat pasta and whole grain waffles (great for pre work out sustenance).
(not white bread, bagels, doughnuts, breads labeled as wheat instead of whole wheat).
Tip: Buy whole wheat pasta with fax seed for a double punch of power.
10. Olive Oil:
Olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, sesame oil. (not margarine. Get butter with olive oil & no trans fatty acids)
Tip: drip it on vegetables, salad and rice or baked potato.
11. Extra Protein (Whey) Powder:
Whey powder, ricotta cheese
Tip: Drink a smoothie with whey before a workout. It works better after a work out than after a work out to build muscle.
12. Raspberries and Other Berries:
Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, cranberries, and other fruits like apples. (not jelly)
Tip: Pick blueberries first for the most antioxidants and soluble fiber.
13. Take a Daily multivitamin!!!
14. Drink 8 8oz. glasses of water all day!


Abs Diet Guidelines:
1. Eat each meal about 2-3 hours apart. For Ex:
Breakfast - 8 am
Snack - 11am
Lunch - 1 pm
Snack - 4 pm
Dinner - 6 pm
Snack - 8 pm

2. Make The 12 Abs Diet Power foods listed above the Staple of Your Daily Diet..
Suggestions for Eating before and after work outs for best effect:
-1 hour before or right after (smoothie with protein and carb)
-Load diet with fish, almonds and fortified cereals.
-Try citrus fruits, grapes and grape juice right before your workout.
-Eat slow burning energy whole grain toaster waffles before a work out to keep up energy.
3. Drink Smoothies Regularly:
- Add berries, whey powder, peanut butter, etc. for cravings
-Make them thick but only 8oz per serving for breakfast, as meal substitutes or as a
sack before or after work outs.
4. Stop Counting:
-Don’t count calories, fat, etc.
-Just stick to 1-2 serving sizes per food group
-keep total meal size to a normal plate size.
5. Know what to drink:
-Fat Free Milk, water (total of 8 gl of 8oz per day), and herbal teas.
6. One Meal a Week Forget the Rules and Eat as You Wish.
-it aids in metabolism and helps to satisfy favorite food cravings.

Let me know if you try it and what you think. Wish me luck!