Only Fair

I thought it was only fair that I post pictures of my Halloween Pasts.

Pink witch? Not sure what that is about. I remember that thing I am wearing is a one piece leotard. I loved it and wore it all the time. Under shorts in the winter, under skirts. I had mad style skills.








My version of a sexy cowgirl.














Superwoman, obviously I was freakishly strong as a young girl.








Seriously, how original. I am sure Mitch, back behind me, was a BYU football player too.

25 Facts About Pete and Marie

1. Our favorite movie is Last of The Mohican's (this is where Cora got her name.)
2. Our favorite band is Led Zeppelin.
3. Pete is a technical genius.
4. Marie loves the IDEA of projects. But once started has a hard time finishing them (the red desk.)
5. Pete was Student Body President more than once.
6. Marie ran for student council in Elementary school but was embarrassed by the skit her dad put together. Let's just say Energizer Bunny. Needless to say that age of kids didn't understand the acronym and she wasn't elected.
7. Pete is the 5th child of 6.
8. Marie is the middle of 7.
9. Marie wants a big family (6) Pete is balking at the idea.
10. Pete has done the dishes and cooked just as much or more than Marie.
11. Marie picks up Pete clothes every night (he's not completely perfect, but almost.)
12. We both love our little house but wish we had a garage.
13. Pete played volleyball as a setter for his high school. He wishes he was 3 inches taller so he could have played college.
14. Marie played softball as a catcher in high school and loved it. She wishes she could still play.
15. Pete is the best man I know at mowing a lawn. It's always beautiful.
16. Marie is good at vacuuming with her Dyson that she got for Christmas.
17. Pete is a very good cook.
18. Marie is not allowed to make Macaroni.
19. Pete hates school.
20. Marie loves school and wishes she could get her teaching degree and her cosmetology license.
21. Pete loves Marie's hair long.
22. Marie loves Pete with no hair.
23. We both want to live in Clovis.
24. We both watch too much TV (dang the DVR.)
25. We both love our little girl and Walter (sometimes.)

5 Things for Cora (Inspired by Megs)

5 Things I Want Cora to Know:

1. Be nice. Learn from your Auntie Brooke--she's a pro.

2. Have confidence in yourself. Know that you can do anything.

3. Surround yourself with love, brightly colored paper, good food, family, and the Gospel.

4. Never stop smiling. Life is too short to not look for the good in everything.

5. I love you. You will never know how much until you have a child of your own.

PS (from your dad)
Moderation in all things.
Small dogs (and popped collars and sideways hats and other trendy things) really aren't that cool.
Use your blinker.

If you can't tell these things from Pete are currently things that bug him. I am sure ifhe was dying tomorrow he would say something else to Cora.

Beware of Falling Branches

Once upon a time there were 2 beautiful walnut trees in our backyard. But one died and it is now sprouting gross mushrooms. We have discussed several times about what to do with it. But even dead it's very very cute. It has a certain charm about it.
However last night it sealed it's fate. It's going to the chipper

And if you look closer you will see Cora's jumpin' jack toy is under the rubble.

And yes she was in it and yes the branch fell on her. But Cora came out on top. She is a survivor.

Again Somewhere In Between

I think I should start having Mondays be my weigh-in day. This Monday I weighed in at 142 and then when I weighed in on Wednesday morning I was at 144, hmmm. And then Wednesday night after a meal at Red Robin I was 147, haa haa so we won't count that one. Maybe I'll say somewhere in the middle 143, that sounds good.

Nachoooo

Every year my sister-in-law creates the most amazing costumes for her little kids. Well this year is no different. I present Parks as Nacho Libre.


This little boy is the funniest kid you will ever meet. He loves Spiderman and Jack Black as Mr. Schneebly and of course as Nacho. He is so fun to talk to because he has the craziest imagination. If you ever hear us refer to Cora as Paprika it's because of Parks. After she was born my brother Blake asked him what we should name her and he said Paprika. And for a while we told him that is what we named her so he still calls her that. It's so cute. Side note Parks is the little bother to Fischer who was featured in a previous post.

Jumpin' Jack Flash

Check out this video of Cora in her new toy. Watch closely for her mad face and listen for her battle cry.

The Peter Of Halloweens Past

Pete has always been one to take advantage of the fun costume contest that Nu Skin holds every year. Here are just a few of his costumes from the past years.

Here he is as Mr. Clean.
















I helped with this one. We had just started dating a little less then a week before. So it was a big step when he asked to borrow my jewelry and fairy wings. Good thing he didn't ask to borrow my tights. We went to Walmart for those.




















My all time favorite. Dora. I am so sad we didn't get better pictures. He had everything right, even down to Boots hanging out of her backpack backpack.










We are all very excited to see what he will come up with next.

Somewhere In Between

Well I am now somewhere between 144 and 145. I weighed myself on Monday and I was at 144. Then when I weighed in on Wednesday I was 145. Which is weird cause I ate really well between the 2 weigh ins and worked out. But either is fine with me.

We took Cora's six month pictures on Sunday. They didn't turn out as expected. She has been a little fussy lately so she wasn't very excited about the flashing lights and all the people dancing around trying to make her smile. We still managed to get a few good ones. I will post them shortly.

Dang The No-Bake and Shmallow Corn

So I weighed in at 146 today, bummer. I let the success go to my head. However I am feeling a lot more tone this week. I started doing the "Core Secrets Ab Assault" and it's a pretty good stomach workout.
And the reasoning for my title, I made 2 batches of no-bake cookies this week. Only half batches and I only ate half of the half. But I am sure that's a good 700 calories. So no more no-bake cookies, I must resist.
A little side-note. I learned this week from my friend Jake that the Great Wall of Chocolate at PF Chang's has a whopping 2,300 calories per slice. Gad zooks. We both admitted that we could eat a whole piece no problem. That's a scary thought.
I am going to try and do a mid-week weigh-in and see if I can get back down to 145. Looks like shakes and cereal only, for the rest of the week.

Only 10 Pounds to Go

I weighed in today at 145. It's so great. I can't believe how much putting this on my blog has helped. I really get nervous about each weigh in knowing no matter what the result is I still have to post it. And that makes me workout a little harder each week. So thanks for playing a part in my weight loss.

BTW

My new fitness goal is to run NOT WALK 10 miles a week. This is very difficult since running has taken on a whole new lifeform after having a baby. It's not as easy as it used to be. I walked 3.5 miles yesterday and as soon as Cora wakes up I am going to try and run 3 miles. We'll see how it goes.

No Cute Girl Hats

When Cora comes out with me on my walks her little hands get so cold. And it's really sad. So I went to Walmart the other day to find a pair of gloves and a hat to match. The only thing they had for little girls was Dora and Elmo hats and gloves. I was not about to put that on Cora. So I took the little boy set with a skull and crossbones on it and made it girly. What do you think? The gloves are really cute too, they just have a single white and green flower on them. I will get another picture and post it.

Kids Say The Darndest Things

My nephew Fischer, who I love more then anything is the funniest kid. He is always saying 50 year old men comments to convince Pete to let him play the Xbox. Or saying insightful things to get his little brother Parks to do something for him. But the other day he said something that tops them all.
He and I were in the kitchen and he was getting himself a drink of water. There was nothing really being said and that's why the comment is so funny. He simply opened up the fridge and said this;
"I am probably the most popular kid in my class. I am not sure, but we'll see."
Haa haa haa, it sounded as if there was going to be a popularity vote at the end of the week and he was just waiting for the results to come in. What do you say to that? I thought about telling him that being popular isn't that cool and that it was cool to be nice to everyone. Or that being everyone's friend is better then being the most popular. But I put away the "intelligent aunt" front and just left the room. I was laughing too hard I don't think anything I said would have made sense.

Triathlete

My brother Blake did a triathlon on Saturday that circled our house. It was backwards so he swam last in the community pool back behind our house ( I hope he doesn't get the poop sickness :)) Pete went out and bared the cold to get some awesome pictures.


Look at that form.
His son Parks cheering him on. Parks thinks his dad is a superhero.Rounding the corner for the last leg.

He finished really well. Blake was ahead of the guy who took first when they came to the bike transition. But the guy was tricky and already had his bike shoes hooked onto his pedals. So he beat Blake out of the transition.