Sad/Happy rolled into 1

1. Little Addison and Bria have been friends from birth. Our families both moved into our neighborhood the same time, over 10 years ago. We share the same sentiment of the lack of friendliness in our area. I love Addie's momma, Kelly. She has been such a dear friend to me. We have spent many many hours talking while the girls played at each others homes, parks, and other fun areas. Addison and her family moved to Philadelphia this past week. Her daddy has been furthering his schooling and landed a job in his field of expertise but unfortunately for me it wasn't in Taylorsville.

We will miss the Bidegary Family.

 Good luck on your new wild adventure and I truly hope everything good will find you. I miss you already and it's barely been a week. sniff sniff

 That same week we had a mother/daughter enrichment activity. I wasn't able to attend so Teesh took Malia and look what creations came home with them.

 Talent I tell ya

 To finish up this sad week Bria had a sing around at school again. This is her last performance as a Kindergartener. Where has the time gone? Bria will end her Kindergarten career as a fully functioning ready to conquer all hardships of a 1st grader. She even got to spent some time in the 1st grade classroom meeting her new upcoming teachers. She said being a 1st grader feels great and I must agree. Good job Bria!

6 Week Challenge

I am not sure if I completely lost my marbles during child birth or amongst the teenage glory days but I concur I have lost them.

I have always been active my entire life. I work out at Gold's Gym basically 5 to 6 days a week and love it! I have been a member for over 17 years. I have made some amazing friendships over the years and feel completely comfortable entering the gym each morning.

As part of that comfort, I have been feeling like I need an additional pick me up to recharge my body and get some different results. I was browsing Facebook and an advertisement for Pure Work was displayed. Long story short, I went to their little seminar and loved what I was hearing. Without discussing this decision with Corby, I went ahead and signed up for the 6 week challenge.

I have an intense workout every morning at 5, 6 or 7 o'clock I have 6 meals I eat every 3 hours and I have an amazing team to keep me motivated. At the end of the 6 weeks if I achieve my goal, I will get all the money I paid back.

I am a goal getter. I will do everything needed to achieve this goal. It has almost been a week and I am DOG tired. I have been doing two work outs a day and eating with perfection. To not achieve this goal is not an option. I will keep you posted as I continue this journey.

So I am now half way through the challenge. It has been amazing(most days) I am not going to lie. It is hard. Do you know how many gatherings I have attended in these past three weeks where everyone ate delicious looking yummy food while I munched on chicken or almonds!!! At the half way mark, I am down 8.6 lbs. I was a little sad, I was shooting or 10. Everyone that has done the challenge said that the last half is when your body will really shed the fat so I have new hope.

I love the exercises we do. They are so motivating to me for some reason. I am feeling stronger and more powerful everyday. I do wish I would have taken measurements before I began as I can tell clothing is fitting differently.


The moment has arrived!!!!
drum roll............
I stepped on the scale, Tuesday the 8th of July at 6:00AM to reveal my total loss.

21.6 lbs ladies and gentlemen 

I did it! I visualized confetti falling from the the ceiling and my sweet sister and her husband surprised me with just that. I have to say nothing could have made the moment any sweeter than what they did. 
My fantastic family had this waiting for me upon my arrival.

Waiting for me, poor tired Magera and Mafria

Breakfast, eggs, sausage and toast(I skipped the toast)

 These pictures don't really show the transformation and truthfully I have many more pounds to go before I'll stop but this was a great beginning point and I am so so happy.

 Much to my surprise Bria and Ada came out with the celebrations with a little more than when they went to bed. Some girls have been naughty! What would possess them to draw on their faces when they should be sleeping. Heavenly Day.

You ask are you glad you did the challenge and the answer is YES! not just because I got back my $500 but I learned some great skills and conquered some mental demons. I have struggled with weight my entire adulthood life, especially since having children. Losing weight is a life long struggle and I finally feel like I have learned some skilled to conquer this beast for once and for all. 
I want to thank my family especially Teesh and Corby for filling in when I just couldn't make dinner and not eat it. I appreciate being able to go to bed early since I was getting up some mornings at 4:30. I appreciate all my daughters for understanding if I was a bit cranky due to lack of calories. In the end, I have no regrets. I will keep you posted on my next milestones. 
I have found a new challenge and it began the day before this one ended. It is way less strict but it will help me on this journey. If you are needing a change in your life look me up and I will gently hold your hand and help you find your desired destination. 
Happiness to all.

Corby surprised me with an evening at the Grand America followed by a pedicure in the morning. I will tell you more on that after it happens.

Memorial Bike Ride

With so many schedules to accommodate, it is hard to find time to celebrate as an entire family but we had a few hours on Sunday evening so we squished in a fun BBQ and smores.

We had to purchase a new mat for our 14 year plus tramp. It is so springy and bouncy. Girls had a great time jumping. Love the air shot Bria!

Another successful marshmallow roast  Charcoal anyone?

Later in the evening, Jaren, Cindy, Kylar, Kaylen, and Gelsey all came over for games and laughter. We always have an enjoyable time and stay up way way too late. Kaylen, Malia, Bria, and Ada all slept out on the tramp under the beautiful stars. Such great holiday traditions.

Snow Cones.

 Malia got this nifty little machine for her birthday last year. Every once in awhile she will pull it out and use it.

Our annual bike ride is usually in the earlier hours but once again work just didn't allow it. Bria with her new talent of riding a "two wheeler" wanted to join us.. We loaded the Yukon with 7 bikes and headed to the fun path that parallels Legacy Highway. It was a HOT HOT day but we did it. Bria and Ada pedaled their hearts out for 2 miles and took a break in the shade while the rest of us rode for a few more miles. It was fun to race each other and enjoy the outdoors.

Before.......

and After

So proud of my girls. They pedaled and pedaled and never gave up.

Some years we go a lot further this year was more about just being together. We did get 8 miles in so that's not too bad.

SBO Banquet

Highland High held a banquet in honor of the new SBO, Student Body Officers. 

It was downtown at the Joseph Memorial Building. It was a fancy smancy evening, I loved every minute of this event. They fed us some amazing food, I did not take many pictures.  Sierra was mortified I was taking any pictures but its OK, she'll get over herself.

They fed us a delicious chicken dinner with a brownie for dessert, thanks for providing us my favorite.

This is the last year HAW Pres, she gave a great speech to Sierra and passed down some wonderful pointers to have a successful year. Sierra also gave an exceptional speech about her goals and aspirations for the year 2014/2015

Relieved her speech is completed

Sierra's friend Gabby giving her speech

 Sierra's friend Nakita

The SBO adviser Wendy Curtis

She informed us that she would be our children's second mother. I have to say, I like her style so I'm completely comfortable turning Sierra over to her for her advisement.

The 3 amigos. I love that Sierra is close with these girls. I love these three and all they accomplish together. Looking forward to the best year at Highland yet.

Ada Rae is a Graduate

 Ada rocked it as her last year of being in preschool. She loved being so independent and getting herself into the house where preschool was held. It cracked me up because all the other mothers would walk their preciousness into the house, help take off their shoes, help them sign in and watch them safely go downstairs. I did that routine for the first week and Ada quickly reminded me that she had this and that was that. I pulled up, she jumped out and off I drove. I love independence it is the best.

 After a few months Bria would ask Ada to stay home from preschool so they could play. I got the brainy idea that maybe Bria could join in on the fun. After a quick discussion with Miss Vanessa a plan was set in motion and little Miss Bria began joining. The teacher has a daughter the same age, well 4 days younger, than Bria so they were the helpers in the class. Bria loved this opportunity as much as Ada did.

 I am not a bow person anyway but come on people this bow is just over the top. She sported a bow everyday that was the size of Texas or close to it.

Did you  catch the dude in the checker shirt with cowboy boots? His name is Tatum. He is Ada's main squeeze. She would give me updates as to his actions after every class. She does know how to choose the "handsome" ones.

The class performed some really cute songs with actions.

Bria and Leian with Miss Vanessa

Check out my two angels, love them with all my heart

The program went as follows:

Teesh, Dad, and myself were in the audience to share in this memorable experience. Onto bigger and better things. Good job Ada Rae, you are my rock star.