Looks Like We're Taking a Trip!

We wanted to plan an extra special vacation this year and next, which will likely be our last family vacations with Joey for awhile. Next year he will be graduated from high school and will likely be working and preparing to go on a mission the following year. So with that in mind, we're heading for Orlando, Florida. It just feels like a truly "American" thing to do. We will leave on March 26th and return March 31st. I was quite shocked at how much the park tickets are. Now I know why they call it Disney World. It's not just one big park, like Disneyland.....IT'S FOUR SEPARATE PARKS, plus a bunch of water parks. I don't want to spend time doing anything there that we could see here. I'm not going to spend a day at Sea World when we have a great one right in our backyard. I have literally spent probably 24 hrs the last few days researching, studying, and making reservations. I had to read the entire mousesavers website before I did anything, just to make sure I wasn't getting ripped off. The kids are pretty excited. It really was touching to Mark for Ressa's first comment when she heard we were doing this was, "Daddy now you can show me your old house!" Mark lived there about 60 miles SE of Orlando near the shore at Melbourne, FL from age 1 to 14. We'll plan to spend the Friday going back over his "ol' stomping grounds." His dad worked at the Kennedy space center and Mark used to watch practice launches all the time from his backyard. He has no interest in going there, and with tickets for the tour starting at $99/ ea for adults, maybe we'll just drive on by and wave at the shuttle :D Well, more on that as we get closer.

Look What My Family Surprised Me With!

Their timing is impecable! I was just returning home from these great classes today on fitness, teaching your children to love books and reading, as well as a class about gardening and growing sprouts from all your grains that we may have in storage. The sprouts are such nutritional powerhouses, they take the place of produce in the event of a public disaster where the usual fruit and vegetables could not be obtained easily from a trip down to the store.

Mark asked me last night if I still wanted the "Gazelle" I had talked about previously, but I told him that in the back of my mind, I tell myself it's my reward for filing and clearing out the 8 remaining boxes left of clutter that have sat alongside the wall by my bed.

Well, I came in today and was told to stay downstairs and that the "surprise was not ready yet." How exciting!!! Finally, after the sounds of clinking metal, hammering, and the occasional mumbling upstairs of "you better NOT tell her," it was finally time to come up. I walked into my room and all the boxes were gone. None of the clutter remained and in its place was this gorgeous piece of machinery....my favorite type of eliptical machine I use over at the gym. Mark says it's for the days I'm not able to make it over there. I'm so excited. I just love my thoughtful, loving family. They know my goals and what I like!

Time to exercise and then study for my first exam in Nutrition Monday. It covers about 8 chapters and the teacher is allowing us to write down anything we want on one side of an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet paper. Time to sharpen my pencil and start writing some of the tiniest notes I've ever taken!

Getting Serious About Physical Fitness!

I went to a mini Womens' Conference held at the church this morning from 9-1pm. It was a stake Relief Society undertaking and I learned so much. I heard a class on Fit For Life that was fantastic!!! Here are some facts I learned from this 5'5" 130 lb. personal trainer for the Claremont Country Club who I'd trade looks with any day and she was 51 years old!! She had a degree in sports medicine and works at several gyms around the area.

1. Take your weight times 10 and that is roughly how many calories you need to eat a day to maintain that weight.
2. After 40 years old people lose on average 1 lb./year of muscle.
3. By age 60, 2/3 of women and 1/3 of men cannot "weight press" a 10 lb. hand weight above their head.
4. A study 12 years ago seperated people into 2 groups. Both groups consumed 2000 cal/day. Group 1 had to consume their calories by 6pm daily with only water after that. Group 2 could only consume their 2000 calories from 3pm on. Group 1 lost weight. Group 2 gained weight.
5. What's the most important muscle in the body that is most directly related to determining your age of losing independence and self-sufficiency? The quadriceps in the front of the legs. Their strength will keep you walking, insure your ability to get in and out of chairs and off the toilet seat in your older years.
6. She showed a magazine cover with a scantily-clad Janet Jackson on the front. The headline read, "Janet loses 60 pounds in 4 months."
7. The lower your body's fat %, the more calories you will burn per hour while sitting. The higher the body's % of fat, the lesser the calories you will burn while sitting.
8. Keep a small little notepad in your pants pocket with you all day long to keep track of what you ingest.
9. She highly recommended the gym's spinning classes where you cycle to fun, exciting music and can burn between 500 and 1000 calories over the course of an hour. 1 pound = 3500 calories.

Janet Jackson is not one I've ever even remotely considered a role model, but this was an amazing story. She gained 60 pounds for a role she was to play in a movie. Then the movie fell through and she was left with all this extra weight! She kept to 3 - 400 calorie meals a day with an "under 100 cal." snack twice daily. She did 30 minutes of cardio a day and 30 minutes of weight training. Most of the meals involved fish, chicken or shrimp and a load of vegetables or salad and fruit for the snacks. Oatmeal for breakfast.

I've decided it's time for me to obsess on something different. I went out and bought lots of what was talked about today. This woman told me this formula will shed the fat like nothing else. She explained the need for muscle mass. She held up four fingers close together on one hand and one finger up on the other hand. She said that is the ratio of fat to muscle. Fat and muscle that both weigh the same would look like this: Fat - 4 fingers, Muscle - 1 finger. So don't be afraid of acquiring muscle mass. OK then. That does it, I thought. I've got 2 months until Womens Conference. I went to the store and raided the shelves of things that were highly recommended. The salmon packages were on sale for $2.50/ea. so I bought it. I don't like the taste of fish, but every success story I've ever heard has gotten there by eating fish. I'll be used to it by the time the last fillet is eaten, I imagine. The South Beach Diet food is so great for me because it has a consistently high fiber count with lower calories, unlike most high fiber foods. I've been within 5 pounds of the same weight for 5 years now. I've got to do something drastic to change this rut. I snapped some shots:

Heard Around the House This Morning

As much as I've tried to raise my children to be "color-blind" and without prejudice, I have no explanation as to how a conversation, such as the following, evolved this morning. Melody is always fascinated by the many different "foods" Mark has eaten. Here's what I heard:

• Melody: Dad, have you ever eaten a reindeer?
• Mark: Yes I have.
• Melody: Oooowww! Have you ever eaten a frog?
• Mark: Yep, sure have.
• Melody: Oooowww! Have you ever eaten a snake?
• Mark: Yes. It was a rattlesnake!
• Melody: Well have you ever eaten an Indian?
• Mark: Uh, well I have had squaw bread and some Brazil nuts.
• Melody: Well, at least you didn't eat Santa Claus!

Forget Which Store...Which Lot Do You Prefer?

My sister, Stephanie raised an interesting question on her blog which opened a discussion debating the many improvements made by Target Stores vs. Wal-Mart. Many commented on her blog about the beautiful products and happy feeling a person gets while walking the Target aisles for hours.

For me, the issue is more about what's going on outside the store, rather than inside. For all I know, Wal-Mart could very well have lovely aisles full of wonderful products too, but I'll never know. I can't get the car parked, let alone make it inside anymore. I tried to shop there last Saturday where my vehicle and I were experiencing a very close encounter of the 4th kind...

the Wal-Mart Parking Lot!

Where was the friendly, smiling senior citizen cruising in his match box security car? He may very well have been there, but couldn't be seen for the ominous recreational gas guzzlers filling the lot and re-writing the lot lines.

I assumed I had taken a wrong turn into the local KOA and had to retrace my steps to be sure. Nope, it was my former, favorite discount giant all right.

Have you ever gotten up close to one of those things? There is just something very ominous and frightful about coming face to face with a collosal rv such as this one.

It's no wonder the local Wal-Mart parking lot is so packed. Has anyone read this new book recently? No doubt it's quite popular, as this is the 6th edition, mind you....The Complete & The Original. As they say, there's no subsitute for the real thing and I'm sure that applies to this handy RV owner's parking atlas as well.

It's your national guide to locate Wal-Marts across the country. That's fine and dandy. You'll locate it all right, but you better have a vehicle that can face down an RV monstrosity, if you expect to be able to park. As for me, I'll just simplify my life further by parking in this lot instead:

Weight Watchers Quote of the Week

"If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right."

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

FINALLY, Joey got his license today! Wow, I can't even believe it. I can tell I'm going to get real comfortable with this arrangement real quick. I got him added to the insurance over the phone while driving back from the DMV. We went to the Norco DMV just to get the appointment quicker. It was about $80/mo. to add him on to our policy which is better than I thought. That is taking into account a 3.0 GPA which brings it way down, supposedly. I considered making him earn part of it, but after giving it some thought I told him his job is to not let his GPA go below 3.0 and run errands for me when needed. This is going to be a nice arrangement. Already, we needed his transcript from the school to fax the grades to the insurance company and he was able to do that. Then, we needed it faxed, so I sent him again to the mail center where he did that too. Boy, I'm beginning to think of all kinds of things he could go get for me. This is great!

Best Place in Town When You're Sick: THE SICK DINER!

I was having a great day yesterday until about 3:30 and I was hit like a truck with a migraine headache. It was one of those that 2 advils can't fix and then you still feel it a little after waking up in the morning. Ressa was very worried about me and looked at me wearing my red and white heart-covered sweater vest and said, "Mommy, if you're sick why are you wearing THAT?" I guess it looked too happy for a sick person to be wearing. I asked what she would suggest....pajamas. Sick people are supposed to wear their pajamas, she said. Ok then. She told me to get in my bed and that she would take care of me. After awhile she returned with a plastic bag filled with ice cubes, tied shut with a knot, for my head. Then she smiled and held up this paper just under her chin:

Next, she flipped this paper around and it was a large "Menu" that opened like a card for me to order from. I couldn't help but laugh outloud when I first saw the cover.

Mark's first response was, "I see some definite blog material here." I had to ask, "Are you sure I will get better if I eat here?" She didn't see the humor. She said it was a menu with food just for sick people that will help them get better. Well, I ordered from it and she was right because I do feel better this morning. Check out some of the offerings at "The Sick Diner:"

Mark, secretly testing Ressa, asked her, "How do you spell dinner, Ressa" "D-i-n-n-e-r," she said and added, "It says DINER on the front, not dinner." She's a sharp little cookie, that girl is, but still couldn't see why we would question the cover at all. How could we see anything but the most loving of intentions from looking at that beautiful menu cover. I feel terrible. Here's the other inside page:

She took my order and brought me a lovely platter with applesauce, carrots w/ ranch dressing, a little apple juice, and a tiny little bowl of ice cream that Melody dished up. Very, very sweet girls. They really are so loving and kind. I'm very blessed to have them by my side, especially when I'm sick. I recommend "The Sick Diner" to anyone who is not feeling well!

Fun Little Joke I Heard From Mark Today...

What did the zero say to the eight?

"Nice Belt!"

To Arizona & Back Already!

It was short and sweet, but truly fun and relaxing. We rented a car when we got there and stayed at the Pointe South Mountain Resort. This was our building:

This one is looking off into the distance toward the exercise building or "Phantom Horse Spa & Exercise Facilities." The only phantom was me after reading the spa price list. Yikes! I still used the equipment though and had fun!

It's an awesome place to take a family sometime. Great exercise gym I used and there own restaurants all around the "compound." The one with the cutest name is Aunt Chilada's Mexican Food. While Mark was in meetings all day, I took off and using my map very closely found the Arizona temple over in Mesa.

It was absolutely gorgeous inside. The murals were amazing. These are some pictures taken through my rainy car window: I ate in the cafeteria and was there for the 11:30 session. Here are some other shots taken at dusk of Phoenix:

Now, as I drove around, a particular business establishment caught my attention. There was something so familiar about it. Check it out!

Something was so familiar about this drive-up donut shop. But I could not quite recall where I've seen the name before: Now for a close-up.

NOW I REMEMBER....THIS IS THAT NEW CHAIN THAT'S COMING TO CALIFORNIA REAL SOON. I FEAR IT'S GOING TO OUTDO THE OLD FAVORITE, "WINCHELLS." DON'T SEE MANY OF THOSE ANY MORE. SURE GLAD "VENCHELL'S" IS COMING. HAHAHA!

NOW, HERE'S SOMETHING. I COULD HAVE REALLY USED THESE GUYS ABOUT A DECADE AGO. WHERE WERE THEY WHEN WE NEEDED THEM!

Joey's Career Assessment Test Results Are In!

A guy from the military came to Joey's school to give the "ASVAB" test the military has been giving high schoolers since 1968. It's not an IQ test, but an assessment of a person's skill set and strongest abilities. They used to use it to evaluate what positions a military recruit would be considered for. I called down to the school, after waiting for these results to come back for about 3 mos, and asked if the results were going to be from a list of jobs including airplane mechanic, nuclear weapon specialist, kitchen patrol, and runway flashlight holder, etc? They assured me that every job possible is included in the assessment.

Finally the results are back and Joey's top area was Social, followed by Realistic, with strengths in math and science. He was a little lower in writing capabilities and felt ashamed he scored in the 4th percentile in automotive knowledge. He said the only girl in there got the 6th percentile. Help! I need Grandpa, Uncles Mike and Danny, and even Kevin to help us out here. I assured Joey he's not the only one in that situation since they removed auto shop from the jr. and sr. high schools. When your dad works in an office and makes enough money to pay others to do everything that needs done with the cars, that explains it. Plus these newer cars need not much more than an oil change the first 100k miles or so. Right??? Oh well....it obviously wasn't one of his recommended career paths, but I still wish somebody would teach the boys all about engine stuff.

The jobs suggested as a perfect fit for Joey were: paramedic, physical therapist, radiation therapist (ones who give radiation to cancer patients), athletic trainer, home health care, mental health/substance abuse counselor, occupational therapist, and park naturalist, whatever that is. After explaining it to me, Joey says, "It's strange it would come out with those jobs, because I find myself really interested in taking Physiology after hearing everything his buddy at school tells him about that class. That was news to me. I had no idea he was interested in anything medical. But on the other hand, we talk about medical dilemnas around here constantly! Haha!

We looked up all the jobs and the average pay for this area, and he is only considering the physical therapist and radiation therapist jobs. They both pay around 70k/ year and have programs offered nearby at Loma Linda University about twenty miles away. He said that appealed to him most. He's going to check with the school counselor about an ROP program that he can do his senior year in physical therapy to get a better feel for what it's all about. Joey lifts weights and runs about 5-7 miles a day. He's athletic and works very well with people of all ages. It might just be what appeals to him in the long run. We'll see.

Steph Tagged Me, Now I'm It!

If I understand correctly, I am now supposed to list six things unusual about me. This is to be followed by ten things I love. I've thought about it for a couple days now and I'm beginning to realize we are likely showing good wisdom when we choose to hide the unusual things about ourselves. You might end up sorry you asked. On the other hand, I have made extraordinary efforts for years to try and prove myself as "down to earth," ordinary, and avoid appearing unusual, unstable, unorganized, and most all the other "uns" you could imagine.

THINGS UNUSUAL (& UNKNOWN TO SOME) ABOUT ME~~

1. I wore an industrial-strength bra to bed every night from 1978 to 1998. I was determined I could avoid being dealt the cruel blow that gravity dealt some of my older, unnamed female relatives. Upon marrying Mark, he talked me out of that ritual and convinced me to just go ahead and take my chances on the future.
2. I seem to always have a can of whipped cream in the fridge so I can spray one little squirt in my mouth every day. (perhaps my family would not consider this one unusual : )...Now where did I learn that one? Hmmm.
3. I've never puffed on a cigarette or drink any alcohol of any kind...and I still got cancer. (Actually there was an incident when I was about 6 or 7, but I don't count that.) However, after getting chemo every other week for five months, the doctor said the fact that my white blood count lowered, but never went out of the normal range, was a credit to my lifestyle.
4. I have a habit of clicking my car door locks (or thinking of it) every time I'm stopped at an intersection. So I'm a little paranoid. Sorry. At least I'm still around to be paranoid. Hahaha!
5. I treat our personal finances like a business. I reconcile our bank account everyday. I separate our spending into about 50 categories and could tell you exactly what we spend on the average per month in any given category within $50 or so.
6. I was stung repeatedly upon discovering a hornet ground nest in '95. As my neighbor ran back home, hornets followed her into the house. She had to be hospitalized. THREE DAYS LATER, I got a wasp caught inside my blouse while paying for groceries. Back home, Grammy counted 12 stings on my back while I cried like a baby. I got black widow bites on my head in '97. Used to love gardening--now it scares me to death. Bees are out in the day and black widows are out after dark. I can't win for lose. You won't catch me wearing perfume or bright colors during daylight hours of spring & summer. I don't eat outdoors during the day. Me popping open a soda in a park on a sunny day? Never! That stuff freaked me out a bit....YA THINK?

THINGS I LOVE~~

1. My husband and children and when they tell me "thank you" or "I love you" on their own steam.
2. Chocolate frozen yogurt from Golden Spoon with cherry topping.
3. Listening to my brothers and cousin, Kevin talk about their experiences. Everyday things are so funny the way they describe and tell about them.
4. Girls Night Out with my mom and sisters laughing, talking, and of course, giggling over the "Tiger Talk."
5. The way I feel after I've finished a 45 minute workout and know that I don't have to do that again for another day or so.
6. Learning, studying, and getting a good grade on a test.
7. Kneeling around our bed with the kids for "family prayer" and hearing a child come up with something to pray about for each family member (ie."please bless that ___ will get better," "please bless that ___will do good on their test," or "please bless that ____ will find their ___," etc.)
8. Going out to the theater to see a great movie the first night it is out. I totally thrive on the excitement in the theater when it is packed!
9. Knowing all the kids' homework is completed on Thursday night and that they are prepared for their Friday tests. After that, it doesn't matter to me how they did because I know they gave it their best. I love knowing that they can feel confident when the teacher asks for their work and gives out the test.
10. Taking a trip with my family to anywhere. Staying in hotels, eating out, and having fun making memories together.

Meet My Sweet Little "Walking Pals"

In spite of the fact I've flooded this blog with pictures and more pictures lately, I just had to add one more. I thought the girls looked so cute this morning, I just had to take one more picture. We're making a "lifestyle change" over here---the girls and I. I've been going to bed earlier and getting everyone up earlier. We've walked to school the last two mornings and it feels great. It's about 3/4 mile there and 3/4 mile back, but we're on a steep incline so it feels like something has been accomplished by the time I get back. Did I just hear someone say, "Weak."

The principal was out for about a year off and on after getting hit in the neck by a kicked soccer ball at close range, last year. She said she missed me in the PTA and that they've been suffering lately. She said they needed me back and asked me to think about it. Hmmm. I was the Treasurer for 3 years, then I dropped out the past 3 years. Hmmm. I'll have to think about that.

Happy 8th Anniversary, Mark

Mark & April

• T-alking & listening
• O-ut on weekly dates
• G-iving of ourselves
• E-mbracing
• T-ime for each other
• H-ugs for you and me
• E-ternally grateful for you
• R-euniting at day's end

FOREVER

Love, April

Join Me for a Womens' Conference "Practice Run!"

Anybody who doesn't want to wait for Womens Conference in May can come out here and join me a week from Saturday, February 24th from 9-1pm. Just double click on the 2nd page a couple times and you can see what all the classes are about. They've always done a great job on these activities. There's always a nice lunch and entertainment.

More of Grandma Moss' 80th Birthday Bash

This was the one moment at the party when I stared the longest, while moving the fastest!! Whew!!! It was only Martinelli's apple cider! Here's Ashley's daughter, Mackenzie held by Bill, who is the husband of Mark's sister, Helen from Portland, Oregon. The only time Mackenzie is not cute is when she's pulling my hair, haha! Here Ressa and Melody are fighting over who was dancing with Daddy FIRST! Ressa and her new found friend, Tessa found it easier to play "say, say oh playmate" to the beat of the music, than to dance to it. Melody and Grandma Moss are standing by watching. Melody was creating new dance steps without any help from anyone. Lack of a partner didn't slow her down one bit. She was in her own little world, out on the dance floor : D My kids all requested "Stayin' Alive" from the DJ and seemed to know just what to do when the disco music played. Mark's brother, Steve and girlfriend, Edmee Kelsey danced a little while with Ressa.... then danced a little while with Melody... Then she and Austin stole the floor, doing routines you'd think they had practiced for weeks in advance!! Our whole family including Kelsey in center and Ashley, Jim and Mackenzie on right. Ressa and Melody taking a break from dancing. Little Mackenzie, 10 mos. now. Austin and I pretending we know what we're doing. Even with my heels on, I do believe he is now taller than me! Mark dancing with his Aunt Dot, Mary's sister from Texas. Mark and me. Mark with siblings and cousins: (l to r) Neal, brother Steve, sister Helen, Erin, Jo Jeanne, Mark, Claire, brother Paul, Felice, cousin from Virginia. Steve's daughter Allison and Kelsey Austin with Aunt Jo from Louisiana. Austin, Allison, Joey, & Mark This brother and sister were "the kids across the street" that Mark, his brothers and sister played with for years.