favorite 5 for FRIDAY

I spend a large unnecessary portion of my day surfing the web, blogging, and checking my email. Sometimes I cant even explain how It is already lunchtime, I am still sitting in my sweats, surfing away on the web. To try and combat my web wanderings, I have limited myself to only checking out MY FAVORITES (a list of websites I check at least once a week, if not daily). Here they are:

1. Passwird.com -- Many of you have wondered how I find out about such amazing deals around town. Well this website is the place. It delivers a daily update on great deals across the web and at local well known stores.

2. Boucher Photography -- I enjoy most styles of contemporary photography. I especially like to see fresh takes on classic celebrations. I love the way they shoot weddings...spectacular!!!

3. Good Reads -- Do you like to read, but hate to start a book to find out that it is less than good? I hate that too, but this website gives you updates on practically any book you can think of. You can also find out what are the most popular reads right now and why. It is very informative for the literary world.

4. Craigs List -- Are you a Craigs Lister? If not, you should be. This is an online market place that doesn't cost a thing to list. And better than that, it is local so you don't have to pay shipping. I have sold and purchased many items off of craigslist. I have a beautiful couch from Crate and Barrel that I purchased off of craigslist for 25% of the C and B price. I love a good deal!

5. PGWC -- This stands for Pleasant Grove Wives Club. This is a local forum a friend of mine started and it is fabulous! It provides an online place to ask questions about raising kids, recipes, the latest shows, and what is going on in the world. Women post daily updates about the community we live in. So if you live in Utah and you want to be part of a great forum, sign up!

Hope you like my Five! High Five to you for having a great Friday!

Paige -- on becoming 8

I shot this girl yesterday for her 8th birthday. She is about to be baptized (into the LDS church) so she was very excited and happy to be taking pictures in her beautiful white dress. Isn't she so cute?

Nikki = Older, Wiser Sister

I hate to admit it, but while I have always been the flakier spontaneous sister, Nikki has been the older, wiser and more grounded sister. Ugh, when we were growing up, we either got along great, staying up till the wee hours talking and laughing, or we were fighting like cats (seriously that includes scratching).
Today is Nikki's 31st birthday! If you do the math right, that means she is only about 18 months older than me. What was my mom thinking? Either way, we grew up, 1 year apart in school, 1 year apart in church classes, but totally different in everything else. I am glad that she is my sister and because we are so different, I have learned so much from her. So if you have a chance today, go and check out her blog: Nikki's Blog.

5 Things about Nikki:

5. She is UBER MOM -- Have a parenting question? She is the one with the answer, from learning about cloth diapers to 30 meals in a day to feed your family for 30 days, she has it under control.
4. She should be a pediatrician -- with her lot of 4, she has had her share of ER visits and child illnesses. Being uber Mom, she has found out everything under the sun for any child illness you could imagine.
3. If there is a natural disaster, she will be the one neighbor that is prepared -- she recently purchased 64 5 pound bags of flour because the price of gas is going up, thus the price of cooking essentials is going up.
2. She can Towel OFF -- she makes the cutest animal towels for kids and babies...check out her blog.
1. She is a FIGHTER! --No really, when we were growing up, she would always kick my butt and she even pulled out my hair (which is the reason I have thinner hair now).

animal appetite

Once again, the mysterious treat bandit has dropped something delightful and edible off at my doorstep! These chocolaty creatures appeared the day before Easter! From who? That I do not know, although I have my suspicions. I do love getting treats at my door! So another treat means more spilling of the personal beans:

Truth: I feel so grateful to have a friend that drops off sweet treats at my doorstep when I am struggling just to be positive everyday! I do feel that our little roller coaster situation is soon to be remedied. Mark had 3 promising interviews last week in the county that we live in, so I am hopeful that we wont have to move. I love our home and I love our neighborhood. I love hearing the old man, who lives next door, yell at the teenagers who ride dirt bikes up and down the road. I love my kitchen, and I love most of our almost completed remodeled home. I love having friends and family close by and I love that my boys can ride their scooters to Grandpa's house every Saturday. Having said that, I am very hopeful that Mark will find a job close to our home and we will be able to stay here!

GET FIT CHALLENGE: The Final Countdown

(4th quarter pep talk) Are you still in the game? This is the final quarter. Can you go the distance? We have had some ups and downs, but this game is still within reach. We can take and we must! So get out there, play hard, and don't let them (the bad temptation team) score all those points against you. Remember Zac Effron's coined phrase, "Keep your head in the game!" (coach slaps you on the but) Now get out there and play it like you mean it. BRING IT HOME!

FACTS: This is the last week of Month 1's challenge. One week from today, there will be a call for points post on this blog. Within 1 week, you will need to submit your points for each week of the challenge, your total points for the month, and one success story of how you beat the odds or played the best GET FIT CHALLENGE you could.

FEELINGS: You might be feeling discouraged or down because you 'downed' handfuls of Easter candy in one sitting, or you might be feeling overwhelmed with the options of points everyday. Remember, the intention of this Get Fit Challenge, is it make 'goal achieving' bite size and manageable. Each day you have the chance to take control of your actions and be rewarded! Remember, "We are all in this Together" (another High School Musical moment).
Even if you have felt defeat for the last 3 weeks, Take charge this week and find your success!

FUN: Have fun and set your sights high this week. This is the final week of month 1's challenge. See how high you can score and make a game out of it! Then, in the thoughts below, share your success and the way you achieved it!

what did the bunny bring you?

At our home the bunny dropped off Easter necessities:

plastic eggs filled with:

-- starbust jelly beans

-- robin eggs

-- smarties

Cadbury Creme Eggs

Cadbury Caramel Eggs

Snicker Eggs

Marshmallow Filled Chocolate Eggs

Grow-a-Pets (plastic capsules stuffed with spongy animal shapes that expand in water)

Rabbit Poppers (Plastic rabbits that jump across the floor when you push their rear down)

I awoke to the sounds of scampering feet across the kitchen making a beeline to the living room. (Insert Evil Laugh) Unfortunately for my candy crazed kids, I hid, I mean, the bunny hid the baskets so well, there would be no hopes of finding them with out the help of a parent. I called out to them, "Go back to bed boys, and stay down there until the sun comes up." The boys obeyed and came back up around 7:30. Mark rolled out of bed, helped the boys find their baskets. I am pretty sure the boys inhaled as much candy as humanly possible before I could get to them and talk sense!

my latest project

another secret indulgence of mine...

Happy Birthday Boys!!!

My boys celebrated their 5th and 7th birthdays yesterday. The party turned out to be a great success...thanks to the help of many parents. Almost every kid that was invited showed up, plus more! My friend Emily helped me plan out four stations and then I had great parents volunteer to help man each station. In the back yard we set up an obstacle course and a ZIP LINE!!! In the front yard we set up a walking with water while dodging large balls challenge and a water balloon catch. By the end of the party the kids were muddy, wet and exhausted! If you are in town, give me a call because I will have the zip line set up for the next few days.

Here are a few picture highlights from the party...(thanks to my dad, can you believe that I didn't even pull out my camera once the party started?)


I love this last picture...even Teddy enjoyed the zip line!

Highlights of the Party:

6. 26 kids running wild, covered in mud, and not one destroyed the inside of my home!

5. Only 2 kids were reduced to tears during the party...and they weren't mine!

4. After the kids rode the zip line, I heard phrases like, "awesomest and sweetest party ever"

3. Toby (the helping parent who set up the zip line) stood 10 heads above the kids...seriously he is tall.

2. I yelled at all 26 kids, "move it, move it!" and not one parent objected.

1. At one point I heard a boy say to another boy, "If you have to go pee, there are lots of trees."

Hope you have a great weekend!

GET FIT CHALLENGE: TIP OF THE DAY!!!

Tip of the day:

Be 'PICKY' (do you get my photo pun?!?)

This Challenge is designed to help you feel successful and to encourage you to choose the most points daily. So, be very picky when it comes to what you do with your day. Don't squander your points on a meaningless piece of candy or one can of soda. BE PICKY, and pick the best possible choice.

My 6 year old son learned this statement last year from his kindergarten teacher. He likes it so much, he says it right before he walks out the door to school everyday:

To be the best that I can be the Choice will always be up to me! (say it, and then BE PICKY about the choices you choose everyday!)

Have a FIT TIP that has worked for you? Share it in the comments

Have a trial that has gotten you down? Share it in the comments

Anything random to share? Share it in the comments

top 5: bubba

top 5 statements heard in the Summerill house about Bubba, or said to Bubba...


5. Didn't I just pet you?

4. Bubba, COME HOME...Is he at Grampa's house again?

3. Bubba, Get OFF the couch!

2. Bubba, STOP wacking me with your tail!


1. Mom! Bubba is licking his privates again!

Teddy played with a balloon and sat quitely while I got ready for my photo class! BLESSING!!!

emily: petite and pregnant

I opened my door today to find a simple brown box dropped off by the mailman. The box, was addressed to me, sent by a close friend from my town. I love getting surprises, but I love getting surprises by mail even more. Don't you feel all special and cuddly warm when someone thoughtful sends a card or a package?

Truth: I haven't been feeling very warm and cuddly at all lately. In fact I have been feeling very much the opposite. Mark (my hubby) had a huge, major, life-altering set-back at work. (This is the 'crap-hitting-the-fan' I spoke about towards the end of the week) Because of this, he is looking for a new job. I feel confident that he will find one, but we have been discussing the possibility of relocation and selling our newly remodeled home. Sometimes I feel like I am at the amusement park on an old white rickety roller coaster, and every time it is my turn to get off, the darn attendant passes me by and starts the ride again.

Warm and Fuzzy: So when I opened my door today, my heart lifted and I felt (sorry for the cliche') warm and fuzzy. I hope you feel warm and fuzzy too today or this week. Life seems in control when you are feeling up and not so down.

Tip of the Day: Ignore the GET FIT CHALLENGE for one day while you make yourself feel warm and fuzzy and prepared to take on Life's Challenges. Then, GET BACK ON IT tomorrow!!!

a great dad story...

Today Mark and I woke up late, very late. Like a perfect domino effect, waking up late led to George being rushed out the door by Mark who then had to drive George to school in a race against the tardy bell. When Mark returned, he came right up to me and said, "Do you want to know how much I love our boys?"

Intrigued, I said, "Yes, tell me."

He shook his head as if not to say anything and slowly unzipped his coat (brrr it was cold today). My facial expression must have turned to utter confusion, because I was utterly confused. Mark had NO SHIRT ON! I clearly remember him leaving the home with his shirt on, but oddly, there he stood with no shirt on underneath his unzipped coat.
"Where is your shirt?" I demanded. Matter-O-Factly he responded, "Today is St. Patrick's day and George was not wearing GREEN!"
"What?!? So you gave him your grown man's size shirt to wear on his 6 year old little body."
"Yes I did." He said resolutely, "I couldn't let him get pinched!"

Mark, now that I have gotten over the official shock and weirdness, I commend you and award you the Father of St. Patrick's Day Award. You love your kids so much, you would give them the shirt off your back.

Monday's FIT TIP MANIA:

GET FIT WEEK 3: 2 TO TRIUMPH!!!

My theme for this week is TWO TO TRIUMPH. This week is a pivotal week. Now that we are into the third week of the GET FIT CHALLENGE, it is common to see set backs and even get off track. Well Slammin' Sista's and Blastin' It Bro's we are not going to take a risk falling into the crap shoot. No! We are going to face this challenge head on. I have read through your comments and have been utterly inspired by your dedication despite adversity. After reading each comment I thought, what would I do in that situation? Ideally, I would do the following.

If I were having a tough time with a certain task, I would try to face it head on. I would focus my daily goals around that one particular daily task. Honestly, of the two weeks that have passed, I have only earned a 'No Sugar' point ONCE! (oh, please don't turn away disgusted...I really did try hard, but sugar is my nemesis) So I decided that I just need more incentive, I need something that will really tip my scales towards earning that point. Get ready, here it is:

THIS WEEK ONLY, choose the task that is the biggest challenge for you. (obviously mine is 'No Sugar') For everyday you complete that task you earn 2 POINTS instead of 1! You may only do this for one task, and it must be the same task everyday. You may not choose a different task to earn double on each day. You must choose at the beginning of each week which task you want to earn double for each day, and then each day keep track of your progress like normal. Give yourself 1 point for each of the tasks you have completed, but for the chosen task of the week, give yourself 2 POINTS for each day you SUCCEED!!!

EXAMPLE: This week I choose to earn 2 POINTS everyday that I choose 'No Sugar'.

Today's a new day! CHOOSE 2 TO TRIUMPH!!!

WHERE FOR ART THOU SUN?

Anyone else out there have issues with the lack of sun during the winter? OHHHH I need some scorching amounts of sun right now.

MY BOYS = MEGA BIRTHDAY

They are getting older! Today we sat and planned an AMERICAN GLADIATOR party. (which means: my personal budget is really tight right now, so I am going to let the kids run around chasing each other while I through big balls at them) Last year I had a separate party for each of them, but that was so much work, so this year I decided to do a joint party since their birthdays are 3 days apart. Will sharing a birthday party emotionally scar them? I hope not. Either way, do you have any suggestions on making their own day special?

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!?

I know, I shouldn't be saying WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I should be saying, WHERE HAVE I BEEN? To make a long story short, I had one of those crap hitting the fans type of weeks and on top of that, my computer has not been connecting to the Internet! Blast my devil computer in my time of need. It is only this week that I realize that I use the blogging cycle (i.e. you read my blog, I stalk yours 3-4 times a day...everyday) as free daily therapy. Needless to say, without my trusting blogging community a fingertips length away, this week was a crap shoot. Which made me realize today, how FREAKING AWESOME you guys are. I read my last post about "Teddy the Destroyer" and loved, laughed and cried about your posts. What great advice you have to share. Thanks so much. I truly feel at my wits end with my little BEAR! So thanks to your advice, I am trying to laugh more, take destruction in stride and see it as him expressing his creativity. Teddy the Destroyer is now Teddy the Tenacious!

GET FIT UPDATE:
I cannot lie, my own challenge quest was about as successful as my crap shoot week. But, that is the glory of the contest. You can have a bomb of a day and just start over the next day. Everyday you are free to earn as many points as you can. So, shrug off the feelings of defeat or guilt and realize today is a new day! Everyday is a new day. You are today who you want to be and not the defeat you felt yesterday. I believe in you, so share your stories with me. How did you do this week? Success or Trial? Post a comment and share your story with all the other contestants. Remember: Instead of Crap Shoots, Shoot for the Stars!

project finished...