Weight Loss Queen

So as many of you know, I was recently working on losing weight, for health reasons as well as I had gained 20 lbs since I started working at Center Partners, and getting married didn't help that either. I joined a 12 week Weight Loss Challenge sponsored by Herbalife products, and I won the challenge! I must say, I didn't think I would win, and that's not why I did it, but it was nice to get that bonus, and to look and feel great!

This is me with my Weight Loss Coach Mary Jo. She is so awesome!

Everyone who joined paid in $35, and so I won half of all that money being the first place winner for a total of $135. The second half was divided between 2nd and 3rd place. Jon was so happy he called me "The Weight Loss Queen" and asked me when I could join up again. I explained that since I lost 10lbs, the chances of me losing more and winning again would be slim. But I subtly hinted that he should join!

Happy Fourth!

Saturday was one of the longest days I've had in a while, but it was a good day. I usually don't like the 4th of July, since I hate loud noises and bright lights, both of which are prominent features of the celebration. I've always understood the significance of the holiday, how America is the promised land and how this holiday celebrates our independence, but I've just never really enjoyed those traditions. Usually my family goes to Paonia for Cherry Days, and we watch the parade as well as picnic in the park. That is how I usually like to spend the Fourth, among my family in a low key setting. This year we decided not to drive 7 hours each way, and stayed here in Fort Collins.

As a result we started with our friend Tabi, who we went to brunch with after her run in the Firecracker 5K. We went to The Farmer's Table and it was really good. I had a breakfast burrito, while Jon and Tabi got the classic biscuits and gravy. Then we went to 3 different barbecues, which put us eating at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm. Blah!

One was the Fairbank BBQ with all the ward members who were in town. It was fun, but it rained on us, so we mostly spent the time inside. Bing got to meet lots of kids from our ward though so I'm sure he enjoyed it.

Then we went to the Hummer BBQ put on by Paul and Moriah. The other Hummers came, including Meghan, Alli, Matt and Catie, and a few of Paul and Mo's friends. That was fun too! Bing got so wet just running through the grass with Choco, he looked like he just got out of the bath. :)

The last BBQ was at the Baratta's house. We go over to dinner there almost every Sunday, but this time we went over on Saturday too, because the Fourth of July is a very big deal at their house. It's Mike's birthday and the kids love setting off fireworks and all that fun stuff. I had never really done that before. I must admit I didn't like the screamers that produced no colors, but there were some awesome fireworks, and it was cool to see what they would do!


Malia with her sparkler!

And Jacob with his!

All three kids, Jacob, their neighbor Isabel, and Malia.

Bing was so scared of the fireworks, we left him inside for most of it, but here's a pic of him whimpering...

As you can see we had a really great time with our friends and family. It was one of the best 4th of July's ever, and it was great to spend the whole day with my wonderful husband. :)

Happy Father's Day!

So Father's Day was on the 21st, and yes, I am aware that this post is a little late, but I had a stressful week. Anyway, for Father's Day I decided since I love my dad, and he was home all alone (with Mom in Utah for Whitney's knee surgery), that I would drive out to see him. I drove out Saturday and we had dinner together at Carino's, went to visit my Grammy and on Sunday went on a hike on the Colorado National Monument. It was a really great weekend and it was so good to see my dad. I don't usually get to do stuff with just me and him, so it was awesome to have Daddy-Daughter time.

On our hike we took the trail to see what they call the "Coke Ovens" which don't really look like coke ovens, but oh well. It was a short hike, but a lot of fun. Here are some more pictures of our adventure!


We decided to take the easy route. Monument Canyon Trail would take us traipsing through the wilderness for 7 miles one way... not a good idea.

Cave drawings or paintings, like the ones seen here, are actually NOT a history of ancient peoples or their form of art.

The View...
Below is Monument Canyon Trail, which really isn't a trail at all

The Coke Ovens! And Proof that we were there!































On our way back we saw a little cave and decided to go exploring.

About when we thought we should turn back because it was so dark we saw an opening and just HAD to check it out!


Turns out it was just a drainage area so that the roads don't wash out when it rains. Pretty lame, but at the time it was very exciting to go through the cave and find out where it went to...

Later, Dad said I should've stayed down there and he would've taken a picture of me from the top. I don't think that would've ever happened, but it was a nice thought.


Thanks for a great weekend Dad! You're the best! I'm so lucky to have the family that I do and the parents that I do. I miss all of you so much and wish I could see you more often.

Update on the Car Situation...

As many of you know, Jon's brand new Corolla was totaled when someone vandalized it by lighting the driver's seat on fire. The insurance company valued it at more than what we owed on it, so they paid off the lease and we got the rest. We also got the money we paid in for our extended warranty back. Overall, it turned out to be not so bad, but I think Jon still misses Burnie...

So because of all this, we recently bought a neused car! (meaning "new" to us, but "used" by someone else) It's a 1999 Honda CRV, painted red and has a manual transmission. It's a really great car, took Jon to Utah and back, and we're so glad we were able to find a good deal on it. We have really been blessed through this whole ordeal, though it may have seemed at the time to be a horrible thing, it just turned out to be a minor inconvenince to not have a second car for a while, and also a huge blessing in the end.

Here are some more pictures of the car. Enjoy!

Front seat.

Driver's Seat

Spacious!

Look at the Trunk Space!

Happy One Year at TiVo!

Today marks my one year anniversary working for TiVo inc. We had a huge party, since it was also TiVo's one year anniversary at Center Partners. It's hard to believe it's been that long, but I'm actually doing really well at my job and starting to get used to what I do. Sometimes it's draining, and sometimes it's hard, but I feel like I'm doing the best I can to provide for my family and to put Jon through school. I have really great supervisors and managers and I feel like I'm making a difference, albeit a small one. Next summer I'll be going back to school to get my teacher licensure and then on to a MA in Education. I'm super excited for that and ready to be back in school, but for right now, this is working out. Plus, who doesn't love TiVo?

Me with my friend, TiVo (aka Randy)

Burn Baby Burn...

Between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, someone decided to start a fire in Jon's car. We don't know who or why, but the results were a little intense.

As you can see, the driver's seat is completely burned out, and you can probably tell the source of the fire by where the red rag and the partially burnt tissue box are. Also note the plastic stalactites hanging from the ceiling. There were burn marks on the passenger seat as well, but it was mostly the driver's seat the took the heat. (get it...haha). Apparently whoever did this used the hide-a-key to get in, and after starting the fire, locked and shut the door, thus preventing the fire to get more oxygen. It could have been a lot worse.

So after discovering this on Wednesday morning, Jon calls me as I'm driving to work to tell me. All I can think of is that he can't be making it up, because it's too random for him to be able to even conceive this. I'm just glad no one was hurt.

More pictures below show the damage in closer detail. Like I said, it was mostly just the driver's seat, but insurance still called the car totaled because of all the melted plastic and smoke damage. It would take too much to fix it, and it would never be the same again.
So we're off to buy another car. This time most definitely a used one, and we'll also be trying to cut our car payment a lot so we can start paying off my student loans and save some money. We'll see how long we can go with just one car I guess. :)

I love to see the Temple!

On Saturday, Jon and I had the awesome chance to go to the temple with a few friends who we've never gotten to go with before. It was a great experience to be there with some of my best friends and other wonderful people who I love. We took some fun pictures afterward, before we stuffed our faces with CiCi's. Then we went to go see "UP." It was such a great day and I just wanted to share this with everyone who reads my blog, however few that may be.

The temple is literally the House of the Lord and I feel that I am such a privileged person, to have the restored gospel in my life and to be able to enter this holy place. I am so attached to that building, it's where I got engaged, where I got married forever, and where I made the most important decisions of my life. The way I feel when I can go is indescribable, and even though Jon and I make sure to go every month, I wish I could go more, I want to make it a goal to go more.

The prophet said that only the home can compare to the glory of the temple. I wish that my home was that holy, that full of the spirit, and a place where others can find refuge. While stressing about a lot of things going on and what I should do in the future, I never think to ask the Lord for help or guidance. I guess I feel like I have a brain for a reason, but there are some things that I need help on. There are some decisions I'm not comfortable making on a whim, and needing to do what is best for my family is so important. I love the temple, because it is a place where I can just be. I don't have stresses, though I think about my problems and decisions there. I just can't stress in such a peaceful and lovely place.

We're going back tomorrow, and I'm so excited to go again only 4 days later. I encourage all of you, if you are members and have recommends of course, to go to the temple as often as you can. Enjoy that love and spirit you can feel. And if you don't have a recommend, get one. And if you're not a member of our Church, I'm sure you know someone who is Mormon, and can ask them more about why the temple is so pivotal in our lives. There is no other place on earth that can give the comfort and security of knowing that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and love us, and have provided this place for us to have, so we can be forever families and accomplish our life missions on earth.