Our fun 3 day weekend!

It started out with a nice big rain storm that Bryanna {and Mark & I} really enjoyed! I can't understand when people say they don't like it when it rains. But growing up here, I think it is a treat when the rain drops are splashing against everthing! The rain storm was spectacular out where we live, watching the clouds roll over the mountain was a sight to behold! Bryanna had so much fun playing with the umbrella, which my sister actually sent to me while I was on my mission, and kicking and splashing in the gutter! It was so great to have a break from the heat!

We had a very fun get together over at my parent's house memorial day which included swimming, eating, and more swimming! I must admit that the food was just as wonderful as the company. The cousins LOVE playing together, especially if a pool is involved. Bryanna jumped off the cave for the first time with Daddy's help, she had a blast, and was worn out at the end of the day. My sister Camille had tried out a new recipe for some homemade rolls, and it was definitely worth the wait! It was so delicious topped with some honey butter...I think that could have been all my points for the week:) Needless to say, we had an awesome weekend, packed with so much fun!

On Friday night, my little sister had her 16th birthday party, and it was a total BLAST! My parents went all out on the food and entertainment...it was a hit! Bryanna even got in on the dancing with the Hula Dancers...she took a curtsey at the end of her little grass skirt shaking...it was hilarious!





After the Dancers performed, they had a DJ come and he had lights and music going til about 10:30, then all the kids jumped in the pool! My mom said the last kid left around 12:30am that night. I think it was a swinging party!!!!

All About My Sexy Husband!

1. What is his name? Mark Daniel Perry

2. Who eats more? Mark

3. Who said I love you first? I did...and Mark will never let me forget that:)

4. Who is taller? Mark

5. Who is smarter? Hmmmmm....Mark for sure!

6. Who is more sensitive? Definitely ME, although he has a soft side as well!

7.Who does the laundry? Me. I don't mind, as long as I don't have to work outside the home!

8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Looking at the bed, I do.

9. Who pays the bills? Mark makes the money, so he pays the bills!

10. Who cooks more? I do...Mark can make a delicious breakfast though!

11. What meals do you cook together? Sunday Dinners, I think I just tell him what I need help with, he follows directions really well:) Except this one time when I asked him to make a cake, he got the teaspoons mixed up with the tablespoons, and thank goodness I tasted the batter before we baked it...I had to remake that one:)

12. Who is more stubborn? I think that one is a tie, we both have somethings there is no budging on!

13. Who is the first to admit they're wrong? We both try to forgive and forget as quickly as possible.

14. Who is more clean? I think Mark picks up after himself pretty good, but I pick after me AND the kids.

15. Who has more siblings? Mark by twice as much...he is #8 out of 8!

16. Who wears the pants in the relationship? Mark does with the finances, I do with the kids and whatever else there might be.

17. What do you like to do together? Go to the park as a family, shopping (I know girls, sorry his brothers are married:) playing sports together, definitely vacationing...fav spot, so. cal. (ie, the beach, disneyland, OC swap meet), and cruisin has become a way to vaca too!

18. Who eats more sweets? Mark LOVES candy bars, but I love cakes and pies and cookies...so we tie on that one too!

19. Guilty pleasures? Cold Stone...we both have a specific flavor and mix ins we love! We can order for eachother...

20. How did you meet? At his homecoming first. Then later we officially "hit it off" at a get together at the Bishop's house (his dad) and then we went swimming later that night at my house, and we saw each other everyday since then...I think it was my swimsuit that hooked him :)...the rest is history!

21. Who asked who out first? He asked me out...we went Christmas shopping together, again, who doesn't LOVE to go shopping?

22. Who kissed who first? Mark did...practically in front of his dad, but glad he waited til we were alone!!

23. Who proposed? Mark, He took me to Cold Stone, and then we drove to a park, and he put on our song, "It's Your Love" McGraw/Hill, playing out of his truck stereo system, then he gave me a dozen roses one by one telling me things he loved about me. Then on the last one, he gave me a "friendship ring" and I asked him what finger I should wear it on, and he told me what ever one I wanted. I said thanks, gave him a hug, and thought there has to be more than just this tin ring in his bag of tricks! Then pulled out the engagement ring, got on his knee and proposed!! We danced in the street for a while as I cried and we kissed...then came back to my house and woke my parents up to show the ring:)

24. His best features? I'll keep this G rated hee hee...His smile, hugs, blue eyes, and his sense of humor!

25. What is his greatest quality? His work ethic, being such a wonderful Father and husband, the kids are crazy about him and shout for joy when he comes home from work. And his testimony of the Gospel.

Tag? Chandra, Monakay, Melinda Mullins, Angie Moore ;)

Our House

Hope you enjoyed the tour of our home!! We love visits from family and friends, so hope to see some of you come by!

Some helpful foods...

So on my little quest for swimwuit preparations I have resorted back to some of my favorite snacks and foods that help me supress my appetite.

1. Boca Burgers...they taste great and they are so good for you. They are Soy protein Vegi burgers, and are only 1 point for the Flex plan on Weight watchers. I eat it with a slice or two of bread (whole grain) and it ends up being about a 2 or 3 points total.

2. Whole wheat pasta...We have it for dinner two or three times a week and then I eat left overs for lunch the next day. It tastes great, and I still get my fill in of carbs!

3. Weight Watchers ice cream treats...I bought every kind and they are perfect for my sweet tooth. I think the most important thing for me as I am doing this is to not feel deprived and cut off from all my favorite foods. Being able to eat one a day is bliss!

4. Fruit...I just love all the fruit that is in season right now. Grabbing an apple or an orange, watermelon or pinneapple, does wonders for my hunger pains!!! Three cheers for fresh fruit:)

5. Whole Grain snacks....like whole grain gold fish crackers...and multi grain tostitos chips...low fat wheat thins...the varieties are endless!

If anyone else has some favorite health snacks, please share, I'm always looking for a new treat!

Weight Watchers

Since starting weight watchers on Monday, my sweet and supportive husband is doing it too!!! It makes it so much easier when he does things with me, cooking for the family is way better than cooking for me and then cooking something different for everyone else!! Heaven knows, when trying to eat healthier, there are so many temptations and obstacles, that I need all the help. Dieting before kids and marriage was always so easy...so it is very helpful to do it together. And, I am pleased with results already!! I have lost a notch in my belt loop and I don't weigh in til monday!! Let's hope I can keep it up through the weekend:)

Shopping for food after my first meeting on Monday, was a huge eye opener. It seemed there were healthy options on every isle. There is such a thing as EXTRA lean ground beef...I always just saw lean grnd beef before! And not to mention that whole wheat pasta doesn't taste like card board, it is delicious!!

I'm so grateful for all the possibilities in healthy eating. Weight watchers stresses whole grains and substituting wheat for white bread...and I was astonished with all the varieties to choose from. We have had some really yummy dinners this week, and even better that they have been good for us too!

Concentrating on making all meals taste good, we now sit at our dining room table, it just makes meal time feel even more special. It has been extra fun enjoying our new dining room as well.

So much to do....

so little time! I feel like I could really follow King Benjamin's counsel in Mosiah 4:27, "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and in order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength..." Mark and I have been working around the clock unpacking, setting up furniture, putting up ceiling fans, installing our appliances. There are SO MANY odds and ends to do that it's really quite draining at the end of the day. I am thoroughly enjoying our home, and I actually don't mind all the work because it will be all worth it when we finish.

I'll post pictures when things are all finished, b/c right now, there are still rooms that need to be painted and put together.

On to other news, in my swimsuit preparations, I started Weight Watchers on Monday as a Mother's Day gift with my sister and two other friends!! It will be really nice to have all that support going to meetings together, fighting the urge to splurge! My new motto, when you indulge you bulge:) Let's just hope it sticks!! I think with the move and having so lift so many things, going up and down the stairs a million times a day, it has really jump started something, so hopefully I will see progress at the beginning of summer!!!

Time for an update with Pictures:)

We did get our keys today! So, we were able to get everything into the garage, meanwhile we have the painters lined up this evening and tomorrow, and the carpets will be nice and clean by the time we can get settled in Saturday! We are very excited now, it finally seems like we won't be homeless much longer.

While staying here, Bryanna has fed the ducks twice, played at their park, went swimming everyday, and the most fun of all has been playing with the 8 week old puppies. I have included some pictures that might just make you want to buy one:)

Happy Birthday Stacy!!!!

Since it's Stacy's birthday today, I thought I would give her a little shout out. I am a little rushed for time this morning, so I will just let her know the 3 things I love the most about her.

Number 1: She is the BEST mother in the whole world.
Number 2: She is the BEST wife in the whole world.
Number 3: She is my BEST friend in the whole world.

I love you Stacy, and hope you have a great birthday!!!

All settled...but not for long...

Well, we are out of our house and it is all ready for our renters. It was relieving but sad at the same time. We finished up everything today...and all the cleaning wasn't as bad as I thought was going to be, well maybe I need a day at the spa now:) Thanks to everyone who came and helped us load the U-haul. The kicker was having all of the Young Men come over for their activity that night to help us...it was the best crew ever!!! And to all the other guys who helped carry the heavy stuff...sorry we didn't live in a one story:) Thank you, we couldn't have done it with out all that help. We appreciated it so much.

We finally get to sign tomorrow for our house and it will coincide with my birthday, what a great b-day present!!! I couldn't have planned it better myself:) In the mean time, we are settled in at my parent's house...just until we get our keys. They are great to let us stay with them. Bryanna is LOVING playing with the baby puppies and jumping on the trampoline. Her cousins are right around the corner, so how convenient is that? It's so wonderful to have tons of help with my kids too!

I don't know how we'd get through this small trial without great family and friends. I have felt the Lord's love so much this week even though everything hasn't gone according to my plan. I think the Lord has his ways of humbling us, and letting me know it's not really my plan that matters...it's kind of funny to think we are a bit homeless right now...ha ha! I've been joking with my dad saying he probably didn't think I'd move back in after I got married...but they are great and have welcomed us with arms wide open.