Another Year Older

Our big guy is another year older.  He turned 33 yesterday.  He said when he says it out loud "33" it sounds old but he does not feel like it at all...how is a 33 year old supposed to feel anyways?, LOL!  He says he still feels like he is 20 years old and trust me he still acts like it!

Before Chris got home from school I decorated the kitchen with some scrapbook paper reading, "happy birthday daddy!" I got Chris a 2 gal container of egg whites since he loves them and then I made him a yummy pumpkin protein shake since he did not want cake and for the fall season.  It was yummy!  I don't have a recipe, I just made it up so here's whats in it...

Water

Orange juice

Vanilla protein

Real pureed pumpkin

Vanilla and Agave Nectar

Cottage cheese and Egg whites

Pinches of stevia, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, and pumpkin spice

Talk about delicious and not to mention packed with protein and good nutrients...just the way my honey likes it!

I also helped the boys make a page for Chris that said, "We love you."  I helped them scibbles their names down on the birthday paper and it turned out so cute!

We sang Happy Birthday a couple of times because the boys love that song, especially Trey!

There were no candles but we all devoured some of the protein shake.  Porter loved it especially and was getting upset when daddy would take it away so he could have a drink.  I guess we are starting them early on whey protein..LOL!

That night was babysitting night at the Chruch.  The young women were doing it for a service to get it marked off in their personal progress.  It was free and worked out perfect for Chris's bday so we could go to dinner.  

Chris wanted Sushi of course!  I will have you know before I married him he HATED fish but I converted him over.  You just have to know what to order and what flavors go well together.  We never get anything raw or too fishy.  We love it.  Chopsticks practice (cuz I still am not that good), edamame, and sushi is the usual for us and we were on a budget so we only got 3 rolls, but it was exceptionally GOOD!  

Did I mention he also look very handsome that night, I dont know if I ever told you but I am in love with his "Elvis" sideburns!

 We had someone take out picture before we left and he told us to say "sushi" when Chris said it he almost choked on his mint and then he just ended up swallowing it...LOL, it was really funny so don't mind Chri's weird face! 

To the most best husband and daddy on the planet, to the most patient genuine person I know.  He is just a down right good man and you can't get much better than him!  Your family sure loves you Biggs. HAPYY BIRTHDAY lover boy!

XOXOXOX

12 Weeks Until....

We go on our Family Cruise!!!

I am so excited.

It's the Cutler Family Cruise so we will be taking our kids.  They paid for it but we just had to pay for our air-fair. We are so grateful to them for this...What an awesome early Christmas gift huh?

This is my first time so it should be fun even if we have the kids.  Hopefully one day we will be able to go with out them.  Since its my first time I have to get my first time passport, Chris still has his from his mission so he will not need to get one.  We also have to get them for our little ones.  We still have lots to do.  We are going on the Mexican Rivera I believe and we will be leaving out of Long Beach CA.  It is the week before Christmas so we will be able to have an Iowa Christmas as well.

This Cruise has been Chris and I motivation to really get in shape.  I mean we have always worked out and ate right but this time we have set goals and our determined to achieve them.  My goal is to gain lean tone muscle and maintain my weight.  Chris still can't do much with his bicep since having the surgery but he wants to do what he can to loose a couple lbs and tone up his waistline.  I know we can do it and I love setting goals and achieving them.  Its like a sense of satisfaction not to mention how good you feel when you are working out and eating right.  We call it our "non diet-diet."  To most people what we eat seems like we are on a strict diet when really its just food we like to eat.  We just try and eat lots of wholefoods... actually real food!

Top 5 foods

1)  Absolutely no sugar.  I know the holidays are coming up and we are human so we have limited ourselves to 1 treat a week.  2-3 weeks before we will cut out all sugar even fructose which includes fruit. 

2)  Lots of lean protein.  I prefer fish but Chris likes Chicken.  We eat a lot of beans as well.

3)  Good Carbs.  We love sweet potatoes and sprouted bread to just name a few.

4)  Low Calorie Dairy.  We love goat milk and Greek yogurt is my favy.  We also eat lots of cottage cheese.

5) Fruits (besides 2-3 weeks before) and Veggies..LOTS AND LOTS of them!
You would also think we are NUTS because we eat so much of them! ;)

These are just a few foods we eat on our "non diet-diet"

Chris has me on a pretty good weight training routine, I die every time and especially when I do legs...hate leg day!!  Chris is doing mostly cardio attack and some cross fit.  He also gets lots of conditioning at Rugby practice.  He lifts but he cant lift as heavy as he normally does even though each day he progresses.  

Anyways, We are stoked about both our goals and the cruise.  

PS.  I just read the email that we are to read the B of M before we go on the Cruise as well.  I think it will be awesome.  Chris might have to listen to his on CD since this TRI has been killing him..LOL!  There is lots of work to do so we better get busy huh?

Here's to a fit and healthy weekend yall!

Kids Cute Obsessions

Each of our boys have become obsessed with 1 thing this past moth.

Treyson-- He has a new pal.  "Mr. Monkey!" It is one of the best investments we ever made for him (it was not really expensive.)  His monkey backpack gives him the independence and freedom he wants with out us loosing track of him.  Mr. Monkey has a long tail so we can keep a hold of him yet he can still kind of explore on his own.  We love it and so does he and it is really quite cute too.  He asks for it all the time and when we put it on him he gets really excited and yells, "Monkey, Monkey!"  When its time to take it off he refuses because he wants to wear it all day.  Mr. Monkey and Trey are best buds.

Porter-- He is obsessed with his tongue.  I know most babies are still exploring with there mouth at this age but he just loves his tongue.  He is always sticking it out, or gnawing on it.  When he goes to put something in his mouth he sticks his tongue on it first like he making sure its suitable for complete saturation of slobber...LOL! When he smiles he ticks his tongue to the side between his lips and bites down on it...it is completely adorable.  This has really always been his signature smiles though. He also likes to make the "farting noise" and blow air through his tongue, it's funny.  When a little cutie toungey boy!

  I love kids cute obsessions with things.  It really show their character and makes there personality shine through.  Sometimes I may never know why they do things but they sure are C.U.T.E. KIDS!

Life's Little Things

When I was sick it really made me reflect on life itself.  I had a lot of time to do a lot of thinking, pondering, and praying.  I found myself very humbled when I started to think about "life's little things." some that matter and some that don't.  My mind was at a very venerable place and I was overcome with lots of emotions.  I committed my self to quite sweating the small stuff and focus more on what matter most in life.  For instance....

1)  Our bed is never made.  I want to make it and make an effort to do so most days but its just one of those things that never gets done for 2 reasons.  You would think our bed is easy to make because we have 1 blanket and that's it.  Our Nikken blanket has built in far inferred so it adjust to both of our temperatures.  If we are cold it warms us up and if we are too hot it cools us down, I love it.  Anyways when our bed is made its not even that pretty because we don't have all the fancy comforters or pillows because there is no need for them so I find it hard to make it when it looks just about the same not made.  Also, Treyson and I usually take a nap together everyday in our bed.  Its kind of our thing we do together, we laugh and snuggle, and then he plays with my hair until he falls asleep.  Its great because I usually need a nap everyday since I am still waking up with Porter every night.  I feel guilty everyday for taking a nap, why is this?  I should feel thankful I get too and grateful I have the most adorable napping partner right? I guess I am saying I am proud of our un-made bed because its more then just an "unmade bed" if you know what I mean.   

2)  The boys toy baskets.  We have several in our house...every toy you can possibly think of.  We have millions yet my boys like to play with random things like, drink bottles, lids, brushes, cell phone covers, empty containers, ect.  Sometimes I don't even know why we have so many toys because they just have fun playing with these things then they do "real toys!"  My house is usually covered with randoms toys such as this and I just have to laugh because you would think I just did not know how to pick up after myself or that there was trash all over...LOL!  This is another of lifes little things where I am just enjoying my kids gifts to turn an ordianry item into a magnificant toy!

3) My Lover.  I have been thinking a lot about my dear Christian, my husband, night and shining armor, and my best friend.  I have a picture frame that opens up like a book that has both of our pictures in it taken when we were just about 6 years old.  I have a little sign by our photos together that reads, "you are what happened when I wished upon a star!" I remember being a little girl and thinking about what my dream man would be and now I have him and I am so so thankful for him.  As I looked at our photos I could not help but think about 2 little hearts living their own lives and not even knowing about each other and now how our souls are eternally connected as husband and wife, what a beautiful thing that is. I adore him.  He is truly my help mate and there is no one else like him.  Chris, I love you!   

4)  Meaningful pictures and decorations.  If anyone has been in my house they know I have lots of pictures displayed and many decorations.  There  are a few that mean a lot to me such as our metal welded last name that sits right above our family photo.  P-R-I-C-E it spells and how grateful I am to be a Price Women.  Our name stands for something and has so much great legacy.  I have been told many times that I should feel thankful that I belong and carry the last name of Price. When I first got married I had a hard time giving up my last name "Galea" because no one else had it and it was so unique.  Then I go from having a last name that no one has to a very common last name that many people have and the people that do have it, some of them I am not related to.  Nevertheless, I am honored to be a Price. Another decoration that is dear to my heart is the black shelf that hangs in the kitchen with Chris and I engagement picture on it and 2 wooden carvings that say, "home" and "family." That picture seems like it was taken so long ago and now we have a little family and a home.  It's prefect.  OK I know I am just rambling on here and not of this makes sense to you but its real to me.  I have 2 picture settings that I love and reflect on often as well.  One being the "veteran" shelf where my brothers and Chris army pictures sit.  I have been thinking that I need to add Chris's dad and my Popo's picture to the setting since they are veterans too but I just have not got around to doing it.  I am so grateful that they all served our country.  What a blessing it is to be apart of this great nation and enjoy all the freedoms which I know I take for granted. Second, the picture setting which is a pretty sacred one to Chris and I is his family's shelf or the "heaven shelf."  There is a picture of both set of his grandparents, of him and his dear brother Danny, and the last family picture that was taken right before Chris's father passed away.  Some many people on this shelf are gone and it makes me sad at times but I am trying to keep there memory alive by displaying these photos.  I want my kids to know who these great people are and how much we loved them.  These are just some of life's little things that make me happy.

5) My Scriptures. There are weeks where I am really good about my scripture study and then others where I am wiping the dust off them because I can not remember the last time I picked them up.  I am good about reading the Ensign but my scriptures get overlooked at times.  I have 2 sets, one I take to Church and others that stay right by my bedside.  I don't know if you know but this is how Chris proposed to me, to make a long story short...he had me open these as a late Christmas present and there it was my "new" name engraved on it, Kerri Alicia Price!  In the front cover Chris wrote a sweet message for me that means the world to me.  Anyways, I love these scriptures and I love reading them and the feelings and knowledge I get by doing so.  No, I am not as good as I used to be but I try and I know when I do make the effort that things always go better and life is sweeter. 

6) My Sons.  My boys are such apart of me, of who I am. I am thankful for the little things like when I give Porter kisses and he makes a funny face or when Trey and I just just lounge about all day long in our PJ's!

  Other life's little things is like when my boys wrestle around and Porter face gets smashed or Treys hand, and they both start crying and yell, "MOMMY!"  Then I break out my magic kisses and then all the pain disappears. I become a hero for a brief moment and then it starts all over again!

Another one is when out of nowhere my boys look at each other and just chit chat in their own language.  They have their own little conversation, then they start laughing hysterically at one another.  It's like they totally understand each other and I just love watching them communicate.

I love my Treyson's facial expressions and the little funny faces he makes.  He seriously makes my day!

Or, When Porter smiles from ear to ear and lights up the whole room and your heart just melts! I love this.

These are just some of life's little things that I am going to focus on more.  I am not a "cookie cutter" wife and mother and I am going to stop trying to be one.  I want to embrace life as it is and not sweat the small stuff...
Its OK if the dishes are not done before I go to bed because I am too tired to do them, it will give me something to do tomorrow.
Its OK that I did not get dressed today or even brushed my teeth because when I went to do these things I always found myself doing something for one of the boys.
Its OK if it is just "one of those days!"
Its OK if Trey does not understand the concept of volume at times because most of the time when he is being loud he is laughing.
Its OK if Porter is still getting up at night because when I am feeding him he caresses my face or wraps his little hand around my finger so tight that he gets mad if I let go.
Its OK if I only got to say "hi" to my husband today because when we do get to spend time together it is always more loving.
I am trying to find the good in the things that I complain about and appreciate life's little things that I sometimes overlook.  I am going to be happy NOW, not when the dishes are done, or Porter sleeps through the night, or when my husband gets a break, and the list goes on.  I am happy and I love life.
It is my prayer that we will take a step back and just embrace life, enjoy it, and just plain live it!
Sorry for this extensive post.  Good night yall, I am going to my un-made bed now!;)  

Welcome Fall

I love the fall whether here in Iowa.  We have been enjoying it as much as we can.  It seriously is the best time of year for being outside.  The temperature is perfect.  I heart this time of year anyways, the leaves are starting to change, the humidity is leaving, and my kids just love being outside. 

Porter really likes the leaves of course he put them in his mouth and tries to eat them.  I think he just likes all the bright colors.

Trey loves to pick flowers and leaves from the garden.  His new thing is he will ask you, "what that?" "whats that?" He goes around pick up all sorts of things or pointing at them to find out what they are.  Then when you tell him what it is and he says, "yeah (then whatever it is)."  It really cute and he is learning a lot.  If he does not know how to pronounce the word well he just makes something up which makes me laugh.  He does pretty well with most words though.

We also have been doing lots of playing with chalk.  Trey loves to color so this activity is so good for him,  I usually draw or spell something and he tries to color or trace it. It gets pretty messy at times and sometimes he still tries to eat the chalk but its fun, he has a great imagination.

Porter loves all the fun outside toys.  They keep him very occupied.

Oh yes, and we can not forget about the sand box, this is my boys favorite!  We have blue sand which they think is pretty cool.  Trey loves to dig and bury things while Porter just love the feel in his hands.

Of course they both try and sneak a bite of sand which calls for blue mouths but I am always trying to teach them that its yucky.  It must taste good or something because every time I turn my back they are trying to eat it!  They are getting better though because when they do it too much I cover the sand box and they both get really upset...LOL, little turkey bottoms!!

The sandbox is always a great adventure.  I usually like to stripped them down to their diapers when they play in it since it makes such a big mess.  My boys look so adorable playing together and covered in sand, I love it!

They both like to watch Daddy mow the lawn while sitting the sandbox, its like a great TV show for them.

We usually end up with very blue feet and hands.

Porter legs usually end up buried by Treyson and their diapers are usually jam packed with sand.

LOL!

Thank you Mr. Blue Sandbox for keeping my kids happy!

Porter has been loving the adventure outside.  He walks with the lawnmower to try and be like his dad, and he seriously can almost dribble a basketball.  He loves to experience with NO HANDS to see how long he can stand on his own.  He does pretty good.  His favorite thing is his little walking airplane, he gets so excited when it moves and he can walk with it.

And then there is Jax, we can not forget how much he loves to be outside in this nice whether too and play fetch with his football.

On the weekends I have been taking the kids to the Park mostly when Daddy has his Rugby games because the kids get bored easy.  We have so much fun at the Park and this time the swings were it!

Trey has always loved the swings but this was Porters first time and he loved it.  He would not stop laughing.  Trey thought it was so cool that he was swinging next to him and they would look at each other and just giggle and giggle.  It was seriously so cute.

Trey kept saying, "again, higher higher!"  Then he would proceed with some big shout outs and yell, "wow, wee, wee!"

Porter was just so ecstatic and he kept letting out his little squeals and screams. I did not push him that high but he just loved being in the swing that even when I took him out he got really upset.

Trey wanted to get out and help me push Porter, it was really adorable. He was laughing and saying, "wee brudder!"

I love both of my little outside buddies.

For other news, Porter turned 10 months old a couple days ago. WOW, really your second one just goes by so so fast.  He is such a big boy and he actually took a couple steps on his own the other day.  That is about all he can do before he plops to the ground.  I am fine with that, I am not rushing the walking...he is already into everything.  He climbs up on anything, seriously this kid has NO FEAR.  Sometimes he will climb up on something high and take a pretty big fall and I think he is really hurt but he does not cry and just gets back up and tries again.  He still only has 2 teeth but can gum pretty much anything.  He has discovered dancing, waving hi and bye bye, and clapping.  His baby sign is also improving as well.  Gee, I can not even believe I am writing all this about it him, it just seems like yesterday I was writing his birth story.  The next 2 month are going to fly by and it makes me a little sad.  Even though he is so big he will always be "my baby!"

Welcome and Happy Fall Everyone!

Hawaiian Dance, New YW Pres, and Personal Progress

Last month our ward was in charge of the stake dance.  The young women's presidency was in charge of planning and I was put in charge of decorations...yay! This was definitely my department since I love decorating and planning parties with different themes.  The theme was Luau which is always fun and we went all out Hawaiian Style...we had Hawaiian haystacks, lays, pineapples, and even a place where people could put there heads and take pictures like they were surfing.  I had so much fun doing it and the dance was even fun.  They played good music and I had to re frame from getting out on the dance floor and shaking my booty..LOL!  I did a little bit but I had to remember that I was a "supervisor" not a young women!

That next Sunday they called a new YW Presidency and kept me as the second counselor.  It was really random and out of the blue but I guess the ward felt it needed to be done so here we have the new presidency...

President: Leigh Likins

1st Counselor: Tess Marler

2nd counselor: Kerri Price (yours truly)

Secretary: Kelsey Dastrup

It actually was really hard for me when we got a new presidency because I grew so close to the other girls who were in the presidency.  I am going to miss them so much...Karla Nelson, Nicole Cunningham, and Cendy Alfred...I love you guys.  I want them to know that they taught me so much and how grateful I feel to have served with them.  This was my first time experiencing something like this in the Church and it was a lot harder then I thought it was going to be.  I cried.  Chris helped me to understand that this is the way the Church works sometimes and that its OK to be sad about it.

(This is the "new" at a Wednesday night activity.  I just came from the gym so don't mind the sweaty gym clothes and shinny forehead)

I do love our new presidency though.  The president is a convert and she has been a member for 3 years.  She is on fire and her testimony and excitement of the Gospel is awesome.  She is so well organized and I think she will be great.  The others girls in the presidency are all Palmer wives as well so that makes it fun too.  I am excited about the our new presidency and we already have lots of things in store for our girls!

Can you tell who the CRAZY ones are in the group of us?

Yes it is I

and Tess...

We are pretty silly!

Another thing I am excited about is the new Personal Progress, well its not new new, but new to me. Since I am a convert,  I was only in young women's for not even a year and only had to complete 1 experience in each value and 1 big project to receive my YW medallion....so technically I have not done the whole thing!  I am determined to finish the program, I have started it and I am loving it so if you see post on my blog about personal progress you will know why.  I honestly feel like young women still and I am just so thankful to be given the opportunity to do it again! I am doing it slowly but surely and I even am working on my first project now!  I know that this program is inspired by the Lord himself.  It is brilliant!

2 thumps up for Young Women's!!

I HEART it!

So grateful to my Father in Heaven to let me be apart of it by giving me the calling of 2nd Counselor.

Can't wait for mutual tonight!

Labor Day

Labor Day marks the end of summer! Sigh...really summer is already over?  I was just getting started, maybe its because I have been bed ridden for the past week.  Yesterday was the first day I woke up with out a severe migraine.  This sickness, whatever it was did a number on me.  I am down to 95 pounds! I guess it figures because most days I could not even sit up to even eat and if I would then I would just throw it up from all the dizziness.  All my hard work of weight training is out the window but I am not going to get on that quite yet.  My body still needs to heal from the elements that it had.  I am trying to do everything with as less meds as I can so I am just going to let my body do its thing.  I am so thankful I am feeling better, it is a huge relief!  Anyways back to labor day...we just took it easy most of the day.  Chris went to the gym because he was having massive cabin fever and I just stayed and played with my boys.  I missed them.  I actually took a nap when they did too.  Towards the end of the day I was getting cabin fever so we went out.

This is Trey right before we left with chocolate on his face.  He always seems to having something all over his face. He was excited and kept saying, "go, go time go!" 

Poor Porter had been cooped up in the house too and needed to get out.  He was just really happy to have his mommy back.  If you did not know Porter is a MAMMA'S BOY for sure!  Chris said he was looking over his shoulder the whole time I was sick to see where I was and to try and find me. If he saw me of heard my voices he would claw and arch his back to try and get to me.....ah, I missed you too Porter bug!  I got all those snuggles back on Labor day.

I was not really ready to go out since I just woke up from a nap, this is why I was sporting the no make-up hat "do" but I told Chris I was ready for some REAL food!  I was craving seafood of course so we went to Red Lobster.  The coconut shrimp and crab claws were divine and hit the spot for me.  I probably gained my 5 pound back that night..haha!  Anyways it was good to get out and have some yummy food.

We discover at Red Lobster that Porter loves lemons.  This is interesting because I loved them when I was prego with him.  Anything sour I loved really.  He did not even make a sour face when trying it for the first time he just kept wanting more and more...LOL!  Trey loved playing with the crab claws and he was yelling, rraahhrrr rrrahhhrrr while opening and closing the claw!

It was a good Labor Day and I am so glad the end of summer marked a feel good week for me.  I still can't believe summer has come and gone but I look forward to FALL!  I love fall weather in Iowa. Anyways hope all yall had a great Labor Day Weekend!