HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRIFFIN!!

Griffin, I hope you have had a very fun birthday! You are now 6 yrs old. You will be going to school every day in about a month. I know you will love that because you are very smart and love to learn new things. But, I know your Mommy will miss having you at home. In this picture you are wearing Bumpa's hat and have just eaten a chocolate fudge bar.

Griffin loves going to the beach. His Mommy took this picture of him when he was three.




Griffin, Kylie, his Mom, and his Nana and Bumpa all went to the Beach at Camp Pendleton earlier this summer. Griffin brought along his "plastic" sand bucket. He had lots of fun.



Here he is playing in the sand with his Sister and cousins. Camp Pendleton.



Griffin was barely walking here. Everyone is out on the big lawn and the kids are playing water baseball. This is in July of 2004.



Another picture of the sweet little baby, just learning to walk. We love you, Griffin, and we hope you had a wonderful and exciting birthday. Nana and Bumpa

Weight Loss Monday Meeting

Welcome to our first Monday Meeting! First of all, I just want to say how proud I am of everyone trying to be a little bit better this week. We are on the right track.

For our meeting, you can post or comment, whatever is easier. As you share your week, may I suggest a couple of options:

1. Share something positive that happened this week.
2. Share a challenge you are struggling with or have a question about.
3. The rest is up to you . . . you can share your goals, any weight loss success, or suggestions for next week.

Thanks for coming. We'll see you next week.

P90X and Jessica

I am afraid I will be too busy tomorrow to post, so I am doing it tonight.
Jessica and I are on our way!
I have a friend, 54 years old?, VERY active, very athletic, but not slender. She is a stout woman. A couple of weeks ago she came over and I actually noticed that her hips were definitely smaller. She told me about this program she was doing called P90X. It sounded interesting so I looked it up on the internet and bought it. It is 12 DVD's, each one a different workout. No fancy equipment, no need to go anywhere, a pull-up bar, a couple sets of weights, and your very best "BRING IT" attitude. I was a little slow getting started. I tried to get my girls to be my workout buddy, but our schedules never meshed. Then I mentioned it to Dawney and she said Jessica had been dying to try this out, but she couldn't buy it. So now, Jessica comes over to my house every night at 8:00 and we work our butts off. (Sorry, Julie. It is an intense workout and needs an intense phrase). I have never sweated so much so quickly. We work out 6 nights a week for 60-90 minutes. We work on different parts of the body. Each exercise takes 30 seconds to 1 minute and then we switch. There is no time to get bored. We've done plyometrics, a very difficult Yoga class (just watching the people do these poses is incredible) , core stability, Kenpo, cardio...who knew there were so many different ways to do pushups and pullups! The program is based on muscle confusion so there is no real plateau. I love the variety. I REALLY like the creator of the program. He reminds me a little of Gil. He is is fantastic shape, and he pushes you to do your very best, but make sure it is YOUR best, not anyone else's. Plus, he's funny.

In 90 days, if I really have improved my health, then it will be because of Jessica. She puts in most of the effort. She is working around MY schedule. She is the one who comes to my house and then has to drive home again at the end of a difficult workout. Plus, she leaves me absolutely NO EXCUSE. She comes, and I have to exercise. She is like my exercising guardian angel. Plus, she doesn't complain when Daniel, Jenna and Sophie all try to crowd into our small exercise space and workout with us! Thank you, thank you, Jess.

Now for confessions...what I eat continues to be my downfall. Ugh. I HAVE increased my water intake and decreased my soda intake, but I still eat too many of the wrong calories. I don't really have a strong enough committment to change my eating habits yet. It's SOOOO much work.

That's my report!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANDICE MUFFIN!!!

And I loved you then



here is the Birthday Baby, just a couple of hours old, 26 July, 1972



Here she is at 3 yrs. I love this picture



When she was doing commercials.


In front of Tom Sawyers Cave. We looked for "Indian Joe" but didn't find him!




As a babe being held by Mom. Does she look a little like Teo?



By this time we were just a family of four. You two kids kept us going!!!



Sorry, I didn't see that this was turned sideways. I searched for this pic yesterday and had it ready but when they are tiny little pictures sometimes I can't see them properly. Anyway, I love this picture of CMP and Tanner on Thanksgiving Day in 2003 just ready to walk out the door to the airport for CA.



Here she is in Paris on her honeymoon with Gil.



Beautiful Picture with Teo



The family. Candice, Tanner, Teo, Gil. Have a wonderful day Candice. We love you!

Wet and Hot

**EDITOR'S NOTE: (Julie) I was shocked when I push, "publish" and off this post went to the Payne blog. I don't know what happened, or why, but it is here now. I am sure you will enjoy it.

Here is the pool that Griffin has been taking his swimming lessons in: That's his class, far, far in the left hand corner.
I tried to figure out how big this pool was, but I just wasn't sure. It really looks like a regular, Olympic size.
Griffin's new teacher, Skyer, has him swimming the length and the width!

Here's a short video of the above picture:

We have not played much tennis. Maybe because of my hurt elbow.

We have played a lot of Settlers of Catan.

Steven always has interesting stories from work. I should start to post those.

We have been swimming - the pool got so hot, we had to add cold water.

Kylie is spending the night at a friends tonight (Friday)

Q & Z are backpacking/hiking with their scout troop - gearing up for their week long Yosemite trip.

Hmm, the last question is, What's for dinner? I don't know!

Reminder

Just a reminder about Monday's Meeting. How is everyone doing? Are you eating better this week? Have you started to exercise? Be thinking about something you can share with us.

You can do it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JENNA!!

we just got back from our "historic Church Sites" trip by bus to 4 different states just in time to celebrate Jenna's birthday. We usually always sat in the back of the bus. Here is Jenna with all the comforts of home . . her pillow, her blanket, and her book. The children had lots of time to read.

Here are the children in the back of the bus having a picture taken with Bumpa. I believe they all had fun.




Here is Jenna with Nana standing at the front door of Father Smith's home in Palmyra. Alvin was a carpenter and began building the home but could not finish it because of his tragic death. He told his older bro, Hyrum that he had to finish it.



While the former house was being built, the Smith's lived in this cabin. It had an upstairs. Joseph slept upstairs with several other brothers. This is where Moroni visited him three (or four?) times to tell him about the golden plates which were buried in the hill and he would be expected to retrieve them, protect them, and take care of them in specific ways. It was great to see the room where all this took place. The bed was just a double (small) size, and there were three or four that slept there!



The "Grove" where Joseph prayed is beyond this fence.



Here is the family walking down towards the 'grove.'



Jenna is now walking with Bumpa towards the Grove.




Here is Jenna outside the John Johnson Farm where, on a cold night Joseph was dragged out of the house and tarred and feathered, had a tooth broken while trying to pour poison down his throat and other terrible things! But today, the home is beautiful and so is Jenna standing on their front lawn.




Now we are in Hannibal, Misouri. We have just ridden around the town and we sang "Horsy, Horsy, On Your Way". We enjoyed our ride and Clem liked us so much he let all the children sit on "Pete's" back. I hope this is Jenna. It was a little hard to tell which one.



Here are all the children posing with Clem. He was a nice gentleman. Happy Birthday, Jenna. You are one of a kind. You bring us JOY, and we love you so very, very much!

Weight Loss Support Group!

Would you like to lose weight with me? I would love to have a support group to chat with about my week and what works and/or what doesn't. I've learned from going to my Mommy Support group that having a support group really helps and validates what you're going through. It is something I look forward to every week. Even if I don't share, I always learn something new.

I'm inviting all of YOU to join me in becoming more healthy. This is how it works: Anyone participating will need to make a comment/post each Monday. I will call it our "Monday Meetings." (I originally wanted to create a separate blog for this - but it's never going to happen . . . I can barely take a shower these days, so creating a new blog would take forever and I'm anxious to begin). In our Monday Meetings you can share whatever you'd like. For example, you can share whether you've lost/gained any weight that week, how often you exercised, or a good snack to eat. Anything is acceptable, you just need to share something.

Are you in?? Our first Monday Meeting will be a week from today - July 27th. During this week I encourage you to do several things to get started:
1. Set a weight loss goal. You need to know what you're aiming for.
2. Set an exercise goal. This is something you can share about on our Monday Meetings.
3. Go to www.livestrong.com and become familiar with the daily plate. I love this site. It will track your daily calories, graph your carb/fat/protein intake, tell you how many more calories you can eat for that day, keep track of your exercise, and many other things. My only caution is to take the time to get to know the site. There are a lot of sponsors and sometimes it can be confusing. But don't give up. Start creating your meals and it will be much easier. By the way, it's a free site inspired by Lance Armstrong.

Who's with me? Sign up below if you want to join our support group. I can't wait to see what positive effects come out of this. See you next Monday!

SEND ADDRESS!!

Beth and Mike, Will you please write down your new address in the comment section. There are several of us who need your address so that we can send baby things! We love you and hope you, Bethany, are doing well. We are anxious to hear from you. Quickly now, mind your Nana!!

Credit Card Fraud

One of the jobs that I work is very, very boring. So to combat that boredom I listen to podcasts of NPR programs. [Many major thanks to darling Jessica for loaning me her iPod on the weekends]. Anyway, today I heard a law professor from Georgetown University talking about credit card companies. I think that this program should be mandatory listening for EVERY SINGLE PERSON over the age of 17. Let me warn you ahead of time, once you find out what your credit card companies are doing you may never want to use your cards again.

Click on this link, and when you get there click on the link that says Listen Now. It's a 20 minute segment, but absolutely, very highly worth it.

IN TWO DAYS - JULY 10

It will be Steven's birthday. I will not be near a blogger so am posting today! I am gone with Bumpa and T's family to Hill Cumorah, the Sacred Grove, Kirtland, Nauvoo etc. Soooo, Here is Steven with his big bro Topher. Aren't they darling boys. Here Steven must be three. He is at a wedding in our back yard on 325 Topaz, Arcadia.

Here is Steven just leaving for his mission. He is on his way to the MTC. Candice and Tanner just got up to wish him well!



As usual, Steven is creating games.These boys are racing to jump in the pool.





Here is steven with Bumpa and older cousin, Tim. I think this is before he went on his mission.



Here are most of the grandchildren lining up by age to have their picture taken. I think this was in 2004 on Oakhill Dr.



Sitting with a family group.



Playing water baseball.



Talking with Candice between runs.



One day Steven and Topher came. They wanted to borrow something to use for Halloween. Steven picked my fur coat. We zipped the sleeves out of it. He tried it on. It immediately took him to another time. I think he must be imagining himself as one of his nordic warriors ancestors. Have fun Steven. And have a wonderful birthday on the 10 of July. You are a delightful and wonderful boy (I should say man because he is now old enough to get married) How about that! We love you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!

Today is Matthew's birthday! He is sixteen. I don't know what they are doing today but I hope he celebrates and has a very fun day. This is his kindergarten picture. He was very adorable!






Here he is in the 5th grade.



Matthew and Katy are very handsome.



Here is Matthew at our pool at 5959 Oakhill Dr.



Matthew sitting with Haley at Candice and Gil's wedding.



One more picture - same wedding. Adam, Nana, Katy, and Matthew.
Happy Birthday!! We love you.

Photos from my new camera! July 02

This is Dad(Bumpa,or Gary)the morning of Father's Day. He is still wearing his Veloy PJ's that he has had for 30 years? Julie just rehemmed the tops.




Sherma had hand surgery for "trigger finger" on 22 June.





Christopher came to visit with Trish. She is a wonderful child!



Sherma and Candice just had pedicures! Fun!



This is almost Teo's favorite place to sleep. The girls in the pedicure place wooed and cooed him!



Teo was only here for five minutes. Then he began to bellow! He wanted to be held by his mommy while he slept!



The girls, Jenna and Sophia have been transferred to Nana's bed where it is cooler in the morning. They like to sleep 'til 10 o' clock!



Tanner just opened his eyes. He sleeps on the red sofa in Nanna's bedroom.