Happy Birthday Sisters

I waited until the end of the week so I could include all my sisters and do their birthday blog. I have 3 sisters who had birthdays this week. Jennifer, Michelle, and Katherine. I am not good at the picture adding and apologize for not having anything for this particular blog.

Some things that my sisters have taught me: All of them taught me it is ok in high school to drive the big blue van with guys hanging off the back ladder (what?) I remember so many times seeing my sisters driving up the street with some guy chasing them and jumping on the car. lol

My older sister were the ones who taught me how to write so great. I do not make them take the blame for the grammar but it all started with the ODE TO era. They used to write ODES to everything. Boy crushes, football games, everything...

With my two older sisters they probably don't know how courageous I think they were to move to San Diego. I love to move around but they were fresh out of college, not sure if it was going to work out and moved by the beach and lived the dream man!!! That example is something I will never forget.

Jen especially I remember the weekend we went camping with the guys..I believe you were taking a couple pictures with Mark for engagement possibility pictures. That was so fun. Jen how hard of a worker you are. I don't know if I could work full time days and keep my head in the game, but you do it..You are also the person I have on my list to fix any tech problems I have for my stuff..I just never finish those projects.

Michelle.. I remember when you bought your first house. I was so excited for you. I remember thinking how grown up you seemed. You have been someone I have looked to as of late for a fitness icon. Sometimes it is good to find an idol that you can follow.. Thanks for that.

Kath..Thanks for always being a great listener. I rarely talk to any of my sisters because of who knows why, but my conversations with Kath have always been filled with a great conversation and someone I know I can confide in.

Happy Birthday you guys. I know I did not even call or send a card, but my thoughts were with you. I love you all!!!!

ESPYS

Ok, so I am not a huge sports fan..lets be honest I don't watch until Toby calls me in and tells me to watch and it is usually a replay. I am very fortunate to have a husband (when he is home) to choose to hang with the fam instead of watching sports all day.

With that lead in I have to say I watched the whole ESPYS award show tonight. Yes, I realize it is not exactly like watching sports but normally something like this would not keep me for 2 seconds.

Some things I enjoyed: the cameraman that loved Fergie even though she didn't look that good. Beckhams ( i think wife) she has had so much Botox I really felt bad she couldn't smile or give an expression.

Although I usually am not a huge Justin Timberlake fan..I am adding him on my list as hilarious. He was the host and did and awesome job.

The inspirational stories really moved me to be a better athlete myself and lastly I am not usually a fan of sponsors ads in the show, but under armour sold me on their products. I am going to find the commercial and play it for myself before every workout.

For not being a fan..I am sold on the award show!

FAT ROLL

I am going to be candid here and talk about fat rolls. I do promise however to not post pictures in this particular blog :)

I have been working out really hard. I work all my muscle groups. I am working on my eating and am seeing results in my weight loss. I stepped it up a notch again to get my body back off the plateau.

What about my one fat roll? Will it ever be lost? If I lose enough weight and am physically fit, is it possible for a fat roll to still be there? I don't want to have to get lipo to reach my physical goals. I am hoping that if I eat cleaner than my body will see a difference on this one spot. I do situps and see no difference.

How frustrating. I hope that I can see this diminish and not haunt me the rest of my life. Let me know what you think. This blog is in place of writing into my oxygen mag to get answers.

6 months milestone

I have always kindof hated when people have a huge amount of anniversaries for everything, so I will not call this an anniversary. This is a milestone. Today is the Tennysons 6 month mark for this deployment with the Army. WOW! time really does fly.

What we have done in the last 6 months:

Cyrus found out what was wrong with him and started on some good meds to get better. Cy had a great season of flag football. Cy has worked really hard on his schoolwork and physical health. He has learned alot about the Army life and how to be yourself in the face of peers making bad choices.

Courtney had a great time doing gymnastics and looks forward to starting back up this fall. She has also been working on her physical health and is a great eater (clean). Courtney has picked up any of my slack during this deployment and went from getting D's in school to being the top of her class with straight A's.

Carmen has always been daddy's little girl, so this has been kindof rough on her. It is hard for a 3 year old to comprehend how to communicate by phone. She has done a great job however and and has not changed but has become more and more hilarious.

Cera Jane of course has changed the most because that is what babies do. She has learned to walk, grown 8 teeth, learned to say hi and wave bye. She loves to babble on the phone and sit by daddys picture and say dada.

I have lost 45 pds, made some extra money for my family, improved my physical conditioning, read the book of mormon, made some good friends, came back in touch with some old ones. I have been given some new insight and appreciation for our country and have a deeper love for my husband than I ever thought possible.

I cannot really share much of what toby has been doing except for the Bataan Death March which was a marathon in his boots and full uniform and 45 pds ruck on his back. He has build some major muscle mass and has been positive in the face of adversity for 6 month away from his children, missing all the things listed above.

I am thankful for the last 6 months. My life is awkward but is really awesome. I see things different and am thankful for that. I get to feel emotions differently and more often than alot of people. Our family has been blessed beyond compare and I am thankful for the decision Toby made to change the direction in our lives. In tears and in joy I say thanks to all of you for the support of me and my family.
HAPPY DAY>> 6 month milestone!

I don't care what you think of me

I will just start by letting everyone know the purpose of my blog. It is a place where I love to go and write some thoughts down. My blog is a place where I can share emotions and experiences that my family and I have been living. I love to know that my family and go and see what I did that week and keep everyone updated.

There has been a huge (OK not that big) amount of people who read my blog and love me for my positive thoughts, my sarcasm and humor, my insights into different things. I really do have people that I hope it touches the way the experiences and things touch me. My purpose is the same purpose i have in this life: To have fun, to motivate others to be their best and to keep in touch. That is it!

OK, so for all those people that read my blog wrong, or judge me for the way I live my life, or think they have any place to tell me how to live my life..I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK OF ME!

I care what my husband and kids think of me. I hope to be someone my parents are proud of and hope to serve my Heavenly Father in a way pleasing to him. Honestly nothing else matters to me! I have had some criticism as of late on how I do things and know first hand I am in charge of me. In deployments and out..I am driven by my families goals and my personal ambitions.

I love my life and although I want my husband home ASAP.. I still have to live my life and better me and my children while we are in the wait.

On that note: July has started flying by so fast, but I ran a 5k on the treadmill and did it in 36 minutes. I am so excited. I could pass and Army PT test right now and get 70% in each category except push ups but would still be able to pass. That has been one of goals for before Toby came home and YAY! I did it. I still have 10 pds to go and then 10 before he comes home for good, but my workouts are going awesome.

I am proud of myself that I can keep it all together. I have not had a breakdown yet for Toby being gone and soon he will be coming home. I cannot say when he will be home because of his safety, but just know when the blogs stop..he is home and they will be plentiful a month later.

I love all of you who are such good supports to me. I realize that a lot of people don't have what I have and am thankful for that. Not that they don't have what I have but that I do have it (you know what I mean :)

Sorry this is so long, I just needed to set a couple things straight and give an update. Stay tuned for some great new posts!

Fun Tag

i am: Liz
i think: i am funny
i know: i am a daughter of God
i want:to magically lose these last 15 pds
i have: an awesome life
i wish: i was as funny as i think i am
i hate: drama
i miss: my husband
i fear: i will gain my weight back
i feel: fulfilled
i hear: quiet(yay kids are in bed)
i smell: nothing because of my stuffy nose from crying
i crave: good friends
i wonder: if i will ever finish school
i regret: the friendships i have burdened
i love: scheduling and making lists
i care: what i look like in jeans
i always: get there.. i may be late, but i am always there
i am not: crazy (my own opinion of course)
i believe: I AM AWESOME
i dance: all the time and embarass myself
i sing: everywhere
i don’t always: do it right the first time
i write: my husband everyday
i win: happiness..when i choose to play the game right
i lose: my car keys, wallet, baby bag, sippy cups, you name it, i lose it
i never: thought i would be able to make it through 6 months without my husband and be ok
i listen: to anyone and everyones story.. everyone has something to say
i can usually be found: with my kids
i am scared: of the mean black lady at the gym that always tells me i am doing it wrong
i need: better hormone pills to not puke all dang day
i am happy about: my awesome life

Tag you are it!

Lagoon Part I

I have been having a great time on vacation and loving being at my moms just chilling with the kids. On Monday the kids asked if we were going to go do something BIG while here. I have been thinking Lagoon for years, but we keep missing it. I told them it would be a surprise on Tuesday if I decided. (That is key for me being able to not go if I choose not to). Sometimes I penny pinch so we really don't do anything that is fun that costs money. The post usually provided us with our free stuff, but nothing like Lagoon.

Tuesday we woke up and I had decided to go. We had a million things to get done before I went so we got cracking. I had a package and a card and some other things that I needed to get together for Toby before I could go have fun. The park opened at 11 and we made it there finally around 12. I purchased the tickets, and we started to go in. Just the three oldest were with me. I thought taking CJ might not make the day as fun for the other kids. We gave our tickets to the girl and a rush of memories flooded me!

I remember mom dropping us off and us being there all day riding rides, I remember all my stupid different jobs I held there. For fun purposes: 1. Cotton candy maker (I am pretty sure this is where my sugar addiction started) 2. Regular food concessions 3. Taking pictures at the from when people walk in. Fun times!!

I remember going into the COOL employee lounge to eat and take breaks. (still with the food?) I remember my paychecks that after working a full week were like 100. So funny.

Anyway..I started to tear up a bit because Toby and I have never actually been to Lagoon together. We both grew up here, we both worked there at the same time, but did not know each other. After we were dating there were to many other things to do. I missed him getting to do all the fun stuff with us. Ok, enough of that. I think what I was really worried about is that the kids would have a fun time. Toby is the fun parent hands down. I am the one that hangs out and pretends to take care of stuff. The kids were so excited so I had to put it past me and like many times..put my fun parent fake it till you make it face on and go.

We decided to go to Lagoon a Beach first. It was so fun. I was proud of myself, because normally I would just have everything lay around with us, but I got a locker. I am starting to be precautious I guess. We had fun and got some good sun. Next we went and changed and started to ride rides. Carmen was with us so we started with the kiddie stuff. They have actually done a really good job with the revamp on that section. (mind you I have not been in over 12 years) but the rides were really fun for all of us. It started getting late and we took Carmen home to have some big kid fun. The kids had a blast! I gave Cy a couple bucks to go play some games and he came back with this huge stuffed animal. It was AWESOME.

It was a success and I was told it was the best day ever! I am putting this in two parts because there is something essential I learned at Lagoon that deserved it's own post.