Blame, Pain and Gain

I was swimming yesterday and above the pool was a banner with motivational quotes.  One, particularly stands out to me: "Where there is no pain, there is no gain."  (Gain to me is improvement, on a eternal or temporal state.)  I guess it got me thinking, because this popped into my brain this morning:

"Where there is blame,

there is no gain." 

As I struggle with losing weight, keeping a clean home, keeping up with all my kids, cooking us healthy meals, budgeting mula, family feuds, hunting season approaching and school and life just threw a doosy in our direction just Monday, I got to thinkin' how easy it would be to just start blaming everything and everyone else for the problems we face.  How easy it is to blame others and how inconsiderate they are, or how busy I am, or that life just isn't fair!  It is seems much easier to complain and make excuses for anything really.  But that is not gonna fly with me.  Where there is blame, there is no gain.  Life has obstacles, and it is how I react to them that makes me who I am.  I am determined to be personally responsible for how I act and the decisions I make and the attitude I have.  I can't control others, nor do I want to-- usually, lets be honest here.  And, ya know, we have some serious trials we are facing.  But I have to put in writing my commitment to do my best, be responsible, and find joy admit life's struggles.  And not blame others for our circumstance, but make the most of what we have :) 

Live on and be of good cheer!

Hyrum's question of the day

"I wonder if infinity is an even or an odd..."

Family Pictures

While we were here, Maegan and I took each others family pictures.  It was super fun!  We went with patiotic.  Here is the my favorites of what Maegan took of us:

And here are my favorites of them:

Thanks Maegan!

Too many cameras!

Now-a-days we have cameras that are slim and cameras that are bulky and nice.  We have cameras on our ipods and each of the cell phones.  How the crap do I keep all these organized????  Anyway these are pictures off of Brad's phone from May 25th.  We went to this park in Saratoga Springs during this horrible wind storm!  But I still had to do it.  I had to climb this 30ft pyramid even if the wind was blowing 100mph or so.  Hyrum helped me through it :) Brad climbed it as well as, but that is pictured on a different camera :)

 Paul!  So handsome in his favorite hand-me-down soccer shirt!

 These pups are from Jared's baby blessing.  I had WAY TOO MUCH FUN putting these meat trays together!  It was seriously a blast!!!!!  And Brad was sweet enough to take a picture of our masterpieces!

 Bryan picks me flowers every day!  He is soooooo sweet!

 Here is Paul and Nana catching butterflies.  They only catch the white ones now then they kill them.  They lay eggs in broccoli.  Eeeewwwww!

 Here are the chickens of which lay the eggs we deliciously enjoy!

 Here is Becky and me and Jared and Cade!  We had babies within a week of each other!  Cade was SIX weeks early and is already bigger than Jared.  Can you believe it?!?!

 Here is Jared!  Melts my heart that boy!

 Did I mention that he found his thumb!  I love it!!!

 On June 25th we went fishing here and here is Bryan with is first catch and the only catch of the night.  His little blue gill!  He is still so sad he didn't get to keep it as a pet.

 He does see these as pets though.  He makes Brad keep the worms in the inside fridge, because they don't belong clear outside in the fridge out there.  He just loves these worms!!!  He once asked me, referring to a really big, plump worm, "How did he get so cute?!?!"  Oh dear Bryan :D

 On the 29th we went to the zoo with my brother and sister and their cute and wonderful families.  I had a blast!  I love spending time with my family!

 The forth of July fireworks!  We always watch the BC fireworks together.  Before they start there is a huge part of a field that people just play catch and keep away and everyone is just out playing with their kids!  It is my FAVORITE part!  Me and the younger kids played soccer and Brad and John played football with the older boys.

 Then on the 6th we went to Bear Lake!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Bear Lake!  I went about every year growing up on Memorial Day, and since Brad and I have been married, we have gone most years.  I love it there!  I had the best time ever this year!  My kids have been in swimming lessons for the last two weeks at the Nat, where I used to work, and they were more comfortable with the water.  We all just had a blast!

 They boys and brad loved making sand castles and I enjoyed having races in the water with them.  It was so relaxing and FUN!  BEST DAY EVER ;)

 Jared stayed awake most of the DAY!  He seemed to really enjoy playing in the water and sand!

 In other news:

• Jared has just started rolling over!
• Hyrum read the first Harry Potter and is on the second
• Paul likes to spend his days golfing outside
• Bryan has decided he like "big humans." 
• Brad and I go on bike rides almost every night
• I run with Maegan every chance we get and today Jess came and we went 5.7 miles!  I am so happy for us!
• I am doing the biggest loser and have been for two weeks.  I have an extra 15 pounds that I can't seem to shed!  So I have upped exercising to 2-a-days.  What's a girl to do???  I haven't lost a pound and I have been exercising for about 6 weeks now consistently...  Any ideas?

I have to leave off on a good note!  Here is Jared, snuggling with his mama!  And I happen to know for a fact that this mama loves him more than life itself!!!!