Posted by jena on Dec 20, 2009 in
Holiday 
I will be taking a break this week on the blurg. We have a busy week ahead of us. My brother gets home on Monday from a 2 year mission in New Jersey. Tuesday the kids have dentist appointments. Wednesday we will be getting ready for the big day and Thursday McKay works a half day! Friday is going to get here faster than we think!
We are looking forward to Christmas Eve and Christmas morning here at home.
I hope everyone out there has Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas!
–Jena
Posted by jena on Dec 4, 2009 in
Exercise,
Holiday,
Weight Loss I want to start this post off with saying Congrats to all my friends who took my Gain Zero Challenge and maintained or Lost weight! I know at least 4 or 5 of my friends took my challenge and they all lost 1 to 2 pounds over Thanksgiving! Way to go everyone, didn’t it feel great? I have to brag, I also lost 1.5 lbs over the Holiday, even with 2 Thanksgiving dinners in a row, a really naughty breakfast and the “Big Game”. What saved me from gaining and why did I lose? I was accountable for everything I ate by keeping a food journal, and I worked out and didn’t do a lot of sitting around.
After eating Thanksgiving, I sat looking at the Plethora of food, it all looked yummy, it all was yummy, but there were only two things that I ate that were not bad for me. Turkey, and a Sweet Potato. This got me thinking about a lot of things.
In my opinion I think it is time for people to start making a change in how we as a society eat. Have Thanksgiving, but find a better, more healthful way to make it. Have social gatherings, but only serve healthful food and only one dessert option instead of 10! I want to look forward to going to a Holiday dinner, or dinner party or girls night out instead of dreading them. When I have something to go to, I have to mentally prepare myself to Just Say No to all the goodies, or only take a small portion of the naughty stuff and it is hard and I dread it. The problem is, most things I go to have more Naughty choices then Healthful ones. I just think it is time for people to realize what they are doing to themselves and others. I think we are all in the habit of making excuses, “Oh, its Thanksgiving, I am going to enjoy it!” ” It’s girls night and I am going to eat and have a good time!” . I hear those types of quotes all the time, I was one of those women saying those things! I think it is time to snap out of these bad habits and make a change!
I will end my rant by sharing my experiment. I had the opportunity to host a giant girls night out party before we went to a midnight movie. Everyone was so kind to offer to bring something. Instead of assigning them treats, I assigned them a veggie, or a veggie dip, or fruit or a fruit dip, tortilla chips and salsa. I assigned a couple people soda, because I knew some would want something other than water, and I only assigned 1 person a treat and I served a healthful homemade soup. Guess what happened? I had friends thanking me for having healthful choices at my party, they were so glad they could eat, socialize and not be tempted to buy junk at the Theater, and they all felt good the next day instead of feeling like crap because they ate healthful yummy food. This little experiment showed me that you can feed your friends and family healthy stuff, and they will appreciate it more than when you serve them junk. I think people say “I love you” with food and feel love by being fed. What better way to say I love you than with healthy options? I want that kind of love!
The only way social gatherings will change is if we start changing them. Girls nights, church activities, dinner parties and Holidays will never be the same, they will be better if we step up and make a change!
—Jena
Posted by jena on Nov 23, 2009 in
Exercise,
Food,
Holiday,
Weight Loss A couple of years ago I would be using Thanksgiving as a reason to cheat and eat till I am sick! Not this year, I am going to eat and enjoy, but I am going to watch my portions, and stick to a plan. I still plan on eating 6 small meals that day and fitting in my workouts. Sure, Thanksgiving Dinner will be a little larger meal than the rest, but I am not going to go overboard!
Holidays and the Winter months are when people gain weight. Not this year, lets watch what we eat, continue to workout, and stop using Holidays and Social Gatherings as a reason to Cheat yourself of living a healthy and happy life!
So, my challenge is to weigh yourself Thursday Morning and then the following Thursday, weigh yourself again. I hope you all maintained your weight or even lost a little! Think of how happy you will feel if you accomplish this small goal and how happy you will feel when your pants still fit 
Have a Happy, Healthy Week Peeps!
–Jena
Posted by jena on Dec 28, 2008 in
Family Fun,
Holiday Christmas Eve day was a lot of fun. I went visiting teaching with my friend and companion Dialma. I was glad that it worked out that we went together and did morning visits with all of our ladies on Christmas Eve. We had a nice chat with all of them and we were so glad to see all of their smiling faces on such an exciting day. One of our ladies, and my friend, Angela, had her baby boy that evening, a few days earlier than she expected, but what a fun surprise!
Next, I went to Twilight with McKay’s Mom, Sister, and Sister-in-law. It was fun to see it again but I think I hit my limit until the DVD comes out.Then we played Liebrary, and went home to have a nice evening in our own home.
The kids had fun listening to the real Christmas story, setting up the Nativities and writing letters to Santa. Then of course we got the cookies and milk ready and settled into bed. My next post will be Christmas Day.
Enjoy the pictures, click on them to make them larger.
–Jena
Posted by jena on Dec 24, 2008 in
Family,
Friends,
Holiday I just have to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.This season I feel like we have had a constant giant hug from friends, family, neighbors and a lot of anonymous peeps. I cannot express how greatful McKay and I are, we feel so lucky to have such a great support group. Everyday we are surprised with another act of giving, love and kindness, thank you!
We love you all! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!
–Jena
Posted by jena on Nov 26, 2008 in
Family,
Friends,
Holiday I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I am very thankful for all of my friends and family.
My hubby and my daughters are the best things in my life!
I hope all of you out there staring at your computer screens to read this have a great time with friends and family this weekend. What a great time of year! We get reminded what is most important in our lives.( after we get the chocolate out of the way on Halloween)
Love you all!
Gobble Gobble
-Jena
Posted by jena on Jun 4, 2008 in
Family,
Holiday Happy Birthday to my Hubby!
Hope you have a great day! ( of course you will, your spending it with me!)
Love, Jena
Posted by jena on Jan 7, 2008 in
Family,
Holiday Sorry for the long break, I just had a lot of things going on last month, not much time to rot in front of my computer.
I hope everyone had a wonderful December, and a Happy New Year!
The girls had a great Christmas, and McKay and I did also. We got new chairs from IKEA and a new bed.
The girls have been suffering from strep throat over the weekend, but today, finally showing signs of life again.
—Jena
Posted by jena on Dec 4, 2007 in
Holiday,
Snow I love the snow. Snow reminds me of fun times I had growing up.
I was always in the snow, building forts, snow angels, snowballs, hiding things.
I remember in Elementary, we had snow sculpture contests with all the classes in the school.
One year we made a big bowl of ice cream, we colored the balls of ice cream with powder tempura paint.
Another year we made the Alamo, we built it up against the soccer posts. I wish I had pictures.
I don’t care much for bitter cold, but I love the snow.
The best is when it is snowing huge fluffy snowflakes that actually look like a
snowflake you make in school out of paper.
Posted by jena on Nov 1, 2007 in
Family Fun,
Friends,
Holiday,
School We had an awesome Halloween this year!
Thanks to all our friends and family who made our day the best!
Boy, am I glad it is over! 
Picture #1 Mrs.Hanna’s Kindergarten Halloween Party:
Picture #2 Trick-or-Treat at Daddy’s work:
Picture #3 Grammy and Pops visiting for Halloween:
Picture #4 Betsy, Byron, David and Ryan:
Picture #5 Spencer and Moab :
Picture #6 Spencer, Moab, and Belle:
Picture #7 The whole gang, Trick-or-Treating:
Picture #8 Aidan and Moab all done with the tricks and treats:
Picture #9 Dad and Moab Carving a real Jack-O-Lantern:
Picture #10 Moab’s Cutest ever carved Pumpkin!
Happy Halloween! Thanks for the fun memories!
—Jeena
Posted by jena on Oct 28, 2007 in
Family Fun,
Holiday,
Kids way too fast! I cannot believe that Halloween is on Wednesday.
This weekend was a fun one. Friday, a few Mom’s decorated Mrs.Hanna’s classroom for Halloween. It was a lot of fun. That night, I did a SimplyFun party for a friend, then I left that party and drove to Layton to join my Husband and Kids at a Birthday party for our friends little boy, Tate. We left their house at 1:15 am and arrived home at 2:00 am.
Saturday we got up, and went to Moab’s last Soccer game for the season. After, we went home and got ready for a Halloween/Birthday party for Holly’s little girl, Isabelle.
McKay and I went as Marge and Homer from The Simpsons. McKay decided it would be funny if I went as Homer and he went as Marge. He was right, it was funny, we got a lot of Laughs.
Right after that party, we drove over to the Parking Lot at the Park for a trunk-or-treat. We were the only Adults that dressed up, until the end, someone else showed up as a firefighter. We got a lot of laughs, and a couple dirty looks, it was great.
Well, now I need to get ready for church.
Have a great UEA, Mckay took Monday and Tuesday off, we will be Winter cleaning, and hopefully buying a new truck!
—Jeena
Posted by jena on Sep 23, 2007 in
Holiday The year is almost over and the next three months go by way to fast. October of course, has Halloween, and even though it is at the end of the month, it comes and goes at lightning speed. The same for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, my birthday is the week before, so I have always enjoyed sharing the month with Halloween. I loved to dress up when I was younger, and I loved going to Haunted Houses and Scary movies.
Now that I have my own kids, I love making costumes for them to dress up in, I want to make our own “Fun” Haunted House some day, and I don’t like Scary movies as much. There is a certain kind of scary I can deal with, and I like, but for the most part, I think Scary movies show too much these days, leave no room for imagination, and are pure evil.
—Jeena
Posted by jena on Dec 11, 2006 in
Holiday I hope everyone’s Holiday is a good one. I start Christmas help at Great Harvest next week. It will make time fly.
No bites on the house yet, maybe after the holiday we will get someone interested.
Hope all is well with everyone.
A little shout out to our good friends/family moving our way. Can’t wait!
—Jeena
