Today's Battle

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to start keeping commitments to myself. I always make myself promises about one thing or another and then end up rationalizing why it's okay to break them. I end up feeling bad and disappointing me.
I am on a constant quest to feel better, look better, eat better. I decided that drinking soda was not doing me any favors so January 1st I gave it up forever. It's not that I can't have it, I just choose not to. Up until today, it hasn't been a problem.
I don't know what was different about today but holy crow! It was like a train hit me. I wanted a coke so bad my mouth was watering. Yeah just like Pavlov's dog! I saw a guy with a giant cup of coke and it was all over. You should have heard the argument going on in my head. And it lasted a long time too!
Ultimate decision, I am worth keeping my commitments to myself. Indulging in my weakness for one moment in time was not worth the hard work I have done over this month. I feel like I accomplished something big today with that one decision. I was so happy with myself and that was worth way more than the regret I would have felt later.
If I could do it today, then I can do it again and again. What a great feeling.

Wii Love the Hauns

Tonight we got to go hang out with Troy, Tiff and their darling girls. If you could guarantee that I would have daughters that cute, I would so have them.
We had awesome pizza (which I have not had in SOOOOO long). Then we got to try our skills on their Wii. Or should I say, everyone else's skills. I have no Wii skills whatsoever. I guess it's good I am SO accomplished in everything else;)
I am saving my money. I will own a Wii someday. I have to redeem myself. It's so embarrassing when everyone age 8 and under is better than you!
Thanks Hauns! We had a riot!

Brought A Tear To My Eye

Ross posted this on our family blog and it made me feel so good, I had to post it here so I can look back on it and smile. He is so good to me!

"Happy Birthday Kelly

Today is Kellys birthday. We get the chance to celebrate the 'rock star formerly known as Kel'. We now call her wife, mom or whats-her-face.

Let me briefly tell you what an amazing woman she is. I know no one else who constantly is looking for a challenge, something to be better at. I love her fire, and competitive nature. Her thirst for perfection inspires many around her and scares the rest of them. She is a fiercely loyal friend, an understanding ear and a very comfortable hug. I could search the whole world and never find anyone better to raise my boys and care for my family. I love her deeply and am proud to stand by her for eternity.

Love you Bell!!"

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Today is my 35th birthday. 35 really isn't all that old. It's just weird because I remember growing up and thinking I would NEVER be in my 30's.
I love my 30's though. I am better in my 30's than I have ever been. Hopefully I will be even better in my 40's, considering they are just around the corner now;)

Coincidence?

I am a firm believer that there are no coincidences. I think everything that happens, no matter how small, is all part of a grand design. God knows what he is doing. I was thinking about it in church today. Just one of those moments that you start thinking, what if I had made this choice instead of that?
I believe that whatever path you are on, you are supposed to be there. You can choose happiness even if things don't always look the way you thought they would. You can learn the lessons you need to learn. In reflection on my life, I see that every choice, every moment brought me to where I am now, shaped me in to the person I am today.
And you know what? I like her.

More Baby Cohen

Today I went to help out Shelley a little at home. She is doing great, still just a little weak. I found out that if you help out a little, your reward is playing with Cohen!



He is so FREAKING cute! I just love him! (Shell you aren't too bad either.)

New Addition

This is our new puppy, Rogue! She is so cute and so much fun to play with. Come over and meet her anytime!

Cohen Adams Talbot

This is my brand new nephew Cohen. It took a long time for him to join us! Shelley was almost 2 weeks past her due date and really hating life. She was in a lot of pain. She pushed for 2 hours. She had a few complications and lost a lot of blood. We are so very grateful that she is ok. It was scary for a while.

Cohen on the other hand, did fabulously. He was 9 pounds, 15 ounces and 22 inches long. We knew the exact moment he was born because he came out screaming like a banshee! He earned himself the nickname "Tank". He is beyond beautiful. Dan came out of the room with the biggest grin pumping his fists in victory. He also said, "This is the coolest kid ever!" So cute to see a new dad.





Congratulations Dan and Shelley! We are so happy for you! And for our opportunity to mess up this new kid of yours!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

My latest book read. It is a children's book but it is very thick. The story is very well written and the illustrations are amazing. It only took me 2 hours to read. I give it 2 thumbs up!

Mantra

I decided that I am going to have a mantra that I will live by starting at the beginning of each new year. It will be something I focus on and strive to be better at.

My mantra for 2009 is...drumroll please...."Kindness matters."

There are too many mean people in the world. I am not going to be one of them.

2009 Contract

After serious & cautious consideration . . . I've decided our contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2009!

It was a very hard decision to make. So try not to screw it up!!

Love you all!

Birthday Month!!!

This post and blog background is especially for you Kelli! (you know why, right?) I just want THE WHOLE WORLD to know this is my birthday month. I fully expect and require A LOT of butt kissing and telling me how wonderful I am. We will get into the details of presents at a later date.
Love ya Kell!

Tragedy

One of my best friends lost her father unexpectedly today. I have been so heart broken for her since I found out.
Life is so precious. It can all change in an instant. Take the time to tell everyone they are loved. Forgive hurts. Make every moment count.

Highlights of 2008

Corbin was baptized
Kelly ran the Ogden Half Marathon and didn't die
Tyson and Jaden had their 1st ever soccer camp
Trips to St. George
Raising sheep for 4-H
Kelly ran the Wasatch Back and didn't die
Ross took 3rd in his first ever bike race
Our 13th anniversary
Trip to Florida
Dan and Shelley got pregnant!
Emily and Ryan got pregnant?!
Alison got engaged
Thomas S. Monson became prophet
The first woman Biggest Loser
The launch of Kelly/Kelli Club
Ross became a road biking maniac

What an awesome year it was!

Resolutions

I totally believe in resolutions. Not the kind that you break immediately but the setting and writing down of important goals. New Year's Eve just happens to be a good time to do it. I accomplished a lot of my goals that I set this last year. That always makes me feel good!
My biggest goal this year was to set a daily schedule for myself so I can fit in everything that is important to me. My life just keeps getting busier so my biggest goal is to stick to the new schedule. I am really excited to pull this off. I might actually be getting my crap together people! (a sure sign that hell is freezing over.)
My second biggest goal is to love myself and realize that I am good enough. As long as I am putting forth my best effort and being true to myself, I am good enough. (In reality, this will be harder to pull off than #1 but it is definitely more important.)
Here's to 2009 being even better than 2008!

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name WALKER or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

Tropical St. George

We decided to come and hang out in St. George this week for a little vacation before school starts. It has been between 45 and 50 degrees the whole time we have been here which is downright tropical for Utah in December, right?
We have been swimming, to the park, bike riding and hiking. We love it down here. Don't ask the boys about our hike though. The way they tell it, we tried to kill them. It was barely 5 miles and mostly flat but I guess after a week of doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING over Christmas really makes those muscles atrophy. We are such bad parents. Ross and I had a good time though.
On New Year's Eve we played games and ate too much food and took Bill to the ER. He had an infection in his eye. Our insurance changed drastically on the 1st so we took him in. Bill fell asleep 20 minutes before midnight so we woke him up just in time to see the ball drop. It was a fun night with the boys.
We are anxiously awaiting a phone call to let us know that Shelley (my sister) is in labor. So whether that or Saturday comes first will determine when we are heading home!