Not crying on Sundays

 Early Sunday Evening Life Updates

I hate that the weekend is almost over. I would love for the US to transition to a 4 day work week. But it would probably only make me want a 3 day work week:) 

This is what I did so far this weekend:

Saw this movie:

It was pretty funny. I did feel guilty though as I abandoned my brother to seeing Smurfs 2 with my nieces. He is a really good sport. 

Speaking of nieces, I hung out with those crazy girls for a few hours yesterday. 

The nail polish rarely lasts even a whole day. I just want them to know it's important to take care of themselves.

Baking. I've recently gotten obsessed with making peanut butter cookies.

My mom made both the girls Amish style aprons. They are SOO cute:) 

I really wish these pictures told the whole story but they are only a small glimpse into our crazy girl's day out. These are the funniest, coolest, and prettiest girls in the whole world. 

Yesterday I also walked 5 miles. I was trying to meet my fitness goal of walking 15 miles this week. I only made it to 13 total. I had planned to walk 7 miles yesterday but called it quits after 5 when I started to feel a little light headed:) 

That didn't stop me from going to the gym at 9:30 pm yesterday night. 

Here are various 

pictures of me

when I am done 

working out.

I look so insane.

I'm not sure what 

drives me to 

take these

pictures. Besides

sheer narcissism.

My sister spoke at church today. It was a great talk. The personal confession was a little less shocking than what I like to see, but I'll give her a pass. I'm not all that sure that Danielle has much to confess to anyway:) 

Katy really hung in there until the closing hymn. That's when she finally gave up on life. 

Danielle thinks I'm singing hymns on my ipad. Hah.

Speaking of siblings, I never really got to document this. 

The mature and one year older siblings

Danielle is officially the party decorator for all parties now

My dad made these ribs. So crazy.

Their combined age and a nod to the upcoming Paris trip!

I just love this one

                   Lori Ann

Such a sweet surprise

Ok, let's make it official and call this

"The long summer of tedious health and fitness updates from Lori".

I am getting bored of this topic.

But will that stop me from blogging about it? Of course not.

So, anyway...

I am always looking for signs that I am transitioning into a healthy person. Instead of a "this is just a manic few months of working out to be shortly followed by regaining all the weight and then some" type person.

A few things that I have noticed lately that give me hope:

1. It looked like it was going to rain the other day right before I left work. I was grumbling to myself  "It better not rain and ruin my walking". Holy hannah...old Lori would have prayed for rain as a reason to get out of walking.

2. I realized today that I have been going to the gym (at LEAST 2 times a week) since April. It's August now, b@$tches!

3. I have 7 workout itunes mixes. (including the much dreaded "5 mile mix") 

4. Today, after walking a few miles and working out I was so excited to leave the gym and treat myself.  I was going to stop at the CVS and get myself....drum roll, please.... a giant flavored water and wild cherry tic tacs.  Not a box of tasty cakes. Not a king size kit kat. Not 3 cokes and a bag of pretzels. (All things I've stopped to get myself before). I STOPPED FOR FLAVORED WATER AND TIC TACS, baby!!

5. When I got to the office, somebody had brought donuts in and I didn't even stop to smell them, much less eat 2. Or 3.

So, there you have it.

Maybe I am really becoming the healthy Lori.

Weird.

Anyway, those wild cherry tic tacs are calling my name:)

Lori Ann

If I sat and smiled

It's only 9:22 am.

It feels like it should be like 3:17 pm or something.

I have seven appointments in a row beginning at 10 am.

*I just literally put my head down on my desk in defeat*

I already had an 8 am appointment.

And I walked two miles before work.

I might walk a few more after work.

If I survive.

It's 9:26. Only 4 minutes have passed.

Holy Hannah, it's going to be a long day.

This super excited and upbeat blog post brought to you by:

Lori Ann

p.s.- about 26 days until PARIS!!!

You don't think he's drowning them, do you?

I decided to walk outside today, instead of on the treadmill.

It is my version of the perfect summer day today. About 75, bright blue skies, and a chilly breeze.

Holy hannah, I forgot how much I loved walking outside.

I've been on that treadmill for months now and I honestly loathe every second of it.

But walking outside absolutely inspires me.

I only walked two miles (I had to get to work) but I could have kept walking and walking forever.

Especially with my completely awesome itunes mix. Which has everything from The Beatles to Sir Mix a Lot. Nothing quite as jarring as going from 'Let it Be' to 'I like Big Butts'.

Anyway,

I am glad it is a beautiful day today. It's my beautiful sister's birthday, after all.

And even though I said it yesterday, I wish her the best of birthdays and an amazing 36th year.

Lori Ann

p.s.- Danielle- next year it will be me, you, and the picture of Jesus. Be warned!

Strong and Kind

It's our family's unofficial twin day.

Otherwise known as the day we celebrate the birthdays of David and Danielle. 

Their actual birthdays are August 3rd and August 5th- born a year and 2 days apart. 

So we usually meet in the middle and do a twin style combined party. 

 I have recently learned the "joys" of this type of combined party when my nephew Jack was born one day after my birthday. It gave me an appreciation for the good naturedness of my older siblings. It's not easy to always share your birthday. 

Anyway, enough about us October babies...

Happy not exactly birthday to both of them. I couldn't have asked for better examples, better leaders, better friends. 

You are both everything that I ever aspire to be. 

Lori Ann

In which I rail against abortion and bad 90's soft rock...




I like this one because it looks like Elly doing her 'badger hands'



I was listening to Everlast "What's it's Like" (so 90's, I know) as I was doing discharge summaries yesterday.

Which made me think about abortion.

Oh yes, even though I promised to keep off the politics until 2014, we here at TSC made no pledges that we actually mean to keep.

So...abortion.

In the Everlast song, it talks about a girl who got pregnant by a jerk who abandoned her and she went to an abortion clinic and people were heckling her and the band says "God forbid you ever have to walk a mile in her shoes, because then you might really know what it's like to have to choose".

It kind of made me mad.

Because everyone that has a baby knows what it's like to choose.

And this made me realize that I am one of those babies that most people would have considered a hard choice.

What  I am saying is that I'm lucky to have the mom I have. I think a lot of other women would have aborted me.

When my mom got pregnant with me, she was 22 years old. She had 3 kids- David was 2 1/2 years old, Danielle was 1 1/2 years old, and Erin was less than 6 weeks old the day that my mom found out I was coming.

She had just had 3 c-sections in less than 3 years.  

The doctors were telling her it would be pretty dangerous to have any more.

My dad; a pool plasterer, was working seasonally at that time. That january morning when she told him about me, I'm pretty sure he wasn't working. (and he had an asthma attack when he found out) and; with the vantage point of age, I have come to realize that they were just two young kids, trying to keep it together. Moving alot, no significant support from family- on their own.

I don't think abortion ever entered my mom's head.

We're Mormons, after all. 

But who would have blamed her? How many women would have made a different choice...a choice dictated by health concerns, exhaustion, and near poverty? How many women would have said "I can't afford it, my health can't take it, I can't be a mom to 4 kids under 4"?  

So, Everlast, I think it's fair to say that my mom really knew what it was like to have to choose.

I am glad she chose me.

Lori Ann

Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?

Ok, so... yesterday I walked 4 miles on the treadmill. 86 minutes. Not the best time, I know.

But, it's twice what I usually walk and I did half of it on an incline.

Luckily for you, the paparazzi took this picture. Or maybe Danielle showed up to do her crazy fast elliptical workout and I screamed "take a picture of me for my blog!"- it could be either scenario, we'll never know for sure.

And while this is possibly the LEAST flattering picture of me I have ever seen (my arms...holy hannah, my arms!) I felt like it was important to put it up.

Because I am working really hard. I've lost 129 lbs from my all time high.

And TSC is all about celebrating success, baby!!

The next walking/running pic you will see of me is of me wearing ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS on my shirt (I am a little excited for that, if you can't tell) in the COLOR RUN on Oct. 5th!

Feel free to leave your jealous comments in the space provided below:)

Lori Ann