LOGAN AND JAKE PLAYING SCHOOL!

Yesterday the boys were busy setting up a new game....they were hauling all sorts of stuff into the living room...I didn't pay much attention, until I walked in on THIS site!!!! They set up a "classroom" with Logan as the teacher and Jake and the stuffed animals as the students!!! SO ADORABLE I just HAD to take a picture!



Logan and Jake have been the BEST of friends ever since they were babies. They are SO lucky to have each other and play so well together. Logan constantly asks "Is Jake coming to play today?" And I have to repeat, "No Logan, it's only Monday (or Tuesday) Jake comes on Wednesday". Then once Wednesday finally comes around, Jake and Courtney are here a full hour before Logan gets home from school, and then it's Jake watching the clock, "Logan will be here in 40 min" or "Logan will be here in 22 min" or "Logan will be here in 3 min!" It's hilarious!

They play like brothers, they fight like brothers, but they also love like brothers. I'm glad they have each other, and it's moments like this (the school game) that just need to be captured and saved forever!

CRAZY SOCK DAY!

Here's what we came up with for CRAZY SOCK DAY!!!



Notice that Logan is wearing SHORTS in JANUARY!!! OH! Plus it's snowing out today!!! Yikes! That's crazy enough as it is!!!

By the way....Logan just got home from school, and it turns out that he won the contest in his class for "craziest socks!!" Yay!

CRAZY HAIR DAY!!

Today was "CRAZY HAIR DAY" at Logan's school, so with my passion for hair, I wanted to do something really, really fun! PURPLE EXTENSIONS!!!!


You see, last year we missed "Crazy Hair Day" and I felt SOOO bad. So this year I was determined to do something extra crazy! I've actually been thinking about it for a LONG time now, just what I'd do to Logan's hair!



I do extensions at the salon, and I found these fun "fantasy colors" that a few clients actually like. So I brought home a pack of purple hair, and Sunday night we sat in the kitchen putting it in. Logan is sure glad he's NOT a girl he said, cause it took a LONG time to do (20 min) and it hurt ALOT!!!! (Hardly!!)



After cutting the hair, and styling it a little, this was our finished result!!! SO FUN!!! CRAZY enough??!!

ICE SKATING for the FIRST TIME!!!

This is the VERY FIRST TIME Logan has ever been on ice skates!!! He did SOOO good! I was SOOO proud of him! We had a blast!!! ALL OF US!!!




Justin's singles ward had a BIG Friday night activity at the local ice rink, so we all decided to go! As I was telling Logan that we were going to go ice skating, I had no idea that he didn't even know what I was talking about, let alone what we'd be doing or HOW! I was kind of shocked, especially because of my Canadian childhood! (I had an outdoor skating rink in my neighborhood, and took skating lessons in gym class!) So I REALLY felt bad that at age SEVEN he'd NEVER been on skates!!! What a BAD "CANADIAN MOM", eh??!!!

Well, I was really nervous for him, Logan can sometimes be a bit timid when trying new things, BUT.....he showed NO fear, and was such a good sport about it! Even when he'd lose his balance and fall!

Justin and I discovered that even at our age, ice skating isn't such an easy thing on our bodies!Especially the feet!! After a few laps around the rink we'd be sore and needed to sit and take a break....it wasn't easy supporting Logan between us. But my little buddy, was begging to keep going and always asking "One more lap please?!" So we'd sit for a SHORT bit, and off we'd go again!



Way to go, BUDDY!


Oh, and by the way...talking with other mom's around here, it turns out that LOTS of other kids have never been ice skating before either, and some of them are older than Logan!!!! I guess I'm truly a "UTAH MOM" afterall!!

Running day TWO!!!

I ran TWO MILES today!!!! Without stopping!!!! :)

On Monday, January 18, 2010, I set out on my FIRST run in YEARS! I didn't really know how far I'd go, I just watched the clock and wanted to run as long as I could in a 30 min. period. I ended up running 25 min straight without having to stop and walk. Then once I got home I got in my car and drove my route I had just done. It turned out I ran a total of TWO MILES!!!!! I was SO happy and surprised that I could do it!

I wanted to go out the next day, but I was REALLY REALLY sore! Plus, the weather has been bad all week in the mornings...snowing and cold. Plus, I also have to be at the salon at 9am for appointments.

Well, I don't work Fridays, so I planned on going out running again today, if the roads weren't covered in snow. After I dropped Logan and the carpool off at school, I then drove around the neighborhood and figured out a 3 mile running route. I knew exactly where the 1 mile mark was, then the two mile mark and then the three mile mark. My goal today was JUST to do two miles again.

So despite the crazy, cold wind outside, I bundled up and headed out. I have to admit right now that it was TOUGH!!! Getting to that first mile was a beast, especially when I was running INTO the wind! I thought about JUST doing 1 mile, it'd be ok...considering the weather and all, right?! WRONG!

Funny thing, is that in my head I was planning how I'd share my running adventure on my blog, and there's no way I could hold my head high and post that I gave up and only did 1 mile. SO......I kept going.

I knew where the 2 mile point was, I kept that goal in mind. I envisioned myself getting to that specific intersection with the bright red stop sign! I couldn't give up, even when I was running INTO the wind, going UPHILL and with slight snow flurries PRICKING my face! I just kept my head down, had to close my eyes a little, and kept putting one foot infront of the other.

Well, I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID IT!!!!! The feeling to know that I actually achieved the goal that I planned to do is dang AWESOME!! What a feeling!! Once I saw that beloved stop sign getting closer, I actually ran over to it and TOUCHED IT!!! Something my dad taught me....get to your goal and TOUCH IT! Very symbolic! I glided the rest of the way home with a big smile on my face! What a GREAT way to start my day!!!!

WOOLF FAMILY PICS!!!

Last time we had a family picture taken by a professional, Logan and Jake were just toddlers, which means Courtney and Lydia weren't even born.
I think we tried to do a family photo before Laura and Tyson moved, but obviously that didn't happen, until their first visit back!
Here are just some of the few that the photographer put on her blog....







The name of our photographer was Ashley McFarlane. She was great, and got some good shots in a short/cold period of time. Here's her blog and more info on her.....http://ashleymcfarlanephotography.blogspot.com/

The New Me!

For many, many years I've struggled down the road of weight-loss and weight-gain. It's a daily trial that I've always faced. Over the years I've gone up, lost control and felt SO horrible about myself. Then with lots of sweat and hard work, I've got my weight back down again. It's NOT an easy thing to do, and sometimes I have to hit a real low before I make changes. But I'm pleased to say that as of TODAY....January 2010 I am AT MY LIFETIME GOAL WEIGHT!!! I DID IT! I lost TWENTY-FIVE pounds!!!

I've decided to share the journey I've been through, and be open about my struggle, just so that I will now be accountable to anyone who will read this. I've worked hard and have been very disciplined now to get the weight off, but now comes my life challenge....."KEEPING IT OFF"!

Here's a "BEFORE" pic....MAY 2009


My weight gain struggle began soon after Logan was born (7 years ago), I joined Weight Watchers with my dad, and after many, many months I actually achieved my goal and became a "Lifetime Member", which means I'm free to go to the meetings as long as I stay at my goal weight. Well, I don't really remember just how long I stayed there, but as it seems to do, the weight just seemed to sneak back on. I know it's all because of my actions does that happen. But somehow I adopt the mentality that "I'm done, now I can eat what I want!" NOT TRUE!!!

So ever since then I've gone up and down. I set goals, I achieve them, then I get lazy and fall back into my old habits. The number on the scale gets higher and higher, I feel bad, feel guilty and open a package of cookie dough to make myself feel better. Does it work? NO! I only feel worse! It's a sad cycle that I am determined to break forever!

MAY 2009


So I back in May of 2009 I tried to re-commit myself to making changes. By August I lost about 20lbs, but then got lazy, and started to eat like I used to, and slowly gained most of it back! For a while this summer I was feeling great, but still didn't make it to my goal!
It was when I went up to Katherine's wedding in October, and later saw the pictures of me, that I realized I had slipped again. It was at that moment that I was determined that when I came back up for Camellia's wedding in December, I would be different!!!!

KATHERINE'S WEDDING OCTOBER 2009


TWO MONTHS LATER FOR CAMELLIA'S WEDDING, DECEMBER 2009!!!


The day before Halloween I began to change my ways, I started the "HCG Diet", and was on that until January 13. It meant going without sugar and carbs ALL THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS!!! But that was the plan, I did NOT want to gain another 10 lbs, instead I wanted to be losing!

OCTOBER 31, 2009


NOVEMBER 2009


It wasn't an easy thing to do, just ask Justin....I complained ALOT! But I survived! I made it to my goal!!! On Christmas morning, when I got on the scale I had officially arrived at my goal! I had lost TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!!!


NOW......the hard part STILL continues! My next goal is to STAY at this weight for the rest of my life!!!! This means, still watching EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth, making healthy choices and staying away from sugar and carbs. I don't believe in depriving myself, so I've limited my sugar intake to only on Saturdays and Sundays, and limiting carbs as much as possible. Like the other night when I was at Red Robin I only ate THREE french fries!!!!

I also want to become a runner! I've signed up for the Ogden Relay in May, and between now and then I'm planning on signing up for other small races like a 5k or a 10k, to get myself ready. Next year I'd like to do the Ogden Half-Marathon!!! I want to change my lifestyle, be more active and eat healthy...ALWAYS!



For the first time in a long, long time, I actually like what I see in the mirror. I feel comfortable in my skin, and I'm not afraid to go swimsuit shopping! I have not been at this weight since BEFORE Logan was born!!! I'm feeling great, I'm feeling strong, and I'm feeling healthy! This really is the NEW HEATHER, committed to a healthy and active lifestyle!

It is still a DAILY struggle, but it's also a daily COMMITMENT!!!

CHRISTMAS DAY 2009

This year for Christmas, Logan was with his dad for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. I was then able to pick him up at 1pm and take him back to my parents for present opening.
Meanwhile, my sisters were with their in-laws for Christmas Eve too, so I then spent the evening with Justin's family. We all arrived at mom and dad's house around the same time, and THEN the fun began!
Here's Logan with his stocking.....stuffed full!!!


And HERE'S what was inside!!! Good'ol Santa always brings the socks and underwear on Christmas morning!!!

And HERE'S what Santa brought Logan!!!



Logan, Justin and I...This is our SECOND Christmas together!!!

It was such a great Christmas to have Laura, Tyson and Lydia visiting from Oklahoma!!! Logan and Jake actually would fight over who got to spend time with her!!! Kinda cute....kinda nuts!

Adorable Lydia!!!





Silly US!


As it turned out....these are the only pictures I took on Christmas Day. I think I slacked off knowing Laura was snapping a ton of pictures herself....BUT....it meant I didn't have a lot of my own. Oh well.
The day was great, having family close was awesome, and to celebrate Christ's Birth is humbling. Merry Christmas to all!!! And may we remember the feelings we feel at this time of year......ALL YEAR LONG!

Christmas Family Home Evening Dec 2009

A couple weeks before Christmas, our family gathered on a Sunday night for a special Family Home Evening. Aunt Sharon and Uncle Jim were there, as well as the Osenbach family, and of course Sarah's family, and Laura's family.
First Sarah taught the kids the "Symbols of Christmas". It seemed like no one was listening, there was just so much going on, but when Sarah reviewed all the symbols it turned out ALL the kids had heard! She did such a great job! It was awesome!



Then all the kids put on their costumes and as my mom read the Nativity story from the Bible, the kids acted out the story of baby Jesus. It's so fun to watch everyone, especially the little ones!


Courtney and Lydia were both the angels/stars, and the flashlights seemed to fascinate them!

SO PRECIOUS!

The Lights at Temple Square December 2009

As a "Woolf Family" all of us adults went down to see the beautiful Christmas lights at Temple Square. My parents took us to dinner before at The Old Spaghetti Factory, then we all bundled up to look at the lights!













It was a WONDERFUL night! So fun to spend time together as a family....especially with Laura and Tyson! Such a good Christmas tradition!

DEC 5, 2009 Camellia & Doug's Wedding

My OTHER twin cousin, Camellia was set to be married in the Alberta temple on December 5, 2009. So myself along with my parents and my sister Laura and her little girl, Lydia, drove all the way BACK to Cardston!
It was a crazy WINTER ADVENTURE due to a HUGE snowstorm the day of the wedding! Despite the temple being closed, and some family not being able to drive down to Cardston, Camellia and Doug DID get sealed to each other in the Cardston temple!!!! It was a day NO ONE will ever forget!


Congratulations Camellia and Doug!!!


Here is the beautiful bride, Camellia, with her twin sister, Katherine!!!


Here is my sweet Aunt Bev with her two girls! Who'd believe they're BOTH now married!!


One big HAPPY FAMILY!!!! The Smith's and the Nelson's!!


Katherine and I!

I feel SO lucky to have been able to share in Camellia's special day. It was so wonderful to be there with all my family in Canada! Laura took some great pics on her camera of the snowdrifts and the town! It was a quite a snowstorm! But I'm glad that Camellia and Doug were able to be sealed. It was a great example for me to remember that the SEALING is THE most important part of the day! Nothing else mattered, as long as those two were able to be joined for time and ALL ETERNITY!