drawsomething...a favorite pastime

The pictures below are what I drew on my phone with my finger.  It's a game that I play with a few people around the world - my favorite people to play with is Jessica, Megan (who has forgotten how to play) and Ella. 

I play with a lunch ladies from Florida, a grandpa from Nevada, a student in California, and a Muslim lady in London England.

It's fun!

 

 
    
 
 
 

 

 
 
        

Evil Machines...

THIS IS THE EVIL MACHINE THAT HAUNTS ME EVERY WORKOUT, AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST 20 MINUTES.  YES, THIS IS REALLY WHAT THE MACHINE LOOKS LIKE!!

 

I have been working out since the beginning of the year.  Our office building (which is owned by our company owner) also is home for the Stairmaster offices. (Quick funny story about Stairmaster - They are on the 3rd floor and the only way to reach that floor is to use the elevator.)  Stairmaster said if we would provide the space they would provide the equipment for a office-members-only workout room.  I usually go there after work, 3 times a week, so I can cool down and shower at home.  When I work out at lunch time I don't have time to cool down, my shower "doesn't take", and I sit at my desk and sweat for the next hour.

OK, this is the EVIL MACHINE when I am not working out with him...don't be fooled by his innocence.

For a free gym - it's great. 

It has weight machines, dumbbells, treadmills, stair-steppers, and about spin-cycles. 

 

Last time I lost all my weight I worked out and did shakes (Herbalife) and dinner.   This time I just eat better, smaller portions, and work out.  I have lost exactly 30 lbs. since Jan 3rd of this year.   Everyone asks me - "How do you do it?"  My reply is "Be so overweight that with a little effort  you can drop 30 lbs. in 2 1/2 months"

 

I wanted to lose weigh eating foods that I like to eat and not just protein shakes.  I still have a "Mitch Day" and I haven't overly restricted my diet.  I still get to eat out (only once a week), I have pizza at home (just less slices), and this also forces me to take time to make good meals and not quick fixes (even though I found healthy quick-fix options too). 

 

Here is another 'shocker'...I have had NO SODA since Jan 3 -- I have replaced all my soda drinking with WATER.  I drink over 150 ounces of water a day.  They say when you are in weight-loss mode, you should drink 1/2 your body weight in water.  So when they told me I should try the P90X workout, the "X" stands for 'times' (Pee 90 times),,,it's really not that bad (and yes I sleep though the night just fine - I know TMI)

 

I also have my mind in a good space.  I used to be a stress eater and a big-time comfort eater.  I am in a very good place right now.  Let's say I have had a few paradigm shifts and eye opening experience or two and one very personal spiritual experience.  Onward and upward.

 

I was riding on one of the bikes the other day and it reminded me of when I lived in Provo and Scott and I use to drive up to Orem in the early morning and workout together, which included the menthol steam room (until we couldn't take it anymore) and the hot-tub pools with all the elderly men.

 

My goal is anther 20 lbs. by my birthday and another 20 lbs. by September...maybe 10 more by Christmas.  The longer I work on this the more difficult the shedding of poundage is...

 

My new motto - Hurry up and weight...

Well Suited

I bought a new suit...I thought that Elder Perry and Elder Nelson looked pretty sharp in their temple dedication white suits that I too would follow suite.

I am now an official Temple Ordinance Worker...I will rotate around every Wednesday night from 4:30p-9:45p - working either endowments, recommend desk, initiatory work, but not baptistery (there are others workers assigned to that specific area).

I got a call from the temple secretary, Sister Lucas.  She left a message, that Jen took down for me.  Jen gave me a slip of paper that said "Please call Sister Lucas to set up an appointment with President Kimball"  I knew there was no President Kimball in the temple presidency at the Portland Temple...it was President Campbell.

My fear is my lack of memorization skills.  Mom can attest to that and my awesome scripture chase memorization.  I could find the scriptures faster than anyone, cross reference them, paraphrase them, tell you how to apply them in your life...memorize word for word NOPE!

I was promised that my memorization in the temple would be a total different experience than anywhere else.

My first day went very very well - I spent 1/2 of it in the study room, 1/4 of it as a patron doing initiatory work, and 1/4 helping with endowments.  All but one time did I have the whole thing memorized verbatim.  It was a great feeling and great spiritual moment for me.

I look pretty good in a white suit too...first time ordinance workers get 1/2 off their first suit, which helped , but still was a little spendy - BUT well worth every penny.
on the same

I am looking forward to spending time in the temple weekly.  My boss is scheduled on the same shift as I am and we will be able to carpool together.

A trip to the zoo

We (Jen, Connor, Katie, Olive and I) went to the Portand zoo. 

Olive says that there is only one way to eat an ice cream cone - Lick

I think she could give a giraffe a run for her money

You would think this was mad cow....

This cow's eyes are like this even when he wasn't trying to reach the hay.

Connor was impressed with himself by snapping a picture of the wolf with it's mouth open...

What big teeth you have - the better to smile with my dear.

This big fish was an Olive favorite.  She liked just sitting and staring at the fish.

Most animals only got 2 minutes of Olive's attention.

We would get to a new exhibit, say the animal's name, have Olive tell us what sound that

animal makes, and then Olive would instantly say "More?" and point down the path

to the next animal.

The zoo has Larakeet birds that you can feed a small cup of nector (that is purchased for a dollar).

The person selling the nector told Connor that the birds were not drinking the nector.

Connor said he would take a cup anyway and Jen called Connor the bird whisperer.

Connor had birds drinking the nector within minutes and at one point had two birds drinking out of his cup of nector.

I learned that we were not at the Portland Zoo - we were at the More Zoo.

That explained why Olive kept saying MORE MORE.

And Firefighters don't share snow cones...

A few happenings...

We were looking at pictures around the table and came upon this picture that Connor took of his offical Firefighter badge in front of his Super Hero wall. 

Little Miss Olive in her Easter dress

Jen celebrate her 50th Birthday on Monday.  Olive helped blow out the candles.

This is Olive's makeshift outfit.  Since she came straight from church all she had was her Easter dress.  Jen went upstairs and put this quick outfit together.  Megan said she'll keep the Nike sweatshirt.

This park is a favorite thing for Grandma and Grandpu - espeically Olive to do when the Wadleigh's come over.

This is the sweater that Megan knitted that Olive will have nothing to do with it.  I put it on hoping that Olive would rather wear her grandpa.

At the end of Comic Con that was Connor showing he could hold himself up...he told Katie to sit on his back too...that never happened.

Jessica and I went and saw wicked...After I snapped this two pictures, I was told to stop because the stage was copy written too.

One more quick picture of the little princess...

My son the Fire MAN !

 http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/mar/12/firefighters-battle-battle-ground-garage-fire/ (this is the link to the article that was on the front page of the Vancouver City paper.  Connor is second from the right in the debriefing group)

During Connor's last 24 hour shift he got to go on his first fire.

He was very excited.  He texted his family of the events he was so excited (after he was back at the station of course. The green is his and the grey is mine.)

To expand on his text...Their engine was first on the scene.  He was with his mentor (and past instructor) Capt.Leavitt, a church friend Firefighter George Lingle, a fellow cadet the past two years, Zabo.
Leavitt and Lingle told Zabo and Connor to hook up three lines and then Connor and Zabo proceeded to put the fire out themselves. As you can see from their text the other firefighters were impressed it was Connor and Zabo.

Connor has also impressed the fire fighters with his cooking skills, by making dinner during his first 24-hour shift.  He made a corn chowder.  He silenced his critics.  He has now made the corn chowder 3 times now in as many weeks - Once for his family, once for his guy friends at the coast for "man weekend", and once for the fire station

I apologized to Jessica for not being as excited for her and her job as a nanny and that she saves those 3 kids every day...I got a classic eye-roll, my day is complete.

For all those little boys out there with a dream to be a fireman...Connor's dream came true.