Wow.

Every book I've read this year takes place inside a castle. 

*I Capture the Castle by Doddie Smith

*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

*The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

*The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

The only one I've wanted to live in, however, is Hogwarts. 

Thats what I'm doing these days

These are a few of my current favorite things...

what I'm doing while I'm not busy being a wife and mom.

 Yes, it is totally disgusting. I love the drama. I also love snuggling with my husband while watching blood and guts splattering all over the TV.

 Again, totally disgusting. Perhaps even more so than Walking Dead. Again, I love the drama. I also love cringing with my girls while we watch the crap hit the fan. Good old fashion trash TV.

 This is the book that I'm currently focusing on. And it also represents the Historical Fiction/Romance kick I'm on. I looooove Kate Morton, but I also really loved the book I read by Susannah Kearsley.

 Pinterest is so much better than FB. You really get to know your friends on a deeper level, their interest, their tastes, what they find beautiful, even sometimes their insecurities. Now all the world knows just how deep my obsession with Harry Potter runs. They can also see a little insight into my sense of humor or what inspires me.

 I eat copious amounts of peanut butter a day. Ever since I've started to eat better and exercise I've tried to cut out candy, soda, and chips, etc...and peanut butter has become my guilty pleasure. You might find it blended in my Slimfast shake (protein right?)  or maybe my morning toast, you'll never see me eat a celery stick unless it has first been assaulted by PB, I love PB sandwiches, and I even made THESE the other day which wasn't super healthy but hey, it was healthy for my soul...

 Currently my "go to" music. I love this soundtrack. Particularly THIS song.

 I love OPI nail polish and I'll change my color every three days if I have the time but with OPI I can usually go a week or more (on my fingers, I could probably go a year on my toes but that would be disgusting). This color is called "You don't know Jacques" and was part of the French line. It is probably my very favorite, even though it isn't very bright...it is sophisticated ("But, it's gray..."--Adam Turney) It kind of does look a little muddy but it is beautiful and this picture doesn't do it justice. Right now I am wearing This color and This color (the pink one).

"Parents, remember that now is your opportunity. You may feel yourself harassed as you struggle through the days with children, but you are living the happiest and the most golden years of your life. As you tuck them into their beds at night, please be kind to them. Let them hear a kind voice amid all the angry, vile voices that they will hear throughout their life. Let there be an anchor to which these little ones can turn when all else fails. The Lord will help you so to do."
-Harold B. Lee

This quote has kind of changed my life a little bit. I've been thinking of it daily and I need to live by it. Wise words. 

Last and certainly not least, I've been running and I love it. I actually hate it while I'm doing it sometimes, but I love what it is doing for me, I love the feeling of accomplishment after an hour run, I love feeling strong and fast, and I love the break from my kids. It truly is doing something for myself that is only mine.

Getting Fit

Last year I spent the better part of 2011 being pregnant. And it was worth it. And I wouldn't change it for anything. But of course I gained weight, and it was uncomfortable. All through my pregnancy I had the goal that when Paige was born I would get in the best shape of my life. I decided on an exercise program, I made eating goals. Adam too, had been feeling like he wanted to get back into shape. Here is Adam in 2005:

(That's when I met him...whoo whoo right?)

So in August, Adam got a gym membership. He isn't able to go as often as he likes but we've worked out sort of a work out schedule recently and hopefully he can get where he wants to be. This is Adam's progress over the last six months (PS I BEGGED his permission to use this photo, he is kind of embarrassed but I think he should be super proud...)

He's lost about ten pounds and as you can tell he's toned up. I'm super proud of him....Then there is me...

 Here I am about 155lbs right after Paige was born (I was 165 when I went into the hospital).

Here I am at 121 lbs last day of boot camp.

I can run  6 miles (or 60 minutes), I've completed a month of intense boot camp training, 30 day shred, and the Couch to 5k program. I am strong and feeling great! I still have a ways to go to where I need to be (I don't care about losing weight but I do want to tighten up) and maybe I'll never get there, after all I HAVE had two babies...but I'm feeling strong and I'm feeling comfortable and happy in my own skin...

Hawaii, here we come!

A week in the life 5 {1/30-2/5}

Monday

Of course I cleaned. I always clean. Bachelor and Boot camp for sure. Laughed for a bit with my friend Katie (we ran together before boot camp). I can never really remember Mondays although I know it was eventful. The sad news was that Rosalie's baby passed and she was admitted to the hospital and labor was induced.

Tuesday

Both my girls woke up with fevers. It is the saddest thing to watch babies be sick. At least Hannah can somewhat understand and communicate but poor Paige didn't sleep hardly at all...she just cried and cried all day. I didn't leave her side, she just wanted to be held by her mommy. I felt bad for Hannah but she was pretty content to have us all together cuddled on the couch until it was time for her to try to take a nap. Naps didn't happen. We went to Target because I needed shoes then picked Adam up from work. The girls were both happy to see him and he was so happy to be home (He'd been up since 3am with Hannah and was such a sweetheart he stayed and took care of her and let me sleep without one word that he needed help). I went to boot camp and then came home and read. I also signed up for my first race (a 5k) with the team The Hot Ta-Mommies. Texted back and forth with Rosal and though she is devastated, she has a lot of peace. She is a strong girl woman (I always feel weird calling my friends women because I still feel like a girl myself...and I met her when we were practically teenagers) and I am honored to call her my friend.

Wednesday

Today we played all morning. It was supposed to be park day but Hannah has a smoker voice and Paige's nose was still a little runny with the occasional cough so I just kept them home. We had a good morning playing together and both girls took good three hour naps during which time I organized some things, talked to Amanda (my sister in law) facebooked a little and read. Dinner was a little crazy. I was holding Paige because she was fussy and Hannah kept almost spilling her yogurt. I was so concerned about the yogurt I didn't notice Paige reach for my hot bowl of soup and spill it all over the two of us. We all had a good laugh, except for Hannah who cried because she was worried Paige did something naughty (I think she was worried her precious sister would be in trouble) I finished a book called The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley and it was amazing.

Thursday

Library story time again...I'm feeling really bored writing my weekly activities which must mean anyone who is reading must have stopped a long time ago lol. Hannah acted up during story time so I had to take her out and put her in time out. I learned that moms don't like to take privileges away from their kids, especially ones they really love...but if I don't, how will she learn? A friend of mine told me that she really admired me as a mom and said she even told her husband "I wish I could just be Melissa Turney right now." That floored me because I've spent lots of time wishing I could be other people lol it was a huge compliment because I admire her so much as a mother. Last day of boot camp!

Friday

We hung around most of the day and then when Adam came home we had a pizza party! We went to Chuck E Cheese on a spur of a moment whim (never thought I'd say that about Chuck e cheese) with Scott and Stacey. Then we came home and watched the movie Contagion. Holy. Expletive. What a movie.

Saturday

We went to our beloved Shark Reef. They've changed it up a bit since we were there last and we all had a blast. I love watching my kids have fun. Even Paige was entranced by the sharks swimming. After, we went to McDonalds to share some ice cream. Then lunch, naps, and resting. I went running with Katie in the evening then got to talk to Rosalie who told me the story of her baby's birth. We cried together on the phone. She is so strong.

Sunday:

Today since the girls have had runny noses and coughs all week we decided to keep them home for the sake of the health of the nursery lol. I had a good 4 mile run early this morning. Adam went to church by himself and we had nursery class at home where we did a lesson, colored pictures, played toys, and watched Youtube videos on the Mormon channel. Tonight we'll head over to the Packards for some Superbowl viewing.

"That's What She Said:"

I had my concealer under my eyes and Hannah kind of freaks out when I don't rub my makeup in and she catches me. I was teasing her and went for a kiss and she said "no no no rub it in first, rub your glue on first." She then told Adam " Once upon a time I did not want to see that."

Everything that even remotely resembles an iguana is a "guana"

On Thursday I said "Uh-oh" and Hannah shook her head and said "What did daddy do?"

While I was half asleep, Hannah took my ipod and made this my status update: "Bbpoiuuuyytttpppppplppppppppkoolkklooöôjhgfddpkjkppppppppp" She kept saying "I'm doing my letters, P is for Paige! T is for tu tu Turney!"

Starting next week I'm going to do our weekly update a little different (a little more simple). Stay Tuned!