On A Beautiful, Cold, Sunday...

 Utah Lake can be so pretty at sunset.

 We went for a walk at Rock Canyon. The view was beautiful. 

It looked like a Christmas Village with the lights and snow. 

Made me (almost) regret not getting out my village last Christmas.

 Normally, I don't condone graffiti, but this didn't seem so bad???

 When one is told we are going for a walk and dress warm because it is 35 degrees out, ONE of my children, I won't mention names...almost froze to death...What was she thinking???

All puckered out from running around on the trail. They had a good time.

I think they were also happy to be together after their long separation. 

NO MORE PUPPIES!

In Need of Sun...and a vacation

v

I need Winter to be OVER!

I want to soak in the suns rays and be OUTSIDE!

Will this winter ever end?

Take it or leave it...Advice for a happier you at any age

If I could go back in time,

I would learn to love myself inside and out. 

(Still wish I was this skinny though)

Your children learn from you and it is important to teach them that they are unique and beautiful just the way they are. 

Only say positive things about yourself and others.

AS is, I will have to start today, not tomorrow.

Always take the time to watch the sunset.

Take the time to enjoy your child at every age because before you know it, they are grown up.

And...

spend time with family as often as you can, not once a year.

Watch your children sleep.
I would love to watch my cuties sleep again. (Skyler)

Taisha. She NEVER slept without Poo Bear.

McKenna.

Alisha

See the beauty of nature so untouched by the crazy world.

Do crazy things and laugh. 

Skyler was bugging her sisters by sticking his head in the window of the house and he got stuck. LOL

Kiss as often as you can. 

Your kids will close their eyes and say GROSS,

but it is good for them to see how much you love each other.

Take too many pictures.

Take the time to relax and reflect.

If I had known about my anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder when I was younger, 

I would have had better relationships with family and friends today.

Young Women and Young Men...

 Carly and Taisha

 Taisha, Courtney and Clark

Gross

McKenna and friends leaving?

My Addiction is now justified...

Chocolate now comes in doses

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Love may be in the air we breathe this holiday, but chocolates are what we are eating. Americans spend an estimated one billion dollars on chocolate products for Valentines Day. There is no doubt it’s a popular gift, but doctors say depending on what you choose, it could also be a gift of health.

"A small piece of dark chocolate with lots of love will be the best approach." Doctor’s orders for this Valentines Day from Dr J. Brent Muhlestein, a cardiologist at Intermountain Medical Center. He is, however, pretty specific about what kind of chocolate, and how much.

For full health benefits he says the chocolate must be dark. "The cocoa bean has a lot of naturally occurring products called flavonoids which have special properties. They are anti-inflammatory and they are also antioxidant.”

Two tablespoons of natural cocoa have more cell protecting antioxidants than 3 1/2 cups of green tea, 3/4 cup of blueberries, and 1 1/2 glasses of red wine. Those flavonoids reduce inflammation in the body. "It’s just cocoa bean, and these flavonoids that are felt to be beneficial, and if you have dark chocolate you have more of the cocoa than you have other things.” Milk chocolate has flavonoids but in lesser quantity. It’s diluted by milk or cream and contains extra sugar.

Doctors are so serious about the benefits of dark chocolate they now have a prescribed dosage. A quarter ounce a day. "You shouldn't use this to rationalize, and so oh I can eat all of the chocolate I want because it's heart healthy, that's not the case."

Still, he says this is one indulgence you can feel good about, in moderation.
"Taking appropriate amounts of chocolate without getting overweight will reduce your blood pressure which will reduce your chances of stroke."

(I always knew that chocolate was my life saver although, I do wish it was milk chocolate, but I will take what I can get. Now, about getting me a prescription LOL.)

Rustic Hearts...

Danny cut these off my shelf I bought because, it didn't quite fit. 

Then...

we realized that they could make hearts. 

So...

I now have rusted hearts to do something with. 

I am so excited.

Happy Valentine's Day...

I just want to say that love is all you need...

I hope this is the best Valentine's Day ever!!!

 Love,

Alisha & Melanie

I don't know if Taisha or McKenna took these pictures, but they are so cute. 

I went to picnic and gave them a little of Alisha's favorite color...purple. 

Just like the dress coat I bought her for Christmas that she is wearing.