Game-Changer

I just have to post to tell the world (or at least the two people that read my blog) that I finished Insanity today! Hooray. I really was running out of motivation to keep at it much longer so good thing it was only 60 days. Conclusion: Yes I think it is worth it. I have more endurance, my muscles are tighter, I think I have lost some body fat and a few pounds (like 3-4), so I feel good about it.  It was hard to get myself motivated to do it, so I usually just had to wake up and do it first thing before I could think too long about whether or not I really wanted to do it. I think I will definitely take a break from Insanity and try something else. But maybe incorporate it back into my workout regime. Who knows....

Well I have been trying to eat more protein since I started Insanity since I do not think I was eating enough and I think protein really helps to stabilize my blood sugar so I do not have spikes and crazy sugar cravings as often. I made a protein shake this week and I decided to name it the 'Gamechanger'. It changed the protein shakes entirely for me. It is dang good and I usually really despise protein powder (granted it is a protein shake). So I think you should give it a try if you are interested.

"Game-changer" (Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake)
1 cup milk (I use skim)
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (we buy the stuff from Costco in the big bag, the brand is CytoSport)
1 big spoon of peanut butter (I think this is the magic ingredient, probably like 2 TBs)
6-7 ice cubes depending on how thick you want it. I like it thick, the more ice cubes the better.

I also add some ground flaxseed but obviously this isn't necessary. Blend it all together and there you have it. Amazing! Feels like you are having dessert for breakfast. :)

I should have taken a picture of it. Maybe tomorrow.

Somebody Got Their First Tooth

Ari had a present when she woke up on her 10-month birthday, her first tooth! Yeah Ari. It is no fun having them come in, but most good things take hard work.

This is Ari enjoying meal time. She loves to put her feet up under the tray and just rest them there.

Oh What Do You Do In The Summertime....

 I love that Primary song. I had a goal this year to do at least one post each month and I was doing good until summer came.... You think you'll have lots of free time in the summer but it gets pretty hectic with all the trips and events. So here are some pictures to help you see what we've been up to these past couple of months. We have been enjoying our summer!

Seth and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary in June. Don't we just look like kids? haha Crazy how time flies.

Seth got Ari and me each our own little bouquet of flowers to celebrate. Seth wanted to be sure he was the first man to give his daughter roses. 

Ari just wanted to eat her flowers.



We went on another hike to Doughnut Falls. It was SO crowded. I don't think I will be doing that hike again any time soon. Granted we went on Memorial Day, which was not a smart idea. I didn't get to see the actual Doughnut fall either since there were so many people it just wasn't worth it.

I went and spent time with Becky who had her baby Lily just two weeks after Ari was born. She wanted me to take some pictures of Lily and she had that cute pink outfit and headband, so Ari borrowed it for a couple pictures. Aren't they just the cutest?

They did good for awhile but then Ari want to grab Lily's binki clip and Lily wasn't having that.

Doesn't Lily's face just say 'Mom, get Ari away from me...'

Ari then proceeded to get her huge alligator tears. Sad but too cute at the same time.

We went to St. George on our way to Texas and we all went to the splash pad. Ari had a fun time in the water.





Kylee and me with our 'girlies'. Millie and Ari are exactly 3-months apart. So fun!



Ari wasn't sure what to think of the water.



Ari showing off her new crawling skills while we all cheer her on.

We also took a fun trip to San Antonio to spend time with Seth's family. We had a great time. It is always so fun to be with family.



Ari after her first ride in an airplane. She did pretty well overall. She decided to dirty her diaper in a major way about 15 minutes after take-off. Very convenient Ari!



This is us at the Alamo.



This is Seth so excited to be at the Alamo.



Marissa and Ari swimming at Canyon Lake. Ari is enjoying eating her rock....until it gets taken away...



So sad. :(



We all stayed in a little cabin by Canyon Lake and had lots of fun doing crafts and just hanging out. This is Seth by the river. We were planning on going canoeing but the lady with the canoes never came back to the office so we never got to go. Bummer. Maybe next time. We had some yummy, authentic carne asada tacos, went to the Riverwalk and the Alamo, went to Freddy's steak burger restaurant twice (it was good) and Ari threw-up in the car ride home from Canyon Lake. That was a first of many, I am sure.

My mom wanted some pictures of Ari so we took some down in St. George, these are just a couple that we got. The one below Ari has some sweet comb-over going on.

This picture reminds me of the really old Gerber baby photos from when I was little that were on the baby food jars. Maybe because she is kind of staring off in the distance or something, not sure why exactly.

Seth and I ran a 5k with Ari in tow. It was for the Utah Crime Victims Legal Clinic. Seth actually got third in his age division and he was pushing a stroller the whole time. We stuck together the first half then Seth just couldn't stand to not try to pass everyone so he went ahead of me and finished with Ari. She loves going on walks in her stroller.

People love to comment as we pass them, like 'wow, we are being passed by people pushing a stroller'. One girl refused to let us pass her. Every time we got close to her, she would look over her shoulder and take off sprinting. Then we would catch up to her and she would do it again. This happened several times until she ran out of gas and we finally got around her.

We did another hike with Seth's cousins (some of the Probst's and Eric and his boys) to Stewart Falls. It was a pretty hike. Ari loves the outdoors.



She was worn out by the end...



This little munchkin turned 8 months!

She would not leave her paper alone and insisted on eating it.

And if I take away the paper, she eats the stick. Can't win. :)

This was her cute face when she realized she didn't like sitting or crawling on the grass. She didn't want to put her hand down on the grass.

Ari had her first trip to Lake Powell this year.

When she gets excited she lifts her arms up in the air. She loved driving down the lake on the houseboat.

She got to help Grandpa McArthur while he was fixing something on the houseboat, if you count holding his tools for him while he worked.  


This is Ari eating her first lime. She thought it was pretty sour at first but then she went to town on it. This was when we were in St. George eating at Hermidas with my family.










And yet another hike! This one was to Twin Lakes up by Alta Ski Resort. This hike we did with some people in our ward up here, and we invited Ben Arnold to come along since he was coming through Salt Lake. He is one of our friends from our Provo ward.


And our little munchkin turned 9 months old!

We tried getting some pictures and she just wanted to eat her headband and her paper, but she looked cute doing it.

So we had to enlist Dad's help.

For how much of a skinny little peanut she was the first 6 months of her life, we never thought she could have such a cute double chin. This one shows it off nicely. :)

I think I need to laminate the little month signs. The 9-month sign never even made its debut before she destroyed it.

We started the 'Insanity' workouts if you have heard of those. I am still going strong trying to be committed for the full 60 days. It is hard to stick with it, it is not enjoyable by any means. Seth will do it with me most days but not everyday, so I am trying to stay motivated. I feel so much better when I get my workout in.

Ari is now into everything and just a ball of energy. I am still getting around to baby-proofing everything.

Ari loves to suck on my phone charger. She heads straight for it whenever we are in our bedroom.

I just love this look she gives me.

Ari also loves bath time. She loves to splash but then wonders why there is always water in her eyes. She hasn't made the connection yet that she is the one doing it.