here I go Again!

I have decided to keep this blogging going. I have had my first weight watchers weigh in AND (drumroll) I have lost 6 pounds which is 4 pounds off of my very first goal! My very first goal is to lose 5% of my weight, for me that came to a 10 pound loss. I am well on my way to a healthier Cayce.
I am still finding weight watchers to be so fun! It is a challenge and I need to plan ahead on what I am going to eat for the day but it is fun to be accountable and know that i am going to have to answer to my tracking sheet.
we will see how fun it gets down the road but for now? I like it! i like that I finally get to eat normal foods. i don't have to make separate meals for the kids and for me. None of that here....I get to eat whatever but in small amounts and I just have to plan ahead a little.
Well, enough said about that.
We just bought the "Pass of all passes". We can go to the waterpark, and 2 mini golf/ activity parks for a whole year for $35.00 a person! It is still pretty expensive for a family our size but on Day 1, today, we already paid for the pass!! The rest of the year is all icing on the cake!
We also, just reserved our rental house by Disney Land for February! It is so exciting around here right now! SWEET!
well, enough said for tonight, I am not even sure any of this post makes sense..but, it does to me. Night!

Seriously?

First Day of school

Bridal Veil Falls

Our Second Annual Birthday Carnival

Our new ride....The Bus!

August Fun at Raging Waters

This has been the longest time I haven't posted anything! If I could explain what my life has been like, I am sure you would understand why I haven't written.
So, school has started again and my kiddos are cute! kindergarten started on Wed and Katie is already an old pro at going to go and eating breakfast with the big kids. Josh and Aleceeya started their senior year! Kodey has just decided what she wants to be doing. she is going to learn massage therapy! She is quite excited about it and I have rarely seen her this motivated to find a new job and got o school. She has been out all day today driving around putting in her applications. i guess when they want it they do it! At least, I am not having to harp on her to do something. That? i like!
I also decided to chronicle this epic struggle I have had with my weight. I am going into my 40th year of life still (according to the charts) 70 pounds over my "ideal" body weight. I am not one to be gung ho on being "model" thin. But, I do want to be healthy and able to have some stress off of my body/joints and such!
So, weight Watchers...you have my number or should I say points? I was assigned my 24 points yesterday and i had already eaten that by lunch! now what? Today, I have done much better along with some planning ahead. I can have my Rolos this afternoon if I am conservative with my points! WAHOO! that is what I am liking most about this program right now. I can eat what I want but I need to monitor and count. I certainly can count (thanks Mom!).
Right now, I am just hungry. I have been very conservative of my points because i don't want to go over but I am thinking I can have a peach about now and some more water. that should hold me til dinner.
Meanwhile, we have a new little one, Abigail June (soon to be called). She just turned 4 on August 1. She has been here since our return from Michigan July 7. be watching for an upcoming temple date :) 5 months from now!
So, I am still going to school and john is still working for the Utah Foster Care Foundation! and absolutely LOVING it! Our life is a bunch of therapy appointments, schoolwork, housekeeping, movies (thanks to streaming Netflix), and now some fun with seven peaks pass of all passes! Trafalga, Seven Peaks, Unlimited basketball, Orem owlz games AND most important....Unlimited Laser TAG!!! SWEEET!!!!
Can't wait for the whole family to be laser tagging together...That sounds amazingly fun!!
Also, just rented a house in Anaheim for our every other year pilgrimage to Disney Land! I am so excited and it is months away still!
Well....That is enough info for now and guess what? I am not so hungry now so, maybe blogging is the key :)

The fun stops here...

So, we had a great weekend here. The weather was gorgeous and we got a lot done. we went to Bronco Days(school carnival) on Friday, the kids each got a dollar to spend at the book machine (they were thrilled), then we bought everyone the scooter they have "dying"for and we went to a yard sale were we gave each of the kids another dollar to spend. One of my kids (who shall remain nameless said,"hey mom? how come you are being so nice to us?" I mean, i thought I was always nice to them....

Our greenhouse! John put it together, and built the tiered shelving and then planted all of the wonderful vegetables and strawberries. Now, we just have to keep them alive.

Bees galore and More

So, bring on the bees. This has become a fun past time at our house, watching the flight of the bees. What a sense of satisfaction to see them all humming around the hive. John will watch them often and report,"I saw a bee that was carrying a ton of pollen on it."
It truly is the simple things in life that amuse the Thill family

a reality series?

So, the weirdest thing happened. We have talked to someone a few times who thinks we would be a good family for a reality TV show. we thought that was so funny. i am not sure what would go on but the producer called last night and talked to John for about an hour. They are talking it over and trying to come up with a premise for the show. Isn't that hilarious? Can you even imagine? This process has raised a few questions for our family.
*sounds exciting...but is it worth it?
*would it benefit or be harmful?
*do we want everyone to know what goes on in our life?
*seriously, who would be interested in watching our family?
*how much of an embarrassment would I become?
*what would the limitations be?
any way, it probably won't go beyond a few phone calls. We are just not that exciting. We don't have any cool talents or anything. We just are what we are!
Beyond that excitement, I am on my way to Michigan for a few days to visit my family and because a friend of mine passed away this week. At only 46 yrs.old it seems a little unreal that she could be gone so young.
I am still plugging away at school. UGH! sometimes, it gets intense and I feel like I am never going to be done. I know I will be someday and I am grateful to be finishing. I am looking forward to working. Crazy, i know. After 19 years at home I am excited to do something a little bit different. Although, teaching school isn't exactly out of my comfort zone :)
I still have some time though. Katie should at least be in 1 st grade before I start anything like that. then, I might decide, I want to stay at home by myself for a little while. Who knows? I will just be excited to finally have my degree. It will certainly be a relief and an accomplishment. i have been going to college on and off for 19 years and I will be thrilled to finish this.
Well, I have been subbing for 2 days in Zach's 3rd grade class and I have been having a ball! What a fun class. I love it! Thankfully though the subbing is winding down a little and I look forward to the summer off.
Well....that is pretty much all for now. Kodey is going to graduate next month and another chapter of her life will begin. I will let you know if they call back. they said they would, hmm, I won't loose any sleep over that. Still makes me chuckle though. A TV show? who does that happen to? HAHAHAHA

Running around in circles...

I have been so busy and bad about posting and taking pictures. i keep promising myself I will get caught up but then something else comes up. i admire all of you that can keep your blogs so nice all the time.
Since the last time I posted..Zach had a birthday, Lydia had a birthday and was baptized, Katie had a birthday, John had a birthday (40 yrs).
Wrestling season ended for everyone. I am almost done with 4 more classes. Jonathan broke his brand new glasses, Aleceeya and Gallie joined the glasses crew, I got TRIFOCALS!
I have been subbing like crazy! The van had to get new tires, and a new air conditioner and windshield.
The trailer needed a new refrigerator. John's car needed new tires.
I have been elected for PTA vice president and accepted a spot in the Utah Foster and adoptive families association for their 2nd VP and am now trying to create a statewide mentoring program.
We had a beautiful Patriotic program at my kids school that I ran the lights for and twisted my knee at (it was swollen for about 1 1/2 weeks)
Josh earned his varsity letter in wrestling and now has a beautiful coat to wear it on, they get more and more expensive!!
My three teens each got a cell phone with unlimited texting and lets just say, in one month their combined texts were over 6000!!!
they have also each lost their phone privileges over the last month for breaking some rules.
Kodey passed her math class with a C and now only needs a 1/4 credit in US History to pass so that she can graduate in May. the final is next week!!
Spring Break is upon us and it has hailed, snowed and the wind has blown so hard...but today it is beautiful weather and should be for the rest of the week.
Easter came and went quickly with a beautiful General Conference session.
i decided to write a book about my grandparents and family history and have been working on it.
katie has to have surgery tomorrow.
I earned my On My Honor award from the scouting program
Sheesh...I think that is about all. i am sure there is more but that is just a few highlights of our last few weeks.

My kids saying the funniest things....

We have been having lots of "big" talking in our family. I know, I know, hard to believe right? Well John thought he would "trick" the kids who were talking about how smart they are... here is the result


John said,
"How many animals did Moses put on the Ark?" Nathan said, "i know this I just learned it in primary. There were 2 animals and if they were real good there were 7 on there." Andrew said, "How did he get the whales on the ark?" Nathan and Zach, "Duh, they live in water they were probably having all kinds of fun because all they got to do was play wherever they wanted." By the way folks...it was Noah who built the ark not Moses! But, that seemed to be irrelevant.

Next, Jacob and I were driving home from vision therapy and Jacob was looking at my new cell phone. then he asked this gem, "mom, how do you know if someone is on the phone waiting to talk to you?" I couldn't help but smile and try not to hurt his feelings by laughing.

Today another funny one...
Katie, who is 4,"Mom, Dad is going to make a cd for me?" Mom,"Really? of what?" Katie,"probably out of plastic stuff like this one is (pointing to a cd)."

I mean really! kids are so darn funny. John thought it was important to write these and post them before we forgot. John and I have been working very hard but, these sure still seem funny to us.