Trying to exercise

So I've been trying to Exercise at least 4 times a week and I just had to tell you that I've been doing quite well! In fact, I think I want to go right now! Ok j/k it's a little late tonight but I will still do some crunches or something. But I love the gym I go to, it's (as the British say) "Brilliant!" I go to Gold's Gym on 9th east and they have finally gotten my attention with their latest remodel. They now have a Cardio Cinema Room! Every time I go I do cardio and I watch a movie! It's seriously a lot easier now having my mind on something other than what my legs are doing. If any of you are like me, exercise can be so boring because you're running in place or sitting in place doing odd things like stretching your arm backwards or picking up dumbbells. Who came up with the name dumbbell? But they say it takes 90 days or something (that's from googling) to form a habit and that's precisely what I'm working on now. So without further delay, I would love to leave you with two inspiring photos of my brother and sister doing yoga! Happy Exercising!

I am proud to be Mormon

I have been seeing some very sad and upsetting things in the media lately regarding my faith. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints I am also known as a Mormon. I am proud to be so called. As Mitt Romney is running for president I see that there is a lot of hate and negativity out there about our religion. This makes me sad and sometimes hurt by some of the things I have read. I do not want to participate in the negative comments added on Youtube or any other internet site. I am not here to state my political views instead I would like to bear my testimony!

I am so grateful to be a member of this true gospel. I love the savior Jesus Christ and for his atonement. I try to be like him more and more each day and hope that one day I can live with him again. I am grateful for the True Living Prophet on this earth today President Gordon B. Hinckley. He is an amazing man! I love the temples, I can't wait to be sealed to an eternal companion there one day. It's so amazing that we can be with our family forever if we live righteously! I love my family so much and am proud of my brother Toby for serving a full time mission in Madagascar. Toby is such a great example to me. I love my sister and her husband Phil and their two sweet daughters. What would I do without family?! My Mom and Dad are such great examples to me of love and friendship and they are always there when I need a shoulder to cry on and a bit of advice (or a lot), I have amazing siblings, I come from a family of 8 children and have no need to ever be alone. Each and every one is an important part of my family and it wouldn't be the same without anyone. I have an amazing extended family as well on both sides. Handfuls of Aunts and Uncles and a “Big Fat Greek Wedding” amount of cousins. The Book of Mormon is True! So is the Bible and I love both books dearly and read every night. I hope to gain a better understanding of both. I'm grateful for the opportunity to pay tithing. I pay 10 percent of my income to the church and have received so many blessings from this. When I am a full tithe payer I always have enough money miraculously for everything that I need. I am grateful for fast offerings and the church welfare program. My family has been personally blessed multiple times and it's humbling to receive food and necessities from the church. I really am so proud to be a Mormon. I have an amazing life and I know I wouldn't without this gospel. The savior is my brother and I love him so much and I hope I can be an example to others of his great love. This is the true church and for all these things again, I am grateful and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Notice to your right

I have a new blog!

Thomas' hamsters and his creative mind

Thomas was thrilled for his Christmas present. We had to keep it a secret for months so that he wouldn't find out. He thought something was wrong with my hamsters because I kept telling him they didn't have babies yet (shameful of me!) But in the end it was worth it because he told me, and I quote "This is better than an IPOD" so I felt pretty good. Mom and Dad supplied the cage, food, bedding, and hamster ball. Seriously these are fun pets!
This is what I fondly call "Hamster Castle" Thomas is so clever, I came into his room and he had made this and the hamsters Carl and Frances enjoyed the exploration.
I love this picture because this is an example of the fun wrestling matches we get with these too
Here we have Frances attacking an Army Man, I think she's winning.

more pictures because I think they are so cute!

hamster baby photos

Ok so an update, the other six are still alive and getting bigger each day. Today their eyes are opening and I took mama hamster away so I could pick them up and take pictures.

This is a picture of them when they were 1 day old. Saggiest bums I've ever seen! In this photo you can see seven :(
This is where they were about 7 days old. As you can see the fur was starting to grow in. Margot (mama hamster) was sitting on one of them here
This is today, about 11 days old about as big as my thumb


You can see a little bit here, the white one's eyes are slightly opened. Today's the first day their eyes have been opened.

7 becomes 6

So I am fascinated and disturbed by hamsters. I have to say that I spend a lot of time watching them and they are really funny. The older babies (I have 4) fight a lot. They are just like little kids except for they squeak. As some of you know my hamster had 7 more babies about a week ago (13 hamsters ahhh!). They are about the size of peanuts and my friend describes them as "hamster nuggets" because they look like little pieces of meat at first and they start out very red and gradually turn into a dark pink. As odd as this may sound, I think they are adorable! It's weird because their skin is kind of translucent too. So this time around I have 4 gray ones like the mom (my favorite) and 3 white ones. This has become a hamster family affair for all the older babies take turns sitting on the newest little guys. The little babies are so cute because they now are growing in their fur and they flail their arms around and sometimes you can see into their mouth when they are whining and they have the two tiniest teeth I've ever seen. They are quite cute (pictures to come later) . Now for the sad part of my story and frankly, the disturbing... This morning i checked on momma hamster and she moved as soon as I brought in more sunflower seeds (their favorite) so I could see all the little babies sleeping in the nest. I started counting and I don't have seven anymore! I looked everywhere for the other white baby. I even removed all the older hamsters (mom included) and picked up the little ones one by one and moved them and I sifted through all the bedding. I can't find it anywhere. So This makes me sad because the other day I noticed one of the babies legs looked like it was hurt and when I read online "how to care for baby hamsters"
It says the mom may kill an injured or sick baby. That's the only logical explanation of what happened to the 7th baby. It makes me so sad because I get attatched to these so quickly. I could never be a nurse that works with babies. So there's my sad story for all of you. I hope I can find homes for these other hamsters soon.

For Stacia

Oatmeal Fudgies
3/4 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Cocoa
1/4 cup Milk
tbs butter

Mix together on high and heat until butter is melted. Don't boil. Turn heat to medium low and keep stirring.
add 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
mix and then turn off heat

add two cups oatmeal and 1tsp of Vanilla.
Mix and then your done!
You can spoon them into balls on wax paper.
This is all from memory so I think I'm pretty close.