Swenson Family March Goals

Well this month didn't go exactly as planned. Steve was really hoping to shed a few pounds and not be so 'thick with fatness' as he put it. The first two weeks he tried an all oatmeal diet. He ate oatmeal with vanilla yogurt and blueberries for all three meals of the day. He fudged a few times when he was super hungry for something else. He thought that if he could fill up on oatmeal he would 1) feel full and 2) not eat so many calories. The third week he tried a nut diet. He just ate a LOT of nuts. Not just nuts, but more than a normal person should eat in one week. Let's just say....neither of them worked so well. But he did discover that they would be great diets for a person who may be constipated! He also tried to run a lot more and get up early in the morning to exercise and lift. I continued to try and work out 4 times a week at the gym. I also tried to eat more fruits and veggies and not as many unhealthy snacks. Because the weather was a bit nicer the kids were able to run outside more and play. I also tried to give them healthier snack options and lunches. We still have a lot of work to do and hope to continue to try and be healthier.

Spring Days in Utah

Addison and Kylee had their spring recital and both did so great-totally worth the 80.00/month we spend on lessons!! Also after the recital the girls made a snowman and snow horse with all of our spring snow and Ron got new glasses (isn't he cute in them also so worth the 250.00 they cost!)

Emmee's glasses

Sometimes I forget that we can post more things than just the monthly goals and results.
Emmee got glasses about a month ago. I posted some pictures of her on her blog. You can access her blog by scrolling down the list of blogs to the right of these words. Emmee's blog is titled "The Emmee Rae Show". Check it out to see her new look!

Christen March Results

Well thanks for the goal Steve, it was good for us too. Of course now is not the time for me to loose weight but certainly the time to be as healthy as possible. I walked on my treadmill everyday except for some of the days Jill used it as a drying rack for her towels (but I used it the mornings she was at Sally's) Addison and Kylee also did 15+ minutes on the treadmill every day after dinner. We also worked hard to cut down meal portion sizes and slow down on snacks. We had fun walking on the trail during the weekends when Ron could go with us as I can't walk Mugsey and push the stroller at the same time exercise can only be done outside when there is more than 1 of us going. We had fun with it and are looking forward to keeping it up.

Jones March Goal

This month has been the changing point in our lives. We've completely changed our lifestyle and eating habits. We threw out every processed snack and prepackaged item in our house. We eat nothing but whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean meats and fish. Dan and I have each lost about 15 pounds and the kids' cavities have all but disappeared. Ok...none of that actually happened, but we wish it had!
We didn't throw anything out, but I didn't by a lot of new. (Except for the crackers, fruit snacks, and granola bars we needed to replace the stuff in our 72 hour backpacks.) We were much more aware of what was going into our mouths. I didn't change the way I cooked really, but paid more attention to what we ate between meals, chips and crackers were replaced by cheese sticks and fresh fruit.
Dan got a podometer through work. (not sure I spelled that right, it's a little thing you attach to your belt area of your pants and it counts your steps.)
Dan wore it most of the month and was excited to see what number he could get up to every day. I borrowed it towards the end of the month and felt much more motivated to walk on the treadmill more to see how high my number each day could go. I actually did lose 5 pounds. Not a joke this time. I highly recommend getting one!
I wish there was a way to impliment more of this healthy eating into our food storage. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best thing for a healthy diet, yet don't really jive with a 3 month or year supply of food. Any suggestions to that????
Thanks for the goal Steve. We need that one 12 months a year!

April Goal From Mom

Moses 7:53 And the Lord said: Blessed is he through whose seed Messiah shall come; for he saith - I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven, which is broad as eternity; whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by me shall never fail; wherefore, blessed are they of whom I have spoken, for they shall come forth with songs of everlasting joy.

In February while at Jill's we had a family home evening. For the closing song we did not have song books so Steven suggested we sing "We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet". I learned that song - all the verses-before I was married but yet I got someof the words wrong as we sang the second verse. Steven staightened it out but it got me thinking that we really should know more words to our songs. So my challenge this month is to learn a NEW song each week as a family. Two from the adult hymnal and two from the chldren's song book so the children can be a part of this too.

Perhaps you can start a new song for FHE each week, sing it each night before family prayer and use it for the opening song for the next weeks FHE. Then at the end of the month I'd like you to list the new songs you have learned. (Maybe a video for Nana and Papa of the songs from the childrens book sung by the grandkids of course).

D&C 84:98 Until all shall know me,who remain, even from the last unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, an shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song.