Ho, Ho, Ho

Merry Christmas!!
Hope everyone had as much fun as we did (all week long).

We spent a weekend up north through the big storm of the year stuck between Spanish Fork and Provo for an hour on an icy overpass as we watched in the mirror, cars sliding out of control behind us. Followed that up with our handsome little devil being a StAr in the Christmas play at church. Say Cheese!

We then spent Sat. night with grams and gramps opening up all there fun gifts to the boys and enjoying the ever delics meal of machaca. A definite family favorite and tradition since I was young.
Grams continues to surprise us with her will to make Christmas Eve exactly how we have always remembered even though she is more fragile. Last year she was in the hospital and care center at this time and we weren't sure if she was going to make it. She stuck it through and made it back home to gramps and the dogs!

On Tuesday we piled in the car to make an exciting journey to CALI! So um, yah, got a little off course when we took the wrong exit at the last minute in the middle of rush hour on a 5 lane freeway. I was subject to some profanity, but I can't blame my babe. We (mostly me)calmly got off on the next exit and got back on track.
All 6 of us stayed snuggly in our 2 Queen bed hotel room and experienced the pitter patter of 3 year old feet in our face or back for 4 nights. I know someday I will be grateful for that closeness!

*We were hosted with the mostest by the coolest uncle and aunt around and ate and drank sooo good!* Spent some good q.t. catching up with cousins that are like your closest friends. *Went to the beach and froze our buns off, but loved every second of it. *Got spanked at Marie calendars for the Christmas morning buffet that cost us $18.99 a person and tasted like hoggie slop:(
The weather was cold, but you can't beat the warmth of the love from the fam.!





On the way home we were stuck in what we thought should have been a severe storm or 20 car pile up, but it was merely the wonderfullness of holiday travelers all with California license plates headed back to Utah at the very same time as us. WEIRD!!!
What should have been a 6 hour drive turned into 12, with an adorable 3 year old taking his first man pee into a bottle because we couldn't even pull off the road for a potty and a grown women (me) squatting alongside the car on a desolate exit ramp because every bathroom had a line-up like purgatory on Friday night.

These are the days of our lives and this is what makes holidays so much dang fun!



Gotta love the gifts from the Lord and all that we have to be thankful for. What would we be if it wasn't for all that he has done?!

You must a been a beautiful baby...

cause baby look at you now!
So today December 23, is my little sisters birthday. It has always kinda sucked for her because it is so dang close to Christmas, but not this year cause we are on our way to California baby!!!
I wanted to include a few of my favorite things about my sis for all to enjoy.

• She is an amazing aunt
• She is a patient and loving mother
• She is a true and devoted friend
• She stands up for the truth
• She is honest
• She is the best friend that only most people could hope for

So... here's lookin at you kid!Love Ya!!

Whoa!!! Is that Snow?

Sure is little phillies. And don't you worry school got canceled because as one school quoted"Due to hazardous road conditions"
Guess they didn't grow up in Fillmore!(yes, people actually live there)

Merry Christmas "Who's"

For all of you "The Who's I visit", I just wanted to say Merry Christmas!
We hope that the New Year brings MUCH prosperity to all and that your lives will continue to be blessed by all that our Lord offers to us.
Here is a sampling of our Christmas card. Hope you get a good laugh. And BTW.. these babies came right from grams closet!
Grandma got ran over by a reindeer so we took her sweaters! Love, The Ryans

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Some may think that we are a bit "Scroogie" in our house since we have never had a normal size tree. Well, let me list in order the reasons why I love these 3 little trees:

• These baby's cost $29.99 5 years ago and I haven't had to replace them yet!
• Easy Set-up and take down (fluff a few branches and it's all good)
• Less lights and ornaments (hey, we can all use the extra money we would spend on decorating and the electric bill)
• No need to spend countless hours looking for the perfect tree skirt (none required)!!
• No need to vacuum dead pine needles cause there aren't any!
• You won't spend countless hours pondering over what is in the mysterious box that your grandma sent you because presents don't fit under these trees!

HAPPY DECORATING!!

Structural Integration

What is it and why do you want it?

SI is a process of re-educating the body through movement and touch. It systematically releases patterns of stress and impaired function. Basically, in a nutshell I organize the muscles of the body putting them back where they belong.

What do you mean"Organize" the muscles? Have you ever looked down at your feet to notice the way you stand? Are your feet pointing in or out or maybe just one foot is a little off?

Have you noticed how you always seem to be "tight" in the shoulders and sometimes it hurts to turn your neck because it feels tight? Have you been diagnosed with TENDINITIS or are you weak in the arms and you have numbness or tingling and loss of grip in your hands?

Do you suffer from severe migraines or just really bad headaches? Do your hips or knees hurt when your standing on tile floors or just standing for long periods of time in general?

Have you ever been diagnosed with PLANTAR FASCIITIS? Does your doctor recommend cortisone shots because you have an aching shoulder or knee?

Are you a runner who suffers from I.T. Band Syndrome? Do you or someone you know have TMJ? How are your sinus? Do you constantly feel plugged up?

Have you had a baby or are you trying to get pregnant(and the doctor has ruled out any internal issues for not)? Have you been in a minor fender bender or a really bad car accident?

How about SCIATICA? Or abdominal issues i.e. not enough or to many bowels, menstral cycle being to much or you skip months?

What about just being STIFF or feeling TIGHT? Are you always TIRED and you feel like you just can't move as easily or gracefully as you would like?

Are you a dancer, gymnast, hard core work out buff, writer, painter, guitar player, a violinist, a MOM or DAD, child with A.DH.D., a hair dresser, an athlete, someone who just wants to feel better and is tired of all the wrong answers for you?

Structural Integration is form of Massage Therapy. At times it can be intense and it is not a "Feel Good" massage, but it can change your life.

I would love to hear from anyone who has more questions about what I do, where I trained, how much sessions cost, how I could help you, why should you come see me, does this massage hurt?

Before 10 Session and After 10 Session Series

This client came to me because her hip kept popping out and she was seeing the chiropractor 2 times a week. She completed the 10 Series Session in about 7 weeks and so far her hip has been great. She is a very active athlete who continues to receive bodywork to maintain her flexibility, but she claimed to feel more energetic, have more endurance and not feel so tight. * Notice the difference in height in the before and after photos as well as the space between her legs and how forward or straight her head is. (you can't tell from this photo but she gained and 1 1/2 in. in height.

The 10 Series session is a series of 10, 90 minute sessions that completely realigns the body's structure and function. We work from bottom to top, top to bottom , inside to outside, front to back, opening up all muscles taking you to the core structure of your body.

It's completely amazing to watch the transformation in each client and for you to gain a greater understanding of how your body was designed to work.

S.I. is a Body Beautiful from the inside out!

STUFF IT!

So, in honor of Thanksgiving Day and all that it offers us as far as the many blessings of a delicious feast, I am giving to you a scrumptious recipe for stuffing.

Take from it what you will, but this comes from a girl who HATES stuffing and has always thought it was the most disgusting thing on earth. I have been making it for 3 years now and it is always something to look forward to!

I hope this Thanksgiving finds all of you healthy, happy and full of love(and lots of food)! Let's go running after, shall we? I hope you ennoy it as much as I do and remember:
THIS AIN'T YOUR GRANNY'S STUFFING!

Sausage and Apple Herb Stuffing

Half lb. Bulk Pork Sausage (I use the turkey or soy sausage instead. Still tastes great)
1/2 C Butter
1 1/2 C sliced celery and same of chopped onion
1 pkg (14oz) Herbed Seasoned cubed stuffing (or whatever flavor looks good to you)
1/2 C seasoned dried cranberries
2 C coarsley chopped apples
1 T Rosemary herb seasoning mix (or dried rosemary)
2 cans (14oz) chicken broth

Preheat oven 350
Cook sausage in skillet on med. heat for 3-5 minutes
Remove skillet and crumble sausage into small pieces

W/ skillet back on stove add butter for 1-3 minutes. Add celery & onions. Cook and stir 4-5 minutes or until veggies are crisp & tender, then combine stuffing, cranberries, apples, seasonings and sausage. Add vegetable mixture and broth, toss until moistened. Put in a deep dish baker, covered and bake for 30 minutes.

Carefully remove lid and bake for 30 minutes more

How's Yours?

So... How's Yours?


Where would you put a phrase of such simplicity?
How about over the best seat in the house?

13.1? Did I hear you right?

As I start to run I feel good. Somewhat calm and at peace with the decision I have made to run this race. Not just any race might I add, but a half marathon.

Now for those of you runners out there your thinking : Why even blog about this. I am a 26.2 world champ. Maybe (Megan you fit in this category) even having run the marathon 3, 6, or 12 times. But for those of you who don't run or like I, just started running and the most you have ever run was 8 miles 2 weeks ago, this is like a really big freaking deal. 13.1 miles ain't for the weak at heart.
No, on no it's for those who are ready for a challenge. Not just of the mind, but of the BODY. You start out feeling good. Maybe even really good, but then on about mile 6 you start saying to yourself "Man, a 10k(6 miles) is sounding real good about now".

At about mile 8-9 your calf muscles begin to get weak and the seem to lose blood circulation. What was once squishy, soft muscle has now turned to what I like to call... STONE. Very heavy stone which makes you have to physically check out so that you can continue to focus on the matter at hand- finishing the race.

Most of the experts say that you begin to get a runners high that takes over and just gives you this un-imaginable power that helps you to proceed. Hmm... I must have missed the mile that we picked that up cause I never got that. I kept hoping that somewhere along the next turn I would get a ride on that train that should have been coming through, but nopes I missed right out.

As I approached mile 11.5 I started feeling the rumblies in my tummies and I seriously thought (even for a second) about jumping into the lava rock and becoming one with nature. It's hard to imagine I know, but when your running that long something happens to the insides of you. (no worries, I was able to contain myself)

The #12 never looked so sweet on the tiny orange cone I had been looking forward to seeing all along the way that would let me know each time just how much longer I would endure the thrill of this self induced joy ride! "A mile and a half" were the words they were yelling and suddenly I felt the goodness from within that I had been hoping to have at mile 3, suddenly kick in.

I started running faster(not much because at this point there was some definite numbness in the balls of my feet, besides a tingle and frozen shoulder in the right upper trap) and I could totally see Snow Canyon High where we were to end this amazing journey.

I rounded the corner and ran past all the people and I even vaguely remember a few watery tears drifting from my eyes as I realized that grass and a toilet were there with my name BOLDLEY written across them.

It was totally awesome! Hauling as much butt as I had left to haul on that track to cross the finish line. Feeling all the while like I can't believe I just put myself through this, but knowing all the more that I am doing it again baby! Oh yes, you heard me right. You start to become kinda excited by the thought of doing better next time. Running faster, being stronger and pushing yourself harder then you ever thought possible.

Some may call me crazy, I call me crazy to but watch out cause here I come!

The best part of running begins the night before with this delicious feast of carbs and sugar. Those of you who know me know exactly how much I enjoyed EVERY LAST BITE!! Oh, was it pure heavenly bliss!
Wo, Is that a 4:52? No, the 1 was broken so the used the 4. 1:53 baby. Can you see me? Ya, I'm the one with the pink bandana ready to collapse. I'm glad you couldn't see my face from the front. Not a pretty sight
Me, Sara, and Angie. 3 runnin babes!

Burgers anyone?

What do you do when your sweet dear hubby says he is going to be the Burger King king for Halloween? You buck up and be his queen! NOT

Even better you become his em-ploy-ee! Yee doggies

(please don't let those tights scare ya, very very CrEePy). Instead of makin burgers, we just made us a 'lil frankie

As the night continued we did some trick-or-treatin and had a fun block party with all the neighbs in the Highlands. There was a cake walk and cat walk with prizes for best costumes, tonz of yummy chili and breadsticks and lots of FuN! We had a blast

Halloween has always been a little more special to us because it is Gramps B-day! He is a sweet 'ol cowboy born and raised up in Texas. We love you Gramps and hope yer day was great!

SGPTF

Single-Green- Potty Training-Frog who keeps his undies dRy cause he is a "BIG Boy", does pee-pee and poops(aka-snakes) in the toilet, and gets a delicious treat after he uses the toilet!!!

Yes, you heard it right peeps, I responded to this ad and now I've got me a handsome little 3 year old who is P to the otty Trained!

I started out thinking that because Dylan was 2 1/2 years old we were throwin those diapers away and waking up to have a huge potty party! Um... ya, I was totally WrOnG. Who knew the parents don't make all the big decisions?

Justin read an article in his Men's Health magazine(not just ripped up hotties on the cover) about a dad who woke his son up one morning with a boy doll who was wearing underwear and who needed to use the potty. He would give his son a treat everytime he used the bathroom or attempted to and also gave his son the babies treat after the baby sat on the toilet. The dad also put some tootsie rolls in the undies of the baby to represent an "accident" and wet his undies once or twice and let the little boy feel it. He still gave the baby a treat even though he had an accident and just kept talking to the little boy about keeping his undies dry.

Holy cow, it totally worked. Dylan just jumped right to the big toilet and although we have had a few accidents it isn't even worth mentioning compared to the success! Justin started it out on Sat. and Sun. and I took over during the week. We have been going strong for 3 weeks now!!!

Maybe it has something to due with the fact that Justin isn't as highly stressed out like me and he wasn't curled up on the bedroom floor after day 3 of Dylan not wanting to be potty trained(true story of me the first time around with real bawling tears and everything. I'm such a FREAK!), or the pure fact that Dylan was ready to wear his big boy undies? Hmm... who would have thunk that a single, green potty training frog could have made all the difference?

Don't you just love the way life works it self out?