2/27/12

Black Friday!

That's right, today I got up and ran my first 5K, then had a big thanksgiving dinner with friends and moved right into BLACK FRIDAY!

I love black friday, it is one of the best nights of the year for me and I usually get all my chrsitmas shopping donein one night. It was a little hard this year faceing it without Lynz but I had two of my very best Girls, Bex and Ash, to keep me company and help me deal with my Lynz being gone.



We started off the cold night by heading out to Toys-R-Us at 7:00, doors opened at 9:00 and we wanted to make sure that we got everything we needed. It was really cold but we were rigth near the frint of the line so I pulled up the van and we spent the next few hours watching Youtube and visiting in the nice warm van. So fun!
We also hit up all teh stores at clackimus and ended up waiting in the movie theater to stay out of teh cold. lol, we thought the mall opened at 10 but it didn't open till 12:00, that gave us just enough time to race home, nurse Nate, and get back for the big shove to get in the doors. It was during this time that Ashley told us that she was......PREGNANT!!!!! Oh my gosh so exciting! They will now be a family of 5 and even though Ash wasn't feeling at the top of her game she still wanted to come out and live it up with us. Can't wait to meet the newest little Clayton baby!

We did great and got all teh amazing deals but most importantly I had a wonderful time pulling an all nighter with some of my favorite friends. Love you girls!

Did you know I run?

Alright I know that you must think this post is Aaron writing or something but its not! This is Lacey and I am not a runner! I am a baker. I love baking cookies, scones, cakes, cupcakes, bars, and all manner of delicious deserts. In fact baking is what I am know for, I can't tell you how many people now have "Lacey's pancakes" in their recipes box. But I don't want to be remembered as the pudgy girl who always had the best treats, I am more than that and I will not let my sugar addiction rule my life any more!

Obesity runs in my family in the most unfortunate way. We are tiny little girls in high school, lose our baby weight in the early 20's relatively fast, and then out of no where our metabolisms just gives up right around 30. After a life time of mindless snaking, out eating the running back in a pizza eating contest, and NEVER having anything to do with sports or physical activity............ BAM! The weight hit me like a brick wall, I swear I can't even look at a cookie without gaining weight now a days.

My grandmother passed away in her mid 60'a after complications from a hip replacement due to her obesity. I have watched my mother and aunts struggle in their own weight loss battles, and to be quite honesty obesity has always been one of my biggest fears.  I have never admitted this before but I have always felt like it is only a matter of time before I "put on the weight." It's like knowing you have a final exam in school tomorrow that you haven't studied for, in fact I fell like I haven't even taken the class! My metabolism is going to slow down and I have no idea how to eat a healthy diet and I have NEVER had anything to do with excesses, I am so unprepared!

Here's the good news: I hate soda, juice, and could honestly live the rest of my life without ice cream and be fine. I have a great support system and access to a gym that is fully equip. The bad news: I love chocolate and want to continue baking, even if its just for others. I have three little boys who get up at 6AM everyday and plan on being pregnant at least once more, and I hate fish! I know it is good for you but I just can't do it, trust me I have tried! I get so discouraged every time I find a new healthy eating site or book that is just packed with fish recipes and nothing else, grrrrrr...... Also I am a carbaholic! I have no idea what people are talking about when they talk about good and bad carbs, "What do you mean these  butter pretzels are empty carbs????? They taste pretty filling and delicious to me!"

So I am taking charge! My baby is three months old and I have started running 5 times a week, working out 4 times a week, and doing everything I can to eat healthy. I am going to read a book called, "Releasing fat" by doctor Ray Strand to help me understand what carbs are all about and how to recognize the good from the bad. I have never been obese and the plan is to never be that way.

This was written in October but it is now November and I am happy to say that I have stuck to it and am losing the weight and still running. In fact on Thanksgiving day I got up and ran my first 5k!!!! Can you believe it, my neither. I still don't think of my self as a runner but I still get out there and do it and I actually finished my race in under 30 minutes! I felt like a million bucks!!!! Of course I had my main supports there with me, NICOLE  & AARON. They have both been so encouraging and supportive, when I thought I couldn't do it or wanted to quite they were always there urging me on and it ment the world to me. Thanks you guys!




 So what if we wanted to wear matching outfits, you got a problem with that??? It's not like we look the same in it at all so, Whatever!
 Here I am after crossing the finish line.....It was crazy! Seeing my family there and the wagners all cheering for me and showing their support and just knowing that I had actually completed something that I had set my mind to, AMAZING! I think I might be hooked.
They also had a 1K race for the kids. AJ, Megan, and Ericka all got their sports gear on and headed out for the race. They were so excited and loved getting to go out there together and run their little hearts out. I was so proud of them!



Thanksgiving with the Lujans

Since Holly, Dan, and little Luke have family in OR we never get to spend the real holidays with them but that doesn't mean that we can't fake it! this year we decided to turn our regular Sunday dinner into and early Thanksgiving dinner. IT WAS AWESOME! This was my second time cooking a turkey but the first time I had Lorraine with me so it doesn't really count. I was really nervous but in the end, I DID GREAT! It was so delicious, especially next to mashed potato's, Holly's buns, jello, and of course apple pie! 
 If my boys were stuck on a dessert island and could only pick one food to take with them.....It would be Holly's buns!!!! they are so good, we will miss them when we are in Canada!

 Lujan boys enjoying the celebration

 I make it, Poy carves it!
 
 we are missing Dan and Nate in this picture but here's the rest of us:
 Brothers!



American Thanksgiving

It is so crazy to think that this will be our last Thanksgiving in America! Just a few more weeks and we are moving back to Canada, so get ready for all my "last" posts! This year we are having Thanksgiving dinner with the Wagners and a family of three who are new in the ward, the valaskes. After our morning run we ended up getting home a little late and having a much needed family snuggle and nap in the living room and then RUSHING around to try and get everything done in time. Good thing I was only in charge of desert, veggies, and the potato's.

Steve made another amazing turkey this year. He de-boned it, wrapped the dark meat in the breasts, brine it, Browne it, then smoked it. SOME DELICIOUS! I would give anything to have a turkey sand which right now! Yummy! The kids loved it to but I think the highlight for them was the Apple pie and my first ever home made baked cheesecake. It was a pumpkin cheese cake with ginger snap crush and Cinnamon whip cream. I was pretty proud at home well it turned out actually.

Another Thanksgiving success, thanks everyone!