Grateful

I've been feeling really down and low lately, and in such a weird funk that I haven't been happy. On the outside it may seem like I'm doing fine and dandy, but on the inside I'm really not. As I was laying in bed the other day, I kept thinking to myself that I shouldn't be so down, and the only thing that was helping me to not be so down, was thinking of all the things that I'm grateful for.

• I'm grateful for friends near and far that let me talk their ear off and always give the best advice.
• I'm grateful for my siblings, no matter how long we go without seeing each other, it's always a blast when I get to see them.
• I'm grateful for my awesome parents. My dad who is my go to for advice, my shoulder to cry on and always being there for his kids. My mom who is such a strong woman and loves all of her kids unconditionally.
• I'm grateful for my mother in law, who is always willing to help us out with Bentley when we need it.
• I'm grateful for my awesome visiting teachers who are always checking on me, and showing their love and care for me.
• I'm grateful for the amazing people in my ward, who will watch Bentley at the last minute, because our regular plans fell through.
• I'm grateful for the hard trials that are thrown my way, because without them, I wouldn't be as strong as I am today.
• I'm grateful for my baby boy Bentley, who is the biggest joy in my life. He always knows how to cheer me up and gives me loves all day long.
• I'm grateful for Trevor, who works so hard for our little family. He's always on the go and makes sure we get what we need.

I've decided that from now on, when I'm feeling so down and low, I will just think of all the things I'm grateful for in my life and all of the blessings that I've received. It's amazing how just thinking about some of the greatest things in my life, can change my attitude just like that! 

So what are you grateful for?

Until next time,

Xoxo

Emi

family matters

I had a family reunion with my dad and older siblings planned for the weekend of the 18th of this month for awhile. I was so excited that I finally was going to get to spend some time with my side of the family. We were going to go camping at Bear Lake, down in Utah. Until last Monday, I received a phone call from one of my sisters that one of my younger brothers has passed away. No one ever wants to get a phone call like that, and when my sister told me I didn't know what to do.

Many people don't really understand our families situation, so I'll explain it now. My mom and dad together have ten kids, than my mom and step dad have twenty one kids together, so my mom altogether has thirty one kids. twenty six of us are adopted and five are biological to my parents. 

So my dad cancelled our family reunion, so us older kids could go down to my moms and spend the weekend with her and be there for the funeral. Since my reunion was no longer happening, I decided to leave Bentley at home with Trevor and headed down to Utah by myself. I actually got a vacation for me! I could actually be there for something important, without having to worry about chasing Bentley around. 

Before we headed down to my mom's house, my dad and his girlfriend, some of my siblings and I went and spent the day at the amusement park Lagoon! It was so much fun, I haven't laughed that long in such a long time with my siblings. We just enjoyed each others company and had a blast on all the rides! If you're ever in Utah from the end of March to the end of October, I highly recommend going to Lagoon! It's family friendly and kid friendly, here's the website if you wan to check it out: http://www.lagoonpark.com

After our fun filled day at Lagoon, my siblings and I all caravanned down to our mom's house in St. George, Utah. We enjoyed each others companies, went swimming at our moms house, had a game night, went out and ate, and just enjoyed our time together. Because it's not very often we all get to be together.

Saturday was my little brothers funeral, it was a very hard day for some of us and it was nice to be there to support my mom, step dad and younger siblings. The people in my moms ward have been so helpful and supportive, and they provided a very nice luncheon for after the funeral. 

My time in Utah came to an end, and I was so eager and excited to get back to my boys. I made it back home safely and was so glad to be reunited with Trevor and Bentley. 

When something happens in my family, we all come together to support one another and we can all feel the love. I love spending time with my side of the family because I don't get to see them very often. Family matters, and I wouldn't trade my family for anything.

In loving memory of Levi Gregory Elzey Hirschi

November 2013-August 2016

Until next time,

Xoxo

Emi

Little Family Vacation

Who loves vacations? Because I know I do! Ever since we've had Bentley, we haven't really gone on an actual vacation as a little family. So Trevor planned a weekend for us in Seattle and we were so excited! Our plans were to go up just North of Seattle to see my grandparents, also catch up with Trevor's brother and sister in law, and we wanted to take Bentley to the zoo. 

Saturday finally came and we were off on our little family vacation! We were so excited to get out of Connell. From the town we live in, it's about a three to three and a half hour drive, so off we went!

We made a couple of stops on the way and towards the end Bentley did not want to get back in his carseat. He was ready to be done with the car and frankly, so were Trevor and I. We quickly headed up North to visit my grandparents and than headed back to the Seattle area to our hotel. We played in the pool, got some delicious pizza for dinner from Frankie's Pizza, and just relaxed and spent time as a family.

It took awhile for us to get Bentley to sleep Saturday night, but Trevor finally got him to sleep. Well, 4:30 am came and Bentley was up and ready for the day. Trevor and I were so exhausted by the end of our day, we passed right out when we hit our bed! Haha! So we packed up our stuff, checked out of our hotel and were on our way to start our day.

After we had breakfast, we stopped downtown to go exploring and show Bentley around. It was so much fun! We went and walked along the pier, walked around Pikes Place Market right as all the vendors were setting up, and went to the famous gum wall.

We finally met up at the zoo with Levi (Trevor's brother) and went exploring! We got in for free, and Bentley got to ride the carousel however many times he wanted to, all thanks to Melinda! (Levi's wife) She works there so hooked us up with some awesome things! Bentley loved seeing all the different animals and would always point at them with an excited face! The otters were his favorite and didn't want to leave where they were.

Time came for us to head back home to Connell, and we were bummed our little vacation was ending, but excited to get back home back into our regular schedule. Bentley fell asleep as soon as we pulled out of the zoo parking lot, and slept the whole way home! We're already looking forward to our next little family vacation.

Until next time,

XoXo,
Emi

Change is Good

Growing up I've never been a skinny girl, probably because I'm half Samoan and half Tongan. I always hated gym class, and was always one of the kids to come in last for the mile run. When it comes to working out, I hate it, and don't really care to do it.

Back in February of this year, when we were living in North Dakota, I was disgusted with the way I looked and how much weight I have gained. I was tired of it and decided I was going to start working out. I started a 30 day full body workout! I felt so good, even though my body was so sore, because if you know me, I absolutely hate working out. Here's the truth though, I only made it 14 days until I just gave up and quit. 

Have you ever heard of Beachbody? I've never heard of it before, until I saw my friend Michelle post a video of her doing a workout program called CIZE on Instagram and Facebook in September of last year. When I saw the video of her dancing, I was instantly interested. I love to dance and grew up dancing, so I knew this would be a great workout for me. If you'd like to know more about Beachbody go here: https://www.beachbody.com/?e=mm56415

I finally ordered CIZE and was so excited when it finally came in the mail! If you'd like to know more about the CIZE workout program go here: https://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/cize-dance-workout.do

This was me, four weeks ago to be exact. I was the heaviest I've ever been. I'm embarrassed to say this, but I weighed 240 pounds. That's the heaviest I have ever weighed in my entire life. This was my before picture before starting the program.

I took this picture at the end of my first week of doing CIZE. I felt so good rockin my new dress and had so much more energy than I had before.

Two weeks of doing CIZE and I'm loving it! I have more energy and I'm actually loving this workout program!

This is me just 3 weeks of doing the CIZE workout program! I have lost a total of 10 pounds! I have never felt so good, seriously. I actually look forward to working out! I look forward to it every morning, and if I miss my workout I am bummed. 

This is my before and after pictures in just 4 weeks! This is what CIZE does to people! It helps them get back into shape and lose weight. I don't know why I never bought the program last September, but  I am never going back to not working out. CIZE has literally changed my life.

I wouldn't be where I am today with this program, without my amazing friend who is also my coach, Michelle Sorensen. I'm so glad I reached out to her about doing the CIZE program and I'm so glad she's my coach! She's always checking in with me with my workout and truly cares about me and loves seeing her clients succeed. So if you're interested in getting a beachbody program or have any questions you can contact her here: shellsorensen@yahoo.com or you can check out her FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/Happy-Mama-Fitness-187020721673442/

If you want to change yourself for the better, than get up and do it! I will be there to help motivate you, because I believed in myself when I felt like no one else did.

Change is good, and I'm glad I can see my life changing for the better.

Until next time,

Xoxo
Emi

marriage isn't easy

After graduating from high school and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, all of my friends were getting engaged to be married. I was so jealous and wanted that to me be, I wanted to get married so bad. Well, 2013 came and I met Trevor, we didn't date that long, got engaged after a short time of dating, and than eloped and got married at the court house. That all happened in just three months.

All of my Facebook friends that got married before me, kept posting about how married life was so great and wonderful and it was one of the best decisions of their life. I wanted that, I wanted that perfect marriage just like my friends. I was so naive though, and I had no clue that marriage would be so hard. I even had my family try to tell me that marriage isn't easy at all, but I didn't listen and I'll be honest, I wish I would've listened.

Marriage is not rainbows or butterflies, and perfect like some people make it out to be. I've learned that marriage is hard and not easy at all. Trevor and I are coming up on three years of marriage and I have a list of things that I've learned so far:

-You have to work together, not against each other.

-It's ok to go to bed angry.

-Let the small/dumb stuff go.

-Don't give up what you want most, for what you want now.

-Always let your spouse know how much you appreciate them.

-Never talk bad about your spouse.

-Always let your spouse know that you love them.

It may seem like we have more downs than ups, as well as more lows than highs, but all of that doesn't matter, because it doesn't compare to where we're going. We definitely fight and argue, all married couples do, but that's perfectly normal. The great things about marriage are that, you get to spend everyday with your best friend, you both get to grow together as a couple, but also individually. You get to create wonderful memories together and create a family. 

Marriage isn't easy at all so please don't expect it to be like I did. Just know that marriage is so so worth it.

Until next time,

Xoxo
Emi

***Months ago I wrote a post titled, "marriage isn't for me," you can read it here: https://thesimpslife.blogspot.com/2015/11/marriage-isnt-for-me.html