Padilla News !

Park City Fun

2011-10-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

Family Foto Fun!

2011-06-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

Laughter is the Best Medicine

2011-05-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

This makes me laugh every time I see it.

Yup, you perfected it, buddy.

Braddock's School Picture... so cute!

2011-05-13T20:40:00.001-07:00

Hats off to you GrapeNuts!

2011-05-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Breakfast is, hands down, my favorite meal of the day. For many, mornings can be very rushed, and mine can be too... but I always get out of bed and head to kitchen and make my meal first. And yes, as a result, I often have wet hair when I leave the house and no make-up on. But although I have not pampered myself externally, I have pampered my metabolism.

Eating breakfast first thing in the morning is required to keep your metabolism roaring and your body in a zone of fat burning. Equally important to eating right away though, is the quality of food that you consume. You want thermogenic foods. Foods that are SLOW digesting. Unfortunately, most of your breakfast foods out there are corrupted... with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, easy to digest starches and addictive additives. SO BE CAREFUL in your selection. I thought I would share one of my favorite breakfasts (I have many favorite breakfasts), but this one includes a breakfast cereal, instead of a raw grain, and I would just like to share my enthusiasm and support of more foods like this.

POST GRAPENUTS, you are right on the mark!! When I read the ingredients on this label, I was thrilled because there is no form of sugar in the ingredients. (When perusing the breakfast cereal isle at your large-chain grocery store, I double dare you to find a cereal that doesn't have some form of sugar in it!)

So here is one of my favorite breakfasts:

1/2 c POST GrapeNuts

1 c Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk

7 Strawberries or 1 c Blueberries

I need a big bowl for it all, but it is yummy. Then I cook up:

2 egg whites

I would just like to mention that Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk has 35 calories for 1 WHOLE cup, which is amazing and provides the right amount of healthy fat for this meal. I prefer it over any form of cow's milk. (Make sure it is unsweetened though!)

Bon Appetit!

Searching for Answers!

2011-04-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

I have never been without the chub on the belly. Now I think I know why... Those conspiring no names! I have been poisoning myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

FINALLY REACHED MY GOAL

2011-04-10T22:12:00.001-07:00

Four months after Cassius was born, this is what I woke up to every morning.

Now I feel lucky enough to wake up to this (or should I say, Gil is lucky enough!):

It took a lot longer than any of us planned, but I successfully dropped nearly 45 pounds of pure fat over the last 8+ months. Thank you THF, I couldn't have gotten this lean without you! (www.thfonline.com)

I can say there is no replacement for feeling and looking your best. Every penny I spent on my consultant is worth waking up and facing my day knowing that I look my best. And I won't complain about the extra energy boost my transformation has given me either! With my two boys, I need it! Now I am thinking, I wonder what 16% looks like? And how about putting on 5 lbs of muscle (especially in the glutes and calves... ooohhhh wouldn't that be nice?)

Ok, enough bragging about myself.

For some fun, take a look at a couple of videos of the boys. We have been pasting them on YouTube... it goes a little faster than blogger on the upload.

This one makes me laugh out loud... Braddock is singing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7MLIszNa3o&feature=related

Here is a cute video of Cassius laughing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l2KWuo1u4Y&feature=related

There are a couple more, our user account is str82datop, so those videos are of the boys. There is one with Braddock climbing, playing soccer and playing football. So enjoy.

We are all doing well. Got a few winter bugs that kept us sneezing, coughing and gave the kids infections, so we are soooo ready for summer. Braddock seems to have adjusted well to his Montessori school (The Dancing Moose) that he gets to attend two days a week and Cassius is learning to talk. Gil is trying to build some momentum at work, so he has told us we are planning to go to sea world over July 4th! He feels like he performs better at work when there is pressure, so we are booking the tickets and that is motivation for him to perform at work in a way that will fund the trip. Backwards mentality to me, but hey, salesman walk to the beat of a different drum.

Otherwise, just trying to keep our heads above water. And stop to enjoy life, every so often.

Back on Track

2011-02-24T23:05:00.000-08:00

I noticed the latest picture on our blog was from last June... and although I love it because my family is all together with my brother and sister in law, I would like to show a more updated pic of myself and the boys. Gil looks the same:) Here is a progress pic of me at 24.3% body fat (down from 37.0% in the wedding pic from the last post). I am currently at 23% and the goal is sub 19.0%

Here are my babies:

Cassius will turn one years old on March 27.

Braddock turned 2 on Feb 9 and he is enrolled in a Montessori school 2 days a week.

For Valentine's Day, Gil made us reservations at the Market Street Grill and I think crab festival is going to have to become a February tradition! Typcially ordering crab in a restaurant not anywhere near the coast, the portions are pricey and stingy! I was not disappointed this Valentine's day, however, and the company was marvelous, because we were alone for a couple hours... Imagine!

Here is my company: www.monnit.com/ .

We have entered the races! Challenging, stressful and fulfilling though.

Here is my new favorite get away:

Gil was performing exceptionally well at work and they asked him how he would like to be rewarded... He told them he would need a gift certificate to the Blue Boar Inn. European and sooooo up my alley....

Gil won the Shareholder's Club Award at his work. In order to qualify, a person had to average $30K in sales every week. That is $1.5 million in sales for the year. He was just a couple hundred dollars over that for 2010 and the only person at his work who achieved it. He was also honored for being the top producer in his role. We are so proud of him!

Casey's Wedding

2010-07-03T07:52:00.001-07:00

CONGRATS CASEY AND STEPH!!! WE LOVE YOU.

2010-05-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

2010-05-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

2010-05-13T21:51:00.000-07:00

2010-05-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

2010-05-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

2010-05-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

2010-05-13T21:26:00.000-07:00

2010-05-13T21:15:00.000-07:00

Christmas Morning

Time To Catch Up

2010-05-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

So an update is WAY overdue. Cassius Carter (pronounced Cash-us) joined our family Mar 27. He has been so much fun so here is a quick pic of him...

So the stress jumped up but we are taking it one stride at a time. Gil still works on the Rich Dad account at PEI and I am part of a team that just launched a new company. Check out the website, http://www.monnit.com/. I am spending about 30 hours a week working.

So here are the highlights since last fall.

Braddock's First Lemon

Helping with the housework:

Christmas eve: new PJ's

Braddock Loves Doing Pull ups !!!

2010-01-10T20:43:00.000-08:00

So far in November...

2009-11-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

Braddock got his ears clipped...

ALL HALLOW'S EVE!!! is finally here

2009-11-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

Braddock's costume is really cute, but he hates wearing the part that goes on his head. We tried to go to our ward's Trunk or Treat but for some reason when we got to the church parking lot, it wasn't our ward... We took Braddock around anyway, then figured we didn't know anyone so we left to go home and hand out candy. Not as many kids this year, and NO kids from our ward, so I am still wondering where our ward party was that we missed!

First steps

2009-11-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

Braddock first learning to take his steps...

Swimming Lessons

2009-11-15T09:25:00.001-08:00

In October, Braddock started swimming lessons...

Quick Shots

2009-11-15T09:14:00.000-08:00

First Teeth!

Lounging with Dadda.

Playing in the spice cabinet

Emptying out the bathroom drawer

Throwing food all over Mamma.

First trip to the Playground

2009-11-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

Findlay had his first birthday party in October at the park. Braddock surprised us by being able to hang from the monkey bars without any help!! He likes the swing and the slide, too.

Dad's Favorite Video !

2009-10-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

Braddock Laughing at Mom.... I giggle every time I see this video !

O.P... Here it is

2009-09-25T19:30:00.001-07:00

So, thankfully, no one refers to him as Optimus Prime, but this sweatshirt finally fits...

My father named this next one Myrtle... Hopefully that one doesn't stick either. But what do you call them before you know if it's a boy or a girl?

Yes, we are expecting another one... in April. I guess we decided we just weren't busy enough with Gil working 2 jobs and me with a work at home job, the Junto partnership and chasing Braddock around... why not, we had so much fun with the first one.

Chasing Bocephus

2009-09-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Crawling

2009-09-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

Laughing

2009-09-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

Breakfast... with the Ceph

2009-09-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Good?

2009-09-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

What do you think he says?

JUNTO NEWS: I Made Partner!!

2009-08-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

So in the spring I applied to be considered for JUNTO.

See http://www.juntopartners.com/index.php/video-player to find out what that is...

I found out the Saturday before our first meeting that I had been accepted into the program as a candidate. The first good news in a series to come.

So, we started our meetings, on Tuesday nights at the library. Our first project... a service project. There was a bumpy start, but once we got all our ducks in a row, we decided on a food drive. We mapped out three neighborhoods, asked Triumph Youth Services to pitch in and help, got grocery bags, boxes and flyers all donated by local grocery stores, print shops and the like... and we hit the road.

The trailer floor below is completely covered with the food we collected:

The Monday morning following our food drive, we dropped off 1,554 pounds of food to the Utah Food Bank! We were so thrilled at what we were able to accomplish.

Our next task was a networking event, which was exaclty that and I connected with at least one person who I am currently doing business with right now. Gil and I hosted a meeting at our house for thinking up new business ideas, I interviewed the CEO of a local company, sold $372 dollars in a sales challenge and attempted to raise $5K from someone I didn't know. Tough stuff! During this, we were doing classwork, studying, and other "homework" like assignments. It was a VERY busy 6 weeks.

Then, Junto took on something different this year that was not done in any of the past classes. We planned the Junto Protege Mentoring Conference. The website, as of today, is still up: http://www.juntoprotege.com/

This took a lot of planning. I was chosen to be the logistics team lead, which put me in charge of the catering, venue, set up, take down, agenda, activities, speakers, registration, panels, raffle, and since we were trying the first ever "speed mentoring", the setup, rotation, and logistics of getting everyone a seat with a mentor! I wish I had taken a picture that day with my camera, but I didn't. It was a huge success, with a fantastic turnout. My team worked so well together and with me getting everything in place. The other team leads busted their tails too... and at the end of the day, we were not just relieved it was over, we were ecstatic because of the overwhelmingly postive feedback of the attendants.

As a gift to Greg (who was the 2009 Mentor of the Year) and Alan (who was the 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year) for running Junto and for all they offer, I created this power point to express the gift we chose for them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9lN3h4WAb8

After much deliberation apparently, and after days and weeks of waiting to hear the results of the Junto Parntership.... I finally got the call. I had been chosen as a partner. And it is my honor, along with one other female candidate, to become the first female Junto Partner.

This means so much to me because I applied with the intentions of being chosen. This is a new chapter in my life and one that will catapult me right into my goals and dreams. Happy day!

2009-07-15T00:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth!

2009-07-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

Family Photos are in!

2009-06-24T13:53:00.001-07:00

Bocephus posts his new personal best!

2009-06-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

Hurricane, Saturday, June 13, 2009

Bocephus is even closer to that coveted 4.0 s!!!!

See his new personal best run of 4.020... two one-hundreths of a second to shave off...

He also earned his Top Flight this last weekend racing with Hell Razers.... Good job Ceph!

2009-06-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

Flyball Practice

2009-06-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

He can touch his toes!

2009-05-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

2009-05-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

12 weeks old...

2009-05-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Snuggling my Easter bunny

Relaxing in my tub... hey man, just chill

My first pair of shorts

A video and a picture!

2009-04-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

Lately, Braddock has discovered the wonderful taste of his hands. everyday he spends a little more time sucking his thumb.... here he is trying to get some tasty fist and enjoying his blanket too.

8 weeks!

2009-04-04T18:37:00.001-07:00

Today I read Grandpa One Fish Two Fish...

Hiding from the Shiites

My favorite place to watch the game...

I can stand up!

6 weeks old

2009-03-26T10:21:00.001-07:00

He hasn't really taken to his car seat much, but here is a pic when he wasn't crying in it.

All dressed up in his church clothes!

His hair curls when its wet...

Smiling for mama

hugging his duck...

Braddock Leon... growing boy

2009-03-02T21:11:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers

2009-02-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

First pair of Jordans

We're Home !!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-19T18:40:00.001-08:00

After one final shot of antibiotics Braddock was discharged from the hospital yesterday at 4pm.
We were so excited. Here are some pictures of his first day home with mom.

Meeting Bocephus

Waking up in his own bed

First bath

Mom got me all dressed up today !!!

2009-02-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

Out of the NICU

2009-02-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

Last night they released Braddock from the NICU back up to the nursery for healthy babies. We were able to get a room right across from the nursery and keep our baby in our room overnight. It was so exhilirating to have our little family together in the same room. We couldn't have been happier.

Braddock will still need several more days of antibiotics, so he will not be able to go home with us until Wednesday night. We can't wait for Wednesday.

Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers. We felt uplifted by them and are confident that our little boy is a healthy one.

2009-02-12T14:26:00.001-08:00

Braddock needs some special care for the next 7 days. He is currently in the NICU because of a fever that persisted on Wednesday. He will need testing to rule out the most harmful causes of the fever and antibiotics and treatment to help support his developing immune system. We will not be taking him home tomorrow like planned. We hope and pray that these next 7 days give us the healthy little boy we dream of. Thank you for your prayers and support. We need it.

Welcome Braddock!

2009-02-12T14:11:00.000-08:00

After 11 months of pregnancy, and 20 hours of labor and 22 short minutes of surgery we finally had our baby boy on Monday February 9th of 2009. He weighed 9 lbs and 11 oz and stretched out to be 22.5 inches. We named him Braddock.

The wait is almost over...

2009-02-07T20:16:00.001-08:00

It looks like we will finally get to meet our baby Monday. We have been overdue for the last couple of weeks. Tomorrow night they are going to start the process of inducing labor. We have been waiting patiently for some signs of labor but nothing. Sometime between 5 and 7 pm, based on when they are ready for us, we will go to the hospital, bags packed. They will begin administering medication to prepare for labor and on Monday morning, will begin administering meds to induce labor. Wish us luck!

Still waiting to meet our baby boy!!!!

2009-01-31T16:14:00.000-08:00

We are now a week past our due date and still no signs of labor. Mom and baby had to have a No Stress Test to make sure that the baby is still getting oxygen and food. The test will occur twice a week till he is born. The first test went well they told Lynnette that everything looks fine. We have another test on Monday. Lynnette is ready to have the baby she is tired of bring pregnant however she still wants everything to happen naturally she doesn’t want any interventions. The doctor is willing to let us wait it out also as long as the baby doesn’t get to big right now the estimated weight of the little guy is 7lb 14oz. We are very excited and can’t wait. We thought we would have had a baby by now. We still haven’t picked out the perfect name yet so maybe that’s what is taking so long he knows he doesn’t have a name. Getting prepared for a baby sure was stressful: Making sure we had everything we needed and I still think there is stuff we don’t have yet. I thought Lynnette was going through the nesting phase a couple of weeks ago when she told me she wanted me to rake the leaves before the baby came I tried to explain to her that I can’t rake the leaves with snow on them She wasn’t having any of my excuses that’s when I realized it was no nesting phase it was Lynnette being Lynnette :- )

Patiently Waiting….. Gil

Still not in Labor

2009-01-21T20:31:00.000-08:00

I am due Jan 24, in 3 days. However, we have not been experiencing any signs of labor... no effacement, no baby dropping and definately no dilating. So we wait... My next appointment is scheduled for Wednesday, and I hope we end up not needing it! Mom is flying in tomorrow night to wait it out too.

For any moms-to-be out there that think like me... I was very, very heavily disappointed about how unscientific effacement is measured. They tell you it is measured in percentages and that 100% effacement means a paper thin lining of the cervix. Let me tell you, there is no instrumentation used to determine this percentage. This is the type of thing that makes an engineer want to commit herself to the insane asylum. I was told 3 weeks ago that I was 30% effaced (the doctor takes a feel and comes up with a percentage... a GUESSTIMATE!) Then I was told 2 weeks later that I was 60% effaced by a different doctor. And a week after that, 30% effaced. Enough to seriously make my brain run in circles. I can't handle it. Is there no way to actually MEASURE this.....??????? Exactly why I could have only been an engineer... I like exactness, I like numbers that actually relate a definitive quantity or value to something. I really can't handle it and I am wondering... is this how they measure dilation too?

Baby Shower

2009-01-15T09:14:00.001-08:00

9 months and feeling huge....

Look at the beautiful cake Linda made out of diapers!!!!
And Gil's favorite gift... the Jazz tee.

Ceph's birthday Dec 28, 2008

2009-01-15T09:10:00.001-08:00

The Victoria's Secret bag was just the wrapping!!!

Our Christmas

2009-01-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

Our last Christmas as a couple was very relaxing! We exchanged gifts in the morning and cuddled up for a movie. Then made a Christmas dinner and took the Ceph to play a little frisbee in the snow...

The nursery.

2009-01-15T09:01:00.000-08:00

Gil stripped the nursery of the wallpaper and chose this beautiful blue. He then painted it and all without much help from me. It looks great!

Bocephus runs 4.024!

2009-01-15T08:48:00.000-08:00

He's not too far away from that coveted 3.9!!! This video is of Sunday morning. Later Sunday afternoon, (no video) he marked his best time ever... 4.024 seconds!

Bocephus Opens Drawer for Tug !!

2008-09-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

Over last weekend Bocephus had his first introduction to a fly-ball tournament. His first run he performed really well. The second run didn't go as well. Bocephus had figured out that at the tournament when he tugs we would immediately put him in his kennel so he decided he wouldn't come back and tug. The ref "Elizabeth" came up to me during the run and explained what was happening. She gave me a great idea of how to make Bocephus fall in love with the tug. She said that I should find a toy and put in drawer where Bocephus could see the toy being put away. She made some rules very clear. First whenever you get the tug out the drawer "you have to go crazy start running around like a mad man make it very fun". Do it for only 2min every night. Second is she said whenever you put the tug away make sure Bocephus knows where you put it away(let him watch you placing the tug in drawer and closing it) She said before you know it he will be clawing off the drawer to get to fun. We tried this with his lucky little bone that he was given over the weekend during the fly-ball tournament. It worked great for the first time on Wednesday we took Bocephus off leash a during a few full runs... he had a few little run offs but not like before. After he ruined the little bone I decided to make an ugly tug out of random things that Bocephus loves to tug with and just like the Elizabeth promised you could see the little monster in action... opening the drawer and getting the new tug out to play with. ( we have now found a new hiding spot for the tug out of his little reach)