I couldn't be prouder! He worked so diligently on his car. At first he had no idea what he wanted to do and then it came to him... He decided to make puppy. He has had this little puppy from the age of 2 and sleeps with him every night. As soon as he said he wanted to make puppy I was 100% in! We made a plan for cutting the wood and I helped him shape the car. Here is a picture of him and puppy last year. lol notice the splint?

Nana and Pappy showed up to support him

We were really nervous for him to race this yellow car, because it was crazy fast.

However...Bradley won EVERY car and when he came down to the last car and him, we were all on pins and needles. Just beware... I TOTALLY scream at the top of my lungs. lol

I still feel like Heavenly Father is pulling for this kid, after what he went through. Each of these amazing experiences are building him back up. The moment he won he came up to hug me and he had tears in his eyes. Trying to be a tough kid he held them back, so I let them out for the both of us! lol

It's safe to say that this  "Puppy" was one fast car! Oh and that he was booking "tail" lol.


Bradley, someday when you are older and come across this post... please know that we LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I was proud of you for winning, but even more proud of you for working so hard on your car. These were your ideas and I thank you for allowing us to help support you in this fun journey. You mean the world to us!
~Mommy

Yesterday was my 2nd big reveal of my new CHA winter collection and I hope you all loved it. I decided I wanted to keep the party going, so I put together this mini class. I know that most people are focusing on their 12 days of Christmas albums, but that's been done a kabillion times (or at least I think so). I pulled together some fun supplies and I  made a "12 months in a year project" and called it "A Year In A Book". Starting today, I'll be sharing how to get started and how I gutted a vintage book. It takes no time at all, which was about 10 minutes. Easy peasy right?!

I will most likely not do a video every day, because I think I sound super cheesy. However for the first day I thought it would be okay. so watch this first and you'll learn about the supplies that are needed.

I told you...it was totally cheesy ;)
I went to Staples and bought a "mini" 3 ring binder note book (6X8.5 inches) and removed the 3 ring bind from it. I used a pair of pliers and it came apart fast and easy. I'll do a video about that on Monday, just so you can see how I did it.

So grab your old book, a craft knife and the binder.



Open the cover of the book and place your craft knife at the top of the binding area.



Cutting all the way down, will allow you to separate the papers from the covers backing.



Repeat this step on the other side and the papers will come out with little effort.



Take your 3 ringed binder and mark your holes on the inside of the spine.



Using a hole punch and punch out the marked areas.



Decide what paper you want to use for the spine and cut a strip of paper down to side.



Then using a lot of adhesive, place the strip of paper in place and re-punch your holes.



Taking two brads and the 3 ring binder, place them through the holes of the cover's spine.



Open the brads and tuck the "legs" of the brads, under the 3 ring binder. I used my pliers for this part. It allowed me to make sure it was snug.

So my good o'l period is starting today. lol... Sorry, too much info?! Most likely!
There is a reason why I'm sharing this personal news. It's because over this last 2 days I've been super emotional! SUPER... like way more than normal. I was anticipating my period might do this, but not this much. It's almost like a quiet weird depression, where I don't feel like hanging out with friends. Like all I want to do is watch cry fest movies.

There is a good side to this story. The whole time I've been feeling this way, I haven't eaten out of emotion. Not even once. I'm sure this is from the 3 weeks of being strong and not giving in. It's got to be! Got to be! I still haven't missed a workout and even though I've been sore, I'm powering through it. Having faith that it will all kick in soon. Oh please let it kick in soon!

So on this day when I feel like being a hermit, I turn to this for my new motivation and to kick off week 4. I'm a sucker for stripes...a sucker!



Listen, I know that is a really big number. Like a "biggest loser" number, but once upon a time I was much lighter and I would allow myself to eat when stressed. The stress was getting worse and worse and never dealing with it...got me there to 311.4

Okay, so back to the 164 part. If again... you do the math, that means I have to lose  147.4
I've already lost 14.2 and so I ONLY have another 133.2 to go!
OH MY WORD, that is a whole person. To top it off, I was watching Honey Boo Boo (waiting for fall TV to start) and there was a episode I will never forget! The mom decided to step on the scale and at first it read error. She tried again and the 2nd time, it read 309! 309??? Wait, that big lady weighs less than me 3 weeks ago???

Talk about motivation! Sure she is rocking 4 chins and I only have two, but people... I just about died knowing this info. It's what got me up for my workout today, when I felt bloated and sluggish!

Man, I went way darker with this post than I thought! This is why I should be a hermit while my  "friend" visits. So over all, I've now gone public with my starting weight. I had another GREAT weigh in. Even though my period is here, I'm still being really...really good. I like stripy things and I only have two chins...and working towards only one.

The end.

PS Don't forget. I'm only posting Monday- Friday's now. So come back on Monday. Oh and thanks for all those amazing comments yesterday. That meant a lot to me.  Monday, I'll be sharing what happen on the first day of school.

If you've watched the Biggest Loser, you'll know that the 2nd week (on the show) always has horrible numbers! Last week I lost 6.4 lbs and to quote my sister-in-law Leslie
"Congrats on losing a POUND EVERY STINKING DAY"  

I didn't think about it until she left a comment, but yes... I guess I did lose a pound every day for the first week. Knowing that this great number would bring a bad number for week two, I worked my bum off. It's no joke... I really did.
Here are my body bug facts from yesterday.

I hopped that everything I did would give me a number close to 4 lbs.

It's safe to say that every parent loves their child.
Which is the case for me and my boys.
I'm a total believer that God knew and matched us perfectly with our sweet babies.
Bradley's sweet and tender personality & Calvin's feisty/quick to come back sassy ways
suits Mr. Sonboul and I so well. 

On 7-25-12 Mr. Sonboul nudged me to wake and as I wiped the sleepiness
from my eyes, I realized that I overslept. I rushed out of bed
to make my famous birthday pancake tower, before Calvin would awake.
Normally I'm up and ready to go, but last night I stayed up way to late catching up on a few
favorite shows and wrapping gifts.

One by one, each pancake was stacked with perfect placement and ready to present to the birthday boy.

A WEIRD FACT ABOUT ME:

I NEVER reuse them and the more colors they have...the better.

I LOVE buying new candles for every single birthday :) 

Happy Birthday Nie Nie...WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH X a kabillion!

Thanks for being ours and making us laugh. Thanks for all the daily snuggles and kisses in the 

early morning hours. For holding my hand and being so cool.

Here's to another year with you.