I'm a walking advertisement

Considering I practically LIVE at this place, I thought (as well as the entire Barney family) that it was blog worthy! They keep telling me I need to put their logo on my blog since I talk about how I've dedicated my life to working out lately and I have "The Barn" to thank for everything! I'm at this place 6 days a week (Monday through Saturday). If they held church services there, I'd be there on Sundays too! LOL! Honestly though, here is my routine:

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Monday: (5am-6am) BOOT CAMP

Tuesday: (9am-10:30am) GYM WORK OUT, (5:30-7:30pm) VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE, (9:30-11:30pm) VOLLEYBALL CITY LEAGUE

Wednesday: (5am-6am) BOOT CAMP

Thursday: (9am-10:30am) GYM WORK OUT, (6:15-9:30pm) VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE

Friday: (5am-6am) BOOT CAMP

Saturday: Sporatic visits throughout the day for volleyball tournaments

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So there you have it! Outside of family, church, and friends.....this is my life! The best thing about it is that while I'm working out in the mornings, Kylee is either sleeping or at preschool. So I don't have to take time away from Kylee to do all this. The only time I'm away from her is during practices on Tuesday and Thursday nights. That's Daddy/daughter bonding time! For those of you who don't know about the Barney Family Sports Complex, go check it out! It's off of Queen Creek Road between Signal Butte and Crismon. It's amazing!!! (permanent advertisement to the right - LOL)

It's a hard-knock life....for us

I know so many people who are struggling in some way, shape or form and in many ways, it gives me courage to withstand my own personal struggles, but at the same time.....it makes me so mad at this world for being in the shape that it is right now. Things are SO bad EVERYWHERE! Why does it have to be this way?? Well, I guess it's because we as a people all need to learn something. The Lord wants to see how well we progress through the hard things in life. He felt the need to test everyone at the same time to see if we come together and get through these things in a positive way.
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The list of hard-ships can go on and on for our family right now but so can the good things. I've been focusing so much on what we don't have and what we can't accomplish lately so I feel the need to make a list of things that I'm so grateful for and what REALLY matter in this life........what makes my life perfect and so happy:
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A loving Father in Heaven
A Savior who died for me and gives me hope for all things in my future
The gospel and my knowledge of why I'm hear in this life
David and Kylee
A family and in-laws that love and support me (us) through everything
Good friends who make life fun
Volleyball and the joy I get out of playing and coaching (it's my escape)
A home that I can call my sanctuary from the world
Good working cars that get us where we need to go
Health and the health of my loved ones
FAITH in all that's good and pure
The temple where I can go during my lowest moments in life and feel at peace with everything
Laughter (mainly from my Kylee girl who keeps me smiling daily)
My calling and the Young Women who keep me strong and motivated to do what's right
Examples in my life who keep me motivated and strong
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The best thing about all of these things is that they aren't materialistic. I can have these things no matter how bad my life may seem. And these are the things that make me the most happy. I feel encouragement and hope through it all because no matter what, I can always keep these things with me (other than my car and home)!!! I can always be happy and content with what I have. I encourage all of you to write down these things for yourself to feel encouraged and get a little spark of hope if you have been struggling lately. I know it has helped me. As corny as it may seem and feel, it has made me feel better and that's all that matters! Live life to the fullest!! And as I just read somewhere......remember that our life is in the hands of the Lord - - we are on His time table, not ours! It's all about our attitude and how we accept life's challenges. It's my prayer and hope that I can get through all of life's current struggles in a positive manner so that I can be a strength to those around me........especially to my daughter!

Vegas Vegas Vegas

This past 3-day weekend my team had a national qualifying tournament in Vegas. I've been with this team for 3 years now and this was our first experience playing in Vegas. The girls loved experiencing Vegas together and we had a blast. They played HARD and unfortunately didn't end up with as many "W's" as we should have, but if you were to see them play, you would've thought we were winning! They have so much fight and heart!!! It will catch up to them one of these days and they are going to be winning machines like they were last year.

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Anyhow, here are some pics from our weekend...

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Our first night there, we drove up and down the strip and ate at the Hard Rock Cafe

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This was funny........Coach Jaime and I were both on our cell phones at the same time and the girls looked down and noticed it. So they whipped out their cell phones and started mocking us. It looked so funny so we had to take a picture! Just a glimpe into how fun and cute these girls are!

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After we were done eating, the lights went dim and the music starting blasting! The YMCA came over the loud speakers and all our girls got up and started dancing. They ROCKED the stage!!!

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One of the best places we visited.......the M&M Factory!

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Ya.....we are awesome like that!

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Coaches........Best Friends.......Sisters from another Mother.......that's us!

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And here is HAVOK looking all cute in our purple warm up shirts! I can't tell you just how much I love these girls!

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Vegas was a blast......totally!!!! But I have to mention just how much I missed my babies back home! I wish Vegas weekend wasn't over Valentine's Day. When I got to the hotel and unpacked my bag, I found a card tucked under my pajamas. I knew what it was right away and got teary-eyed! I love my sweet Valentine David and I missed him so much! I know I'm gone a lot due to volleyball and I'm so thankful to have a loving supporting husband who lets me fulfill my passion in life. He truly is the best and I couldn't ask for a better companion! And the best part of it all......he's mine for ETERNITY!!! I love you so much David!

Lemonade and Laundry

Despite all the toys and things that Kylee has at our house, she would much rather help me in the kitchen and do laundry with me. Most days I'm annoyed by this and just want to get things done faster by myself, but today I decided to let Kylee be my BEST LITTLE HELPER! She really is my best helper and we had a fun time doing it all!

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I got about 100 lemons (no joke) from my Aunt's tree so I decided to squeeze all of them and make some lemonade. I have to freeze the rest of the juice because there is just too much!!

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My HAPPY little helper!

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Kylee's attempt of using the camera. She's actually pretty good! Here I am in action using my wonderful Bosche juicer! Love my Bosche!!!!

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On to the laundry. Yes......Kylee still had the camera!

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Kylee in action with the laundry!

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Her favorite part........putting the dryer sheet in!

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Silly girl!

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Silly Momma!!! LOL

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I know I look SCARY in these pictures but I had recently worked out and hadn't cleaned myself up yet. Why would I when I was going to clean the house and get gross again anyway?!! I guess I didn't have to show case to the world how nasty I look after a work out! O'well.........guess I can't be beautiful ALL THE TIME!!! hahahaha!

It does snow in Arizona!!!

What do ya know!!? It snows in Arizona! Woo hoo!!! Well, HAIL is the closest that Phoenix is going to get to "snow" so we'll take it! It couldn't have snowed on a better day too.........it was the Pew's turn to have my family over for dinner this month and I planned to have soup in bread bowls. What a perfect fit for the cold "snowy" weather! The only down side to it was the fact that the kids couldn't play outside because it was too muddy. But they had fun playing pool and ping pong in our new "game room". We have the fun house now! Inside and out!! We just need more kids to enjoy it! Kylee gets bored playing by herself.......even though she has a "house of fun"! Here are some of the pics I took from the "snow" yesterday!

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And Natalie......if you ever read this, just know that one day I WILL BEAT YOU AT PING PONG!!! You are my everest!!! LOL

Non-stop fun...

This little girl has it all!! We've had the trampoline since April and now, thanks to Grandma and Papa Montez and Craigslist, we were able to complete our "backyard of fun" for our little spoiled princess with this swing set! She would literally spend ALL DAY outside if she didn't have preschool or tumbling class. She's a lucky little girl!

Now if only Daddy would mow the dead grass and pull the weeds we got going on here.......our yard would be complete!

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And here she is with her most favorite friend/cousin!! They could play all day long together out there!

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Thanks again Grandma and Papa!! Kylee and MOM will forever be grateful! This was the best purchase we've made in a long time!!!

Okay....you win!!!

I have decided to go blonde......even though I only received about 30 comments in total! I always knew deep down that I was going to go through with this no matter what. I HAVE to do this for me!!! I've always wanted to and I'm not about to back out now that the entire world knows I want to do this! And everyone I talk to is encouraging me to do it.....so you know.....I wouldn't want to let anyone down! I'm doing this for all of you! hahaha! Now I just have to save up some money because going from dark to blonde is going to cost me a pretty penny I'm sure! So pictures to come within the next month or so! Stefany's fund for blonde hair will be set up at the JUST KIDDING bank if you want to pitch in!! LOL

So Sad...

Well, if you don't know by now that the Cardinals lost the super bowl yesterday, than you are either in a coma or dead. But what many of you may not know is that I had put my hair on the line and was destined to go blonde if the Cardinals pulled off the "W". Well, it didnt' happen but I am disappointed in many ways. Obvious reasons are due to the fact that I wanted the Cardinals to win......but also because I was getting excited about going blonde. So with that.....I am working up the courage to take the plunge without any bets! Check out my facebook status if you are a fellow face-booker!!! I have a challenge going on right now. If you don't have a facebook, my challenge to everyone is that if I get 50 comments, then I will still go blonde. I'm extending that challenge to my blog as well. For today only, if I get a total of 50 comments (combined from facebook and blogspot), then I'll still go blonde. So start commenting people!!! The challenge is on!! It's me vs. all of you! haha!