Recipes

A few whole foods recipes that I highly recommend:

Super Easy Alfredo Sauce....served with Whole Wheat Fettucine Noodles and a Steamed Veggie Medley...Delicious!!!
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/07/10/recipe-super-easy-alfredo-sauce/#more-1571

Peanut Butter Popcorn....amazing! Everybody loved this one!
http://frugalgranola.com/2011/03/peanut-butter-popcorn/

I am down 15 pounds! Hip, hip, hooray!!!!

Sunday Snapshots: Easier Said Than Done Edition

Hide Your Toys, Kids...Mama Means Business

So, last Saturday, I decided to pull everything out of Jackson's closet, out from under the bed, etc. etc...deep cleaning. Oh. My. Goodness.

I almost lost it.



She was safest on higher ground.

I bet he was saying..."But, I still play with that. It is my favorite."

But, alas, I restored order. One big ole bag of trash. Some toys passed down to sister.

Now, isn't that better? I thought so.

Love this little guy.

Summertime, Fun Time

Look who is swimming without their floaties! Yay, Jackson!

An Afternoon with My Little Boy

Yesterday afternoon, Jackson and I went on a little date. I took Jackson to see the Winnie the Pooh movie, just the two of us! I bought him some popcorn and a Sprite, and we had the best time. He sat in my lap for over half of the movie, and I enjoyed every second of my afternoon with him. He is becoming such a little boy, not a baby at all, anymore! Blake and I were talking about the importance of having one on one time with each of them...going to make it a priority to do this more often!

Christmas in July 2011

Christmas in July. I think the photos speak for themselves. Brad and Lydia, thank you for hosting. We had a BLAST! And this family had way too much fun with the fake mustaches!

9 Month Well Check

On Monday, Claire and went to visit Dr. Wiley for her 9 month wellness check. She weighs 16 pounds, 5 ounces (10th percentile), her height was in the 35th percentile, and her head circumference was in the 75th percentile. She is developmentally right on track, although he does want her to start crawling, but didn't seem too concerned about it. He said she was strong enough, and just wasn't quite ready to yet. She can start eating more table foods, and can eat yogurt now. She also got to vaccines, and she was absolutely pitiful...she cried for 20 minutes...poor girl, looked at me like, "Excuse me, why did anyone inflict pain on my princess self?" So thankful our girl is healthy and happy. I can't believe the next time she goes back for a check up...it will be for her first birthday. Craziness, I tell ya!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that God answers prayers, and has a plan for our family. Blake was blessed with a new job this week. He starts on Monday. I am thankful that God placed Blake right where he is meant to be for this season of his life. Thank you, Lord, for ordering his steps!

I am thankful that Blake gets a month off every summer to hang out with his family. I love having him home every day, and although the summer went by WAY to fast, I enjoyed having my best friend with me every day, and I know Jack and Claire did, too.

I am thankful for friends and family that rejoice with us when prayers are answered, and thankful for friends and family that pray for us always.

I am thankful for a coffee date with a special friend on Monday night. Love and treasure those times!

And, thanks to healthier eating habits, I have lost 12 pounds. Hip, hip, hooray!!

Just Jackson

Jackson: I have to go get my nap time shoes and sleep time hat on.

Blake: Oh, who sleeps in a hat like that?

J: Pinocchio.

B: Oh, Pinocchio wears a sleeping hat?

J: No, dad, Pinnocchio's father does.

Adventures in Babysitting

Today, I am babysitting 4 children under the age of 3. 75 percent of my darlings went down for naps today, at the same time. :)

Thanks for the Chicken, Walter

Our family has been working on our eating habits...not dieting, just eating healthy, nutritious foods. The foods God has given us to eat. Less processed foods, and more fresh, wholefoods. We have been transitioning and making gradual changes, since January. I have been buying organic milk, and meat that does not have added hormones, and organic produce. Lots of whole grains, very little sugar. (I still have not kicked my Starbucks habit, still my favorite treat). We watched the documentary "Food, Inc." a few months ago, and that is kind of what got us interested in making these changes, among some other things. Anyway, we have also been going to the Farmer's Market and getting some locally grown food for a couple of weeks...cantaloupe, squash,tomatoes, zucchini...all from Dunlap. My next big step was to start buying fresh from the farm, grass fed meat....this was a big step...kind of grossed me out...but....yep, I bought 1/2 a ("processed") chicken from a guy named Walter on Saturday. My chicken was "processed" last Thursday, I bought it on Saturday, and we ate it for dinner last night. It was delicious...the best chicken I have ever had. All these changes are taking me back to Little House on the Prairie...always knew I had a connection with the Ingalls.

Sunday Snapshots

Love that he loves books like his mama and daddy.
Yes, we were 15 minutes late to church...and stayed in the service 10 minutes before Claire started trying to help preach.

We watched some home videoes the other night from last summer. He is getting too big, too fast. Love the little boy he is growing up to be.

And Miss Clara Beara.