My Life With Boys!

First Steps

2012-02-28T21:58:00.000-06:00

J took a few steps last night by himself! He's been getting a lot braver lately by standing all by himself to trying to do his crazy lil' J dance moves! So, I guess I knew steps were just around the corner, but it's always a different story when it really happens. Sad how fast my little guy is growing! Soon he'll be chasing the P's around, and jumping off the playhouse! Yikes! He's recently discovered that he can climb his little self up to the fireplace now, and scare the pants off mom and dad! He's starting to talk a lot more now! He says "Hi" "Mom mom mom" "Ball" "Oh Oh" (Uh Oh), and I'm sure I'm missing a few! Oh, and tonight, I caught the little turkey standing up from sitting on his bottom! He just pops his little self up and stands there smiling away! He's always so proud of himself when he accomplishes a new task! He likes to smile smile smile and clap his hands! Awww...I could just eat the little guy! Tonight I got to snuggle away with him while watching a thunderstorm!

First Kiss

2012-02-21T16:25:00.000-06:00

While standing in the preschool pickup this morning, I was approached by a mom of one of the classmates. She started saying that she owed me an apology because her daughter kissed Peyton last week. Peyton had never said a thing about it to me! Then another mom piped up that she had just been told about it this morning by her son! So funny! There was a little confusion though as to where he was kissed...blown kiss, head or cheek! I couldn't wait to get in the car to ask him about it! I asked him if anything happened last week with her, to which he just replied that they were just playing. He truly had no idea what I was talking about. It was most definitally more of a big deal for the others who witnessed it then Peyton! That is so my child! When I mentioned it to him, it was like a lightbulb moment, and it all came pouring out! He said that she kissed him twice, on the cheek. One was big and one was small. He then proceeded to tell me that she is his "baby girl", and how much he likes her! Then he started telling me that he doesn't want lipstick on him, and that he is going to tell her tomorrow that she can't ever kiss him again! Phew!! :)

Perfection!

2012-02-11T12:41:00.000-06:00

I have to blog quickly before the chaos ensues in my house here soon! I have just experienced the best 12 hours I have had in a LONG time, and I have to blog about it before I forget about it! I'll probably be coming back to read this post often! :)

My parents offered to take the boys (BP and LP) for the night, so Matt and I thought we'd take advantage and use it as our Valentine's Date! J is still little enough that we can enjoy ourselves together still! The weather was beyond freezing so we weren't sure we were going to do anything more then just sit at home in silence, but we opted for a much different night and I'm SO glad we did.

I had won tickets to the local Home and Garden show from the local newspaper, and felt very obligated to go pick them up since I won tickets from them last month and never went to pick them up. (It was an event I wasn't too hip on, and just must have found something better to do that night?!) I wasn't sure we were going to go, but figured I'd better get them just in case.

We ended up getting a late jump on our night last night, so we decided to forgo dinner for the current time, drop the boys off with grandma and head to the Home Show. Why not? Free tickets, and it's so cold outside we'd freeze if we tried to do anything else. Plus, we sit at home a lot with the cold weather, snow, and having 3 kids to tote around with hats and gloves etc! Don't get me wrong, I love going out to do things with my kids, but I'm just as content to stay warm, cozy and snuggled with them in our home!

It was so nice to walk peacefully with my hubby, and not feel like a crazed chicken trying to keep tabs on my little wandering chicks! J was snuggled up in the Boba, and content to just watch passerbyers and smile at them. At first it was a lot of boring stuff....cabinets, counters, fountains, fire pits...well, let me correct myself, not boring stuff, just stuff I can't afford right now or that wouldn't be reasonable to have with little boys! A fire breathing stone alligator...not so much! J was trying to blow all the fire displays out! SOO Funny!

Every few aisle's we'd find something that interested us. We've become very in to healthy things lately and have been looking into our water! Essentially we'd love to be fluoride free, but how can you do that? Drink only bottled water praying that it's truly fluoride free, but then subject yourself to the BPA in the plastic bottles causing sterility? Anywho...I'm not one to push my beliefs on people yet alone begin to feel that I have to justify why I do or believe in something. I like when people do their own research and come up with their own opinion on things themselves! :) Wow..back to topic! We ran into a few home water filtration companies, and we felt so excited and blessed that we found them. Great companies, great attitudes, and great passion on what they do! Cha Ching number one! Well worth it though!

We've also gotten very much into buying fresh and buying local! It's becoming a passion of ours! We want to provide the best healthy food for our kids. Sorry munchkins...no more processed lunch meats/hot dogs/chicken nuggets, no more processed ANYTHING (now I realize that's probably highly unlikely, but it's definitely a goal I'm shooting for! So when you come over to my house next time don't go raiding my cabinets trying to prove me for a hypocrite! :) I'm sure right now you'd find hot dogs and spaghetti o's in my cupboards!) We happened upon a few WONDERFUL booths of local farmers who sell the most amazing/healthy/sustainably farmed foods! I was BLESSED to try a sampling of raw milk cheese and raw milk yogurt (it's marked as PET food...thank you government control...but it was the best tasting pet food I've ever had!)

Getting to talk to some of these farmers is so insightful! I know Matt's heart was pitter-pattering! They are the good in this world! My brain is just overflowing with information that I don't even know where to begin, so I won't! I'll try to process them all better and post at a later date maybe. I just know that this is changing our lives and how we view things, and I'm hanging on for the ride! It's a learning process that we continue to take one step at a time...my oil debacle...veggie oil=bad, so we switched to canola oil, canola oil=bad, switch to safflower oil, safflower oil=bad, switch to..... This is how my life has been, and I was getting very disappointed in the beginning, but have learned that I need to be more flexible and willing to learn!

So back to my great night! Alone time with hubby (with baby J, but he's always a joy to be with! he makes us laugh when we run out of things to talk about, which didn't happen last night at all!), sampling CHEESE and YOGURT (which I haven't had in almost a year because of the MSPI thing-not sure if I blogged why raw milk yogurt and cheese is okay with MSPI, but here goes a short detail..pasteurized milk is heated killing the natural enzymes in the milk (hence why you shouldn't be drinking pasteurized milk!) the enzymes naturally break down the protein in the milk which is what causes the allergy. Hence why raw milk can sometimes be tolerated with MSPI) It's definitely worth a shot...right!? After the show, we drove around midtown and found somewhere to eat dinner! We walked in a fancy restaurant with our 1 year old at 9:30pm with zero degree wind chills! Yeah, we got some stares, but it was just fine! It's how we roll! Dinner was fantastic! J passed out on the way home, and Matt shortly after! :) We woke up to serenity! We slept in until 8:30...no kids in our bed, no whining about when breakfast would be ready, no NOTHING! It was peace! Then J had a blowout..snap back to reality! I completed our peace with a delicious breakfast of Belgium chocolate chip waffles, scrambled eggs, fresh blueberries, bacon...burned but very crispy!, juice and coffee! Oh and we got to eat it WARM! :) Perfection!

Happy Valentines Day Sweetie!!

Homemade Liquid Hand Soap

2012-02-02T16:10:00.001-06:00

I'm just finishing up this recipe, so I'm not too sure how the final product will turn out. I'll definitely update when it's complete. I just took a few tips from other sites, and this is what I came up with.

1 cup of a grated bar of soap (I used Dr Bronners Almond soap)
1 TBSP glycerin
10 cups of water

I added all the ingredients together in a pot. Heated it up over med-high heat, until all the soap with disintegrated. Now it's supposed to sit and thicken for 10-12 hours.

I'll let you know!

***UPDATE: The soap thickened. It's pretty much the consistency of snot! Gross, but I'm grateful it isn't watery! I wasn't very prepared in where I was going to store all the extra soap, so I found two empty wine bottles under my sink, so that's what I used! :) It will definitally be easy to fill up my bottles this way! Oh, it doesn't lather, which I've learned isn't a bad thing! We are trained to think we can't be clean without a lather...not true!

OCM Update!

2012-02-02T16:07:00.000-06:00

Well, it's been a few weeks of using the OCM for my face...and I LOVE it! It's worked so wonderfully that last week for my week of my favorite time of the month, my face, which would normally have some bad breakouts, was virtually spot free! Woo hoo!

I ended up adding a bit more olive oil to my mixture, to where I'm pretty sure it's a 50/50 mix of the olive oil and castor oil. I think with my next batch, I may try adding more EVOO, only because I'm still a little dry in spots, and am still having to use moisturizer. I also added about 10 drops of tea tree oil last week when my face started showing signs of breakouts. I love tea tree oil...smells great and it's great for just about anything you can think of! Side note: I did a food trial with J last week, that didn't go so well. :( He had a killer open wound diaper rash from it, but a few drops of tea tree oil in his wipes water (plus Baby Junk Healing Oil alternated with CJ's Butter) healed the open spots up wonderfully!

So here's the routine right now. If I wear makeup..I use the OCM. When I wake up in the morning..it's a cold water rinse. If I have a lazy day here and there ;) where I wear no makeup...it's just a rinse! At first I was rubbing it into my eyelashes, and ended up having blurry vision for a while after! Yikes, now I just put it around my eyes, and have no issues getting my eye makeup removed at all!

Matt says I'm obsessed with my "oil wash", because of how long I spend doing it! Heehee! How relaxing (and cheap he should realize!) to get a facial massage, have my face steamed with a hot washcloth, and how nice and soft my skin is!

Homemade Runza's

2012-01-21T18:36:00.001-06:00

I happened across a recipe the other day for homemade Runza's! Mmmmmm! That is one of my favorite things to eat...especially on a cold day at a Nebraska Cornhusker game! Unfortunately it has been one of my many sacrifices with the MSPI diet. Boo! Well...this recipe works just perfectly! I'll post the recipe with the directions to make the dough as well, but I cheated and used some thawed out Rhodes dinner rolls! So easy!

Homemade Runza's

Oh..with the rolls, I hear you can use one Texas roll per Runza, but I only had the dinner rolls on hand. I put two dinner rolls in a cupcake pan, greased some plastic wrap, and let them thaw all day. Then you already have your dough for each Runza pre-portioned! I also added cheese to some of them, for my cheese loving boys!

Ways Parents Can Pray for Themselves

2012-01-18T16:46:00.000-06:00

From my Acts of the Apostles
Home Training Lesson 14

I always have great into on ways to pray for my child for different areas, but when I got this home training lesson from my BSF class I was intrigued. I know I should pray to be a better parent...God knows I definitely need this, but here's some very specific ways to pray for myself and my husband in parenting our children.

That I will be convicted of any personal hypocrisy lived out before my children, contradicting what I say by what I do, and, when appropriate, admit my sin to my children (Matthew 7:3-6)
That my words, looks, and actions will clearly reflect to my children that my mate is loved, honored, and cherished (Proverbs 31:10-12; Ephesians 5:25, 28)
That I will recognize individual limitations, respect individual differences, and have realistic expectations for each child (Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4)
That I will never be too tired or angry or negligent to discipline my children wisely (Proverbs 29:17) I definitely need prayer in this area!
That I can be a peacemaker to diminish jealousy and irritations between my children and in so doing encourage them to be peacemakers (Proverbs 17:14; Philippians 2:3; Matthew 5:9)
That I will not spoil my children with too many possessions nor too few expectations and responsibilities (Psalm 37:16)
That I will be able to shield my children from premature association with sexuality, sophistication in ideas and dress, and unnecessary knowledge of the world (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 17) This gets so much harder as they get older. I definitely need to start praying now for the older years!
That I will resist the enticement of popularity for my children and be willing for our family to be different from the world's standards (1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 37)
That I will be generous in expressing appreciation and approval while holding back reminders about their past failures and mistakes (Psalm 78:38-39; Proverbs 25:11)
That I will know when to step in and take charge of a situation for my children and when to step back and let them learn for themselves (Proverbs 16:9) This is definitely a must for me right now. It's been so hard to keep my mouth shut in some situations lately. God, I need your guidance here!
That prayer will be my immediate response to family joys and crises alike (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) This one really convicted me. I am always very "johnny on the spot" of praying when we are in need or have an illness, but I need to start getting better going to Jesus in our joyful times as well!
That I will daily remember my own need to be taught by God's Word and filled with His Spirit so that I reflect the joy of the Lord before my children (Psalm 16:11)

OCM Facial Cleanser

2012-01-17T22:40:00.000-06:00

So tonight I started night one of the Oil-Cleansing Method tonight. I'm always excited when I find or hear about something that I can #1 save money one and #2 use a more natural way of doing something and #3 understand and be able to read all of the ingredients.

I have been getting so frustrated with my face wash I've been using for a year or so. It's just your run of the mill face wash you can get at any store. It boasts being oil free and acne clearing. My face definitely is a far cry from the oily mess it was in high school or while I'm pregnant (YUCK!), but I have occasional breakouts, during stressful times or during my monthly cycle. Lately, especially now in the cold weather, my face has been very dry and flaky, and I feel like I am putting on more and more moisturizer. By the end of the day I feel like a grease pan!

I recently bought a face wash from a local soap maker, and I was really hoping it would work. I ended up with a pretty bad breakout by the end of the week, and was so bummed. Back to the face wash with it's harsh/cancer causing chemicals. So, needless to say, the OCM fell into my lap at just the right time!

I found this info from a friend which then led me to more links on OCM. I was directed to Simple Mom for more information and the recipe for the wash. I ended up doing more of a "oily" mix, only because the dry spots I tend to have are more just a few spots then my whole face. I used 3 parts Castor oil to one part EVOO. I love Simple Mom's description of how to do it...massage it into your face and the steaming with a hot washcloth. Not only is it good for my face, but relaxing as well! Well, I have had a day...stupid plugged duct or mastitis...so all I could think about was getting in a hot shower, meaning I totally forgot about the massaging...steaming...etc. :( My face ended up being flaky when I got out, and I had to apply a moisturizer. I know that it will take time for my face to adjust, so I'll just keep trying for a few more days before I make more adjustments!

Wish me luck!

Oh..I'm using a bar shampoo from the local soap company, and I LOVE it! I'm not sure I can do the 'no poo thing, so for now this works just fine!

Roast Pork Loin with Carrots

2012-01-16T19:50:00.000-06:00

Roasted Pork Loin and Carrots

Everyday Food, March 2009

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Yield Serves 4

Ingredients

2 pounds carrots, peeled and halved lengthwise if large
1/2 pound shallots, peeled and halved if large
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless pork loin roast
3/4 cup white wine
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons grainy mustard

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss carrots, shallots, and 1 tablespoon rosemary with 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast for 10 to 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, season pork with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Add pork; cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer pork to a plate, and reserve skillet.
Remove baking sheet from oven; push vegetables to sides. Place pork in center; return sheet to oven. Roast, tossing vegetables occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of pork registers 145 degrees, 30 to 40 minutes. Loosely tent pork with foil. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
While pork rests, pour off almost all of the fat from skillet. Add wine, and cook over medium-high, scraping up browned bits, until syrupy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 30 seconds. Gradually add 1 cup water, whisking constantly. Add 1 tablespoon rosemary. Bring to a simmer. Remove from heat. Whisk in mustard, and season gravy with salt and pepper. Serve pork with carrots and gravy.

Homeschooling

2012-01-16T00:28:00.000-06:00

The thought of it either petrifies me or excites me.

Things I would be thrilled for: being their teacher and knowing exactly what they are learning, being able to give them a Christian education, learning with them, field trips, spending all day with them, watching them grow and learn, teaching in my pj's, not rushing out the door every morning for school

Things that truthfully just freak me out: not having enough knowledge myself, planning, organizing, the expenses, lack of creativity, getting them to cooperate, spending all day with them ;)

As of now, we are planning on enrolling Peyton in public school for K5 next year. Just as an in case so all our bases are covered. As far as Parker, it's open enrollment at Peyton's preschool for this month for siblings, and then it opens up to the public in February. They say the spaces fill up fast, so I think we may be enrolling Parker for next year, paying the fee (even if we lose it in the end) so that our bases are covered there. I'm also struggling with the fact that I feel Peyton's preschool isn't challenging him enough this year. There's really nothing I can do about it now for him, but if we decide not to homeschool Parker, we may be looking at switching to a different preschool for him.

This is definitely a subject that will be covered in prayer, prayer and more prayer!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T22:46:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas! I hope that you were able to spend this most important day with your family and friends, celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus! The real reason we celebrate this time of year! I LOVE Christmas time...truly LOVE Christmas! I love the music, the twinkling lights, the celebrations, the weather (even though we're unseasonably warm!), the food, the parties, the gifts, and helping teach my children about Jesus' birth!

We spent Christmas Eve doing some baking here at home as a family! The morning was a bit chaotic, but it turned out okay. Mom got a case of the grumpies, which eventually made total sense! We baked Red Velvet cupcakes, gingerbread cookies, and sugar cookies. The boys had a blast decorating with frosting and sprinkles! :) They were on sugar highs for the rest of the day! Heehee! We spent the evening at my parents house with an extended family get together. It was great. Peaceful, quiet, and relaxing. The boys got spoiled and it was just great being with our family!

Today started like all other Christmas mornings...the parents waiting for the kids to find the presents under the trees! I put some oatmeal in the crockpot the evening before, popped in some cinnamon rolls and put on a pot of coffee! The boys finally woke up and it was a great mix of controlled chaos! We started by reading the true Christmas story and a Christmas devotion from their devotional book. The boys got right to gift opening! We did a new thing this year where the boys were given 3 gifts, representing the 3 gifts that Baby Jesus got from the 3 kings! While explaining this to the boys, BP was not sure he'd enjoy "frankensins"! This was definitely a great idea, and something we will continue to do! It cuts down on a lot, and it makes things a little more meaningful for the boys! We figure if we start something like this early, then it will just be the "normal" when they get older.

We, of course, packed up our little family and headed to church to celebrate the birth of Jesus in His house! What a wonderful day to show our love and honor to the greatest gift giver, then to worship Him in his home! It was an all age worship, so the boys were super excited to be sitting with us! One of the things that really caught my attention was something Pastor Hooker said during his message. "Santa gives us the gifts we deserve, but Jesus gives us the gifts that we do not deserve." How true! Thank you Jesus for offering me the BEST gift that I am so unworthy of! Your gift of salvation is the most precious gift I have ever been given! The kiddos were all called up to the front to hear a "kid" sized version of the Christmas message and was topped off with yummy cupcakes to take home!

We prepared a big turkey dinner, complete with all the fixins for my whole family. They came over, we did MORE gifts and ate a delicious dinner! Tip: Cook your turkey upside down! SO SO tender and juicy! We spent the rest of the evening playing with the boys toys...my favorite of their toys is a keyboard, mixer, microphone, recording device that I got BP! M's, I'm sure is the basketball hoop he decided to set up downstairs through the winter! So great! BP's favorite was Cars racetrack that he asked for, a soccer/hockey/baseball net for the yard/basement, his motorcycle racer, and his sound bingo! LP's favorite would be his Cranky crane and train set and take apart car that his daddy picked up for him! J hasn't really shown a ton of interest in his gifts yet...I think he was pretty overwhelmed! He did get some great gifts though!

Well, I again hope that your Christmas was filled with love, joy and family!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Cocoa Crinkles

2011-12-12T15:10:00.000-06:00

Cocoa Crinkle Cookies

Source: Adapted from Hershey's Kitchens

2 cups granulated sugar
¾ cup canola oil
¾ cup baking cocoa
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2⅓ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt

powdered sugar

Combine granulated sugar and oil in large bowl; add cocoa, beating until well blended. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to cocoa mixture, beating well.

Cover; freeze until dough is firm enough to handle, at least 6 hours or overnight.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

Working with one batch at a time, shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in powdered sugar to coat. Place about 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet. Put remaining dough back in freezer while first batch bakes.

Bake 13 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched lightly and tops are crackled. Cool slightly. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Prepare next batch of cookies.

Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies

Fast Forward

2011-12-11T00:46:00.000-06:00

I started blogging some of my recipes on a separate blog, so I wouldn't clutter up this blog and then I end up neglecting this poor blog. I was doing so good too! :(

Here's what's on my mind tonight: This blog is driving me NUTS! I feel like it has no specific purpose of posts. It drives me crazy reading blogs that pertain to one certain thing...coupons, recipes, school stuff, etc., because I just can't seem to keep myself disciplined to do that. I was starting to feel like my blog has just been a hurricane of "stuff". Nothing seems to flow, or relate with the previous post. Yeah, I know I blog a lot about my munchkins, but...it still feels all over the board. Then I realized that my life is less then ordinary. I have no "set" plan of anything. I go with the flow. I roll with the punches. No matter how organized I try to be, I just am not! My life is scattered and crazy! It's nonstop. I'm just along for the ride! I've decided that I will cut myself some slack and just go with the flow in my blog as well! One day..when my life slows down...which I pray to God happens soon, I will be more organized because my mind will calm down and I will have time to remain more organized here!

Well, we have a crawler! J just took off the other day! No real warning, just off and crawling with the best of 'em! He's so cute! We've caught him a couple of times with one of his legs sticking out to the side! He is so proud of his new ability too, with giggles and smiles all the while! He, however, is now into EVERYTHING! It's been a new challenge to re-baby proof the house! He just keeps showing us all the new things he does and gets into and we just baby proof right behind his little disaster creating booty! :) He also pulled himself up to a stand the same day he started crawling!

BP is doing well in school. He's had some issues with bullying at school/church, and it just makes me dread what public school will be like. I pray to God that we have the exact desire of His heart spoken so clearly on what to do with him when the time comes. I've been hearing some stores about mommy's and their babies being bullied at elementary school. My heart just aches for those kids...the bullied and the bully's. It's just so sad, and unacceptable. It makes me want to find a way to keep my kids under my little shelter for the rest of their lives, but I know, one day, they will have to experience hurt, sadness and the crud of the world. I can just do my best to impart God's Word in them, trust God, step back, and let God be God!

LP is...well... a handful now! He is going through growth spurts like crazy and is wanting to eat constantly! He's been such a joy in the mornings when BP is at school. His mind is growing so much and watching his imagination come to life is so fun!

We're all getting excited for the upcoming Christmas time! We have visited Santa, and tonight drove through Bethlehem. Making sure my kids really understand the true meaning for Christmas is my most important goal! We're doing an un-traditional advent calender this year. I put slips of paper in a calender and they pull one every day. We do something different every day....unwrap and read new Christmas books, make a Gingerbread nativity scene. different crafts, snack, watch a movie, the minivan express..etc! They are having so much fun pulling the slips every day and getting something new to do!

Chicken Caccitore

2011-12-11T00:21:00.000-06:00

Chicken Caccitore

4 bls/skls chicken breasts cut in chunks
1 jar favorite red sauce
1 T chopped garlic
1 T Italian dried Seasoning
1 Red Pepper Sliced (you could use green or orange or yellow)
1 Onion Sliced

Throw in bottom 3 ingredients 1st on bottom, top with chicken, add seasoning, pour on red sauce. Cook on low 8 hours (about 1/2 an hour before done take a serving spoon and shread chicken and stir pot) When done Serve over pasta (any kind)

Sausage and Lentil Stew

2011-12-11T00:17:00.000-06:00

Sausage and Lentil Stew

Ingredients:
16 oz dried lentil beans (rinsed)
1 can diced tomato's
2 (14oz) cans beef broth
3 cups water
3 carrots sliced
3 celery stalked sliced
1 package polish kielbasa/polish sausage

Mix all ingredients in a large crock pot. Cook on Low for 6-7 hours or on High for 4 hours.

Serve with warm rolls.

Easy Mini Cinnamon Rolls

2011-12-11T00:14:00.000-06:00

These are super easy, ooey, gooey, somewhat homemade cinnamon rolls! We made them this morning, so fast and so easy! Also, very easy to make it MSPI friendly

Cinnamon Rolls

1 Package Refrigerated Crescent Roll Dough (I used Pillsbury...store brands use Soy Flour)
2 TBSP melted butter
Cinnamon
Brown Sugar

Icing:
2/3 c Powdered Sugar
1 tsp maple syrup
1/2-2 tsp water/milk

Unroll dough and pinch together seams to make a rectangular shape with the two sections. Brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar....use as much as you like! Roll the dough, and cut into 1/2 inch rolls (or really whatever thickness you wish). Place in greased mini muffin tins, and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, place powdered sugar and syrup in a small bowl and add water 1/2 tsp at a time. Mix until desired thickness.

Drizzle icing on the cinnamon rolls after removed from the oven! Enjoy!!

We drizzled the icing all over the plate (it was pretty) and made for a great "dip" for the boys rolls!

Crockpot Chicken Tacos

2011-12-02T17:42:00.000-06:00

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

1lb of frozen chicken breasts
1 large jar of salsa (any flavor my favorite is black bean and corn from Walmart)

Cook for a long time then shred. So yummy!

Garlic Lime Chicken

2011-12-02T17:40:00.000-06:00

Garlic Lime Chicken
5 chicken breast halves
1/2 C soy sauce (I used chicken broth to make it MSPI friendly)
1/4 C. lime juice
1 Tbs. Worchestershire sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. ground pepper

cook on high 4-6 hours or on low 6-8 hours.
(fix it and forget it recipes)

We served over rice, with steamed veggies.

Tattling...Good or Bad??

2011-11-27T22:16:00.000-06:00

I used to think that parents who complained about their kids tattling were nuts! I always thought what better way to be sure that people are following the rules when I just can't be everywhere, right?! I had just saw a friend looking for suggestions on Facebook on how to curb her sons tattling, and was very surprised to see how many people responded with help for her! No thank you, I thought. That was until this morning!

Matt had to run an errand and so it left me with the boys to get ready for church. No biggie...we get ready, the 4 of us every day. On a "normal" morning though, it entails me getting a shower before everyone is awake, so that was the curve ball. I laid Joshua down for a nap, set the boys up with a game, explained to them I needed them to be quiet for 10 minutes, get along and not fight. "Okay, mommy, we'll be good!" That was too good to be true!

I was in the shower not more then a few minutes when I heard my bedroom door opening, and the first little tattler was walking in telling me something the other little one did. After a hush and a look, he escorted himself out of the room quietly and shut the door. Two seconds later, I hear the second little tattler come in. Same story...over and over and over and over. I lost count of the amount of times these little heathens had come in! "Mom, Parker is taking the stockings off the hooks on the fireplace." "Mom, Peyton won't talk (answer) me." "Mom, Parker won't give me my car." "Mom, Peyton won't play volleyball with me." "Mom, he hit me!" "Mom he touched me!" "MOMOMOMOMOMOMOM!"

I think since this morning, I'll definitely have a different view on tattling! Can someone send me the tips on how to curb it! :)

Overnight Oatmeal

2011-11-27T22:05:00.000-06:00

Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal

1 cup steel cut or regular oats (NOT Quick Oats!)
4 cups water
1/2 cup milk ****adjusted to 1 cup
1/4 cup brown sugar ****adjusted to 1/8 cup
1 TBS butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract ****adjusted to to 1/4 tsp
1 tsp cinnamon **** adjusted to 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Combine all in crockpot and cook on low for 8hrs. ****adjusted to 6 hours

I put out all sorts of things for the boys to add on their own....brown sugar (hence why I decreased the amount in the ingredients), rasins, crasins, honey, milk, cinnamon and sugar.

****I adjusted the original recipe because when made the original way, I had oatmeal stuck to my crockpot and I felt it was too dry. The new adjustments made it PERFECT! My kiddos ate it up!

Variations
Add up to 1 C raisins/dried fruit before cooking.
Add 1 chopped fresh apple before cooking.
Top with fresh fruit (in season) or canned fruit (drained).
Add a pat of butter or a dollop of jam/preserves.

Homemade Butter...Fun with the kiddos!

2011-11-25T22:44:00.000-06:00

BP was telling me how he made butter at school one day for snack! I would have never thought of trying to do this with my kids, and then a recipe came along in a magazine the other day.

Homemade Butter in Minutes

Measure 1 cup heavy cream and pour it into a jar that holds at least 24 ounces. Put on the lid-and make sure it's tight.

Shake, Rattle and Roll: Take turns with your kid shaking the jar an rolling it around on the floor. After 2-3 minutes, the heavy cream will turn into whipped cream. Let the jar rest for about 10 minutes as the cream deflates.

Shake for another minute or so until it separates and voila...butter! Strain any excess buttermilk and get the bread ready!

No-Bake Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

2011-11-21T16:32:00.000-06:00

So I was just getting off the computer, satisfied with my menu for Thanksgiving and I found this recipe! Pretty sure I'll be making this too...maybe no brownies!? Maybe we'll do it all!

No-Bake Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
Recipe inspired by this pie.

15 oz pureed pumpkin (or 1 can)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1-2 tsp cocoa powder
level 1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
optional: sweetener (Taste first. I thought it was sweet enough without additional sweetener.)

Melt the chocolate (either on the stove or in the microwave), then throw everything into a food processor and blend until it is super-smooth. Pour into a pie crust and fridge until chilled. This pie gets firmer and firmer, the longer it sits.

****This recipe proved a little challenging for me! I don't have a food processor, so I used my blender. That didn't do much of anything other then make a mess. I then transferred it all to my Bullet, which rendered the same results. I then found an old, small food processor handed down to me from my mom in the back of the cupboard. This didn't do much either. I ended up using my hand mixer, and got much better results. I, did however, want a more smooth consistency, but it'll work for now! I now know what to put on my Christmas list! :) I also ended up having to make an additional 1/2 batch because it only filled up the premade graham cracker crust 2/3 full, and it just didn't look right. I'm sure I lost quite a bit of filling transferring it to and from all the appliances. The filling tasted great, before it was even chilled. It would make for a fine mousse! I'm so excited to try this out tomorrow especially once it's been chilled for a bit!

Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatos

2011-11-21T16:01:00.000-06:00

Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatos

8-10 potatos
1/4 cup mayonaise
1/2- 1 1/2 cup rice milk
1/2 - 1 tsp cayenne pepper
2-3 TBSP italian seasoning
1-2 tsp salt
1-2 tsp onion powder
1-2 tsp garlic powder
salt
pepper

Boil potatoes until they are soft. Drain and mash potatos.
Add the rest of the ingredients to taste.

**These were interesting! They were kind of "sticky", and I'm thinking that was from the mayo. I did put the recommended amount of cayenne pepper, and it was too spicy for me! Aside from the spicy kick these were so yummy!!

Brownies

2011-11-21T15:43:00.000-06:00

Brownies

½ cup canola oil

1 cup white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
½ cup all-purpose flour
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and vanilla. Beat in the eggs. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake pan for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan. Let cool completely on a wire rack then place in refrigerator to cool down even more. The brownies are best when they've had time to cool and develop their flavor!

Pumpkin Bars

2011-11-21T15:32:00.000-06:00

I'm going to post all my Thanksgiving recipes so I'm not searching all over on Thanksgiving morning! Here's another great recipe from MSPI Mama! LP insists that a party just isn't a party unless you have cake! We had a Husker party a few weeks ago, and thank God I had some leftover chocolate cake...it would have been a nightmare otherwise! I'm planning on trying my hand at decorating the cake! We'll see how that works out! :)

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
15-ounce can pumpkin
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1-2 cans MSPI-friendly cream cheese frosting, such as Pillsbury

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased jelly roll baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until done.

Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars

***OH MY GOODNESS!! These were SO good, and they are SO gone already! So moist and had the perfect pumpkin taste! I can't wait to make another batch!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-11-18T18:44:00.000-06:00

It's pizza night at our house...nothing fancy...just frozen! :) I've had a darn cold this week so I'm sacrificing my dinner (I can't eat frozen pizza) for convenience tonight! I'm too tired to bake a pizza, but not tired to bake pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! :)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm

I got this recipe on Allrecipes.com. From the reviews they are a more "cakey" cookie! Fine by me...it's chocolate and pumpkin...my two favorite foods right now!!

Chili Mac

2011-11-16T16:43:00.000-06:00

I found this recipe on MSPImama.com. She's got some great recipes for my particular diet with Joshua. We've made this a few times before and LOVED it! Aside for the first time when I didn't have chili powder, so I used cayenne pepper! :)

Chili Mac

½ lb. lean ground beef or turkey

½ cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp. canola oil
8 oz. elbow macaroni
1 16-oz. can kidney or pinto beans, undrained
1 cup frozen corn
1 16-oz. can plain tomato sauce
1 cup water, plus more as needed
1 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt

In a large skillet coated with the oil, brown ground meat, onion and garlic. Drain off any extra fat and return pan to the burner. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Once boiling, turn heat down, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid noodles sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add additional water, ½ cup at a time, until macaroni is properly cooked and to make sauce thinner, as needed. Adjust seasonings to taste.

I love her extra tip! At first I thought this recipe would never be enough for my meat loving family! So to make a full pound and freeze half for next time was a little scary! It worked perfect and the pasta helped fill our bellies!! Here's her tip:

Tip: Do yourself a favor and go ahead and cook a full pound of ground beef/turkey and double the onions and garlic. Once cooked, set aside half the mixture to cool while you continue with the rest of the recipe. Once the extra meat mixture has cooled, package it, label it, and pop it in the freezer. Next time you go to make Chili Mac, half the work will already be done!

Apple Pie

2011-11-15T14:04:00.000-06:00

9-inch pastry shell, unbaked, chilled

6 cups peeled, sliced cooking apples

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Crumb Topping:

1 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup soft butter

Combine flour, brown sugar, salt, and butter; blend until crumbly then set aside.

Combine apples, granulated sugar, and cinnamon; mix gently to coat apple slices.

Pack apple mixture into chilled crust.

Sprinkle crumb topping over apples.

Bake in 375° oven until apples are tender, about 50 minutes.

Green Bean Casserole MSPI Friendly

2011-11-15T13:56:00.000-06:00

2 cups chicken broth
2 cups rice milk
1 Tbsp margarine
2-3 Tbsp cornstarch, mixed with 2-3 Tbsp cold water before added to warmed milk/broth mixture)

All spices to taste:
garlic powder
salt
pepper
thyme
sage
rosemary

4 cans cut green beans
3 cups french fried onions

Boil ingredients together in sauce pan. Stir until creamy. Add mushrooms if desired. Adjust spices as needed to your taste preference. Add sauce to a 3 quart dish, add 4 cans of drained green beans and stir. Add 2 cups french fried onions and stir. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Top with remaining french fried onions and bake an additional 15 minutes.

**I am a huge fan of the traditional GBC, but the MSPI diet is going to dash that dream this year. BOOHOO! I had to do quite a bit of adding spices, but am satisfied enough with the outcome. Still not as great as the traditional GBC!

Autumn Harvest Pork Loin

2011-11-14T23:01:00.000-06:00

1 cup apple juice/cider
1 1/2-2 pound pork loin (I used a 2 1/2 pound pork roast)
salt
pepper
2 large apples (I used honeycrisp), peeled and sliced
1 whole butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp sage

Heat juice in hot skillet. Sear pork on all sides.
Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper on all sides and place in slow cooker with juices.
Combine apples and squash. Sprinkle with herbs. Stir. Place around pork.
Cover. Cook on low for 5-6 hours (for the pork roast, I did more like 8-10).
Remove pork from cooker. Let stand 10-15 minutes.
Slice and serve with apples and squash.

Herb Roasted Potato's

2011-11-14T22:55:00.000-06:00

5-6 med sized Red Potato's, cut into chunks
2 TBSP olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp Cayenne powder
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix potato's and seasonings in a bowl to coat. Place on a cookie sheet in a single layer.
Bake 15-20 minutes, checking and flipping potato's frequently to avoid sticking to the pan.

Slow Cooker Meatloaf

2011-11-14T22:50:00.000-06:00

2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk (I used Ricemilk and noticed no problems)
2/3 cup quick oats (recipe called for breadcrumbs)
2 Tbsp chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sage
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2-3 Tbsp ketchup

Combine everything but ketchup. Shape into a 6" loaf and place in a greased cooker.

Cover and cook for 6 hours or until done.

Spoon ketchup over meatloaf, cover, and cook on high for 30 minutes.

I served this with herb roasted potato's and organic green beans.
Such a great comfort food!! So delicious! Enjoy!

There is sunshine after the rain.

2011-11-07T15:37:00.000-06:00

I'm just amazed by God! His blessings to me are ever abundent! When my life seems like it's spiraling out of control, He always finds a way to shower me with blessings. Matt's job has been in limbo for about a month or so now. He's just not been content or happy with his company and their direction. He's hated being so far away from his family during the day, and working crazy hours to manage an office. He's talked about moving on with his life, as far as his job is concerned, but that has scared my pants off. Witht he way the economy is, and especially the construction industry, I just felt that Matt should stay put and count his blessings. He was laying people off on a regular basis and here he was complaining that he wanted a new job. We'd pray and ask God to keep him content and help him to find joy in his job. The market picked up and Matt was so busy, there was no time for him to complain. It hasn't been until recently that he's become unsettled again. We've just prayed that God would have His will, and He has opened so many doors for us with this whole situation. I can't help but sit back and be totally amazed and bask in God's blessings!

It's definitally been a crazy few weeks, with the final decision making to the actually letting the company know, that we are just ready for the next phase in this. God has had his hand in this the whole way through and we know that He has our best intrest at heart. I know Matt is feeling antsy to get today done and over with, (he has one final last meeting with the old company), and then he should be golden to start with the other company. (He's been off for what seems like two weeks now!)I, however, am savoring every second that I have my husband home with me. I'm sitting here watching him play outside with P, and just blessed by his imense love for his son! P is eating it up as his daddy is the most important man in his life! It's also been a blessing that we've gotten a lot of much needed stuff done, and most importantly quality time together as a family!

Thank you, Jesus, for showering us with blessings during this time in our lives! Help us to continue to see your hand at work in all things!

AHHHHHMAZING APPLE PIE!!

2011-10-07T23:30:00.000-05:00

Apple Pie

Ingredients:
1 refrigerated pie crust
6 cups peeled and cored apples
1/2 cup sugar
1tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Pour sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg over apples and mix to coat evenly. Place apples in uncooked pie crust. Arrange as best you can and cram those apples in there! Cover with another pie crust or crumb topping.

Crumb Topping
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened

Mix ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs. Place on top of pie.

Place foil around the outer edge of the pie. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 40 minutes, remove foil and continue baking for 15 minutes, or until crumb topping is browned and apples are softened.

Where did this rolling baby come from?

2011-09-27T16:47:00.000-05:00

I would like to know how Joshua just got from one point of the living room to the other?! AHHH! Where did this rolling baby come from? Help Me Jesus! I'm not sure I'm ready for a mobile baby quite yet! I suppose I should be thankful that my almost (tomorrow) 8 month old son isn't rolling/crawling yet! Got knew that I wasn't ready for it to happen early! He's just blessing my socks off everyday!

So I feel like we've finally hit a "normal" point for Joshua! Woo hoo! It's about time! Poor little guy. You can just tell that he feels better. He has so much more spirit. He wants to do things. He chit chats, sings, lays on his tummy a bit more, is interested in playing, and just has a sparkle! He giggles at people when they talk to him (as long as mommy's holding him), and he's starting to be silly! It's amazing to think that the simple thing of cutting out the food I was eating the most of would help his belly out. Ugh...so sorry little man, that I just kept eating what made you so sick. His diapers are MUCH better. Barely any mucous, has consistency, and the amount has decreased by 90%! He's finally over 16 pounds too, which is an amazing thing in and of itself!

The weather is changing and I LOVE IT! I love the fall weather. The crispness of a cool morning, the leaves changing colors, the spiders dying, pumpkins, the smell of bonfires, sweatshirts and sweatpants, warm soup, and football! I am so excited to be taking the boys to our annual trip to Vala's pumpkin patch! They're so excited too, and have come to rely on that trip!

Peyton's doing great in school, and you can tell he really enjoys it! He's made very good friends with some of the boys in his class and has already been asking about a sleep over! Parker is enjoying his time with just mommy and Joshua, but we're still keeping busy in that time too! We're doing the library at least once a week, if not twice, for story time and singing! He really enjoys the challenge and learning new things. It's kind of like a mini preschool for him!

Until next time...

So Yummy In My Tummy

2011-09-20T22:41:00.001-05:00

All the cool weather last week put me in the mood for some warm, hearty beef stew! Here's the recipe I used for today. Even though the weather turned a bit warmer then it was supposed to, it was DELICIOUS!!

Ingredients

2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (a little spicy, so maybe cut down to 1/4 tsp)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups beef broth
3 potatoes, diced
4 carrots, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 cup water as needed towards the end of the cooking time

Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, and celery.
Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours.

Perfect with a nice slice of warm bread and a glass of chilled wine!

Home Made Applesauce

2011-09-17T17:16:00.001-05:00

The other day I went apple picking (10 pounds worth!) with the boys, and thought I should use this chilly day to put them to good use. The boys really wanted apple pie, but I couldn't help it but make some applesauce! Something we all can enjoy! The boys had a blast helping me peel the apples with the apple peeling machine grandma gave us. It's from when I was a kid, so it's neat to be using it with my kiddos now! I've been thinking a lot about how I come up with all these creative recipes, never write them down and then can never remember what I put in or what I made. Hence, what is going to follow. I'm going to try to put recipes in my blog, as I make them and enjoy them! Quick reference for me when I need them!

Home Made Applesauce

4 pounds of peeled and cored apples (I used Cortland, but I've heard using a variety of different apples is a good idea too!)
1 lemon- I cut 4 peels from the one lemon to add to the boiling process
I also juiced the one lemon right into the pot

Put about 1 inch of water in a big pot and bring to a boil
Put all the apples, lemon slices and lemon juice in and simmer for about 15-30 minutes. You'll know when they're done. I kept checking on my apples to make sure they didn't burn, because they weren't too full of water (which some apples release a lot of water). I had to add about an additional 1 1/2 cup of water. I've also read that when you're done boiling the water you can ladle off some of the juice for your own, home made apple juice! Remove the lemon peel slices.

Place the apple mix into a blender and blend until desired consistency.
Place back in kettle and add seasoning as needed. (I pulled out a bit of unseasoned for Joshua as he doesn't need the sugar stuff).

I added:
1 tsp ground cinnamon
a dash of salt
3 tsp sugar

Keep applesauce warm until ready to can/freeze!

This made only 1 pint sized jar to freeze, I kept about 1/2 of one in some tupperware to eat now, and I stored away about 1 pint sized jar's worth for Joshua.

ENJOY!!

BSF Miracle with a Dentist Disaster!

2011-09-15T22:50:00.000-05:00

This morning was our first morning of the new year of Bible Study Fellowship. Our mornings went great, and we were actually on time! The boys enjoyed seeing their teachers (Peyton had Parkers teacher from last year, and Parker had Peyton's from last year!), and meeting new friends. This was really the first time I've ever left Joshua, but I think he did fine. He got knocked down a few times by some bigger kids, but I never got called to get him early! Thank you, Jesus, for helping answer prayers for my children to have a good morning, learning about you! Continuing to pray that we all make lasting friendships with some great people who love Jesus as much as we do!

The boys had their first dental appointment today. I did some research on the best local pediatric dentist in town. I chose one that was the most recommended and, of course, the furthest away! They were both so excited, because of the fact that there was going to be trains all over the building. I really thought we'd have no issues, until they took us back. I started talking to the assistant about Parkers gagging/puking, and then got a little panicked! She just started cleaning his teeth and Parker started to pull away, and push her away. It went from not so good to really bad quickly! We decided to try for "pictures" and retry the cleaning later. No go on the pictures, and a no go on anymore cleaning. At one point he looked at me, said "I'm not coming back here ever again!" and walked out the door! Haha!

It was time for the Dr to check their teeth. We did Peyton's first and boy was he a champ! He was so enthralled with the TV in the ceiling, he wouldn't even answer any questions and could care less about what anyone did in his mouth! This still did not help parker relax at all. The dentist did everything to try to loosen Parker up, but it just wasn't working. We decided to try laying him in our laps and holding him down a bit so he could look at his teeth. This was where bad went to THE WORST! He was screaming and crying, and all of a sudden I saw it! Yellow noodles and brown pop coming straight at me! We made the poor guy so upset he threw up his whole lunch. The doc was great and was catching the puke in his hands. Parker was trying to nuzzle up to me, while I was pushing him away to keep the puke off me! It was madness! I remember looking over at Peyton who was just staring at me absolutely dumbfounded!

We got him all cleaned up, they gave him a brand new shirt, some toys and he was fine. He wouldn't let anyone touch him again, but did comply to show the doc the crack in his front tooth! I guess we'll just try this again in another 6 months or so! I'll have to pray, pray, pray until the next time we have to go in!!!!

First Day of School! First Day of School!

2011-09-08T22:50:00.001-05:00

Today was Peyton's first day of preschool for this year! He was a little indifferent about the whole issue! We had an open house yesterday, where I went with him. It was nice, in the fact that I got to meet some of the parents and he got to meet the teachers and his friends with Mommy still being close by! His school is awesome! There's 9 kids in the class, 5 boys and 4 girls! It's going to be a great year, and I pray that he makes great friendships and learns about Got and everything that he needs to know for kindergarten next year!

He woke up okay and had a good breakfast! He was very excited, and eager to show off his new outfit he picked out! We were on time to school and even had some time to do pictures before we went off to school! He did great! He went right up to his class, hung up his backpack and went in without even looking back!

We picked him up and couldn't wait to hear all about his day! Parker does a great job holding the pick up number for the teacher to see, to let him go out the door, and Peyton came running out! He was so excited to tell us all about his day and all that he learned! We spent a great lunch with grandma eating pizza to celebrate such a great first day of school!

Vaca!!

2011-08-28T23:04:00.000-05:00

Matt and I decied to take a last minute, late summer vacation! We had a great offer we couldn't pass up! My parents rented a great cabin in Okoboji, and offered us a room for free! That was a no-brainer!
We got up there late on Wednesday night, so we wouldn't have to rush up on Thursday morning. It was a great ride until we stopped for dinner. We ended up stopping for dinner at a Subway in a Walmart at 8:30. Dinner was fine, but we had two major issues that kind of put a damper on the beginning of the trip. We got up to the cabin around 10ish, unpacked and got in bed!

The cabin was great. It had a loft with a bunk bed, 2 twin beds, and a full sized bed. It even had it's own bathroom! Perfect for our little family. There were huge windows and we were woken up every morning by the bright sun shining in! We got to watch the most beautiful sunrises from our beds!

The first morning (Thursday) was an early one! Everyone was excited to get going. The guys went off for an early round of golf and mom and I took the kids to the grocery store to get donuts and some food. The guys ended up meeting us to help finish up! We unpacked the food and headed off to the pool with the boys, while mom and dad went and got the boat in the water. We met them at the dock, put on the life vest and off we went! The boys all did great in their life jackets, which was an answered prayer! The guys did some swimming in the lake, some tubing, and some skiing! We ended the evening with a grill out at the cabin.

The next morning (Friday) was Parkers birthday! Happy 3rd Birthday Little Man!! He was very decided that he needed to swim at the water park and then take a trip on the boat! After the water park we met mom and dad at Bracco (a resort restraunt) for some chips and dip and to let the boys play in the sand! Then we got into the boat for some boating. I convinced Parker that tubing would be a great thing to do on his birthday and that little boy just melted my heart! He was so brave, was laughing and telling me to go "super fast". We ended up going a lot faster then I thought he'd want to go. He was laughing so hard! We then went to grill out dinner for his birthday! His request "Snake" with peanut butter and jelly! Guess what he got?! Presents and cake followed, and it was a great birthday!!

Saturday we woke up and had yet again a relaxing morning! We took our time, hung out and enjoyed eachother's company. The boys had made friends with the neighbors in the cabin next to us. It's kind of a funny story too! My kids are so so friendly, it sometimes drives me nuts! It ended up that this family lives in the neighborhood next to us, and then it got even funnier when I realized that they live next door to our coach pitch coach! Small world! I had to laugh about how when you go on vacation, it's nice to run outside in your pj's, not wear makeup or do your hair and you just think "Well, I'll never see these people again! Well....ummm not so much here! :) Anyway, there was a little pond stocked with fish right in the backyard of the cabin, so the boys fished (pretty much every morning). We did a little shopping on Saturday morning, then had some lunch and headed to the lake! It was much busier, and the water much choppier! I took my hand at captaining the boat, while the kids slept under tents made from towels! We stopped the boat for a bit and floated around. Very relaxing. Then we doced the boat to do some shopping and eat! THe night got very crazy when we docked at Bracco for dinner. The place was nuts, and we ended up getting our food to go and eating it up by the pool. I took the boys for swimming, while my dad and Matt got the boat all put back together.

Today we got up and packed slowly to go home. There was a great thunder/lightning storm that completed my vacation! We stopped for lunch at Pizza Hut, where my parents were given the senior discount (without being asked!). That was a great laugh! We all arrived home safe, and were able to watch some of the airshow!

Great vacation and even better memories!!

6 Months Come and Gone!

2011-08-19T14:09:00.000-05:00

Happy Little Camper trying out a big boy car seat!

Heh Heh!! ;)

I <3 This!!

Sitting up like such a Big Boy!

Joshua had his 6 month check up this morning. I can't believe how fast the time has gone! He's been such a joy and the perfect addition to our household! The boys just goo and gah over him all day long, and Matt and I are just in love with this perfect little boy! He's finally sitting up on his own, but still teeters and falls on occasion! His face is so funny once he lands backwards, as if he's completely offended by his own body for failing to keep him upright! He's become quite the chatterer! He love to join in a conversation, and you'll hear him join in to singing as well (just like his big brothers did at this age!). He's not much of a roller, but when he wants something he'll get it! He's definitely one of those kids that knows what he wants, and knows how to push mommy's buttons to get it! He spends the majority of his days being held by mommy, or snuggled up with someone (mostly his bros)! I think Josh is as smitten with Peyton and Parker as they are with him! He loves to just watch them (I'm sure this is not a good thing...picking up on all the naughty things they do!) and just smiles away at them, even if they aren't paying attention to him! He's been our little medical mystery. He's technically and MSPI baby, but not a typical one. He shows different symptoms that most babys don't show. A late symptoms starter (3 months), he's not a puker, and he's not too bad on the weight loss side. He refuses solid foods at this point...no matter what it is! His weight goes up and down. For the most part he's a very happy little guy, especially if mama's holding him! ;) Here's his stats from the appointment today: Weight 15 lbs 11 oz (9.86% :( ) Height: 26.75" (45.76%) HC 44.8cm (69.05%)

Yes She Does!

Such A Happy Guy!

Best Buds!

Can you tell how much they love him?!

This is what I wake up to every day! Aren't I blessed?!

Picking cucumbers from our garden!

Our parsley black swallowtail caterpillar!

Singing in the Rain!

Well, Mr Parker, is definitely becoming his own little person! He's starting to show more independence from his big brother. I'm not too sure Peyton's very fond of this whole idea! He's always been the leader and "controller" of what they do and how they do it! Parker's not too fond of that anymore! :) I can't wait to continue to watch that little guy blossom into the boy God has planned for him to become! He's a feisty little one, who's always hungry! The first thing he says to me EVERY morning when he comes in my room is "I'm Hungry!" He's always ready for the next meal or snack the second he finishes a meal! :) He's becoming quite a sports enthusiast like his brother! He loves soccer and basketball though. When you ask him what sport he wants to play (when he turns 3 he's able to play on a team sport) he says how much he can't wait to "play bowling"! He cracks me up! He'll be turning 3 in a week and he's so excited! He's telling everyone about it, and what he's doing for his birthday. We'll be taking a family vacation with gma and gpa for boating, water parks, fishing, and camping! He's SO excited!

I love this face!

At the StormChasers Game!

So Silly!

Baseball Star

Peyton is still obsessed as ever with baseball! He had a great first season of coach pitch with most of his tball team from last year! It's been nice for him to continue his friendships! This boy has more personality then anyone I know! He LOVES life and every day is a party for him! He's quite a joker and loves making people laugh! I'm so blessed to have him in my life as he puts the laughter in my days, every day! He just turned 5 last week, and let me tell you....this turning 5 thing has made him the most independent little booger out there! Every day I hear "Mom, I'm 5 now so I can..." wipe my butt, get dressed all by myself, make my lunch, put my toothpaste on, brush my hair, put on a band aid, pour my cereal, get my own water, etc...... I love it! He's excited to be starting at a new preschool here next month! We've gotten him a new backpack and some new shoes and clothes! It took a lot of investigating, but we feel this new preschool is going to be great for him and that this is exactly where God wants him! I'm excited for him to make new friends and for all the things he's going to learn this upcoming school year!

Their Favorite Mascot Stormy!

Congrats Baseball Star!

Happy Birthday to My Boys!!

Hot Air Balloon Glow

Happy Birthday To Peyton!

A fight with the concrete!

Always goofing around!

The Sweet Sound of Nothing

2011-08-04T00:03:00.000-05:00

I think I enjoy the peace and quiet that night time brings to our house! I keep finding myself sitting on the couch doing nothing more then enjoying the calm for all hours of the night! I also keep finding myself cleaning the aftermath of the two tornado's that blow through my house every day until 2 or 3 am.
No wonder I'm so exhausted all the time!

I took the boys to the zoo today. It was the first break of the heat wave that I felt like we could get out and not fry! It was Josh's first ride on a train, and he LOVED it! He was all smiles! The boys got to watch some animal enrichments since it was members day. A paper mache zebra was put into one of the tiger cages and it was filled with bloody beef! The kids were shouting as the tiger attached this poor zebra! "Rip his head off!" "Look, mommy, he's ripping all the zebra's legs off!" Oh the joy of little boys!

Poor Josh just can't catch a break, and neither can mommy for that matter. He's losing weight, and having bad diapers again. I'm scheduled to see a specialist next week, and praying I get the answers I need to get a happy baby!

Our summer is coming to a close, and school will be starting soon! I can't believe it, but I can't wait! This summer flew by! Here's to the last few weeks of summer, the last few weeks of Peyton being 4 and Parker being 2!

Tonight...

2011-07-23T20:23:00.000-05:00

Tonight it's just me and Joshua! Daddy took Peyton and Parker to some sprint car races. We started our evening cooking a gourmet dinner of taco salads. Josh, in his finest attire- a naked little body showing off his newest diaper), sat in his Bumbo while I sliced, chopped, and diced fresh veggies for our salads! I also gave him my finest rendition of some good 'ole mommy, home cookin' opera! He rewarded my efforts with a toothless grin!
We then moved our party to the living room, where he politely watched me eat until the last few bites where he allowed me to eat while feeding him. His poor dipe is now covered in taco seasoning. :(
We are bringing our evening to a close with a bubble bath for him and I am enjoying a glass of wine and dreaming of a bubble bath. I may, however, decide to jump in with him!
His little chub rolls are begging to be removed from the water now...a little too water logged from the day (a pool party earlier)! Off for a little baby massage!
Sleep tight little one! <3

Another Year Older

2011-07-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm another year older! Yikes...30 is creeping up on me! I spent my birthday with my wonderful family! We went to church and then spent a very hot morning at the farmer's market! I don't think I can explain how HOT it was! We bought fresh produce, had some frozen yogurt (not me, of course :) MSPI diet still in full effect!), took some silly pictures, and relaxed! We spent the evening dining at my favorite restraunt! The evening took a turn when we got home for gifts though! No need to post the details, so if you must know...ask! :) The night was topped off with MSPI safe cupcakes, made and decorated by me!

Matt's birthday has passed as well, since my last post! It was fantastic! We packed up and headed to Mahoney State Park for a night of camping! We decided since it was going to be hot and with how young Joshua is, that we would camp in a cabin. We met my parents for an afternoon of swimming, grilled out at the cabin, and our little family stayed the night in a cozy little cabin. It was so memorable! We played games until late, cooked smore's, made pancakes, and enjoyed our family!

We are quickly approaching the boys' birthdays, and boy oh boy, do they know it! They cannot wait! They are going to a VBS program this week, so for two days Josh and I are going to have some alone time! We're also talking about the preschool decisions for the fall! I can't believe that it's just right around the corner! Soon, I'll be planning their graduations!

Our garden is AMAZING! The tomato plant is now as tall as me with huge bunches of tomatos on them! We've also harvested some cucumbers, that have proven to be delicious! We should be able to harvest carrots here soon, and the tomato's should start turning red here soon! Our pepper plants that we thought were failing have all of a sudden started to pop out some good looking green peppers! Our herbs are doing well too.

About a week ago, I noticed one of our Swallow tail butterflies return and fly around our backyard. It was so exciting to see her. She landed on the parsley, which made me think that maybe she had laid some eggs there again! Sure enough, Matt just noticed 2 caterpillars there the other day! They've already grown so much since we first saw them. So excited to watch yet again another miracle of God!

Nature Nature All Around!

2011-06-23T00:23:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a while yet again! We've just been so busy and the next few weeks are going to be super busy as well. The boys and I have been keeping busy with our nature filled back yard! We have baby bunnies that are living under the boy's fort and our shed. They're so funny and very brave. They run all around our backyard, which we enjoy so much, but Zoe has come to believe that they are leaving her little cocoa puffs all throughout the yard! YUCK!
I bought the boys a butterfly house, and ordered some caterpillars a while ago. We got these super teeny tiny caterpillars, that turned into fat caterpillars within a week. Then they formed their cocoons. It was an amazing site to experience, and truly makes you appreciate how much God paid attention to the little things in His wonderful creation! After a week our butterflies started coming out of their cocoons! It was so beautiful watching them flap their wings for the first time, and begin to fly! We had to buy flowers for the habitat and feed them sugar water! So fun! After a week and a half we decided to let the butterflies go (on Father's Day). It was the greatest part of the whole adventure. The butterflies were very friendly, and let the boys hold them. We got some great pictures and a video of one little butterfly, who, for some reason, was very attracted to the boys. It kept landing on poor Parker who wasn't all that sure of the whole thing to begin with! We're happy to say though that all 5 of our caterpillars flew away that day!
Our garden is going great! We are shocked at how well everything is going! We found out what we thought were white onions, were truly green onions! :) We've harvested all the green onions, most of the radishes, some parsley and basil. The day I harvested some parsley I noticed some little black and yellow caterpillars. They were beautiful, and when I went to look them up I found out they are "Black Swallowtail" caterpillars, and they are very attracted to parsley. For the next week we watched those little guys get super fat and turn into a green and black color! They were so so beautiful! I found out the hard way that before they go into the pupal stage, they migrate and travel around. One morning when I went to check on them, one was missing. :( Then I decided that I would bring in the other one, and we'd watch him from the inside. By the next morning, it was hanging in its position on the underside of the stick ready to molt for the last time and become his cocoon! Within a day he was hard and now is in the process of becoming a beautiful butterfly! :)

We also have a morning dove nest! That has been an adventure! In the spring a pair of robins kept attempting to make themselves a nest, to no avail. We had this pesky little finch, Steve, who would not let them be. He would sit on my fan on my patio and squawk and squawk and squawk! It was truly a beautiful song though. I loved waking up to his chirps, and would leave all the window's open just to hear him. He was so naughty though. As soon as the robins would leave the nest, you would find Steve up there demolishing what they had just put together! This went on for weeks, until finally the robins just gave up. The nest sat empty for about a week, but Steve still came by to sing for me in the mornings! I loved it!
One day I noticed a morning dove on my patio, just walking around and plopping him/herself down on the concrete! It was strange! A few days later I noticed the bird up in the nest! It was a pair of morning doves doing their best to fix the broken home! It is the perfect location for a nest, covered and shielded from the elements in all directions! Prime nest property, I guess! Steve was still around, singing, and doing his demolishing. However, the persistence of the morning doves paid off, or Steve got tired of singing to me! Steve left and the morning doves remained. We watched them take turns sitting on the nest, and find new and creative ways to get into the nest when we were on the patio. They really aren't as skittish as any other bird, and get pretty close to you! About 5 days ago, I noticed that mama bird was sitting pretty high up in the nest, and thought that she had just laid the eggs. A little further investigating proved that the babies had indeed hatched! There are 2 little babies in the nest! I find ways almost every day to get my camera up there to snap a picture of their growing progress! The boys named the birds Parker's bird is a girl and her name is Girl. Peyton's bird is a boy and his name is Pocklet Wocklet! :)
I think that's all I have as far as our educational backyard is concerned!!! God, thank you so much for providing these wonderful miracles in our own backyard for us to enjoy! You so know my boys and I and our love for nature and Your beautiful creations!!
CDing is going well! :) Josh is a happy fluffy butt, and I'm a happy fluffy butt providing mommy! I'll update this all later!

Happy Father's Day!!

2011-06-19T22:54:00.000-05:00

Our Father's Day gift to daddy was tickets to the second day of the CWS! They took Papa, and had a great time! Here is Peyton's post game interview after his time in the cage! I'm such a proud mommy!! :) Peyton you're a superstar!

MSPI and Me

2011-06-08T23:15:00.000-05:00

* Warning~Poop Content* :) Since Joshua was born he's never had what I would consider a normal poo. Around 2 months he started getting green poo, and then flecks of blood. After some research on my own I narrowed it down to some type of allergy, most likely milk.

In the beginning I decided I would just cut out all milk and soy, but that was super overwhelming. I was getting so frustrated and more upset then anything. I would spend hours in the health food aisles reading label after label after label. There's also a hundred different names for milk and soy. Argh! After talking with some moms from a MSPI board, I decided it would be okay and better for me to just start with milk and dairy.

We had a bonfire over Memorial Day weekend, and, of course, the Smores were brought out! I was super bummed to find out that I wouldnt' be able to partake in the ooey-gooey goodness that is the staple of bonfires. I ended up finding that there's certain brands of chocolate chips that contain no dairy! SCORE!

Things are going better, I think. He's still super fussy, but his stools have become less frequent and the amount has decreased. However, he is still having mucousy, runny stools. :( I'm pretty sure that means that I need to cut out soy now too. Keep posted on our overcoming of this darn MSPI! Here's to real butter and a cold glass of milk...eventually.

So much to say...I'm not a good blogger!

2011-05-30T23:17:00.001-05:00

I try to take pictures of important things that our family does. I'm quite an obsessive picture taker! However, I'm not as neurotic as I used to be. You used to never find me without my camera, but lately I'm finding myself mad because I left the camera at home! As I'm typing this, I'm wondering if it's because I have 3 kids to make sure I have in tow! My pictures prove to be helpful in things other then just looking back at the fun times we have, but they also are my backup when I forget to post things on calenders and they also help remind me of things to blog about!

So many things have happened recently! I'd love to blog about everything, but I'm tired so I'll just give a quick rundown of some things! We had some storms and got some good sized hail. We went to the zoo, and it was COLD! We got caterpillars, and are going to watch them grow into beautiful butterflies! Josh found his toes! We have a pair of nesting Morning Doves! I'll probably blog more about Rocky and Mommy Rocky (the doves) and Steve at a later date! It's a great piece of our lives right now.

Here's some updates about our natural living!
The garden is going great! I'll have to grab some updated pictures soon! Our radishes are coming up so big, carrots are just starting to poke though, peppers and tomato's are starting to flower, and onions are doing their thing too! Yay!! We had a bit of a pest problem, but found some organic pest killer!
The health and beauty aspect is hit and miss right now. I returned the stuff I bought for the boys, except the lotion. I'm waiting for their current stuff to run out, and then we'll try it again. My stuff, however, is not going well at all. I'm trying to do things and save money, but I'm finding that it isn't always worth it. I'll keep posting on what ends up working.
Laundry has been a pain in my tushie! I made a mix, equal parts of borax, washing soda, and oxyclean. I also have several other detergents. With the cloth diapers I ended up using so many different things, I think I gave them the stinkies. :( They started smelling like burnt plastic. The other night I had the load on the highest setting, and our whole house started smelling like burnt plastic. The next morning I called the store, and had them come deliver a new one. I'm not sure if it really was the washer, the fact that I added a ton of water, or what! I just felt a clean slate would be best!

Okay, enough of all that! It seems like lately we've had so much going on and I just can't keep up! Since Joshua was born, my life has become a whirlwind of coming and going and not a lot of sitting and relaxing. This weekend I really became just plain exhausted. I kept falling asleep, and it wasn't just a "oh, I dozed off" asleep. It was hardcore, I don't remember anything, waking up with a baby nursing!

The crazy thing is that summers tend to be when we get busier, with outings, sports, vacations, ect. If we're this crazy busy now, what will this summer bring? I was just looking at my calender for the next month and I'm already exhausted! Peyton has swimming lesson's in the morning, Parker has swimming lessons at night (and we have to get into the water with him), we're thinking about a VBS for Peyton, Peyton has a night of coach pitch practice, Saturday morning games, and I have several things planned for playgroups within the first few weeks of June. Gesh! What will I do when all my boys are in sports?!?!?!

I think looking at this calender, realizing how much we already have booked, it's making me want to cherish and try to take a slower approach on our lives right now! I hope that God helps me to SLOOOW down!

Okay, I'm rambling now! I did want to make sure that I posted about one very important thing that happened today! Today is Memorial Day, a day where we take time to honor our men and women who have, who will, and who are serving our country. I hope that people don't just spend this day doing this though. I would hope that this comes as a natural, every day thing!

Well, my grandpa served and was a POW in WWII. My hubby wanted to make sure that we honored him, and my grandma today by visiting their grave. We haven't been to the cemetery since the day we buried my grandma. It's just been to hard. We put some flags around the headstone, tried explaining to the boys the best we could, shed some tears and paid our respect to my hero's!

Judgement Day

2011-05-22T00:16:00.002-05:00

I just have another thought for today. Today was predicted by a religious group to be the end of the world. They said that God would be returning to rapture the believers, and that there would be death and destruction to all those left on the earth until October 21st when God would return and destroy the earth with a fire ball. My first initial thought when I heard this the other day was along the lines of "Great, another wacko group out there to give Christians a bad name."
Secondly, it really got me thinking about my own life. If it was going to be the day God came back to rapture his believers, was I ready. How have I been living my life? Is my life pleasing to God? It was really a wake up call for me to do a check of my personal relationship with Jesus and making sure that I'm all good!

It also made me get antsy to think that if God was coming back today, had I done everything I could have to bring others to Him? Was my life a reflection of Jesus, and drawing people to God's saving grace? One of my favorite comments I learned from my BSF class this year was...."You may be the only Bible someone reads." I want to make sure that my life is a reflection of Jesus and that people want what I have!

Strangely my heart went out to this man and his followers. I have such a soft spot for people when they are being the butt of someones jokes and made fun of for any reason. The jokes were everywhere....they were a perfect target for late night shows, and even atheists were offering their services (pet care, etc) for the people who would be raptured. They were bashing this poor old man, who truly truly believed what he was speaking! I always have a heart for people like that (Mormons, Jehovah's witness'). They are out there professing their faith to everyone! Nothing stops them. I think, we as Christian's, have a lot to learn when it comes to being outspoken like that for our beliefs. My heart also broke for the families and followers of this man. He had them so convinced that this was the day, that most left jobs, families, houses, drained life savings, etc. Now that the end hasn't come, what will happen to these people. I heard a story of a pastor who felt that there would be extreme depression, so he was planning on camping out by the headquarters of this group to be there for the broken people.

I've refrained from bashing these people and their beliefs. It's sad, just sad. It's been a great thing for me to challenge me to examine my life...a spiritual check up if you will. It's also caused me to get on my knees to pray for the people who believed (and still do) and for the people who have no faith and need Jesus.

Matthew 24:36

But the exact day and hour?

No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.

Is It Going to End.....YES IT IS!

2011-05-21T23:56:00.000-05:00

I had a follow up appointment for Joshua on Thursday morning, because he just wasn't quite up to par all day on Wednesday. I was supposed to be tapering down his breathing treatments, but he was still needing them at his 4 hour mark. :(

Of course though, he actually started to finally be improving Thursday morning before the appointment, and I did contemplate canceling my appointment. I ended up deciding it best to just make sure everything was okay. His doctor looked him over and said that he would probably not start improving until early this upcoming week. He also said that he noticed an ear infection in one of his ears that just recently started. Ugh! He got prescribed an antibiotic and off we went.

I filled the prescription in the evening, and came home to give him his first dose. I was bawling as I was giving my precious baby this nasty med. I just didn't feel right giving it to him. I wasn't sure if it was because I never had to give Peyton or Parker anything until they were much older, or the fact that our family is trying to live more naturally. Either way, I was not a happy mommy at all.

I started doing some research on ear infections and posted for some help on a natural mommy board. Someone mentioned that I needed to go see a chiropractor for the ear infection. I had never heard of such a thing. Ironically, I had just found a very natural chiropractor and had an adjustment on Tuesday morning. She had mentioned something to me about adjusting Joshua for his breathing issues. I kind of brushed it too the side, because I knew Matt wouldn't be quite comfortable with that.

I immediately woke up on Friday morning after the diagnosis of the ear infection, and called Dr Kate Hansen with Essentials Chiropractor. Matt had the day off because it was Peyton's last day of school picnic! We had so much fun all day together!! :) Anyway, she got us in right away and looked Joshua over and adjusted him. She said that his L3 vertebra was out of place, and now with it back in place he should be breathing better! Amazingly, he has only had 3 breathing treatments in the past two days, which is so great compared to the every 4 hours previously. She also said that he had some swollen lymph nodes behind his left ear (ear infection ear). She massaged the area and did some more adjusting. She also mentioned garlic oil for his ear. I went home, researched how to make it, made it and used it! I love the smell of garlic, but holy moly!! That was pretty pungent!

Before we left the chiro on Friday she said that I could bring him in to get his ears checked to make sure that they looked okay, and that I was okay to remain off the antibiotic. I went in first thing this morning, and she did another adjustment and checked his ears to see that they looked much better!!!!!!!! Yay!! Thank you Jesus for leading us to a great chiropractor and healing our baby boy!!!

Congratulations....twice

2011-05-19T00:29:00.000-05:00

Today was Peyton's preschool graduation! Even though he only went 1/2 a year and will be doing another year of preschool next year, it was still a big deal for us! I took him out to lunch after school today in celebration of his last day at school and the graduation in the evening. :)

The graduation was at the future location of the school, which just happens to be a newly remodeled 1/2 of a local bowling ally...(more on that later). It was packed! There was so many parents there, and it was hot. I happened to get up with Josh just when they were putting more chairs out so I ended up in the front row!!

My heart was beaming with pride when my son was handed the flag to hold while his class said the pledge of allegiance and sang God bless America. What an honor for him!! The class then sang their class songs, showed off some skills, and then we watched a slide show of the year that his teacher put together. They even made copies for everyone of the kids! How sweet!

We finished off our day of celebrating at home with chocolate cake (Peyton's request) and pink lemonade!

Our celebration also included a party for Parker being potty trained! WOO HOO!!

I'm such a proud mommy tonight!!! :) I love my little boys!!

Oh yea, back to the school issue. We're not 100% sure how we feel about the new location of the school. It's a remodel of the other 1/2 of a bowling ally. Right on the other side of that is a bar and a sand volleyball area. I'm not sure if that is very impressive to have to take my kids through a bar to drop them off for preschool. Hmmm...we'll just have to see. I love the teachers and their curriculum.

At your beckon call

2011-05-16T15:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a great poem, that I'm sure at this point Joshua would agree with 101%! Poor little guy has been sick since Thursday, which landed us in the doc's office this am and then the hospital for a chest xray. No pneumonia, but part of his lung is collapsed, he has RSV, and bronchiolitis. So, enjoy this poem from little Joshua, and say a prayer for his health!

My trusty friend

You are always there for me.

Whether I’m sad or lonely

Hungry or thirsty

Hurt or tired.

You never judge me,

And you never expect anything in return.

When you’re near all my nightmares go away.

You make my dreams sweeter

And my days calmer.

You are warm,

Like a friend should be.

And when it’s cold outside

I know I can turn to you.

I love having a bosom-friend like you.

You always understand,

And listen without speaking.

You’re always there when I need you.

Boobie, I love you!
~ Michelle Abernathy

KiSS mY fAcE

2011-05-14T23:36:00.000-05:00

So, I am going crazy with this crunchy thing. I joined all these mommy cloth diaper groups, and some other groups that are based out of the state and are related to natural living. Ahhh! They're converting every aspect of my life...and it's good!!! My really big thing right now is cosmetics and skin care. I've learned all sorts of things from these sites about chemicals and carcinogens that they put in our lotions, shampoos, cleaning supplies, baby wash, soap, and toothpaste. It makes me sick to think that I have just purchased supplies at the store without questioning what they are comprised of.

I did quite a bit of research as to the things I should be looking for. The main big things I was looking for was No Parabens, Sulfates, Pthalates, PEG's. I have been driving myself crazy with researching a good brand. I went to a local cosmetic/hair store, and bought some of the things from their "natural" lines. I was so disappointed that when I was reading the labels, they had all the things I was looking to avoid. I ended up purchasing some stuff, that after more research has landed them in the return pile! The next day I ended up with a cup of coffee, a brand new car cart to entertain Parker, a sleeping Joshua, and an aisle full of "natural" items at Hy-Vee.

I had every bottle of bodywash, shampoo, and lotion on the floor! I was reading over and over the ingredients. I decided on a line from kiss my face. I was sadly disappointed that their rating on SkinDeep wasn't all that great. It is free of Parabens, sulfates, pthalates and PEG's, but it's not the best out there. I've decided that in order to save money on gas and my sanity. I'm going to use what I purchased (except for the lotion that is making me want to gag at this moment....BLECH!) and do a bit better at my research when I need to stock up again!

I finally got my sunbaby's dipes in the mail today. They're currently in the dryer waiting for me to fold them! I pray that they work as awesome for me as they do for others. I also ordered a BG 4.0, a Blueberry Deluxe, and a WAHM pocket dipe from the swap! I'm so excited that I should be 100% CDing in a week or so!! I'll post our reviews with all the dipes as we go along! Fingers crossed!

Oh, I also, did some sewing today for the first time in FOREVER! Matt bought me a portable "Dressmaker-As Seen on TV" sewing machine at a thrift store! Better yet he found it on 1/2 off day! Ha! I sewed a few wipes today. Wowzers, I'm in desperate need of lessons! Let's just say, you won't be seeing any of my creations on Etsy any time soon!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T21:01:00.004-05:00

I had a GREAT Mother's Day! I truly did! When you read the rest of this post, you may think I'm being sarcastic, but I REALLY TRULY did have a great day! Parker's not been feeling the top of his game lately and I have a really bad habit of not going to bed until after midnight, so I didn't get much sleep. Parker kept waking up and trying to sleep with us, but would only end up asking us to walk him back to his room after about 30 minutes. He's never been one to sleep anywhere, other then his bed. It's a good thing but sometimes becomes very frustrating. We finally woke up for the morning and it was so beautiful outside. Peyton and Daddy made me breakfast in bed, and showered me with gifts and cards! My gift...a sewing machine! It's so funny! He found it at a thrift store, and better yet on 1/2 off day! Nothing beats a $5 sewing machine! They know me all to well! It's just a little starter to see how well my idea goes!

We were having a brunch at our house since it was Josh's dedication day as well, so we were busy getting things ready. We, as always, thought we had all this time to be running late to church! Argh! That would be the one thing I would change for today!

We got to church and had the most beautiful dedication ceremony for our precious baby Joshua! We were extra blessed to be standing on stage with our cousin Jack and his mommy and daddy too!! I'm so thankful to Jesus for all that He is doing in our lives and the lives of my family members!! Both boys decided that they wanted to stay with us during church, and by the end of service they were both asleep, each with their heads on one of daddy's legs! Oh, and THANK THE LORD!!! I found my Bible at church! I lost it on Easter Sunday, and have been so upset about not finding it!

Our brunch went well, and all the food was DELICIOUS! I'm so a brunch girl. I love eggs, muffins, fruit, and juices! We toasted to moms, GiGi and Joshua with some delicious mimosa's! It was a perfect morning and afternoon with our family and friends.

A little while later, my mom asked where Parker was and went to find him. She came out looking quite terrified and saying "I don't know who should go see him." I jumped up so fast and found myself looking at a horrid disaster in the bathroom! Poor munchkin went into the bathroom all by himself (we've been potty training for quite some time now), and the med's he's been on for the ear infection had given him quite runny stools! It was everywhere. He was trying to clean himself up and ended up smearing poo all over my white cloth shower curtain. I mean EVERYWHERE!

Funny thing is that the day before our washer broke. AHHHH! I threw a few things in the washer and thought I would let it attempt to clean it as best as it could. Matt and I after a while ended up heading to NFM to purchase a new washer. What a thing to have to do on Mother's Day.

We got back home and Parker had fallen asleep while Papa was holding him. Well, he ended up having another accident in his bed. Argh! Where's the washer when I really need it?? We ended up packing things up to grandma's to wash. The bedding was done just in time for bedtime!

Like I said...you'd think I was crazy to have enjoyed this mother's day as much as I did. I just was so appreciative of all the help, love and support we got from our friends and family during such a crazy, hectic day!

It's Done

2011-05-07T23:03:00.000-05:00

The garden is planted!! It was a crazy day, and the busiest day of the year to go buy plants! We survived though, and left Canoyer Gardens with only one child with blood dripping down his face. Aye yai yai! Boys will be boys I guess! :)

We planted one tomato plant, a red pepper, a cucumber plant, a row of onions, carrots, and radishes! We also did two patio pots for a pizza garden. It included patio tomatoos, oregano, basil, chives, parsley, and green peppers. I pray that this garden goes well, and that we will soon be reaping the fruits of our labor.

On a bad note, my washer is dying. I'm pretty sure that it's bit the bullet. It has started doing funny things lately, and today it has taken ALL day to run 3 loads. The last load it did was a load of poopy diapers, and it ran for 4 hours and still had soap in the load when it was "done." FRUSTRATING! That is one thing with cloth diapers is making sure that the soap gets out because it will build up a residue on the diapers and render them ineffective.

Oh what a day! My boys were in a very rare form. I had to take Parker to the doctors yesterday because he has a few things on his fingers that I wanted his doc to look at. I mentioned that his eyes had been matting the past few days, which then prompted him to look in his ears. He was shocked to see a terrible ear infection, and equally surprised that Parker wasn't in pain, running a fever, or extremely crabby. I think Parker heard that part of the conversation and figured that today would be his day to make up from not acting sick. AHHHHH! So whiny, poor little guy. He started running a slight fever today, and I ended up having to pull out his nebulizer for a treatment tonight. :(

Tomorrow is Mothers Day and Baby Dedication for Joshua! I'm so excited for the day, no matter how cruddy today has been. We are having our special friends and family joining us for a brunch at our house after to celebrate the moms and Joshua's special dedication day!

Thank you Jesus for letting me be a mommy to my three boys! I love them so much and am so grateful for them and the opportunity to be their mom! I pray that tomorrow as we dedicate Joshua back to you, that you would have Your will with his life! I pray that Joshua's heart would be open to hear your voice in his life. I pray that Matt and I would have the wisdom we need to teach him about You and Your Word!

Cool Mom Points

2011-04-30T17:36:00.000-05:00

Being a mom to all boys, I definitally have to get down and dirty! Here's my gift to them for Easter! I must say I get cool points for being so brave! It's a mud pie making table!!

It's OFFICIAL! We're SORTA Crunchy!!

2011-04-30T17:33:00.002-05:00

Recently, our whole family has had a mental switch of trying to do things different and better, not only for ourselves but for our environment! We've been trying to eat healthier, live better, use more organic and natural products and our newest major project that Matt has taken on is a garden!

Our Family Garden! Keeping our friendly rabbits out of the garden will be the major challenge I think! Our yard is very obviously the favorite for the furry cottontails! They dig under our shed, the kids play set, the nest under our patio steps, and they leave "cocoa puffs" all over the backyard for our dog....YUCK!!! I think, too, the fact that our neighbor will shoot them if he sees them!

Our *hopefully* Rabbit Proof Garden!

So as far as the gardening.....oh boy! Matt's job was to build it, put the compost soil in it, and help me plant. My job is maintaining it! Really?!??! My grandma is either going to be yelling at me from heaven on what I'm doing wrong, or she'll be dancing around at my green thumb! From my past with plants alone, I'm thinking she'll be megaphoning down to me on my "not-so-green" thumb! If you get updates on the progress of the garden, then things will be going well....if you see no more gardening posts...well, then you know!

All of us, as parents, want to do what's best for our children. I know that I'm not the only one who feels that way! Now the hard part of "what's best" I think differs for each family! I don't even feel that each family can stick to one set of plans. Each child is different and things have to bend and weave different ways for each child! If I had cookie cutter kids, I'd be bored to death! The variety that each of my children brings to my life is what keeps my job, fun, amazing, entertaining, bearable, and enjoyable! God knows what he's doing!!

Well, what's best for you probably isn't best for me and what's best for me probably isn't best for you!!

With Peyton, I don't know if I can pinpoint one particular thing that we did as "different" then the normal routine of raising him as a baby. We were just one of the conditioned Americans that just "do what we're expected to do", and do what all the baby books tell you to do! As we have gone on though, all the new things that we are implementing with the others, obviously he partakes in if it's pertinent to him! Now that I'm thinking though...we did co-sleep with him! It did make for a terrible transition to his own room and bed times, when we decided we needed to get back on track with the "books"! Oh, I did breast feed exclusively too for a full year!

When Parker was a baby, we decided that we would make our own baby food! It was so exciting to feel like I was doing something I felt was important to help my baby! I enjoyed creating our own mixes, using organic veggies and fruits, freezing, and watching my little man enjoy some healthy goodness! I also, was a big baby wearer when he was younger. I'm not sure if I quite realized the importance of the bonding that it gives, as much as I just needed an extra pair of hands with chasing 2 year old Peyton around! EBF'd too!

With Joshua, it's a whole new bag of donuts! First we contemplated vaccinations...see previous post! We've decided on a delayed/selected vaccine schedule for him. I'm still a wearer, and I enjoy it more then just using it as a pair of extra hands! He's currently snuggled in his Moby wrap on my chest right now, sleeping so peaceful! As much as my hubby hates it, I do co-sleep with him occasionally in our bed, but otherwise, his crib is in our room! We're so excited to make our own baby food again for him too! We made the switch from normal Huggies diapers to Seventh Generation Natural Diapers. Our newest adventure now, is CLOTH! I'm so excited, and mad at myself that I didn't do this sooner! I feel that I should have more babies to experience this from the beginning! ;)

Thirsties

GroVia

The money that it's going to save us, and the benefits for him and our environment is astounding! Today was a grand opening for a store that specializes in cloth diapering, and I heard about if from a friend on facebook. It's always something I've tossed back and forth in my mind, but that's been as far as it's gone. I, immediately got in a flurry and began researching cloth diapers. Going to a grand opening event was probably not the smartest time to visit a store and expect to talk with employee's, but the thought of winning a gift card or raffle was enough to get me there! So I went....and was totally lost! I sat in the middle of this small store like a little puppy dog. :(

Finally there was enough of a break of customers coming through, that I felt I could visit with one of the workers. He...yes HE, was very helpful! I still was a little lost, and a customer started talking about her CD experience, and I started listening in! She was a wealth of info, and even used Joshua as a demonstration! I made my decisions on some pre-folds and a couple of covers...yes, there are a million ways, it seems, to CD your child! I also purchased some cloth wipes and soap cubes to make my own wipe solution! The smell is Monkey Farts, and it smells DELICIOUS!

Monkey Farts and the Super Soft Cloth Wipes

I'm currently preparing the diapers, which is a process and a half! I'm determined to make this work though, and am sure I'll be making my next purchase soon to complete my CD stash! I've been online for several hours now researching the process of how to prep and wash the dipes, the different kinds of dipes, making my own wipes solutions, making my own dipes (you'll have to stay tuned to that!) and so so so much more! I've reached out to friends on FB to get tips and points! I've joined some parenting groups that CD too! I'm sure we'll be fine and this will work out wonderful for us!! Wish me luck!

Sad Day for Every Eagle Watcher

2011-04-26T15:53:00.000-05:00

So, recently I got hooked on Eagle watching. I found out about this nest of eagles in Decorah, Iowa and have been watching them since February. We watched the eggs patiently and finally got the joy of watching them hatch. It's been amazing being able to watch God's most magnificent creatures in thier natural habitat!

Beautiful Mama Decorah with Eaglets 1,2 and Egg 3!

"The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolize the strength and freedom of America, and we shall have failed a trust if we allow the eagle to disappear." President JFK

To me, our national bird is a sign of freedom and justice, strength and resiliance!

I was saddened today to hear of another nest in the Norfolk, VA Botanical Gardens, who lost their mommy today. She was hit by an airplane. My heart is breaking as I'm watching the live feed of the eaglets in their nest. So far the dad hasn't been sighted, but everyone's hopes are high that he will return to take care of his babies.

Mama and Daddy Norfolk Feeding their babies

Such a Wonderful Mommy

The Beautiful Norfolk Pair

Look how big her babies are!

Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint

Soar high Mama Eagle!!

But I LOOOOOOOVE YOU!!!!!!!

2011-04-22T20:43:00.000-05:00

Bath night in the Matthies house, and my big boys are cracking me up! Parker got in first and because of their incessant splashing when they take bath's together, I tried to make it a single's bath night tonight. Parker agreed, but Peyton proceeded to throw a fit of all fits! I walked away and left him and Parker to deal with each other! Sometimes, with those two, I just have to throw my hands up and walk away! ;) I'm listening to the tantrum go on and on, when I hear Peyton wail "But, I LOOOOOOVE YOU, and I just want to take a bath with you!" then Parker's sweet voice chimes in with "I love you too, Peyt, but I wanna take a bath alone." Needless to say, Peyton and Parker are in the bath splashing away!!! Ahh...I love them!

From my reading this morning:
Jeremiah 18:3-10
So I went to the potter's house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot. Then God's Message came to me: "Can't I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?" God's Decree! "Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you, people of Israel. At any moment I may decide to pull up a people or a country by the roots and get rid of them. But if they repent of their wicked lives, I will think twice and start over with them. At another time I might decide to plant a people or country, but if they don't cooperate and won't listen to me, I will think again and give up on the plans I had for them.

What a reminder to keep my life pure and pleasing to God and to follow His path! God, I am your clay and you are the potter. Mold me into your creation!

Madame Butterfly

2011-04-17T20:24:00.000-05:00

I should have known that I would get some looks going into the opera wearing an 11 week old baby on my chest! A lot of uncertain stares, and a very verbal usher lady who inserted her 2 cents. "You're nursing the baby and that's why he's here, right? Well, you better keep that kid quiet!" I was blessed that the section we were sitting in had a wonderful male usher who doted on me hand and foot! When Joshua made a little peep during the second act, I darted to the top of our section, as to not interrupt anyone, and the usher followed me out to see if there was anything he could do. He went and got me a chair to sit on! During intermission he told me how I was helping my child's brain to grow! My mom and I talked to him about how Josh's great grandma would have been there with us if she could, and he said that she was there with us! All in all, Joshua did a fantastic job and thoroughly enjoyed his first opera, as did his mommy!!!

This opera was my grandma's favorite and mom and I just knew that we had to be there! Especially with the signifacance of the date. I hope that Grandma was sitting right there with us! What a moving experience! Definitally something I will experience again! I miss you Grandma!!

Dig A Ditch

2011-04-09T20:33:00.000-05:00

Today in the conference she was talking about having intentional not conditional worship. The teaching came from 2 Kings 3. The story was about the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom going to war with Moab. They ran out of water and the prophet Elisha recieved a word from God on what to do. They were to dig ditches.God told them there would be no wind or rain but that the vally would be filled with water and they would overtake Moab. Sure enough the water was there and the enemy was confused. The way the sun shone on the water looked like blood to the Moabites. They thought that the men had all turned on eachother and killed themselves. They went in to plunder their camp, and were met with very filled very strong men. Moab was destoryed as God said.

Sometimes in the midst of trouble, God asks us to do things that don't make sense. Wherever you need life and water, you need to dig a ditch (worship). Though there will be no wind or rain, and the sun will be shining; the rain will come! Theologist believe that the way the men's ditches were filled was because God sent rain to mountain tops. The men couldn't hear, see or smell the rain, but it flowed down from the mountain and into the ditches.

Just as their enemies were confused by the water looking like blood, when we worship we confuse our enemy!

God help me, in the midst of my troubles, to dig a ditch! I want my worship to be a natural refelx always!

How to Dig A Ditch

Chart it out: be specific, mark the place...this is my worship spot
Dig to your goal depth before you move down: go deep not wide! the deeper you dig, the more backfill you get, so you'll need to maintain that; don't be shallow in your worship or spread yourself to thin
Check your depth as you go
You dig until you see water

Shameless Worship

2011-04-08T20:03:00.000-05:00

We had a woman's conference this weekend for our church. AMAZING! Our church is doing a year dedicated to worship, so it tied in perfectly! We had a worship pastor from a church in South Carolina as our speaker. She actually goes to a church that an old pastor's wife was with her. She's the mom to my childhood best friend that I haven't really kept in touch with. It was nice to catch up!

Tonight was about having shameless worship. Truly leaving your shame, and letting it ALL go.
Here's a song that we sang, that perfectly...it's so like God, went with her message!

Blessed is the One who comes
In the name of the Lord
Blessed is the One who comes
In the name of the Lord
He comes to touch the lame
He comes to take the shame
He comes to prove the Father’s love
He comes to wash the stains
He comes to break the chains
He comes to claim us as His own
And my heart cries out Hosanna
Hosanna, Hosanna
And my heart cries out Hosanna
Hosanna, Hosanna

You know your kid's really sick when......

2011-03-31T09:51:00.001-05:00

My poor Peyton hasn't been feeling himself since Tuesday morning. Poor guy has been coughing up a storm and had a fever. Yesterday he started complaining of a bad headache and neck pain. These are times that I think being a mom is the hardest....making hard decisions. These are the times I have to tell myself to suck it up, wear my big girl pants, and make adult decisions!

Those of you who know me, know that I don't like to make decisions. I question every decision that I do make, and feel that 50% + of my decisions are the wrong ones. For instance (and this is just a minor decision!), this past week I decided to get my haircut (since Thanksgiving!). I'm pretty sure that I'm entitled to a bit of pampering for all my body has been through the past year! Well, I made the decision to cut it short again, but when I told my hubby he had me questioning myself and my decision because he likes it long. Ugh! I did follow through on my decision to cut it short, and I'm happy! Well, enough about my insecurities!

Anyways, after reading online that he has some symptoms that are indicative of meningitis and us praying for God's direction, we decided that we wouldn't rush him into the ER. So this morning, after him seeming to get worse we are off to the doctors for an eval. Poor kid is so sick that he's been begging, pleading and crying for me to "take me to the doctors now, I want to go really bad." If that isn't tearing my heart to pieces. My poor babykins!

Life Goes On

2011-03-28T21:36:00.000-05:00

So today, Peyton and I had some alone time. I saw a bird that got hit by a car and took him to see it. I'm not sure why, other then he's a boy...hmm, that doesn't sound right now. I think I must have had a momentary lapse of judgement. As we got closer to the bird, I realized that it was a bad idea, and started to turn back. Peyton followed and never mentioned anything of it.

Tonight at bedtime he started to tell his daddy about it. Then we started our devotion. This is how the devotion started:

"The children are sad because a little bird died." Amazing! Here's the rest of the devotion: "We all feel sad when an animal dies. We're even sadder when people die, because we can't see them anymore. But when people die, only their body dies. the soul inside of them does not die. Jesus tells people to believe in him. Then, after they die, their soul will get a new body and live forever with Jesus in heaven."

Peyton went on to talk about what he learned in this devotion. "So, when the birdie got hit by a car and died, he went to heaven, Jesus fixed him up, gave him a Band-aid and now he's flying all over heaven!" We continued to talk about heaven and death, to which he commented that he can't wait to go to heaven to see Jesus, because he loves Jesus so much! We talked about how GiGi is in heaven and that Jesus gave her a new body, and she's perfect! We talked about angels and said that GiGi is a beautiful angel looking out for him all the time. He said that she's with him at school, when we can't be with him! He said that when he gets to heaven he's going to tell GiGi a secret. I asked him what he was going to tell her and he said that he was going to tell her "I love Jesus, GiGi!"

Jesus, said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. John 11:25

The ending prayer for the devotion was "Jesus, I know your promise is true. When we die, we will be with you."

It amazes me how God works...like how this devotion went along with the bird in the street today. A few weeks ago, the boys were praying for their baby cousin who was sick. Peyton prayed first that Jesus would take away his cough, and help him not to be sick anymore. He prayed that Jesus would give him medicine and that he would start to feel better. Parker prayed that Jesus would make him better, and that he would stop coughing. My children have a heart for prayer, and it amazes me the prayers that they come up with on their own! The Spirit definitely works in their lives, and gives them the words to say! That night the devotion was about praying for others! Amazing, God, just amazing!!

One Proud Mommy

2011-03-28T17:40:00.001-05:00

Today when I picked Peyton up from school he had a certificate. His teachers gave it to him today for "picking up trash that wasn't his". Right away my mommy pride was beaming and I was smiling from ear to ear! I think every mom understands just how I felt at that moment. It seems like you are constantly trying to instill good values into your children, and sometimes you (well, I anways) don't feel like you're seeing the fruits of your labor. It's refreshing to see your hard work pays off! Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness in helping my son!

A very proud Peyton with his certificate!!

Mondays on KLove, are MAD...which is Make a Difference. You're supposed to do something that makes a difference or tell of something that someone did to you to make a difference in your life. I went to their facebook page and told them how uplifting it was that even my 4 year old can go MAD. Later in the afternoon, I begrudgingly, went outside to pick up some chalk before the snow began to fall. The second I walked in the house I heard my name and the post about my son being read on KLove's station! They were so excited to read that even a 4 year old can go MAD!

Thanks Peyton John for melting mommies heart, and making me so so so SO proud of you!!

Parker Got A Bite!

2011-03-20T20:02:00.041-05:00

Today we took the boys fishing at a local "lake"...not much of a lake at all though! We stopped and bought a new fishing pole, some bait and worms. Peyton decided that he wanted to pass his Spider man fishing pole down to Parker this year. He knows that Parker loves Spider Man, plus I think the thought of getting something new, was a great benefit too!

My Little Fisherman!

Daddy's Helper!

Making friends before baiting him!!

We got to the lake and the boys all got their lines ready to toss in. Of course, their attention wasn't held for long. I tried explaining to them that fishing is a lot of being quiet and waiting. Something a four and two year old don't want much to do with! It wasn't long before they were using their poles as weapons or mixing up the lake water with the tips of their lines. They wanted a new worm each time, and thought the bait was more fun to play with then to use. I was very proud of Peyton, as he tried to bait his hook with a worm all on his own!

Parker was digging his pole in the water when all of a sudden I turned around just in time to see his pole sinking in the water. All the while, Parker was telling me "I don't want it. I don't want it!" As he was saying this he was backing away! I grabbed the pole and as I was pulling it out I realized there was a fish at the end of the line, fully explaining what he didn't want and why he dropped the pole! This poor, tiny blue gill just happened to get snagged right on his gill by the hook as Parker was stirring the water! :)

Joshua and his first fishing trip! What a catch!

What great memories we are making with our boys! I loved fishing as a girl and remember the times my grandpa and my dad took me!

Busy Busy Smile Smile

2011-03-16T17:04:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe that Joshua is 6 weeks old already! Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday we were blessed for the third time with such a perfect miracle, a perfect blessing from God! He is already such a smiley baby! We all love to try different things to get his little face to light up. I think if people were watching me (which I'm sure they are, more then I know) try to get him to smile, they would be laughing hysterically at the faces I make at him! Heehee!
The boys are the BEST big brothers ever. They are so gentle with him, and love him to pieces. They are so helpful to me too! They are always wanting to hold him, help with baths, help with diaper changes, help get him dressed, and they even fed him his first bottle!
When I sit and look at my life, I feel overwhelmingly blessed! I love and am honored that God has trusted me to raise these boys to become men of God. I am taking that responsibility with a great desire to truly fulfill it! Sometimes I have a rough day where I get upset and frustrated, but I know that God is helping Matt and I raise our boys the way that He has planned for their lives!

Happy 3:16 Day!

2011-03-16T16:54:00.000-05:00

Today is a day I wasn't even aware of....John 3:16 Day! Well, it's a holiday in the making by the radio station K Love. It's a great way to help us step out of our comfort zones and spread the word of God's salvation message. A perfect reminder for our everlasting hope we have in Christ!

So here it goes:
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Trust and believe...that's all you have to do!

A great r

You know how to get me!

2011-03-10T19:57:00.000-06:00

Listening to my kids talk is the best part of my day!

I love their little imaginations and the things that they think of. My boys are too smart! The things that come out of their mouths can most definitally shock me, make me laugh and other times melt my heart!

The other day I was telling them that "Mommy's the boss because I'm the oldest and I'm the only girl in the house!" Peyton's response was "Mom, I'm the boss, because I'm 18."

Here's some more of what has melted my heart most recently!

Parker at church last week during worship was rocking back and forth, hands folded, eyes closed and head bowed. He was worshiping Jesus! I asked him later what he was doing and he said "singing songs to Jesus". This really was a proud moment for Matt and I. Our hard work and prayer are working! Our babies are falling in love with Jesus!!

Peyton refusing a haircut with daddy and Parker last week, because he wanted to stay home to have "mommy time"! I'll let you be my little shag man, Peyton!

Parker tonight not wanting to go to bed, started crying, and when I went in to talk to him he said "Mommy, I just want you to hold me." AHHH! Parker Adam Matthies, you so know how to get to mommy! I hope you enjoyed the extra snuggle time with mommy tonight!

I love you my boys with all mommies heart!

Vaccinations....ARGH!

2011-03-04T17:42:00.008-06:00

Matt and I never even put a thought to vaccinations for Peyton or Parker. We were young parents that just did what we were "supposed" to do. I don't think that I even questioned the injections...what they were injecting or what they were really for. I never researched how long they have been giving that particular brand, combination, vaccination...nothing! What kind of parent was I that I just let them do this to my kids? We were just going with the flow with what the "majority" does, and trusting our childs well being with our doctor.

Well, with Joshua, our eyes were opened by my brother...to whom I'm not sure if I want to thank or punch ;) for the fact that now I question everything and feel like I'm stuck between a rock in a hard place. Well, today was Joshua's 2 month check up and first round of immunizations. Our doctor knew we were coming with questions. Last night, Matt and I researched and researched for hours on what our plans were going to be. We finally decided that we were going with a more delayed schedule and opting out of some of the immunizations we felt weren't all that important/valid at this time. I even went and dug up my immunizations from when I was a baby. It's crazy how many more vaccinations are "needed" now adays then when I was younger!

We got to our appointment feeling very satisfied with our research and dicision. I should have known it wasn't going to be easy! Of course, our doctor gave us scary facts about the diseases, and tried to push us into complete vaccinations. We took over an hour visiting with him and pleading our case. I was not ready to give in, but Matt felt more comfortable with somethings. This was what we were wanting to do:

2 Months: DTap
3 Months: HIB, PCV
4 Months: DTap
5 Months: HIB, PCV
6 Months: DTap
7 Months: HIB, PCV
9 Months: Polio
12 Months: Mumps, Polio
15 Months: HIB, PCV
18 Months: DTap
24 Months: Rubella, Polio
2 1/2 Years: Hep B, Hep A
3 Years: Heb B, Measles
3 1/2 Hep A
4 Years: DTap, Polio
5 Years: Titer for MMR
6 Years: Chickenpox if not immune already

We were really hoping to get the MMR separated, but our Pedi says that isn't possible anymore. I'll be researching that a bit more. If we cannot separate the MMR, I probably won't give it until he's 2 or 3. We also were talked into giving the Hep B immunization that we refused in the hospital at his 2 week check up. Major regret now. We will not be continuing that series until he's 2 1/2.

The schedule that the CDC recommends has a TON of major combination shots. Those I have heard are made of some pretty nasty stuff to keep the combinations together properly. Our whole feeling on immunizations isn't that they are bad, but just that they're given in such mega doses we don't feel his body can handle them as scheduled.
Now what we were talked into. :( We were suckered into giving a combination shot for his first round called Pentacel (DTap, HIB, Polio). Ugh...I made our doctor come back into the room several times after I "made my decision". I should have listened to my gut. Blah. :( We also gave him the PCV. We did, however, say no to the rotovirus and Heb B. Here's to going to bed with a sick feeling in my stomach.

Stay tuned to see if I stick to my guns or go with the flow for the major combo vax's.

Pass the Disinfectant PLEASE!!!

2010-03-17T00:14:00.000-05:00

So several weeks ago we all passed around this nasty eye goober thing. Peyton quickly referred to it as "...the boogers coming out of my eyes..." It started with me, then Peyton, then Parker. My lucky duck husband was exempt from this illness, as always. Grrr. Parker's eye boogers, however, were much worse, and wouldn't go away. A quick trip to the MD revealed that he had a cold, turned sinus infection, turned blocked sinuses, turned boogers out the eyes. GROSS! More frustrating, they ordered a 10 day dose of an antibiotic to help him out. Well......all that did was produce a child who will no longer take ANY type of medication via mouth..and I mean ANYTHING, that yummy tasting Bubblegum, Grape or Cherry tylenol...yeah, not taking it. Matt and I would have to literally pin him down, and pray to God that he wouldn't aspirate. It also gave a nice round of diarhea that left a very unpleasant diaper rash that left me washing his bum in the sink for diaper changes. Ugh! After 7 days of that, we all washed our hands of the med and tossed it out!

Parker and the beginning of his GOOBER eye.

Thursday that week, Peyton and Parker were throwing up all night. Peyton, strange little kid that he is :), actually enjoyed it! He was the first one to tell EVERYONE "I threw up in my bed!" very proudly! Saturday night I started throwing up and by Sunday Matt was joining me! The one and only time that he's sick! Welcome to the club, Matthew!

The following week Parker had his 18 month check up and aside from some drainage the doc approved my stopping the med early and gave Parker a clean bill of health, after verifying that I didn't feel that my child was autistic, because I guess on a questionaire I filled out I checked two boxes that are only checked for autistic children. I'm blaming my answers on lack of sleep, from booger eye!

Peyton making his own doughnut at Krispy Kreme!

So, the doc appt was Monday, and Wednesday after babysitting at church we decided to visit the zoo. We hadn't been there in a long time, and the weather was great! I packed a little lunch and we hit all our favorite spots at the zoo...Peyton was even brave enough to do the dark Kingdom of The Nights. We watched the gorillas play. We sat by the flamingos and ate our lunch, fed the ducks, and looked at the bears!

Against my better judgement we went to the petting zoo. Peyton has an obsession with goats, so when I saw some mom's whimp out and tell their kiddos it was "too muddy" I knew I had to find a way. After all, I am supermom! So, I found a back gate that wasn't so muddy, lifted Peyton over a huge mud puddle and pushed the stroller into the petting zoo. The goats started swarming us like a puppy does after you've just gotten home from a long days work. Gesh...no petting all winter had left these goats missing some lovin! Parker started screaming, and I figured it was from the mass amounts of goats swarming around the front of the stroller! There were a lot of "kids" (baby goats for you non-goat lovers out there, which I have joined you now since this incident!) that were born late last summer that were becoming quite rambunctious. I walked around the front of the stroller to find bright red blood dripping all down his finger. FLIPPING GOATS!!!!! I quickly picked him up, grabbed Peyton and the stroller and walked through the disgusting piles of goat poo to the mud puddle exit. There were two zoo ladies outside the pens that offered to go get something to clean him up. They brought back a wet paper towel, a bandaid, and a peacock feather, "Better then a bandaid" she said. Geeez, thanks! She left me with the very calming reassurance that "The just had their shots last week!" Well, that's a relief!

I quickly went to the front desk and they had an EMT look at it. She said it was pretty bad...it broke the skin on both sides of the finger. It, actually looked like the goat bit down and grinded it's teeth into Parker's finger. She said we should see our doctor and that Parker would most likely get put on antibiotics. What?!?!? He was just on antibiotics a week ago for the first time ever, and it was...well, there's really no other word....hell! No way! It's just a goat bite, he'll be fine. WRONG-O! Our doc informed us that goats carry a hard strain of Ecoli, that shuts down the kidneys and liver. Pleasant! So, again, for such a senseless incident, Parker was put on a hard antibiotic, that we AGAIN had to pray he wouldn't aspirate as we held him down, he had to take a healthy bacteria to balance out his stomach and eat lots of yogurt. The greatest thing is that no one from the zoo bothered to call, because the guy who handles medical issues like this was "out of town." Really, you don't have anyone else to cover for this sort of thing? Needless to say, I again stopped the antibiotics at 7 days because of exhaustion with fighting him to take it all and the pooping!

This past Wednesday, Parker started running a fever. It just came out of nowhere and was over 103 for much of the evening. Friday I was running an errand and the little rash that I noticed on his tummy in the morning was spreading to his face. By the time I could stop the car, I swore his head was swelling, and the rash had covered 100% of his body (even inside his ears). I called Matt in a panic, because I was close to the ER, but about 30 minutes away from our doc, and I didn't know where to go. (I was also supposed to pick my mom up from the hospital from her surgery!) I ended up at the doctors and he diagnosed Parker with Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. I quickly learned that that was not, in fact, what Parker had. I kept doing research on it and it just didn't fit. I am now diagnosing it myself as Roseola. Either way though, it's a virus that you can't do anything for, but wait it out. The fever finally went away yesterday, 6 days!! The rash is still vaguely there, but has faded quite a bit. Now aside from a "junky" cough that Peyton, Parker and I have...I'm hoping we are on the mend!

Poor Baby Cakes. :(

I should have stock in Lysol now!

Standing in God's Rain

2010-03-01T18:58:00.000-06:00

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

I looked up the word "lavish", because it's just such an amazing word! Lavish: expending or bestowing PROFUSELY! It doesn't stop...it just keeps on a coming! The word lavish comes from a Middle French word for "downpour of rain". Ahhhhhh! I want to stand in God's downpour of rain!

Oooo..and I'm not using an umbrella, cause I want to soak up all the love He is lavishing on me!

AMAZING!

Missing Heart

2010-03-01T13:26:00.002-06:00

The other day I was putting some salt on my scrambled eggs for breakfast, and Peyton asked for some on his as well. Not being too much of a salt fan, and not usually doing it myself I started to tell him no. He asked why and I proceeded to tell him that it was bad for his heart.
He told me that he didn't have a heart anymore and that it was missing, all while pointing to his stomach. I redirected his finger to the acurate location of his heart and reassured him that it was there!

"My heart is missing, Mommy."
"Where is your heart Peyton?"
"Jesus took it and I'm NOT getting it back!"

He was so matter of fact that Jesus really had taken his heart. I am so impressed by the way that his child mind has taken the concept of asking Jesus into your heart and having Him live in your heart, that he just figured God took it out.

This whole conversation has me wanting to be more like Peyton. I want to give my whole heart to Jesus! Take it Jesus! It's yours...all yours!

It makes me think of the passage in Matthew 18:1-6:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Busy Bees

2010-02-04T23:14:00.004-06:00

It seems like this past week things have moved from a turtles pace around here to faster then fast! New journey groups started at our church and Matt and I joined one! WOO HOO! It's been since Peyton was a baby since we've done one! Matt and I will be learning how to become a contagious Christian...so you all better watch out! ;)

The boys and I started a Bible Study this morning, that I'm very excited about. It's called Bible Study Fellowship and it's an international Bible study that has been around for over 50 years. The really special thing about me enrolling my kiddos in it is the fact that my mom did BSF when I was a child and so I went through the program that my boys will be too! It comes full circle! The boys will be in their own age appropriate rooms, where they will sing study a Bible story that goes along with what I will be learning in my class. I'm so excited to be sharing this experience with my kids! I feel like I'm bursting at the seams! Peyton's little mind is so eager to learn right now, and his brain is soaking up EVERYTHING around him! I caught him earlier singing a song about God, and when I asked him where he learned it, he said "...at that new church." The greatest thing about today though was Mr Parker. He has had separation anxiety issues since, well, forever, and refuses to let me leave his sight. His teacher, who is a friend of ours, said that he sat there and folded his hands during the prayer and listened to his Bible story! :) Ahhh! The peace that that brings to my heart is overwhelming! God works small miracles like this all the time! Thank you Jesus!

Oh and just so you know...I let my shaggy, mullet child Parker get his first haircut! :) He's so handsome, but lost A LOT of his baby face. :( I'll post pictures when I have time to upload.

I do have a request for the prayer warriors out there! We have some friends who's little boy is undergoing several brain surgeries, and they could use all the prayers they can get! I cannot fathom what they are going through. Specifically, right now, they are needing him to have seizures so they can perform another surgery tomorrow. Please keep Xander and his family in your prayers!

Temper Tantrums and Soap

2010-01-23T15:42:00.002-06:00

So, Peyton, has been doing this new thing of talking back quite a bit lately. Like, if I tell him "Stop throwing that." He'll turn around and yell, "No, you stop throwing that!" We've been trying different tactics to get him to stop, and have started telling him that what he is saying is naughty and deserves soap.

Well, he and his brother were doing their new favorite thing of taking the TP and streaming it through the house. I told Peyton that his beloved brownie making wasn't happening, because he wasn't listening. He started to throw a tantrum and said, "I will make brownies, stay away from me!" He kept rambling some other things, and then stopped and said "Oh, I say sorry. I need to get the soap." He then proceeded to go into the bathroom pour a huge pump of hand soap into his hand and licked it! Then he looked at me, standing there in disbelief, and said "Mommy, I said naughty things."

I'm so bewildered, and I really am not sure how I should feel! :)

Forever again!

2010-01-18T19:13:00.019-06:00

Alright...I'm not one for setting myself up for failure, so I tend to avoid the whole "New Years Resolutions". However, I (cross my fingers) am going to make one now! Better late then never, right? I am making a resolution to blog about our lives at least once a week...wait...scratch that, once a month! That seems doable, right? Let's hope!

Our little family after Peyton's (and Parker-he was a little munching animal on stage for a song)first Christmas program at church!

So, Peyton is 3, and, oh my goodness, my spitfire! He is one of those kids who plays hard, loves hard, and fights harder! I definitally have my hands full with this child! I am loving every minute of watching him grow. He is so inquisitive, and LOVES learning! He loves reading books, talking a mile a minute and helping mommy with her foster doggies. He's gotten pretty bad though, at thinking he can just "trade" our dog Zoe (whom I've had for 10 years) in for a different dog. :)He is still into sports, and I really can't wait for spring to watch him excel even more in what he does best...Baseball!

Parker is already 17 months! We've obviously been hitting all the normal milestones, such as crawling, standing, walking and now are in a full all out blazing ball of running fury! He is absolutly crazy and has NO FEAR! I catch him all the time doing "naughty" things that I've heard is just normal for boys. WHAT?!?! I'm going to have some serious gray hair with this boy! His favorite place to be is on the top of the toilet (not the bowl part, but the tank!). He has mastered crawling up the fort of the swingset, which Peyton could barely do when we got it in the spring! He is so silly, and is always making goofy faces to get us to laugh. You will always hear Peyton saying, "Not funny, Parter!" to keep his pesky brother away! :)

Crazy Parker!

We just purchased a new home! On a whim in beginning of December we decided to put our house on the market. In todays market, especially during the winter, we thought for sure our house wouldn't sell until the spring 2010. Well, God had different plans, our house sold and closed the last week in December! We were planning on moving in with my parents until we were able to find a house, but as our deadline to close grew closer we grew antsy and threw down an offer on a house. We were told our offer wouldn't stand, but we just had faith that God knew what he was doing. We then entered a bidding war with the sellers, and went back and forth and finally agreed on a price! It was amazing and we've been told it's something you don't see every day! We know that we've only one Man to thank, JESUS! The last weeks in December were crazy trying to get ready to move and trying to figure out when we could close on the new house to avoid a double move. Up to the very last day we were told by everyone we wouldn't close until 2010, which was how we would have ended up doing a double move. God performed another miracle and we ended up finding out late on the 30th that we would close on the 31st! It worked so perfectly...God's perfect plan! It's amazing what God does, when you step back and just let God be God! It's been awesome to, to be able to tell people who we have to thank for this whole situation.

Our home is so cozy and we just love it so much! We've been having fun unpacking and making it our home. My dad has been over, quite a bit (I'm pretty sure he has all the hours tracked on a time sheet!:) ) to paint the whole interior of the house! He's a very talented and precise (sometimes too much for Matt, who just likes to get it done) painter, and we have him to thank for a beautifully painted house! Because we bought the house so fast, and we've had some crazy snow storms here, we have no idea what the yard looks like! We have discovered, as the snow is melting that the house has a lot of rocks in the landscaping! Matt's already talking about the fact that if the kids break windows they'll be locked in their rooms for a week, and will only be able to come out to eat and go potty! :) Hee hee!

Our Home!

We have a fireplace!

Boys Bathroom

Our room...they must have had a sale on disgusting yellow paint! Updated pictures to come!

Kitchen <3

This little guy, who Peyton and daddy named Hopps, was found in our egress window downstairs. We had to call the Humane Society to get him out! This is the same officer who came to get a St Bernard from my yard (who layed down and refused to get up and ended up having to get picked up with "reinforcements"! Ha ha!!)

Well, I better leave somethings to blog about later! ;)

Let's Play Catchup!

2009-09-13T21:57:00.004-05:00

Wow, it's been over a year! That's sad, Courtney, just sad! Take a walk down memory lane with me! Pictures stop at the end of June, the computer wouldn't download anymore so I'll have to catch up from there later on!

Parker Adam was welcomed into the world on August 26, 2008! He was smaller then Peyton and longer too! Peyton wasn't too sure about the whole big brother thing, but warmed up to it pretty quickly. Parker was on phototherapy for a few days to clear up some jaundice that he had. He went to his first Labor Day parade at about a week old! He attended the first 2008 Husker game at a home party due to being on the lights.

Peyton, Parker and I took a trip to Des Moines with grandma for a weekend of shopping. We did this in the new minivan! Yes, we broke down and got a minivan in September of last year. I definitely have a love hate relationship with it! I love the sliding doors though!

We enjoyed our yearly tradition of visiting the pumpkin patch in town here! It's my favorite time of year, and I wasn't about to miss it (even with a newborn!). Peyton dressed up as Elmo last year for Halloween! He was loving it! Parker was a moo-cow! Very fitting I think!

We spent our Thanksgiving with family friends and Parker sure enjoyed his first turkey via mommy a little later!

Peyton John, who is not a fan of Santa, threw fits anytime he saw someone with a white beard or a red outfit! Parker on the other hand could have cared less about who was holding him!

Matt and I took the boys up to Minnesota for a family members wedding in December. It was great seeing some of Matt's family and for them to all meet Parker Adam! We ended up getting stranded there another day because of a HUGE snowstorm!

The boys loved the snow this winter too!

In February Matt and I went to Mexico on a "work" trip with Matt's company. It was an amazing time away from "life"! We spent so much time relaxing, sleeping, eating and being catered to on our free trip! Who wouldn't? Of course we spent a lot of time missing the boys and I racked up quite a cell phone bill! I have quite a few interesting stories about breast pumps, customs, dirty bathrooms, and pumping in airplanes if you're interested?! :) Parker also started sitting up while we were gone.

The spring for us was wonderful. The weather was great and watching my boys bloom and grow and discover new things about the world around them just doesn't get old! We purchased a swing set for the boys this spring as well! They love it! Peyton and I even had a "rain picnic" in the fort one rainy afternoon!

Matt and Peyton took a "father-son" camping/fishing trip for kids out of diapers! (WOO HOO! Peyton was potty-trained this spring! So wonderful!) They had SO much fun and Peyton at 2 was already starting with his "fish stories"!

Our summer weather wise was PERFECT! We only had one day of 100 degree weather! My kind of summer. The boys and I spent some time at the local splash pads getting wet for free! Always good when you're an at-home-mom! We also visited the zoo, and did a lot with our playgroups!

In June, Matt and I took our first vacation alone with the boys. We did a weekend trip to Des Moines for Adventureland and shopping! Peyton and Parker had so much fun, and we were quite impressed with how much each of them got to do! Putting Parker in the boat was quite scary, but for some reason the 16 year old boy manning the gate telling me it was fine to put him in made me do it! We had a great time too in the hotel pool! ;) Now every time the Adventureland commercial comes on Peyton starts screaming to come in and watch it with him. He will go through each of the rides shown and say "I did that!" "Daddy do that!" "I watched that!" "Daddy did that with me!" "I went there!" It is so funny and adorable and after the millionth time a little annoying but precious in every way!!

Peyton became VERY obsessed with baseball this summer! He's AWESOME! I know every mom says that, but seriously he can hit without a tee as you pitch it! WE took him to his first CWS game! He loved it and spent a good amount of time telling me be quite and stop taking his picture, that's how into the game he was!

San Francisco

2008-04-08T20:50:00.007-05:00

Here is a little movie I put together of our trip to San Francisco. We had so much fun and did a ton of walking! We ate some great food and some not so great food. He were stopped on the Piers by some true wierdo's. We did a lot of shopping. We took a bus tour through the town one day and learned a lot about San Francisco. We saw some scary parts of town and some really beautiful parts! We took a ton of pictures, and I think I came home with a professional photographer! We enjoyed the sea lions, probably a little too much, on my part (1/2 of our video camera footage is of them barking). We missed our baby so much, and didn't appreciate the fact that he wouldn't talk to us on the phone..only hang up or run away from it! We had major airport problems on our way home and ended up with a great story of sleeping in the airport, trying to catch a "free" shuttle to our comp hotel for the night, waiting in freezing weather in Denver, having to pay for a shuttle, staying at the Crystal Inn for 4 hours and heading back to the airport. Gesh! We ended up getting home a day late and came home to a sick little boy.
Never the less, it was a good trip and we are now more then happy to be home with our family! Now we just have the wait until little baby Matthies arrives! We find out in two weeks what the sex of the baby is! Woo hoo! Then the naming wars will begin! (I told Matt it's a dumb argument to have now when we don't even know if we should be fighting over girls or boys!) I think if anything we should put our favorite names in a hat and have Peyton pick! :)
Please keep Mr Peyton in your prayers as he's still getting over his ear infection and having some not so great side effects from the antibiotic. Also keep Matt and his job in your prayers! I've been having major sinus problems and have been on and off antibiotics several times during the pregnancy. I'm currently having some major pain behind my eyes and above my eyebrows! Yikes!
Thanks and we love you all!

2008-03-24T15:57:00.001-05:00

It's been FOREVER!

2008-02-01T13:55:00.000-06:00

Well, it seems like I haven't written in so long! It's been so busy with the holidays, traveling and finding out a new little one is on the way! I have been SO sick these past weeks, and I'm just sick of being sick! For anyone who has missed out on the loop...Matt and I are expecting another little on in September! We are so excited! We've had two doctor appointments and have had 2 ultrasounds. We got to see the baby, the heartbeat and hear the heartbeat both times! It's so amazing that even though it is only 1.17cm the ultrasound machine can pick up the heartbeat! Right now it's probably about the size of a grain of rice! We have another appointment towards the end of this month and we'll get yet another ultrasound! :) I love seeing my baby!

Peyton has no clue what is going on, and we figured before we start teaching him where babies are we should teach him where his tummy is! :) Gosh, he is growing so fast. I feel like if I blink I'm going to miss him growing! He has so many teeth (2 new ones that I found this week), he's saying more words, running and just entertaining us like you don't even know. He's such a joy in our lives! Well, I know this is short, but I've been so sick I haven't been able to clean, so I need to play catch up!
Love you all!

Holidays

2007-12-31T17:19:00.001-06:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Unable to Define

2007-12-04T14:14:00.000-06:00

***Click on the slide shows to the right of the blog and it will pull up in a different screen so you can see all the pictures.***

Well Well! I don't even know where to begin! It's been so busy since I wrote last...I still feel that I can't get a handle on things and now it's 3 weeks until Christmas so I think I'm giving up on getting back to normal! Maybe that will be my New Year's Resolution! :)

We were supposed to spend Thanksgiving in Colorado with my family, but God had other plans. The night before we were supposed to leave Matt got a call from his dad saying that his Grandpa had just passed away. It was very unexpected. We spent several hours after the call trying to figure out what to do, and made the decision to stay here and head up to Minnesota as soon as possible. Matt had gotten very close to his grandpa over the past several years and just wanted to be with his dad. I was supposed to leave with Matt on Thanksgiving morning with Peyton for Minnesota, but yet again another change of plans. I woke up early and realized I was coming down with the flu that Peyton had earlier in the week. We decided it would be better if I stayed home until I was feeling well. I think that out of the 24 Thanksgiving's I've been alive for I've only ate 18 Thanksgiving dinners (I'm always sick). Eventually Peyton and I made it up to Minnesota. There was a lot of grieving obviously, but it was also really nice to see all the family again.

Since we've been back, we've just been taking it slow. Now we are trying to get in the Christmas mood! I've done a little shopping, our tree is up, we've had our first snow and an ice storm and we went to the Nutcracker ballet (Christmas tradition!). It's only going to get crazier from here!Matt's mom and dad and sister are coming in town for Christmas! YAY! Then we are going to try to get to Colorado, as we REALLY are wanting to see everyone! (Miss you all!)

Happy Holidays!

Peyton is dancing ALOT more now and stomping his feet! His favorite word right now is "no-no". He can point to his eye's and nose!

15 Month Appointment!

2007-11-18T19:46:00.000-06:00

Peyton and his bud Chloe at the zoo!

Peyton helping mommy bake cookies!

Peyton and all his cheesiness!

Peyton recently had his 15 month appointment. He is doing so well! Here's his stats: 31.5 in. tall (63rd percentile), 25#13oz (69th percentile), and head is 49.5cm (96th percentile :) Hee Hee! He has a big noggin!) The doctor said he is doing wonderful and meeting all the milestones appropriately! Woo hoo!

We have been having putting Peyton on the "big" potty (it has a little kid seat as well) since he was about 10 months old. He usually would go pee and poo about once a day. We weren't all about forcing him, so if it happened it happend. Well in October we bought him his own potty seat, and he's doing amazingly! Now we're not ready to give up the diapers and rush onto pull ups and big boy underwear, but I know it's a start and a good one for that matter! If I'm home all day with him, he can usually go all morning without an accident! Yay for him! He even this past week started going into the bathroom and grabbing his seat if he has to go. :)

Matt just got back from another weekend in Minnesota for hunting. He had a great time and was spoiled with tons of food from our family friends, but didn't get any birds. :(

We went to PE 101 last week with our playgroup! Peyton had a blast, but wasn't too sure about the marshmallow pit!

We are off to Colorado this week for Thanksgiving! We are so excited! Peyton has never met this side of the family! I'm so excited for his great-grandma to finally meet him (along with all the aunts and cousins!) :)

Everyone have a great holiday and be safe!
We had a playgroup at HyVee where we made cookies. They made us take an oath we wouldn't lick the spoon, and as you can see he really meant his oath!

Love you all!

Husker Football Game

2007-11-11T14:33:00.000-06:00

Matt and I went to the Husker game yesterday with some friends of ours! Here's a video of our day! ENJOY! Sorry for the cheesy music! I can't figure that part of the movie maker out yet! Just blast the Husker's Tunnel Walk Song! GO HUSKERS!

Busy Busy!

2007-10-30T11:41:00.000-05:00

Hello All!

Here's our update for the past few weeks!

Peyton and I went to the Children's Museum with our playgroup! We got to go through the "Not So Spooky Haunted House"! That's where my little mummy awoke from the dead (see right). The have completely remodeled the museum and have a room specifically for the under 3 crowd (complete with 4 walls hee hee!) They have a bubble machine that Peyton thought for some reason he could squeeze through! :)

Matt and my dad took a trip to Minnesota for a weekend of pheasant hunting! Here's Peyton's baby cow (what a gift!) and there's some cows on the lot waiting for breakfast!

Howdy! Here is Mr Peyton with his six shooters! He's going to be a cowboy for Halloween! Some friends of ours made him this for his birthday! Too perfect! :)

Matt and I bought a fire pit a while ago for the brisk nights! We roasted marshmallows for SMORES! YUMMY!

This was one day last week that Peyton was waiting for Matt to get out of the car! Then he proceeded to yell at him to get off the phone! :) BOSSY!

Last Friday at the mall they had a trick-or treat for the kids! We met up with some friends and walked the mall! It was VERY busy, but we still had a lot of fun! Here's the boys, both as cowboys! SO ADORABLE!

Peyton and Daddy had fun getting candy from the cowgirl at the Chocolate Factory!

This weekend at the zoo they had a Spooktacular event where all the kids could dress up and trick or treat through the zoo! What is better then candy and zoo animals! We all had a great time and the weather was perfect! There were over 16,000 people that went!

Peyton and mommy in the Gorilla Tunnel!

Peyton, as always, had more fun with the goats! They were trying to eat his gun right from his holster! He also was quite fasinated with the yellow and black rat snake! Ewww!

What's next?

Yesterday Peyton and I went to the mall with our playgroup for a little momma excercise and kiddo playtime! He obviously had a great time! His favorite part though was the exit door (it was shaped like a castle door)!

We are all doing well! We are going to do some pumpkin carving tonight! It should be messy!
I had a doctor appointment today with and ENT and got some crapola news! She said that it looked like my nose was traumatized some time ago and has "massive" spurs on the inside. She tried to scope it and couldn't even get it passed. She thinks that this is what has caused me not to be able to breath or taste for so long. It's also causing drainage to pool in my sinuses and case multiple infections. Sounds delightful right? It get's better! She is saying that I need a septoplasty. :( That means they are going to go into my nose and remove the spurs. Sounds like a really nasty and painful recovery. Yes, I know it's minor compared to what other people have to endure, but she told me I can't lift my baby for about 5 days after surgery! How will I survive?! :) Keep us in prayer!

We love you all!

Since I've Become a Mom...

2007-10-20T23:24:00.000-05:00

….I’ve become quite a bit healtlier in every aspect of my life!
I get up earlier without complaining!
I laugh about a million times a day which energizes me so much!
I find myself smiling at things that before Peyton would have frustrated me to no end.
I love to be outside in the fresh air doing things more then ever before….we LOVE the zoo!
I am trying to make sure that Peyton learns to eat right…all the fruits and veggis and no McDonalds Happy Meals (only on rare occasion!) which has me eating so much better! Yay!
We just started getting more consistent with brushing Peyton’s teeth, now that he has 6 (just broke another tooth through on the top tonight!) We use baby toothpaste and he picked out a Seseme Street toothbrush with Cookie Monster on it! We brush twice a day! J
I read a lot more now…hey, even if it’s Hop On Pop every night…it’s still more then before!
I also look at life so much differently now and I know it’s all for the better!

I LOVE BEING PEYTON’S MOMMY!!!

Sorry I don’t have pictures to post of this last week. Matt went to his dad’s farm with my dad for a weekend of hunting, and they took my camera! Peyton and I went to the Children’s Museum this week with our playgroup. Peyton had a great time. I will try to post pictures when I get my camera back. Peyton has a little virus right now…YUCKY…pray for him! Thanks! Love ya’ll and have a great week!
Please post comments…we love to read them. Right below this message on the right side click on comments and that’s where you can post! THANKS!

10/13/2007

2007-10-13T14:35:00.000-05:00

Hello All!

It was a week of cousins! Last weekend we celebrated a birthday for our cousin Ryan...it just happened to be Nebraska game day if you couldn't tell! Peyton and I babysat his cousin Alison on Monday...once he knew she was here he just wouldn't stop saying "hi" and wanting to snuggle her! It was so cute! (No I do not think that it's his way of saying he's ready to be a big brother! :) HA!)

Peyton helped Daddy this week with mowing and raking the leaves in the yard!

Peyton and I went to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday with our playgroup! Matt and I have gone every year since we've met and would love for Peyton to enjoy it as much as we do! We are definitally going again in a few weeks with daddy! :)

Peyton and Mommy in the TeePee!

Peyton did such a great job feeding the goats! He only tried to eat one goat food pebble! YAY! :)

Peyton riding on a John Deere Tractor! Sorry Papa Barn! :)

Peyton and the pretty mums!

After the Pumpkin Patch we went to visit GPa and Grandma at the shop....he shopped for guns! We also danced ALOT and got our energy out on the drums!

We had a great week! Right now we are sulking in the terrible Husker loss! What a shame! Peyton and I have little colds/sinus junk going on....keep us in your prayers!

Have a wonderful week!

Peyton and Alison! Too cute!

Peyton Walking and being Risky! :)

10/5/07 NEW NEW

2007-10-05T15:52:00.000-05:00

Peyton and I just finished our Saturday cleaning...he's napping and I should be, but I decided to try out, yet again, a new way to keep our family and friends updated! Sorry if I'm driving you all crazy with the new and different websites, but I'm trying to find the most convenient site for what I want to send which is not only pictures but updates as well! You should be able to get onto this site anytime to check for updates, and you don't need a password or account!

We have all been super busy here! Matt is getting back to reality now that he's back from Vegas. :) They are at a very busy time right now, but he's such a trooper through everything. He has his last game tomorrow for the football team he's coaching! I think he's very glad ( he's having a hard time realizing why 7-8 year olds don't listen!) I'm still working occasionally through the week during the evenings, when Matt can be home with Peyton.

Matt and I have been keeping our lives full of fun things to do. A few weekends ago we went to a dog rescue at a local park (came home empty handed **SNIFF**) but left with great memories and great pictures from the park!

Peyton and I joined two playgroups located here in town! We needed something to fill our extra time and it is such a great opportunity for both of us! We are signed up to do quite a few events and so far have went to the zoo and just last week went to a place called Bounce U. It's a room full of the big inflatable bounce houses and huge slides! We had a blast!

We have also been going to the park a lot! Peyton loves to swing and go down the slides by himself! He also loves to play in the sand! We are trying to use up all the warm days we have left before winter comes!

Peyton and I went the the River City Roundup Parade last weekend with some friends! He had so much fun watching the horses and the pretty girls! :) He was so in shock by their beauty he refused to let them hold him (hence why I'm in the picture!:)

Well, Peyton has 5 teeth now (2 on top and 3 on bottom) and he's working on 2 more up top! Yikes! He's so brave though! He's into everything, and this afternoon took the floor vent out of the carpet and dumped his lego's and balls down! HA HA! He is a chatterbox, especially when there is a phone around! I've been mid-conversation and he picks up the other phone and starts talking! He is sure becoming a copy cat, everything from coughing to laughing and mocking me tell Zoe "no,no,no" shaking his fingers! Zoe has given up on not letting him pick on her, she's realized that no matter what he is still going to bother her! Now she just rolls over, which has turned into a "Zoe hug". He loves to play the piano at Grandpa and Grandma's. He's the next Mozart! He also has a thing for the drawers in the kitchen! He can reach the bread drawer now! :)

He is taking about 10-15 steps now, and it shouldn't be long until he's off on his own! YAY! I can't wait, but we all know it will just bring more "fun" for us all to adjust too! :)

Here's video of him walking!

Recipes

1999-02-11T13:34:00.000-06:00

Appetizers

Drinks

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Desserts

Snacks