Easter

Good Friday I decided VERY last minute with a 3 day notice to have an Easter play date with some friends. To my pleasant surprise we had 15 kids and so much fun!
Nick and I stuffed eggs the night before, I had a target run and cleaned the house.

Friday morning friends started showing up. My friend Jenny brought me a peanut butter mocha, she was the first to arrive! It was yummy! I made sea salt monkey bread!!! Just add a little sea salt to the to the sugar cinnamon mix then sprinkle a little on before popping in the oven, THEN sprinkle some on after you flip it. (I didnt sprinkle much on)

We did resurrection rolls, I followed my friend Kristen's blog, which was so much fun. The kids watched a video while the resurrection rolls baked. I wish I would have shown them this one instead. Both were great though!!
I, the kids and I didnt fix it, had placed the the rolls to close together on the baking sheet... they baked together, and kinda made a mess... Silly mommy, I also didnt check to make sure the rolls were all completely sealed such... Mine were not as pretty as Kristen's.. When we cut it open, and the the marshmallow was gone, my eldest was flabbergasted! She did not understand! I truly enjoy that, curiosity, wanting to understand.

I pulled out some coloring sheets for the kids to color, I closed up the blinds and a mom and I went and kid the 100 eggs Nick and I stuffed. Then we let them out! Littles first to get a headstart then a minute later we let out the bigs, and they darted around. The smiles and the laughter heard was the absolute best! Im so glad I had a last minute shindig and may will do it every year!!!

Our Easter was simple. My poor Mister stepped on a nail on Saturday. He went in and got a tetanus and antibiotics.  The Dr he saw told him that if his foot got any redder, hut anymore or swelled at all to head straight to the ER, that he had seen to many cases where the patient didnt take it seriously and lost a limb..... So of course Easter morning Nicks foot was more red, swollen and he was feeling more pain. The kids and I dropped him off at the emergency room and headed to church.

We attended a new church twice, I adore it. Everyone knows everyone. So every 3rd person asked me where Nick was, I made the mistake by saying, "at the ER" I should have started with 'Nick stepped on a nail yesterday......' Oh well! I talked to my dad, he invited us over for lunch, he assumed we had Easter plans. We didnt. so veggie sammies and salad it was. (Nick is fine by the way. He had an Xray and the examined the wound)

Here are some photos, not the best, but its what I got! Friends took some great ones as well!:

Anbo hadnt seen her friend in a while, she was SOOOO excited to see her.
They each drew a best friends photo! Sweet Girls!

Adorable!

40 things

A few weeks ago, a friend gave me 12 things I had to write about me, on FB. I had this post already started. Though more than 12 things.... It should work.. Eh.....

1) Hate wooden utensils or pop cycle stick.... nails on chalk board! UGH! I eat my frozen treats until there is barely enough covering the stick, then either throw it away or give it to Nick, before my mouth touches the stick!

2) Hate paper straws, though cute... They taste like paper! ICK! and kinda like the stick thing...

3) Love stripes! Shirts blankets nails... LOVE

4) Hate 'juicy ears'. Yeah its what I call it. Sometimes when I have slept on one side of my head the ear wax or something is a little watery, I HATE it!

5) Qtips when cleaning my ears I typically lock the door, so no one will accidentally bump me. Seriously scared of an earthquake while doing so as well. AHHHH

6) Love birds of prey. The turkey vultures that fly over my home are majestic. I also think I could be a bird watcher. I think it would be cool!!!

7) My favorite animal is an octopus and a Jelly Fish. Oh their beauty! An octopus is smart, and just so cool!

8) Robots are awesome. 

9) Swallows are a favorite. They are so pretty. I love watching them fly as well. 

12) I love lotr, Star Wars, the hobbit. I've seen shooter, pirates and little mermaid a million times. 

13) I have nigh night movies, Yeaaaah When Nick is out of town, there are a few movies that calm me and I can watch over and over!Put me to sleep...

14) I've always wanted to be a runner, and still hope to be one day. Nothing stopping me, but me!

15) Snow White is my favorite princess, shes so pretty and sweet! Ariel rocks it too, her attitude to life is fun and adventurous!!! I wrote an essay on Ariel once.(now that I have kids, she is not a very good listener....)

16) I used to have a 1968 dodge dart. I LOVED that car. Someone crashed into it while I was driving to church with my siblings and a 2 year old I was babysitting, totaled. Can't wait to own a classic again one day!!!

17) In high school I was called smurfette. Blue hair...

18) Pink is my favorite color. I also love leopard and glitter. 

20) I have a fear of my hubster dying, Ive cried thinking about it.

21) Minnie Mouse is adorable. 

22) Ive always loved polka dots!!

23) I LOVE cold drink tumblers!

24) I also love plastic straws! I have a ton of reusable ones! LOVE!

25) I was born a blond.. under all this color Im a dirty blond

26) Im working on having a plant based diet.

27) I watch veggie documentaries and they talk about the abuse of animals, and how they are killed inhumanly... Which I agree is terrible.... BUT all I can think about is all the babies being murdered by abortion.....

28) Gnomes are great! I have an awesome one in my yard, I want more!!!I LOVED the show 'David the Gnome' as a kid

29) I love coloring my hair.

30) Since getting married in 2003, Nick and I have lived in 7 places! Moving 6 times together! Errr YIKES!

31) Im a licensed cosmetologist.

32) I wanna learn to swing dance! I have since Jr High... Never really learned, though Ive been on the dance floor a couple times.

33) I miscarried our first babe in September of 2005

34) Im a leap year baby. Ive only had 7 birthDAYs.

35) I celebrate Feb 28th, I was born in Feb, not March.

36) My hubby was my first kiss, on our wedding day.

37) I have dreams of moving out of state, Seattle, Portland, & Denver are at the top of that list.

38) Im pretty shy, I shut down easily..

39) BUT Once Im comfortable, Im good.

40) I LOVE and adore cardigans. Ive got a closet full...

Living and Active

Im sitting here munching on chips n salsa. Hubby laying on the floor snoozing away. All four kids sound asleep, its 12:08 am.... I. SHOULD. BE. SNOOZING!!!! but no.. Im here, blogging. scrolling though facebook earlier today I saw an update, I dont remember through who, or what. It stood out to me. It focused on 3 main things, feeding yourself spiritually, eating healthier and exercise.... Only 5 weeks.. I can do that!

Learn more by clicking here ^^

See I have a goal. I want to reach it or come close by my 30th birthday. Thats just short of 6 months away. Its achievable. I just have to stick to it. We have already changed our diets. WAY healthier eating going on here... I just slide into chips and salsa late at night... not good.

So this challenge. Im doing it.. It starts Monday, and Im kinda stoked!!

Now off to bed.

Luke

August 5th. A day that will never be forgotten by this precious family. Taking their two year old into urgent care for a fever that just wouldnt break. To then be sent to CHOC with concerns of Leukemia.

Then he was not only diagnosed with Leukemia, but diagnosed with AML, a terrible rare case.



(Follow his journey HERE)

TWO, this amazing vibrant little guy is ONLY TWO!

He can put a smile on anyones face, its seriously contagious! He is a sweet heart, with lots of love!
He has knocked over my girls with a bear hug! He has more energy and spunk than any two year old!

His parents are amazing loving people. His mom is my mentor in my homeschool group (couldnt ask for a better one) His dad a firefighter, both so incredibly loving and welcoming! Always smiling always happy to see you.

His big brother, oh Jer. He cracks me up. Same grade as my eldest, going through life together. A soccer player and a lover of being active! He is friends with everyone and anyone, just like his brother!

He is also expecting a brother or a sister (my guess is sister, now its in stone!) this spring.

This family loves Jesus, and are stronger than I could ever imagine. My heart breaks for them, sincerely just crushed. I can not even begin to imagine what they are going though.

October I am walking, walking to raise money. Walking to show is family that they have support and love from us! Will you join me in donating to my walk! Or join to walk yourself!!! Its gonna be loads of fun! Click the link below

CHOC Walk in the Park!

Friday Favorite

This is my Friday Favorite, well everyday. This is by far my favorite thing after I give birth, my heart just about explodes, there is something about the daddy/child moment.

Anberlyn

Emersyn

Penelope

Gunnar

Our weight loss...err lifestyle change

A year and a half ago I joined a weight-loss challenge, I lost 27 pounds and was sooooo stoked.
I was doing weightloss shakes, which were so tasty and worked.
They were also pricey and I couldnt keep it up. So the weight came back...

A few weeks ago hubby and I watched 2 documentaries, so much info, and so helpful. That paired with a friend who has a passion for GOOD, REAL food, we decided to change. To change our lifestyle, in hopes to change our lives for the better, forever!

We are 3 weeks in, Ive lost 1.1 pounds shy of 10 pounds! WHY? Cuz we are eating REAL food!!!

We gave up meat, CRAZY! We are not against eating meat, and we might eat it if we are out and about, at a friends for dinner, or something along those lines, but trying to avoid it. If you know me, you know I LOVE meat, I especially LOVE cow! haha so far I havent craved it or even really wanted it.

We eat LOTS and LOTS of organic fruits and veggies, with the money we are saving from meat! We hit up sprouts weekly, and will start hitting up mothers market, as thats all they sell, Organic or farm fresh! ( we havent been able to make it out to our local farmers market yet, we keep forgetting.) I desperately want to join a CSA type program, hopefully soon.

Packaged food is so easy and we have it, but if we cant read all the ingredients we try to avoid it.

My breakfast is Oatmeal, and soon switching over to steel cut oats. I like my oatmeal BARELY cooked, not mushy. I add a tablespoon of Chia seeds, and or a tablespoon or Qia (LOVE Qia) and I 'sweeten' it with sweetened vanilla almond milk.

Lunch has been quinoa with veggies and nuts or BIG salads, with lots and lots of veggies and sunflower seed, chia seeds. Dinner looks similar.

Dessert, yup, Chia pudding with sweetened vanilla almond milk, and berries.

Sweetened vanilla milk is one of my down falls, I use it to sweeten my coffee, oatmeal, chai tea, chia puddin... For other milk things, like cereal, we use unsweetened almond milk, from traders or sprouts.

Ive given up dairy all together, as I think Gunnar has a sensitivity towards it.

Nick and I ate at a vegetarian,  restaurant recently and it was DELICIOUS!

I will also say how much I LOVE blended coffee drinks and have been just having one no more than once a week and I get the smallest they have. Its my treat, and keeps me sane! :o) Other than that I get iced tea.

I read once, and I dont remember where, weight loss is 80% what you eat and 20% what you do.

5, 3, 2, and 2 months

In attempt to stall me, as they were taking a short while, the barista at the starbucks drive thru made small talk.

B- 'So are you on your way home from work?'
Me- 'No Im a stay at home mommy.'
B- 'Oh, how many kids do you have?'
Me- ' Just 4' (I say this for kicks and giggles.. JUST... HA... though I dont think 4 is a lot many people do)
B- eyes big, turns around and walks away to check on my drink, comes back. 'So how old are they'
Me-'5, 3, 2 and 2 months'
B- eyes almost popping out of his head, 'Wow, so this is your break, did you say 2 month old? Where are you off to, for your break?'
Me-' Yup 2 months' points to the back where little mister is stiring. ' Im on my way to a home school meeting.'
B-' oh like PTA or something, NO, you said homeschool.'
Me- 'I know you think Im a nut ball'
B-'No I think its great, your kids get to have you all the time, and your always with them, thats wonderful, they are lucky.'
Me- 'Yes I think so too!!!'
He then handed me my drink and I pulled away.

I found it so odd, that he went from baffled at the amount of kids I had to amazed, in a good way, that I home school. His whole demeanor changed.

Maybe he didnt have a mom who was around a lot. Maybe she didnt care about what he did. He may be aching. He may want and desire that love and attention from his mom. There are so many kids/ teens/ adults who desire that.

So many people see school as almost a day care, a break away from the kids. Trust me when I say, I see the appeal in having a few hours to myself. I just dont see the appeal in giving my children over to strangers, and a few hundred students to raise them for me. I understand that people feel that homeschooling isnt for everyone, and that very well may be true.

For my family, and our right now.. It is...

I may not have degrees in teaching, but I have a love for my children more than you can imagine. Homeschooling isnt what so many people think it is. There are SOOOO many resources, so many things to do to get your kids the proper education. Im excited to be in this journey with my family. Im excited to have an AMAZING support group. The next few (20+) years are not going to be easy, but Im willing to walk that road and learn.

**If you have chosen to send your little to public school, no judgement from me, its a choice you made with your spouse and heavenly father..

I hope to blog weekly about our activities and fun we are having!