shad, lizzie, tanner, kate and elle

Happy Birthday Tanner!

2012-01-18T09:34:00.000-08:00

5:05am Wake-up call from Tanner, "It's my birthday! I'm seven! Let's open my present and eat donuts!"

Sheesh. It was still pitch black outside.

The rest of the day we got ready for his "friends" pirate party. For months, he's been planning on going to Disneyland with Shad for his birthday. Just the two of them and he'd pick out his gift there. All I'd have to do is get a cake. I was rooting for this plan. Then a week before his birthday, he says, "Mom, I changed my mind. I want a friends party." Man.

So a pirate party we planned.

We played musical chairs, drew a treasure map, put together a huge floor pirate puzzle, did a pinata and of course hunted for treasure. Ama came and made balloon swords and animals for the kids (thank you ama!) and we had a dress-up station for the kids to get into their pirate gear.

It was fun. And I'm glad it's over. Phew.

Now Kate's birthday is tomorrow.

Elle's is in 2 weeks.

Mine was last week.

It's always hard for me to eat good in January. We have a constant rotation of cakes hanging around for the month.

The rest of 2011

2012-01-16T20:42:00.000-08:00

If I get busy, and miss a few weeks of blogging, then I begin to avoid it like the plague. So the pictures, build and build on my camera. Finally, build and build on my computer. More days go by. I eventually quit taking pictures, because I know I'll then have to blog them. It stresses me out and I don't want to blog at ALL, because I'm an all or nothing person.

So I continue to avoid and avoid. But, 2011 is over and I need to work on my 2011 Blurb book. Therefore, I need to catch up.

So here it is: Tanner finally loving to read and reading the WHOLE book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by himself, the manger scene Tanner drew on notebook paper in church one day and we framed, because my heart melts when I look at it, Elle transitioning into a 2 year old, random 2011 iphone pictures, Aliese and Elle baking, Shad re-opening his juicing factory for the winter, Christmas Eve with Rebecca, Steve, Aliese, Anna, Gracie and Shad's Aunt Gerri, caroling to Tanner's primary teacher...love her, movie night with Biesingers, finally going to the live nativity at a nearby nursery...kate riding on a pony there, Candycane lane with the kids, the golf cart ride to donuts every Saturday morning (a tradition I used to hate...come on, riding on a golf cart (versus riding a bike or walking) to go buy fried food, on a regular basis, but have come to embrace), more random iphone pictures from last summer (maybe?), Tanner showcasing his surprise breakfast he made for the whole family...he set the table, put a centerpiece of fresh citrus on the table, made a banner/sign, and cooked us each a toaster waffle. It was so, so cute. And lastly, Big Bear over New Year's Eve, with the Hirsch family (they have a son who is Tanners best bud). Shad took Tanner skiing for the first time. When we finally got up the mountain to Big Bear, Shad and I were shocked at how little snow there was, and then Tanner saw a measly little pile of snow that happened to not melt because it was in the shade still, and exclaimed, "WOW. LOOK AT ALL THE SNOW!!! THERE IS SO MUCH SNOW!!!" It was so funny. Because he was being dead serious. = )

There you go. I'm done for 2011.

Now I can start on 2012.

the true spirit of christmas

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

last week, shad had a seminar and it was just the kids and i home for dinner. after dinner i felt like cozying up on the couch with my kids, turning on the christmas tree lights and watching a movie. we watched a hallmark move, "the night before, the night before christmas". cute. we loved it. cheesy of course, but we still loved it. (kate had a horrendous fit the last 20 minutes and we didn't get to finish it until the next day...but the first hour, was blissful)

at the beginning of the movie, a small boy, is gathering up things around his home to donate to a local shelter. tanner had me pause the movie to explain what was going on. he lit up and asked if we could do the same thing.

so he has been busy, trying to find things to donate.

before i get to the next part, i have to explain some things about tanner. he is a greedy little boy who loves money. will do extra chores to earn money. saves up, searches amazon and orders toys.

well, sunday morning, he came into my closet while i was getting dressed and said, "i want to give this to the poor kids." he opened up his little hands and there were a bunch of green dollar bills inside. he said, "it's all the money that i have, except for my tithing....you know...it's all of my fun money". i told him how proud i was, gave him a hug, and then he lit up and said, "oh, tomorrow is family night, i get paid for my chores....i'll have 2 more dollars and some coins to give".

i love this boy.

dark chocolate covered peppermint joe joe's

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

they ran out.

ran out, before i could even buy a box.

ran out of these amazing cookies that only come around once a year trader joes.

i went twice to each trader joes in town this last month looking for these cookies. each time i was told, "oh, i don't think we're getting those in this year. i haven't seen them yet".

well come to find out, they came in extra early, and got bought up immediately.

they have as serious cult following.

i was really bummed.

so i bought me some dark chocolate, some peppermint joe joe's (plain ones...they have tons of those in stock), and candy canes.

melted the chocolate.

dipped the cookies.

sprinkled crushed candy canes.

now i've got some dark chocolate covered peppermint joe joe's.

if you don't have a trader joe's.....i'm sorry. i really am.

*they do have them in stock in a larger box, with 3 other flavors of cookies. if you love all of the flavors, great. but if you don't (like me), you buy a whole box, eat 1/4, and toss out 3/4. no good.

christmas crafting

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

christmas cards

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

christmas cards are a struggle for me. the picture below was on the front of ours this year.

i love the picture. love love love it

but i feel like it's a bit deceiving....

that day, i was mean. i made the kids and shad wear clothes they didn't want to wear. shad didn't want to wear a pink shirt. kate wanted the flower on top of her head, not on the side. tanner didn't want his shirt tucked in. elle didn't want to be held. she wanted to run around a play.
shad and i had an argument on the way to the shoot and weren't really speaking to each other.

we don't look like this normally. shad does, for work. but the kids and i....not even close. kate's hair normally has lots of rats in it. both kids choose their own clothes. that means an array of colorful clothes. mostly dirty clothes, because if they really want a certain shirt, and it's in the dirty clothes, who cares. right? often it's the same outfit they wore the day before, slept in, and kept on the next day. dirty faces, snotty noses and bare feet are the norm here. i am usually in my pjs or workout clothes until late afternoon. not because i'm lazy, but i am doing dishes, holding elle while she eats, and cooking. i'm normally a shade or two lighter...i don't remember exactly, but i'm sure i slathered on a bunch of fake tanning lotion that day to cover up my white body.

is that just the way christmas cards are supposed to be? not real?

sometimes i feel like blogging is sort of like that. we put forth our best selves. for lots of reasons....do we really want to remember all the crap? do we want to air our dirty laundry (not literally...metaphorically) for the world to see?

and then there's the a different side to the coin. we are blessed. we live in america, i have 3 healthy kids and a husband, i'm able to stay at home full-time, i know my savior, i have a roof over my head and food on the table.

i should never, ever complain. right?

it stresses me out.

i've gone through phases where when i look at other's blogs, i feel crappy about myself. knowing that it has nothing to do with how lovely their life may seem to be, but that i feel insecure as a mother, wife and daughter of god at that time. i compare, and realize as hard as i try, i won't ever measure up. no one can, when we compare our whole selves to every one else's best self.

i guess it's been on my mind a lot.

you never really know how you appear to others. but the last thing i ever want to appear is that we have a perfect family. we are so far from it.

in the behind the scenes of every "picture perfect moment" on here, is a tantrum. screaming, yelling and crying. the "picture perfect moment" is there too, but is often a fleeting moment.

i do cook crazy healthy recipes. and my kids do eat them. but they also eat costco pizza and doughnuts every saturday morning. kate had pretzels for breakfast this morning. and right now tanner is sneaking the girls starbursts that he got in a good bag at school last friday.

i try to look nice, wear clean clothes, and have make-up on. but most of the time, i'm in my pjs (dirty from cooking and cleaning) or work-out clothes (sweaty and stinky). i often have make-up on, but it was put on the previous day and then slept on. i've had three kids, i have a tummy, mom arms, varicose viens and huge dark circles under my eyes (i wear concealer. always. if i don't without a doubt i get asked, "oh my gosh! what happened to your face?).

i love staying home with my kids. but....often, i'm super frustrated. elle throws fits all the time, tanner is starting to talk-back and argue, and kate is completely verbally abusive to me (i know i shouldn't put up with it...i try my best). the three of them try to talk to me at the same time. all the time. to the point where i want to scream "shut-up and leave me alone!" i don't aloud, but i do in my head.

usually kind words come out of my mouth. but i swear. every day. a swear word or two slip from my mouth. i gossip. i try not to. i do it anyway. and then i feel guilty.

if you live locally and come over to my "clean" home, remember that i've picked up shortly before you arrived. it doesn't always look clean. and that i didn't clean it all on my own. i have a helper, named "blanca".

and there are other things. personal things. things that should not be put on a blog.

every single family has problems. every person has struggles. we just can't see them sometimes.

i know i'm all over the place with the post. hopefully i'm making sense. maybe i'm the only one who struggles with blogs and christmas cards.

my favorite christmas cookies growing up

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

we made a lot of treats growing up.

lots and lots and lots.

but, like everyone else, we made extra at christmas time. and not just any extra treat, but specific treats. ones you only make in december.

well these were my favorite growing up. i'm trying to remember what it was exactly that made them my favorite. the dough....the minty taste....or that they were the simplest treat to make. not sure.

i remember every christmas, a few days before the big day, my mom would sit all of us kids down at the kitchen table and ask, "okay, what's important to you that we make this year?" we'd all take our turns spouting off what treats we wanted made. chocolate pies, seven-layer bars, sugar cookies, loads more that i can't remember and THESE double chocolate mint chip cookies. i would always pipe up quickly that i'd make those. (i'm not listing the many treats that grandma would bring: the apple pie, cheesecake, pumpkin pie, almond roca, peanut brittle, fudge, rocky road, hand-dipped chocolates....truffles, orange cremes, raspberry cremes, mint cremes, caramels, spritz cookies, divinity (grandma...am i forgetting some?))

we had a very large laundry room growing up...huge actually. and every counter top was covered with treats by christmas day.

but back to the cookies at hand....

the last several years i couldn't make them. nestle decided to pull a fast one and take their mint chocolate chips off the market. what? eventually they replaced them with some scary looking green chips.

then andes mints came out with bag in the baking section of chopped up mints. so i decided to give those a try this year.

double chocolate mint chip cookies

1 c Andes mint chips

3/4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/4 c flour

3/4 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1/3 c butter, softened

1/2 c brown sugar

1/4 c sugar

1/2 t peppermint extract

1/2 t vanilla

1 egg

Preheat oven to 375. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Let cool. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Mix butter, brown sugar, sugar, vanilla and peppermint extract, until creamy. Add melted chocolate and egg. Mix. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir in andes mint chips. Drop onto cookie sheet and bake for 8-9 minutes. Don't overcook. Let cool for 2-3 minutes and remove from cookie sheet.

*warning: the dough is addicting. really addicting.

lots of lingering looks....

2011-12-15T21:10:00.000-08:00

shad and i put our gifts out for the kids last night.

wrapped and under the tree.

there was a lot of inspecting going on from tanner and kate today. = )

the playhouse

2011-12-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

have i mentioned the playhouse?

the guy who built the house we moved into, built his dream home for his family. he was/is a landscaper, a general contractor and a dreamer.

we have benefited from it all.

one of the benefits, is that he built a playhouse for his little girl.

a two-story/covered front porch/upstairs balcony/wired with electricity type of playhouse. it's pretty sweet. he even took out a permit with the city to get it built (i guess the neighbors complained that the kids would be able to spy on them??).

anyhow, the kids were super excited when we first moved in, and then the excitement died down. the only time they'd play in it was when friends would come over. then it got hot. really hot. and the red ants like to come out and play in their thousands of hills in our backyard when it gets hot. so it was abandoned.

well the weather has cooled off, and the playhouse has been discovered again.

the kids have gone out and played in it every day this week. we swept it out, vacuumed the carpets, moved out the play kitchen, table and chairs. the kids packed up their play food and pretend pots and pans.

and then i moved out a chair for me on the front porch. to read on. (as much as they love that it's hidden and "their" house, they prefer me to be out there too...but as you can see from the pictures, my book and chair were swiped...i didn't get much reading in)

as i sat and watched them play this afternoon, i felt so blessed.

i always feel blessed. but i felt especially blessed.

it reminded me slightly of what it was like when we grew up as kids. we'd run around outside, playing in the dirt, building things out of twigs, making mud pies (we don't have mud here, but they make a lot of "salad" out of the green leaves), get startled by bugs when we'd flip over a log, etc. i loved it.

today my kids had dirty little hands and feet.

they were exploring.

doing the things kids should be doing.

i felt so blessed.

Pumpkin Pie Muffins

2011-12-11T20:00:00.000-08:00

Flourless.

Sugarless.

And they're really really good.

I promise.

I made a dozen this morning, and every last one of them was eaten by myself and my kids.

I wish I'd doubled the batch.

The recipe will seem strange. And you'll think that I had a typo...no flour?? But I didn't. Because I never make mistakes. Hah! (that's a "hah" like I make a bazillion mistakes a day, not a "hah" like "hah, hah, I never make mistakes"....just had to clarify). Here it is:

Pumpkin Pie Muffins

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 cup raw almond butter

1/2 honey

2 eggs

1 1/2 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1 t vanilla

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t nutmeg

1/4 t cloves

1/2 t salt

Mix wet ingredients. Add in dry. Stir. Pour into greased muffin tin. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes approximately 12 muffins. Best eaten after cooled. ( I can never wait that long, but they really do taste better after they've sat for a bit)

I'm sure you can tell from the pictures, that they're not the prettiest muffins. They sort of sink in the middle. BUT not too bad for no flour and a ton of pumpkin. And they taste good.

*raw almond butter can be found at Trader Joes. if you don't have one, try Henrys, Sprouts, Whole Foods, or any other healthfood store)

camera for sale

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

it's my old camera.

i think i've been postponing selling it, because i still love it. honest.

although it's taken almost a year, i've fully switched over to using my new camera, so i'm putting the d40 up for sale...

here's what i'm selling:

Nikon d40 body ($250)
Sigma 30mm 1:1.4 DC HSM lens ($350)
Nikon DX AF-S nikkor 55-200mm 1: 4-5.6 ED VR ($100)
Digital Concepts Close up Lens Set: +1, +2, +4 & 10x MACRO
Extra battery and charger
52mm UV filter (fits the Nikon DX AF-S nikkor 55-200mm lens listed above)

The total is $700. If you buy them all, I'll throw in the close-up lens set, extra battery and charger and 52mm filter.

I've always used UV lens filters, to protect my lenses. The camera body is missing the self-timer button. Aside from that, the camera body and lenses are all in perfect working order.

The original kit I bought, came with an 18-55mm lens, which I sold and replaced with the Sigma 30mm (my favorite go-to lens...its' how you get the feet/eyes/hands sharp and the background all blurry...or how you can still take awesome pictures in low-light without a flash). So the D40 kit box (in the picture below), has everything in it, minus the 18-55mm lens.

Here are some photoshoots I took using the d40 body with the signma 30mm and the Nikkor 55-200mm (I used them equally on photoshoots. I loved them both):

*the above shot was using the macro filters (listed above)...a cheater's way to getting a macro shot without buying a macro lens for 1000s of dollars.

Lillie also used the same set-up/gear up until she got her new camera in June 2009. Ainsley uses the D40. You can take a look at their pictures.

So why did I upgrade if I loved the d40 so much? I wanted a full frame camera with major ISO capabilities.

Do I regret starting with the d40, should I have just started with the camera I have now (Nikon d700)? No way. Shad has asked me this several times. No way. If I had started with the camera I now own, I wouldn't take pictures because I'd be so frustrated. The d40 is an awesome starting camera to get when you want to get "wow" pictures that your point and shoot (or cell phone) isn't getting. You can start in Auto mode and work your way to a Manual mode. You can buy various lenses. You can get those sharp eyes/faces with a blurry background.

So if are in need of a Christmas present (or your husband is in need of one for you), this could be it.

If you have any questions, or are interested, email me at shadandlizzie@gmail.com

*All of these are just my opinions = )

one of my favorites

2011-12-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

i have her halloween print.

her thanksgiving print.

and now her christmas print.

i use the same exact frame for all. a nice big, affordable ikea frame. when it's not a holiday, i have a family picture stored nicely behind the holiday prints.

i get the pdf form. upload it to costco. they charge me $5.95. 24 hours later i come back with a 16x20in print that i love.

and she happens to be my ultra-cool sister.

milk chocolate fudge

2011-12-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

easy.

delicious.

so not healthy.

but it's december. right?

Milk Chocolate Fudge

from my uncle walt

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups mini marshmallows

3 cups chopped milk chocolate

1/2 t salt

1 T vanilla

Put the first 3 ingredients in a large microwavable bowl. Cook in microwave for 3 minutes on high. While it's cooking, dissolve the salt in the vanilla. When done cooking, mix thoroughly and add vanilla and salt. Pour into buttered 9x13 pan. It's best eaten the next day.

*the best milk chocolate is from fresh and easy, in huge lb bars. the next best is trader joe's lb+ bars, and the next best is guittard (not to be confused with ghirardelli) milk chocolate chips. of course these are just my opinions.

the view

2011-12-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

something i don't want to forget.

this is it.

every morning. around 7am. the breakfast varies...german pancakes, french toast, waffles, pancakes, muffins, smoothies, eggs.

but the view from where i'm flipping pancakes, or stirring eggs, is always the same.

i love this view.

elle's room

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

i was going to wait until it was done to post.

someday, i will put pictures on the walls.

i call it elle's room, because she sleeps in her crib, in the same room. but in about a year, when her crib is put away, she and kate will share this room.

i love love love the bed. target.com. you gotta love that store.

the dresser from ikea, used to be in shad and i's room. i replaced the knobs with these from world imports. (they don't have them online. i got them in the store). i used a coupon, so they were a steal.

the chair, lamp, mirror...home goods. if you've never been there. go. now.

the curtians, ikea...i sewed the strip of lime at the bottom and added the pom pom trim. the cheapest way i know how to get a semi-custom looking drape. start with ikea and go from there.

pillows...i made with amy butler fabric purchased from fabric.com.

the little ovel frame, target, in the store.

the paint, Benjamin Moore, Balboa Mist (but matched at Dunn Edwards).

november

2011-12-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

i was sick. for pretty much the entire month.

it sucked.

it felt like pressure building inside of every single bone on my face. i would find myself pressing as hard as a i could on my facial bones, trying to ease the pain.

i had a headace for 23 days straight. that has NEVER happened to me before.

every day. at 11am, i would get a headache. it'd go strong until about 4pm and then die off to a dull pain until i went to sleep. i'd wake up great and feel okay until 11am hit. it was like groundhogs day the movie....over and over.

finally after 2 weeks, i realized i should be taking something for the headache. so everyday around 11:15, i'd remember, "oh yeah, take some medicine" and i'd pop 2 ibprofin and 2 tylenol and then my headache would subside.

shad insisited that i go to the doctor to get on antibiotics, and after refusing for 2 weeks, i finally went in. they said it was viral, that antibiotics wouldn't do anything and that it could last anywhere from 3-6 weeks.

awesome.

i think i'm on the up and up now.

so between the pressure in my head and the fact that i tried to upload the following pictures 5 different times to blogger and it never worked, i've been mia.

here's a bit of catch-up.....

kate and tanner share a room. they each have a twin bed. but they wanted them pushed together. so they could be closer. it's very cute.
elle is my constant companion. my helper. the one who unloads the dirty dishes as i'm trying to load them. the one who eats her food on my lap. or shad's. but rarely in her own seat. she insists on feeding herself, even if it's super messy soup, and always wants to use the correct utensils. she LOVES lipgloss. can't get enough of it. and i hate to think of how much of it she's ingested these last few weeks. she's a complete monkey who climbs on everything.
we went to the rodeo. it was so so so fun. shad's mom invited us. the kids threw on their dress-up clothes and i got to wear my boots without shad telling me i look like a cowgirl. because for once it was an appropriate occasion in his eyes. = )
tanner and kate still come in our room at the crack of dawn. we had a few good weeks, where they would wait until it was light to come in. but that ended. this last week, kate has come to my side of the bed every night. all. night. long.
kate still continues to be my best little helper in the kitchen. she'll pick the leaves off the herbs, stir the dry ingredients, push the food processor buttons to chop the bread crumbs, roll out the dough, tell me when the timer is beeping, measure the ingredients and crack the eggs.

adventing

2011-12-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

of course a treat each day...a surprise to eat behind each tiny door.

a manger scene centered around baby Jesus, with 25 people or animals to add.

elf on a shelf...thanks to lillie.

she came by one evening, and mentioned the elf in her house. tanner's eyes got huge and he asked questions and she went on and on. she left and tanner asked, "where's our elf?" he didn't ask in a "where's our elf, i want one NOW, no fair!" sort of way. he asked in a "did santa forget about us?" sort of way.

i rapidly texted shad a specific errand to make after work.

the next morning, the elf appeared. tanner's behavior when from exceptional to off the charts awesome. kate's has stayed the same. unfortunately.

it's fun new tradition though.

and our last tradition, we started just this year...a christmas book each day to unwrap and read. of course we already had most of the books, collected over the years. I didn't go out and buy 25 books. and the kids know that when they open the book, that it's the family's book and that they will each be put away after Christmas and recycled again for next year to be wrapped. it's fun. they get all excited to take turns opening the books and we get into the spirit a bit more each day through reading (something we aren't so great at around here)

have a merry weekend!

Tanner's list

2011-11-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

Tanner was very busy this morning.

Making this....

Dear Santa,

I want a robot for

Christmas to do the dishwasher

and set the table and do my

homework. from Tanner Lamm.

Chores have been a battle lately. He empties the dishwasher before school and sets the table for dinner.

He thinks he's a slave.

We have a 15 minutes discussions every single morning before he empties the dishwasher, about how "unfair" it is that he has to do the dishes.

And every single evening, before he sets the table.

It drives me nuts.

He apparently thinks he can just ask for a Robot and his chores will go away.

Kate though....she's a dream with chores. I ask one time, and she gets up and does it. She even helps Tanner with his without being asked. She is aMAZing with her chores.

BTW, Tanner is convinced that Santa can make anything. And that he will be getting a Robot for Christmas, as long as he's good. (And he's pretty confident that he's good. He's told me.)

I ran

2011-11-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

For the first time since the Ragnar.

It felt so good.

It was 47 degrees outside.

I couldn't see my breath, but it was almost there.

Such a drastic difference from last time I ran....getting into the 100s during the day. Sweaty, sticky, and parched beyond belief by the time I'd get home.

Wienerschnitzel and Big O Tires were still there to greet me as I ran on by (very picturesque), the same guy on his bike and the same girl on her stilts (yes, some sort of funky, bouncy stilts) out walking.

The smell of horse poop and little piglets were still there as I ran down a neighborhood street (have I mentioned that I sort of live in a tiny un-incorporated country town, in the middle of the bigger "cities"? I see cowboys everyday in their big ol' trucks. I love it)

The scenery, the smells, the crisp weather, my music and running, made for a very good morning.

Tanner

2011-11-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Tanner and his first-grade teacher, Mrs. Root

Tanner got student of the month back in September.

I think every kid gets student of the month by the end of the year, so it's not a super big deal, BUT what happened afterward, I never want to forget.

His teacher came up to Shad and I and told us the following (I tried my best to remember):

"Tanner is such a special boy. Out of all the students I've taught in 32 years, I've had 3 that stand out....one was Robbie, wow he must be about 17 by now, one was Johnny (I'm sort of making up the names...I don't remember), and one is your Tanner. (then she tears up, and continues on) These three students have a special place in my heart. Tanner is kind to everyone. He helps everyone around him. He is really special."

She said more, and I wish I could remember it all, but I don't.

But I remember the feeling.

I felt so proud of him. Proud of him that he is kind to everyone. And serves. I wish I could take credit, but I can't. If I took credit, I'd have to take credit for everything my kids do, and I'm not sure I'm ready to do that. = )

He really did come that way. Sweet. Kind. Obedient. And oh so much faith.

He's a keeper.

lillie's family

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

I just love them.

I really do.

She was in the delivery room when I had my first baby, Tanner. Ross came shortly after with In-and-Out for Shad and I.

We've been to Hawaii 3 times together. We've seen each other happy, grouchy, sad and in tears (maybe not Ross and Shad too often), and elated with joy. We've been around each other all dressed up for a party to rolling out of bed in the morning with bed head and all. We've seen each other in our fit-phases and our chubby-phases. Lillie and I have had highschool-like arguments, but always make-up.

My kids call Ross, Rosco. They actually think that's his name.

Shad and I refer to the whole family as "The Roscos".

Sophie, aka "Sia" in our house, has a special place in my heart. She is sweet, just like my Tanner. She would never purposefully hurt someone's feelings, or leave anyone out. She went through a 2 year phase of telling everyone she was going to marry Tanner. Love that girl.

Mila, reminds me of Lillie. = ) And she's one of Kate's bestfriends.

Finn, I don't know you yet....but I will. You are very chubby. And I love chubby babies.

Funny

2011-11-04T06:53:00.000-07:00

Tanner came home from school with this.

From a girl.

He didn't even know it was in his backpack. I guess she snuck it in his cubby at school.

Notice the heart?

self-reflection of a mother

2011-11-03T07:29:00.000-07:00

I remember reading this talk a while back, titled, "Good, Better, Best".

AMAZing words of wisdom.

I've read it so many times, yet still seem to forget it.

I'm a stay at home Mom, of 3 little ones. I get to stay home, make my own schedule (minus my sleeping schudule....the kids seem to dominate that one), yet lately, we're rarely together as a family. We're off doing "good" things, but in replace of possibly, "better" or the very "best" of things.

Balance is hard.

The last 3 weeks have been full of lots of "good" things. I've been volunteering in Tanner's classroom, trying to go to the gym again (Because I stopped working out. Completely. Once the Ragnar ended.), taking pictures for families, serving in Scouts at my church, planning and running errands for a cousins Halloween party, etc.

But by the end of last week, I was full of guilt. I was a "stay-at-home mom" that was gone all the time. I started noticing a difference in Elle. The way her eyes would look at me when I handed her off to someone else. It was a look of defeat. She'd given up hoping she'd be with me. She'd realized even if she put up a fight, I'd give her away anyway.

I was away from my kids 26 hours last week. What!?

I realize that I am so incredibly blessed to stay home. And so many other mamas would LOVE to stay home if the circumstances allowed. So why am I throwing it away? Throwing it away for a part-time job of being "busy".

I'm not meaning to sound dramtic and I'm most definitely NOT throwing a pity party. I'm upset with myself. I have choices.

Why would I trade so many good things, for the better and best things?

My kids.

My husband.

Our family unit.

I'm done being "busy".

I choose my family.

my sister's new babe...

2011-11-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

a+p+c

2011-11-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

introducing ninja boy, cinderella and snow white...

2011-10-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

family pictures

2011-10-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU Lillie!!! We love them!

iris turns 8!

2011-10-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

My friend Julie asked me to take her daughters baptism pictures for her. I don't take pictures for people anymore, besides family. Shad and I both feel that for us, right now, it just doesn't work for our family.

BUT, Julie offered to do a trade. I take her daughters pictures and she watches Kate and Elle for me a couple hours a week for me to volunteer in Tanner's classroom. Score. It worked out great for both of us.

Here's little Iris....

ragnar pics

2011-10-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

better late than never, right?

Our team of 12 girls.....

Downtown San Fransisco, the night before we began.

Our sweet ride.

We got up at 3:45am (right girls? maybe i'm off on that), so we could check in. Lillie started us off in the pitch black to race over the Golden Gate Bridge.

My first leg.

Right after we finished. We threw on our "Real Housewives of Palm Springs" gear and ran through the finish line.

A cute place we ate at near Calastoga, the night we finished.

I remember during it, thinking I'd never do a Ragnar again. Then toward the end of our crazy 30 hours, I thought I'd love to do it again, with Shad to run my night runs alongside me. But now looking at these pictures, I want to do it again, no matter what.

nyc

2011-10-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

Shad had a business trip in NYC a couple of weeks ago, so I decided to tag along. I love NYC. At least as a tourist. I say I'd love to live there, and I mean it, but I really have no clue what it'd be like daily. Probably not full of food tours and eating out. = ) But I do love the people, the cultures, the yummy ethnic food, the entertainment, the subways.

A couple of NY trips ago, my sister and I went on a food tour. It was my favorite part of the trip. A walking tour of Greenwich Village, with tastes of so many local eateries, while listening to a history of that particular part of town. So this trip I signed myself up for two different neighborhoods...SoHo and Chelsea. I dragged Shad along on the Soho one. They were both so yummy and fun. I do have to say the original Greenwich one is my favorite though...if you're ever out there.

I finally at at the famous Magnolias. I'm sorry, I may get hate comments, but Shad and I weren't impressed. At all. The cupcakes were sort of dry and flavorless. We went twice during the trip, just to confirm we didn't have a fluke experience.

But the actual food, was amazing in NYC. LOVED IT ALL. We had Indian, Italian, French, Cuban, Russian, multiple times and it was all so good (minus the Russian). They pretty much had to roll me onto the plane to get me back to California. It was worth it though.

We got to go on the floor at the NY Stock Exchange. That was cool. Shad was in heaven. We'd been to the outside before but never inside and actually on the floor. He got to see Maria (?), a newsgirl that he sees on CNBC everyday. When we were watching her, he said, "Liz, this is like you seeing Martha Stewart." = ) We got to see how everything works and the closing bell.

We ALSO got to see all the protesters....against Wall Street. So lame. I'm sorry. But honestly, it's a bunch people out there, NOT working, NOT contributing to our economy, whipping out their iPhones to make a call, complaining about.....honestly, we couldn't get a clear picture of what they had a problem with. They pretty much took anything they didn't like, and blamed it on Wall St. There was one topless lady, that said her beef was that there aren't enough boobs shown on tv. What? Then of course the signs that just piss me off saying that the rich don't pay any taxes. Anything they wanted to complain about, they just put it on a sign and blamed "Wall St." Well, at least those "Wall Street" guys are out working every day, putting in long hours and paying close to 50% of their income back into the system. ALSO, the news makes it look WAY bigger than it really is. It was a very small protest.

We went to Coney Island. Apparently it's "the closest you can get to Russia, without a passport". Shad served a 2 year mission for our church in Russia from 1995-97, and hasn't had a chance to go back since. So he was thrilled to see what it was like, stateside. It was crazy. It was ALL Russian. They made no effort to cater to tourists whosoever, and if you got a greeting it was in Russian. Of course this made Shad love it even more, because he said that's the way Russia really is. Not super friendly. We went in all the markets, bought food, tasted it, and people watched. I felt like I was in a foreign country. Most people walked everywhere, or drove old cars, but then randomly you'd see an incredibly nice nice nice car, that would stop in the middle of the road, blocking all other cars and just walk in the store. I asked Shad, and he replied, "Oh it's the mafia". It was crazy.

And of course I did tons of shopping. Shad is an AMAZING husband when it comes to this. He will follow me into all the stores I want to go into and he never complains.

Something that changed since our last trip out was Canal Street. Every other time we've come to the city, we go down there to buy all of the knock-off sunglasses, watches, jewelry etc. You could find a guy on the street, tell him what you want (sounds like I was purchasing drugs) and he'd go get it for you, show it to you, name a price and you'd decide whether you wanted it. I'm not sure what happened, but the selection was almost non-existent. They didn't have anything I asked for. AND we saw some people sell drugs right in front of us. As in maybe 2 feet away. I'm sure Shad and I looked like idiots, because I know I for one, was staring. I'm guessing that was our last trip down to Canal. Bummer.

It was our first time not seeing a Broadway while we were there. It seemed so expensive this time around. And it meant I had to skip a whole evening of eating out at my leisure. It was a tough decision. But food won out. = )

It was fun, but it's always good to get home and back into the groove of things. And kiss my little ones chubby cheeks.

our internet

2011-10-25T12:13:00.001-07:00

has worked for about an hour.... total....over the last month. The month before, maybe 3 hours total.

I could go on and on about how much I hate and detest Verizon. I could easily do a whole post on how crooked and corrupt their business is and how once our contract is up we refuse to ever do business with them again. But it would actually take several posts, because we've had that many experiences with them over the last 6 months, each ending with them going back on their word and pretty much saying "screw you" with no apologies. I can already feel my blood beginning to boil.

No thanks to Verizon, Shad's genius friend, Clark, came out on Saturday and fixed our entire network. I felt like it was Christmas morning and still do each and everytime I double click on Safari. Thank you Clark.

Now I need to play catch-up....

everyday life

2011-10-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

I read a post on a photographer's website a month or so back, about how she misses catching glimpes of her own children and their everyday moments. She talked about how she really got into photography when she had her first baby and wanted to capture every smile, every laugh, every frown, etc, and then she got so into photography, that she lost sight of that. She also mentioned all of the photos of other people she takes, and so little of her own family.

I am in no way claiming to be a photographer of any sorts, but her post really hit home. In the last few years I strive for the "perfect" lighting, exposure, composition, etc, that I miss a lot of moments. The common, maybe not perfect, but very beautiful, every day moments. I'm going to try harder to get those. To sneak up on my kids more, so they don't hide or give me a super cheesy smile that I'm not going to recognize in 20 years, because it's not really their smile. I'm really gonna try.

Here are a few snapshots of our every day life......

Tanner is really into legos. And it's finaly hit home to him, that as a boy, he can have his shirt off if he's hot. (he's incredibly modest... annoyingly so). Elle's hair is always in her face, there's generally food on her face and she has yesterdays clothes on. Binkie and blankie in tow.

Tanner still spends hours a day doing art. He loves it.

Kate is our serious one. A deep thinker, that one. She also loves tv. Max and Ruby is her favorite. Tanner eats smoothies. Every. Single. Day. He's moved from his green smoothies, to coconut milk/raw almond/cocoa smoothies, to his current favorite....greek yogurt, agave and frozen fruit.

We play a lot of card games around these parts. Mostly Kate and I. Go Fish, Crazy Eights and Old Maid are the favorites. We throw Memory, Chutes and Ladders and Candyland in sometimes. She could play games ALL DAY LONG.

I spend way to much time researching and experimenting with alternative sweetners. Whole dates, date sugar, coconut/palm sugar, agave and raw honey. I can't tell you how many batches of cookies I've made with 100% whole grains and no sugar. Some of them turn out really good. And some...not so much. My kids will beg for cookies and I'll say no. They beg again, and I say no. Then they'll ask, "What about healthy cookies Mom. Pleeeeeaaaase?" It's hard to say no.

Throw in a LOT of screaming from my two girls, driving to and from school, me perusing design blogs, toys in every single room of our house and some dirty dishes, and you have a pretty accurate picture of our monday thru friday life. I'll have to save the weekend for another post.

Internet is Down

2011-09-29T07:11:00.001-07:00

At least on my computer.

It's been 3 days. I'd forgotten how much we rely in the Internet.

The Internet works on shads computer somehow. He made sure to point that out several times. How PCs are "so stable". And "reliable". He was doing it to push my buttons.

Hopefully I'm getting it fixed today.

I'm blogging from my iPhone.

Didn't know I could do that.

Hope your Internet is functioning better than mine.

Shad's Alaska Trip

2011-09-25T17:25:00.000-07:00

Another "work" trip. It's so hard for him that he just "happens" to have a client or two up in Alaska.

He says he had a meeting while he was up there.....

But I am loving our freezer full of freshly caught halibut and salmon.

darling holiday gift

2011-09-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

My little sis Danielle, just finished up a pattern she's been working on, and listed it in her Etsy shop. It's an adorable Santa apron and the pattern is so easy to follow, with great instructions and pictures. Any beginning seamstress could follow it.

This type of a pattern is the only kind I use. I know how to follow the ones you buy at JoAnns, but they are sooo confusing to me. I LOVE these kind of patterns, that have a picture for EVERY step.

When I first saw it I immediately pictured having an assembly line going making them for Christmas gifts, or a bunch of women making them at Super Saturday, or girls making them at a YW activity. Or just someone making it for themselves to have a merrier holiday.

My Mom had one of these growing up and I LOVED it.

I might just have to make one for myself this year. Tanner and Kate would LOVE it.

Have a happy weekend.

the electricity went out....

2011-09-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

....for about 7 hours. I realize this doesn't sound like a big deal. But when you live in weather that's still past 100 degrees after the sun goes down, and you're trying to get 3 little ones to sleep, with no a/c, and a really pathetic dinner of frozen pizza cooked on the grill outside inside their tummies, and no noise machine (the worst of them all...we are really poor sleepers around here), it was sort of a big deal.

It was actually kind of fun for the first bit of the evening. We ate outside where it was still a bit light, swam in the pool, trying to lower our body temps, and had fun as a family. It felt like camping. Shad whipped out the flashlights and camping lantern. We felt a duty to eat the melting icecream in the freezer. It was fun.

Until no one could fall asleep. First we set them up in our room, thinking they wouldn't be as scared. But are room is the warmest, so we moved everything into the playroom. The coolest, and also messiest room in the house. We covered the kids little bodies with wet wash cloths, remembered we had a noise machine app on our iPad, and finally they konked out.

It's scary to think that 7 hours with no electricity was a "big deal" to us. It was a good kick in the bum to remind me that I need to get our food storage in order, we need to move our huge water tank from our old house/garage and move it here, fill it and treat it. I need to figure out where our gas shut-off is at our new house, and buy one of those handy tools to shut it off in case of an emergency. I need to ask Shad where all of our 72 hour kits are. I knew all this stuff in our old house. I felt prepared. But when the electricity went out, I was reminded quickly that I'm not organized/prepared at all in this house.

I kind of felt like the electricity going off for a mere 7 hours, was a huge gift. A needed reminder.

Napa Valley Ragnar

2011-09-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

Wow.

It's done and I'm happy. But sort of sad at the same time. I can totally see how people get addicted to this sort of thing. The energy, the high, the complete exhaustion and joy. All at the same time.

My favorite part was being with such an AMAZING group of women. I knew some of the girls pretty well, but others not at all, and I feel so much closer to everyone, even if we were in different vans, simply because we were all in it together. I love them all so much.

It was different than I expected. I guess it was Ragnar's first try at Napa Valley, and I heard from other runners who had done other races that it was sort of disorganized.

My first run was great. It was morning, I got to run along the bay in San Fransisco and then up in some beautiful neighborhoods overlooking the water. It was a 5.4 mile run with some hills, and I loved it. It was labeled as "hard" (Ragnar labels them as easy, moderate, hard or very hard), but it was by far my favorite.

My next run was in the middle of nowhere 100 miles or so outside of San Fransisco, running through a forest at night, pitch black outside. I'd always heard the night runs were the best. That you'd get an adrenaline rush. Your times would be faster. I'd heard there would be so many runners around, and that it was completely safe.

Yeah.

Right.

I was scared out of my freaking mind. Usually your van can "leap frog" you....see you along the way, cheer you on, give you water if needed, make sure you're okay, etc. Well I said goodbye at the start and didn't see them again until the finish. Not because of them, but there was no way to get to me by car. (which usually it warns you if you have a "non-support leg" but it didn't say anything about that on mine).

I'd run about 1.5 miles and hadn't seen a runner in sight. Every Ragnar sign I'd seen a long the way giving my directions, did NOT match the little map I'd ripped out of the Rag Mag (the Race Bible that tells you where to go). So of course I'm already freaking out. I hadn't seen a runner, I hadn't seen ANY Ragnar vans and it's night and I'm alone running in some place I've never been. Then I finally see a sign and it points up a trail in a forest. I look to my left and see some random man standing there looking my way. And to his credit, I'm sure I looked like a freak. I have a headlamp on, butt lights on, and I'm completely scary looking from lack of sleep. But of course I was thinking, "this guy moved the sign, he wants me to go in the forest alone".

I didn't know what to do. I went ahead and started running up the trail. I don't know how far I went, but I was scared out of my mind.

Seriously freaked out.

Have any of you seen "The Village"? You know the creepy forest they aren't supposed to go in? It was like that, but night. Honestly. I was praying in my head the whole time. So finally I couldn't take it anymore, I turned around and sprinted out, back to civilization, completely backtracking, knowing I'd have to go back again, adding miles onto my run. But I didn't care at that point.

I went back to the town and waited. And waited. And waited, until I saw a glimmer of other runners with a headlamps on. Three came running up in a group and I asked if I could tag along. We all plunged through the forest together. Then I felt completely fine. There were two men and 2 of us girls. They had a much faster pace then me (I'm really slow. I run the whole time, but it's sloooooow), so I had to sprint as fast as I could through 2 miles of forest with them, trying to keep up so I didn't get left behind. THEN in the middle of the forest trail, we run into two random males just "hanging" out. Scary. If I wouldn't have turned around and found the other runners, there I would've been with 2 random men in the forest. (come to find out later we get a text from the Ragnar people, well after I'm finished, warning us about some people "harassing" runners on that trail). Anyhow, I got through and finished that leg. That was supposed to be my "easy" leg , but to me it was the hardest. I felt like it would never end.

My last leg was good, but poorly marked. I ran into 3 different T's in the path with no sign directing me where to go, and no sign of the T's on the map I had stuffed in my sports bra. Already having run 12 miles by then (on combined runs) on little to no sleep, I was tired and didn't have the brain power to make a decision. I felt sort of like Alice, on Alice in Wonderland. I'd look around anxiously to any other runner in sight, pull my ear buds out of my ear and yell, "This way??" They'd yell back, "I don't know either!" So I'd make a quick decision, run, feeling okay and then second guess myself, slow down, look around and see if I could spot any other runners in sight.

I guess it's all sort of part of the experience though. I'm sure it sounds CRAZY to anyone reading who hasn't done it, but it was actually a really cool experience. It really was. I got to run in places I'd never seen before, be with a big group of girls that I love dearly and we did it. We are all mommies in our 20s, 30s and 40s, and we did it. We finished. And is it weird to say, that I'm sort of craving a run??

There's so much more to write about, like the time I peed on the side of the road and a car pulled up mid-stream, and needed us to move, or how 6 of us girls crammed into the van squished like sardines and tried to "sleep" for a couple of hours in the middle of the night before our next set of runs started up again, but it's just too much to write. I'm sure Shad's ears are already tired from listening and I feel like he doesn't even have a glimpse of the whole experience.

I asked him if he'd do it with me next Spring...the Southern Cal. Ragnar. A few of us would do it as couples. He said, "Sure. If you run all my legs for me". = ) I'd love to do it (not run his legs, but do a Ragnar as a couple) and run our night legs together. THAT would be fun. We'll see.

I have tons of pictures, but I'll have to post them another day.

I'm off to....

2011-09-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

do the Napa Vally Ragnar.

crazy?

yeah.

am i a runner?

nope.

but i've been practicing (can't quite say "training"...it sounds too intense) my running skills for the past 3 months.

i'm feeling good.

the only things i'm nervous about are hills (didn't practice on those like i should've) and chaffing. yep. where my arms hit my sports bra. hoping the body glide will do it's job.

shad thinks i'm nuts.

paying to run. staying up all night. running in general.

but i think it will be fun. 12 of us girls, away from our little ones, running from San Fransisco to Napa Valley in a relay.

wish me luck.

Ama's Visit

2011-09-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

Ama, Shad's Mom, moved out to Southern California and she'll be here for the next 3 months before she heads back to Utah. This was her first visit for a long weekend. It was great to see her and the kids absolutely adore her. The day after she left, Kate was in mourning. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she missed Ama.

kate baking

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

We were making Brownies with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting. They are completely addicting. I love them. I found the recipe a couple of weeks ago and have made them (and ate them) several times since.

Kate's Preschool

2011-09-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

Last year, all of Kate's friends from church were in the same little preschool. The teacher, "Teacher Robyn", is a mother from church, who's degree is in Education and she has taught preschool for years. It's really small, and last year, there wasn't any room for Kate. The class was already full. So this year, now that some of the kids have gone on to kinder, there is room for Kate! We were so excited. It's only twice a week for a couple of hours. Kate loves it. And of course Elle thought she was totally part of the class and didn't want to leave.

more hawaii pictures

2011-09-09T06:02:00.000-07:00

are sick of it yet?

i gotta get 'em out here so they'll be in my blurb book.

these are from lillie's camera.

View from our villa blacony.

This was Shad and Ross, every day, when the stock market closed...mesmorized. Unless the market is closed, part of Shad is still at work.

Off to go paddleboarding. We first tried this last time, and it was fun. Easy. Relaxing. And I was even 5 months pregnant. This time was a whole different story. We were the morons who rented our paddle boards in the afternoon, when no one was out paddleboarding anymore (hmmm....I wonder why) and it was crazy windy, and for a brief few minutes, I actually thought someone was going to have to come out to get Shad and I. We gave up actually "paddle boarding" because the wind just used our bodies as sails and took us farther and farther out. We were also stuck in a current, going out to the middle of the ocean. We finally jumped down on our bellies and paddled as hard and as fast as we could to the shore. I kept thinking, "How embrassing is this going to be. The dumb tourists who have to have some boat come out and save them". My pride was extremely grateful that we made it back. On our own. Except the next day, my arms were swearing. They were so sore from all that paddling.

At our resort.

A waterfall we hiked to...

This was early in the morning, when we all rolled out of bed, and Ross and Lillie looked so cute! I love how darling they look right out of bed.

Shad was our driver.

More of us in Paia...

This was just really funny to us. The couple we met, that ran the YMCA we stayed at that one night, wrote this on the envelope that had our room keys in it. We all bust up laughing. Because Lillie and I are so aware that we are "mommies", it was extra funny to us. The lady in charge said that our hats gave us away that we were "hip". I told her that mine was extra fancy, bought at Target a couple of weeks before. = ) So Lillie had me pose with the envelope. But my first pose wasn't very hip, so she had me redo it.

At the airport, on our way home.

And that's a wrap. (besides possibly a video of us surfing...Ross is still working on that one)

parasailing

2011-09-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

...something else we tried out in Maui. A little freaky if I didn't distract myself, when I realized I was hanging from a parachute being pulled by a 1200ft rope, by 2 guys that didn't strike me as the most responsible of sorts.

Take off was the coolest part.

Kate's Prayers

2011-09-07T06:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Heabanly Father,

Thank you for this day.

Please bless we'll have a good day.

Please bless we'll choose the right.

Please bless in Japan.

Please bless all the broken arms and legs.

Please bless Danielle and Clay.

Please bless _____________(fill in with ANYone who she's heard a whisper of that's sick). Repeat several times.

Please bless that Heabanly Father and Jesus will come down and visit.

Please bless the spirit to be with us.

Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

She is so sweet. So thoughtful. And very thorough. I didn't even write half of what she normally says. She blesses a lot of people.

The kids were doing a lot of "asking" in the prayers and not very many "thank yous" so we had a Family Night Lesson on prayers. We talked all about everything we have to be grateful for. One thing that we touched on was being thankful for our bodies and how we had arms and legs. We could see and run and smell, etc. I reminded them of a man we'd seen at the park the week before that didn't have any legs. Their eyes got huge and I really thought they got it. I thought they'd start realizing everything we have to be grateful for.

Somehow, pointing out the man at the park, translated into Kate and Tanner blessing "all the broken arms and legs" in every single prayer. = ) It makes me smile with joy everytime.

I realize now that it's not even blessings for themselves that they are mainly asking for. They bless everyone around them in their prayers.

*and if Shad and I ever forget to bless the people in Japan or Danielle and Clay or the broken arms and legs, Kate reminds us during and after the prayer, "you forgot to bless....."

Grandma's Visit

2011-09-06T06:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you Mom. We love you.

Hawaii Part 2

2011-09-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

We were so excited for this trip. Everyone loves Maui....it seems to be most peoples favorite island.

My wonderful, thoughtful, selfless Mother, flew out to watch (more like entertain...more in a post to come) my children for 8 days while Shad and I headed off across the ocean. I feel so blessed that I have a Mother who is capable and willing to do this for us. Not to mention my kids can't get enough of her.

We headed out and it was wonderful. Even the drive to the airport and the plane ride was wonderful. It's so peaceful traveling without children. I got to buy my guilty-pleasure celebrity magazines and read them cover to cover while eating candy on the plane, with a nice cozy fleece blanket over me. We rented a movie player on the plane....pretty cool. It was$15 and had a variety of movies to choose from and 2 headsets. We had plenty of time to watch 2 full movies. Then we arrived in beautiful Oahu and jumped on another plane to Maui. Ross and Lillie arrived a couple of hours before us. We met up at the resort and headed out to get burgers. We did not diet or even remotely eat healthy on this vacation. Burgers, fries, dessert every night (and throughout the day...who am I kidding), fish tacos, etc. We flew through several boxes of chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Needless to say, my clothes are a bit on the tight side right now. But it was all worth it.

Back on track....we ate burgers that night. It was so wonderful just to eat and visit into the evening.

The next morning I went on my one and only run. My plan was to run every other day in preparation for this. And it was really beautiful to run a long the ocean in 75 degree weather instead of 95 degree weather. But it just didn't happen. Sleep won out.

We took a two day journey on the Road to Hana. It's the one thing everyone says you have to do on Maui. Our first stop was in Paia...I could have stayed there the whole trip. A cute little beach town that was full of locals and they had the best healthfood store (that Shad said smelled funny..."why do all healthfood stores stink?" direct quote from Shad).

It's always nice to travel with Lille and Ross, besides the fact that we love them dearly, Lillie is a professional photographer....which is a really nice added bonus.

Here are some pictures of the town:

5 images above, via Lillie's blog

I'm not sure why, but in our other trips to Hawaii, we never got any shaved ice. Shad has complained about this for years. He finally got some.

We finally decided to take the top down on our rental jeep, because it was so beautiful outside on the road to Hana and traveling along the ocean...

and then it rained literally 3 minutes later. We all just busted up laughing. We road in the sprinkling rain, past sundown, and in the darkness until we reached our next stop, the YMCA...sounds funny I know. Read on.

We happened to meet this really cool couple that runs the YMCA on the other side of Maui (on the Road to Hana) and told us that we could get a cool deal there for a "room" that slept 4. It turned out to be a 2 bedroom cabin with a porch overlooking the ocean and a gorgeous tropical jungle. And it was so cheap!

Our cabin:

Our view from the porch:

Then we headed to Hana. They say it's the journey not the destination with Hana. I think we took that a little too seriously, because it took us a long time to get to Hana.

We saw the prettiest areas we ever seen. And being from Oregon, and completely snobby about how pretty it is there, that's saying a lot. It was gorgeous. The pictures won't do it justice. It was amazing. It felt like you were in a tropical rainforest/jungle/beach. It was amazing. Lush green trees, tropical fruit growing wild everywhere you looked, ~~a million billion mosquitos~~ lovely wildlife, and waterfalls galore. I've never seen so many waterfalls in such close proximity to eachother.

We hiked everywhere with our swim suits on underneath so we could jump in the waterfalls or ocean when we felt like it. The first waterfalls we hiked to, Shad and I were about 10 minutes ahead (because we are soooo in shape....yeah not really, Lillie stopped to take pictures on the trail). Anyway, it was so cool because there was no one in sight when we got there. There were three waterfalls landing into a pool of water, with the lushest greenery all around us. We stripped down to our suits and jumped in. It was magical. It was so cool swimming under waterfalls with Shad. I kept saying to Shad, "I feel like we're on the Bachelor on a date" because it was like that. One of those crazy cool dates you see that they go on and you think, "that's not real life."

We past several little fruit stands that were "on your honor" with no one around. They were so cute.

Shad was obsessed with the wild fruit. And obsessed is putting it lightly. It could be his obsession that made the Road to Hana so incredibly long, because he stopped every 1/2 mi and would exclaim, "do you see that? Guava/passion fruit/coconuts/banana/mango/avocado!! (whatever it was he saw at that moment...we picked and ate all of those). He picked so much fruit. Then when we'd get to the resort at night, he'd cut it all up and put it on a platter to serve us. It cracked us up. But he wasn't trying to be funny. He was in heaven with all of the free tropical fruit.

Here is the black sand beach. I gotta admit it was dissappointing. I was expecting black sand. It was a bunch of black rocks. No sand in sight. Still pretty though.

That evening we hiked to a really high waterfall. We had to hike through a bamboo forest and Lillie kept joking that we were on Dora. "Hike past the tree, through the bamboo forest and to the waterfall!" I think the four of us have watched way too much Nick Jr in the past 6 years. BUT the bamboo forest was crazy cool. We all loved it.

Shad surfing on a paddle board.

More to come. I haven't gotten the images from Lillie's camera yet.

Hawaii Part 1, in iPhone images

2011-09-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

breakfast

2011-09-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

Whole Wheat Waffles

1 1/4 c whole wheat flour (I grind Kamut, but whole wheat is easier to find)

1 T baking powder

3/4 t salt

2 T honey

3 eggs, separated

1 1/4 c milk

3 T olive oil

Mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Mix together honey, egg yolks, milk and olive oil. Combine wet and dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into batter.

Greek Yogurt Topping

greek yogurt

cottage cheese

agave (you could use pure maple syrup or honey)

Mix together.

So healthy.

So filling.

So good.

My little helper

2011-08-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

Maui

2011-08-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Shad and I, along with Ross and Lillie, took our 3rd trip to Hawaii together. The first trip was to Oahu, the second to Kauai and this time we did Maui. It was so fun.

Lillie and I haven't swapped all our pics yet. Most of the ones of Shad and I are on her camera. Most of her and Ross are on my camera. So basically get ready for way too many photos, because that's the way Lillie and roll (sorry Shad and Ross....you were good sports).

But here's a iPhone pic of the 4 of us.

first grade....i'm still not ready

2011-08-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

and he's sitting in his first grade classroom, right now.

why do they have to be gone for so long everyday?

i already miss his little voice in the background.

summer went by way. too. fast. i wish we could have summer all over again.

i held up strong, and acted super excited for him to go to school (i think i did a good job faking it), we met his teacher, Mrs. Root....apparently the "one" to get (so i hear from the other moms...obviously i'm still new at this), and walked to the play ground. it was too hot. much too hot. it's supposed to get to 112 degrees today. he got hot and sweaty, didn't see his friends from last year, started crying, wouldn't let go of me and said he wanted to go home.

i did everything i could think of to get him to stay. i reminded him of how much he loved kindergarten and how he hated missing school last year. i reminded him of the parties, the monkey bars, the art projects and his friends. i bribed him with no-bake cookies when he got home after school. he wouldn't bite. i'd finally given up and thought i'd have to leave him bawling at the door to his classroom, when i remembered he's had his eye on the new Batcave (a fisherprice toy that he looks up on Amazon every day to stare at....he's been saving his chore money). i whispered in his ear, "come everyday to school this week, and on friday, we'll go buy the batcave". done. as fast as he could he went to his seat, and as fast as i could, i walked out the door.

maybe i shouldn't have bribed him. i'm sure she wouldn't have agreed.

but i don't care.

Chocolate Banana Muffins

2011-08-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

No sugar.

No artificial sweeteners.

No white flour.

Really, really good.

Chocolate Banana Muffins

**adapted from Smart Muffins, by Jane Kinderlehrer, and changed by Rebecca and myself

1 large egg

3 T melted butter

1/4 c honey

3/4 c mashed banana

2/3 c plain yogurt (I used greek)

1/4 c fresh pitted dates (sugar medjool is my favorite variety for this recipe)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 c + 10 T of whole wheat flour, spelt flour, Kamut flour, etc

1/3 c cocoa

2 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1 t cinnamon

3/4 t salt

1/4-1/2 c finely chopped dark chocolate (optional...and obviously this has sugar in it)

In a food processor, or blender, combine egg, butter, honey, bananas, yogurt, vanilla and dates. Process until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients. Mix the wet ingredients with dry, gently and just until combined. Scoop into greased muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees. For mini muffins, it makes 24, and they cook for about 12 minutes. For regular sized muffins, it makes 12 and they cook for about 16-18 minutes. Remove from tin immediately.

pancakes

2011-08-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

is 6 1/2 old enough for him to make pancakes by himself?

he only did the cooking for this batch.

mixing is easier than cooking. right?

i think we're on to something.

my latest obsession...

2011-08-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

...in all forms. This one happens to be on homemade wheat bread, but I'll take it with out the bread, on crackers, whatever. It's good.

August

2011-08-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

Yummy breakfast a couple of Saturdays ago. Got the basic recipe here, but changed it to what I had in my fridge.

Kate has turned a corner. She is sweet again. She left us for a couple of years (she reminded me of a really angry wild animal). But she's back. Our sweet, little Kate. And I'm thoroughly enjoying.

July

2011-08-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

I grew up going to the beach every 4th of July. We'd go for a whole week. We'd play in the sand, go crabbing, explore at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, do bonfires, see the fireworks, do puzzles, play in the canal, capturing starfish and sand dollars, and playing with the sea anenomes. I loved the 4th of July.

Fast forward 11 years. I see my kids growing up without that tradition, and it kills me. Last year on Shads ~~fifth mancation of the year~~, wonderful fishing trip he got to go on to Alaska, we made a deal that if he went, he would to go to Oregon with me for a whole week for the 4th of July. Not a "I'll fly up and drop you and the kids off and then fly back to work. I'll pick you up a week later".

Nope.

I wanted him in attendance during the family trip.

So we did it.

It was a blast. I'm not sure how else to put it. I loved every single minute of it. My parents were amazing. My Mom had an activity planned for every single day and she was always "on". If there was a lull, she'd be found playing crazy eights or go fish with Tanner and Kate.

My normal morning routine at home, is Tanner coming in at 5:30am. Us trying to distract him in some way so we can keep sleeping. At 6:30am he's done. He's "starving to death". By then he's on my side of the bed begging for pancakes, German pancakes, French toast, waffles etc. Heaven forbid he should like cereal.

Well, at my Moms, I'd mozy on out of bed whenever Elle woke up and come upstairs to freshly made breakfast and Tanner and Kate eating at the table, happily. And not just any breakfast. Pancakes made with CARS molds or princess molds, waffles shaped like animals, etc. And then she'd ask me, "Do you want some oatmeal with berries? I'm going to make some for myself." It was AMAZING.

And then Shad and I took a nap every single day when Elle would nap. I felt so spoiled.

The beach is their backyard. You walk down this beautiful path that's covered in greenery and moss ( I LOVE moss....I didn't realize how much I took it for granted growing up. It's so beautiful. And it makes me feel at home) down to the beach. And the beach is vacant. You don't see anyone on it. Which is wonderful. I love the California beaches too. For a lot of different reasons (you don't have to be bundled up, can actually go in the water without your body literally numbing up). But I love the Oregon Coast.

Here are the pictures. I had to do collages. There were way to many pictures.

The Newport Lighthouse and tidepools.

Tanner got to go fishing with the "men". He absolutely loved it. Still talks about it to this day. He had to get up at 3:45am (right Shad? I was asleep, so I don't remember), to make it out while the ocean was still calm. He got to be with Dad and Grandpa for hours, fishing, crabbing and eating oreos and chocolate milk. = )

And of course the benefit for me was eating as much crab as I could stuff in when they returned. I could eat Dungeness crab every day of my life and be so happy.

The many activites my Mom did with the kids....crafts, play-doh, decorating cupcakes, visiting the pirate shops, the aquarium, dress up, hot dog roast with s'mores, and fireworks.

My Dad is the king of making hot cocoa from scratch. I don't think he can cook any thing else, but this one thing in the kitchen, he's very good at.

*once my sister Danielle, asked him for his recipe, and this was their exact conversation (I took it from her blog):

Me: So dad, I was hoping you could tell me how you make your hot chocolate.

Dad: Oh really...

Me: Yeah- do you have like specific measurements?

Dad: *laughs* Uh...no just a little here...a little there...

Me: So how do you do it?

Dad: Well, first I warm up the milk...you can't put the cocoa in before it's warmed...then you put the cocoa in...

Me: About how much?

Dad: Until it is the color of what hot chocolate looks like.

Me: So you go by color?

Dad: Yes, I go by color. You know, I think I'm going to write that out on paper and patent it.

Me: That's a good idea. So you go by color...and then...

Dad: And then I put a LOT of sugar in. I mean...a LOT of sugar. You really can't have too much sugar.

Me: Okay...a lot...of...sugar...

Dad: Then I take the biggest salt shaker, and put quite a few big shakes in.

Me: So like...an actual salt shaker? Or mom's salt thing...

Dad: No- an actual salt shaker. I would say that if you were making hot chocolate for two people...so about 4 cups...then I would put 5-6 big shakes in there.

Me: Okay...anything else?

Dad: Then I taste it...and if it's too bitter...more sugar...too chocolaty...more milk...you know, I adjust it after I taste it. OH- and don't forget the whipped cream on top. That's a verrry important part.

Me: *laughs* alright. Lots of whipped cream. Okay, well thanks dad!

Dad: Good luck.

And here's the candy machine. My sister Amy, got my Dad a candy machine a couple of years back. VERY popular with the grandchildren. They used to get to "spin the dial" twice a day. Well that one wore out and he got a new one, where you just place your hand under it and out the candy comes. Kate would have her "turns" over with by noon. Tanner didn't eat one piece of candy. Saved it all for the end and brought it home. It's still sitting in my kitchen drawer. = ) And Elle caught on as well. She'd go in there throughout the day and put her hand under the sensor, and candy would pour out.

A week later, we were home, swimming away and eating grilled hotdogs, watermelon and chips. A staple meal in our house this summer.

Thank you Mom and Dad for a wonderful family vacation.

June Part II

2011-08-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

Tanner finished kindergarten.

June Part I

2011-08-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Bec got married....

I snapped some pictures of my darling little niece, Scarlett.

May

2011-08-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

Shad's Birthday....35 years old. Yikes. I met him when he was 22. Where did the time go?? It's not that I think 35 is old. It's not. It's just that time goes by so fast.

His requests are very predictable. Belgian waffles topped with fresh strawberries and vanilla icecream for breakfast, bbq for dinner and Brownie, Oreo, Mint-chip Icecream Cake.

I'm pretty sure Tanner and Kate were way more excited for the birthday than Shad was. = )

Lamm Family Reunion at Zion. See the Kate's pink purse? She hiked all around Zion with the princess purse, her princess sun glasses and church shoes on. And whenever you needed anything, she'd magically pull it out of that purse. (the same purse she whipped the pumpkin out of, last October in the middle of church)

Thanks Tammy for taking the pictures. (I was really lazy and didn't take any)

April

2011-08-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

April was busy

My Mom visited
Shad's Mom visited
Shad's sister's family visited
Elle stopped nursing
Shad and I got strep throat
We closed on our new house
Rented out the new house for Coachella Fest
Moved in

All within about 10 days.

We are so grateful to our families who helped us. We couldn't have done it without them.

March

2011-08-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

Tanner played baseball this last spring and loved it. He was so incredibly focused at each and every game. Eyes never leaving the ball.

Shad coached him.

February Part II

2011-08-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

Tanner got into "Green Eggs and Ham" minus the ham. He wouldn't touch eggs before Dr. Seuss Day, and now after trying eggs at kinder, he loves them. He'll only eat them green though. I can't even stomach to take one bite when they look like that.

My sweet babes.

My friend Tara, had her baby, and I got to take some pictures of him.

Valentines Day fondue party with my sister Rebecca and her girls.

February Part 1

2011-08-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

Elle was a doll. Still is actually.

**disclaimer: the pictures look funky. the coloring is all off. i'd just gotten my new camera, decided to shoot in raw and shoot manually...all in one day. i wasn't used to it yet. 6 months later....i'm still not used to it.

January

2011-08-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

This was our second year going to the Farmer's Market.

Kate, Elle and I.

We love it.

Kate and Elle would gobble up the berries like they were candy. Kate would get a honey stick from Suzie the beekeeper, a sampe Dave's barbequed ribs, and beg for a brioche roll.

I love the Farmers Market, because my kids will try anything. I don't know why it's different there, versus home. Maybe how pretty they have it set up, that we're outside, who knows. But I love it.

We'd get fresh dates, and stuff them with local goat cheese. Seriously good.

Garden fresh tomatoes with kosher salt. Nothing like it.

Our Farmer's Market is closed now. It goes from late September to early June and closes in the summer. Counting the days until it opens again. (actually, this year they opened it up in the Palm Springs Mall, Saturday mornings if you're a local....too far away for me...and it seems odd to go to a Farmers Market in a mall)

What I lived on all winter for breakfast (changing the fruit to what we picked up at the market).

Also got really into homemade granola. Rolled oats, popped amaranth, toasted millet, red quinoa, pecans, almonds, pepitas, pure maple syrup, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

So good.

Is it possible to catch up?

2011-08-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

Probably not.

But I'm gonna try.

It was a nice break.

But I'm back.

Tanner and Kate Face Painting

2011-02-13T21:26:00.000-08:00

They came home from a birthday party the other day looking like this. I loved it. = )

kate's cravings

2011-01-27T07:10:00.000-08:00

Goldfish, crackers, white bread, "sheetos" (cheetos), chips, and pretzels. She'll choose these over a sweet treat or a toy (sad, but true), any day.

So different from Tanner. I've never seen Tanner eat 1 goldfish. He's refused since he's been old enough to eat one. He won't eat crackers or pretzels and prefers a sweet treat.

Lately, he's been "teaching" Kate what's healthy and what's not....

"Kate, that's not healthy. Don't you want to grow big and strong?"

"Kate, you're going to get a stomach ache. You need to eat healthy food."

"Kate, you're not going to have very much energy. You need to eat healthy food like me and Elle and Mom and Dad" (he obviously doesn't see what Shad and I eat after he goes to bed)

Kate could care less about any of this. And I'm not too worried, because Tanner was the same way at that age.

Here's her recent favorite.....chips and cheese. It's a super complicated recipe.

Put tortilla chips on a plate. Sprinkle with cheese. Melt in microwave. Eat.

She learned it from her cousin Gracie. Thank you Rebecca. We really appreciate it. (can you sense my sarcasm?)

Arugula Salad

2011-01-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

Rebecca brought me some of this salad the other day, and 2 days later I was craving it, so I had to make it myself.

I think she got the recipe years ago as a couscous salad, but changed it up, added her own things and came up with this:

Arugula Salad

quinoa, cooked
figs (dried), chopped
goat cheese
raw walnuts, chopped

mix with:

1 part orange vinegar
1 part olive oil
salt
pepper

spoon over arugula

It's really good. My only warning is that it might not be guy food. Shad eats EVERYTHING I make. All the crazy grain concoctions and vegan meals I sometimes provide, he eats happily. He said this one is "alright". That's Shad's way of saying he didn't like it. He wasn't loving the goat cheese.

As for me, I loved every last morsel.

"candy bars"

2011-01-25T07:28:00.000-08:00

About once a week, Tanner begs me to make "candy bars". That's what we've always called protein/nutrition bars around these parts.

I used to buy Cliff Z bars, for the kids. I know they're not the healthiest of things, but it's nice when we're on the go, or if I'm being really lazy.

So when I saw this recipe on The Little Red House blog, I knew I had to try it.

Here's the recipe (straight from her blog):

The Good Cookie

3/4c peanut butter

1/4c agave nectar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 can chickpeas, pureed in food processor

1 1/4 c rolled oats

1/2 c whole wheat flour

1/4c ground flax seed

1/8c wheat germ

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2oz good quality dark chocolate, finely chopped

In a seperate bowl combine oats, flour, flax, wheat germ, baking powder and salt.

Combine pb, agave, and egg in mixer, and beat until well combined--about a minute.

Add vanilla.

Stir in chickpea puree until well mixed.

Slowly stir in dry mixture until well combined. Mixture will be thick.

Shape into a rectangle on a lined cookie sheet, about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle chocolate over the top.

Bake at 350° in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until cookie is set.

Spread out chocolate, allow to cool for about 10 minutes, and cut into bars. Let them cool completely before you eat them. Store in refrigerator to keep the chocolate nice and crisp.

*I add chia seed to mine. It kind of gives the apperance of chocolate chips in the batter. = ) And they're super healthy.

**Oh, and I ran out of chickpeas/garbanzo beans a couple of times and replaced them with cannelloni beans. Worked great. I actually like it better. HOWEVER, I ran out of both kinds of beans once and tried pinto beans. Wow. Tasted an awful lot like refried beans. I love refried beans, but not in a "candy bar". Don't try it at home.

***Also, we don't wait for them to cool before eating. Tanner likes them best warm.

They trick Shad every time he comes home and sees them on the counter. He grabs one (thinking they're yummy cookie bars), takes a bite, sort of gags, looks at the kids and says, "wow, these are great!"

Tanner loves them. And Kate likes them. So I say it's a winner.

salad recipe

2011-01-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

The "basic salad" (from the post below...I got questions in my email) really is basic! I feel like everyone and every restaurant has their own variation of it. My sister has one here. My version is usually whatever I have in the fridge. Sometimes I add celery, green onion, red onion, craisins, mangos, pears, etc (not all of those in the same salad...that sounds gross, but whatever I have that goes together). Really it just depends on what you like. But here's what I added this particular salad.

greens

cooked red quinoa (you could use white also, but I think the red looks pretty, and I like the nuttier flavor better. just cook it up following the recipe on the box or if you bought it in bulk, cook it like you would white rice. i usually add 1/2 c cooked quinoa person. but if you're just starting/getting used to quinoa, add 2-4 T instead and work your way up)

fresh berries (i used blackberries, but you could use any other berry or halved grapes are great too)

caramelized nuts (i used to spend the time caramelizing nuts a couple times a week for salads. i got tired. now i buy a big bag of Kirkland Cashew Clusters with Almonds and Pumpkin Seeds from Costco and chop them up. much easier)

chopped apples

cheese (i used white cheddar with caramelized onion from Trader Joes, but you could use any kind you like)

Viniagrette (my sister Rebecca made it up)

1/3 c pure maple syrup

1/3 c + 1 T apple cider vinegar

1/3 c olive oil

salt and pepper

Mix maple syrup and vinegar together, and while whisking really fast, add the olive oil in a stream.

*A few notes on the quinoa. You have to have it cooked already, or you're never going to "throw it in" a salad, or soup. I learned about quinoa a little over 5 years ago, and was petrified to use it unless I had an exact recipe to follow. You really can add it to so many things, but I admit it took me until now to be brave enough to do it. I LOVE it. I cook up the whole box, spread it out on a cookie sheet to cool off and then bag it up in 1 cup portions and freeze. I pull one out before dinner or the night before and add it to salads, soup, and in place of rice for Mexican food, Indian food, Thai food, etc. Of course you can add it to so many other things, but this is about where I'm at right now. I think this week I'll try adding a bit to Tanner's smoothies. We'll see. But my point is, don't be a pansy like I was and wait 5 years and just DO IT. Cook up a batch and try it. Start small. Especially if you have a suspicious significant other or children. Add hardly any. See if they notice. See if the flavor goes alright with the recipe you're using. Next time add more. It's just a small way of adding in a perfect protien (meaning all the essential amino acids needed), a load of fiber and real whole food to your family's diet. Some times it may taste weird in a recipe, but most the time it will taste GREAT. I promise I'm not being endorsed by the quinoa companies. = )

Kate turns 4

2011-01-24T07:31:00.000-08:00

Kate was frowning in almost all of her birthday pictures. The only reason I have the one above where she is smiling, is because her cousin was making her laugh. Why do you want to be sad Kate? We all love you so much. You have a happy life. Please be happy.

Kate informed me several times, that she didn't have to eat real food on her birthday and she was "only going to eat cake." I'm not quite sure where that came from. So here's what she wanted to eat. "Sheetos" and a 1/2 pink cake, 1/2 confetti cake, frosted with pink, and decorated by her with candy. (Oh, and 6 candles. She turned 4, but wanted to put on all the ones that came in the package.)

Although the cheetos and cake were tempting, I felt like something was missing. Maybe something fresh? Some protien? So I made the basic apple, cheese, nuts, greens and vinaigrette salad, but I threw in some cooked red quinoa. Why not? And tried and true grilled paninis....turkey, sharp white cheddar cheese, apple, and grainy mustard.

Happy Birthday Kate. We love you!!!

Tanner turns 6

2011-01-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

It started out dark. Way to early to start a day. But it was his day, so we started early. = )

Donuts and chocolate milk were on the menu for breakfast. Of course I wasn't about to get up even earlier to go to a donut store, so I bought boxed ones the night before. I cannot believe those are even on the market. Who eats those things?! Oh yeah, I did when I was a freshman in college. Powdered sugar donuts everyday for breakfast and washed it down with Carnation Drink mix. Classy. And I wonder how I gained that Freshman 15 (or 20 in my case....honestly. When I came home at Christmas my Mom had to buy me all new jeans) Anyhow, we had preservative-filled, no expiration date, boxed donuts for breakfast and my kid was in heaven. = )

All he wanted was "art stuff" for his birthday. The night before I asked him once more, "are you sure you don't want any toys?" He responded, "No Mom. I want art stuff. I love doing art. It's my favorite. " So "art stuff" he got.

He went to school, I brought cupcakes to his class, we came home and played. For dinner he wanted, "that really yummy pizza that's by Ralphs. Sort of by Ralphs. Not right by it, but kind of." He meant Dominos. So we had pizza and root beer for dinner.

He wanted "Dad's Cake" for dessert. Every Father's Day and every year on his birthday, Shad requests the same thing. A homemade ice cream cake, made with brownies, mint ice cream, oreos and hot fudge sauce.

Happy Birthday Tanner. We love you.

31

2011-01-22T07:26:00.000-08:00

Why does that seem so much older than 30?

Last year wasn't a big deal. I was barely out of my 20s.

Now I'm in my 30s, which is fine. I guess.

Except that I'm noticing wrinkles.

I hear laughing. Through the computer. But stop laughing because it's true. I even had a sister admit that she had noticed it (on me) too.

It's in between my eyebrows. On my forehead. And my smile lines. There all getting a bit more noticeable.

Strangers used to tell me all the time what "beautiful skin" I had. No more. I haven't heard that in years.

All that being said, I'd never go back in time. I assume it's always like that. I look back at things I did and said a couple of years back and am pretty much embarrassed of myself. It's humbling to know that in a couple of years from now, I'll look back to this time, and once again be embarrassed. Is there anyway to avoid that??

Anyhow, I turned 31 last week and had a wonderful day.

shad let me sleep in, until he had to go to work (he had an 8am appointment, so the sleep lasted until 7:30, but I was still so grateful....cuz did I mention that the other day, Tanner woke up at 4:30am and did NOT go back to sleep. I woke up to hear him playing in his room. I said, "hey bud. It's still night time. You need to go back to bed. He started crying and said, "I can't. I tried. I'm not tired." He just kept playing all by himself until the rest of us woke up. So 7:30 is "sleeping in" at our house)
Kate went to preschool (day 2 of 2, and she's done now...she'd rather stay home with Elle and I....I'm down with that) and Tanner went to kindergarten and Elle took a nap so I had about an hour of uninterrupted time to myself. Happy Birthday to me.
I went to the chiropractor in the afternoon. I love the chiropractor. Not the actual chiropractor, Ron, but getting adjusted. If I could, I'd get adjusted morning and night. I also get a 50 minute massage included in my $20 co-pay. Yes. You read that right. And I try to take full advantage of it. If it works out with sitters, I go once a week. (it usually doesn't work out that way, but I try)
Rebecca made me dinner and cheesecake. Yum. She is the best cook I know. Honestly. It was like I was in a gourmet restaurant. She made apple sweet potato soup, a salad with greens, blackberries, cinnamon sugar toasted walnuts, roasted onion cheddar cheese (i'd never had it before. it's so freaking good. thank you trader joes. i am now addicted to treats and this cheese), apples and a homemade apple, maple vinaigrette. She made a chicken breast coated in pistachios, pepitas and rosemary. So good. And for desert....Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake. I've made it before. It pretty much takes a whole day to make. And it tastes like it took a whole day to make. It was so good. (oh yeah....the "eating plan" shad and I are on? we took my birthday dinner off. which turned into the whole day for me. which turned into a couple of days and then a week. happy birthday to me. again.)
a whole drive home from my sisters (1 hour away), talking to Shad, while the kids were dozed off in their car seats. Nice. That may have been my favorite part of the day.

I was spoiled. Thank you Rebecca. Thank you Shad.

there's nothing like it

2011-01-21T07:27:00.000-08:00

fresh orange juice.

shad could care less about terms like....local, organic, free-range, sustainable, farm-to-table, cage-free, hormone-free, etc.

he's just not into it.

mostly because of price.

when i even mention one of the above terms, his eye brows raise and he responds with some comment like, "it's those hippie, oregonian roots" or "you and your mom" or "you and your sisters" = )

but this fresh orange juice thing....where we pick them that morning across the street. literally a few yards from our front door.

we bring them home, juice them and drink.

he's all about this.

i like to think he is "growing". that some of my "oregonian hippie roots" are rubbing off on him.

but i'm pretty sure i know the real reason he's so into it.

it's free.

free at last. free at last.

2011-01-20T09:13:00.000-08:00

of training wheels.

I had no idea how wonderful it was to have your kid ride a bike without those dang training wheels. Here's a run down of Tanner's bike-riding history (cuz you're all dying to know):

got the Lightening McQueen trike at age 2 and loved it. he could cruise like i'd never seen another kid cruise
the tiny spiderman bike appears at age 4. he rides it, but definitely loses interest fast and still prefers Lightening McQueen.
summer of 2009, we accidentally leave Lightening McQueen in Idaho. we are still mourning that little trike. every kid that came over, loved that thing.
from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2, hates riding bikes. pretty much refuses. says it's "not fun".
a few days before his 6th birthday, he learns ride a bike and it's back to the good ol' days. he loves riding. begs several times a day. could ride all day and night. did i mention how much he loves riding a bike now?

At risk of sounding totally and completely cheesy, I've never experienced anything quite like watching him ride a bike for the first time by himself. Seeing him ride off down our street, practically made me tear up. It was like watching his life fast forward thru elementary school, preferring friends over Shad and I, dating, driving, going to college, going on a mission, getting married.

I know. I know.

It's not that dramatic. But at that moment it was.

I also felt so so so happy for him. He wanted it bad. And to finally see him be able to conquer that bike was awesome.

I love you bud. Can you stay 6 forever?

the green smoothie

2011-01-19T21:15:00.000-08:00

which =

Have I mentioned that Tanner lives on these? I got the recipe from my friend Stephanie and Tanner loved it. Once he got used to the smoothies, I snuck in some chia seed (nutrition found here). That way he gets a boost of healthy fats, fiber and a bit of protein.

Here's what you do:

1/2 can of pineapple with 1/2 the juice

a ton of fresh spinach

1 banana

agave

chia seed

ice

Blend. Give to your kids. Kick back and feel super good about yourself that they're eating all that spinach.

Pump it Up!!!

2011-01-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

Who can resist a Pump it Up party??

Loud, bright colors, no windows, flourescent lights, and who knows how many germs?? What could be better? That what's we opted for this year.

Combined birthday parties for Tanner and Kate.

The benefits?

kids love it
no clean-up
no set-up
no making invitations
no entertaining
I didn't even light the candles or carry the cake
EVERYTHING was done for us
1/2 off special from Pump it Up and combining 2 kids parties in 1, pretty sweet deal cost-wise

As we were walking out the door of Pump it Up, I glanced back at the cake smeared on the floor, topped off with chips and Rootbeer (times 32 kids plus adults) and was grateful to continue onto our car and drive home.

Wonderful.

That being said, I'm pretty sure it'll be our last party like that.

too much chaos
too many presents

Growing up, we were allowed to have a party (with friends) every other year and we only invited a handful of friends. I didn't understand when I was little. I get it now.

I love the pictures of Kate squeezing her big brother. = )

Dear Elle,

2011-01-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

I have loved nursing you. I love how it's a bond between you and me and no one else. You cuddle up, quite down and eat. I love it the most when you close your eyes and fall asleep. So peaceful.

My plan has always been to nurse you until about 18 months when your Daddy and I take a trip together.

Just yesterday I called your Aunt Rebecca and told her that you are almost a year old and I CANNOT imagine NOT nursing you when you turn 1. You still seem so tiny and little to me. You're my baby.

Well last night something happened.

You bit me.

Hard.

You've been biting me on and off for about 4 months. I haven't enjoyed it and I tried to get you to stop, but it never really worked. It would sting, but it wasn't horrible and I just pushed through it, thinking, "it's just a stage....she'll get over it".

Well, last night I was bleeding. You drew blood kiddo. It really hurt.

Then this morning when I nursed you, I was tense the whole time, scared to death you'd bite me again in the same place.

Please stop.

Please, please stop.

I really want to keep nursing you.

Love,

Mom

my 4th baby was delivered today.

2011-01-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

I felt like something was missing in my life.

Shad didn't agree.

He thought it was to expensive.

I convinced him otherwise.

We were finally on the same page.

I awaited the day of delivery.

The baby came early.

2lbs 2 oz, via US postal mail.

Isn't she beautiful?

Happy Birthday to me, from the most supportive husband ever. Love you babe.