Favorite Capture Friday

Last night Tom did a little photo shoot of me and my boys...I am so happy with how they came out...this is one of my favs...LOVE the angle:-)

I am hoping Favorite Capture Friday becomes a trend...I would love to come and be on this space more often...it's become harder with two kiddos, but I don't want these days to pass without capturing them:-)  We will see...

Thanks again Mom!

I downloaded this pattern for the February Lady Sweater...probably a year ago...I mentioned it to my mom, and she took it and knit it for me!  Thanks!  I LOVE it!  I took these pics in January...oops!

On teething...

Some of you may remember me lamenting about Holden's teething...Well we are at it again...See those two teeth Daniel has? We earned both of those with lost sleep, fussiness, drool, biting, and general warfare...He now has the two top ones...again earned every corner of those teeth...He actually handles it much better than Holden did...but oh I am NOT handling the lost sleep well...I am EXHAUSTED!

Only 12 more to go! Woohoo! And my pediatrition told me teething doesn't bother them! I wanted to punch him in the face when he said this:-) His reasoning was that when were are older and get teeth it doesn't bother us...hmmm I disagree...wholeheartedly...I have seen it...

Anyway, we could always use prayer to get through these time...I know this too shall pass...I just wish the teeth just showed up unannounced!

I HEART Jamie Oliver:-)

So if you have talked to me in person lately you have probably heard a little about food...I watched an epsiode of Oprah where they were talking about Food Inc...and Micheal Pollan was on talking about his "food rules"...It was all quite interesting and spurred something in me...I think it has something to do with wanting my kids to eat well...and knowing that I need to eat well for my kids to.  So I checked out In Defense of Food by Micheal Pollan, and read it.  I loved it!  I can't believe what a business growing food has become and how much we have altered the quality of our food to provide bigger cheaper food...it's actually quite eye opening for me to learn how different even live animal foods are from what they were 50 years ago.  And to learn how non-diversified our produce has become!  Not to mention the fact that processed food changes per the fad nutrionism...Omega-3's anyone?

Now I already shop fairly organic, I love to cook, and I am kind of crunchy:-)  But I love me a burger and fries and I realized I could should be doing more.  I am a vote with your wallet thinker, and I am trying to do that more...I have started baking a lot of our bread...whole wheat even:-)...and I also started watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution...I find it very entertaining and I am totally onboard with his desire to help Americans learn how to get away from processed food and cook real food at home.  And don't get me started on the school food...

Anyway that leads to the above meal...I checked out Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution cook book from the library and immediately marked about 80% of the meals as ones I wanted to try.  I also told Tom and Holden I wanted Jamie To come cook with us in our house:-)  Holden was fascinated by this and talks about it now like it is going to happen...:-)  Tonight we had the Quick Salmon Tikka with homemade naan.  it was SO easy, and amazing!  I was sure Holden wouldn't eat it, but he devoured the salmon and has said whenever I say I am making salmon he will say "YUM!"  This coming from a kid who usually says I don't like it when he hears what we are having.

SO anyway, our new menus include less meat altogether...more vegetarian meals, more fish, less processed foods (which for us is mostly bread products).  And definitely eating in more...trying to find easy meals that can combat the "I don't feel like cooking" nights in which we tend to get take out...So far the meals in his cookbook are quite easy...I made it harder on myself making the naan but even that was pretty easy!

Oh yeah and I started a small garden...from which I got the cilantro for the meal tonight...I love that!  Just thought I would share:-)

Saturday Morning Walk

Saturday mornings used to regularly be spent with Beth and Josh having a relaxing morning of coffee and chatting...since kiddos its changed a bit, and we have gotten busy so we don't do it that often anymore...but when we do it is always fun!

This Saturday we went for a walk before our breakfast and coffee at our house. I am so excited for spring and looking forward to utilizing the trails around our house!

This morning it was a bit cool and the clouds were rolling in for a storm, but it was still beautiful, and we loved how the breeze was making the grass look like waves...

Beth insisted on documenting that yes I was there too...

I returned the favor...What a beautiful day:-) We are so blessed!

Thanks mom!

I saw something like these booties on another blog...I sent pictures to my mom she found a pattern on etsy...and made these:-) We love them:-) Thanks mom!

The Easter Bunny and Jesus...

I should have known I would have THAT kid...He is SO inquisitive and so into wanting to know why, and the truth...I just didn't really expect him to speak out on something so early...now his cousin MJ...could've totally seen that but Holden...not so much.

What am I talking about exactly? Well, this Thursday when I got to preschool, Ms. Wendy pulled me aside and said, "your son! I just have to tell you...on Tuesday when all the kids were going on and on about what the Easter Bunny brought them, and all about the Easter Bunny this and that...Holden sat back quietly, took it all in and then slowly his hand went up...I called on him, and he said, 'um...you DO know that the Easter Bunny is not real right?' I just said is that what you think Holden? and all the other kids, exclaimed, 'YES he is!' and Holden just didn't say anymore."

I said "really? that's so interesting because we didn't even talk about the bunny one way or another? hmmm"

She said, "I wasn't sure what to say to him so I just said, 'really? is that what you think Holden?' BUT the funniest part was his face and his little hand going up ever so slowly...he will probably be the one to out Santa next year!"

I loved it! I couldn't wait to ask Holden all about it...I was sure it was news he had heard from MJ since we hadn't talked about it...

So later in the car...

Me: "So I heard something from Ms. Wendy"

H: "what?"

Me: "She told me when all the other kids were talking about the Easter Bunny you raised your hand and said that he wasn't real"

H: " Well, he isn't real. Know how I know the Easter Bunny isn't real?"

Me: "How?"

H: "MJ told me!"

ah ha I was right!

Me: "Do you know what Easter is really about?"

H: "yep 3 things"

Me: "What 3 things?"

H: "God died on the cross, they put Him in a tomb, and then he rose from the dead! Those 3 things"

Me: "you are right, why is it important that Jesus rose from the dead?"

H: "so we could have a God!"

close son, close...

Me: "that's right so we could have a relationship with Jesus, and so that our sins could be forgiven!"

H: "yeah!"

silence

H: "mom I love you!"

Me: "Thanks Holden, I love you too"

H: "mom, I bove you..."

He's so silly...

May he always look for the truth, and speak the truth...such a lesson to learn from my little guy.

Easter Sunday...

Easter Sunday as we got ready for church I taught Holden about "He is risen!" "He is risen indeed!" He had a lot of fun with it, and tested it out on all the family...How was I supposed to know that not everyone does this in their church? :-) He was confused when others did not answer his "He is risen!" with the expected response:-)

After church we headed up to Tom's parents and spent a nice relaxing day with family...as the babies get older I see holidays as being pure chaos with kiddos running around:-) SO fun!

"Seriously mom...more pictures?"

Uncle Josh works way too hard and needs more rest!

Ok here's a smile!

"This is my serious look"

Miss A was tired like her daddy:-)

Look at those teeth!

Daniel is experimenting with thumb and finger chewing/sucking...Holden did this and it never stuck...will see what happens with Daniel...

I made the boys matching shirts...was so glad to finish before Easter:-)  I was trying to get a picture with them together...but I waited to long, the lighting was bad, the kiddos were tired...it wasn't meant to be...maybe next time they wear them:-)

LOVE the way Daniel is fascinated with Holden and all he does...Holden loves Daniel just as much!  Its awesome to watch!

They were seriously done at this point...It was a fun day, and I love that Holden is totally old enough to get what Easter is about...I love when he tells the story of what happened on the cross in his 3 year old way...what a awesome privilege it is to watch these little ones grow...and to teach them about our Heavenly Father.

8 Months...

8 Months?  Really? 2/3rds of a year?  WOW!  It's gone by SO fast...I hope I can cherish all these firsts!  Here is 8 months according to Daniel::

:: weight = a lot for his age, height = TALL::

::  Solids have given him a bit of a problem...If you see me regularly you know what I am talking about...We are working on it...He likes a bunch of stuff...but we have decided any cereal and bananas are OFF LIMITS::

:: still FAR from sleeping through the night, BUT we have had some longer stretches so hopefully when teething and the solids problem are long gone we will have sleep:-)::

:: STILL only 2 teeth...but the top two are RIGHT.THERE. have been FOR.WEEKS!::

:: pulls up ALL.THE.TIME.  on EVERYTHING!::

:: rolls, scoots and generally moves every which way without actually crawling!::

:: still no words yet ::

:: I am surprised I said last month that he puts all things in his mouth...doesn't really do that anymore::

:: LOVES the jumper, and examining all toys ESPECIALLY big brother's:-)::

He like his brother has captured my heart, I look forward to what this next few months on the way to 1 yr. will look like.  I miss my sleep, but he is totally worth it!  And the time spent with him is SO rich:-)

Snapshots of March

1. SO tired he napped like this on the couch!  2.  Prunes YUM!  3.  Cutie!  4.  Gym Time

5-6.  chubby thighs:) and shots:(  7-8.  Laundry help

9.  Stroller Nap  10.  Daniel's "friends"  11.  His favorite rattle  12.  upclose

13.  Love the hands  14.  ready to go!  15.  I WANT this view!  16.  SPRING!

17-18. Daniel works on his surprised look  19.  Hi mom!  20.  Holden wanted his picture taken in his tower

21. hmm let's see what we've got here...  22-24.  Fly swatters are great fun (don't worry this is a never been used play one!)

25.  Brotherly Love  26.  Can't get enough of that smile  27-28. Gotta love the carousel at the mall!

29.  Helping mom bring home pizza  30.  Mom and D  31.  On the way to Grandma's!  32.  Made it!  Now to rest.

33-34. On the road during our trip  35. Daniel the grump!  36.  Good Friends!

37.  Cousin Flynn!  38.  Baby Wrestling with Grandma  39.  Car napping  40.  Big brother:-)

41. enough with the pictures!  42.  It's good to be home!  43.  Cutie!  44.  We will not smile for you!

45.  I love being in the carrier!  46.  bathtime  47.  Holden the fireman  48.  Miss A