Running

Shane and Annalee run around the block. In 6minutes and 33 seconds. It is about 1/2 a mile. We keep track. Yes, I know, I am not surprised either.

Hide & Go Seek

Oh, the nostalgia. I almost can't stand it!

Rain, rain, go away...

It has rained everyday this week, except one. I am a huge proponent of a rainy day. I like the time to stay indoors, get caught up on a few things, watch classic movies, curl up with a cup of hot tea, but I am getting a little damp here. This is of course why VA is so very green, and I can't complain, but I am ready for the sunshine!

Avacado, oh my!

I heard once that an avacado was the best food you could eat. If you were stuck somewhere and only had one type of food, this would be it. It is supposed to have all the vitamins and nutrients you would need to survive. I don't know about that claim, but I really, really like them, a lot! One of my favorite ways to eat them is on a piece of toasted oat bread smeared with coconut oil, topped with diced avacado, sprinkled with lemon juice, salt and pepper. I can thank Sara for that one!

Green Smoothie Bandwagon

Yes, we have jumped aboard! They really do taste good.

My favorite:

Spinach, mango, banana

Yummm!

Annalee's Portfolio

Annalee plays with the camera, with permission this time...

Snapshots Part II

Welcome to our dining room. This is where we eat, laugh, learn and have many teaching opportunities. If you know me at all, you may know I have a slight obsession with the Amish. I just appreciate their simplicity of life, sense of personal responsibility, and deep family roots. I enjoy spending so much time in a peaceful room. The wood art was created for me by close personal friends. They are very talented, and make all their pieces from wood they find laying around. Pretty amazing, huh?

Wednesday

Wednesday morning on the front porch... I love my life!

Thoughts of Summer

Flip Flops

Lake Water

Strawberry Shortcake Bike Rides

Baseball Games

Camping

Painted Toes

Prairie Skirts

Tank Tops

Weddings

Watermelon

Iced Chai

Fresh Fruit

Grilling Out

Lawnmower Alarm Clocks

Popsicle Smiles

Makeup Free Face

Amusement Parks

Fireworks

Cotton Candy

Root Beer Floats

Peach Cobbler

I could go on and on...

It is almost here!

Breakfast At Our House

We have always had big breakfasts. I say that meaning, toast and eggs, or hot cereal, but never just a pop tart or something on the run. We have tried to make time to sit down and eat a meal. It is a good thing, because I LOVE breakfast. I could eat it all day long, and really wish I would, although it is not very practicle in our culture, and like so many other things, I conform...working on that! This morning we had fresh banana nut muffins, greek yogurt with sliced bananas and strawberries topped with almonds and honey, OJ and hot tea, scrumptious!

Best Chicken Salad Ever!

I make this quite often and thought I would share.

2-3 grilled or boiled chicken breasts, diced

1/2 c dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped pecans or sliced almonds

mayo added to your textured preference

View From The Top

Picture taken by me while working on the computer. Shelby likes to be near me at all times...

Music To My Ears

"More carrots please!" Annalee said this today at lunch and I believe my heart lept. It has been a long battle to get my girls to eat veggies again. I am not sure at what point they went from eating them everyday to making themselves throw-up when forced to eat them. Yes, Annalee can vomit on demand, and has done so just to prove a point. So, I have tried the serve-and-keep serving until they like them again. Many wasted veggies later, Wa-La! They like carrots. I am leaping with joy.

Tagged: For You Sherri

I've been tagged by Sherri *What I was doing 10 years ago: Working at the Outback in Panama City, FL, living with my cousins, saving up to go to Liberty! *5 things on my list to do today(ha-ha, I actually have a to do list right here...) 1-run a couple of errands for the business 2-finish the book Personality Plus 3- create a 7 day meal plan with several different caloric levels for Shane to use with his clients. 4-run 2 miles and lift for 30 min. 5-vacume and mop my floors *Things I would do if (when) I were a billionaire- Not work anymore (Shane, too), build our dream homes on the lake, mountains and beach, set our parents for retirement in sweet homes, support church planting pastors whom we love dearly, not let my decisions in life be based on the dollar bill *3 of my bad habits picking my nose, talking too much, procrastination *5 Places I’ve lived 1-San Diego, CA 2-Fort Dix, NJ 3-King George, VA 4-Panama City, FL 5-Lincoln, NE *5 jobs I’ve had 1-Lifeguard 2-Preschool teacher 3-Web and Marketing director 4-Sales 5-Waitress *5 People I want to know more about, that means you’re tagged! 1-Natalie 2-Sara 3-Liz 4-Angela 5- KM

Snapshots

Snapshots of our home... I was noticing a quote I have on our fridge, "How we spend our day is, of course, how we spend our lives." I thought this was interesting as I looked around the house. Just in my kitchen alone I was realizing how "telling" these snapshots of our lives would be.

Above is a portion of my kitchen displaying good eats. I used to have this counter top reserved for the coffee pot, tea bags, sugar and creamer. As you can see, those have been replaced for a little more natural energy.

I had a sweet glass of carrot/apple juice this morning. The tin boxes on the top of the stove are full of loose tea my dear friends have gifted to me over the years. I like to share them as friends stop in for a visit here and there.

I recently pulled out our juicer that is normally kept underneath the counter and put the toaster away. You know, less processed carbs and more fresh fruits and veggies. As you can see, the parts are drying from actually being used this morning... My mother-in-law purchased this for us and I have really enjoyed having a quality juicer around the past several years.

Daily words of encouragement to all those who can read...

A fridge says so much about people. We have recent photos of family and friends to remind us each day for whom to give thanks. There are a couple of drawings from the girls on the lower half. The magazine page is a picture of a mother helping her son to bake, and it has the quote I referenced above. We are currently fighting for a dream to be free from "jobs." We are building a business that will allow both Shane and I to be home full-time, all day, everyday, to raise our children together. This picture represents that time together as a family. The books on the top are my favorite cookbooks. I am a comfort food queen and "Kitchen Keepsakes" is full of classic recipes. I also like the Ball canning book. Oh, I love to see a shelf of beautiful foods "put away" in colorful jars for the colder months. Very satisfying to do it yourself!

So there are a few pictures to give you a peek into our daily lives. More to come some other day of reflecting...

Heard around the House...

Annalee:

"Mommy, can you help me find a husband?"

About her hurt finger, "God is Healing me."

"I asked God to give me back my fingernail."

"Shelby, wear your shoes like a lady!"

"Where are we going? Why are we going to the store?What are we going to get there? Can I help you with the cart? Where are we going now? Why are we going home? What are we going to do there? Can I help with lunch? Why are we going potty? What are we doing now? I don't want to take a nap."

Shelby:

"Can you hold me?"

"She not sharing!"

I asked her where she got her bandaid," Annalee gave it to me. She my besfriend."

"I don't want to!"

"Aaa-ver-dee!" (Avery in Shleby language)

"I love your buttons, dress, face, makeup, lip gloss, earrings..." or whatever you happen to have on that she noticed. She is VERY complimentary.

Avery:

"Da-da"

"uh, uh, uh..." You get the point.

The Walker

Yeap, it's official.

Hmmm...

Are the girls allowed to sit on the bed like this? No.

Are the girls allowed to use me camera without asking? No.

Do I love this face? Am I laughing hysterically at the evidence? Yes.