Vege-sort of-tarian

 

Mike and I have made a huge change in our diets lately, and we are both loving it.  It seems that about a dozen doctors visits in one months’ time can give you a little of a kick in the behind to start a  healthier lifestyle.  Crazy, but I wouldn’t have thought we had an unhealthy lifestyle, nor did the doctor.   We just decided to make the change for ourselves, before a doctor or our bodies told us too. 

Mike was asked to give up dairy for two weeks; and no more happiness (for you Brian Reagan fans).  Mike is a VERY understanding and even tempered guy, but when you take dairy, really just ice cream, out of his diet, well you could say he was just a LITTLE peeved.  I’m pretty positive that the Doctor didn’t know of Mike’s nightly bowl of ice cream.  But Mike being the positive and problem solver realized that the doctor would understand if he left just ice cream in his diet.  Hmm, I wouldn’t if I was his doctor, but who am I to argue.  Luckily, dairy has been introduced back into his diet.

I really enjoyed finding dairy-free recipes, especially for a husband that loves comfort foods.  I ended up finding a lot of vegetarian recipes, or recipes that I was able to make some adjustments too, but all in all we all enjoyed the meals, and we have continued to make them.  I can’t say that we only eat vegetarian because we don’t (I’m German and Italian; meat is just part of most every meal).  But veggies by far the main ingredient in most every dinner.  LOVE IT!

Hopefully I will have the time to post a picture along with a recipe of two.

Human anatomy from a four year olds perspective

 

Our little comedian was up to his funny ways once again today.

It all happened at the end of our Costco visit today.  Josh loves to hand the Costco employee at the exit the receipt, because they usually draw him a happy face on it.  So just like expected the lady at the exit drew a happy face for him, but unlike every other time Josh looked up at me and asked, “Where’s the nose?”.  Uhhh, I’ve never really noticed if they usually make a nose or not, but he seems to remember that they do.  I turned to Josh to say, “It doesn’t need a nose!”, “Do you need a nose?”.  Smart Josh says, “Yes, my nose is for running”! HAAAA, I could not stop laughing.  Goodness, I love being put in place by a four year old.  I often forget what it must be like to see life through a four year olds eyes. 

Well, I had to find what he thought other body parts are for, so we continued the conversation on the way home.  This is what Josh informed us about:

Hands are for talking

Fingers are for poking

Legs hold our feet

Feet are for walking and running

Eyes are for sleeping

Teeth are for brushing

Bellybuttons are for tickling

So silly!! Thanks for all the laughs Josh!

Unfinished work

This last week was a wonderfully busy week.  As most of you know I started a new job, and will soon be taking on more responsibility with our church’s nursery.  I am SOO excited about these wonderful opportunities, but yet very anxious. 

I’ve never done well in stressful situations (tests, new job, meeting new people, confrontations, etc…). I get this nervous anxiety that gives a sick feeling in my stomach and the nervousness doesn’t allow me to remember anything, all brain activity freezes (this would define my schooling).  I honestly would like to avoid stressful situations as much as possible, wouldn’t we all!  But you can’t really get through life without taking a test, or meeting new people, or starting a new job.  So, with maturity (haa, who am I kidding) or age I’m hoping that I have learned to cope with stress better. Now I try to pump myself up before such situations.  Give myself a little pep talk sorta say!  Anything to avoid that nervous anxiety that I normally get!  We’ll see if it works.

Since I can’t see myself through clear eyes, I try to bounce things off of Mike for help.  So in starting the new job, I did just that.  He told me that the one thing he has noticed I have been doing, is not finishing projects or ideas that I have started or bought supplies for.  TRUE!  I honestly have quite a few projects (snuggly blanket for Carter, a painting for the boys room, Carter’s scrapbook, etc…) that I have yet to start, or have started and not completed.  I have no excuse!  But it doesn’t really help me at work, it just gives me more to do at home.  YAY!  Ironically, As I was working on this post, he asked me to sit down and watch a show with him.  So this post sat “unfinished” for a day!  Hmmm, maybe all my unfinished projects isn’t my fault!! LOL

I’m now very anxious to see if I can finish up any of my projects, and ease my nervousness for the new job. 

Bath Time

 

Just like most families we have a night-time routine.  While I do the kitchen clean up, Mike gives the boys a bath.  I’m not sure how I ended up do the kitchen clean up, especially after i just made dinner, but I do enjoy putting some music on and washing the dishes.  There’s a certain peaceful calm to it!  Now Mike on the other hand often has whining (usually Josh, but could be Mike) or tons of giggling. 

  Carter just LOVES bath time!  Mostly because he gets to do it with Josh, but I think he enjoys the water too!  I just love how babies' giggles are so contagious and just melt your heart. 

The video clip below is a case of the giggles!  Unfortunately, by the time I dried my hands and grabbed the camera I missed most of Carter’s giggles.  But I thought I would include a small clip anyway!

stay tuned…having computer issues

trying this

I’m trying Windows Live Writer for publishing blog posts.

My cool sister-in-law is helping me.

I’m trying to sell this. Anybody want to buy it?

Montana Christmas in Southern California

We were pleasantly surprised with a phone call sometime mid-November from my brother, Dan. He was surprising his girlfriend, Rachel (she's really part of the family, we're just waiting for him to make it official) with a trip to see us around Christmas time. It's always a blast when they come to visit! We were especially excited this time because we were staying in Redlands for Christmas, and now we would have visitors to share Christmas with. Josh loves his Uncle Dan and Aunt Rachel because they LOVE to play anything and everything with him and they are both super silly. We wish they lived closer so we could see them all the time, but we understand that Montana is where they need to be for NOW!

Being that it was our first Christmas staying home, Mike and I wanted to start some of our own family traditions this year. Not that we've never had the chance in the past, it just gets so hectic with getting ready to travel, and then flights canceled, and like last year; SSN stolen, filing police reports, and getting a parking ticket at the Palm Springs Airport ("hmm" you say! ask Mike) it just has seemed easier to wait till we found it the right year to stay home.

So I took it upon myself, the hostess and everything, to plan some fun traditions and outings we could do with Dan and Rach while they were here. We took a trip down to the San Diego Zoo, on a wet cold day, and were pleasantly surprised by the lack of visitors (seriously, it was like having a private tour) and the very active animals (so cool). Shoot, maybe I shouldn't be letting that little secret out! Oh, well!

My personal favorite because you will see that everyone's creative side came out, was the making of the gingerbread house. Okay, it was pre-built but it was lots of fun to frost and throw candy at (yes, the candy was thrown).

We were even able to go out to dinner and a movie with them (Thank you Verhoeven Family)! It's not often that Mike and I go out on a double date (I think Dan and Rach are the only ones that like us)!

We had a wonderful time with them and are so thankful that they thought of us to visit for Christmas. We hope that they will make it an annual visit!

(Carter sleeping)

(hook'em Horns)

I'm so sorry...

I am so sorry for not posting is such a ridiculously long time! I have no valid excuse or none that I consider legit.

It always amazes me how quickly Christmas comes each year and how each year I promise to be more prepared than the last. Yet, somehow Christmas is upon us and I am no more organized (or lack there of) than last year. I think my lack of posts has proven that, yikes! So instead of writing all of the fun and new things that we have done since August (REALLY (!), seriously someone start hounding me about that) I'm going to post some pictures.

Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato

My future

Carter at 5 months old

Josh and Mike getting ready for the UW vs UCLA game

Josh and the UW Husky at the Rose Bowl (Josh was loving life!)

I don't think he was too sure about this pony