The wierd things I do

I have decided that I'm going to do a cleanse. If you have no desire to read any further...I completely understand. But I've decided to blog about this because I think it will be theraputic of me and also because it's what I'm doing. I've heard of people doing them and never in my wildest imaginings did I ever think I would do one...but...I am. I always thought when I was a teenager and even until I started having children that people who had their babies at home were crazy hippies and that people who did cleanses were just weird. It wasn't until I had my 2nd child that my way of thinking changed. Having my third child at home was difficult and rewarding and comforting and life-altering for me all at the same time.

So now I'm a home-birther! Not that Nate and I plan on having anymore but if we do it won't be delivered in a hospital! Anyway, I stumbbled onto a cleanse that a friend of mine did and absolutely loved. I was very skeptical. I started doing research into them. Some were just drinking water mixed with cheyanne pepper, honey and lemon juice, others involved some sort of pill. None sounded like anything I was interested in. I researched the company that my friend told me about called Arbonne and what the ingredients were in the cleanse. Many of the ingredients are herbs. Milk Thistle, Burdock root, etc. You don't starve yourself, but with the gluten intolerances in our family, this cleanse seems exactly what I need! I'm really excited about it and how I will feel. I'm going to try to post everyday about how I feel and what the effects seem to be.

I mentioned the gluten-intolerance, it seems that Ethan, Natalie, Me and possibly Conner are gluten-intolerant/ have Celiac's Disease. We have had to eliminate all gluten from our diet. This means no wheat, barley or rye products. So any cookie, cracker, pasta, bread, cake, etc. we can't have. Ironic isn't it when I LOVE to bake so much!! I didn't think that it would be a big deal at first but I also didn't realize the extent to which gluten is used in food. Cream of Chicken and Mushroom soup, both have gluten and are therefor off limits. There is also gluten in soy sauce, and caramel color, which roughly translated means soda, and anything dark in color. Food starch is gluten, and so I have been relegated to excessive label reading!! Fortunately I feel a ton better eating gluten free and Ethan has made a huge improvement as well. We have had less tummy aches and bathroom problems and Ethan is sleeping better as am I. Eating gluten free has other advantages as well. Most flours and products that are gluten free are also free of preservatives. This I learned when talking with my Visiting teacher whose sons are also Celiacs. Inspired assignment for a visiting teacher I think. I didn't know that we had this when she was assigned to me but having her as my visiting teacher is a tender mercy if you ask me. She has been very helpful with tips, and advice, and ideas for our family!! But I digress... anyway, this has been a big change for me and for our family. It's also been an experiment in seeing what is good and what is not. FYI Pamela's brand is the best out there for Gluten intolerances!! Cookies, bread you name it she has a mix for it and it's fabulous! My father was the one who was diagnosed with it and since it's genetic we thought it might be good to look into. I'm glad we did. So if you know someone who is gluten-intolerant or has Celiacs Disease, don't be afraid to have them over for dinner. We can have Corn, rice, potatoes, quinoa (pronounced keen-wa), beans, any veggies,and fruits, corn tortillas are fine just not flour, corn chips, and potato chips are ok too.

Here's where I found the cleanse: www.arbonne.com It's in the figure 8 line of products. I'm pretty excited about it. We'll see how it goes! Wish me luck!!

Thanksgiving

I actually have a few minutes...Nate is using the chain saw outside and our 2 adorable boys can hardly contain themselves. If it's electronic or some sort of machine that is powerful they want to own it, use it, or stare at it! Trains, motorcycles, tractors, monster trucks, chain saws, drills, weed wackers, lawn mowers, anything like that!

We had a wonderful thanksgiving and ate too much food of course! Uncle Daniel came and brought the Wii with him giving my kids hours and hours of mindless entertainment, which they of course loved. They even got him to spend the night 2 nights in a row. We had a lot of fun despite serving everyone some dry gluten-free pancakes! Still getting the hang of this gluten-free thing. I'm just not used to the textures and consistencies and everything that goes into it...but I will. :-)

Nate is home with us for 5 whole days...we're not sure what to do with him!! ;-) We sure enjoy every minute we get with him! Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving.

Life in the last few months

So I have been a horrible blogger...not gonna lie, I kinda figured I would be. With Nate gone as much as he is, I'm marathoning daily just to keep the house clean and make sure the kids homework is done.

We have had family out to visit this month and last and I'm always reminded of how much I love my family, not just the family I was born into, who I love dearly but my "married family". My sisters-in-law are the most wonderful and talented ladies who are talented in so many ways! My brothers-in-law are wonderful examples and my Mother & Father-in law couldn't be better. In life not many people have such a great support system. I wish I lived much closer to all of them!!


We have been trunk-or-treating, visited the train Museum, gone on picnics, the Pumpkin Patch, dinner together, and just spent time. Nate has visited several states and the kids seem to have grown a bunch. I am still heavily weighing homeschooling the girls and feel strongly that I should. It's actually doing it where I have been a bit hesitant.

I have been wondering why I don't have a huge amount of friends, people who go out every now and then, and hang out together at the park all the time. Chatting in the group of Moms that all their kids play together etc. In thinking about this I realized, that isn't my job. If I did those things I wouldn't have much time with my kids and, I'm actually glad that it's this way. I've never been "popular" I've always had just a couple of really good friends in my life and others who I like and would consider chat buddies or good acquaintances. It takes a lot of effort for me to be a good friend and being a good friend to a lot of people just isn't possible. So I just decide to like everyone and once or maybe 3 or 4 times in my life I make a friend that I will keep forever. I can say that I only really have 2 of those kinds of friends, if you aren't counting family. That is a blessing!! Those two people I treasure!!! One being my hubby!!! The other I won't embarress by name but she knows who she is!!! Real friends aren't afraid to say the truth if they know you need to hear it! She has always done this in a kind and supportive way, and yet, never backed away from what needed to be said, encouraging or even difficult things. Those are the kinds of friends you keep!!






Halloween was great. It was Little Nate's Birthday and we had family over to help celebrate! He is 4 years old and it's so weird how fast time goes by when you start having children!!! He is such a sweet, sincere, caring, and helpful boy! Everyone who meets him instantly loves him. He greets strangers with enthusiasm and people are drawn to him. He is such a special boy and just like his Daddy! He loves to help his Dad mow the lawn, weed wack, blow with the blower, and also pull weeds. He works side by side with him and I'm so thankful that he has such a wonderful and powerful example of that in is Daddy! He loves Tractors, motorcycles, garbage trucks, and trains.

Nate is still teaching Sunday school, and I am still in nursery and life is just as busy and wonderful as ever!!!

Camping

So for our anniversary Nate and I took the kids camping. I have so many memories of camping and I want my kids to experience camping as well. We went to Zion's camp. About 45 minutes to an hour away. We had a great campsite, great food (if you ask me, the kids didn't care for foil dinners and kabobs), and mosquitoes were aplenty! I thought it would be fun but I wasn't prepared for the wonderful time I had!

Zion's camp has a small pond, and a beach/meadow area around it so we went down there rode some paddle boats, canoe, and a raft. Played wiffle ball with Nate, Daniel, Amber, my mom, Whitney, and Amy played too! so cute how Conner and Isaiah would chase the ball instead of running to the base!! Badmitten and slip n' slides, and picked fresh blackberries too!! So much fun!

We had smores, foil dinners, kabobs, peach cobbler in the dutch oven (thank you Amber, it was delicious!!!), pancakes, lots of bacon, eggs and a bunch more!!

We went on a night hike that was really great! The kids complained and whined about how they were scared the whole way and wanted to do it again when we were done! It was so neat!! So peaceful, and beautiful!! I enjoyed doing all the food but need more practice and finesse'!!

Being up there was so fun, and I loved it so much that Nate and I want to go again this month! Loved it!





I did however, forget my camera!! So disappointed!

Palago Food

In no particular order, the Ravioli's, the view from the walkway to our workshops in one of the buildings, the Ricotta with Truffle oil and breads that I will NEVER forget!!! YUMMMMYYY!!!!

Chicago!

Got back from The Pampered Chef's National Conference in Chicago on Friday night. There is no way to adequately describe my experience! I think that everyone should experience that city. I can't not wait to go back next year!! I'll try to capture our experiences but it may take a few entries.

We flew into Midway on a stormy night. Thunder,lightning, rain the whole thing which made for a bit of a bumpy ride. I was surviving this until we started to land. We are almost on the runway when the pilot unexpected pulled up...I mean straight up. Or it seemed like it. The plane was shaking and bumpy, and all I could see was white clouds with horizontal rain, flashes of lightning next to the wing of the plane. So scary! They circled the plane back around and finally, mercifully landed! This one did me in. I was so sick!!! Still had to get onto a shuttle to take us to the hotel!

Monday was our treasure hunt at McCormick Place! This place is huge!! Takes up like 2 or 3 city blocks. Don't know for sure but it was massive! Got some free stuff and did some shopping for for Pampered Chef clothes, purses, decals etc. Then we went to the Hancock building! 96 stories and my ears popped all the way up but the view was so worth it!!! We were right next to lake Michigan!! Someone recommended a restaurant at the Hotel Conceierge so we went there. the restaurant is called Palago and this place was doin' it right!!! They make their pasta fresh every day! I had the Veal Ravioli's with a Pistachio Butter cream sauce!!!!! May I say.....WOW!!!!! Here is a picture of the food, restaurant and me enjoying it!!


Ricotta with Truffle oil!!!!! Toasted home made fresh daily delicious bread!! The ricotta with Truffle oil!!! DIVINE!!!!!

P.S. Having trouble getting all the pics. to upload so I may have to make several posts to get them all, sorry!

LOVIN' the Mommy life!

Getting ready for my trip. The goal: get packed, don't leave Nate with a sink full of dishes and a dirty floor! So far I'm only 1/2 packed and I feel like I'm in a hamster wheel with the cleaning part!! Got the floors swept and mopped without incident and went to do a load of dishes. Finished that only to find that the nice neat (large) pile of folded clothes on Conner's bed I was trying to put away was all over the floor. No longer folded and some thrown into the toy box. He wanted to jump on the bed and the clothes were in his way. It's a disaster in there!!! Started on that, and Ethan decided to destroy the kitchen while I wasn't watching...again...ok, I give up for now. I'll have to wait until they are all in bed!!! I love being a mom, being here with them and watching them grow. The house can wait I guess!!!

Scooter

My youngest son always makes me laugh. He is such a fun little guy and aside from the fact that he is adorable, he scoots like no other!! Nate put this link up on you tube and I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJzMzESH4CE

Chicago-Pampered Chef

Ok so I'm going to Chicago next month...18 days actually...and I'm so excited. Pampered Chef schpeel comin' at ya'. I've been with The Pampered Chef for 6 years now. I've taken time off here and there to have children or because I wanted to but, I'm still in business. I love doing it and even though sometimes I think I should quit I just can't leave it alone. It is so much fun. The cooking shows are a blast, I learn a lot from other people and the food is DELICOUS! Our tools really save time in the kitchen so that Mom isn't still in the kitchen while everyone else eats. Plus they products and recipes make cooking so much fun and more of a family affair. My kids love to help me when I use my food chopper, or Salad & Berry Spinner. Plus, I can't help but love helping other people. Moms who have babies that they don't want to leave but, need extra money to help pay the bills. College age folks who want to earn money to pay for college or a mission. I know many ladies and gentleman who are retired and can't work full time jobs but "work" 2 times a week and get paid what they did working 40 hour work weeks. Together. It's a blessing and I'm in a position to offer that to other people. Pampered Chef has done so much for so many! I honestly don't think that it's the answer for everyone but it is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to be successful.

Anyway back to Chicago. This trip is for National Conference. National Conference is where they reveal all the next seasons new products, recipes, specials, and they giveaway a TON of stuff! This time the big thing is they are giving away a CAR!!! Woohoo! I have been one other time but this time I will be equipped with some really fantastic restrants to visit and I'll be going with a very good friend of mine! The reason I'm able to go on this trip is my wonderful husband. Nate gets frequent flier miles because he travels incesantly. He used a bunch of them to fly my friend Tamera and I out to Chicago on a first class flight there and back for FREE!! As if that wasn't enough, he used his hotel bonus points to get us into the Chicago Hilton for FREE!!! Tamera and I get our own beds and Pampered Chef arranges all transportation and most meals. I know I probably embarressed him by posting this but I wanted him and everyone else to know what a great guy he is and how much I appreciate and love him for his unselfish actions. He's also going to be taking care of the kids all week and that in and of itself is huge!! I love him for making this trip possible for me and not making me feel guilty about it at all. In fact he's encouraged me to go. He knows how much it means to me and how often I get to do something like this for myself. He's such a wonderful husband not to mention my very best friend. I love you Babe!

Fresh Strawberry Cake

I am someone who loves to bake, and I have the extra pounds to prove it. I love baking because it's exact. If I just follow the recipe and the instructions the finished product is ALWAYS delicious!! Cooking is difficult for me. I'm not sure why this is except that you have to have a little bit of creativity to do it well. That is what I lack. My talents lie in other areas. That said you have to try this Strawberry Cake. I'll try to post the picture of it but...I make no promises since I haven't figured out how to do that yet.

Recipe

1 pkg. White Cake mix
1 pkg. (3 oz) Strawberry Jello
4 eggs
1 cup oil
1/4 cup water
1 cup mashed fresh strawberries, divided
1 pkg. Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups Cool Whip

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350. Combine cake mix, dry jello mix, and stir to combine. Add eggs, oil, water and 3/4 cup of the strawberries. Beat 30 seconds on low speed, then turn up the mixer to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes. (I actually set my timer for this.)

2. Bake cake in 2 8-in cake pans for 30 min. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove from the cake pan and cool on a wire rack until completely cool.

3. For the frosting: Beat cream cheese until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar. Add drained berries and mix well. Whisk in 1/2 cup of the cool whip and fold in the rest. When frosting 1 cup goes in between the layers.

So very yummy with the fresh berries and everything!! Try it and let me know what you think!!

He did it!

Conner is now pretty well potty trained!! So happy! I didn't think it appropriate to take a picture...but it sure was a monumental occasion! Nate sat outside with him all morning in big boy undies and when he said that he thought he needed a diaper I rushed him to the potty. He wouldn't go. The child held it all night and until lunch time. That's my strong-willed boy! Now that he's got it he's very proud of himself. My friend Heather actually inspired the idea and Nate is a wonderful husband and father and carried it thru. I am one happy Momma!

Friendship

This post is going to be long. I was inspired by a song I heard the other day and I'll quote it for you here:

"Well your friends know what's right and your friends know what's wrong, and your friends all know sometimes it's hard to choose.

But that friend who helps you see where your choices will lead; is the kind of friend you never want to lose.

It's that friend who leads with love doesn't push, doesn't shove, just reminds you of the truth you've always known. Then does more than just talk, takes your hand and starts to walk, by your side along the road that leads back home.

And this friend seems to see all the great things you'll be, even when the things you do might prove them wrong; but he always believes that the reel you he sees is a champion he's simply cheering on.

And the love that you feel from a friend that's this real, is as powerful as anything on earth; for it lifts and it grows and it strengthens as it flows, it's what allows a soul to feel just what their worth.

So many lonely souls are calling, and our brightest stars would not be falling, if only, they had a friend, a real friend.

Everyone hopes to find one true friend whose the kind they can count on for forever and a day. Be that friend be that kind that you prayed you might find, and you will always have a best friend, come what may.



I lost a friendship not so long ago to someone who I thought was my best friend. I cried. Because of the things she said to me, and about me, I wondered if maybe I was really a bad person. I started thinking that I must be someone no one would want to be friends with. It's not the first time I've seriously offended someone without even knowing it. Then I talked to my husband. My wonderful husband! He asked me a question that helped me to put things into perspective. He said, "if she said_____, she really doesn't know you. If she really knew you do you think she would have said those things?"

That question helped me so much. In that moment I knew who my true friend was! Nate and I go back a long time. We dated in high school and wrote through his mission. He and I have always been best friends. No matter what girlfriends came into his life I could count on him to still be my best friend, and even now, almost 15 years later we are still the best of friends. But implied in his question was an understanding that even though I do boneheaded forgetful things, (and he knows that more than anyone) when you love someone you know them and you give them the benefit of the doubt, because we all do and say boneheaded things from time-to-time. Thanks Nate for being a REAL friend! And someone I know I can ALWAYS count on! I love you so much!!

Ethan's story

My beautiful blond baby is 1 today! Birth stories are like badges of honor. Here is Ethan's for those who want to read. for those who don't sorry!!! ;-)

Ethan's birth was fast, and as labors go very easy. Before we knew that Ethan was a boy, I insisted he was a girl. I just knew he was...after all I had a dream about a little girl...and I have woman's intuition on my side. ;-) But there was something complicating the situation, (in my mind) and that was that I KNEW very strongly that Conner and this baby were very close before they came to our family and that they would be close here. They needed to share a room. How would that work with a boy and a girl? At some point I would have to separate them. Well, I'd figure that out later.

Later on we did a 3D ultrasound. The first shot revealed that we indeed were having a boy! I just laughed and said no way!! Nate smiled a smile I'll never forget and then I realized there wouldn't be a problem with the room situation...

Fast forward to the last week of pregnancy. I had a few concerns about the positioning of the baby and whether I would be ok to have him at home as well. Four days after my date I got extremely sick! Dizzy, nauseated, throwing up...crazy sick. I couldn't even move my head, I was running into walls I was miserable! I called my midwife who taught me how to make mint tea. She taught me that the mint relaxes and soothes the stomach and the honey will keep you from throwing up. Your stomach can't throw up honey. The next day was MUCH better and I called my WONDERFUL, FABULOUS, TALENTED, MAGICIAN of a Chiropractor, Dr. Stubblefield and made an appointment thinking maybe my neck was causing the dizziness problems. I went in at about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. He checked me out and told me my neck was out but wanted to see about what he could find out about the baby. After adjusting and checking he told me that Ethan would be born the next day. I laughed on the inside and said, "um.........ok." He said, "I would get everything ready if I were you." He sounded supremely confident to me, I was still laughing on the inside. Everyone was telling me that I wouldn't go past the end of the week...

I went home and told Nate. He was hopeful, he had to leave the next day for a business meeting and didn't want to have to cancel. I went to bed still skeptical. I laid down around 10pm exhausted. Tried to relax but about 15 minutes later I realized why I couldn't. I was having some contractions. Not at all painful or lasting long but enough to annoy me. I mentioned to Nate that I was having them but they were only lasting like 10 seconds...He timed them...I was wrong...45seconds and 7 minutes apart. OK! So we called the midwife Rachel and told her what was going on. She said to call in an hour. I had the feeling that Dr. Stubz was right so I called my mom to come and get the kids. They left and we timed more contractions. Called the midwife because an hour passed and they were 5 minutes apart and lasting for a full minute. That was at 11:15pm or so. They were on their way now. BUT they are an hour away! Midwife arrived at 11:25pm checked me and I was dilated to a 6. I remember thinking something was wrong because I started shaking, and I knew I was in transition. But it was way to fast and I hadn't been in that much pain yet. They prepared my bath water...yes I gave birth in the water...and after 10 minutes of pushing Ethan was born at 12:03am! I went from 6 to baby in 38 short minutes!

Ethan was born weighing in at 9pounds even and had hardly any blond hair. He was sporting a pretty large noggin, 15cm and is the sweetest and most adorable baby! We are so blessed to have him in our family and I can't believe how fast this year has gone!! We love you Ethan!!!

Need a good laugh? Walking Home Story

So I walk my girls to and from school every day. Sometimes even when it's raining, the worst is when it's 100 degrees outside and I'm pushing a stroller and dragging a toddler and a 6 year old. Good exercise though and I do that 3 times a day. Next year that may have to change. Here's why.

One day when walking home my son who is 3 and has never met a stranger said hello to and befriended a very nice older East Indian man. He had a long white beard and doesn't speak a word of English. After my son said Hi! and waved the man stopped and shook his hand and seemed very pleased at my son's apparent outreach of friendship. We walked home and thought nothing of it after that...until about a month later. OH the horror! I was walking with Ethan in the stroller and I saw the man again on a bike with a plastic bag hanging from his handle bars. He stopped his bike, got off, and put his hands up to stop me. He handed me a pomegranate and handed it to me. I thanked him. He took me by the shoulders and pulled me to him trying to kiss me. I turned to try to get back to my stroller but it was too late. He planted something that I'm sure he thought was a kiss on my left cheek, and, because he had no teeth it was something akin to sucking my face!! Eeeeeewwwwwww!!! This happened 3 times, and finally I had to push him pretty hard and almost run away! It really horrifies me to think of it, but I'm able to laugh about it. I have seen him a few times but avoid him and so far, we've not had anymore encounters! Thank goodness school is almost out!! Like I said next year, we may not be walking! That is only one of several very weird things that have happened when walking my kids to or from school!

True story!

Welcome!

Now that it's 2010 and I'm just now setting up my blog, welcome to it!! I'm really excited about it. This blog will be about my family, my kids and the crazy things they say and do, and also about my Pampered Chef business. The two are intertwined and I am very passionate about both.

This blog is still a work in progress but I hope you will enjoy reading about our adventures and come back often!