Thinking Pink and Other Happenings

A trip to our local imaging center highly suggests that we will be adding a new little girly to our family lineup come late August/early September.  We are more than thrilled and feel that our prayers have been answered.  Our family's tally will be 2 girls and 2 boys and we think that is just perfect.  We have some names in mind, but nothing final or blog worthy yet.  *Edited to add* Below is an ultrasound picture of our  little lady-in-the-making.

We are 19 weeks into this pregnancy and it is highly likely that this lovely chica could be born on my oldest son's 5th birthday:  September 3rd, which ironically, lands on "Labor" Day this year, like it did 5 years ago when I labored with my first babe.

In other news, we had a lovely Easter weekend filled with church, a lunch at home with ham, King's Hawaiian rolls, cranberry jelly, sparkling apple/grape cider, and other delicious things, followed by some yard work.  Yes, yard work, as in we have laid down grass sod in most of our apartment back yard.  All fall and winter we have had a mud hole back there and it was not pretty and quite messy for the children to play in (not that they minded, lol.)  We are so pleased with the results and my husband Tim even cut the sod's edge in a beautiful curve, and left a strip along the fence for a flower bed, and a nice little rectangle for my future vegetable garden- squeal!  So, once the flower bed is planted, and my white picket garden fence (and gate!) are in, I will post pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Until then, the unfolded laundry is beckoning, and I hear a suspicious noise coming from a toddler, in the direction of my room.  Gotta go!

Hello Again

Yes I have missed blogging very much.  Did you miss me, too, readers? Just kidding! (Does anyone even read this?)  Anywho, sadly, my smart phone took a dive into cracked-screen oblivion last November and I didn't have the extra 600 bucks(!) lying around to buy a new one, so I have been internet-less ever since.

But No More!

We now have high speed internet in our home like we once did.  We cut back on bills over a year ago but now feel confident that we can add this wonderful luxury back into our budget.  Yay!  So, bring on the blogging and commenting and picture posting and life sharing and...hee hee....run on sentences : )

Here are some family photos to fill in the gaps:

In November, I became a first time auntie by my brother and his lovely wife.  Here is Aiden holding Baby Maxwell, only a few days old in this photo.

Visiting the pigs (full grown now, and actually, they were butchered on Monday) that Tim's parents and brothers raise for meat.

Aiden, Caitlin, and I atop a large granite boulder on Tim's parents' property.  In my lap is the beloved Molly, their family dog, raised from a pup.  She was killed by a wild animal on their property late last year.  It broke all our hearts.

Christmas morning at Grammie and Grampie's.  Much fun, eating of good things, exchanging of gifts, and great games of Settlers of Catan were had by all during this visit.

I love this picture of Declan : )

Caitlin Joy

On a nature walk.

Aiden at Grammie and Grampie's this past Friday evening.

Caitlin's turn to pose.

Here we all are at a home and garden show just yesterday.

Until next time...

Healthy Smoothies

Don't feel like eating a salad but need to get some more veggies in your diet? Picky kids won't eat their vegetables? Have a blender?

Blend well: 1 entire apple (minus stem), 1 ice cube tray of ice, few tablespoons honey, 1 1/2-2 cups plain yogurt, couple handfuls mixed salad (I used leftover salad from dinner last night: spinach, romaine, and shredded carrots). Tastes great and good for you! Add some frozen berries for color and extra flavor if green scares your kiddos. This can easily be adapted for breakfast by omitting the ice, apple, and honey, and instead using frozen berries, a banana or two, and some orange juice. I love making this as an easy lunch/breakfast for the children and I, served alongside a grain like buttered toast.

Does your family make these or a variation? If you have a favorite recipe that sneaks veggies into your diet, please share in a comment below! Have a blessed day, and please don't forget to talk to God today, He loves you!

Cloth Diapering...Yeah, It's Addictive

I popped into Hancock Fabrics today with cotton flannel on my mind. I wanted to get a cute print that I could sew up into large squares for flat diapers. I wanted something gender neutral and yet not boring.  Something that said "I'm a diaper" not "This kid's mom can't match his top and bottom clothes together." I first found a great diaper pin print; super cute with many colors. Downside: $7.00 a yard :-\  Another section of flannel prints was priced at $7.00 a yard, but was on sale for 50% off, which made it the cheapest flannel in the entire store. I found a print that fit my requirements, and purchased the remainder of the bolt (about 4 yards) for about $14.00. Yay!

I plan to start sewing tonight, then send my new dipes through a few hot wash cycles to fluff 'em up, and begin diapering Declan (14 months old, can you believe it!) with them tomorrow. I researched (extensively) online, and have decided on these dimensions for my flats: 31.5" by 31.5", which reportedly, should shrink down to approximately 28" by 28". I've cut into my fabric already, and I have enough flannel to make 6 flats and a few cloth wipes from the scraps. I don't have a serger (sigh...someday...) so I plan to zig zag AND straight stitch the edges to prevent them from fraying. I have yards and yards of edging to sew, so I better get to it, if I want to wash them tonight!

P.S. In case you were curious, I much prefer good ole' diaper pins to Snappies, and I will be using this fold with my flats. It turns out very trim around baby's legs and multi-layered up front, where it counts. More on flat folds and use in a later post!

Pancakes and Blogger Problems

I tried to post a great photo tutorial on a craft project the children and I just did, but I'm having problems with my mobile Blogger app. :-( I guess it will have to wait until I can sort things out on my home computer. That may be a while. So for a while, I'm stuck doing simple photo posts.

I am making freezer pancakes today. Here is the process I am following. This will be so convenient on hectic mornings; pull out kid-sized, homemade, whole wheat pancakes from the freezer, reheat and eat! Let me know if you try this!

Speaking of hectic mornings, if you are having one, don't forget to take a quick moment to talk to God and "give it all over" to him. Don't carry stress around; surrender your day to the Lord and trust me, it will be be a great one!

Banana Nut Oatmeal

Today's breakfast. Delicious! Scroll through the pics and you'll see that children approved as well :-)

Fall Is Full Of...

Our Fall is full of pumpkins and stews and colorful leaves.  And a young toddler learning to feed himself :-)