Just A Few More....

More pictures that we took-sorry but I just can't help but post them all!

The Mommas and the Babies

Daniel's younger sister-Deneese-lives in CA and was able to come out for the graduation. Her son Camden is just a couple weeks older than Katie. Wish they lived a tad bit closer cause I just love them!

CUTE Family Pictures

While we were visiting Daniel's family for Deedra's graduation, we got family pictures taken. They all came out soooo good! I love them....and for once, I actually feel good about how I looked. Enjoy the pictures of our cute family:)

Our Little Bunny Foo Foo

Here is the latest video of Katie girl...Tavin and Katie have already started to play/entertain each other and she is only 8 months! This particular night, Tavin must have pushed her back and forth for at least an hour-she loved it the whole time. Daniel and I got a few laughs out of her bunny hops-she hasn't quite got the whole walking one leg at a time yet.

Katie is growing up really fast these days...she now sits up all by herself without falling over, sleeps 6 to 7 hours at night, and just in the last week, she has become a ton more active-grabing everything in sight and squealing as she does it all. What a joy she has been!

There Is a First Time For Everything

Today marks the first time that Tavin did pee pee in his kid potty! And of course-since I am a mom-I had to document this monumental occasion:) Really though I think it was just a coincidence....Dan and I have been taking the casual and non stressful approach to potty training. What way is that you ask: just having him come and sit on his potty every time one of us uses the toilet-he copies what we do-wiping himself with toilet paper and helping us flush, etc.

Lately he has been telling us he has to go potty and then goes to sit on his potty-pretending he is going. So I took the next step and showed him how to pull his pants down and sit without a diaper. Before we took a bath today, he wanted to sit on his potty without his diaper-and what do you know-he actually put something in the bowl! We can only hope this will continue-but if not, we will keep with our non stressful-casual plan:) and see how it goes! Updates to follow...

P.S. Sorry about the bra in the picture:)

Bountiful Baskets...Some More "Wealth" For Ya

Here is another idea for you-Daniel and I just recently heard of and tried out this program called "Bountiful Baskets" it is a co-op type program that puts together baskets of fruits and vegetables for a lower cost than what you can get at the store. One of Dan's co-workers who also does this-priced it out as being a box of fruits and veggies you would pay 40$ at the store for but pay only $15 through this program!!

Here is how it works- Monday night at 8pm (Idaho time) go online to www.bountifulbaskets.org where you register and buy your basket for 15 dollars-you sign up for a pick up time-there is a list of places in your area to choose from. Then, Saturday-you bring a box to the place you registered for at the time listed and the volunteers there fill your box! That easy. Why so cheap? Well while doing the program-they ask that at least one Saturday every couple months you go an hour early to help sort the food and distribute and one of the locations near where you live. Yep that is it!

Not only is it lots of produce for less, but it is a great variety-this is what we got this past Saturday: (each time is a different variety) bag of apples, bag of peaches, bag of carrots, head of romaine lettuce, 8 tomatoes, 5 mango's, bunch of bananas, 8 ears of corn, bag of limes, bag of bustle sprouts, and 2 squashes. Some of the items we haven't ever tried before so we just looked up recipes and ways to cook them online-good way to find new healthy recipes and branch out of your comfort box a little!

Don't live in Idaho-well no worries! They do it in UT and Arizona, and a bunch of other states too-go on the site and see if they do it where you are-trust me it is worth it! And it will help you Live a healthier life style!

If you try it out-let me know how it goes -and if you have more questions about it-don't hesitate to ask!

I'm All About Sharing The Wealth....

Before you get to excited...no, unfortunately Dan and I didn't win or inherit any money recently-but every once and a while-we come across things that we really like, enjoy, get a great deal on, etc. And why not share right?! So here is a recipe that we came across a few weeks back and LOVE: BLACK BEAN AND MANGO TOSTADAS-not only is it yummy but really healthy for you
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 10 min
Cost per serving: $1.54

Need:
One 15 ounce can black beeans-drained and rinsed
2 Scallions, white and light green parts, finely chopped
1/2 tsp. chilli powder
3/4 tsp. salt
4 8 inch wheat tortillas
6 oz grated part skim mozzarella cheese
1 ripe Mango, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 tbsp. lime juice
(can add shredded chicken if you would like-dan and I like chicken a lot so we thought it tasted good with that on it as well)

Directions:
Preheat oen to 425 degrees
Combine beans, scallions, chilli powder, 1/2 tsp lime juice, salt-in a bowl
Mist a baking sheet with cooking spray and place tortillas on sheet and spoon bean mixture on top
Sprinkle with cheese
Bake until golden and crisp, about 10 min.
While tostadas are baking combine mango, 1/4 tsp lime juice in bowl-remove tostadas from oven and spoon mixture on top
Serve immediately

Options: can add avacado or fresh cilantro to the top
If you do decide to try this-let me know what you think!
ps. Share your "wealth" with me!

Aloha!

Grandma "Fluffy Hairs" got these outfits for Tavin and Katie on one of her visits to Hawaii. They haven't been able to wear them until now-Sunday was in the 70's so we decided to celebrate the nice weather by breaking out the Hawaiian outfits. Thanks Mom!

P.S. One of our neighbors suggested that next time she should get a matching shirt for Daniel to wear:) What do you think mom? Sorry I don't do moo moo's so it will just have to be the 3 of them!

This Boy Can Dance

Tavin LOVES music and dancing-often times while we are playing-he will instruct me on what I am supposed to be doing-"clap hands mommy....Dance mommy....sing mommy"

This particular Dance and song was inspired by a Diego episode. Who knows what is up with him going and hitting the window inbetween his dancing:) Guess it is the new cool thing to do! He put his sun glasses on all by himself-could you tell?

Who Doesn't Love Head Shoulders Knees and Toes?

I thought it was time for another video or 2 or maybe even 3:) The things we get a kick out of these days....There is a video of Katie coming shortly-I have to have Dan help me edit it first.

He has got the main idea of it right?:) This boy is so smart and so loving-lately he informs me about 3 times a day that I am beautiful-and every time he does, it makes my heart overflow for him....can his little mind even begin to perceive what that means to me?

"Mommy-U so beautful"

Dan has taught him how to play Mario on the game cube and Tavin will sit facing me instead of the TV-pressing all the right buttons to make Mario run or swim or jump-just so he can see my facial reactions! And of course I overly exaggerate my enthusiasm for his ability to make Mario do all these things-He cracks me up.

How It Is Happening....You Can Do It Too!

I have gotten a couple requests from friends and family in the last week or so to share how I am taking off the pounds and making my life healthy-and most important HAPPY-so I decided I would do a post on it. Feel free to share ideas with me-or use my ideas to help you.

First I just wanted to tell you that becoming a healthier me has been hard-it isn't an easy task-so don't feel bad or give up if you can't tell the difference right away or if things seem tough! It took about 2 months before I started to see a change in my physical appearance and at first that was really a bummer-but believe me the work and effort you will put into this is WORTH IT 100%! Not only has it affected me but my family as well:

I am no longer sluggish and tired all the time
I like myself! I feel good inside
I no longer complain to Dan about being so fat (he is super happy about this and I find that our relationship is so much better because I like myself)
I am a more positive person and enjoy the company of others a lot more
I am less depressed (it is rare that I have feelings of depression-as most of you know I have been taking meds. for this since my first year in college)
I can be more active with my 2 beautiful children-can enjoy more activities without feeling the strain-hiking, walking, running, etc.
Have found ways to release stress through exercise instead of other unhealthy outlets
Have the confidence to set other goals in my life and know that I can complete them


Don't think of changing as a "Diet" because if you do-it will never work! Think of it as a life change-something that you will adapt to fit into your life everyday-something you like to do-and it will stick.

Here are some of the things I do:
-Eating: the recommended amount of veggies and fruit for my age and height(look this up on the Internet) For me it is about 3 fruits a day and 2 cups veggies a day....
Banana and strawberries in my cereal
Orange with my lunch
Apple (found that it is easier to eat if you use an apple cutter-don't know why but it works:) with my dinner
TONS of veggies on my sandwich
Side veggie for dinner

Eat 3 meals a day and 2 snacks a day=5 meals each day-this helps to keep you metabolism up and helps you from getting super hungry! NO STARVING YOURSELF!-slows metabolism and causes your body to store fat! I do not starve and I am losing weight!

Do Some experimenting and researching -find healthy recipes on the Internet and try them out-develop a set of healthy meals that you LIKE!

Portion Size: I have found this to be really important-read what the portion size is and then measure it out! put it in a baggie-use measuring cups for cereal, etc.

Some things Dan and I like: Dannon light and fit yogurt, dryers smooth and creamy bars( low in calories and fat-great portion size), cottage cheese with sunflower seeds, healthy trail mixes(good snack and you can make these yourself-recipe online) Egg white omelets with veggies, veggies stir fry, Kashi bars and cereal-really good, apples and peanut butter, frozen grapes

Give yourself a break! Take a day or two off every week and don't worry about what you eat-one day will not kill you! And if helps your body not get used to a certain eating pattern.

Drink 3 liters of water a day-yes this is a lot and it has taken me a while to get to the point where I can do this-but it makes me less hungry, keeps me well hydrated! NO POP! and cut down on Juices.

TIP: us water sweeteners that are low in calories such as Crystal light pure and fit, Benefiber drink packets, and Kellogs also has drink packets as well-you can find these in Walmart-all different flavors.

Also-get a jug at Walmart to help keep track of the amount of water you are drinking

Exercise: Dan and I do a combination of things-work out videos(9 dollars at Walmart or 7 bucks shipped on half.com)-Jillian Michael's and P90X, walking, running, and hiking-pick something you like to do! and do it 4 to 5 times a week.
TIP: Having a partner to do it with Really helps! Thank you Dan for being my partner:)

Sleep: try and get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night-lack of sleep does add to weight gain
Goals: Set small and reachable goals for yourself! It will happen little by little

And Thank U for Cake...

So Dan and I say prayer with Tavin every night before bed-on most nights he likes to say it with our help-but lately he has been able to say about 80% of it by himself-this is what he said the other night (side note: we spent the evening over at his friend Mckenna's house celebrating her sister Mandie's first birthday)

Heavenly Father-thank u for Jesus

and for mommy

and for Daddy

for Katie

for Tavin

for Tuff

for Penna (Mckenna)

for Manny (Mandie)

for bed

....(a pause while he was thinking)...thank u for cake

Amen

What We Do When It Is Raining Out...

So the April showers didn't come until May this year and it has rained every day thus far...hopefully the may flowers are on their way. So-Tavin has turned to his creative/imaginary skills for entertainment. He played "dress up" with mommy's things....the headband made him look like an 80's work out guy wearing a sweat band:) and the other article of clothing he is modeling in the pictures is....my sports bra. He found it on the floor in my room and put it on himself! He came out telling me that he was ready to go out to pick daddy up. No Tavin we cannot go pick up daddy with you wearing mommy's sports bra!

The Charmer and the Rocker

While Aunt Deedra was visiting, she and Tavin had a great time experimenting with his hair-go figure-when I try to do his hair, he won't have anything to do with me-but she does it and he LOVES it! The nursery leaders on Sunday were probably shocked to see his hair actually done for once. Usually we just let him go with bed head because we are running late already or chasing Tavin around the house to do his hair (and not succeeding) makes us late:)

Sleepy Heads

So this past weekend Aunt Deedra came and staid with us for a couple days. One morning I woke up to find Tavin's door open and his bed empty...where could he be? As I rounded the corner this is what I found-Tavin sleeping snuggly with his Aunt Deedra. For 2 days after Deedra left, Tavin asked where she was-looking around the house for her and even peeking out the window to see if he could find her. She was such a big help while she was here and very good company!