Summer Days

This summer we spent many afternoons at our local city pool.
I found that taking the girls to the pool by myself was much easier than I had imagined...
(except for when Avery pooped in her swimming suit 32452 times too many and I had to cart Aspen along for the clean up journey)

Quick description of my older girls = NO FEAR!
Avery basked in her freedom to swim about,
often times going into the deeper areas with Brinley.

Brinley loved going down the blue slide over and over again.
On Saturday she jumped off the big diving board a few times!

This week the girls both enjoyed Daddy's "helicopter toss" which included being hurled full force and face first into the water after a series of fast
above water circles.



We will miss this dear swimming spot through the long, cold, gray winter months.

We also visited the library... a few times.



The truth about our library visits =

1 - Aspen pulls out countless books off any shelf within reach. And so you are saying to yourself "Are you smarter than a 10 month old Leah? Just move her away from the shelves." And then I would respond to you that when I move her the slightest bit away from the shelves she lets out a series of whaling screams which are quite disruptive and so instead I just let her pull out books till her little heart's content and then put them back as we move on.

2- Avery disappears quickly. She thinks it's hilarious.

3- The girls plead and nag to check out DVD's that are due back in like 2 days and are so darn scratched that most of the time they don't even work.

4- Brinley chooses book selections that have no less than 2334643645 tiny words so as to increase the duration of our bedtime story reading.

And so folks this Mama sometimes returns and checks out books without the children in tow.
We always have an abundance of library books at our home!

Left = Aspen pulling out books.
Right =A sweet elderly gentleman insisted on taking this picture of us outside of the library.




Then I got a close up of this fast hair-do on Brinley. Just twist two sections of hair in one direction and at the same time twirl those sections in the opposite direction.
Does that make any sense? Good luck!

Food & Protection

This is how I get my vegetable puree (in this case sweet potato)
from the measuring cup into the baggie mess free. Bag over cup and walla!
Mix 1/2 cup of this nutrient packed puree into your pancakes and you will discover the most delicious addition to your regular pancake recipe!

This is my lunch. And then I have my second lunch a couple hours later of course.

This is my bountiful garden. See the peppers finally turning red. Below is a demonstration of how I can create ONE post with TWO totally unrelated topics.

This is Brinley feeding Aspen.
Brinley has officially joined the "guarding team" and now uses various tactics to keep Avery away from Aspen.

Big Sister Offense Tactics included, but are not limited to:

1) The snatch and run defense. This includes quickly picking up Aspen and whisking her away to safety. Typically an unsuccessful method because most often times Avery runs right alongside grabbing one of Aspen's dangling legs or arms.

2) The High Pitched Enticement. This includes screaming out a type of enticement, like a special toy offer, that will catch Avery's attention as she hurtles herself into Aspen's path. Once again, typically unsuccessful because Avery has most often already reached her target.

3) The Body Guard. If other tactics fail repeatedly in any given day (happens most days) she will revert to becoming Aspen's personal body guard. This can include throwing herself right into the battle field so as to become a protective barrier. This one has it's pro's and con's. PRO- Brinley saves Aspen. CON- Brinley endures Avery's loving wrath of frustration.

All in all we are thankful to our dear Brinley for the part she plays in our offensive line-up.

She is a very loving big sister and we really benefit from her help with Aspen.

And if you want to read a well written post about Health Care GO HERE!

First day of First Grade

Today began like any other day, with Morning Chore Packs and Avery's crazy hair. Seriously folks, her hair looks like this even right after a bath.




However, we had one VERY excited Brinley girl who started FIRST GRADE today!

Our first born is not such a baby anymore. She does however continue to insist on sleeping with her doll Emma, the "Brinley" bear and fluff every single wingle night. She also absolutely must have her comfort blanket from infancy laid flat on top of her covers with the "special (worn out) corner" secured in between her thumb and pointer finger before considering sleep.



Daddy was post night call (as he will be every day for 2 more weeks) but mustered up lots of enthusiasm for the first day of school as we walked Brinley into her classroom.

Avery REALLY wants to go to school and is waiting patiently for pre-school to start in two weeks. She wore her back pack this morning just like her big sis. I was geared up for one of her fantastic tantrums complete with body thrashing on the floor and ear piercing screams as we exited Brinley's classroom. I was grateful to have my husband on stand-by...

but wait...what on earth, we tell her it's time to go and she retrieves her backpack, which she had so carefully placed on another child's hook in attempts to stay the remainder of the school day, and begins to follow us.

Oh boy, we are close to the door now and still no freak outs on radar... and what do you know folks, we made it out tantrum free. I secretly wanted to shout a few hallelujahs and other types of praise, but we just continued on to the car with a few pit stops along the way for Avery to glance at the school wall decor.

And if you have 3 mintues WATCH THIS.

Amen and Amen

Please shout it out, send it along, post it on your blog and contact

YOUR government leaders today. Click here to find your Representative.

Sorry, just extremely worried about that little thing called Health Care!

Also, when the clip is done other clips will appear at the bottom of the you tube screen.

Click on the

"Rep. Tom Price Gives Republican Weekly Address," for further clarity on the bill.

Be Advised...

making the World's Best Chocolate Cupcakes may result in happy little faces

smothered in chocolate frosting!

Thank you dear Angie for getting us addicted to this recipe.

Be Advised...

that a long awaited box of dress up clothes from Nana may bring out giddy laughter in little girls.

Handed down from Cody's sisters these are timeless gems I tell you!

Thank you Nana. Fashion shows are flowing abundantly.

Be Advised...

That DUANE has officially graduated!

That KELTY has been accepted the Alder School of Professional Psychology and will be going through graduate school and becoming a new Mommy at the same time!

That STEPHANIE continues to heal and inspire us all!

And that you will get a laugh out of JILL'S new blog URL title idea's.

Creative Corner

#1 Goal = Create a system to help children play with one set of toys at a time AND then put them back in their appropriate home before getting another toy out.

Solution = Purchase decorator weight and clear window fabric, contact your super sower friend ASHLI and have her make a variety of "toy bags" to hang in the living room

(since your kids never play in the entire downstairs level we devoted to a playroom because they always want to be 3 feet away from you)

Rule = Only one bag of toys out at a time! Love it. However, if they go downstairs to their playroom they may have more toys out at once.

Thanks Ashli!

#2 Goal = Functional coupon storage compartment.

Solution = Create a pocket style compartment and adhere it to the inside of the kitchen cabinet closest to the garage door. (Deals are "sweet" and saving $ helps us to have a "happy life")

Rule = Remember to grab the coupon you need when walking out the door with the other 23463456 things you may happen to need while out with three small children.

My Two Cents

I don't like politics. I prefer not to talk about our current governmental status because I become quite negative and angry. I don't like feeling angry, but when it comes to our political climate I am. I want my blog to be a happy place, that is why I don't post my political frustrations,

however,

I can't keep completely silent on the the current "Health Care Reform" debate. Being on the inside of the medical world we have a unique perspective on the way medicine, insurance companies, Medicaid, etc...all works.

There are many complexities and many problems that CAN be solved. Actually the solutions are much less complicated than what the president's grand plan entails.

Obama has not listened to Doctor's in efforts to improve medical treatment for Americans...ironic isn't it. When trying to figure out how to improve a kindergarten classroom would you seek advice from a) a seasoned kindergarten teacher who loves her job and wants what is best for the children she teaches OR

b) a bureaucratic lawyer in Washington who's last visit to a kindergarten classroom was when he / she moved on to first grade??? This example is also way over simplified, but we all get it, right?

Obama has made it clear that he is unwilling to "reform" the #1 problem creating unaffordable health care, which would be to cap lawsuits (heaven forbid some of his Washington friends be angry like the rest of the nation), however he stands ready and even eager to sink our country into further debt to "overhaul" our entire system so that we too can wait on a list for months on end with life-threatening illnesses like they do in Canada and Sweden.

Obama can continue to make all the promises in the world about how his plans will not negatively affect our care, this is simply not so. Perhaps in the very beginning the changes might be more insidious, but as the months creep on a harsh reality will hit our nation and at that point it will be too late.

This, CLICK HERE, is a fantastic mini summary of what SOME, only some, of the serious issues will be if We The People (after all once upon a time Washington did have our best interest in mind) do not get involved and speak up!

...and if you just clicked on the link and decided that you were too busy to read it then click on it again and spend 5 minutes understanding what some of the real problems in this mess are!

I shall now end my political post and be happy again.

The end.

Made to Order

Morning Oatmeal Orders

Brinley =plain, zero add ons (except for the heap of flax seed meal hidden inside every time).

Avery = Blueberries, walnuts & milk, exactly the same as Mommy.

Daddy = Blueberries & milk, NO NUTS.

My natural hair order = Strawberry blonde (more red than blonde)

and I am going back to my color of origin, again.

(My stylist is Christina. She works HERE.)

Card = One of a few simple cards I made for the resident

spouse group to use in an upcoming Stampin' night.

Below = An incredible father "made to order."

He shared with me THIS touching clip a while ago.

I am thankful that my eternal companion looks up to the REAL HEROES on earth.

I was reminded of this clip when he voiced his conviction, again, that no matter what career he had chosen, "Your job as a mother, nurturing and teaching our children, will always be more important than any job I could ever do."

Cody however does them both. He provides for our family and he nurtures, teaches and takes care of the children and me. Cody is indeed my hero! I love you sweetie.

Boogers

On Sunday at church while the sacrament was being passed, a time when we really have worked on helping our children remain totally silent, Avery looked up at me with her perma-grin face and boldly exclaimed

"I love to eat my boogers Mom, it's fun. Do you like to eat your boogers too?"

I tried my best not to crack up or draw any more attention to the situation, which would naturally encourage Avery to repeat herself again and again.

This morning after torturing her OLDER sister ( Aspen is not the only victim) for the 4Th time by whacking her in the back with a wooden peg

(Mom, she has found a new use for the pounding toy you bought her...she likes to pound humans)

she sat in time out singing merrily for quite some time.

She typically gives up screaming shortly after being placed in time out.

When I was ready for her to join us again I sat down by her, as I always do, and gave her the "we use our hands for soft and gentle touching, not for hitting" talk and she grinned from ear to ear, as she always does, like she has just won a gold medal at the Olympics.

Then she apologizes happily to Brinley, gives her a hug and goes about marching to the

beat of her own little drum.

Summer Fridge

I love my summer fridge to be full of fruits and vegetables from local farms.
Dinner tonight = Grilled salmon, roasted garlic mashed red potatoes (skin on),

third shelf down,

and

sauteed green beans, top shelf, with almond slivers, olive oil, garlic and lemon seasoning.

My Mom taught me that the deeper the color of produce the more nutrient rich it is.

For Example:

Cabbage & grapes are not as good for you as spinach and pomegranate.

Pears and corn, while delicious, have less nutrients than broccoli and beets.

Try this little comparison game to figure out the best for you foods,

it's fun to play with kids!

This week I boiled beets (and by the way my dear Tovi, I will always remember when we lived in Missouri and upon arrival to our home you noticed my boiling beets and exclaimed "Are you really cooking beets to eat? I thought only old people ate beets."

So every time I make beets I think of you and hope that they do indeed keep me alive so that when I'm old I can eat them too)

to serve as a snack (the kids don't dig this idea) and this scrumptious zucchini crumble bread with fresh blueberries for desert

...even though we could not keep our hands off of it and ended up eating so much during the day that we were not even hungry for dinner.

I've also added a picture of my FAVORITE three items I bought at Trader Joe's this week.

1- Fantastic fiber bread make with Steal Cut oats. The girls LOVE it and so do I!

2- To die for creamy Trader Joe's brand yogurt with 17g of sugar per cup (which is actually minimal compared to other yogurt brands). This yogurt reminds me a cheese dairy snack I ate everyday when I lived in Madrid, Spain.

3- Cilantro salad dressing which tastes very similar to the Cafe Rio cilantro dressing I make which calls for about 2345435 ingredients and looses flavor if not used up the same day it's made. This discovery makes me a very woman.

HOWEVER...

going HERE and eating the desserts pictured above with girlfriends

is also a very important summer time activity!

THE END.