Yet another way to sneak in some veggies...

So my friend Amy over at The Mommy Chronicles recently posted about spinach smoothies she was making her little ones. She said the kiddies don't even know the spinach is in it!Hmmmm....that got this mama's mind brewing with ideas!

I often make smoothies for my little ones in the mornings. I put various fruits into it, as well as a little milk and yogurt. I also add their vitamins and any herbal supplements I want them to have. They become crushed up in the fruit and the little ones don't even know they are in there.

Sooooooo.....what would happen if I put a handful of fresh baby spinach into it???

I tried it this morning.

Pure Magic!!

My little ones had no clue it was even in there...they just knew that they weren't allowed to watch me make their smoothies this morning because I was making them "EXTRA special"!!!! They sucked them down and licked the cups clean.

I'm not gonna lie....as they were sucking them down I was doing a little victory dance in my head.

Simple Joy #18

I love to listen to the way little ones pronounce certain words....some actually make me giggle out loud because they are so darn cute!! The part that I love the best is that they are not trying to be cute, but rather they are trying to say the word correctly. Every once in awhile you get a word that actually makes more sense than the correct word.

For example, when my sister was little she would say "roller paper" for toilet paper. Our family still uses that word at times. It makes sense and sounds a lot better than toilet paper!!!!

Eva coined the word "fuzzies" for boogers at about age two. I love it. Our family seems to have permanently replaced the word boogers in our vocabulary with fuzzies...as in"Eva, you have a fuzzy in your nose please go get a Kleenex." Not only does that word alone sound nicer than booger - it also sounds much more pleasant when you are in public.

My latest favorite...

Eva pronounces December as "Brrr-cember"

Now honestly, don't you think that makes a lot more sense? I sure do.

From now on it's definitely Brrr-cember in my book!

Rainy Day Fun!

Last week we had some rain in our neck of the woods...but the kiddies and I were determined to not let something little like THAT stop the fun!!! After awhile we had to use some creativity, but we still had a great time! Just a few pics to share...

This may look like mass chaos - and don't get me wrong because it definitely is - however it is just too much fun! We take every pillow, cushion, and blanket we can find...load them all into the office...and JUMP!! The kiddies love it!

Rainy days are always good for fort building! It's even more fun if we can share a lunch in it!

I made a scavenger hunt for Eva and we had a ball with it! I just drew pictures of things she had to find and then we drove around local neighborhoods until she crossed everything off of her list! It will really be fun when Jaden is a little older and they can race to see who can check everything off first!

After a few days of rain we were definitely ready for the sun to come out (is that a hug or a headlock she has her brother in?), but for the time being we had a BALL!

"Don't knock the weather...nine-tenths of the people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in while!"

--Kin Hubbard

I love that quote!!!

On a personal note...Leslie, great hearing from you! Please e-mail me using the e-mail address on my sidebar and I would be more than happy to share with you what I know about freezing meals!!!

Fireproof - Part 2

I loved reading your comments on my Fireproof post. I've fallen in love with that movie so much I went out and bought it this weekend, as well as The Love Dare. Can't wait to dig in!!! I decided to buy the movie so I could watch it again, but also to share with anyone that hasn't seen it! If you are interested let me know!

That being said, I thought I would share with you a few things I do to help let Matt know that he is special to me. My hopes are that you gain some ideas (as I did from you) and use them to enhance your own relationships!

* Matt and I make a point to always kiss hello and goodbye - even if one of us is just running out to the corner for milk.

* I always ask about Matt's day and I sincerely am interested in listening to his response. It's not just a rhetorical question. However, we make a point not to talk about work/adult things at the dinner table. We try to focus our dinner conversation on the things the children can join in on.

* Matt occasionally travels and I try to make sure he comes home to crisp clean sheets and a freshly made bed. Small, I know....but if I traveled I would find it heavenly!

* Since I am home during the day I try very hard to make sure that Matt comes home to a clean home and often dinner is on the table, or at least underway. Some of you may find this very old fashioned...but I love that I am able to do this for my family.

* Pray. Pray. Pray. This is most important. I will admit that I am horrible at having a set time for devotions and praying...I tend to do it all day long at random times. I've found that for me the best times to pray are while I am driving and during quiet times with my children. I also started something new recently that I love (I read about it in a book) - as I am folding clothing I pray for the person's clothing that I am folding. This has worked out great!

I hope these little things inspire you, as I was inspired by your ideas. I am not perfect and I definitely have days when I am not on my "A" game. There are definitely those days that Matt comes home to the house in complete disarray and I just laugh (or pull out my hair) and say, "WE ARE EATING OUT TONIGHT!!!!!" But my intentions are to always make our home a place of comfort and peace.

On a side note...for those of you that are working I KNOW how hard it is to work full time and then get a nice meal on the table. A few years back (when I was working) my friend Kim and I got together and cooked all day one day (made double and triple batches) and then froze the meals. This was fun for two reasons...One, my friend and I had a great day of drinking wine and cooking together. Two, I had a freezer stuffed full of meals that I could thaw, throw in the oven, and still feed my family a great homemade meal (often on the table just as Matt got home)!!! I do have a few pointers to share if you are interested in this...e-mail me!

Always Remember...

Danger! Danger!

When I was teaching fourth grade I use to do an entire unit on Basic Aid, and within this unit I always included fire safety. Every year I was absolutely FLOORED at how many of my students knew nothing about fire safety. Many not even having a clue how to handle a 911 call. I always vowed that when I had my own children I would do all that I could to ensure that they were prepared in the event of an emergency...and I would start them young in this preparation.

A few years ago my dad and step-mom got Eva and Jaden a book called "It's Time to Call 911!" that is absolutely WONDERFUL. It has completely taught Eva not only how to dial 911, but also what situations would require a 911 call. The book even explains what information you need to tell the 911 operator.


Eva and I have talked about fire safety. She knows that if a fire were to happen in our home she must get out quickly and never, EVER come back in. We have a meeting place where we will all meet as a family.

Another step I took recently to ensure they are prepared in the event of an emergency was to take them to our local fire department. I called ahead and explained that I would like my children to meet the firemen and possibly see what the firemen look like with all of their gear on. When I was teaching I read that often children in a fire will hide from firemen because they look so scary with their masks and gear on. Our trip to the firehouse was a perfect opportunity for Eva and Jaden to see that underneath all of that gear is a man that is there to help them if need be. The firemen were wonderful and gave us a tour of the firehouse. They let us see all the firetrucks and let Eva sit in the driver's seat!! At the end of the tour we talked about fire safety. One fireman put on his gear and let Eva and Jaden see him with it all on. I made sure he talked to them with the mask on and pointed out to the little ones that his voice sounds funny with the mask on...but it's still the same man underneath the mask.

In all this was a wonderful experience - especially for Eva. Jaden is still a little young and was quite scared of the trucks and the man in the mask. I can assure you that we will return when he is a little older and understands it better.

I know that many schools offer programs where firemen come and let children see the trucks and talk about fire safety, but if you have little ones at home I would encourage you to make a trip sooner. Unfortunately, you never know when an emergency may happen and it's so important to make sure our little ones are prepared!

Garden Bliss

Our garden is growing at an amazing rate! I feel like every time we walk out to it (which is nearly daily) we see new growth!! It's so fun to see...and the kiddies enjoy knowing that they have been part of it! A few picture updates...

Yes, we have a sprinkling system....but I think this "sprinkling system" is more fun (and a lot cuter)!

The first fruits of our labor....a little baby tomato is beginning to grow!

Our little man became completely sidetracked in his gardening duties when someone started mowing the lot behind us on a big tractor. He and I sat together for a good 15 minutes just watching the tractor and waving to the man driving it.

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."

--Charles R. Swindoll

A Special Milestone.

My little girl hit a big milestone today....a huge milestone. She can officially ride a two-wheel bike with NO training wheels.

I am completely and utterly stunned...she is only four years old!!!

In true Eva fashion she did it her way. She decided last week that she wanted to learn. Every moment she could she practiced...and practiced...and practiced. This past weekend she literally spent 45 minutes just practicing riding in a circle with one training wheel on. When I would offer to help her she would politely refuse...she was gonna do this herself.

Today we took off the remaining training wheel. She got on the bike again and I asked if she wanted me to run with her to practice. She agreed. I ran about 15 steps with her and she said, "Mommy, I can do it myself."

And she did.

My baby is growing up....and I couldn't be more proud.

Let's Fireproof Our Marriages...with a little help from our friends.

OK...I know I am behind the times, as many of you watched this movie a looooooong time ago....but just bear with me here. After wanting to watch the movie Fireproof for literally months Matt and I finally sat down tonight and watched it together.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Let me start off by saying I detest sad movies. I simply refuse to watch them. Matt was leery about this movie at the beginning because he thought it was going to just be a sad sappy movie (honestly I think he was thinking "chick flick" in his head but wasn't saying it). After hearing so much hype about it I decided I wanted to see it regardless. About midway through this movie I was bawling and I didn't stop!!

At one point Matt chuckled because I actually caught a sob in my throat!! Yes, I sobbed.

But the amazing thing was that they were not tears of sadness.

I can't even really explain it, but quite honestly they were tears of joy.

The message of this movie was amazing. Simply amazing. What God can do in our lives is unreal...but the movie did an amazing job of showing that WE must do all we can to assist God in his plan. Marriages will deteriorate if WE don't put the effort into them to make them prosper.

Some of the very best advice I got about marriage I actually got from my high school family relations teacher. She once said that marriage is NEVER a 50-50. Some days you will be giving 80% and your partner will only be giving 20%. Other days your partner will be put forth 95% of the effort, while you're just kickin' in the last 5%. I thought the movie did an amazing job of demonstrating this. About mid-movie Kirk's character was doing all he could to keep his marriage going. He was giving nearly 99.99% at that point...and he wasn't giving up!

I also loved how Kirk's (yes, we are on a first name basis now...after all he was my middle school crush) character finally realized that he had been pushing God away the same way his wife was pushing him away. As his relationship with God became stronger, his relationship with his wife eventually became stronger too. And even beyond that he just seemed more at peace - with everything in his life.

And lastly, this movie was just ANOTHER example that in life the little things really are the big things. The little touches in a marriage make life that much sweeter.

Soooooooo......on that note....

As we all know, a blog is a WONDERFUL way to learn from each other. I'm asking my readers to comment and share some little things YOU do to make your spouse feel special. Your ideas can be as simple or complex as you wish - I want to hear them all! Please share and check back often...I am hoping we can all steal a few ideas from eachother!!!

Hugs,
Jamie

It's all in the words...

I get kissed by the sun each morning,

Put my feet on the hardwood floor.

I get to hear to hear my children's laughter,

down the hall through the bedroom door.

Sometimes I sit on my front porch,

just soaking up the day.

I think to myself - I think to myself,

This world is a beautiful place.

I have been blessed,
and I feel like I've found my way,
I thank God for all I've been given,
at the end of every day.
I have been blessed,
with so much more than I deserve.
To be here with the ones that love me,
to love them so much it hurts.
I HAVE BEEN BLESSED.

--Martina McBride "Blessed"

As many of you know, I love the lyrics to a great song. This one fits the bill absolutely perfectly. The kiddies and I have been rockin' out to a little Martina the past few days and every time I sing the words it just seems to reiterate what I am feeling in my heart...I can't help but smile! I know I tell ya'll this a lot...but there is SO much in life to be thankful for.

I've had people say to me, "Not everyone can be as positive as you are!" Well my friends...all I can say is that it is a CHOICE. You must wake up in the morning and seek the good. Seek out all around you that is beautiful and all around you that brings you joy. When bad things happen (and they will) focus on the positive...trust me it is there. I firmly believe God gives us obstacles to help us build our character and our faith in Him.

So today...make a point to seek joy. Your heart will thank you.

(Photo credit goes to our awesome family photographers...as always, contact me for more info!)

Just watchin' the garden grow...

Sophie o' Sophie...how does your garden grow?

My garden has brought me more joy this summer than I can even tell you! I absolutely love checking on it daily and puttering around in it. I am happy to report that everything looks great, although I did need to replant my beans because they never came up. The freshly planted ones are just now pushing their way through the soil...it may sound odd but it's just all awe inspiring to me and just another example of the blessings God provides.

Eva and Jaden continue to help me out in the Garden. Eva loves to weed and Jaden enjoys picking up any rocks he finds and putting them in a bucket. Both activities help me out immensely! On top of the little ones, our dog Sophie has also spent time enjoying the garden. She likes to curl up next to it, soak in the sunshine, and watch us putter. Every so often she'll catch a little bit of shut eye while she is out there.

Another bit of good news from the garden is that last night I made a meal requiring fresh basil and fresh parsley...guess where I got it from??!! That's right! I walked out back and picked it fresh out of the garden! What a great feeling!

For those of you considering doing this - I can't encourage you enough! I have thoroughly loved every single moment of it.

PS. I posted 3 times today! I was a bit behind!

Just because...

Just because I know someday...

they will both be much taller than the hand dryer.

Last Gymnastics Class of the Season

Last week Eva had her last gymnastics class until next fall (we always take the summers off). Eva has been in gymnastics since she was 18 months old and it just amazes me when I see the improvement she has made! At the end of this season she was working on her cartwheel, handstand, as well as various work on the parallel and uneven bars! Way to go Munchkin! We are so proud of you!

Our First Family Walk

Our friends Kim and Kevin (along with their girls Tessa and Ella) invited us to join them for a local "Family Walk". We knew it would be fun - we always have a great time with Kim and Kevin - but we were surprised at just how wonderful it was for all of us! The walk was 2 miles long and during the entire route were people blowing bubbles, characters dressed up cheering on the walkers, people spraying us with spray bottles, and even people handing out water. It was SUCH a good time and a GREAT experience for the kiddies!! Not only did it reinforce the importance of being active - it made it fun!

Our little girl has wanted to do a walk ever since I participated in the 60 mile walk to end breast cancer. She took this walk pretty seriously! I loved watching her soak in every moment. She walked a mile and a half before she and Tess decided to jump in the wagon. For her age I thought that was awesome! I also loved that all of the walkers got race T-shirts and race numbers...and they were all #1!

After the walk all of the children received medals! My little ones (especially Eva) were ecstatic! It has been 2 days now and she is still wearing it! I love it!

The evening ended with dinner together and ice cream (special treat!) afterwards. I think it is safe to say that we all had an amazing time!! Eva is already asking when we can do a walk again!

Bacon and Feta Inside Out Burger

The other night I was watching The Ultimate Burger Challenge on the Food Network. Let me tell you, I became totally inspired to make a burger that was more than a slab of meat on a bun! The next day I set out to create MY version of the Ultimate Burger and it was a hit!!! I'm already looking forward to making them again...they were THAT good!

1. Create 2 hamburger patties (thin). Put crumbled bacon and feta cheese on one and then top it with the other patty. Pinch them together and grill them as you normally would.

2. Mix together salad greens (I enjoy the whole leaf spinach mix) and a small amount of feta cheese. Add Honey Mustard Dressing (Newman's Own is my favorite). For a crunchy texture I also crushed croutons and added to this mixture.

3. Top the burgers with the lettuce mixture, a tomato slice, and a warm toasted bun!


The name "inside out burger" is because most of the toppings are tucked into the actual burger....yummy!

Please Come and Visit!!!

I am honored to be guest posting today at a wonderful blog you just have to check out!! As soon as I found Sandy's blog I was hooked...and I am sure you will be too! Please head over there to visit me and leave me a little love!!! Click on the icon below!