Toys? Who Needs 'Em?

Nolan was playing in the cupboard after breakfast and found this leaf platter. It was a boat, guitar, pirate sword, fishing pole and his lunch plate. It kept him busy for almost two hours.

More Firsts

Avrie learned a new word last night...bowl. I noticed her pointing to things and shaking her head "no" today. And I'm fairly certain she's got that ("dat") down but I'm not positive. She isn't walking yet but she did take one step today before she fell. She was so excited that she hopped right back up and jumped off both feet and landed on all fours with a gleeful shout. It was hysterical. We've been enjoying the AC today but did run a few errands this morning and went to the library this afternoon. Talk about sixth sense...I made Evan some cookies this afternoon and told Nolan he could try one if he wanted but that they had owwie flour in them. He took a tiny, tiny bite and decided owwies weren't worth it. It's as if his body knew it wasn't good for him. Here's Avrie enjoying some 83% Swiss dark chocolate. My kids have no idea what Hershey's is!!

Fishing

Grandma Char got Nolan a tackle box on Friday so we went fishing on Saturday night. No fish though. Good thing there is a park behind the river.

We've been busy beaching with friends. Avrie loves playing in the water and putting sand in buckets and dumping them out. She's been standing on her own now for a week and is moments away from walking. She cut an upper tooth yesterday and has a mild cold so she's not in the best of spirits today. She has also learned to give kisses and it's the cutest thing in the world. She puckers up as big as she can!! It seems like she's grown up in the last two weeks. She's moved out of babyhood into toddlerhood.

Beach Bums

We went to the beach this morning for a couple hours and were the only ones there for most the time. The kids had a blast and both had good naps this afternoon.

Milestone!!

Last night at Ryan's birthday party Avrie went from sitting to standing all by herself without hanging on to anything and I MISSED it!!! She'll soon be toddling around. What happened to my baby??

Nolan just came up to me and said "don't freeze me out Mommy". I guess I had the a/c on a bit too low for him!! He loves it that our car doesn't have air. He thought it was too cold in the car before.

Well we went to Barnes and Noble tonight to get our Harry Potter book but found out that Target is $5 cheaper so we'll be going there instead. Evan gets to read it first. I just started "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and can't put it down.

Hit the Nail on the Head...

I'm listening to Dishing up Nutrition, a local radio nutrition program sponsored by Nutritional Weight and Wellness, and they just made a statement that is just like...no duh.

Why is eating real food considered extreme?

I know most of my family and friends think we're extreme with our food choices. But why?? Why is not eating out of a box or jar, etc. extreme? It's real food. Unadulterated food. Check the ingredients on your packages and look at all the fillers, flavors and hydrogenated fats you are eating. It contributes to major health problems and AGING. We started eating REAL food 3 years ago and I no longer have to use lotion or conditioner because my body produces enough natural oils because I eat FAT, heaven forbid. But REAL fat. Butter, cream, olive oil, nuts, avocados, coconut oil. We drink unprocessed milk and make our own ice cream. Whole milk yogurt. Not a lot of sugar. Chicken with the skin. Red meat. I hate it when I'm made out to be a bad mother because I refuse to feed my children excess junk. If anything you'd think it would be that I'm an excellent mother because I CARE about the HEALTH of my children.

Off my soapbox now.

Garage Sale Loot!

I spent $10.75 today and scored major loot. A ton of clothes for Avrie...all Children's Place, Gap, Old Navy, GAP, etc. Nolan found a "treasure"...an accordion! We went to the lake this morning to walk and took a half loaf of stale bread to feed the ducks. The kids loved it, as did the ducks! Nolan wants to take breakfast to the ducks every morning now. Both the kids have mild summer colds. So far it's just mild congestion and only a few Kleenexes have been used. Evan worked at Allen Co. today for overtime. Hoping to head to the beach or the pool after supper.

Random Thoughts and Confessions

1. I am embarrassed to admit that I actually like canned corn (well, the TJ's stuff). It must be reminiscent of school lunches or something. Oh, and fish sticks (although I haven't had a fish stick in over 10 years)! My favorite school lunch was chicken patties with fake potatoes and gravy...yummmy! It makes me sick to think of how much trans fat kids consume from daily school lunches. Which is why I hope that I can send my kids to a school like this: http://edibleschoolyard.org . If anyone knows of any schools with a lunch program like this in the Twin Cities please let me know! And it's not about having low-fat lunches. That's just as bad. I can't believe they expect kids to learn when they are drinking diet pop and skim milk.

2. Even on the most beautiful day I'd rather sit on the couch with a good book.

3. I'm a recovering toothbrushing addict. I've gone from 10+ times per day to a max of 5 and sometimes I am fine with 3.

4. I don't know what I'm going to do when all my kids are in school. I really don't know what interests me. I wish there was a quiz for these things that's more accurate than the one I took in high school. A few years back I was all enrolled in cooking school and even had my knives ordered before I backed out.

5. I'm terrible with commitment. Not the marriage kind. The making plans and appointments kind. Just ask Tara!!! I don't like to be tied down.

Obligation

So, on my way out of Fresh and Natural today this guy behind me says "are they twins"? What?!?! Seriously?!?! One child is 3 and the other is 1. Yeah, sure. I wonder if he felt like he had to comment for some reason? For instance, I always feel the need to compliment people on their children's names if I DON'T like them. A couple weeks ago at the park there was a mom with two daughters and their names were Lola and Stella. Are they destined to be showgirls or what?! I mean, really. This time I actually didn't comment but normally I would have been gushing with "ohh, I love their names"!

Sweat. Drip. Wilt.

Lunch. Yummm. It is way too hot outside. I cannot stand this weather. We went to the mall this morning to play at the playland and walk around. We drove there in our car that has no A/C and threatens to overheat if stopped too long or driven too slow. The A/C on Evan's truck is out too so we're plenty warm around here. Evan accidentally left his cell phone at home this morning so I took it with to answer business calls. It was so silent that I forgot I had it and lost it somewhere along the way. I realized it as I was walking across the parking lot to leave. I called it from my cell phone and the mall lost and found had it for me. Wheeww. To top it all off my camera is dying. It only turns off if you take the battery out and the lens won't retract and it makes a weird clicking sound when it flashes and this is the longest run on sentence ever!! Oh, and we stopped at Fresh and Natural just to buy Nolan gluten free ice cream cones and they were all out.

Busy Busy Busy

Ahhhh! Both kids are in bed and I'm having my first moment of peace since Saturday morning! We had Char's surprise 50th Saturday night at Eric and Lori's house. It was a success...she said she was surprised! Sunday afternoon Grayson had his birthday party at Cindy's pool. We went to Char and Elroys afterwards for lazying around and didn't get home until close to midnight. The kids and I met Gpa/Gma, Eric/Lori and Ethan/Heidi at Como Zoo this afternoon and we went to Snuffy's for food and malts afterwards. I went grocery shopping with the kids tonight...which always seems to be eventful. Evan put in 14 hours at Allen Co. today and isn't home yet. I am so very tired. Here's a ton of pictures. Avrie and Auntie Heidi at Snuffy's.

Picture by the polar bears.

Three little rascals. They look like they're up to no good.

Sienna Larson and Avrie hanging out.

Nolan sleeping Sunday afternoon. He had pushed his bed out from the wall and then found a more comfy place to sleep. Whatever suits him is fine with me.

Grayson and Trevin waiting patiently for Grandma to show up.
I love this picture! This is right as she is seeing Ethan and Heidi!

Avrie and Grandpa Lowell having a ball!

Style!

Baby Nolan!!

I pulled some old pictures off an old computer and look what I found! I don't even remember Nolan being this little. Wahhh!A little over a year.A few days before he turned the big ONE. 10 months

The Impromptu Family Reunion was a blast! Hopefully we can make it an annual thing.Daddy and Avrie riding Gma and Gpa's tire horse.
Elliot Starling

Whoa! They fell a second after this was taken.

Hey baby!!

Avrie's got a gun! The whole world's come undone.....

Happy 4th

We spend the 4th at Char and Elroy's for lots of food and fun. We skipped the fireworks...are we old or what?! My handsome husband's mug =)
Nolan playing ball.

Swimming to clean off all the cheese!

Eating shredded cheese on Gpa's lap. Not sure how much actually made it in her mouth!

Amanda and Elliot

Doe Eyes

Oh. My. Cuteness.

No Band-Aids!

Nolan's finger looks awesome! We took the band-aid off for good last night and even got it good and dirty at the park today. He's still holding it funny from having it taped for 3 weeks but you can tell he's glad to have his finger back. There is hardly any gone at all. Just a smidgen of the tip. I don't think it's going to be noticeable at all.

Baa-Baa and Blueberries

Yummy! Avrie has eaten about 3/4 cup of blueberries today and it's only 3:15!

Avrie loving her "baa-baa". She has become rather attached to sheep...she has two and Nolan has one, which she steals from him every chance she gets.

Avrie's room is actually cute now. We rearranged and made better use of the space we have. It's a dumb room with 3 doors and a window so it makes arranging a bit challenging.

Evan hung up some great old hooks I got at Unique for a few cents.