Jewels & Treasures

On the Possibilty of Weaning {Gentle Thoughts Needed}

2012-02-13T11:55:00.001-06:00

Despite the fact that I am a big supporter of extended breastfeeding and letting my girls decide when to wean. Despite the fact that I let Zoelle self wean at 2 years, 8 months, and 8 days. Despite the fact that I adore when one of my girlies falls asleep nursing. Despite that tandem nursing has allowed me to nurse our little Xio even though she didn't come from my belly.

Despite all that...

I. am. ready. to. be. done.

Or at least just down to one.

Honestly, I wish our little Mer would wean. The girl who I seriously wondered if she would make it to a year nursing, is still going strong morning, before nap, and at bedtime.

Sometimes I love it. Sometimes I hate it and just wish she would "forget" for one of the sessions. Instead, I feel like she is wanting to nurse even more often now. I'm considering something I never thought I would do.

Weaning her.

Or at least gently pushing her in that direction. But, I need tips!! I have no idea where to start or how to convince her to go that way. I remember feeling this way with Zoelle right around this time, but she stopped on her own.

I do want it to be gentle. If I thought she was too attached to it, I would not consider it. I feel like she is just doing it for something to do and not really to nurse or even really snuggle. It almost has become a game for her.

It just has become not fun, relaxing, or bonding for me with her. Quite honestly, sometimes I feel stressed at the thought of nursing her again. I really don't want to end on a bad note, but rather would love to remember those good nursing memories. Secretly, I also hope that weaning one girl will help me lose a bit of weight that I cannot seem to lose while nursing so much!

So go gentle on me here and offer me loving advice and tips please!! I do not take this decision lightly.

Little Pim Bilingual Books Review

2012-02-10T14:58:00.000-06:00

When I started our homeschool year, I intended to do a bit more of a bilingual preschool. However, life has just sort of gotten in the way and I am not doing as much Spanish as I had hoped to be doing.

This is where I am thankful for Little Pim. Last year, we reviewed a Spanish DVD with the captivating bear named Pim and we fell in love. I even counted Little Pim as one of my top 10 items that I have reviewed.

Thus when Little Pim contacted me about the new books they had available, I jumped on the opportunity to add one more bilingual item to our homeschooling routine.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that both of the books we received, actually featured three languages: English, French, and Spanish.

Little Pim Colors provides children with a fun, exciting adventure in identifying the correct colors using flaps and tabs to engage the children in reading. I was so excited to hear Meridian trying to find the rojo balloon. I honestly had no idea she had picked up on any Spanish yet!

Little Pim Feelings captivated the girls with the various pictures of children and the expressions on their faces of how they feel. I loved the short phrases the pictures offered my girls, such as "She is shy".

Connect!

Want to know everything that is going on at Little Pim? Then follow them via Twitter or Facebook.

Buy It!

If you are looking for a way to incorporate another language into your child's reading, then I highly suggest you take a look at Little Pim and all they have to offer!

*The featured product(s) in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

Wordless Wednesday: Crazy Hair Day

2012-02-08T15:02:00.001-06:00

DIY Hair Accessory Holder {Guest Post by my Husband}

2012-02-06T12:41:00.001-06:00

With having three precious little daughters with headsfull of gorgeous hair comes an over-abundance of hair accessories! My wonderful wife would find cute little hairclippies here or some neat headbands there. Big, fluffy, flowers in all shapes and colors seemed to overflow atleast one drawer of our girls’ dresser. We had very quickly created a monster that was in dire need oforganization!

Vanessa kept mentioning to me that we needed some otherway to organize our many “hair things.” She had seen other types of organizers online and wanted me to make hersomething that would be both visually appealing and, at the same time, verypractical. Everything I had seen thusfar, I knew, would not work for the number of pieces we had so I had to think ofsomething else.

As with many things I have done in the past, when facedwith a particular problem or task, I just go to the store. This is where my thinking happens and wheremy thought process shines (wink). Ican’t just sit down and draw out a plan. I have to see what there is available and, with that, let the piecesfall into place in my brain.

I had a general idea of what I wanted to do as far assize and colors go but wasn’t really sure how I was going to actually tie ittogether. It all started with this frameI found at our local craft store. It was a good size and a good price. (very important! ha!) I decided to attach tiny little clothes pinsand small wooden pegs to the frame around its perimeter in strategic locationsso as not to cover up too much of the picture that was to be in the frame. All of the wood pieces were stained darkmahogany to match our home’s doors and trim and then sprayed with satinpolyurethane for a nice sheen.

Most of the hair accessory holders that I had seen thusfar had used some sort of ribbon or ribbons hanging down that were used toattach the various bows and such. I knewI wanted to use this idea as well and set out to find the perfect ribbon. Vanessa has always really liked hot pink andorange together so that was going to be my “theme” colors. I found some ribbon that worked very well andstapled that to the back of the picture frame across the bottom and let theribbons hang down about 15 inches.

I really wanted to personalize this project for my girlsso I found wooden letters and purchased one that stands for the first letter ineach of their names. These letters Ipainted hot pink and glued to the frame as shown.

Lastly, I found a photograph that features all three ofmy girls, all with different hair accessories and placed that in theframe. The photo was made smaller thanthe frame so I could place an orange background behind the photo to continuewith the hot pink and orange theme of the project. This offset the pink of the letters on theframe.

So there you have it; a completed hair-thingy / accessoryholder! Once completed, we were happy tosee it would hold nearly all of our accessories and make them much moreaccessible and visible when trying to match them to outfits.

Feel free to borrow the idea and make your own organizedchaos. It’s a fun project that the wholefamily can get in on and relatively inexpensive too!

Wordless Wednesday: Snuggling Cousins

2012-02-01T15:25:00.001-06:00

19 Questions With My Girls....

2012-01-30T14:03:00.002-06:00

It is always fun to follow other bloggers with three girls and one of my favorite bloggers is Winey Mommy. Recently, she asked 19 questions to her older girls and had them answer them. I loved the answers that her girls had so much that I had to ask my two older girls as well.

I asked them each separately and here are the answers they gave! Enjoy!

1. What is something mommy always says to you?

Zoelle: That sometimes I have to read books if I don't nap.
Meridian: Umm...treats?

2. What makes mommy happy?

Zoelle: When I be good.
Meridian: Somebody loves you.

3. What makes mommy sad?

Zoelle: I don't know.
Meridian: I can't tell you, I only want to eat gum!

4. How does mommy make you laugh?

Zoelle: When you be funny.
Meridian: When I tickle you.

5. What was mommy like when I was a little girl?

Zoelle: To go play outside.
Meridian: In school.

6. How old is mommy?

Zoelle: 18
Meridian: 17

7. How tall is mommy?

Zoelle: Very big!
Meridian: Tickle.

8. What is mommy's favorite thing to do?

Zoelle: Umm...cook.
Meridian: I'm not going to tell you, I only want gum.

9. What does mommy do when daddy takes you all out to the park or to lunch?

Zoelle: Feed Meridian and Xiomara
Meridian: Stay there.

10. If mommy was to be famous, what would it be for?

Zoelle: I don't know.
Meridian: Tickle.

11. What's mommy really good at doing?

Zoelle: Sweeping the floors.
Meridian: Hold with two hands.

12. What's mommy not very good at doing?

Zoelle: I don't know.
Meridian: Umm....feeding Xiomara.

13. What does mommy do for a job?

Zoelle: Help clean.
Meridian: Go to a different work.

14. What is mommy's favorite thing to eat?

Zoelle: Spaghetti
Meridian: Pizza

15. What makes you really proud of mommy?

Zoelle: When I do all the things upstairs.
Meridian: Proud of you mama.

16. What is mommy's favorite tv show?

Zoelle: Umm...I don't know.
Meridian: Umm..play with the Kindle.

17. What do you and mommy do together?

Zoelle: Clean.
Meridian: Feed Xiomara.

18. How are you and mommy the same?

Zoelle: When we be very good.
Meridian: Holding me and you.

19. When we leave the house, what is mommy's favorite thing to do?

Zoelle: To go to a hotel.
Meridian: I like you to go shopping.

Oh my goodness!! Talk about making me laugh!! My favorite answer from Zoelle? That I like to cook! Has she forgotten how daddy does a good majority of the cooking?!? Maybe she needs to read this! ;) My favorite answer from Meridian? That it makes me happy when somebody loves me. Too sweet. Oh and did you notice a trend for wanting gum and the obsession with tickling? It made me laugh and yep, I gave her that piece of gum when we were done! :)

Thanks for reading and feel free to play along and if you do, make sure you link up in the comments so I can visit your blog!

A Peek Into Our Bedrooms

2012-01-27T09:53:00.000-06:00

We did a little bed/room re-arranging this weekend! Meridian at 2.5 was still in a crib and it was actually quite comical because depending on where she put her head, her feet would come out the end. So after much talk about what we officially wanted to do with the beds/room situation, we decided to do some switching.

Meridian and Zoelle have been sharing a room with Zoelle in a toddler bed and Meridian in the crib. This weekend, we got Zoelle a new twin bed (which is actually a bunk bed separated) and let Meridian have Zoelle's old toddler bed. The whole day we were setting it up and re-arranging the room, the girls were beyond excited. They could barely sit still, but by nap time the beds were up and ready! We didn't officially use the room until bedtime and this mama was nervous. While Zoelle never dared to get out her bed when she was 2, I knew Meridian is a much different girl and very adventurous. I was pleasantly surprised that she ended up sleeping all night. Night two she did get into bed with Zoelle (which was adorable), but that did have her waking up multiple times at night. However, she didn't do any exploring, she just came right to me. Being that I am a light sleeper I was happy that each time I heard her wake up and was there to meet her right away. Meridian once again did well last night and although she is getting up about a half hour earlier in the morning than she was before, I am very surprised at how well the transition went.

Zoelle has done wonderfully in her new big bed and while mama thought it was going to swallow her up, she seems to love it! Plus an added bonus is that we can do extra snuggle time together before bed! We both love that!

When we took Meridian's crib down we were left with where to store it? Our house is not large and we are slowly running out of storage space. Xiomara, when not co-sleeping with us, has been sleeping in a pack n' play in a spare bedroom. Chris had the bright idea to switch that bedroom around a bit (we have a piano in there as well) and set up our crib. So that is just what we did! I LOVE it! It's been a few years since I've been able to have the canopy on our round crib and it just really ties her room together a bit more.

I hope now that the next time we have to do any re-arranging it will be in a new house! :)

At what age did your child switch to a bed? Did you go straight to a big bed, or did you transition first with a toddler bed?

Wordless Wednesday: Lunchtime Model

2012-01-25T14:58:00.001-06:00

Hot Damn Girl!!

2012-01-20T15:06:00.000-06:00

I'll be scrolling along on my Facebook page and I'll inevitably come across your Facebook profile picture. You know the one of you in your prom dress, or tanning on the beach in your bikini. You look beautiful. You are beautiful.

Image via Tumblr

And then I see it, the comment 5 comments down that makes me want to puke.

"Hot Damn Girl!!"

To which you normally reply with: :)

Me? I'm dying inside realizing that you are selling yourself short. Far too short! You are worth so much more than a hot damn girl, or some other variation in reference to your body.

If I could, I'd sit down with you over coffee and share with you how much more valuable you are than that.

Of course you'd roll your eyes at me or smile and nod all the while thinking how old I am at almost 30 with three little girls. You'd tell me, or you'd wish you could tell me that I "just don't get it".

But hon, I do.

It wasn't that long ago that I was seventeen and I was that girl that was the hot damn girl. I remember clearly how it made me feel to be told I was hot, sexy, or hot damn. While it felt good for awhile, I can tell you this: rarely do the hot damn guys marry you.

Instead it is the guys that love you and value you, more than to label you with a shallow "hot damn girl" comment on your Facebook page.

Because girl, the hot damn girl can come later and it will be well worth it!

On Mwedian

2012-01-16T13:28:00.001-06:00

It's time I do a little blog post on this girl. Being the middle child, she doesn't often get talked about on this blog. After all she isn't being homeschooled so I don't blog about her like I do her big sister, and she isn't approaching major milestones like her little sister.

Thus she gets lost in the middle.

Not so much at home though.

Mwedian as she calls herself and only likes to be called that, is a sweetheart. She loves to give kisses and hugs. Sometimes randomly during the day she will seek me out, kiss me and walk away. It melts my heart.

She likes her low, gravelly, voice to be known. If she doesn't feel as if she is being heard, she will yell, "Mama, mama, MAMA!!!", until I finally answer in which she will just say something like, "Wuv you mama.".

We still have to watch her closely or else she does make messes. I'm also noticing that she is finding a partner in crime with Xiomara. Thank goodness big sister Zoelle is around to help me watch them both!

She still loves to nurse and honestly, sometimes I still am surprised. I once said I didn't think we would make it much past a year nursing with her. Instead, she wakes up around 5 or 6 every morning and comes to snuggle and nurse with me. Sometimes, we fall back asleep together. Other times she will tell daddy to bring her back to her bedroom.

Anywhere we go, people always stop her to comment on her gorgeous hair. She smiles and, secretly inside, I'm grateful that one more person positively commented on her curls.

I look at her and realize how close we are to three now. My heart grows a little sad wondering how it could have gone this fast. I want time to stop right now. I feel like I just want to remember forever the feel of her little arms around me. I want to never forget how she smooshes her little body right up against mine while we sleep.

My heart skips a beat realizing that my love cannot be contained in a short little blog post on my precious Mwedian.

Wordless Wednesday: Porch Picnic

2012-01-11T12:26:00.002-06:00

Cloth Diapering On 19 Cents A Day!

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-06:00

During my two year anniversary giveaway, someone mentioned that they would like to hear more about cloth diapers. I decided not to make this into one of my "Let's Talk" blog posts, being that I have already blogged about why we chose cloth diapering and 5 cloth diapering tips.

However, one area I haven't blogged about and one that I am asked a lot about, is the financial cost of cloth diapering. As I mentioned in my first post on cloth diapering, when I started cloth diapering I researched and tried out many different kinds. Most of that was via Diaper Swappers as I had every question under the sun and not a lot of money to make a mistake and buy the "wrong" diaper.

Part of my stash of Bum Genius diapers that I use today. Most of my organic ones are currently dirty as I use them daily!

From the very start of cloth diapering in early 2008, I wished that someone would make an all-in-one diaper that was one-size and organic. Turns out someone did and still does. That someone is Bum Genius. I was one of the very first people to buy their All-in-One, Organic, One-Size diaper (which has now become known as the Elemental cloth diaper). From the second I tried it on Zoelle, I knew this was the diaper. It was trim, held a ton, was one-size (so it would last us for years), and most importantly, it was affordable. Basically, I wanted a diaper that was just like a disposable, but healthy for my baby's body and the environment, all while being inexpensive enough to afford a dozen. After trying one and realizing that this was it, I bought a dozen from Cotton Babies, my go-to cloth diaper store!

The original Bum Genius Cloth Diaper on Zoelle in May 2008

I'm not positive on what I paid for a dozen of those diapers 4 years ago (I tried looking it up, but couldn't find it), but if I bought a dozen Bum Genius Elemental diapers today it would cost me $264.95. It seems like a lot of money upfront. However, if I told you that four years later I still have those same dozen diapers and they are still working excellently, would you believe me??

Well you need to, because right now Xiomara is wearing one of those diapers! Of course I've added to my stash over the years and as I mentioned, I also have Bum Genius all-in-one sized diapers along with a few other brands. However, my main staple in diapers have always been those original 12 diapers that have now gone through three girls.

Just recently I thought about selling those diapers and buying some new ones. However, as I thought more on it, I just couldn't do it. Xiomara is about a year away from being fully potty trained and I want to say and know that my original investment was worth it. Outside of my original investment, I have only had to invest in a bag of soap every six months, and then the cost of actually laundering them (which we have maybe only noticed a few dollars per month difference).

So based on today's price for those same dozen diapers, cloth diapering from May 8, 2008 (the day I first put Zoelle in one of those diapers) to today has roughly cost us:

19 cents a day

Versus, the size 3 cheap Target brand of disposables costing 14 cents per diaper.

I would say that was definitely a wise investment 4 years ago. Thank you Bum Genius and Cotton Babies!!

Did you know cloth diapering can be that cheap? Have you ever considered it yourself? What factors are holding you back from taking the leap?

Disclosure: No compensation is being given for writing this post and my thoughts are 100% honest and true. However, by writing it I am entering both myself and one person who comments on this post to win a dozen one-size cloth diapers via the All I Want For Christmas contest.

Tablet Time {NOOK Tablet with Cover OR $275 Cash Edition} Giveaway

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000-06:00

I'm linking up with Measuring Flower, Surviving Motherhood, Life with 2 Boys, and a whole bunch of other great bloggers to bring you this incredible prize!!

Prize Details:

NOOK Option

One lucky person will get their choice of

Nook Tablet

7" VividView Color Touchscreen
16 million+ colors, IPS2 display

High resolution display (1024x600, 169 pixels per inch)

Built-in Wi-Fi

Color Field Cover

Dimensions: 8.5" x 5.75" x .75"

Rayon bookbinding cloth exterior

Stone faux suede interior lining

Interior slide pocket

3-point clip device to securely hold your NOOK Tablet

4 colors to choose from: Turquoise, Tangerine, Vivid Pink, and Storm Gray

Cash Option

Entrants intending to select the cash option MUST have an active PayPal account.

$275 will be remitted to the winner as a gift via PayPal.

How to enter:

Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

Giveaway Rules:

Each entry must be accomplished exactly as it is stated.

You can perform each entry type ONE TIME ONLY unless otherwise specified.

If there is a "leave a comment" entry type, be sure the name you type in the comment's name field is EXACTLY the same as the name you use in the form (this is so I can verify your comment).

Make sure to leave a VALID email address in the email field so I can contact you if you win.

If you already follow/like me or the company via G+, Google Friend Connect, Twitter, Facebook, etc., that's okay–the entries still count.

Giveaway Ends:

Friday, January 20, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST

Open to U.S. Residents Only.

Good luck! I'd LOVE to see one of my readers win! :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Start of the year homeschool update

2012-01-05T00:50:00.000-06:00

Since it's the start of the year, I thought I would do an update on our homeschooling with Zoelle. Last year we did the preschool curriculum via Heart of Dakota Publishing. I loved it, Zoelle loved it and it worked well for our family. This year we finished up the preschool and started in on the kindergarten level in the hopes that she can do part of it this year and part of it next year if we homeschool.

I'm still absolutely loving the curriculum. While the kindergarten level does take longer, it is so nicely laid out for me as a busy mom to 3 little girls, that it is easily doable.

But here is the thing.

In my heart, I'm a perfectionist through and through and because of that perfectionism, I'm not sure I am doing the best job possible in schooling Zoelle. It's hard for me to admit that. After all I am her mom and I have a teacher's license in K-8 education.

But the thing is, school ends up being the last thing on my mind during the day. Instead by the time we are up, fed, dressed, cleaned up, and ready for the day, I have to lay Xiomara down for her morning nap, exercise, prepare lunch, then it's naptime in the afternoon, sometimes I prepare supper, and then Chris is home from work. Somewhere in there, the house gets picked up and the laundry gets done.

And that doesn't include the mornings we aren't home!

To be honest, right now I'm feeling very frustrated with our choice to homeschool. One of our biggest desires in homeschooling is to make sure that education is a priority and for lack of a better term, that it is done properly.

Maybe every homeschool mom goes through this, but I feel right now like I am failing.

I'm not sure if Zoelle has picked up on my frustration or if she is just gaining some independence, but this year she has fought me on a lot of our school. Except that she loves math, handwriting, and reading. She would do those three things all day long if I let her. My perfectionism seems to have rubbed off on her and there are many, many moments of frustration between the two of us. Which again leads me to more frustration.

On top of that, it is hard for me to teach with the two little girls around right now. They are either into our homeschool stuff or off causing trouble elsewhere. I'm still searching for the perfect solution to that.

So as of now, this is where I am at. It's honest, but I told you I would be. I wish with all my heart I could come here and type that I am loving it. But if I did that I would be lying.

I'm not exactly sure yet where next year is going to take us, but we are looking more closely into our local private and public school while still keeping homeschool in mind. I'll definitely keep you updated.

Wordless Wednesday: Expanding her mind

2012-01-04T17:56:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T14:45:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year to all of you! A year ago, I never thought this day would come so quickly. Yet here it is and as I read over that post of what I wanted for this past year, I realize that I did accomplish it to a degree, but I know in my heart that I can do better. I'm praying I get that chance this year.

Last year on this day, my Grandpa died. That spurred in me a desire to truly know those around me. It also encouraged me to be more real; like honest, raw real with others. Which also meant being raw on this blog.

This past year has been quite a journey...

I talked about how I was bored with Christianity. I talked about politics, which is something I said I would never, ever blog about. I also went out on a limb and said that Christianity cannot be contained in a little labeled box.

I talked more in length about our adventures in cloth diapering. I participated in my first ever blog party where I first quietly mentioned my views on spanking.

I shared my 5 Tips For Tandem Breastfeeding or Breastfeeding while Pregnant. I celebrated birthdays and a first haircut.

I talked about what real love meant. I experienced a 5 day long nursing strike and was relieved when she started nursing again.

My scariest, most raw moments as a blogger came just this past December in which I finally opened up about my journey into Gentle Parenting.

Through it all, you have been there to love on me, encourage me, and support me. I am so grateful and each day I feel that love.

I'm looking forward to 2012 with you and I hope that I can continue to show that love through being open and real with all of you!!

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday: Is it really December?

2011-12-28T14:25:00.001-06:00

There is no way possible for me to make this one wordless as I want the girls and I to remember this always. It is December 28th, 36° out, and no snow on the ground. Absolutely unheard of! We are enjoying every second of it and I feel thankful that winter is that much shorter here this year.

A Peek Into Our Christmas

2011-12-27T12:07:00.003-06:00

Christmas included...

Three of them and one more to go later on this week

A very sick little girl the night before our first Christmas. :(

A kind grandma who let said sick little girl still participate in her Christmas even though she could get the stomach flu

Lots of generous aunts, uncles, and grandparents

A new batch of dolls, strollers, and books

No snow on the ground (a rarity for this time of the year)

Sunshine

Our bellies stuffed full of yummy food

Most of all, love, laughter, and life

P.S. It wasn't until now that I realized I am missing half my ornaments and bows on the lower half of the tree. I blame it on the little 17 month old who like to de-decorate it! :)

What was your Christmas like this year?

Wordless Wednesday: Baby Blue Cousins

2011-12-21T16:18:00.002-06:00

Let's Talk! {Part 3-Where I share my greatest failure as a wife}

2011-12-19T23:53:00.001-06:00

We are still talking about the questions and suggestions you had for me in my second blog anniversary post.

A common theme, seemed to be looking for recipes.

MamaHunfy said, "I'd love for you to post some of your favorite recipes!"

One of my best friends from elementary school, Janel says, " I would love to hear more about the types of food you feed your family."

lbellomy says, "I'd like to see more about cooking."

I have a total of 4 recipes that I can find posted on my blog under my label recipes. Four. That's it! I did not realize I had so very few until you brought it to my attention. Incidentally, three out of the four recipes are for desserts. I LOVE to bake.

Cooking is a whole other story.

If there is one area where I have failed at as a wife, this would be it. It has caused many fights, lots of tears, and yes, I'll admit some anger.

When we first got married we were both in school full time and working full time. We hardly ever ate together. Instead, I would quickly grab some crackers and cheese and Chris would grab whatever he could find and that would be our dinner.

Image Source: Realsimple.com

Fast forward 4 years later and we had finished school and just had Zoelle and all of a sudden I had to cook. Or at least try. Except Zoelle was somewhat of a fussy baby and at that time I wasn't into babywearing as much as I am today so setting her down wasn't really an option.

Fortunately Chris loves to cook and is actually quite a gourmet chef making up his own recipes for things.

Over the last few years, I have found it very hard for me to meal plan. I go in spurts. For weeks I'll do fantastic and then I'll lose that energy burst and start meal planning at oh 4 p.m. Another secret about me is that I HATE grocery shopping. I'm not much of a shopper in general but searching for various things in the grocery store with three kids in tow is not my cup of tea. Either is grocery shopping by myself as I can't make decisions to save my life. Yep, see my problem here??

This is me except I LOVE to clean (figures right?) Image Source: Pinterest

So far our solution is to have Chris somewhat cook, or him and I to cook together, and on rare occasions I will cook.

But I have a desire to really truly cook. And I know, despite Chris being super nice about it most of the time, he too really wants me to cook.

Finding the inspiration is not a problem. I love to browse pinterest or blogs for new food ideas! Cooking shows are one of my absolute favorite shows to watch! It's just transferring those ideas into cooking that overwhelms me.

So that is where I'm asking you all for help. How do you meal plan? Do you have any ideas for me that will make me want to stick to meal planning? And to start cooking?? Anyone do freezer meals? If so, do you like it?

I'd really appreciate any help you can give me. My goal is to put this out there as a challenge to myself so that way this next year I can do a good majority of the meal planning AND cooking on my own.

You can find Part 1 of this series here and Part 2 of this series here.

Our Oral-B Stages Party

2011-12-17T00:15:00.001-06:00

I recently had the chance to host a mommy party sponsored by Oral-B Stages. In our kit we received Oral-B Stage 1 toothbrushes, Oral-B Stage 2 toothbrushes, Oral-B Stage toothpaste, and Disney Lavender body wash. In addition to all this, they provided us with a Winnie The Pooh movie and some delicious popcorn to make it a true party.

We decorated our home with balloons that have since provided hours of fun. We set out our supplies and we were ready.

The highlight for the girls was the Winnie The Pooh movie. It was all they could talk about for days and have talked about since. Along with still playing with their balloons.

For me, it was a great way to introduce healthy hygiene to my girls in a fun way and one they won't forget anytime soon.

Wordless Wednesday: The "Joys" Of Trying To Get The Perfect Picture

2011-12-14T15:30:00.003-06:00

Xiomara Running

2011-12-12T12:40:00.000-06:00

I had to share with you this video of Xiomara running. She is so tiny that it is hilarious to see her run! It was taken on my cell phone so the quality isn't the greatest, but you still get a feel of how quickly she runs and how cute she looks!

Enjoy! :)

Let's Talk! {Part 2-Yes, I am crazy sometimes too}

2011-12-09T01:15:00.001-06:00

I'm currently answering your questions or blogging about the things you have asked me to post when you commented on the blog anniversary post here.

Ruth said: "I like to hear about your personal stories - what's going on in your life so I know my craziness is not alone!"

Lest you think I am normal and that you are alone Ruth, let me tell you about the day I had today (which really was yesterday since I am currently typing this at 1 in the morning).

Wednesday night hubby and I decided to finally watch The Help. Good, good movie by the way and I encourage you all to see it. We ended up talking afterward and were up until 3 a.m. This makes me a crabby mama when at 8 a.m. Zoelle is in my room asking to crawl into bed with me for a morning snuggle. Meridian was curled up next to me sleeping? nursing? I'm honestly not sure as I was pretty sleepy still. I wanted her and I to keep sleeping but Zoelle wouldn't stop talking and trying to wake us all up. Xiomara was sleeping in her pack n' play and so I finally had no choice but to awake.

I found myself on edge all.day.long. I was crabby. I screamed. I was tested to the max right after I posted about working hard to become a gentle parent (doesn't it always work that way?). Of the 4 of us who were home the entire day, Xiomara was the only one who was consistently happy.

On days like this, I tend to really look forward to nap time. I was SO counting on getting some time to play with my new Kindle Fire, relax, maybe even read a book, along with work a little on the laundry I was in the midst of doing.

Exactly how I felt yesterday!

But then came nap time and my plan fell apart right before my very eyes. Zoelle didn't nap which isn't abnormal for her nowadays. But she also didn't do a rest time. Instead she kept talking to me, begging for my attention, which makes sense being that I was crabby and she just wanted her mama back. Meridian who normally goes right down for a nap, refused to sleep. So for 2 hours I had a crabby little girl who I tried to get to nap and just wouldn't nap.

By the time it came to supper, I was exhausted, even more crabby, and ready for Chris to get home. I had no supper plans and I refused to do anything but sit with my hood up on my hooded sweatshirt and play angry birds while the kids played around me. Chris sent me a text on his way home that said, "How do tacos sound for supper?" I texted him back, "I don't care...I've had a hell of a day and I don't plan on doing anything tonight".

I can laugh at that now, but at that moment I was dead serious.

Chris came home, cooked supper, and set before me a bag of my favorite thing in the world: Tootsie Rolls.

I finished out my night slightly happier thanks to Chris and a bag of Tootsie Rolls.

So yes, I have times of craziness and no, you are not alone Ruth.

Now I am off to bed so I don't repeat the same mistake I made today.

Images via Google.

Wordless Wednesday: This Is What Happens When I Ask Her To Smile

2011-12-07T14:57:00.001-06:00

Let's Talk! {Part 1-Our Journey Into Gentle Parenting}

2011-12-04T22:02:00.001-06:00

When I decided to post my second anniversary giveaway, I did it with all of you in mind. I wanted to thank you all for taking the time to read my blog each day and I also wanted to connect with you on a deeper level. So I asked what you wanted to read about.

My friend Mandy said: "I love hearing about your journeys in gentle parenting, and your homeschooling. I'd love to hear more on those fronts."

Since I've written a bit about homeschooling and more alluded to our journey into gentle parenting, I will share a bit about the latter.

I actually get butterflies in my tummy when I write about this because I know for so many people, how we parent is incredibly personal and a post in which one shares how they parent as a family, can often be perceived to come across as judgemental. That is not my intent. But I also do want to share because it was someone sharing with me that brought us to the journey we are in today.

Before I was a parent, I thought I knew exactly how I would parent. Someone gave me a rather controversial infant raising book, and I read it, thought it made sense and planned to use it, that is until we had Zoelle. As we began our journey as first time parents, our hearts cried out to God about how to handle the night awakenings, the seemingly endless feedings, and the scheduling that everyone told us we just had to do in order to have a happy baby. However, the more we prayed on it, the more uncomfortable we felt. We just kept feeling like God was telling us, "this time is so short, cherish it". So I threw it out and never followed it, with any of my girls. I can tell you today that I do not regret that decision at all! Instead I've tried my hardest to cherish the night nursing, not worry about putting my babe on a schedule, and just enjoy the moment. Sure we have had tough nights, but co-sleeping has made them better, and looking back 4+ years later I can only truly remember a few.

It was during this time that we became what one would call attachment parents. We co-slept, we extended breast fed, we wore our babies, we were anti/delay vaccinations. We researched everything and I mean everything before we made a decision!

As Zoelle grew, I would get the dreaded "S" question: Do you plan on spanking her? It was our intent not to do so. By this point, I had read extensively into whether or not spanking was biblical. I also had read the other side of the coin, again regarding a very controversial pro-spanking book. And again, everything in me was uncomfortable with what I was reading. The more we prayed, the more we studied the Bible, the more we felt from God that spanking was not a biblical mandate for raising Godly children.

Then she turned 2, and often the very hardest thing to change is to step away from how you were parented and step into your own parenting style. We messed up big time. Or rather I did. Anytime I spanked her I felt horrible. I knew that if this is what God wanted from me that He would not bring guilt with it. I also found myself parenting in fear (something I believe can happen very easily when one spanks). Meaning, I would find myself telling her, "Zoelle if you do ________, you are going to get a swat". This to me seemed to go completely against what 1 John 4:18 says about perfect love casting out all fear!

I spent hours praying, studying more of God's word on this subject, and exposing my heart to the Lord. God lead me to some incredible articles that I had never read before on spanking including this one.

To make a long story short, we have chosen not to spank our girls. I know the next question is, "Well then how do you discipline them?"

My answer to you would be with one word: LOVE

After searching God's heart and reading His word, I kept finding instant after instant where God would show love to His children. Grace to His children. Mercy to His children. Even when it was not easy.

And trust me, it is not easy. I readily admit I struggle with self control and parenting in a gentle parenting way has me relying on God more than I ever have before in my entire life.

It is hard. Plain and simple. But it's what God has laid on our hearts as parents and we intend to do it.

Oh and if you are reading this and you parent the exact opposite of me, I still want to be your friend. After all, different opinions are SO good.

So that is my heart which is what my friend Dulce asked of me when she said: "Just keep writing from your heart!"

*All image sources courtesy of Pinterest

Happy Weekend!

2011-12-02T15:13:00.001-06:00

Happy weekend everyone! I spent the day yesterday with hubby all by myself (read: no kids were with). We shopped, I drank coffee while he drank a smoothie, we ate at fun restaurants, and I got my haircut (which was desperately needed)! All stuff we rarely do! It was a perfect way to jump start the weekend!

Did you do anything out of the ordinary this week?

P.S. Hope you all have an amazing weekend and don't forget to go enter into the $50 Visa Gift Card Blog Anniversary Giveaway, it ends Monday, December 5th!

Wordless Wednesday: Music to her soul

2011-11-30T14:49:00.001-06:00

The Joy In Each Day {A Post of Thanksgiving}

2011-11-28T10:30:00.000-06:00

I have so much to be thankful for today (and always for that matter).

For this man who leads our home and loves all our girls with this over-protective fatherly love.

For these girls who delight me with their love, joy, and exuberance for life.

For the tender kisses.

For the crazy moments.

For the memories we are making.

I'm relishing and thanking God for it all, for tomorrow these memories will be gone and there will be new ones in their place.

Wordless Wednesday: Pink Love

2011-11-23T14:52:00.001-06:00

Second Blog Anniversary & Giveaway

2011-11-21T22:01:00.000-06:00

Last week I hit year two of blogging. What an amazing journey this has been.

I look back on my writing and I can see that I have grown much as a writer this year. My mom always told me that practice makes perfect, and in this case it really has. Well I'm not perfect but you know what I mean! :)

The friendships I started two years ago have grown deeper and I've also met many new friends. I've learned, changed, and grown along this journey.

For those of you following along since the beginning, I have changed in that I haven't done as many giveaways this year as in the past. The main reason for that is that I truly enjoy sharing with you. I want people to read my blog for what it is, not for the giveaways. I like the personal aspect of blogging and I feel in some ways, when one does only giveaways (or a lot of them), that is lost.

It's been a fun break to step back from that area of blogging a bit. I think most of you are okay with that too as my readership has grown. Don't worry, I'm not done altogether with giveaways, instead I just plan to be selective in the ones that I do.

Today because I really do enjoy the joy in giving and because I wanted to thank you for being here, encouraging me, and supporting me along this journey, I have a $50 Visa Gift Card to giveaway to one of you.

This is my first time ever using Rafflecopter for an entry, so feel free to let me know if you experience any glitches and if you like it! Also because it is Thanksgiving week, I will run this giveaway until Monday, December 5, 2011.

On Meeting Natasha

2011-11-18T11:35:00.001-06:00

I got to meet me new niece Natasha yesterday. Sigh...I am in love. She is even more beautiful than the pictures I have seen of her.

She is my second little niece and I can say I am just as in love with her as I am India. She was so sweet, calm, and adorable!! I also loved that hair!!

Speaking of India, she also was there to meet her new cousin Natasha and it was so crazy busy I forgot to have someone take a picture of me with my two nieces, but we did make sure we got a picture of the 5 granddaughters or 5 cousins in order from oldest to youngest. With 5 girls under the age of 4, we were working fast and trying to get all to look at the camera at the same time. This was the best picture I got! :)

From left to right: Zoelle, Meridian, Xiomara, India, Natasha

I also got a picture with each of my girls holding Natasha and Chris holding her. Being that she lives states away, it may be awhile before we see her again, so I wanted to make sure I took pictures galore! In the meantime, I'll savor each of these pictures!

Are you an auntie? If so how many nieces/nephews do you have? Do you cherish each of them like I do my two nieces?

{Almost} Worldess Wednesday: Girl Time

2011-11-16T14:53:00.001-06:00

This is my best friend of almost 15 years. We met when we were 13 and have been friends since then. She now lives states away from me, but whenever she comes home to visit, we make a point to have girl time. Love her like a sister and so thankful for her in my life!!

Reflecting on Xiomara

2011-11-15T11:00:00.000-06:00

Dear baby girl,

It's November and November is National Adoption Month so I wanted to write a little letter to you.

I can't even begin to imagine what life would be like without you. Tonight as we were tucking all three of you in, your two sisters were both crying. I looked down at you, and there you were smiling with all that is in you that beautiful smile of yours back at me. I turned to your daddy and told him, "I know that no matter what is happening in our home, I can always look to Xiomara to put a smile on my face".

When we were waiting for you, we prayed that God would send us a little girl who was full of joy. That she would light up the room and charm everyone with her personality. That you do little peanut. That you do.

Snotty nose and all, we love you!

If you weren't here in our lives, it would be a lot dimmer. I wouldn't be feeling the pain of a fat lip from you head butting me? kicking me? in your sleep last night. :) I wouldn't get to hear you and Meridian squeal to each other as you fight yet again over another doll. I wouldn't get to see the pure delight on Zoelle's face as you give her those big smooches you do everyday to her!

And your daddy, he would not have that sparkle in his eye that I see him have every night when he looks across the table at you. As for me, who would I talk about to your daddy every night as I tuck you into bed and stare into your beautiful brown eyes? Whose little milk chocolate skin would I be able to massage each day just because I know she loves massages? Who would I be able to whisper to when no one else is listening but you, "You are so beautiful Xio. I love you. God has great plans for your life."

I'm so thankful that you came into our lives after two years of waiting. You were worth every second of that wait. Every agonizing minute of wonder. Every tear that poured down my face.

You were worth it.

You are worth it.

Adoption is worth it.

I love you Xiomara Marie.

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

2011-11-11T14:57:00.001-06:00

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best!

Is it their puzzles like my girls love? Or the art supplies? Or perhaps it is the art easel that my girls are getting for Christmas (shhh...it's a surprise)?

Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll". You'll get a Melissa & Doug 25% off coupon to use at MelissaandDoug.com just for voting!

There is no better time to shop at a discount then now during the Christmas season! So go vote today!

Disclosure: I receive a Melissa & Doug shopping credit for posting about this promotion.

Wordless Wednesday: With the love of my life

2011-11-09T15:05:00.001-06:00

Unadoptable is unacceptable!

2011-11-08T14:43:00.000-06:00

I don't often blog about them, but I have 11 adopted younger siblings all through the foster care system. I grew up with one older biological sister and when I was 18, my parents adopted a sibling set of three. Two years later, they adopted a sibling set of six. Shortly before we adopted Xiomara, they adopted a sibling set of two.

I definitely have a heart for foster care. I will do anything I can to promote it. Thus when I recently got an email from the Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption asking if I would share this video on my blogs, I said yes.

Because November is National Adoption Month. Because I love them. Because there are others like them who still need a family.

30 Things I Love About My Big Sister On Her 30th Birthday

2011-11-06T14:59:00.000-06:00

My big sister turns 30 today. I've been wanting to write this post to her for a long time, but every time I sit down to write it, I get teary and my brain locks up just thinking of so many memories with her. I'm truly not sure I can communicate with words how much I love and appreciate her. I'm trying my best though with 30 things I love about her.

1. You make me laugh. You have since day one I'm pretty sure and I love that!
2. You have stood up for me even when no one else around me did.
3. You may be just as crazy, strange, odd, and effervescent as I am! ;)
4. My favorite memories are when we made up a "knocking code" between our rooms. I would look forward to hearing your knock each night.
5. Of course memories of hiking in the woods/fields, and swimming together are at the front of my mind as well.
6. I have looked up to you my whole life and I'm proud of it. You are a pretty amazing person to look up to.
7. You are just as beautiful on the inside as on the outside.
8. You gave me my precious niece India.
9. You are very crafty. There really is not a thing you can't do.
10. I LOVE when we sing together. Pretty sure our voices were meant to perfectly harmonize.
11. You are always creative. Whenever I need an idea on something, I go to you.
12. It has been so much fun to be mommies together with our little girls. Something I will cherish forever.
13. I love listening to you play piano and sing.
14. Your endurance to stay healthy/exercise has pushed me to do the same in my life.
15. You ran a 5K alongside me to encourage me, with a babe strapped on you...pretty awesome if you ask me! :)
16. You love my girls as if they are your own. This makes me cry (in a good way).
17. The love and compassion you have for people is incredible!
18. You are an example to me of showing love to everyone no matter what and not judging.
19. I know that no matter what, I can always trust you.
20. You married Dallas, who is a perfect guy for you and a pretty awesome brother-in-law.
21. You have challenged my thinking on many things. Challenge is good.
22. I have learned so much spiritually from you.
23. You are a great writer. I've learned a lot from your blog this year.
24. You encourage me constantly whether you know it or not.
25. I love your enthusiasm for life! It is contagious!
26. You are always the life of the party!
27. You love India with everything in you and I've been so proud to watch you be mama to her. You do a beautiful job!
28. You make a perfect big sister to 12!
29. You give of yourself freely.
30. I love that you are my big sister!

I love you Genevieve! Have an amazing birthday!! By the way, I'm glad you turn 30 before me so you can tell me what it is like! ;)

Zoelle's New Adventure

2011-11-03T14:21:00.000-05:00

Zoelle has taken on a new adventure this fall. It is something she has begged me for a long time to be able to do. Typically, I would not start her so young, but because she was asking and because I figured it could fit as part of our homeschooling, I said yes.

The adventure: piano lessons.

I teach piano lessons each week to about a dozen students. I've been teaching for eight years now, after taking lessons for eleven years or so. I teach children of any age and in the past, I've even taught adults. I do think piano comes a bit easier for children when they can read the instructions themselves, but being that I am her mom and teacher, I decided to go ahead and start with Zoelle.

She has a 15 minute lesson every week and she beams that entire time! It has been so much fun for Chris and I to see the joy on her face and her talent in piano come forth this year. I'm looking forward to seeing where she goes with this and if that joy stays. Remember I've taught for a long time and took lessons myself, so I know that most likely there will be a time that she doesn't love it. Thus I'm capitalizing on today!

We have also been talking lately about having Zoelle start violin lessons. Chris took violin lessons for years and plays quite well, although no one really knows because he is pretty shy about it. We haven't made an official decision on when exactly she will start violin, but we do know that our girls will all learn piano and violin since we both have that ability to teach them.

Where they go from there in their musical abilities is up to them. I only know it will be fun to see where the future leads them and cheer along with them as they all begin these new adventures.

Did you play an instrument growing up? Do your kids play anything? If so what?

Wordless Wednesday: Cutest little strawberry, flower, and butterfly around! :)

2011-11-02T15:12:00.000-05:00

I failed tonight as a mama. :(

2011-10-28T14:46:00.000-05:00

Note: This post was written several nights ago and I wrote it so I can stay accountable to God, others, and myself (as I often go back and re-read things I post). Oh and because writing is therapeutic for me.

Tonight was not a good night. I failed in so many ways as a mother. Everything I stand for as a mother was tested to the max tonight.

And I failed.

I was so far from attachment parenting with my one daughter who just refused to go to sleep tonight, along with many other nights for the last two years. I lost it. I raised my voice. I screamed. I was not calm. I looked over at her big sister who was watching me and saw true fear in her eyes.

And I realized how wrong I was.

I hugged my baby tight, prayed over her exhausted little body, apologized to her, laid her down, and walked away. She whimpered for the thousand time, but I knew I had to leave her.

When her tiny body finally gave in to sleep and I saw her sleeping on our video monitor, tears streamed down my face as I realized this is not how I wanted to end my night.

Not how I want to be as a mama. Not how I wanted to behave.

You see I've been working so very hard on changing who I am as a mom. One area I especially struggle in is staying calm and speaking life to my girls. This picture that I recently shared on my facebook page spoke volumes to me.

For our words really do have the power of life or death don't they?

However tonight, as I found out, my actions also have the power of life or death. The image of my oldest daughter's fearful eyes is the image that comes to mind when I think of "Your actions have power use them wisely".

Sometimes when I fail as a mom, my past parenting mistakes come back to me and I feel as if I will never change or never learn. I feel defeated, guilty, and embarrassed. But then I remember that I am more than my past mistakes.

So tonight as I failed as a mama, I cried out to God for forgiveness and vowed to Him, to my husband, and silently to my girls that I will do better tomorrow.

Oh I know I'll fail at some point once again. But tonight I am so very, very thankful that His mercies really are new every morning.

Image sources: Pinterest

Wordless Wednesday: Stunning

2011-10-26T15:15:00.001-05:00

Homeschooling in the Fall

2011-10-24T13:42:00.000-05:00

We have had an absolutely glorious Fall here. Warm temps, sun shining, lots of outdoor play. Thus school in the traditional setting has taken a back burner. I feel as if we will have a hundred days, in the dead of winter, of freezing temperatures, wind blowing, and snow falling down. We can buckle down and do "traditional" school then. Being that Zoelle is 4 and in preschool, I'm not too worried about it. I've done a few days of school here and there with her, but I haven't pushed it when she would rather be outside. Besides she is learning as she is outside.

When I went to school for my elementary education degree, the classroom I student taught in is an outdoor classroom meaning that most of our schooling took place outside. It is currently one of very few outdoor classrooms in the country. I learned more there than I think I could have ever learned in a traditional setting and I vowed to allow my girls to do the same whether they are homeschooled or not.

We did however finally finish up our preschool Heart of Dakota Publishing curriculum and we will be on to the Kindgergarten curriculum as soon as I get it ordered (yes I'm a bit late on that). My goal is to get it ordered this week and hopefully start on it in the first week of November!

I'm really looking forward to what the Kindgarten curriculum is like. I felt as if Preschool was very easy for Zoelle from the beginning, so I am hoping she will feel challenged and not bored at all from this new curriculum!

Meanwhile, if you are curious as to what exactly Heart of Dakota is and you want more reviews on it, or a different age reviewed, feel free to check out One Little Word She Knew! I am part of a blogroll over there along with over 50+ other bloggers, all who use Heart Of Dakota!

What I want you to know about being a blogger

2011-10-21T15:16:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I met up with a blog reader who had recognized me at our county fair this summer and after chatting back and forth a bit by email, she asked if we could meet up! We finally were able to align both our schedules to do so a few weeks ago. I had a wonderful time and it was really neat meeting a young girl who has such a solid head on her shoulders (Hi Brittany)! :)

I'll never forget the first time I met someone, outside of those I know, who read my blog. It was a year ago and I was many, many hours from where I live. I was actually at a small country church and I turned to introduce myself to someone and before I could even get a word out of my mouth, she said, "I already know you, you have a blog!". I was a bit stunned and think I managed to just mumble and nod and say, "Yep, I do!". I'll admit, it freaked me out a bit. Here I was sitting across the table from someone who knew everything about me and yet I knew nothing about her.

And that was my first real glimpse into how large (yet small) the blogging world is.

Since that time, I've met two others who have been brave enough to approach me in public and introduce themselves as readers of my blog. My mom has also told me of people she will run into around town that will tell her they read my blog.

It's still strange for me because I don't consider myself a "big" blogger and to have even a small number of people recognize me is different. At the same time, it's made me really look at who I am both in real life and on my blog.

Image Source

I definitely want others to know who and what I represent myself as on my blog is the same person I represent in real life. If anything I probably am a bit more bold on my blog than I am in real life because it often is easy to hide behind a screen. :) That in and of itself is a whole other blog post for a different day!

At the same time, I want those who meet me to know that I am human. If I blog about cloth diapering and you see my baby out in public in a disposable, please don't think I lied. I really do cloth diaper, I just happen to not use them that often in public. If I tout myself as a babywearer and you see me carrying Xiomara in to a store in her carseat, it is because that is what works best for me.

No I'm really not this crazy, just silly sometimes! :)

I'm not perfect, but I'm me. I guess I want you to know that I'm real. I'm not a celebrity. Not even someone special for that matter. I don't know it all (even if I sometimes come across that way in a post), and I'd really love to meet you.

So if you see me, please introduce yourself and then let's plan a time we can take our kids to play on the playground or leave the kids at home and have a cup of coffee and chat. For I would love to get to know you just as much as you know me! :)

Wordless Wednesday: Pumpkin Patch Girls

2011-10-19T16:09:00.000-05:00

Her Special Heart

2011-10-18T15:44:00.000-05:00

Zoelle has an extra special heart.

No seriously. She really does.

She was born with 3 holes in it!

But first, let's back up.

At my very last appointment with my midwife before Zoelle was born, we went to listen to her heartbeat and my midwife noticed that it almost seemed to skip a beat. We didn't think much of it because she assured us that the heart is still growing and that by the time we came in to deliver, it would be totally normal.

Fast forward to the day before birthing day. I was in labor. I wanted this beautiful, natural, water birth with Zoelle.

I did not get it.

The instant they first hooked me up to the monitors, they noticed something was wrong with her heartbeat. I could tell they didn't want to worry me, and to be honest, I was so focused on getting my natural birth that I didn't really seem to care.

When my midwife came in the next day (birthing day-yes I had a LONG labor), she was very concerned that I was no closer to delivery and that the baby's heart seemed to be going into distress with each contraction. She gave me an ultimatum: either get the epidural in the hopes that I would dilate in order to get this baby out, or get a c-section.

I choose the epidural.

Thankfully it worked and Zoelle was born a few hours after receiving it. It wasn't what I wanted for birth at all, but it was necessary for Zoelle.

When she was born, they immediately put oxygen on her. Her oxygen levels were extremely low. By some miracle, they let me take it off and try nursing her for 5 minutes or so on one side. Then she was whisked away for all sorts of tests, echocardiograms, heel pricks, etc. I remember her pediatrician coming in and drawing me a picture of her heart and circling 3 spots where there were holes. My mom says I was pretty out of it and just smiled and was like, "Oh she has 3 holes, ok no big deal!". I was definitely out of it, but looking back that was probably a blessing in that I didn't worry as much. I now know that she had a VSD and a PDA.

About half the team of doctors and nurses working on Zoelle right after birth. Daddy standing by completely nervous and unsure of what was going on.

After two straight days of being in their constant watch, they let us take her to our room with her oxygen tank and lots of other machines monitoring her heart. After 4 days in the hospital, we got to go home. When they removed that last wire from her I remember thinking this is the first time I've truly seen my baby. I could finally hold her without getting all tangled up. It was wonderful!

The view we had of Zoelle for days.

For a year we monitored her heart with steady echocardiograms. She continued to have a heart murmur because of the holes in her heart. At one year old, she had an echocardiogram done that showed that one hole had closed, one they could not find, and the third was still wide open. She did not lay still for that echo at all, thus the picture wasn't very clear and there were no real answers for us, or her doctor on what was going on. The only way to get a great picture was to sedate her, something that her doctor nor we were comfortable with being that she was living life normally on the outside.

Our plan was to wait until she was older to try again. Older came this year. With a still very persistent heart murmur, we went in for her echo a few weeks ago. This time, there was some apprehension on her face, but none for us as the echo technician is the same one we have had for the past 4 years and he is wonderful at explaining things to us, and making Z feel comfortable!

It literally brought tears to our eyes when the technician told us that he could not find anything! While he could still visually see her murmur, there were no visible holes! When I look at the medical books of what those holes could have meant, it is scary!

I read somewhere shortly after Zoelle was born that heart babies tend to have extra special hearts. They are sensitive and care deeply for others. I smile now when I think that our Zoelle, the girl with the 3 holes in her heart, is just that: sensitive and cares deeply for others.

Her heart is special: with or without the holes! But I'm praising God those holes are now gone!

Pregnancy Loss in the Eyes of a Child

2011-10-14T15:06:00.000-05:00

I still remember that early Fall day that I got off the bus. My dad was video recording my older sister and I as we came down our long driveway. We knew something was up. They sat us down on the couch and after some guessing finally told us we were going to be big sisters. My mom was pregnant! This is something I dreamed of for a very long time. I wanted a baby brother...badly.

I was 6.

Not too long ago I actually ran across that video at my parent's house and it brought me to tears remembering how excited I was for that baby.

I don't remember how much time passed, but one day I remember my mom was in tears when she came to pick my sister and I up from daycare. On the short drive home, she told us that the doctor couldn't find the baby's heartbeat.

For a long time I was in denial. I prayed and dreamed that somehow by my mom's next appointment that baby would be alive.

It never happened. Instead I was awaken one night, 3 days before my 7th birthday, by my dad telling us to get up. We were heading to the hospital. Ingrained in my mind is my mom on our laundry room floor with blood everywhere. The trip into town was painful for not only her, but also my sister and I, who had no idea what was happening to my mom.

I thought she was dying. In the midst of the realization that my baby "brother" had died, I thought my mom was dying too. They dropped us off at a co-worker of my mom's house. I couldn't sleep. I could only cry. One of the teenage daughters took me in her arms and rocked me in their living room. I still remember the time on the VCR clock flashing 12:27 before I finally drifted off to sleep in her arms.

In the days that followed, I vaguely remember learning that my mom almost died (looking back and figuring out dates she was somewhere around 18 weeks pregnant by the time her body actually tried to miscarry). Most of all I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but no one wanted to give me the answers. I wanted to name him. I wanted to know if they knew for sure it was a him. I wanted to know if they saw him.

But there were no answers. I don't blame my parents for that at all. They were grieving just as my sister and I were.

Eventually I was so worried about my mom still dying and so hurt by the loss of my baby "brother", that I made myself sick with a bladder infection. I never wanted to go to school for fear my mom would die while I was gone and when I was there I spent a good majority of the time crying. I felt that maybe if I had behaved better, or had not been so loud with my sister, the baby would have lived.

Thinking back to that day in my 7 year old mind brings back a lot of emotions and many, many tears even today.

For those of you who have lost a baby, whether in pregnancy or after, know that I am thinking of you tomorrow on National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I share a sliver of understanding what that must be like. Know that your child(ren) are not forgotten and that they are loved. Many hugs and prayers from this big sister of one who was lost.

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday: 4 in a row

2011-10-12T15:13:00.000-05:00

Chris took this yesterday at a local state park and he had no idea until we got home that he had lined up the shot like this! Pretty neat! From front to back: Xiomara, Zoelle, Myself, and Meridian in the Ergo.

Truthful Tuesday: Are you still running?

2011-10-11T15:13:00.000-05:00

Hi! Welcome to Truthful Tuesday where you ask the questions and I answer them truthfully. If you want to play along, feel free to answer your own Truthful Tuesday in the comments of this post or in a post of your own! Then make sure you come link back to tell me all about it!

Today's question comes from my friend Jill who asked me this privately, but becuase I want the accountability, I figure it is time to answer it truthfully on here for all to see.

Question:

I've been wanting to ask you...are you still running.

Answer:

No, I'm not. :( If you remember last year at this time my friend Tara and I trained together and then ran our first ever 5K. I swore then that I would keep running and eventually run another 5K. For awhile I did keep running. Then I stopped. Then I started up again. Then I stopped and summer came and I got lazy and I never ran again.

You get the picture.

It was actually these family pictures that made me realize that I need to get back on the exercise bandwagon. While I loved them, I was rudely awaken with how out of shape I am.

I've said it before, but while nursing I typically hang onto anywhere from 5-10 extra pounds. Before we adopted Xiomara I was within 5 lbs. of my pre-pregnancy weight with Zoelle. However, tandem nursing really shot me up a good 10-15 lbs. overweight. I was ok with that knowing that once I'm done nursing it would probably come off. However, this summer I got lazy. I quit working out, I wasn't watching what I was eating, and all around I didn't take care of "me". I gained another 10 lbs. Putting me 20-25 lbs. over my pre-pregnancy weight with Zoelle! :( Yikes! Not okay at all.

So last week I decided I was going to take care of "me". I was going to set an example to my daughters of healthy eating and I was going to change. I have been exercising steadily for a week, I've cut out almost all sugars, I've been drinking a ton of water, and eating healthy portion controlled meals. This week paid off, I lost 2 lbs.!

For now I've decided I am not going to run. I needed something that was more consistent for me and something I could do on my own. Running was very hard for me to do on my own. Thus, for now, I'm not running. I still however would really love to run another 5K one day.

I'll probably be sharing more in the coming weeks what I am exactly doing for exercise. But for now I'd love your encouragement and tips if you have them!

Don't forget, if you have a question you have been dying to ask me that you want answered, just e-mail me at: jewelsntreasures (at) yahoo (dot) com

Do you exercise regularily? If you do, what do you do? Was there ever a moment in time that you had to reclaim you?

Thank you to Sarah at Treasures of Faith for designing the blog button featured in this post!

Fall Adventures & Making Memories

2011-10-06T14:52:00.001-05:00

I don't know what it is, but each time Fall comes around, I love to go hiking. Maybe it's because I grew up in the country and it reminds me of the hours I spent in the woods with my sister and our dog.

I miss it.

The simplicity. The smells. The hours of pure joy!

So when Fall comes around, I am itching to get out into the woods and explore. We love going to State Parks, so on Sunday we did just that.

We hiked, talked, snuggled in the Ergo, ran, enjoyed the scenery, pretended we were big deer, ate supper over the fire, and also snuck in a treat of Twizzlers!

At the end of the day, just as we were preparing to go, the girls' Papa (my dad) showed up in his airplane. The girls have never taken an airplane ride before and I've never pushed it. We chatted for a bit, and then I asked Zoelle if she wanted to ride home with Papa (and me too) and at first she was all excited saying she wanted to do it. But as she was getting ready to climb in she says,

"Meridian do you want to go? I think I should let you have the first turn." :) What a nice, generous big sister she is! ;)

If you know anything about Meridian she is fearless and so she automatically said "yes" and in we went. She got to wear the special headphones and sit on my lap. She got to see a big fire, and the start of the moon. She saw multiple lakes, and many beautiful Fall trees. But through it all, I never heard a word out of her mouth. Instead, she sat there with the biggest eyes I've ever seen. The first words out of her mouth when we landed and shut off the plane were,

"Where is daddy? Where is Zoelle?"

I'm pretty sure she was confused as to why they weren't at Papa's house when we got back. In the days since, she has only been able to talk non-stop about her airplane ride in Papa's yellow plane.

It puts a smile on my face because I have many fond memories of flying with my dad as a kid and I look forward to my girls making those same memories!

Have you ever flown in a small engine airplane before? What are some memories you like to make with your family?

Wordless Wednesday: Where's Zoelle

2011-10-05T14:05:00.001-05:00

Kashi Peanutty Dark Chocolate Granola Bars Review

2011-10-04T14:57:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite parts of being a blogger is getting to review fun items that work for both mom and child! Moms Meet recently sent me some Kashi TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Granola Bars to try for myself and with other moms.

As a mom, I have the important job of providing my girls with a healthy snack. Yet somehow my girls are like almost every other child out there and want candy! Candy is something of a rare treat around here, so when the girls got their eyes on the chocolate goodness of this granola bar, they were in love! So was I knowing that they were eating something healthy. Myself and a few other moms did feel as if they granola bar was a bit dry, but we all agreed that if it passed the kid test, it didn't really matter. :)

As a mom, I can say that Kashi has done a fantastic job of providing both moms and kids a healthy alternative to snacktime! Be sure to keep up to date with the latest on Kashi's Facebook page!

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Daddy Dates {Book Review}

2011-09-30T15:36:00.001-05:00

I'm quite obviously not a daddy! But when the opportunity came for me to review this book, I took it because I'm married to a daddy and that daddy has three little girls. They definitely are going to be going on many dates with their daddy in the years to come.

My original intent was for said daddy to write this review. However, as much as daddy likes to read books, this is also one of the busiest times of the year for him when it comes to work and also his love of hunting.

So you are left with mommy reviewing this book. Maybe in the future, he can come back with his thoughts.

Let me say, that I believe that as a mom, even I learned how to treat my daughters more special by reading this book. Greg Wright is a witty writer and talks openly about how he often feels clueless raising four girls. Often I feel clueless as well in how to raise three girls, so this was refreshing!

I loved that he offers real life examples of how to date his daughters. I loved how it was very evident that his daughters love and respect him. They are still your typical teenage girls, and struggle at times with wanting to obey, but for the most part they are open and honest. I believe a lot of that has to do with their dad taking them on dates.

Without giving away too much of the book, I will say that I would highly recommend this book to dads of girls of any age. It is heart-warming to see how this dad is setting the bar high for his daughters and that is something I think every dad wants.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSneeze.com I was not obligated to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Wordless Wednesday: Apple Orchard Goodness

2011-09-28T15:06:00.000-05:00

Ouch!

2011-09-27T14:30:00.000-05:00

This mama and this girl do not like bees! Ouch! :(

P.S. Does anyone know of any good natural remedies to get the swelling down? This happened yesterday and it still looks and feels sore today!

The one where God cannot be contained in a little box labeled Christianity.

2011-09-23T14:44:00.001-05:00

There I was singing along quietly to some Jack Johnson on my iTunes when the guest in our home said, "Jack Johnson is sin. You need to stop listening to it."

I stared.

"Really? Jack Johnson is sin? Listening to him is sin?"

And so the conversation stopped.

But my mind did not. The whole rest of the evening I couldn't help but realize that this, this is why non-Christians have labeled Christians as judgemental and hypocritical.

Because the God I know doesn't have a box labeled Christian and only those who listen to Christian music can be in it.

Because the God I know doesn't have a box labeled Christian and only those who don't drink alcohol are in it.

Because the God I know doesn't have a box labeled Christian and only those who dress a certain way are in it.

Heck, the God I know doesn't even have a box labeled Christian.

Instead we so called Christians have labeled that box for ourselves and told ourselves and others that unless you dress a certain way, act a certain way, listen to certain music you can't be a Christian.

The God I know has only one label that I know: LOVE

Credit

And oh how He loves us! He truly does. Despits others labeling us, judging us, tearing us down, and misrepresenting Him.

And I'm clinging to that as I listen to my Jack Johnson and know in my heart where I stand with God; outside that little box labeled Christianity.

Wordless Wednesday: First day of Fall storytime and someone is pretty happy about it! :)

2011-09-21T15:15:00.000-05:00

Truthful Tuesday: Are you going to have more kids???

2011-09-20T10:55:00.000-05:00

I decided from time to time to do little scheduled blog posts on Tuesdays called Truthful Tuesday. Basically I want you, my readers, to feel free to ask me questions and I will answer them truthfully! :) I can't promise you I will answer any question you may ask because there are areas of my life that are personal and I will not blog about...but I will do my best to answer if you ask.

Credit

The very first question comes from my friend Salena who asked me this quite awhile ago and I told her I would be answering her "soon" in a blog post. Well being she asked me in July and this is September, it wasn't necessarily "soon", but I am finally answering now:

Question:

I've always wondered...are you and Chris planning or allowing God to plan for more children in your family?

Answer:

Can I say the answer to that is both? A long time ago I wanted a big family. When Chris and I met and I shared with him my dream for a big family, he was sort of on board. Then we had Zoelle. Two years later, Meridian. A year after that we adopted Xiomara. Three kids. Three girls. Loud, screamy, sometimes crying girls. In three years.

Yep, we are crazy! ;)

I wouldn't say that having them so close together made me not want more, because that isn't true. I've enjoyed the challenges as they come and go and on the days I don't, I just cry! ;) I think every woman hates that thought of being done. I love soft, squishy, cuddly babies and I can't imagine not having any more babies.

At the same time I say that, I also can't imagine going through another pregnancy right now nor do we want to adopt right now. I get terribly sick in my pregnancies and the thought of the emotional ups and downs of adoption has me running the other way. I also have been either breastfeeding or pregnant for 5 years.

I am ready for a break.

But we have always brought that back to whether or not God is ready for us to have a break. And the answer, despite the chagrin of the grandparents is, yes we believe He knows we need a break and is going to give it to us. He also has shown us that just because what we wanted was a big family, isn't necessarily what He wanted for us. I can honestly say we never brought it before God in prayer. We just assumed that we would have a big family. But the more we pray about it, the more we feel God calling us in a different direction for our life and our family.

So in short, I feel like we are letting God decide, yet at the same time God knows our hearts and knows that we need a break. If you do find me pregnant or adopting at some point in the future, then you know that God wasn't finished with us yet...and I'm ok with that too.

P.S. If someone has the time and talent to make me a blog button, I'd love to start up a link up for Truthful Tuesday. I just have no idea how to make a button! :)

Have a question you want answered? Email me at: jewelsntreasures (at) yahoo (dot) com

Palm & Pond Mei Tai Giveaway {Closed}

2011-09-19T13:22:00.000-05:00

I love babywearing! In fact just the other day I was thinking how absolutely sad I will be when my babywearing days are over with. :(

Anyway, sometime back I was talking with a friend on the phone who told me that she had tried a Mei Tai by Palm & Pond but because of her height, it didn't work well for her. She offered to pass it on to me which, babywearing nut that I am, I said yes! She mentioned that if I chose not to use it, to please be sure to pass it on.

It wasn't that I didn't want to use it. In fact I had every intention of using it. However, I love, love, love my Ergo and Beco and thus everytime I went to grab a carrier I would grab one of those and not the Mei Tai. Those who know me know that I can't stand to have things sit around unused!

Win it!

So I want to pass on the love to one of you who would absolutely love to have a Mei Tai! I planned on doing a Rafflecopter entry form this time. However Rafflecopter is by invite only and I still haven't gotten my invite from them after signing up. So I'm making this easy for you. 3 simple ways to enter.

Mandatory Entry:

1. Tell me why you want to win this Mei Tai. Please do me the favor of making sure you leave your e-mail address in the comment if it is not visible on your profile. (1 entry)

Extra Entries:

1. Become a Facebook fan of Jewels & Treasures. Leave me a comment telling me you are a fan along with your first name and last initial. (1 entry)

2. Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment telling me you are along with your Twitter ID. (1 entry)

That's It!

Winner will be chosen at random from random.org. Winner has 48 hours from being contacted to respond, or else a new winner will be chosen.

Contest ends Monday, October 3, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CST

Congrats to Sunflower Joy! Hope you enjoy it! :)

*I received this as a gift and am not affiliated with the company at all. Instead I just would like to pass on the love! Enjoy! :)

Dear _____________Year Old Me,

2011-09-17T14:50:00.000-05:00

Dear fourteen year old me, I'm glad you grew out of the paint your nails whatever color you are wearing stage.

Zoom in to see my blue nailpolish! Oh and I'm singing here, that is why my mouth is open! ;)

Dear fifteen year old me, praise God you grew past that mop top of a hairstyle! Why oh why did you not wear your hair curly? Why the bangs?? And oh my God, what are you wearing?!?!

Mom are you reading this? Why did you let me go out like this? I'll bill you for my therapy! ;)

Dear sixteen year old me, if you could go back, you would go on 1,000 more of these life changing mission trips before you were married and had kids.

Saying goodbye to my dad before my mission trip to Brazil.

Dear seventeen year old me, you are not a cheerleader. You may have the loud voice of one, but you really could not cheer! ;)

Freezing cold while cheering!

Dear eighteen year old me, you were wise to get a couple of close girlfriends. They will still be your close girlfriends 10 years from now, support you when you most need it, and run a 5K with you.

Graduation with my two closest girlfriends Sharon and Tara

Seriously now...dear any teenage year me, I wish you would have realized how beautiful you really were, how non-fat you were, and how you were worth more than him or even him. The tears really weren't worth it and in the future you had a guy who was. Ten years from now, you will look back on these pictures and realize that your world was really so small and that God had bigger plans for you.

And you will appreciate having these pictures (as ridiculous as they are) because ten years from then, you will need similar reminders about your 20's.

Love,

Post inspired after listening to Taylor Swift's song, "Fifteen" and also finding a bag of old photgraphs. Hope you enjoyed! :)

Wordless Wednesday: Look Mom! A Vwery Hugwy Catwerpillwar!

2011-09-14T14:38:00.000-05:00

School for Zoelle

2011-09-12T10:01:00.001-05:00

I didn't blog about it last week, but this week we are starting our second week of homeschooling Zoelle.

We actually had no intention of homeschooling Zoelle this year. We signed Zoelle up for a local private preschool and even went to the open house at her school. However, in the back of my mind, I was very uncertain. I loved the school, loved the teacher, but I felt as if I would be paying for a 2 day a week babysitter. Zoelle knows how to read and how to do simple addition. In pre-k, she would have been learning her letters and letter sounds, her colors, shapes, etc. All stuff she knew.

When it came down to it, I could not justify being a wise steward of our finances if we were just going to send her to be socialized. I also could tell that she really wasn't ready to be gone from mom that much.

So here I am homeschooling again this year. After researching quite a bit, I will again be using Heart of Dakota Publishing as I really loved how it was set up last year. She is still young at 4 and I don't plan on doing any real formal schooling with her. I certainly don't plan on doing it with her each day. In fact she is now considered in the Kindergarten curriculum and my plan is to space it out this year and get about half of it done, and then next year (if we homeschool) finish the other half.

One thing I want to get across to those who know us is that I don't plan to judge your schooling choices. I was very hesitant to jump on the homeschooling bandwagon because I didn't want to become a part of the homeschooling mafia. You know the type where I read on a homeschooling message board the other day:

"Even your worst homeschooling day is better than a day in public school."

Ummm..no! No, no, no! That is not me. Not us. And not what homeschooling is about for our family. We will take homeschooling year by year, child by child. Next year we could be sending her to public school, or we could be homeschooling again. We just know that we refuse to limit our family to just homeschooling or just public school. Instead, we choose to acknowledge that God will lead our family year by year.

What are you doing for school this year? How did you decide what was right for your family?

P.S. The sign is a back to school printable sign that I found on Pinterest. You can find it for your grade here!

What I Learned During a 5 Day Nursing Strike

2011-09-09T14:58:00.000-05:00

Those of you who follow me on facebook and saw my status yesterday, found out that Xiomara and I are finally past that horrible period of her not nursing. I was ecstatic yesterday when she latched on and nursed with just a slight hesitation. Each nursing session since then has gotten better and it is almost as if she has forgetten again that she didn't nurse for 5 whole days.

During those 5 days I learned a lot.

First, surround yourself with those who love you, will support you, and uplift you. One of my very best friends sent me beautiful flowers to cheer me up. Even though she herself only nursed her kids a little bit, she still supported me and understood how upset I was at the possibility of Xiomara weaning.

Secondly, research, research, and more research! I turned to my local lactation consultant for help. When she told me that most likely Xiomara was weaning, I turned to some really close online friends of mine. They pointed out several articles on how to get your baby back on the breast, one woman's story of a 40-day nursing strike, and how to survive a nursing strike. Without these articles and the knowledge of these friends, I'm not sure I would have made it! They are also the ones who told me to pump to keep a supply for Xiomara in case she did make it through this nursing strike.

Lastly, and this is just a personal one for me, don't take nursing for granted. Since breastfeeding has always come very naturally for me and I have had very few problems nursing any of my girls, I have often taken it for granted. Those 5 days were some of the longest and most emotional days of my life. All I could think about was wanting to enjoy and relish in her snuggled close to my body, getting the nurishment and attachment she needed, just one more time! I seriously don't think I will look at nursing ever the same again!

Have you ever gone through a nursing strike? How did you survive? How long did it last?

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday: The Chase

2011-09-07T15:22:00.001-05:00

This happens all day long!

And it is quite hilarious.

But most of all, absolutely precious!

Because she loves her sister!

Teething? Nursing strike? Weaning?

2011-09-05T14:50:00.000-05:00

Xiomara nursing shortly after her 1st birthday! I love this picture!

I'm always amazed at the amount of people who find my blog searching for "adoptive breastfeeding". Mainly because I haven't really blogged much about my journey of nursing Xiomara. Which is mainly because I don't really have a journey. I didn't have to take pills, pump a ton to stimulate my breasts to produce milk, or do anything else. Instead, I was lucky enough to have Meridian still nursing, thus have a supply for Xiomara.

My breastfeeding journey with Xiomara has been relatively easy. When we first met Xiomara she was due to take a bottle, but they held off giving her one so I could try and nurse her. She latched on immediately and after supplementing for a little while, she took off on nursing and never looked back. While she has struggled to gain weight, that has more to do with her being premature and her birthmom being small, than nursing. We have seen a lactation consultant regularily and no problems have arose until now.

Now, at almost 14 months, Xiomara has started biting. She got her two front teeth and since getting them she won't nurse, but rather just bites me. I've tried different positions, different times of nursing, and different reactions to the biting, and yet she continues to bite.

I am devastated. I don't know if this is just a phase, but this weekend I have had to stop nursing her and just pump. I obviously cannot force her to nurse. I just wasn't prepared to be done nursing, so I really am hoping this is just a nursing strike and that after the new teeth come all the way down, she will start back up again.

I just wasn't ready to be done with the baby snuggles, and bonding that I felt with her through nursing. And honestly, I'm not ready to process that possibility yet.

Here is to hoping that I can have a positive update soon for you all! Off to cry now! :( If you have any thoughts, prayers, suggestions, I would more than appreciate them!

Meet my new niece Natasha

2011-09-03T15:10:00.000-05:00

I became an auntie again on September 1st! My next youngest sister gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Natasha. Yes, that makes 5 granddaughters for my parents. No grandsons..yet!

Since my sister lives in a different state than I do, I have yet to actually meet my niece and hold her. Thank goodness for technology because I have been texted pics and we plan on a Skype conversation today so I can say "hi" to her for the first time ever! Even though I haven't officially met her, I still feel this incredible love for her, the same as I felt the first time I became an aunt.

I'm looking forward to a lifetime with her and spoiling her like crazy! :)

Do you live in the same state as your nieces and nephews? If you don't, how do you keep in touch?

Chocolate Rasperry Pie {Recipe}

2011-09-01T15:22:00.001-05:00

I love to bake. It's pretty well known around this house that mom does not like to cook much, but loves to bake! I'm always looking for the next fun thing to bake.

Last week, I promised that I would share this recipe from my Wordless Wednesday as long as you didn't judge me for eating it for breakfast. Since you all were so kind to me and many ~~begged~~ pleaded with me for the recipe, I am sharing it today.

I originally found this recipe in a Taste of Home magazine, but I did alter it a bit to have more chocolate (yum). This is one of those recipes that it tastes so elegant that it seems as if it is hard. It is not. In fact, while it does have quite a few steps, those steps are super easy.

All the ingredients you need.

Ingredients:

1 unbaked pie shell (or if you are Martha Stewart you could make your own)
3 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
2 cups of fresh raspberries

Filling:

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream, whipped

Topping:

2 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate baking squares
3 tablespoons of butter

Directions:

1. Line unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450 for 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack.

2. In a saucepan combine the sugar and cornstarch (listed under ingredients). Stir in the raspberries, bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cool for 15 minutes. Spread into shell; refrigerate. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Carefully spread over raspberry layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

3. Melt chocolate and butter; cool for 4-5 minutes. Pour over filling. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Store in the refrigerator.

Eat for breakfast and enjoy! :)

P.S. I originally attempted to be all Ree Drummond on you and take pictures while I made it. But, I'm not multi-talented and cannot hold the camera and pour/stir/etc. while taking a picture. I also didn't have a full open sunny kitchen for pictures. But hey, all that matters is the end product right? And that is beautiful! Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: Play Ball!

2011-08-31T13:21:00.000-05:00

MamaRoo Bouncer Review

2011-08-30T16:51:00.002-05:00

It was over a year ago that I reviewed an item from ThinkGeek. I still use that item each and everyday and as geeky as it may seem, my girls talk about their moon/sun each night before bed! Thus when I was looking into trying out the MamaRoo Bouncer by 4moms I knew exactly where to go to be able to try it.

First thing I noticed when I received it is how easily it was packaged into the box it came in. In fact, so easy that you can save the box and pack it back in when your little one grows out of it.

Secondly, it literally took my husband maybe 5 minutes to set up. Most baby items we've had have taken forever to set up and have crazy hard instructions to follow. Not the MamaRoo. It was simple and easy. Once set up, I was surprised to see it took up much less space than I originally thought it would. Much smaller than the swing we had.

I could go on and on about all the features I love about this swing, but rather than writing it all out, I decided to do a quick video review. Just ignore the fact that my porch floor is dirty and that my kids are crazy, ok? ;)

Buy It!

If you have been thinking about purchasing a MamaRoo Bouncer for yourself or for someone you know who is expecting, make sure you check out ThinkGeek and while you're there check out all the other fun items they have!

*The featured product(s) in this post were provided for me by the company. I was not compensated in any way. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

Weekend Pinterest Challenge

2011-08-28T22:21:00.000-05:00

I heart pinterest. I could literally spend hours perusing on there. I often pin different projects for myself to do, or especially things I want to do with my kids. However, until yesterday I did not actually do any of those projects. Instead I would pin all these fun projects or ideas and then say to myself that maybe someday I would do them.

That is until Sarah from Emerging Mummy put up the Pinterest challenge which is to pick one thing from your pinterest board and actually complete it. Having that challenge put before me made me have to do it, so I did!

On Saturday, Chris and I spent almost the entire day doing a bedroom makeover. We have been married for 8 years and still had the same $30 clearance bedding set from Target. Two years ago as a black Friday special, we bought another $30 bedding set, this one from Walmart. The problem is that they were about as opposite as you could possibly be, thus requiring us to re-paint and re-do our bedroom. This kept us busy pretty much the whole day and our girls were left on their own to watch movies or play with toys.

Thus at the end of the day, I wanted to make it special for them. So I picked one item from my pinterest board that I have been wanting to do and we did it! We made Sidewalk Paint! My girls absolutely loved it! It was quick, easy, and I had everything on hand in order to do it. I wish I would have taken a picture today of the final product, but let me tell you it showed up much better when dried than these pictures show.

I'm definitely hoping Sarah keeps up doing the Pinterest Challenge because I plan on making this a weekend thing from now on.

How about you-are you on pinterest? If you are, do you ever do any of the projects you pin?

I have my own domain!

2011-08-26T10:14:00.000-05:00

Some of you have noticed and told me, others of you probably had no idea, but early this week I decided to buy my own domain instead of being hosted on blogspot. So now I am officially www.jewelsntreasures.net/ I know my blog name is Jewels & Treasures but that is already taken and I decided to streamline it to jewelsntreasures as that is my Twitter and E-mail so it is all easier to remember.

Part of this reason for purchasing my own domain is that I have had so many issues with blogger and eventually I believe I will switch to wordpress. Another reason is that I want to own my own content and make sure my name is saved in the internet world. I have a few things to switch over here and there on my blog, but probably nothing too noticeable.

So enjoy and have a happy Friday! :)

Wordless Wednesday: My breakfast today...mmm!

2011-08-24T10:41:00.000-05:00

*Yes I will share the recipe with you, but only if you don't judge me for having pie for breakfast! ;)

Vacation in Paradise

2011-08-23T14:02:00.000-05:00

Last week we snuck away for three days to go camping in paradise. Literally. This is our third time camping there. The first time we went was before we had kids and we camped with some friends of ours. The entire weekend was spent in the water on a floaty visiting. It was glorious.

The girls "helping" dad get set up!

Thus a few years later with Zoelle just over a year old, we decided to go back. Of course, camping with a child was a bit different than we figured, but it was fun nonetheless. The last two years we have been unable to go back as we had a newborn each summer. Thus when the opportunity arose to go this year, we jumped at it.

Hanging out in the camper.

If you remember correctly, we sold our camper last year and I have been praying that God would provide us with another one. Well one day while my dad and husband were hanging out, they decided to go look at campers and found one almost identical to the one we sold. Thus with 13 kids (11 still at home), my dad decided to buy it and gave us permission to use it when we want. This daughter was pretty happy about that! :)

Pure joy!

But back to paradise. It was by far one of the best trips we have taken as a family of 5. It included: taking walks, playing at the park, campfires late at night with my husband, watching movies, reading books, swimming in sugar sand beaches, taking naps, trips to "town" for supplies we forgot, visiting a local ice cream/candy shop, singing "Knee Deep" by the Zac Brown Band, hearing Zoelle exclaim, "I love this, I love this SO much!", and much more.

Sliding down the big slide!

I came back refreshed, renewed, and ready to go back to Paradise. ;) But that will have to wait until next year....

I love everything about this picture! :)

Do you go on vacation every year? If so, do you go to the same spot or a new one?

In which there are still miracles today!

2011-08-20T11:36:00.000-05:00

I'm blogging over at our adoption blog today about the miracle that God did in our adoption. Let me post the same disclaimer here, that I posted there:

Let me start by saying that I realize that I have all sorts of people who read this blog, through all different lifestyles and all different beliefs. To some of you, this post may really touch your hearts...and to others, this will be crazy. However, I have a story to tell so that you, my readers, know that God still does miracles today.

So please, come on over and rejoice with me today as the impossible has become possible.

Wordless Wednesday: Well Hi There! :)

2011-08-17T11:28:00.003-05:00

5 Reasons To Invest In Your Local CSA

2011-08-16T10:56:00.000-05:00

Today is Tuesday and in our house Tuesday's are an important and fun day! Each Tuesday we get all ready and head out to pick up our local CSA. What is a CSA you ask? CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. This means that our family actually "owns" a part of a local farm and gets the produce from that farm each week.

Each week we get a box full of this (or variation of this).

Not to mention that we also can attend local harvest events. This is how we got our sweet corn that we recently froze.

Looks amazing right? Oh believe me, it is! So today, I wanted to share with you 5 reasons why you should invest in your local CSA.

1. It forces you to eat your veggies! I'm a bit ashamed to admit this, but if it weren't for the CSA each week, I would not be eating nearly as many vegetables. I love fruits, but will readily admit that it is a bit harder for me to eat veggies. This has really helped me as I paid for it, and I am not one to let my food go to waste. Another plus is that my girls have fallen in love all over again with vegetables. Seeing mom and dad eat them daily makes them want to eat them daily. Win win!

2. It forces you to try different veggies you otherwise would not have eaten. This one is for my husband. He is pretty picky. Yet again, he put his hard earned money toward it and he will not let it go to waste. Thus, we have both tried many vegetables that we normally would not have (kohlrabi, beets, radishes) and we have found that we actually like some (although my husband still hates beets). ;)

3. You are supporting a local farm instead of a nationwide grocer. Since my husband owns two businesses and we value the support of people doing their business locally, I know how important it is to do the same for others.

4. You are getting fresh organic produce and you know exactly what has been used on it! Pretty sure this one explains itself. Buying a share of a CSA guarantees that you will have fresh, organic (if you are buying from a farm that is organic like we are) produce. So often at a grocery store you don't know what kind of chemicals have been used on your produce, or if that broccoli has been sitting out for days. Buying a CSA provides you with the assurance that you can ask any questions to your local farmer about the chemicals (or lack thereof) used on the vegetables.

5. No room for a big garden-no problem! If you are like me and have limited space and time to do a big garden, consider a CSA well worth your investment! You will have a plentiful supply of fresh vegetables all spring and summer long (and even into fall) and if you take advantage of any harvest events your local farm has, you can freeze or can and have produce all winter long as well!

Overall, I have been incredibly impressed each week with our share and I will be very sad to see winter come this year as I am going to miss the variety each week. I'll definitely be looking forward to spring for more reasons than one come next year!

Do you invest in a local CSA? Or do you do your own garden?

And she's walking!

2011-08-13T23:09:00.000-05:00

We have a walker! On July 26, Xiomara took her very first steps! It surprised everyone else but me. To everyone else she is this small, tiny, baby still. I know better! She has been talking for sometime now, crawling like a champ since 6 months, climbing stairs, and standing up all by herself. I knew it would only be a matter of time before she took her first steps.

I'm so proud of her. Watching her walk, now practically run, toward me all proud of herself is so much fun! She is doing more walking than crawling these days.

It again reminds me of how fast time goes. It also makes me a little sad that her birthmom "J" isn't here to see it all take place. Somtimes I just stare at Xiomara and think it just isn't fair for her that her birthmom isn't with her. Then I think how it isn't fair for "J" not to see these first steps. My heart screams with the realization that she should be able to see this; to relish in this mom pride of her daughter taking her first steps.

Sigh...it's hard being an adoptive parent sometimes. Adoption is so beautifully messy and I love every little moment with Xiomara. But I still can't help but wish that "J" was here to enjoy it too. I suppose I will feel that way forever through every major milestone.

But for now, I'll just hold onto Xiomara a little longer and cherish her "firsts" as I know now how fast they really go. All the while I'm going to whisper in her ear to slow down just a little.

When did your little one take his/her first steps?

Wordless Wednesday: Solitude

2011-08-10T15:14:00.000-05:00

To my girls-what I want you to know about love

2011-08-09T14:51:00.000-05:00

Hi girls! Today is your dad and I's anniversary. That means that 8 years ago on this day, he and I pledged ourselves to each other forever at our wedding. It was a gorgeous day filled with tears, happiness, and love. I want to talk to you about love today. This letter has been stirring in my mind for the past year. You may not appreciate it now, but I hope as you grow older, you will.

Love is and it isn't like the movies. Oh how I wish I could tell you that every second is like a beautiful romance movie. But I can't. Instead love is hard work, it will leave you in tears (both happy and sad), and it leaves you more vulnerable to hurt than ever in your life. But love is beautiful like the movies, in that it is a dance. Pulling you closer to your partner and then at times apart, but then back together closer than before.

Love comes at many different times in your life. If at 13 you tell me you are in love, I promise to do my best not to tell you it isn't love or that you don't know what love is. For after all, if you know what love is like at two, you know what it is like as a teenager. It might not look the same at two as it does at 13, and the love you feel at 13 is nothing like the love you feel at 30. But it is still love to you. And if it's important to you, it will be important to me.

That is the thing about love. While it may look a little different at different times in your life, or for different people, it still stays the same. It is selfless. It is giving. It is painful. It is beautiful.

As each of you grow up and journey into love, your dad and I pray that we have been a good example of what love is like in your lives. We pray that the crazy flirting, teasing, tears, and laughter, have shown you what true love is.

It isn't always perfect, but it is our love for each other, and our love for you girls.

And that is what love is.

Freezing Sweet Corn {A How To}

2011-08-08T14:36:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, I posted to my Facebook page that I was freezing 20 dozen sweet corn. Yep, you read that right 20 dozen! 240 ears of corn! Yikes, I guess writing that down does make me realize that is a lot! Anyway, many of you had asked how I did it. So I thought I would share in a blog post the process. Unfortunately, I didn't think to grab my camera for the day, so all I have are phone pictures.

First things first, we picked the corn. We dropped the kids off at my parent's, grabbed three of my younger siblings and headed out to a local farm in which we own part of a CSA (community supported agriculture). Love our CSA and I have a blog post coming on that later!

It was lightly raining when we picked and we had to not only pick 20 dozen for us, but also 20 dozen for my family. I thought it would take forever, but was pleasantly surprised to find it went quickly and we were done in about 40 minutes. We left the field muddy, but determined to enjoy our day freezing.

About halfway through shucking the corn.

When we got back to my parents, we got to work right away shucking the corn (just ours, not my parent's). The pile of corn literally filled a whole table! But with all my siblings helping, and even Zoelle at one point, this work went quickly!

A tub full of corn anyone?

Next, we cut the corn off the cob. I wasn't thinking ahead on this part. It took awhile! We only had one electric knife and so I got that while Chris got just a plain knife. If anyone has any quick methods for cutting corn off the cob, send them my way!

Doesn't he look just thrilled?!? :)

Once it was all cut off, we moved to the actual blanching part. My recipe is adapted (just a bit) from one of my dad's relatives. My parents have used this one in the past, and it turns out great!

9 cups of corn
1 cup of water
1 Tablespoon of sugar
1 Teaspoon of salt

Bring ingredients to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Set pan into cold ice water. Do not drain. Fill bags and freeze!

Blanching the corn.

We had two pans going at all times so that way I could get more done at once. I also doubled the recipe so it could go a bit faster.

Cooling down in ice water.

All in all, it took us about 6 hours from start to finish and we got 39 bags of sweet corn that we will definitely be enjoying in the dead of winter to remind us of the sweet days of summer!

Corn all ready for winter enjoyment!

So there you have it! Thank you to my parents and siblings for their help with the corn and with my kids. Couldn't have done it without you! :)

Amazon Wishlist, Swagbucks, and eReaders

2011-08-05T10:30:00.001-05:00

I'm an avid reader! I've slowed a bit over the years since having kids, but when I get a chance to read, I do. I often find myself adding books to my Amazon Wishlist that I have found off of other blogs, message boards, websites, etc. These days most of the books I want to read are parenting books. Some on my reading list right now are:

All three of those I have read before through our local public library, but all three were amazing enough that I want to buy them for future reference. Often when I want to buy books, I turn to Amazon and redeem my Swagbucks rewards to purchase Amazon Cards to buy what I need.

Have you signed up for Swagbucks yet? If not, you definitely want to sign up now. Friday is Mega Swag Bucks day, which means that you have a higher chance of earning greater points with a simple search. That is all it is! Instead of using Google for your search engine, use Swagbucks and earn points on your searches. All it takes is 450 points to earn a $5 Amazon giftcard. Trust me it adds up quickly! So if you want to start earning money now on your searches go sign up here: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Jewelsntreasures

In the meantime, I've been thinking more and more about getting an eReader. I never thought I would like not holding an actual book in my hands, but the more I think on it, the more I am thinking I may like it. But first I need your help! I know nothing about them besides a few brands. Can someone tell me the pros and cons of each kind? Right now I'm specifically looking between the Kindle and Nook Color, but I am open to others. So what do you have and what do you recommend?

What is on your Amazon wishlist? Do you use Swagbucks? What are your thoughts on using an eReader?

Wordless Wednesday: Holding Hands

2011-08-03T15:02:00.001-05:00

Zoelle with her Great Grandma Josephine (my Grandma) and her Aunt Sabrina (my youngest sister).

Happy Birthday To My Best Friend and Hubby!!

2011-08-03T11:25:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to my best friend and hubby Christopher!

Chris as a little boy! What a cutie!

I know you don't like the world to know you are now in your late 20's rolling closer to 30, but I have to say, you definitely age well! ;)

So handsome!

For those of you that don't know my husband, let me tell you a bit about him.

When we were dating I always told him "I can't believe how gentle you are". He treated me as if I was a treasure. He still does. Gentleness defines him to a "T". Not only is he gentle with me, but he treats his three girls with more gentleness than one could imagine. Never ever has he told me he wished he had a boy. Instead, those girls are precious to him. He beams with pride as he talks about them.

Daddy and his girls!

He loves deeply. While Chris isn't one to show his emotions very often, I know that when he loves someone, he love them deeply. This is shown in his every action toward them and in his words. A true romantic at heart, he blesses me daily with the little things he does for me that show his love for me.

2006. Pre-kids!

Speaking of words, he doesn't have many. He is a quiet guy, the complete opposite of me. Which means we are a perfect balance of each other as I'm quite verbal. He just listens and quietly inputs his thoughts as I express myself. The man has patience! ;)

Sexy and serious (yep, I just called you sexy on my blog)! ;)

Those that truly get the honor of knowing Chris for who he is will quickly come to realize how funny he is! I've had many tell me, "I had no idea how funny your husband was until ______." Yep, that is how it is with him. He seems so reserved, but under it all, he makes me laugh daily. I'm very lucky I get to see this part of him that many others do not get to see.

He makes me smile and laugh!

He is an incredibly hard worker. Building up two businesses to support our family day in and day out. He makes me proud! He doesn't stop dreaming of what more he could do and he doesn't stop working hard to achieve those goals. I love that!

On our anniversary in 2010

And I love you Christopher! You know I don't believe in the card industry, so here is my card to you! I love you with all my heart! Thank you for being you and for loving me for me. May your birthday be absolutely amazing in everyway.

Happy Birthday Christer!

Easter 2011

Sparkle Farms Bloomer Shorts Review & Giveaway {Closed}

2011-08-01T14:57:00.032-05:00

With three girls in our house and a mom who loves to dress them up, we wear dresses a lot. One problem I consistenly run into with dresses is that they often don't come with a pair of bloomers to wear underneath (especially for bigger sizes). This is a problem if I don't want their diaper or underwear to show. We all know little girls don't always sit still and having a pair of bloomers underneath, helps hide their undies or diaper! Over the years I've bought different bloomers for the girls off of the internet. However, none really covered how I liked or they weren't comfortable for the girls.

Please ignore the look of disgust! She did not want her picture taken right after her nap!

That is until I found Sparkle Farms. Sparkle Farms created bloomer shorts to solve my problems. The second I got them I was impressed with the feel and look of them. I also loved that fact that they were little shorts so that way they covered well. The real test was whether or not Zoelle would like the feel of them. After a few uses (one which included the whole day in her dress and bloomers), I am happy to report that she loves them. So do I! Zoelle said they were cute (she loves the three little sparkles on them) and they were comfortable. I loved them because they covered well and they did not leave any marks on her skin (thus they were a perfect fit).

Buy It!

If you are a mom, aunt, grandma, or friend looking to buy bloomers for a girl in your life, I highly recommend Sparkle Farms! I definitely am planning on getting a few more pairs for my other girls (that is how much I loved them)!

Win It!

Sparkle Farms has generously offered one of my readers a pair of bloomer shorts in either white, lilac, or pink.

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Sparkle Farms and tell me one thing you learned and what color you woud pick if you win. Please do me the favor of making sure you leave your e-mail address in the comment if it is not visible on your profile. (1 entry)

Extra Entries:

1. Become a Facebook fan of Jewels & Treasures. Leave me a comment telling me you are a fan along with your first name and last initial. (1 entry)

2. Become a Facebook fan of Sparkle Farms. Leave me a comment telling me you are a fan along with your first name and last initial. (1 entry)

3. Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment telling me you are along with your Twitter ID. (1 entry)

4. Follow Sparkle Farms on Twitter and leave a comment telling me you are along with your Twitter ID. (1 entry)

5. Tweet about this giveaway making sure you link back to this post in your tweet. (1 tweet/entry per day)

6. Follow me via Google Friend Connect (must be a public follower). (1 entry)

7. Subscribe via e-mail to my blog. (2 entries)

8. Grab my blog button and post it on your blog and leave me a link letting me know where it is at. (3 entries)

9. Follow me via Networked Blogs. (1 entry)

That's It!

Winner will be chosen at random from random.org. Winner has 48 hours from being contacted to respond, or else a new winner will be chosen.

Contest ends Monday, August 15, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CST

Congrats to #21: Uniquely Normal Mom. I'm sure your little girl will get lots of use out of these!

*The featured product(s) in this post were provided for me by the company. I was not compensated in any way. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

A date night with my girlie!!!

2011-07-28T23:58:00.000-05:00

It's late, but I had to come and blog about my date night tonight with my oldest girlie.

First, I took Zoelle out to eat (her choice of restaurant) and then to the musical Annie. We have a local theatre that puts on one major musical production each year and I love musicals. Zoelle loves the movie Annie, so long ago I knew I would be taking her to this.

I felt a little guilty not taking Meridian as well, but I figured she is too young to sit through it without interruption. Plus Zoelle and I need time together. The past few weeks I've found myself getting short with her, and in turn, her with me. I've mentioned before that she is a blonde hair, blue eyed, mini me. She is passionate, loud, and spirited. I am pretty much all of those things in an adult body that now knows how to control myself a bit. ;)

Sometimes, when you are so much like someone, you fight a lot. That is how it is at times with Zoelle and I. It started the day that Meridian was born. I've made many mistakes along the way and being our firstborn, she has to suffer through us basically learning how to be parents. Chris is so much more patient, gentle, and understanding than I am. However, I'm working through it, learning to ask for forgiveness when needed, and relying on God who has to deal with parenting me (which must be VERY similar to what I have to deal with). :)

It's a beautiful thing this parenting business and tonight I got tears in my eyes and chills on my arms as I spent some special time with the girl I still refer to as my baby girl. The wonder in her eyes and the excitement in her voice at all that transpired was so worth the night out. I love her and hope that this time together is a special memory for her and a bonding experience for both of us.

Wordless Wednesday: This is the life

2011-07-27T15:23:00.000-05:00

Family Pictures Featuring Holly D Photography

2011-07-26T13:49:00.001-05:00

Each year, close to our anniversary, we take professional family pictures. To some that may seem like a waste of money. But as a photography loving girl, it's not to me. I love to look back on each picture and reminisce and see how each of has, or has not changed.

It's become somewhat of a challenge for me to learn to be creative on what I want to do each year. I like being unique and I like to have fun. This year, I ran across a photography blog with a really neat idea of using balloons out in an open prairie with the sun behind them. It was the perfect idea, except the day of our pictures was overcast and gray, and you know the balloons kept popping! But hey, all went well and Holly (our photographer) did amazing work.

So I wanted to do a personal shout out to her and recommend her as a photographer, if you are in my local area. Holly has been working with us since shortly after Xiomara was born and she is nothing short of amazing! It is not easy to get all three of my girls looking at the camera and smiling. I have one (who shall remain nameless) that likes to be stubborn for pictures and not smile, yet somehow Holly gets a good picture of her each time. Holly is personable and her pictures are stunning.

We have come to the end of our year of pictures of Xiomara, so I won't be seeing Holly until next year. However, that hasn't stopped me from planning next year's picture, and when I do, Holly will be taking it (and we are both scheming together on how to pull it off). ;)

Thank you again Holly! You are beyond fantastic and it's been really amazing to see you grow this past year as a photographer! Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for you!

I hate change and goodbyes!

2011-07-21T15:11:00.000-05:00

I'm not a big fan of change and I hate goodbyes. This week I had both in my life.

Our dear next door neighbor Ann decided it was time to move closer to her children. Ann is in her 70's (doesn't she look great?), she loves to garden, is always on the go, and she loves my girls. My girls in return love her.

We moved into our house close to eight years ago when we first got married. It didn't take long for us to get to know Ann. She was always outside working in her gardens and so she would often help me, a brand new young married girl, learn how to garden. She also would can or make cookies and share them with us.

The best part of it all is that when the girls came along, she just loved them and treated them like a Grandma would. Often her and Zoelle would work together in her garden. The girls had free reign to ring her doorbell and then run away giggling knowing that Ann would laugh right along with them. On warm summer days, she would get out the ice cream and the ice cream cones and her and the girls would share a treat together!

It's been lonely here since she left. I feel as if I lost a friend, a Grandma of sorts. I'll miss Meridian and Zoelle running and saying "Hi Ann" whenever they saw her outside. I'll miss hearing her talk to herself as she gardens while I am sitting on my front porch. I'll just plain miss her.

Then I think to myself that I have the opportunity now to be an "Ann" to the new neighbors. To show them the same love and comfort that Ann gave all of us. It's a gift really and I hope I can pass it on just as graciously as Ann did to us.

Do you know your neighbors? How do you treat each other? Have you ever had to say goodbye to a neighbor you really loved?

Wordless Wednesday: Beach Babes

2011-07-20T14:52:00.000-05:00

These are the days of summer...

2011-07-18T15:17:00.000-05:00

I've been pretty quiet lately. The reason? I've been struggling. To be honest, I went back and forth about whether or not I even wanted to post this post, but I figured being completely real here on my blog is what I need for not only myself, but also what others need.

We are smack dab in the middle of summer. I love summer! The humidity, the heat, the sand on my feet, the swimming, the lake, the pool, eating outside, the fruits, the veggies, going on walks, and I could go on and on. I love it all! Every bit of it.

Watermelon..yum!

And that is when I begin to panic. It's half over.

I'm trying to take every advantage of it, but in the back of my mind I keep thinking it's almost over. And then I panic and cry a little at the thought of it being almost done.

This is what my face looks like in the winter! :(

While I don't hate winter, I don't exactly love it. I like snow, but not in huge amounts and to be honest I think I would be perfectly happy if it was 70 degrees through the winter months and then in the summer hot, hot, and more hot!

If I'm truthful, it is becoming more clear to me that I want to move. I'm finding myself extremely restless in our small house as our family grows, and also in our small town. But we can't move. There is such a thing as Chris' job. I do believe though that if the opportunity ever presented itself to me, I would move in a heartbeat.

Sigh...I love this!

So instead I'm enjoying summer, praying for a short and warm winter, and praying that maybe just maybe, somehow we could go on a family vacation to someplace warm in the dead of winter! So if I'm quiet around here, it's because I'm enjoying the days and really trying not to focus on winter.

Do you like where you live? If you want to move but can't, how do you stay content?

Wordless Wednesday: Cousin Love

2011-07-13T14:11:00.000-05:00

In case you were wondering, we really are busy!

2011-07-12T14:15:00.001-05:00

Last night I smiled as I cleaned my house. No cleaning house isn't that much fun! Not even with Norwex as my husband says. No instead I was smiling for what I heard around me as I cleaned. In the midst of the whirl of the vacuum cleaner I could hear Xiomara screeching as she was able to steal a sippy cup from her sister and drink water out of it. Then I heard Zoelle teaching Meridian how to say water in Spanish. "Meridian can you say agua?" "Papa?" says Meridian. "No agua!" repeats Zoelle. And it goes on and on until Zoelle finally gives up out of exasperation.

And through it all I smile. We are loud. We are crazy. We are busy.

Yes, that last one gets me. Two days before we went out to eat at a local restaraunt with a family friend. This restaurant happens to be very busy in the summer. Let's just say that bringing kids there probably isn't the best idea, but our girls happened to be very well behaved. Well the whole time we are eating and visiting, Chris and I both notice many furitive glances and whispers. Many comment on our girls hair. The comments on their curly hair happen often, and I like it because I know their hair is beautiful and I want them to appreciate it. But, there is always that one comment, just the one that rubs me the wrong way.

"Boy are you sure busy! You have your hands full don't you?" And then we sit there and smile and nod and they stare at us as if they expect us to agree. And in a way, I do agree. We are busy! It's just we aren't busy in a negative way.

I try and explain it to them but I can see on their faces that my explanation is lost on them. How do I explain to them that while yes I have a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 1 year old, and yes it is loud, and crazy, and busy, it's ok? That our girls are not a burden? Not a hindrance? We enjoy them! We love them! And I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world!

We are crazy! We are busy! But it's what makes up our family! And I love it!

One Year Ago Today

2011-07-08T17:54:00.001-05:00

We met you one year ago today Xiomara. For the first time, I'm sharing publicly how God performed a miracle with your adoption. I thought it would be fitting to share on your one year anniversary in our family. I love you sweet baby girl!