It's October!!

I LOVE FALL!! It's my favorite season! I love picking apples, going to the pumpkin patch, lighting candles and pulling out sweaters and jeans. I love movie and game nights inside and coming up with fun crafts for the kids to do! I also love making homemade hot cocoa and chili and soup.

This October is a special one as well because I will be 30. Im actually looking forward to my thirties. My twenties was full of bad choices and hard times and while I dont think 30 is some magic age, Im so happy where I'm at. I have a growing relationship with Christ, a loving husband and three kids. Life is challenging, but rewarding. Im SOO looking forward to what the next decade will bring!

How bout you? What was your favorite age so far, and what age are you looking forward to?

Air

Yesterday we did an experiment in Science. We are learning about air this year.

You lay a piece of newspaper on the table and slide a ruler 1/2 way under it. You try to flick the newspaper off of the ruler. It SEEMS easy, but isnt because the air is pushing down on it.
We talked about how we are SOO used to air pushing down on us that we dont think about it.

They do this REALLY cool experiment at COSI where they stick a marshmallow into a vacuum and suck the air out. You'd think the marshmallow would get smaller, but it gets larger because the air is no longer pushing on it and like Liv says, "it feels free in there!"

Sometimes, life feels like that.. Im so used to the "pressures" of being a mom and an adult that I dont even realize they are there, pushing on me. And then I get into my vacuum - those moments when Im totally connected with God the way I SHOULD be all day, every day (Im working on it.. it's definately a process) and like Liv says "Im free in there". It doesnt fix everything or make it all magically better, but it does remind me that He (not I) is in control and that He loves me and my children and wants His best for me.... even when that means stretching me beyond where Im comfortable.

Recent Pictures

The princess turned 7 in August. She lost two front teeth in July and the adult ones are already growing in their place. She is doing 2nd grade this year at home (our 2nd year).
Big Boy turned 2 in June and is hanging out and helping with projects here at home. He loves to "cowr" (color) and "tckl" (tackle).

Tiny Tot is 7 1/2 months old now and has 4 teeth with more on the way. He is army crawling, rolling and sitting and thinks purees are for sissies (we've moved on to finger foods).

Hello!

Hello there! I know, "where have you been? is what you're thinking. Well...

We went on vacation in June and the rest of the month flew by! July brought VBS and sickness. August was spent preparing Liv for school and then switching gears to get ready to homeschool again. I honestly dont remember where Ive been this summer, but Im back.

BUT... while Im still going to post about the kids, Im also going to change directions a bit and post lots of neat homeschooling stuff on here (links and projects) as well as recipes from our new adventure. You see, starting October 1st we are going gluten and dairy free as an entire household. Dairy bugs all of the kids in some way shape or form. so that's been going or gone for awhile, but we've suspected gluten/wheat to be an issue for at least the boys and myself, so that is going too. As I learn to cook without these staples, I will share.

Im also looking forward to commenting more on your blogs!! :) I have been guilty of reading but not always commenting due to a nursing baby in my arms!

Not Me

Thank you sir(s) and maam(s)...

Thank you sir and maam. Yes, you who sat in a sand dune yesterday or in a transport vehicle or in a tent while we watched fireworks. You who didnt sleep last night due to enemy fire, while I enjoyed time with my family. You who had a barbeque with your friends and talked about life and friends who are deployed or even being deployed yourself. You who report to a base for work each day.

Yes, thank you. All of you who have pledged your allegiance to the military of this beautiful country we live in and love. Thank you for being willing to lay down your life for our freedom! Wherever you are, whatever you are doing.... my family is aware of your sacrifice and blessed by you!!

Family Constitution

Octamom is giving away a GREAT book about communication and consistency with your children!! Head over to check it out and enter to win!!

WW- Fountains

Not Me Monday

It's Monday again! Time for Not Me Monday. Head over to McMama's to play along.

Liv was picked up Friday by her dad and is spending this week with his mom. Then he has her for the weekend. I am not praying that her dad's dad doesnt call to say he'll take her Mon and Tues so she can come home Sun. (I am not missing her a TON!)

I did not let Josh play on the floor at 3am while I mindlessly watched TV because I was so tired I couldnt hold him well.

I also did not laugh when he got his foot stuck in the hole of the laundry basket while spinning himself around on the floor. Not me!

I did not shout for joy two days ago when Gabe decided all on his own that he wanted to sleep in his toddler bed! I have not been jumping for joy each day since as he takes his naps and starts his night there!!

Menu Plan Monday

I've been menu planning for awhile now, so I thought I'd play along this week! Head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie to play too.



I love menu planning! It helps me make a detailed list (and stick to it) at the grocery store and it helps us not eat out! I can plan cold meals or crock pot meals for days or nights that are busy and meals Liv wont eat for when she's at her dads.


This week we're having:



M- Chicken and Black Bean Burritos
T- Pot Roast, egg noodles, carrots
W- Cold Rice Salad
Th- Crunchy Chicken pitas
F- Tabouli, grilled pork
Sa- we're going to a Pig Roast
Su- Adventure in the Crock

What about you? What are you having this week?

My summer go-to lunch (Grilled Veggie Wraps)

When I was in college (at Kent State) they opened this great little food stop in the Student Center that sold fresh fruit and healthy drinks.They also made the best salads and wraps. One of my favorites was their grilled veggie wrap. Ive adapted it a bit, but during summer when we have lots of veggies in the fridge, I take advantage.

You will need:
-whole wheat or spinach wraps (I use whole wheat pita for the kids)
-Grilled veggies (or pan cooked if you dont want to fire up the grill). Ive used: squash, zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant, greenbeans.
-balsamic dressing
-spinach or another dark green that you like
-feta or mozzarella if you want cheese

1) grill veggies or warm up leftover ones if you have them
2) lay wrap on plate
3)put spinach or lettuce on wrap
4) pile on veggies and cheese
5) drizzle with dressing
6) wrap and eat!

For the kids I make a plate of piles: veggies with dressing/pita/cheese. They dont like it all together but eat it well seperately.

ENJOY!

Wordless Wednesday- Hats

Happy 2nd Birthday Big Boy

Dear Big Boy,

You are two now. Looking at that first picture makes me so amazed to see where you are now. You are trying to run and are learning new words each day. You are working so hard on using silverware butfeed yourself well with your hands. You still have an OT and Speech Therapist that come to the house and you continually amaze both them and me.

You love Elmo, Barney and Thomas and can play with your choo choos forever. Your other favorite toys are tinkertoys and blocks. We've spent as much time outside this year as possible and you keep up on a hike better than your sister despite your asthma. You love trucks and we took you to see them for your birthday! I have pictures so I can show you how excited you were. You are fearless and will try anything once. You scare me when it comes to swimming.

You have recently decided that yor nose is a storage space and yesterday you shoved a fry so far up there that I had to take you to urgent care.They couldnt get it out, so we had to go to an ENT today. They were able to use suction and tweezers to remove it and you were SO well behaved that EVERYONE complimented you.

I love you so much!! You love life SOOO much! You are curious and so smart. You are carefree and genuinely love people. I am so proud to be your mommy! Life has thrown you some major challenges and each time you adjust and find a way that works for you. You just keep going and keep smiling and I admire your strength!

Happy Birthday Sweet boy. Mommy cant wait to see what the next year brings.

4months and 2 years

Josh was 4 months on the 5th and Gabe will be 2 on the 19th. I took them to the dr yesterday and here are there stats.

Josh
height: 25 in (50th) he was in the 35th
weight: 15lbs, 8oz (60th) he was in the 25th
head: 17 1/2" (90th) he was in the 70th

I was telling John that we may have to come up with a new nickname for him as he's not really a
tiny tot anymore.

Gabe
Height: 35" (75th) he was in the 90th
Weight: 33lbs (90th) he was in the 100th

We are going to a dairy free diet to see if that is whats bugging him. He had a pulminology visit today and they upped his inhaler dose and he has to see a new allergist and may need to see a GI.

He's still a big boy, but is starting to thin out.

In which we talk about cooking

I LOVE to cook! I love to try new recipes (always by the book the first time and then I add my touches to it).

There are a few places I automatically go for new recipes:

Kraft foods - I dont always use the name brand products they suggest, but I love how easy most of these dinners are.

$5 dinners - I LOVE these dinner options!! Most of these have GFCF (Gluten free-casein free) options as well if you need those.

Chop.Stir.Mix - I have to admit to only trying one recipe from this site, but I just remembered it was there and will be using it soon!

I also love my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. It has a FABULOUS french toast recipe in it as well as my tried and true cookie recipes.

I will also be making this in the coming week! ANYTHING with Nutella in it and PB must be YUMMY!

What about you? Where do you go for recipes? What do you love to make?