Lunch=Delicious!

Fresh Peach slices and flax crackers with "Not Quite Tuna Salad"(soaked almonds & sunflower seeds with sesame seeds, lemon juice, onion, salt and soy sauce all grinded up with fresh celery mixed in) and Avacado slices on top...

Lauren's comment: "This is the best lunch ever"

Whats for Dinner????

We are eating ALL raw this week. I am tired of feeling tired and want to loose my last pounds from Sawyer (I shouldnt really say from Sawyer, they are my Mommy Love Pounds that remind every day of how wonderful he is and I would take them any day to have Sweet Sawyer!) Anyways...I am ready to lose them and after much research, Raw is the way to go...to feel better, have more energy and loose the pounds.

Here is what we had for dinner last night.....Flax crackers I made in the dehydrator with the most yummy and delicious "Pinenut Cheese spread", Banana slices with raw cashew "frosting", and Watermelon.

So we are doing it this week. The kids are going along with it so far and I feel great! I just feel more clean and clear, if that makes any sense!

And a smiling face full of food to show that it really is good!

I love my boys!

Grandma Sue is coming.....

We are all excited over here at our house! Grandma Sue is coming in about 6 weeks and we cant wait! The kids are beyond excited and are looking forward to having her come visit. We have lots to do when she is here....and its all play!

Sad to see them go....

We were lucky to have John and Angi here this weekend again(actually Angi only for about 16 hrs). I love to see them. Angi is one of my most favorite people in this world. I talk to her either on the phone or the computer pretty much every day! She always makes me feel better when I am having a bad day. She gives me much strength when I am having a hard time.

They have had their fair share of trials, especially right now. They are driving back to Utah to be with their daughter Nicole who was in a fire and burned pretty badly 2 weeks ago. We pray for them every day and love them and hope they have a good drive back and have much strength and comfort as they go to be with Nicole!

We love you guys!

Need some spice in your life???

What happens when I take 10 minutes and talk to my sister-in-law, Angi, on the computer......

I told Isabelle that wasnt nice and is wasting our food and that these are my things to make food with...Her reply was "I was just making food for you Mom, now I am going to go watch a movie"

Smile

The Center Of Attention!

A daily occurrence in our house...Sawyer is definately not in need of more attention!

Uncle John and Auntie Angi

Ladds brother John and his wife Angi live about 2 1/2 hrs away in Wichita. We have seen them more in the last 9 months than we have for the past 11 years. We LOVE it when they come to visit us and we always have so much fun. I think Isabelle gets the most excited when they come. One time they were going to come visit and then weren't and she just lost it, cried and pouted...so they ended up coming...Uncle John is a sucker for her!

We love you guys!

Cute Miles and His Dad

Top 5 Things You Find In The Dryer When You Have a 6 Year Old Boy....

1. 9 volt batteries
2. Pennies/Nickels/Dimes/Quarters
3. Screws
4. Legos
5. Nails

I love him!

Ladd

Happy Fathers Day to my wonderful husband! You are the best dad our kids could have...oh how they love you and look forward to you coming home every day and you looking forward to playing with them every night!

You are such a wonderful father and I feel so blessed that my children have the father they do!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

And Happy Fathers Day to my own father who I love and miss so much! I wish I could call you on the phone today and wish you a Happy Father's Day!

Just gonna turn my head the other way!

I joke about just needing to "turn my head the other way and pray lots" to survive Motherhood with Miles. I went outside this morning where he was playing with his friends riding bikes and heard him say "You guys want to see me do a cool trick" and then I saw him doing this.....Of course I had to tell him to do it one more time so I could take a picture and then NEVER do it again....until he is older...but then Ladd came down the stairs and saw him doing it and said to him "Miles, thats awesome!" Thanks for the help dad!

Chicken Rice Salad

Sorry I didnt get this posted yesterday....4 kids can change your plans quite easily and more often than I think! :)

I dont have an actual recipe so I am doing my best to give you measurements...

3-4 cups cooked rice ( I use brown rice and you can also use white rice or chicken flavored Rice A Roni)
1 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup raisins
1 can crushed pineapple(add a little bit of the juice)
1 can mandarin oranges
1/2 cup sliced or chopped toasted almonds
Diced cooked chicken....I usually do about 6-7 chicken tenders
1/2 cup thawed frozen peas (you can either cook these barely or put them in hot water till they are thawed)
1/2-3/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup Yoshida Gourmet Sauce
1/4-1/2 tsp dried parsley

Put everything in a bowl except for the oranges, mayo and yoshida and mix well(the oranges break up too easily so I add them last) Add the mayo and yoshida. Mix well. Add the oranges and mix gently. This is good if you use hot rice so it is a little warm and it is good too after it has been chilled in the fridge. With the mayo...you need enough to make it wet and not dry, but you dont want it runny. You may need to add less or more.

Again, this is all estimations. I dont have a picture, I plan on making it next week. So I will post one then. Enjoy!

P.S. This is great for Relief Society Gatherings......

Nothing to Post about....so I am just blabbing....

I dont have anything blog worthy right now....other than my kids are crazy and happy and I love them so much!

Today we had this crazy storm. It was 65 out and we went to Walmart (btw...as much as I hate to admit it, I love Walmart!) I could hear the rain and LOUD thunder when we were inside. I was not looking forward to the time for the shopping to be done and make the brave run to the car. Sawyer was in the baby wrap, Isabelle in the cart and Miles and Lauren gearing up to run to the car. Now I grew up in Washington and lived there for the past 6 years...I am use to rain and have seen all kinds of rain. But this was CRAZY rain..going sideways and couldnt see in front of me it was raining so hard. Poor Sawyer didnt know what he was about to encounter and by the time we got to the car...a mere 30 seconds of running in the parking lot with 2 inches of rain on the ground, Sawyer was screaming, Isabelle was crying and saying she was scared and then Miles started crying because he felt bad and was worried about Sawyer. We were all soaking wet......like we just took a shower in our clothes wet. I then had to get the groceries in the car. a few minutes later, My hair needed a towel. We survived our parking lot adventure....and enjoyed the car ride home in crazy rain and LOUD LOUD LOUD thunder and lightening.

I have decided to name this state the land of crazy storms(the other day their were reports of grapefruit size hail in a neighborhing city.....whatever I said...but I guess it is true and the poor people in this town have lots of damage)! I am just glad the tornado sirens have not gone off yet. I think I might pee my pants when they go off for real...if they ever do!

Anyways...Sawyer started laughing a few weeks ago and now laughs on his own with just looking at me...maybe I am funny looking to him...who knows. But I have decided life is just magical when your baby laughs! It brings happiness to my soul!

Thats it for now.

Oh yeah...I will get my recipe to you later today....I am going to post my Moms "Rice Chicken Salad" Y.U.M.M.Y!!!!

Brothers

The latest of Sawyer

Soccer

I have a problem....

Summer is officially here in Kansas...as of last Friday. We live on a culdesac with about 15 other kids, and they all play together all day long.

Here is my problem....Miles, will play outside All. Day. Long. if I let him. Seriously, I would not see this kid from 9 in the morning till 9 at night. and he would go without eating if I didnt call him in to eat.

We live in a VERY safe neighborhood...but where do I draw the line with him having a FUN, carefree, life is good, summer with friends outside....a summer I think every child should have and a summer with chores and so on. Do I let him play outside all day, do I make him come in and be with his family for part of the day, where do I draw the line....is it bad to just let him play outside all day long???? Do I make him do more chores since he is home more and time allows? Does he need my guidance as his mom and should be home for part of the day? I know I am blabbing. I need help.

Let me know what your "summer" rules are.

What do you all think?

Monday Recipe Day - The BEST Artisan Bread..and easiest!

This is the easiest bread recipe......and the yumiest. You know Costco's "Artisan Bread"??? Well, this is better!

3 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp yeast
1 TBSP sugar
1 1/2 cup water

I used my mixer, but you could also do this by hand with a wooden spoon.

In a bowl or mixer, mix dry ingredients and then add the water, mix until everything is sticky and wet.

Put dough in a greased bowl and cover it with saran wrap or lid. Let it sit for ATLEAST 12 hours.

After 12 or more hours.....

Preheat oven to 450. Dump out dough on floured surface. Pat it down flat to about 3/4" thick. Fold over sides to middle and do again to form a round ball. Place in greased round baking dish (I used a 3" tall round pirex dish") Cover with foil, I sprayed my foil with pam incase the bread touched the foil.

Bake for 20 minutes covered with foil. Uncover and bake for another 10-15 minutes depending on how golden/brown you want it. I cook mine for an additional 10 minutes. Experiment with it.

Enjoy!

Last Week of School

It was a very busy week with end of the school year activities. Today was Laurens last day of school, Miles was Wednesday.

Miles had a "Dash to First Grade" on Wednesday. All the kids made a cardboard car and they walked around the play ground in it and then went to the first grade classrooms and met the teachers there and saw the classrooms. Then we ended with a bbq.


I am so so so grateful for this amazing school Lauren and Miles got to go to this year. I heard amazing things about the school, and they are all true...from the teachers, activities, fieldtrips and the Principal...he is amazing! It has been a wonderful school year....but I have to admit, I am ready for a break and some relaxed mornings! Although, I am not ready for the heat this summer will bring. I thought I was going to die today and my neighbors were laughing at me telling me this 82 degrees with 60% humidity is nothing and to just wait for July! Great! I am grateful for AC that is for sure.

ok, back to the pictures......

Here is Lauren and her most amazing teacher! Every child should be blessed to have a teacher like her! Nothing but praise for Mrs. Newman! Lauren came home happy every day from school because she loved being in this class with her every day and loved how she taught and explained things!



I decided we were going to celebrate the end of the school year today....a new "family tradition"

It started by me making these mini hamburgers from scratch....holy moly these were a lot of work!

We had a picnic outside.....

I found this recipe for homemade doughnuts....um... a lot of work again...but so worth it!
Yummy!!!!
This is where they are all at right now...except for me and Sawyer
I am pooped....they are all watching a movie in our tent outside, having a daddy/daughter/son date/sleep outside night! (while I am inside watching a movie snuggling with Sawyer on a comfy couch!)


And here is Sawyer for the evening, happy to have his mom to himself!

Congrats Lauren and Miles for finishing an awesome year of school!
I love you both!!!!

The Bread Picture

I found my memory card....here is the picture of bread....see previous post!

I forgot about Monday Recipe Days....

Ok....so I totally blew it with my new cool idea of posting my favorite recipes every Monday. So here is to Tuesday, my recipe day for this week.

I decided to post my favorite bread recipe...it is without fail always moist, light and fluffy. This is a very easy and simple recipe and I actually make bread 2-3x a week and this is my kids favorite recipe (And Ladds)

2 cups hot water
4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup brown sugar (you can use honey, but I think it makes the bread more dry)
1 TB salt
1 1/2 TB yeast

In a mixer, or by hand in a large bowl, put the water, oil, sugar and salt in and mix well. Add the 4 cups of wheat flour and yeast to water (And I do add the yeast directly in the bowl with flour, I dont put in a separate bowl and wait for it to rise.) Mix well. Add the 1 cup of white flour (I actually do all wheat instead of one cup of white) . Mix this well. The dough should not be sticky but shouldnt be dry either. I then knead in my mixer for 10 minutes. Cover and let it rise double in the bowl. Punch it down and cut into two pieces. Roll the dough out flat and roll it into a loaf shape. I put them in glass pirex loaf pans. Cover with a cloth and let rise till just above the glass and cook at 350 for 33 minutes.

If you are looking for a good mixer...go with the Bosch...it is AWESOME!

Let me know how it turns out for you.

BTW....I took a picture this morning of my bread I made last night....and took my memory card out of my camera to dowload the picture....somewhere it got lost between trying to get to the computer, changing diapers, making breakfast, and feeding Sawyer. Not sure where, but when I find it, I will post a pic of what the bread looks like!

Have fun!

My Girl

Outside this evening.....