photo shoot: liam

I took these photos f-o-r-e-v-e-r ago of my friend's new not-so-little baby.  

Remember Claire?  This is her little brother.  

Anyhow.  

I've had a hard time getting them ready.  I think I was expecting to end up with newborn-newborn pictures.  Which I've learned, really only work when the baby is under 2 weeks old.  Liam was 1 month.  And HUGE!  So my *posing* was not great.  And then the editing.  I wanted to smooth him up a little, but I'm not the best at editing and every time I pulled some out and went to work, he ended up looking like a porcelain doll.  I wanted him to have this gorgeous baby smooth skin, but realistic looking skin...I hope I struck a good balance.

  

And of course some seventies action going on...  I think I love this action so much because it naturally smooths out the skin. ;)

Love this one... Yeah, I'm big.  And I'm tough.

photo shoot: the masons

Our friends asked if I could take some family pictures of them so of course I jumped at the chance.

And yes, the pictures are all very similar...;)

And I don't know why, but my pictures don't always post very clearly.  Kind of annoying...click on them to see them clearer.

So again, let me know what you think!

tea party feature

So a couple weeks ago I came across this blog, Honey We're Home.

I was in love.

Megan has an amazing to-die-for home, a super cute little baby and she herself is of course just beautiful.

And she found my blog.  And asked if she could feature Marryn's Tea Party. 

I was ecstatic.   

So be sure to check it out.  Or at least check out her blog.  I promise, it'll become one of your favorites too. ;)

this boy...

I need a good picture of Christian.

You know, one to send my grandmas.

So I'm begging him to just stand still and look up at me.

And smile.

That's alot to ask of a two year old.

(Let alone keep his shirt clean.)

So he's standing just inside our sliding door while I'm standing just outside.

And I'm clicking away...

Did you catch that?

He slammed the screen door on me!!

Although I should've seen it coming, with that mischievous little look...

He thought he was pretty funny.

{I did too.}

So his *punishment.*

Emptying the compost.

meet frankie

Courtesy of Reganne.

Who, by the way, also has not cooperated very well in my photo attempts...

Maybe she was just trying to get *in trouble* so she could take out the compost...;)

try a new vegetable

Here's a good reason to try a new vegetable.  And another.  And another.

According to an European study, eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables may help defend against cancer.

Shocking, isn't it.

Here's some highlights from the study.

"Keep in mind that "wide variety" meant more than a banana with breakfast and a helping of peas and carrots with dinner. Think kale and spinach; berries and melons; cabbage, cauliflower and eggplant -- some 40 different fruits and vegetables in all.

But what is it about fruits and vegetables that may ward off the changes in cells that cause tumors to grow?

There probably isn't one "magic" compound in the fruits and vegetables, Bueno-de-Mesquita said, but instead many compounds that interact with each other and the body in ways that aren't yet understood.

It can be dangerous to put too much stock in any one substance, he added. A study in Finland found smokers who took the antioxidant beta carotene and vitamin E supplements actually had an increased risk of lung cancer.

Previous research has also linked fruits and vegetables with lowered risk of cancer.

[O]ther research has suggested eating a variety of vegetables can reduce the risk of other types of cancers, including colorectal, gastric, breast, oral and pharyngeal cancer and squamous cell esophageal cancer.

Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can also help prevent obesity, which is a risk factor for certain cancers, she added."

Although this particular study relates to lung cancer and we normally think *smokers*, it's important to know that smokers aren't the only ones who develop lung cancer.  One of my very dear aunts passed away a few years ago suddenly from lung cancer.

She was not a smoker.

kale salad

So in light of this article (of this post), I'd like so share with you one of our newest favorite (and super easy) recipes.

Kale Salad

Salad:

This is more an ingredient's list rather a recipe, the quantities are up to you, keep in mind that curly kale leaves make lots of volume.

Kale and/or Swiss Chard

walnuts

raisins

crumbled gorgonzola cheese or parmesan cheese shavings

Remove the tough stems from the kale and roughly chop the leaves. Do the same with the chard, leaving some of the stem. Wash and dry leaves well. Toast walnuts in a dry pan for a few minutes over low heat. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and toss it with the vinaigrette (recipe bellow).

Vinaigrette:

This recipe makes 1/2 cup of dressing, make more if needed, or store left overs in the fridge if it's too much.

1/4 cup of olive oil

1/4 cup of lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon of honey

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of pepper

1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano (optional)

Place all ingredients in a jar, close the lid and shake it well. Alternatively, whisk it with a whisk or fork in a bowl until combined.

And did my kids, in fact, eat this salad made of kale?

Well, yes and no.  {Oh, and we only used the kale...  And Marryn and I were the only one with blue cheese.} 

Marryn- Loved dressing and blue cheese.  Did not like the raisins or walnuts.
Reganne- Hated the dressing and raisins and only somewhat liked the walnuts.  

Christian- Hated the dressing, LOVED the raisins and only somewhat liked the walnuts.  

So the next night when we made it again, Reganne and Christian got a more simple salad - kale and ranch.

They ate it right up.  

{And I used parmesan this time-equally good.  But then again, I love any kind of cheese...}

So even if you don't make this recipe (which I throughly urge you to do), substitute kale in for any salad green in your favorite recipes or just eat it plain with any dressing.  It has a great mild flavor, which I personally prefer over our standby romaine.  Hoping to try it with a chard next time.

And here's a trick I've found helpful in helping kids eat their leafy greens.  Cut it up.  Cut it up small.  It's easier for them to pick up (by hand or fork) and chew.  Christian will spit out the big pieces of salad, but if they're small, he eats them no problem.  Usually.  Especially if ranch is involved. :)  Which leads me to trick numero dos.  Find a dressing they love.  But only use it sparingly.  Don't drown their salad in it, you want them to learn to love the greens, not just eat them because they're no longer recognizable.    


But I guess if it gets the greens down... :)

a couple of quick things

First of all.

One of my favorite bloggers/scrapbookers/photographers, Becky Higgins, has been doing a  photo challenge for the past few weeks.  This week was minimalist shots, using white space.  I immediately thought of a photo I took of Reganne this past winter (for a photo class no less).

So I sent it in.  And it *won*!!  Check it out here.  Yeah for me!  

Second of all.

Crop Chocolate.  Ever heard of them?  If you're a scrapbooker or crafter, this is a great site.  Deep discounted products, offered one a time.  And the deal changes throughout the day.

Anyhow.  Awhile ago they had a call for *chocolatiers*.  So I signed up.  No real talent was really required;).   And today, I finally posted my project (deadline is tomorrow).  Used a super cute kit from Echo Park called A Walk in the Park.  [Pictures are from Chuck E. Cheese.]  

You can also check it (and others) out in the gallery.

lamp re-do

Took some of this

Applied it to this

($2.00 at the Salvation Army)

To get this

To go with this

(a $7 clearance at Target)

Helpful tip: tape up everything (like the entire cord) that you don't want sprayed. 

an enchanting tea party

the invites

the decorations

the cupcakes

the treats

the little sisters

the party

We had so much fun with this party!!  I just wish I had started planning it a little earlier...

Found 11 matching teacups and saucers, the *creamer* and *sugar jar* at the Salvation Army, 1/2 off.

Found a coordinating teapot (no lid though) at Goodwill.

Little sister's tea set, clearance toys from Target a while back.

Made the tissue pom poms myself from tissue paper and floral wire from the Dollar Store.

Had the Happy Birthday banner (a Pottery Barn clearance a couple years ago).

Pink plates, cups, poka-dot napkins and table clothes from Target.  

Had pink lemonade with fresh sliced lemons and flower shaped ice cubes (Dollar Store).

Served PB&J *tea sandwiches*, strawberries, grapes, pretzels, cheese cubes and olives.

Cherry chip cupcakes with cherry frosting and pearl beads (Wilson).

The black poka-dot paper cups from Michaels.

Party gifts were cotton candy, bubble gum, more candy and bubbles, later all packaged in a clear little bag.

15 girls total (11 big, 4 little).

Made bracelets and played outside.

Enjoyed the decorating and planning...didn't do so hot with the hosting...;) 

Good thing some moms volunteered to help.

And didn't get all the photos I wanted.

In fact, ran out of time to even take the table photos, so I set it all up a couple days later to get them.  That's why my flowers are a little wilted.

And thanks to Grandma Jean, who took Christian for the whole day.

and he's 5 months

What a joy this little Kellen kid is.

Loves to chew on his feet.  Loves to chew on anything really.

Still scooting around on his back.

Rolls both ways.

Enjoys playing on his tummy.  Unlike any of the others.

Loves to sleep on his tummy.

Still sleeping next to us.  In a pack'n'play.  Outgrew the cradle about 2 months ago.  The others slept in it for about 6 months...

And sleeps throughout the night about 4 times a week.  Otherwise gets up around 4-6ish for a feeding.

No solids yet.

Not too crazy about sitting in the walker thing, but will hang out in it for a bit.

Still adores his siblings.  Mostly.

Loves attention.

And I realize that I never posted his 4 months stats...so this is what he was at a month ago...15 pounds (45%) and 27 inches (90%).

 

Turned in his cradle. Back in July....

Chewing on his feet.

With my brother Garrett.  (Crawford, Co)

With Joe's brother B.J.  (Sheridan, Wy)

With Joe's dad, Grandpa Dave.  (Sheridan, Wy)

With Joe's mom, Grandma Jean, and his sisters.  Christian was throwing a fit on the floor next to them.

and now she's six

It's so hard to comprehend.

She's 6.

Seems like just yesterday she was this itty bitty baby.

And now.

Going to school.

Reading.

Playing soccer.

Losing teeth (lost her first top tooth the day after her birthday).

Hassling her sister.

Loving her brothers.

Helping, sometimes, around the house.

And having birthday parties.

Yes, we threw her her first friend party.

More pictures to come.

our little visitor

So.  One Saturday I spent the entire day cleaning out our garage.

Yes.  It sounds like it should be a job for the man-of-the-house, but I'll be honest,

it was my mess.

And by the end of the day, I was wiped.

(I'm telling you, it was bad.)

But boy was I excited to see how clean it was.  I had even sprayed it all out with hose which left it a little, well, wet.  And then we got a nice big rain shower that night that beat down on our garage...

So when we came back home from church on Sunday just before noon, I left the garage door open to help it dry up and air out.

Seemed like a fine idea.

That is until the next morning.

It was about 7:30ish and I was dragging myself out of bed to help Marryn get ready for school.  Joey yells down that the trash truck was coming (Monday is trash day, but it usually doesn't come this early).  So I head out to my very freshly cleaned garage and find a ripped garbage bag (we usually only fill our trash half-way, but because of all the cleaning, I had filled it and when we took out our kitchen trash the night before, I just set it to the side as not to leave the trash can open {= smelly}).  But not thinking too much of it, I just gathered the trash and recycling and set it out.  

As I was walking back up our driveway, I then noticed our bag of potting soil all over.  And a bunch of boards that I had placed ever so neatly knocked over.  And what is that yellow stuff...?

Then it hit me.

Remember last night when I opened the door to throw out a diaper and I thought, hmmm, that smells funny...

And remember how around midnight I got up about three times checking on the kids, looking outside, flipping on porch lights because I kept *hearing* something...

Yep, we've got an animal.

So after taking Marryn to school, Joe came back and we started pulling things away from the walls.  It didn't take long before we found it.

Hiding under the steps that go into the house.

First thoughts.

Racoon.

So Joe gets on the phone.  Calls 3 different people. 

One says, racoons are dangerous.  Keep the kids away.  We'll call you back when we can come.

Another, after mentioning the black and white fur we can now see peeking out, says skunk.

He was right. 

And he was the first to arrive.

An hour later.

So Joe spent the morning in the garage, keeping watch over our little visitor.

When the *animal remover* came, he sprayed some stuff to knock it out and then picked it up and away they went.  Along with a check for $55. 

So no, that little guy is not dead.

Although Joey wished it was.  

And people think he's a vegan because he loves animals...ha!

But before he left, we brought Reganne and Christian out and took some pictures.

Most likely the closest we will ever be to a skunk.

We hope.

And the smell, no it didn't spray.  Just peed and pooped all under our stairs.  So gross.

But it's all clean and sanitary now, thanks to another day spent cleaning.

PS - Joe here.  Look, I didn't really want the skunk dead, but I really wasn't to happy with it...maybe just put it in one of those hamster wheels and make it run for a while.