Family Photo Shoot

A HUGE thanks to my cousin Ross and his wife Katy for taking some

family pictures for us last week! We wanted to capture baby #3 in the

womb before she joins our family on October 19th!

I would have to say that I have quite the darling little girls...

and the world's best daddy for them.

How cute is that face? She makes it every day...how lucky am I?

Leah's Kitchen Creations

OK folks, I've heard your requests and am taking action by posting some of

my simple (re-creatable) Kitchen Creations.

What this means is from time to time I will post some of the meals

we eat in our home.

I was extremely fortunate to grow up in a home where my mother understood the significant importance of not only very healthy eating habits, but also of having regular (like every day) sit down family meals. There is a slew of research out which proves that regular family meal time will positively contribute to your child's development in a number of ways and also strengthen family bonds.

Here are few idea's:

To jazz up the thought of eating a salad for dinner just cut up lots of colorful veggies.

Offer nuts, craisins or bacon bits as toppings along with a selection of dressings.

A Weekday Lunch:

I enjoy my simple & satisfying lunches.

Above is a is a Leah regular; fresh fruit with yogurt and lots of nuts!

Avery absolutely LOVES beans so often that is what she eats for protein.

Often her lunch plate looks similar to the one above with various veggies, fruits

and some type of protein.

Simple Stir-Fry:

Cut up any veggies on hand, saute them for a few minutes (not too long)

and add stir-fry sauce (sometimes I make my own, but the store bought is quite tasty too). You can also add any type of meat for protein.

Serve with a little rice, cheese and some crushed pineapple.

A few thoughts on my philosophy of healthy eating:

*I DON"T agree with the idea of a DIET unless you are using that word describe what

you always eat. A DIET means that at some point you still STOP eating that way.

*I DON'T agree with making food a complicated issue that requires much thought or difficulty.

* I DO agree with avoiding most food in the middle section of the grocery stores and hitting the perimeter meaning dairy, protein and lots and lots of colorful produce.

*I DO agree that overall health requires a combination of healthy eating habits AND regular cardio and strength training exercise.

Apple Picking

This picture says it all...we had a GREAT time picking apples last Saturday

with our friends the Johnsons!

Brinley proudly donned her OSU Football dress appropriate for game day. In fact, Daddy was given tickets to the game from one of his attendings. Before we hit the orchards he and Drew Johnson went to the game together.

Finding the perfect apple high up apple required a little assistance.

Success is sweet!

The girls LOVE Paige, Carter & Ella Johnson and so do we! We actually first became friends with the Johnson's years back when we started medical school in Kirksville ( before all of our lovely children came) , they were a year ahead of us. Now Drew is a senior ER resident!

We headed home with these beauties.

I made some delicious apple crisp that night for dessert!

Economy Crisis...Life is Still Wonderful

As political campaigns unfold, large companies declare bankruptcy, homes foreclose

and wind gusts beat our local homes, schools and businesses I sit and ponder...

and think some more...about what true happiness means in my life,

the things that I live for.

My life is simple and I love it that way. I feel as if the days and years of full time mothering have softened me and continually teach me priceless, wondrous and yet simple

life lessons which I come to value and treasure more each day.

What now fills my soul with delight has changed so much from 5 years ago.

Hidden in the quiet & peaceful or sometimes screaming chaotic moments of each day

I have come to recognize and embrace experiences that I treasure.

"Golden moments" as my mom would say.

In my simple life I have lots of "golden moments" every single day. Lucky me.

Times when I feel so complete, so thankful,

so captivated by what I am experiencing.

Then I sit and I think about those precious moments and realize that

this is what life is all about.

Observing Brinley patiently teaching Avery a new concept.

Tickling my girls' tummies and thinking about how they were once connected to me

by those cute little belly buttons.

Listening to Avery's tender and oh so very cute vocabulary.

Today I was even privileged to be serenaded by her on the entire

25 minute drive to the Zoo!

Sitting beside Brinley as she discovers reading and writing.

Receiving hugs and kisses each day with a sweet little "I love you mommy."

Bowing our heads at night in family prayer while our girls take turns expressing thanks and asking for blessings from our Heavenly Father and then embracing in a family

hug followed by our family kiss.

What is the secret to life? I don't know. What I do know is that I love my life.

I love being a full time mother. I love being a wife and

I love my days filled with many golden moments.

In a few short weeks we add another miracle to our lives.

What a HUGE golden moment that will be!

Weekend Recap

Friday = Mommy represents Stampin' Up at the annual
Country Living Magazine Fair.

When we arrived on Thursday night the tent looked like this...bare with loads of boxes shipped from Stampin' Up headquarters in Riverton, UT.

Daddy helped me set up the make & take card tables and figure out the tent. Early Friday morning I headed out (after dropping the girls off at 2 different friends homes) in the pouring rain to finish setting up the displays with the help of another local demonstrator. Our day at the fair was consumed with assisting eager women create cards, hand out various pamphlets and answer lots of Stampin' Up questions. Look for our 21 page spread offering a special promotional Stampin' kit in the December issue of the Country Living Magazine!

Saturday AM = Brinley (actually the whole family) participated in her very first

Walk-A-Thon to raise money for her elementary school!

We all started off on the first few laps together in the 85 degree weather with 12394873987972% humidity. On lap 5 Rachel, Brinley's friend, arrived which helped to perk Brinley right up as you can see. They happily skipped off together for another several laps while Daddy managed Avery around the track and Mommy attempted to stay in the 2 feet of shade available under a small tree.

After 90 minutes of walking we suggested to our red faced sweaty child that she retrieve her prize and we head home...but alas, she wanted to continue on and eventually completed walking 11 laps equaling 4 miles!

Thank you SO much to those who sponsored Brinley for this fund raising event!

(Avery's favorite part of the event was repeatedly hugging the Chick-Fillet cow. She absolutely adores any large costumed animal)

Saturday PM = Group date night kid swap.

We entertained 9 kiddos at our home and they were actually terrific...or perhaps it was my wonderful husband who played with them the entire night that was so terrific.


The evening included:

Hot potato

Duck, duck goose

Lots of jumping on the tramp and swinging outside

Dinner

A coloring contest

(Daddy entertaining the babies downstairs while the big girls took their sweet time coloring)

Dress-ups and dancing

Colored marshmallows and PJ's

Sunday this moment= Mommy wishes Daddy did not have to work for the 6th weekend in a row while Avery takes her nap and Brinley complains about having to endure a quiet time.