June 2011
June 2010
June 2009
This Mom Loves warm Summer nights on the front steps.
June 30, 2011
June 29, 2011
What Summer means to me
Because I worked hard getting my chores done last night and today I had the night to do as I pleased. That meant playing around in the kitchen. I made a batch of Strawberry Cupcakes (subbing honey in place of the agave nectar). They're pretty good but not the strawberry shortcake that I realy wanted. I also made a pot of Strawberry-Rhubarb Applesause with a recipe from our CSA newsletter. Yum, yum, extra yum. Again, I subbed honey in place of the sugar and doubled the batch. Next time I'll make even more. Wow this is good.
All these strawberries and sunny days have me thinking about what Summer means to me.
Fouth of July on the water (Lake Neshonic or at Barb and Dan's in Algonac)
tending the garden
putting up food
reading Blueberries for Sal over and over and over...
clear, starry skies
memories of "camping out" in Lake Delton
kids in the sprinkler
strawberries!
staying up too late
my kids covered in dirt and popsicle stains
Friday night farmers' market
the sound of lawnmowers humming
and speaking of humming...hummingbirds, finches, robins, cardinals, and bluebirds in my yard
the smell of campfire
the hubby grilling out
swimming lessons
eating salads everyday
bare feet
crickets at night
sun tea in mason jars
picnics
sunhats and sundresses
sidewalk chalk
All these strawberries and sunny days have me thinking about what Summer means to me.
Fouth of July on the water (Lake Neshonic or at Barb and Dan's in Algonac)
tending the garden
putting up food
reading Blueberries for Sal over and over and over...
clear, starry skies
memories of "camping out" in Lake Delton
kids in the sprinkler
strawberries!
staying up too late
my kids covered in dirt and popsicle stains
Friday night farmers' market
the sound of lawnmowers humming
and speaking of humming...hummingbirds, finches, robins, cardinals, and bluebirds in my yard
the smell of campfire
the hubby grilling out
swimming lessons
eating salads everyday
bare feet
crickets at night
sun tea in mason jars
picnics
sunhats and sundresses
sidewalk chalk
June 25, 2011
sick baby
My little one is sick. I think she has hand, foot and mouth disease. She's got little red spots on her hands, feet and even on the inside of her mouth now. She's had a nasty fever and been really grumpy all day. Poor dear.
I got in a nap today in case Junior is up all night. Of course I hope that she is not. I really hope that she gets a good nights sleep and feels better soon. This Mom Loves my littlest one.
I got in a nap today in case Junior is up all night. Of course I hope that she is not. I really hope that she gets a good nights sleep and feels better soon. This Mom Loves my littlest one.
June 24, 2011
CSA box 2
asparagus (not pictured = already in my belly)
green garlic
kale
leeks
lettuce
napa cabbage
green onions
radishes
rhubarb
tarragon
We did a great job of eating up or putting up everything in our box from last week except the sunchokes. I just can't get into them. This week's challege will be to get the kale eaten. I'm really not a big fan of kale; it tastes too much like iron to me. I know it's really one of best things I can put in my body so I'll give it another try. I think I'm going to try it in a quiche with sun dried tomatoes. *crossing fingers* I want to like kale, I want to like kale, I want to like kale. This Mom Loves getting fresh veggies every week. This week we had to pick up our box but still got a chance to visit with our farmer. The kids just love her and I love that she shows them so much attention. It just makes this experience even better.
{this moment}
{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
June 21, 2011
Midsummer night's garden
mint
carrots
buttercrunch lettuce and green onions
green beans
sugar snap peas and sungold tomato
brandywine and roma tomatoes
my Midsummer garden
This Mom Loves her garden.
June 20, 2011
rainy day
I was so tired this morning that I gave in and let the kiddos watch The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh or as Junior calls it "Pooh story! Pooh story!" After sitting for too long I loaded the kids into the car and we went out to the park in our rain gear. We played at the park until we heard thunder. We ate our snack in the car and heading home to make lunch. Lunch was salad greens and radishes from our CSA, parsley from the garden, nitrate-free oven roasted chicken, and homemade vinaigrette. Junior was too tired to eat and I put her right down for nap. Magoo was too sassy to eat anything but a little chicken and she was hungry most of the afternoon. She and I snuggled on the couch and I read her four chapters from On the Banks of Plum Creek. The afternoon was a quiet one. After Junior got up from her nap we did a little Yoga for Families. I popped in and out of the action as I worked on getting soup made for dinner. Soup was a huge hit with the girls. Bedtime was not too bad either although Junior is still working on climbing out of the bed. I put a toddler mattress on the floor by the crib just in case. Anyway it was a pretty good rainy day. We managed to keep busy and there were no big problems. Tomorrow should be more of the same. Rain, rain, rain. We'll have play group in the morning and if it's not too rainy and we're ready early enough, we'll spend some time at the park before play group. *Yawn* I'm worn out. This Mom Loves the kind of tired I feel from a good day. I'm off to bed.
June 19, 2011
Happy Fathers' Day
We all wished Papa a Happy Fathers' Day this morning and I get to work on set for Summer theater with my dad for Fathers' Day. We even got to spend a bonus Fathers' Day morning with the hubby today. This Mom Loves our dads.
June 18, 2011
Our fathers' day
We celebrated Fathers' Day here today because the hubby was supposed to leave for Seattle early tomorrow. As it turns out he'll get to stick around and have breakfast with us before he leaves. Lucky us!
The girls and I let him sleep in while we set the table, put out the card and the gifts, and went to get him a special coffee. When we got back we fixed a big breakfast of eggs, sausage, coconut pancakes, and strawberries. Yum. The kids and Dad played outside while I did dishes and laundry. After a snack Magoo and Dad went out to the track for a CrossFit workout. Magoo actually completed half of it! Junior and I settled in for a nap. How lucky am I? When I woke Magoo was out playing in the sprinkler and when Junior woke we packed up the fam and went out to the splash park for an hour. The girls had so much fun and the hubby and I just relaxed. Dad hauled out the grill when we got home. The kids played in the yard while he prepped the grill and I prepped the food. A half-hour later we were devouring grass-fed rib eyes, roasted sweet potatoes and onions, and a big green salad with olives. Extra yum.
Magoo went right to sleep tonight. Junior on the other hand was not interested in falling asleep. She instead wanted to master climbing out of the crib. She didn't quite get it yet but I had to intervene. I let her get out of bed and I read her story after story until she was so tired that she nursed to sleep.
Today was really quite fantastic. I hope the hubby thought so too. This Mom Loves the father of her children.
He makes me laugh.
He let me nap on Fathers' day.
He reads the parenting books.
Although he works away from home he is really involved with the kids when he is home.
He grills a great steak.
He can fix my computer, mow the yard, get the oil changed in the car and he doesn't complain.
He is always entertaining when he gives the girls their bath.
He'll get up in the middle of the night to snuggle a girl if she needs it.
He does the dishes.
He got me and the girls converted to Paleo.
He's smart and charming and handsome.
And I love him so much.
with Magoo
with Junior
The girls and I let him sleep in while we set the table, put out the card and the gifts, and went to get him a special coffee. When we got back we fixed a big breakfast of eggs, sausage, coconut pancakes, and strawberries. Yum. The kids and Dad played outside while I did dishes and laundry. After a snack Magoo and Dad went out to the track for a CrossFit workout. Magoo actually completed half of it! Junior and I settled in for a nap. How lucky am I? When I woke Magoo was out playing in the sprinkler and when Junior woke we packed up the fam and went out to the splash park for an hour. The girls had so much fun and the hubby and I just relaxed. Dad hauled out the grill when we got home. The kids played in the yard while he prepped the grill and I prepped the food. A half-hour later we were devouring grass-fed rib eyes, roasted sweet potatoes and onions, and a big green salad with olives. Extra yum.
Magoo went right to sleep tonight. Junior on the other hand was not interested in falling asleep. She instead wanted to master climbing out of the crib. She didn't quite get it yet but I had to intervene. I let her get out of bed and I read her story after story until she was so tired that she nursed to sleep.
Today was really quite fantastic. I hope the hubby thought so too. This Mom Loves the father of her children.
He makes me laugh.
He let me nap on Fathers' day.
He reads the parenting books.
Although he works away from home he is really involved with the kids when he is home.
He grills a great steak.
He can fix my computer, mow the yard, get the oil changed in the car and he doesn't complain.
He is always entertaining when he gives the girls their bath.
He'll get up in the middle of the night to snuggle a girl if she needs it.
He does the dishes.
He got me and the girls converted to Paleo.
He's smart and charming and handsome.
And I love him so much.
with Magoo
with Junior
June 17, 2011
CSA box 1
asparagus
bok choy
green garlic
leeks
lettuce
green onion
radishes
rhubarb
sunchokes(Jerusalem Artichoke)
sage
Sungold tomato plant
I got the whole box cleaned and prepped last night and the tomato in the ground and mulched. This Mom Loves fresh, local, organic vegetables.
{this moment}
{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
June 15, 2011
The Whole 30 revisited
Today I had a friend comment on how good I look. She's been working really hard running and doing a boot camp. She asked what my secret is. I told her that The Whole 30 changed my life. In January I started eating Paleo and then lapsed back into eating dairy shortly there after. By the end of April I was ready to be done with grains, dairy and legumes for good. I was terribly addicted to sugar in fact last year I was even seeing a counselor for awhile to get to the root of my overeating. I since have read so much about sugar being just as addictive as drugs. I just had to break the habit. I started The Whole 30 and have never felt better. Here's what it looks like:
So after looking into the program herself my friend is on board. I decided to come along for the ride too. I've had this love affair with Ciao Bella Sorbet lately. Of course it's really just all sugar. I was thinking just the other day that I should cut all sweets again just to clear my palate. This is a good opportunity for me. This Mom Loves eating Paleo. I love how I feel eating this way and I love to tell everyone about it because I think everyone should feel this great. So tomorrow starts round two of The Whole 30 and it will end on my birthday. Happy birthday to me.
The Whole30 Program, As Outlined
Eat real food – meat, fish, eggs, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats. Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re natural and unprocessed.
More importantly, here’s what NOT to eat during the duration of your Whole30 program. Omitting all of these foods and beverages will help you regain your healthy metabolism, reduce systemic inflammation, and help you discover how these foods are truly impacting your health, fitness and quality of life.
Do not consume added sugar of any kind, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, xylitol, stevia, etc. Read your labels, because companies sneak sugar into products in all kinds of ways.
Do not eat processed foods. This includes protein shakes, pre-packaged snacks/meals, protein bars, milk substitutes, etc.
Do not drink alcohol, in any form.
Do not eat grains. This includes (but is not limited to) wheat, rye, barley, millet, oats, corn, rice, sprouted grains and all of those gluten-free pseudo-grains like quinoa. (Yes, we said corn!) This also includes all the ways we add wheat, corn and rice into our foods in the form of bran, germ, starch and so on. Again, read your labels.
Do not eat legumes. This includes beans (black, kidney, lima, etc.), peas, lentils, and peanuts or peanut butter. This also includes all forms of soy – soy sauce, miso, tofu, tempeh, edamame, and all the ways we sneak soy into foods (like lecithin).
Do not eat dairy. This includes all cow, goat or sheep’s milk, cream, butter, cheese, yogurt, whey, ice cream, etc.
Do not eat white potatoes. It’s arbitrary, but they are carbohydrate-dense and nutrient poor, and also a nightshade.
Most importantly… do not try to shove your old, unhealthy diet into a shiny new Whole30 mold. This means no “Paleo-fying” less-than-healthy recipes – no “Paleo” pancakes, “Paleo” pizza, “Paleo” fudge or “Paleo” ice cream. Don’t mimic poor food choices during your Whole30 program!
So after looking into the program herself my friend is on board. I decided to come along for the ride too. I've had this love affair with Ciao Bella Sorbet lately. Of course it's really just all sugar. I was thinking just the other day that I should cut all sweets again just to clear my palate. This is a good opportunity for me. This Mom Loves eating Paleo. I love how I feel eating this way and I love to tell everyone about it because I think everyone should feel this great. So tomorrow starts round two of The Whole 30 and it will end on my birthday. Happy birthday to me.
two delicious grain-free banana bread treats
Grain-free Banana Bread Muffins
3 cups blanched almond flour
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup pure olive oil
2 Tbsp raw honey
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. In another bowl, blend oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla. Stir wet ingredients into the flour mixture until combined. Fold in the bananas and walnuts. Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups.
Bake for 18-22 minutes, until the muffin tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan and then serve.
Grain-free Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
3 cups blanched almond flour
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup pure olive oil
1/4 cup raw honey
3 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate (I used Equal Exchange Organic Panama Extra Dark Chocolate - 80% Cacao)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, and baking soda. In another bowl, blend oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla. Stir wet ingredients into the flour mixture until combined. Fold in the bananas, chocolate, and walnuts (if using). Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups.
Bake for 18-22 minutes, until the muffin tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan and then serve.
This Mom Loves making really good food for the family.
3 cups blanched almond flour
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup pure olive oil
2 Tbsp raw honey
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. In another bowl, blend oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla. Stir wet ingredients into the flour mixture until combined. Fold in the bananas and walnuts. Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups.
Bake for 18-22 minutes, until the muffin tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan and then serve.
Grain-free Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
3 cups blanched almond flour
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup pure olive oil
1/4 cup raw honey
3 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate (I used Equal Exchange Organic Panama Extra Dark Chocolate - 80% Cacao)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, and baking soda. In another bowl, blend oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla. Stir wet ingredients into the flour mixture until combined. Fold in the bananas, chocolate, and walnuts (if using). Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups.
Bake for 18-22 minutes, until the muffin tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan and then serve.
This Mom Loves making really good food for the family.
June 14, 2011
what's in a name?
I promised to share a recipe for grain-free banana muffins. I'll get to that this week. I've really been under some stress lately. We're looking into finding/ruling out a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder for Magoo. It was hard to ask for help. Somewhere deep inside it feels like I've failed her. I want so desperately to improve my communication with her that after help from The Parenting Place and school and countless books, articles and classes I'm finally seeking medical advise. Well, actually we did last fall just before she started school. Her pediatrician said, "She's just smart. Smart people are weird." He indicated that she likely has a genius IQ. This settled my worries for awhile. The last few months have really been hard on us though. She's more aggressive, more defiant, and I'm really worried that she'll get hurt or end up hurting someone else. *sigh*
I had a phone interview today with a lady from Child Development Services. I gave her detailed information about what I see in Magoo and what I'd like to accomplish with the assessment. She said that she'd take that information and the information from the forms we'd filled out this weekend and have Magoo "staffed." That means they'll figure out who can help her most and how. *sigh* Now I feel like I'm waiting for scary test results. I don't really know what to think. I'm really just nervous. We talked a little bit at playgroup today about labeling children and how that is something they really can never shake. I question whether or not I've made the right decision...
I love her so much. She's still the same spirited little girl with or without a medical label. I'm just hoping that it will give me more insight with which to raise her. My goal as a mother is not just that my children survive to tell the tale but that they truly thrive as people. I'm hoping that this assessment will point me in the right direction and give me some tools to really help my eldest thrive. This Mom Loves Magoo. I love her, I love her, I love her.
I had a phone interview today with a lady from Child Development Services. I gave her detailed information about what I see in Magoo and what I'd like to accomplish with the assessment. She said that she'd take that information and the information from the forms we'd filled out this weekend and have Magoo "staffed." That means they'll figure out who can help her most and how. *sigh* Now I feel like I'm waiting for scary test results. I don't really know what to think. I'm really just nervous. We talked a little bit at playgroup today about labeling children and how that is something they really can never shake. I question whether or not I've made the right decision...
I love her so much. She's still the same spirited little girl with or without a medical label. I'm just hoping that it will give me more insight with which to raise her. My goal as a mother is not just that my children survive to tell the tale but that they truly thrive as people. I'm hoping that this assessment will point me in the right direction and give me some tools to really help my eldest thrive. This Mom Loves Magoo. I love her, I love her, I love her.
June 10, 2011
{this moment}
{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
June 6, 2011
June 5, 2011
Summer School
So tomorrow starts our Summer homeschooling. The goal is to keep Magoo's schedule as similar to that during school as possible. We'll start the day with a walk and some outside play. We'll come in for a snack and a few chores. Then back outside before lunch. Oh how I'm hoping that quiet time really works out during Summer break. I'm thinking that I'll be reading Magoo a chapter or two from our Little House books while Junior naps. We'll probably spend plenty of time outside in the garden or in the sprinkler in our hours before dinner. I'm still working on a regular meal plan to get more rhythm in our week. I'll put Junior to work setting napkins at the table and Magoo can help me make salad, wash the table, and take the compost out. After dinner we clean-up, bathe, and do stories.
I intend to get a rhythm chart made to help Magoo see our day and our week in pictures. Here's what the school's rhythm looks like:
Monday - water
Tuesday - bake
Wednesday - paint
Thursday - craft
Friday - park
Ours will be as close as possible to this. Throw in Tuesday play group and Friday farmers' market and our weekly schedule's just about set.
*sigh* This Mom Loves a good plan. Now I'm off to snuggle a little girl who isn't sleeping well. We'll see if tomorrow goes as planned. I think getting pretty close will be a success.
I intend to get a rhythm chart made to help Magoo see our day and our week in pictures. Here's what the school's rhythm looks like:
Monday - water
Tuesday - bake
Wednesday - paint
Thursday - craft
Friday - park
Ours will be as close as possible to this. Throw in Tuesday play group and Friday farmers' market and our weekly schedule's just about set.
*sigh* This Mom Loves a good plan. Now I'm off to snuggle a little girl who isn't sleeping well. We'll see if tomorrow goes as planned. I think getting pretty close will be a success.
June 4, 2011
time for me
I'm tired and emotionally spent. I take my job as a mom very seriously and that means putting my kids first, reading up on parenting in my "spare" time, preparing nutritious food for the family, and nursing my little one through the night. Junior hasn't been sleeping well. Maybe she's getting her 2 year molars. I don't know but I've been up a lot with her the past couple of weeks and it's really starting to take it's toll. Magoo is going through a serious developmental stage of some sort. We are seriously thinking that she has Oppositional Defiant Disorder and are looking into getting some help for her (and us). Yesterday was her last day of school for the year so we're dealing with that transition as well. I'm hoping that a care-free summer with a good rhythm but not too many activities will help us all. I think I need to spend a lot of time bonding with my Magoo this summer break. I really need our relationship to improve. *sigh*
All that being said, I really need to start taking some time for myself again. I'd like to cancel the cable TV so it isn't a distraction. Then I can spend the spare time I do have on relaxing things like gardening, embroidery, writing, or reading a book about anything but parenting or child development. I'm going to call and schedule a massage for my birthday next month and I'm going to finally make an appointment to see the eye doctor so I can get new glasses. When my sister lived nearer to me we used to do a girls night out at a different restaurant each month. Maybe I should start that up again. I could maybe even plan it for when my Lisa will be in town. *grin* I'm also making it a priority to get back to the gym. The exercise and adult time would do me a world of good.
This Mom Loves her family. I really want to right by them by taking care of me.
All that being said, I really need to start taking some time for myself again. I'd like to cancel the cable TV so it isn't a distraction. Then I can spend the spare time I do have on relaxing things like gardening, embroidery, writing, or reading a book about anything but parenting or child development. I'm going to call and schedule a massage for my birthday next month and I'm going to finally make an appointment to see the eye doctor so I can get new glasses. When my sister lived nearer to me we used to do a girls night out at a different restaurant each month. Maybe I should start that up again. I could maybe even plan it for when my Lisa will be in town. *grin* I'm also making it a priority to get back to the gym. The exercise and adult time would do me a world of good.
This Mom Loves her family. I really want to right by them by taking care of me.
{this moment}
{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
June 1, 2011
the silver lining
This afternoon was rough on me but in the spirit of staying positive here's my list of highlights:
the kindergarten boat regatta
a morning spent with my Magoo
lots of sun
a great friend willing to watch Jr for me
an unexpected nap
reading Farmer Boy with Magoo
the tomatoes are in the garden
lavender and daisies planted
another row of lettuce in
a delicious homemade honey-mustard dressing
both children sound asleep by 7
talk of summer play dates at the park
the Summer edition of Rhythm of the Home is out
This Mom Loves finding the silver lining.
the kindergarten boat regatta
a morning spent with my Magoo
lots of sun
a great friend willing to watch Jr for me
an unexpected nap
reading Farmer Boy with Magoo
the tomatoes are in the garden
lavender and daisies planted
another row of lettuce in
a delicious homemade honey-mustard dressing
both children sound asleep by 7
talk of summer play dates at the park
the Summer edition of Rhythm of the Home is out
This Mom Loves finding the silver lining.
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