Chopped Challenge

Our house loves to watch the Food Network. Michael came up with this game. He had Abby and Aidan pick out food items and then he had to make dishes of them. Dessert is striped fudge cookies with banana split ice cream with salat and vinegar chips, Chicken breaded with goldfish, rice with greek yogurt and the surprise to Abby and I chocolate covered bacon. It is a surprise because Abby and I do not like bacon. It is was the house fav. Great idea honey.

Earth Day 2011

I have been a recycling, nature freak since I was 18 years old. My cosmetology teacher Kimberly Dante taught us how to do it and the importance. It only makes sense to me. I gratefully married Michael who has the same interest. I look forward to Earth Day every year. It is my holiday. We took the kids to the Nature Center and they have students from WSU and from the community that teach about science, bees, erosion, planting plants. One of my favorite parts is meeting the vendors who sell products such as, organic, vegan food, efforts to make our Utah air cleaner. This year we even got to meet a lady who has an alpaca farm in South Weber. She brought one of the babies. So cute. Don't worry neighbors, not a pet we plan to have.

Health/Vegan

Michael and I love watching documentaries just about anything. I have seen Super Size Me, Corn Inc and Morgan Spurlock documentary about corn syrup. I feel like health and wellness is a passion of mine.

So I have been on a quest to work eating healthier for years. I have known people who are vegan since I was in my 20's but thought I could not eat just veggies. Doing the research on what is available-chicken and egg substitues, tofu sour cream and cream cheese, soy,almond, rice and hemp milk, veggie cheese, soy yogurt, soy ice cream. The options are limitless.

The taste-I am telling you my vegan choc chip cookies are the best cookies I have ever had but on the other hand, vegan carrot cake is gross. Just have to keep trying things that work.

What about the protein?? If you read your labels-beans, meat sub, you will not miss out on any protein.

Why do I do it? I feel better. After dinner, I do not feel sluggish and tired. I do not feel like I want to go to bed. I could even go work out without feeling like I am going to loose my dinner.

Do I completely give up on all meat and dairy? No, I feel the more veggies and fruit I eat the better off my family and I will be.

I have heard some people say(not knowing this is the lifestyle I am choosing) to never trust a vegan. Why because I would rather not eat a cow that is on a diet of corn that makes the cow sick and they give it antibiotics that I then in turn eat. Because of eating vegetables and trying to be healthy makes me a person a shady character.

I love this way of eating. It has made a more calm,center person. I am always looking for other healthy items. Let me know if you know of any.

more family pics

My favorite picture of the kids where the ones they are together. They are so stinkin cute.

Family Pics Dec 2010

Family Pics were done in December in hopes we would have snow. I can live without it. Michael was sick all that week. You can tell as the pictures progress he is not feeling well. I even tried to kiss him and make it better. I guess that only works for the kids.

Happy 9th Birthday Aidan

Aidan had his 9th Bday on November 27. Abby and Aidan love Harry Potter. So his bday was center around Harry Potter. We went to the movie and arcade. That is where we all met Grandma Rene and Granpa Roy. Had pizza and cake. From there we went and saw Abby perform in her chior. It was a great day. Happy Birthday Aidan!!! Love ya

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween 2010!!!
We had the kids for our ward Halloween carnival. Had to steal a picture of Jenn Cottle and her boy. They were so dang cute. Abby really wanted to be a taco for Halloween. Not sure how she got stuck on being a food item. We never found that costume but did find pizza outfit that she wore. Aidan is a ninja. Even our dogs have to dress up on Halloween. Ziggy is our fairy and Owen a hotdog.

Grandbaby Love

Cadence Marie was born on September 21,2010 at 6lbs 1oz. She is cute little peanut. I was so excited to hear how her big bro Finn would react to her. Daddy Cam sent pics to his Dad of Finn kissing his sis. Tonight, at the babyshower, someone asked Finn where is your sister. He got down off their lap walked over to Cadee and kissed on her head. So cute. Finn is getting so big and curious. I love to hear his laugh. I am excited to see Cadee personality grow.

1st day of school.

This year, Michael and I got to the get the kids ready for their first day of school. Their Mom usually gets them but this year she had training at work.

So Michael made them a really nice breakfast of pancakes and bacon. They picked out what new outfit they wanted to wear the night before. Abby is now in 6th Grade. The whole morning she kept saying I cannot believe I am in 6th Grade. Believe me honey we know you are growing up.

Aidan was cool and collected. He was excited to go back to school. He is in 3rd Grade this year.

Michael also gave them blessings the night before. I really wanted the kids to have that because I know when I had them it always made me feel more calm. Abby was so nervous about school, I thought it would help. She told her Dad she had never felt the spirit like that. What a great testimony builder of the priesthood.

Abby's tumbling recital Aug 2010

This month, Abby had a tumbling recital. I think she was most excited about the outfit. She was so nervouse because she felt like she was not ready. She was so ready and did a great job. Aidan was a cool and supportive bro to his sis and of course, her Mom and step Dad there where there to chear her on. The kids have lots of love.

our newest addition to the animal kingdom

Meet Dash. She is almost 3 months old now. She came to us via the kids Mom and step Dad. Their stop Dad is highly allergic to cats and even lost his voice trying to keep the cat. Michael offered to take the cat. Dash, has been a lot of fun. Her personality is so different than the other animals. She chases the older cats, likes to play with the other cats tales. Last night, was not so cute when she bit my calf while I was sleeping. So sometimes I call her Satan spawn.

So if you are trying to do the math on how many animals we have, 3 cats and 2 dogs. I know that is so crazy. But we love them.


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Living Planet Aquarium

I took Abby and Aidan done to the living Planet Aquarium. We got to see all kinds of bugs, snakes, octupus, touch a sting ray. Aidan loves penguins. I did not get a great pic but if you look really close you can see it.

Roses

Michael and I don't profess to have any type of green thumbs but once in a while we get some amazing roses in our front and back yard. They never last long enough but I sure do enjoy looking at them while we have them.

Happy Father's Day Michael

I always love Father's Day. Where the kids can celebrate and tell their Dad who special he is. I have always loved watching Michael with his kids. You can tell that they have great parents because they are all such great kids.
At church, Abby and Aidan made paper ties and decorated them to give to Michael. We had his Mom, Step Dad Roy, Grandma and Grandpa over. Michael grandma is pretty short but she is not sensitive about it. She laughs when she is teased. She went up to Aidan and told him how tall he was. Michael, joking told her well everyone turns 8 sometime. We all loved
Happy Father's Day Michael. We love you.

I got to also call my Dad on his special day. I am glad that he has my brother so close to celebrate the holidays with. I do miss you Dad and know that we love you. It is hard to believe a year has past since we have seen you.

New Year's Resolution

This year I am happy to say that so far I am still working on my New Year's Resolution. My only goal this year was to start eating better. I joined a gym and started eating a little bit better. Despite what people might think, even if I am gaining weight, I have always worked out. But when I was trying to get prego I was trying so hard to be gentle with my body that I did not work out hard.

I realized lately, that I am getting healthier and stronger both physically and mentally. I have been reading this book, Women, Food and God and I had this epiphany. I have hated my body. This body let me down. I have tried to be healthy all my life and when I was ready to get pregnant it failed me. I hated this body. I have always had to work on my weight and in high school I had never wanted to be one of those people that complained about my hips, my butt, and belly. I just wanted to work on it. But what I had never done is shut the voice inside my head that was saying those things to me which also made me hate this body.

So part of my mid year goal is to love my body with all of its challenges. So far this year, I have willingly given up dairy. I am working on enjoying a piece of candy vs eating the whole candy bar and then wanting more later. I want to also start spending more time doing yoga and meditating. I am truely grateful for a healthy body.

Our little soccer player.

Aidan soccer season is coming to an end for the spring. It has been so fun to watch him and progress in his athletic skills. Good job Aidan.

Abby 11th Bday

Abby just turned 11 years old. One of the presents she wanted was a potty training Barbie. It cracks me up the puppies go potty on the toy newspaper. Abby you always crack me up. Happy Birthday!