A Touch of Springtime

"I have many beautiful flowers," he said; "but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all." ~Oscar Wilde

 A quick escape this morning lead us to Spring!  We had know idea it was hiding out around the corner, but here it was- caught in full bloom.

 For a girl that is used to seeing plenty of brown dirt, brown ice, brown bare branches and hmmm... a little more brown...yellow was delicious.

 Wading in icy snow melt- we take what we can get around here.  Or as Mr. Middle would say "ya get what ya get and ya don't throw a fit".  I love that... may steal it.

 The gentlemen examining the best route for a crossing...

 and how could we possibly play in the water without catching something disgusting?

 ... and building them a lovely new home

 My Sweet Pea

 Do you see the Springness?  There is even a little hidden Springness in the left corner.

 Ahhhhh.... I love color.  And this pink was so vivid amongst the dead.

 Gorgeous blooms

  Sis playing doctor.  This little thing is a mama to the core.  I think if she were the oldest her poor brothers would be terrified or maybe traumatized?

And the grand finale...

aren't these the most gorgeous blooms ever???  I had to save the best for last.

Happy Springtime friends!!

Explorations

It was finally a non-snowy Sunday afternoon and the wilds were beckoning.  Caves, ruins, cliffs and caterpillars were calling...

The rocks were incredible.  We hiked through what looked like an enchanted forest and came to the end of a small canyon.  Incredible rock formations soared above us.  My little gentlemen were in heaven.

Please excuse the motionless man staring into the camera.  That would be the handsome Daddy... supposedly seriously filming here, although I think it looks just a tad creepy.
**Don't forget to scroll down to the music (if there is any) and push pause... I think I may just remove it for now.  Enjoy!!

Rich Dad

So, this is not the type of reading material I am typically drawn to.  Generally, you can toss me an old US Weekly and I'm happy as a clam, BUT and yes a big but I have a new love!  My Mom recently directed me to the site richwoman.com .  Kim Kiyosaki is the founder and wife of Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad- the site is phenomenal.  It has changed our lives over the course of a week.  I know, hard to believe such a thing could occur, but I am dead serious.  I am almost finished reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad.  I have been so hooked I haven't been able to put it down, my house is in shambles, didn't make dinner last night, laundry is my new carpet, but I am learning SO much.  Last week I would have never in a million years thought I would be hooked on such a thing.  Facebook was my main addiction.  Today I am Facebook free-  have been for four days now thank you very much.  This isn't about us striking it rich, although I wouldn't mind.  It isn't about making more and more and more money.  It's about growing our assets and diminishing our liabilities.  Yes, it sounds simple.  And it is.  It's about becoming financially savvy, so we aren't left in the dust.  The gap between the rich and no so rich in this country is widening.  What side do we want to be on?  Who runs things around here?  yep, the one's with the Benjamins.  If you are at all interested, I highly recommend this book.  It's an easy read and simple to understand.  I'm definitely behind the times having not read this when it came out a decade ago.  Life had to happen.  We had so many lessons to learn.  Having drug ourselves through financial mud, really taught us valuable lessons.  Last year was one of the hardest years of my entire life and I would never ever want to go back there, BUT I wouldn't change it either.  Going through something so trying only increased our understanding of what we really wanted out of life.  Yes, we had to go through it.  Now we are appreciating so much more getting closer and closer to the other side.

Why Raw Milk

photo via ecoliblog

Here is just a bit about why we drink raw milk taken directly from this site .  I sometimes feel like I know why I do what I do and I believe in it wholeheartedly, but when I go to explain myself the words seem to escape me.  Such a frustrating thing.  So I was hoping if I put it down in writing, it would make more sense to you and me!  

"For over 10,000 years people have enjoyed the wide array of milk products, including fresh milk, buttermilk, clabber, curds, whey and a variety of cheeses. Never were these products pasteurized.

Over the past 70 years, Americans have been inundated with information about pasteurized milk that was incomplete. There was a time when pasteurization may have prevented certain pathogenic bacteria, introduced through poor handling techniques, from being transferred in the milk to the consumer. However, it was no absolute guarantee. The main success that pasteurization afforded the mass milk producers was a longer shelf life, resulting in higher profitability.

What They Didn't Tell You

While pasteurization may destroy harmful bacteria, it also destroys the beneficial ones. These bacteria are vital to a healthy digestive system and need to be replenished. It also destroys or compromises the vitamins and enzymes that make milk such a perfect food.

Modern Handling Techniques and Local Farm Care Eliminate the Need For Pasteurization

Pasteurization was promoted as a remedy to milk problems when low grade milk was being produced by "swill dairies" that were feeding the by-products of whiskey making to the cows. These malnourished animals were not able to create a milk that would normally have fought off pathogenic bacteria. To make matters worse, milk was collected in open containers and often handled by people who were ill. It was no wonder that it made people sick."

Why Raw Milk

 Here is just a bit about why we drink raw milk taken directly from this site .  I sometimes feel like I know why I do what I do and I believe in it wholeheartedly, but when I go to explain myself the words seem to escape me.  Such a frustrating thing.  So I was hoping if I put it down in writing, it would make more sense to you and me!  

"For over 10,000 years people have enjoyed the wide array of milk products, including fresh milk, buttermilk, clabber, curds, whey and a variety of cheeses. Never were these products pasteurized.

Over the past 70 years, Americans have been inundated with information about pasteurized milk that was incomplete. There was a time when pasteurization may have prevented certain pathogenic bacteria, introduced through poor handling techniques, from being transferred in the milk to the consumer. However, it was no absolute guarantee. The main success that pasteurization afforded the mass milk producers was a longer shelf life, resulting in higher profitability.

What They Didn't Tell You

While pasteurization may destroy harmful bacteria, it also destroys the beneficial ones. These bacteria are vital to a healthy digestive system and need to be replenished. It also destroys or compromises the vitamins and enzymes that make milk such a perfect food.

Modern Handling Techniques and Local Farm Care Eliminate the Need For Pasteurization

Pasteurization was promoted as a remedy to milk problems when low grade milk was being produced by "swill dairies" that were feeding the by-products of whiskey making to the cows. These malnourished animals were not able to create a milk that would normally have fought off pathogenic bacteria. To make matters worse, milk was collected in open containers and often handled by people who were ill. It was no wonder that it made people sick."

Kitchen Necessities

Do you have those things you don't go through one single day without using? I was thinking today about our staples... the stuff I put in everything. Lemon is a biggie. I add it to all of my soups, except my chicken noodle. Squeeze it into batter for a little zest. Add it to greens. I love that tangy, mouth-watering flavor.

Hmmm... garlic. I have always loved it, but my dear girl Sooz from Chinny and Poom got me especially hooked. Now it's in everything. If I can bake it, boil it, slow cook it- you better believe it's in there.

Homemade stock! Every week we buy a rotisserie chicken from our local natural food store. The kids snack on it all week and when we're down to the bare bones I throw them in the crockpot along with celery, carrots, onion and about 1/8 c. apple cider vinegar to help leach the minerals out of the bones. Fill with water and let it go for about 24 hours and you have the most delicious, nutritious stock around! Then I use it to make soups, cook rice, add to sauces, etc.

My most favorite olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Direct from radiantlifecatalog.com... so flavorful and not too bitter. Good for you!
Other things I use a lot of~ coconut oil, pastured butter, sea salt, plain full-fat yogurt and white vinegar... I think vinegar is the most amazing thing around.  Like a Jack of all trades- it does everything.  We clean with it, deodorize laundry, you name it!
What are your must haves?

Happy Birthday Biggest

My~ oh so very serious~ seven year old is suddenly an eight!! I think some may say this picture looks sad, but my handsome guy has a very serious side that I adore. And while he can be very silly and will laugh out loud at tv shows the rest of us don't quite get... it's this straight and thoughtful face that seems to draw me in. D's birthday was actually February 1, BUT I haven't blogged in about 14,000 years now. So, once again it is catch up time and so much catching up to do!

First, the eight reasons I love my oldest:

1. Well, as I already stated the serious, logical side. Kind of that engineer mind, which is so opposite me and probably why I so admire it so much.

2. I love watching D explain things to his little brother and sister.... he's very patient (usually) and very thorough.

3. He is very detail oriented...

4. Which makes him an amazing artist!

5. He is a good friend to everyone. I have never heard him say an unkind word about anyone in his class.

6. He is especially loving to his very best buddies, they hug, have nicknames for each other, it's very cute to watch them together.

7. He's a great eater and has been since he started solids! Very adventurous in the kitchen... nothin' makes a mama more proud!

8. And last, but certainly not least- he is a rule follower- to the T. I really hope this one lasts. Sometimes I even want him to lighten up a little with it (as I tend to be a bender), BUT secretly I hope it continues. Makes my job super easier.

I love you to pieces Big D!! You have taught me so much!! Happy Birthday!!

Ok, now a side note... have you ever been to richwoman.com??? Well, I'm kinda getting into it. And let me tell you, it's been quite an education for my notsogoodwithfinancialchoices head. Things are changing around here. My mom, my sister and I are on our way to learning the financial ropes. I am quite excited about the whole idea that I could really understand this stuff and learn how to make some really wise choices for our family. We have really been to hell and back financially. We have come through A LOT, learned so much. I think it's time to start seeing what our money can really do!! Ladies, check out this site. It is very empowering, especially for stay at home moms like me that may feel a little uneasy about not bringing home any bacon. I feel like this may be my way of contributing, by growing the hubby's bacon, turning that salty strip into a Sunday ham!

I'll keep you posted.

Hiking Season

Every year about this time I start to really wonder why I live where I do. There are about six months out of the year we are pretty much frozen in. The ONLY thing that makes this ok, in my book, is that we can completely escape in just 45 quick minutes. My house is tiny people. Without this escape, my kids are crazy. And crazy babies= crazy mama. What's that old saying? "When Mama ain't happy... ain't nobody happy"? Couldn't be anything more true out there.

So, we ventured off with family and friends to explore and run free and found the coolest little canyon. There were steep cliff faces and walls, shady pools of ice and sunny pools of water. And enough red mud to make any kid happy for hours.

The kids thought it was pretty awesome we had finally found a hike where they could go ice skating and rock climbing all in one.

My Mom reminded everyone that my infamous line as a teenager was "I HATE NATURE!!!!" (my way of rebelling). I reminded her that I also claimed to hate hiking boots, flannel and recycling. Don't worry, I've come full circle. I do recycle people and the nature stuff- I kind of love it. Hiking boots and flannel are still very iffy.

When I Say Run

You say RUN!

The wave caught up with her.

How to keep a baby out of ice cold water? I tell you my secret: you scare the living daylights out of them.

Shock and aw people!

And so she was drenched completely from head to toe. I am still finding sand in her ears.

I tried my best to point out the positive "Avi! YAY!! You're a surfer girl now".

Grandpa came to the rescue with a nice soft fleece, which was just the perfect thing against cold baby skin.

She even adjusted the style to make it her own.

A West Coast Holiday

We have said over the years that there has to be a better way to do Christmas. In the past the kids would get so much stuff that was used and forgotten as fast as a fruitcake. This year we decided that while we couldn't really prevent good ol' Mr. C from depositing a few goods, WE could skip out on the retail rat race and escape to the beach as a gift to us all!

Our treasured little spot La Jolla was beckoning. Sunny, peaceful, quaint shops and organic restaurants. Heaven.

A chance for the kiddies to put down the (remote/wii/Nintendo DSi/iPod/iPad) and just live the old fashioned way :)

Mama and Daddy soaked it up. See the little strip jetting out behind us? That's where we got married. Right on that bluff. Being there always takes us back to those simpler times.

Hope your Holidays were magical!! More pictures to come!

My Little Man...

is FIVE today! Happy Birthday to one of the sweetest souls in all the world. One day this guy is going to make an excellent husband. He loves to snuggle, gives millions of kisses, cries at movies, loves babies- sorry ladies, he is only five and he's already decided that Mommy will be his "Princess Bride" or Avi if I can't make it.  He's also a total toughie and can take his big bro down or any other villians on the horizon if need be.

Here are the top 5 reasons I love Sory:

1. He's an artist and intensely creative. He's got that artist vibe, you know those people that are just drawn to beauty? Whether that be in music, birds (does the Audubon Society need a new Pres.?) or a sunset or the way someone carries their backpack- he gets it.

2. He's got style and shirts with pockets are definitely out this season.

3. He's quick to hug and make up. It truly hurts his heart to have discourse.

4. He's doing awesome in school and has made some great buddies this year.

5. And the fifth reason... and maybe my favorite, he can always sense when I'm having a bad day or feeling a little off, probably more than anyone else in the fam and will never hesitate to just run up out of the blue and just put his face up to mine almost nose to nose, those giant oceany eyes staring into my soul, arms around my neck and tell me he loves me. Uber melty :)

Thankful Thursday

Well, it's almost Thursday, right? Thanksgiving was so relaxing this year at my Mom's... just a few family and friends. My Lil' Bro even made an appearance and it was so good to see him- even though seeing him sometimes makes me worry about him more, not less. He has one of the kindest, most sensitive hearts I have ever had the pleasure of loving.

I am most grateful for three healthy kids who have everything in life a kid could ever want. What a blessing to be able to give your children an incredible life! I think of mothers around the world and the absolute horrendous circumstances they endure. I can't fathom watching my child starve right in front of me and know there was nothing I could do to help them. It's really unconscionable to think of.

What is so amazing to me is the human spirit. To see those who have truly suffered full of gratitude~ that is beautiful. We are so resilient. We can come from the worst and become the best if only given a chance.

If we all reached out to just one person, who we know is suffering this holiday season we could really make a difference.

"To the world you are just one person, but to one person... you are the world"

Late Last Night...

I was up and for some reason could not make myself sleep, no matter how I begged and pleaded.  From 3-4am, I sat staring mindlessly at my computer screen... hoping I'd remember some interesting blog I hadn't checked yet (nope, checked them all) or maybe someone would say something really amazing on Facebook (I definitely need to take a step back... ugh!).
Then suddenly, I was guided, maybe by God, maybe the universe, maybe angels... who knows, but I had been contemplating many things in my head when I was guided to "The Strangest Secret" by Earl Nightingale.  I somehow came across it on youtube.  This is from like the 50's or 60's, but boy is it ever some age old wisdom that I needed some serious reminding of.  How much do I really give of myself?  Am I giving my all everyday or  just going along with mediocre because mediocre seems to be the norm?  Many of us tend to follow the crowd without really thinking about it... "well, if they're doing it that way it must be ok, right?"  Mr. Nightingale said we usually give about 5% of our capacity.  What if we gave it our all?  I can't imagine how our lives would change.
It kind of reminded me of the song "I Hope You Dance".  How many times have I hung back, bowed out, given up when I should've just said what the heck and just dove in head first?!  LOTS!!!  I'm lazy by nature you know.  I could really live a life of doing a whole lot of nothing, but in the end would I really be ok with that?  I saw this  the other day-  something along the lines of "when standing face to face with our maker I want to be able to look at him and say... I used everything you gave me"... ahhhhh, I LOVE that!  That pretty much sums it right up.
We are put on this earth to be amazing, to DO amazing works.  We have gifts inside of us that we aren't even aware of yet, but I bet if we start taking life by the horns these things will become much more apparent.  Do you ever make yourself, your accomplishments seem less just to fit in or to not seem like you're all that and a bag-a-chips?  I don't mean that we should come across as self-righteous at all... that's just annoying.  But, maybe just a little less critical of ourselves and others and more grateful, kind, generous, loving, etc.?  TRUST ME-  I am working on this big time.  It's a constant battle between who I want to be and know I should be and that ol' ego;)
If you haven't already, check out "The Strangest Secret" on youtube.  I can't do it justice writing about it on the blog and I think different people will get different messages out of it.
Alright ladies!  Now let's go and live the life of our dreams!!!!

I will leave you with one last very favorite from my very favorite quotable lady:

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't." ~Eleanor Roosevelt 

Halloween

 From the Pre-K Halloween Bash...

 To dressing up with the Fam. and watching my "Twin Ninjas" have a blast-

 From snuggling a sweet little puppy...

 to watching a sweet Papa snuggle your little puppy-

From hanging with great friends (I love these girls♥) to enjoying my amazing family...
This was a Happy Halloween!!
Hope yours was the happiest ever!
By the way, our little "Nun" pictured here is having a baby in less than 12 hours!  She looks beautiful, huh?  Can't wait to meet their precious new baby girl.

Sneak Peek

Our awesome neighbor/budding photographer snapped some family shots this evening and sent this one, so we could have a peek.  I think it turned out pretty good!  Honestly, just seeing my family all looking in the same direction means it's a winner in my book.