In the Mirror

This morning I had to write a few emails while Rocklyn was sleeping so I put Ryder on tummy time in front of a mirror. I was soon distracted from working by his adorable interest in that little person he saw in the mirror! Ryder, 7 mos.

He was laughing and smiling and even turning over backwards (see above) to get a look at himself! Trying to reach out and touch that person and absolutely enthralled by him.

Rocklyn @ 7 mos.
It got me thinking about how quickly, especially nowadays, we go from amazement at ourselves and what we see in the mirror to critical distaste and even hatred at what appears before us. I have had many friends tell me that their young daughters ( even at 5 years old!) are commenting on their weight or "fatness" and it convicted me in huge ways! I am blessed with sons but in today's world, they are struggling with image immensely as well. The comments I make negatively about my body, especially the post babies body!, do impact them. Not only are they bombarded with half naked media and horrible messages around every corner, they have to hear it at home too?!!? So I am vowing to stop negative comments about my image and even if all the healthy attempts to get in shape are taking so much longer than they use to I will appreciate exactly who I am. How would our children benefit if us parents starting viewing ourselves with the awe and amazement we had as babies in the mirror? Better yet with the love and feeling God has when he looks at his creation of us exactly as He planned it since the beginning of time?



Ryder, 6 mos.


So, no matter what age we are let's start taking a different view of that person in the mirror... and maybe even turn our critical comments into a laugh instead (see below image lol)

Smoothies!

My sons are as opposite as night and day and it is clear to see within moments that Rocklyn has taken after his mama in most every way! He can't sit still and his energy has him bouncing off the walls, he is loud and talks on and on and he is as stubborn as can be! This has really been affecting his eating lately: if it's green, has a unique texture, is unfamiliar or just about anything healthy except fruit it is a big NO WAY!

That being said... he has become the smoothie kid!

Since he loves all things fruity, thinks he is too cool when he gets to use a straw and pretty much thinks he is getting a dessert when he gets a smoothie, I have been serving them religiously! The trick is what I have been hiding in that blender to be masked by his favorite pineapples, peaches and strawberries!

Flax, tofu, veggies galore, nuts, lentils and anything else you can name have been enhancing this little man's diet without him having a clue. He gets what he thinks is a dessert and I get peace of mind! Easy enough!

Yesterday's smoothie included: yogurt, peaches, pineapple, watermelon, canteloupe, almonds, bananas, kidney beans, carrots and celery!

What do you put in your smoothie????

Gnomeo and Juliet Party-Part 1

For those of you who I haven't told yet, I have been working on starting a party planning and event catering business specializing in children's events! It has been a dream of mine for a while and I am sick of waiting for things to just happen because they never do it that way!!!

On Friday, we had some good friends join us for an outdoor movie theater party where we watched

GNOMEO AND JULIET

on the big screen in our backyard and where they were able to taste some of my food and see some ideas I have for parties!

While we were on a limited budget for this party and I couldn't nearly create the atmosphere and food I dreamed of, it was still such a good time and a summer night to remember.

Here are a few shots of decor and food from the night!

Balled out watermelon and canteloupe with fruit and rice krispie skewers

The big screen!



Popcorn boxes, mushroom tablecloth and the cupcake stand I decorated to hold mushroom cupcakes!

Strawberry swirl cheesecake which was a hit because I never got to taste even a bite of it!

Nate and Kendra Uhl were here to take some professional pics for my website and advertisement so big thanks to them!!! I will post those at a later time and will post pics of some of the kiddos and the night in the next blog!

Portions

I eat pretty well and with two children I don't get much of a chance to slow down yet the weight won't seem to go away! I was rapidly losing after I gave birth to Ryder and now at a standstill for too long! Soooooo I am going to blame it on portions! If I like something I am eating, I will eat until bursting point and even if its as healthy as can be that is still a bad thing. Time to employ Michelle Obama's portion plate for the family and eat the right portions (minus the meat for the boys!) of each type of food! Hope this helps you out too because I have many friends unsure of what and how much to feed their children!

Baby In A Bar

I am that mom. The one who dotes on every little accomplishment her kids make, who brings her kids into adult restaurants and pisses of other customers, who has to fight the will to wake her kids up a bit early from naps because I miss them... And I don't apologize for it. Thing is, I gave life to these beings, so other than my husband, who else would I want to be around more??? When I receive invites to weddings or events where kids are not allowed, I am quickly wondering how it will be as good of a time without my little ones shaking it on the dance floor. When I think of how my parents took vacations a lot and did not bring us with I picture how I would be texting and calling back home every five minutes to hear their voice or see their face in a photo. Time without my kids baffles me, except for the occasional dinner or movie out with the husband which is usually brief. I am taking some more time away from them lately by enrolling Rocklyn in preschool two days a week and having a friend watch them every so often so that I can get very important things done I have been putting off for... well 18 months now hahah but when it comes down to it, I enjoy my kids. Of course I love them like every parent does and just as much, I LIKE THEM as well! They are pieces of me and the man I love patterened together in these unique, amazing, inspiring little people! I can't imagine them spending their days with someone else and am so blessed to have a husband who makes it possible for me to be with them at home. Basically, I have been given a ton of crap about this lately and I just wanted to make it known that 1) I don't judge any of you for your parenting ways and 2) It's not gonna change so ya might as well quit wasting your time. And if by the very rare chance I were to be in a bar anytime in the future, I'd most likely want my kids there with me... put that in your pipe and smoke it

Thank Heaven For Little Boys

Since most of our family is located in Chicago and Kansas, our friends have gotten to know the boys even more than their relatives have. So for those of you "back home", here is a much overdue update of the boys these days...

Rocklyn is on the go! He never ever ever slows down and has more energy than he knows what to do with! He is stubborn, loud and as much like his mama as he could possibly be but every so often you get him to slow it down for a bit and show his sweet side. He loves dancing, his drums, and babbling on and on and being outdoors these days. He is soooo sweet to his little brother and the little jealousy he has shown has not affected how he treats him at all. He squeals baby when he sees him in the morning and pets his head, too sweet! He is also quite the ladies man walking up to girls and saying "hey baby"... wonder who taught him that one!

He is also sleeping in a bed these days! Woohoooooo!

Ryder is our giant six month old sweetheart, could that face get any more angelic???? He is the happiest baby ever and never wakes up without a beaming smile on his face. He has the most hysterical laugh and he thinks Rocklyn is too funny! He is definitely our lazy boy and so much more laid back than most babies. He is just a giant and mama is sure hes going to be in the nfl someday!

Here he is looking at a Bible story. I can't get enough of him he is so sweet!

As for Cory and I, we are making some big changes here lately as Cory moves into a sales position and I am beginning my children's event and catering business! We are both still pursuing our graduate degrees as well!

That about sums up life at the moment! Miss all our long-distance family and friends and love you!!!!!!!

BROTHERLY LOVE, PREPARE TO LAUGH

OH BROTHERLY LOVE, HOW SWEET IT IS...

JUST ENJOYING THE COMPANY OF ONE ANOTHER AND MAYBE

TELLING A GOOD STORY IN THE BEAUTIFUL GIBBERISH

ONLY THEY UNDERSTAND...

WAIT A SECOND... HAHAHAHA

ROCKLYN: "OH HOW I LOVE YOU BABY BRO"

RYDER: "GET HIM AWAY MAMA, GET HIM AWAYYYYYYYYY"

MAYBE THE LOVE WILL GROW ON EM...