Changes

Cha-Cha-Changes....

There have been some BIG changes in our house.  About a year ago, I was visiting with a group of friends and I heard about green smoothies.  I was interested in some of the claims being made so I spent several months researching them and learning about nutrition.  In February, the children and I started drinking green smoothies daily.  I purchased a program from greensmoothiegirl.com to help us change our current daily diet to one of more vegetables and whole foods.  So... here are some green smoothie smiles!

One day I went shopping for our smoothies and salads and I have to admit that I was super pleased and felt good when I got home and loaded up my fridge and it looked like this....

I know! Thats a lot of green.  We have loved some of the changes, some have been difficult and some have been tried, given up on and tried again.  However, the habit of drinking a green smoothie everyday has stuck!  Over the last several months, we have tried many recipes, loved some, hated some and had some that were just ok.  Recently I found a smoothie consisting of beets, carrots, strawberries, cashews, and coconut milk.  I love it!  The little kids love it.  The big kids hate it.  This has been a fun adventure for us and I can't wait to see all of the new things we try in the future.

T Ball

I don't know why the pictures ended up skipping back and forth, but these are pictures from February.  Laycee and Logan played T-ball for 6 weeks and I was their coach.  I was somewhat dreading coaching, but I really found that I actually loved it.  Now, I would have loved it more without a 6 week old.  But, that aside, I loved it.  We played a lot of games to learn base order, batting, and fielding. 

 Logan takes sports very seriously as we could have all guessed since he has loved sports from the day he was born. 

 Laycee... well she loved that her best friend from preschool ended up on their team and her best friend is a really good batter.

It was a great season and so much fun for them.  It was a time consuming few weeks, but they miss playing so much.  Logan asks often when he gets to start up again!

Just to see you smile

So as I looked at what pictures I should post next, the song Just to See You Smile from Tim Mcgraw popped into my head. So... here we are, pictures of William ie, Willie boy, Will, Chubs, and Baby smiling... Just to see you smile

 I'd so anything, that you wanted me to

 I'd never count the cost

 It's worth all that's lost

 Just to see you smile.

Here he is about 2 months old and loving life.  Just figuring out that smiling make mommy happy and when mommy is happy, so is baby.  I seriously would do anything just to see this little guy smile.

Crazy Hair

Yes, her eyes say it all.  I love her so much.  On this particular morning, like most mornings, I woke up to Miss Laycee in my bed.  On this particular morning, unlike most mornings, she was sitting just like this with the craziest hair I have ever seen... staring at me. I have to admit, it was a bit creepy.  Laycee has been in one of her moods lately.  I have been working with the psychologist and some of his recommendations helped postpone this episode, but it evidently didn't prevent the episode.  I say episode for a lack of better words, she is like a rotating time bomb with her moods.  I have been using some essential oils to see if they would help, extra flax, tonsils removed, melatonine for sleep, and still she graced us with all the fury a little 5 year old can hold.  Finding this picture was perfect timing to remind me of her sweet smiling face.  On the up side, its been almost a week since her episode started which means... Oh yeah the end it coming!  Can't wait to see her sweet smiling face in real life again! 

Happy Faces

So these pictures were taken Feb 12.  William was almost 10 weeks old.  He started making some of the cutest faces.

I am afraid you will be seeing a lot of his face over the next few days on here, but I love him.  I have really enjoyed watching him learn and progress and grow!  Newborns have never been my thing, I am totally a toddler mom.  But man, he brings so much joy to my life.  And since I can't help but love to see him smile and enjoying life, you in turn will get to see the same thing.... ha ha, hope you are prepared!

Rare Moment

I have a rare moment now of quiet with no work.  My days are usually packed full from morning until night and then all night with William.  I have been running on E for months now, but somehow I am still managing.  I use the term "managing" loosely because if you stopped by unannounced you would see that my house is a mess, there is little to no order in my life, I am caring a baby on my hip and mediating the newfound love of bickering between Laycee and Logan.  I feel like my days are constantly two steps behind but when I start to get down on myself, I remind myself of the sweet words by President Uctdorf, "Forget not to be patient with yourself".  Anyway, that being said, I have another rare opportunity to blog a bit.  I am sorry I am months behind which will result in minimal thoughts and opinions, but I hope to get the pictures out there so the children can still look back and remember the good times, even if they don't have my commentary on there.  Just wanted to let you all know that I have not forgotten about blogging, it is just on a long list of "to do"s.  We are hoping some changes will be happening in the next few months and I have some high hopes that the changes will bring much needed relief to our home.

Soot

How does one sweet little mischevious girl get soot in her hair from the closed fire pit that isn't supposed to be touched in the backyard?  Well Laycee couldn't explain that either, yet here is the proof that somehow it happened.  It took 3 days to get this out of her hair too!

Valentines Day

Oh the holiday of love.  Too bad my love isn't around.  It's these types of holidays (well all holidays really ha ha) that make me painfully aware that Dave is not around.  On the flip side, he has given me five beautiful children to love while he is away.  So this year, the children wanted to make their own valentines.  This is the design they decided on.  Doesn't look like much, but it was something they could do on their own which is much more valuable than being beautiful.

And here is my handsome 6 week old.  He is crying about all of the money he will spend on this holiday in the future.  But not to worry after a little bit of cuddles, he was all smiles again.  Typical man huh?  Anyway, hope your Valentines was amazing even if I am posting this 2 months too late!  

Orange Belt

I have posted progress about Trent's karate before.  He has been at a Kenpo Karate studio since about August of last year.  He quickly moved from white to yellow belt.  Here in Feb, he was testing for orange belt.  For this test, they had to demostrate some self defense techniques.

And his happy orange belt face!  He is actually due to test for his purple belt in May. Then he will start sparing as well.  Trent never much enjoyed traditional team sports but he really loves karate.  It is a very expensive sport but it suits him perfectly.  I cannot wait to see him in a few weeks with his new belt!

Aloha Spirit

Feb 11, 2012

 Haylee is mid cheer season at this competition.  It has been such a neat fun experience for her.  This was a very well run event but not really my favorite competition of the season. 

Haylee is on the far left.  This was their first time trything this new stunt they have here.  I wish videos uploaded better because you could watch them.  It was about this time in the season that Haylee started expressing "stress" about cheerleading.  She said they changed the routines each competition and with them only being 2-3 practices from one another, she felt worried that she would mess up.  But she of course is awesome and didn't mess up here.  I was excited to see some changes to the routine near the end of the season so we weren't watching the same thing over and over.  I have really loved AZ All Stars and they have an amazing program helping all of these girls with such vast abilities and skills create something great each time. 

Bandos

You have to love the creativity of these two!  One day during play, they decided they wanted to start a band but of course they needed to exercise as well.  So they decided to start a band on the trampoline with immediate access to exercise and fun.  I was so lucky to listen to band practice from my bedroom window and it was so fun.  On the plus side, Logan's guitar plays tunes so it really was half decent.  In all honesty, it is moments like these that I love having twins, or maybe just because they get along well.  I love that they are able to play together and get creative in their play because they are comfortable with the different roles they each prefer.  There is rarely headbutting about who is the daddy and who is the puppy.  Don't get my wrong, their relationship is not all cotton candy, but they really play well together most of the time.  The other day I was pondering what they will be like as they grow older and I hope they always share a friendly special bond.

Bath Time

Feb 6, William's first bath.  I know a whole month after he was born!  Waiting for the belly button to heal took forever with him.  But to my surprise, William LOVES the bath.  He likes to just lay there and kick his legs.  He doesn't like listening to the bath water run, but he enjoys his time in the bath.  In fact, he cries when he has to get out.  He is so cute and I couldn't help but document his first bath time face!

Thumb Sucker?

William loves to suck his thumb.  I have been trying to discourage this behavior of course, but it is mighty cute.  

Red Robin

Yum!

Laycee and Logan got a free kids meal through the kids club program for their birthday!  In addition, they got a free birthday sundae.  They loved it.  Too bad they were spoiled with the ice cream and now think they should get some everywhere we go.