Looking Back for Fun!

Carleigh and I got the kids together this morning. We decided to look at old pictures and threw this together.


Old Picture Details:
1) Carleigh and I dressed up in costumes for Sadie Hawkins. She is the girl from Austin Powers and I am a Barbie Cheerleader.
2)Carleigh and I are at a wedding.
3) Carleigh, myself, Kristi, Candace and Audrea are taking a break from playing Laser Tag.
4) Kasey, Carleigh and I at Texas Roadhouse (a long time ago) on my 21st birthday.
5) Audrea, Makiyo and Carleigh in their dorm room playing Nintendo.

Carleigh and I both joined 24 Hour Fitness and are using these pics to motivate us to work out more!

Our New Organic Smoothie Recipe

Landon and I have created a Smoothie Recipe and I wanted to share!

1/2 a large container Plain Yogurt
1/2 of a container of Strawberries
2 Bananas
Organic Apple Juice (to make it naturally sweet)
Ice

Mix them all together in a mixer except for the ice (add ice and mix again).

Another version for a more ice cream feel
1/2 a large container of Plain Yogurt
1/3 a bag of frozen Strawberries (unsweetened)
1/8 a bag of frozen blueberries (unsweetened)
Organic Apple Juice
You don't need ice because the berries are frozen!
Mix together!
We found a Vita Mixer at an estate sale for $10 and ordered a new top for it for $10. Saving us around $170! We love our Vita Mixer!

I am Taking A NEW YEARS CHALLEGE!

I am taking on a New Years Challenge to cook and eat at home for an entire month.
I've made it so far for three whole days! :) I have made Smoothies, Stew, Pasta and all kinds of dishes to keep me from wanting to spend money on food outside the house. I went grocery shopping last week and came home with the motherload of bargain groceries. My total was $175 and went down to $32 after coupons. I even got tons of Organic items.
Landon is starting to beg for a Sonic burrito so I am not sure if he is going to make it! I can get Sonic burritos with coupons for less than $1 so I hardly ever turn Landon down when he asks to go.
My deep question for the day is why is it so hard for me not to eat out? Let me explore that thought. Hubs grew up in the country and hardly ever ate out. I grew up in the city and ate out quite often. Well that explains it! I am spoiled to eating out.
Needless to say hubs is very excited about this challenge. I am up for it because I want to see how much money it will save us! I am even avoiding Starbucks (but I did buy those bottled Starbucks at the grocery store.) They'll have to do for $1.25 each!

Oh The Joys! Christmas with Two Little Boys!

Merry Christmas! We had a great Christmas (part 2) at our home. My parents came up to have Christmas with us and we had a great time. Landon was very excited that we were celebrating baby Jesus' birthday. The boys both got Nurf guns for Christmas. Logan (my 22 month old) has a small one bullet gun and is really good at it, hanging right in there with big brother. I am no longer surprised when I hear laughing from behind a door and am shot with Landon's semi nurf gun. I also get the luxury of finding nurf bullets in my shoes and in random places all over the house. I am out numbered, three boys (two little, one big) to one! Landon loves to protect me with his nurf gun, especially when it is dark and he is scared. He says "Mom, it's dark, come right behind me and I'll protect you!" Pictures to come!

Sweet Prayers from A Four Year Old

Landon's prayer at dinner last night was so precious, I must share.

"Dear God,
Thank you for our food, please help my brother Logan to feel better because he is sick, please help me to be nicer to him and to protect him, thank you for Mommy and Daddy, You are so Good God!" Amen

Oh The Snow! Our Trip To Connecticut!

Landon and Lori with our new friends Nikki and Toby in the snow!
We had a blast!







Landon gets ready to throw a snowball!
Landon loved the snow. He went sledding about 4 times a day!








Logan and Toby sledding!





The girls- Lori, Sue and Sabrina!
We had Christmas Part 1 Early at Sabrina's house!
She cooked a Lamb with Dave's brother Dan.
It was fantastic!

Blessings Come In All Forms

We got to see snow in Connecticut while visiting Dave's family! Pictures to come!
I have a sweet story that I wanted to share.
Dave and I took Logan (21 months old) to breakfast with us on a date while Landon was playing with his cousins.
A very young man came in to eat while we were there and he smiled a Logan a bunch. When it was time to leave I went to the cashier and she said she was very sorry but they only took cash. I got directions to an ATM to get some cash. The young man came up and said I overheard your situation and I want to pay for your breakfast. He went on to say" You have really blessed me this morning. My wife and I have an 18 month old and are going through a lot right now in our marriage. I saw you pray before you ate and how you were with your son and it blessed me so much that I would love to pay for your meal in return."
I was so thankful for his kind words and giving heart that I was almost in tears. It is such a rare thing that a stranger would be so kind.