Milk Farm

Maddie made the milk run with me today and helped me jug up 21 gallons of milk for our carpool.

She's amazing and remembers the strict sanitation instructions and steps even better than I do.  We picked up our milk, yogurt, cream, eggs and maple syrup (a neighbor taps his trees and has a sugar shack - is that not the coolest?!) and headed back home for a family bike ride.

Happy Saturday!

Today was the last day of school.

.....and I got a teacher gift.

A few days ago, Ron asked the kids to "tidy up" the toy room downstairs.  Imagine my annoyance surprise when I walked down to find this.

In case you needed a closer look

I will be honest and tell you I wanted to scream at them.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
But I have read Danny Silk & Love & Logic too many times.

Just before bolting from the scene, I put on my nicest smile and said, "Let me know how that works out for you."

I peeked down several hours later and although they were diligently working, there was no noticeable progress.  Still, I kept my mouth quiet.  (that's tough for me)

Imagine my surprise when I came down in the morning to find the toy closet looking like this.  They managed to finagle Ron down there for a bit but hey, way to use your resources.

I asked Madeline later how things turned out (so sly, I am) and she said, "Next time I think we're going to organize one area at a time instead of dumping."

Parenting with Love & Logic scores again.....

Baby Buggy

Ran across this today from a few years ago. You are so sweet Lauren!

Did you know that carrot tops can have up to twice the nutrition of their counterpart?  

Particularly, Vitamin K.

Soccer Saturdays

Today was our last day for the season, and what a fantastic season it was!  Lauren had a great game today and scored an awesome goal for her team.  Go Lauren!  Abigail is so fast on the field I can barely keep up with her as she heads to the goal.  Don't mess with her on defense either!

Madeline's age bracket has a tournament to end the season and managed to make it all the way to the championship game.....and then WIN!  Coach Ron was pretty proud.  The team gave him the Gatorade shower afterwards which was hilarious. 

The kiddos have so many cousins playing in the league that at any given time you are sure to find a family member on one of the fields.  That's probably definitely my favorite part.

I managed to catch part of this action shot

(part of) Our Fan Club

B & Luke made it out with Claire and (one week old!) June.  Thanks to Grandma & Papa for stopping by as well.

Join us this Fall as we manage to orchestrate 4 soccer schedules.  Gabe is joining the league and can. hardly. wait.

A Bit of Everything Smoothie

Today's smoothie was voted one of GLLAM's favorites (and Ron!) and since I basically added everything but the kitchen sink I figured I better document it so I can add it to the repertoire.

2 c. filtered water
handful of:
 kale, wheatgrass & carrot tops
10 oz. spinach
2 stalks celery
1/2 peach
banana
blackberries/blueberries
hemp seed
flax seed
1/2 lemon, juiced
spoonful raw honey

Blend and enjoy.

Incoming!

This came flying into our room as a paper airplane last night as I was falling asleep.

Dear, Mom  thank you for
1. doing the laundry
2. making our food
3. keeping us healthy
4. keeping us safe
5. buying our food
6. caring for us
7. getting us toys, books, ect.,
8. buying our clothes
9. taking us places
10. Loving Us!!!

Talk about sweet dreams......

The kiddos came to me several weeks ago and asked if they eat 1 piece of fruit a day whenever they wanted.  Now before you go thinking I deprive them of fruit, we eat lots (and lots!) of fruit but the rule has always been that you ask before you eat.  Simple enough.

Anyway, they were really excited about this new concept and I thought: What a fabulous idea!  I will be the mom that keeps a bowl of well stocked, fresh, delicious fruit on display in the kitchen.  This is so earthy-whole-foodish, I love it!  Yes, I will so do this.  Its perfect!

And so this was Day 1. 

When I find my camera have a second, I'll snap a picture of the bowl now.  It hasn't looked the same since and currently contains 2 almost-ready-for-banana-bread bananas.

The kiddos are loving the new concept though and I've decided......is it really that hard to reach into the refrigerator??

Mommy Pity

Pun fully intended and you will soon see why.

Earlier this week we took my mom to dinner for her birthday.  It was an adult dinner so I got a bit dolled up for the occasion.  (aka: an upgrade from the yoga pants and tank I was wearing.)

I came downstairs and Lincoln took a look and me and said, "Mommy pity!"  ("Mommy pretty"......right??)  He kept saying it over and over and was so pleased when I would thank him and he would respond back, "welcome!"  I must admit, I was quite pleased as well.

Fast forward to the next morning when I am stumbling to his crib to get him out.  I'm dog tired, haven't slept much, didn't wash my face and actually wore mascara (very bad combo) and definitely not ready to start my day.  And, so what, I was back in the yoga pants and tank.  They were right beside my bed.

He looks up and me and immediately says, "Mommy pity......ALL GONE!"

Maybe it was Mommy Pity all along.

Announcing.....

......my niece, June Olivia

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a few tough decisions to make today.  What type of breakfast in bed do you want?  Do you care to take an afternoon nap?  You know, tough decisions.  Fortunately, I managed.

I chose to spend the entire day -- did I mention its been a rainy spring? -- outside.  We left when the sun first started peaking out this morning and just came inside as its almost 9 pm and the kids (and me!) are whipped!

We took a long family bike ride with a packed lunch for our journey.  Came home and made a quick trip to Whole Foods (they have the best gelato) and then planted some flowers.  Ended the day with dinner on the patio with the T's.....a Sunday tradition.

I know I say this every year but this was the best Mother's Day ever.  I. am. blessed.

Will It Blend?

I am loving our new Blendtec.  It will literally blend anything.  No, really.  Watch them blend an iPhone if you are curious.

What did we blend up for today's green smoothie?

1 1/2 cups water
frozen strawberries (from last week's Friday Deal, thanks Whole Foods!)
1/2 apple
1/2 orange with a bit of the peel (only use peel if its organic)
1 banana
10 oz. of fresh spinach
handful of kale
handful of rainbow chard
spoonful of raw honey

Blend and enjoy!

.....and trust me, your kids will drink it! (is that Gabe in the background asking for more?!)

 This is a picture from earlier in the week, and the smoothie obviously had blackberries in it! ;)

Happy Cinco de Mayo

I found this mixed in with some of GLAM's art papers from yesterday.  Ole!

Gabe, 2 years old, Summer 2009

I miss this hair.

Screeeeeech!

I kid, I kid.  Its actually not as bad as I thought.  The girls have been taking lessons for several months now and loving it. Video footage of Abby and Lauren coming soon!

There is a very funny story behind this picture and the whole "sisters for life"....but rather than embarrass anyone (*ahem* Jen) I will just post the picture and leave it at that.

Happy Sunday