4 Generations

Independance Day!!

Our friends Kristy and Weston
Michaela's favorite part; eating the grass.

Sparklers!!

Best Buds

Ryan Dam

(This one's posed) =)

There's a huge picnic area with lots of room for kids to run.

Ever the "Drama Queen" when cameras are involved.

Picnic in Cascade

This is about 30 minutes from our house and it's just gorgeous.

Great place to enjoy our lunch.

Phoenix

We got to meet Kayla Nicole Robinson for the firt time.

Michaela loved seeing another baby. What a sweetie!

We're so happy for you Nate and Rachel!

This was my last time to hang out with my sister before she moves and it was a sweet time.

Lots of relaxing since the new baby was keeping her pretty tired.

Uncle Mark


Aunt Monica

My new menu

Not sure if it's turning 30 or losing all my baby weight and still being heavier than I want but this year I've finally started changing the way I eat. thought I'd share a few of my new favorites.

Chicken or Turkey sandwich. 8 Reduced Fat Wheat Thins
Whole grain bread
Chicken or turkey
cucmbers
tomatoe
red onion
avacado
sprouts
Honey Mustard Dressing

Meal: 350 Calories 11gm fat

I'm not a mustard fan and love mayo. Using 1/2 Tbs Honey Mustard Dressing makes this sandwich so sweet and only ads 20 cal and 1 grm fat.



Pancakes are my favorite for when I'm super hungry and want to eat everything in my kitchen and Charlize loves them. I can have 4 pancaks with syrup and stay under 500 cal. and it keeps me full for 5 hours. and costs less than $1. Although it's not the most nutritious meal it's much better than trying to fill up on fast food. We have this one about once a week. They key is to stay away from butter. Walmart has butter flavored syrup that has great taste but if you really want "I can't Believe it's not butter" has a spray that is zero cal and fat. (their spreads are no healthier than any other brand).

Another favorite is Talapia with Long grain wild rice and green beans.

Albertson's has individually packaged Talapia that makes it easy as I cook for one. Bake with lemon juice, spices and you have a great meal for 275 cal. and 2 grm fat.

I've also been going online looking over menu nutrition and deciding now what I will order at each restaurant.

IE: at Mc Donalds I get Classic chicken Sand with no Mayo. (I ad a little ketchup so it's not too dry) and a side salad with light italian dressing. Only use half the package. Now that I know that is my Mc Donalds meal it helps me order quickly without giving into frys or fatty burgers.

I'm also starting Jillian Michaels 30 shred video and walking/jogging with the girls in the stroller and drinking a lot more water. I also bought 5lb ankle weights and am wearing those around the house. I really feel it going up the steps by the after noon. Hopefully all this will ad up but I can tell you I feel better already and have lost a few lbs and am fitting into some old clothes that I haven't worn since before babies. 30 more lbs to go!

1st Hair Cut

At 2 1/2 years we finally got Charlize's first hair cut. Mostly just a bangs trim. She sat so still. I was shocked. We had talked all day about going to "get a haircut". She was so patient but after I told her she was done and could hop down she got very upset. "No mommy, get a hair cut. Where my hair cut?" I think she was looking for something she could put in her hand and take home with her. =)

Our Cuties

Valentines Day in keeping a tradition from my mom we made heart shaped pancakes. I also added heart shaped sprinkles which were a big hit. Mike had to work open to close so we invited some other ladies and kids from church who were going to be alone for the day.

Baby Shower

The ladies at Emmanuel Bible were so kind to throw us a baby shower for Michaela. We played some great games, got some great black mail pictures (I finished my bottle first) I even beat the 1 year old! ha! and was blessed with enough money to buy a double stroller that has alredy been to the mall and throgh mudd and snow on our bike path. I love it!

If your 2 year old has been quiet for a while . . .

You might find this . . .

Or this . . . .

Or this . . .