Eat the Rainbow

I have so many things on my to-do list, summer bucket list, fix-it list, read it list.  Oh my.  Every once in a while I step back far enough to complete something off one of my lists.

My kids are not the type to say ooh what other healthy food can I have today :) But they can be convinced to try new things, sometimes.  Things move the best when there is a little forethought.  Forethought for me usually should happen when it is A. quiet enough for me to think through something OR B. when the children are asleep, usually at night while prepping for the next day, which is a joke right now because by brain and body for that matter shut down about 8:01pm- no rational, productive thoughts happen for me.  Full conversations can be had with my husband that I have no recollection of.  I need to figure out how to actually go to bed soon after that because that would be a way more efficient use of time for me.

So in the quest to live a healthier life style we have started to purchase most of our produce from a local farm in Brenham.  Once a week we pick up a portion of veggies and fruit and I do my best to improvise meals with new to us, veggies.  I remembered years ago, I think, HEB came out with the food chart for kids but made it fun with eating colored food.  While I get that by eating one of each of these colors by no means translates to eating a balanced diet, it does encourage my kids to eat other foods and quickly becomes a game of "hurry, get me something green to eat so I can fill in the last circle!"  To that I say SCORE!

Feel free to download your own.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6OgpX_YSunPUG9feFltTTNrdkU/edit?usp=sharing
Here is a circle chart in case anyone is confused as to what fits in which color category.   I did split up the yellow and orange category to try to squeeze one more piece of healthy into them.
I found it at Life Hacker.

Praying for Goats

Is this our new home?

For as long as I can remember I have wanted a home that was the "party house" but maybe not in the way you think.  I have wanted the home that all the kids want to be.  The home where my kids would want to invite their friends.  The home that friends could come and fellowship.  The home where we could serve those who need it.  A home that is warm and fun but most of all loving.

Oh what a wonderful mother she will be!

Mr. Rule-follower in the
background

 

 

 

My dream has morphed over the years as our family has grown to 6!  I still look around sometimes and think...I have FOUR kids.  When did that happen?  I am an only child.  My childhood was great.  We were able to travel.  I was able to sign up and participate in any activity that my heart contended.   It was great but now I literally miss something I don't have.  I miss marriages and late night phone calls.  It's very odd and I wonder how I might be different if I had a sibling.  I of course would not be the same person I am today.  I have some amazing friends that truly step up into these shoes and am beyond thankful for that.  I wanted my kids to have siblings, memories of crazy fun days and adventures and vacations, a support system of best friends.

Sometimes love looks like this

Sometime love looks like this!

Now I'm not so naive to think that they will all be these truly bonded, all get along gang but we're doing everything in our power to build that bond now.  We are attempting to teach them how to serve others; to understand and learn to embrace the qualities of Christ that we should exude everyday.  My husband is probably the biggest cheerleader I have ever met.  He is full of encouragement and kind words  and love that I know have rubbed off on me and I'm beginning to see glimpses of it in my kids- that is when they're not at each others throats. Perhaps there are more friends to come because when God said Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit I believe this begins a home.  I believe that as Christians it is our one and only purpose on Earth...to tell others about Jesus.  To truly see His Glory and love others. 


You never know what God has planned for our story.  We're just along for the ride.

So as our dream has changed over the years it now comes complete with chickens, goats, a huge vegetable garden, a pond that we could fish in everyday of the year and an abundance of love that anyone who needed some could come for visit!  This is what I'm praying for.  A home that we can serve our family, our friends, our kids friends, our church family and our community.  So now I wait, I pray, I seek Him, I attempt to listen through the busyness that surrounds me.  I just lean into Him.

Upcoming Event: Painting Shirts and Making Flower Hair Clips!

Faith Bible Church will be hosting a Girls' Night Out with an evening of learning how to paint t-shirts like a pro.  These will make great Christmas presents.

Faith Bible Church
Tuesday, November 14th
7-9pm
B211/212

a little bit about the Shirts
BYOS (Bring Your Own Shirt) and we'll provide everything else.  The painting technique that we will use is the freezer paper, trace, cut out, iron on and paint!  Confused yet?  It is very easy, super fun and very addictive.  Check out this website... http://www.iammommahearmeroar.net/search/label/freezer%20paper%20stenciling a tutorial to see if it's what you're looking for.

Here are some examples of shirts!



A fairly easy firecracker shirt for 4th of July!



A more complex big brother/big sister shirts!

A little man's onesie.

About the flower hair clips and holders....
We will be assembling flower hair clips and geber daisy clips holders.  The flower hair clips are $0.25 and the holders are $1. 

A diaper cake made for a baby shower. 
 

 

 Please contact Mikey Johnson @ aggiem98@hotmail.com if you have any questions!

Relay for Life 2012

For the past 3 years Richard has chaired the Relay for Life event and The Cattle Barron's Ball.  Both fund raisers for American Cancer Society.  This year was a time for rest in the chairing huge events and just hanging with our Faith Family!  It was a sweet time.

Spiderman, kind of...

Some Summer Fun

We have found the perfect fishing hole!  Big cats, bass and koi!

 We headed to the zoo after one of the Mom & Me events just didn't happen.  Rich surprised the kids and hung out with us for the afternoon!

Little drummer boy!

This was the monkey exhibit.  Super awesome but some covering of the eyes was necessary.  Those monkeys' are naughty.

A Little Trip Disney Style

We have been truly blessed by Richard's business that gives it's advisors opportunities to earn trips-crazy awesome trips.  It took a few years to qualify but I think it makes us appreciate it so much more.  This trip was a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas!

Cast off party on the main deck.

The plane to Orlando was amazing!  Touch screen and directv.  Made for a fast flight.

Boarding the big boat!

The chandelier in the foyer of the boat.

Mom take a picture of that real pirate boat!!

Goofy Golf on the top deck!

Heading out to sea!  Dolphins were swimming by the side of the boat.

 

Happy Birthday Frita!

The kids play in the activity center!

Frita's bed actually came down from the ceiling.

Notice the room divider (a curtain).  It was a first for us-all in one room.

Snow  Sand Angel- Can you tell we're from Texas?

Heading to Nassau

A little straw market.

Ah Starbucks!  My one pet peave is descent coffee on vaca.

 So back when we honeymooned in the Bahamas we took the public transportation.  Only $1/person to ride along with Bob Marley.

The hugemongous bridge that I thought was a good idea to walk over with the kids to see Atlantis.  Needless to say we took a cab back to the boat.

Pirate Night on the boat.

Every night we'd come home to a different critter made out of  towels.  The monkey was defintely my fave.

 The kids slide.  Frita is going forward and Bub is not.   Poor guy.

My big 4 year old!!

This was the last night and poor Bub did not eat much.  Little did we know we would wake up to a little man throwing up in our bed.  Let's just say we had fun going through customs, the 1 hour to the airport, 5 hours waiting for our flight and 2 hour flight home was not documented.  Survival mode took over and we made it home in one piece!

And then there was Pappasito's. 

Grammy got to hang with Sam all week.