All Dressed Up

My sweet babe ready for church last week.

And one with her sisters and little brother who would not be left out.

And I have to include this one because they both look like they are pondering something

Waimea Valley

We have passes to this beautiful park on Oahu.  There is a one mile hike to a waterfall with gorgeous hawaiian landscaping along the way.  I believe it is one of the most beautiful places on earth and probably my favorite place on the island. 

Outside my window...
There is a bright blue sky, the harbor and green grass and trees.

I am listening to...

Your Great Name, by Natalie Grant on youtube.

I am wearing...
Workout clothes in hopes that it will motivate me to do my after-nap workout.

I am thankful for...

My mom being here to help out.

I am pondering...
.
Simplicity in the home and parenting.
 
I am reading...
.
31 Days to Clean: Having a Mary house the Martha Way by, Sarah Mae
In the kitchen...

I need to clean it up. We had Wendy's for lunch due to a last minute trip to the doctor.

I am creating...

A scarf for when we move back to the mainland and hopefully some felt food for Christmas presents.

Toward a Living Education...

I am trying to do chores along with the children and help them to make sure they are learning to do them properly and we can enjoy some extra time together.

Beauty in the home...

I finally have a cute room decorated for Giddy!

The Church...

There are 2 we like.  I wish we could go to both somehow. 

I am hoping and praying...

That my children grow up to be strong men and women of God.

A few of my favorite things...

Aiden and Anias swaddler blankets, my homemade ring sling and my fancy water bottle. 

A few plans for the rest of the week...

A Savers trip in the morning, swimming lessons on Thursday and ballet on Saturday

A picture thought I’m sharing...

Notes to my future pregnant self

I wanted to make some notes for myself about how to prepare for a new baby if we are blessed with another.

1. Ring Sling and wrap for the first few months.  You will think you want to buy a couple of each of these (or several) to have because they are pretty, but DO NOT.  You will find one that you like and never wear the other ones and be frustrated that you spent the money and cannot resell it for nearly as much as you paid for it.

2.Cloth diapers.  Do not buy anything newborn.  In fact, remember that your babies are quite big and never wear the newborn diapers.  Don't even spend the time to prep them!  Let Sue keep them.  You will want to buy that cute, cute tiny fluff, but remember that it won't get used!  Buy some newborn diapers instead and resign yourself to the fact that by the time you get on your feet enough to use cloth the baby will be in smalls.  Also, don't buy a bunch of different CDs to try.  You won't like them.  You only like fitteds that you make and fuzzi bunz old style.  If you want to make some fitteds, go for it, but don't buy anything new.  You have the FB from Evangeline and Gideon that are gender neutral and just use those!  Make sure to use the very baby pattern when sewing your diapers so that the tabs will be long enough to reach around your chubby baby's waist!

3. Clothes.  You will want to go to Carters and Gymboree and the thrift stores and buy everything that looks cute.  Don't.  All you will want to dress the baby in for 0-3, 3-6 are those onsie and pants outfits, just onsies in the summer, footed light sleepers and those baby gowns.  Have a dress up outfit or 4 for church, but don't go overboard!  The baby will never wear them and you will be taking pictures of them hoping someone will buy them or trying to decide to keep them or who to mail them to.  Not worth it!

4. Coming home outfit.  Do buy or make a cute one!  Your emotional, postpartum self will be devastated and depressed if you do not have something cute to bring the baby home in.  All that money you saved from not buying baby clothes can go in part to a coming home outfit or material.  Remember you really loved that you made Evangeline's outfit and how special that made it.  It was also super, super inexpensive...like less than $2. 

5. Car Seat.  Buy a new one.  You will be over emotional about bringing home the baby in an old, ugly car seat and regret it for years.  Just buy a new one (you'll need one anyway) and avoid all that drama!

6. Baby gear.  Don't buy a swing until you're positive you need it.  E never used it and so it sits in the living room taking up space.  A bouncer is nice for taking showers if Dan will be gone.  You like the fisher price rain forest or aquarium ones.  Just buy one...don't get 2.  You don't have room for 2 and then you will need to figure out where to put them.  Bassinet?  Eh...if you still have one then keep it, but baby will sleep with you so it's not too important. 

7. Blankets.  You have a lot of them.  Don't buy anymore unless this is a boy and you need boy swaddler blankets from A&A. 

8.  Consider not finding out the baby's gender.  It will be really exciting to wait and you will not be tempted to go overboard in shopping for the baby.

Beautiful Kailua Beach Park

My new favorite meals

This first one is easy to make and double for a large family!  We had this for lunch today after ballet and everyone loved it.  

Southwestern 2 Bean Chicken Burritos  (slow cooker)

Ingredients
3 chicken breasts
1 can pinto beans
1 can black beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 jar salsa
1/2 lb. frozen corn (I used organic mixed veggies because I forgot corn and it was just as good)

tortillas
sour cream and avocado (optional)

Directions:
1.Put chicken in slow cooker
2. top with salsa and tomatoes
3. add beans and corn
4. cook on low all day or on high 4-5 hours
5. shred chicken on a plate with 2 forks and put back in slow cooker
6. Use slotted spoon to fill tortillas and top with sour cream and avocado if you want.  


This next one was suggested by a MOMYS and it was a hit around here.  My kids who do not like cauliflower had no idea what was in it and enjoyed it! 

Cauliflower soup

Ingredients
head of cauliflower
chicken broth quart
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup cheese

Directions
1. cut up cauliflower and pour broth over it in a pan.  Heat until soft. 
2. Add salt and pepper to taste (I heard nutmeg is good, too)
3. Stir in cheese
4. Blend in food processor or with immersion blender if you're lucky enough to have one. 
5.  Serve and enjoy.  I guess crumbled bacon is good on it, but I haven't tried it. 

I am making this tonight and adding carrots and broccoli.  I'll let you know how it is. 

Doll Baby

Evangeline is such a sweet little doll baby.  I wish I could express in words how much I love her.  When I look at her I can't even believe she came from me because she is so beautiful!  The brothers and sisters are also head over heels in love.  They ask me to hold her all the time and even Giddy will sit next to her and kiss her over and over. 
She sleeps so well.  I put her for naps in her crib 2-3 times a day and she sleeps like a rock until I come to get her to eat.  We're on such a good schedule that she easily slid into.  She eats every 3 hours, plays for an hour or so after she eats and fusses a little so I swaddle her and cuddle her and she falls asleep easily.  Holding her asleep in the rocking chair is a little bit of heaven. 
We weren't planning for another baby.  In fact, we were thinking that we knew best and should wait a little because Dan would be on deployment and then busy with a big inspection at work.  God had completely different plans and I'm oh so very, very glad he did.  Dan's inspection got cancelled and we have such a precious gift with us.  I get sick to my stomach when I think about not having her with us. 
Her smile just lights up the room.  We talk to her and she loves to hear us say her name.  I will often find a sibling (especially a brother) sitting by her talking to her and see her just grinning at them and cooing. 
I am so humbled.  What did I do to deserve this?  Nothing...that's for sure!!  God is so good.  What a good and precious gift from Him she is.  Each baby that comes I realize this more and more.  I cherish baby-hood more with each new baby.  You will never find me worrying about sleeping through the night or when to stop swaddling.  That time will come soon enough...too soon! These precious babes are only little for such a short time.  For now I will sleep her with me in bed and cuddle her close whenever I can. 

Sister Love

and yes, this is why we do this...

Here is a little mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God, and the body in which it dwells is worth all it will cost, since it is abode of a kingly tenant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all. Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother’s heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, to her most tender cares, to her life~long prayers! Oh how rich I am, how truly, how marvelously blest!
Elizabeth Prentiss Stepping Heavenward