ZOO

We were in need of a fun day away. So we spent a few hours at the Zoo. It was a great day. The sun was shining, but the Zoo has lots of shade as you walk so we were able to stay cool and keep from getting burnt. The girls slept most of the time. Radley had so much fun, but not as much fun as Robert and I had listening to his comments as we walked through the Zoo. Radley quotes:

Lions: "can I go in there with them, daddy?"
Gorilla: after asking Radley if the gorilla was really big, he commented, "and he has a big bottom too, mama!"
Turkey: "Hi! What's your name?"
And he kept asking "can I ride the prairie goats?" I am not sure what a prairie goat is, but apparently they are at the Denver Zoo and they are ridable.... as least that is what Radley insisted.

Radley watching the Elephants

Feeling at home at the Zoo

Izabelle taking a snooze

Six Months Old!

Our sweet girls are 6 months old today! On one hand it seems like yesterday that we brought them home, but it has also gone by very slowly at times.

They both can sit really well. I contribute their excellent balance to Radley's unbridled energy that ends in steamrolling several times a day.

Izzy and Mara are also mobile! Yikes! Two babies... two directions. They are all over place by getting up on all fours and throwing themselves forward!

Izabelle is very vocal. She loves to scream... when she is happy, sad, angry, and for seemingly no reason. Maraliese loves to stick her tongue out all the time. I wouldn't say one is more this or that. They are both pretty active, just not as much as their brother (thankfully, a family really should have only one Radley!).

Right now Maraliese weighs about 5oz more and is 1/2 in longer. Both are peanuts and under the 25%.

They love to get raspberries on their bellies.... preferably from daddy and Radley. By the way, they adore Robert and he is a sucker!

I have a feeling the next six months will fly by!


Izabelle


Maraliese


I love you, sis!


Hey, give me that brush!


They sleep together. Every night I put them on opposite ends of the crib so they have some room and they always scoot right next to each other. So cute!

Goodbye Eden... we love you!

We said goodbye to Eden a couple days ago. She was adopted by a great family. A grandma, her daughter, and 17 yr old grandson. They have a fenced in back yard and love her very much. We needed to find a new home for her because Radley and her just couldn't co-exist. It breaks my heart... she was my first baby. We had her for 5 years. But I didn't have the time to play with her or take her for walks, so I know she is happier. We will miss her very much, but have great memories.

Summer Days

Izabelle

Maraliese


Radley weed wackin'... the concrete, not the grass... of course!








Time for a picnic lunch


Radley's Instruments.
The first three... guitar, drum, and piano.
In case you need help with the the ones on the right.
top: Trumpet; bottom: Sliding Trombone; right: Saxophone.
What can I say, the kid has an imagination.

Most days we have a pretty laid back morning. After breakfast, Radley watches a bit of cartoons. We don't have cable, but we have rabbit ears and we get the PBS staion. Radley loves Curious George, Thomas the Train, and Clifford. We go outside everyday and play in the back yard. Radley plays in his sandbox or with his dump truck and weed wacker. The girls just hang out and watch their brother! In the afternoons we walk down to the little park/playground. When we are inside for Izzy and Mara's naps, Radley finds new things to do everyday. Making Instruments, playing with cars and tools. But he loves to play baseball, basketball, and soccer inside!!! It can get crazy! We always get some coloring or painting in. I try do some crafts, but we have been outside a lot lately so we don't do as much as we use to. About 2-3 times a week we do a Bible lesson. I really want to incorporate a Bible lesson everyday... soon. But there are still those days were I am so tired that we all stay in our pjs all day!

New Job!

Robert moved to a new shop! Yeah! We have been waiting for this for a long time! His new job should be more challenging and fun for him. This job also gives him great experience he can use in the civilian world if we choose that route. Mostly, I am pumped about the new schedule. Robert was working 6:30am to 7:30pm Wednesday - Saturday. Now he works Monday - Friday 6:30am - 4/4:30pm. We can have dinner as a family every night and I finally have help with the tub and bedtime routine. Although I have made it through (only by God's grace) the hardest part of twinfants' first year, bath and bedtime is still a challenge all by myself. I was concerned the week would seem longer now that he works 5 days instead of 4, but it flew by! Radley had been saying "your home daddy" at every dinner. It's pretty cute! Robert wants to celebrate by going out for Mexican... surprising!

"Happy Birthday USA" ...

... that is what Radley said all day, waving his flag! We had a pretty laid back 4th. We just hung out at home, played outside, and relaxed. Robert grilled Chili-Lime Chicken Kabobs, Veggie Kabobs, and Corn on the Cob. I made a vanilla creme cheese pudding with strawberries and blueberries. Robert and I watched a few fire works outside our house, but we put the kids to bed at 7pm and 7:30pm. I know... party poopers! We almost woke Radley up. Poor kid!

Bread, Bread, and more Bread

I started baking all of our bread. We decided to do this because the stuff in most commercial breads should not be put in our bodies and it is way cheaper to bake it myself. We have been making a big effort to eat healthy whole foods and to do this frugally.

Bonus... what is better than fresh bread out of the oven. I am very much an amateur, but the bread goes fast and I am enjoying the challenge. It has been very rewarding for me.


The Apprentices




I start by grinding wheat berries into the flour.
The bread is so fresh this way and I know exactly what is in it.




kneading the dough... gotta love modern convince.

The bread baking pros are looking down their noses at me.




100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread





Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread






Classic Sourdough Boule

I used my own sourdough starter. That was fun... for a few days, I thought I may be making beer instead of sourdough starter.



I also baked some cracked wheat and flaxseed rolls that I brought to a potluck... forgot to get a pic. They turned out pretty good. My plan is to bake one day a week and freeze the dough so we can have fresh bread several times a week.

My grandma gave me the loaf pans awhile ago and it feels great to be baking our bread in pans she used for her family. I hope she is proud.