Hike into the Rocky Mountains

Labor Day weekend we drove to Estes Park and the Rockey Mountains National Park and hiked 3.5 miles into the Rocky Mountains on Lawn Lake Trail We wanted to hike the entire trail to the lake but it was just to much for Radley to do by himself. Radley did hike about 1/3 of it by himself. When Radley got tired, he rode in our framed pack on Robert's back. Robert had to wear him most of the way down because it was too steep and he kept slipping! It was really beautiful and a great way for Radley to learn more about God's creation. Izzy and Maraliese loved the views from mom and dad's carriers. We stopped to have a snack and let the girls move around some. After our hike we walked around Estes Park and ate in a little restaurant and then got some fudge (everyone knows you can't leave a touristy town without getting fudge!) We had so much fun and are hoping to get a few more hikes in before it gets too cold in the mountains.

Daddy with Izzy in our new Babyhawk.

Mommy looks pretty tired! Good thing she has that walking stick!

Izabelle

Maraliese

Taken a break.... having a snack.

Maraliese says "This hiking stuff is great!"

Now if you really want a workout... hike in the Rocky Mountains with a preschooler on your back and a baby on your front!

River flowing from Lawn Lake.

Bridge to cross the river.

Radley... what a trooper. Notice that he has one sock up and one sock down... he wanted them this way! : ) He is so funny!

Raising Children... it's hard!

Mothering is exhausting, frustrating, guilt-inducing, but it is also, wonderful, funny, energizing, and joyful. I have only been a mother for just under three years and I have been challenged in ways I would never have imagined. But I have found that one of the hardest parts about being a mother is the doubt that creeps in from unwanted comments on my parenting or my own unrealistic expectations of what a mother is. I make mistakes everyday, but I am learning and growing and my children love me. Below is my digest of something I read somewhere... I cannot recall where.

God has a unique life plan for each of His children and He needs a variety of parents to raise them. He perfectly matches children to their parents. Therefore, it is important for me to not compare myself to other mothers or my children to other children. I believe it is important to not become a slave to a parenting style, method, or ideology. It is important for me to gather as much information I can, sift if through biblical truth, do what works for our children and our family, and look to God for the final answer.



Although we may not be able to reap all of the rewards from our diligence in parenting, it is nice to have moments were one can see it is all worth it.

The Kid Loves Tomatoes!

We picked our first tomatoes from our garden a few days ago and Radley can't get enough. He eats them faster than we can pick them. Yesterday he picked three cherry tomatoes and eat them all before we could get them in the fridge. I am very thankful that he loves to eat foods that are good for him. It just is not a struggle with him. Now we have our share of struggles and challenges raising this little guy, but eating is just not one of them.

Radley at 9.5 months. pulled a tomato out of the vegetable drawer and started to eat it like it was an apple!

We be Jammin

Summer berries... yum!
So we made jam. We made Mixed berry Jam (strawberry, raspberry, & blueberry),
Blueberry Jam (Robert's favorite), and Pineapple-Strawberry Daiquiri Jam. For those of you who have not made jam, it calls for 1 cup of sugar for 1 cup of berries! So we used unsweetened white grape juice (you can also use apple juice), agave nectar, and Stevia to sweeten our jam. It came out wonderful!

Mexican Celebration!

Here we are out for lunch to celebrate Robert's move to his new shop. It was really, really good food.

Robert and Radley entertaining themselves while we wait for our meals

Izabelle and Maraliese

Mom

Good stuff, eh?

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.