One word

Amazing!

To explain the picture, can't keep it to one word.  David's sister and her husband adopted 3 children and they already have 3 of their own.  What's the best word to describe this?  Amazing.  If anyone would have the courage and love to do this, it is them.  We are excited to get to know our new nieces and nephews and cousins!

Sweet 6

A way over due post, but our sweet Kylie turned the "sweet 6" in August (and, in case you are wondering, in our eyes, she'll never be old enough for it to be her "sweet sixteen" birthday).

She never ceases to amaze us with her curiosity, kindness and cleverness. She is always processing information - noticing relationships, cause/effects and conclusions. You can't hide anything from this girl. Her memory is beyond sharp. She is a great little mommy, big sister and friend. She will never pass up a snuggle and pushes her bedtime further and further back. She complains about doing homework, but once started, it is hard to pull her away from it. Her reading skills have flourished quickly, I think it is due to scripture reading every night.

She loves to work outside with daddy and get greasy. She always has a question to ask (sound like anyone?). She has quite the appetite and can eat more than David, but has all the energy to work it off. Dancing is one of her favorite pastimes. Crank that music up and she is good to go! Drawing and writing also make it on that list. I love getting her notes and drawings that say the same thing every time "I love you Mommy. You are the dest (she still gets her 'd's and 'b's messed up sometimes) mommy ever." Then she'll draw a picture of her and I. The drawings are more detailed each time, sometimes with the color, other times with the technique. She loves being with her family whether it be just us or her cousins, grandparents or aunts/uncles - she loves it ALL!

We love her and will keep her FOREVER!

Just to clarify

A few were wondering about the previous post, so here it goes:

1. My loot doesn't always look like this each week. Sometimes it is chicken heavy (because that's the meat we eat around here) or produce heavy or just even amounts of every thing.

2. I don't buy only the processed foods. I buy organic and whole grain as well.

3. I always have enough produce to have a fruit and/or vegetable at every meal (yes, even breakfast).

4. I have been stockpiling (or in our church we call it food storage) for awhile now, so I already lots of beans, rice, pasta, spices, canned meats, fruits/veggies and other basic items.

5. Any other questions?

We are on a serious diet

Financial diet, that is.

$50 a week on everything except gas. Groceries, toilet paper, paper towels, hygiene items...everything.

Here is what I did for $27.58 last week,


but then went to Whole Foods to snag a few things like 8-pack of yogurt for $1, 2 bags of chips for $2.69 and 2 cereals for $3.

I have always been fairly good, but, now I am going to get really good. If we run out of something, I'll use my food storage and get creative. And now I am motivated to re-plant our garden.

Instead of this being stressful, I'll think of it as a competition - Me vs. Me. I have a pretty good chance of winning this one.

Training Module #3 - BodyCombat

This past weekend was an amazing training session for my 3rd LesMills program - BodyCombat. It is a mixed martial arts group exercise class. The goal is to make the class authentic as possible, so our technique has to be right on. We went through drills upon drills of an array of disciplines like boxing, karate, muay thai, kickboxing, MMA, taekwondo and others. Talk about sore shoulders, trapezoids, rhomboids and glutes.

I would love a group to practice on...anyone willing? Come on, we don't look scary.

While Ashlyn was snoozin'....

the rockstars were rockin'....

It's all Greek to Me

Okay, well not all...but Mediterranean nonetheless.

I love making fresh pita. It is versatile and yummy. We make (and devour) gyros, hummus or just plain tzatziki (love, love, love me some tzatziki!) with them.

Tonight I am going to try this Lebanese recipe. Who knows, maybe I will just lick the tzatziki sauce off the meatballs.