I Finally Found Time

One of these days I may be able to blog more regularly, so I'm sorry to anyone who actually looks at my blog for being so boring! I promise in our day to day lives we are not boring, just supper busy. But I think things are finally calming down and we can just relax a little. Since March we have had several out of town trips (Hot Springs, Austin, Destin), 3 weddings, multiple showers, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Birthday parties. Now our calendar looks very empty and that feels great. I'm ready to just spend some time at home.

Here are a few of this years bluebonnet pictures. I actually managed to get a couple cute shots even though neither kid wanted to cooperate!

Dylan celebrated her 4th Birthday in May. We had her Hello Kitty party at home with family and friends. The kids had a great time playing in the kid size pool and slip-n-slid. Very refreshing on a warm May day. She had so much fun she is already planning her next Birthday party.

Here are a couple pictures taken at Tami and Heath's rehearsal dinner.

Here is Dylan right before the wedding. I can't believe how grown up she looks. She was suppose to be the flower girl in the wedding but got cold feet right before she was suppose to walk down the isle. The wedding was beautiful and everyone had a great time.

Miles is already 8 months old. He is weighing around 20lbs, has 4 teeth and eats solids once a day. He crawls everywhere, pulls up on everything and keeps us all on our toes. I had to jump out of the shower 5 times last night to keep him either out of something he shouldn't be in or keep him off the step to the bathtub. Dylan is starting to learn if she doesn't want Miles to play with her toys she has to keep them in her room or up really high.

Despite how busy we have been we are having a great summer. I'm enjoying every moment I can with these two precious kids because they are growing up so fast. Abe and I are so blessed.

Must See Documentary

I highly recommend seeing this documentary. I don't know how I missed hearing about it since it has been out since 2008 and I am constantly reading about food and the food industry. For those who have never spent any time researching where their food comes from it can be a real eye opener.

I think the biggest misconception is people think the food they purchase at the grocery store or restaurant is safe; otherwise, our government would not allow it to be put on the shelves and bought by the consumer. WRONG! This is so far from the truth. Most of our food (unless you buy organic or research the company you're buying from) is filled with antibiotics, steroids, pesticides, numerous chemicals and other artificial additives.

My hope is that people will open their eyes to this scary truth, do their research and start making better food choices.

Quick Update

Ok, I know I have been horrible about blogging lately but I do have a good excuse. It is called a toddler and a 4 month old. I went back to work about 1 month ago and became busier than I ever though I could be. My day begins no later than 5:30am (sometimes earlier, if Miles decides his day needs to begin before then) and I am basically non-stop until I go to bed. I have more sleep deprivation now than I did when Miles was first born. I think the only thing or things that gets me through it is knowing that it will not always be this way, his smile and coffee.

Miles had his 4 month checkup the other day and is doing great. He is 14 lbs and 10 oz, 26 inches long. His doctor wanted to know what I was feeding him and I proudly responded "all breastmilk". He rolled over last night for the first time. Big Sister was cheering him on. He realized last week that he has feet and loves to play with them. He also out grew his baby tub and has been taking a bath with his sister. They both love that.

Dylan is growing into such a "big girl". Where did my baby go!! She likes her school and goes to ballet class on Saturdays. It is so much fun watching all the little girls run around in their little tutu's.

We have a busy few months ahead of us. We have two trips planned. One to Hot Springs, AR with Mom and Tommy. And then to Florida for my cousin, Hillary's, wedding. My sister is getting married in May, so I'll be busy helping out with wedding stuff.

I'll try to post some recent pics soon.

Christmas

Well, Christmas has come and gone again this year. Is it just me or does it seem to go by faster every year? We had a wonderful Christmas or should I say a wonderful 6 Christmas's. Yes, you read right. I have to be honest; as wonderful as it was to get to see everyone I am so glad it is over. It is not easy traveling back and forth with an infant. Next year will be much easier.

We started our celebration the weekend before at Grandad and Ann's house in Kemp. Grandad's brother, Scotty, joined us this year. It was nice to see Randy and Emmy. Emmy was in wonderful spirits, having just started her chemotherapy the day before. Of course, my dad and Joy were there and Tami and Health made it in from Houston just as we all sat down for our traditional lobster dinner. Yummy! I can't believe I did not take any pictures. I love taking pictures of food.

After filling our bellies with food and wine we drove to Dad's house to open presents. It was a little rushed but after all it was late and I had to get the kids to bed. Dad ended up getting me a Belgian waffle maker. I took that as a hint that he would like his back!

We spent the night at Maw Maw's and had Christmas with my mom, Tommy, Maw Maw, Tami and Heath the next day.

Despite the fact that it was snowing and the weather reports were not very promising for the Denton area, on Christmas Eve we loaded up again and drove to Kaufman to see more of my family. We met everyone at the Catholic church's center in Terrell were we mingled with family we have not seen in a year, ate, drank and ate some more. We didn't stay too long because I was anxious to get back home due to the weather. It took us two hours to get home (it normally takes only an hour) and two crying kids nearly the entire way!
The week before Christmas, Dylan and I made reindeer cookies. She is very proud of hers!

Christmas day we were able to spend at home. My mom and Maw Maw came over to hang out and bring food. It was a very nice relaxing day.

Abe and Dylan played in the snow Christmas morning.

The next day we traveled once again to Kaufman to see Abe's family. We hung out most of the day with them, spent the night and had our official Christmas celebration with all the Rodriguez's on Sunday morning. David cooked omelets. Raquel coordinated a "white elephant" gift exchange for the kids. It has been so much fun watching this family grow. When Abe and I first started dating there were no grandkids. Now there are 15!

And that brought our Christmas festivities to an end. What a busy fun filled year. We are so blessed to have such wonderful families.

Vegan Cookies

I came across an amazing vegan cookie recipe in my Vegetarian Times magazine the other day. Dylan and I had fun baking the cookies together. (Recipe to follow at the end.)

So here is the final product. The color was a little off but they still tasted great. What happened was, in step 4, you need to let the dough cool for 10 minutes. Well, 10 minutes was not long enough and when we folded in the chocolate chips they melted.

I would like to try this recipe again, omitting the chocolate chips and maybe adding raisins in their place.

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/10870?section=