Raw Green Smoothies

The girls and I have been so inlove with making raw green smoothies in the morning for breakfast! Obviously, it’s an amazing way to start off the day (so many servings of fruit and veges all at once – including spinach (which is amazing for you)). Anyways, there are a million different ways to make them....but this is how the girls and I have been making them:

1 c. water
1 big handful of spinach
1 banana

Then you can add whatever fruits and veges in your house (cucumbers, oranges, apples, etc.)

Blend it all up! A perfect start to a day!

(If you or your kids need to adjust to the taste – my sister-in-law gave me the idea of adding apple juice to sweeten it up a little and then gradually cutting the apple juice out - or just always keep the apple juice in there - I still think it's great for you with it in there)

Making the smoothie....

An Answer to My Prayers

Right now I am a pianist in the Relief Society.

“I didn’t know you play the piano,” is probably what a lot of you are thinking. Well, I don’t. I am learning.

Since I don’t have a piano and I have felt strongly that the Lord wants me to learn (and I've just always wanted a piano in our home), a few weeks ago, I started praying for one. It’s not in our budget right now to buy a used piano for $1000 or whatever (there are free ones on craigslist – but there are reasons they are free!).

About two weeks ago, a neighbor that I don’t know very well came over to my home to inform me that she was having a garage sale in a couple of weeks. After she told me that, she mentioned that she had a piano she was selling for $100 and asked if I wanted it. Without missing a beat I replied, “YES!” She looked at me surprised and said, “Well, you can come look at it first.” I agreed to look at it first but I knew that she was a direct answer to my prayers! The Lord does hear our prayers and continually blesses us with His tender mercies.

The girls just love the piano - I love hearing them play and sing!! Today we actually got the piano - Angela played the piano for quite awhile and then we had to leave to run some errands. The moment we returned home and walked into the house, Angela ran over screaming of joy to the piano. She couldn't wait to pick up where she left off :) Here Angela is belting it out while she plays :)


Carolyn loves music. She used to tell me that she wanted to learn how to play the flute. She still wants to play the flute - but now tells me that she wants to learn how to play every instrument there is. I think a piano is a good place to start :)

Best Day Ever

Yesterday morning one of the first things Carolyn said was, "This is the best day ever, right?!"

It was Daddy's birthday! Carolyn has been looking forward and preparing for this day for weeks now....she has been drawing pictures for dad; she picked out a gift for him at the dollar store weeks ago; and she has been planning fun little surprises for him. We sure love that Andrew of ours :)

Here Carolyn is drawing one of her many pictures for dad. This one is a picture of him with her.... Carolyn couldn't decide what kind of cake dad would want - so we made him two. One basketball cake:
And one green cake. Carolyn decorated this one all by herself!! (I helped a little with writing "DAD" on it -but she did the rest! She said is was the most beautiful cake - I totally agree :)
The cake in the making...



Andrew is the best!!! I love that we could just focus on him yesterday and celebrate his amazingness! Here is one thing out of many that we said we loved about Andrew....

Carolyn: Daddy gives me loves

Angela: Daddy - loves!

Jannie: He's funny - he makes me laugh a lot

We love you, Andrew!

Garden Grown Goodness :)

Although our garden is a bit sad looking, I am so proud of the delicious products it brings! I mean, what beats eating fresh veges from the garden for breakfast?

Homemade Refried Beans

I love my sister, Michelle's recipe for homemade refried beans. So much more tasty, healthy, and cheaper than store-bought:

Ingredients

1 onion, peeled and halved
3 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed
1/2 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon (or 3 cubes) chicken bouillon
1 3/4 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
Cilantro
9 cups water

Directions
1. Put all ingredients in a slow cooker. Pour in the water and stir to combine. Cook on High for 8 hours, adding more water as needed. Note: if more than 1 cup of water has evaporated during cooking, then the temperature is too high.

2. Once the beans have cooked, strain them, and reserve the liquid. Mash the beans with a potato masher, adding the reserved water as needed to attain desired consistency.

We put the delicious refried beans in our homemade 100% wholewheat tortillas for lunch...so good and healthy!

We're Back!

Last week we returned from 3 weeks of non-stop fun in Utah! I can't believe how fast the time went and how much we did in that time period...I didn't even get to have our yearly reunion with my dear friends, Laurie and Shauna (I'm so sorry - I'll be back soon and will definitely do it then - I miss you guys!). I am so blessed to have such an amazing family I am so close to - it was fun!

The first week Andrew joined us girls for a Kim Reunion. All of Andrew's siblings and spouses were able to make it to at least some of it - it was a great reunion! We were only there for some of the reunion - we were so glad that we could make it to some of it!

Crafts...

Celebrating the 24th of July....




The Pirate Party! We spent a few days at a big house in Park City...this is our Pirate Party there...




Ponka was a great head Pirate in the party! The girls just love their Ponka...Carolyn loves the fact that she is "Ponka's Girl" - and no one else's girl (she'll tell you that). Here the kids are playing with Ponka.



It was so fun for all the cousins to be together! The girls had a blast with them!
The treasure! Andrew's parents put a lot of work into the fun party - there was even a treasure hunt...

Carolyn got her "Arrrr" face down!!! Notice it in all the pics of her :)



"Arrrr"
Giggles...enjoying the loot the kids found (AKA candy :)
One of the days with the Kims, we went to the lake. We played in the sand, had a BBQ, went on jet skis, etc.

A few of these pictures came from other people (thanks!) Janeil took the picture above of the jetski (thanks!!) and Misty took this picture I LOVE...blowing kisses...
There is property close to Andrew's parents where the girls always go with Ponka and Nana to feed the geese and horses... I can't believe I didn't take a picture of Kayla and Carolyn. Carolyn loves Kayla and is always talking about her and asking when we're going to Washington to visit her and the other cousins there.

After a week of fun with the Kims, Andrew took off back to work and us girls stayed in Utah and went to spend two weeks with my family.

One of the days we hiked the canyon close to my home that I would love riding my bike to and hiking when I lived in Utah. It was so fun to bring the girls to share it with them. I was sooo surprised by what great hikers they were!! We made it all the way to the stream!!! Of course, my dad led us in the hike. If you know how my dad, you know how much hiking is a part of his life. I've climbed many mountains in my day with him :) I love his great love and appreciation for Heavenly Father's beautiful creations he made for us to enjoy.

Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point...


We also went to This is the Place...another traditional spot for my family :) Look at that little grin on Angela's face...the girls love riding on Grandpa's shoulders...




Carolyn "in trouble" at school...Carolyn can't wait to start kindergarten so she loved seeing how school went for the pioneers....


Grandpa and some of of grandkids infront of my dad's dream house :) (No joke)
They had several new additions to the park this year...on the little new train there....never thought it would be such a thriller ride for kids...this picture says otherwise :)


Reading with Grandma. Carolyn and my mom grew very close during the trip....she wanted Grandma (or Aunt Andrea) to put her to bed every night....Grandma would spend almost an hour at night telling Carolyn bedtime stories that Carolyn just LOVED....Here Grandma and Angela are reading together. Grandmas are the best :)
We got to go to Michelle's beautiful new home a few times when we were out there! It was so fun! Michelle and I talk atleast one time everyday - but it was so nice to talk in person and all day long together!



Jax and Carolyn reuniting....Best Friends :)



Grandma and Grandpa had a new little addition to the house this year - a turtle. The girls loved Stinky. (Look how long and beautiful Angela's hair is getting..)
Being silly...
My mom passed several things on to Andrea, Michelle, and me. One of them - costumes!!! She passed on old costumes we used for dance and halloween! It was esp. fun to see the girls wear my old dance costumes!
On the swing...
More dress-ups....


Superman and ballerina...

Angela's ballerina pose...I love this little sweety!!!! She really knows how to get into the moves :)

Of course, the girls just fell inlove with Andrea....whenever she is around I wonder how I do anything without her -she is so sweet and helpful!

The girls also just love Uncle Richy!!!! Non-stop silliness when he is around! Angela loved yelling, "Richy!!" when he'd walk into a room and then she'd run away...it made me laugh :)


Swinging at Grandma's house (this is the same swing my grandma had when I was little that I loved swinging on when I'd visit).

Angela was inlove with little Cooper....she just needs to learn how to express that love for him...this picture shows her doing a great job at showing that love, though...we love you Cooper :)

The last day/night we were there, Grandpa put on a Cousin Campout! So much fun! A hike around Silver Lake....

We also made hiking sticks, told camp stories, ate hotdogs/marshmellos around campfire, did crafts, sang songs, played games, slept in a tent, etc., etc. So much fun and a huge high-light for the girls!!!!

The hotdog eating winner! (Although none of us knew there was a competition going on...) this little one year old ate 5 hotdogs. Richard kept making a hotdog for himself and as soon as Cooper would see it, Richard would give up another hotdog for his cute little nephew!! Sheesh! I never knew someone could eat so many hotdogs in one sitting :)
Wildlife at the campout (Stinky the turtle)....
Hiking around with Grandpa....
Grandpa holding a Cousin Camp meeting :) What a fun grandpa :)


What a fun trip!!!!!!!!!!! Carolyn keeps asking when we're going back.