Star Wars Nerds!!

We took a little family field trip down to the Pacific Science Center to see the Star Wars exhibit.  It was pretty cool, full of costumes and puppets from the movie and model space ships that were used in filming.  It was pretty funny, too, to watch a whole bunch of dads drooling over all the stuff, trying to get their kids excited, most of whom had never even seen the movies!  It was one of the first all day outings we had taken Calvin where we were literally "out" all day, not going to someone's house, or spending time with family.  He did great!!  It was the first time we had him in his stroller without the infant carseat, so he got to enjoy looking around, like the big boy that he already is :) 

We also had fun exploring the dinosaur exhibits, butterfly house, and all the other fun stuff there is to do at the science center.  It had been years since Jake or I had been down there, so it was a great day! 



And it wouldn't be a trip to Seattle without going to Top Pot Donuts...one of my favorites :) 

It was a great family day and we can't wait until our next adventure!!

I'm pretty sure...

...I have the cutest, friendliest, sweetest, goofiest little boy in the entire world!! 

How could you not smile at this face? 

I love him!!

I LOVE the ocean!!

We had the chance to get away for a long weekend and take Calvin on his first road trip!  We headed down to Grayland, on the southern Washington coast, to a family cabin with my cousins and their kiddos.  Calvin did great...thankfully, he seems to be an easy traveler! 

I LOVE THE OCEAN!!  It didn't matter that it was freezing cold the entire time.  The sand and the sound of the waves crashing is magical!  Pure bliss :)  And when we weren't at the beach, we had a blast at the cabin with my cousins playing tons of card games, Settlers of Catan, and eating way too much food...including some freshly dug razor clams that the boys caught.  A fabulous trip!!

So happy to be at the beach!!



Out of the Woods??

It has been a long couple of weeks for our little family, but it's looking like we are out of the woods!  We have experienced our first true illness with our sweet boy.  The day after we came home from a great road trip to the coast, he spiked a fever of 102, which lasted a couple days, then were followed by about a week of discomfort, fussing, crying, lack of sleep...many of you have been there.  And then, I got to experience "sick mama" syndrome.  I think there is maybe one time I can remember my mom being sick growing up.  And that's not because she was never sick...it's because the world doesn't stop when moms are sick, like they do when you're a kid.  Baby still needs to be cared for, dishes done, dinner cooked, bathroom cleaned.  I know, I know, sob, sob.  All you moms of many have plenty of sick mama stories, I'm sure.  But it was a first for me, and I am grateful it is nearing an end. 

A couple of sickies :(

One good thing about a sick baby...they are snuggly!!  I can't say I minded having to put things on hold for a couple days and just snuggle with my boy.  A small blessing amidst the ugliness of being sick. 

This is the face of a (mostly) healthy boy!!



The REAL Sock Monkey

Our little sock monkey :) 

We've had to resort to socks on the hands to keep our boy from scratching up his precious little face.  Ever since he was teeny, he has loved being swaddled...loves to be cozy.  But I guess he's growing out of it, because every morning, he has wriggled his way out of it, and his face is all scratched up.  Hopefully socks are an acceptable solution :) 

Perfect Design

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful."  Psalm 139:13

Watching our little boy grow has me utterly convinced that God designed us perfectly...better than any of us could have done.  Watching my belly grow as he developed from the size of a pumpkin seed to an 8 pound, 1 ounce bundle of joy, and now watching him transition from a baby to a little boy.  Amazing!  Each stage is amazing and leaves me in awe of God's perfect plan.  Take eating for example...I am so thankful God saved us from the embarrassment of learning how to eat at any stage of life other than babyhood.  At what other stage could it be adorable to allow food to dribble down your face, all over your clothes.  I mean, we even take pictures of it!   

How cute is he??  :)

Can you imagine as a 25 year old, sitting in a restaurant, and every spoonful of food you put into your mouth, you push out with your tongue and let it dribble down your chin?  Not so adorable...I don't think anyone would be taking pictures :)

And take teething!  Lord, thank you for including teething in our lives at such an early age, so we don't remember it.  It just seems miserable!  I keep telling Calvin that daddy and I went through the same thing and we don't remember any of it.  I'm pretty sure he hears me, but I'm not sure he understands :)  You can all be praying for us as we go through this stage :) 

Thank you, Lord, for the way you perfectly designed each one of us.  We can't wait to watch our little boy continue to develop into who You want him to be! 

I Love Homemade!!

So I have been really getting in to making more things homemade.  I still have a long ways to go, but I find great joy out of making something from scratch, especially when it makes it more healthy, and cheaper!!  I love replacing something that typically comes from a can, with something fresh and delicious and homemade! 

I stumbled across a friend's recipe for homemade refried beans and cooked them up today.  They were soooo good!!  I had made refried beans before, because I've become a HUGE fan of beans (so, so cheap!! and healthy!!).  But this recipe was for enough to put in the freezer so I can have them on hand.  I haven't eaten any that have been frozen yet, but the fresh ones are AMAZING!!  So flavorful, so fresh, so wonderful!!  But the GREATEST thing about this recipe was that the beans are cooked in the crockpot!!  If you are friends with me on facebook, you have seen my many, many comments referencing my love for all things crockpot.  If you don't own one, get one...go, get one now!!  Throwing ingredients together in the morning and having a fresh cooked, delicious meal that evening without even having to think about it is nothing short of a miracle :) 

I hope my friend doesn't mind, but I thought I'd share the recipe so you all could enjoy the goodness!!

Homemade Refried Beans

6 cups dry pinto beans
9 cups water (may need more during cooking process)
1 diced onion
1 jalapeno, diced (I actually didn't have one on hand, so I didn't add)
4 T. garlic, minced
8 t. salt
1 T. pepper
1/4 t. cumin

Put all ingredients together in your crockpot.  Cook on low for 8-9 hours, or on high for 4 hours.  Once beans are softened, mash to desired consistency.  I actually used the food processor and it was WAY easier than mashing :)  I added some shredded cheddar cheese.  I'm told the beans can be bagged and put in the freezer, which I will be experimenting tonight. 

Enjoy!!  Oh, and if any of you have any delicious homemade, low budget recipes, please share them!!  Help me keep my family healthy, and save some money!!