Mini-Stop to Duhn's!

We broke up the drive to Grandpa's Birthday party by stopping at our friend's house for a little slumber party. It had been far too long since we played with the Duhn Family and it was much appreciated! Stacy and I stayed up WAY TOO LATE chatting and trying to catch up for the past 7 or so months that we hadn't seen each other. The kids played together just as nice as three little ones do :) I was so impressed with Lauren who wore underwear on our trip back to Iowa. She did a great job; potty training is going wonderfully!

This is the two of them the last time we hung out!

I think they were catching up too!

Silly Alaina and Lauren

Alaina, Landon, and Lauren. They grow way too fast!

Grandpa's 50th Birthday

Grandpa Larry (my dad) turned the big 5-0 this past weekend. Kyle had to work and I kept going back and forth on whether or not I could tackle the long drive just Lauren and I...so I decided to keep it quiet that I was coming in case it didn't happen. Grandpa and Grandma were quite surprised to hear the doorbell and find Lauren at their doorstep! So not only did I conquer the drive by myself but we also kept a good secret!

Grandma Baker (mom's mom) and Lauren.

Grandma Norma (dad's mom) and Lauren. Lauren just adores her grandparents and sat by Grandma Norma a few times throughout the day.

Don't pass out trying to blow out all the candles!

Lauren's entertainment of the day. Grandpa's old man cane and Curious George slippers!

She sure did stick in her finger in the cake before the party!

Babywearing...

...Gone Bad. Sorry Little Kia that you had to be subjected to riding around in my (clean) underwear!

Allelu, Allelu, Allelu, Alleluia...

Lauren's Response, "Crazy the Lord!"

African Children's Choir

Our church hosted the African Children's Choir this past week. It was an amazing show and we were so grateful to be able to get to know a few girlies by having them stay at our house. Growing up, we had a drumming crew from Tanzania stay at our place. I vividly remember them visiting and want to be able to provide similar experiences from my kids. Lauren had an absolute blast with the 3 girls. The choir travels for around 18 months and then returns to their families (if they have them). They get sponsored along the way and are able to attend excellent schools and eventually college if they desire plus they get to tour the United States! The majority of chaperones are college-age students who have to get 'sponsored' themselves to travel with the crew; what an experience that would be!

Singing a song to all the host families before heading to their next destination.

Sending them off, such a joy to have them stay with us!

They love crafts and were amazed with 'Color Wonder' products.

Taking turns playing with the doodle pad.

Food!

I love food (good food, that is)! After I eat breakfast, I am immediately thinking about what I am going to have for lunch, and then supper. When we are on vacation, I wonder what delicious food we are going to partake in along the way. Food...yum! Here are some of our favorites we have tried lately!

The BEST granola ever!

Sunny Millet topped with strawberries and blueberries

Tempeh Tacos with Black Beans adapted from "Feeding the Whole Family". This is by far my favorite cook book! We have made a multitude of recipes from it: the millet above, falafel, scones, and pizza dough to name a few.

More Tempeh Tacos. Tempeh is soybeans that are pressed together into a brick. Think of tofu but soybeans and not so dense and mushy.

More of the raw granola topped with bananas, blueberries, and almond milk. Best cereal ever!

Our new favorite snack: equal parts yogurt and peanut butter with some cinnamon and things to dip in it.

This is my favorite lunch meal! I use a harvest blend of grains/beans from Trader Joe's (quinoa, cous cous, dried garbanzo beans, and pasta) and then added corn, edamame, raisins, and red onion although you can add whatever you have on hand.

"Vegan Mac and Cheese". We used a mixture of random noodles we had left and added zucchini and hamburger crumbles (gasp!)

New Trick

Lauren learned this on Yo Gabba Gabba. I thought it was so funny when I noticed this on another blog just recently too!

Paint

I have been trying to step out of my comfort zone lately...especially in regards to parenting. There is just something about painting though that really causes me anxiety. So many parents do cool paint projects and I just can't muster up the gumption to do them. As one of my weekly Bible Study goals, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and do a fun activity with Lauren each day that I wouldn't normally want to do (and not dictate how she does it)! There was lots of painting involved and it was okay! We used regular paint and 'pudding paint' but I have a few more ideas up my sleeves as well! We invited our friends/neighbors over for the pudding paint so I could have someone remind me not to tell Lauren how to do it and wait until they were done to clean up.

Painting with finger paints. She actually really enjoyed it but wanted to use a brush instead of her fingers.

Miyah loved it!

Gabby enjoyed her pudding!

Not so keen on the actual 'painting' on the tray but I guess she painted the inside of her mouth!

Getting started! Yum, what is this stuff Mom?

What is something that you like to avoid?? I know many people hate sand!

70's Bushes GONE!!

I am all about embracing the character of your home. Our house is from the 70's and definitely has that vibe. I have kept the original golden harvest stove and bright yellow sink but the nasty shrubs in the front just had to go! I think there was an entire colony of birds living in the one so it was sad to see them go but they will find a new home.

Oh my! How pitiful this house looked. You don't realize all the changes you have made until you see an old picture. The four shrubs all the way in the front were cut down the first week that we lived there. They were those purple prickly ones and far too hazardous for a roaming infant. Kyle also painted the foundation green and the roof and gutters were replaced.

This was our 'side yard' when we first bought it but it does not do justice for how many volunteer shrubs come up in the spring and summer! The garage has been repainted now too.

Our new fence and massive yard that we didn't know we had beyond the shrubs! Can you see Poss the bunny way out there in his cage? There is also a tiny peek of my flourishing garden...we have tons of zucchini.

Gone! And now you can see my lovely blue rain barrel; I need to paint a cool design on that thing! We have future plans to add a raised bed in the front and around the other side with a few perennials and maybe some flowering herbs.

And then the chainsaw broke. Kyle used his pent-up aggression about the breakage to hack the next one down with an ax.

Off with your head!

What it looked like a month ago. Such a weird placement and gap.

Our Mini Iowa Trip

*My pictures are not cooperating. I can't figure out how to rearrange them with my mac so our trip is in reverse order!*

While we were back in Iowa for the 4th of July and Christmas in July, we took a mini-trip to Cedar Falls (Ashley and Karen) and Fort Dodge to visit friends we haven't seen in AGES...(3 years and 4 years to be exact!) It was so great to catch up again although we all mentioned how much you feel like you still know each other through reading blogs.

EVENING

We stopped in Fort Dodge for supper to meet up with my second family! I lived with them for half my senior year when my parents moved near Des Moines. Wouldn't be much fun to move your senior year in High School so I was able to stay back and spilt my year with two families.

Swinging/kicking Bailey!

Ice cream cone #2 for the day. Jordan really enjoyed playing with Lauren, she is ready to be a big sister!

Lonny and Barb had their swimming pool set up so I just put Lauren in her diaper cover and let her have at it. Bailey was such a good sport and let Lauren pour water on her! She is/is going to be a fabulous big sister!

AFTERNOON

We HAD to stop at Four Queens while in Cedar Falls. Oh, how I miss that place. If you know much about me, you know I LOVE LOVE LOVE ice cream. I usually eat a heaping bowl every night before I go to bed but I have been trying really hard to break my habit.

Yummy!

MORNING

Lauren talking with baby Norah.

Lauren, Kyler, and Ayden.

Kyler and Lauren. Lauren was so enamored with Kyler's hat that we had to run to the UNI bookstore after our play date and purchase one ourselves. Good thing that is my alma mater!

Christmas in July

We celebrate Christmas in July with my Mom's side of the family since my Grandma goes South for the winter...(ahhh winter...as I type this in 90 degree heat!). We met at a nice park near my Grandma's house that my siblings and cousins used to play at when we were little. Lauren was absolutely in love with all the playground equipment. She is definitely a daredevil when it comes to climbing and experimenting with slides.

The youngest one...Baby Tucker

Lauren kept playing on this bridge/slide combo at the park. For some reason she was drawn to it and it held her attention for a LONG time. Cousin Ethan watched from a distance for awhile and then decided to join her. It is funny to watch how parent expectations/child's personality determine their 'playground behavior'. Ethan was unsure of the odd contraption in the beginning so I told him to watch Lauren walk across the bridge and down the slide. He held on so tight and was very cautious walking across the bridge which seemed to be okay for him. It was the slide that he just couldn't grasp. The metal slide was really wide so a person could only physically hold onto one edge inside of using both hands on each side. Again, he watched Lauren and then slowly made his way down. The best part though was when he said, "I'm not big enough yet for this slide!" Oh Cousin Ethan, you need to give some of your cautious and safe mentality to Lauren!

Slide time! So glad they don't make hot metal slides anymore.

Going across for the 50th time!

First time eating Jello!

Lauren got into some yarn at my parent's house! Wowzers!