Picking Strawberries

Summer just wouldn't be summer without some fresh picked Strawberries!

On a beautiful day in June I packed up the boys and my mom,  and we headed out for an adventure into the strawberry patch!

This was my mom's first experience picking strawberries - I was glad she could join us on her first adventure strawberry picking!!  I love my mom...she wore her gloves to protect her sweet little hands.  

Big D couldn't decide which strawberry to eat first?  Most of the strawberries went straight into both boy's mouths!

On this adventure Lil D was Nana's big helper.  He carried the basket for her wherever she went.  

My favorite picture!  

The sky was so blue and there was not a cloud anywhere to be seen.

Strawberry Jam Time!!

Once we arrived home laden with strawberries, it was time to make Jam!!!

Of course I had never made jam before, so I had to buy some canning supplies and read up on the technique of canning.

I already had a recipe picked out, I just had to keep telling myself... you can do this!!!

And I did!

Here is my final product!  I made six cans of jam!

Since we have been eating REAL FOOD or whole foods lately, I wanted to make some jam with no refined sugars or pectin.  I found a simple recipe for Strawberry Honey Jam that turned out really yummy!  The boys did not help out with this project, because I wanted to really concentrate on what I had to do, and I didn't want to mess up the whole canning process.

Fun books about Jam that we read!!!

Big D loves this story a lot!  It's a fun, quirky story about wasps invading a town, and the townspeople make a GIANT jam sandwich to catch all the wasps.

Lil D really likes the rhyming and pictures in this book!

 If you like canning goodies, and are pretty good at it, I would love to get any tips or great recipes.  I'm pondering the possibility of canning tomatoes from my garden this summer??

Enjoying my Summer with the Family!  Hope you are too!!!!

Blessings!

~Christine

Eating REAL Food!

It has been a while since I posted anything.  I took a much needed break from blogging and computer stuff.   Sometimes blogging can consume my life and it takes away precious time that I could be spending with my family.  I'm now back and I have lots to share!!

The title of my post says it all!  We have thrown out all processed food stuff in our house and are trying to eat only real food!    I always thought I fed my family healthy food until I came across a Pin on Pinterest - - 100 days of no processed foods - tons of recipes.   I clicked on the pin which led me to the blog 100 Days of Real Food.  I was intrigued so I started reading and reading and reading.  I decided that I wanted to try eating, and buying healthier food for my family.

Here is a little taste of my family's adventure into eating only real food.

First I talked with my husband before we started this adventure and made sure he would be okay with changing our eating habits.  He said sure!

Next I went through our cupboards and pitched any foods that did not meet the real food criteria.  Some  food I did not toss like mac-n-cheese and pancake mix.   I stashed away in my basement, just in case I might need it?

Here is a little break down of the list of rules for eating only real food...

What you can't eat...

• No refined graines... white flour or white rice.
• No refined sweeteners... sugar, corn syrup, cane juice, or artificial sweeteners like Splenda.
• Nothing from a box, can, bag, or carton that has more than 5 ingredients.
• No deep fried foods.
• No fast foods.  

What you can eat...

• fruits and veggies
• Whole grains
• Dairy
• For the complete list of rules please click on the image, this is not the complete list of what you CAN eat, there is so much more.

After purging my cupboards it was on to the grocery store.  I realized that this little adventure was going to cost a little bit more than my grocery budget allowed.   So I decided to start small and only buy food items that I needed at the moment.  I decided to start with replacing my bread with 100%whole grain bread that listed only 5 ingredients or less.  This was a hard task, because most of the breads have tons of ingredients in them, even if they say 100% whole grain.

 I found this bread in the freezer section of my store, it is kept in the freezer because it is all natural, whole grains with no preservatives.  I keep it in the fridge, because we eat it so quickly.  My boys have yet to mention anything about this bread.  They eat it everyday without complaint!


Next I finished drinking the Mountain Dew in the fridge, because I knew I would not be buying it again!  It was a sad day when I finished the last can of Mountain Dew.   I really missed it the first two weeks!  Especially on those days I had a headache or felt the need for the taste of a little sugar.  But, by the third week of our little experiment I noticed I had a lot more energy and stamina!  Yeah!  I do still have a small soda once a week when we go out to eat after church, its my little treat! 

Some if the big changes that have occurred in our house are that I bake and cook a lot more from scratch. It is more time consuming, but really worth it to eat food that you know what is in it.  Some of the foods that I now regularly make every week are whole wheat waffles, and granola.

Our Mickey waffles!  I found the recipe here, my boys love them!  

I usually make a big batch and freeze the rest. 

I had to dig out my waffle maker that was collecting dust.  Mickey Mouse gets another lease on life! 

We have been a bunch of Baking Fools around here!!

Here Lil D is helping to make Almond Flour Banana Muffins.

They were so Yummy!!!! 

Since starting this little adventure a month ago, I have noticed I'm not feeling as bloated as I sometimes do...  We don't own a scale so I have no clue if I've lost weight?  My boys have never once complained about what they are eating.  Both my boys now have very regular bowel movements... I know this sounds silly but my oldest has had issues since he was a baby and now goes everyday!  Hooray!!!  My husband and I decided that when the boys are at Nana's house or we are eating out, that moderation is key and its okay to have treats, and sometimes splurge on a burger and fries.  

This blog post could go on and on at length.  But I don't want to bore anyone with so many details.  If you are really interested in making a big change in your eating habits, I recommend going to Lisa's site...100 Days of Real Food!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Blessings!
Christine

A Mom Vacation!

As you have noticed I have not posted in a while!  Hmmmm?  

Where have I been?  What have I been up too?

Well, I took a Mom Vacation!

This was my first trip away from the men in my life.  I was gone for six wonderful days!  

Oh, don't get me wrong!  I did miss my husband and children, and many times wished they were with me!

My mom invited my sister-n-law and myself to Walt Disney World!  

Who could pass this opportunity up?!

My mom and dad a long while back bought into the Disney Vacation Club at Walt Disney World, and they never regretted their decision. They wanted to be able to take trips alone, and together as a family anytime with their DVC membership.  The DVC is like a time share but you buy points and use your points to stay at Disney hotel proprieties anytime of the year.  

Since my dad's unexpected passing 4 years ago, my mom now often invites the whole family on her Disney trips.  

It happened to be my mom's birthday while we were at Disney.  My sister-n-law bought her a tiara, and sash to wear, along with a birthday button that flashed.  My mom loved all the attention!  She said that she hadn't felt this special on her birthday in a few years. 

Me, mom, and my sister-n-law       I had to have this picture!  Only because my little boy loves the movie CARS!  We all had so much fun on this trip!   We laughed, a lot!  And we even got pixie dusted at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique! That was quite an experience!  My sister-n-law and I had some really good conversations!  We caught up on some movies we have all been wanting to watch!  I would do this all again in a heartbeat!  If my husband approved?! I have to say, my husband was the one to suggest I go on this trip!  He is a great husband and dad!  While I was away he had a whole list of activities planned for the boys! They made ice cream, took a nature hike, went shopping at Home Depot, and lots more!  I was truly impressed!  What a guy I have!  I am soooo blessed!!!! But of course all good things must come to an end.. I arrived home, excitedly ready to see my husband, and boys!  And the next day I came down with a stomach virus!  Ugh!  Well I am feeling much better, and hope to get back into the swing of things again!

Happy Birthday!

 A Disney Cars Birthday Celebration!!

My sweet little boy turned 3 this week!    I wish I could make time stop, and they could all be little forever!

Lil D loves race cars and the Disney movie CARS!  So.... I searched the internet and found some fun ideas for his birthday party.  

He was so excited for his big party!   Who wouldn't be excited to eat cake, open presents, and play with your cousins!

Cake Decorating 101!  Help!!!

I decided this year was the year to be brave and make a birthday cake!  I usually just go to the bakery and let the boys pick out their cakes...  much easier!

I found a cute race track cake on the Family Fun website, I thought it looked easy enough to make!  

It was pretty easy, except for putting on the frosting.  The cake kept crumbling, and it was 11:00pm and I was worn down.  So... to YouTube I went!  

I learned you need to put a crumb layer of frosting on the cake first, then put it in the fridge for 20 mins.  

After that, just pile on the frosting and POOF!  A well frosted cake!

Here it Is.....

Lil D's favorite character from the Disney Movie Cars is Sally.  Sally had to be on the cake!

I thought it turned out pretty well!

For Lil D's birthday we had a small family gathering.  I'm not ready for little people running all through my house!

I found some great ideas for a Disney Cars birthday party here.

We had a temporary tattoo station - Ramone's House of Body Art.

Lil D putting tattoos on his Aunt!

Big D helping out Dad with the tattoos.

The Birthday Boy!

The Family!

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy!  

The Wise and Foolish Builders

Bible Time

During our Bible time last week we read the parable of The Wise and Foolish Builders.  

Matthew 7:24-27  and  Luke 6:47-49

First we read from the Bible and then we read this book...

I found this book at my local christian bookstore (or you can find it here) and gave it to the boys for Easter            

I grew up reading these cute little Bible story books, I was so excited to find them!

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock   (Matthew 7:24)

 Is the Rock or Sand Stronger!?

 First I had the boys build little houses with their Duplo/Legos
 (I love Lego's they come in so handy for so many activities; counting, sorting, colors, sizes, building etc!)

 Next I had the boys place their houses on the rock.  Its the rock sturdy?  Will the rock break?

  I then had the boys place their houses on the sand.  They built up the sand and made a strong foundation for the house.      
 Then the rains came!  What happened to the house on the sand?  The water started washing away all the sand, and the foundation became unstable!  They poked at the house for a while until the building was very wobbly.

They tried build up the sand foundation again.
 I explained they could do that, but the rain would wash it away again.

When we were all finished, I asked the boys which foundation was stronger?  They both said the rock was much stronger!

We talked about how God is like our rock.  He is strong and will take care of us. 

And as stated in the book...When we place our faith and hope in the things of this world and in ourselves, our lives crumble like sandcastles.  But when we place our faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and His word, we can be certain the kingdom of God will endure. 

Music and Art

While we did a drawing activity I played this cd...

This cd has lots of fun Bible songs for children!

It even has a song about the wise and foolish builder.  If you have the cd it is track #28. 

I played the song a few times until we could all sing together...the boys were so cute singing!

For the craft I had the boys cut out a rock from construction paper, then I had them draw a picture of themselves on the rock.  I asked the boys again "who is our rock!"  They said "Jesus!"

Big D constantly asks... "is God stronger than Daddy and Samson?"  I love all his questions!

Jesus is our Rock!  Lets stand strong on His foundation!