Boys, boys, boys

My twins last summer.....too cute, had to repost this one!

I think I have mini (suppressed) heartaches every time my boys get a bit crazier. They wrestle, they have playful rough housing....they do belly slams and chest slams.....and they love it. It's scary and fun to watch all at the same time. Do all boys do this? My oldest was so mild mannered, but he's beginning to learn to get in on the fun, dog piling each other, sitting on heads (I try to make this off limits), and they all have so much fun together. Weirdly enough they rarely get hurt?? Wow, so far.....
Adam is off fishing, and I just realized he's gone for another day, we really need to merge our calendars....the effects of getting married late in life, I think.
I had a great time w/ my Mom and lots of brothers and grandparents and cousins. We had a 2 day slumber party...and now I'm home recupperating. Thinking popcorn and a movie, got my buckwheat and coconut milk soaking for tomorrow's pancakes....(learning to soak, next step to sprout grains and flours).....and yummy (if I have the energy) gluten free cinnamon rolls and of course Coffee!
Well, just wanted to say hello and nite to all my Texas family!

Busy in the kitchen, busy in my life

I haven't been posting pics, though I'm taking them. I think that my computer wants me to take some off...and haven't gotten around to that. So I might post the pictures later.
Here is a yummy dish, well it's still in the fridge but can't wait to eat this....raw tapicoca pudding....for me.
And I also, have these in the oven. Cinnamon rolls, I sure hope they are worth all my hard work, staying up late, a messier kitchen, but coffee is brewing and they are baking. It's gonna be a good day. We get to celebrate Adam's Grandpa's 90th in town and have a picnic, too.
I've been having some fun since Colby seems to have outgrown his wheat and dairy allergy. But, I know I feel better when I eat less wheat, and no dairy. With Colby's freedom, I've had a bit of regular food here and there. And am thinking, NO. But for a few more days, I'll play and make some yummy stuff for my boys. I do have one more regular cinnamon roll recipe in mind to try, and then a gluten free one. Save those for another Sat PM/Sunday AM.
My boys are out jumping on their trampoline in cowboy boots, don't worry they do have shirts on! Now, that would be a fun picture...but alas, I need to help out my computer a bit first.
Have a great Sunday....and let the yummyness begin.

maple pecan butter

maple pecan butter
This looks too yummy, soaking tonight....yummy ness in a few days....worth the wait I"m sure, though this will be my first nut butter making, as well as, soaking.

With that title....I won't ruin it w/combing my day thus far....3 kids, outside and I won't say more now.

The Gluten-Free Homemaker

The Gluten-Free Homemaker
I've bookmarked so many yummy things. One is this one...above.
Oh, did I mention my young man (oldest little man- C.J.) is doing ok w/wheat and dairy. Life is so much simpler. But I do find that the kids have had too much 'processed' foods for my liking....and I who have been wheat and dairy free (and not feeling quite as energetic), am slowly making compromising due to only having to cook for myself differently....so I am baking up a storm....well, enough to have for this week and freeze some, too.
Twins were worn out from our fun weekend, so early naps and just C.J. I in the kitchen. Nice!
Might be back w/more, if I get really out of control in the baking department....and let the clean laundry accumulate on the couch.

protein for breakfast: teff muffins

protein for breakfast: teff muffins
My big boy and I are baking...this is our first thing to bake today...gonna try to make some apple bars, too.
Note: I used apples instead of pears, I had some that needed to be used up. I accidentally added 1 1/2 c. sorghum flour so I also added an extra 1/4 c. applesauce, still taste yummy and good.

Baby, it's cold outside....and we are nice and toasty.

Enjoying this Mother's Day

For some of us, we begin to value our Mom's even more once we've struggled along the path of Motherhood. We begin to be thankful for them, they were the ones who fed us and gave up sleep for us, now we know, as we begin to do the same self sacrificing for our small children.
Of course, not every Mother's Day is really about us, I'm beginning to see and learn.
My first, was spent w/my Mom, while my hubby was away on business. Of course, though only pregnant it still felt so sad to me.
My second was spent in a Starbucks w/my one year old and sister-in-law (She's so fun!)....waiting for my hubby to finish golf for a bachelor party.....yeah, I didn't know how to voice what I wanted, or sorta of just expected my thoughts would become reality. Sometimes at the phase I didn't even know what I wanted until they didn't happen, and I realized I would have to learn to share what i wanted and then just let go of some things not happening they way I'd hoped. Gifts are gifts....given...you don't pick them (though I have dropped very strong hints. Ex: Valentine's Day - "Honey, I'd like a box of chocolates from Dorado's." = the best chocolate in the world and it's local).
My third, my hubby went golfing w/his Mom. I was devastated...that he forgot me (and all the hard work of motherhood).

My 4th- this year....I'm learning to let go....and my hubby is learning to make it special. We have talked out our past expectations and disappointments....and are learnign to be a couple and parents. It's so complicated, but feels so good when we learn together.
This year - my 4th - I got to sleep in (though you can't help hearing your kids from 6-8 am talking, crying and playing). They still want you, even if Dad is meeting all their needs (and they usuually want him, till they can't have you). But so grateful to my hubby for putting me first and loving me. (Don't worry, we did spend some quality time w/Grandma Wendy. My Mom and I had a good phone chat). I am currently smelling a very yummy chocolate flourless torte cooking and waiting to cover it in an espresso ganache topping....and eat it! Yummy chocolate torte is almost done.....I did double it since we are sharing it today w/some close family friends (she's been like a 2nd Mom to me) and my sister and her family. Thankful for the love and family and close friendships that really feel like family.
Adam is fixing our hot water heater...it was leaking, so not sure I'll get to get 'dolled' up as much, and oh, bummer, I can't do my dishes till it's fixed. Ok, I'm ok with that, they'll be there on a non-Mother's Day...tomorrow.
I have ideas for next year, maybe a brunch w/my Mom -in-law....and maybe my hubby will golf the day before Mom's Day...and then family time on actual Mom's day. It's such a balance, honoring your Mom and Mom-in-law, and learning to take time for yourself and create that special day w/your family. And it's about teaching your kids to love and give on these special days....for them it's just fun to make you a card and scribble  color.
Thankful for my kids, who have made me a Mom and my hubby for his help in it all.
Well, I get to enjoy my boys when they all wake up from their naps, and enjoy being w/them.
I hope you all have a blessed Mom's day, whether celebrating your Mom, being celebrated, or just taking some time out to be thankful for our Mom's impacts on our lives.

Playing around

You may notice if you've been on at all this nice Saturday morning....that my blog keeps changing. I'm just playing with it and having  fun. Trying to make it simple, cute and easy to read and look at. I dream of getting a specially designed page....someday. For now my little hobby is to just do what I can myself, learn new stuff (isn't that what life is about), and hopefully get to know a few more people from this fun journey of blogging.

Have a great Saturday.....

If one does it, the others must

Are we really all followers.....it seems we are. The Bible talks about us being sheep. Have you ever spent time with a sheep? Yes, I know, I was born a country girl....and got the privilege of raising sheep though 4-H. Well, from my limited knowledge of 2 years of raising them....I found that truly sheep are stupid. I loved my sheep, we made a bond right away. I spent the first 24 hours w/my little sheep (singular). That special little lamb wouldn't ever get out of it's pen, unless I wasn't the one to be there to feed it. They follow you where ever you go, hence, Mary's Little Lamb.....loyalty. I hope we people have that much loyalty when it comes to our Good Shepherd.
I started off with this, it's been a thought in my head....for a life time. Growing up in a culture with an awareness (I think too strongly) of what others are doing, trying to be alike, trying to figure out who we are. But we seem to be like twins, looking at one another....and if the other looks good, then so must we. Or if we don't trying to change our selves to be identical to the other we are looking at. (Do you get that? My twins look to each other to see that they are ok, they are a comfort to one another, not a bad thing, as long as, they also get to know themselves separately from the other). What I'm trying to put into words, is that I think we as a culture - maybe this is human kind? - we try to find our value in what others think, we want to be individuals, yet copy one another. And I think the biggest challenge and biggest honor to God, is to be who we were created to be. God wasn't trying to clone us to be a like....sure we have things in common that bond us to one another, say being a twin...(just having fun).
On a even more personal note, I have watched my kids, copy one another, if one does it, then the next must try it. From what I say "No" to, to just all wanting to spit in the trash can for some odd reason. Sitting here watching it made me realize I want to learn to follow God's lead. I sometimes feel I have a built in mechanism for man's approval, and the past few years are finally freeing me (well, really it's my walk w/Jesus), but feel like I'm beginning to get a life long lesson, just a bit more.
I think some of these thoughts were stirring as I thought of how I've changed in the past years. Finally, getting lessons God's been loving trying to help me learn. The beauty of loving your kids, is sometimes you finally begin to see more of God's love for yourself. Not having to prove myself or gain other people's recognition. Losing pride, and even our former selves = in a natural and spiritual sense.
I have watched a few (not all) extended family members comment to me and various siblings over our life time of looks. Do we look fat? Do we look to thin? Surprisingly...yes, I know, I used to think I was fat, when I was a very thin teen. I realized as I've learned to love myself (and my body for God's creation), having kids and the metamorphosis (Thanks, Sesame Street for a bigger vocabulary today) my body (and life) has taken. Thankful and praying that I will continue to learn to know God's love for myself and for others....I really don't want to be 80+ years old and still thinking about these issues of body identity (or whatever we call it). I want to focus my life on loving (and being healthy). I do enjoy being healthy, I'm still balancing out loving my body in it's changes of life and knowing that who I am is not just my outer appearance. The inner shines forth....and I know LOVE is the most attractive thing. It's not that I don't sometimes struggle the balance of taking care of myself and the messages I 'hear' in our world....like I should be "that Mom who has 3 wonderful boys and looks great, too".......really I'm wanting to get that the heart matters most.
I am most thankful for a Mom, who never made our looks an issue, maybe even balanced on the side of not really mention our outer beauty as much. But it's always made me listen to God's voice, and learn to shut off the other voices I hear....of comparisions, looks, being liked, etc....kind of teen-age views we may not have grown out of. Confidence is so beautiful when put on.
This is still a lesson I'm learning....I don't have it all, but am thankful to love and be loved.
My Dad is always encouraging me to read the book of Romans (in the Bible), to know my identity more.....he could tell I struggled with it for quite some time. But miracles do happen (and are still happening).
So...today I'm putting on my garmets of Praise!
And back to my kids...who are busy reading the phone book...I know weird and cute!