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!

Everything changes once you have twins (and more)....

Below is an interesting multiples blog I read and a item I would never have dreamed of using....my thoughts follow below.....




                                                How do you feel about child harnesses?

The child harness... (or "leash" as some call it,) is a hotly debated topic among moms. As parents of multiples, our safety concerns just might make them a little more acceptable. What do you think?

This week's Question of the Week is:

How do you feel about child harnesses?

• Do you use them? Why or why not?
• How do your kids react to them?
• Do you think they are an example of laziness, or simply concern over your child's safety?
• If you are against them, do you think it's more acceptable for a parent of multiples to use them?
• Do you think negatively of other parents that use them?

This is a touchy subject I've found personally {I'll tell more in a bit}. Once I was in the place of being a Mom of a 20 month old and twin baby boys....well, I began to think of the things that could make my life and my children's lives better. 
I started to realize as my children made it from crawling to walking (@ 10 & 11 months) and I had their older brother who was 30 months (whatever that is in years, I'm not good at math). I began to see I still had a lot of teaching, guiding and training to do. I wasn't able to go on walks alone, unless I had a stroller and/or back back for my little ones. I began to think of the future, what it would hold for me. I am an active, social person, though having 3 kids has changed that a lot. So, I began to look online and found a double harness/leash that would work for my 2 boys (it does have the option to buy more, but I was hoping my oldest son would listen to me). The first time we tried it out (all camo....to hide dirt, but you can get them in different colors and patterns) we made it from our front door to the lawn. Yes, I know....not very far, but I quickly realized this tool I had would need to be partnered w/training. It was not  as easy as a stroller where they are safely contained (and enjoying the ride). I realized that this tool would help me be more independent and mobile with my boys, but first I would have to make sure they were a bit more sure on their feet and teach them how we go for a walk. {By the way, even w/ a leash, if we are in the street I make them hold my hands, and yes, I have figured out how to walk w/ 3 toddlers holding my hands, the leash is just a back up for one who forgets to hold on, or lets go = SAFETY}. So with all the different opinions, I found once a Mom of 3 boys all mobile, that I wanted them all to live!
To answer the questions of this wonderful site..... above,
I may have thought they were lazy or the parent didn't have  the proper control over their child (I have learned a lot having 3 boys...and my views have changed). Yes, I may have even viewed them as cruel, even the ones that have the cute back pack stuffed animal w/a leash on it.
My kids did well w/them, they never fought them, and now are use to them. I've used them to walk to our mail box, go to the library and hopefully more places in the future. I would suggest practicing w/them in the house or in a fenced yard first to get the child used to them and obeying your voice, so that your outings are more enjoyable and your child knows what the harness is there for.
I think they are a great tool, and am thankful for them. When I see multiples wearing them, I just smile to myself, knowing. Yes, what a great tool!
Side note.....I do have family memebers that think they are cruel, that I'm hurting my child, and they don't 'believe' in them. But I think that once you've had either a very active child and/or multiples, your concern for their saftey is at the top of your list....and so we use the doube harness. {Our 3 year old listens well, and mostly holds our hands....of course, there are those times, I think I should have one more harness = SAFETY}. I don't have any pictures since I usually use it when my husband is at work. But I'll try to get one to show later.....

Thoughts running through my head

Colby yelling to hear his echo in the toilet, nice {yes, he had just flushed it}

kids putting their fav blanket on my bed...to help..nice

Runny noses, sick kids, getting better, thankful, sunny out, but is it warm enough for my kids?

7-7 on my own....you? Spring and Summer = Mommy! Good and bad. I'm the firm one, so it's good, but I love quality time w/my hubby, so it's sad for me.

cooking raw? I think about it...but so far my food is mix of no wheat *often gluten free, no dairy (except for Adam and the twins), healthy foods, not much processed, trying to get away from any boxed stuff (except for Adam's snack foods he loves, taquitos, etc...and only he eats), lots of beans and rice [from scratch], trying to add in more veggies for us all, and raw - well maybe one day...i Like the idea for myself, but w/so much more going on, it's figuring out what works for my life where it is now, you?
juicing? It's fun, but I only break out my really wonderful juicer once a month or so (it's my lunch on some days and I experiment to see what my kids will like/try).

working out - it's an idea again, sometimes it's a reality. I've done it enough over the past 6 months that I know when I do, I feel so good. I want to have energy to keep up w/my boys.

yummy food - why I spend time cooking =  I love to eat good food!

siblings - I love my 13+ siblings....near and far, and did I mention my folks and the youngest 5 are moving = SAD {for me and my family}

babies = I love them....(just so you know...I've grown into this...and still am working on being better w/them). I have so many thoughts on this subject.....I'd have to say it's God given since I'm not the kinda of gal who ups and holds every baby she sees, but the LOVE I have is there!

Kids w/food allergies = adventure  and lots of new cooking recipes = good and bad.

Listening to the neighbor mow her lawn, soon I won't have neighbors that close (moving in a few months = still local).

Gardening - I get to plant a garden and then learn to dry/can/freeze and give away all the yummy goodness that comes from it. {Disclaimer - Adam is helping me otherwise it'd all be just one big project that I kill, not so good w/animals or plants. And my friend, Chesy is gonna be my side kick in this new adventure}

Eyebrows - I"m addicted to getting them done at a salon, and they are long over due, but w/my new bangs, you can't tell, I actually forgot about them.....but they are starting to get my attention. Lebanese may not have hairy legs/arms (the girls), but for some reason we are blessed w/ very full eyebrows (uni-brow).

I've gotten away from my new structure of chores and then fun.....so now I am gonna be really focused...and clean during my boys every shortening nap time.
Dishes....and beyond....!
P.S. Favorite cookbooks?