Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter 2013!

We finally got a quick family photo. Happy Easter 2013 to our friends and family! This was the only photo with Levi in it because he was asleep during the other photo session resulting in the following:








Saturday, March 30, 2013

Warmer Weather Fun

Okay, so a few days ago, when Andrew was gone for the weekend, I was getting desperite to keep Levi occupied. We NEEDED to get outside but it was cold. (3 degrees for the low at night) I started making "train tunnels" out of our couch cushions.

We also went out for a "treat" date of fries but as you can  see, we came home and he ended up eating mostly "salad dippers" as we have affectionately named ripped up lettuce with ranch. He is learning :0) 

God gave us 3 beautiful days in a row since then! 56 degrees, 65 degrees and then 53 degrees. We have been outdoors ALMOST non-stop. Here he is painting the grass green to help spring along.

Then he decided to paint the sky. (notice this picture is from the 1st "warm" day and the following photos show the amazing snow melt that followed in only 3 days!)



Levi found a sweet little hideaway in the neighbors evergreens.
Here Levi points out our growing daffodils.

Levi is on his way to an egg hunt with his friends.

Precious!

It randomly clouded up and rained for a few minutes while we were at the park waiting for the egg hunt so I hustled the kids in to the truck to keep dry.



The egg hunt is held at a nursing home here so we talked with the residents and petted baby goats, chicks, and ducks until it started. That is about all for now. :) An attempt at a family picture will be made tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

New, Fresher Food Sources & Smiles

I wanted to blog about my latest "thing". Some friends of mine started a drop site for Bountiful Baskets here in S.D. recently and I am so glad they did. It is a type of co-op. Unfortunately we can't get local fresh produce for all 12 months here, but thanks to BB, we can get it way fresher than the stores in our area, and it helps the farmers. Below are some examples of two of my "baskets", as well as some fresh blackberries that were an add-on to my basket. Just look at how gorgeous they are?!? Also, I have started purchasing local eggs from a friend of mine. (See above.) If this isn't proof that store eggs are JUST NOT RIGHT, I don't know what it! I didn't know eggs could come in GREEN! (the egg in the lower right corner is green!) I love the color variations on my dozen eggs. It feels wonderful knowing where my eggs come from and that they are fresh and also a GREAT price.
The large cabbage looking thing directly above this captions is bok choy for those of you that don't know. I will include 2 recipes at the end of the post that I used with our bok choy that we all LOVED. Also, who knew radishes could be so TASTY!?!
The veggie on the far left is a leek. I have never before purchased a leek but it was good! I am loving stretching myself by cooking things I wouldn't normally look at twice  in the store and then find recipes to go along with it.

We call this Levi's "Los Angeles Freeway".  :)

The first duel nap for the boys. So precious.

E.'s beautiful smiles.

He has had some difficulties and had some tests run at the hospital this morning to test for issues with pyloric stenosis and reflux. He does have a tight pylorus but they found it does open after awhile so they probably won't do anything about that.  He does have reflux which would explain the screaming associated with eating and spitting up. Keep him in your prayers! He was 12 lbs at his 5 week 5 day appointment. What a big boy. We are thankful he is growing well despite his reflux issues.
Sauteed Bok Choy Recipe:
INGREDIENTS
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, minced (or more if desired)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (from 1/2-inch piece) or 1 tsp.+ ground ginger.
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 bok choy bunch, cleaned, ends trimmed, and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Sprinkle individual portions with bacon bits or imitation bacon bits. (optional)
  • Salt (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. In a large frying pan with a tightfitting lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not brown, about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the bok choy and fold it into the garlic-ginger mixture until coated, about 1 minute. Add the soy sauce and water, cover, and cook until steam accumulates, about 1 minute. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are just wilted, the stalks are just fork tender but still crisp, and most of the water has evaporated, about 2 minutes.
  3. Turn off the heat and season with salt, bacon bits if desired.
 Asian Bok Choy Chicken Salad Recipe.

1 package ramen noodles crushed
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 C. sunflower seeds
1/2 C. pine nuts (or slivered almonds)
3 C. shredded bok choy
5 green onions, thinly sliced
1 C. diced, cooked chicken breast meat
1 can water chestnuts, drained

Dressing:
1/2 C. vegetable oil (or 1/4 c. olive oil and 1/4 cup canola)
1/4 C. rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 C. white sugar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice

mix noodles, seeds, nuts and melted butter together until evenly coated. spread onto
cookie sheet and bake this mixture in a 350 oven for 7-10 minutes stirring occasionally.
cool slightly. Prepare dressing by blending all dressing ingredients together and toss
it all together.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Grandma Visit & 1 Month

It was such a blessing to have all the support of family here to help us through the transition of one to two. Here is Grandma B. holding E. for the 1st time.
Levi is ready to pilot his own plane like his mama. He even studies my flight manuals for 30 minutes at a time.

Grandma's 1st snowman with the grandboys.
Possibly our 1st "family photo".


Fun times sledding with Grandma.

Mom was really getting a kick out of all our icicles.

E. turned a month recently. Time is flying by!

He just noticed he was sitting next to a talking giraffe.

1st smile.

Our toilet died and while Andrew was working on it, Levi decided to help too. :)

Monday, March 11, 2013

More of the early days of E.


Our  1st family walk with 2 kids.

E. is really alert so I started putting him on the play mat and Levi wants to play on it more than ever!

Our Valentine's night at church for the yearly V-day dinner youth fundraiser. Thanks Jan, for watching E. while we all went.


Jan (Crandall), I thought you would appreciate this one. As soon as you left, this is what I came upon... Levi had found the baby gate and set it up; then he got out the chocolate powder and spread it  all over the floor; next he proceeded to lick it off the floor when he discovered it tasted good.... HEEEEEEEELLLLPPPPP! You will be proud. I didn't even get mad, I just grabbed him and stuck him in the bath (with clothes) and then vacuumed it all up.
I still use the sling Hillary gave me but I got a new one also to try this time around. It is similar to a MOBY. It is hard to put on at 1st but really comfortable on the back and I can do tons of stuff. It is kinda like being pregnant again. (can't see toes and have to watch that I don't bump him into things :)

Here was what it looked like out the window on the day of E.'s 1st bath. SO COLD.



More to come. I feel horrible but don't seem to have ANY of when Jan and Alan were here but I will post pics from when mom was here, soon.