Goals 2011

Here are few of mine...

#1. Be in the Word and have quiet time with God AT LEAST 5 days a week
#2. Be more giving of my time and finances
#3. Live more in tune with the Lord
#4. Be a more Christ-Like mother
#5. Grow a manageable organic vegetable garden
#6. Cook one vegetarian meal a week
#7. Make one "raw" vegan meal a week
#8. Have a 51% raw diet by year-end

.............

Four Years and Going Strong

Can't believe we have been married FOUR YEARS! Time is flying, but I wouldn't have picked anyone else to spend it with.

We enjoyed a quiet dinner at the Bangkok House & Shanghai Restarante in Elgin. We dropped the little man off at my sister and bro-in-law's place and walked over. I guess this place has been around forever. It was very Gluten free friendly and they were careful to make sure what I ordered was completely wheat free. The service was great and friendly. We were also only one of two couples in the place. They have two menus-Chinese and a Thai. We had a combonation of both and it was fantastic! We started off with a seasoned beef and lettuce appetizer with a zesty dipping sauce. Byron had a ginger/shrimp dish, I had Scheswan chicken (spicey just how I love it) and we also shared an order of beef fried rice. Byron also enjoyed some Thai iced coffee, which he really loved. One thing I couldn't stop laughing about was that they had this 80's sounding Chinese/Thai music softly playing in the background. Hilarious. Would highly recommend this place...but maybe not. I think I want to keep this our little secret.

We ended the night with a brisk walk to Al's Cafe for dessert. Had a fun evening with the hubs. Love you, Babe!

The Last Couple Months in Pictures...

Haven't posted in a while, so here are pictures to tell the story...along with short commentary.

Gideon's first snow experience

Very unsure...and hated it in the end-ha.

Trying on Uncle David's cowboy boots

Nick and Danielle's Bridal Shower

Cake made by my cousin

Thanksgiving/Christmas Family Photo


Yes, his bib says, "I love Pasta"

He also loves chips and salsa...hahaha

Wedding Day! N & D XOXO!

Not even half of the Bridal Party

G was infatuated by the lights behind the head table

Yesterday Was the Most Beautiful Fall Day

Our Journey to Raw and Living Foods

My husband I recently watched the movie, Food Matters via our Netflix instant download a month or so ago. It inspired us to do some more research and start making some changes in our lives.



Among those changes are adding more supplaments (specifically vitamin C, D, and some probiotics) and eating more RAW food. Yes, raw as in uncooked foods. Among the usual salads and eating more veggies and fruits for snacks, we are incorporating greens smoothies and other creative meals. My dehydrator has been running a lot lately...

Here was last night's meal:

Vegetable Semosas. Mine don't look half as good as these. These are completely raw because the wraps are made of mostly zuchinni and spices and cooked in the dehydrator at a low temperature which does not kill any of the enzymes. Byron thought these were great.

(Homemade cucumber and homemade chipotle dip)

Green Smoothy that is not pictured, but tasted delicious.

Dessert was Banana Nut "cookie balls." These were made with ground up walnuts and homemade dehydrated banana chips as the main ingredients.

My little cutie pie enjoying his dessert

Yuumm...

Gideon is ONE!

Yesterday my little man turned one year old. My husband woke up that morning and said "it's time to go to the hospital"! I definitely had a flood of mixed emotions. Remembering that day and how we had the most amazing birth experience, our first moments as a family, nursing him for the first time, our stressful ride home in the car, the first time he smiled at me, the first time he rolled over.....crawled....NOW HE IS WALKING! Oh how I love this little one and thank God every day for what a blessing he is in my life.

The three of us had a mini celebration and I believe it was the perfect evening.
Byron and I both bought him a balloon independently of each other (we know what our baby likes). We started off the evening at McDonald's for dinner and play time at the Playplace (Byron insisted). We ate, and then it was time to play(closely supervised by mom and dad of course). Gideon was a little shy at first, but when a few other kids started playing he warmed up fast. We then opened a couple presents. A card he got in the mail, a gift from Aunt Michele and Uncle Shane, and a gift from mom and dad-of course. We returned home and sang happy birthday with a candle in a fresh baked gluten free cookie he absolutely devoured. We ended evening with a nice bath and a quick visit from GiGi for a birthday kiss.

He loves balloons!

The two handsomest men on the planet.

Happy birthday boy

Playing with daddy

Looking out the vent...silly Gideon

He made it!

His own laptop from mom and dad

More interested in his balloons

Enjoying his birthday cookie

"Happy Birthday" song with a little help from some aliens

Yes, a perfect day for the cutest boy in the world.

Apple Picking 2010

Our annual apple picking event was an adventure to say the least. The first orchard was completely picked clean of apples, went on a hunt to find the alpaca farm, finally found a mom & pop orchard with TONs of apples...only to find out after getting out there that they were all damaged by hail and/or bugs...hmmm....We got one yummy gluten free french apple pie out of the deal though, but no picture taken of it's yumminess.

We were missing several people, M & S, D & N, Dad, Uncle John...it just wasn't the same without yas...

Here are a few pictures of our fun.

Loved that apple

Gideon's first apple picking experience

Gideon and daddy

Picking out some gourds

Apple Picking 2010