Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The results are in
So are we going to double the estrogen to testosterone level in this house or are we going to equalize it? Well, those of you who voted for hermaphrodite are totally off. That was obviously a teaser answer. I feel sorry for those of you who voted for that one. The ultrasound technician actually couldn't tell so no one wins because no one chose 'undecided.' Just kidding. The majority wins--it's a boy! Now we need to figure out a name that's not Scooby Doo related. Matthew and Corinne just had their hearts on Shaggy or Fred or Scooby Doo. Nope. Not gonna happen.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Ultrasound
I had the ultrasound today and we are having a... I'm not going to tell quite yet. I'll let you vote and then I'll reveal the answer in a few days.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
A different kind of rainbow
I have started getting excited about food storage now that I know I'm not moving any time soon and now that I have tons of room in my kitchen. Pictured from left to right starting in the back is tomato juice, honeycrisp applesauce, granny smith applesauce, peaches, orange marmalade, apple butter, blackberry jam, and raspberry jam. It really does taste so much better when you make it yourself (or with mom's help)!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Family Pictures 2010
We had our family pictures taken for the first time in years during our family reunion at Thanksgiving time. Here are a few of my favorites (including the one at the top of the blog).
New Years Resolutions
I was reading about one of my cousins who regularly attends a gym who was frustrated with the sudden influx of people at his gym at the beginning of the new year and how he now has to wait in order to use the machines he normally uses. He also mentioned that he was looking forward to February when they would all be gone.
It got me thinking about New Years resolutions. I have never made New Years resolutions, and I certainly don't plan on starting now. Sure I am all for improving one's self and making goals. But just making goals for the sake of tradition of making goals on a specific date kind of undervalues the goal in my opinion. I have made several goals through the past year, but I set them based on my personal readiness to complete the goal, it's importance in my life at that time, and on my own timeframe. This makes it a bit more realistic to complete.
For example, one of my goals was to get on my treadmill and work out 3 times a week. I probably started the goal around March or April and was consistent most of the time until I became pregnant, which slowed down the intensity during the first trimester and then I just stopped after Thanksgiving when things just became too hectic.
Another goal was to reduce our meat intake. Once we started investigating the food industry and learned about how cattle, chicken, and pigs are kept in "confinements" http://www.ilo.org/safework_bookshelf/english?content&nd=857170869 where they stand (there is no room to walk) around in their own feces and fed corn and antibiotics until the day they are slaughtered, our appetites for meat shrunk. We now are very selective in our meat purchases, buying only pasture fed beef and chicken. Because this meat costs more, we have chosen to eat less of it to make up for the cost factor. We try to focus on eating more fruits and vegetables. We will eat meals like salad and breadsticks, beans and rice (one of the kids favorites), homemade vegetable pizza, spaghetti and breadsticks.
We have also become food snobs of a fashion and prefer the exotic cheeses. We stay clear of any cheese that is orange since the orange is artificial coloring anyways. Read http://www.eatingrealfood.com/articles/why-is-some-cheddar-cheese-orange/ for more info about cheese. In addition, we try to make everything from scratch as much as possible. When you make something, then you know exactly what is in it and know it is free of chemicals and preservatives. I was watching Dr. Oz the other night and he was talking about artificial sweeteners and their effects on American eating habits. Originally many artifical sweeteners were manufactured to be pesticides http://www.steviacafe.net/dangers-of-splenda. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be ingesting something originally made with the intent to kill. No thanks. These artifical sweeteners, although have little or no calories, give your brain the message that calories are coming. When your stomach is digesting it and realizes there are no calories, it kind of freaks out and sends a message to the brain demanding more calories, aka more food. Therefore, these artificial sweeteners aren't really doing you any good. They are also about 200 times sweeter than regular sugar and change your taste tolerance to handle more sugar. Jeremy and I have noticed America's increased tolerance for sugar when we go out to eat somewhere and on occasion have ordered a lemonade or something sweet. We cannot even drink the lemonade or finish the dessert because it is way too sweet and makes our teeth hurt.
We have chosen instead to substitute honey for sugar in some recipes. Honey is natural sweetener that has health benefits also. We get our honey straight from the hive (via the "honeyman") and so it is free from processing (which can add up to 50% high fructose corn syrup and still call it honey). Raw honey has local pollen in it that helps build up your immune system and prevents or reduces allergies. It also has natural enzymes that are destroyed during processing that aid with digestion. Raw honey is also a natural antibiotic. It just tastes great too. Especially on warm homemade bread. Mmmmm.
Okay, so I digressed from my main topic of resolutions. These are just some of the major lifestyle resolutions I made during the year that I did not make for the New Year. You don't have to make resolutions/goals just for the sake of the New Year, but can make them whenever you want. Just make sure that the goal is important to you and something realistically achievable for you. Make a plan and make it happen.
It got me thinking about New Years resolutions. I have never made New Years resolutions, and I certainly don't plan on starting now. Sure I am all for improving one's self and making goals. But just making goals for the sake of tradition of making goals on a specific date kind of undervalues the goal in my opinion. I have made several goals through the past year, but I set them based on my personal readiness to complete the goal, it's importance in my life at that time, and on my own timeframe. This makes it a bit more realistic to complete.
For example, one of my goals was to get on my treadmill and work out 3 times a week. I probably started the goal around March or April and was consistent most of the time until I became pregnant, which slowed down the intensity during the first trimester and then I just stopped after Thanksgiving when things just became too hectic.
Another goal was to reduce our meat intake. Once we started investigating the food industry and learned about how cattle, chicken, and pigs are kept in "confinements" http://www.ilo.org/safework_bookshelf/english?content&nd=857170869 where they stand (there is no room to walk) around in their own feces and fed corn and antibiotics until the day they are slaughtered, our appetites for meat shrunk. We now are very selective in our meat purchases, buying only pasture fed beef and chicken. Because this meat costs more, we have chosen to eat less of it to make up for the cost factor. We try to focus on eating more fruits and vegetables. We will eat meals like salad and breadsticks, beans and rice (one of the kids favorites), homemade vegetable pizza, spaghetti and breadsticks.
We have also become food snobs of a fashion and prefer the exotic cheeses. We stay clear of any cheese that is orange since the orange is artificial coloring anyways. Read http://www.eatingrealfood.com/articles/why-is-some-cheddar-cheese-orange/ for more info about cheese. In addition, we try to make everything from scratch as much as possible. When you make something, then you know exactly what is in it and know it is free of chemicals and preservatives. I was watching Dr. Oz the other night and he was talking about artificial sweeteners and their effects on American eating habits. Originally many artifical sweeteners were manufactured to be pesticides http://www.steviacafe.net/dangers-of-splenda. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be ingesting something originally made with the intent to kill. No thanks. These artifical sweeteners, although have little or no calories, give your brain the message that calories are coming. When your stomach is digesting it and realizes there are no calories, it kind of freaks out and sends a message to the brain demanding more calories, aka more food. Therefore, these artificial sweeteners aren't really doing you any good. They are also about 200 times sweeter than regular sugar and change your taste tolerance to handle more sugar. Jeremy and I have noticed America's increased tolerance for sugar when we go out to eat somewhere and on occasion have ordered a lemonade or something sweet. We cannot even drink the lemonade or finish the dessert because it is way too sweet and makes our teeth hurt.
We have chosen instead to substitute honey for sugar in some recipes. Honey is natural sweetener that has health benefits also. We get our honey straight from the hive (via the "honeyman") and so it is free from processing (which can add up to 50% high fructose corn syrup and still call it honey). Raw honey has local pollen in it that helps build up your immune system and prevents or reduces allergies. It also has natural enzymes that are destroyed during processing that aid with digestion. Raw honey is also a natural antibiotic. It just tastes great too. Especially on warm homemade bread. Mmmmm.
Okay, so I digressed from my main topic of resolutions. These are just some of the major lifestyle resolutions I made during the year that I did not make for the New Year. You don't have to make resolutions/goals just for the sake of the New Year, but can make them whenever you want. Just make sure that the goal is important to you and something realistically achievable for you. Make a plan and make it happen.
Christmas 2010
We have had a busy Christmas season this year. We made Christmas cookies, 
enjoyed listening to Matthew sing with all the Kindergarteners in his charter school sing a few Christmas songs (I love that it was actually called a Christmas concert instead of a holiday concert)
and we were excited to open presents on Christmas morning. Matthew received a bike that he asked for, although he's still a little unsure about riding it. We loved having a quiet Christmas after the hustle and bustle of moving Jeremy's parents into their house and battling a case or two of the stomach flu. For dinner we ate turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, homemade rolls, and an apple pie for dessert.
Nora dressed in her new Snow White dress. It's a little big now, but that just means she'll be able to wear it longer.
Corinne was excited about her Dorothy dress because she loves watching the Wizard of Oz. She even wanted me to put her hair in pigtails like Dorothy's, although she pulled them out shortly after the picture was taken. We had a very Merry Christmas!
and we were excited to open presents on Christmas morning. Matthew received a bike that he asked for, although he's still a little unsure about riding it. We loved having a quiet Christmas after the hustle and bustle of moving Jeremy's parents into their house and battling a case or two of the stomach flu. For dinner we ate turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, homemade rolls, and an apple pie for dessert.
Nora dressed in her new Snow White dress. It's a little big now, but that just means she'll be able to wear it longer.
Corinne was excited about her Dorothy dress because she loves watching the Wizard of Oz. She even wanted me to put her hair in pigtails like Dorothy's, although she pulled them out shortly after the picture was taken. We had a very Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Strong Family Reunion/Thanksgiving 2010
During the week of Thanksgiving, all of my were together here in AZ. We decided to have a family reunion during that time. After family pictures on Tuesday we congregated at my sister's house for a barbecue. 
Nora was a little jealous of her cousin on Grandma's lap and had to join in.
The boys started a touch football game and the kids joined in. It was fun to watch the kids carry out the plays and get so excited after scoring.
On Thanksgiving morning a few of us got up bright and early to participate in a local unofficial Turkey Trot. My brother-in-law designed us a reunion t-shirt to wear. Many of us did the one mile. I accomplished it 3 months pregnant and pushing Matthew in the jogging stroller. I was hoping to have him run it with me, but it was cold that morning and he preferred to stay in the stroller bundled up in a blanket. A lot of the kids did the one mile also. One of them even did the 5K with his dad. Jeremy did the 10K pushing the girls in the double jogging stroller.
We later enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast.
After the feast was cleaned up, the Great Turkey made a visit leaving clues to the toy he left behind. The kids were very excited to find the clues hidden in plastic eggs wrapped up in a paper turkey.
That night we enjoyed a girls' night out of games and silliness without any little kids.
Friday we hiked South Mountain.
My sister-in-law took this picture of Matthew holding hands with his cousin. He really enjoyed spending time with all of his cousins. I hardly saw him during all the reunion events.
Nora was a little jealous of her cousin on Grandma's lap and had to join in.
The boys started a touch football game and the kids joined in. It was fun to watch the kids carry out the plays and get so excited after scoring.
On Thanksgiving morning a few of us got up bright and early to participate in a local unofficial Turkey Trot. My brother-in-law designed us a reunion t-shirt to wear. Many of us did the one mile. I accomplished it 3 months pregnant and pushing Matthew in the jogging stroller. I was hoping to have him run it with me, but it was cold that morning and he preferred to stay in the stroller bundled up in a blanket. A lot of the kids did the one mile also. One of them even did the 5K with his dad. Jeremy did the 10K pushing the girls in the double jogging stroller.
We later enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast.
After the feast was cleaned up, the Great Turkey made a visit leaving clues to the toy he left behind. The kids were very excited to find the clues hidden in plastic eggs wrapped up in a paper turkey.
That night we enjoyed a girls' night out of games and silliness without any little kids.
Friday we hiked South Mountain.
My sister-in-law took this picture of Matthew holding hands with his cousin. He really enjoyed spending time with all of his cousins. I hardly saw him during all the reunion events.
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