When We're Helping We're Happy

Monday evening we spent a lot of time working in the backyard trying to get it looking better. Brychan had a blast and was a really hard worker and a GREAT helper!

Fingers and Toes

Not only is Kehlton now rolling over from his back to his belly AND his belly to his back, but he also found his toes this week. He thinks they're pretty great!

The Belly Bump

My apologies for the scantily clad child. He was on his way to bed when we stopped to play for a minute. David told me to put clothes on him before turning the camera on, but I was just too afraid that if we stopped the play, it wouldn't get started again! These brothers sure do love each other. I love it!! Hopefully it lasts for years to come.

Bragging Rights

My 3 boys have been very busy, and I feel like it's my job to brag about how wonderful they are! In order from youngest to oldest, here are their newest accomplishments.

Kehlton: We now have a little roly-poly! This week, he figured out how to roll over from his back to his belly. As soon as we lay him down on his back, he just flips right over onto his belly. A little funny because he's not too fond of tummy time, but maybe since he's the one initiating it, tummy time will be a lot more fun! He is also trying really hard to sit up. He hates laying down; especially when big brother is anywhere around. I'm sure it won't be too much longer before he's able to sit with little assistance.

Brychan: Bug is learning more letters day by day. He is also an amazing little singer. His favorites right now are Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Jesus Wants me For A Sunbeam, Baby Bumblebee and Old McDonald (he loves deciding which animal comes next on the farm). If somebody is singing, he will sing right along.

David: Work continues to get better and better for David. He has his second listing, is working on a third and just helped a family buy a home. It really feels like things are starting to snowball now. We hope and pray that business just keeps coming! He was asked earlier in the week to serve on the Agent Leadership Committee for Keller Williams, which is usually reserved for agents who have earnings in the top 20% (David hasn't gotten that far, yet). The brokers at KW admire David's hard work and dedication and feel that he has a lot to offer other agents. Not bad for a newbie (he's starting his 8th month as an agent)!!

I am so proud of my boys and all they do!!

Work In Progress

When I bought this house almost 5 years ago, I bought it because the backyard was so green and lush. I felt like I had my own little secret garden. An extreme rarity in Arizona. Fast forward 4 years when we move back into the house. Imagine my dismay when we discovered the renters had not watered the yard at all for an entire year. Obviously, everything died. So, we are starting over. And unfortunately, big projects always have to get 100 times worse before they get any better. About a month ago, David started cutting down all the oleander and bougainvilleas in the yard.

This is what it looks like now. Ugly. Brown. Barren. Sad. And no room to spare, let alone play, in the backyard.


It will take about a year for all my beautiful, green bushes to fully grow back. Hopefully in the fall we can lay sod. And if I'm lucky, next summer I will have my gorgeous little secret garden back. But next week, all the bushes Dave cut down will be hauled away, so there will at least be room to play!

All Thumbs

I have been trying SO hard to get a photo of Kehlton sucking his thumb. He does it all the time - you wouldn't think it would be so difficult to get a shot of it. Finally, this afternoon, I succeeded.

Love those eyes!!!

You WILL Eat Your Veggies!!

It's no secret that veggies aren't a high priority at my house. Brychan refuses to eat anything other than bread or dairy products or cookie and candy products. My husband will eat some veggies if I make them, but just prefers that I not make them. I'll eat them, but don't want to go through the hassle of making them just for me. Not good at all.

In my quest for us to eat healthier, David bought me The Sneaky Chef - a cookbook with recipes that hide all sorts of "yummy" ingredients in order to make them healthy. So yesterday, I went to Sprouts (my new favorite grocery store. I LOVE it!), bought a bunch of delicious, fresh, organic foods and this morning, I made these:


I was a little skeptical at first, because they started out looking like mud and smelled awful. However. They're not bad! Actually quite yummy. And the best part? Brychan ate 3 of them. So before 9:00am, he's had blueberries, spinach, walnuts, wheat germ and hardly any sugar (the recipe only calls for 6 T. brown sugar). FINALLY!! I like them because they're just sweet and chocolately enough (1/4 c cocoa) to quench any cravings. This week, I'm trying to cut out all added sugars. Once I get that mastered, I plan on working out the refined sugars as well. I feel like I can snack on these bad boys and not be cheating.

I'm really excited now to work my way through the entire cookbook. Hopefully all the recipes are as good as this one!