First Day of First Grade

Gavin started first grade this year in Borger, Texas.  Most of the grades are split up into different campuses so this year he moved to a new school, Gateway Elementary.  He was super excited about moving up and going to the "big school".  Throughout the summer when we would talk about him going to school he often prayed that he would have friends in the same class, while mommy prayed for a GOOD teacher (we had a rough one in kindergarten). 

The night before school, Gavin picked out his clothes, made his lunch requests, set his alarm clock- he asked us if he could start waking up on his own- we didn't oblige, and semi went to bed early!  As usual, we had cinnamon rolls for breakfast as a first day of school treat and off we went! 

I had a baby sitter come and stay with the two little ones at home so my morning time could be focused and devoted to Gavin while taking him into school.  He was able to meet his teacher and see his classroom a few days earlier at meet the teacher, but I still wanted to be able to walk him in!  

Brooks met us at school and we brought Gavin in together!  You could tell Gavin had mixed emotions-- it was a new place and he wasn't all that sure about it, yet he was excited and eager to go!  After a quick picture he hugged and kissed Brooks and walked in his class.  It took a minute of me watching to make sure he got his backpack put away and found his seat that I realized I didn't give him a hug and a kiss.  I debated on going into his room, but decided against it and instead held back my tears, said a prayer for him, and walked away.  

 

After sitting in the pick up line for an hour, we got Gavin and he said his first day was GREAT!!  Two of his really good buddies are in his class (such an answer to prayer) and he loves his teacher!  He talked all afternoon about all the new rules, the new places (gym, cafeteria, and huge library) and couldn't wait to go back tomorrow!

Here's to a great year in first grade! 

Paleo- our new "lifestyle"

After almost a year of dealing with gestational issues with our kids, in February I pretty much came to my wits end in trying EVERYTHING to heal our little ones.  After Miles' procedure in March I began doing research and trying to look into things that I could do once we got his results to help move forward and prevent any symptoms from continuing to occur.  I REALLY, REALLY was desperate to help my kids get better!!

SOOOO... after some research, our whole family started the PALEO diet.  It's known to heal the inner lining gut more then any other "diet".  It's also known as the caveman diet and essentially you don't eat refined sugars, grains, or dairy.  But let me say... the only way you can make it through this "lifestyle" is to look at what you CAN have versus what you CAN'T have.  

In order to all of a sudden change our normal eating habits it took major planning, focus, and reorganizing the pantry.  I ordered a few cookbooks, learned all the approved foods, and kept a close eye on foods to avoid!  We pretty much went cold turkey starting out, but it wasn't THAT bad.  The two little ones already didn't get dairy, so it was just us and Gavin that moved to Almond Milk and lost cheeses and yogurts!  Giving up sweets was the HARDEST for me, but I have found many Paleo sweets and am quite content!!  It was an adjustment losing the bread, pastas, and potatoes but we've found that we really like sweet potatoes and cauliflower pulsed into rice isn't THAT bad!

Basically, we eat LOTS of fruits and vegetables and all various types of proteins!

I was extremely nervous about switching the kids over, however, I'll be the first to admit... I haven't fully moved them over.  The ONLY dairy they can eat is string cheese and even then they get 1 a week.  They get their calcium from Almond milk.  They do get some grains, but it's the "healthiest" version of it.  For instance, instead of Cheetos, they get All Natural, White Cheddar Cheetos.  Instead of white bread, they get Whole Grain, Whole Wheat, Sugar Free bread!  I just choose healthier versions of what grains I do allow them to have as well as sweets.  However, when it comes to meals I don't cook extra sides in order for them to have mashed potatoes or fries and they are learning to LOVE and even enjoy more vegetables and fruits and will eat twice as much protein now that starchy sides aren't on their plates.

We've been extremely impressed with the types of foods they have accepted and willingly eat such as: spaghetti squash, asparagus, carrots, cucumbers, even eggplant!

Now, don't get me wrong.. I'm not psycho when it comes to all foods.. we still eat Ranch, ketchup, or even coffee creamer.  I just feel like the 1tbs of those foods we would consume won't hurt us that much, not to mention, I feel like we have made HUGE strides when it comes to what we have omitted, that it's okay to have a few little things here and there.

I must say... I have seen a HUGE improvement in all 5 of us!  Everything from energy boosts, weight loss, digestive healing along with overall improved health.  It's been awesome!  Even the kids attitudes and somewhat calmness has occurred from eating good, healthy foods.

I've started branching out and cooking creatively based on foods I know we all enjoy and continue to try making good food.  Paleo is hard in the sense that you can't just open up a box of something to cook- it takes planning and preparation!  Everything is pretty much made from scratch and requires cooking not just heating up.  It's taken a little while to adjust, but I'm getting better at it everyday!  Looking forward to continuing Paleo and seeing what all it can do for us!

Brooklyns First Haircut

Before: she just loved being in the salon and was ready to "look pretty"

 

During: she was locked down in serious mode and shriveled down with caution and uncertainty

 

After: she loved it and kept twirling her hair around!

 

July 14, 2014- 2 1/2 years old

Lake Charles, Ritz Hair Salon, Melinda Tilley

Our summer in Borger

For our time in Borger this summer we stayed busy.  However, we also spent a lot of days at home playing, goofing off, and just being together!  I loved this season of life and the kids ages.  They really do great together and enjoy being with one another!  The little ones loved having Gavin home from school.  

Here's some highlights of our time in Borger:

- 4th of July fun (see other post all about our fun day)

- We bought a blow up pool to have on hot summer days, which was a HUGE hit with the kids!  

- The kids found a turtle wandering the neighborhood so he came and lived in our backyard for a week or two, until one day we came home and he was gone.  They loved looking for "Foxy" and generally found him walking the fence daily. 

-  Naptime meant alone time with Gavin, which I realized how much I've missed that while he was in school!

- Lazy mornings meant fixing your own breakfast.. check out Brooklyn's willingness to pour her own bowl of cereal.

- MILES spent time teaching Brooklyn the ends and outs of timeout and the need to obey mommy's words (I think he's had lots of practice)

- The kids took swimming lessons and did an amazing job learning important skills.  Besides the water being freezing-- they loved it!

Our church had VBX and we had an awesome turn out.  It was held in the evenings and an absolute blast.  Brooks signed he and I up to be in charge of and work the games portion of VBX!  That meant we saw ALL the kids and got to play with each one of them!  The best part was that Brooks didn't realize he had business meetings in Houston that week and unfortunately he missed out on a few evenings!  This picture describes me after one of those nights... I sent this to him via phone without a caption!  While I was exhausted and it was hard word, it was a BLAST and we loved living our old camp days together playing with all the kids!

A few times we needed to go to Amarillo so I made sure to let the kids have some fun!  I'd bring a baby sitter with us and we'd go to Chucky Cheese in between running errands.  The kids would have a blast and would be exhausted on our way home!  

We potty trained Brooklyn, which wasn't THAT hard, except trying to teach her only boys teetee outside standing up!  She still hasn't figured that out!

The weather was gorgeous and Brooks had a few weekends opened for us to work on our landscaping.  I'll be completely honest... other then going and picking out plants and buying the soil and mulch, Brooks did it ALL!  He has a better vision and idea for it all and gardening has NEVER been my thing so I let him have at it!  It all looks awesome!

Something I did do was unpack our LAST box from our shipment from August 2013.  We've had our shed out back full of junk and odds and ends that had no where to go and didn't need any immediate attention.  I pretty much neglected it all since it was out of sight out of mind, but Brooks was ready to build cabinets in the garage and we needed to move some of that stuff into the shed, which required it to get some attention.  It felt GREAT getting that taken care of and to feel like we were officially moved in... after a year of living here!

Over all, it was a great summer in Borger.  

4th of July

We have been so busy during the summer that we felt like we were always going and going.  Originally, our intentions for the 4th were to drive up to Denver and spend some time in the mountains with Brooks' dad and family, but we were just so tired from traveling and going and doing things, we needed a little R&R for the 5 of us!

So, we found out about a local, small town nearby having festivities all day including a parade, kids activities, shopping, etc and decided to check it out!  We loaded the kids up and off we went! While searching for a place to land during the parade we stumbled upon an open area, that just so happened to be in the midst of a family reunion gathering.  The sweet family graciously let us stay in their "spot" and randomly introduced us to all the cousins, grandparents, kids, etc.  Random, but we had a great spot to watch the parade.  In the beginning our kids just watched as the trucks and trailers rolled by, but eventually they got out there and started catching some candy.  The weather was HOT, so the kids would go out to the street, catch a few pieces, then come back and sit down, take a drink, and go right back out! After the parade we grabbed lunch at one of the booths, went to a few activities, and then decided to take a drive through Palo Duro Canyon.  We're hoping to go camping there sometime and wanted to check the place out.  There were some incredible, amazing, breathtaking views and we can't wait to spend a weekend there!  

 

 

The car ride home... Can you tell they had fun?

After naps and relaxing at home, we went over to some neighbors of ours who the husband works with Brooks and they have 4 kids so it was sure to be lots of fun.  We grilled hamburgers, the kids played in the jump house and riding bikes, until it was finally time to shoot fireworks.  Right behind out house, literally, one street over isn't city limits so our friends had the perfect place to shoot fireworks and see everyone on our side of town shoot theirs, too!  The kids had a blast taking turns lighting roman candles, throwing snappers, and watching the BIG fireworks fly!  Brooklyn, like with any loud noises, didn't appreciate how loud the fireworks got and so she eventually stayed on my lap, shaking, with her ears covered! The boys, they were loving the fire and watching stuff "blow up"!

 

Happy 4th of July!