The summer went fast with our daily trips to the pool, watching the olympics, game nights, visiting with nanna and papa and so now it is time to start our new semester of Classical Conversations cycle 1. We will do the first semester here in Athens and then make the move to South Asheville for our new adventure there while Jason completes CRNA school.

My baby turns 1!

 I can't believe that my baby Esa Mae is 1 today. Actually in about 10 more min she will be one. Time has flown by so much! She is still very so little to me. She is not yet walking but does try to say a few words like daddy, sister, all done.

She is such a sweet easy going child and usually never crys unless she needs to. She loved her coconut flour cucpcake.

River and his hair

We were having fun with River's hair the other day and this is what we made. It so doesn't fit him because he is such a sensitive boy but very hard core too.

coconut flour carrot muffins

coconut flour carrot muffins

6 eggs

1/2 c coconut oil, melted

1/2 c honey

2 TB vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c coconut flour

2 c carrots, shredded

1/2 c dried cranberries

preheat over 350 degrees. combine the eggs, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla in a large bowl. add in the salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. sprinkle the coconut flour over the mixture and whisk. mix well, until smooth. fold in the shredded carrots and cranberries. bake 20 min for regular size muffins or 17 min for mini muffins (i like the mini muffins best)

 

So I'm working on a change

I have slowly been thinking about our (my) diet and our gut. I have been learning a lot about GAPS and PALEO as well as oxalates. I have added a few blogs to my favorite list to keep looking at and as soon as I feel good about having 2 weeks worth of recipes I think the family will eat then I'm doing it. I know for me, it is because I have realized that I am addicted to sugar and grains (which turn to sugar). I want a gut cleansing and I don't want my kids to have the same childhood food addictions as I do.

I was raised on coke 3 times a day, pop tarts for breakfast, fast food for lunch and mac n cheese for dinner. I guess you could even say these are my comfort closet) foods still. I want to be broken from this addiction. Hopefully I can add some new recipes that are at least grain free.

I have been vegetarian for 16 years but now by changing my diet i will be adding meats (not pork) in my kitchen. I'm excited, scared, and nervous!!

wow does the day fly!!

It is so hard to get everything done in a day. I would have to say I only get 1/4 of what I want to get done in a day. It is extremely hard to raise a family with small kids without extended family nearby to help. I know why they say it takes a village to raise kids.

Between work, homeschool, music and sports our days fly and it makes it nearly impossible for mommy and daddy time. Jason and I have a joke where we say "we will talk about that in....about 20 years".

Ryn loves animals. We are guiding her towards being a Veterinarian. She really loves farm animals and wants us to live on a farm. (so do we, so maybe in the future that will happen).

We are just trying to teach our kids the most important things in life. We are very blessed to be able to homeschool.



I really can't believe that my baby Esa Mae is 4 1/2 months old already!!



cracker jacks

Cracker Jacks

½ cup unsalted butter

1 cup sucanat

½ cup maple syrup

1 ½ cups almonds

½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

16 cups popped corn

Preheat oven 250

Stir together butter, sucanat, maple syrup, almonds and bring to a boil over med heat. Boil 5 min remove and add baking soda and vanilla. Pour over popped corn and put in over for 1 hour.