Reflections of Jordan Age 6

Jordan is the child that stole my heart. I loved him the first day we got him. I am not sure if it was the toddler thing in me or the fact that he was so scared and so easy to love. I still remember the first night we got him. We tried to put him to sleep in his toddler bed, which didn't go over well. I wound up sleeping backwards on my bed and he laid on top of my with his head on my chest. Once he settled down, he slept that way the entire night. I didn't. I balled at the bond we were making, at the comfort I hope he felt I was able to give him and just the closeness that we immediately had. He still can just smile at me and it melts my heart. I have a hard time telling him no...and problem is, he knows it! (We're working on that).

This last year he started kindergarten, became a karate guru, lost his first tooth, he learned to read very well and so much more! And still as STUBBORN as ever!

Jordan, my life literally would not have been complete without you. I am so proud of you and the little monster you have become. Happy Birthday Bugs!

some oldies...these were taken within the first months we had him...

Reflections of David-Age 9

I skipped last year on the boy's birthdays, so we are back in action this year. Most of you know the end of March to early April are crazy. David and Jordan's birthday are 4 days apart, then Easter, then it's Ashton's birthday. So we call it the poor months! lol

I am sure I have said this a lot but David is the child that makes my heart melt. He wears his heart on his sleeve. You can look at him the wrong way and his feelings are hurt. You say one thing to him the wrong way and he just starts to cry. He is so tender.

With that said, he is also the most hard working 9 year old I know.

He has really learned a lot this years about responsibility, caring for others appropriately and love.

He had his first year of Cub Scouts and excelled beyond everyone's expectations.

He learned to ride a horse, he caught a fish, he learned how to love and honor his country, he learned his love of art and he learned that he is a book worm!

I can't imagine my life without David. He keeps me grounded. He keeps me mellow (as much as a red head can be) and he helps me work on being soft spoken as he is. He has so much love and just wants so dearly for everyone to be happy.  We love you David, happy 9th birthday!!!

Here are the answers to his yearly birthday interview:

David’s 9^th Birthday Interview

1.  Who is your favorite person in the whole wide world? “Can it be two people?” Me—sure, it can be two. “Mom and Dad”

2.   What is your favorite color? “green and blue” (this has never changed and probably never will--and I will bet money Jordan says the same thing).

3.   What’s your favorite television show? “Transformers and the movie too” (he is more of a movie child than a cartoon kid)

4.   What’s your favorite outfit? "any new clothes” (this kid loves to shop!)

5.   What sport do you like best? “Soccer" (He really wants to play soccer...one season he will, we are working on trying all sports at least once to make sure he picks what he likes)

6.   What song do you love? “Frozen songs” (I think all kids at this time are saying the same things...it's a Frozen Frenzy!)

7.   What’s your favorite cereal? “frosted flakes” (he really would eat the entire box if you let him)

8.   Who is your best friend? “Johann” (a friend in his class at school)

9.   What do you want to be when you grow up? “I don’t know yet” (He's a thinker...so I bet he is analyzing still so he can make the 'right' decision)

10.      What is your favorite book? “Harry Potter” (He read the first book in a week!)

11.      What are you really good at? “riding a bike”

12.      Where do you wish you could go on vacation? “Disneyland”

13.      What is your best memory? “my old best friends”

14.      What would you buy with $1000 dollars? “a waterpark” (dream big my child)

15.      What vegetable do you hate the most? “cauliflower” (he called it the white broccoli!)

16.      If you could have a wish, what would it be? “to have a new toy” He wouldn't be specific.

17.      What is your favorite flavor ice cream? “cookies and cream”

18.      Who is your biggest hero? “mom and dad” (heart wrenching)

19.      What do you like to do best with your friends? “play soccer” (are you catching the trend      with soccer? We're working on that).

20.      What do you hope you will get to do before your next birthday? “a remote control car” (he has one...so I am not sure what he is talking about, lol)

Cooking with his Uncle Matt

His big catch over the summer

Just riding a huge horse...no big deal

Running...what he loves...(hence the love of Soccer)

His very first Scout Camp

Shooting a target with a bow and arrow

First day of 3rd Grade

Receiving his "Duty to God" Award in Scouts...this is a HUGE accomplishment and honor

Some of his super awesome Scout leaders! (above and below)

Showing his respect for the 9/11 Field of Flags

Flag Football Time!

A bookworm he is...

Fresh Fruit Smoothies

Last summer, I had a dear friend show me her hands at making some yummy smoothies. In fact she is well known in the neighborhood as the smoothie lady.  She has made them for a sick friend of the neighborhood because that was all she could eat. So...I was excited to learn that it was much easier than I thought.  Take whatever fruit/berries you have.  I would mostly stick to what is in season. Bananas are almost a must as they make the smoothie, smooth and thicken up nicely. Yogurt is a must as well.  I have found that I like the Yoplait the best. And the Yoplait Vanilla to be exact. But get whichever you can afford. And I buy the large tubs. But if you buy the individuals (which is totally fine) you want one yogurt per smoothie round.

I went to Sprout (I really do love that place) and they had blueberries, blackberries and strawberries fresh from the truck when I got there. So I took some of those. 

These look delicious!

I could smell the strawberries from a distance...they were SO sweet and fresh! I loathe tart strawberries.

Close up of my blackberries. So plump! (drooling a little)

Blueberries...in season, so use them while you can!

If you aren't close to a fresh market or you just can't seem to get fresh berries where you are at, you could get a frozen selection. This one has strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blueberries. Just use a lot less ice (if any) than what I say below.

I also have some protein that I add. If I am making a desert like smoothie, I will usually leave this out. I mostly add it to my breakfast smoothies. It's great with a small bowl of oatmeal on the side or one of those Nature's Valley Oat n'Honey Granola Bars (they are so yummy!)  I just got this from our local Wal-Mart. Strawberry is good. We have also had vanilla as well.

Take 1-2 medium bananas and half them into the blender.

The strawberries I have been getting are a little larger, so I have been slicing them in half. I would only do about 3-4 max of strawberries. They can get over bearing in your smoothie if you aren't careful.

Add the rest of the fruit. Small half fulls. Then do about a cup of yogurt, a cup of water and fill the rest of the blender with ice. Oh the protein mix. I do 1-2 scoops. But I mix everything first, THEN I had the protein otherwise it has clumped up on my in the smoothie. Yuck!

If you wanted to do more of a dessert smoothie, I would add this in place of water. It made it a little tart, so again, watch how many strawberries you add...that is the key. This stuff is nice and sweet...and it was only a $1 at Smiths. My husband loves it...don't tell him I used some in the smoothies! :-)

I use the ice crush on my blender (excuse the mess buttons, my blender is well loved) and pulse the ice until I think I have all of the large chunks chopped smaller. Once this is done I hit the smoothie button and add my protein through the top hole of the lid.

There you have it. You can see the blueberry chunks and strawberries.

Yes those are Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtle Cups...don't judge...I was making smoothies for my kids.

And of course a good smoothie makes for happy kids!

I hope you enjoy these. They are so good and so summer and SO refreshing! I love them!

I have added mangoes, oranges, apples, grapes (grapes are good in them!). I haven't ventured and added some nice greens to get the iron flowing. Maybe I will soon experiment with that.

As always, happy cooking...or is it happy blending? :-)