Food Storage

Our family has yet to create a food supply that we could rely on if something went wrong. I've been thinking about this for months and have wondered how to build food storage up when we don't have very much extra money. Now that we have our tax return, Pastor agreed that we should dedicate some to starting our three month supply. I've been thinking about working at the LDS canneries a lot lately too and think it's a good way to get some things that we want. The link for the canneries is here. Hopefully we can be more on the ball with this sort of thing. The last thing I want to hear is my babies crying because they are hungry.

Diet Changes

I have recently heard that high fructose corn syrup is really bad for people. As a matter of fact, Dr. Oz hates the stuff and treats it like poison. Well, I thought it would be worth it to cut it from our kitchen. Little did I know it is the glue that holds a lot of food together! Ketchup, for example, has high fructose corn syrup, so does BBQ sauce. One thing I was really surprised to learn had high fructose corn syrup was yo plait yogurt. Come people, yogurt? Really? YOGURT?? I thought that was supposed to be good for you! The only jelly I could find with out high fructose corn syrup was this itty bitty bottle that costs almost $3, so I have been eating PB&J a lot less lately. The jelly was a Smuckers brand called "Simply Fruit."

Another thing I have been trying to avoid are foods with names of things that I can't pronounce. You know what I mean, right? Those really long names of scientific chemicals and such that seem like they shouldn't be on a box of cookies? Well, it turns out they probably shouldn't.

The one other thing I've been trying to do lately is eat more veggies, which isn't really hard for me. I like vegetables, but Pastor does not. I'm going to try make him a banana spinach smoothie and see if he notices. The color will be disguised by chocolate powder, so he'll never know. I did tell him that the bag of spinach we got today was for him, but he just laughed and didn't believe me.

Smartie

On Sunday, I took the boys to church. Whenever we tell Duane that we're going to church, he says "Emma? Emma?!" and gets really excited. He loves his friend Emma, but sadly she was sick on Sunday and not at Church. After Sacrament was over, I went to talk to Tim, Emma's daddy. When Duane say Emma's dad, he looked at him, then looked at me and looked at him again and said, "I want to go see Emma." It was the most amazing thing I've heard Duane say! I've never heard him say more than a two word sentence and I was shocked. Tim was a little surprised too and said, "Wow Duane, that was a pretty good sentence."


Avan, being cute.

Duane, being cute.

This is not Duane and Emma, this is Duane and Daphne, another one of his friends.

Rub a dubb dub

Duane really enjoyes bathtime. Every day, sometimes twice a day he'll ask to be put in the tub. He'll run in the bathroom and point at the shelf where his rubber duckies are kept and say "Ducky? Bath?" He's getting really smart with all his words.



Look out evil doers, it's super D!

Avan actually seems to like bath time as well. He kicks his legs repeatedly to make splashes.

Errand Run

This is Avan being so super adorable at Office Depot that all the ladies want to steal him as their own. What can I say? We have such cute babies that they draw attention everywhere we go! Pastor and I often joke with each other by saying "What a cute baby!!" in a semi dramatic tone because we can't go out without someone saying so about both of the boys.

My Smiling Avan

Avan has taken to smiling, laughing and cooing. He seems to really enjoy talking and says things like "Ma" and "Ga." When Avan smiles it really lifts my day. He's such a snuggly, cute little baby.

:D

I am soo happy! Pastor came home from Peru after being gone for a little over a week. I know a week ins't that long but it seemed like an eternity at the time! I missed my hunny a LOT and I hope the next time he goes to Peru I can go with him. There is nothing like someone going away for a week to remind you of how much you love and need them.



While Pastor was gone, Duane would ask for him daily. He'd even go to the window and look for him saying "Daddy? Daddy?" as if calling for Pastor. Needless to say, he missed Pastor too and was really happy to see him. For the first few days after his return, Duane wouldn't let Pastor out of his sight. He REALLY loves daddy.

Great Day

The most amazing thing happened today! Avan smiled at me. It wasn't one of those I'm laughing because I have bubbles in my tummy smiles. No. I cooed at him and he smiled and even giggled a little. He did it again when Pastor came home. Granted this was at one in the morning, but staying up is worth seeing a little baby smile.

To be honest, it's given me a much needed boost. It's funny how the smallest things can keep us going.




On another note, I've been loving the sun coming out, even though I haven't been able to enjoy it. At least not until today. Today was the day that we finally got to go to the park again. We haven't since two days before Avan was born and Duane was so excited when I told him to get his shoes on because we were going outside. He kept saying "OUTSIDE?! OUTSIDE?!" and "Go? Go?" It was really adorable. Avan didn't enjoy the park as much as Duane though, he was more ready for a nap than being in the sun.