Ephesians 4:25

says "So put away all falsehood (we say "stop telling lies") and tell your neighbor the truth...". That is the verse that Alia has heard quite often here as of late.

It breaks my heart that she has told us a fib or two. It's always in response to something she's done to her sister. Whenever she is rough with her, or does something unkind she says "but there was a fly on her." I don't know where she got that, but it is SO frustrating.

Yesterday she didn't get her usual grocery store treat (they give out cookies at one store and bologna at another) because she lied about throwing a toy at Larren in the vehicle. Today I decided it's time to start making this no lying thing really stick.

So... she got a little squirt of vinegar in her mouth.

I explained that lies are "yucky" coming out of our mouths, and vinegar tastes "yucky" in our mouth. She didn't like it, of course... but I'm hoping the message sticks.

"Continue to give us wisdom in raising our children, Lord."

Baby Food, Baby Food, Baby Food

It's that time... mashing, pureeing, blending, and freezing. Larren's at the baby food stage!

Our blender has, once again, proved that it's worth taking up valuable cupboard space!


Carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, peaches, peas, green beans, avocados, apples, mixed berries, pears, bananas, potatoes, plums... we're making a list and checking it twice.

I was more laze fare with Alia... but after Larren's allergy issues I'm feeling a little gun shy! We are definitely taking it extra slow with baby #2!

Riding the Boat and Reading the Bible

Alia's imagination has really taken off. Every day, it seems, we're going on some sort of adventure! Yesterday we went boating, tubing, swimming in the lake, and sun tanning... all in the girl's bedroom!

Our boat (a white sheet layed on the floor) has become quite a hot spot here lately. Today Alia added a bonus to our boating trip... she brought her Bible along.




She was quite concerned that Jonah was in the water... being on a boat makes you think of such things I guess!

Soaking up some sun...


I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I LOVE THIS AGE!

Alia Just Said

"I yike Daddy... he's zuch a vun duy!!!"

I couldn't agree more, my little love!

Women Living Well

Women Living Well is a newly found blog (for me, that is!) that I just LOVE. The writer of this encouraging blog is a born again believer with a passion for helping women be the best, most godly, moms and wives we can be! Every time I take a glance at her blog I walk away challenged with something to think on, and more importantly, to try to put into practice! I am so blessed by her, and her insight.

Today she shared a fun little video from comedian Anita Renfroe - it made me smile, laugh, and want to shout out an occasional quiet "amen" (the kiddos were sleeping after all!), so I thought I would share it with you too! Enjoy!

"Secret" Recipe

Okay... you just HAVE TO try this recipe.

It's gluten free and has a "secret ingredient" that will leave your guests (or kids or husband) stunned!

It's super moist, super yummy, and easy to make! Add some creamy vanilla ice cream and ooey gooey hot fudge or chocolate frosting... and you're in business!!

Without further ado...

Black Bean Cake
1 can (19 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
3 eggs
1/3 c. oil
2 Tbsp. vanilla
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1 1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a blender mix beans, eggs, oil, and vanilla until smooth. Mix dry ingredients together. Pour bean mixture over dry ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour batter into a greased 9" square pan. Bake for approximately 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
(Recipe courtesy of Tamara from our new church cookbook!)

Just trust me on this one...

Finally...

... my last minute, just-in-case-I-don't-have-time-to-take-anything-better-pictures of Larren at 6 months!


Here's to hoping the rain stops, and the sunshine comes out... thus giving me a few extra days to click, click away!

My Little Family...

...that makes me smile!

"Let's Get This For Alia"...

...they said, excitedly.

"For Alia, eh?"


Uh huh. :)

Should a 2 Year Old Be Riding a Motorcycle?

That's a very good question... my gut reaction is absolutely positively NOT!

And when I saw this...

... I almost peed my pants. My husband thinks otherwise!

Alia totally trusts her Daddy, can ya tell?!?! She has no idea how horrible this could go... which is exactly what a mother thinks when she sees something like this!


Jon took Alia up and down the road (thankfully my parents have a very paved, very straight, very low traffic road) and after a few minutes I started to relax.

Until I saw this...


"Dook Mama... I stand UP!"

Seriously... if this is what it's like with girls... I really don't think I can handle boys.

** As a young girl I too enjoyed riding, jumping, and racing motorcycles. I had lots of fun, had my fair share of wrecks and wounds, and learned a number of things about speed, brakes, and the feel of the wind in my hair... so I come to a point in life, like a number of other mothers do, of deciding what is necessary protection and what is over protection. And let's just say that I'm really, really, REALLY glad my God hears and answers prayer! **

At least every 2 hours...

... I'm asked "Whe'd Undle Dosh an Auntie Ewin doe?"


They are in Ohio. "In o-HI-o?" Yes... in Ohio.

You'll see them at Christmas time. "At Qwismas time?" (Thinks about that for a few seconds...)

"Whe'd Gwamma Wadmun an Gwampa Wadmun doe?"

And let me tell you... it's absolutely amazing how many people she remembers from Ohio... goodness!

We Made It

Sorry I've been a little quiet around here! Wanted to mention that yes... we did make it back to MB! The trip didn't go as well as the trip to Ohio, but what can I say - we're back!
We've been unpacking and enjoying Jon's family over the last few days! We had a day to put things away and get our house in order (somewhat!) before Jon's parents and sister (and family!) arrived. We've been having a wonderful visit... and I'll be back at blogging in a few days!

We're Packing...

... which means we're leaving soon. Tomorrow, to be exact. Crazy. The summer has FLOWN by, but we've made lots of memories. I leave with mixed emotions. Lots and lots of mixed emotions.

Auntie and Uncle Love

My sister in law has been planning a special "Alia day" for quite some time now (and trust me... I'm sure she's already planning one including Larren for next summer!). And since Alia LOVES animals, the zoo was a great place to go!

My siblings have "kidnapped" Alia on a number of different occasions while we've been home! They have fed the ducks, gone out for lunch, fed the fish, gone for ice cream, and of course, gone to the park! Alia just SOAKS it in!

I am absoultely amazed by the love they have for my children... seriously, it blesses me beyond words!! They would do anything for them... without thinking twice! Each of them is going to be a fantastic parent someday!!

Josh and Erin snapped quite a few pics from their zoo outing and were kind enough to let me download them the second they came home! Well, the second after I carried a half sleeping, but still grinning little girl upstairs to continue her nap! :)

Alia wasn't so sure of the huge polar bear... but if Auntie says it's okay, than it must be!

Seals... I've always been a little concerned with the polar bears and seals being in such close proximity in front of little eyes, but here's to hoping the kids don't connect the dots on that one!

Seeing Alia's favorite animal... the giraffe's!!!


We told her that the giraffe's were Lukey's cousins... so she brought him along to show him his long lost relatives! Josh and Erin said she kept yelling "Lukey's cousins, Lukey's cousins!!!!!"

"Playing" with the kitties... she was pretty excited that she was touching his paw! They usually don't sit still long enough, I guess!

The fish...

Auntie Erin and Uncle Josh even took her on a big train that went around the zoo!! She was so super excited!

The two besties after a long fun day...


She didn't last long on the way home!


Thanks, you guys, for treating my children the way you do. They are so blessed to have you in their lives! Wish they could be with you more often... but we'll cherish the times we do have! Love you... ever so much!

Swimming Glasses

We have no idea why Alia calls these her "swimming glasses"... but no other name quite settles with her!

Mr. Potato Head let Larren borrow them the other day, the fashion idea being compliments of her big sister!

At a young age Larren got a whole new outlook on life, through lime colored glasses!

There's never a dull moment, I tell ya!

They are how old?!

My best friend, Amy, has a little guy who is just a tad bit older than Alia. It took her and Luke some time to warm up to each other... but now, after a number of visits, they are great buds!

We were all hanging out the other day, enjoying the summer sun, when our stomachs started to rumble. Amy and I went inside to fix lunch, leaving the two older kids to play in the sand box. But... the sand box just wasn't what they had in mind!

They opened the shed door, by themselves...

Got out the swimming pool and put it in the yard, by themselves...

Unreeled the hose and drug it to the swimming pool, by themselves...

then Lukey turned on the water...
while Alia manned the hose!

I glanced out the window, saw what was going on, and sprinted to get my camera before they realized we were on to their little two man show!!


If this is what they are capable of as two year olds, I can only imagine what next summer will bring! Forget cardboard boxes to play in... they will have a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath tree house built in no time!

Nothing Runs Like a Deer

My brother, Joel, was having fun with my camera the other day and snapped some great (and rare!) pictures of Larren and I together.


The girls have learned, from an early age, that green is the tractor of choice in this family!

Alia is a farm girl at heart... really! She'd prefer going bare foot on any given day, but sometimes a girl just wants to feel pretty. And everybody knows that shiny, sparkly, glitzy little pink sandals make driving a tractor way more fun!!

And... she's off!

Larren has figured out how to get where she wants to go! She sticks her cute little bum in the air, gets up on all fours, wiggles back and forth a bit, then lays down on her belly and scoots backwards! When reverse isn't quite cutting it, she just rolls over or keeps pushing herself in a circle until she gets pointed in the right direction!

Her method does the job, but more often than not this is where she ends up...