The last 3 weeks...

...have been busy. Exhausting, really. Our goal - to paint the house. Here's what it looked like 3 weeks ago.

We hired someone to put new siding on the front of the house, the chimney and a few places around the bottom of the house. This is Day 1 of demo - June 4.

While we were at it, we replaced the windows in Tyler and Aubrey's rooms.

It seemed that we found lots of other projects that needed attention...like a section of the front railing...

that Wayne rebuilt.

My poor children. One day, Aubrey slept through the pounding as siding was being put on outside her bedroom. Another day she refused to nap and fell asleep sitting up in the kitchen.

My fear of heights and being up high on the ladder got much better after a couple of days of working.

And here we are. Three weeks later. I'm so glad it's done!
(Well, of course there are still more things we're working on...but the painting part is done). :)

Aubs

I was taking pictures of the house tonight. Aubrey wanted me to take a picture of her. I said "open your mouth"

Add caption

 Then I got it right :)

Jumping

A little Aubrey jumping...Wayne caught her playing a game by herself today. (Chasing a ball). She falls a couple times and says she needs a bandaid. I also liked that he caught her self-taught method for getting off the trampoline.

My Tummy Hurts

Aubrey complained for several days that her tummy hurt. I finally figured out what she was really talking about.

Aubrey

Aubrey, of course, continues to grow and change quickly. She is spunky and sweet. She's also a ham. Here's a little video of her entertaining me while in her bath tonight:




Some of her often repeated lines:

"Wait a minute (look thoughtfully away)...I an idea!"

"A ______ so cute!" (Usually, "A baby so cute").

"I a choppa chips!" (chocolate chips)

"I a ban-aid too?" (I need a bandaid too).

Since we got our trampoline last weekend, "Jumpa jump?"

She is often asking to watch Umizoomi.

She points to her belly, "Belly screen!"

Every now and then we get to do the "Craaaaaazy shaaaaaake!"

Weekend Visit

About a week ago, my Mom called and asked whether Dad could fly out for this past weekend for a quick visit, as he had a funeral to attend in Hutchinson. Um, of course!

My sister, Lynette, (who I haven't seen in 2 years since they moved to Thailand) happened to be visiting in Indiana at the time with her husband, Rusty, and my 4 month-old nephew, Henry. Mom added an extra special bonus: Lynette and Henry would come along too.

I'm pretty much the luckiest girl in the world.

I love my family. Unfortunately, we live all spread out from Washington to Delaware. So, we treasure the time we have together. We did a little  shopping, caught up and played with the kids.

Here are a few shots from our weekend...

Henry getting a little ride in the backpack. He is such an expressive, giggly, smiley little love.

Lynette and Henry 05-12-2012

Tyler rides, Lynette and Henry walk along

Aubrey tries out the new trampoline

Bright eyed Henry playing with Sue

Tyler got to spend a couple nights in the hotel with Grandpa Norm. He had a great time. On Sunday, for Mother's Day, Dad took him to the store to pick out his own Mother's Day card and they came back with some roses too. How sweet. We went out to eat at Gindi for lunch - Thai and Japanese. Yum!

Mother's Day 2012

Afterwards, we headed to the park.

Grandpa pushing Aubrey 05-13-2012

Henry 05-13-2012

Lynette and Aubrey 05-13-2012

Dad and Wayne 05-13-2012

Dad and Henry 05-13-2012

Aubrey was a little jealous when I was holding Henry. It kind of surprised me - but I guess there are not many times when she has to share me.







Sisters






Love you guys! :)

Wednesday, Wayne got all of our bikes ready for the season and began working with Tyler on increasing his confidence on his bike. We spent a long time watching Tyler go back and forth between driveways. Aubrey excitedly cheered "Go Tyler, Go!!" over and over. I didn't have the video camera, so I tried to capture it again the following night. Of course, Aubrey's enthusiasm was not nearly as high. However, she did mutter a few of her often repeated phrases. "Go get 'im!" (It's going to get him). "It's winny!" (It's Windy). "I see dat!" And, she did throw in a "Go Tyler, Go!" for me too. She often says that something is cute. So, I needed to include this one... She says, "awww, baby so cute." I don't remember what baby she was talking about. Then, this morning she didn't want me to get her out of her crib, so I was cleaning up. I had pulled out a package of diapers to put away and she wanted to play with them. I pulled out the camera... I liked that I captured some of her love of her "Lamby."

I Messy!

            We left the lid off the sand box last night.

            It rained this morning.

            I left Aubrey playing with sidewalk chalk to fix dinner.

            I found her like this.

       

Low-Carb Focaccia-Style Flax Bread

Starting in January, 2011, Wayne suggested we start a diet. He had been reading The Four Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss and asked that I read the diet chapters so I'd know what I needed to buy for us. I reluctantly skimmed a chapter about the diet. It reminded me a lot of the South Beach Diet that I had briefly tried in the past, only with less restrictions and a built-in cheat day. Basically avoid sugar/simple carbohydrates and instead eat beans, vegetables, meat, cheese, nuts, eggs... One day a week, take off to eat whatever you want (including the forbidden foods - pizza, ice cream, etc). I thought it couldn't hurt so I gave it a try.

The first three days (of sugar withdrawal, I'd guess) were pretty tough, but it definitely got better after the first month to the point that I don't think of it as a "diet," it's just the way I eat. Recently, I have also been trying to learn more about how to get more sources of Omega 3 fatty acids in my diet.

I'm probably late to the party, yet again, to discover that flax seeds are an excellent source of Omega 3s. Lucky for me they are also low-carb and high in fiber. Perfect! With just a little looking around, I found this recipe for low-carb flax bread. I'm excited about this "bread." I can have sandwiches again! Toast! And I'm always on the lookout for easy recipes to add variety to our food routine.

I wanted to share this recipe in case anyone else out there is trying to do something similar. And if you come across any other interesting low-carb recipes, please send them my way!

Low-Carb Focaccia Style Flax Bread

Slightly adapted from Laura Dolson, About.com Guide

Ingredients:

•2 cups flax seed meal
•1 Tablespoon baking powder
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•1 Tablespoon Truvia
•5 beaten eggs
•1/2 cup water
•1/3 cup oil

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare pan (a 10X15 rimmed cookie sheet) with oiled parchment paper or a silicone mat.

1) Whisk eggs. Mix in water and oil.

2) Add dry ingredients, and stir until well combined. Make sure there aren't obvious strings of egg white hanging out in the batter.

3) Let batter set for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken up some (leave it too long and it gets past the point where it's easy to spread.)

4) Pour batter onto pan. Because it's going to tend to mound in the middle, you'll get a more even thickness if you spread it away from the center somewhat, in roughly a rectangle an inch or two from the sides of the pan (you can go all the way to the edge, but it will be thinner).

5) Bake for about 20 minutes, until it springs back when you touch the top and/or is visibly browning even more than flax already is.

6) Cool and cut into whatever size slices you want. You don't need a sharp knife; just cut it with a spatula.

* I keep my sliced bread in the freezer and pull out what I want to defrost or to toast. Otherwise, it will start to mold in a few days.



When I am Old With You