Family Reunion 2010

During the days, we went to a local park on the lake that is just above the dam. The girls enjoyed playing with their cousins in the water, and I got to do a lot of reading!



Uncle Chris took us out on his boat. After taking off and getting a fair distance from the docks, his engine started acting funny, and then cut out. He had me a bit worried when he began looking at the docks, seemingly calculating the swimming distance. But alas, he started it again, and we went back. I think he was running low on fuel....

We drove up above Coulee City for a nice view of the dam at a distance!

There is a very odd structure at the lookout, and the grandkids all posed with the grandparents for a photo. Of course, our children were the only difficult ones for this photo shoot!

Grand Coulee Dam Family Vacation

In mid-August, Jared's parents came for a visit, and took Ella home to Washington with them. That means we had 1 1/2 weeks of quiet in the house, because Maiya had no one to fight with!!

We then packed up the van, and enjoyed a full-days' drive up to Washington, where we met up with Ella once again.

Maiya helped to entertain Ethan in the car...


Next, we took a short drive up to the Grand Coulee Dam area. We enjoyed a family reunion at a lovely house that we rented for the weekend. We took a free tour of the dam...

The whole crew (minus Ethan...who was sleeping in his car seat)...

My Dream for the Future

I dream that someday I will be the person I want to be...

I will work less, play more.

I will criticize less, love more.

I will shy away less, and step forward more.

I will lecture less, inspire more.

I will begrudge less, forgive more.

I will doubt less, trust more.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Thanks for reading, folks. Sorry it took a lot longer than 30 days...

My hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days

I hope to:

Be more patient with my children, and find more time to play with them.

Make new friends, yet keep the old.

Get back to my pre-baby fitness level.

I dream to:

Move to Mexico and start a new full-time life (as opposed to living in places seasonally) for the first time EVER in my married life!!

Travel and see new places in Mexico, and learn more about the Mexican culture.

I Plan to:

Continue growing my sales rep business, and attain even more accounts.

Pay off all my debts.

Learn Spanish.

Expand my wholesale business (flower jewelry)

Build a food storage

Begin saving for a home to buy with cash in the next 5 years

Reusable Trash Liner

Perhaps you did or didn't know...I cloth diaper, and I LOVE it. I "converted" about 3 months ago, and have appreciated no longer needing to buy box after box of diapers that end up in landfills!

Anyhow, a friend introduced me to Planetwise wet/dry bags, which are essentially water-tight bags that you can store dirty diapers in until you wash them. I love them (I have a small one for the diaper bag, and one large one for big trips, etc), but they don't really cut it for everyday storage (they start to stink). So, I saw an online suggestion to make a reusable trash can liner, and since I happened to have a Dollar Store plastic shower curtain lying around, I got to work with the simple cutting/sewing project. The result? A fantastic, water-tight trash liner that I can throw in the washer with the diapers (and airdry)...and now there is no stink in-between washes! I'm going to have to make more trash liners for the house!

Ratatouille

My sister introduced me to a TV Program starring Zonya, somewhat of a a lifestyle/eating coach. On her show she cooks up easy and healthy meals, and after watching one show with my sister (the only time I've watched it...I'll be honest), I got online and picked out some of her recipes to try. Almost a year later...I have finally gotten around to cooking up her Ratatouille recipe for the first time!

It was fantastic, and loved by everyone, except my hubby (he's the pickiest eater of the group...it takes a lot to impress)! We served it over noodles, even though that's not the proper way to eat it...and it was delicious! Soooo simple, and packed full of veggies! Have you ever made Ratatouille before? If not...try it!

Curried Cashew Couscous

I have to admit that I've had a bag of couscous hanging around for about a year...and I haven't figured out what to do with it, until now. I picked it up in the bulk section of the grocery store in Whitehorse, Yukon (because Canadians are healthy like that, eh?)...but I put it in a recipe for the first time this week.

I pulled out a recipe I found online, originally from the "Vegan Express" cookbook. The Curried Cashew Couscous was delicious, in my opinion...I had it for yesterday's lunch, dinner, and even breakfast this morning. My dad also ate it up! He supposedly hates curry...but he's never turned away from any of the dishes I make with curry (which is quite a few). Mom didn't feel like eating...but had one bite and said she liked it. Jared took a 1/4 cup of it (you could tell he had great faith that he would like it), and then told me he wasn't a big fan. Oh well...you can't win them all!

If you dare to try this recipe (I really did love it!), then I would recommend Craisins instead of raisins (I have no use for raisins in my life...ugh)...it was the key ingredient, and gave the dish JUST the right amount of sweetness!

Couscous was a completely new venture for me--I would compare it to a rice texture, but smaller...similar in flavor to white rice (but healthier)...and it cooked a LOT faster. I might have to try it as a replacement for rice, some time!