The past few weeks--week 11 - 15

Week 11:  The Move

This picture happened actually before our move (about a week before). We got our maps out and looked at the places that we have lived. We looked at a map of the US and searched for Tennessee and tried to pinpoint where we would be living next. I don't think the children were too excited about going away, even though I tried to tell them about all the new friends that they will meet Isabella was sad for the friend she would miss, and Aiden, I'm not really sure about Aiden, but he wasn't looking to happy either. But the move happened, and it was very exciting to go to our new home.

Sometime after the move, the kids completely tired fell asleep on my bed. 

We got our furniture just the day after our closing day. It was really hard to decide were everything should go. All I can remember from those first few days is being completely stressed out, and tired.

Week 12: The new house

As for the house, it was messy, clutter that was all I saw everywhere I looked

there were boxes everywhere even a couple of weeks after we moved in

Isabella running down our creek

Aiden was set on fishing

 On that first week we did a lot of backyard discoveries. I think it was too stressful to be in the house so we spent a lot of time walking to the creek and looking at our trees.

the kids coming up the path from the creek

I'm coming up the path, back then I was not too aware of the toad (more to come on toads)

there are a lot of trees and tree stumps

The former owners said they cut 15 to 20 trees, really I can't imagine where those trees where, as it is now there is not too much treeless spaces.

There was also time for our kitty, of course

Week 13: My Pear tree.
Now this week separations are very loose since in reality I have no idea exactly which week it was when I took those pictures, what is for sure is that they happened between the 11 and the 15th week.

I'm extremely excited about planting my pear tree. I grew it from a seed out of a pear I ate

Jared was a little reluctant but everybody had to have a picture with my pear tree

Week 14: Our trip to the zoo

yes, I know I look crazy, it happens, especially on hot days with lots of walking invoved

Week 15: Finally, this past week, not much (exciting) happened this last week, except last night when we saw a moon moth or luna moth as the kids call it

an amazing looking moth, and huge!

It was alive, just resting, Bella took the opportunity to get close so I could snap this pix

Week 9: Dr. Seuss birthday and more

Today is Dr. Seuss birthday, and we celebrated by going to see The Lorax, at the movie theater today!
We had been waiting, excitedly, for a few days for the movie  to come out. We have watched the clips, looked at pictures, and talked about it, a lot. Today we were full with excitement as we drove to the movies.
Now we are home, happy. We drew and colored pictures about the movie and then the children ate green eggs, (Aiden's egg was actually blue that is what he wanted) after reading green eggs and ham. We were so into Dr. Seuss that I tried rhyming, but that was a big fiasco.
We love doctor Seuss' books!

we also drew pictures about the movie

Also this week I took a picture of myself after cleaning the bathroom

and a picture of the children trying to clean Aiden's room, Isabella's room is underutilized so it's usually clean. She usually sleeps on the guest-bed in Aiden's room.

Now, by looking at the picture, you may conclude that they are playing instead of cleaning. Your conclusion is right, they failed at cleaning and organizing. In fact, yesterday I asked Aiden to pick up the toys in his room, there were just a few laying around. An hour later, right before bed time Jared walked in to check and he could barely step into the room. Aiden had decided to sort out his toys by emptying all his baskets on the floor, and soon left to play with Bella who was actually organizing in her own room.

Week 8: More healthy eating and a little fun

This week I'm trying a new app. It is called "My fitness pal". I think I like it. Ok I know I like it, and I have been using it for the past few days. I don't know for how long I will use it. It is a somewhat attention demanding app because I have to post all the food I eat, drink, and the exercises I do. Of course I don't really have to do any of those things, but for now, I want to. Since I have been very aware of all of those aforementioned things I may be loosing a few pounds in the next few weeks, the app asked for goal-weight so I set a goal to loose 7lb, and at this rate I will loose them by the end of March. My plan is to continue to do my best, not because loosing 7 lbs is that important but because I have actually put a lot of thought into what I'm eating and drinking, and for quite a while I have noticed that I eat mindlessly, even when I'm not really hungry and then I don't feel my best (physically, I can't go to bed with a full stomach, I sleep poorly when I do). Also, when I think of something great that I want to have, usually dessert, all I have to do is exercise enough to "gain" extra calories. Like today I knew that I was going to indulge with a root-beet float after dinner and so I spent 20 + minutes doing aerobics, and I joined the kids at the trampoline even though I didn't really felt like jumping, and now I don't feel guilty, I may even have a few more calories to spare, which I will not use just in case I'm not being accurate in my food diary.

Fruit salad, very delicious!

If you have been reading my blog you may know that I'm trying to cut most of the dairy, and meat food from our diet. I must say that I'm doing ok, not great, but good enough that I feel good about my food choices. My dinners and specially my lunches look very colorful. We usually only eat meat or animal products and dairy on the weekends with a few slip-ups. The slip ups are mainly because I don't want to feel to restricted and get tired of my healthy foods.

Here we are enjoying our fruit salad and french bread and tortilla chips with humus

yesterday we tried my homemade spring-rolls, again, Aiden didn't enjoy them as much as Bella and I did

Today we went to the Sandhill Horticultural gardens with their friend John and my friend Andrea (his mom)

we had great time at the garden, it was nice, quiet, the temperature was perfect, even though unbeknownst to us there was a tornado warning for our area

and now it is time for bed

so Good night!!!

Week 7--A walk, food, and Tiny, the dog

Today, Friday, Feb 17th, we went for a walk, Jared didn't work since it is Presidents weekend. Aiden and Bella wanted to collect specimens to look in the microscope. Well, soon after we started to walk the kids decided it was a good day to ride their bikes so they ran back home to get them, the collecting science kit was handed to Jared to hold and soon forgotten. It was a nice walk. The dog satisfied his smelling needs, I hope, and we had a good 20 minutes of family outside time. We do go outside often but usually only to jump on the trampoline or pick up the mail. I'm glad Spring is almost here, I love to walk outside in the Spring time. I love to walk in the Fall and early Summer mornings also. I just love to walk as long as it's not to cold. My family does not like to go on walks, they are crazy!

This is me, I am not crazy, I like to go on walks

Yesterday I made German pancakes for breakfast

Don't be fooled by his face,he liked them, he actually had thirds

Now that I mentioned the dog. He is also crazy. Said dog, named Tiny, had an accident in our sun-room yesterday. Why? I have not the slightest idea. I let him out a few times in the morning, before leaving for a couple of hours, I had lunch at Panera Bread with the children. When we came back there was a "surprise"waiting for us. I confronted Tiny and he pretended he had no idea of what I was talking about, so I had to led him to the "crime scene", then he showed signs of being ashamed. I trust he was. I was a little mad, and I would have put him out, but it was raining and he doesn't really like to get wet, if he ever does it again I will definitely put him out (unless it's raining).

Doesn't he looks sorrowful?

And now more food. While we continue to try to eat mainly vegan food sometimes I add fish and eggs to our food, usually on the weekends. During the week we eat a lot of beans, humus, polenta, vegetables, etc. Vegetable stir-fry has become a staple at our house, spring rolls were a nice addition, which Jared hasn't tried yet since he was away the 2 times I cooked them. I also cook a vegetable curry stew often, and of course rice and beans. We have discovered that vegan sausage is pretty good, and also vegan "ground beef"  is a pretty close alternative to the regular stuff. We are satisfied with our meals, although I need to add more recipes to my repertoire. This is pasta with imitation crab (it would have been vegan except for the imitation crab, that was just fishy) spinach and tomato, quite delicious.

I added al dente pasta to the buttery sauce and the final result was great!

Jared is home he just doesn't always makes it in the pictures

Week 6--Shame! not a picture this week

I failed, I didn't take any pictures this week. Jared was not home, he left Friday of week 5 and came back on Wednesday. On Thursday we left to Tennessee to house hunt. We found a home put an offer and it was accepted, now we just wait and wait but only for a month. We are extremely excited, ecstatic, etc. We were busy and now it is already week 7.

Week 5--A taste of rainbow

This week I tried rainbow food. Not exactly what you are thinking, Skittles, but what Isabella and Aiden called "rainbow color food" so I am going with their description of it. Anyways it was pretty good and healthy. I am very proud of my rainbow...and I didn't take anymore pictures so that it all, for now.
I am trying really hard to make good food choices...so far so good.

Week 4--Washington DC

This week we accompany Jared to Washington DC. He had a conference, we had a new place to visit. It was great! We took lots of pictures, sow lots of things, etc. Jared was only able to go with us on Thursday afternoon, the rest of the week was just the kids and I. The yearly Pro-life demonstration coincided with our visit so on Monday there were a lot of people, some loud speaker usage and even Christian rock music.
Fun!

outside of the Smithsonian metro station

walruses, we find them everywhere nowadays, this one is dead

Isabella is a dead gazelle, Aiden a cheetah ready for his meal, the kids are acting-out a wild life story at the national zoo

everyone took lots of pictures, isn't that a cool butterfly?

note the butterfly image on Aiden's camera

the capitol bldng

At the museum of natural history there were 3 huge totems with their respective stories

Finally Jared is able to take a brake from his conference and joins us

last, but not least, express yourself!