Pray for Kate McRae

I just saw this video this morning and I am just heartbroken for this family. I cannot even imagine what they are going through...

Uneven shoes

I discovered while at the park E was wearing 2 different shoes...

4th of July Yummies

This is a fun thing to do w/ the kids and even make for BBQ tomorrow for the 4th.

First chop up some strawberries, get some blueberries and marshmallows and some long skewers

Then let the kids make their own little creation

M's is truly red, white and blue

She gave up on the skewer and just stuffed the food in her mouth instead

E's creation

This was very fun. I have discovered my kids will eat different fruits and veggies when they can skewer it or eat it w/ toothpicks. So a fun little tidbit!

Blog hop - hi My name is Melissa...Nice to meet you

UPDATE: Anyone tell how to get the links to show up!!! I looked on other sites and there were like 289. And they are on all the blogs. HELP!!!


I am doing something new called a blog hop and I am trying out McLinky!!! I saw it on Green Kiddos and today's theme is "introduce yourself".

So, my name is Melissa. Married to Jon for 7 1/2 years....We have Easton who is almost 4 1/2 yrs old and Makenlee who is 2. We moved from CA to TN almost 3 years ago. I am blessed to have a loving husband who serves me daily and two little munchkins that bring me so much joy. I am on a mission to raise happy and healthy children in a not so healthy world. We eat healthy, I cloth diaper Makenlee and we use a lot of natural products. I am crunchy but I make crunchy fun though!!! I love to talk about a lot all things so if you have a question post a comment and I will answer.

I love to talk about life and all that I learned since becoming a Mom on my blog as well as just our adventures as a family. I try to keep family and friends near and far updated. I love to photography so my kids are my little models quite often.

I am an avid researcher and make very informed decisions when it comes to my children. We whole heartedly believe in the ONE who made the body heals the body. Our family has seen it first hand so many times...I am so truly thankful for all I have learned about myself as I became a wife and Mom. God has opened my eyes to so many things and I take nothing for granted.

"I won't cut you"

Our sweet 4 year old is learning about self sufficing, helping out and having responsibilites. Start them off young and they won't know the difference, right!

He puts his dishes in the sink and sometimes even washes them and puts them in the d/w. Picks out his clothes and dresses himself and 98% of the time matches too. Helps himself to a drink or snack...I am not a HUGE fan of this but he is doing well and not making a mess.

Well, he took it that much farther this morning when he wanted breakfast and I was upstairs and I said, "I'll will be down in a minute." Well, I hear Makenlee shriek, squeal, scream...Typical 2 yr old girl behavior around here and I thought Easton was saying,"I won't get you..." Well, they come clambering upstairs, then I hear,"I won't cut you.." Ya, you got it my son has a FREAKING butter knife in his hand...I FREAK OUT and I am like what are you doing...He says,"I wanted to have my zucchini bread for breakfast." I go downstairs he has the bread on the table nearly unwrapped and he then got a knife to cut it I guess. Ok, scratch that I really don't want him to be self sufficient....I will just do everything for him and he won't play with knives till he is 20...

Side note-No one was injured in the process and luckily Easton is not a violent child who would injure his sister. Thus the reason he was yelling" I won't cut you...""

July is here

So that means Red, White and Blue attire for the next few days!!

We may do a parade again this year so we were having a trial run...

Follow me, E!

Lil Sparkler

Holding hands

Love thy neighbor

Jon and some friends from our small group are helping this elderly couple with health problems out by doing yardwork and some other home improvements. Easton told Jon that he wanted to go and help too. So Jon took him down there and he was put to work. I love how Easton already has a heart to serve.

B-day parties are always fun

The kids were invited to a b-day party for a friend of Makenlee's this weekend. It was so fun. There were swimming pools, a slip and slide, sprinklers and a bouncer that a friend brought too. The kids had a great time...We love a good party!

Bounce

Bounce

Riding a John Deere

This was someone's bouncer that they have. How cool is that.

Slip and Slide

Loved playing in the water

Not Me Monday

Not Me Monday is brought to you by one of my favorite blogs, My Charming Kids. This is a place where blog mamas can unite together and confess all their imperfections as moms, you know...all the things we would NEVER really do! ;)I have wanted to do this for awhile....

So as I was laying with both kids to see if they would nap together and I could nap too. When my potty training 2 yr old. said, "Pee pee." I did not say "Just go in your diaper." b/c I was too tired to get up. Not me...Never!!

While craving ice cream this week but in a hurry. I did not cover my kids in napkins as bibs just so we get home quickly while they ate their melting ice cream so I would not have to clean up the messy clothes...Not Me..Never!!

Even though swimming lessons were not till later in the day I did not get both kids in their swim suits and run errands with them all day so I would not have to change their clothes before we went to the pool b/c I was tired and lazy....Not Me...Never!!

Yesterday I did not go drop something off at a friends house right at lunchtime for Makenlee and then wonder when we got home after an hour why she was so whinny....I most certainly did not at that time realize she was whiny b/c she was hungry for lunch...Not Me...Never!!

Ice cream for cheap...

I found this coupon that made Dreyers (in the west)/Edy's (in the east/south) ice cream .19 cents. Yep, you read that right. It was a small container. But perfect for a little treat and even more perfect for 2 little kiddies So I printed off 6 and we were off to get some on my normal Target run for the week. If you want a yummy ice cream treat click over to my friend Gabe's blog HERE to get the coupon.

We decided to let them eat it on the way home.

Don't really know if that was the best idea but no major spills were had.

But we did cover them w/ napkins....

Enjoying a treat on a VERY HOT day.

Last post about NC

On Monday we drove back to TN. We hit Trader Joe's to fill up the freezer and the pantry of yumminess and then IKEA....New IKEA just opened in Charlotte...

Eating our oh so yummy healthy cheap lunch at IKEa while watching a movie...

Can I just tell you how much I heart IKEA!!!

That would have to be a whole another post....

My only bent is the height requirement for the kids area. Now mind you I don't normally let my kids go play in an area sans me w/ people I have no idea their criminal background or qualifications. But I devised a plan. The kids go to the play area and Jon and I sit on the outside where they had couches. We would eat our lunch, talk and have a mini-date while I could technically watch my kids but they were not requiring my attn. Well, we go up and M is like 3 in too short...Bummer! I can't send one kid in and the other is screaming her ever bloody head off watching her big bro play. So now I had 2 kids screaming their ever bloody heads off b/c E wanted to play so bad..NICE!!! We quickly hit the road back to TN!!!

Love the decor

Love this pattern

I want this light

Family Reunion Part

For the finale of the reunion. We all went bowling...It was fun! The kids had a blast. We need to take them know that we know they like it and will actually play.

What a big girl..DOing it all by herself...
Now that is a way to bowl....

M would do dance after she bowled.

Ck out those stylin shoes

E's happy dance

Our stance is getting better here

Family Reunion Part

On Sunday we went to church. Came back to Aunt JoAn's and Uncle Butch's had lunch, family photos, a boat ride and ice cream. What a grand day...

E loved the boat

Then E was a daredevil and went down the long driveway

on a toy that was way too small for him. Oh,well he had fun.

No head injuries or falls. We save those for when we dive off couches like he did 2 weeks ago....

The kids playing outside. Filler up!!

E, Meg and Chase

All the kids played so well together the whole weekend.

Meg and E enjoying their ice cream

Jon and Zach having their ice cream

"Is there more?"

Swim lessons

Easton is now a swimmer. YEAH!! Took 3 days. But now the boy jumps in and fits and meltdowns are in the past....Wahoo!! Now he asks to go and is doing well.

Makenlee is on her way to becoming a little fish too.

Walking around the pool all by himself....Progress!

I seriously should have had before and after videos.

Where he would kick, scream and be fearful about getting in.

Now he walks in likeit is no big deal and does what he is supposed to do.

Daddy came today to swim w/ the kids at E's lesson


She is a Daddy's girl!

Practicing her kicks

E practicing w/ Ms. Jenny his teacher