Sasquatch's Big Sister

Sasquatch, our 1984 ford F250 pickup, was paid a visit by his slightly bigger, and a couple years younger Sister, "Tinkerbell" (guess who named her...at least it wasnt Hocky or Docky....or George)










So actually, we just picked up this nearly identical Ford F250 but it has an extended cab with a small rear bench seat so we can now take the whole familiy camping!









The back "seat" is great for fishing poles, baseball or whiffle ball bats, skis or snowboards, brooms, rifles, shovels, folded up kites, tent stakes, fenceposts, or anything else long and skinny....and can also fit the kids or a car seat (but not a carseat with a kid in it...oops) (just kidding, Amya can fit if she squats in her car seat)











This old girl is actually quite luxurious....Its 5 years newer than sasquatch, has less than 300K miles, there is only one major dent in the body, only 2 rust holes, only one tear in the seat, the heater works, the radio/cassette deck works and even came with a bluegrass cassetee, the driverside window works, The engine starts without starter fluid, and both doors are openable from the inside! This will be the perfect log hauler, camper carrier and quite possibly mackinaw road tripper yet! Watch out world! Here come the Shaws! (Only 1 out of 4 Shaws shown below).....Oh....Anyone want to buy a 1984 f250? $900 OBO ;)

Organized!

I'm trying!!!

I hit the full experience of my "nesting" phase AFTER I had my baby! I'm trying to achieve a little organization in my life...one room, one corner at a time! I finally bought these baskets to separate the piles on my diaper changing table.
So this is my question to everyone....what have you done to organize your space/life? I want ideas....lots of them!
Organizing does not come naturally to me. When I hear about someone's shopping list organized by the layout of the grocery store or see a pantry lined with glass jars filled with flours, sugars and grains, I get inspired (after the jealousy wears off)!
If you have one idea or ten, I want to hear about them. If you don't usually leave a comment on this blog, this is your opportunity!
I hope to re-visit this post with changes I've adopted or improvements I've made. I've already started collecting my glass jars!
The comment section is open!

Mother's Day On The Mountain!

We had a fabulous Mother's Day this year! It started with brunch, ended at Wal-Mart, and had some snow-shoeing in between!

Thanks, babe, for a wonderful weekend!

Check Out The Cuteness That Is Our Niece!

When You Fall Asleep In The Frontpack...

...You stay in the frontpack!

Amya's First Go In A Bounce House

At a friend's birthday party this weekend, Amya was finally brave enough to attempt the bounce house. She made Dan go in with her, but was having too much fun to notice when he left. Success! (p.s. she is dressing herself these days)

Happy Nels

Fairy Hair!

Amya just realized that since her new haircut (bangs) she can look like tinkerbell! Very little could have made this little girl happier!

Happy Birthday Aunt Cece!

We love you and miss you!

What Is Cuter...

Than a naked baby wearing sneakers?!

Also, I found this book today at the used book store! Cool!

Phone Pictures

Picture Of The Day

Dan didn't think the last pictures really looked like Nelson. This one does!

Easy Pleasin' Oat Bars

I've told a few people I would pass on this recipe, so I decided I would just post it here instead! These are healthy, but still taste good! Since I've been breastfeeding Nelson, I've had a crazy appetite and these have come in handy!

"Easy Pleasin' Oat Bars" From Vive Le Vegan by Dreena Burton

2 cups ground oats**
1 cup quick oats
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup fruit sweetener or other thick honey alternative (I used honey)
1/4 cup vanilla or plain non-dairy milk (any milk will do)
1 1/2 - 2 Tbsp canola oil

**ground oats are just quick oats or regular oats, ground up in the food processor. You can substitute 1/2 cup or more of the ground oats with 1/2 cup or more of the hemp seed nuts.

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients into the dry mixture, stirring until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled 8 x 8 or 8 x 12 baking dish and press it down until evenly distributed. Using a sharp knife, cut to mark out the bars before you bake them to make it easier to fully cut and remove the bars once baked. Bake for 19 - 21 minutes, then remove and let cool in pan. Once cool, use a sharp knife to fully but the bars, then remove with a spatula.

I added chopped dried cherries, apricots and crystallized ginger, toasted almond slices, ground almonds, and sunflower seeds just to give it a little more of a kick and some more protein. The next time I make it I am also going to add pumpkin seeds and some chopped cashews! The last time I made it, I doubled the recipe and froze half.

Growing Up

Nelson, getting dotted on by Amya and her friend, Saylor.

The charmer!

Girls, Girls, Girls

I love thse girls!

"Polly Put The Kettle On..."

"...we'll all take tea."

Amya and I have started a new routine (inspired by my friend who is doing the same thing with her kids). Every day after lunch and before nap, we have tea time!

A few things that made me giggle...Amya told me that when princesses drink tea, they put their baby finger up! (note the picture above right) When I asked her if she was having fun, she responded, "Yes, my dear." Where does she get this stuff?

While we drink our tea, we talk about the day so far...what she liked, what she didn't like. She asks me questions like, "What makes you happy, mom?"

When I told her that flowering trees make me happy, she hopped down off her chair, picked a bud and brought it back to me. These are things I never want to forget (and have to replay in my mind a few hours later when she is sassing me!)

Happy Belated Birthday Big Brother!

Hope it was super cool, just like you!

Funny Amya

Take Your Kid To Work Day!

Amya gets to be a junior engineer today! Dan's work is sponsoring a take your child to work day. Amya geared herself up with markers, paper, stickers, her princess book, fruit bars and her magic wand....oh yeah, and her woodland fairy hat!

Nelson is at work with me today...we decided to take the day off and have some fun! Free Starbucks coffee (because it's Earth Day) here we come!

Happy Belated Birthday, Grandma Chris!

We're happy you had a great birthday yesterday! We miss you!

What's With The Baldies?!

Amya

Nelson

Violet

They are first cousins!! Yet, the top of their heads couldn't look anymore different!

The Kid

Babes

I went to a baby shower this weekend and found out that our community had a spike of baby boys in February! After this picture was taken, one more 7 week old boy showed up! Makes me wonder if these boys will grow up to be friends. One a side note, the shower was for our friends Tracy and Tyler, who are expecting a girl...so she has her pick of little guys to hang out with!

The cutie in the middle slept the entire time! (Nels is on the right...he woke up right away and looked around the whole evening, with eyes open just a tad bit wider than needed, as always!)

My cute guys!