Here is a Christmas song to listen to while you read our letter (you may have to endure a commercial first). Enjoy! If you love it, go check out their album on Amazon.
This year has been an "unusual year" for us. We didn't move. We didn't have a baby. We didn't change jobs. We're almost at a loss for what to tell you.
We did go to Disneyland in May to celebrate Eli and Kristin's birthday's. We spent 4 days at the park and were there for the kick off of the 60th anniversary. We had a great time and can't wait to go back again!
June we celebrated 7 years of wedded bliss while enjoying a day in Portland. We enjoyed the cooler weather, seeing friends and taking a road trip out to Idaho for a wedding, and seeing more friends. We came back refreshed, but somewhat dreading the very hot weather.
Throughout the year Erik decided to tackle two new goals for himself. He has always enjoyed running, and ran a 1/2 marathon when we lived in Austin. It's been two years since that race. This year he trained for a full marathon (ran a few 1/2 marathon's while training), but on top of that he decided to eat a plant based diet. It's gone well over the year, and he has learned a ton about food and nutrition. We will evaluate at the beginning of the year if it's something he will continue full time or not. With that said, it's been just over 5 years since we initially started Take Shape for Life and it still amazes us how foundational it has been to achieving our goals and challenging us to learn more about a healthy lifestyle. We love talking about it, so if you are ever interested please let us know. We would love to encourage you in your journey as well.
Erik is working at Cactus Semiconductor and has done well with the two projects he as been a part of. The most recent project is a spinal nerve stem chip. This particular project Erik has been leading the team instead of doing the design work. It's a new role for him and with everything that is new, it will come with challenges and learning opportunities.
Kristin is full-time domestic engineering at this time. She keeps the boys on a pretty tight schedule to ensure there is a nap time every day...okay...most days. With the weather being "stupid hot" here in the summer she most of the time will go to the mall and walk and play with the boys. This has led to some great relationships, and a seasonal employment position with the Disney Store. It's been a great opportunity in many ways.
Eli is now 3 1/2 and full of energy and silliness. He is sweet, compassionate, easy going and empathetic. He does find ways to frustrate his brother, but we hope some day they will turn into great leadership skills. He's still the kid who will crack up laughing just by giving him a sly look. He is mostly potty trained (still have some hurdles to jump) and loves to do pre-school books. We work on sight words, cutting, shapes, letters, colors and even some random things like the states and capitals. He really enjoys learning.
Zak is turning two in January. His personality and verbal skills are blossoming in so many ways! He has quite the personality in testing his limits. He also very sweet and cuddly after nap time. He is now in a big boy bed and sharing a room with big brother. He doesn't cry much unless we are having a frustration with communicating needs and wants and the occasional squabbles with his brother. He loves to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Miles of Tomorrowland. He is communicating when he needs to go potty most of the time, even without us prompting him. His favorite food is mac and cheese, which he asks for in the morning and he loves to eat pancakes any time of day.
Both boys are VERY interested in "Trash Truck Tuesday"!!! The excitement starts Monday night when they haul the trash can out to the curb. Tuesday morning they are "over the moon" excited for him to come with his "grabber" and get our trash can. All week long they ask if it's "trash truck day". If only the trash man knew how much of a celebrity he is in our home. We have had quite a few Tuesday mornings when we have to bolt out of bed to get the boys outside to see him. We love getting excited with them about simple things.
Recently we have discovered some food/environmental allergies with the boys and we are in the process of meeting and doing testing with an allergist. We are hopeful that they will outgrow some of them, but it will be a process. We would greatly appreciate your prayers and encouragement as we navigate this new lifestyle.
There is so much to celebrate throughout the year. Birthday's, milestones, growth, promotions, raises, opportunity, setting and reaching goals, marriage...and the list continues. We celebrate at this time of year an amazing birth of One who has changed the world. We celebrate why He came. We celebrate the gift that He has given us through His sacrifice on the cross. We celebrate the miraculous work He has done in our lives. We celebrate the daily mission we have been given to live in a way that reflects who He is and what He has done. We celebrate that while this life on earth is imperfect and broken, that He is still a God who loves, provides, cares for His creation. We celebrate the hope that we have in His glorious returning.
We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and splendid New Year!
P.s. If you are wondering what happened to my pinterest new year's resolution, I still did it. I just didn't get around to posting about it.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Monday, May 4, 2015
ooops it's been a while
So I haven't written in a while. Our lives have been very crazy this first part of the year....we dealt with A LOT of sickness. If it wasn't me...it was one of the boys and currently we are dealing with allergies. At the end of March we lost Erik's grandmother and went to Portland for a couple weeks to be with family.
We are now heading full speed into summer and Erik finished his last project and is now taking on the lead role on a new project.
We have now been in Arizona almost a year now! This year of being here has been a whirl wind for us...new place, new church, making friends, finding a routine, Erik figuring out his role at work, vacations...it's all been a lot of transition this year.
In a couple weeks we will have a three year old!! I can't believe Eli is going to be three!?! We are of course going to Disneyland to celebrate during the 60th anniversary...which is happening the day after our birthday's.
In June we will be heading to Portland and Idaho for some vacation! Very excited!
Lastly, I haven't ditched my pinterest new years resolution...so here is my latest review:
Creamy Avocado Pasta I saw this floating around on a lot of friends boards and decided to try it. It was "ok." The recipe calls for 1/3 cup of olive oil on top of avocados. That is a LOT of fat in my opinion.
Crispy Easter Eggs We did this with the boys for Easter and it was fun to decorate together. One thing to make sure you do is spray the inside of the plastic egg so it won't stick. It's worth pinning!
What's up next? Well, not food. I'm going to do some changing of my style...specifically my hair. I would love some feed back on which ones you love and would vote for...
First I'm going to do a little bit of color in my hair and then maybe do THIS too
Second I'm going to go all in...or do This
Third Chop it like this (just not blond)
Fourth maybe do color and layers with my bangs grown out
I don't know how long this is going to take me or how long I will keep each one of these...but this is the plan.
That's it for now.
We are now heading full speed into summer and Erik finished his last project and is now taking on the lead role on a new project.
We have now been in Arizona almost a year now! This year of being here has been a whirl wind for us...new place, new church, making friends, finding a routine, Erik figuring out his role at work, vacations...it's all been a lot of transition this year.
In a couple weeks we will have a three year old!! I can't believe Eli is going to be three!?! We are of course going to Disneyland to celebrate during the 60th anniversary...which is happening the day after our birthday's.
In June we will be heading to Portland and Idaho for some vacation! Very excited!
Lastly, I haven't ditched my pinterest new years resolution...so here is my latest review:
Creamy Avocado Pasta I saw this floating around on a lot of friends boards and decided to try it. It was "ok." The recipe calls for 1/3 cup of olive oil on top of avocados. That is a LOT of fat in my opinion.
Crispy Easter Eggs We did this with the boys for Easter and it was fun to decorate together. One thing to make sure you do is spray the inside of the plastic egg so it won't stick. It's worth pinning!
What's up next? Well, not food. I'm going to do some changing of my style...specifically my hair. I would love some feed back on which ones you love and would vote for...
First I'm going to do a little bit of color in my hair and then maybe do THIS too
Second I'm going to go all in...or do This
Third Chop it like this (just not blond)
Fourth maybe do color and layers with my bangs grown out
I don't know how long this is going to take me or how long I will keep each one of these...but this is the plan.
That's it for now.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
More Pinterest!
Just wanted to pass along a couple more reviews from our Pinterest adventures!
Rice Cake snacks This looked interesting and easy to do! There are a ton of varieties to choose from. I chose a rice cake with almond butter, raisins and chocolate chips and bananas, raisins, honey and cinnamon. These are great if you just need an afternoon snack to hold you over. Rating of a 5 out of 5 stars!
Quinoa Enchilada Casserole This looked amazing and it has now been officially added to our list of easy dishes to put together and is equally easy to LOVE! I did make a few adjustments: I used Daiya cheese, I added the tomato and avocado to the dish before cooking it. I believe the recipe tells you to cook the quinoa in 2 cups of water, but every time I have cooked quinoa it usually 1 for 1. I also decided to make my own enchilada sauce instead of using a canned one....so why not use a Pinterest recipe?!?! Here is the enchilada sauce recipe that I used (the recipe gives some options of other spices to add and I added was paprika on top of the spices it already calls for). Lastly, I decided to make it more like a Mexican lasagna. I used 6 corn tortillas torn in half to layer the dish. I did the casserole, corn tortilla and daiya cheese in that order with cheese being the top layering. I did not use a lot of cheese either, just a light sprinkle. Some veggies that can easily be added to this dish are peppers or even squash.
**Side note: I added the spices that were called for in the casserole dish which were the same spices that were called for in the sauce recipe. It turned out a little spicy, so I'm not sure if it was too much spice used or it might of been that I used some spicier green chillies than I usually do.
ENJOY!!
Rice Cake snacks This looked interesting and easy to do! There are a ton of varieties to choose from. I chose a rice cake with almond butter, raisins and chocolate chips and bananas, raisins, honey and cinnamon. These are great if you just need an afternoon snack to hold you over. Rating of a 5 out of 5 stars!
Quinoa Enchilada Casserole This looked amazing and it has now been officially added to our list of easy dishes to put together and is equally easy to LOVE! I did make a few adjustments: I used Daiya cheese, I added the tomato and avocado to the dish before cooking it. I believe the recipe tells you to cook the quinoa in 2 cups of water, but every time I have cooked quinoa it usually 1 for 1. I also decided to make my own enchilada sauce instead of using a canned one....so why not use a Pinterest recipe?!?! Here is the enchilada sauce recipe that I used (the recipe gives some options of other spices to add and I added was paprika on top of the spices it already calls for). Lastly, I decided to make it more like a Mexican lasagna. I used 6 corn tortillas torn in half to layer the dish. I did the casserole, corn tortilla and daiya cheese in that order with cheese being the top layering. I did not use a lot of cheese either, just a light sprinkle. Some veggies that can easily be added to this dish are peppers or even squash.
**Side note: I added the spices that were called for in the casserole dish which were the same spices that were called for in the sauce recipe. It turned out a little spicy, so I'm not sure if it was too much spice used or it might of been that I used some spicier green chillies than I usually do.
ENJOY!!
Monday, January 12, 2015
On a roll here
I tried two more recipe's from pinterest that I thought I would share.
First up is a recipe that Erik tried from a book that he recently read: Scott Jurek's Minnesota Winter (Vegetarian) Chili
This was super tasty! I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It's great to make in bulk and use over the course of a week.
Since Erik decided to make the chili, I thought it might be good to pair it with a corn bread. Since the chili is vegetarian/vegan, I decided to find the same type of option for the corn bread. I found a Vegan Basil Cornbread recipe that looked great. I did make some minor deviations from the recipe. I didn't use whole wheat flour (I just used regular) and I used hemp milk instead of almond. I can't say that it turned out AMAZING. I will say that it grew on us. The initial taste was...there is something missing...I'm not quite sure what it is, but next time I will use exactly what the recipe calls for. I will give this recipe a solid 3 out of 5 stars.
***UPDATE: I tried this recipe again using the whole wheat flour and almond milk and it turned out much better. Best to stick with the recipe.
***UPDATE: I tried this recipe again using the whole wheat flour and almond milk and it turned out much better. Best to stick with the recipe.
If you are looking for something yummy and healthy to make in bulk and maybe even to watch the super bowl...these are a great option.
Monday, January 5, 2015
New Years Resolution
I've never been the type of person who makes these lofty new years resolutions...maybe I fear failure too much...or I'm too lazy...or I just don't care....or they seem silly. Whatever the reason I think I can count on one hand the times I have actually made a resolution, and actually fulfilled the goal.
2012- Have a baby...check...that was easy (I'm not sure this REALLY counts...but I'll take credit wherever I can).
2005- Drink more water...check...I actually did that.
Well that's it folks...
This year...why do one this year?
Well for the same reason everyone else does...I want to try new things, make changes and maybe NOT do things this year. I wrote some of my goals down and I will share some with you:
1. read my bible
2. Potty train Eli
3. Get rid of binkie for Eli
(ok so those are resolutions for my kid...but any parent knows that this is a challenge for them as well)
4. Eat out less
5. Don't get pregnant
6. Don't move
7. Zak sleep through the night
There are a few more...but I'll spare you...
The biggest change/goal/resolution/fun idea that I have is, that I want to actually start doing some of the things I have pinned on Pinterest. Every fall I get addicted to pinning fun and creative ideas...and like any other human...I get busy and don't do them. SO this is the year!!! Well, I actually started some of them last year...but I thought I would get a jump start.
So here we go:
First up: Bacon in Pancakes
Seems simple enough. They turned out great!!
Second: Greek Yogurt Banana Bread
This was a raging success!! I have had rave reviews from my taste testers (Erik's co-workers and some awesome friends)
Third: Zucchini Pizza Crust
I have tried this several times with many pinterest fails. However, last night I NAILED IT!! I was so excited! The only thing I did differently, was shred the zucchini very finely. I used a hand cheese grader with small holes (the type they use at restaurants to grade parmesan cheese). It made the juices of the zucchini be strained easier so it was crispier. In my previous attempts it has turned out to be zucchini pizza mush (but still tasty).
Fourth: Mason Jar Snow Men
I did this for Erik's co workers as a Christmas treat. However, I filled it with Naked Popcorn (from Popcornopolis...which I swear they put crack in) instead of the yogurt covered pretzels. It was much more affordable to do it that way. It was also a great alternative as EVERYONE makes cookies and treats during this time of year. Why not give something on the savory/salty side?! This was a big hit.
Fifth: Santa Pancake
We did this Christmas morning. Eli was not a fan of the whip cream but otherwise loved the strawberries and blueberries. I even mixed a banana into the batter and it turned out great.
Sixth: Cookie Monster Cake
I did this for Zak's first birthday. He didn't really like the cake...oh well. He's one. It was fun to make it for him though.
I think I have started off strong and we will see how it goes over time. Feel free to follow along this year!
Happy New Year!!
2012- Have a baby...check...that was easy (I'm not sure this REALLY counts...but I'll take credit wherever I can).
2005- Drink more water...check...I actually did that.
Well that's it folks...
This year...why do one this year?
Well for the same reason everyone else does...I want to try new things, make changes and maybe NOT do things this year. I wrote some of my goals down and I will share some with you:
1. read my bible
2. Potty train Eli
3. Get rid of binkie for Eli
(ok so those are resolutions for my kid...but any parent knows that this is a challenge for them as well)
4. Eat out less
5. Don't get pregnant
6. Don't move
7. Zak sleep through the night
There are a few more...but I'll spare you...
The biggest change/goal/resolution/fun idea that I have is, that I want to actually start doing some of the things I have pinned on Pinterest. Every fall I get addicted to pinning fun and creative ideas...and like any other human...I get busy and don't do them. SO this is the year!!! Well, I actually started some of them last year...but I thought I would get a jump start.
So here we go:
First up: Bacon in Pancakes
Seems simple enough. They turned out great!!
Second: Greek Yogurt Banana Bread
This was a raging success!! I have had rave reviews from my taste testers (Erik's co-workers and some awesome friends)
Third: Zucchini Pizza Crust
I have tried this several times with many pinterest fails. However, last night I NAILED IT!! I was so excited! The only thing I did differently, was shred the zucchini very finely. I used a hand cheese grader with small holes (the type they use at restaurants to grade parmesan cheese). It made the juices of the zucchini be strained easier so it was crispier. In my previous attempts it has turned out to be zucchini pizza mush (but still tasty).
Fourth: Mason Jar Snow Men
I did this for Erik's co workers as a Christmas treat. However, I filled it with Naked Popcorn (from Popcornopolis...which I swear they put crack in) instead of the yogurt covered pretzels. It was much more affordable to do it that way. It was also a great alternative as EVERYONE makes cookies and treats during this time of year. Why not give something on the savory/salty side?! This was a big hit.
Fifth: Santa Pancake
We did this Christmas morning. Eli was not a fan of the whip cream but otherwise loved the strawberries and blueberries. I even mixed a banana into the batter and it turned out great.
Sixth: Cookie Monster Cake
I did this for Zak's first birthday. He didn't really like the cake...oh well. He's one. It was fun to make it for him though.
I think I have started off strong and we will see how it goes over time. Feel free to follow along this year!
Happy New Year!!
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