Andrew Derek Childs

Happy Birthday to our sweet man! I can't believe he is one already!!! I have thought about him all day and how wonderful his actual birthday was. It was calm and peaceful and he was so kind to come so quickly (since we decided to go all natural :) ) Andrew is such a blessing to our family...it is absolutely impossible to get enough of this little guy.

Drew boy loves to eat

He loves to dance

He loves to snuggle right on your shoulder

Drew loves to suck his thumb and hold his blankie in his other hand next to his face

Drew is picky about what he drinks out of

Drew loves loves loves my camel bak water bottle

Drew loves balls

Drew loves his older sister, seriously they are mischief waiting to happen...heaven help us

Drew loves to follow us everywhere around the house

Drew loves to be dramatic and throw himself on the floor when he's mad

Drew loves to figure out how things work

The dishwasher is his favorite hang out

Andrew loves toilet brushes, yes you read that right the nastiest thing ever

He could live on fruits and veggies and smoothies, He is my healthy boy

He loves avacodos, kiwi, broccoli, carrots, and bananas

Drew loves to play with his trucks

Andrew thinks it's hilarious to run from us when it's time to get dressed

He loves tubs

He loves us to say no, he just laughs at us and keeps doing what he's doing

He love to be outside

He takes steps, but honestly doesn't show and interest in really walking long distances

He loves the cruiser push toy his Nana bought him

He is our pooh bear with sides of Tigger coming out

He is very patient and mellow, but knows how to yell

He is our Drew boy and our Angel Boy and we love you so much!!! We couldn't live without you Drew what a blessing you are, we're so thankful you came to our family!!! Love you baby boy!!!! Happy Birthday

Trials

Well life has been a roller coaster the last few months. Derek and I are making some HUGE changes in our lives and for our family. In about two weeks we are moving....Derek will be heading to Kansas City to do summer sales, I'm going to go stay with my parents for a few weeks to see how he does and then the kids and I will head out...I can't wait. We feel like this is something we need to do for Derek's confidence and also to help me cut back on working outside the home, we've been really excited to see what this summer brings, then when we get home its off to Logan. Derek was accepted into the Engineering program and is ready to finally be in the place where he'll graduate!!!

All these decisions have been made with sure answers that we're doing the right thing...however ever since we have made these decisions we have been hit with trial after trial that tries to get us to change our minds and play it safe and comfortable. We have had financial stresses, struggles with our condo, with selling in the summer, car problems and two days ago a big blow, and honestly a betrayal of trust from a family member placed us in the stickiest situation I feel we've ever been in in our marriage in my opinion. Everything possible seems to keep us from progressing.

These last few months however have brought us closer and closer to the Lord. We have really devoted ourselves to our answers and have finally turned to the power of the atonement and said please take these burdens from us. I have never had such a testimony builder of faith, and we haven't even moved yet. I had a thought the other night. I feel that the adversary has really placed these trials in our way to get us to change our minds and play it safe, but the thought that came to me was "your pretty dumb down there, the more and more you push the more I'm turning to the Lord, and the more I'm showing Him that I'll do whatever he asks." Some family knows what happened a few days ago and it sucks, I have already told Heavenly Father I'm not in the mood to forgive right now, I'm really mad, but I'm still going to have faith in the answers we've been given and not let this deter us from our plans. I just wanted to share that even though trials come our way, and everyone is given different trials...some people go through things I can't even imagine...the point is we have a choice. We can fall....we can blame the Lord...or we can get on our knees and feel His understanding. He KNOWS exactly what we are feeling. He may not show you the way out of your suffering at the time, but I know he will lift it from you if you take advantage of the atonement. Anyways...here's to going forward to faith! We're all here for each other...so I really appreciate everyone who has been there for us...we love you!!!

Just some pictures

Enjoying the first good day of decent weather

This was funny, Andrew had an accident at day care, so he wore girl clothes home, he wasn't happy

Sweet boy!!!

Two kiddos making a fort and playing, love childhood memories

Here are some pictures of life...it's super busy lately ...I'll update in a later post about life but here are some pictures I finally put on our computer of the kids

Wow some Disney pictures

Wow our computer is having major picture issues so I just wanted to post some pictures now that I finally was able to upload some, not all but some of our awesome Disney trip 4 months ago. It was soooooo much fun, I can't wait to go again. Linnea was afraid of most the rides at first because the first ride we went on was pirates and she hated it, so any ride that was dark or loud she would cry, except stinking small world. Andrew was amazing, he didn't cry at all and I think he loved grabbing all the characters noses. We have gone the week after Thanksgiving for two years now, and I will NEVER go in the summer again or really any other time. The weather is perfect and lines, what lines. I think the longest wait was 25 minutes. It was awesome. Sorry for the delay and lack of pictures, I wish I knew what was going on with the computer, o well. Enjoy.

My new invention

Well I am changing some major habits in our house. I've been reading a book called "Disease Proof Your Child", it's the same doctor that wrote the book "Eat to Live" which was the plan that helped me lose all my weight plus some after Linnea was born. Well I wanted to teach my kids what truly healthy eating was when they were young, Linnea already is catching on, she tells me when she's playing with her kitchen set that she's going to make a healthy lunch to make her big and strong. She also tells me that her vegetables and fruit are now healthy for her, she still will initially not want to eat green things, but after awhile if she sees us making a big deal about how good they are she'll eat them. Anyways Derek has even joined in which is a big deal Derek loves his butter, ice cream, and sweets. Well last night I wanted to make some granola bars so I kind of invented some, they ended up not sticking together so I just made it into granola. It was really good, Derek said they tasted like crumbled up no-bakes (even though there was hardly any chocolate) so I thought I'd share my little recipe. I tried following someones recipe, but I had to make my own twist on it. So here is the super food granola:

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup all natural peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cup oats

1/2 cup almonds

1/2 cup roughly chopped cashews

3 tsp chia seeds (super food)

2 tsp ground flax seed (super food)

2 tsp sesame seeds (optional)

1/4 cup whole buckwheat groats (optional)

crushed dark chocolate (optional)

Pre- heat oven to 350 degrees. Melt first three ingredients together for 45 sec. Combine all other ingredients. Mix in melted peanut butter mixture. Pour into 8x 8 baking pan bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown on top. I really liked it. I used it for my cereal this morning with almond milk, and fresh raspberries, yum. Well here's to healthy eating!!!!

Our new business

Well Derek and I have started a new adventure. Many of you know and understand that I have been working full-time. Derek and I both believe that I should be home with our kids, but with school schedules that hasn't been possible. So we have joined with a business that is web sales. We feel that this is an option for us to potentially get me home while Derek continues to go to school. Our store sells everything you use already, but really specializes in green healthy products that work great. The cosmetic line is Artistry which is awesome beauty supplies, our store also joins with partner stores like the Disney store, Sears, Kmart, Office Depot, Omaha steaks...etc. There are thousands of products and we would really love for you all to check out our online store. To register as a customer you just register like you would any store online...you name and things like that then you just shop on line. Everything is delivered to your door. There are free shipping deals, just ask us and every product comes with a 180 day money back guarantee no questions asked. We would love to earn your business. The URL is listed below just look around and please any questions email me or Derek or leave a comment! Thanks for your support!

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Here is the URL: www.childsfamily.mychoices.biz

my email: dancnm@yahoo.com

Derek's email: derekjchilds@gmail.com

Halloween Festivities

O my goodness we had a busy Halloween season. So it will be several pictures. First it starts with a family party at my mom's house

This included Papa reading to the kids the all time cutest book ever "Goodnight Goon" it's a Halloween spin off of "Good night Moon" and I practiced my baking skills and whipped up a pumpkin shaped cake...I thought it' turned out ok and I was told it tasted great, (I didn't try it since I knew how much butter was in it :) ) If you can't tell Derek and I are Bonnie and Clyde and Andrew is a puppy with Nea as Cinderella.

Next we went to our ward party....

We had a lot of fun and felt a little awkward bringing guns in to the church, but o well...Linnea was able to experience her first trunk or treat and loved to spend another night dressed up as Cinderella. Drew was as chill as ever and just loves watching people especially everyone dressed up so funny.

The next weekend before Halloween we had Crystal and Charles over with their kids to make Halloween shirts and watch a scary movie... We watched the original Psycho after the kids went to sleep...you just can't beat a classic horror film...it actually is pretty creepy even though it for

sure wouldn't be rated R now a days.

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making shirts, and Linnea sporting her finished shirt. You can't really see it but it has a pumpkin and glow in the dark mummies on it.

Finally the big day arrived...And then the fun food came out. We have a tradition for Halloween we have pumpkin pancakes for breakfast with apple cider syrup. Unfortunately this year I forgot the apple cider to make the syrup, so anyways we went without the special syrup. For dinner I made "gutsy pumpkins" You just carve a jack-o-lantern face in an orange bell pepper and stuff it with spaghetti...super cute. A funny story Linnea came into the kitchen when I had finished with the peppers and I said "look nea, we're going to eat some pumpkins." she walked right up to the counter and took a huge bite out of one...I thought she really liked a raw pepper at first then it hit her and she spit it right out on the floor!!!! Funny girl. Anyways we ended with a fun night of trick-or-treating. Linnea actually seemed to have more fun handing out candy. What a fun season I absolutely love the holidays and it is killing me not to bust out the Christmas tree right now. Maybe next week :)