Transitions

1 year, 10 weeks

Hope you all had a nice Father's Day!  It was wonderful to finally get a Sunday to spend with the family and participate in everything I missed out on when I worked the weekends.  It was a full day of activity, but then, what else is new?

Sabbath we went to church and caught up with some friends.  Summer has finally arrived and it has literally been hellishly hot over the past week, almost breaking some record high temperatures.  Anyway, we stayed mostly inside, as the temp gauge in the van read 101 degrees at one point while driving.  Crazy.  Florida.  After the twins went down Saturday night Brae and I settled for a movie at home while Mommy worked on her speech for Monday.

Sunday mornng we lounged around the house for breakfast before hitting the pool.  This was our last day for the next 4 weeks for Tangie and myself to eat whatever we wanted.  We have started a 4 week balanced meal/nutrition/diet/excercise plan that in the end will hopefully turn me looking like this...



to this....

Yeah, keep dreaming.  Anyway, we're taking nutritional supplements and doing workouts as well so you never know.  We've kinda let ourselves go after 8 years of marriage and 3 kids.  We are trying to get back to a healthy lifestyle and smaller sizes in clothing!

Me still in my pajamas on Father's Day morning.



The pool and fountains were welcomed on such a hot day.

Maddy was trying to figure out the water sprays.

Kohl was just content to watch his sisters play in the fountain, until Daddy took him in.

There is a vineyard and winery in Clermont, about 20 minutes away, that was holding a harvest festival over the weekend.  This is the time of the year when the muscadine grapes (indigenous) are harvested for fermentation.  So they hold a huge 3 day festival and have food, live music, and craft vendors for everyone in Central Florida to enjoy.  Anyway, we made our way over there and it was neat to see people do some actual grape stomping.  Luckily they didn't use that juice to make wine! 

On the drive there, being entertained by the DVD player

Stomping buckets

Lot's of people vying for shade

The boys hang out

Sharing a very quickly melting ice cream cone.  First Maddy...

...then Braelyn...

...finally, Kohl!

Braelyn had a turn in taking some video of us at the festival.  Maddy was very curious about my Sprite and wanted a taste, but could't get over the carbonation.  You can tell it was a warm one; her cheeks were flush pink!



So in our transition to a more healthy lifestyle, I am including some pictures of just some of the dinners I have been cooking using our meal plan guide.  We are limited to 1500 calories and between 8-12 cups of water each day.  All the meals are fresh and home cooked, but the food is actually pretty tasty and filling, when prepared properly and presented right:

Monday:  Curry chicken with brown rice

Tuesday:  Mixed salad with homemade chili

Wednesday:  Chicken and wheat pasta with steamed zuchinni and squash.

The children are growing quickly and beautfully each day.  Braelyn transitioned to her new class, Pre-K, for the summer, so she can wear fun clothes vs. a uniform until September.  I met with the teacher the first day and she said that the kids will play and have fun during summer break, but then it will be hardcore learning throughout the year.  She said that Braelyn will be reading by this time next year.  Amazing.

The twins are also developing themselves and their characteristics.  They are always following each other and playing together, which is nice to hear from Starchild.  They are gaining confidence in their mobility and are even attempting to climb the stairs!  Maddy's favorite words:  "uh-oh", "bye", and "more" which sounds more like "Moe".  Kohl says "da da" which he splurts when its appropriate to say thank you rather than da da for Daddy.  At least he'll be polite :)

The best toy ever, which I painted green this week to transform into a mini sofa, was this box from Costco.

"Look Ma, no hands!"

Our little chipmunk, Kohl likes to stuff his mouth with food before he even begins to start chewing.

Maddy has formed a habit of throwing food on the floor when she doesn't want to eat it.  Luckily Zoe is underneath to clean up the mess but we're trying to teach her not to do that.  She thinks its a game; Braelyn did that for a while when she was that age.

This is a very short 4 second video of the rough 'n tumble play that Braelyn is so ready for.  Unfortunately the twins are still a bit too small and uncoordinated that they get frustrated and end up crying in the end.  Soon enough they'll be able to play!

That's it for now.  Until next week!