Visiting Reunion Tower

  Michael and I surprised the girls with a trip to the Reunion Tower!  On the way to see family in Dallas on Saturday, Audrey told me how badly she wanted to eat at the restaurant that turns as you look out onto the city.  I knew Michael was going to take a day off this week to do something fun with us, so I researched to see if this would be fun for our family.  It turns out that the GeoDeck was having the Dallas Zoo come out with a few animals on exhibit on Tuesday and Thursday.  They also had face-painters and balloon artists there.  If the deck didn't impress them, surely those things would be fun!  Cloud 9 Cafe would also be open.  We decided to do lunch before going to the tower and just do dessert at the Tower.  I'm glad we did!  It was quite crowded.

Michael and Nadia waiting to get on the elevator

  The zoo animals were going to be on display at 1:00.  We got there ten minutes early and I thought we would be good to go.  There were so many people that we didn't get to the GeoDeck until 1:25.  We also had to leave behind Nadia's umbrella stroller.  That meant I had to carry Nadia, my camera and bag (which I never used since I was holding Nadia and it was so crowded), and my heavy diaper bag.  When we got off the elevator, we were overwhelmed by the craziness inside the GeoDeck, but we dealt with it.  The zoo had just a few more animals left to show and Michael and I held Audrey, Julia, and Nadia so that they could see.  We got to see a chinchilla, snake, alligator, and armadillo.

  It was pretty warm inside the GeoDeck with all of the people inside, but you could walk around outside and see the city.  The cool weather felt great!  You could look through the viewers, but they weren't very clear.

  We decided to go get dessert upstairs at Cloud 9 Cafe.  This place was already crowded and there was a birthday party also occurring there.  Michael stood in line while I walked around in circles, trying to find an empty table.  We didn't get a table until 30 minutes later, after Michael had stood in a long line to order.  We finally sat down and got to enjoy the rotating restaurant.  The girls loved sitting by the windows and then run back to the table as the table moved away from them.

Nadia is ready for some food already!

Then our dessert came!

Can you tell that they are Reunion Towers?

  The desserts were really good, but very difficult to eat with plastic forks.  The cafe really made the trip.  The girls loved it and will remember this day for a long time.  It was much more crowded than I was anticipating, but you just deal with long waits and crowds.  I really wished I could have had our stroller with us.  Nadia loves that thing and it was going to carry all of my stuff for me.  I didn't really enjoy having to carry 50 pounds for hours, but maybe I needed the workout.  We also had to deal with a broken machine that opens the gate in the parking lot.  If you go, use the one on the right side so that you won't have to ask everyone behind you to back up.  :)

  We decided to that our trip was at first overwhelming, but worth it for the fun our girls had.  We ended our day by trying out a new restaurant in Southlake called Bolo.  Oh my!  This place is really so very good!  It's like and Italian Chipotle.  They are also mindful about how they get their ingredients like Chipotle is.  You could just taste the freshness!  Michael even noted that their tea was really good.  What is a bolo?  It's Italian food in a wrap and looks like a burrito.

  Do you see the cup behind the bolo?  That's an artichoke dip that is served with the softest chips ever!  SO GOOD!  You can customize your bolo, pasta, or bowl how you like it.  If you take a picture of your food and put it on Instagram, you can get a free tiramisu for dessert!  Michael and I are so happy to have found this place and will be back often!

Trying for a Comeback!

Hello long-lost friends!  I am trying to peck my way back into the blogging world.  I feel like we may need a catch-up party.

Well, we did move to the Fort Worth side of town.  I did have a third baby girl, which I'm pretty sure I blogged about. :)  She is the reason I have not blogged.  Oh man, that girl has been my toughest child during the first two years!  Let's talk about her, shall we?

Nadia, my lovely Nadia.  She is almost two years old now.  She has only now, in the last few months, become a happy child.  She cried a lot.  Not just cry-cry, but wail-cry.  Like all the live-long day cry.  Have mercy.  She has low muscle tone and double-jointed knees which has significantly delayed her in her gross-motor skills.  The girl can grip a crayon like none other though!  She has been in therapy, which has helped.  She is so close to walking now!  She will be receiving ankle braces in a few days. I'm planning on big things afterwards!  (Shout out to the awesomeness that is Cook Childrens!  They have been amazing for all three of my kids!)

Julia has been accepted into Audrey's school for next year.  She'll be a schoolgirl!  I can't believe my babies are growing up.  Julia turns FIVE in a few weeks.  If you live in or near FW and are looking for the greatest school ever, ask me where I send my kids.  I hope to teach there when all three are attending.  

Audrey is wrapping up her first grade year.  Things have been going quite well with her in school.  She's beginning to have asthma issues almost daily the past month.  We have watched what she's eating, but it is still happening.  I'm hoping to have her see a chiropractor during spring break this week.  Praying that it can resolve her issue.

We got a dog!  Her name is Lindy.  Julia lovingly refers to her as Lin or Lindy-Lou.  She has been another crazy addition into the family.  She has a trainer come once a week.  I'm afraid she was a bit crazier than what the trainer had planned for when he gave us an estimated bid before meeting her.  She has accepted Michael as the Alpha and I'm heading up the ranks too.  The girls love her.  It took Julia two months to lose her fear of her, but now she loves being with her.  She is a Cavapoo, part King Charles Cavalier, part poodle (toy poodle in her case).

We have something fun planned for tomorrow.  Michael and I are surprising the girls with it.  I will be back with the details and pictures!

How to Maintain Healthy Teeth Naturally

Return of 5 Question Friday

Doing this real quick because I have a sick kid that needs me every 20 minutes or so. Hope it isn't food poisoning!

1. If I had 5 minutes alone with Mother Nature I would tell her?

Thank you for the nice weather today as I had to clean up my child in two different parking lots after she got sick. Thank you that I could clean my car in warmth and sunshine!  But please, have this weather return when we can play in it!

2. If you could eat only one thing for a whole week what would it be?

Sweet potato. 

3. What is your favorite season and why?

Used to be fall when kids weren't in school. Perfect food and weather. But now that I have a student, summer wins despite that I feel like I'm trapped inside of an oven. 

4. Do you have a meal that you are AMAZING at making? If so, share the recipe!

My 6yo is LOVING acorn squash right now. There are three recipes I use. Choose the one you would like to try. 

http://joythebaker.com/2008/11/honey-roasted-acorn-squash/

http://www.sproutedkitchen.com/home/2010/3/12/squash-boats-with-quinoa.html

I can't find the other one. Just halve the squash, remove seeds, place cut-side down, roast at 345 for about 30 minutes, flip, add butter and syrup or brown sugar, and put back in oven until flesh is very tender. (Going from memory here.)

5. What has changed in your life since the last 5QF? (8/2/13 was the last one! Wow...over 6 months!)

Oh man! We moved to a new town. My Audrey started school. Julia potty-trained. Nadia sits ups, eats, and is thinking about crawling. We found a very soul-stirring church. Michael and I are even closer than before. We have made really good new friends since moving. It's all good!  God is good. 

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Nadia Faith

A little over a month ago, Nadia Faith arrived to this world. She was 7 pounds 15 oz. and 20 inches long. She was healthy and perfect! She has a bit of hair that is fairly light in color, maybe a bit red even. We believe that I may have passed down my blue eyes to her. This is my first child that has some saying that she looks like me. Some see Audrey in her while others see Julia. Basically, she's her own person and I can't wait to see how she turns out!

Praise the Lord, because it was all up to Him anyways, both Nadia and I have not had any issues with Pemphigoid Gestationis! I'm excited to get back with my doctor that said I would indeed get PG again if I became pregnant. I want him to know that Low Dose Naltrexone did no harm to us and allowed me to have a healthy baby without any complications. I am so grateful for Dr. Swan in Phoenix for prescribing LDN to me and was thrilled to learn that she and Nadia share a birthday! And I give praise to God for getting my attention on what I was feeding myself and my family. We are much healthier today than we were 3 years ago. You don't have to be vegan to become healthier; Just become aware of what is in our food and how that will affect you. It has become almost a spiritual thing for me. I want to take care of this temple God gave me. And I also want to be around to watch my girls grow up.

Enough of my babbling. I know you want pictures! (These are the pictures on my phone.)

































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Easter

On Easter, we went to church with my parents and met Michael's family for lunch.  There was an egg-hunt and cascarones afterwards.  Here are some pictures of us and the girls with their cousins.

Julia's 3rd Birthday!

Julia's birthday fell on Easter this year.  This was a blessing because all of her Hall-side cousins would be in town for Leadership Training for Christ.  Blake's girls, Maddie and Macie, could also make it this year because Blake was battling a kidney stone and they did not travel out of town for Easter.  So, lots of family this year!  By the way, Julia fell a few days before this and her face crashed into the edge of a door.  I think the images have been edited a bit to reduce the bruising!

We ended the party with a couple who walked up to the house and wanted to see inside.  I guess they thought we were having an open house!  They took a tour and met all of my family while the party was going on!  Too funny!

The theme was Hoppy Birthday, combining the celebration with Easter.  Had yummy vegan cupcakes from Spiral Diner.

Mimi and Audrey.

My beautiful Nana at age 94.

The birthday girl with Poppy.

 Opening presents.  Audrey has my phone in case we got a call for a showing of the house.

Just look at how gorgeous Meredith's profile is here!

That's excitement there!

 We should have called this a My Little Pony party because nearly every gift was a My Little Pony!

The tough task of blowing out THREE candles!

A picture of the man that passed a kidney stone during the party.

A picture of a woman about ready to give birth!

Very, Very Delayed Julia's 2nd Birthday

Julia turned 2 over a year ago!  I better document the party a bit before posting her 3rd birthday party!

Julia had a very simple family party of just her grandparents, my grandmother Nana, and my aunt Sasa. It was an owl-themed party and I did my best to make the party vegan.  It was my first go at vegan party food, and it wasn't bad.  It could have been much better though!  We had cupcakes that, together, formed an owl.  I stole these pictures off my dad's facebook page.  I don't know if he has a picture of the food or not.  But she had fun and we entered the wonderful age of two!

Five Question Friday 3.22.13

Happy Friday, y'all!  I wanted to touch base with whoever reads this blog before our world changes.  I have less than 4 weeks before Nadia arrives and who knows when we'll move out of this house.  We have interested buyers.  One had us do an inspection on our plumbing, and wowzers....$14,000 estimate later, we are working with the plumbers and insurance company to see what can be done.  I imagine that the house will sell immediately once the replumbing is finished.  We have showings CONSTANTLY, which make for a horrible fun day.  When I am home, you will find me vacuuming, mopping, dusting, cleaning tubs...you know the last things a 35 week pregnant woman wants to do.  But, I will admit, I love a spotless, clean house.

Tonight, Michael and I have tickets to see the Mavs, just a few rows behind the basket.  This will be the closest I've been to a pro basketball court.  I'm interested to see just how tall these guys really are.  You know how tall my family is, so it will take a lot to impress me.

Anyways, enjoy your weekend!



1. What advice would you give a newly married couple?
Be honest with each other.  If something is bugging you, let the other one know.  Sometimes the other is just clueless.  Never talk bad about your spouse.  Never fight in front of anyone, but resolve the issue as soon as you can.  You know your spouse's struggles and weaknesses.  Don't abuse or nag about those, but pray for and cheer on your spouse to overcome those things.  Stay committed to love them, always.

2. Who does more laundry around your house?
Oh, that would be me.  I'm am the laundry do-er in our house.  But, since I stay at home, it makes perfect sense. I try to do a load every day and not let it get too big of a task.  I also make my own fabric softener and want to make my own detergent.  Hopefully, when we move, I'll have more space to store a large bucket of my homemade detergent.

3. What items, if any, do you prefer to buy organic or make yourself?
We try to buy all of our food organic.  We are health nuts.  I never look at the non-organic produce at the store.  Our grocery bill is a bit high since we replace all dairy things with non-dairy options, buy naturally colored and flavored things, and buy organic.  But, we are so much healthier and rarely get sick.

4. What book/TV series would you recommend for a friend on bedrest?
There are a bunch of books I want to read, but I can't really see myself reading anytime soon.  I do watch TV with Michael after we put the girls to bed.  We of course watch Duck Dynasty, but that might be the only non-Netflix thing we watch right now.  We finished Fringe not long ago.  That's sci-fi, but not annoyingly so.  We also like The IT Crowd.  That's a british comedy, and can get crass at times, but they're British, so it's to be expected.  Moss is my most favorite character ever!  We are also watching Lie to Me.  This is a show where people read body language and determine if someone is trying to hide something or is telling the truth.  The FBI calls on them often to solve some of their tougher cases.  It's a bit annoying to watch with Michael because he tries to read my face while we watch, but he's cute, so he can get away with it.  And yes, we watch Downton Abbey and the Bible series.  

5. So, they say it's Spring now...what does your "spring" look like at this very moment?
Earlier this week, our weather was very springy, but today, we've dropped down into the 50's and expect some showers.  I do enjoy our warm weather and I don't mind the furnace this place will be in no time at all.  Bring on the warmth!