Castlewood Canyon

Yesterday we all went on a hike to Castlewood Canyon.
Today we are all red as lobsters.
A great time was had by all! :)







This is a kearn.
That is a man term for "a pile of rocks that lead you down the correct trail so you do not get lost."








Examining the kearn. There were about 739 of them on this trail...which we made fun of all the way there and were quite thankful for on the way back. :)














Kell is ALL BOY.
He walked in front of the family the entire way with his spear/bow and arrow to defend us from all sorts of wild animals, monsters and mean people. Thankfully we met with none of those.
By the way...he hand-made his spear, bow and arrow, knife, sling shot and toy gun with wood he found.
I am impressed! He obviously got his weapon making talent from his Mom.








Ethan helping to defend the troops with the invaluable aid of Presley and his gun.


























Kellen Micah...defined.








That rock looks HEAVY!
Luckily my man is chisled from stone and can lift it...along with 4 boys on the top.
Yeah baby.








Kell and Pres enjoying the view from the top.








Ethan was one of the brave ones that walked out on the rocks to the tip top. It was VERY windy! Mommy was paranoid and did not derive pleasure from seeing him out there. At all.








Daddy and Presley.








E and K


























Kell would walk ahead of us with his spear ready in the case of a chance meeting with a mountian lion. Sweet kid :)


















Kell and his spear/bow and arrow (sans arrow)







Yes, our kids watch "Survivor man" on TV and emulate his actions. Here they are attempting to bite the tip off this plant in order to have a "needle and thread" to repair any clothing/gear that may be damaged.
It worked better on TV.
Thankfully we were not stranded in a canyon 173 miles from civilization...we can take our ruined items to the "Magic Needle" just down the road.



















Josiah thought these looked like the toes of a giant.









Walking back down the trail to the car.






We conquered Castlewood Canyon!!!





A few random shots................







Presley is going to be the ring bearer for my siter-in-laws wedding (Josiah's sister Sarah) in May...so we had to go get him fitted for a tux. OH MY WORD, is he excited!!! He felt quite handsome in this jacket and he loves the shiny shoes.
He says, "I am going to be the ring BEAR. GGGGRRR!!!"
This should be interesting :)






Pres was nice enough to pile all our pillows on top of Laz.







Yes, he IS the cutest thing in all the world!!! :)

Make-Up and Skin care

I have posted about this in the past, but I am inspired to blog about it again!

Having natural skin care and make-up is SO important...especially since these products have been linked ot all sorts of cancer as a result of the ingredients used.

Take a look at the sites below to find a wonderful alternative to the usual products. I have personally used these products for a year and a half and LOVE them! I also went to the Affusion studio for a personal consultation with the maker (a homeschool mom) and had a BLAST! I wanted to know firsthand how she makes the products and all about each one. She did a full facial and make-up on me (and a few friends), we drank some yummy tea and laughed so hard we cried. It was so fun!!! If you live anywhere near Alpharetta- GO!



www.affusionskincare.com/
This is the official site for all the products.


http://affusionskincare.blogspot.com/
This is the blog where she posts all sorts of information and studies regarding cosmetics.

Have fun!!! :)

Birth is........

My dear midwife, Claudia, has a message board on Yahoo with all her clients. We love taking with her anytime we want as well as having a wonderful group of women as support, encouragement and advise.

Claudia asked a simple question of us...to finish this sentence:

"Birth is........"

So far the responses have been so wonderful, I had to share!!! As more come in I will add them in the comment section.


"Birth is….

Normal.
Natural.
Safe.
Like many things, location DOES matter.
Mysterious.
Everywhere all the time.
The beginning.
Painful.
Life.
Connects us.
Controversial.
Strange.
Adventure.
Confidence inducing.
Life changing.
A right.
A privilege.
Not to be feared.
Amazing.
Empowering.
Epic.
A journey.
Defines womanhood.
To be enjoyed.
Emotional.
Not to be missed!"

Georgia Trip

Thursday morning was our flight to Georgia. With our luck (or lack of) the plane was boarded and we sat there for over an hour...and then had to "de-board" the plane for maintanance. Our flight was 3 hours late in departing!!! It was okay, though. We just hung out and relaxed.



Waiting in the airport. Laz slept until we boarded the plane (for the second time) and then was awake the whole flight...of course. However, he was wonderful and did not fuss a bit!









Hi Daddy!!! We were not able to sit together (sniff sniff) but we were close by.










Nate picked us up at the airport...so sorry we ruined his half day off by being 3 hours late!!! This is Nate and Court's new SUV....soooo nice!


We all went to Woodstock to eat at the Kani House (Japanese Hibatchi) and Josiah's mom Stephanie watched Laz for us. Nate, Court, Josiah and I had a wonderful time...and the food was AMAZING.






COUSINS!!!! Lazarus Jude and Hannah Grace.
Actually, we had numerous people say they look alike...what do you think???






So sweet!!! :)




On Friday Court and Tiff began the day by making the rounds at a few garage sales. FUN!!!
After that we got ready and went to La Parrillas for lunch.
YUMMMMM-O.
We met several of our good friends there to hang out and chat.








Court and Hannah






Everyone!!! Thanks to my dear friends Tracy (and her kids Corbin, Tristian and Leila), Tim and Audrey, Mark, Jon, Noelle and Fin, Kerri, Diana, Nate, Courtney and Hannah for coming out to see us!









All the kids loved playing with Laz!







Everyone enjoyed hanging out and talking..we all had a good time.




After lunch Josiah, Laz and I along with Jon, Noelle, Findlay, Nate, Courtney and Hannah loaded up the cars and headed out to Washington, Georgia. The drive is about 2 and a half hours...but with 3 babies with us it took around 4 hours.





A Chick-Fil-A pit stop. All the sweet hubbys are holding the babes...and Josiah is giving me "the look" for making them take a picture! Sorry honey!!! :)







Here you will find a short independent film by Tiffany...her first film of this nature.
A 3 hour car ride with 3 babes...by definition, a good time. (or self inflicted torture...whatever floats your boat.)










As soon as we got to Washington we had to go out and meet the horses!








Jon and Noelle's home in Georgia. They live on several hundred acres in Washington...a beautiful little town east of Athens. This place is simply breathtaking. I know this picture looks like a postcard-but I took it! It really is this lovely.
The home was built in the 1790's and is FULL of stunning antiques, furniture and original pieces.









Hannah loved Charlie!









The big front porch...a wonderful place to hang out and play. Hannah loved running around on it.










Jon holding Fin.








Morning. Coffee. Front porch. Rocking chairs and porch swings. Family. Wonderful friends.
AAAHHH.
This is the life!
We should all quit our jobs, move out to Washington and live on their front porch.










Hannah loved sitting in the hopped up Georgia Bulldog golf cart.











Hannah loved Uncle Josiah!!!









The Washington farmers market. It was so quaint and cute...in the summer the place is teeming with vendors and local folks. I cannot wait to come back again!










Findlay enjoying his shopping trip.








Laz and Hannah in the slings....and loving it :)










Jon's brother Jay and his kill. He went out and got this wild turkey off their land. Actually it was quite beautiful. I had never seen one up close before. And unfourtunately I will not be there when they partake of this bird. I bet it is yummy!








Josiah and his corn-cobb pipe. I made him shower, put on cologne and gargle before I would come near him again.








While the boys were smoking their peace pipes...the girls were in the hot tub! It was heavenly :)










Noelle, Courtney and Laz






Nate and Laz. Two handsome boys :)






Tiff and Hannah







Jenn Bailey, Noelle and Tiff






Noelle and Tiffany






Noelle's garden!!! I am coming back out to visit when everything is ready to harvest...YUMM-O.






Josiah is putting the electric fence back up...yikes! Be careful honey!







Laz being adorable...of course.






IKEA.
Need I say more???
Yes.
I have never been to the store...I was an IKEA virgin. No longer!!! I was in absolute shock as I was walking through the store...it was almost the most fun I have ever had.
Noelle and I filled these bags...well, almost. Remember I am now a Dave Ramsey freak, so I noted that this store must be Dave's greatest nightmare...and I bought some stuff. Cheap stuff we needed and could afford. I was SO GOOD.
Until my next trip there.
I will need a U-Haul truck.









The babies chilin while the mommies shopped.







This is the warehouse!!!!!!!!!
AAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Far to soon, the trip was over. We got home late Monday night and the boys were very happy to see us...and we had missed them terribly as well! Next time we MUST take all the kids!!!

First Church of Oprah

I saw an interesting video today.

Linked below, it is a video speaking of Oprah's new "church" or belief system..a feeling, if you will (her words...perhaps her feelings do not change from day to day?)

Personally I am just not surprised. She is an icon and millions of people tune into her show(s) daily to see what Oprah thinks. I have always taken issue with her stance on "self" and have written a few little snippet's in the past years on this blog about it...and received quite a bit of negative feedback because of my unpopular words. Nevertheless, I will continue to stand against her beliefs and what she is pushing to millions of people every day.
It boils down to this:
Oprah is leading millions down the wide path to destruction...tickling their ears all the way, making them feel good about themselves and their sin. From a Biblical perspective she is a false teacher and someone needs to expose her teachings as new ageism.
The narrator of the video (I am not sure who it is or who put it out) says a few things that I do not fully agree with...and it seems as though he left out some pertainate information...however, it is a good start at sheading the light on what Oprah is about.
And there is mention of a political candidate as well that Oprah endorses. A lot can be gleamed from the fact that Oprah supports him. I don't think this video is supposed to be political, but it does mention this fact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA


So let me know what you think!

Random Items to Discuss

Josiah and I attended the Dave Ramsey conference in Colorado Springs this past Saturday...LIVE! Dave was fantastic! I have always liked him/his books/radio program, but Josiah had never heard him speak...so we had a blast. We got a ton of good info for investing for the future, debt (ahhh!) and teaching the kids about money (another ahhh!). We are also going to take the weekly class to get all this info in small, bite size pieces...I am so excited! So I guess now I am a Dave Ramsey freak.


Josiah and I are flying to Georgia this Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really can hardly contain my enthusiasm.
We are only taking Laz so I feel like it is technically a "mommy and daddy only" trip.

So here is the low down:
We are meeting all our peeps for a lunch on Friday at La Parrilla in Woodstock...and we want YOU to come! (yes, this is the official redneck invite). Lunch will be at around 12 p.m. After this lunch we are going to Washington, a to stay with Noelle and Jon so you better come on Friday if you wanna see Laz! :)

It is 41 degrees outside (after a weekend in the 70's) and snowing. Yes, snow at 41 degrees. Only in Colorado!!!

I took a nap on Sunday and was awakened by Tarin, who was quite upset. Upon my inquiry of why he was so vexed (I love that word...it is a Jane Austen word) he answered, "Because Kellen took my Lego person and froze him in carbonate!!!!!"
I found this amusing. I had to get onto Kell for freezing Tarin's Lego guy in carbonate.
HA!

Pictures

We L-O-V-E waking up with our baby every morning! Having him smile and laugh with us first thing is SO wonderful! What a blessing! Here Laz is still asleep snuggled in our bed....for only a moment....soon he will be almost 11 years old like Ethan....so I treasure these times.









Shopping at Banana Republic...such fun with 5 boys!
And YES, I am one of "those" moms that carry their camera everywhere they go. I honestly do not want to miss one minute of life with my sons!









Laz asleep on Josiah's lap.








Yeah. My man is HOT. Yeah baby.









AND he is great with babies! A double threat! (oh...and he can build anything...so we are looking at a triple threat here folks)








Shopping is so fun...when you can SLEEP through it!








"Ummmm....Mom, I think this hat is to big for me..."









We all scream for icecream!!!









This picture is classic...Kell is fed up with me telling them to look at me and smile.