Super easy pasta...

I love when others share meal ideas so I decided to highlight one of our favorite meals at our house that's super easy and  yummy. We have this at least once most weeks in the summer time...

Ingredients: Bell Peppers, ravioli, olive oil, spinach, minced garlic, Italian seasoning

Start by sauteing your peppers in a bit of olive oil and minced garlic. (I keep a jar of minced garlic in the fridge, its easy to just get a spoonful out when you need it.) Then boil your pasta to al dente instructions on the package, Then add your drained pasta into the pan you sauteed your peppers in add spinach if you like & some Italian seasoning, mix all together on pretty low heat for another few minutes. Then its ready to go! We usually eat this on Wednesdays because its easy and fast to cook up before evening church. 

A morning you never regret...

 This morning Ava and I decided to trade this view, our messy house and long to do list from a busy and intense work week...

for this view...

We went for a jog on the trail by the lake and stopped at the light house for a rest, we enjoyed the perfect temperature as we sat on a bench and watched the water gently ripple from the light breeze and turtles appearing and disappearing into the blue water. It was that kind of moment of contentment that only quiet stillness in His creation can provide. The kind of morning I never regret, where the to do list is still there but was totally worth putting off to be filled up and renewed again by just finding that moment to be still,  reflect and center yourself once again.

16 Months!

Ava turned 16 months this weekend! here's the new developments this month:

• She seems to be adding words every day. Notable new words include, Rory, help, please, all done, Ava and her new favorite is "babies".
• She still uses her signs a lot and is starting to put the words with her signs.
• She got 3 new molars this month. She didn't complain too much and then I just noticed them one day, all the way through and everything! 
• She still takes two naps a day! 
• She has a new dance that cracks us up, we call it 'drivin the bus'. 
• She figured out somehow that when you spin in circles it makes you dizzy, so she does that randomly throughout the day with this funny smile on her face. 
• The Nursery staff at church told me she's the little mama of the group, she brings the younger kids toys, and gives them sweet pats and kisses. 
• She's such a cuddler, she will randomly come and give us hugs and kisses throughout the day. I love that! 
• She's discovered blue berry whole grain waffles which de-throned yogurt for favorite breakfast food. She gets real excited to watch it pop up in the toaster.

Strawberries and Nutella snack/finger painting:

Bag Lady

Hmmm where did she get this, lately when playing she kisses her babies, tells them bye bye and loads herself up with no less then 3 bags. I can't imagine who's she imitating???? 

Thankful Thursday

This week my niece is starting middle school, the niece that I held within her first hour of life, that I rocked, that I played with as a toddler and that I loved watching grow through each new stage. I find myself wondering how is it already time for her to be an almost teenager? Also this week several of my friends/co-workers sent their babies off to their first days of school. I knew 3 of these friends/co-workers before they were mamas, I remember when their sweet babies were born and I really can't believe its already time for them to go off to school. I too often forget to appreciate this time that is so special where we basically get to keep Ava to ourselves. In a few years we will start to share her more and more with the world but for now she's all ours. So as I rocked her before bed tonight I reflected on my gratitude for this time and I tried take in the moment, the just right weight of her curved body against mine, her sweet head resting on me, her eyes looking into mine that begin to blink slower as she grew sleepier in my arms. When I take time to slow down and be still I find there is so much to be thankful for each of these precious days.

some favorite things...

Some favorite things around our house lately...

Nutella and strawberries on a summer evening.

Our new infomercial ordered lunch bag. You fold it up and keep it the freezer, the liner is a a cool pack, so your lunch stays frigeraor cold for up to 10 hours! 

Ava's after bath towel dried crazy hair.

Ava in her rain coat. (I know it looks giant its only an 18 month size!) oh and our other favorite thing is the recent rain that came that cooled the weather briefly so she could wear her rain coat for the first time! 

Thankful Thursday

Interesting after I posted those pictures this week of Ava's recent food adventures, I saw CNN coverage on the famine in Africa. It is SO bad. The most heart breaking stories are happening right now to real people, real children, real parents. Masses are dying daily, many are children and infants. Two parents interviewed had already had their two older children die during this famine and after much travel to reach the hospital their one year old was too far malnourished to survive also, covered but lying dead next them during the interview, their only hope was now to find try to gather enough money for a respectful burial. (CNN did the right thing by assisting with the arrangements).  Can you even imagine not feeding your child when they are hungry, its the most automatic and natural parenting instinct, to provide for their basic needs for survival. My heart breaks for the parents. The UN is mobilizing but the current level of funding are no match at this time for the scale of this famine, please consider giving to this effort:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/11/africa.famine.donations/

In light of trying to wrap my mind around this, I am reflective on my own thankful thoughts this week...

I am thankful I can feed my child when she's hungry.

I am thankful I can easily give her a clean drink of water whenever she desires it. 

I am thankful I can access high quality, near by medical care whenever we have need.

I am thankful I live in a conflict free area where my home is a safe place, I can take walks in my neighborhood without fear of being attacked or harmed. 

I am thankful for our government. As complicated and messed up as our government can be there's a reason millions would love to be a called a citizen, to have their rights as human beings respected and honored. 

I am thankful that the many children who are dying now, who never had the chance at a real life, that their pain is over, that they have a heavenly father who welcomes them into his loving arms, lets them have the restful peace that only He can provide.