Craving sweets?

Choc graham crackers, smashed raspberries, 1tbsp brown sugar, 3/4c ricotta cheese and dark chocolate chips. They are so good! After freezing, the graham crackers are soft and the inside tastes like ice cream! A healthy, sweet snack! :) just if you wanna try it. Recommended by Jillian Michaels. 

Brooklyn Quotes

Quote of the day: "Mommy, will you please get me a juice box? My bottom is too comfortable."

Good job Madison!

Madison graduated kindergarten Tuesday. We are proud of you Maddie! Love you!

Jaxson is 3!

Happy 3rd Birthday Jax! We love you!

Mother's Day

I was so proud of Brooklyn for her painting because she wrote her name all by herself while at church. It's backwards...but hey, it's adorable. We got the Pooperson's out for some almond snack time too. Just some more pictures!

Eat where I want Day

Most people call it Mothers Day. If its truly a pamper Mom day-somehow I feel there can't be kids involved! Haha! I'm kidding, sort of. Mother's Day brings upon too may expectations so I've decided that eating where I want and a kiss and a hug from BK and Aaron is enough. I loved having the day off with them! We ate at Market Place, went to church, napped, and spent lots of time outside. My present came in the mail 3 days late by accident. Gucci Gardenia perfume and I love it!

A different kind of Mommy...

I really look forward to my days off that I can spend time with Brooklyn. I miss her dearly with how much I work and really try to make my days off special with her. 99% of the time, however, I fail. For example, by 8am this morning, she had already had 2 total meltdowns, a spanking, and every item of clothing I placed on her was "too itchy". By the time I got her miserably itchy outfit on, she screamed, "I want a different Mommy!" She says ridiculous things daily but for some reason this just really bothered me this morning. It didn't bother me because of my poor parenting. I know this isn't true. Aaron, Brooklyn and I are all guilty of not realizing how truly blessed we are. We are not homeless for one. We have food daily. We have running water. We share a car while Aaron is in school to limit use of student loans-at least we have a car. A nice, safe car at that! Brooklyn has a loving daddy that is a living miracle and survivor of extreme drug addiction...it feels scary and liberating to write that. She has a mommy that is a survivor of everything that goes along with that. She also has a mommy that works long, stressful hours to provide so that we may have a different future. Needless to say, I decided to grant Brooklyn's wish for as long as we both could handle it. First, I turned off the TV and took away her colors and coloring book because "different kind of mommys" don't let their kids watch cartoons or color. In fact, some don't even have TVs. Shocking, I know...Next, I put her in her room because "different mommys" leave their kids in their room all day without any toys. I know-its a little dramatic but true! Some kids don't have toys. Instead, I brought her a basket full of clothes for her to fold because some mommys don't do laundry. I wish I had a picture of her face when I asked her to fold something that wasn't wash cloths. Hysterical. I didn't hug, kiss or comfort her for 20 minutes. She quickly realized she was thankful for her mommy and decided she didn't want a different Mommy after all. Oh, and she wanted to know if I was pretending the whole time. She was anxious to know if I was really going to be that way forever. I told her I wasn't pretending and to stop calling me Mommy. My real name was mother Gothel now. ;)

Farm Pictures

We were so thankful to have some family time. When Brooklyn laid down for bed she said, "Mommy, picking strawberries was really fun today!"

More Farm Fun

Wild Things Farm!

We went on our first trip to The Wild Things Farm. Our favorite part was picking the strawberries and eating a few along the way! Brooklyn also enjoyed then animals and found a goose egg by the pond! We loved it!!

More Fun in Washington

Heather and Scott treated me to yummy meals, a cozy guest room and lots of adventuring! Thank you for having me and making my stay wonderful!! Can't wait to see you again!

First Starbucks

Had to get coffee from the first Starbucks established in 1971! 

Pike Place Fish Market

Heather and I loved the fish market! We could've stood there for hours watching the fishermen chant and throw large salmon over our heads!

Seattle/Pike Place Market

It was a gorgeous day for shopping! The fruits and vegetables were so vibrant and delicious! And geez...all the bakery's! I am so glad we spent the day at Pike Place!

Owen Beach

More pics from the beach with pebbles and no sand :) got some pebbles for Brooklyn's imaginary "collection"