Hi There 2011!

It doesn't really matter how one year ends and another begins, each has it ups and downs. Every day is a chance to make new choices, to take a step in becoming who we want to be, to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of others.

The new year doesn't typically mean a lot to me. I try to take a day at a time. I do like to reflect a little more around the end of one year and the beginning of another... I also like to re-evaluate my goals and make adjustments if needed.

Don’t Buy “Stuff.”
The kids have enough toys. I have enough “things.” We ALL have enough clothes! There should be no reason, other than impulse to buy things. Yes, sometimes it feels good to make a purchase, but we just end up with more than we need and all that stuff is completely overwhelming!
Eat Fresh!
After watching Food Inc. I am completely motivated to eat better. I have been working on this, and sometimes it doesn’t feel like the cheapest choice to make, but after doing it for a few months I’ve found that it is cheaper than the way I was eating before, by about $150, at least. Before I started buying almost all of my food from the organic section at the store I was spending $500 a month on food. Now I’m down to $350. I am also working on eating what’s in season and when the Farmer’s Market opens back up I am hoping to become more acquainted with it!
Keep Up With Housework.
During this time apart from Austin I have had time and energy to catch up on some housework. I still have a little way to go, but by the time he is back I should have things how I have wanted them for a very long time. It is my goal to keep up with this throughout 2011 and beyond! I plan on being held accountable to this by posting pix either here or in a blog every week of my home. Even if that means I have to clean to take the pix... Then I HAVE to clean. ;-)

Along with what's listed I want to work on some different things with my photography... I want to read the Bible more, maybe get all the way through it finally... And I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting to mention, but they're on a piece of paper or in my head somewhere. :)

Here's wishing everyone a positive perspective on life, hope when all seems lost, strength at your weakest points, and the ability to recognize the moments that make it all worth it!

Some of My Favorites of the 4th!

I made sure to take some pictures of the kids before heading to the park for our picnic...  

I KNOW how fast they destroy white shirts.  ;-)

And tonight,

almost a week later,

we get to have our fireworks!  

(We have last weeks rain to thank for that.)

Let Freedom Ring!

HAPPY

INDEPENCE

DAY

Top to Bottom: Austin (7mo), Nayeli (15mo), Kheaven (9mo)

♥God Bless the U.S.A.!!!♥

from our family to yours,

Merry Christmas!

The Loves of My Life

Halloween 2009

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**EDIT: We do NOT have the flu, this was posted on a door in the neighborhood we trick-or-treated in.  I thought a picture was neccessary cuz it's sort of a sign of the times.  Swine Flu pandemic 2009.

Thanks for the well wishes though.**

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You can't see it the best in this picture, unless you click on it that is, but the sign on this door says, "We have the flu, Sorry!"

Makes me wonder how many people/little kids were stuck inside.  I hope they all get better soon and got to enjoy autumn festivities in some way shape or form.

Austin was lucky enough to have two costumes this year...  one was Optimus Prime, the other was Dan Bakugan as shown in a previous post.

Here he is as the transformer.

Nayeli was my little pink ladybug!

My TRANSFORMING little pink ladybug.

Kheaven was my little mono.  (That's monkey in spanish.)

Jeremy was a blast from the past in a leisure suit from his uncle.

He looks all proud of his little trick-or-treater. 
(This was the first year he got off of work for the occasion.)

Austi as DB again and the sweet little ladybug.  They seem all grown up able to get hold they're bags up all their own and everything.  :)  I love 'em!

Hope everyone out there had a safe and happy halloween.

And now...

Happy All Saints Sunday!

:-D

I Heart Faces: Halloween Dress Up

 "Dan Bakugan"

Austin looking at himself in the mirror, admiring the costume his Gramma J got him while she was here visiting.

To see more cute trick-or-treaters and whatnot visit I ♥ Faces!

the 4th!

We had a great day yesterday! We had a picnic/grilled out hot dogs and corn on the cob. We played at the park, took a break and watched Kung Fu Panda, and then marched to our spot for the fireworks. :-D I thought Jeremy would be stuck at work til after the fireworks but he made it to watch them with us! Tonight I may pick up some discounted fireworks and we'll light them off within the next week. There may be more pictures to come! Enjoy!!

Oh, if for some reason I don't have you on the list to recieve e-mails for the kids individual blogs feel free to see more pix @ http://www.austinegreen.blogspot.com AND http://www.nayabeth128.blogspot.com. :-D

Not Scared of Nothin', No how!

Austin on the 4th!






Austi wasn't scared of the fireworks this year! He had a great time playing and learning how to cook out at our picnic! He didn't want to eat, but he was enjoying family time. He made a friend, Emmy, at the park. They had lots of fun on the merry-go-round.

He was excited all day, and kept asking for ear plugs, but we watched the fireworks from a distance so they weren't all that loud. He had the most fun with a little girl Shauna, he met while waiting for the fireworks to start. She is a year older than him and they chased eachother, played football and raced before the show. They sat on a blanket together to watch the fireworks and described each one. Austin saw a lot of circles. Shauna saw a lot of cupcakes. They liked the pretty colors and when a lot went off at once.

I think next year he may forget he ever thought they were loud and be even more excited! :-D

My American Girl

Nayeli had a nice July 4th this year. I think she wanted to be a little bigger or faster so she could keep up with her big brother but she had lots of fun of her own. At our picnic she got to go down the slide a bunch of times. She can do it all on her own and she loves it!

While Austin found friends to play with before the fireworks show here in Salina, Nayeli entertained herself by playing with some dirt/pebbles.

She wanted to run around but the hill we were on was a little to steep for her. She enjoyed watching the other kids.

Her favorite part of the day though, from what I can judge, was the fireworks. :-) She oohed and ahhed at the "pitty lights." She would say "OH!" when there were booms. She giggled like crazy and I think she thought all the booms were beats because she rocked and danced her baby bottom off! At one point after a number of fireworks went off Nayeli shouted "Oh Man!" It was so cute, especially since no one else was using that phrase. She just pulled it out of nowhere. I'm glad she was scared of the lights or noises.

What a sweet little princess!

Hunting for Eggs

Happy Easter everyone! Yesterday the kids and I went to the YMCA for some Easter fun. We were with our neighbors Michelle and Grace.



We got to play games inside for a little bit, decorate our "baskets," and Nayeli got a pair of bunny ears.



Then we went outside for an Easter egg hunt. Austin did a good job finding eggs all on his own and he had a lot of fun. Nayeli even found an egg for herself.

This morning we went to the park that's just beyond our backyard and both the kids got to hunt for eggs again.



There were soooo many kids at the hunt. It was great!



Austin got a lot of eggs and has probably had way too much candy today. :-S

Happy New Year!!!

Last night was lonnnng. :-S I had to open self scan at 6:30am yesterday and I had to open the store at 6:00am today, and along with bringing in the new year with the kids last night and them not wanting to sleep til the wee hours of this morning there are some tired people in our house!

This evening we went out to a sushi bar type place. It was awesome! The chef cooks right in front of you and throws food into your mouth. He was going around the table throwing shrimp into everyones mouth and was gonna do it to Austin and Austin sort of ducked and covered his face. It was very funny. Nayeli loved the miso soup and edamame. Austin was more fond of the rice and noodles. Jeremy and I had steak, teriake chicken, a california roll and a philadelphia roll.

Tomorrow Jeremy's grandma is coming to visit. I think we're going to check out the museum that's part of the zoo. I open the store at 6:00am again... fun stuff.

I hope everyone had a safe and fun new year's eve.

Happy 2009! :-D

First Christmas

Nayeli was so adorable on Christmas. I woke her up in the morning so we could all have breakfast and open presents together and she didn't quite know what to think about being pulled from her slumber. She LOVED the chocolate chip pancakes that were waiting for her at the table. Then I got her cleaned up and dressed. She was so excited over all the gifts being opened and did a pretty good job her self. She may just be a pro by her birthday. On Christmas we opened all the presents Grandpa and Grandma Puetz sent. Austin got a tool bench, a racecar thingy-ma-bob, and a hotwheels car and truck. He loved it all. Nayeli got a little car/walker thing for her. It's Pooh brand and is pretty loud. She also got a new dolly... We named it Leah. Last but not least she got a bug that has shapes, songs and games. From the picture you get an idea of her excitement throughout the day. It was wonderful to have her and Austin playing with their toys and giggling and even sort of fighting over who got to play with what. I loved it... but don't I always. :-)



We're going to be celebrating Christmas some more with Jeremy's parents on Monday. :-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Halloween and Stuff

Halloween was nice. Jeremy had work, but we got a picture before he went off to do his thing and the kids and I went off to do our thing. :-) I had planned on us going out for about two hours, and we ended up out for three. We went to the neighborhood near the park that is ten minutes walking distance from where we live. There weren't too many kids out at first but Austin was excited and so adorable. He was a pirate and I gave him an earring to wear hooked over his ear. He hated it at first but everyone complimented him on it, now he's still trying to get me to let him wear it. :-P

Nayeli was an angel, not costume-wise, but her demeanor. She was a pumpkin for trick-or-treating. She sat sweetly in her stroller and only fussed when we were about 30 seconds from walking in the door. We didn't get a lot of candy, but that wasn't the point. We met neighbors and made a couple of friends, and even bumped into a couple and their son who we had met at church. I'm so glad it went as nicely as it did. :-D

November 1st/October "32nd" was Jeremy's and my 6 monthiversary. He gave me this gorgeous sapphire necklace. It is sooo breathtaking! He is such a sweet and thoughtful person. He also did all the dishes! I was ecstatic about that!!

On August 21st for my "half birthday" he gave me sapphire earrings that I adore as well. :-) They are pictured below.

Not too much other news going on... We're both working hard, at work and with the kids at home. It would be nice to have some more time for us, but we understand that it can be a difficult thing to find with two little kiddos around. We love them though and they make life fun and interesting. We're still hoping to find a babysitter and get some time out as soon as we can though. :-P

Oh... We've started birthday shopping, and I guess Christmas shopping for Austin. We also have some ideas on what to get Nayeli. We're excited for both and hoping to be able to get them everything we want to. Gift cards that certain family members are sending are REALLY going to help out. Two big things we want to get for Austin are a bed that has shelves on the headboard and drawers underneath and a bicycle with training wheels that can be taken off. We're looking to get Nayeli something that has to do with music since she loves hearing music and singing along herself. :-)

Also, we're expecting some visitors near Austin's birthday. His uncle Derek will be one of them. We haven't seen Derek in a little over a year, so that should be a nice little thing for everyone.

Now that I think about it I'm sure there's more, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. I'll write again when more comes to me! :-D

**I remembered!! Around Thanksgiving we may be going down to southern Kansas to visit Jeremy's parents or they may be coming up here. This will be my first time meeting them and I'm very excited. From what Jeremy says I think we may all get along very well. I can't wait! :-)

Happy Valentine's Day!

~Austin's been working on potty training for about two weeks now... Neither Sam nor I started this, Austin just decided the time was now. The 7th was the first time he actually went on it, the 8th he did it again, accept all by himself, and then he came and got me and showed me... Two days later he used the toilet the entire evening after his nap, and this morning he wanted to go on it as soon as he woke up, and he used it throughout the day. The biggest problem I'm having with it is that he wants to be naked all the time now. But it's still pretty cute and isn't really hurting anything so I'll let it be for a while. School work has deterred me from updating this as much as I'd like to, but I'm working on it, and Austin is doing great! :-D~