Can your ride do this...

We have all been introduced to the new addition to our family. I still get asked pretty frequently, how do you like your mini?  I do like it.

We have taken a trip already.  It is so convenient how we can fit everything we could possibly need or want with us when we travel.  And then it's really helpful to have a diaper changing station in the car...

 I have to share this story.  So...both the boys have fevers and stuffy noses.  We have a doctor's appt.  The bottom drops out in the process...like I'm talking, raining harder than I've seen in a LOOOONG time.  I'm like...how in the world am I gonna get these kids inside without us all getting drenched?

Picture this...I climb to the back seat..get both kids out of their seats, put Parker in the Ergo carrier,...with the very back seats down you can pretty much run around in that bad boy.  So we all get by the back hatch, I use my nifty little keys to raise the hatch from inside, get the umbrella popped up, I jump out in the rain, (Parker is already on me in the carrier), grab the diaper bag on one arm, Briggs on the other, run to the office while I punch the button for the hatch to close..it was pretty awesome.

And then when we are done, it's still pouring so we do the same thing just in reverse order...raise the hatch..we all climb in, close the hatch from inside...I change diapers, get everybody situated in their seats, climb back in the cockpit...and off we go.

All I can say is...that right there is a huge benefit of a mini with little kids.  There is NO WAY I could have gotten all of us out of something else and not get soaked.  I was thinking the whole time..how would I even get Briggs out of his seat, with Parker in my arms, with an umbrella...wouldn't have happened...so the backup plan of climbing out the back worked like a charm...and I'm sure was pretty amusing to any onlookers.  Dr. Lytle joked with me when I told him how we got inside that they were secretly videotaping us from inside.  Oh well if they were...they would just get to see this momma in action with her little ones and keeping them dry in the process.

So, yes..I really do like the function of my mini!  It is still a minivan, but for this season of our life, I couldn't imagine driving anything different.

Homemade granola/ breakfast

We have been making some serious changes around our house these days.  We owe a big huge thank you to these two guys.  I never got any pics of them together over the week (Dan - left, Brad - right) ...

These boys are awesome!  Short version...we have a little history with Dan.  Met him about 5 years ago at a local XTERRA race.  We have grown to love Dan and all that he has taught both Justin and I about life, fitness, and just health in general.  Not to mention the fact he is a great friend.  Dan comes to Birmingham (from South Africa) about once a year and we always reunite around race time.  This year we had the pleasure of meeting Brad and getting to spend the whole week with these two guys.  They stayed at our house, which blessed Justin and I more than they will ever know.  As you can see..our little boys enjoyed having the big boys around too.

Because both Dan and Brad are professional athletes, it's their job to be and eat healthy.  So, when two guys like this move in for the week, it not only brings out the insecurities of every aspect of our lives that aren't up to par...the curiosity also emerges on the what, why and how behind all the things they do.

I will say, Dan and Brad were both so gracious with their time and words to Justin and I.  They encouraged us more than they will ever know.  It was so awesome for me personally b/c I'm so interested in health, food and fitness.  I was picking their brains every chance I got.  I was happy to hear the words..."you're on the right track" but I also got some real practical pointers while they were here.  It was also great to cook with them at night and actually get to see how they do what they do.

So one recipe/meal we took away from the boys being here...I wanted to share...

Dan went to Whole Foods and created this AH-MAZING trail mixture that we combined with fruit and greek yogurt for breakfast.  Here is the man in action.  And yes, that was one massive bowl of trail mix.
 

After they left, I decided to hit up Whole Foods and create my own trail mix.  There is an area that has organic nuts, seeds, grains...where you serve yourself and package up the portions you want.

I ended up with:

• oats
• coconut
• sunflower seeds
• raisins
• cashews
• almonds
• pumpkin seeds

Then I dumped it all in a bowl and mixed....

Final step...spoon some greek yogurt in a bowl, top with fresh fruit and a couple spoonfuls of trail mix (for a treat we add a little honey) and YUMMMMM... you have a seriously awesome, filling and healthy breakfast.

I'm always looking for something that is filling and yummy.  This is definitely both and very easy to make.

Happy Birthday Briggs

 We officially have a two year old at the Poland house.  It is sad and happy all at the same time.  I absolutely LOVE this age.  Briggs is learning so many things right now and can say a new word almost every single day. 

We decided to do something easy this year...WeeFlip.  It was the best decision I've made in a long time.  We literally showed up with our kids and had a party.  They literally did everything.  Since we had a lot of activities going on this weekend with family in town, that was worth every penny to not have to worry about all the details.  Here is a little glimpse into Briggs' party.

 cupcakes and popcorn...

happy birthday buddy

and he didn't get one drop of icing on his white shirt...

i'm still shocked

 

i had to put this one in here.  

the guys really had a lot of fun..abs just told them to do this...haha

 

briggs liked all his presents

especially his superhero outfit

 

parachute time wasn't enjoyed by all

 

lovin the rollercoaster car

and the ball pit

to end our time there the kids went under the parachute 

and then we sang happy birthday one more time at the end

goody bags for all the kiddos

briggs loves himself a pinwheel

when it was all over we asked briggs if he had fun and he kept shaking his head yes.  

it was a great second birthday and a really fun day for everybody.

Homemade chalkboards

If you ever need a chalkboard for something...here is a very inexpensive way to make that happen...

Get tiles from your local hardware store.  

I think these were about 80 cents each.

spray paint them with chalkboard paint

and that's it...

We actually used them at a going away party for some friends.

wrote messages and dressed up with silly props.

it was a fun way to add a personal touch to our "photo booth"

 

but they would be great for a rainy day inside with your kids.  

or you could display them inside your kitchen somehow 

and do a menu board or grocery list.  lots of purposes for very little cost.

Baked Eggs

I've been trying out some new healthier recipes.  I will be sharing some on here, starting with this one...a friend sent this to me...click here for the blog I got it from.  I did a little variation from the original recipe.  These are called baked eggs.

Start with grating sweet potatoes.  I actually peeled mine first but next time I don't think I will.  There are lots of good nutrients in that peeling, so just leave it on and grate away.

With a little olive oil, throw the grated sweet potatoes, spinach, mushrooms, green onions, garlic...you could really do whatever you have...I even think zucchini and squash would be yummy.  Add some spices if you want...I just stuck with a little salt for flavor.

Cook it down until it looks like this.

Get some ramekins.  I actually borrowed some from my neighbor so I could cook these in bulk.  Spray them first with non-stick spray.  Divide your sweet potato mixture between them all and crack an egg on top.

Cook on 350.  The recipe says 15 minutes and then add crumbled bacon and cook for a few more minutes.  Mine actually took more like 25 minutes so that the egg was cooked all the way.  It's more of a personal preference on how cooked you want your egg. And I didn't add bacon.

These were easy.  A little time consuming with grating the sweet potato but I have recently gotten an awesome food processor that will do that whole step for me...so I'm definitely doing these again sometime soon. 

Since I did so many, I actually froze mine in containers.  I just pull them out the night before and heat them up prior to breakfast.  They were great that way too.

Just go with it

I know I have been a slacker lately with the blog.  I don't have any good excuses except for the fact I'm just focusing on being a mommy. 

It always seems like the loads of laundry, dishes, washing bottles, running errands, along with playing outside, blowing bubbles, reading books and lots of hugs and snuggles never end.  I do enjoy blogging, but I enjoy being a mommy more. 

I've decided, instead of pressuring myself to get one or two posts done a week...I'm just going to get to it when I get to it.  My goal is still one a week.  I have lots of fun and helpful things to share.  I even have a backlog of posts started, just not edited with text.  I'll get around to it.  I've also been finding lots of new and healthy recipes that will be fun to share.  It's gonna happen...stay tuned. 

Until then...this is what we have been up to lately with two.

trips to the zoo...yes with both of them by myself.  brave...I know 

to the park.  i promise briggs is having fun.  

he doesn't quite get the concept of "smile" with a camera yet 

eating mexican

briggs holding on to parker so he doesn't cry

everyone asks how briggs is adjusting to the new baby...

he loves it and is such a good big brother

 

i had to add this pic of my rockstar of a two year old

 and his abnormally stellar balancing skills

 

all my friends always crack up at my creativeness (if that's even a word) with two.  

this is how we make it work at home when we play outside...

briggs and I play, while parker gets a pallet made somewhere in the shade to play

and if we are out doing something for awhile, like..buying a car...

we just move in and change diapers, take naps, eat snacks..

i like to think of it as being flexible

or if we just took a road trip, we just make a pallet 

on the table for the baby to stretch out

overall we are having a blast with two.  i love being at home with my boys and try to soak up every second with them, even the not so fun ones because i know one day i will miss them being little.

New Ride

We finally did it...we downgraded upgraded to the mini.  We swallowed the big grown up pill and got the MINI-VAN.  Oh yes we did!  And I was "that girl" when I was in high school and college... said I would NEVER drive one...eating those words.

Here are me and Briggs the morning we said goodbye to the CR-V.  I actually shed a few tears that day!...no joke.

But...I guess it was in the Lord's divine plan because we sold it on Craigslist in ONE day...yes you heard me right...one day.  It did take a couple of days to organize the transaction b/c the lady came from Georgia to get it...but she contacted us within one day and gave us exactly what we were asking for it.  What a blessing, confirmation and answered prayer.

 And here we are picking up the new mini.  That's the name I've given it..."mini"...maybe people will think I'm so cool that I'm talking about a mini-cooper until they see me get in my mommy mobile. Ha!

I will say...the first day I took it out to Walmart...I was already texting Justin saying...this thing is "SUH-WEET"!  I'm talking, literally less than 24 hrs and I was already in love.  It's just so easy to get the kids in and out of, and super functional for a mommy on-the-go.

Then...I take Briggs to Mothers Day Out..and I see this...just too good to not snap a pic of.  I mean..that's a true testament to the mini if nothing else.

On top of being popular among the moms at the daycare...
the boys fit great with lots of room to spare.  The seats move up, back and sideways depending on where you need people positioned.

And the cargo space is amazing..that's my double jogging stroller in the back of that mug!  I mean, can you say WHAT?!?!?!..

We went to the zoo with some friends and I even threw her double jogging stroller back there with room to spare.  I'm loving the space.  Can't wait to take our first trip in it.

We LOVED our CR-V and are very sad to see it go.  Well, I was more of the sad one...but I'm loving our new Mini.  It was definitely a very hard pill to swallow, but I have received much encouragement from many friends and have decided to embrace this new change.  So now I hold my head high and am proud to drive my mini mommy mobile. 

I am a mommy and proud of it!