We're in FL!

Well, we made it. FL definitely seems like a different world. Now we can really see why it is so tropical here. (Getting off the plane everyone was wearing short sleeve shirts and shorts!) Three years of seasonal weather will do that to you! It's fun to visit FL, but SC is home. Yesterday we were able to catch up with family and have a big steak dinner. Today we went to Metro Life Church (Danny's old church) and saw some of our friends! Tomorrow we head of to Disney to have an anniversary celebration. We are so excited. It has been a relaxing and fun vacation. We hope that all of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Last Co-Op of the Year

Last Friday was the final co-op for this year. The kids did a great job. For science they made marshmellow towers and ate some too! For art the younger class decorated christmas trees and the older class made snowflakes. I took the snowflakes they made and put them up at our Ice Skating event. I can't wait for classes to start again! Hopefully everyone was blessed by it. I know I had a great time.

Bentley's first Christmas

Bentley is 10 months old and will be celebrating his first Christmas tomorrow night. A little early I know. He's really excited about it...


We have been enjoying our Charlie Brown Christmas tree that Danny cut down at the end of the street. It has served it's purpose very well and has grown on us. Bentley was very excited the first time he saw it. I got him up from his nap and when it saw it he said, "Ooowww," with a big smile. He has even stuck his head through one of his presents!



I can't wait for Bentley to see both sets of grandparents, friends and family. This will be our first Christmas back in FL since we have been married. It will be a great time, filled with many memories! We wish everyone a Merry Christmas! We hope that your holiday will be safe and that you will cherish the reason for this season!! Thank you Lord for sending your Son to save our lives!



Well, it will be interesting to see how Bentley handles opening presents. We'll have pictures to share of that!!

3rd Anniversary!

Today is our third anniversary! I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. It has been a wonderful year, with some trying times, but wonderful all the same. We aren't really doing anything today -- a stroll downtown, but we are going to Disney on the 22nd to celebrate! Yay, Disney! I'm so thankful for the gift of marriage. I can't wait to see what God has for us in coming year. I love you Danny! Happy Anniversary!

PS - Happy 3rd Anniversary to Aaron and Jennifer... tomorrow!

It's been too long!

Whew! It's been so long since I have had a chance to sit down and blog. And even still I really have to make this short. We have had so much going on recently.
Danny, Bentley and I went to TN for a week. That was interesting, and fun.
We had a great Thanksgiving with my parents, sister and uncle.
Last Friday we had our annual skating event for the church.
Plus, all of the hustle and bustle this time of year brings.

Here are some highlights of our TN trip in pictures:

Bentley's First Trip to Toys R Us


Bentley and I checked out the Gaylord Opryland Hotel


Bentley and I also went to visit Franklin, TN and toured Carnton Plantation that was used as a Civil War Hospital... complete with blood stains! It was very interesting!


We went back to the Gaylord Opryland with Danny and saw all their wonderful Christmas lights.


Bentley all bundled up walking downtown Nashville. We went to the biggest free state museum ever!

Tagged!

I was tagged by Jessica. The object of the game is to go into your picture files & post the 5th picture in the 5th folder. This is a picture of some of the falls at Jones Gap from one of our many random hiking trips in the mountains.

Now I get to tag 5 friends: Erin P., Erin D., Ann M., Meghann R., and Jennifer W. Have fun!

Caviar d'escargot!

Today I was watching Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern on the travel channel. A favorite show of mine. I usally get grossed out, but I can handle it. Well, anyway today's re-run was of foods of Paris. Of course the French love Escargot! That is one thing that I do like a lot. But, they recently came up with Snail Caviar. Andrew went to a farm were the snails make their eggs. Did you know that snails are both male and female and they swap each others eggs. I find that fascinating. Well, anyway this caviar is expensive. I don't know if I will ever get a chance to try it. I've only had the fish eggs that are on sushi which I like because they are crunchy and don't really have a taste. The other time was either at Danny and I's engagement dinner or at the Biltmore Inn on our honeymoon. It was neat because they burst in your mouth, but they are a little fishy tasting and very salty. So, I'm not a true caviar fan, though I would be willing to at least try Caviar d'escargot. Ummm... all this talk of escargot make me want some of Cafe Margaux Escargot and Isreali Couscous! Too bad! They don't serve it anymore, I'm way too far away and I can't eat couscous!!

The Grandparents Are Here!

This past weekend Danny's parents came to visit us. It was a long weekend full of fun! They arrived on Thurday and left early Monday morning. Thankfully, Bentley warmed up to Grandma and Grandpa pretty quickly. Friday, we brought them to Dupont State Park for a hike and to view some waterfalls, Pisgah National Forest for a picnic and we went to the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center to see the Fish Hatchery. We had a great time. The foliage was still really beautiful. We brought them to the places we found the weekend before. The hatchery was really neat. We just happended to make it there when they were feeding the fish. Boy! The trout went crazy! Saturday, we took it easy. Dad and Danny built a patio for a firepit and Mom took me shopping for Bentley. We found Bentley some cute clothes. I can't wait for him to grow some more to fit in them!! Sunday we went to our church and had a lazy afternoon. We had a fire that night and was very toasty! Thank you Mom and Dad for a great weekend and blessing Bentley with new clothes and us with our fire pit! We love you guys and can't wait to see you for Christmas! YAY!

Fun Weekend Memories.

Two weekends ago, Danny decided to take Bentley and me out for a picnic in the mountains. We had a wonderful time. The leaves were at their peak. We listened to oldies and christmas music the whole time with the windows cracked -- it was too cold to have them all the way down! The day was beautiful. It was clear and cool, perfect weather for hiking and a picnic. We went to Dupont State Park, Pisgah National Forest, Downtown Brevard and Biltmore Village. It was so much fun to just hang around and have no real agenda, just do. Bentley is such a great traveler. He didn't fuss at all until about 15 mins from home and we were out all day! I told Danny that evening that I love the mountains so much more than the beach. There is so much more to do and see. It even smells better, and I don't find sand everywhere!

You Are Italian Food

Comforting yet overwhelming. People love you, but sometimes you're just too much.

What Kind of Food Are You?

New Foods... for all of us!

Bentley tasted grapes for the first time and of course he loves them. I put them cut up in his mesh food ring and he squishes them up and gets grape juice everywhere! I also gave him baby food with chicken in it. He wasn't a fan, so the next day I mixed the sweet potato and chicken with winter squash and he loved it. So far I haven't found a veggie he doesn't like!
The squishing face:


I made polenta for the first time with some of my homemade spaghetti sauce and Italian sausage. It was very good. It tastes like grits to me. I prepared them the same way grits are made, but then put it into custard cups and let them chill for an hour. Then I bake them for an hour. So the polenta mix came out molded and gooey with the Parmesan cheese and fresh basil I mixed in it.

Thank goodness for hand-me-downs!

Now that it is getting chilly I realized that we didn't have any winter clothes for Bentley. All his clothes are hand-me-downs from my cousin in FL -- so no real winter clothes. A couple of Sundays ago, The Flanagans handed down some of their son's clothes to Bentley. They are so cute -- boy cute! The red hat is my favorite. Bentley looks so cute in it. He wasn't so sure about the mittins. Thank you Flanagans for sharing your clothes with us!

Pumpkins...

Danny surprised me with a pumpkin last night. I was so surprised and excited. He knows how much I love pumpkins! He got it for us to carve together! It was so much fun. Bentley didn't know what to think about it. It wasn't too interested in it until I took him away from it. But he does that with most things! We had fun making a funny face for our pumpkin.

I did it!

Today was my 5K and I ran the whole race! My goal! I haven't been able to run 3.1 miles since the first time I did it in my neighborhood because of time, weather, and sickness. So for only my second time ever it was a great race. Plus, I ran it a little more than 10 minutes faster! My time was 35.37 minutes, I was so excited to see that I had made it in the 30 minute mark. So from 46 minutes to 35.37 minutes that is pretty good. Now when I go back to running in my neighborhood, I'm going to feel so slow! Just kidding! I can't wait to do my next race!

Poor Danny missed me twice. He thought I had already passed him on the course, and then he didn't get to see me finish because he didn't know where it finished! Oh well, next time!

I'm just thankful that God allowed me to complete the race. I had quite a few sickness and weather set backs, but he sustained me and I had a great time!

Plus, I had a great coach!

Tomorrow is the RACE!!

Whoo woo! I'm excited about tomorrow morning! It's going to be chilly, but they took the rain out of the forcast so that is good news! I'm going to pick up my registration as soon as Bentley gets up from his morning nap!! I can't wait!

Thank you Johnsons!

Our friends recently gave us a Little People Zoo with three animals. Bentley has loved playing with this set of toys. It's his favorite right now. Here are some pictures playing with it. And is new super yard. He has been crawling everywhere so now he is in one area. It's funny; he crawls to the sides and whines and even licks the walls of the play yard. Overall he likes it!





A little worn out from all the fun!

So what's new?

There isn't too much going on around here lately. Bentley and I have been at home since Wednesday battling colds. We have a very busy month ahead of us so we need to make sure that we are completely over it! November was a busy month for us last year too. We had Danny's parents in, then we went to Cherokee, and the next day my family arrived for Thanksgiving. Well, it's happening again this year. Danny's parents are coming in for a long weekend, then we are going to Tennessee for a week for Danny's work, then my family is coming in for Thanksgiving! The month is going to fly by.

Other exciting news Bentley has got his first chompers. Almost two weeks ago now, his first tooth popped through, now he has a second one popping through. It looks funny. I tried to get a good picture but it was hard! Here is the best I got. He's dirty because he just finished eating.



We are enjoying beautiful weather here. Yesterday, we sat out on the back porch doing a puzzle and Bentley playing in his super yard. We almost ate dinner out there but as the sun was setting the temperature was dropping fast. Today is blue sky and 60 degrees. It's going to be so cold during the 5k, it's at 9AM. At 9AM this morning in was 42 degrees out!!!

Here's Bentley in his play yard:


Well, I hope that everyone is having a wonderful day!

Oh, in cooking news I baked my first rolls and bread with rice, potato, tapioca flours. They were a little different in texture but didn't taste too bad. Danny didn't mind the texture. They were really dense. So, I'm going to have to try again soon!

Co-Op October Edition...

Last Friday was our Art/ Science Co-op.

The younger class did cave drawings. They had a blast rubbing the brown paper together and using skinny markers.

The older class did a still life. At first I thought that it might be too hard, but the proved me wrong. I wanted to challenge them and they exceeded my expectations! Some of them drew very detailed drawings. They sat down and drew what they saw and then got up moved four chairs down and drew again from a different perspective. They did such a great job. Here are some pictures!

5k count down.... 10 days!

Well, last night I did it. I ran 3.1 miles. It took me a little over 42 minutes, but that's okay. I did it! My goal for the race is to finish, without walking. So I have a comfortable week to train and make that happen. Whoo woo! I have to say that running is an addictive sport/ activity. I crave the days that I run. It's been a lot of fun. I can't wait until the race even though I am getting a little nervous!

If anyone has any suggestions on how to get the nasty sweat smell out of my running clothes it would be much appreciated! Gross I know! What can I say I'm a sweat-er!

Medical update on Bentley

Well, we have a had a busy two weeks. Specifically yesterday and today we had doctor appointments. One at the NICU and another at the eye doctor. Bentley has continued to amaze the doctors. Thank you Lord! They couldn't be anymore pleased with his progress and in some areas he is actually developmentally ahead! God had been so good to us! Bentley has been cleared for a one year check up at the NICU and in 6 months a check up with the eye doctor.

I was glad that Doctor Uy got to do his NICU check up. She was the doctor that admitted him into the NICU and basically tried everything that she could on him. She was very excited to see him and how well he is growing. So far they have found no long term effects of his rough beginning. The only thing that he might not grow out of is in his eyes. He still has a slight astigmatism and when he shifts his eyes it's not smooth. Doctor White (his ophthalmologist) told me that functionally he will see fine, but it is something that other people will notice. So, if that is all that he suffers is jerky eyes than God has really saved and preserved his little life! We are so thankful for Bentley. He has bought us so much joy and we can't imagine life without him.

Who does he look like?

Here is a picture of Danny, Bentley and me as babies.

Bentley


Danny


Me

Bentley

Here is an update on Bentley. Over the past month he had high fevers on and off and was on antibotics twice. Some friends had told us that their little girl experienced the same thing and they realize that she was allergic to wheat. It was a funny thing because a couple days before I talked to them I thought to myself, "I wonder if he is allergic to something I am giving him." So I took their advice and got off wheat (I'm still nursing him) and stopped feeding Bentley oatmeal -- it contains wheat. And he has been fever free. He has regained he strength and is crawling all around the house, jumping in his jumper, and not over sleeping. We still aren't sure that he is but for now we aren't taking any chances. Also, I think that I actually might be the one allergic or sensitive to wheat. My allergies haven't bothered me once yet and goldenrod is in full bloom in our neighborhood. So, both of us are doing great from being off of wheat. Maybe Bentley was genuinely just sick, but God was getting my attention for my allergy.

Anyway. Bentley got to met some of his extended family last weekend. He has become shy and timid around strangers. I hope that he won't be like that when our family comes to visit. Here are a couple pictures of the ham this week. He loves to laugh and smile as soon as he sees the camera. I have no idea where he gets that from!

The boy loves to laugh at his dad. He has been squealing and laughing so hard at him. Also loves to crawl. Anywhere and everywhere. He is so fast! We love having Bentley apart of our family. He's a keeper!

The 5K Count Down... 23 days!

Here we go. 23 days until our run downtown. I'm getting excited. Unfortunately, I am a month behind (of my schedule-- another way God has shown my that my plans aren't His!). I was hoping to already be running 3.1 miles by now, but because of rain and Bentley being sick I haven't run for three weeks. Yesterday I ran the most I have ever run, a little over a mile and a half -- with Bentley in the jogging stroller. So, I am where I was at last month at this time. Which is good. I was afraid that I was going to be set back a lot. So, this is a way of keeping myself accountable to run. I've posted it and now people know and can ask me if I am staying on top of my training! Hopefully, since I do run with a jogging stroller I've built up some extra endurance. Well, I'll keep up with the count down! Thanks for following!

My 25th Birthday!

Well, yesterday was my birthday and it was one of the best ones ever! It started off Tuesday night when Danny and I dropped Bentley off at a friend's house and we went to California Dreaming and Coldstone for ice cream! It was so good and we were so full! On my actual birthday, a friend from care group invited me over for a gluten free lunch and German Chocolate cake. It was soooooooo good. I am addicted to what she served for lunch. It was a chicken, red potato, and asparagus warm salad with balsamic vinegar and basil. It was very good and the cake was great too. It's huge and Danny won't eat it because it has nuts on it so I'll have to freeze it. Oh well, more for me. It was made with brown rice flour and you can't even tell! My care group sang "Happy Birthday" to me last night. Today, I have another friend taking me out for lunch today. God had really blessed this birthday! I even got a card from Bentley! I can't believe how different my life is this year. Not only am I a mother but I have a deeper love for my Savior, my husband, my family and my home. God has richly blessed my life, and my birthday was a little taste of heaven!

Canning, Candy and Coupons!

Here I am catching up on the last week and a half again! Well, it has been a busy one! Last week I learned how to can, which was a lot of fun. I was actually afraid of canning and a friend helped work through that by learning how to do it. The results were having fun, and 13 and a half quarts sized cans of spaghetti sauce! I liked it so much that I am trying to find the equipment I need to do it on my own.



Now this one is for my sister. I made Buckeyes. This is a treat that my sister learned how to make and they were very yummy. Well, I was asked to bring dessert to a meeting and selfishly I wanted to bring something that I could eat. (I am eating Gluten-free -- that's another post!) Well, Buckeyes seemed the perfect dessert! It was the first time I had ever made them. And to my surprise they turned out well. I even melted the chocolate over simmering water. I felt like I was Martha Stewart! heehee.





For my couponing fun I spent $41, saved $101.85, and earned $8 of Register Rewards and Extra bucks. I was able to get Danny 2 fusion razors for $3 out of pocket. They cost $11.99 each, but the refill cartridges cost at least $18! I also got 10 jars of organic baby food for $0.40 each rather than $1.09 each! Best of all I got the large size Garnier Fructis Shampoo for $1 each they cost $6.99 each. It was a good stockpiling week because I didn't have a lot of food grocery items.



Overall, it was a great week of learning new things and using my time and money wisely. Oh, yeah. One more new thing that I did was I went to Aldi for the first time. It's definitely an experience, but their prices are great so I will be going back!