HOT!

i don't need to get into the actual numbers, but let's just say that no matter where we've been lately - home, in fresno, in oregon, etc... its been hot, like well over 100 - so here we are enjoying the most logical recreation activity!!

ps Luke LOVES the water

sling

Luke still loves riding in his sling, and apparently he likes to carry pooh-bear around in it too... i just clip the back together to make it fit him and he wanders around and plays with his toys, wearing pooh-bear in his sling - its very cute!!

hanging out after Mass with Nana

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!!

he's an amazing father and I am so very blessed to be his wife.

here are some recent pictures of Luke & Greg on the incredible lawn that Greg just put in... he designed and installed the sprinkler system and laid the sod - completely by himself! I continue to be amazed by this awesome man on nearly a daily basis!!

like father, like son!

fire in the foothills

fires where we live are scary - during the summer, stuff is pretty dry and since its a very rural area, fires can spread quickly and do lots of damage ... luckily this one was on the next hill over and didn't seem to be a house, also there wasn't much wind today and the fire departments seemed to be not very busy as the volunteers, the CALfire department, the forest fire guys... pretty much everyone responded!! Luke and Greg really enjoyed watching the airplanes (three of them!) and helicopters (two of them!) dropping stuff on the fire!


plane dropping fire suppressant stuff on the fire
standing on our front lawn watching the flames

the Green family

much more than just reduce, reuse, recycle... we embrace the idea of:
"use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without"

here's how our family is living green/eco-friendly/health-conscious/sustainably/FRUGAL!

we use cloth diapers all the time!!! (and occasionally cloth wipes)
we use cloth napkins and cloth kitchen towels (no paper towels)
we wash and reuse zip-top bags, tupperware, and foil. we don't use plastic wrap
we use a battery powered (no gas, no oil, no emissions) lawnmower
we use non-toxic household cleaner (vinegar) - (i do use bleach for ickys like the toilet & white laundry)
we use free & clear laundry detergent and we only run full loads
we have not bought clothes (exept for a sun-protective outfit), shoes, carseats, or strollers for Luke (these have been gifts & hand-me-downs)
we are having solar-panels installed on our roof
we use water from our own well
our waste goes into our own septic tank
we primarily drive one car
our organic/green (food & lawn) waste goes to our compost pile (our pot-bellied pig)
we recycle all glass/plastic/paper/cardboard/metal
we are freecycle members
we reuse shopping bags & we have reuseable (fabric) shopping bags
we mend clothes rather than throwing them away & we give away anything we really wont wear anymore
we use PGE Smart AC
we do not run the "dry" cycle on the dishwasher and we only run full loads
we wash our laundry with cold water (except for bedding - hot is needed to kill germies)
we hang our laundry to dry - usually outside, although i have two inside racks too, for if its rainy
we drink our own water - no bottled water here
we made our own baby food - Luke never had a bottle, nor did he ever have a jar of commercial baby food
we buy local, in season produce
we borrow books & dvds from the library
we buy flour, white & brown sugars, rice, dry beans, coffee, & many other things in bulk to cut down on packaging
we cook from scratch
we use all compact fluorescent bulbs for our lighting
we (have all the best intentions to) have our own garden - we had one in selma
at night during the summer we open the windows, turn on the ceiling fans, strip down and sleep without the AC
we are trying to get a CSA to deliver to our town!
we eat leftovers!
we try to use the crockpot rather than the oven on hot days
we use engergy efficient appliances
we run our big appliances during "off-peak" times
we turn down our water heater during the summer
we have a tankless water heater
we have a whole house fan that we use to cool down the house rather than turning on the AC
we don't have carpet
we menu plan and grocery shop on a monthly basis
i'm sure there is more i will think of later :)

cloth diapers...

picture of some of my "stash" - don't worry we have more green & blue than pink!!

we started cloth diapering Luke when he was 4 weeks old - those first few weeks of newborn-hood i had enough on my plate, so i didn't want to have to deal with washing diapers too.
that being said... once we started cloth diapering, we have never looked back!!! why? bumGenius! bumGenius is the brand of cloth diapers that we use the most. when Luke was still small i preferred the "normal" pre-fold cloth diapers with a waterproof cover, but probably around 6-8 weeks or so i really embraced our bumGenius one-size diapers... he is still wearing these same diapers today!!! they fit from around 8 pounds to 35 pounds! Luke is over 30 pounds and 15 months now and i am using the same diapers from the beginning!! they are awesome and have not stained!! i wash them in my washer and hang them to dry outside (you could also use your dryer). we even use them overnight and when we are out of the house.
here is the real testimony for those of you moms skeptical about using cloth diapers:
my dear husband was awesome about changing diapers ... until i recovered from giving birth and resumed homemaker status, so when Luke was about 14 months, my dear husband had not changed a diaper in over a year (and when he was changing them we were still using newborn disposibles) ... well, i got mastitis and could not get out of bed for the first time in my life. Greg called in sick to work and "baby-sat" Luke for his first full day ever. Greg brought Luke in periodically to nurse, but besides that i did not see them at all. now, we have a few disposible diapers for events like planes rides, etc. but Greg did not know where they were, so he used the bumGenius cloth diapers all day and night for Luke!!! a husband, changing cloth diapers, and saying it was as easy as disposibles!! i was so proud of both of them

ps: cottonbabies.com is offering free shipping this weekend (Free Shipping at CottonBabies.com!Can you believe it is already July?! Where has this year gone! In honor of the 4th, shop all your favorites at CottonBabies.com and receive free shipping on any size purchase through midnight CST on Sunday, July 5. Enter coupon code FIREWORKS when you check out. (Typical disclaimers apply... economy shipping only, lower 48 states, expires Sunday at midnight.))

Obedience

"Our Lady listens attentively to what God wants, ponders what she doesn't fully understand and asks about what she doesn't know. Then she gives herself completely to doing the divine Will."
St. Josemaria Escriva

SORRY for the delay!!

because of flights not taking off or arriving at airports on-time, i was a bit delayed in announcing the winner for the KIT giveaway...
drumroll please...
TEAM H!!!
you are the winner, I will be e-mailing you today!
Congrats!
and everyone else... thanks for your interest (and go purchase a KIT!!)

GIVEAWAY

My parents have come up with an awesome product that has been taking off with people of all ages, due to the fact that it meets a need that we all should be addressing! It's My Life KIT is "an owner's manual for your life." It assists you in creating a family tree and personal life history all the way through to preparing an Advance Directive and end-of-life preparation.

From an It's My Life KIT flyer:
How many times have we heard,
"It’s my life, and I’m going to do what I want"?
We are not alone. If we communicate with our loved ones/care partners, they will know our choices if we become unable to make decisions for ourselves.

Create peace of mind for yourself, family, friends, and those in care facilities or receiving in-home care.

Organize choices, wishes, and important life documents into sections that include: Life History, Legal & Financial, Daily Living, Health Care, and Ethical & Spiritual

Here's an awesome article from the newspaper that really explains the KIT even more. Click here to read article.

BUY a KIT! - It's My Life Kit is offering my readers $5 off the purchase of one KIT or $15 off the purchase of two KITs! Mention "giveaway blog" when ordering.

WIN a KIT! - It's My Life KIT is giving one of my readers a KIT!

To ENTER - leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address.

For EXTRA ENTRIES -

1) Visit It's My Life KIT and come back to leave a comment on this post about an element of the KIT you think is useful. (Make sure to include your e-mail address.)

2) Blog about this giveaway (or e-mail it to a friend/family member) and link it back to It's My Life KIT. (Make sure to leave a comment here telling me this and include your e-mail address.)

3) For 5 extra entries, purchase a KIT between now and the end of this giveaway. (Make sure to leave a comment here telling me this and include your e-mail address.)

Giveaway open to USA residents ages 18 years and older.

Giveaway ends at 8:00 PM PST on June 18th when my 14 month old and my dear husband will draw a random winner. I will notify the winner by e-mail and they will have 48 hours to respond.

THANKS!!

full disclosure: I work part-time for my parents in order fulfillment.

more from santa clara

playing bocce

sharing awesome food and hanging with the babies

so cool!

Luke calls them Nana and Nonno (Italian for Grandpa)

visit to santa clara

lots of fun with Amanda and her baby girl! We are three days apart and our babies are about eight months apart ... we sure enjoy each other!!
can't tell who is more excited about Luke's new book... me or him?

obviously we had several attempts to get all four of us looking and smiling ;)
LOVE him!

lunch with Emily

We got to have lunch with my high school friend Emily while we were down for the wedding - so much fun!

more from cara's

my cousin (aka: the bride)

and Luke... the budding walker

cara's wedding reception

blowing bubbles with Nonna

the goats and donkeys

swinging with Nana

hanging out with his favorite cousin Shaun

eating: chicken, beans, mashed potatoes, grilled zucchini

more coming soon...

shoe shopping

that's right... the kid needs shoes... why?... because he started to walk!!! craziness... well, we couldn't find any good ones, so he's still bare-foot at home (which is best anyway)

pretty good-looking family, aren't we?

Ok, just for fun, here's some things about me!
Those in bold are what I've had the privilege to do.
Take it for your own blog/Facebook page to show your pals what you've done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more to charity than you can afford.
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41 Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45 Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67 Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

more from Easter

almost matching shirts :) - Luke & Nonno
Our little Easter bunny... (I did not take this picture, nor did I put the ears on him... I was in another room!)

Luke & Nana

Cooking Frittata

again, not my doing, but awfully cute!!

so cool

HAPPY EASTER!

CHRIST IS RISEN!!

INDEED HE IS RISEN!!

post with pictures coming soon!