hike.

we took the boys to lake Catherine today to hike. our friends Kimber and Gordon had taken their kids yesterday and when I saw the pictures, I couldn't wait to take Pratt and max.

here are some pictures we took. They had a great time. Pratt's favorite part was picking some rocks back in the visitor center when the hike was done. Of course.

Life is good.

sunshine.

there is NOTHING in the world better (in my opinion) than spring weather with boys.

because it means:

being outside.
digging up worms.
blowing bubbles.
catching lizards.
making mudpies.

and sunshine.

and most importantly, it means seeing them smile.  and being happy.  and there is just nothing better than that.

thank you clint for letting me enjoy these days.  i know that while you're working hard dealing with the general public, i'm here.  having fun.  we love you for that.  xoxo.

paleo recipes.

i've had several emails and messages about recipes for paleo.

there is one website that i LOVE.

multiply delicious

the southwest spicy egg muffins are my favorite breakfast food.  the recipe will make (i think) 14 muffins.  pratt and max both loved them.  and you can alter what you put in them.  i didn't make mine very spicy so they could eat them.  i have found that they both really like simple foods.  you know, foods that you can identify in the meal.  they aren't big casserole kids.  they don't like things blended up.  or mixed up.

give them chicken, asparagus and a sweet potato...they are cool.  i mean, they love mac n cheese from a cup...but they also love other things too.

try those egg muffins.  you can keep them in the fridge for several days and heat them in the microwave when you're ready for one.

i just can't tell you how great that site is.  everything i have tried, i have enjoyed.  and she's really good about answering questions too.

i also have a board on pinterest.

some of my favorite on there: the paleo energy bars.  the sweet potato "chip" recipe.  cinnamon pecan crunch cereal.  buffalo ranch chicken meatballs!! coconut chicken nuggets (i used chicken tenders, not ground chicken).  paleo chicken salad snack wrap.

one thing you should be aware of.  i REALLY highly encourage you to take 30 days and eat REAL FOOD for those first 30 days.

here's why:

when you start trying to eat differently, and the "right" way, there are all kinds of paleo foods that are good, sweet, sugar tooth foods that you will crave and want and think you should make every day.

like the banana bread muffins i made a while back.  they are paleo.  totally paleo.  but they have a lot of fat in them.  good fat.  but fat none the less.  and they are NOT meant to be eaten every.single.day.  they are very much meant to be a treat item.

if you really follow the whole 30 meal plan...and attempt to eat clean for 30 whole days, i think you'll see a change FOR SURE in 30 days.  yes, you will feel like dog poo for the first 10 days.  but that's because your body is craving artificial stuff.  processed sugar.  diet coke.  coke.  m&ms.  garlic bread.  whatever.

paleo is not about finding ways to eat sweets.  and bacon wrapped everything.

it's about eating foods that fuel you.

it's about eating foods that are meant to give you energy.  that are meant to be used by your body so that you can be stronger.  and in better health.

remember that.  if you really do try this, please please please try to do the whole 30 first.  just because it will get you in the right mindset.

this is coming from someone who has a sweet tooth the size of arkansas.  honestly, you guys.  i had 11 cavities once.  ONCE.  as in ONE VISIT I HAD 11 CAVITIES.  yes.  i mean, they didn't all need to be filled. a few did.  but a "few" needed to be watched.

and i'm not all healed.  easter was hard for me.  because i saw 11593943 reese cup easter eggs.  those things are crack.

but you know what's awesome?  i had one.  and then i walked away.  and later that night, haley the halloween ferry (who comes at every holiday where there is candy) came and took all that crap to some other kid that didn't get to hunt eggs (read: the trashcan).

i still eat things i love.  i just eat them in moderation.  and finally, for the first time in my life moderation doesn't have guilt.

more information on whole 30....

i'll update with more stuff later.  good luck!  happy grocery shopping!

oh, and it's a perfect time for this. why?  because the farmers markets are about to start.  where better to get locally grown, good foods?!  yay!!

paleo.

so.

it's been a few days since clint and i finished up our first whole 30 month/experience.

i've not blogged about it since starting.  for LOTS of reasons.  but mostly because i was unsure i'd be able to stick with it.  because i LOVE everything it cuts out.

dairy.  gluten.  sugar.  legumes.

know what i see when i read that?

cheese.
chips.
candy.
peanut butter.

what the hey does that leave, right?

nothing i want.

well, nothing i wantED.

i'm 33.  i've been working out by bootcamp (burning anywhere from 500 to 800 calories every 60 minutes) twice a week.  doing yoga once a week (burning 300 to 400 calories in an hour).  and sometimes doing an extra workout.

i've been doing that since september.

and at least three times a week, i would put my clothes on and pray that something would be too loose to wear.  something would give.  anything.

but it never happened.

and so i just assumed that my metabolism was shot.  you know, because of my age.

but something marietta kept saying in bootcamp would bother me.

your body isn't made in the gym.  it's made in the kitchen.  

all i knew was that i was eating a ton.  because i was hungry all the time.  i assume it's because of all the calories i was burning.  i don't know.  i just know i was always hungry.

and i had gotten REALLY good at checking labels.

while i'm on this.  let me hop on my soapbox.  SUGAR IS KILLER.

check your sugar content.  you shouldn't be getting more than 12 grams of sugar per serving for each meal, i think.  and like 9 grams for a snack.  PEOPLE.  those juices that they claim are so natural and great for you!?  they have like 28 grams of sugar for every 8 ounces!!!!!!  that is so much horrible sugar.

anyway.  we started whole 30.  and we cut out gluten.  legumes.  processed sugar and dairy.

so.  we were basically down to the perimeter of the grocery store.  everything i was buying was label free.  because it was all fresh stuff.  stuff that was going to go bad if we didn't eat it.  vegetables.  fruits. meat.  nuts.  eggs.

and let me say this.  it's NOT too expensive.  as a matter of fact, it pretty much cuts out take out food.  because you have NO idea what's going into your food.  so you won't spend money there.  or at sonic.  or anywhere else except your kitchen.  so, remember that when you're thinking it's too expensive.

i did so much research.  i googled paleo.  i pinned one million recipes on pinterest.  i read the entire internetS on it.  kidding.  but kinda for real.  i learned about almond flour.  and coconut oil.  and all things fat and fantastic.

and really, if i'm honest, i realized that chocolate would be acceptable as paleo once i got off whole 30. and that saved my life.  the darker the better.  awesome, child.

listen.  the first week, HORRIBLE.

i had the worst headache of my life.  i didn't go to bootcamp or do anything except survive for the first 10 days.  it was that bad.  from what i've read it was because my body was literally in shock.  had no idea what i had done to it.  and so it fought back.

i won though.

i eventually started working out again.  i eventually started feeling better (this took a solid 2 weeks).  and i eventually realized that i wasn't really hungry.

i mean, yes.  i was hungry.  but not like i had been hungry.

i rarely had cravings for anything.

all this to say...one month later, i'm still alive.

and i am actually in a totally different size pant.

YES.  what?  YES.

i don't know if i've lost weight.  because i don't weigh myself.  our scales don't even have working batteries.  i'm sure i have.  but that's not really what matters.

what matters is that i'm toned.  i can literally feel muscles and SEE muscles that i haven't seen in years.

every time i get dressed i feel like i'll not be able to button my pants.  and i'll realize that this was all just a joke.  but it wasn't.

it just took a little dedication.  and a change.  FOR THE BETTER.

if you're interested in learning more about it, let me know.  i'd love to share my experience with you.  i honestly had decided i was stuck.  and it would have been fine.  but i knew i could do it.  i knew i could be better.

and listen, this is nice.  because it's not some weird shake (by the way, you shouldn't really drink your calories or meals.  it's screws your mind up).  it's not a diet.  it's not a pill.  it's something that is easily doable (for you and your kids and spouse) for the rest of your life.

it's the way we were actually meant to eat.  unless, you're a vegetarian.  and i've got no beef with you.  no pun intended.  if i had to kill my meat, i'd be a vegetarian too.

anyway, a big thank you to clint who pushed me.  and held me accountable.  and was always willing to give up anything and everything just because he loves me.  i'm so lucky.

happy almost easter.

library superheroes.

we spend LOTS of time at the public library.

i remember first moving here (five days before pratt was born) and realizing how incredible our library was.  in 4.5 years, i've had 4 library cards.  and i bet i've paid 100 dollars in fines.  that's how much we go there.

so my friend katie russell asked us a while back if we wanted to have a little session at the library.  how could i ever say no to that?

i love pictures.
i love the library.

then she had the idea to dress pratt like one of his favorite people on earth: superman.  he was down for it.  obvs.

that was easy.

here are some pictures she took.  if you are anywhere near us, PLEASE call her and book a session.  she made this magic happen in like 25 minutes.  BIBLE.

oh, and if you look closely, clint gave max a haircut.  and apparently was wanting him to dress like slingblade for easter.  idk.  idk.  i.just.don't.know.

anyway, here is her facebook page.  Katie Russell Photography

dear pratt.

my dear baby pratt,

tonight you had your first tball game. you were so excited today when you realized it was tonight.

you asked to get dressed at like 330. for a 6 pm game. you were that excited.

you wore three shirts. two pants. and two socks. because we were worried it would be cold.

you are a super little hitter. you made it all around the basses. and even touched home plate for a point.

miss Erika, mr. Michael and lyla all came to support you and Ella. miss Laura, mr.
Paul, Katie and Chloe came too. I don't know of you'll remember or not, but it was so special for them to come and celebrate your first game.

oh, you were on second base. someone hit the ball and you weren't really paying attention. I looked up to see you dancing around second base like a butterfly. loved it! laughed so hard!!

me and your daddy were so very proud of how good you were. but mostly, as I told you at bedtime, im most proud of how well you got along with your teammates. because that's what life is all about. being kind to others. loving other people.

I'll say it again...I'm so proud you are my little boy.

today.

my friend jonathan shared this on facebook.

someday, my children/grandchildren are going to learn about today and tomorrow and think about it the way that i think about the day brown v. board was argued.  equality, folks.  it's happening.  one way or another. 

i loved it.  i could have never phrased anything so well.  so i'll just copy it here.  telling you boys that it was jonathan wright that said it.  same person who knew the story about the couple that drives into the lake when the wife finds out she is sick.  still can't remember what story it was...or who wrote it.  but it will always remain my favorite story from 10th/11th/12th grade high school english.

anyway.  nothing more to say than that.

thanks jonathan.