I know these are terribly blurry, but she is SO happy. It is hard to catch her smile on camera and I finally got a couple. This little lady is such a love. She laughs, smiles, talks, rolls over, and said "dada" yesterday! Her first word! I adore how she gets to know new people. When someone holds her she gently brushes their face with the palms of her hands as if she were blind and taking in their face with her hands. It is so tender and she does it to everyone. Oh, I adore her!

New kitchen traditions

The other morning our kitchen was covered in a mess. Glass jars filled with restructured pH water, more jars with raw milk, chopped cabbage in a bowl, and yoghurt separating in a dish cloth hanging over a pitcher. Large pots of chicken stock on the stove, more bubbling whole chicken in the crock pot, warming yoghurt in the off-oven, baby food in the blender, and juicer pulp looking for a home.The chaos always makes me feel unbalanced, but I was so proud of myself. I really am trying to develop new food prep skills that combine the principles taught in the cookbook Nourishing Traditions (from the Weston A. Price Foundation) and the GAPS diet (Gut and Psychology Syndrome.) If only I could master the clean-as-you-go skills needed in my kitchen. 

Consequently we now have not only the usual chicken stocks, fresh juices, and sauerkraut that we've had in the past, but I made cream cheese, cortido (Latin American sauerkraut), raw milk yogurt, and whey, pictured left to right. The cream cheese and whey are products of just one process, but I did it so I'd have whey for lacto-fermented sauerkraut and fermented grains. Whey cool, right? I'm really, really enjoying the journey that food, health, and biology have ignited within me. Anyone else interested in these topics? We'll learn together!

Any reader who thinks this is weird? It's all good. But people used to eat this way daily and it was great back in the day! "Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet. Eating her curds and whey...."

Goldie Locks didn't eat the bears' honey nut cheerios... Nope. She ate their traditional homemade porridge. And I bet mama bear soaked it overnight first. I just want to live like the fairy tale peeps. And why not? I am a princess after all. 

singing time with neighbors

I heart my babies

General Conference weekend

We really enjoyed our weekend with messages and inspiration from living prophets and apostles, visits with family, and fun activities in the beautiful outdoors.

 This little group of family and friends gathered for a belated Easter egg hunt, an annual tradition. This is the guy's second year participating and he couldn't stop raving about "Brenda's eggs."

 Thou shalt not covet... and yet I REALLY would love to have their backyard as my own.

"mowing the lawn."

I wish I had gotten this moment on film. It was HILARIOUS: 

This is Rick's bike. It is stored in a shed behind a row of trees. The guy asked to go see it and so Rick and he disappeared in the small opening between the trees. A moment later we heard the engine rev and we turned to see our guy running in a half panic with Rick on the bike trailing not far behind. S's little legs are so short, his run is so wobbley, and his face torn between terror and excitement that the sight just cracked us up.

L's first swing ride! And it wouldn't be quite as good without that bird poop in the back...

Looking fat but happy. :) We might break the pole holding up our whole family. 

We also enjoyed a ride up the little mountain in my brother's new Jeep. Wind blowing and sun shining our little Guy enjoyed it as much as Jared and I. Thanks, bro!

Then, as for the conference it is SO hard to keep a short list but here are a few of my favorite talks:

For Peace at Home (by Elder Scott)

The Hope of God's Love (by President Uchtdorf)

The Words We Speak (by Sister Wixom)

Marriage: Watch and Learn (by Elder Clayton)

We Believe in Being Chaste (by Elder Bednar)

The center of my life right now is my home, family, marriage, and personal peace. These topics really spoke to me and my needs right now.

What were your favorites and why? 

just for "grammy"

Happy birthday to Grandma Bev and Grandpa Jon. Or as little S says, Papa Jon. We can't wait to come over the hill, behind the mill to visit you!!!

my wretched rach

When someone asks me "who is your best friend?" I usually think of Jesus Christ first. Because He really is my best friend. But then my other answer is "Rachel." This lady.

Living the life of a transient it is hard to keep close friends and be comfortable calling any one my best friend. And I know Rach has many best friends, but for me this lady is the best among my best friends. We've know each other since we were 10. Wow. 18 years now. She knows all the different Amanda's I have to offer and accepts them all. She brings out the best in me and makes me want to uncover the creative and funny in me that I hide after boring adulthood set in. I thank God for my friend Rachel. Thanks for the spontaneous visit from across the country. I miss having you close.

And if Rachel were closer I wouldn't have a panic attack about where to get my hair cut.... ;) I am in need of a new do and could trust this girl to do anything she thought fit without any leads from me. That's how it should be. A girl's stylist should be her good friend. If it doesn't start that way it should become that way. If only it wasn't so expensive to go to my preferred stylist.

oh, and PS.... "wretched" is a childhood nickname I had for her. :) She's actually quite marvelous in reality.

teepee

We live in a rocking neighborhood. We've got it pretty good in our little corner of VA. Now we're not in a neighborhood like Enoch's and we're not about to be translated yet, but I think we have a little piece of heaven. Our neighbors are our friends. I know we can call on multiple families for help or support when needed. Now that the weather has shifted we spend a lot more time out front, chatting and running around with the kids and their mamas. Sometimes Dads even join in too. It is great. All the kids range from  2 - 9 years old and none of the non-parental adults hate kids....... knock on wood.

Some of the neat-o parents around here built a teepee for their little ones and we got to enjoy it too.

My favorite part is the hanging bird house! :)

And the lady had fun in the sun too.

Easter in NJ

I needed a vacation. I really really enjoyed the in-law's house where I could rest from cooking, watch movies with no pressing housework, and visit with my family. I have been so tired and ragged. Life has hit me hard left a bruise lately. Jared and I really benefit from laughing out loud and having goofy fun. NJ helped me do that. Starting with COWTOWN, a giant flea market. A wonder to behold.

 How can you show up at Cowtown and not want to buy all this junk?!?! Seriously though, Cowtown has been a treasure because it has employed all of Jared's younger siblings and prepared them financially for adulthood. The pretzels they sell are so delicious. And this trip to Cowtown we got the guy a mini guitar so Aunt Rachel could teach him a thing or two before we left. 

 These ducks kept showing up for food all weekend. 

Grandpa O. taught the guy how to fill up the tires with air.

Reading and snuggles with Aunt Rachel. She is the best!

 And while she played the guitar, this little lady of ours sang and moaned along. She loves music just like her big bro.

 Egg hunt indoors because it rained all afternoon. He still loved it.

What a beautiful time. Just what the doctor ordered. A little rest and reprieve.  We love our Ondricek's! Thank you for a wonderful visit.