Papa's day off.

I took a week's break from the blog to get established in Lent. All is going well - prayer life increased, a daily period of silence is set, service opportunities abound, and of course, God provides His own special challenges to us, but not without giving us the necessary graces. Thankful for this Lenten season...hopefully we can reap as much as possible from it.

After an incredibly busy weekend with the parish, we were happy that Andrew had Monday and Tuesday off. We took the opportunity to sleep in! and get outdoors. Today was a gorgeously sunny day; these are far and few between during the Seattle winter, and so we made the most of it.

We started with breakfast - always nice to have Papa around to help and to make faces with...

 Notice the top teeth!

After participating in a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil at a Planned Parenthood, we set off to a couple of local parks.

Volunteer Park boasts a climbable water tower for some great views and a nice little exhibit on the historical background on Seattle's city parks. It appears we owe much to the Olmsted Family for many of these parks, as they insisted on the importance for places of greenery and solitude within the city so the working society would have places of respite.

"Landscapes move us in a manner more nearly analogous to action of music than to anything else...gradually and silently the charm overcomes us; we know not exactly where or how."
Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. 

 The Cascades were in full view.

 After enjoying the grounds, we drove to a few locations known for good Seattle city viewpoints. Michael fell asleep, so we took turns getting out of the car to snap photos. Kerry Park atop Queen Anne's Hill provides great views of the downtown area and the Puget Sound. I am starting to fall in love with this city...

Next we headed to Golden Gardens Beach to soak up the abundant sunlight! It was chilly with the wind coming right off the water, but the sun, ahhh...

 Getting an assist from Papa's sunglasses. I need to find him a little pair...

 We stopped at Uneeda Burger for dinner - this place uses 100% natural, hormone free beef and bison, with grass-fed options, and we had been there once before. We ordered Michael his own plate (first time), and of course "Paleo-ized" our burger meal with lettuce wraps and sweet potato fries.

We had such a lovely, fun day together! Thank you, Jesus!



More Paleo and a little {Lenten} challenge.

So you know we've been eating pretty clean the last 6 months. (Let's not factor in the holidays though. :) We've enjoyed better sleep habits, weight loss, energy increase, only 1 sickness (hmm, it sprang up right after the holidays), I'd also like to say more clarity of mind, although the husband may say otherwise. Grin. Here are a few more Paleo dishes I've made, and so easy and fast! (Laura):

My version of Paleo lasagna - spaghetti squash, spinach, and any tomato sauce mixed with whichever meat or shrimp I have on hand.

Sweet potato shepard's pie courtesy of Karen Kempf - check out her blog for yummy GF recipes and lots of nutritional info!

Red potato and leek soup.

Peach and blackberry crisp with coconut flour/almond topping.

Hmm, this doesn't look like something too delicious (taken with Andrew's phone camera) but it is the result of our first Paleo chocolate ice cream made with coconut milk and maple syrup for sweetener. I was out of town when Andrew whipped it up in my Christmas gift (which I have a very strong suspicion was more for him than I) but he said this ice cream is extremely delicious and he is looking forward to more. 

As sweets aren't found in our home, other then in the forms of dark chocolate and the occasional pint of ice cream, and the fact that meat is such a staple in our meals, I've been thinking about what food(s) to offer up this Lent. The fact that we are still eating Paleo style, makes treat or cheat foods all the more enjoyable, and so I figure, no treats/cheats for Lent and no evening wine glass for me. I've also decided to follow the Whole 30 "cleanse" which is basically Paleo in the strictest sense of the word. No occasionally safe add-in's like red potatoes, corn, cheeses, nut flours, Greek yogurt, cream, honey, dark chocolate, etc., and I will be keeping an eye out for added sugar in products. I feel it's a good sacrificial food choice for me to make, and one that will still allow me to get the nutrients I need as a nursing, active mama. Here are 30 reasons to do Whole 30 - most of these benefits apply to Paleo in general, but I am hoping these will be even more apparent as I complete this strict sugar cleanse. Also hoping that this will get me over the final little hurdle and back to my pre-pregnancy weight for good! I am starting today so that I will get 40 days of it in before Holy Week...not sure yet if hubby will participate 100%, but that's ok.  I will of course check in with my thoughts at the end of the 40 days and continue to share a few meal ideas along the way. Feel free to ask for any recipes that pique your interest!

We are thankful to have discovered this method of eating - it has worked so well for us and we enjoy it! So much so that it takes a very good restaurant to coax us to eat out, and we have decided to save eating out for the "cleaner food" restaurants. Thankfully we live in a more food-conscious city and can find quite a few places where I don't have to worry about what is in the meat. :) 

11 months!

Out precious boy just hit the 11 month mark yesterday...can't believe in one more month he will be 1. Sigh. It seems Michael has developed so much in the last month alone...trying to say words, giving affection, displaying comprehension of things and directions, enjoying his books more and more...and then in some not so desirable qualities, characteristic of nearing the toddler stage - expressing his needs or wants with a scream, striking just for the sound/effect, trying to catch our attention before doing something he is not allowed to do... Time for discipline - firm, consistent, gentle - to be more in order. :) But Michael is really such a dear, sweet boy, and very close to his parents. We love him so very very much. Here is how we spent his 11-month day. 

Early morning nurse and snooze - look at those lips!

Yes, that is a scratch from Michael on my face. Accident, I'm sure. And yes, I am exhausted.  All of his 4 top teeth are coming in together.

 Then he woke up and we watched the birds...and looked for Mr. Squirrel.

Then we had a little snack with Papa. Michael now voluntarily folds his hands for grace before meals.

It was a grey and drizzly day, but we are learning to not let that stop us from venturing out and exploring. I am also learning that is it a different kind of beauty, and presents a different kind of lesson - we can learn from the still, steadfastness of nature; it continues to remain deeply rooted in Being and purpose no matter what the weather. We checked out a beach on the Puget Sound - Carkteek Park.

 Michael saw his first train(s).

 Michael's very common "extended hand pose" - I think when he does this with his typical "uhhh?" sound, he is asking what something is. We see this gesture and hear this all day long. :)

 Then Michael fell asleep just as we reached the playground, so off we went again.

 We drove around a new (to us) part of town and found an organic, free-trade chocolate factory - of course we had to go inspect and they had taste samples! Score. Would like to return for the hour long factory tour someday.

 Then we picked up some coffee before heading to another one of Seattle's parks.

This is the Gas Works park, overlooking Lake Union, which borders downtown Seattle. These structures are the remains of a 1906 plant which manufactured gas from coal until the 1950's. 

Yep, so this is our city, folks. I bet this grassy knoll would do beautifully for a picnic some bright, clear day.

It was an enjoyable Saturday; cuddling our little boy and experiencing more of Seattle. These days pass so quickly - too quickly - these ever changing seasons of our lives. There never seems to be enough time to love, to appreciate, to forgive, to fix, to improve as fast or as much as one wishes. And so we learn to embrace the present moment as completely and as intentionally as we can, and do our small things with great love; there is no greater purpose to strive for than that.