Table for Five

Photo Shoot

2011-11-29T19:37:00.000-08:00

We took a quick trip to the Gardens to take some pictures of the girls near their birthdays.

June-bug, 1year

Evie Lucy, 2 years

Thing One and Thing Two Party

2011-11-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

The Birthday Girls-Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Cupcakes complete with blue cotton candy hair.

1 Fish 2 Fish Red Fish Blue Jello! We also had "Hop on Popcorn"

Smash the cake :)

Mental Note: If I ever throw another 1 year old birthday party, DON'T MAKE RED VELVET CAKE!!!

This face says it all. Fun times!

Happy First Birthday June!

2011-11-28T07:44:00.000-08:00

1 year ago...

And today...

Happy Birthday Junie!

Thing One and Thing Two

2011-11-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

Evie and June are turning 1&2 so to celebrate we are having a party. Here is a sample of the invitations that went out.

Happy Birthday Evelyn

2011-11-16T04:18:00.000-08:00

Evelyn Lucille turns two today. Here's a look back at how quickly she's grown.

Baby Evie

Evie at 6 months

Just before Evelyn became a big sister

Evelyn's First Birthday

Here's Evelyn today. Happy Birthday Evie-lu! We love you!

Putting Up: Vol 3

2011-06-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

My final recipes for putting up strawberries if for a Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate. I found this recipe and wanted to try it since it's a little more fun that just a traditional jam or something.
This is also very simple but I did CAN it rather than freeze so it's a bit more work. For this you just need pureed strawberries, lots of lemon juice and sugar. You cook it to 190 degrees and then ladle into ball jars. Cap and band and then process for 15 min. This makes an adorable gift and I've already given three away. I think next year I will make more :)
If you have questions or want exact recipes for any of these strawberry posts I'd be happy to share. Just let me know.

Angel Food Cake

2011-06-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

The perfect compliment to the strawberry sauce I made was an angel food cake. I looked into a few recipes and learned a couple of tips along the way.

It came out perfect and blew any store bought version or box mix out of the water. Homemade is definitely the way to go.

So here are some important things to keep in mind in order to end up with the perfect angel food cake.
1. Place sugar in a food processor for 2 min before using. This will create "super-fine" sugar and makes that melt in your mouth feel.
2. Egg whites MUST be at room temperature.
3. Beat Egg Whites to medium peaks and sift flour over egg whites a little at a time, folding gently to incorporate.
4. Do NOT grease pan.
5. Absolutely, most definitely DO take the time to make it yourself. It is well worth the effort.

Mommy's Helpers

2011-06-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Putting Up: Vol 2

2011-06-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

The second recipe I attempted with my flat of Strawberries is a beautiful Strawberry Sauce. Here's what you need...

Strawberries

Sugar

Almond Extract (The smell while this was cooking was absolutely intoxicating)
Cook,Cool, Blend, Cool some more, Freeze.

Are you wondering what to do with it? The possibilities are endless. Think Waffles,Crepes, Ice cream, stirred into Lemonade...
What did we test it on? Check back and I'll show you! Let me just leave you with one word, "Yum".

Putting Up: Vol 1

2011-06-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

This year I have high hopes of preserving as much of the summers bounty as I can. Hehe, get it? As I CAN? Okay, bad joke. Anyway, I do plan to do a lot of canning/freezing so we can enjoy summers yumminess all year long.

Strawberries are officially ready and that means it's time to start on my preservation adventure. So, tonight I started with the really easy process of making freezer jam.
In case you havn't tried it before here's a few photos to show you how easy it really is.

Just combine Strawberries and sugar and mix.

Then, cook surejell with water on stovetop for 1 min.

Stir hot pectin into fruit and stir mixture for 3 more minutes.

Funnel into jars, lid and band jars.

Let the pretty little jars sit on the counter for 24 hours and pop into the freezer. That's it. I know, right! So much simpler than I imagined the process to be. This is my 3rd year making jam and my family loves it. It's so much better than store bought. So, go ahead. Run out and get some beautiful berries and tell yourself..."Of course I can can!"

Like nothing I've ever seen...

2011-04-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

What a mess! Yesterday was a work day for me. I was in the middle of rinsing a color when something incredible happened. I remember commenting to my client that I couldn't get any cold water. Then the water pressure went very low. I had no idea what would happen next... I heard one of the girls from another suite say something about an earthquake and go rushing outside. Then I saw several other people follow her. Right after that the building started creaking, poping and moaning. I whipped a towel around my clients wet hair and she, her daughter and I ran outside. lc/TZcZwiIALjI/AAAAAAAAAQI/hCSulwEkEws/s320/206856_1762210208503_1036525556_31707481_1840773_n%255B1%255D.jpg" />
Apparently a water main had burst under our foundation. The rupture caused the foundation to shift several inches. This made the walls buckle and the ceiling collapse in sections.
God was faithful in protecting us. We were almost directly underneath where you see the ceiling pieces have fallen but thankfully we all made it out before they fell.
We stood outside for the next hour as the water reached ankle deep. The city finally came and shut off the main valve and we were able to go in and get some of out belongings out. Time will tell exactly how much damage there is and how we will move forward but for now, I have nowhere to work! I guess I'm going to have to get creative :)

Spring is here!

2011-04-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

One questions friends...
Who's your Tiger?

Never a Dull Moment

2011-03-31T11:44:00.000-07:00

Today began just like any other day around here. I had fed the kids, dressed them and we had made it to morning nap time. Evie was sleeping in her room and June was out like a light in the swing in front of our front window. It was actually a quite peaceful morning with the sun shinning in. Nora was coloring quietly at the coffee table and I was busy tidying up. As I walked passed the front window to peak at June-bug I noticed something unusual. There was a cop car right outside of our house.
It is not that unusual to see police in our neighborhood but this caught my eye bc his car was parked in the middle of the road completely blocking traffic. Strange. As I stood there watching I could not believe what happend next. The front door of his vehicle flew open and out he came, weapon drawn. Holy Cats! It wasn't even his regular gun but a large rifle. He was pointing it down the street. As I looked in the direction of his pointed gun I saw three other cop cars parked in various postions surrounding a green suv. All of those officers also had guns drawn and were pointing them at the suv.
This is the point I realized I should stop watching and start protecting my children. Duh! I calmly told Nora to go sit on the floor and not to get up. Then, I knelt next to June's swing watching to see if we were in fact unsafe. I also grabbed my phone and called Jamie. I just had to tell someone what was going on.
We live across the street from and elementary school and the kids were out at recess. Withen a minute they had all the kids inside and I saw teachers closing the shades in the windows.
While that was going on I saw them approach the vehicle and a rather shady looking individual got out with his hands behind his head. They took him down in the middle of the street and handcuffed him. They put him in the back of a cop car and then a woman climbed out the drivers side and was also arrested. They then searched the vehicle and finally put their guns away after about 5 more minutes. Eventually, things died down and several police cars left. After the comotion was over and there were only two police officers left my curiosity couldn't take it anymore.
I went outside and asked if everything was okay and if there was any reason to be worried about my kids saftey.
They assured me everything was okay and that it was a misunderstanding over a vehicle listed as stolen.
Well, if nothing else, it certainly made for an exciting morning for one stay at home mommy.

June Marie

2011-03-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

I can't believe our sweet little girl is already 3 months old!

To view more photos from her 3 month photo session go to flickr.com/jag64551

Chi-town

2011-02-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of Jamie's favorite meals is Chicago style pizza. I had never attempted to make it before. I didn't think it could be duplicated in a home kitchen. Then, I received THE BEST COOKBOOK OF ALL TIME for Christmas. The people of Cooks Illustrated/America's Test Kitchen will never lead you astray. They know what they are doing. I was so excited when they had a recipe for Chicago style pizza. If they said you could do it at home I was willing to give it a try. I am sooooo glad I did. It was fabulous. This will certainly be made over and over again in my kitchen.

Mmmm...Perfection!

I think Evelyn enjoyed it.

A new do

2011-02-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

With each pregnancy my hair has gotten curlier. With this last birth it went nuts. I feel like I have someone Else's hair on my head. Having 3 kids 3 and under leaves be very little time to think about things like my own appearance. I am just too busy wiping butts and noses :)
So....yesterday I took it upon myself to create a style that I can do in under ten minutes. Is it my favorite look I've ever had? Probably not. Does it accomplish what I NEED in a hairstyle at this point in my life? Definitely. So, for now this is the new me.

June Marie

2010-12-08T12:35:00.000-08:00

Our third little princess!

Fall Photo Shoot

2010-11-23T11:24:00.000-08:00

Head over to Jamie's Flickr page to see our fall photo session of the girls.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jag64551/

Baby Pool

2010-11-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

Since there is so much speculation as to what this baby is and we only have 6 days before we will know, I thought it might be fun to do a baby pool. So, go ahead and leave your guesses for GENDER, WEIGHT and LENGTH in the comment box and we will see who's guesses are correct.

Birthday Girl

2010-11-18T13:52:00.001-08:00

Evelyn is 1!

We had a little party for her on Tuesday and she loved opening her gifts.

She climbed on top of this one to fend off her cousins. She is one tough cookie!

She got really excited about everyone singing to her.

The best part of a 1st birthday party is letting them do whatever they would like to their cake. We got her a cute cupcake and let her go at it. She was tentative at first but once she got a taste of the frosting she was hooked.

Sorry Evelyn but every party must end sometime.

Music Class

2010-11-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

Today we were invited to go to a music class for babies/preschoolers by our good friend Elijah.

I wasn't able to take photos as the class keeps you very busy but it was such a fun time. The girls just loved it. They get to play with instruments, scarfs, magic wands, and balls (Elijah's favorite!). All the while they are learning basic principles of rythm and music. We even danced a little. Shh! Don't tell the Baptists :)
It took Nora one or two songs to jump in but by the end she was bouncing with the best of em. Evelyn loved every minute of it and kept bobbing up and down, clapping and saying "yay!". Hehe, I think she like it :)
Thanks for inviting us Elijah! It was such fun!

Happy Birthday!

2010-11-16T13:16:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday sweet Evelyn. We love you!

Evelyn

2010-11-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Evie is the child that keeps me on my toes. She is forever finding trouble. She has the sweetest personality but don't let her fool you. She's quick and she's dangerous. Her curiosity often gets the best of her and I am constantly removing her from "sticky" situations (pun completely intended). I guess I didn't need that brand new jar of molasses afterall.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice.

2010-11-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

Wait, I thought I had daughters!?!?

Mary

2010-11-01T18:52:00.000-07:00

Mary, baby Jesus and...wait, I don't remember a rabbit in the nativity scene.

Is anyone still out there?

2010-10-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

I know, you thought I had fallen off the face of the earth didn't you? Fear not. I've been here. I don't have a great excuse for taking such a long break between posts other than to say I dove in to fall head first. I have been soaking up all the amazing things that fall in Michigan has to offer and loving every minute of it. Fall is my most favorite season. There is nothing about it that I don't like. Well okay, one thing. It leads to winter every stinkin time. We should do something about that...
Anyway, in my mind fall starts in mid September by celebrating my wedding anniversary. That is where I left off with you all and it's where I shall pick up. I know I've said it before but I have the best husband ever. I wanted to share with you something incredibly thoughtful he did for our 5 year anniversary. He called up our wedding cake person and had her make the most adorable mini versions of our wedding cake. He even got the flavors right. Pumpkin Spice cake with a cream cheese filling and Ginger cake with a Carmel butter cream. Phenomenal! Since we didn't really get to eat cake at out reception it was so cool to be able to really enjoy these ones. Aren't they the cutest things ever? Seriously!

5 years ago today...

2010-09-16T06:01:00.000-07:00

Five years ago today I married the best man I've ever met. He has fulfilled everything I thought I wanted and many things I didn't know I needed in a husband. He is unbelieveably patient (he'd have to be to put up with me). He is supportive, understanding, kind, and is constantly putting my needs above his own. I am truly undeserving of him.

We've come a long way in five years. We bought a house, finished school, advanced careers, and have two beautiful little girls with another little blessing coming in November. We've supported eachother through all the ups and downs life brings and have learned a lot about what it means to be husband and wife.

I can only imagine what God has planned for us in the next five. Whatever it may be, I look forward to facing it all head on together. We truly meant every word we spoke to eachother that day. In sickness or health, pleanty or in want, in joy or in sorrow we choose eachother. We cling to eachother and move forward with excitement over what life will hold for us.

My Fabulous Husband

2010-09-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

You truly are my best friend and I am so blessed to be married to you. All my love to you as you celebrate another year tomorrow. Happy Birthday!

The Big 3

2010-09-02T06:02:00.001-07:00

I am so glad to have my computer back and to have the pictures I promised you. Here are some photos from my baby's birthday party. I can't believe she's 3!

It's a little hard to see but I made this tank for her and it was kind of the inspiration for the decor.

I made these "streamers" using ribbon and some paper flowers and hung them all about the room. They were in the window and on the doors and hanging from the lights.

The "tablescape" as Sandra Lee would call it was also pink and black. I sprinkled little flowers around the table but the centerpiece was a fabulous cake made by my friend Becca.

Sorry for the sideways photo. This cake was just perfect for the party. It brought everything together and was soooo yummy!

I don't know if Nora got her wish but we all sure had a good time celebrating this milestone with her. This is just another reminder of how quickly time goes and how I need to try and absorb everything to the best of my ability because it won't be long before my babies are grown.

Happy Birthday Nora!

My little burn victim

2010-08-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

I thought a few of you "readers" might like a little update on the Evster. Yesterday we visited the burn clinic and they were pleased with what they saw. Evie's burns are healing as they should. The blisters have broken and now it is just a process of growing some new skin in those areas. She even got the afternoon off from her bandages however, over the evening and night she seemed to have an increase in redness and iritation etc.

I was thankful to already have an appointment with our doctor for first thing this morning. He reccomended keeping her bandaged for at least a week or so. He is very cautious and wants to make sure to avoid any infection in the area and to allow it sufficient time to heal. He also encouraged me to continue her pain meds to keep her comfortable. I was very thankful he agreed wtih me on that. My mommy heart just can't stand the thought of her hurting, especially since she can't tell me.

All in all Evelyn is great and if she didn't have the visual signs of the burns you wouldn't know she was hurt at all. She is such a trooper! Honestly, the hardest part is changing her bandages. We practically have to wrestle her to the ground to keep her still. I am sure glad for Jamie who is so patient and caring. I wait and handle the dressings until he can help. It is definitly a two man job!

Thanks to my dear friends who are praying for her. Please keep it up as she continues to heal. We are thanking God for protecting her and for giving her such a mellow, go-with-the-flow attitude. She sure is a trooper!

MIA

2010-08-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't posted a thing since I finished canning. It's not for lack of time or even lack of things to blog about but because I am without my computer. Actually it's sitting right next to me but I have not been able to use it in almost a week. On Tuesday the strangest thing happend. My power cord up and disappeared. I really, truly believe it grew legs and walked away. There is no other explanation. I have searched the house high and low looking for it but it remains a mystery.

At any rate a new one is ordered and I'm sure the day it arrives the other will turn up. But until then, I will have to stick with stealing a few minutes on Jamie's laptop here and there. They are hard to find since he is generally using it!

I hesitate to even mention what has been happening around here as I do not have pictures to go along with the events. Don't you agree that half the fun of reading peoples posts is seeing the visual evidence? Anyway, due to the fact that I am always the LAST one to get pics from my husband and that I am working with unfamiliar equiptment I am left with no choice but to create a picture with my words :)

So, work with me people...

Last weekend Jamie's brother Ryan moved back to Grand Rapids. He will be attending Davenport and pursuing his bachelors degree. This meant that "Grandma G." was able to come up and help him settle into his new place. It also happened to be Nora's birthday. Talk about good timing!

I spent Saturday afternoon decorating and preparing for Nora's party. Can you believer she turned 3! As soon as they are made available to me I will post pics. We had a pink and black theme and I think it turned out pretty cute. My friend Becca even made us a really cool cake to match our color scheme. She did a great job and it tasted oh, so yummy.

Mid week I gave Nora a super cute big girl haircut. Again, pictures will have to follow.

This weekend went a little different than we planned. We were supposed to attend the HHBC youth event at Lake MI. but little miss Evelyn decided a trip to the ER sounded like a better idea. Evie-if you want to spend time with mommy and daddy just tell us. All of the drama really isn't necessary.

Poor Evelyn's curiosity got the best of her and she pulled a cup of hot water directly onto her lap. I have been calling her "trouble" for a few months now and she has officially lived up to her nickname. Thankfully, the Lord protected her and she came through the event with only first and second degree burns. She looks like she has a really bad sunburn and has a few blisters but it really could have been much worse. She is handling it remarkebly well. In fact, other than the bandages you wouldn't know anything was wrong. She seems to be the same happy little girl we've always loved. She has these super cute leg warmers to keep her bandages on too. Pictures of those to come.

Anyway, things have been eventful around here for sure. Here's hoping next week is a little calmer/quieter.

Finished! Finito! Fin! Acabado!

2010-08-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

I promise I will stop blogging about peaches now :)

Little Jars of Sunshine

2010-08-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

Did you know that canning can be one of the most gratifying process in the world? It's so exciting to me that we can take some of the God's beautiful summer creations and pack them away like little jars of sunshine for the long winter months. And even better yet, when you do it correctly you hear the most wonderful and gratifying sound to confirm your work was not in vein. Each little jar goes "tink" (or clink, pink, ping depending on your perspective) telling you that your hard work has paid off and your harvest is safely protected and ready for you to enjoy on a cold winter day. My sister equated the sound with things like jingle bells at Christmas and sprinklers on a hot summer afternoon and I think she is absolutely right!
So, here is photo documentation of the process because the Geysbeek's don't do anything without taking pictures of it. If you don't have a picture, how do you know it really even happened?
My mission was to take this...

and this...

put them in here...

and with any luck, get this!

And 12 out of 13 times, it's worked! I'm about half way there so hopefully my track record continues. It's really a bummer when you get this...

My husband thinks this is "one of the most complex and intense processes he's ever seen". I'm going to let him keep thinking that in order to preserve my status as the best wife ever and possibly bank some points for a day when I'm feeling slightly less "becky-homecky".

Any guesses?

2010-08-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

So I'm sitting here listening to little "tinks" coming from my kitchen and each one is making me smile. I will post about it tomorrow (hopefully) but in the mean time, any guesses?

Studio 15

2010-08-16T18:27:00.001-07:00

I have been meaning to post pictures of my salon for a long time and never remember to bring my camera with me. So, today I arrived a little early and snapped a couple shots of it.

It has been such a great experience to be in this new place. I just love it and look forward to spending time there.

I truly have the best job in the world. You know that excitement you get when you are going to be getting your hair done? You know when you are in need of some girl time when you can relax and be pampered? Imagine getting to be in that setting twice a week!

I am such a lucky girl!

Geysbeek Family Photos

2010-08-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

At the end of June my family was able to head down south to visit with my husbands parents and brothers. It had been a LONG time since we had pictures together and have never had nice photos done. We decided to make it a priority to do a family photo session while we were there. Here is a sampling of how they turned out.

Mom and Dad

Grandma and Evelyn

Uncle Ryan, Uncle Adam and the girls

Evelyn Lucille

Nora Caroline

We had a great time on this trip and miss our long distance family very much!

20 weeks

2010-07-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

I can hardly belive I have already reached the half way mark with this pregnancy. It seems like yesterday that I saw that little pink line appear. I've gone from disbelief to stress and fear and can now honestly say that I am excited. I look forward to meeting this child and getting to know who he/she is. God is good and has proved to me in the last 20 weeks that He is in charge. He added this blessing to our family and I just can't wait to see what joys pour out from this gift from God.

40th Anniversary

2010-07-13T06:53:00.001-07:00

My parents recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. We took them to a local park for family photos, to Mangiamo's for dinner and then back to our place for dessert. It was a great evening of celebration!

Sister Dates

2010-07-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

One of the things I look forward to most is spending time with my sisters. We were able to take some time away this weekend to rest and relax at the Lake.

Highlights from the weekend included...

Wonderful food

New games

A beautiful fire

Relaxing on the beach

A nice long walk

and did I mention the food???

Happy Birthday 7-11

2010-07-12T06:07:00.000-07:00

E-Mealz

2010-06-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

This looks like a really cool idea. I am always looking for new ideas to organize my meal planning. Has anyone tried this? If so, I would LOVE to hear what you thought.

Tatertots and Jello: Dinner Dilemmas Solution: E-Mealz Review and Giveaway

Pregnancy Confession

2010-06-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

I just found myself sitting on the couch eating pickles and bologna. Oh boy, am I pregnant.

Butterscotch Pie

2010-05-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

I am trying to perfect one of the Koning family's favorite desserts. We are BIG fans of butterscotch pie and it is very hard to come by. So, I have set out to get this recipe down. Perhaps I will enter it in this years HHBC pie contest. I do have to defend my title after all!

My first attempt was good but definitely not blue ribbon worthy. The filling was a keeper but the meringue needs work. I don't think Jamie will mind testing out another pie or two while I work out the kinks.

Evie turned 6 months!

2010-05-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

Week 11-Fig

2010-05-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

This week baby G is roughly the size of a fig.

Apparently Meijer does not sell fresh figs so I had to make due with the dried variety.

No, I'm not just getting fat!

2010-05-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Because I know that's what you were thinking :)
You may have noticed that the name of my blog has changed. Well, it's because we are adding another chair at our table. That's right, this Thanksgiving we will need reservations for 5!

Fish Tacos

2010-05-14T06:32:00.001-07:00

I tried my hand at one of the news trends in food yesterday. I had never had a fish taco but they seem to be all the rage on cooking channels and in restaurants. So, I thought I'd give it a try. They were fabulous! I will definatly make these again soon.

Here is a rough idea of what I did. Sorry I do not have an exact recipe but I did not follow one. I just kind of put it together.

Fish Tacos...

Talapia-

Season with salt and pepper, dredge with flour and pan sear. I then finished it off in the oven.

Assemble Taco-

Lay out 1 whole wheat tortilla.

Place talapia on tortilla.

Top with a handful of shredded cabbage.

Spoon on your favorite salsa (I used Garden Fresh).

Add a couple of slices of Avacado.

Garnish with chopped cilantro and drizzle with fresh lime juice.

Wrap and enjoy.

I served this with a salad of corn, dieced tomatoes, avacado, cilantro and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Laundry-The Bain of my existence

2010-05-11T07:14:00.000-07:00

I HATE LAUNDRY! If I could give up any house hold chore it would be laundry, hands down. Dust? Sure. Mop? Okay. Toilets? No biggie. I would gladly do any of them over doing the laundry. I have tried many systems and all of them have failed. One load a day, one laundry day a week, etc. I just seem to be forever drowning in laundry. Perhaps part of my attitude stems from being down in the "dungeon". I hate our cold damp basement and more than one trip down there in a day is just too much for me to bear. Or, perhaps it's the fact that for the last 3 years I have been pregnant or in some stage of baby-land. All of which makes this chore more difficult. Whatever the reason I just don't like doing the laundry. So, here's my question. How do you tackle your laundry? Do you hate it as much as I do? If so, how do you tame your laundry monster?

She's a lady, whoa, whoa, whoa, she's a lady...

2010-05-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

Chalk board fun

2010-05-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

I got my craft on again awhile back and made this chalk board for Nora's room. It was just a plain wooden frame so I modge podged the border on. Then I added the lady bug, glittered imagine and glued it to the top and added a ribbon to hang it on the side of Nora's book case. I found the cute bucket at Walmart on the clearance rack. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out :)

FMM

2010-03-15T18:24:00.000-07:00

I am.... tired
I should...go to bed
I dream....about a stress free life
I want....to experience the presence of God
I know... I will in time
I don't like....diappointment
I hear....Nora playing when she should be sleeping
I fear....my children being hurt
I search...for answers
I regret....not meeting Luke
I wonder....how they are
I crave....chocolate
I remember...when life was easier
I need.....coffee
I feel....like I should help
I can....pray for healing
I can't....make it better
I am happy....because I am blessed
I sing....because I'm happy
I listen...not often enough
I shop.....too often
I eat....too often :)
I love.....my husband
Happy Monday!!!

Feeling a little crafty

2010-02-17T17:02:00.000-08:00

Started with a bare frame

Some paper and Mod Podge

A little trim

And a hook...

Ta da...I now have a place to hang my necklaces that don't fit in my jewelry box.

Heart Shaped Pancakes

2010-02-17T16:46:00.000-08:00

William and Wes came over yesterday to hang out. I wanted to do some extra fun things while they were over. One of them was a yummy breakfast of heart shaped pancakes.

Dinner tonight

2010-02-09T17:45:00.001-08:00

On a cold winter night soup is just what the doctor ordered. Tonight's version was a white bean soup with squash, sweet potato and kale. Yum!

ladies only please...

2010-02-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

I am a mom...

with that comes many ups and downs. This last week has been especially emotional for me. I'm sure much of this can be blamed on baby blues and that only makes my feelings stronger. I'm not even sure where to begin. It's hard to give my feelings a name but I need to "talk" it out and this seems like as good a place as any to do it so here goes...

Why is nursing so hard? Why doesn't it just work like it should. Why can't I just do it. It certainly isn't for lack of trying or for not wanting it badly enough. I would give anything to be able to meet my daughters greatest need on my own. For 10 months I was the only one who cared for her. I met her every need. I gave her a home and a safe place to grow and mature. When we finally reached the point where she was ready to survive apart from me, nursing was the only connection I had left that kept us dependant on each other. I was the only one who could do that for her. It's what makes me her mom. Why is it that I can't meet that need for her. I so desperately want to. I spent the first 11 weeks of her life fighting for it as hard as I knew how. I nursed, supplemented and pumped every few hours. I read every thing I could get my hands on. I educated myself on every possible remedy. I took 16 different pills every day. I ate oatmeal every morning and drank enough water to fill a pool and yet my supply continues to dwindle.

I can't continue with this schedule. I have no time to think of anything besides nursing. It is all I am. It is nearly impossible to cook, clean and be a good mother or wife. So, last weekend I took a much needed break. I barely pumped at all and nursed only when Evie wanted to. I had to.

Unfortunately, that short break undid all the work I had done and now my supply is little more than a drop.

I want so badly to just feed my child and have it work like it should but that is not how God designed me. Why then am I having such a hard time with it? I know in my head that I am still a good mom. I know that Evelyn will love me just as much being fed with a bottle. I know that formula has come so far and is almost as good for them. I know all these things and yet I am still sad. It is what it is. I accept it but yet, I am sad. So now the question is, how do I get passed the sadness? How do I move on? The pump still sits out because I just can't pack it up. I can't put the nursing cape into the box. I'm just not ready. It feels as though when I do those things I'm admitting I failed. I don't want to be asked why I'm not nursing. It makes me feel like I'm not as good of a mom as those women who do. I feel as though they're thinking if I'd just tried harder...

I need to move on. I need to accept the limitations God has given me and look at the blessings I do have. I need to be thankful for my two beautiful girls. I do and I am but I'm still sad.

So, day by day I will grow, I will accept and I will heal. I will do those things because I must.

...I am a mom.

izzms from girls night

2010-01-29T19:50:00.000-08:00

While the boys are away the girls will play...Our husbands all went to the men's retreat so Jenn and I decided to give mom an ambush makeover. We went through her closet and removed items and put outfits together. Along the way several funny frazes came up that we thought we'd share.
Jenn-izzms: "I'm not happy with this peach business","this neckline is more scoopish","layer, layer,layer","you look like a park ranger"
Becca-izzms: "We're pleased with that one""oh, now we have dark salmon"
And even though she wasn't here...Betsyizzms also came up"is this the message I'm trying to send"
Purchases for mom: Dark Jeans, oxford shirts in many colors and patterns, straight leg pants

Jamie and I were able to get out for a quick dinner.

2010-01-27T13:26:00.000-08:00

We went to the pita house and enjoyed some yummy hummus and kebe(sp?). It was delicious. Caleb and Krystie were nice enough to watch Nora but Evelyn tagged along.

Milestones

2010-01-22T13:02:00.000-08:00

Evelyn in 8 weeks old!

At her checkup she was labeled "average". She was smack dab in the middle for weight, height and head circumference. Okay, it might just be me but I think she is anything but average:) It does seem a little odd to have a child on the charts. I am so used to Nora being over the top(in more ways than one...hehehe). Just kidding Nora. You're just an over-achiever!

The 8 week milestone also meant it was time to pull out the bumbo! She loved it and Nora was so proud of her little sis.

Apparently sitting in there can be very tiring for a little peanut.

Christmas Activities

2010-01-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

Santa Came!

We had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Nora seemed to really catch on to what was happening this year. The season was filled with carols, cookies trees, lights, shopping, family and long lost friends. All the normal hustle and bustle. Through all the chaos we tried to share with our girls the true reason for the season. On our way to church Christmas Eve, Jamie asked Nora who's birthday we were celebrating. I was pleased to hear her answer "Baby Jesus". It is exciting to me that the seeds are being planted in her mind that will hopefully one day lead to her accepting Christ as her Savior. That is afterall what it is all about. I hope your season was filled with just as many blessings as ours. Merry Christmas!

Tony May's Wedding

2009-12-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

Jamie amazes me on a daily basis. He is an amazing husband and father, he is great at his job and an active member of our church. He is also an incredible photographer! It seems as though each shoot he does is better than the last. Here are a few pictures from a wedding he did in October. I only wish our wedding photos were this good. Way to go honey!

Thanksgiving '09

2009-12-12T16:54:00.000-08:00

My girls on Thanksgiving day:

"Little Turkey"

We've been burgled!

2009-12-12T16:19:00.000-08:00

While we were away on Thanksgiving day we were "burgled". That is the term we are using to lighten the mood and keep our spirits up. With everything that's happened lately we have to look for the humor in situations. Here are some photos of how they left the place.

Better late than never.

2009-12-05T18:10:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad at the hospital. Ready or not, here she comes!

This is the first time I held her. I was still being stitched up but the doctor held her for me so I could see her.

Evelyn Lucille Geysbeek. 7bs 15ozs. 20.5 inches.

A kink in the plan

2009-10-31T06:58:00.000-07:00

Moving didn't go quite as smoothly for my parents as we had hoped...

Something caused the trailer to loose control on the highway and snap the hitch connecting it to the truck. This led to the trailer landing on it's side in the middle of 131 and the truck more than likely totaled.

Here is a photo of the trailer being loaded onto a flat bed. It was towed off the highway and there it sits. Hopefully the insurace people will make it over there Monday so it can be opened. I know my parents are anxious to see what condition their furniture is in.

These past few weeks have surely been interesting to say the least. This week alone Jamie and I were sued, I developed pink eye in both eyes,our roof is leaking, our basment is flooded, I came down with another cold. This was all in addition to crazy work schedules and Jamie shooting his first wedding! The Geysbeeks have hit an all time high in the realm of stress levels. It's almost to the point of being comical...well, almost. In the end though I refer back to my previous post. God is good ALL THE TIME!

God is Good

2009-10-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

I woke up today with a feeling of relief. For the first time in over two weeks a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. God is good! I would like to say a HUGE “Thank You” to everyone! Your encouraging words and promises of prayer were exactly what my soul needed. I truly felt lifted up before the Lord and I am so thankful for all of you!

After much prayer and discussion Jamie and I have decided to go with what we feel is the safest option. We have decided on a scheduled c-section. Although my heart is sad over not being able to bring this baby into the world the “normal” way I find much peace in knowing that we are choosing the option with the least amount of “what if’s”. In the end we felt that the induction carried too many risks with it and we weren’t ready to put our little one into that type of situation. As an added bonus we have a little more time to finish preparing.

These last two weeks have been very busy with my parents packing up the house and lots and lots of clients wanting their last minute hair appointments. I am thankful for another week or two to prepare they way I’d like.

I will speak with the doctor sometime today and relay my decision and hopefully get a date on the calendar. How exciting!

Apple Glazed Pork Chops

2009-10-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, here it is. My first recipe...

4 Boneless Pork Chops
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup Apple Juice
1 cup Chicken Stock
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. whole peppercorns
1 Tbsp. butter

Heat skillet over med high heat with 2 tbsp olive oil. Season pork chops with salt and pepper and brown on both sides until a nice golden color is achieved. Remove from pan. Add liquids to pan and scrape bottom to get up all the yummy goodness from the browned chops. Add bay leaves, cinnamon stick, thyme and peppercorns. Simmer over med heat until sauce reduces by half. Return pork to pan and cook until internal temp reached 160. Place pork chops on serving platter. Add butter to sauce and stir until melted. Top pork chops with sauce and serve.

This is a great autumn recipe and takes little time to put together. I served it with a baked sweet potatoe and leafy green salad. I hope you enjoy!

Baby G

2009-10-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

Jamie and I went to see Dr. Dood today. I had an ultrasound to determine the size of the baby. It was estimated that he/she is currently 7lbs 3 ozs. The technician who preformed the ultrasound was by far the best we've ever had. She was so friendly and really took her time and explained everything she was doing. She also got some great shots of the baby. We saw very cool up close views of the face. She commented that the baby looks just like daddy. I agree. It definitely has Jamie's mouth and cheeks. She was also able to see long hair. I think this baby is going to look just like big sister Nora.
Now onto the real reason for the appointment. Today was the day to gather information and determine the best route of delivery for our little one. As some of you may remember we had a little difficulty with Nora's birth. Hopefully this isn't TMI but after her head was born her shoulders did not want to follow. This quickly became and emergency situation. The Lord protected Nora and I from any number of injuries including broken bones, paralysis and worse. Due to the danger associated with a shoulder dystocia delivery we are obviously trying to avoid this complication from recurring.
We have two options at this point. The first is to have an amnio done this coming Monday to check the lung development and if that looks okay go ahead and induce labor Tuesday.
The second option would be to plan a c-section for the week of the 17th.
As both options have risks we are taking the next 36 hours to pray about this. Please join us in this if you would as we (especially me) are still not sure what we feel is the best decision. Feel free to give your opinion as it really helps to "talk" these things out with others. I'll update Thursday with our final decision.

October Pictures-Nora 2 years

2009-10-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

Jamie took some photos of Nora. These are her official "2 year" photos. We are a little behind :)

A few short weeks

2009-10-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

We are in the final countdown before the arrival of baby Geysbeek #2. I thought this might be a fun way for out of town relatives (Mom G) and friends (Lindsay) to keep up with the happenings around here. I'm hoping to have a little time to share some favorite recipes as well. Hence the title "table for four". I'm not very creative so I thought that was pretty good!

Anyway, I hope this is just a fun way to keep up with us as long as I can remember to update occasionally! Enjoy!