Living 2B Healthy

     We have always been different from the average family. Just as an example, we don't have cable. I'll wait while everyone picks their jaws off the floor. We have managed to live the past year without cable. If we are going to watch television of any kind it's either on Youtube or some app on our XBox. It does seem weird and a lot of times when major events happen I'm the last to hear about it. My husband tells me and he usually hears it from the radio.  When the decision was made to move out to the country the thought that high speed internet not being available with all the technology we have no a days didn't seem like it would be a big issue we are only 1/2 a mile off a major highway and 10 miles from being in city limits.      Now 2 days from closing  [NAME OMITTED] is in panic mode trying to figure out what we are going to do about our biggest complication. I personally don't think it is an issue but if you have satellite and you do any online gaming (w

     How many boxes does it take to pack a family of 5? That is the question!!      It seems the more I pack, the more of a mess I make in my house. I often try and tell my self that's I'm an organized person and maybe when I am when I put my mind to it. So, when it comes to packing I am trying to do it in the most efficiant way possible. This means not only meticulously sorting threw ever little thing but also packing things that go together in the same box. However, I find things that don't belong to really anything I leave them out and about,... hence making more of a mess! My husband on the other hand likes to throw 'random stuff' in a box as fast as possible... It'd be nice if I could do the same, but since I know that's creating more work for me on the back end I'm resisting the urge to join in with him.     We already have 2 storage units in a neighboring town that are basically full of boxes and stuff we won't need until after we move in. 

     A few weeks ago we looked at a property in New Virginia (60 minutes from our current home) it was 10 acres with a pond and a very beautiful property, but for many reasons including the very small school district and a house we didn't love or really even like we decided it wasn't the right property for us. Then less than a week later our realtor called and told us the property that we wanted to look at in the beginning of May in Winterset was available. We were excited and nervous all at the same time but we scheduled a showing the following morning.      The night before going to the property  [NAME OMITTED] and I talked about all the pros and cons for about the 500th time and the next day (Friday May 24th) we went and looked inside the house (we had walked around the 5.5 acres on the property early May). It was move in ready and even though this house is a tremendous downsize for us. We were very happy with the house, so we made an offer. Now we sit with an excepted off

    There are many key moments in everyone's life that truly change the path each of us are on. This is one of those moments in our family.      My husband  [NAME OMITTED] and I have been together since we were children. We met when we were only teenagers at a teen dance club and now 12 years later we have been married for almost 7 years. Together; (like any couple) we have experienced the highest highs and extreme lows. Together we have 3 beautiful children (soon to be 4).  [NAME OMITTED] and I both have only lived in the city. Minutes away from the closest gas station, grocery store and even interstate, but for the last month or so we have been trying to make the biggest decision that we know will change the course of our children's lives. We think this decision could easily be the biggest decision of our lives. Stay in the city or move to the county?!      The weight of this decision...          The largest factor in making this decision has been our children. We know

     When I said I can overcome any hurdle that would come my way to getting in shape over the next year, I NEVER expected that my hurdle would be this big!!  What is this BIG hurdle you ask... Our family will be complete sometime in October with baby number 4! I've always known I wanted 4 children, however I was planning on getting pregnant the end of 2013 or the beginning of 2014 either way I was planning on it after I met my weight loss goals! How can I continue to encourage my body to loose weight when I am pregnant!! AHH        I have to admit when I found out I was pregnant, I laughed. Life happens and you have to adjust. When this little one is born I will have 4 babies under 5 (even though my oldest will turn 5 two months after) and everyone certainly will have to adjust! It's been harder for me to eat the way I had planned and wanted to eat this year since I have found out I was pregnant. I mean let's be honest I'm hungry ALL THE TIME. Juicing has slowed to

YAY!! #39 on my 'list' is to finish all of my families "Year in Review books" Today I got one step closer to completing that! I finish AND ORDERED my 2010 Year in Review Book! I can't wait to get it in the mail. I ordered my 2012 Year in Review book in January and couldn't be happier with it.  It is truly amazing how easy it will be to look back at pictures of our growing family! If you are a shutter bug like me this is a great way to put all your photos together. Only 2 more family books to be all caught up then I will do a wedding one and if I can gather enough photos to scan I might even make one that has tons of our 'relationship' pictures. EK So excited!! Click here to view this photo book larger Turn your favorite photos into a photo book at Shutterfly.com. Does anyone else do this?  Here's a tip... I'm already doing 2013... Month by month I'm updating it then when 2014 comes along I'll be able to order the pre

        Looking back on the past year. My family as a whole did a lot less than I would have liked. Don't get my wrong we did many things, I have a whole 2012 'Year in review book' to prove it however I want to pack the year with even more great memories and get my family more active! One of the things are parents that we really want to do for our children is expose them to as many different areas as they want. How amazing would it be if your child could discover what it is that they truly love doing and start doing it at a young age. I remember in High School everyone took a questionnaire and when the results came back based on your answers it said what the best career would be best for you (according to how you answered things). I can't even remember what it said I should do but I wish I would have realized my love for photography early on it probably would have changed my high school a wee bit!        This blog is completing in part the # 2 thing on 'my Plan'

    One of my goals for this year to help with weight loss and healthy living as a whole is getting out of the house more with activities!! Within the last week I've been able to do just that!        Thursday the hubby and I took Brayden to Skyzone to jump on trampolines. It was from 11-12. At first I was wondering if that would be enough time, but after we were done I knew it was the prefect amount of time! We explored all the open areas, from free jumping (left), the foam pit (below), and the dodge ball area (not shown). Brayden was pooped when we left and he took an awesome nap!! Yay! Even Brad and I had a lot of fun and it was a really great workout, but if you have back problems I suggest you skip this type of workout! For anyone interested in doing this with your children check out their website for more details. It cost us $12 for all three of us to jump. If only one of us parents would have jumped it would have only been $6.     Saturday I woke up and w

     I used to think of juicing was only athletes or super crazy health nuts. I'm just didn't think about or understand much about it or all of the benefits juicing really provides. I am not a very picky eater but when it comes to what I drink, OOH BUDDY, I'm extremely picky! Just as an example I have a hard time drinking water unless it is ice cold or has Mio in it. I don't like milk unless it's chocolate milk (which is not an option anymore) or if it is with cereal. Even though I think my palate for what I drink has opened up a bit in the past few years juicing still sounded like something that was NOT for me. My hubby did juicing as a meal supplement and I occasionally tried his concoctions, then tried not to gag!! He didn't go by a recipe and just threw in a bunch of stuff that he knew was healthy. At least he was getting the right stuff but I don't know how he drank it.       With our 'life change' we decided to give our digestive system a bit

       What do I mean by "MY 10 things to a healthier happier me"? It is simply this... No one knows what will make you happy, but yourself. Everyone thinks they know what will make you healthy, but as much as something will for sure get you on the path to healthy living it's not as obtainable with all life styles!        A little about me... My name is Leslie, I am married to my 'Hubby' for 6 years now and I am a proud mother of 3 children, the 'B' who is 4 years old, 'A' who will be 2 in just a few days and 'E' who is almost 7 months. WHOA I know it's a hand full. I stay at home with them and watch my sister's three girls as well. I love being able to stay at home with my kids and raising them they way I think is best! I have a strange addiction to exclamation points, an obsession with Photography, a creative mind that I sometimes can't keep up with and unfortunately a dangerous love for food. I recently turned 28 and I'