healthy snacks :)

I grew up with a garden, so I love fresh fruits and vegetables. My parents were SO great at providing healthy, fresh foods for us every day. During the winter we always had grapefruit that my Mom hand cut each piece for us (we're talking 11 kids here folks - and good thing she was speedy). She with my Dad also made oatmeal, toast, and eggs. Looking back, I can't even believe how spoiled I was. For some reason I get a thrill when my kids are willing to try a new healthy food. Like "yes! you are getting the joy of eating real food!". I love that Stan and Mason like an occasional grapefruit for breakfast with eggs or toast, and bell peppers and string cheese for a snack.

Mom's honey whole wheat recipe

Not everyone loves whole wheat bread, but once you make it and smell it, it becomes pretty addicting. Growing up I remember watching and helping my Mom make a lot of homemade, honey whole wheat bread. I remember loving the smell as it baked in the oven, and cutting into it as it steamed - smearing on a little butter and honey. Mmm, nothing like home made bread. So here's THE House of Jacob family whole wheat, home made bread recipe. I have no idea how many generations back this recipe goes. It always brings a little piece of home when I make it. You have no idea how much Mason enjoys making this bread recipe. We've done it two days in a row now, and shared it with our neighbors. That is the way my Mom taught me to serve others - by taking them hot, homemade bread. If I came back too early from the widows homes, she would say next time -"be sure to stay and talk to them for a while". At first it felt a little awkward to be honest, but gradually I learned to love those times - sitting with those women and feeling their love. Mom, thank you for teaching me the joy of serving others! This recipe makes A LOT, so feel free to cut it in half if you like!

5 c hot hot water (i usually microwave it in a safe bowl for 2 to 3 minutes

1/2 c oil

1/2 c honey

1 T salt

2 T yeast

3 T gluten and or dough enhancer

add wheat flour (or white) until it pulls away from the sides and starts to pull away from the bottom - it should be 11-12 cups. The texture should be firm, a little sticky, but not too sticky or not too dry. You can grind the wheat yourself, or just get already ground wheat flour from the store.

Mix it for about 10 minutes for wheat, 5 minutes for white

let rise or start to knead. I like to let it rise if I have time, just because it makes it even fluffier :).

Divide into four loaves. grab some from the side of the loaf on the table and push the dough toward the center with your palm. Continue until it has all been pushed to the center. Fold it over to make a loaf. Put the ugly side up in the pan, and squish it with your palm to get all the bubbles out. Then pull it out, and put it back in with the pretty side on top this time. Fold the edges under to make it nice and rounded. 

That last part is the tricky part - but hopefully that explanation helps, or just call my Mom and she will teach you like a pro :).

Let the loaves rise as you wait for the oven to heat up. Then once they start to get a little bubbly on the edges (or whenever the oven is ready), pop those babies in.

Bake @ 350 to 375 for 40 minutes.

When you pull it out, my Mom usually tops it with shortening (i know - it's what makes it so amazing and probably the little less healthy - but this is the worth the calories part), lets it cool for a few seconds, then pulls them out of the pan, and sets them on the counter. That is when it is devoured :).

Enjoy!

Mason was so excited to make bread, he got the wheat himself from the basement, and ground it by himself.

An observant Stanley

who doesn't love playing with dough?? :) (we clean his hands every time before we cook...:))

our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe

Of course with all of the heathy foods - it's fun to have an occasional treat, right (which for me means birthdays, holidays, and travel of course). My sister Ramona always said that if you're going to eat calories - make sure they taste good, otherwise don't waste your time. So here's a recipe I remember my sister making for us growing up which was apparently worth her time, even though she would make an entire batch, eat one, and leave the rest for us. She won a lot of sister points those days. Anyways, this recipe has a sweet spot in my memory. Mason helped me make these for a Young Women's activity we had for our Church that night which I was in charge of. We had a General Conference jeopardy, and I think we all had fun - in a nerdy kind of way :). Happy General Conference weekend!!!

Mrs Field's Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe

3/4 c butter slightly melted
3/4 c sugar
3/4 c brown sugar
mix to a fluffy point
1 egg
mix again
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 c flour
3/4 bag of your favorite chocolate chips

Bake@ 375 for 8 to 12 minutes (depending on how soft you like them). I usually bake them for 10.

our favorite green drink recipe

Being a Mother has presented the usual challenge of providing healthy meals/drinks/snacks for my little men. Lately I shared the idea of making popsicles out of green drinks. Today I want to share some of our favorite recipes. Whoever invented green drink was brilliant. I can't imagine getting Mason and Stan to eat that spinach without it.  I tried almost every smoothie recipe I could find and this one does the trick, every time. All of my boys like it. It's called Sailor Man smoothie - an adaptation from a Vitamix recipe we all liked. We like to switch it up on occasion with other smoothies so it doesn't become too common, but it's a go to, staple for us. What I like about it is that it has a few twists that make it interesting and especially delicious. A little extra goes a long way here.

1/4 c grapes (red or green)
2 c spinach
1 apple
1 orange
1 carrot
1/4 c of pineapple (i buy the frozen bags from Target, or cut them up and freeze when they are on sale)
1 c of ice
1 c of water or pure orange juice
blend and serve

First things first - make the toddler happy :)

Mason is my little chef. He insists on doing everything - I just sort of help him now I think :). He even starts making the green drink by saying "OK, what do we need", as he opens the fridge.

little counter space = using the stove top as a counter

after several times of helping, he has mastered this now on his own...ah, i'm still close by though..of course

pretty pleased with himself :)

enjoying the fruits of Mason's labors :)

Mason asked if we could buy these when he saw them one day at Wal-Mart. He always has the best ideas. We usually eat these as a snack during the day.

Easter Weekend 2016

Happy Easter from the Freeman Family! Our hearts are filled with happiness and gratitude for our Savior Jesus Christ - and for His gift which makes us free. I am so grateful for that amazing gift which gives us the hope of His greatest blessings - eternal life with our families and with Him. I can't think of anything better.

This weekend we celebrated Easter by biking to an Easter celebration for our ward at the park. It was a 16 mile bike trip round trip (since was got a little lost haha), and I was pretty well exhausted by the end. However, it was beautiful to ride through Charlottesville's charming neighborhoods with the blossoms coming out. Nate and I were amazed how much more we could get to know this city by bike. In the springtime is amazing. Then we celebrated with the Law School families which was great. I really enjoy meeting families from other backgrounds and seeing how much we have in common in the end. That evening I went to dinner with several of the best women I know before the General Women's broadcast (which was phenomenal). I loved the focus on rescuing and reaching out to refugees. It was unique and powerful. I want to be prayerful about what I can do to help, too.

This morning we had a lovely brunch with some friends, and then went to Church - which was wonderful. Stan is one of the first ones to nursery because he loves it so much - and Mason has some super sweet teachers in Primary who give the kids enormous baskets for Easter. He is pretty lucky that boy!

Happy Easter! He is Risen! 

Love that guy for packing the boys behind! I mean those calves can do amazing things!!!

Nate appreciates that Stanley (and Mason) loves sports - a passion they both share

Nate chatting it up as usual ;).

We ran into a group from India who were in full out celebration of Holi, and of course Nate couldn't resist getting in the middle of it and spreading that color to all of us as well! Now his hair I think is permanently died pink. Ha. Happy Holi everyone! 

Nate preparing for the journey back home. They both fell asleep which was pretty cute . Mason fell asleep on top of Stanley, until Stanley finally woke up at the end and tried to push Mason off. Poor Stan I think was just a little squished.

These are some treats that Mason insisted on saving for his Grandpas and Grandmas...at least for an hour. I saw him on the couch debating whether he should eat them or send them to Utah. This boy has a sweet spot for his family back home.

out little Easter brunch

These cuties on Jeni's mats she designed (LetsPlayground)- her own business which flourished amazing well! So proud of that girl's creativity, vision, and ingenuity!

And HERE is one of my dearest friends, Jane and her new baby Nathan whom I just ADORE.

Apparently I'm not the only one! ;)

Happy Easter friends!

Tennis & UVA Basketball

Today has to go down as a one of my favorite days in Charlottesville history. Even though we found out today that our car is pretty well totaled with repairs it needs (so so sad to have to say goodbye to that car that was a gift from a violin student in exchange for lesson - even though it's an old 2001 Buick, it's fancy with leather heated seats, but especially fun memories etc etc etc) - we got to go to a little birthday party of Mason's little friend Max (well done Nicole G on that party!!!), and (thanks Elizabeth H for volunteering to take all of us in your car), and within a span of about 5 minutes, after just briefly mentioning that our car was in the shop, two other WONDERFUL friends there offered their second cars for us to use while between our transition to buying a new car, and I just thought - wow - we are SO blessed to be associated with such extraordinarily kind people here in Charlottesville. They really are like family, and we love them. This place is a little piece of heaven for us - and honestly, we would stay here forever with these people - if we could just bring our families here too.

We finished the day with a little tennis, and UVA basketball watching with our dear friends the Awerkamps (love them) at the UVA Alumni hall with free pizza, and raffle where Ryan won a basketball signed by the coach of UVA. Go Ry! So funny to bring our kids along playing tennis. Stanley couldn't keep himself off the court - that kid and balls. When Nate pulled him off, he just laid on the court and sobbed. It was just like last week when we finally pulled him away from the softball field - he just kept saying "'i wa ba" (i want a ball). His little friend Claire came to the rescue. I am awed at the sympathy I find in these little children sometimes for each other. It's so sweet and innate and encouraged and taught by their wonderful parents I'm certain. Since our car is in the shop we took our bikes and our little bike trailer which was fun. Stan and Mason giggled after every little bump. It was so cute!

This last week I was really struggling as a Mom - because sometimes my boys (especially Mason) just likes to ignore me. So I asked friends their advice. I have found that looking in the eyes, touching gently, and being consistent with consequences/rewards is doing wonders. I guess I just need to communicate more clearly - by being closer, and touching, and explaining more. It takes a little more effort and attention - but it's amazing how far it goes. Things are on the up, so thank you all for the wonderful and much needed advice!

Nate caught this pic today while I was playing with Jeni A. He has been my tennis coach the last 5 1/2 years - he's really the best coach. He would make an amazing Professor someday I think- he's so good at explaining, and he's also very patient and of course skilled. Thanks, sweetie!!! I am really starting to love this sport that I hope we play well into old age.

Where is a ball that I can hit!?

sweet Claire's compassionate and loving response!!! Oh I love that Claire.

sparks were flying on that tennis court today

he loves me  :)...especially when I play tennis with him. Kind of like when I watch him play the piano - it kinda gets my heart going.

close eye on our bikes (not the trailer...oops), and Stan with that balloon

Wahoowa! Go UVA!

That Alumni house is BEAUTIFUL!

Last but not least - these little breakfast bowls we have been loving since I have not been eating a lot of sugar this year (except for holidays, birthdays and traveling). Non-fat greek yogurt, grape nuts, frozen berries, and honey. My boys love it, and so do I! Nate's not crazy about grape-nuts, but when you put them in this cereal, I like the texture it gives - and the fiber. We switch off with this one day, green drink and eggs on another day, oatmeal with fruit on another day, crepes (no sugar added), or toast and green drink, or just whatever we're feeling like). Breakfast is definitely my favorite meal of the day.

play dough and easter eggs

Springtime in Charlottesville is just breathtaking. Spring is my favorite time of year - and being here, is just . . .  heavenly. It was a little chilly at the beginning of this week - so we played with play dough and made easter eggs while I experimented with my camera (thanks jeni a for the helpful camera advice). Thank heaven I have such cute subjects. Then it warmed up and we went out for an easter egg hunt. I thought we would do several this weekend - but I think Mason and Stanley have had enough candy for a few months :). Happy Easter Week everyone!!!

he was pretty proud of those eggs - he kept running to the fridge and pulling them out, handling them, and putting them back. i loved this picture of him caught pink and green handed :).

Teaching this boy how to shell a boiled egg :).

and eat them. it was a huge success! he likes them :)...a lot.

Mason finished learning the songs in his first piano book, so for an Easter surprise, we got the second book for him. It was SO cute to see how excited he was! This boy loves music. It's a self-teaching book, and he enjoys practicing on his own nearly every day. Ocassionally I give some advice like "curve your fingers", or "that one is middle C", or "that's a quarter note, and that's a half note"...you know. Needless to say, he needs an Aunt Shirley or an Aunt Alyssa in his life to practice with him. Stanley, occasionally Nate, and I enjoy listening.

he gathered enough for himself and Stanley ... both.

These blossoms. MMm...can't get enough.