A BIG thank you to Mandi Bailey for sharing these beautiful photos of the Kansas City, Missouri temple! I love the unique perspectives and beautiful autumn leaves. Mandi is so generously sharing her images for free and you may download them at http://freeldstemplepictures.com.
Once I arrive in Germany, get settled and my computer unpacked, I will upload some antiqued black and white versions of these images as well, so be sure to check back in a month or two. Also, I will be unable to photograph any more U.S. temples for at least the next three years. If you live near a temple that I do not already have on my site and have any high quality high resolution images you'd like to share, please let me know! I get emails every day from people who are so happy to be able to display beautiful temple artwork in their home without an expensive price attached. This is a great way to provide a simple yet meaningful act of service.
Anthony's parents came out to visit us and we spent a couple days down by the caves. We enjoyed spending time with them for what may be the last time in several years, and had a lot of fun visiting Dinosaur World. Our household goods get picked up this week and next week we find out for sure if we're having a boy or girl!
No one ever mentions the fact that if you plan on having more than one children you are going to go through a whole fleet of strollers. Meet our newest editions- strollers #6 the Bugaboo Cameleon and #7 the Peg Perego Si.
With my first child I purchase a travel system- a small lightweight stroller that the car seat could attach to and a single jogging stroller. Then baby number two came along and we needed a double. I got rid of both my single strollers, purchased the Graco Quattro Tour Duo stroller and a double jogger. Then baby number three came... We bought an umbrella for the older and the younger two rode in the doubles. Of course I contemplated trying to buy a tripple jogger, but gave up on the idea. I wish I'd kept the single jogger so I could have pushed one boy while my husband pushed the other rather than cramming them all in the double (which we did on several 15+ mile runs).
Bugaboo Cameleon
Baby number four requires a whole new system. The main reason is because we will be living in Germany! I remember my first trip to Germany seeing mothers out for walks, rain, snow or shine with their babies in old fashioned buggies with 4-wheel drive tires that can easily maneuver over cobblestone streets and six inches of snow, Russian-style buntings and adjustable umbrellas. They are certainly a sight to behold.
When I first learned I was pregnant and would be having the baby in Germany I knew I had to have one of those mega strollers. Partially out of want, and partially out of necessity. It would be impossible for me to push my current strollers on European cobblestone streets. Unfortunately, those mega strollers cost a small fortune when you add in all the accessories. Fortunately for me, I found a fabulous local deal that included everything! I just love the little basinette that hooks right onto the stroller and can't wait to join the german mamas strolling down the strasse.
Peg Perego Si
And as much as I love a double stroller, it's just not practical for European streets and metros unless you get the kind where the smaller child his hidden behind or below the other. My kids are too strong willed to sit blindly in the back, they need a view of everything.
Grant however, still needs to be in a stroller. After much research trying to find a small single stroller that would ride well on cobblestones and wouldn't break the bank, I finally found this Peg Perego Si. It's lightweight, fully reclines, has 4 wheel drive wheels that lock and costs just under $200. I LOVE this stroller. It took some engineering skills to figure out how to open and close it, but I was amazed at how well it steers! I can open a door with one hand and wheel it through with the other. If only I'd known there were strollers that were so easy to push! I will never go back to the pathetic small wheeled strollers of my past.
I plan on Baby Bjorning baby #4 as long as possible and by the time he/she (wishful thinking) is old enough to need the stroller, Grant will be old enough to walk. We'll probably also get the buggy board for our Bugaboo so when the older boys get tired they can catch a ride.
I'm also bringing along my double jogger for around the neighborhood, but for city trips we'll use strollers 6 and 7. I really hope we don't have to buy any more strollers in the near future!
We survived our drive across the country! The boys did remarkably well especially considering how long they sat in the car each day. We are enjoying being back in Kentucky, it's so nice to be back where it is green and rains for more than 5 minutes.
My husband surprised us Friday with a call to pick him up at the airport! It is a full two weeks earlier than we originally anticipated and such a wonderful surprise. The boys were so excited to see him again (although Grant fell asleep on the way to the airport). A year is just too long, it's so nice to know we'll be together for at least the next three years.
Now it's non-stop wrestling and rough housing. I'm just glad they have someone else to pick on now ;) We are getting really excited for Germany! We've got all our appointments taken care of, now we're just waiting for our government passports and for our household goods to be shipped. In the meantime I'm trying to brush up on my German and take the boys to visit all the fun places we used to go when we lived here.
Well I planned out this year's curriculum but since I knew potential orders for Germany were inbound, I held off on sharing until I knew for sure...
I really want my children to learn to speak German fluently. The first time I visited Europe I wish I had studied German more and knew I wanted my children to learn German fluently and at least one other language. I am hoping beyond hope there will be space in the preschool in the town we settle in so that Grant and Joshua can attend. I also hope to enroll Ethan in the German elementary school (non-German's are allowed in on a space-available basis and since we're moving after school has started we might not get in). The thing I love about German elementary schools is they are only half day, so the boys can learn German in the morning and homeschool in the afternoon.
Ethan is now officially kindergarten age, but academically he is more like 2nd grade level (much higher in reading). Here is the curriculum I originally planned for the boys', however if they are able to attend the German school I will have to either scale back or spread this curriculum out over two years. We shall see...
Literature Read-Aloud's
Boxcar children series, Gertrude Chandler Warner
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare, Edith Nesbitt
The Railway Children, Edith Nesbit
Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers
Tanglewood Tales, Nathaniel Hawthorne
Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan
The Door in the Wall, Marguerite De Angeli Poetry: Walter De La Mare, Eugene Field, James Whitcomb Riley and Christina Rosetti
If you followed the Five Weeks to a Healthier Home, I have a sixth thing to add.
RELAX.
As scary as it can be to realize all the chemicals around us and in our food, it's also important to realize that the amount of exposure is an important factor as to whether or not we will experience ill effects. Also some immune systems are better at fighting off disease than others- you've all heard of people who smoke their entire life and never get lung cancer and the health conscious person who dies of it. But clearly the healthier our bodies are they better equipped they will be to fight off the toxins that are introduced daily.
I've created this Organic Living Guide which includes a lot of information about toxins in our food and environment and what you can do to avoid them. It's basically a reference of the most common exposures and what you can do about it. This information is not meant to scare or cause paranoia, but to inform so that you can make an educated choice rather than having these chemicals "forced" on you.
It's interesting to consider our lifestyle versus the lifestyle of say, the Amish. They live like our ancestors lived and are virtually free from the environmental toxins that plague the rest of American's. It's also interesting that diseases such as Autism are virtually non-existant among the Amish communities. They also have very low incidences of allergies, ADHD,obesity and cancer. It seems pretty clear to me that the soaring rates of these diseases are directly linked to our environment- the food we eat and the chemicals we use in our home.
I'm not suggesting we become Amish, but perhaps we should try and get a little closer to our roots. Plant a garden, turn off the tv and live a real life, try making things rather than buying everything, minimize the "stuff" in our lives, buy quality things rather than cheap plastic, eat real food that isn't laden with chemicals and genetically modified by scientists.
Our generation is supposed to be the first where parents will outlive their children. We CAN change that, at least in our own families. American disesases ARE preventable and many are even reversible. The first step is eating right and exercising. What are you waiting for? Grab some veggies and get outside!
Before I jump into the topic of week 5, I want to announce a giveaway of Sweet Milk Handmade Lotion!
A few months ago I discovered this homemade lotion made by Mandy and asked her to send me three different scents of her choosing. I could not have been more happy with what I received! The lotion is so smooth and creamy (I can even apply it right after shaving and it doesn't burn my legs) and her scents are amazing! I have never used creamier better smelling lotion in my life. I'm so in love with it.
One lucky winner will receive three 2oz bottles of Sweet Milk Handmade Lotion! Just scroll to the bottom to enter. And if you aren't the winner, but still want amazing lotion, just email Mandy at tylermandyjack {at} hotmail {dot} com. You won't believe her prices- a 2oz bottle is just $2.50 and an 8oz bottle is $6.50, lip balm is $1.75!
Now, on to our last challenge... We know that pesticides have been linked to all sorts of nasty things. We don't want it on the food we feed our children and we don't want it on the grass they roll around in during the summer. Here are some resources for having a healthier outdoor space.
{Week 5 Challenge: A SaferYard}
1. Rather than spraying chemicals to kill bugs in the yard and garden, try these safer solutions.
3. Natural bug spray (for you): I think we all are aware or have at least heard of the dangers of DEET.
But if you live in tick and mosquito country the threat of lyme disease or west
nile virus can be just as scary.
Here are a few homemade recipes you can try (I have not tried any of
these):
Here are some safer alternatives to DEET (I have not tried
any of these products), however if you live in a highly infested deer tick area,
wear long clothes and spray the DEET only on clothes, do not make contact with
skin and do not use on small children.
Do you know what's in the shampoo you use on your hair every day? Would you be surprised to discover a chemical in your shampoo could put your unborn child at risk for abnormal brain development, and could contribute to Alzheimer's or other nervous system disorders? I sure was. I was even more surprised to learn that my baby shampoo had chemicals linked to cancer in them!
And shampoo is not the only concern. Anti-perspirants contain aluminum which is believed to contribute to breast cancer, sunscreen contain toxins that could contribute to cancer and reproductive problems, nail polish is linked to birth defects, and some makeup contains neurotixins, carcinogens and toxins linked to cancer.
{Week 4 Challenge: Safer Skin}
1. Go through your cosmetics and check the ingredients. Look for these toxic ingredients and these dirty dozen chemicals. Also, check the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database to see how safe your cosmetics are. I think you'll be surprised how many things you use everyday contain toxic chemicals. I immediately tossed my anti-perspirant, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, heat protectant, and hair spray and lotion after reading the labels.
2. Replace your cosmetics with safer alternatives, organic is best, or try making your own! This includes, but is not limited to:
Shampoo/hair products: Food Babe has some great holistic hair care recommendations including several organic shampoo brands. Wellness Mama also has some great recipes on her website. Unfortunately for me, organic and homemade shampoos make my hair too oily, so I've settled for a midway product- Aveda- it has some chemicals but isn't as harmful as the shampoo I previously used and ranks a 5 on the Skin Deep database.
Toothpaste: some questionable chemicals in toothpaste include fluoride ,
Triclosan (linked to damage to liver, kidneys, heart lungs, sterility and
more), Sodium Hydroxide (used in drain cleaner), and artificial dyes, flavors
and colors. Here are some alternative solutions: Weleda Tooth Gel, Kiss
My Face Kids Toothpaste, Toms of Maine (I use this for me), Burts Bees, Green
Beaver, Jason Natural Cosmetics (I use this for my kids), Natural dentist. See
more at Healthy
Child Healthy World.
Deodorant: There are several organic/natural/aluminum-free options for deodorant. I tried using the crystal,
but it didn’t work well for me on warm days (others have recommended the liquid
version). After discovering the Wellness Mama site I was desperate and decided to try her deodorant recipe and it actually
works for me! You can also try natural brands
such as Bubble and Bee, Jason, Alba, Kiss my Face, Burt’s Bees’ and Tom’s of
Maine.
Sunscreen: There are several safer options of sunscreen, here are a few: Skin Deep, Alba Botanica, Avalon Baby, Badger, Burt’s Bees’, California Baby, Kabana Green Screen, Dolphin Organics (the one I’m currently using).
NailPolish: Nail Polish contains chemicals linked to cancer and birth
defects such as toluene, DBP and formaldehyde, even if the bottle doesn’t
list it, the state
of California discovered many still contain them.Zoya is one of two
companies in the CA
nail polish study that did not contain the toxic trio. Some other safe
brands of nail polish are PRITI NYC and Piggy Paint.
3.
I have some news I've been dying to share, but haven't been able to...until now...we FINALLY know where we're moving...
To Germany!!!
We are SO excited. I LOVE Germany and have been dying to get back there. The bad news is I have to leave town NOW to get my car shipped and do all the fun processing and shipping.
In other news, we are expecting another baby in February! This pregnancy has been much harder on me than the others (I couldn't possibly have forgotten?). I felt pretty miserable until week 14 and lived off beans, quesadillas, and quacamole. I had zero desire to cook and the thought of anything sweet made me feel ill. Like magic, once I hit week 14 I started to get my energy and appetite back and actually cooked my first non-mexican meal, now I feel pretty much back to normal. And though I've only gained 5 pounds, unless I wear loose shirts, it's pretty obvious that I'm pregnant. I just hope I can find that maternity box I buried in the storage unit and hoped I'd never need again...
Anyhow, posts will be intermittent until the end of October while we get all moved, but I'll try to at least post a few updates on facebook...
Also, Congratulations to the Piper Reed book winners!
Look around your kitchen, playroom, and bathroom. What is the most common "substance" in each of these rooms? In my home it is PLASTIC. Plastic tupperware containers, plastic bottles, plastic toys... It is everwhere. Isn't it nice that the most common substance in our home contains chemicals that "promotes obesity, diabetes, testicular cancer, breast cancer-like changes (and resistance to life saving chemotherapy) and even reduce sperm counts"1?
This demon lurking in plastic is known as BPA (also found in canned food). It affects the brain, sex hormones, is linked to cancer, thyroid issues, infertility, obesity and more. It's a pretty bad dude. Read this article to find out more about BPA.
{Week 3 Challenge: Eliminate Toxic Plastics}
Fortunately, there are safer plastics out there. Ones that are labeled PET or HDPE are much safer than PVC as are those labeled #2, #4, and #5. This is a great guide to decoding those plastic numbers. Get rid of those containing BPA and replace with safer alternatives.
1. Stop microwaving and storing your food in plastic containers! Microwave safe means it's safe for the container, not safe for your body. Use safe alternatives such as glass or silicone.
2. Replace your hard plastic water bottles with a stainless steel version. I love our Klean Kanteen's!
3. Minimize plastics in the kitchen. Avoid using hard plastic stirring and measuring utensils, use wooden,stainless steel or glass instead. Stop eating off plastic. For those with small children, this is nearly impossible. Fortunately, there are a few safer alternatives:
4. Check to see if any of your toys are on the most toxic toy list (the foam alphabet letters that all three of my boys chewed on in the bath were on this list!). Next, check the toxic toy database on HealthyStuff.org. Toss out the worst offenders. Check this website for tips on purchasing safer toys.
*I'm not including cookware in the challenge, however, Teflon and aluminum are less than desirable cooking options as their safety is continually in question. Here are some safer cooking alternatives (I hope to replace my teflon pans when we move!)
I had the opportunity to read the book Piper Reed Forever Friend, the sixth book in the Piper Reed series by Kimberly Willis Holt. It was such a fun book, Ethan and I enjoyed reading it together and the content was timely as we are getting ready to move to a new duty assignment (hopefully overseas!)
Piper is a spunky nine-year old navy brat who lives with her family (mom, dad, two sisters, a dog and a goldfish) in Pensacola, Florida. This book follows her adventures as her family moves to a new duty assignment in Norfolk, Virginia. Piper is sad to leave her old friends and school behind but is also excited that her old neighbor and best friend, Michael, moved to Norfolk a few months earlier.
Piper had big plans for living in Norfolk, but finds them falling apart when she discovers that not only is she no longer living down the street from Michael, but he seems to have found a new best friend. This move is not turning out to be what she expected and she finds herself missing Pensacola. How will Piper adjust to her new life? Will she ever make friends in Norfolk?
One lucky reader will have a chance to find out! Enter below to win one of three Piper Reed books!
I also had the privilege of interviewing Kimberly Willis Holt:
Q: I just read my first Piper Reed book and have to say it was a really fun read! There aren't many book series designed for military kids and I wondered if some of Piper's experiences were also your own growing up?
A:Like Piper, I'm a military kid with two sisters and a Navy Chief dad, but I was the oldest. I saw life more seriously than my fun-loving middle sister. Some of the things that happen to the Reed family in the series "sort of" happened to us. We had clubs and owned a poodle. We sang our Louisiana version of Country Roads in the back seat of the car. Most of the series is made up but inspired by things that "sort of" happened.
Q: Did you always aspire to be a writer or was it something that developed later in life?
A:Ever since second grade I loved to write, but I never thought I could be a writer until seventh grade when a thoughtful science teacher encouraged me to show my poem to a creative writing teacher. I wasn't a great student because I read slowly. I loved reading and writing though. So it was a secret dream until that day in seventh grade when two teachers made me think it was possible. Teachers are powerful.
Q: Is there a particular place you go or routine you follow to get the "writing zone"?
A:I write a lot of different places--in bed, a chair in my bedroom, the screened in porch, and coffee shops. Wherever I begin a story is where I end it. That's how important ritual is to a creative person. Returning to the same place every day makes the writing begin more easily. And when I write, I write by hand on yellow legal pads. I think better on yellow.
Q: As you well know, growing up in the military has it's pro's and con's. It can be especially hard for children to constantly leave friends and be apart from extended family. Is there any advice you would to give to military mom's to help make military life a positive and enriching experience for their children?
A:Wherever we lived, my mom made our house a home. We also took Sunday drives to explore the places beyond our house or short trips to somewhere wonderful. When we lived in Norfolk, we visited Colonial Williamsburg and Washington D.C. When we lived in Washington state, we visited Canada. We took a vacation to Barcelona when we lived in France. These are the advantages of a military childhood. At the same time that my parents exposed to our new surroundings, they always told us stories about our Louisiana heritage. My first book is dedicated to them. The dedication says To my parents, Ray and Brenda Willis, who showed me the world, but gave me roots. I think that makes for a happy childhood. We all want to feel like we belong somewhere.
A big Thank You to Kimberly Willis Holt! Enter to win a signed hardback copy of Piper Reed Forever Friend by Kimberly Willis Holt! Also, one lucky reader will win a signed paperback copy of Piper Reed, Navy Brat and one reader will win a signed paperback copy of Piper Reed, Rodeo Star!
As a mother, one of my primary responsibilities is to keep a clean home. Though it might be difficult to tell since the moment I vacuum someone runs through with dirt and the moment I sweep and mop someone spills juice. I never stopped to consider that the things I am using to keep my house relatively clean could actually cause my children harm.
Many chemicals include toxins that can trigger respiratory infections, headaches (and my husband thought I was just making excuses for not cleaning ;) cause damage to the brain or nervous system, decrease sperm count and yes, even cancer. This is a great article, How Toxic are Your Cleaning Supplies? Which outlines several of the dangers as well as good solutions.
These chemicals are not limited to cleaning solutions. How about antibacterial soap? Every good mom knows she needs to protect her children from bacteria. But what if your antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer were actually making your children more sick? Studies are showing that an ingredient found in most antibacterial products called Triclosan (yes it was in my soap) can actually do more harm than good. Instead of killing only bad bacteria, it kills ALL bacteria. Even the good guys that protect your immune system. This creates a bacterial resistance which in effect creates superbugs which our body cannot effectively combat against and is much worse than the germs the soap is supposedly protecting us against. Not good.
Even our laundry detergent contains chemicals that have nasty things linked to cancer and reproductive toxins. Check this article to see what chemicals are in your laundry detergent.
{Week 2 Challenge: Cleanup Household Cleaners}
1. Toss those toxic household cleaners. Replace them with organic versions or try making your own. There are many great websites out there with recipes, my favorite is Wellness Mama.
2. Toss the toxic soap and sanitizers. Replace them with organic soap (including body wash). I love the bath soap from Bubble and Bee and have replaced my liquid dish soap with Dr Bronner's (dilute with water) and thoroughly cleaned out my toxic foaming pump bottles and replaced them with a diluted mixture of Dr Bronners for foaming handwashing soap. I also use Dr Bronners hand sanitizer spray.
3. Replace laundry and dishwashing detergent with a non-toxic version or make your own. There are lots of options out there, I have not personally tried to make my own. I use the Seventh Generation brand.
On the way to visit my family this week, I stopped in Manti and was able to take some pictures of the beautiful temple there. To download these and other free temple pictures, please visit http://freeldstemplepictures.com
The next pictures aren't quite so beautiful...There is a lot of dirt in Utah, especially southern Utah. My boys love it (especially Grant who "swam" in the mud). I loathe it. Here is some of the fun they had this week {followed by several baths each}
As I began searching for resources on organic eating, I came across information about chemicals that are all around us. I was surprised to learn how many of these toxins were in my home. In fact, it seems like almost all the products I use on a daily basis from tupperware to shampoo to sunscreen contain toxins that have damaging long-term effects anywhere from ADHD to cancer.
I made a goal to eliminate whatever toxins I could from my home immediately, and those that I can't do now, I will eliminate when we move this fall. I realize spring cleaning is over, but summer is a great time to prepare for the upcoming school year.
I've broken down the most frequent toxin exposures into 5 easy weekly steps. Obviously it's impossible to eliminate exposure to all harmful things, but there are small simple steps you can take to limit the risk to young (and unborn) children.
{Week 1 Challenge: Organic Food}
Buy organic produce, meats and dairy starting this week!
Chemicals directly sprayed on fruits and vegetables cannot simply be washed off, some residue will remain no matter how diligently you scrub. These pesticides have been linked to cancer, ADHD and autism.
If you cannot afford to buy 100% organic, then buy these dirty dozen as organics and the clean fifteen you can buy non-organic.
Dirty Dozen (contain the most pesticide residue- Buy Organic!)
celery
peaches
strawberries
apples
domestic blueberries
nectarines
sweet bell peppers
spinach, kale and collard greens
cherries
potatoes
imported grapes
lettuce
Clean Fifteen (little to no pesticide residue)
onions
avocados
sweet corn
pineapples
mango
sweet peas
asparagus
kiwi fruit
cabbage
eggplant
cantaloupe
watermelon
grapefruit
sweet potatoes
sweet onions
Why should you buy organic meat? The main reason is because 70% of antibiotics in this country go to farm animals. That's right, cows and chickens. Why? Because they are fed unnatural diets that fatten them up faster and live in cramped quarters- they are fed antibiotics to prevent them from dying before they go to market. Unfortunately, these antibiotics create superbugs (heard of MRSA?) which spread to humans from contaminated meats or crops (like spinach) contaminated by animal waste. Even chicken feed is found to contain high levels of arsenic that is passed on to our children.
Here's a great article about why it's worth it to buy organic eggs (try finding someone local!) and how buying hormone-free milk reduces your risk of cancer.
I know you're really not going to like this one, but I have to put it out there. Studies have shown that processed meats cause cancer. This includes lunch meat, hot dogs, sausage, pepperoni and my favorite, bacon. Fortunately, you CAN buy organic versions of these foods that do not include the cancer-causing nitrates! Applegate Farms is a favorite brand of mine, found at Whole Foods.
Week one is definitely going to be the most challenging week, but it will also have the greatest long-term impact on your family. You'll find that organic meats can be quite expensive, which is another great reason to base your meals primarily around vegetables and use meat sparingly. I have quite a few meatless meal ideas on my Fabulous Foods website. The thing to remember also is exposure amount- a tiny amount of chemicals won't cause immediate harm, but repeated exposure over time can, so don't feel guilty if you have to resort to fast food or "normal" food from time to time but try to limit exposure if you can.
Also, and this is my personal non-scientific opinion...I believe that a normal healthy body is designed to fight toxins including those used in pesticides and if we feed our body healthy foods most of the time then it will be prepared to combat the toxins we do introduce from time to time. However, if we are fueling our body primarily with junk, it won't have the tools to effectively combat the toxins and then our body starts to break down and results in headaches, fatigue, weight gain, and possibly even cancer. Continue to Week 2
mango