MmMmM Supper!

I know I sound like a total fatty.. but hey I kinda am.. LOL and im working on that by going VEGAN. I have actually convinced, well we kind of convinced each other to go vegan. Richard and I watched a documentary called forks over knives on netflix.. SUPER interesting. I have been researching it for awhile now, but that documentary just "clicked" ya know? So we are slowly moving towards being vegan. Tonight I am making veggie burgers, and roasted potato fries.  Tomorrow is a really hearty veggie soup. We also promised to work out together everyday. Every little bit counts right? Here is the recipe I am using!  yum yum cant wait!

A Look Back At 2011

Well 2011 Has been one heck of a year.  We have lost loved ones, gained new ones. My best-friend had baby Emma on February 9th. She is  adorable beyond words. I wish I could be with her and see her grow up. They moved away before she was born.  I lost my great grandmother Goldie in April. There are many thing I could never forget about grandma. Her sticky kitchen floors, Hot pink fuzzy bathroom, her M&M dispenser, The basement, Her beautiful flower garden with a cast iron tub pond, and the time she made me try pheasant! I am sure she is very happy and at peace now with grandpa Aaron.

      In August both our boys had their birthdays. We had a conjoined party and they got very spoiled! Sadly shortly after my Grandpa Hawkins passed away. Its been a long time since I have mourned that deeply. I cant listen to Johnny cash or the Statler brothers without bawling my eyes out. Every time I randomly see a John Deere I tear up. I have many wonderful memories of grandpa. We had to paint tractor tires, pick green beans before we could swim in the pool, The smell of his shops and building, the tractor shows, big red gum, salted nut rolls and the many many tractor rides. I know my grandma misses him so much it hurts to see her all alone. She moved into town and I believe she is happier here, but still lonely and I cant blame her. We got to go through many of her and grandpas things along with everything she saved for the rest of us. I am SO grateful she did that, it was amazing seeing so many things with such history.

  

      Kain started preschool in September. He loves school so much and that makes me very happy. He can write and recognize almost every letter. He can spell his name and a few short words. He absolutely loves to draw, he is always doodling on something. Avin is growing like a weed, he can say many words and understands everything. He is very adventurous and not afraid of anything. He is also a big flirt and smiles at everyone!  I started a job in early November. I love it. I am a graphic designer for the Tool Depot Corporate office. I do flyers, and banners, ads and whatever else needs done. I recently drew up a "mascot" or icon i guess you would call her. She is the Tool Depot Tool Gal! I must say she is really cute and I am very proud of her.

  

      Richard has been watching the boys, and I am really nervous for the boys to go to an actual daycare when he returns to work. Avin has never been to one, and Kain has rarely. We still have no set in stone plans for a wedding, I guess we are in the engagement stage for the long haul. We tend to take forever on things considering we have been together almost 7 years! I am looking forward to a happy and healthy 2012 I plan on doing MANY DIY projects very soon with pictures included.

Update.. and getting back on track!

I know.. I fail AGAIN.  I suck at remembering to update. I am on my 10 min break at work and figured I would do it now! ( YES i said JOB! :) Kain started preschool and absolutley loves it! He can write out his full name! Avin is a squaking machine his words he uses non stop are NO.. Ya!.. and Daddeeee ( little turd) Richard took layoff so he could be home with the boys while I went to work. He returns in January and I am dreading it because then the boys will have to go into daycare. :( I got a JOB! YAY!   I am the graphic designer for Tool Depot / Industrial Tools and Machinary.  Its perfect and I LOVE it. It's super laid back and I get to wear jeans and tshirts! BONUS!  Here are some new pictures of the Monsters!

-Amanda

Well I fail at this whole blog thing..

So I haven't blogged in FOREVER. I just haven't been able to keep up. I'm still on the job search, which is still going way to slowly. The boy's birthday party was Last week! It went well, lots of family came, and they got super spoiled. Otherwise the only other new things I have been doing is Pinterest. Ever heard of it? It is the most amazing site ever. You basically pin a bunch of things to boards of things you like. Lots of other people do and you can repin theirs. Its SO addicting, and I have about a million DIY projects I am planning on doing! So if you don't know what I'm talking about check it out!

Birthday Soon

So the boy's big birthday party is coming up. I am kinda bummed about it because money is SUPER tight this time of year. It doesn't help I still haven't found a job yet. I have came up with some cute cheap ideas though and I think it will turn out great. I cant help but feel bad though because Kain's first birthday was HUGE and Avins is just going to be normal. The theme is Dr.Seuss so I was thinking of making a huge Cat in the hat cake and cake pops that are red blue and white. 

Avin is going to be rockin a dr seuss diaper made by Declyn Dypes, then another by Corrina's Cutie Creations. Kain wants to wear his Grinch long sleeve shirt, but its frekin August! He is going to be so hot in a long sleeve shirt. It's going to be a small party with my family and a few friends.The boy's present from us is Bunk Beds, a long with redoing their bedroom to match their playroom. Avin is also getting some diapers, and Kain some school clothes. Since we already have an over exploding toy room full of toys we decided no toys from mom and dad this year! We will leave that to Grandma and Grandpa! :)

All About Our Family

So here it is.. all about us. First off I am the mama bear of the family, Amanda. Richard is the daddy bear, and Kain and Avin ( pronounced like gavin minus the g)  are the cubs. We also have an all white blue eyed deaf cat Momo.

Richard is the rock to our family. I honestly do not know what I would do without him. He and I have been to the end of the world and back. We have been together almost 6 years now, and finally getting married next year :) He is 25. He is an uber gamer nerd. Always gaming.. in fact he has his own little man cave in the living room since the old man cave turned into the boy's playroom. He has two xbox's and two tvs.. It drives me nuts. Not that I don't game, I do but not to the extent he does.

  

Kain is our oldest, he is three almost four ( 8.22.07) He looks just like Richard, and acts just like me. He is kindhearted, polite, and smart ( yeah kinda bias but really he is :) He LOVES to draw. He is always doodleing on his magna doodle. He also inherited my nerdy side, He loves star wars and dragon ball z. His current toy obsession is the Fisher Price Imaginext things.  He is going to start preschool this September *tear* 

Avin is our youngest, he is almost 1 ( 8.10.10) He also looks exactly like Richard. He is a little explorer always wanted to see this and get into everything he isn't suppose to. But hey isnt that most kids? He just started 100% walking last month, before that it was a ahh crap I fell I might as well the crawl the rest of the way. He says about 8 words now, and will eat anything you put in front of him.

Now I guess its time for about me. I am 22 .  I am really shy, I normally avoid people. Its just a habit I don't know why. However if it is friends I know, I'm the total opposite. I was a big daddy's girl growing up, So I like a lot of "Man" things. I wish I had a motorcycle, I can name any car that passes me, and I would rather see an action flick than a chick flick any day. I like video games. I'm a huge DIYer if I I see something I like I do it myself, and if I know a project I can do im stubborn on hiring it done.  For instance, our bathroom really needs remodeled, and Richard says there is no way we can do it ourselves, and I beg to differ. I like History, Books, Art and Music. I love to shop.. things for my children are a huge weakness for me. As for my mama views.. I am have a attachment parenting style. I Cloth Diaper, and Baby wear. Love my Mei Tai! I am a Graphic Designer, and learning Photographer.

Well thats about covers our little family.  :)

Newbie

So, here it is. The first post on my blog. I feel kind of dorky writing to myself, but hopefully soon I will have some followers reading my madness. I guess I should explain the name. Nope.. I'm not Hawaiian, I just really like the movie Lilo and Stitch. So that is why I chose to use Ohana instead of Family.  As for the tag line, I don't live in the suburbs either, I actually live in a tiny town in Midwest Iowa.  I guess it was just me trying to come up with a quirky way to say..  a different kind of living, not the normal  lifestyle. I also suck at grammar, so please readers be kind. I just type what I would say out loud. I will save the all about me post for tomorrow, be prepared for awesomeness.