Schedules and homemade baby food

I have come to realize that I am just an all over better person when I have a schedule. I LOVE schedules! Don't get me wrong...I like spontaneity, but I love having my own schedule. I don't really know why it has taken me this long to figure this out for my mornings. Last Friday morning was the first time Johnny and I started our morning schedule. In the past I would sleep till the kids woke up (not very late), but I just don't like starting my day with kids needing me the minute I wake up. I like having time without the kids in the morning. Plus, I have to spend time with God first before I do anything else. It always puts me in a better mood and helps me to focus on what is truly important! Also, a little exercise helps a TON with boosting my energy level and motivation to get things done. Here is our schedule for morning time (It's not exact every time, but we try):

6:00-6:45 - get out of bed, make tea, have individual devotions
6:45-7:15 - excercise together
7:15-7:30 - get dressed and ready for the day
7:30 - eat breakfast (kids are usually awake by this time)

I also LOVE having that one on one time with Johnny without the kids. We really don't get much alone time together anymore and these mornings together have been wonderful!

Speaking of schedules, I have been making my own baby food and yogurt these last couple of weeks. We bought a small food processor off of ebay and l have been able to make lots of fresh baby food for Maya. After tasting some store bought baby food, I decided not to buy it anymore. Maybe occasionally when we are on trips, but when I'm at home it will save tons of money and Maya will not have to eat that nasty tasting stuff. It's amazing how baby food doesn't even taste a thing like what it's supposed to. YUCK! I want my kid eating the REAL thing! Here is a picture of the first batch I prepared (avocado and banana) and my sweet Maya Eliana!



I also started making yogurt. I was a little apprehensive at first thinking that it would be complicated, but it really is the easiest thing and we save A LOT of money! There are tons of recipes for it online and they are all very similar. My first batch was using the oven. The second batch I used the crock pot. We go through so much yogurt and this makes it so inexpensive! Here is a picture of my first batch of yogurt (most of it had already been eaten).


Johnny's birthday was last week. I made some yummy Danish Puffs for breakfast and Calvin brought in his birthday card that he had painted for his daddy! He even pretended to read the inside to Johnny!




These are a couple of sweet pictures of Calvin and Johnny hanging out together (looking outside for birds and playing the flute).



Did I ever mention how much Maya adores Calvin. As soon as Maya wakes up from her nap, she looks around for Calvin and gets a HUGE smile on her face when she sees him. They love each other and it is so much fun to watch. This is Calvin playing the harmonica and Maya was amazed...she just stared at him!


This is a sweet picture Johnny took of Maya listening to music. She actually kept the headphones on for a good amount of time.


And last but not least, here is one of Maya and I. I LOVE my baby girl! What a delight!



We are all fighting a lovely cold virus being spread around the family. Fun times! I hate being sick with two kids that are sick as well. Last night Calvin had a really hard time getting to sleep, because he was so congested and couldn't stop coughing. He has been fussy and miserable feeling for the last three days. Today I am starting to feel the hot/cold yucky feeling and I have a feeling that Maya is starting to get it as well. We are ALL loading up on echinacea, Vitamin C, OJ, yogurt, and tylenol for my little man. Poor thing. Although, I think that he is over the worst of it...now it's our turn! Wish us good luck!