Long Beach Vacation

John and I ventured off for a business/personal vacation the middle of March for 5 days. We both began the vacation in hopes of some much needed R&R, yet quite apprehensive since we have NEVER both left the girls at the same time. By the end of the 5 days, we were tired, over stuffed with fabulous food, and missing our babies!

Our trip began at the convention center for the Juice Plus Conference on a bright and sunny day. It was nice going from 50 degree to 80 degree weather. I soaked up my Vit. D eagerly.

Did I mention that we ate lots of wonderful food! I tell you, "Long Beach and LA are the place to eat, especially if you are a vegetarian!" Everywhere we ate there were yummy, yummy, yummy, vegetarian options. But our favorite place was the Creme de la Crepe Cafe - I love crepes, but these took it to a whole new level - so yummy!


On another evening we went to the Grand Queen Mary, where we walked the galleries and ate our evening meal overlooking the water. We then strolled the aft deck under the light of a full moon. This vacation happens to be the first time John and I have been away since we first got the girls over three years ago, and it the first non-family vacation we have ever taken since being married - 19 years ago, so to say it was a romantic evening would be an understatement.

The Long Beach Skyline at night from the Queen Mary was extraordinary!

Even though we had a wonderful time, we were ready to welcome spring back at the homestead.

Thanks to Lisa, we came home to happy, healthy girls, who are already asking us when we will go on vacation again, so they can go to Mama Lisa's house :) Although, I am not so sure Lisa is ready for that anytime soon ;-) I can only imagine how quiet her house must seem right now!

Teaching With Snow

There are so many fun things kids learn with snow :-) and we have been having a blast exploring.

First is the fact that more + more = a LOT! And a lot of something can be really fun or a disaster. In this case, a lot of snow is fun, but a lot of meatballs falling from the sky is not fun (thanks to cloudy with a chance for meatballs movie). We have a lot of snow on the ground, and a bit more everywhere else. We had snow up to our window. (I know, they aren't very good pictures, but our real camera went kaput).
Later we learned the classic, "Don't eat the yellow snow", and had a very interesting and detailed discussion about that. I will spare you the details :)

We also made fresh snow cones with Pina Colada mix, or Peanut Colada's ?!?!?!?!? as Hanna calls them, generously poured over the snow. Nothing better than the real thing for snow cones. We also decided this kind of yellow snow was okay to eat :)

We had a medical discussion on brain freezes, and confirmed that we did not like frozen brains.

We dug snow tunnels, and agreed some tools work better than others. At times the hand is the best tool for the job. We also talked about gravity, weight disbursement, and weight loads.

Lessons of small, smaller, and smallest and big, bigger, and biggest were enjoyed by all.

As night fell, we finished up with some creative engineering - as John lit up their snow tunnel with white lights and we all enjoyed the quietness of a snow laden night under a starry night.

It's That Time of Year Again

While most of my friends are planning their gardens and projecting yields, I am planning our summer trips. I always feel guilty because I know I should be thumbing through my seed catalogs, drooling over the amazing heirloom tomatoes, and plotting out the green beens and radishes. But no, I am dreaming about family trips to South Dakota, weekend excursions to Wisconsin, and our annual week long retreat to PSG.

My thoughts turn back to last year. On how I procrastinated my seed order until the end of April, got the garden planted the end of May, and now, among the jungle of overgrown tomato and pepper plants, I still have onions frozen and dead in the ground. I think to myself, "I have got to get my act together". But my heart is just not in it.

What if this year, I live a guilt free garden year. Instead I plan on hitting our local farmers market once a week while we are home, and then we can enjoy the treasure of finding all the cools ones while out on the road. The thought of this delights me, and I instantly feel giddy inside - then the guilt sets in. The guilt of having 40 acres of beautiful, black gold, dirt, and not planting food that would be filled with all that nutrient rich goodness. The thought of this seems so ridiculous, that it makes me think about how I need to get my seed order in.

And so, as everyone else is joyfully placing their seed orders, I am once again torn.

To Plant or Not To Plant - That Is The Question . . . .

Oh, I just remembered, I better sign up for the visitors guide for South Dakota :)

Ciara Mae Trochesset

officially became part of the family on Friday January 21st, just a little after 11 am. Thanks to all the support people, Judge Cruse (who has been with us during this entire journey), Emily Reynolds (the adoption worker), Chad Reckling (Ciara's Social Worker), Pat Brau (our adoption attorney), and many more friends and family!

This adoption was different, I suppose much like when the second baby is born. There were not the worries about something going wrong, and we just relaxed in the moment. Enjoying the excitement of the day, and banking the memories of the event. I didn't do that with the older girls, I was too worried about something not going the way it was suppose to, and how everyone looked. This time around, we didn't even have a big celebration with external family and friends; instead, we came home, ate a pot of chili, and snuggled in for a movie. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and weekend that followed. With Hanna and Lexi, there was a big party to orchestrate, and lots of family and friends to celebrate. With both, memories were made to last a life time, and both tell a story about where our family was and is at each point in life.

Ciara Mae Trochesset - Ciara is Gaelic for Black or Dark and Mae is Gaelic for earth goddess - so Ciara is our little Nubian Princess :) We feel very blessed to have her old soul in our family, and look forward to many more years with her. She has a lot to teach us all.

Broadcast on ADHD and Autism

ADHD AND AUTISM – HELPING THROUGH NUTRITION

Recorded Broadcast by

Dr. Valerie Miles, Pediatrician

Join me in learning what healthy changes can be made to potentially improve these two conditions. Topics covered on the recorded call are:

• What are ADHD and Autism & how many children are affected?
  
• What are the Causes and Contributors to these conditions?
  
• What can we do to modify the symptoms?
• What effect nutrition has on the lives of children with ADHD and Autism?
  

REBROADCAST:

http://nkroupa.audioacrobat.com/download/b61266bd-8c41-b8ed-0e3e-84b376e2df19.mp3

The information in this Broadcast is life changing for those who want to help their little people!

I am a mom, foster/adoptive parent, of three special needs little people who struggled to learn how to best help them. After three years, I have discovered a few easy and simple things about nutrition, which have helped my family enormously. I would love to share what I have learned works for my family. I am passionate about helping little, and big, people feel better. I do free one on one consultations, information sessions with small groups, and presentations for large groups about the role nutrition plays on health and wellness as my way of giving back to the community.

If you would like more information, to set up a free wellness consultation, or plan a gathering, please contact me.

Christine Trochesset

veggiechristine@gmail.com

309-267-0383

Please share this education with people you love and care about!

Domestic Goddesses - Feel the Power!

Before mom left, she made all of us girls fabulous aprons, and when I put that apron on I truly feel like a domestic goddess! "I feel pretty. Oh so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and bright." And life really seems to become something out of a musical, which the girls LOVE.

The girls and I have been having a lot of fun in the kitchen; whipping up homemade yummies for all to enjoy. I have found I really do enjoy being home and taking care of my family. And it is good for me, I have found a balance lately of giving myself to them, and then being able to go out and have some grown up time too. On Monday nights, I find myself saying as I head out the door to dance class, "Now enjoy your meal, I made it with lots of love, and help your Daddy out by cleaning up".

When I was in college, working on my women's study minor, I thought a strong woman went out into the world and showed those men what she could do. My motto was, "What you(implying men) can do, I can do better". And that worked to some extent for awhile. But I was always comparing myself to what a man could do, which somehow defeated the whole purpose of trying to make me feel strong. Then when we adopted the girls, I thought I had to show them how to be strong women by example. Only what that did to me was make me stressed and frazzled (not such a great role model).

So I took a week, and stepped out of my current life; found what really made me who I was. When I came home, I knew I could be strong, loving, traditional, and a good role model. Everybody told me these things, but I couldn't grasp it until I was ready. Life is good right now, I have been cooking, sewing, creating, dancing, and getting out and about. And I am look forward to raising some strong, independent, self-assured girls, leading by example.

~ Thanks mom.

Family mattered most to Trochesset

Two weeks ago Ms. Sue passed away, and like most deaths we had a reality jolt. I feel so blessed that our daughters met her and shared a few special moments of her life.

To me, Grandma Sue was an icon. She represented a slower time, where family comes first - the same things I am trying to teach my girls. I want them to be lively, spunky ladies, yet always have a smile and kiss for family. I want them to appreciate the warm gentle touch of a hand, and idle chatter about weather while peeling potatoes. I want them to have her gift of southern hospitality and generosity. Everyday I want to see reminders of Grandma Sue in the actions of our family.

What a gift she has given our family and once again I say, "I feel very blessed".

Thank-you Grandma Sue.

Family mattered most to Trochesset - D'Iberville - SunHerald.com

Before the Rain Set In

It's Easter morning and the early bird gets the worm :) Thanks to the girls getting up early, we got all our activities in before Mother Nature watered the spring flowers. Another wonderful Easter was had by all and we are now getting ready to enjoy Alice In Wonderland.

We dyed eggs last night with our chicken eggs, as Lexi calls them, and they turned out beautiful. Although, I am never sure who has more fun, the girls or us ;-)

Lexi didn't wait for anyone - she was on the go and scooping them up before we all got outside.



Hanna was all about who got more, and of course she got more.



While we were out, I took some pictures of the wildlife and landscape.

Bulging at the Seams :)

The Month of March has proven to be a month for expanding.

On the 4th, we added a new little girl to the household, and she is proving to be quite the joy. We are hoping she will be a permanent placement/forever ours, but things are still up in the air a bit. Please keep your fingers crossed and until that happens I can't post any pictures on the internet, so you will just have to come see her in person :) Hanna and Lexi spend a lot of time giving her hugs and kisses, and Hanna is turning into a big helper. Lexi, although doing very well overall, is feeling the slight of not being the youngest anymore. We are doing all kinds of things to help Lexi with that, but the fact is, she isn't the baby anymore.

Then on the 5th, we added two more kids to the farm (baby goats). Peaches had her babies late Friday evening, as all of us eagerly watched. Poor thing had a regular gallery of onlookers. The other three does waited until Monday and came one right after the other. Stawberry, the youngest of the does, had triplets. Hazel had twins and Ruby had twins. There are now 9 little kids (5 bucks and 4 does) running, climbing and terrorizing the barn. They really are a hoot to watch and play with. Hanna has turned into be quite the shepherdess. I always wanted to be a vet or something dealing with animals - maybe I can live vicariously through Hanna :)

And then came the rain and the mud! And then more rain and more mud and so on and so on.

We just thought it had dried out this past week - only one vehicle stuck in the driveway - and then it snowed Saturday. So now we are going to be walking up and down the lane again. I have really gotten a jump start on my walking this season - since our lane is about 1.5 miles round trip. And I have been making the trip at least 2 to 3 times a day, and sometimes at a jog if I am running late. I have started a joke about surviving the lane. If you make it down and back out without getting stuck, you can say you survived the Trochesset Lane - quite a feat these days. I made a picture to hallmark the occasion and even toyed with the idea of selling T-shirts to build up the rock fund.

What is the old saying, in like a lion and out like a lamb. . . I am not sure what happened first around here, but I can only hope things settle down and some regularity sets in for April!

Just A Little Ice

The Poor Red Radio Wagon. But I love the ice coated wire, it was so fascinating.


The Crab Apple tree still has a bit of fruit on it, which the birds will love once mother nature sets it out to thaw.

We were a little late getting out this day, but it ended up being quite fun!


Miss Lexi, who has to put everything in her mouth.


Miss Hanna and Lorretta Einstein


A snow walk in the dark - delicious!


We'll always leave the light on for you - whether you are a big or small :)

As the snow falls . . .

I sit here and reminisce about this past year, and what a year it has been. Filled with lots of change and emotions, but all for the good!

I am learning to relinquish some of my Holiday "have to do's" and am just maintaining. I didn't get any Christmas cards sent out, no holiday cookies made, still have 5 boxes of Christmas decorations that didn't get unpacked, and no real Christmas shopping done. BUT I have two wonderful and beautiful girls who are having a great Christmas, so I guess that is all that matters really.

Soon we will be on our way to Biloxi to spend the Holidays with John's Family. John is ready to get out of the snow and I think he would settle for leaving tonight if we were packed. Although, the girls have been enjoying it.

A Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Juice Plus+

Since our journey into a healthier lifestyle, a friend of mine told me about juice plus+, so we decided to try it. Even though we are vegetarians, we still do not get 13 servings of fruits an vegetable a day and definitely not in a diverse way - sometimes we go all week on apples and banana's.

We have been taking it for almost a year now and I can't say enough positive things about it. We LOVE it and the girls are so much healthier. There is such a big difference, the girls have not been sick for over 6 months, and lord knows that with all the day care kids germs, they have had plenty of exposer. I 100% contribute it to Juice Plus+. Anyway, here are a video that talk about Juice Plus+ from Dr. Sears, the leading pediatrician. It is AWESOME!

If you want more info, e-mail John, veggiejohn@gmail.com or you can check out his website at www.veggiejohnjuiceplus.com And there are more video's by all kinds of Dr. and researchers.

First Day of School

And we are walking down the lane with all the crew in tow.

Hanna began 1st Grade at Mediapolis Community School

Lexi started Pre-K and their cousin Lyrica began 1st grade

New Edition to the Family

We made a tough decision to get rid of the riding horses. I haven't had much time to ride this summer, because we have been traveling so much, and we like dong that, so it seems a little frivolous to keep a big horse that eats a lot of hay all winter when we probably won't ride next summer either. So I took some final picture with the girls on HD and then we sold her.

But I could justify getting a pony for the girls, and along came Annie. The girls have enjoyed these last days of summer with her and I am excited about them working with her in the Spring. They really needed something smaller that they could build their confidence on.