What's Max gonna be?

What is Mr. Max going to be when he grows up?

A Doctor?

A Nurse?

(One of those manly male nurses, of course.

Never mind the pink blood pressure cuff)

A Marine Biologist?

An Author?

Whatever it is, I can't wait to find out!

But, hopefully time doesn't move too fast.

I can't believe he is going to be a year old in a few months!

Crazy! I am pretty sure Ramona didn't grow this fast.

We're gettin' crunchy! (Phase 1)

In the past I have had fleeting thoughts of eating healthier. Usually as a way to loose some extra pounds. I have heard all the different reasons why to eat organic, raw, local, etc... But have never followed through. Mainly because I got overwhelmed thinking about all the different changes I would need to make, the cost to buy organic and the fact that my husband doesn't like most fruits and vegetables. So, I would just give up and go back to my unhealthy ways because really I wasn't eating THAT bad. People all over America are surviving on worse diets!

That was my attitude until recently when I read this blog. She presented this way of life from a Christian view. And everything clicked into place for me. I am abusing the body that God gave me by eating empty, man made food! Worse yet, I'm passing this onto my children! God provided everything that we needed on this earth and we are ruining it. That was it, I was hooked. I read her entire blog (like a total nerd/possible stalker). But I couldn't read the information fast enough. (BTW I will be totally embarrassed if she reads this and sees all my gushing.) I've since been to the library, other websites and researched some more at our local Sprouts and farmer's market.

Ramona loves our weekly trip to Sprouts.

She helps pick out and carry all the fruit!

What does all this mean? We, the Chalman family, are going organic, all natural, grass fed, free range, etc.. etc... in our own home at least. I can only do so much. This will be done slooowly so that I don't get overwhelmed. That's why this is just Phase 1. I'm blogging about this to keep myself accountable. I'm sure I will get frustrated and hit some snags along the way. But I don't want to give up! So help keep me motivated!

The future phases will hopefully include: making my own cleaning supplies, growing my own garden (if I can stop killing plants...I do NOT have a green thumb.), chickens?!? , recycling, cooking from scratch, and the list goes on and on.

And the most important is thing on my self improvement overhaul is that I want to show God's beautiful earth to my children. I want to turn off the T.V. and spend time with them outside (must overcome my bug phobia). I want to spend quality time with them when we are inside. And not just pass the time with play dates and naps until Chris gets home.

These are my lofty goals. God, help me tackle this!

Bologna and Cheese

Ramona has a new friend, Evelyn. (Yes, I realize this is the worst picture EVER. But you try taking a picture of a bunch of 3 year olds!) They were instant friends, so Evelyn's mommy and I started hanging out too. (She's awesome, by the way!) Well, Evelyn and Ramona are such good friends that they have developed nicknames for each other. Evelyn calls Ramona, "Bologna"...we have no idea why. And with a little encouragement from the Mommies (because we think it's cute), Ramona calls Evelyn, "Cheese". Bologna and Cheese are inseparable! They get along like peas and carrots.

I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N.

Ramona is totally into her new Praise CD that we have in the car. Or as she calls it "the kids one". I was listening to her sing today and loving every second. How cute is it to hear a 3 year old sing every word to "Jesus Loves Me"! I was very impressed when I heard her singing, "I am a C. I am a C-H. I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N." I can't believe she can pick out all the words...or letters in this case. So when I started singing, "Who built the ark? Noah, Noah!" she quickly corrected me..."That's not right!" Hmmm...I'll have to listen more closely to what words she sings for that song.

We picked up a ton of new books from Nifty Thrift today. (SUPER cheap!) And as we are driving home, she asks me to pass her another one of her new books. Well, I was exiting the highway, so I said, "Not now, I need to keep driving so we can be safe." To which she replies, "You could drive with one hand and give me a book with the other...How about that?" She's a smart one. But that still wouldn't be safe.

Here comes Peter Cottontail...er...the Easter Bunny.

He's all dressed in his Easter best!

The golden egg! It had 4 quarters in it.

Fiesta! We hid 12 "cracky" eggs. (Cascarones)

"I'm too short!"

The "rabbit hole"

Aren't these eggs adorable!

Max didn't participate much in the hunt.

The loot!

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter!

The Easter Bunny works out at the Y!

This morning we went to the Y to register Ramona for her swim lessons and guess who we ran into? The Easter Bunny, of course! Who knew he had a membership at our local YMCA. Too bad we didn't see him shakin' his tail in the Zumba class!

After Ramona had her swim evaluation we swam around for awhile. Me in the "mommy pool" aka. the hot tub and Ramona in the kid's pool. Ramona was freezing and shaking the whole time. But whenever I touched her with my warm hot tub hands, she would yell, "Ow, why are you burning me?" That's why kids aren't allowed in the Mommy Pool.

1, 2, 3, Pick your nose!

Ramona asked me to take a picture of her and Max this morning.

I guess this is the moment she wanted to remember.

Max is growing up so fast! He's learning to eat table food and I just started him on water today. He is getting 4 teeth on top. This will bring him to a grand total of 6 teeth. He has also learned how to demand things from us. If he finds something funny (especially Poppy talking like Donald Duck) he will gesture wildly and say "Ah!" until you do it again...and again...and again. It's a good thing we find his laughing so adorable.

Ramona LOVES princesses. She bought this nightgown with her own money that she was given for her birthday. And for the past several days, she has insisted on sleeping in it. She also asked me to wear one of her princess dresses the other day. It's sweet that she thinks we are the same size.

Parents of the Year!

Chris and I went to IKEA today with my in-laws, the kids and Aunt Kala. We were there forever looking for organizational stuff for Kala's new apartment and our new place. So we were all taking turns watching the kids...BAD IDEA.

We got about half way through the store to the kitchen stuff when I glanced around and didn't see Ramona. Doug walked by with Max, no Ramona. Kala walks up and lets us know Tracy went to the bathroom...no Ramona. Uh oh. She's short and the place is crowded.

So we start back tracking when an IKEA employee asks if we are looking for someone. I kind of ignore her, because I'm so busy walking back to the last place I saw her. Then the employee says, "I think I have what you are looking for." I say, "A blond little girl?" Yep, she starts leading us back to the home office section of the store asking us stuff like what shoes is Ramona wearing? What clothes? And there she is sitting with a group on employees crying. Apparently they had asked her what her parents names were and she just kept saying "Mom and Dad." :( Poor thing!

She was super clingy for the next 30-45 minutes. I held her as we finished shopping and tried to comfort her.

Me: You're ok now, were you scared?

Ramona: Nods

Me: Were you afraid we weren't coming back for you?

Ramona: Nods

Me: Aw, little one, I will always come back for you!

Who knows how long she was looking for us! It could have been close to 10 minutes. We all thought the other was watching her. I received disapproving looks from the IKEA employees. Parents of the year, ladies and gentlemen!

The Prettiest Plumber

We (and by "we" I mean "Chris, Doug and my Dad") have been working hard setting up the plumbing for our new doublewide. This morning, Ramona wanted to help, so they put her to work.

She's the newbie, so she has to do the grunt work.

........

We celebrated one of Ramona's best friends 3rd birthday yesterday. It was a dinosaur party!

Ramona took a hands on approach to the gift portion of the party

I brought Mimi along to help out with Max.

Max sporting one of his new hand-me-down onesies. Super handsome! Thanks to my friend Kristina for giving me 11 boxes of clothes!!!

We had so much fun this weekend with my parents. They made the trip up here to lend support while Max had his tubes procedure. It went well, he was so brave and didn't cry at all in front of the pretty nurses at Strictly Pediatrics Surgery Center. Hopefully this clears up all of the ear infections he has been suffering through. Thanks, Mom and Dad! The kids LOVED hanging out with you!

Jesus Flowers

This weekend we went with Chris and his band, Price Hill, to Camp Zephyr. Chris ended up being REALLY busy the whole time, so we had to keep ourselves busy with hiking and the great outdoors! On our first hike (just me and the kids)...

We went over the bridge...

Up the stairs...did I mention Max was in a stroller?

To the lake!!!

Max got hot and fussy.

Ramona learned about blue bonnets:

Me: Ramona, those are bluebonnets. Aren't they beautiful?

Ramona: Yes, I love them!

Me: You can't pick them.

Ramona: But I want to pick them because they are so special!

Me: I know, I'm sorry, but we can't. If everybody picks them, there won't be any left!

Ramona: (Thinks for a minute...) Are they for Jesus?

Me: Yes, those flowers are for Jesus.

Ramona got "cold freezing" in 90 degree weather.

No much of an outdoorsman.

Ramona made herself a light snack.

We took Poppy and Mimi on the trail. Max hikes in style!

And we found a tiny turtle!

We had tons of fun and Price Hill did great! Hopefully we can go to more of the camps this summer. Please send me tips on how to keep the kids entertained at teen camps. I can't wait until Max is a little older, he will have more fun and I won't have to carry him so much...I'm exhausted!

Does that baby doll have tenders?

Ramona loves to play "mommy" and help feed Max. So today, I asked her to get one of her babies from her room to feed while I gave Max breakfast. Little did I know that she would choose the ugliest baby doll in the world! Her Aunt Kala gave a big box of her old babies to Ramona and one of them is anatomically correct. That's right folks, look closely, it's a boy! Upon further examination, it looks EXACTLY like a newborn...a super ugly newborn. It has "tenders" as we call them in our house, a booty hole and an umbilical cord. GROSS! Ramona was making him crawl around and the behind view was graphic to say the least. This doll is now hidden in the top of her closet.

She and Max played Barbies yesterday. I think he wanted to be Barbie, instead of Ken.

Max is teething like crazy and figuring out how to blow raspberries and chew on his tongue. So, he looks like this most of the day.

Vampire Baby!

It may be hard to see in this picture, but Max's fangs are growing in. His favorite past time right now is biting anything and everything. No one is safe! He loves to sink his teeth into soft flesh.

I have no picture for a Ramona update, but her new favorite saying is "See you later, Crocodile!" It's adorable and I will never correct her.