New year, new passions.

Geesh. How has it been three months since I last posted? Though life is filled with noteworthy events, I find it hard to blog about the day-in day-out things that happen. Because the end of a year always tends to make me a bit more contemplative than usual, I figured I should share some sort of meaningful update...here goes!

So, I'm starting a Zumba class at our church next week (along with my lovely friend, Courtney Fair). If you would have told me this last year at this time, I probably would have told you that you had me confused with someone else, someone who was in much better shape, and much more self-confident. I've always been conscious of working out and trying to be healthy, but haven't always done that greatest job. But this blog post isn't about starting a Zumba class per say, but about following my passions.

You see, I absolutely LOVE having the opportunity and blessing of being a stay-at-home mom. I don't necessarily love the monotony that a lot of days bring (especially the long winter ones) or some of the frustrations that come with being at home with your child all of the time, but I do love being a mom, and I guess you could say I'm passionate about motherhood. However, it began to occur to me that though I love my son and I think I'm a pretty good mom and wife most of the time, I had begun to lose myself--lose who I was/am as a person. The thought first surfaced when I was complaining to Troy that he could go out and do fun things much more easily than I could. Being the wonderful husband he is, he told me he didn't mind if I left the house to do something fun. When I couldn't even think of what I would do with a free evening by myself, I knew I had a problem.

Being a mom can be so all-encompassing that you lose a part of yourself. I know it's necessary to sacrifice for my family, but not to the extent that I don't have any hobbies aside from cooking, cleaning, and wiping poopy butts. So enter this crazy idea that came into my head: I should start a Zumba class at our church. I had been to a lot of classes over the past couple of years, and had always loved it. I also grew up taking dance classes and my mom was a dance teacher. At first it was a silly "maybe in another life" sort of idea, but as the weeks and months went by, I couldn't shake it. Honestly, I've had very few true passions in life, but since having Ian I've become pretty passionate about health and nutrition. I really felt like the Lord could use these passions in a way that could build a sense of community at our church and help get people excited about health and fitness.

So, here I am, about ready to launch this dream. At times I'm super excited and confident. At other times I'm a little nervous that no one will actually show up or that people won't like what we've been working so hard to prepare for the past couple of months. Either way, I feel a new sense of empowerment for trying something that I never thought I would. Something inside of me has come alive, and I really think it makes me a better mom and wife. So here's to a new year of figuring out and following your passions!

Summer Synopsis

In honor of summer's end (even though it's still scorching outside!) I'd like to post a pictorial synopsis of our summer activites.














Splash Park in Middletown!!















Under the Golden Gate Bridge




















First time at the beach, and first taste of sand


















Walking through Union Square in San Fran with cousin, Shelby















Sweet corn on the cob!



















Organizing the condiments















Reading with daddy
















Swingin' in the back yard















Road trip to Michigan with our friend, Varner















RR tracks in Michigan




















Ready for the farmer's market
















At the playground in Illinois with grandpa Petre




















World breastfeeding week party















Sharing snacks with his friend, Owen















Reading with daddy and friend, Kai



















With uncle Joshhhh!




















Getting 'nebulized'















And just to prove I was really around for all of this, a picture with mom.















And a family pic for good measure.

My Hubby is Awesome!

So, the shower in our master bathroom was quite nasty, to say the least. It was cracked and moldy and yucky and disgusting. We'd been putting up with if for two years until enough was enough!




































Yucky!

My wonderful and talented husband spent all of labor day weekend (and then some) tiling our bathroom. This picture doesn't do it justice. Let's just say that compared to before, I feel like I'm showering in luxury!



















Ahhhh.....

Blueberries!

I have wonderful memories of picking blueberries when I was growing up in Michigan, so when our wonderful friends, the Sprocks, invited us to go several weeks ago, of course we said yes! Part of the reason I love blueberries is you can eat as many as you want while you're picking. It's like a buffet, but healthier, and with not much variety. Of course, the fudge and ice cream we bought at the gift shop on the way out probably didn't help, but hey, we got our antioxidants in for the day.




























Andrew, Melissa, and Kai Sprock



















Don't let this picture fool you. Ian ate way more blueberries than he picked.





































The funny thing is, Ian ate probably a quart of blueberries that day, but when we got home, he wouldn't eat them anymore. Oh well, more for us.

Messy Faces

Helping a toddler learn to be an independent eater is a messy process, but it makes for some great pictures!














Rice cake with almond butter














Pesto














Quinoa















Who knows??















What's so funny??

San Francisco

Troy's parents plan a big family vacation every year, and this year we traveled to San Francisco!!

It was a bit tiring with all day plane flights and a three-hour time change, but we had a great time! We saw Alcatraz, hiked redwood forest, rode the cable cars, visited Chinatown, met up with our great friend from Mission Year, Joyce, picked organic strawberries, rode a boat under the Golden Gate Bridge, saw lots of beaches, walked up the 'crookedist' street in the U.S., ate lots of yummy food, and had a great time with family!!