So we're still trying to stay Farmer's Market fresh

and stick to the ten items on the list.

However, last week I we did eat out quite a bit

and I already had 3 cheats.

To my defense I did have guests from Europe

and they had never, ever had a 

SMOORE! 

If that isn't reason to cheat I don't know what is!

Week 2

Monday - Tacos with salad
Tuesday - out to dinner at Elements in Santa Barbara
Wednesday - salmon, eggplant brushetta, beet & orange salad
and Smoores
Thursday - My girlfriend brought over cornbread and black beans
and I made guacamole corn salad with tortilla chips
Friday - Out to dinner for RJ's birthday with friends
Saturday - dinner in Santa Monica for our anniversary
Sunday - sausages from Farmer's with leftovers from the Santa Monica dinner

Quite possibly the second best cookies ever
(choc chip still takes number 1. always and forever!)

I also did a bunch of baking this week:

Nutella Cookies
Blueberry Muffins
&
Honey Oat Bread

And finally, the two alternatives from the list and the two cheats:

Alternative 1: tortilla chips
Alternative 2: paprika
Cheat 1: marshmallows
Cheat 2: Hershey's chocolate 

i love this man

Lovebirds enjoying Norah Jones

Tomorrow we celebrate out 6th wedding anniversary!

And RJ's 29th birthday.

I can't believe I met this boy when he was 21

and now he's almost 30.

How awesome is it going to be when we are both 80 and I can say I've

known him for 69 years! 

After 8 years of togetherness (2 dating/6 married)

I still get excited to go on dates together.

And I love the canter of our everyday life too.

Here's a little peek into our day-to-day marriage:

Since we've gotten iphones we enjoy texting each other throughout the day.

This was about four days ago at 10 a.m.

Anna: Do you have the theology book [in your truck] again?

RJ: Yep

Anna: annoyed

RJ: 

Anna: Brat! Two can play this game

RJ: I find it amusing we are clamoring over a theology book. Classic. Look at how far we've come.

Anna: Yes, it's pretty cool.

            Except I never get to read it!

RJ: Wa Wa

If that little interaction isn't a selling point for marriage I don't know what is.

How fun are we! 

I love us!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABE!

Tired to the Bone & a Letter

I had so many blogs dancing in my head last week.

Thoughts on fashion, food, parenting, the art of wifery. 

(I love how on your own slice of internet space you're allowed to make-up your own words)

But now that I'm sitting in front of the screen I can think of nothing.

My head is blank.

Completely filled with air.

(To go along with my blonde hair.)

I believe reason for this emptiness is sleeping in the bedroom next to me.

He has literally driven the thoughts out of my head 

and now they're swirling away in the fog outside my window.

He drove the first one away when he started screaming loudly and obnoxiously whenever angered.

I lost the second one to his new habit of hitting and scratching while screaming.

And the whining drove out any remaining thoughts. 

(There probably weren't really all that many anyway.)

All I have left before I collapse into exhaustion is this letter:

Dear Dr. Dobson:

Congratulations on your retirement! I hope you have enjoyed these last few months of rest and relaxation.

However, after so many years of demanding work I image you might be a bit bored. And, if I am remembering correctly, you do not yet have any grandchildren to fill the long, quiet hours. So, please allow me to provide the following suggestion:

I have in my possession an adorable, chubby, blond-haired fellow who is the perfect anecdote to any restlessness. He loves walks, playing in the pool, the Backyardigans, balls, trucks, legos and snacks. He is available for hire immediately, and you may have him (finance-free!) until April 2012. 

We just ask that you return him for two hours each afternoon (between 11am-1pm would be perfect as he is often too jovial for your interests during those hours) and most Saturdays. 

Think of the fun you will have! It's the opportunity to relive your youth! And test your theories on child rearing. Think of it as a return on your years of investment. 

I hope you will consider this amazing opportunity. 

Affectionately,

Anna   

p.s. If you do choose to accept I hope you will pay particular attention of the young man's temper. It is quite possibly the challenge of a lifetime for a teacher of psychology such as yourself.  

Was Blind But Now I See

this post is really long.

just a warning.

I've had a really blessed life. My parents gave me a wonderful, fun, loving, supportive childhood. The junior high experience was a little bit rough, but who's wasn't?! I wouldn't say High School was the best time of my life, but I can honestly say I enjoyed it. The college years were a blast. I married an amazing man; and while we do have our difficult moments we have each other, a beautiful boy, our health, RJ has a job, etc. Life hasn't been completely struggle free, I've had personal struggles and some difficult relationships, but all-in-all I've been spared the truly difficult road. For now.

One of my biggest struggles in this Christian life is fear of trial. Because I've never had to wade through a traumatic experience (death of a loved one, illness, poverty, infertility, etc.) I am fearful of those moments. The Lord doesn't promise us an easy life. Actually, He tells us quite the opposite, we will go through trials. Everyone does. We live in a fallen world. And I know that when I an faced with a trial the Lord will be my Rock. I am confident in His promises to uphold me. (Just look at how He is working good in the lives our the Merrick family.)

But sometimes I still let the fear grip me. Sometimes I forget that the Lord wants Good things for me. That He works all things together for good; that those who are struggling the most are often the closest to Him. As Francis Chan said in Sunday's message (paraphrased) - "Part of us should want to walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, just so we can see what our Big God will do! He can close the mouths of Lions. Don't you want to see what He'll do when Shepherding you through a crisis?!" I do...and yet, I don't. Despite my knowledge of God and His promises I still want to avoid pain and hurt. I think that's a normal human emotion. And I can allow myself to be human. However, I do think it's wrong to wait in fear for the Big Trial. That fear is sinful - it's not trusting God with my life.

But, despite my sin, God is SO GOOD to me. I am overwhelmed by his LOVE. Look at what He did for me today:

Last night I had a terrible dream. I dreamt I was pregnant and I delivered a beautiful baby girl. She was precious, and chubby, and blond just like her big brother.

And she was blind.

I woke up panicked. Fear gripping me. A blind child! No Lord, please. I wouldn't be able to handle it. Immediately I started praying. I prayed for any future children we might have. I prayed for their health. I prayed for Landon and his health. I prayed for RJ and I. Finally, emotionally exhausted I fell back into a fitful sleep dreaming of disabled children.

This morning I still felt off. Fearful, Worried. I tried reassuring myself with the Lord's promises. Reminding myself that He knows what's best for my life - even if that means raising a child with a disability. I soothed myself by recounting stories of parents with disabled children, and how they love their disabled children just as much as their healthy children. And mind you this thought process is taking up my entire morning and I'm not even pregnant! 

With all this going on inside my head Landon and I took off for the beach. It is gorgeous here today and I thought I would run on the boardwalk before his nap. Most mornings I either run or walk with L and the dog and we listen to the Focus on the Family daily broadcast off my phone.

Today I set up the stroller as usual, buckled in the boy, and turned on my Focus on the Family app to see the topic for today's broadcast. It was a personal testimony - by a BLIND WOMAN. Are you kidding me Lord?!

Not two minutes later I was already crying. (Jogging and crying while pushing a stroller - you should see the stares you get!) For the next twenty minutes I listened to a touching testimony by a beautiful woman who lost her sight in her twenties. She had a toddler at home. She went from seeing to darkness in three weeks. A few years later her husband died of cancer. A single mother without any physical sight. Can you image?!! And yet she found Joy in the Lord. She never questioned why. She got angry, frustrated, and she hurt. And some days she still pounds her pillow, but she is happy. Joyful.

Rather than spending the rest of my day in fear of been meditating instead on her words:

"Just because horrible things have happened to  you doesn't mean you have to life a terrible life."

Farm Fresh - Week 1

The good: we've been eating tons on fruits and veggies.

The bad: I'm hungry all the time! I miss my starchy, carb-filling snacks. 

 But I know my body will adjust and if feels good knowing 

I can pour myself a second glass of wine because I didn't eat any empty calories 

I am feeding my family really fresh, healthy meals. 

Plus, I'm really expanding my culinary adventures.

I made HOMEMADE CRACKERS the other day. 

I didn't even know you could do that!

And it was easy.

And delicious.

Try.

Caprese sandwich with tomato, basil, and mozzarella 

Week 1:

Monday - pasta with eggplant sauce & salad

Tuesday - steak with brandy sauce, potatoes, & salad

Wednesday - Caprese sandwiches on olive bread from Famers (yum!)

with roasted corn salad

Thursday - Burgers with fruit salad & potatoes

Friday - homemade crackers with salami, cheese & tomato

Saturday - out to pizza with friends

Sunday - RJ bbq'ed quite possibly the best salmon I've ever had, salad

& cous cous

Landon's just glad there is still yogurt on the menu

Oh, and the two "open" choice grocery store items last week were:

Hamburger buns
Tortilla chips

Why I Blog

I've been blogging for a little over 3 years now which is just crazy. And lately, I've been wondering why. Why do I choose to share my life over the internet with family, friends and strangers? It takes time to maintain a blog. And as Landon gets older personal time is becoming more and more precious (as there is less and less). I could use Facebook and email to stay in touch with people and share photos. And the phone to retell funny or amusing stories. I have friends in the area I can vent and complain to when necessary. So why blog?

One reason I continue is because I can eventually turn my blog into a scrapbook. There are companies that will take my blog and create a Shurtterfly-like book that I can look back on or share with my children. A book of precious memories and everyday images such as this one:

Enjoying vanilla soy milk on a coffee date with Mommy

The blog is also a great place to share public service announcements:

Dear Ventura Friends,
As you very well know Palermo is one of the best local coffee shops in town.
However, I must sadly inform you that they have failed me twice.
Above is the muffin I ordered this morning.
Label: Blueberry
Actual Flavor: cake; falsely advertised by a sprinkling of berries on top
I've fallen for this false advertising once before. Not again!

Stick with the coffee and scones.

And I am proud of the little family the Lord has blessed me with. I love sharing our adventures and escapades. The web is full of mom-bloggers and it's a fun community to be a part of. I enjoy watching people's children grow and learning about what another mother might make for dinner

But mostly I enjoy blogging because I actually like to write. Once out of high school it was acceptable to venture outside the 5-paragraph essay (bing!, bang!, bongo!), and I found writing more enjoyable. Then college ended and I was no longer fleeing my computer burnt out from ten page philosophy papers, and I discovered that writing about oneself can actually be a great creative outlet. And now that I'm not in the workforce I find myself cooped-up with tons of creative energy - hence blog posts about anything and everything.

And while I often blog about our day-to-day lives I really want this space to reflect the transparency of my heart. I often say that RJ lives with his heart on his sleeve. He has nothing to hide. I love that about him. For we are all sinners saved only by the grace of Jesus. I hope I can be more open too.

I've heard that there is a movement in our generation to be more transparent than the generations before us - more real. I hope this is true. However, in my observations, I am still seeing a lack of emotional vulnerability in the American church. Too many Christians trying to live perfect before the Lord and before men (or more before men?). Unable to admit struggles or ask for prayer for themselves. Too many people are ashamed to admit their hurts, worries, fears and sins; rather we often hear prayer requests for a great-aunt or a friend's friend.

Or, if we do open up we hid our real feelings behind Christian cliches. "The Lord is really humbling me right now." "I'm in a valley but I trust that He will get me out again."     Care to elaborate?

I am too often in the cliche group. I desire to be more open and real. Not because I want to burden you with my problems or negativity, but because I hope to encourage. It is encouraging to hear that we are not alone in our struggles. And, the Lord is the great redeemer. I hope, in my transparency, you will see His great work in my life. The Freedom that comes with Jesus. My friend Dallas has it right. You want a taste of real Christian living check out his blog right now.

Anyhoo, there's my thoughts on why I blog. More ramblings to come....

MOMMY!

Landon was a little slow to join the Mommy-train.

He's been into Mommy since the beginning.

(Although at first I'm fairly certain he was using me for the milk.)

But he didn't actually say the word Mommy until recently.

Honestly, I was getting quite annoyed.

He had been saying "Doggie" and "Dadda" for months.

Even words such as "done" and "please" and "eye"

seems more important than Mommy. 

I mean really kid - 

I cook your meals,

dress you, give you toys, wipe your bum. 

Couldn't you at least have the decency to refer to me by name.

At one point I got actually got upset.

During diaper changes there was quite a bit of

grabbing and gibbering and what sounded like

"Eee-nus".

Normally I could have given it to him,

but there was no way I was writing

"penis" on the word chart before "mommy". 

But finally he got.

About a ten days ago I heard the first "Mommy."

What elation!

My baby boy recognized me by name. 

I high-fived him, and snuggled, and kissed his chubby little cheeks. 

"Yes, I'm your Mommy!"

Now it's been over a week since that first sweet-sounding "mommy."

And Landon has realized that he can not only say the name,

but that it elicits a response from his mother. 

What fun!

Welcome to the soundtrack of our life:

mommy

mommy

mommy

mommy

mommy!

mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy

mommy!!!!

One of my favorite things about the stay-at-home mom job 

is the household management. 

I actually love budgeting our spending for each month:

looking for great deals, going to the grocery store,

finding kid-friendly activities that don't break the bank.

And in order to keep my job from feeling stale 

(although the way Landon's changing everyday I doubt it really could)

I enjoy giving myself new challenges.

Its kinda silly sometimes. 

But I like to keep things at home interesting, so I'll do activities like

"eat out the pantry for as long as we can" or 

"how many different breakfasts can I made this week", 

or "how fast can I clean the bathroom".  

Lately I've been really discouraged by our overconsumption of unnecessary grocery store items. I feel as though Landon has been eating more packaged foods than necessary, and not nearly as many veggies as he should. 

And our grocery bill has been outrageously high.

So I am embarking on a new challenge 

and inviting you all to follow (or join!) along.

While I would love to do as Barbara Kingsolver, 

and eat completely from our backyard, it just isn't feasible.

Instead our diet will be determined by the Farmer's Market.

Here's the plan:

Buy as much as I want at the Farmer's Market on fresh fruits, veggies, and a smattering of other goodies. 

Keep out grocery store list to ten items.

8 permanent items

and 2 rotating items that change per week.

(If you want to join along consider doing 3 rotating items so you can include more protein. We already have a freezer full of organic, grass-fed beef and fish so we don't need to buy as much.)

The Grocery Store List

1. Milk

2. Coffee

3. Yogurt

4. Butter

5. Cheese

6. Cheerios (Landon would shrivel up and die without them)

7. Sugar

8. Flour (& yeast. I bake a lot and yeast alone seems too little to take up an entire spot)

9. Open

10. Open

I know I am totally weird.

But I really want to give this a try.

I have no idea how realistic it is but I'll let you know.

I'm going to see how long I can last.

The most difficult part will be entertaining and not wanting to serve guests creamed corn with green salad and plums. 

At least I live in California where the markets are flush with produce. 

Three Kings

Now that Landon is older

and "more of a real person" (according to his Grandfather)

it's fun to see the 3 Richards all together. 

But someone answer me this:

Why do men find is SO incredibly entertaining to give there

little babies sips of alcoholic drinks?

RJ and his buddies get the biggest kick out of their

wee ones holding beer bottles and such.

Meanwhile the wives scold and chastise,

but they just do it again the next time. 

What you can't see:
Landon going "Yum Yum"

The three Dicks

Home Sweet Home

For the past ten days 
Landon and I have:

Hosted the Grandparents

Flew to Sacramento

Saw Landon's Great-Nounie

Played with Oma and Grandpa

Threw a surprise 30th birthday party in Stockton

Visited April's workplace in downtown Sac

Flew to Oregon

Drove from Portland to Eugene 

Swam in the Pool

Visited with our Dutch family members

Met/Reunited with other family members

Flew to Sacramento

Drove to SLO

Slept 6 hours and then drove to Ventura

We are exhausted.

Quite Possibly the Best Thrift Store Find Ever

While thrifting with Jessica a few weeks ago I stumbled upon this beauty:

A 1950s enamel typewriter in perfect condition.

Complete with handled carrying case. 

I heart my old-fashioned writing device.

The new ink ribbon just came in the mail and I'm envisioning

handmade greeting cards and cutesy gift wrap tags. 

(The type of craft I can actually pull off!)

And quite possibly an original novel typed, stacked, and tied with a ribbon -

just like Jo March.

(Well, her's might have been handwritten, but the picturesque image still holds.)

These are a few of my favorite things:

Newly discovered blogs:

Joy's Hope

Kendi Everyday 

(fashion inspiration)

Joy the Baker 

(the browned butter blueberry muffins are to-die-for)

Cowboy Cuteness 

from Janie and Jack 

 

Last week my friend Amber and I took out little ones to the Ventura County Fair. 

Two and a half hours is just enough time to have a full fair
experience with limited meltdowns.
We hit up a couple rides, haggled with a few Carnies, saw the animals,
and indulged in fair food. 

Landon loved the rides.

Until they started moving.

Then he clung desperately to Mommy.

(I kinda loved it.)

Avery "weeheed!" every moment of her ride; in true fun-loving fashion.

How cute are they:

   Something happened at the fair that is still bugging me.
Tell me if I'm being ridiculous for being annoyed.
Maybe I should be thankful for her concern....

250th Post!

To celebrate my 250th post I would like to share with you my newest toy:

Inspired by Jessica G's indulgent purchase

I too decided it was okay to loosen my purse string

and venture into the world of paid iphone apps. 

(Why is it that I held my breath while buy a $1.99 phone app but I'll easily blow $3 on coffee?)

And now look:

Two dollars is nothing for talent like this!

I mean, hello, this might be my favorite picture of Landon ever

 

And the entertainment value is priceless. 

I'm taking so many pictures my baby boy gave-in 

and finally started saying

"CHEESE!"

Is there a phone app that you love?

7-24 House: Landon's Room

Landon's room before

The original wooden cabinets 

were incredibly deep.

They took up nearly a 1/3 of the room.

So RJ and his friend Dave removed them 

and constructed a new closet with 

sliding, mirrored doors.

Backyardigans and other such nonsense

The last few days have been like a big deep breath.

*exhale here*

We've been going, going, going lately.

And starting Friday the merry-go-round starts back up

so it's been nice to have a couple days of normalcy and  routine.

But it can't be all rest and no fun.

Landon thought our four days of nothingness was the 

perfect time to start transitioning from two naps to one.

1 nap vs. 2 naps:

PROS: 

longer time period in the beginning to the day to do something:

grocery shopping, errands, fun, play-dates, etc.

one long stretch of time all to myself:

up to 2.5-3 hours!

CONS:

no morning "rest":

it's Landon from 7 a.m until 12pm (5 hours!)

when do I shower? 

read blogs 

clean-up the breakfast mess? 

read my Bible? 

Looks like my new habit of waking up at 6am 

to get things done for myself is already out the window

I'll be getting up at 5:30am.

OR

Landon will be watching a few more episodes of his favorite show The Backyardigans 

on the computer.

See how much he loves it:

careful you don't catch a fly, son

*******

In other news I spend much too long the other night making my blog look "cuter".

I was inspired by my super adorable sister-in-law Jessica and her super-de-duper cutie blog and new esty store. Check it out here.

It was actually so much fun playing around in Photoshop 

and browsing the web for secrets to html code. 

Who knew I had an inner graphic artist/computer programer inside. 

*******

And finally, 

Tomorrow is our last day of "nothingness" until August 17th.

I think I'll bake something.

Because I'm weird and I find sifting flour relaxing.