Our Backyard Haven

You can take the Raber's out of the country...but not the country out of the Raber's! Ha ha! We decided we wanted to enjoy some fresh vegetables this summer so we just planted a little garden in the back! We have 5 Better Boy tomato plants, 2 Cherry tomato plants, 2 sweet green peppers, 2 sweet red peppers, one hill of cucumbers, one hill of zuccini squash, and some merigolds to help with the bug population.
About a month ago, we decided to make a small landscape mound in the backyard as our focal point of view from the covered porch & patio (those are still a work in progress-pictures to come later)...we found an amazing green house out in the country (about twice the size that Wichman's used to be) and bought a variety of flowering plants (Matt's favorite were the African Daisy...we bought the yellow and orange-so beautiful! I think next year we'll build it up higher and add some boston fern!

A few weeks ago, we were all out on the front porch enjoying the first signs of spring and the warm air...when out of the blue, Rascal took off running after a little girl down the street...SO, Rascal no longer gets to go on the front porch and he cannot escape the backyard...we closed in the carports to keep him (and the boys) in the yard. Matt still thinks it looks out of place because we did every other board...but our carport is attached to the alley, the alley is not lit, and there are random people walking/driving through our alley at all times of the day...I thought we needed to be able to see through the fence and I was NOT going to have chain link! I personally think the fence looks great...maybe it will grow on him! Oh and kudos to Matt on the design one section is removeable like a cattle gate so you can still drive a car through to the house if need be!

We also had a tiny little row between the house and sidewalk that we planted flowers in...I hate having to put stuff in straight rows but there wasn't much of an option...I just love the flowers though!!

Yesterday I posted about our roses...here's a pic of the ones I cut yesterday...I won't post a picture of the actual bushes...because it's on the side of the house that we never see so we haven't worked on it yet and it's completely overrun with weeds (yeah...we're trying to blend in with the neighbors-Ha ha!).

This is a close up of the African Daisies...aren't they gorgeous?? We just love them!

Today in Iowa

Daddy reading to Peyton before he left for work this morning...

see the resemblance??

This morning we cut some flowers from our rose bushes to put in a vase and enjoy inside...they are so beautiful-I just love them. So...I thought the girls at the bank should have one too (the ones I went out with a few weeks ago)...Andrea, Amanda, and Betsy.

After our visit at the bank we headed to Walmart to buy a birthday gift for our friend Lily...he birthday party is tomorrow in Macomb...this will be the first birthday party our boys have gone too so I'm pretty excited for them to experience that. It will be great to see Myra & Travis too...haven't seen them for about one month.

The Walmart trip went pretty well with both boys behaving-I even received compliments on their behavior from strangers! We payed, went to the van, loaded our bags and just as I was getting ready to put Peyton in his seat I noticed he was missing a shoe...SOOOOO back inside to search for shoe! Luckily we found it and I talked to Peyton about not taking shoes off.

Word to the wise...NEVER mention cheeseburgers until you have them in your hands...I told the boys that I would stop and buy them cheeseburgers on the way home but it was noon and you couldn't get into a drive thru line much less find a parking space...they whined a bit but I told them I had chicken nuggets at home and that calmed them down!

Oh...I had a job interview yesterday and I think it went very well. Please be praying for me and our family in regards to this job. I think I would really enjoy the work and we've been told that it is an excellent company to work for...and they have great benefits as well. I liked the ladies that interviewed me (I think they like me as well)...they are going to do callbacks at the end of next week for second interviews-hopefully I'll get a call!

Indiana Vacation

My sister's Erin (Ern) & Alison (Al)...aren't they pretty???

The last few days have been bunches of fun and very exhausting! We traveled to Indiana to visit our family and friends. My sister Erin graduated on Friday evening so we had fun celebrating that as well. The first day we were there we went to Bloomington and met up with my dad at Cascade park...it was so much fun! I also got my hair cut & colored while I was home. I took so many pictures...which I posted to my facebook account...the following links we'll take you to my photo albums.

Cascade Park

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024485&id=1116325979&l=330097332b

Family Fun

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024483&id=1116325979&l=8feb7ab1bb

Bathing Boys

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024481&id=1116325979&l=d75b5bf7e0

Erin's Graduation

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024432&id=1116325979&l=07b6e5333a

3 Hour Diet Update

I have officially been on the 3 Hour Diet by Jorge Cruise for 1 week and I have some very exciting news to report! I have lost 4 pounds and 2 inches around my waist!!!!! I was so suprised to read that measuring tape! I new I felt thinner but was completely shocked with such quick results. I'm not going to lie, there were several times during the week that I was quite hungry but my body is adapting nicely and I don't get near as hungry...usually about 30 minutes before it's time to eat I start thinking about it. But, I'm so encouraged by these results and already have SO much energy - I played soccer in the backyard with the boys twice this week and it was so fun!

We are preparing for our trip back to good old Indiana (May 16-25)...tomorrow I've got to clean all the floors, Thursday I've got to have Rascal to the vet for his grooming by 7:30 AM, the boys to school & daycare by 9:00, then do laundry all day. Friday AM I have to go shopping to stock up on things we'll need while in Odon and get the packing done. We hope to leave by 7:30 or so Saturday AM to head south-that would put us at my Gramma's by 3:30 or 4:00 IN time...that might be pushing it since we'll have to stop more frequently for Rascal & Chase's potty breaks!

Anyway...that's all for now!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was very enjoyable in our household and I hope yours was as well! The morning was spent making phone calls to Indiana to chat to the moms in our lives and of course the boys had to talk to their grandma's and say "happy mommy's day!"

We finished our fence (just had two boards to put up), weeded the flower beds, watered plants (by the way, I have 2 tomato plants with blooms!), and while the boys napped, painted the kitchen cabinets and installed a couple of shelves, and finished the day off by daddy grilling chicken for him and the boys and a filet for me (Matt doesn't like steak). After dinner we watched momma's all time favorite movie - Tombstone - one of the greatest movies ever made!

I'll finish by saying that I love the mothers in my life so much...my mom, gramma, momma-in-law Dianne, and Anita. I'm so blessed to have these great women in my life!

Do You Love Pizza?

Okay folks, if you love pizza then you have to try this! This is a very low fat, low calorie recipe from the 3-Hour Diet Cookbook. I'm not sure on exact nutrition facts but all of his meals are approximately 400 calories-of course if you add meat, you add calories.

1 Whole Grain or Whole Wheat Tortilla (I use La Tortilla Factory)
Olive Oil Spray - I sprayed the front & back lightly
Bake on the oven rack at 400 until slightly crisp

Place crisped tortilla on a foil covered cookie sheet
Spread with pizza sauce (I make my own, but premade is fine), top lightly with finely shredded mozzarella, then veggies of your choice (you may add some diced cooked chicken or fish if you like but be sure to limit it to 1 ounce), sprinkle with pizza or iltalian seasoning to taste.

Bake at 400 for approximately 5-7 minutes, checking often. Pair with a small side salad with Italian dressing and fruit of your choice.

Something New

Okay...so you may be wondering why I haven't posted much about my weight loss progress over the last several weeks...

I have been in a serious rut and at a stand still and Weight Watchers was really becoming laborious for me...I started to get really depressed so I decided to back off for awhile and just maintain my current weight while I thought and prayed about the next move to make regarding this huge challenge.

Well, my BFF told me about this diet that she does...it's called the 3-Hour Diet by Jorge Cruise! You can buy the book on Amazon.com if you would like. He also has a cookbook that goes along with it and an optional website where you can become a member for a fee.

So I've read most of the book and officially started on this plan yesterday and am happy to report a loss of 2 pounds already. If you follow the plan according to his specs you should lose up to 10 pounds in the first 2 weeks then 2 pounds a week thereafter.

The plan is similar to WW in that it is a lifestyle that you must adapt to and make it yours for life in order to maintain...I'm just not sure that WW is for me so we'll see how this goes. Sometimes something new is necessary.

I'm excited and believing this can happen.