We Went. We Climbed. We Conquered!

For the last 3 years Clint and I have not gone on any outdoor adventures besides the ones where we can bring a double stroller and have a 3 year old walk. It's been...taxing on our personal life. If Clint doesn't get to be outdoors on a regular basis he gets grumpy. He's a modern day mountain man at heart. Serious. I'm not even exaggerating. This is one of the things that brought us together when we first met and it's been missed. 

Since this was technically the first outing for our family that didn't require strollers, I totally bombed on packing and forgot...Well...Everything. Clint kept asking, "well what if .... happens?" and I said it hasn't before. His sly response, "there's a first time for everything." Boy.was. he. right. 

Lets just say we did switcharoos and makeshift clothing for a couple of our tots! 

I was so proud of Bria! She walked the entire way. Such a big girl. I am so thankful she loves the outdoors. She insisted on bringing her own backpack too. She carried her water and 4 baby dolls. You know, She needed the essentials. 

Out here. We are complete. We are home. We are together. We are alive. We are thankful. We are happy. We are us...

We went. We climbed. We conquered...Brown Mountain was defeated by the Shultz family. Done.

June Favorites

Bria is taking a late nap today it's 3:30 and she just went down. That's our summer schedule for you though, no regard to time-no set time to wake up, take naps, or go to sleep. It's refreshing to not be bound by schedules. It should be for a 17 month old, but it's not :) and that's okay with me. She's sleeping right next to me and I realize that it's been a month since we have moved back to Ketchikan and I have to say it's going by way.to.fast!

What have we been up to?

Driving cars in the grass: 

Helped Nana in the Garden: 

Celebrated Father's Day with three of our most important Daddy's: 

Loved on our cousins: 

Played cards with Nana and Aunt Jamie: 

Got crafty during nap times: 

Played more cards with Awma: 

Made chili in my new crockpot: 

Went to the beach and played: 

Scrunched our faces against windows: 

It truly has been a wonderful summer.

It's been a month...

It's been a month since I have updated this blog. It's been a month since I have wanted to be on the computer. I have been enjoying some much needed family time where I wasn't worried about taking pictures to share on the blog. I needed the break and it has been a wonderful time away.

During this time we baked a lot...Our favorite? Pretzels!

I tried to get a picture of the pretzels when they were finished, but they were eaten before I could even get my camera out....No joke.

Want the recipe? It's fun, fast and easy...Just the way good recipes should be!

MALL PRETZELS

Ingredients

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/8 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup bread flour
• 2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast, brown sugar and salt in 1 1/2 cups warm water. Stir in flour, and knead dough on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover, and let rise for one hour.
2. Combine 2 cups warm water and baking soda in an 8 inch square pan. Line 6 baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. After dough has risen, cut into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a 3 foot rope, pencil thin or thinner. Twist into a pretzel shape, and dip into the baking soda solution. Place onto parchment covered baking sheets, and let rise 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with coarse salt, garlic salt or cinnamon sugar.

Footnotes

• Editor's Note
• When forming the ropes, roll each one to about half the length you want, then set it aside while you roll the rest. By the time you get back to the first rope, it will have rested enough to roll further.
• A 3-foot long rope will make a pretzel approximately 8-inches in diameter. Plan on using one baking sheet for every two pretzels.
  
  
  (taken from allrecipes.com)
  
  
  I'm still not up for being back everyday. I'm 36 weeks pregnant and feel like I will be having this baby very soon. I will try and post an update here in the next few days, but I have been feeling really tired, sore, and just ready to pop this child out! 
  
  
  Stay tuned for updated pictures when I have the energy :) 
  
  
  

Creativity...

We have had a different pace of life the last few days.

 No TV, No internet, No electronics.

And lots and lots of much needed family time. 

It means that we have been enjoying Clint's guitar playing and other music around the house. If you haven't heard his worship song he wrote, I suggest you do. It's really heart-warming! You can find it here

 We found out we need to get Bria her own guitar soon or Daddy won't have one! 

It means that I can indulge in my creative spirit and create.create.create

I made two hats since this weekend, but have not taken photos of them. Same pattern, same flower (as above) but with different colors. This lovely gem was given to my sister as a birthday present back in February...

I think I have fallen in love. 

Our Valentine

Valentines is a wonderful holiday..for some. But for us? It was a typical day here at the Shultz residence...With the exception of dressing Bria up in her cute Valentine outfit from Auntie Erica, and receiving a handmade card from Bria (yes, her babysitter made a card with Bria's crayon colorings!!)...Oh, every holiday is so much more fun with kids. I swear, I can't wait for Easter this year!

Valentines for Clint and I hasn't been a big deal. Even though Valentines is a cute holiday showing people how much ($$) you care for them, it isn't for us. I love love love the fact that Clint surprises me on random Tuesdays and Thursdays for something special he bought, makes, or has done for me. Of course, I don't share them here on the blog (because those things are kept private (; !

Here are some valentines pictures:

Sorry the picture is so blurry. It has been very, very challenging since Bria never.stops.moving! She loves running to the camera to look at the picture I was trying to capture of her. She loves that the camera shows the picture right away.

 {Swoon!}

Isn't that the cutest Valentines you have ever seen? About a week ago, Bria has been interesting in coloring! She doesn't do it but for 40 seconds at a time, but she's getting better! All we need to do is find those big honkin' crayons for little hands and we are all set to go!

Homemade calzone for Valentines dinner! We all loved it, including Sierra who got a lot from Bria! 

I hope you had a happy Valentines Day...Full of love, hugs, and laughter with the ones you love!! 

Favorites!

One of my favorite things about having a daughter (and there's probably about a bazillion reasons), but one of the most precious and rewarding things is to watch Bria with her Daddy. Seeing them both smile and kiss each other warms my heart. Lately, Bria has been such a Daddy's girl. Wanting him when she falls, or wanting him to feed her instead of me. Wanting him to put her t o sleep. I love every minute of it. I love being able to step back and watch their relationship unfold.

Saturday was one of those moments. When I just stepped back and didn't go play. When I just watched them laugh and smile at each other. I stepped back and tried to capture those moments.

The sea-saw that she is on is borrowed from the school. You can turn it over, and it's a staircase. She is getting pretty good at climbing stairs. I'm so glad we don't have stairs here! Look at those faces!

I hope you had a great weekend! We sure did!

For Our Sweet Denisha

 picture found here

 "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up."

James 5:15

This post is dedicated to our niece Denisha. She is an amazing and talented young lady. We received a call yesterday and was informed that Denisha is in the hospital again for complications that no one can figure out. It has been weighing heavy on my heart to continually pray for this little girl of ours and I have been reaching out to family, friends, acquaintances, church members, and anyone else who I can get a hold of to pray for her. So here I am asking you. You who reads this blog-to pray for our little girl. The power of prayer is evident and is amazing and wondrous and powerful. The more people come together to pray for a single thing. The boldness, and loudness of the prayer will be heard by God.

I have been in constant prayer since we have found out about Denisha. I wanted to research even more prayers from scripture for her. To give her strength. For us. For the doctors. I wanted to share these verses that I found so that you may have another source of Gods word about sick children and strength.

These are some of the prayers that I have been constantly praying:

**Heavenly Father, watch with us over your child Denisha, and grant that she may be restored to that perfect health which it is yours alone to give. Relieve her pain, guard her from all danger, restore to her your gifts of gladness and strength, and raise her up to a life of service to you.  

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

**May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength.  May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body. Amen
 
When you find yourself in constant prayer, it's sometimes hard to find the right words that you are trying to say. Don't worry. God knows the words in your heart. But, I did find these scripture of strength to help and I thought they would be good to share: 

Isaiah 41:10  fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Matthew 17:20  He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Isaiah 40:28-31  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,   the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint,   and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;   they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;   they shall walk and not faint.

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-strength-25-encouraging-scripture-quotes/#ixzz1kPFiUr5S

Sweet Denisha, 

We are here for you sweetheart. We have every bit of faith that God will heal you. You are such a strong woman and we are so proud of everything you have accomplished. Please read these scriptures if you are in need of strength. Please know you are always in our thoughts and prayers. We love you to the moon and back and back again! 

Your Uncle Clint, Auntie Tory, Cousin Bria and Baby :)  

Halloween Extraveganza!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

We hope you enjoyed this fun Holiday as much as we did! I really do like Halloween because it's a day where kids can pick to dress up as their favorite character and pretend to have super powers, or be a beautiful princess and wear make-up with sparkles on it. It's a day where Mama's such as myself can dress up her daughter and as her husband to dress up as well! If you keep Halloween the way it should be, it is a fun, safe, and positive day.

Today was Bria's first Halloween, and boy did Mama have some fun! 

I saved a box that we received from our Arkansas family (no, they are not from Arkansas but they do live there. This is a statement made just for my father-in-law!) They sent us a cute costume for Bria and a cute first Halloween card from our nieces and nephew. We also received some treats. Reese's and chocolate syrup for Clint and oh so delicious Jelly Bellies for myself! I dressed Bria up in her Cow costume and then I showed her the card! It was cute as she tried to look (and rip) it. Luckily for me, Clint was right there to help her (hence the reason she's looking up at her dad instead of the camera)! ...

Thank you Auntie Erica, Uncle Tony, Dinesha, Chance, Kaitlin, Alexis, Awma and Papa!

Then it was time to get ready for the Halloween Party!!

 

The farmer and her cow & Indiana Jones !

I didn't have a cowboy hat, so I made one out of newspaper, tape, and brown paint. Do you like it? I think it turned out great!

Then it was time for the party! Parades, pinatas, games, face painting, and candy. Lots and lots of candy!

 How many skittles would be in this jar?!

Hope you guys had a great Halloween!