More photos

Andrews Grandparents visit over Thanksgiving

We seemed to pack a lot of activities into a week.  Paula and Daron cooked most of the Thanksgiving meal.  David and Paula attended Addy's Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast.  Everyone helped me transport my art to the Holiday Inn Express for our Christmas boutique.  Paula was instrumental in finishing my curio bottles with wire and arranging and rearranging my artwork during the show for maximum retail punch.  Addy and Paula decorated the Christmas tree and fairy garden and David fought the Black Friday crowd at our local True Value and scored two room heaters which my parents will especially enjoy!  Luckily there was no shoving or pushing in the store.  One highlight was taking Addy to dance class to try on her new costume for her December 17 recital.  Paula and I shopped at TJ Maxx, Target and Michaels  on Black Friday and it wasn't bad except for the three hour round trip drive.  Saturday we all went to cut and haul wood and there was SNOW.  W e were in heaven and so was our Alaskan Malamute Opal Luna!  More photos to come. 

Kids say the darnedest things

Addy:  My knee hurts

Dad: What happened to it?

Addy: There's a bitch at school that scratched it.

Dad: What?

Addy: Yea that little short bitch.

Dad:  In the classroom?

Addy:  No on the playground.

Daron and I got this story separately and heard the same thing.  It took us a minute to realize that bitch was BENCH.  Please read again with Bench.  

My Birthday Present from Daron - A GREENHOUSE!

I love it but don't know what to do with it yet!  I am reading about winter crops and it looks like Kale will be a good crop for the winter.   Wish me luck!!!!!

Best Birthday Poem Ever from my awesome hubby Daron "The Rock" Andrews

Today I became the husband of a 44 year old girl

I’m so honored to fill my place in her world

She paints, she pays bills, she makes our home

She teaches, she protects, she gets the dogs bones

She delivers, she picks up, she shops for all

She’ll watch Dr Phil but not Football.

She dreams, she reads, she waters our plants,

She cooks, she bakes, she washes our pants.

She loves, she cares, and arranges play dates,

After school every day she’s early and waits.

She knows of all birthdays, both family and friend

And she gets all the cards for me to sign and send.

She tells bedtime stories of book and of not

She cuddles with Addy even when she’s too hot.

A nurse, a teacher, a chef and a ride

Our daughter’s so set with you on her side. 

She calls me her rock, but I’m sorry to say

I know I’d be lost without her every day.

It doesn’t seem fair that I just work and play

While she does all this day after day.

So what do I do on number 44?

I build her a greenhouse so she can do MORE.

Sufficed to say I’ll love ‘til the end

My wife, my rock, and my very best friend!

I LOVE YOU JENNIFER!

Halloween 2013 Perfect Fall Weather!

Halloween. Addy chose to be a white tiger.  She picked out a witch hat for me to wear and since she couldn't wear a mask to school and wouldn't let me paint her face the first few photos are her school costume attire.  The photos with her with her mask on were pre-trick or treating photos.  Daron had the brilliant idea that I go as Little Red Riding Hood and Opal Luna could be my wolf.  Daron had been fighting a cold all week and wasn't feeling great so he went as a Raiders fan.  Our cat Bella took a safe high view on the front porch. 

The HEADACHE Update

Since I have been getting a lot of questions about my headaches I thought I would give an update.  A HAPPY update I am HAPPY to say! I finally found a hormone specialist who took a lot of  blood.  A LOT of blood.  On our first meeting she quickly surmised that I had Estrogen dominance.  I started progesterone immediately.  Progesterone is an anti-inflammatory.  HELLO!  Headaches are inflammation in the blood vessels in the brain.   I also was having muscle burning especially in my chest muscles.   The progesterone decreased my inflammation therefore decreasing my headaches and muscle pain.  Hallelujah!  Can I get an Amen?

In addition she check my blood work and although I was on thyroid medicine the T3 was still low so she changed the thyroid meds.  Finally I felt my energy come back. She also said my adrenal glands were that of an 80 year olds.  This was great since I felt like I was 80 years old.  Magnesium, vitamin D, Ashwagandha and a prescription vitamin B pill should help restore the adrenal function.  The best thing is that I have had a four to five day headache in months.  I haven't been bed bound even one day in months.  I can bend over without throbbing in my head.  My neck pain has lessened considerably and my friend said I was way more social.  I have even made it to book club and when I hike I walk faster!  I am also teaching yoga again at a local herb store.  I wish I had found the hormone nurse practitioner about 3 years ago but better late than never.  I am glad I don't have to revisit the neurologist or local doctor who put me on meds that made me feel worse and didn't help!

I found this awesome little story that I think was written by Dr. Wayne Tompkins of Tompkins Wellness Center.

The Twisted Sisters: The Female Hormone Saga

Once upon a time there were two sisters who had to live together and get along. One of the sisters was very bossy and had a domineering nature. Her name was ‘Estrogen’. The other sister was quiet and submissive and named ‘Progesterone’. Estrogen tried to run the show and didn’t know her boundaries. Unfortunately, she had all the connections and received a lot of help and support from outside the house. She hooked up with her evil friends like Toxin, Stress, and Pollution. With supervision, Estrogen really shined, but left alone, she made poor choices in choosing her friends which upset the restful order in the home.

Progesterone, on the other hand, was pretty smart, but she needed lots of help. When Estrogen and her evil friends ruled the roost, she tended to shut down and not stand her ground. However; she knew what it took to create an environment that was inviting and safe for new little inhabitants in the house. With some support from her friends, Rest, Nutrition, and Purification, she harmonized marvelously and stood her ground with her often dominant sibling.

Now you’ve probably figured out this house is your body and the story is not a fairy tale from ages past. It is present day reality and describes a condition commonly known as ‘estrogen dominance’ ... when estrogen has the upper hand. Estrogen’s friends are what are known as, or false estrogens. They are toxins, food dyes, preservatives and noxious chemicals. They are very good imitators of actual estrogen and easily latch on to its receptor sites. The result is hormone imbalance and a dominance of estrogen in the body.

Christmas Shopping on Etsy

Mouses, Dogs, Kids and Pizza

Addy (behind the IPad) and Opal on Sunday Morning

I want to keep it Mom

Saved from the claws of Bindi

Mom was sick so the dogs comforted me

The Mouse in the Fairy Garden

homemade pizza crust - artichokes and sun dried tomatoes

Addy cheese and Daron Pepporoni

Cute girl going to school

Addy did a dinner dance performance for Kim and Chuck

These grew by our house in MI and I just saw them here in UT

Opal and the girls

Fall and my closest friends moves away! ACK!

Addy and her shadows

Fall Hiking with the dogs

My BFF Kim leaving for North Carolina

The boy who stole her away

Happy for her!

Sad to see her leave though!

Walking to Kindergarten.

Addy walking to school. Just kidding. Just a hike near our house. We have roads here. Paved roads.

 Addy and Daron trying out our new mastication juicer.  Kale and apple and carrot juice.  Daron and Addy created a juice called PARROT juice - pears and carrots.  Brilliant!

 Sunday morning.  Daron made Addyson and I egg and cheese biscuits.  yum