What this vegan family ate today #3

 Tofu scramble on toast topped with fried tomato ...

 Super quick and easy. Fry some onion and yellow or red pepper, or any veggies you like and crumble in some tofu and stir fry for few minutes. I love mine with some hot sauce on the side.

Mid morning snack. Apple Nachos !!!

Cut apple in slices, drizzle over some peanut butter and top with nuts, dried fruit and choc chips. This is sooooooooo delicious !!!!


More snack food ... Lily invented this little snack all by herself, and it's super yummy !!
Buckwheat bites she calls them :)  

I make a huge jar of sprouted buckwheat that I then roll in some maple syrup and then dehydrate in oven on lowest temp setting, so its a raw dish. They stay crispy for weeks and it's yummy as a cereal covered in non dairy milk. Also nice in and on top of basically anything you want to kick up with some crunch.
But here Lily mixed them with some peanut butter, rolled in balls and topped with a choc chip. They are a bit messy, but worth it !!

Lunch was falafels with guacamole and tahini dip. Oven baked sweet potato wedges and gluten free bread. 

Supper was waffles made with chickpea flour and topped with left over tomatoes from breakfast and tahini sauce from lunch.

Lily's new books

There's no real schedule or curriculum we follow, and each child develop at their own pass and according to their own interests. Lily loves "school work" and such a eager learner. She is always ahead of me and can never get enough of alphabet and maths work.

I never sat down and taught her the alphabet, she basically just picked up all the letters all around us, always asking me what the letters are and taught herself the alphabet in english and afrikaans. I encouraged her the learn it phonetically first and then the "name" of each letter. In the last 2 months she started recognizing small words and said she wanted reading books. We looked at a few different sets and she liked these two and she helped me order it online. I am trying to get her to read Afrikaans well before we go over to English but there's no stopping her and she'll try read anything she sees.

Her books were couriered to her and she signed for it. She loves her books and truly treasure them.

   
Empowering herself with knowledge is her own desire and for this reason she just cant stop or get enough ! She desires knowledge ... battles for it ... and then owns it. Something nobody can ever take away from her. It is so different from being parrot forced fed something you care nothing for. I love seeing her pursue after what she's passionate about and being there only to help when she wants it.  

Lexi's favorite pass time ...

Lexi, 6 years old loves her Barbie doll house. This is the only thing she does at this stage and for the last 6 months. She wakes up in the morning and goes straight to her dolls house and get them all ready and dressed for the day, And at night she puts them all to bed.

I love watching her play in her own little world, it so sweet.

In this pic it Barbie just had a home birth and everybody is around her to admire the new baby !

Lexi is not really interested in school work and says she has no desire to read. But because she is very artistic she copies alphabet letters beautifully. But at this stage she just want to sleep late, wake op play dolls and then watch Grace World on the Ipad for more Barbie ideas.

 The Barbie car and most of the dolls go with Lexi where ever we go, also to the public pool the other day.

  Lexi also likes her Trolls, and she loves little figurines.

Lexi get completly lost in playing with her toys.

Lexi is such a gentle little soul and the kindest person I've ever met. She is just so loving. If she get angry or upset I take note and rush to help as I know she's at her wits end. She is a peace seeker and will always rush to mediate and help sort out conflict.
Lexi is STRONG emotionally and brave. She still sleeps next to her dad and wont give up that spot for the world ... I'm very jealous ;)

What this vegan family ate today #2

Breakfast was our usual green smoothies. 

Then we had Black bean Brownies for morning snack .... These are amazing totally filled with goodness and nutrition, They were gluten, oil and sugar free !!!!

Lunch was our family FAVORITE ... baked potatoes and salad with hummus.

Afternoon snack was grapes.

Dinner was veggie patties in lettuce leaves and salad herbs from garden with tomato and fried onion, I add some hot sauce with mine. 

Evening snack was popcorn.

 

What this vegan family ate today ...

For breakfast we mostly start with a light green smoothie, this is just so refreshing and gentle on our tummies first thing in the day.

Frozen banana, Mango,Water, Little bit soy milk, Spinach or seasonal greens out our garden ...Tip it taste best when you still in PJ's ;)



A bit later we love soaked oats, this is a raw breakfast and still very gentle on the intestines. The first part of the day is a time of cleansing for the body so eating raw till mid day is our aim.

Oh my soul ... this is sooooooooo yummy !!!!! 
Fill a glass container half way with rolled oats, add some nuts and seed. I just used pumping seeds and ground flax, but the shy is the limit and you can use any nuts, seeds, and small dried fruit like cranberries, even fresh berries work well.
Then fill to the top with Apple juice, non dairy milk OR combo like I did for a super sweet and creamy taste. Shake super well. Put in fridge and leave over night. In the morning just open the bottle and eat. You can top with fruit and cinnamon or cacao. My mornings are pretty chaotic so I love this breakfast for mornings that I need to go out early and dont have time to prepare breakfast. This also travels very well, and I often put in separate bottles for each girl to eat a bit later.  

Just before lunch we had  ice lollies while playing with water in the back yard. 

I blended 3 separate batches and layered on top of each other and freeze. First layer was Coconut cream with mango, second layer was Coconut cream wit banana and raw organic cacao and the third layer was coconut cream with raw beet juice and few drops stivia.

Lunch were very delicious sandwiches.

     
Soy and flax seed loaf with hummus, avo, lettuce, tomato and basil/rocket/parsley mix out my salad herb garden. Some sauerkraut on the side.

Late afternoon snack.

  
Just some cut up ripe mango.

Dinner was corn bread with a very traditional spicy South African dish "Chakalaka"  ... easy and nice for bulk cooking as it freezes beautifully. This is my absolute favorite dish at the moment.

I will share recipes of these both in separate posts.

 

Dropping paint on canvas

This art work was loads of fun !!!

I made some runny poster paint and gave each girl a canvas. They started by painting the tree base with a brush but from there the were only allowed to drop the paint on with a spoon and marvel at the magic of it mixing into the most amazing colors.

Then we let it dry for a day and all 3 on my wall looking amazing now!!!!

While Lily, Lexi and Ruby were painting Emma was having a nap 

Hallo again after 2 years of not one post .....

I actually cannot imagine how this happened .... But it's true, sorry to say ! I have not been on my blog for 2 years.
Soooooooooooo much as happened since my last post just after my second miscarriage. I fell pregnant again, had a smooth pregnancy and beautiful birth and little Emma is 16 months already.
A year ago we changed to a strict vegan lifestyle and that brought with it so much dietary changes and I have only now settled into a comfortable phase were preparing food has become pretty easy.
With 3 other little ones whom I unschool  ( and this does not mean you teach them nothing .... that's only what they think he he ) I had very , actually NONE spare time to blog, so sad I know !!!
But I have found a "new normal" and I do have a little bit of time so I will be blogging more regularly now.

The MAIN reason for me blogging is to keep a online journal  for my girls so they will be able to look back and enjoy all the activities we did and see what our daily life looked like. It is public because we enjoy sharing our daily life with friends and family and who ever enjoy my ramblings....

I will just carry on where we are now but I will be adding of the high-lights from the last two years. Their titles will have "looking back" in them so you know it not recent.

So happy to continue capturing our life for my girls to enjoy in the future as we a living such a blessed life !!!

An owl brought a message ...

Almost a week after I lost our second baby. Physically I'm doing real good. But as expected I am filled with uncertainty. So many things I just dont understand and wish I had answers for. But I dont, and probably wont till the day I am in the loving arms of God. I know all will make sense then. Till then I'm just staying safe in His love.

Four wonderful things happened today in which I feel God really spoke to me and gave me peace.

JP and I was chatting this morning and he just said that in God there is Grace for us. Even if I did something wrong God will not hold it against me but through Grace we will conceive again sometime. That made me change Emma second name to Grace ... Emma Grace ... She will be our baby out of grace.

Then a friend sent me this beautiful scripture John 16.33 "...in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world u have tribulation and trail and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer (take courage, be confident) for I have overcome the world (I have deprived it of power to harm you and I have conquered for you)." I just know God is still in control and all is still good. Thanks H xxx

Another extraordinary (very unusual and/or remarkable) friend phone just to check how I was doing. Not of the same faith as I (not that I care), but confirmed to me that God is light, God is pure and God is love. I am just so convinced that God is talking to me and loving me through those next to my side. Thanks C xxx

Then just to show off, as God often spoils me with His surprises and love ... a owl came to sit on my neighbors roof hooting and talking to me where I was in bed. I got up to see this majestic awesome creature outside my window ... OMW I was so overwhelmed. This is the second time it's happened. The previous time was in the month I conceived last. Emma's theme have been owls since I conceived the first time. Her room was painted and decorated with owls. We have been buying and collecting owls stuff since we planned her. So a owl is of significant meaning in regard to our Emma. Seeing this owl was like I messenger sent by Emma saying "Hallo mamma, how you doing ? I'm ok, just relax. I am safe"

I went out side to take a picture

Rest in peace Baby Olive

On the 3rd of September we lost our little baby. I decided to call him/her Baby Olive cause he/she was the size of an olive the time of  passing.
It was a relative easy miscarriage at home with no complications. I will bury Baby Olive's remains with Levi in our beautiful Olive (coincidence ? ) tree pot.
At this stage I'm doing fine. Still processing it. So surprised that it happened. So confused about the future.
I trust God for wisdom, and wait patiently while hiding under His wing, where I'm safe.

Rest in peace our precious Baby Olive

I thought of you and closed my eyes
And prayed to God today
I asked "What makes a Mother?"
And I know I heard Him say.
"A Mother has a baby"
This we know is true
"But God can you be a Mother,
When your baby's not with you?"

"Yes, you can," He replied
With confidence in His voice
"I give many women babies,
When they leave is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime,
And others for the day.
And some I send to feel your womb,
But there's no need to stay."

"I just don't understand this God
I want my baby here."
He took a deep breath and cleared His throat,
And then I saw the tear.

"I wish that I could show you,
What your child is doing today.
If you could see your child smile,
With all the other children and say...

'We go to Earth to learn our lessons,
Of love and life and fear.
My Mommy loved me oh so much,
I got to come straight here.

I feel so lucky to have a Mom,
Who had so much love for me.
I learned my lessons very quick,
My Mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy oh so much,
But I visit her each day.
When she goes to sleep,
On her pillow's where I lay

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek,
And whisper in her ear.
Mommy don't be sad today,
I'm your baby and I'm here.'

"So you see my dear sweet ones,
Your children are okay.
Your babies are born here in My home,
And this is where they'll stay.

They'll wait for you with Me,
Until your lesson's through.
And on the day that you come home
They'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother,
It's the feeling in your heart
It's the love you had so much of
Right from the very start.

Though some on earth may not realize,
Until their time is done.
They'll be up here with Me one day
And know that you're the best mom!"

9 weeks

Monday was Spring day. We met some special friends at Spur and had a lovely visit. Still a bit nippy but I was brave and wore my gorgeous new yellow top from Elmarie. My first new maternity blouse. So super comfy. I'm a bit low on maternity clothes as I didn't keep any after Ruby. We didn't think we were gonna have more babies back then. But I do have some over size clothes that will work for a while. Just so nice getting something brand new, you know ...

It's been a lovely week so far. Still no nausea. I know I'm going on and on about it. But for my last 5 pregnancies I was super sick till at lest 12 weeks. So this is just such a relief. I'm so chuffed to have found a "cure" for the horrible morning sickness that caused me soooooooo much discomfort before.

 Something I've been CRAVING is long hot baths. It is just so relaxing and soothing. Girls most of the time hop in and join me, not quit as relaxing then, but still nice. I add a cup of Epson salt to my water for added Magnesium and it soothes muscles. I also add 3g vit C to neutralize chlorine in water and 5ml Bentonite clay that attach to heavy metals in water and stay away from my skin. Just so awesome. 

How many weeks pregnant ? 9
Date ? 1 September
How many day till due date ? 217 days
How big is baby ? a green olive
Showing yet ? Nope
Milestones baby reached during this week ? Fingers are not webbed any more and baby's little heart fully developed by now 
Pregnancy sighs ? only tiredness at times and a new one ... constipation ! Ugh, not pleasant :( Been eating flax seeds and chia seeds for breakfast and lots more water, seems to help
Any cravings ? Milk
Any aversions ? Sugary things
Best moment this week ? Wearing my gorgeous new yellow top on spring day, fist maternity piece
Emotions this week ? Very moody ... sorry people :(
Clothes ? same, size 14
Baby movements ? no
What do I weigh ? 79 kg
Things I would love to buy for baby ?
Kids this week ? Good week, but Ruby still a terrible little 2 year old, being soooooo difficult
Boy name ? Remembered a name I loved when I was younger ... Elliot. I really like this one
Girl name ? Emma Rose
Sleep ? Struggle to fall a sleep, but once in dream land it's a smooth trip to morning. So awesome that all my girls sleep thru, didn't think that was ever gonna happen.
Dreams ? Dreamt I woke up 9 weeks pregnant but had a beautiful huge 30 weeks tummy. I loved it
How I'm feeling in general ? Really good. Not feeling pregnant yet
Special foods and supplements ? Magnesium oil, Nerobion Vit B's, Sportron multi vits, Stinning nettle tea. Convinced the Mag oil combined with B vits are keeping nausea away. OMW so awesome to not feel sick all the time. Never experienced that during this stage of pregnancy, as I was always super nauseous at this stage.