Pool’s Open!

by Steph // Tuesday, June 9, 2020 // Comments off

Great news, friends!!

Twin Oaks pool is OPEN!!

The guys worked tirelessly to re-build the foundation for our pool, and not only made it a solid, firm foundation but a beautiful one as well!

When the pool was first set up, we had to wait a few days for the water truck to arrive.

In the meantime, we did fill the pool almost half-way full with the garden hose just to keep it in place on a windy day.

These three kiddos just could not wait for it to be all the way full…or warm!

Their first swim was more like wading around in freezing cold garden hose water!

Crazy kids!

Since then, we have had some BEAUTIFUL, HOT summer like days which has had us enjoying our pool to the fullest!

I am sure you will see a lot more photos like these ones over the next few months, Lord willing!

SUMMER IS HERE!

And we have three fish that live with us!

Who love to swim!

And eat lots of snacks when their Mama makes them take a break from the water!

I’m sure looking forward to many more days watching these kiddos enjoy that beautiful pool!

We have had our grand babies and several friends join us for a swim already because it is just way too good not to share!!

Having Twin Oaks full of people is our favorite thing….and now having that pool full of people is too!

Here’s to a great start to summer!

Growing By One!!

by Steph // Sunday, June 7, 2020 // Comments off

We have a new grand baby on the way!!

David and Kayla are expecting!!

Our family is growing by one, and we could not be more excited!!

Kayla is due the first week of January.

It will be so hard to wait to meet this precious one!

Rejoice with us for this precious gift – another arrow for David and Kayla’s quiver!!

A Recipe//A Green “Florida” Smoothie

by Steph // Tuesday, June 2, 2020 // Comments off

Good morning, friends!

The sun is shining bright and we are expecting a hot summer day here at Twin Oaks, with maybe our first swim in the pool!!

I thought I would share this smoothie recipe with you all first!

The kiddos call this a “Florida” smoothie.

Blake and I have traveled to Naples, Florida, twice now for an anniversary trip, and I came home from our first trip determined to recreate a smoothie that we had and loved while we were there.

We make smoothies both for breakfast or for a snack, and they are always a favorite here!

Don’t be intimidated by the green color – I promise you cannot taste that green kale in there!

A Green “Florida” Smoothie

3 to 4 cups of coconut water
1 and 1/2 frozen banana, broke into chunks
equal amounts of frozen pineapple, peaches, and mangoes
2-3 leaves of kale – just the leaves, not the stem
1-2 inches of fresh ginger, peeled and cut into chunks

If you have a powerful blender, have your frozen fruit come up over your liquid ingredient just a bit. This will ensure a thick, spoon-able smoothie. Add the kale and ginger on the top. Blend until smooth, using the blender’s tamper to push the smoothie around in the blender while you blend.

*we sometimes add a splash of orange juice to this too!

*if we are not having this smoothie with other food, I will add a source of protein or fat – like some coconut oil, an avocado, or some chia seeds.

Enjoy!!

Memorial Day Weekend

by Steph // Saturday, May 30, 2020 // Comments off

Did you all have a nice Memorial Day weekend?

We sure did – thanks to some beautiful summer like weather!

To add to that – my people, except Chad, had the weekend off of work!

You all know I love when everyone is home!

We did have some rain on Saturday afternoon, but the rest of the weekend was gorgeous!

Perfect weather to work outside and finish setting up the pool!

The guys finished the foundation and set it up on Sunday, started filling it with the hose, and then finished the rock around the outside of the pool on Monday.

It turned out great!