Changes

Things are a changin' here at the Villarreal household. Some of you know, some of you don't know the big changes that we have decided on for our family. As of a few weeks ago, we have decided that I am going to step away from our photography business for an indefinite period of time. Things are just too crazy for me trying to be a mom (a home schooling mom, at that), a wife and a home-based business owner. Way too much. Tired. Impatient. Fried. Not gonna do it anymore. Nope. My boys' childhoods were flashing by at the speed of light before me and I didn't have time to see much of the show, let alone be an active participant. And the stress level in my life was off the chart and I know that had to be a factor in my recent miscarriages. So it was the I'm-at-my-whit's-end-crying-session that produced our decision. And I'm thrilled. Of course, I literally grieved for a day because photography has been a major part of my life for almost 20 years (yes, I am that old). So it was like letting go of an old friend. BUT, I feel so free and I am hopeful for what the future has in store for me as a person because of this decision. And I know I will be able to do it again when I am ready.

So, on with the story. I will now be doing more blogging about my family than about other people's families. And that excites me. So whether you like it or not, you are going to get a little deeper glimpse into our little home here on El Diente Way. Hopefully accompanied by photos, but it does take a ton of work to get photos up based on my work flow (once a professional photographer, always a professional photographer).

Oh yeah, on with the story. I am on a new journey for the way that I eat and inevitably I am dragging my family along with me. No one is kicking and screaming yet, so that is a good start. I have been doing some consulting with a nutritionist from Boulder (check out her website here) who is helping me fill some wholes in my diet so that I can gain some weight and better prepare my body for any future pregnancies that God may have in store for us. I also just started a three week liver cleanse with Dr. Benson from Two Rivers Natural Health and I am excited to see what that can do for me as well. So I've decided to chronicle my three week journey here on my blog. That's my intention, anyway. I won't blog everyday, and I certainly won't always accompany my posts with photos, but the first day I will.

I wanted to throw in a few photos of Ethan playing with these great gel cling leaves that we found. That's how our day started. And he loves to help me make my smoothie in the morning. He loves to grind up the flax seeds in the coffee grinder, and he reminds me "coconut oil" if I haven't put that in yet. And then it's "Go get kale, Mom". So it's off to the garden we go.

My sweet little Bub in his apron. He is such a little kitchen guru already. I love that about my boys.

Armed with his monkey scissors, he's ready to grab us some kale.

So here's our creation. Banana, peaches, mangoes, blueberries, kale, coconut oil, flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, goat milk kefir, usually a packet of Emergen-C and some olive leaf extract. Yowza, that's good for you.

And fast forward to lunch. Yummy salad with wild caught salmon, cucumbers, celery, hemp seeds, and a little avocado with lemon for dressing.

Wild rice with sauteed zucchini, asparagus and mushrooms for dinner. I'm full.