Got a VitaMix for Christmas, so this is what we are trying out.....

I could never bring myself to be a "raw-foodie", honestly I would rather just die:) But I am very excited to be getting ample greens into our diet with my new fancy blender!

 

  

We have been doing green smoothies for almost a week after our sugar bum rush during the holidays, I feel so good and clear minded, I am addicted!  I have been giving the kids green smoothies with berries and they are drinking 1cup of raw greens and they don't even know it, MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

HERE IS THE RECIPE FOR THE KIDS GREEN SMOOTHIE:

1 cup  Orange juice (fresh squeezed)

1/2 cup Mixed frozen berries

1/2 cup frozen mango or pineapple

1 banana

2 cups fresh spinach, kale, or greens of your choice

Chia seeds or flax seeds and/or green powder or bee pollen  powder

Honesty in the Journey (or On the Raising of Young Heretics) by Peter Enns

Honesty in the Journey (or On the Raising of Young Heretics)

Posted on December 20, 2011 by peteenns

Nearly twenty years ago, my oldest was six years old. One of our bedtime routines was a brief Bible reading.
One evening we found ourselves in the Garden of Eden story—Adam and Eve, a piece of fruit, and a snake with vocal chords.
As I read, my son kept sighing, as if impatient with my reading. Being the only Old Testament expert in the room, I ignored him and kept going.
But he kept sighing. He even had the audacity to interrupt me.

“Daddy, snakes can’t talk.”

The woman said to the serpent, “we may eat fruit from the tr….”

“Daddy. Snakes. Can’t. Talk.”

With a sense of foreboding, I stopped reading and asked him, pray, to continue his remonstration. For the next few minutes I listened to a six year old deconstruct his faith, which amounted to the following:

Two naked people, magic fruit from a magic tree, and a talking animal. C’mon. This is obviously a story, not too different from the cartoons I watch or the other books you read to me, none of which you expect me to accept as reality. So, it seems to me that the Bible is a story, which gets me dangerously close to thinking that maybe God is a story, too. Hence—follow me here, Dad—I’m not sure why I should really believe God is real, which is to say, please stop reading, and can I have a glass of water?

My six year old was having a faith crisis.
Well that’s just perfect. I can see the headlines now: “Controversial Old Testament professor raises heretic son” (trial footage at 11:00).
My first instinct was fear: “Shhhhhh! Keep your voice down! He may hear you.” But, in one of those moments that for me constitutes sure proof of God’s existence, my mouth was kept from saying what my brain was telling it.
I tried a different approach: “You don’t really believe in God anymore? O.K., well, tell him.”
Let’s not talk about the problem, just tell God. Be honest with him.
My son wasn’t expecting that. He looked at me like I had spiders crawling out of my nostrils. He also looked a bit relieved.
Over the years, I have been thankful to God that I didn’t correct my son’s theology, for that would have been utterly stupid. Had I shamed him or coerced him into saying the right thing (so I would feel better about my parenting skills), I would have been responsible for creating another religious drone, another one who, at a young age, was already learning to play the religion game.
I would have taught my son a crippling lesson, that faith in God requires him to be dishonest with God and with himself.
I am proud of that little six-year-old, who trusted himself enough not to play games. And I am thankful that I, by a flickering moment of God’s grace, didn’t blink (too much).
Life in Christendom can sometimes feel like a show. We can be quite concerned to put on appearances—even though the Gospel humbles the proud and unmasks the hypocrite. Dishonesty cheapens the Gospel as yet another commodity to be controlled and manipulated for personal gain. It ceases being that which gives us our true identities to that which is manipulated, along with everything else, to hold on to our false selves.
We construct many reasons for maintaining a posture of dishonesty. For many, the failure to utter before God where we really are and what we are real think reflects a lifetime of corrupt spiritual teaching: God went through a lot of effort to save you, so the least you can do us have your act together so as not to disappoint him.
In a perverse twist, “holding on to the Gospel” becomes a motivation to hold on to self-deception.
I have learned that God, for our own sake, does not let that condition continue indefinitely.

The Hymn EP, Benjamin Dunn and Friends

New favorite album

The Hymn EP

Benjamin Dunn And Friends

Fun For Christmas

Candy gifts is Mason jars

homemade peanut butter cup recipe

Make your own wreath.Here is a link for some ideas

Another cute idea

This is the wreath we are making this year. I am using California bay leaves as a main base with lavender, rosemary and sage and a bit of peppercorn. Makes a good gift or fund raiser too.

we used to make mason jar snow globes as kids, they are fun!

I like to have my kids make figurines with sculpty clay. Here is a simple tutorial

Our family loves to pass around surprise balls at a family Christmas party or gathering

Find little treasures......

And wind them one by one with cray paper tutorial

My kids look forward to the advent calendar each year, we usually hide candy in the boxes or a note with a fun activity planned for the 24 days of Christmas ( up till Christmas Eve). Here is a tutorial for this Advent Calendar .  

Make ornaments with the kids! We made these this year, you can buy the clear balls to fill at any craft store this time of year.

Summer 2011 Photo Journaling (better late than never)

There goes another wonderful summer, way to fast!  Everyone is another year older and once again, we Crowder's have much to be thankful for. 

We took a family trip to the beautiful and very underrated state of Utah, we have had some amazing family trips but this was by far one of the best!  Here we are at the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park, we did this hike in the early evening just after we arrived. The colors were breathtaking in the evening light, all the kids were so amazed at the plants, beetles and rocks and caves on the way up. At the top, some of us freaked out, the trail ends with a chain rope out to a narrow landing with 1000ft drops on either side. I left Ezekiel and dad at the base of the landing and attempted to scale it with Maile, Jonas and Nova ( harnessed to my waste) after 30ft, I froze and decided there was no way in Gods green earth that I was going any further!   Angels Landing:

I am starting to feel a little freaked out here.

Nova is not scared a bit, she says, "come on guys!"

the caves and rock formations on the way up Angels Landing

Nova wore this outfit the whole time, we called her "Adventure Nova" she was outfitted like a pro and very proud of her cool gear.  Here she is on our way across a desert in search for the longest slot canyon trail in Utah.

Here we are on an overnight back-pack trip in Zion.  We did the West rim trail up to a water fall and slept in bivy sacks at the top of the water fall.  John told stories of the "morman ghost" by the fire, early that night we were visited by a whole load of Mormon families on four-wheelers, it was pretty Trippe:)

Slot canyon beauty

Longest slot canyon trail in Utah and the world

And here is "Adventure Nova" again

My beautiful teenager, it was so fun steeling away for this family trip before she started high school.

Bryce canyon.  By this day we had hiked a good 5 days and 20miles so we had to bribe the little guys to keep going with a treat, the coveted and dangerously potent Red Bull drink was all the motivation needed. By the end of the trip we nick-named Ezekiel "Red-Bull Charger" because he became a hiking desert animal at one sip, it was too funny!

Our last night camping.  I love camping in the desert, love the warmth at night, the sounds and the bright starry sky.  We sang hymns and realized that our youngest kids don't know very many "churchy" songs, when I asked my 5 year old what his favorite worship song to lead us all in around the fire was he said "Dynamite", here is the song.  It was so funny and I love how un-church cultured my kids have become but still full of Christ....We will still learn some of the classic hymns this year for school:)

Celebrating Fathers day with my dad in Davenport, CA. It has been so special to be able to live by my father again.

Ezekiel turns 6! Here he is with his requested Godzilla cake.

And here he is his birthday morning with his requested, breakfast in bed!

June 29th, 2005.  Six years ago we welcomed another wonderful character into the Crowder family.

Ezekiel's favorites:

 food: Well he loves all food! but his favorite meal is chicken pot pie.

things he likes to do: play games on moms phone, listen to his favorite songs ( Zombie by the Cranberries, Fireflies by Owl City, Dynamite by Tao Cruz, Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley and many more) He loves music! And has a great taste for music, we just started him in piano lessons!

He also likes riding his bike in the woods, surfing and boogie boarding, playing board games and anything that has to do with what his big brother Jonas likes. Where Jonas goes, Zook's goes, what Jonas like, he likes.

Books and movies: He loves "Where the Sidewalk Ends", the Far Side Comics, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ( the first chapter book I have caught him reading on his own).  His favorite movie, and still our family's favorite is "Nacho Libre'"


The best way to describe my six year old Ezekiel: He is by far the funniest Crowder, God just made him funny, he makes people laugh on a daily basis. 
He is also very smart and this adds to his great wit, he gets older humor and doesn't miss a beat in conversation.
He is very tough, like a bull in a china shop most times, but very tender, loves babies and animals.
He is very social and "cool"
He has great Faith!
He is always up for adventure and fun!

 

Our cousins from Alaska , Noelle and Sophia, visit us.

Forth of July with our buddies.

Nova turns *!

The pig piniata that John made for her birthday, just got it's nose whacked off.

Opening her gift, a big block of clay that she asked for, she is very excited to create.

This is a colt we got to witness being born, it was a wonderful birthday gift to  Nova.

Nova's Favorites:

Things to do: Play! Nova has always been a free spirited, uninhibited child at play. She is outdoors often! Loves nature and playing with animals. 

Loves doing art and creating things, playing the piano and singing, riding horses and surfing.

Food: anything sweet!

Books or Movies: Animal books and science books. Animal movies!

Best way to describe eight year old Nova:

Creative! I have never met someone so creative, she is always drawing, painting, sewing, sculpting and designing and her creations are one of a kind!  She is an artist through and through.

She also loves to sing and has a great voice and lots of charisma. I could see her as a musician as well. She has such "flare" about her.

She loves relationships and people, loves to spend time with people she loves and loves to give gifts to show her appreciation for people.

She is very pure and loving, very spiritually in tune and sensitive. 

Nova has always been a "one of a kind."

This is one of my favorite photos of the kids when they were little, life is sweet!

John surprised me with a few days in Maui, here I am in the town where I was born, Paia, Maui.

Maile and Jonas

Maile turns 14!

Celebrating Maile turning 14 in downtown Santa Cruz.

14 years ago, me and new born Maile

Maile's Favorites:

Maile has become such an amazing young lady, she has been given such natural abilities and character to be very successful in whatever path she chooses, I am in awe at the person she is!

She is amazing musically, academically and artistically but still has such a passion for dance, giving many hours to practice each week. This year she made Senior Company at the Santa Cruz Ballet Theater and she has grown in her dance immensely. She would love to be in a professional company some day.

She started high school this year and got into a very prestigious prep school through a very challenging lottery system, so she is very excited to be getting a strong education.  Being an overachiever, she will do very well I am sure.

Even as the teenager of the family, she remains close and adored by her younger siblings, Maile is the leader of her siblings and a leader in other circles as well.

She is very wise and perceptive, non-emotional in her decisions but very compassionate. She loves truth and justice and will always stand up for the "under-dog".

She is very "savvy" and doesn't miss a beat but remains very pure and innocent, something I am so thankful for.

She is so smart and so beautiful and we are so proud of her! 

"Nova and butterfly"

out on the lake

One of our many hot Summer days at the swimming hole in Henry Cowell State Park.

Early morning surf and plein air painting, this was a wonderful day!

Ezekiel learning to surf

Ezekiel get a concussion

Beautiful Maile

Toothless grin.

Jonas the man!

fishing with dad

the teeth keep falling out

in line to ride the "Big Dipper" at the Boardwalk on locals night. Something I have been doing since I was six years old.

Jonas turns 10!

Jonas' favorites:

Favorite things to do:

Jiu Jitsu, surfing, camping, biking, guitar and pretty much anything! Jonas is game for anything!

Favorite food:

Jonas loves any homemade meal or treat I make for him, cooking is the way to his heart.

Movies and books:

Loves the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy books and movies. Love Gary Larson Far Side comics and Calvin and Hobes.

Best way to describe ten year old Jonas:

Jonas is turning into such a fine young man. He is the kindest most loving genuine person I know. He put everyone before himself, and will never put anyone down. He has such a sweet, compassionate heart and is very in tune and perceptive to the needs of others. He is so sweet!

He values relationships immensely, loves conversation and will sit and talk about life for hours:) 

He is very inquisitive, love facts and details and is very excited to learn. He applies himself very well academically, musically and his sports.

He is such a great kid! So sweet and easy going and loving! 

Maile  and newborn baby Jonas....Time goes way to fast!

Teach us the number of our days that we may enter the heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12