"Chevron Runner"

I made this "Chevron" patterned runner for my dining room table this afternoon! Got the orange fabric at the local thrift store, bought a sample of ultra white paint for $2.99 and a thin angled brush to paint on the stripes. I printed out a chevron pattern and then traced it onto cardboard to make it more durable! Used a fabric pen, traced the pattern and then went over it with the paint! I was going to paint the insides of the stripes but I kind of liked it like this?! I might change that later on, but you can mess up and it looks decent. Love the orange and white! 

Happy New Year!!!

It has been a while since I posted last, I don't even know who looks at blogs anymore, or at least mine?! With Facebook, Pinterest, and cell phones, I think you all know everything about me what I like to eat, read, watch, do etc. Well, 2011 was a great year for the Dean Family with yet another move, but in the same town! We sold our house in Clovis December 2010 and missed our nice yard space we used to have! In March of 2011 we found a rental in SLO or should I say they found us. The property management company called us and said they had a rental that we would probably be interested in! We fell in love with it and moved in a month later. Besides the fact it was $600 a month cheaper than our other rental, we were pretty stoked to have a nice big yard for the kids to play! Although, I find that we are not home as often as we used to be. With all 3 kids in school this year we are on the go! Ellie is in 3rd and the brother's are in Kindergarten. Ellie loves dancing and takes it 3 days a week. Brother's tried flag football, they were pretty cute, had no idea what they were doing, but it was good "Teamwork!" Speaking of "Teamwork" all 3 kids got that award at school last month. Pretty pumped about that. Anyhow, Jacob continues to work for pfizer as a pharmaceutical rep and I am launching R.I.P.P.E.D this month here in SLO! I love group exercise and now I am teaching! Thankful for the beautiful place in which we live and the wonderful friends we have here. May you have a great 2012 with many opportunities and memories to come!
Here is a recipe for homemade granola that I made last night! Super healthy! Super yummy! Enjoy!

6 cups oats 
1/2 c Brown Sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 or 1 1/2cup of applesauce (homemade or store bought) I used homemade delish!
1/2 c coconut (or not but I love coconut!)
1 c slivered almonds (or any nut)
2 tbs cinnamon
1/2 c organic Flax plus fine milled (I got it at costco 6 bucks for a huge bag) It is ground up can't taste it in the recipe but so good for you!! 


Mix all together in a bowl then spread on sheets


Bake at 225 for 1 hour 15 min spread on 2 cookie sheets turn every 15 min cool completely 
then store in an airtight container! This granola is chewy and yummy!! No oils or fats!

Summer Lovin'

Ok, so these uploaded backwards, so I will start from the top here! We have been "super" busy, as my kids would say! "Super" is our new word this year! My cousin got married in San Diego, "super" fun wedding, danced the night away, need to post some pics of that! A trip to Legoland topped that trip all off:) Brother's turned 5!!! We had a bounce house/slide party! The waterslide was the hit...would totally recommend one! They have been doing a lot of sleeping in and we have had a lot of late nights...I have no idea how I am going to get 3 kids to school on time! The kids have been wanting to sleep together on a fort...in the living room, so we let em. We had our "Dean" Family reunion...3 days of no showers, dirt, swings, riding the motorcycle, campfires, and cousins left us with many great memories and ready to get home and get cleaned up:) I think in the pic there are over 30 kids...Ellie got baptized!! She turned 8 in April and we had such a great day at her baptism! Can't believe I have an 8 year old...enough said about that or I will start crying. Jacob and I got to sneak away to Maui to celebrate my 30th! Wow, we stayed at an amazing condo in Kanapali...ziplined, paddleboarded, golfed, swam, hung out with the Jonas brothers, got tan, all we were missing were the kids!!...next time! Phew, it has been a while since I have posted last but with facebook now, it is sort of taking over my blogging world. Hope you, whoever you are out there reading this are enjoying my life. This summer has been great and busy, I think we are savoring every moment before ALL our kids go to school!! Loving our new house and yard this summer, being outside is my favorite, and "Super" fun with my kids, priceless.

Moving again?!!

So, yeah it sounds crazy, but we are moving again into a new house in SLO. Same town, new place! Long story, but let's just say we will be saving a ton of money, since our rent was a little crazy, our neighbor was a little well you know, and we had no back yard, or should I say we had a chicken coup! New house=big yard, hot tub, own space, close to freeway/downtown SLO and grass!...which we have missed dearly since moving from Clovis! So, off we go...we did not unpack a lot so yes, my garage is full of boxes filled with a bunch of who knows what, really I just want to go take it to goodwill but I am sure there are some valuable things in there. The movers packed us, so I do not know where anything is and frankly I do not even know what is in the boxes. We are excited to be close to downtown and get settled...again. Our life is an adventure, and it is showing me to hang on and ride it and have fun or you will go crazy. Even though I feel a little crazy right now. Jacob and I just open the garage stare at all the boxes and then shut it! ha:) For real, this is our 8th move, we will settle down someday:)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

This year has been exciting, new, crazy, stressful, and fun! This year has taught me to live each day to the fullest with your loved ones and friends. Be helpful, be kind, share, say I love you even when you are mad, concentrate on things that matter, life is a ride, are you on it?!

We sure had a ride this year when Jacob got laid off from his pharmaceutical job in March, to finding another job two weeks later, that he would start in May. Severance and time Jacob had, so off I went to work and coached gymnastics like crazy. Private lessons, more hours, and Jacob ended up being "Mr. Mom". I missed my kids and the routine I had, but I was so grateful for Jacob in wanting to help out plus giving me a chance to work and feel what it was like to be the one working! The kids were able to have memories and time with their Dad that I was so grateful for. So, one door closes another one opens and Jacob is working for Pfizer as a pharmaceutical Rep in SLO!

We moved in July and listed our house for Sale in Clovis. Ellie started 2nd grade, the brothers started pre-school, I have a few minutes to myself 3 days a week, which is nice!

My laptop, realtor, and real estate attorney became my best friends and we were on a quest to sell our house "short sale" style which I am happy to say sold!

Tragedy struck friends, jobs were lost, lives were lost, accidents happened, and this is why 2011 can only bring new experiences and opportunities to share our love and friendship to all those in need. Service is truly contagious and the biggest service that was given to us was that Jesus Christ died for us. We hope you can remember this, this holiday season and let your light shine!

Merry Christmas,
Love The Dean's
Jacob, April, Ellie, Cooper & James

Brothers 1st Day of Preschool!

These guys started preschool yesterday! They are too cute getting ready for school in the morning. Quite different from their sister! They are up, dressed and ready to go! They truly are precious and I love that they are growing up and have each other. Never would have thought, once again, that I would have twins, but now it's moments like this picture that make me feel I am so lucky to be their mom!

Pickin' Apples

We finally got to take Jacob to the Avila Barn! It is one of the kids favorite places! We went on the hayride and picked apples and Jacob is making an apple pie right now! I would really love to have my own farm and orchard. It would be beautiful to look at and yummy to eat! But a ton of work! I love the pic of cooper here to the left. He is our "challenging" child, well I guess all kids are challenging but he is especially "special". He is super smart and he knows it! Aughh! But doesn't he look so sweet in this pic?...makes me want to be more patient with him. By the way the ice-cream was amazing at the barn! Cupcake ice0-cream, oatmeal choc-chip and lime sorbet! Dad spoiled them and then we headed to the beach. Love having a day with the fam.