Weekend Getaway + Guess What?!

    Natasha, her husband and son smiling at the camera with a body of water behind them

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    We spent the weekend in Cascade Idaho with my husband’s family. The weather there was perfect; low to mid 70’s and cloudy. It was such a nice break from the summer heat we’ve had in the Boise area. It was also great to spend time with family that we don’t see often (they were visiting from Cali).

    The kids loved it (3 of the boys are about the same age). Here’s a peek into our trip and make sure to get to the bottom  of the post for some very exciting news!

    Cascade Vacation

    We spent the most time on the beach. it wasn’t warm enough to swim but we enjoyed the fresh air, let the kids explore and get dirty and even did some fishing (although we didn’t catch much).

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    …. 🙂

    Don’t worry, we didn’t travel this way. My son just loves holding babies. These were all of the kiddos on the trip. All boys.

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    Our vacation rental was right by the beach which was perfect. We walked there a couple times a day.

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    … 🙂

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    I was in charge of breakfast so here’s what was on the menu:

    Morning 1:

    Cantaloupe, cheese, english muffins, cucumbers, nalesniki with all the fixins (cheese crepes that I prepared before we left home), scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee and OJ.

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    Morning 2:

    Buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup, homegrown raspberries, fresh peaches, cantaloupe, sour cream & homemade jam, then hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, cheese, coffee, and orange juice. I love breakfast the most these days because I start feeling worse throughout the day (more on that below).

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    Here’s the crew at breakfast time.

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    My sis-in-law, Nadia was in charge of all the other meals and she did a fantastic job! Thank you so much Nadia for all the time, energy and love you put into our menu . Everyone helped which was so nice. I loved sharing elbow space with these gals.

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    My son insisted that one of his aunties read to him at bedtime. I loved this sweet scene 🙂

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    We also spent alot of cozy moments on the deck overlooking the lake, just chatting it up 🙂

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    Here’s our party of 12.

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    On our last day, we checked out and went to a nearby hot springs. It was nice. I sat in the large “kiddie” pool the whole time but it was so relaxing. The water was just right.

    Cascade Vacation

    And this is what uncles are for:

    Cascade Vacation

    So, the great, exciting and super awesome news (for us anyways)…

    There’s a bun in the oven! That’s right, I’m pregnant! We’ve been working (I won’t elaborate) on this one for a long time :-O. I honestly think stress was a big contributor in making it hard to get pregnant; going from finishing up nursing school, to the big ‘ol nursing boards, then training and starting a new career on nights on a very stressful floor no less (Telemetry)…. When I finally decreased my hours; within a month, I was preggers!

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    I’m so happy and excited to share my joy with you. I’ll be keeping you posted here on occasion and more frequently on my my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels (for those of you that like that sort of thing ;)). Anyway, God’s timing couldn’t be more perfect. I am 12 weeks and due March 7th. I’m also super curious to know if it will be a girl or boy.

    Our 5-yr old son is probably the most excited. He does the sweetest things for the baby already; like practicing swaddling his teddy and saving bites of food from his plate saying it’s “for the baby” as he scoots it my way. We are so blessed to be pregnant and I’m immensely thankful to God for this blessing.

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    It’s been a little bumpy so far with the food aversions. I couldn’t stand the onions and garlic being in the pantry so we moved them into the laundry room. Now I hate my laundry room. I feel great in the morning but sort of crumby in the evening.

    All of this makes it more challenging to blog, but I’m still plugging along because I don’t want any of you to be hungry in the mean time ;). Love you all and please keep our family in your prayers through this pregnancy. Thanks friends!

    -Natasha

    Leave a Comment

    Comments

    • Alina
      October 22, 2014

      Congrats love❤️that’s so exiting

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        October 22, 2014

        Thank you Alina 🙂

        Reply

    • Katia P
      October 16, 2014

      Dear Natashenka, Congrats to you and your family on pregnancy #2. Thank you for sharing your recipes along with your personal stories, taking time to do photos and typing recipes. God Bless you for all your labor. Learned so much from your website . Please take cars of yourself, and don’t do too much , but do keep us updated 🙂 Cant wait to find out the gender of your little blessing

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        October 16, 2014

        Katia, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment :). We are so very excited to find out as well (end of the month!!). God bless you and your family as well and I’m so happy to hear that you are enjoying the blog 🙂

        Reply

    • Zhenya
      September 25, 2014

      Hello Natasha,
      I came across your blog on Pinterest. So excited to find your blog, browse your recipes and read about your family. I’m hoping to learn to cook some of your recipes.
      Congratulations on Baby #2.
      Most of all I’m thankful to God to find a blog of a Christian Slavic woman who loves to cook. It’s an encouragement for me to see God mentioned on your blog. Praise the Lord for all that you do. May He continue to shower you & your family with many blessings.

      Zhenya

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        September 25, 2014

        Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment :). It’s so nice to meet you! God bless you in all of your cooking adventures 🙂

        Reply

    • Alina
      September 25, 2014

      Wow very exciting news! Congratulations Natasha! God bless you and your baby on your pregnancy! Looks like a fun trip! Awesome pictures!! 🙂

      Reply

    • Luba
      September 20, 2014

      Wow Congrats !!!! You are Due the same time as Olga of olgasflavorfactory!!! So that means we will be starving durring that period.

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        September 20, 2014

        We would never let you starve! 😉 ha ha, thank you! I was so excited to hear her news 🙂

        Reply

    • Julia Manchik
      September 12, 2014

      Whoooo!!! Congrats on your bun! Excited for all of you, and especially David who will have a sibling. Hope you love being pregnant second time around.

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        September 13, 2014

        It’s getting easier now and I’m so happy about it. It was really tough to blog in August with low motivation and good aversions. I was on the couch a lot ;-). Thanks Julia. I bought some cute prego clothes yesterday and yes I am thankful and enjoying it 🙂

        Reply

    • Geri
      September 4, 2014

      Congrats!! I’m so happy for all of you!

      Reply

    • rkd
      September 3, 2014

      Congrats! I had bad food aversions and “morning” sickness with my baby. At 8 weeks we went to Ukraine to visit husband’s parents, and I couldn’t eat ANYTHING! It was too early so I couldn’t even tell them why. Mother in law was upset and thought I didn’t like her food. (But was happy when she found out the real reason.)

      I heard that more food sensitivity etc means it’s a girl…I’m sure you’ll be happy either way, but maybe there is a daughter in your future 🙂

      Best of luck to you with the future bundle of joy!

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        September 3, 2014

        Oh goodness I can just imagine poor you having to smell all those authentic onion and garlic food smells in Ukraine. :-O. I’ll let you all know when I find out if it’s a boy or girl. We are so so excited and thank you for your sweet comment 🙂

        Reply

    • Svetlana
      September 3, 2014

      So wonderful news!!! Congratulations to all of you!

      Reply

    • Vicky Lyashenko
      September 2, 2014

      Oh my goodness! How Exciting! Congratulations!!!!

      I have a friend who’s struggled with conceiving and she too said that stress and diet are a huge contributor! So thrilled for you and your beautiful adorable family!!

      Many blessings!

      Sincerely,
      Vicky

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        September 3, 2014

        Thank you so much Vicky! Yeah it’s amazing how everyone has different triggers or reasons but I’m totally convinced it was stress for me.

        Reply

    • Zina P
      September 2, 2014

      I am so happy for you! You look fabulous and even more so now that you are pregnant. Congratulations and God Bless you all.

      Reply

    • JuliaKuz
      September 1, 2014

      Congratulations on the pregnancy!! Such an exciting time! May God bless your growing family!

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        September 2, 2014

        Thank you Julia 🙂

        Reply

    • Alla
      September 1, 2014

      LOL, the moment I read “…and make sure to get to the bottom of the post for some very exciting news!” I instantly knew that you are preggo! CONGRATS!!! I am so very happy for you guys! It’s about time 😉
      Thanks for sharing the awesome pics with us! Looks like a good place to camp. And there is hot springs too? I want to go there sometime. We live near by: Spokane, WA 🙂
      Would love to get more updates on the pregnancy! I get really excited for other ppl just as I would for myself. P.S. I have only one child so far who is 17 mon 😉

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        September 1, 2014

        Thank you 🙂 that is about the age of my niece and it is such a cute age!

        Reply

    • Mia S
      September 1, 2014

      Congratulations on the pregnancy! Our eldest are the same age and I have 3 more kids afterwards. I’m so excited to know what you’re having. Take care and more blessings to your family!

      Reply

    • Svetlana Ganaga
      August 30, 2014

      Congratulations Natasha! May your pregnancy and your whole family be blessed 🙂

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        August 30, 2014

        Thank you so much! 🙂

        Reply

    • alana
      August 30, 2014

      Please let us know who your having!!!!! And congratulations sweet s:)

      Reply

    • Anna
      August 29, 2014

      Congratulations!! I am so happy for you guys! You are glowing!

      Reply

    • Dina
      August 29, 2014

      Congrads Natasha! I am so happy to hear such good news, babies are truly a blessing from God. I hope you have a healthy pregnancy and baby. God bless your entire family! Thanks so much for this wonderful blog, I recommend your blog to all of my friends 🙂 Congratulations again Natasha!!!

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        August 29, 2014

        Thank you Dina and thank you so much for sharing my blog with your friends. I sure appreciate it. 🙂

        Reply

    • angelina howard
      August 28, 2014

      Congratulations!!!!!! very excited what God is continuing to do in your families lives…. Hope you will have a good and healthy pregnancy and a baby! God bless you!

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        August 28, 2014

        Thank you so much Angelina 🙂

        Reply

    • Allison
      August 28, 2014

      Congratulations! You look beautiful.

      Reply

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