Make It Pretty

My first tip for getting your kids to eat healthy food is to make it pretty.  Maddie rarely eats apples.  This apple, though, she ate!  I cut it up and used toothpicks to turn it into a swan.  I then gave her a bit of peanut butter in a bowl.  She took it apart, piece by piece, dipped it, and ate almost the whole thing.

Victory!

You Are What You Eat - Healthy Eating Project, Intro

I think that people nowadays are more and more aware of the effect food has on their health.  Whereas our generation grew up on bologna sandwiches and white bread, with a good size scoop of cherry Jello for fruit, today's families are starting to realize the importance of fruits and veggies, clean meat and whole grains. 

This has touched our family on a personal level.  Remember the post on getting rid of our TV?  Basically, we did it because we noticed that it played a huge part in our kids' bad moods and mouthy behaviour.  The more TV, the worse it got. 

It finally clicked this week that the same is happening with food.  One particular day stands out.  It was a busy day with little time to cook.  The fresh groceries had run out a couple days ago. I resorted to throwing together whatever I could from the pantry...that is, mostly convenient, processed, carb loaded boxed food.   No veggies, since there wasn't time to run to the store that day.  And you know what?  We paid big time. 

The kids dragged all day.  Their little faces stared blankly at nothing.  I was tempted to tie sponges around their necks to catch the drool.  They cried at nothing and everything.  They were nasty.  NASTY!

And, yes, so was I.

We are definetly what we eat. 

I don't mean this post as a sermon or a lecture.  I'm only pointing out something that I finally figured out, and really, should have noticed much sooner. 

The thing is, now I feel guilty.  Have I set up my kids for a lifetime of unhealthy eating?  Have I encouraged bad habits?  Have I pushed them down the hill of ill-health only to land in a heap of diabetes and heart disease?  Is this MY fault?!

Well, yeah, I guess it is my fault. 

Thankfully, guilt is a powerful motivator. 

We'll see where it leads...stay tuned for more ideas on how to get some fibre, vitamins and fresh food down your kids' gullets.

Happy Birthday, Graedon!

Graedon Phillip Patterson is now, officially, 4 years old.

He is growing like a weed, tall and strong.

He's quite the boy, all about cars and trucks.

He's rough and tumble, but has no qualms about helping his baby sister by carrying her dolly in public.

He'll wrestle his daddy, and (almost) win, but he'll snuggle with Mommy and remind her,

"I'm still your baby boy, Mama."

Yes, but not for long, Love.

Graedy, posing with the long awaited Monster birthday cake.   I think he likes it!

Close up of the cake.  There was an eyeball for each kid.  I couldn't risk being one eyeball short as it would bring back traumatizing memories of a certain birthday party when I had to sacrifice my lollipop for some kid who probably didn't even RSVP.  But  I can't talk about it.  It still hurts too much.

Graedy woke up to this Balloon Wall.  He opened the door to his room and...BALLOON AVALANCHE!!

Treat bags.

Happy Birthday, Graedon!

Viking Day

The local homeschoolers were treated to a Viking (ahem, Norseman) Day  by our favourite historical re-enactor, Kate.  She showed up in character, complete with costume, props, and activities.

Inga (Kate) showing us how to drop spin.

As it turns out, the Norsemen were pretty advanced!  They had jobs, and money.  They travelled all over the place in their specially designed flat-bottomed ships, and were excellent fighters.  Not against the Romans, though.  No one messed with the Romans.

Eva dressed up as a Viking.

They wove linen, too.  They didn't have buttons.  Really, though, who needs buttons when you have awesome bronze broaches instead?

Cool Viking props.

They even molded antlers and horns into utensils that felt & looked just like plastic.

Maddie & Graedon making Viking beads.

Thank you, Inga!  We loved your presentation!

Tonight, we drove by the church where Richard & I were wed almost 10 years ago.  I pointed and yelled back to the kids, "Look!  That's where Mommy and Daddy got married!"

Richard (surprised):  "Oh, right!" 

Graedon (4 yrs old, almost):  Did I come?

Me:  No, you weren't born yet.

Graedon, upset:  Why didn't I come?

Me:  Graedy, you weren't here.  You weren't born.

Graedon:  Where was I?

Me:  I don't know.  I hadn't made you yet.

Graedon:  Who was babysitting me?

Me:  (big breath)  You weren't in my tummy yet! 

Graedon:  I wanted to come. 

Me:  grrr...

I Resolve...

Resolutions are those promises you make to yourself that, somehow, always get broken.  It's like they're meant not to last.  So, in that spirit, here are my resolutions for 2012:

*Get extraordinarily fat. 

*Amass a ridiculous amount of debt.

*Live for myself and myself only.  The kids can fend for themselves.

*Revel in the joys of a dirty home.  The crud on the toilet will surely boost our immune systems.  I mean, MY immune system.  After all, I'm living for myself, now.

*Gossip.  Viciously. 

*Stay up 'til the wee hours and sleep in 'til noon.


What are your non-resolutions? 

Blind People Like Subway, Too.

I went to Subway for lunch today.  I didn't feel like eating in the restaurant, so I used the drivethru.  I ordered and advanced to the checkout window.  There, to my utter bafflement, was this sign:

In braille.  At the drivethru.

"So, I noticed your sign there," I said to the teenager at the till.  "Do you get a lot of blind drivers coming through here?"

She didn't get it, but I had a good laugh!

And, for all you blind readers out there: 

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