Julia decided she didn't want to sit and watch Matthew play tennis so she asked if we could take pictures of her. Yes-- she does believe that life revolves around her. So we told her we would take a few pictures but she has to come back to cheer on her brother. Here is what happened at the photo shoot at the tennis club!
Julia loves to pick out her own clothes. If this girl could wear a skirt or a dress every day- SHE WOULD. It's very hard though having her wear a dress sometimes at daycare because they are outside most of the day. When I pick her up, her tights will be ripped so I try to just have her wear play clothes, but when you are a Princess you just can't help but wear a skirt or a dress every day!
The last 8 months, we have been slowly converting our pantry to All Natural, Whole Grains and baked snacks. It has taken a long time but I am glad to say that we are almost there. It was difficult at first because I thought it was more expensive. I tried different brands, the kids hated it, we threw it out and I was just wasting money. Once I found the brands that they liked and would eat it was a much easier process for me. The meats, milk and eggs were of course the easiest to change. The kids LOATHE whole wheat pasta so I had to find pasta that looked white but packed a lot of fiber and whole grains or find a whole wheat pasta that didn't have the grainy taste. Crackers and pretzels were also easy to change and find whole grain options The other pantry staples like Pop-Tarts, Cookies, and CEREALS are still very difficult to change. My refrigerator is now stocked with a big bowl of fruits like grapes, cuties and apples. So as soon as the kids open it they see all of the fruit. I have also cut up peppers and cucumbers to snack on as well.
I am not a the food police at all. I do my best to give them the healthier options at home, I can’t change all of their favorite snacks but I feel good knowing that I can change at least 90% of them. I cook a lot so we only eat out every once in awhile or grab a bite to eat on those unexpected crazy nights. So when we are at home, I want to make sure that it’s the best possible, healthful foods and snacks I can give them. The other times they are spoiled at their grandparents houses with snacks and candy. They go to birthday parties and go buck-wild and eat candy, cake and juice like its crack. They can pick whatever they want on the menu as long as there is also a fruit or veggie.
It’s been a long road making these changes, the kids really haven’t noticed it except for when I changed out Alien Orange colored cheetos for baked cheetos. Matthew blew up on me like I committed a crime. Or the time that I switched to low fat Oreo cookies and Julia almost threw it up. I tried. That’s all I can do. I know that there are some snacks that I can’t change and that the kids just HAVE to have. It’s ok. They are kids. What they don’t know is that mom is adding extra fiber, whole grains, puree'd vegetables in sauces and giving them wheat baked snacks in all of the other things that they eat!
http://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X
This past weekend, Matthew had his annual physical with his doctor. After taking all the numbers and the usual chit-chat, our docotor announced that Matthew's weight and height is at the point where he no longer has to use a booster. She did say that each car is different, especially those with benches in the back. She told us to measure him using the seat belt but in most cars he does not have to use a booster. Matthew's face of course lit up and I just sat there tears in my eyes. My baby is a big boy. I know we say it when they start walking, out of diapers, first day of daycare, first day of kindergarten. But when they are legally big enough to not have to use a booster...now thats big. Thats a sign of a big boy. Thats a sign that a momma's baby is growing. At least we know that we have the option of using the booster as long as the seat belt sits correctly across his shoulder.
http://www.gracobaby.com/Pages/Home.aspx
I love Wonton soup but the ones you get from the Chinese restaurants, although quick and easy is loaded with lots of sodium. So I decided to make my own version of it at home this weekend. If I may say so myself- I think it turned out really good. Dave liked it and so did Matthew! Here is the recipe! It is super super easy!
Ingredients:
Bag of Trader Joe's Frozen Chicken Wonton
2 conainters of Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 garlic cloves
2 slices of ginger
1 box of mushrooms
1 can of water chestnuts (if you have it but its not needed).
1-2 spring onions
Handful of spinach or any other green vegetable (that night I only had sugar snap peas)
4 peices of chicken tenders cut up
1. Put a little olive oil on the bottom of a large soup pot. Add garlic cloves, ginger, chicken.
2. Add the mushrooms and water chestnuts
3. Continue to saute and cook until chicken and mushrooms are cooked through
4. Remove the garlic cloves and ginger (since I had littles ones eating this I didn't want them to bite into it. You can finely chop it as well.)
5. Pour in the two containers of chicken broth, water chestnuts, frozen greens or spinach.
6. Pour in the bag of frozen wontons
7. Cook for about 5-7 minutes
8. Pour in bowl and add chopped spring onions!
Matthew & Slapshot! How cool!
I remember seeing Borat in one of these but I honestly thought that it was just for the movie. The other day at the gym while looking through a Cosmo magazine- I saw it. Yes. Mankini on a runway show in Milan. I just can't see this on guys while laying out on the beach. I don't want to see it. I don't think my kids would want to see it. Do you think its HOT or NOT?
