High Fructose Corn Syrup

it's everywhere.....in everything....okay not EVERYthing but in a LOT of things. I've been noticing it more and hearing more about how the constant ingesting of it is a major cause of obesity. I haven't done a lot of research but I'm about 85% certain that for the next 2 wks (as i only grocery shop for 2 wks at a time) we are going to try to completely remove it from our house. I know it is going to take some convincing the other people in the house. I admit I'm a poptart for breakfast mom and that will have to change. We dont drink things with hfcs since we are mainly water, milk and iced tea drinkers. I am eager to see how many places it's hidden and I think it will be a great learning tool for the children.

If you give a girl a pickle...

She'll probably ask for the jar when it's empty. We are going on a Florida Vacation in February of 2009, we're all eager about it. The children have been invited to save monies with us and help plan what we'll do and where we'll go. When we selected our hotel it was over a series of dinner conversations about what was important to everybody. It's so neat to hear the thoughts and priorities of a 6 1/2 and 3 yr old. Joshua says he wants a "wave pool" but i think a swimming pool will work. Kaity has requested a place that serves breakfast and has yogurt. We have booked our hotel and thankfully everybody should get their needs met. So fast forward to the pickle jar, we buy HUGE glass jars of pickles because we go through them so quickly and just so happened to empty a jar as I had an abundance of change that needed a home. Last summer we saved change and the coins were cashed in and we took the dollars and went spelunking. This year we are going to save our coins (and dollars) to put toward our Disney trip. Kaity is already thinking of ways to save/raise/earn money and Joshua is finding all the rogue coins in the house to add in to the mix. I vacillate between wanting to include the kids and not wanting to burden them with the concept of cost/expense. My parents did a poor job teaching me the fundamentals of money and I think this might be a good way to develop the concept of saving for something....I dont know I'll let you know in 20 years if they end up on Oprah! :)

We played outside today for the first time in what feels like months! It was sunny and warmer than it has been. We got out the sled and rode down the drifts of snow from all the shoveling of the driveway. A friend of Kaitys came over to play with us and that is when it all turned south. My daughter lost her mind. She was sassy and flippant and all with a smile on her face as if that would somehow fool me that she wasn't being snarky. And it almost worked....surely that sweet creature with that smile and twinkle in her eye didnt just tell her momma "no" surely not. We ended up spending about an hour outside and Max even got in on the action. It's amazing how those four little tiny short legs can carry him at such speeds. I actually had to run after him as he made a break for it across the snowy yard and down the sidewalk across the street. We had much fun except for the bit of grumble and sass. Are 6 yr olds always sassy? It gets better by 7 right? and then from there on in it's smooth sailing?

I love orange.....

seriously, it's my favorite color, flavor, fruit, juice....you name it baby! I'd pick orange! So imagine my surprise and delight when I was shuffling my fingers across the keys and happened upon an orange minivan! ORANGE! not soccer mom blue or retired teacher white or bank teller green but ORANGE! I could shout from within the confines of my mom-mobile. I am giddy with excitement, I've called 2 dealerships to talk numbers and to ask if they indeed do have such a promising vehicle on their lots. I am going Monday to test drive it. Now while I am giddy and woohoosupercited the grown up in this relationship is not. He, of course, is willing to allow me the indulgence of a test drive (or at least I'm assuming so since he heard me scheduling it lol) and will sit and watch the battle between whimsy and practical rage in my head as I talk myself in and out of the deal. I have crunched numbers and it appears we will not be upside down and the payment might even go down a smidge......orange? did i mention it was ORANGE?!











in the interest of proving a point i may have exaggerated my love of orange...it's truly simply about the color. Not big on the flavor, dont drink the juice and cannot eat an orange unless it's been de-white string thinged which consumes an incredible amount of time!

ummm, a cat. i have a cat.

yeah, Jeremy was reading the first post and saw the whole introduction to the brood and said "what about custard? she's been around since before the dog" poor custard. i skipped her. at least it wasn't a child! Although there is an insteresting story about the cat.....for another time. It's late and I'm sleepy. BUT i have a cat! :)

And then she said...

the first blog experience in it's entirety.....now i'm wondering why i started another. probably should have looked in my faves first huh? :)

http://adventuresinmotherhood.spaces.live.com/

Greetings and Salivations.....

Yes, salivations.....between the puppy and the boychild I was drooled on in great excess this morning. I've never known a puppy to drool but Max is such a slobberfest. Joshypot on the other hand has been a drooling sleeper since birth. He gets that from his father I'm sure. So welcome to the wonderful world of blogging a'la me. I've kept a couple online journals but never really was diligent about updating them. Honestly I'm not all that sure I have enough going on to hold the attention of an audience. I dont have any drama from the classroom unless my girlchild trips on the way to the kitchen table. I dont work outside the home so no work drama to share. I guess I'll have to be on the lookout for drama *cue bond style music* to share with the masses. Let me introduce you to my brood. My husband Jeremy is the oldest of 4 and quiet and steady with a wicked sense of humor. He is heavily into all things sci-fi and I love him despite that fact, actually...in the course of our marriage I've found myself being assimilated and after so many years I figure resistance is futile! :) Kaity is our first born and is 6 1/2 she is hysterical and clever. She looks like me but has her daddy's patience and thoughtful nature. Although I would like to take credit for her quick witted come backs. We've home schooled from the beginning and she loves to learn and is an avid reader. Joshypot (since the day he was born...not sure how that nickname happened) is 3 1/3 and looks just like his Daddy, but Oh My Word does that boy have my redheaded temperament. He's got the biggest blue eyes that typically are his saving grace! He's thoughtful but determined and quite coordinated (which his Daddy would have to take credit for). He can do cartwheels and dribble balls while running and has little to no fear in the face of almost anything. He has a slight speech issue that I find incredibly adorable but we've started going to speech classes to correct it. I'm going to miss it when it's gone! Then there is Max, he's the newbie. Our chocolate and tan mini dachshund puppy that is 3 mo old. He's a sweetheart and a seriously a cuddle baby. So that's our family I look forward to sharing more about our days as time continues. Oh and btw I'm the oldest of 5 and for some reason when people learn that Jeremy and I are both first borns they always say 'ohhh that explains so much' nobody, however, has ever explained it to me.