My beautiful Daughters

Oh my Heavens! Have you ever seen such beautiful little girls? I know, I am a little biased, however they are so beautiful!

The older one, with the curls changed my life. She changed my focus from me to her and family. She put me to the grindstone in those early years, like a diamond being shined, she "polished me". Staying at home to raise my kids had to be the hardest thing I have ever done. It was a joy to watch them grow and learn and discover. But it was WORK. Hard work. Meals, dishes, diapers, laundry, crying(mainly from me), fighting, disciplining, teaching, leading, guiding, but mostly loving. It was tremendously hard to be taken out of society and isolated to your home. Sure I could go anywhere I wanted but really where are you going to go with a baby and a 2 year old?

I will cherish those 8 years I was a stay at home mom. I look back and feel so thankful that I was able to be with my girls for all of those years. I am so thankful to my husband for supporting us during that time we lived on his income only. Nothing can replace those years, nothing can compare to that time especially now as I watch them grow so quickly. There are so many things that happen in their daily lives that I dont know about. I used to know their favorite food, favorite book, new word for the day what they ate, how much they ate and everything they did and saw. Now, I barely get time uninterrupted with them.

I know I have many teeth-grinding years ahead with each of them, (They are currently 8 and 10) but I wish I could just slow it all down. I wish I could somehow bottle it up and save it. I dont want them to grow any taller, I dont want to throw away all the books about bugs to make room for books about boys. I dont like seeing the baby faces make way for young womens' faces. I dont like all of the worry I have for them, about safety, about boys, about school, grades, teachers, developing eating disorders, being treated poorly by friends. I would be content to go back to sitting in the rocker with them, as babies in the middle of the night when holding them was all it took to make them happy.

Well well well, WELLNESS is the new BUZZWORD

I am sure that you have all heard the new buzzword for a while now, WELLNESS. Yeah yeah yeah. Well, I know its getting pretty tiring kinda like that "Going green" thing, however there is a lot to be learned and applied from this mantra. Did you know that a study done in 2002 discovered that only 28% of Americans get only 2 servings of Fruit a day? And even worse, only 3% get 3 servings of vegetables a day! WOAH! That is crazy! That means that 97% of Americans arent eating enough vegetables a day, no wonder our healthcare industry is booming.

I found a few really helpful websites that I want to share with you and I am encouraging you to check out. There were some items on these websites that I found to be engaging. (Ok, its not like watching American Idol, but its pretty neat.)

www.fruitandveggiesmatter.gov On here, I found a listing of the fruit and veggie of the month that was educational, and an interactive area called "analyze my plate."

www.nutrition.gov Here I found many many resources, you can calculate your BMI, I know you will be having so much fun here, you will skip boys night out to navigate this site. wink. (Try to think of your health, and your childrens' health.) There was the new food pyramid and how it works, shopping and meal planning guides, a lookup for calorie information on foods and many other items that were helpful to trying to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Another more fun website (seriously) is one called www.calorieking.com. This website lists calories for all of the foods known to man as well as calories for your favorite restaurants. (This is quite scarey!!)

So, that brings me to my next thought, (no not photos of my new bathroom) I am going to challenge all of you on a little game. I am going to start an ongoing game with you all. I will list two popular items and ask you which has the least amount of calories. I want you to write down the answers to these questions somewhere so that when I post the answers you can see if you really knew it or not.

I thought we would start with everyones favorite: Coffee!!
Which has fewer calories?
Iced Sugar Free Syrup Flavored Latte with 2% milk
OR
Frappuccino Blended Coffee
Both Grande size

I will post the answer later!

Old Glory

Many of you know I am very patriotic. I have had many of my family members serve in our countries' wars, I have family members who are currently serving in the war in IRAQ. If you have been to my house, you know that I have American Flags everywhere as part of my decor. Its just who I am. I wanted to share this poem with you for the 4th of July, I know I am a little bit late, but I would encourage you to read it.


I am the flag of the United States of America . . . My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings. I stand watch in America's halls of justice. I fly majestically over great institutes of learning. I stand guard with the greatest military power in the world.
Look up! And see me!
I stand for peace, honor, truth, and justice . . . I stand for freedom . . . I am confident . . . I am arrogant . . . I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners . . . My head is a little higher . . . My colors a little truer. I bow to no one.
I am recognized all over the world. I am worshipped . . . I am saluted . . . I am respected . . . I am revered . . . I am loved . . . And I am feared.
I have fought every battle of every war for more than 200 years . . . Gettysburg, Shilo, Appomatox, San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome, the beaches of Normandy, the deserts of Africa, the cane fields of the Philippines, the rice paddies and jungles of Guam, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Guadalcanal New Britain, Peleliu, and many more islands.
And a score of places long forgotten by all but those who were with me.I was there.
I led my soldiers . . . I followed them . . . I watched over them . . . They loved me.
I was on a small hill in Iwo Jima.I was dirty, battle-worn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me, and I was proud.
I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free.It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country, and when it is by those with whom I have served in battle - it hurts. But I shall overcome - for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stand watch over the uncharted new frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have been a silent witness to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hour comes when I am torn into strips to be used for bandages for my wounded comrades on the field of battle . . . When I fly at half mast to honor my soldiers . . . And when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving mother at the graveside of her fallen son.
I am proud.My name is Old Glory.Dear God - Long may I wave.

If you would like to see this poem with many others, visit the link below.

http://www.chaplin-nest.com/unkarock/flag.htm