Wanting to eat real food. Not processed crap.

      As most of you know...I love food. I have catered for someone else and for my own company since 2005. I love reading about food and cooking and baking. But something lately has been alarming me. I am gaining weight. I am not the size of the moon ( yet ) but I feel like if I keep going on this path...I will be.

       I have also been reading a lot about ingredients and what is in the food that we eat. And what is not in the food that we eat. I have really tried to not buy the frozen meals pumped full of the chemicals and all the processed stuff. But this last year, I have slipped. I have bought more then I would like to admit. Why??? Maybe stress, maybe to busy of a schedule, Maybe I was lazy. Maybe it was all the above. hmmmmm....Well This past month. I have been reading ALOT...in between lacrosse playoffs and holidays etc. I am feeling very empowered to make a change. And I have started!!! I am going to share the info that I come across. I am hoping that my hectic schedule will slow down. Seeing that there is one week left to school and both my babies are in full time this year. I will have time to devote to cooking, planning, getting fit. and blogging just a bit more. So watch for my posts.  And see the transformations take place. I am praying that I can do this!!

I have never been able to make you do it.

      So Jacob has always loved to try new things, but ONLY, I repeat only if HE wants to try it. So yes...In life this has presented us with lots of challenges. But From when he was young, I learned and understood him. Take Potty training for instance. Sure we tried at a young age to try and toilet train, but I quickly learned that if this boy does not want to do it. It ain't getting done. So I tried for a couple of weeks and then threw in the towel. I didn't give up the fight. I just thought it wasn't worth the fight. So....I waited for him to tell me he wanted to do it. Yes he was 3 years old and 4 months until he was Fully potty trained. and he did miss the first few months of preschool cause he was still pull ups cause he didn't go #2 in the toilet. but then he turned to us one day and said I have to go Poo..( I know poo talk is gross. Sorry about that. ) So from that day forward. He was toilet trained. 

      Which leads us to today....He finally wanted to learn to tie his laces :) Jacob and I went back to school shopping and he found these really cool skater shoes ( with laces.) And wanted to buy them. I said no I am not buying them until you learn how to tie your laces. So sure enough he said ok I will learn how to tie laces. So this morning. He stated he wanted to try and sure enough on his second try he did it. Yippeee!!

     It has been a challenge to find velcro shoes for a size 13-1 and it felt like every other kid in the world could tie laces. except Jake. But honestly...I have not let myself compare and say well, so and so can do it, so you should. I have just reminded myself. I can't make him do it. And he will learn to do it in HIS time not mine. I just wait...and tell myself it will happen before he is 21. ( I hope)

Growing

Dear: Lil Miss

You have grown up so much this year. Your first school year is over. You had such a bad start to the year, getting knocked over on the playground on your second day scared you to death. I think you are the very first kid to NOT like recess. But we were so blessed that I was driving bus this year, and we were also so blessed that you had such an amazing teacher. I was able to be there with you during this crappy time to transition. We got it figured out and you started to love school in December. Phew....

You can write your name, its so sweet to see you sit down and want to learn your letters and sounds.

You love to ride your bike

You have excelled in swimming lessons This too you were afraid of. You went from crying and not participating to jumping in and getting your face wet. ( something you hated! ) Next time around you are going to kick butt!!! because...

You now LOVE swimming, You are jumping in the pool with NO life jacket. ( in the shallow end ) and jumping off the diving board. You are even jumping off the dock at the cottage and off the boat.

You are still so sweet, and you love to love!! You love touching mommas skin and cuddling. 

You love to sit and talk about your future...Who you are going to marry and how many kids you are going to have. it so much fun.

You love to go shopping and going for coffee with me. Even though you are only 5 1/2 you are so much fun.

Love you Boo!

Rice Side Dish

I love fresh Veggies from the garden. Here is something that I cook for myself all the time. 

Ingredients:
1 Cup of Long grain rice. I use 1/2 brown and 1/2 Quinoa. Or 1 Cup basmati.
2 Cups chicken Broth
I pint of Cherry tomato's
2 Cloves of minced Garlic
1 Small Onion  Chopped
Olive oil
S& P to taste
Feta ( as much as you want )
I sometimes add other stuff like leftover chicken or like today...Beet tops.

Directions:

1.Cook rice in a rice cooker with Chicken broth. 

2. Saute the onion and Garlic and beet top and chopped Cherry tomatoes in the olive oil. when cooked add the cooked rice.

3. when heated, add the feta cheese.  And Voila your ready to eat. Add your salt and pepper to taste. 

( I also will grab Chives, Basil and Parsley out of the garden. BUT.....I couldn't this time cause I have used so much of my herbs that they are all gone. Waiting for them to grow!!

African Lion Safari

We decided to go to the African Lion Safari. I have not been there since a I was kid, and all I remembered was a monkey trying to rip off the antenna. ( which I totally regretted telling the better half that.) But we had an absolute blast. We joined up with friends of ours ( The Sweeney's) and toured around. 

Yup the Monkey's had to be the best part ( for me anyways.) I LOVE monkey's. I am so thankful that Kevin had decided to loop around 3 times, in hopes that a monkey would climb on our van. He was SO determined to get a monkey on our van, he dis obeyed the rules and threw an apple core at us, And sure enough his persistence paid off. We got a monkey!!!

 Apple Core Compliments of Mr. kevin Sweeney.

 Another Fun attraction: The Water park. Of course the kids had a blast.

Jacob Loved the Birds of Prey show. He really wanted to stay awhile and hang with the owl.

 The Elephant show was so much fun!!!

I would highly recommend taking a day trip. And a tip. You can save 20.00 if you buy your tickets from Costco. Just a heads up. 

You get kids even if you don't want them

So we were on the boat and Jacob said he wants his own cottage one day...Here is the Convo


Jacob: Mom, I really want my own cottage.


Me: Well kiddo you need to do well in school and then go to university and then get a good job, that will pay well. Then you will have enough money to buy a cottage. Then you can let your kids take their families there. Just like daddy gets to do. Well that's if you have kids. Cause not everyone has kids.


Chloe Chimes in : I want kids


Jacob: I don't know if I want kids, but I think you get kids even if you don't want them. Lol


Me: I said nothing, I laughed. Like what can ya say to that!

Hesch Summer 2012 List of things to do

     For the last couple of summers we have made a Things we want to do list. It has been a great tool. We sit down the first couple of days of summer and collaborate. Now, this does not mean we do everything on the list, but we do try and the kids get so excited to stroke it off when accomplished. In case you can't read what the list says. I will type it out. This list has come in handy on the days I don't have a clue what to do...And last summers list, it was a list of free things to do. You can get as creative as you like  :)

• Berry Picking
• Movie under the stars
• Barrie Splash pad
• Go to the playground
• Go to the cottage
• Go to the beach
• Camping at Niagara on the Lake
• Go swimming
• Go to Blue Mountain
• Go to Maraposia Market For lunch
• Go camping in Huntsville
• Visit Papa MacLeod
• Marine Land
• Send a special present to Grandma MacLeod
• Eat Dessert First
• Buy Flowers for someone
• Go for Breakfast somewhere new
• Go to the Drive in Movies
• Toronto Zoo with Uncle Dave
• Help Nana with the garden
• Go to the Library
• Go to chapters on a rainy day and buy a book
• Celebrate Jacobs birthday
• Finish Backyard
• Make everyone in the family king or queen for the day
• Baking on a rainy day
• Try a new fry truck