Snacks and other things

I feel so strange writing a post like this because this is usually something that I read from others.  But I thought I would share what I have been doing the past few weeks with my kids directing them towards eating a more whole foods diet and cutting down on sugar.

This past Saturday when I went to the grocery store, I made sure to really stay away from processed foods and get lots of fruits and veggies.  I got strawberries, grapes, apples, bananas and carrots, and celery.  As soon as I got home I washed and peeled the carrots and celery, cut them up and put them into small snack bags.  I also did the same with the grapes and put them in snack bags.  I then put them into the bottom drawers in the fridge.  I told the kids that if they wanted a snack they knew where they could go and everything was already prepared for them.  It has worked like a charm!! Now, Jack isn't doing the best with the veggies, but he is super picky and I know he will grow out of it.  But Sadie, she is putting away so many fruits and veggies.  I am so proud of her!!
I have also given them cheese and peanut butter and whole grain saltines.  They are loving it.

I have also made a new snack that they love.  I know that I need to get away from it because it isn't whole foods but we are working our way to that direction.  I took two graham crackers and put sugar free cool whip between them and then froze them.  When the kids want a special treat, I will give them half of one.  They LOVE it.   They think its an ice cream sandwich ;)

I have also found this website with a lot of links to snacks that she makes, I am hoping to make some next week.  I love the idea of making my own crackers and graham crackers.  She makes it look so easy.  I will get back to you on that one. :)

I also have a bin full of snacks, some granola bars that are low sugar, raisins, all natural snack crackers.  So, when I tell the kids that they can have a snack, they go to the snack bucket or get something out of the bottom of the fridge.  It has made it easier than me having to think of something for them to have for a snack.  I like not thinking...it makes it nice for momma.  :)

I also found Greek Yogurt pops.  The kids love them! So that is a treat for them.

Also for breakfast, I have cut out all cereals as they are high sugar and they don't fill them up.  So, we have done smoothies, eggs, pancakes, waffles, french toast.  I usually just try to make sure they have some sort of protien for breakfast.

We also only drink water or milk in our house.  That is how it always has been in our house so my kids know no different.  But that also limits their sugar.

So that is all that I have done so far and my kids haven't had an problems at all.  I know that I have lots more that I want to change, but it's baby steps at a time.

I would love to hear if you all have any ideas that you do in your home that you can pass along to me.
I would love to be able to use your wisdom to help my family eat healthier!!! :)

Trying new things....

About a month ago, I was talking to my friend, Carrie, and she mentioned that she was going on a media fast with her kids.  Carrie and I lived in the same Asian city and I remembered both of doing it before when our kids were much younger.  It sparked something in me to do it again with my kids.  We had gone on tv overload in the first few weeks of Tucker's life.  I spent most of my time in my chair nursing that it was much easier to let the tv keep the kids company.  And so we got in a rut.  I am just being honest with you here.  When Jack would wake up in the morning he would ask to watch Mickey Mouse and if it wasn't on at the time or if I didn't let him do it right away, he would throw a fit.  It was then that I knew, we needed to take a break.  And so we did.  I was nervous, what would we do with our time? I thought, well,  let's just take it a day at a time.  And day one was hard, they didn't understand at first and asked a billion times to watch tv.  But day two got easier, and day three was even better.  Before you know it, my kids were playing make believe and doing all kinds of things together.  They were loving it.  And by the end of the week, things had changed.  Attitudes had changed, the tv was no longer just back ground noise.  We are going on about a  month of no tv during the day and it has done wonders.  I have been able to use this time to teach and train them so much more. 
I know that many of you probably already do this with your kids and think, well duh, tv isn't good for them.  And of course I know that, but it is so easy to get a rut and not really know how to get out of it. 
So for me and my family, this has been great! I love to see my children be creative and make obstacle courses on their own and to make up stories and read books together. 
Another area that I have cut down on tremendously is sugar.  About a month ago, I was at my wits end with my kids.  I knew that something needed to change.  And so I cut down their sugar.  I have seen miraculous changes in them.  Even friends have noticed that they are much calmer.  I have a long way to go in the diet part, but I am trying so hard to cut out all processed foods and do a whole foods approach.  It's little by little, but I am trying. 
Well, I must end this post for now, I have other things I wanted to say, but I have a crying baby in the background and I just can't concentrate enough to write coherently.....can anyone relate?? ;-)

I am weak

I read this blog post today and it struck a chord in my heart.  It all spoke to me, but it was the last line that took hold of my heart.  I have always heard it a bit differently.  “He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”  I was quickly taken back to my sophomore year of college when the Lord was beginning to give me a heart for the nations.  I knew that I was to apply for a position to go overseas that year and I just didn’t think I could do it.  I even had one friend tell me there was no way that they would pick me because I didn’t have the experience.  And that weekend that I was appointed, I heard the phrase, “He doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.”  It stuck with me through many trials while serving overseas.  It was nothing that I could do on my own.  I was never good enough to live in another country to share the gospel.  In fact that is why He has me there, because I wasn’t good enough.

And so today, this applies to my life as a mother, even more so than a missionary overseas. You see, I don’t have the experience, this is my first time to be a mother.  I can remember a few weeks ago, I fell onto my bed in tears as I cried out to God, “I am not good enough, I can’t do this job of being a mom.  It is too hard.  I make too many mistakes.  I yell at my children, I don’t lead them towards you as much as I know that I should.”  And again, I am reminded, he doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.    He wants me to be weak, he doesn’t want me to think I have this thing down pat, because if I do, then I don’t need him.  Wow…what a huge thing for me today.  I think before being a mother, I thought it really can’t be that hard.  Oh but it is.  So much harder than so many things that I have experienced in this short life of mine.  But I am so thankful that He is strong in my weakness.  His Grace is sufficient for me.  

Moms, may we remember, He has called us to be weak.  It is in our weakness that He shines out so that our children might see Him. 

Tucker James

Welcome to the world Tucker James Forman

12-5-12

8 pounds 19 inches long

Born at 9:46 p.m.

Birth story is up next!! :-)

Our New Arrival!!

Well, better late than never....Tucker James Forman arrived on December 5th.  What a blessing this little one has been to our family! I want to share all the details of his birth later, but I thought that if I changed my picture at the top of the blog, I should at least update you to let you know that he is here and doing great.  Here are a couple of pictures of the kids with Tucker in the hospital.   We sure do hope that you guys are having a Merry Christmas!!! Will update more soon!