Monday, October 20, 2008

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

In my opinion anyways! Fall has always been my favorite season. Starting in mid August and going through November, Ohio is just so lovely! The leaves changing to all the beautiful colors and making the Metroparks a blaze of oranges, yellows and reds. There is that wonderful smell in the air; a combination or drying leaves, bonfires, and apples. You can finally bring your sweaters, boots and jeans out of hiding. And what is better then snuggling up under an afghan with a cup of hot tea and a good book or movie?

Jackson seems to like this time of year best to. There are balls everywhere (pumpkins), and all kinds of new things to collect- pretty leaves, acorns (with and without 'hats') and more sticks then he can squeeze under his little arms. He can't go anywhere outside without stooping to pick up new treasures.

I have really been trying to take advantage of all of the wonderful Fall-Fests and Harvest Parties that are going on everywhere. It is gives some new things for us to do plus it is just a great way to get the family out and about in this beautiful weather. So far we have hit up the Johnny Appleseed Festival at Mapleside, looked at tractor's at North Royalton's Fall Fest, we went pumpkin hunting at Red Wagon Farms in Columbia Station and yesterday we went to Sagamore Hill's "Spooktacular". I have always loved going to these things and now with Jackson around it gives me even more of an excuse to go to as many as possible :)

At the Spooktacular, they were doing free pictures to all kids in costume. So of course we dressed up little man. One more excuse to wear his adorable costume. This year he is dressing as a Little Lizard. We got the costume from his cousin Maxx and oh my goodness, it is too cute! The best part about it is that it is totally snuggly and warm. I can't wait for Halloween to come so he can go trick or treating with his cousins. Jackson and Sophie will actually be able to walk up to the doors this year. It is going to be so fun- don't worry, there will be lots of pictures!

As much fun as Halloween is, probably my favorite thing about this season is Thanksgiving. With it on its way it makes me start thinking about all of the things I am thankful for. This year my cup runneth over.

Monday, October 13, 2008

God's Pharmacy

I read this the other day and have been thinking about it ever since. It fascinates me! It just shows even further that God has had an ultimate plan since the begining.


Enjoy!


God's Pharmacy
It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... all before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners... God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!

- A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

- A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

- Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

- A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

- Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

- Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. Thesefoods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

- Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? ... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

- Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

- Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

- Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

- Grapefruits, oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

- Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

Monday, October 6, 2008

A Super Fun Time at Memphis Kiddie Park!

Yep, that's right; Memphis Kiddie Park is still one of the coolest places in town (if you are a kid, that is!) The other day, Bonnie, my mom and myself took all the kids to the park for a fun and totally different type of afternoon. Anna has been there in the past, but this was the babies first time. And oh my goodness let me tell you-- they LOVED it!! I don't know if I have ever seen something cuter then watching Jackson and Sophie ride all the rides. At first we were all a little nervous as to how they would act once on the rides without Mommy right there with them. But it was clear after the first ride- Move out of the way Mommy's and Mimi- we can do this all by ourselves! They were so cute and so brave! They sat perfectly still and acted so well behaved you never would have known they weren't even 2 years old yet!

Anna pretty much ran the show as to what rides they were all going to go on- which was just perfect, because being the old pro she is, she knew all the best ones! First we all were able to ride the Merry Go Round to get everyone warmed up- and that was all it took. After this they were ready to be big kids and ride stuff without having Mommy or Mimi right there with them. Next we were off to the boats- these ended up proving to be by far the coolest of the rides. These boats are actually in water- so once the babies figured this out they just had to put their hands (and arms- up to the shoulder if you were watching Jackson) in it and splash like crazy. It was too funny.

Next it was off to the rocket ships. On this ride they all had to be even braver then before. They had to sit by them selves!! Up to this point the babies were at least able to sit together, or in the same car as Anna. So when the ride instructor told us we had to seat Jackson and Sophie alone, Bonnie and I just looked at each other like "Oh boy...” But we went ahead and gave it a try. And you know what, they weren't even scared! They were so good and had so much fun.

So since the rockets worked out so well, we headed over to the Horsy ride. On this ride the kids rode in a suri (yep, with the fringe on top) pulled by a horsy around a good-sized track. I thought for sure Jackson would freak out a bit when he would go to a part of the track where he couldn't see me (we have some separation anxiety issues lately) but he didn't! He and Sophie got to ride together and oh My Goodness- we all wanted to just cry because of pure cuteness! They looked like little precious moments dolls- soooooo sweet! After the ride was over I couldn't stop kissing him because he was so darn cute and so brave- waving to mommy and sitting like such a big boy.

Then we had some terribly unhealthy (but yummy none the less) lunch and off to some more rides. The kids rode their favorites about a million times until the park was ready to close up for the day. I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive about going to the park when Bonnie first suggested it. But it was so much fun watching the kids enjoy themselves so darn much I can't wait to go back! Great idea Bonnie! Be sure to check the Baby Albums for all the pictures- there are some gems!