They are watchin' you mama :)

Are you showing your kids how to live a happy & healthy life?  That is, of course, what I am "trying" to do.  I'm "trying" to be an example for them.  Instead of do as I say...not as I do, I am trying to live everyday in a way that is happy and healthy.  Now there are slip ups here and there, but each day we are learning and getting better.

So, my kids are NOT getting up with me each morning to go running and none of them go to the gym with me...although I think that would be fabulous one of these days, but for now, they know being active is an important part of life and they are active in their sports, gymnastics, football basketball etc.

This weekend I found out not only have they picked up that being active is important in everyday life, but they have been paying attention to information regarding the foods we eat.  This weekend we were enjoying time with my mom and dad, my mom was visiting with the kids about what to have for Thanksgiving dinner and she wanted to know what kind of potatoes she should make.  Nick and Kati loved all the choices...mashed...cheesy...you name it, Nate on the other hand....is more on the picky side when Grandma asked him if he liked any of those he said, "no" in a very quiet voice.  So Grandma then asked what kind of potatoes do you like?  Nate replied, "french fries" again in a very quiet voice.  Nick then jumps in and says "So you just like the processed, greasy, filled with chemicals kind of food."  I couldn't help but giggle and smile...they are listening and watching mama.  We have our "anytime" foods and our "sometimes" foods.  Yes I know french fries from a drive thru should probably be a "never time" food, but lets be real....sometimes it happens.  However,  I can honestly say that it does NOT happen very often for us anymore.  We are living and learning!  :)

The next morning I got up for church and decided to make these mini cinnamon rolls, using reduced fat crescent rolls, a bit of butter, and sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar, bake them and once cooled frost them.  Well if you know my daughter you know that she had a dream to own her own cupcake bakery and she bakes up different flavors as often as I let her.  When I went to get a can of frosting from her cupcake cupboard (the ingredients that she picked out) I found a can of vanilla frosting...however it was "sugar free" vanilla frosting.  Yes mama, she is watching and listening to you.  She knows she wants to make something sweet and yummy, but she is also looking for ways to make then a bit better for you.  I couldn't help but smile as I drank my coffee and looked at the can of frosting!

Times are changing

Onto the next stage...it's hard to believe that those cute costumes, jack-o-lanterns and taking the kids trick or treating has come to an end....yes, I first got a glimpse of these changing times, when we went to the pumpkin patch this year.  The area's we once spent a lot to time at, we passed right by...you know the little pedal tractors that the kids ride around the track on and we stand off to the side taking pictures...yes right on by to the big kid pedal cars where we are all in a vehicle and racing each other around the track...hard to take pictures when we are all having a blast working up a sweat together!  Then past the playground area made out of tractors and tires etc., again where many photos were taken, to using the giant slingshots to shoot apples at the targets out in the cornfield.  Yes this told me times were changing!

Then as it came closer to Halloween there were more changes.  Each year the kids pick out a cute design to put on their pumpkins, they get it started and Mom ends up finishing, because their hands are tired or this isn't working right...etc., However, this year as they were all excited to do their jack-o-laterns that they they chose at the pumpkin patch, they each had their own ideas in their head as to what they wanted to do.  No patterns this year.  So all I did was cut the top off and they began...

I am proud of then for using their imaginations and working hard to bring what they envisioned to life ALL on their own...

Finally, Halloween night arrives and my boys are off trick or treating in our neighborhood with their good friends.  Kati still gave us the opportunity to go with her around to the neighborhood, but I'm sure this will be the last year of that.  I did however, get a kick out of all the comments the little onese made about the pumpkins as they came to our door.

So yes, times have changed and are changing every day...everyone hears enjoy your time with the kids now because it will go by fast...yes it is true.  I loved those days of cute little costumes and wide eyed excitement to get dressed up and trick or treat with mom & dad  around the neighborhood...BUT I am also enjoying what the kids have grown into and this new stage we are experiencing.  I love being able to race them around the track, enjoy their creativity, laugh together and the games we play are just changing into one that...dare I say...are bit more enjoyable to us parents...They are definitely becoming little adults right before my eyes and I couldn't be more PROUD!