Fruits and Veggies

A large part of the food that I have always eaten has been fruits and veggies. I remember growing up and there always being two veggies with dinner and always an assortment of fruit on the counter and in the fridge. And it wasn't just the apples and bananas, we had all different kinds. I can also remember almost always having a garden growing up, with lots of ready-to-eat produce just calling my name.

Somehow, the green thumb, that seems to run in our family, missed me. I  just don't seem to grow plants. The plants that I've tried to "garden" either don't grow at all, or die before it is time for them to produce. Even non-produce plants don't survive in my care. There have been several times, over the years, that a thoughtful person has given me a plant. Every time, I take it graciously, all the while thinking - "Oh, poor plant, it doesn't know what it's in for." It will suffer along for a while, then eventually shrivels up. I have one plant at the office. If it wasn't for my wonderful co-worker, it would have been tossed ages ago.

So, for many years, I just bought produce, like many others, at the store. Now, I am probably one of the most produce picky people out there. Maybe, it's from growing up with such wonderful fruits and veggies readily available. I'm not sure. But, I am one of those people you see in the produce section, inspecting every tomato before putting it in the bag, and searching through the bananas to find the "just right" ones.

Four years ago, my sister-in-law was so kind to tell me about this wonderful co-op that she participates in every week. It sounded so great to get a variety of produce for a fraction of what it costs in the store, and so much better quality. I was super excited. Then, upon investigation, there was no branch of the co-op in Oklahoma. Thanks for getting my hopes up. What a bummer!
Then, just a couple short months later, she called me again. There was a site that opened up a little over an hour away. Whoo Hoo! I participated at the first chance I got, and was hooked on that very first experience. I began training right away, and was the second site in Oklahoma to open up. I've been enjoying our site here in Clinton for almost three years now. It is such a blessing to fill my kids with such a variety of good produce. We enjoy the experimenting with trying new recipes and new ideas with common items, and the search for suggestions on the rarity of something new that we've not had before. I've discovered that my favorite fruit is persimmons, something I had never had before the co-op. And, it is still amazing to me that my oldest asks every time I come home with our haul if we got spinach to make green pancakes. What kid does that? Apparently, mine!

The best thing about our experience over the last three years, by far, has been the wonderful people that I have met! From that first experience with the coordinator in Altus, to our awesome volunteers and participants here in Clinton, I love you all! We have a great time socializing over fruits and veggies every other Saturday, and I wouldn't trade it!! **A huge thank you to all my awesome volunteers, whom I couldn't live without!! I appreciate you SO much!!**

As I prep for another basket weekend, I am like a little kid on Christmas morning. The excitement of the surprises of what we are going to get, what friends I will get to see, and what new friends I will make, makes my heart happy. And, the look on the kids' faces when I get home, is priceless. Thank you, Bountiful Baskets, for helping this black thumbed mom bring affordable, wonderful, healthy produce to our table!

For more information on Bountiful Baskets, to participate, or to find a location near you, please visit: www.bountifulbaskets.org

Pumpkin Pie

Beth and I have a little canter that we have been doing since before she was even born. I tell her "I love you" followed by a nick-name, and she responds. We do this many times a day, and a lot of the times the nick-name and responses are different.

For the first two years, the nick-names varied with Bethy, Bethy Sue, Boo Boo, Sister Lou, and Sis, to name a few. And the responses varied from her with Mommy, Mommy boo, Mommy Sue, and so forth. Sometimes, we'd get silly and call each other funny names like silly goose, goober, and other funny titles. She'd like to repeat the silly name with Mommy added at the end.

Many months ago, I started calling her pumpkin. I have fond memories of my mom calling me pumpkin, and it just so easily rolls off of my tongue with Beth. Around Thanksgiving, Beth discovered that my favorite pie is pumpkin. So, she has decided that is now her favorite as well. Now Mommy has a new nick-name, pumpkin pie. I LOVE IT!

As I have been spending more one-on-one time with each kiddo, it has really struck me how much I take for granted the little things. This is one of my favorites with Beth. I hope, when she is a mommy, she can look back and  remember and have fond memories of being called pumpkin.

"I love you pumpkin!" "I love you pumpkin pie!"

Date with Boo

Beth and I started having wonderful little "dates" on Friday afternoons a couple months back, and it is wonderful!!

Since I get off from work early on Fridays, I am able to pick Beth up from school. This has been awesome Mommy-Daughter time and we have both enjoyed it so much! Usually, we go to Sonic for Happy Hour, and Beth gets a slushy.

However, this Friday, it was cold, and she already had a sucker from school (two actually, thanks Miss Karen!) So, instead we decided to go to the library. It has been a good while since we had been to the public library, and oh, what fun! After playing in the play area, she picked out books, a Play-Away movie, and we picked out both boys a chapter book. (Oh, and I picked out a book while she was playing.) As we were checking out, Beth spotted the TV with pictures rotating on it, and found herself and her class. She was so excited! "There I am with my friends and MS.KATHY!!" It was so cute!!

It is so great that she loves to 'read' already, and it made me so grateful for all of the librarians that the kids have had over the last several years. They have all played a huge part in their love for books. I so LOVE that the kids have a love for books like I do. It is so great to read with them and discuss the plot and all the details.

I look forward to many more "dates" with each of my children, and to enjoying many more books with them as well!

New Year, New Goals

The start of 2014 has been great! The kids have been pretty healthy; they are excited to go back to school and are counting down till Monday; they are playing pretty nicely with each other and seem to love each other again. Work has been very relaxed and stress free this week. Even my day in Elk City was pleasant, with no yelling/angry customers. I've been able to work out twice already this year, and it's only the 3rd.

So, with all the positives going on, I decided I should document some goals for this year:

• First, personal goals:
• Double the 500 mile challenge, making it 1000 miles in 2014
• Consistently work out 2 times a week
• Eat healthier snacks
• Blog once a week
• Journal more consistently
• Read daily
• Finish Beth's baby book and 2011-2013 family albums (digital scrap booking)
• Have a me date and a hubby date, both at least once a week
• And, family goals:
• Spend individual time with each of the kids, every day, even if it's just a few minutes
• Have a date with each kid, at least once a month
• Work with Nick on his scouting activities
• Consistently have story time every night
• Limit our eating out to once a pay period
• Let the kids spend more time in the kitchen helping out
• Increase our fruit and veggie eating to eat two BBFC baskets a cycle
• Learn more about essential oils to help keep us all healthier

Hopefully, I will have more motivation to accomplish more this year. Looking back over the list, it appears that consistency is going to be the key.
What are your goals, resolutions, or dreams for 2014?