The last human freedom

I've been reading Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" lately. I've been procrastinating starting it because it's his personal account of his experiences in Auschwitz and other concentration camps...a little heavy for my rainbows-and-butterflies preferences. But, how can I possibly hope to raise two sons living exclusively in sunshine and happy endings? I wanted some perspective, preferably before the testosterone surges hit.

The male mind and drive is fascinating to me, and so different from my own biological drive. I'm quite happy to let biology allot men and women different ways of thinking on a whole (please allow me this gross over-generalization as I am aware of exceptions to any rule) but feel compelled to understand where it's coming from and what I can reasonably expect as my own two sons grow. And so I read books of personal accounts by men.

For my own benefit, I found it intriguing that Frankl boils down the last of human freedoms. He and his comrades, who had had everything taken from them, had suffered such a surreal human existence for so long, decided that there is one thing that no man can take from you. The last human freedom is the attitude you choose to meet your challenges with. No one can take from us the freedom to choose our attitude, regardless of whether it's your frustration that you life and identity have been stripped from you and you exist one shade away from starvation or brutal murder, or that the grape in your smoothie didn't blend fully and cause an unpleasant sensation and lump in your mouth.

Sure helps with my perspective on the day. And a hearty thank you to all the men and women involved in making it possible for the latter of the two problems to be mine. Thank you for the things you do or have done in protection of our country, and more sacredly, our opportunity to make memories in a land of peace.

Raw food experimentation station

Well, the more I've been reading, the more I've been excited to incorporate more raw foods into my diet. I'm a little surprised, and definitely still figuring it out, but I've been eating only raw foods for 2 days and feel great :) My attitude is positive, my body feels light, and I just feel good! So, logistics (because that had me stumped for a while), I eat a monster serving of oat groats soaked overnight and blended mixed with fruit and nut milk for breakfast, a green smoothie (the equivalent of a giant green salad with fruit and flax all over it) for snack, another monster snack of salsa or avocado and marinated mushrooms, and another green smoothie for dinner and I feel great. Toss in a handful of nuts or dates or whatnot and I'm feeling awesome! Who knows how traveling will go, but for now it's working for me :)

Anyway, just had a minute to update with something and thought I'd update with that :) And, Austin and Gabe both love the smoothies. Austin was chugging a beet green/banana/mango/flax shake yesterday. hehe...try getting him to eat that regular-style!

Other combos I've had the last few days:
strawberry malt (strawberries, cashews, carob, coconut oil)
banana/blueberry/spinach/coconut oil
watermelon/romaine/flax
mango/banana/kale

I LOVE drinking my greens. My new motto is if you like applesauce, there is a green smoothie that's delish.

:)

A Birthday Boy!

So Pete has been working in Dallas for 5 weeks and came home for a few days, and we celebrated Austin's birthday while he was home. What fun! Austin had no point of reference until a couple of weeks ago we attended a friend's party and he was so excited about balloons, cake, presents, oh my!

Being quite the newbie at birthday parties I had a cake, we had bought him a truck and trailer his cousin Haley has that he's been talking about for a year, and the family was coming over. Missing anything?

Balloons! Papa to the rescue! Pete took Austin in the morning for a car wash and Nana and Papa showed up with balloons, and a giant Lightning McQueen balloon, and party favors, candles, etc. Wow it was like a real party! (insert "dork" emoticon here as I'm clueless about birthday party goings-on).

There is more to post, but my brief computer time has been way overextended. Kids need me! :)

Going to the gym with Papa

Papa surprised us with a trip to the Oakland University Rec Facility, rackets, and balls. He showed Austin the ropes of bouncing balls off walls, which is good fun! Then, in the true spirit of a 2 year old, Austin discovered the great and unexpected joy found while running along the wide benches in the raquetball area, prompting Papa with "Chase me, chase me!" :)

My veggie beds...

Honestly,

My prized and much loved veggie beds have been overrun! The neighbors have a 10 and 7yo and many roads and pies have been made in the veggie beds this spring. But! I'm ready to plant! Kale, beets, carrots, peas...they all need to go in! So...I'm working on a neighboring sand pit design :) Gotta run!

Haircut!

After finally growing my hair back out, it started getting stuck in the clips and swishing all over Gabe's face and mine...and I got tired of the never-ending bun/ponytail. So, I have a new do :)

Mini Budweiser Show!

Feeling like a rockstar!

So, we've had the neglected dog issues here that got better the summer I could tote Austin around on my back, but we're back to square one with two kids now. A book we checked out at the library this week on dogs had a little picture of two 8-9 yo boys on a little wooden cart with canisters of milk as big as they were, being pulled by a dog. DING! Light goes on! He he...I could do that!

Viola! It's not perfect, but it's a work in progress!

Dog harness: $9.99
Chariot: $$ (was a surprise a while back from Pete and I refuse to look at how much it cost Wink )
Feeling like a rockstar getting your 2yo, baby and two big dogs out for daily walks in the middle of winter: PRICELESS!! Dancing Carrot