SpruceHill

Sweet 16

 
  How is it possible that you turn sixteen today?

It seems like you were just a little girl holding my hand and dancing. Dressing up in sparkly cosumes and pretending to be a princess. Sitting on my lap to read a book, or sitting and coloring for hours. My first baby girl, you have a special place in my heart. I admire your kindness and the way you do things with your whole heart. You are my sensitive and caring child, who wears her heart on her sleeve. With just one glance I can see what you are thinking and feeling. You have turned from a little baby who I cuddled in my arms to a beautiful young woman. I love you with all my heart and soul.

Happy birthday Miss H, I love you bunka crunkins! 

 

Finally We're Getting Somewhere!

Last year I became aware of several products that I buy contained ingredients that were unsafe for my family to eat and use. Some companies were using  dairy products  from cows that have been treated with the artificial growth hormone rBGH. This hormone has been linked to several cancers including breast cancer.

The good news is that consumers are demanding rBGH-free dairy products, and corporations are taking note. In addition to the many dairy companies that offer rBGH-free products, huge retailers and food and beverage chains like Wal-Mart, Publix, Kroger, Starbucks, and Chipotle have committed to reducing or completely eliminating dairy products made with rBGH from their stores.

Yesterday I found out that my favorite yogurt,Yoplait had announced that they were going rBGH free. This was a big deal for me. I had tried lots of different yogurt and did not find one I really liked. My kids stopped eating it too. The others just did not taste as good to us. Yoplait was rBGH free as of August 29th, 2009, and Dannon has announced they will follow by the end of the year! Two thirds of the nations dairy products will be free of rBGH! I think it is a huge leap for us consumers in America.

The other issue I have been worried about is bisphenol-a, or BPA. It is found in all kinds of plastic products that we use in our homes everyday! this chemical is used to make baby bottles, water bottles and food containers. Last year I found it very hard to find BPA free products but now they are everywhere. Water bottles that we send our kids to school with are now BPA-free and also food containers that we buy and use are also going BPA-free. Check you labels and make sure you are buying BPA-free products for your family.

It is about time that simple things that we use everyday in our lives are now safe for us to use! No one knows what causes some of us to get cancer and not others and there is no true way to find out why we have this terrible disease. But there are changes we can make in our everyday lives to make sure our food and water is safe to drink and that we can rest easier when it comes to our kids and their health.

 

A change

Our lazy days of summer are gone, the kids are back to school and our schedule has become hectic and rushed. Up at 6AM not stopping until after dinnertime. Lots of errands to do and places to be.

It reminds me of the butterflies out in my garden, full of activity. Getting ready for the change in season. I don't remember anytime when we have had so many kinds of butterflies on Spruce Hill. Maybe I just did't notice them.

The girls have settled down into their routine and I am actually relieved to have it. Miss H starts school tomorrow, her Junior year in high school. Today she got her driving permit, which totally blows my mind.  How my little girl could have grown up so fast? It seems just yesterday that she was holding onto my hand on her way to kindergarten.

Bubbles, I Heart Faces

Bubbles are a very popular thing to do at our house. We spend a lot of time outside hanging out on the porch and in the front yard. I love taking pictures of my daughter Little E blowing bubbles!

This is my first entry for I heart faces! I am excited to participate!

 

Sold....It was delicious!

 

Big E got to sell her prizewinning cake at the annual livestock sale at the fair last Saturday. It was very exciting! She got to show off her creation to the crowd while the bids came in.

 

She sold her cake for $210.00! Her first profit from her baking skills. I see a little business in her future.The man who bought it asked for 3 pieces and then had E cut it up and give it out to anyone who wanted a piece! Kids from our livestock club who were selling their animals lined up to get a piece. With in about 10 minutes it was gone. Everyone said that it was very tasty!

 

All the cakes the kids made were amazing! These girls have a lot of talent! I can't wait to see what E comes up with for next year!

I am so proud of her!