It Goes Too Fast

One day recently the kids and I went to a place called Trailside Nature Center to get our Passport to Adventure books stamped. We learned a teensy bit about history then did what we do best: hit a nature trail.

I love to play with my kids but much of the time I just like to watch them. On this day they were building a rock bridge over parts of a stream so they could go further down the stream and explore more. I love how they work together and play together and help each other. I love how we were completely alone on this stretch of stream and how it was one of those fall days where it's warmish cool.

I love when I can snap a picture of all 5 of my kids together and think about how fast this journey of motherhood is going. I realize it never ends, but sometimes this little-kid part of it flies by and I wish I could live certain days over again.

Not the days when I'm impatient and yell about getting teeth brushed and clothes on and rushing out the door to something we have to be at. But those lazy days when you don't have to be anywhere and can take your time with life ... those are the days I want to live again and again with my family.

I guess all any of us can do is savor every moment with our loved ones. I was kicking myself for not scrapbooking lately and being years behind. Then I realized I've been too busy LIVING this great life and that I will [fortunately/unfortunately?] have plenty of time to scrapbook and write when my kids are driving and dating and at college and working and planning their weddings and raising their own families.

I will greatly miss these times like in these pictures.

My Favorite Foods for Weight Loss

No, this is not a post about foods that will MAKE you lose weight. I mean, if you eat fruits and veggies all day long and nothing else, you will lose weight. And you will be grumpy because you need some protein, people. And some carbs other than fruit so your tongue is happy. Or is that just me?

So here are my recent go-to foods that I hit when I want a burger or a Twinkie or Dove chocolate or a 500-calorie Starbucks mocha. My list changes, so I may be back in another post to update with more of my favorites as I discover them:

1. Pretzel Crisps and hummus. Yeah, I have to count the Weight Watchers points, and there are plenty in this treat, but the crunch rocks and makes me feel like I'm being somehow Food Naughty.
2. Sugar free chocolate syrup. YUK, I know. It takes a while to get used to. But mixed with a Starbucks VIA, skim milk and ice, you have a 3-point treat to sip all morning instead of a 10-point coffee that goes too fast.
3. Weight Watchers has this SMOKED string cheese that's only 1 point each instead of the usual 2 points for a string cheese. The only catch is that you'll have to sell your kid to buy this stuff because it's like $4.50 for a package of 12. Us people with food issues will do anything to buy that extra daily point, though!
4. Yoplait yogurt has a zillion flavors of their light line and it's only 2 points each. Mix a banana in with that and it's still a 2-point treat!
5. Quaker Weight Control oatmeal comes in at 4 points per package but is pretty filling.
6. Sara Lee makes a bread that is 1 point per slice (45 calorie bread), so I have an egg sandwich every morning for protein that adds up to 4 points total. It's expensive though. I was introduced to it by a friend who had a TRUCKLOAD of it from a grocery store and let me have as much as I wanted. Then I found out it's $4 a loaf so I went with a cheaper version. Just read the nutrition label.

See, you CAN eat whatever you want on Weight Watchers; you just have to count it. I'd love to hear your go-to foods to keep you out of Burger King. I've reinstalled Intense Debate for comments, so I hope to God it's working again because I'm missing hearing from ya'll!

Taking Kids Out to Eat!

We love Taco Bueno and don't have one close to us. So when we were nature center hopping one day when Aron was out of town, we hit one up "out of town" ... I felt very brave taking all 5 kids INSIDE A RESTAURANT by myself! They behaved well and we had a great time!

How do your kids do when you eat out?

Nano Onyx Pendant Jewelry Review

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All the way from Israel came a very interesting necklace for the Kermeister to review.

Nano says it has “jewelry from another dimension” and it is indeed pretty cool. I got to review the I Love You in 120 languages onyx pendant, and it even comes with a tiny magnifying glass so you can read the words on the necklace. Maybe I’m just getting super old, but even in the sunlight, and even with the magnifying glasses, without my real glasses on, it was hard to read the fine print on this necklace. I do understand the premise of it, though, and this would be a great gift for someone you love since you’re telling them how you feel in 120 languages.

This piece of jewelry is definitely unique and the chain it came with made the pendant fall at a nice spot on my chest. It didn’t hang way down low and it didn’t choke me, which are two reasons why I normally won’t wear a necklace.

I will be wearing this piece out, though, and can’t wait for people to ask me about it. You saw it first, though! To buy this piece and/or peruse other gorgeous jewelry Nano makes, head here. They do have a lot of cool stuff!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Wordless Wednesday: Scarecrow Kids

I had a prettier picture of my scarecrow family that is stuck in front yard, but this one gives a better idea of my life: the 3-year-old with the butter knife headed to hack up the pumpkin, the dirty front door, the 563 other kids in the house, the stickers all over the front windows. Happy fall!