SPRING SOUP

We got another delicious delivery from
Irv & Shelly's
and we are putting it to good use!

One of our favorites is the Harmony Valley soup mix.

It is basically a bag of fresh, local, organic root veggies, consisting of carrots (orange, yellow and red!), turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, celeriac and sunchokes. It has two recipes on the back. One is for roasting them and the other is for Golden Soup. You saute onion and garlic (which you can also get from Irv & Shelly's) with oil and then add root veggies. Add some vegetable stock (we use organic veggie bouillon from Whole Foods) and cook about 30 min. Cool and then puree. You can add some cream or half and half, but we prefer it dairy free.

The result? The most delicious, creamy (even without the cream) soup! The bag costs $7.99 and by the time you add the other ingredients, your cost is about $10-$12 total for 8-10 servings of soup. What a great deal for a great soup! It also freezes really well!

P.S...One of the other things we ordered was some cabbage. Did you know that only one ounce of cabbage a day greatly improves your digestive system and reduces your risk of cancer? It can VERY EASILY be added to green smoothies made in the Vita-mix!

"As for the sulforaphane that’s found in cabbage, it reduces your risk of cancer by increasing your body's production of enzymes that fight cell-damaging free radicals. Stanford University research indicates that sulforaphane increases your levels of these cancer-fighting enzymes more than any other phytonutrient." courtesy of Rodale.com.

MY PRECIOUS PEPPER

My dear, sweet little Pepper had a seizure. It was not a febrile seizure caused by a fever, but one of unknown origin. I don't know how to explain the extent of heart-stopping emotions that occur when your child is limp and seemingly lifeless and then convulsing in your arms. I can almost not tolerate repeating the story, yet I have done it so many times. The shake and ache in my arms will forever be there as a reminder of the memory of holding her through the second hardest time in her life.

I will never be able to say enough thank you's to those who prayed and continue to pray for her and for my family. The power of the prayers that came from the Saint Joseph's Novena was amazing! It was almost as heavy on my heart as my sorrow was. It is so unbelievable to feel unsure and protected, all at the same time. We are so blessed to have so many people that worry about us.

Her diagnosis remains as "generalized seizure disorder" until further testing is done, but I am confident that she is a very strong girl and we will stand strong in the face of the unknown. I am hopeful that my grandma's doctor was right in saying that "every child is allowed one free seizure in life".

I will teach her to laugh

in the face of danger...

...or will she teach me?

HAPPY SPRING

Happy First Day of Spring!

The flowers are coming and the first gnome and fairy house has been built!

Brendan did a great job helping me as Monkey and Pepper took a needed nap.

Here is to the hope that your table is as blessed as the fairy's table...

THE LOUDEST FAMILY MEMBER

No, I am not speaking of Monkey. I have been secretly saving for many things. It paid off. We have a new family member, which sleeps in our kitchen. Watch out when it wakes up, because it is LOUD!!! It has more power than any tool that we have purchased thus far and it is so multi-functional! Of course, you may now drool over our new......

VITAMIX!!!

...and all the delicious things we have already made inside! This thing is the end all, be all of blenders and it was well worth the wait!

Here is video proof that the very first "mud smoothie" was thoroughly enjoyed!

A POEM OF REASON

I love getting flowers

For no reason

Or for a reason

Which can not be remembered

But which was valid

Either way

I love lilies

But not all-white ones

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY NICHOLAS!

Monkey had been asking to visit the "King's Castle" for over a year now, every single time we drove past it. We tucked one of his favorite books under his arm and set off to celebrate his 4th birthday at Medieval Times in Schaumburg! Read my review here on Tripadvisor! I had hopes of finishing his knight costume, but it required waaaaay more work than I originally planned for. It may be done in time for the Renaissance Faire, which is a mere 3 months away!

He finally got his wish and became a knight!

He also got to visit another fun place!

There is nothing like a cheesy recorded happy birthday song, a cupcake and cheap plastic train whistle from The Choo Choo Restaurant to make your day!