Clean livin'

So the Copelands are eating "clean". Ya know, lotsa fruits and veggies, no processed stuff, limited carbs and dairy...yeah, super fun, right? Let the envy sink in before reading....Oh, and soda is out of the question *gasp*. Tell me again why I agreed to try this?!

It's actually been ok...mind you, it's day two. Ask me in a week or so. Also mind you, I'm drinking a glass of wine as I type. Not sure that's on the meal plan. Stickly Stickerson I am not.

I'll tell ya what's dirty about eating clean...the grocery bill. Hence our country being the most obese in the world. Not even those crazy couponers can eat clean and save money. I have yet to see a "50% off Kale" in my paper. Just sayin. It's hard to be healthy minded when we have the dollar menu at McDonald's as an option. On every friggin corner. Sometimes those fries just make everything right with the world. I get it. That would be my choice too but then I had these little humans I'm responsible for (and the gut to prove it) that made  me more conscious about my own health during pregnancy, beyond and now their little lives. I want to encourage good eating habits to A: teach them early to eat well as I believe you carry this with you in life and B: being told by Caleb's Oncologist that environmental factors (IE: processed foods, hormones etc) are largely contributing to the increase in childhood cancers.

I'm a busy mom. I work and have two small kids with finicky appetites. Sometimes quick and easy is my go to. But quick and easy usually translates to processed and fattening, loaded with sodium and God knows what dyes and artificial crud. So....what is an on-a-major-budget, busy Mamma to do? Meal plan, meal plan, meal plan. If I prepare AHEAD of time and buy in bulk, I seem to do so much better. It's also nice to have internet crack Pinterest and friends as a great resource for creative recipes! Again, two days in. Ask me again in a week, after a glass or two of wine. ;)

It all started with breakfast. I decided to use my handy-dandy (and frequently used cupcake pan) to make little mini egg/kale/tomato/turkey sausage (and whatever veggie may be laying around) "cupcakes" that we can grab and quickly heat up on the go. They're some kinda delish. I added quinoa to this week's (making these for the week) for added protein!

I also made my first spaghetti squash "pasta" dish. Yeah, the pics are deceiving. Maddie was "meh" about it (after an initial thumbs up) but Gavin wanted no part of it after a few bites. Ugh. I knew these two would be tricky!

 I did make stuffed peppers with quinoa, spicy turkey sausage, organic stewed tomatoes and they were amazeballs! So good! The kids really couldn't eat them cause of the spiciness....ugh. So....task at hand? Find kid friendly clean recipes. Trying Kale and cauliflower "mashed potatoes" tonight....let's hope there's not an uprising.

Memorial Day 2014

We had a low key, watery kinda Memorial Day! It's sooooo hot so we spent our weekend...wet. Pool, sprinklers and, as Gavin decided, pouring cups of cool water on ourselves! Hey, whatever works!

We did go to a fun BBQ on Saturday with some friends but I took no pics (WHAT?! ;) because I was chasing a little monster that shall remain nameless the entire time.....AND we did get to go to Mo and Rob's for burgers, dogs and swimming! It was really fun! The clan is starting to come down with colds, I think (Mommy included) so keeping it low key was just what the Dr. ordered!

The girl's officially a Kindergartener!

Welp...it's over. Pre K and our time at Ft Myers Christian. *sigh* It's been such a wonderful experience! Maddie has just grown in every way this year! She has been blessed with amazing teachers that I cannot explain how much I adore. I am not a, um, good "school mom". I forget to check folders, space out on due dates and volunteer hours....I'm just a hot mess and Lord knows Miss Schreiber and Miss Lourdes have steered me to decent mom-ness with gentle reminders and general awesomeness! We will so miss them next year...it's purely financial that keeps us from returning but we will always cherish our time there!

 The first and last day of school...my how a school year can change a gal! The dress was considerably shorter, the hair longer and the sassy pink boots? Waaaay to small....

 We are so going to miss our parking lot rendezvous with these sweet girls and their Mammas!

 See ya Pre K!

This year has been amazing....she has had the BEST teachers who love her and have helped shape her academic and spiritual life. I am forever indebted to these ladies for their love and patience with my baby!

Pre K Graduation!

How.Did.This.Happen.?! 

When did my little, teensy 5 pound baby become a walking, talking, sassing near-Kindergartner so fast!? Seriously? Man, I suppose time really does fly when you're having fun! She really is just growing before my eyes and exponentially it seems lately. She reads, gets her own snacks, washes her own hair, swims independently. I mean, she barely even needs me anymore....or so she would have you think.

This week, her school had their pre-school Spring Performance, Art Show and Graduation. It was beyond precious. We didn't know Maddie had a full-blown SOLO in the show and she was awesome. She was told to keep it a secret so we could be surprised. I should have known when Miss Schreiber kept telling me to "bring tissues". Very sneaky.

It was spectacular. Amazing. There are not enough adjectives for the cuteness that ensued. She was fearless, confident and sooooo good. Really. I received emails and calls about it after the fact. That good.

Proud Mommy right here.

The kids had so much fun...you can just see the joy in their faces. Maddie sang and danced her heart out. Full of joy, that kid is. I adore her.

Receiving her "diploma" from Mr. Mitchell!

 The kids' art was hung around the halls of their classroom. 

Maddie's teacher handed out individual classroom awards...Maddie's was "Musical Miss"...pretty sure this was last year's too....and the hubs is still wondering why I felt an arts school would best suit her?!

A couple days later, we had her Kindergarten assessment at her new school, which was to examine their aptitude and readiness for Kindergarten. Yeah, she aced it. The teacher told me we may be looking at a "gifted" child. Don't tell her, we may not get her head through the hallways. She already reminds me daily how smart she is (I'm about twenty milliseconds from never complimenting her again). She certainly does not lack any confidence...still debating if that's a good or bad thing. While waiting in the hall, she showed off her reading skills...she's really getting good! Mind you, it takes four hours to get through a few single sentence pages but it's still pretty awesome.

It's happening so fast but it's so amazing watching her blossom into such a smart and sweet girl. I'm so proud of her....