Most of my blogs (the few I have) have been about food or something silly. Today though I was part of something that I am very proud of. A Lemonade stand. Now this was not just any lemonade stand this was a LemonAID stand. Several of the local kids, including my little chickens of course, got together and raised money for the Alabama Coastal Foundation to be used as part of the oil clean up. Mind you it is in the high 90's and the majority of the kids are 5. They did it though. Without complaining (well as much complaining as one would think from a 5 year old standing in the hot sun yelling "LEMONADE!") I was so proud. Here I was thinking I was teaching my kids this great lesson when I realized it was me that was learning the lesson. They already know it. They know everything they do is going to change the world around them. Not me, as an adult I have forgotten what I can do to contribute. Every dollar that went into their little hands was life changing for the animals that they are helping. I wouldn't have seen it that way before. I would have thought 'We need thousands! We can't get that much!' They do not see it that way. They see it as every little bit helps and adds up. They raised $500 in 2 hours. If I would have kept on with my thinking I would have raised 0 because I would have been so overwhelmed by it all. So once again it is me learning and them teaching.

An Ode to Mac and Cheese

I sit across the table staring at my kids. Before them a bowl filled with gooey, orange cheesy, deliciousness. *sigh* mac and cheese. Then I look down at my bowel of steamed vegetables. I am not a bad mom. Mostly my children eat whatever I make for the whole family but sometimes they get delicious treats that I don't give myself. Treats like, once again, *sigh* mac and cheese. E is devouring his bowl. Each bite he puts in his mouth he makes noises like its the best thing he has ever tasted. (He is taunting me since I took away his cars I just know it!) Sienna is literally licking the bowl. Cheese is dribbling down her chin. I stab at a giant floret of broccoli. With disgust I put it in my mouth. While I chew slowly I glare at them. Oh mac and cheese! Why must it be so very fattening. What happened to the days when I would eat bowls upon bowls of you and not feel guilty? Oh yes that's right. They went away the day I had those two little mac and cheese eating machines that sit across from me. Is there no justice? Must I live day in and day out lusting after pasta and cheese? I suppose I do. I suppose I will just eat these vegetables. I shout "Look a spider!" While both children look I scoop a giant forkful of their meal into my mouth. I mean I can't totally deprive myself.