Green Smoothies

We have a new habit, one that I hope we keep. Every morning, I make a blender full of green smoothies. Not only do I love them and crave them, but my KIDS love them and crave them. 

This one is more of a purple smoothie because there are WAY less greens and more fruit, but this is how we started out. Now I try to do 1/3 water or almond or rice milk, 1/3 green veggies, 1/3 fruit. For example, I'll do 3 cups rice milk, tablespoon of flax seed oil (great anti-depressant and helps your body absorb the nutrients), packed handful of spinach, 2 leaves of chard, 2 leaves of kale, bunch of alfalfa sprouts - blend that - frozen berries, apple, (oranges and pears are great - but make it more GREEN), BANANA. Now I even add Goji berries and Maca powder, bee pollen (to reduce allergies), etc. It's so easy, it only takes about 10 minutes every morning (sometimes every other day if I make my pink smoothie too).

We like to have contests in our house...who can finish their smoothie the fastest. 

Gotta love the smoothie mustaches! 

A binky-stache?

Sometimes smoothies can be quite messy. 

I have been learning about nutrition from a woman named Robyn Openshaw. She has the website greensmoothiegirl.com. I took the kids to her book signing. She wrote a kids book on nutrition since there aren't very many out there. It's ok, a little too black and white for my taste but good information.

Here's one of our favs, Pita Pizza!

Eating salad. Kelsey ate some and even said she liked it. We'll see if that lasts.

Aiden wouln't even try it. He threw the spinach out and ate the cottage cheese and Craisens. 

What'd I do?

I walked in to the kitchen to find Aiden sitting on the table eating an apple. How'd he get the apple and how'd he climb up on the table? I didn't even ask these questions because I KNOW. He's into everything and nothing is safe anymore!

Aiden saying Mmmmm

 Good to the last drop

 Aiden telling Kelsey it's Mmm

Does it taste better WITH or WITHOUT spaghetti noodles? I'll let you decide. 

There are many reasons to do this, but my main reasons are to teach my kids about nutrition, teach my family and myself about WHOLE foods and where food comes from, to help us feel better and gain more self control. We are reducing our intake of animal products and increasing our intake of greens and earthy foods. I'm excited about it and am feeling better already. I've also lost weight already, which is a great bonus. Next step, cutting out SUGAR. 

Cancer Month

So far, February has brought some shocking news. I hope it ends TODAY.

On the first, we found out Tally's "wart" on his arm that he had removed was actually skin cancer. Luckily he wanted to have it removed before he climbed Kilimanjaro (it kept opening up and bleeding). The doctor did a biopsy and discovered it was Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans. It's so rare that there's not a common name - this is the latin name. Since the doctor didn't know it was cancer (hasn't seen this in 10 years), he doesn't know if he got all the affected tissue out. So, Tally is going to a specialist in Zurich next week to determine how/when they will reopen it. The hard thing is, Tal is supposed to go to Kilimanjaro in 2 weeks and it would not be wise to go with a fresh wound. But it probably wouldn't be wise to go with cancer in his arm either. The cancer is characteristically slow-moving so waiting a month might be okay. We are also in the process of moving, date STILL to be determined.

So I thought that was scary and it would be a lot scarier if left untreated. But today I got a call from my friend Niina, who was one of the first people I met when we came to Zurich. I sat right next to her when I worked at Goldman, two BIG pregnant bellies. We were both expecting girls. And they were both big, healthy babies.

Our fabulous work friends - I swear we were productive

The little princesses at 2 months - love those chunky legs!

Over the three years we have been here, we have become even better friends. Her daughter, Wilma and Kelsey have played and our families have gathered for birthday parties, BBQs, and dinners. When I got pregnant with Aiden, we laughed when she told me she was pregnant too - both of us with BOYS! Before we left for the US for Thanksgiving, I took one month photos of Wilhelm.

Wilma & Kelsey playing before the shoot

One of my favorites from the shoot. I love that smile - such a proud big sister!

Niina and I have been trying to connect again now that the holidays are over, but I hadn't heard from her in a few weeks. She called me today to tell me the reason she hasn't been reachable is because Wilma, her daughter, has Acute Leukemia and has been undergoing Chemotherapy.

Niina remained strong while I fought back tears upon hearing this news. It felt like a ton of bricks. My first thought was, 'how could this happen?' We talked for awhile. All appropriate measures are being taken and though this is just the beginning, she's a tough cookie and will make it through. But my heart breaks for them. Of course I think of Kelsey, and can't imagine going thorough what they are going through.

So cancer sucks.
I know Lord loves little Wilma and her family. And I'm not in any way comparing skin cancer with Leukemia, just relating my experience to hearing the big bad word CANCER hit so close to home.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Super Princess Wilma, as you fight off the big bad cancer guys and always.