Back to Swimming Lessons

Ian started swimming lessons again this week. This time he is in the "Turtles" class. The Turtles class is much more difficult to pass than the Tadpoles class, so the kids are all different ages. However, we happened to land in a class where Ian is by far the smallest and youngest. It's funny to see him mixed in with all of these kids who are a head taller than him. He is totally loving it and doing so well.

That's Ian with the yellow goggles strap. You can REALLY tell how small he is compared to the rest of the class.

Practicing proper arm strokes

Our First 'Great Harvest' Purchase

Part of the processed foods challenge is to eliminate all prepackaged items with more than five ingredients. That's basically everything in the store. I thought I was going to have to start baking our own bread, but Great Harvest Bread Company has a location in Champaign. (Cue the choir of angels.) Great Harvest only uses five ingredients in their bread. I sent Cole out for our first loaf yesterday. Cole is into breads, so I let him take the reins on this one, and he was going to be there anyway for work.

I saw the bread in the kitchen this morning and thought, "Oh, good. We have bread again." Later I moved the bread and was in shock!!! It's smaller than a regular loaf of bread, but it is SO heavy! I got out the scale to weigh it.

2 lbs. 3 1/2 oz.

My goodness, that's a lot of dense bread! Let's hope we love it. Of course, we could always use it as a door stop if we don't.

25 Days of Real Food

I just realized that we are a quarter of the way through our 100 Days of Real Food Mini-Pledges! This was pretty exciting to me. So far our challenges have been to...

1. Eat two fruits and/or vegetables with each meal
2. "Real" beverages: limit drinks to coffee, tea, water, and milk
3. Limit meat to three to four servings per week, and meat should be locally raised
4. No fast food, no deep-fried foods

Surprisingly, it's gone SO well! The boys don't really mind at all because their diets haven't really changed. I'm also proud to report that Ian requested cucumber slices for lunch yesterday, and a few weeks ago he wouldn't even try one! Both boys are starting to eat raw carrots (as long as they are covered in hummus), which reminds me, Ian will finally eat hummus!!!!! We talk about why foods are good choices (hummus is full of protein, carrots are packed with......good stuff, etc.) and how some foods aren't good choices, they simply taste yummy. Luckily, PBS Kids has a whole collection of videos called "Fizzy's Lunchlab" that teaches kids all about nutrition and making good food choices. If Ian starts asking about why he's eating grapes instead of crackers or cereal, I'll just say, "What do you think Professor Fizzy would tell you to eat?" and he jumps on board.

For the adults of the house, week two was a tricky one. Especially for me. But, I am happy to report I kicked my Diet Pepsi addiction!!! I have also forced myself to acquire a taste for tea because all that water gets a wee bit boring. Limiting meat was no problem whatsoever. I made DELICIOUS black bean tacos and a delightful hummus pizza that will definitely enter the permanent meal rotation at our house.

I'm also happy to report that I've lost a little over five pounds since beginning our challenge. I haven't counted calories or points or anything else. I've just been conscientious of what I choose and, if I'm being totally honest, I hear Professor Fizzy's sage advice running in my head too. I also feel So. Much. Better. Part of it might be simply the placebo effect, but I think the majority is due to the fact that I'm eating a more balanced diet than I ever have before. I feel like I have much more energy which is good when you are staying home with your kiddos every day of your life.

The only bad part of the whole challenge is I think I've contracted a bad case of "smug." All you South Park watchers know what I'm talking about. Hopefully, it passes, but until then I'll try to keep as much of it out of the air supply as possible.

Indianapolis Children's Museum

The morning of the 4th, Cole and I decided to "do something." I made the executive decision to go to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. I went there on a field trip when I was in fifth grade, and I LOVED it!!! I especially loved the water clock. We loaded up, and headed out around 9:00.

Once we got to the museum we were told that only half of the museum had power. WHAT?!?! But the power outages were here and there, so must exhibits had some power. It was bizarre, but we had already made the drive so there was no way we were leaving. The power outage didn't really hinder our visit at all, except for the fact that the Lego room was hot and smelly. I took over two hundred pictures while we were there, so here are just a few faves of the day.

Punching train tickets

Calling Aunt Jess on her antique phone

Eli: "Is that snakes? That's weird."
Right now Eli says "that's weird" about EVERYTHING! It's hysterical.

The Khaki Shorts Brigade

Minifigure Ian

Minifigure Eli

Hot Wheels Exhibit

My waiter at the Egyptian Coffeehouse

Hand pedal bulldozer

We had an AMAZING visit!!!! The boys were so interested in everything. Right now is the perfect time to take boys to the museum. Legos AND Hot Wheels! What else could a little boy ask for?

Fireworks

We are developing a little 4th of July tradition in the Anderson house. Last year we went to see Cars 2 before the fireworks, and this year we went to see Brave. However, the actual fireworks display last year was a disaster. The boys HATED it! Neither one of them would even look at the fireworks, and both of them refused to sit by themselves. They had to be held....and tightly.

But this year...was a smashing success!!! Other than being completely exhausted from spending the day exploring at the Indianapolis Children's Museum, the boys did so well. They both loved the fireworks, they just didn't have enough energy to sit up on their own by the time the fireworks were in full force.

Watching some residential fireworks

Starting to get tired

Laying down is easier than sitting up

Past lounging to just laying

Kicking his foot up on his knee. Getting comfy Papa Ted style.

Birthdays!

Recently, Cole and my youngest sister, Tyla, celebrated their birthdays. (They're on the same day) I didn't have any idea what to buy Cole as a gift, but I knew how to make Cole's day perfect! A while ago Cole mentioned that he wanted a party sub. I know what you're thinking, "Who in the world still buys party subs?" Cole and I thought the same thing. We had an entire discussion about how the party sub has really fallen out of favor. But Cole really wanted the experience of having a HUGE sandwich. So with the help of my mother, I arranged for a 6 foot sub for Cole's birthday.

Tyla had wanted a cookout for her birthday lunch, but it was so ridiculously hot that we decided Dad should probably not be outside, BY A GRILL, for an extended period of time. So it was sub sandwiches for everyone! 

Tyla, the birthday girl, helping me to transport the huge sandwich. We also had to drive my mom's suburban as neither of us had a large enough car.

So, I started getting a little nervous that maybe we wouldn't have enough food for everyone. I didn't realize that the party sub was also 6 inches wide!!!

Cole was SO surprised and super duper excited!!!!!

Drinking the mayo. All of the condiments came in cups. It was so gross.

The birthday honorees surrounded by the little ones of the fam. Ian's hand is on the far right.

It was a great party. Everyone had a good laugh about the gigantic sandwich and we managed to eat literally half of it. We then had to slice it into sections in order to wrap and refrigerate the rest. Six feet of party sub will feed a LOT of people.

Cole was very jazzed about his sub, but he did say that one gigantic sandwich was enough for a lifetime. :)

Delicious & Nutritious

For a while now, I've thought about getting the boys a play kitchen. Ian LOVES playing with the kitchens at his Grandparents' and Aunt Chris' houses, and Eli just loves anything that encourages pretend play. I haven't pulled the trigger yet because......kitchens are expensive! Really expensive!

Well, last night I finally put together a little makeshift kitchen. I'm not sure what "inspired" me. It's not exactly a work of art, but it's enough to really make a little boy's day, and I had all the stuff laying around and didn't have to spend a penny.

Welcome to Ian's restaurant: "Delicious & Nutritious."

A cozy little bistro

Just a three-drawer plastic storage tower with black, self-adhesive craft foam "burners."

I think we are going to use the Dremel to cut a hole in the top, drop a bowl in, and Ta-Da.....a sink!

Enjoying the fruits of his labor

The blue lid is his serving tray.

I made menus with little craft papers left over from the vacation entertainment stash.

Balancing the tray