Happy Birthday Brandon

Happy Birthday

to my favorite boy in the world!

Nineteen years ago today I gave birth to a bouncing beautiful baby boy!

Now, I get to look up at a grown man! I guess you could say he is still growing- not only in size but in life. When your kids get to this age you sit back and pray you taught them everything they need to know to go out into this big old world!

The foundation starts at home....it starts small - manners, boundaries, values, morals, health....your kids are going to do and say whatever it is you do or say. If they see you working out, they in turn will work out. If they see you eating healthy, they in turn will eat healthy. On the flip side, if they see you vegging out on the couch with a bag of chips in one hand and a ho ho in the other....well you know the rest....

The big question I get asked ALL the time is what do you feed your kids? I feed them what I feed myself. It wasn't always this way - I had a time where I had to go through the dreaded "change"! I remember a day very clearly about two years ago when I decided that it was time to change my life and my family's life for the better. I had gone to the grocery store and packed my cart FULL of fresh fruit and vegetables - this took place of the little debbie boxes and oreos. We literally had chicken, turkey and lean beef coming out of our ears. This took place of the pasta, chinese takeout, and pizza. Almonds replaced M & M's! I get home from the store so proud of my new take on life and the change that is going to happen and my family FREAKS OUT!! I mean literally there were tears, there were questions, there were angry people that I had to deal with.

Now, (fast forward two years) my kids open the refrigerator and pull out a clementine, a cheese stick, and a couple of almonds. My youngest daughter eats a frozen waffle for breakfast w/ peanut butter and a couple slices of deli meat. Is that perfect - no I would take away the "waffle"...is that good - absolutely, she has managed to get carbs, protein, and fat and she is full until lunch hits at school. Afternoon snacks are no longer "carb binges"...my kids look for and crave all the "good stuff"...is it easier to slap a package of crackers filled with some imitation cheese in front of your kids than taking a rice cake and spreading almond butter on it....NOT ON THEIR LIFE it isn't!