Sugary soap box

It's Halloween, a day when candy consumption is just that... consuming. I just read this infographic on forbes.com titled "How much sugar are Americans eating?". It's astounding. Sugar is everywhere. Of all the things I work very hard to limit (pesticides, chemicals, medicine, screen time), sugar is right up there at the top of the list. I haven't posted many recipes lately but the kitchen continues to be my ultimate experiment - almost daily, working to concoct food for my family that is nutritious and delicious. Now, with the cooler temps, I'm back to baking - cookies, muffins, bread. And I use little-to-no sugar. Does a sugar-laden cookie taste delicious? You betcha! But can we train our tastebuds to appreciate and love something less sweet? Of course. I use a lot of applesauce (apple butter, without sugar, is great this time of year), local honey, REAL maple syrup, bananas - all of these have high levels of sweetness without the refined, processed, worthless-ness of sugar. Will Abby and Elise consume sugar-filled candy today? Yes. But are they included in the "average American" category who consumes an equivalent of SEVENTEEN sodas every 5 days? Absolutely not. 

Enjoy your sweets today - I told my mom yesterday that Halloween is dangerous. Her reply? Halloween is delicious - eat what you love and trash the rest. :) 

We had the 27th annual Passman Pumpkin Carving party last weekend - A & E woke up every morning for at least 5 days prior: "How many more days until pumpkin carving?". I love that it is already a family tradition that they are now old enough to remember... expect ... and love.

And today, Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch have been ready to roll since 7:30 this morning. We made our first round in costumes this morning - visit Bubbe, stop by The Merc. Second round after naps - Daddy's work. Third round this evening - dinner and trick or treating with the Walters. We'll just follow that yellow brick round all around town! We've listened to The Wizard of Oz soundtrack and read the book - once they're old enough for the movie, it'll be the Oz trifecta! :) Happy Halloween!

Fall Fun

Enjoy some pics from the past few weeks... John and I spent a weekend away in Hermann with two of the best of the best. :) The gals wrapped up their first soccer season - soccer was a great learning experience for all of us. We learned that social stories are helpful in understanding the unfamiliar. We learned that shinguards can be a bit scratchy and feel better on the outside of pants/socks. We learned that cold north winds trump social stories. We learned that it is best to start prepping for soccer at least an hour in advance. And we learned that it's never too early in the morning for deep breaths. ;) We made our first pumpkin patch trip - not to see pumpkins or take a hayride... but to see the kittens at Pendleton's. We went to the Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin - complete with caramel apples, sparkly crowns, and the merry-go-round. Fall is fun. Damn fun.

I finally took the girls in for their 4-year checkup (per their request to go "see Dr. Heather"). They also finally made it to the dentist (sorry it took so long, Mom) and, with the exception of Elise coming up short by one on the total tooth count, their dental health is grand. Here are some stats, just for the books:

• Abby: 36 pounds; 40.5 inches
• Elise: 35.5 pounds; 40.25 inches

After having been weighed, Abby shared with the nurse that "I must have eaten a bigger breakfast and that's why I'm bigger than my sister today". They are 50th percentile across the board and developing as expected (and, in my opinion, a little bit above). They are taking a Kindermusik class right now and, just last week, their teacher asked if they had been preemies. I shared with her how early the girls were born and their birth weights. Her response: "you would never have known". True statement.