Bountiful Baskets Indeed

So Saturday mornings are rapidly turning out to be my favorite time of the week. That's when I get up early, load the kids in the car and head out to pick up my basket of fresh fruit and vegetables  for the week. It's always a surprise to see what we get and Sophia and I have fun trying to guess what they will include. This week, she was right about everything she guessed except for corn. That was by and far her favorite item last week. She got to try eating right off the cob for the first time, and now she asks for corn every night for dinner. (And sometimes at breakfast, too!)
 
But this week our basket included celery, romaine hearts, carrots, mini cucumbers (Sophia's favorite), radishes, a large bunch of broccoli, apples, oranges, bananas, mangoes, strawberries, cantaloupe and onions. Then I added a tropical pack that had a coconut, pineapple, mangoes, lemons, a lime, a starfruit (that's a first for me), a bag of fresh mint and a bag with real vanilla. Then I added a box of cookies to the bunch.

On the way home, Sophia kept asking if we can have the pineapple for breakfast. Then it moved to the coconut. Then she said all she wanted for breakfast was broccoli. She didn't want me to bring it home and wash it and cut it for her. She wanted to just eat it right in the truck. I must have done something right when my child is crying because I won't let her have broccoli. I'll take it!     

There have been a few changes in my schedule lately. I've been getting up fairly early. Since I'm not a morning person even in the broadest definition of that term, this is new for me. Since Dominic is still nursing throughout the night, I'm usually up AGAIN at about 5:30 to 6:00. I put him back to bed, but instead of going to sleep again myself, I just get up and shower and start the day. I am amazed at what I have found I'm able to accomplish during the day when I just get up a couple hours earlier. Because of this new change, I am active longer in the day and I feel like I have more energy. Every so often, I find I need a short nap. But I mean it when I say short. I have never taken a short nap before and felt refreshed or energized, but I'm starting to get the hang of it now.

In addition to getting up a little earlier most days, I am going to be making my own yogurt too. I have a yogurt maker that was kindly donated by my mother (since she had two) and I ordered the little cups that go with it. They just came in yesterday, so today will be my first 'draft' and we'll just have to see how it goes. I'm excited about that too, though.

I got to thinking. I printed out a recipe to make homemade granola. I have a couple strawberry plants outside with one of them being very close to having edible strawberries on it, and I have a yogurt maker so I can make my own healthy yogurt. I'm going to be able to make my own parfaits now!!! We really like yogurt parfaits in this household (if you couldn't tell) and this is one thing I can eat that is high in protein, low in sugar and tastes so yummy! Now, If I can only add a few more things that I can make homemade that will make eating better easier, I'll be on the way.