We're Back in Action

We have gone on vacation and I'm happy to say, we all made it home in one piece.  It was our first time taking the kids on an airplane or away from home for more than 3 days.  Of course, we also had my parents, my sister, my in-laws and my sister-in-law to help out...but still.  As parents, we still did the majority of things for and with the girls even though we had other adults to help us out.  I guess once you're in the groove, it's hard to get out.

We went to Florida and had a wonderful time!  We went to the 4 Disney parks--Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom (twice).  We also went to the beach on our first and last days there, with the last day including watching Space Shuttle Discovery launch while laying on our blanket on the beach. 

The girls loved being with the whole family together.  They loved their first trip to the ocean and playing at the beach.  They loved the parks and all they had to offer.  They loved meeting all the characters.  They loved swimming in an outdoor pool in February (such a treat to us northerners!)  They loved buying souvenirs with their own money.  They loved writing in their journals each night about the day's activities. 

Full Man Grown and I loved seeing their smiles and hearing their squeals of delight with each new discovery or sighting or experience.  We loved that Scrat was shaking because she was so excited to meet her favorite princess, Belle.  We loved that Picasso continued in her true dare-devil, thrill-seeker form and liked all the roller coasters best.  We loved that Brainiac read each sign and plaque and tried to learn all she could while at the various parks.  We loved that the girls repeatedly thanked all of us for such a great time and vacation.  We loved that both of our families were together for the first time in years.  We loved that while basking in the 80s and sunshine, we missed a 12" snowstorm here at home.

Vacation was wonderful.  We all loved it.  We can't wait to do it again.

Red and Green

No, this post isn't revisiting Christmas.  I promise.  But I am going to talk about the two typical Christmas colors--red and green.  As a little side note, red is my favorite color, and green is Full Man Grown's favorite color.  But I'm not really going to talk about that either.

Today is Wear Red Day.  It's a day dedicated to wearing red to bring attention to women's heart health.  Heart disease in women is a major killer, but most people focus on illnesses like breast cancer or other cancers.  These causes are very important, don't get me wrong.  But heart disease tends to be a more silent and less discussed illness in women.  And it shouldn't be, not when it's the #1 killer of American women.

My grandmother died from a massive heart attack nine years ago, just days before 9/11.  I still remember getting the phone call, late in the evening, and just sitting there in shock.  Brainiac was not even a year old and she, as well as any future children we would have, would never know what an amazing woman my gramma was.  They wouldn't know her infectious giggle, her wonderful food, her funny songs and stories, at least not from the true source.  Ever since then, I've been more conscientious about what I put into my body and how I take care of myself.  I try to eat healthy and I try to be active so that I can carry on my gramma's legacy and pass on her stories.  So please, take care of your heart--eat healthy, exercise, get regular check-ups.  And every time you wear red, please think of those who have been lost to heart disease.

In a terrible transition, now I will talk about green and why I will probably have a heart attack this weekend.  My boys, the Green Bay Packers, are playing in the Super Bowl.  If that's the first you've heard that, you need to get out more.  But really, I take my football very seriously.  I grew up in a football loving family and I've always been a huge fan of the sport.  In high school I was a football cheerleader and when Full Man Grown and I started dating, I started him on the love of the sport.  I watch or listen to every Packer game, the whole family will be decked out in shirts and hats, and if the game is a close one, I'm usually hoarse by the end of it from yelling at the tv.  Yep, I love them.  And they're in the Super Bowl, Baby!  So please cheer for my boys this weekend.  We'd all appreciate it.

Guest Post!

I love learning new ways to be frugal, healthy, active...all those things we strive for to make our lives easier and better.  One of the blogs that I follow is The Grocery Shrink.  Angela has wonderful ideas for living life on a budget but not skimping on life at the same time.  She recently allowed me to write a guest post about being active as a family without having it cost tons (or any) money.  You can read that post here.

Thanks so much, Angela!  I hope that at least one person is inspired by something that I shared!