Tidbits on Pomegranates

This fruit still amazes me....I remember the very first time

the pomegranate and I were introduced. My grandpa and I

sat together and I watched him carefully peel back the outer skin

and pull out the round berries. He watched in delight as I popped a

handful of berries in my mouth, chewed them up until there was

no juice left, and spit out all the seeds. As a child, I remember

thinking that he had come across some pretty amazing fruit!

Now, as I sit with my kids and we enjoy this sweet snack,

I am amazed at how my Creator made something so perfect.

Everything about a Pomegranate is so intricate and flavorful.

Each little aril (berry) is encompassed in a thin casing,

protecting each one. It's basically a flawless design!

Facts I discovered about Pomegranates:

Pomegranates were one of the fruits that the scouts brought back

to Moses to show that the promised land was fertile. In Exodus the

robe of the ephod, worn by the Hebrew High Priest had pome-

granates embroided on the hem. In the Book of Kings, the capitals

of the two pillars that stood in front of Solomon's Temple in

Jerusalem, were engraved with pomegranates. And....some

believe that the pomegranate was the forbidden fruit....but I am

going to choose to believe that it's just someone's opinion, because

I would have a really hard time eating and enjoying the

forbidden fruit!

And....they're actually pretty good for you!

Pomegranate, arils only

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	346 kJ (83 kcal)
Carbohydrates	18.7 g
Sugars	13.7 g
Dietary fiber	4.0 g
Fat	1.2 g
Protein	1.7 g
Thiamine (Vit. B1)	0.07 mg (5%)
Riboflavin (Vit. B2)	0.05 mg (3%)
Niacin (Vit. B3)	0.29 mg (2%)
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0.38 mg (8%)
Vitamin B6	0.08 mg (6%)
Folate (Vit. B9)	38 μg (10%)
Vitamin C	10 mg (17%)
Calcium	10 mg (1%)
Iron	0.30 mg (2%)
Magnesium	12 mg (3%)
Phosphorus	36 mg (5%)
Potassium	236 mg (5%)
Zinc	0.35 mg (3%)
Percentages are relative to US recommendationsfor adults. Source: USDA Nutrient database

So...why not enjoy one today....even if its just a cool

science lesson for your kids!

October Festivities

During the beginning of October we enjoyed the days when we could lay outside on blankets, but I think those days are coming to an end....for winter brings rain and rain brings the cold...

This morning I could actually touch the window pane, and feel cold to the touch....it must finally be cooling off out there, I mean it is November. I am ready to bundle up the kids, and put them in mittens, hats, and scarfs.....and those cute little sleepers.

The kids had a great time dressing up....their costumes actually got more than one wear. They dressed up for a birthday party Friday, trick or treating at my moms in Walker on Saturday, and then on Sunday trick or treating in our neighborhood. It was Avie's first year to actually participate in trick or treating and she really got into it. By the third house she had it figured out....she walked up, put her bucket out...said "uh uh"....after they put the candy in, she pulled the bucket close to take a look inside, just to make sure they really put candy in her bucket...and then, in the sweetest little voice, said...."tank.......you!"

Brother Jack on the other hand, was ready to head back to the house after the third house. He looked down in his bucket at the 5 pieces of candy and said, "Momma I have enough candy, lets go back to the house!" Determined to get a few more packages of Milk Duds and Whoppers, I talked him to going to a few more houses. After two more, he was determined he was done trick or treating and retired to the stroller, after one more house, he was out...snoring, and using his dinosaur head as a pillow! Avie stood strong, and made it through the whole neighborhood...and got lots of Milk Duds and Whoppers!

With Halloween behind us, my next goal is to finish Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving with friends at Lake Claiborne, and I couldn't be more excited! Here are a few pics of the kiddos in their costumes and a few October festivities we participated in.

Jackson's first LSU game!

Jack, Kameron, and Mike the Tiger

Watching the band!

LSU Stadium

Eating Nachos with daddy

Brandon's 29th Birthday!

Haunted House Cake

Jacksons Debut

I think we have a future singing artist on our hands...however

he must have not gotten the memo about the hand movements!

5 Years and Counting

Five years ago today....I married him....under a hundred year old oak tree, wearing my great grandmothers wedding dress. Five years seems like nothing compared to 10, 20, or 50. But the more I think about it, we've had a lot happen in 5 years, and it should be a big accomplishment....we're still hanging on, with a firm grip.

I remember the summer I finally fell in love with him....he wasn't even around, and I took over his job of mowing 4 acres of grass, so he could go rafting with a friend...crazy how love works. I think even he had given up on winning me over. But I knew that I missed him and I wanted him around. I realized how genuine our friendship had become over the past two years...how he always made me laugh....really laugh...he was an adventurer....always wanting to do something spur of the moment, and the complete opposite of what I was thinking...like skip class and drive 2 hours to Lake Claiborne, only to just turn around and come back, or the time that we randomly had a pizza fight at Mitchims peach orchard....I don't even know how that got started,...but I can still picture a slice of pepperoni pizza sliding down the side of his face!.. Or the time I had to ride 4 hours with all the windows busted out of his Jimmy, not to mention it was 30 degrees outside. I was wrapped up in a blanket the whole way home...not a very comfortable ride to Baton Rouge. We have lots of stories....good ones and bad ones, happy ones and sad ones, stories about hardships, and stories when we had no worries, and didn't even know it! I love to reminiscence about stories when we were falling in love....just beginning.

Then our kids came....and ruined everything....just kidding! We can't even remember what we did with our time before them....But they make us laugh, they make us cry, they make us worry, feel stressed, let down, happy, proud, embarrassed, crazy, loved, and over flowing with joy....and we made them....they are part of us...another chapter in our life...something added to our marriage that we have to balance. And for the most part, its "interesting"....sometimes I feel like I'm raising three kids instead of two....we argue about discipline, sleep, household chores, things I could have never dreamed up! And lets all admit that no marriage is that fairy tale that we once dreamed of when we were little girls....because after all "fairy tales" aren't real. But it is so much more than that, it's a life long commitment, no matter how hard it gets...its forgiveness, no matter how stubborn we want to be...its compromise, even though your idea sounds better...its perception, and trying not to think of the worst...and most importantly....love...it's what keeps it all together.

So....5 years IS a big accomplishment....and I am looking forward to the next 5! God knew exactly what he was doing when He picked out my life long mate. We are perfect for each other....I know I can depend on him to take care of us, provide, and protect us, and I am so grateful for that. And even after two kids, he still thinks my butt looks good!

Thank you Brandon for a wonderful

five years, and for two of the most beautiful

children...maybe I can get just one more?

Your the best book I ever read

Your the finest groom I'll ever wed

Your my breakfast in bed!

I love you

&

Happy Anniversary!

Mexico Bound....Soon!

I am so giddy with excitement about our upcoming trip! In 4 days I will be sinking my toes in the sand, relaxing in a comfy chair....sun bathing, eating gourmet meals, snuggling with my mate, anytime I want....Only 4 more days....! We are headed to an all-inclusive in Playa Mujeres, Mexico, to celebrate 5 years together! Let me recap how we have celebrated the past 4 years.

.....1st year anniversary, I was pregnant and puking....literally! He surprised me by purchasing our first vehicle...if I had not been pregnant, this would have not been okay with me...but I didn't care at this point! He found me inside, hugging the toilet, and wanted me to come outside and take a look....I preceded to vomit, while he stood as an onlooker at the doorway until I finished...."Okay, come on, I want to show you something," he responds with excitement. "Brandon! Can I wipe the puke off my mouth first!" I responded with excitement. So, with bloodshot eyes and a nasty taste in my mouth, I went to see our newly purchased vehicle.

.....2nd anniversary...Jackson was 4 months old, and was recovering from hip abduction surgery....we celebrated with Copelands take-out next to our little mans hospital bed...not a fond memory.

.....3rd anniversary....I was pregnant and puking for the second time....I wont go into details with this one!

.....4th anniversary....It's the first time that I am not pregnant and puking and we actually have a babysitter, and I let him work out the details.....He takes me to a high school football game!

Oh, and did I fail to mention that all our honeymoon plans were canceled, due to hurricane Katrina! We spent our honeymoon driving the state of Mississippi trying to find a vacant hotel room!

So....I planned the 5th....and made sure that no child was created before then!

As you can see...I can barely contain myself....for this trip is much needed and anticipated. And don't get me wrong....I have enjoyed everyone of those anniversaries, regardless of how we celebrated....it just means that we made it another year together....and I know we'll have plenty more years to go places....but for now....Playa Mujeres, Mexico....here we come!

What it takes to be...beautiful!

I went and got my hair did, for the first time in two years....I guess my priorities are elsewhere! I did the whole shebang....highlights, new cut, and style! I think the last time I had highlights was in high school....maybe once in college....needless to say, its been a while. So I arrive....about 10 minutes early and read a few magazines, look around at products, look at a few more magazines, then the fun begins. We go back to decide what the outcome will be and she mixes the highlights, then proceeds to brush this goop in strands of my hair and cover them in tin foil. I feel like I am at a carnival, getting ready for my act. I look around hoping someone else has the foil wrappers in their hair too....ah ha....I'm not alone! Then finally I am finished with step one and now I wait....and wait....and wait. After about 10 minutes, I realize that my body is incapable of just sitting and relaxing. I have no kids and I cannot enjoy myself. I read a few more magazines, call my sister, scan the products for the second time, walk around, sit, read, walk around, call my sister...all in that order. Finally, she opens one of those foil wrappers to see if I'm done....nope, lets put you under the dryer....great! Now I get to sweat, and I really have no choice but to sit. Finally step two is complete and I head on over to that bowl. She pulls each wrapper out individually, and I try very hard not to squint....I feel like my scalp will rip off any minute, finally we rinse and wash, and head over to complete the third step...cut. My hair is down to my mid back, and I decide that I want to do layers...shes got a lot of cutting to do. Finally step three is complete....my head feels 10 pounds lighter, and as I look at the floor below me, I understand why! That is 2 years of hair on the floor! At this point I am really getting antsy....its t-minus 3 hours and counting....I figured I'd be in and out in an hour! And I feel terrible for leaving my kids with my sister on her last day off before school. I convince her to skip step four...styling...my stomach is growling, and I am way past due to pick my kids up! After 4 hours...a wet head....a bag full of products....and half of my husbands pay check gone.......I'm a new woman....I guess! I'm looking forward to 2012!