Elena is still on a holiday “high” from the weekend. She was able to celebrate Easter twice this weekend, with my family on Saturday and on Sunday with Joel’s family. She thought it all great fun. And she also got to watch some cartoons depicting Jesus’ resurrection before the celebration began and she thought that exciting as well. I am glad because she had great expectations for the weekend, asking every morning for a week if it was Easter yet! She is in a happy mood after the weekend, which is great for me as I get back into our normal week.
Tomorrow, I am going to announce the 6 winners of the Spring Cleaning Challenges . So stay tuned for that.
Meanwhile, here are a few pictures from the family dinner with my side .
Ablieskivers ……. a delicious Norwegian Pancake
Roasted Asparagus, my favorite!
Scalloped Potatoes
The cousins enjoying their food.
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Stephanie @ One Big Adventure
Kimi, Thanks for sharing your Easter! Would you share what cartoon you used with the Resurrection story?
KimiHarris
Hey Stephanie,
I will ask my husband. I think he found it online or her to watch. 🙂
Joel Harris
It was actually this movie (in 3 parts): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB-1e4MwJW0
My parents had these when I was growing up, they are really well done. But those Jesus Storybook Bible videos look great, too, Andrea! Elena loves that story Bible!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop
Stephanie,
Have you ever seen the Donut Man movie called, “Resurrection Celebration”? It’s not a cartoon but my kids love it. 🙂
Kelly
Andrea
I’m going to take a guess that it’s this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_PkwywNxCw&feature=player_embedded
🙂
Satisfied Belly
Great pictures! My girls had a fun time too and my eldest lost her first tooth the night before Easter so it was an exciting weekend. 🙂
I have a question. Normally we don’t allow the girls to eat candy and junk food. They are allowed to have one piece of dessert on holidays and at parties but normally no chips or candy (with the exception of organic dark chocolate!)
How do you handle situations in which Elena is given treats, like at Sunday school or as a favor at a party. I usually give them each one piece and toss the rest but I find it bothers people and I’ve been on the receiving end of eye rolls more times than I care to admit! I always bring their snacks when they go to friends or Sunday school, but holidays are difficult because all the other kids are chowing down on nasty stuff.
KimiHarris
Good question. We have to be really careful with Elena with sweets as she will break out with yeast problems even from having too much fruit. So with her it’s pretty easy to explain that she will have a flair up if she eats candy or what not and people are generally understanding.
But I don’t think I would want to eat a lot of candy regardless. As far as Sunday School goes, our church does give out snacks, but we have Elena sit with us through the service, so it’s not a problem. 🙂 But if we started having her attend at some point, I would send her in with her own special snack, I think. If I didn’t have any homemade things available I would try to find some healthy snack at the store that we could have set aside for her to have only at Sunday School, so that could make it seem like more of a special treat too. 🙂
Since she’s only three, we haven’t had to deal with the party issue very much yet. Sometimes I have let her have cake, and sometimes, if she is having a flair up, not. But I think what you are doing, letting them have a little, but not all of it, is wise. Your kids feel like they still get a special treat, but they aren’t getting entirely overloaded with sugar!
We have found that sometimes when you are really strict with your diet, that you really can’t even tolerate regular desserts or candy (stomach aches, flair ups), so some family members grow to not even want it!
KellyBelly
I let my kids know that our family “does it this way” and not every family is as concern about healthy eating as we are (but should be). I try and say it in a generic way that doesn’t put down any one in particular and only let my kids hear what I’m saying.
For my sons 1st yr of school I sent his own snack w/ him instead of sharing the class snack. And as long as you talk about the “why’s” it goes fine.
Susan
Sorry you have to endure the eye rolling. We’ve had to deal with that, too. I’ve always only allowed my kids a couple of pieces of candy or one small piece of cake on special occasions, too, but we’ve heard all the comments and seen the eye rolling as well. I try to explain as best I can, but at this point I usually just ignore it.
Even before I started following the nourishing guidelines and more traditional way of cooking, I noticed that my kids would get super hyper when they ate sugar. Thus, my reason (in my limited knowlegde) for limiting their sugar intake.
Last week a friend’s mom offered to watch my children & my friend’s daughter for a couple of hours so we could take a smocking class. When I got back I found out that instead of a healthy lunch, she had given my daughter an early snack of two bowls of Frosted Flakes, because that’s what she had wanted after watching my friend’s dad eat a bowl for breakfast. Needless to say, she found out exactly why I rarely give her sugar.
It was really frustrating, but I think this lady finally made the connection between sugar and hyperactivity. She didn’t make any comments at Easter when my kids participated in the egg hunt, but didn’t eat all the chocolate and sweets that were inside the eggs.
Peggy
Elena is adorable! What a nice photo of her to remember Easter 2010.
Evelyn
I am a grandmother and don’t want to give the grandchildren all the sweets for Easter. I buy spring plants they can put into pots and they’re always excited to pick out their flowers. They do get a few chocolates. I appreciate your ideas and recipes, Kimi.
Annie
Kimi – two things – Elena is adorable! Also, ableskiver(sp!?) is a family treat of ours, too. My grandmother is Danish. We’ve never had it for Easter, though. Great idea 🙂 and fun to “meet” another ableskiver-eater 😉 Always appreciate your blog. Currently am dealing w/ trying not to stress over getting our diet “just right” since I don’t know quite what “just right” is. Pork, or no? (Kelly the Kitchen Kop had a link about that – I’m still stumped and KNOW my husband would fight giving up bacon, lol.) Grains? Sprout? Soak? HOW do I get my kids to like the good stuff? I try to keep junk out of the house but it creeps in and then that’s all my kids want. Should eating be stressful?! I’ll try to focus on gratefulness to the Lord for His provision. Thanks again for your blog!
Lana
Awww Kimi your such a sweetie and I just loveeee your web site. I came upon your site as I was looking up Oil of Oregano. Yikes, I have caught this awful flu bug going around that has kept me in bed and under the weather for over 2 weeks. LoandBehold to be looking for one thing and find this was just so great, for being such a natural only organic eater and such a natural and holistic believer it has been such a let down to be as sick as I am. Guess you feel like such a healthy, can resist anything kind of person until you get this cold/flu stuff and it really makes you look at things different. This has been such a let down for me, so to see such pure recipes and know that when I do finally get well I have something to look forward too……the chicken sausage!!! yum and thank you for sharing such goodies!! ohhh and yes I agree with you and am a total believer of North American Herb and Spice for my oil of oregano, been using it for over 8yrs, great product, great customer support every time I have called them for assistance on getting well! Thank you again, well talk soon, I’m sure!!!
connie
how adorable is elena??
also, i was looking through my winter 2009 “wise traditions” the other day (yes, i’m slightly behind) and saw you on page 47 with some other bloggers!! how fun!!
Michelle
Kimi,
Would you be willing to share with your readers what your daughter’s yeast flare ups are like and how one might identify the symptoms?
Thanks, from one mom to another!
Claire
Lana,
I too used to get colds and flu all the time. In fact I had a constantly sore throat pretty much all the time – I also had bad allergies to cats, dogs and dust. I was so silly not to realise it was because of my diet. Because I ate my 5 a day I thought I was healthy! However, I also loved bread, cheese, pastries, crisps, cakes and had a major sweet tooth. Last year I had a bit of a health scare and as a result radically changed my diet. It took something quite big to force me to make a drastic change. I have now pretty much cut out diary, wheat and sugar. It was very hard at first because those things were the basis of my diet – but has been so worth it. I feel better than ever, have not been ill for 6 months and my allergies have totally disappeared – I have also changed as a person and am so much happier in general. I enjoy the little things in life more. It is so amazing what the right diet can do for you. I am not saying that the diet I have described is right for everyone – some people may be better off eating diary – but for me it has really worked. Everyone needs to educate them selves and work out what foods are right for them. This site has been a massive inspiration to me and I have found some of the recipes to be delicious and really enjoyed reading Kimi’s blogs and updates.
Wishing health and happiness to you.
Claire
PS When I first gave up diary, wheat and sugar my symptoms got worse for about 2-3 months. My allergies were awful and I felt tired and depressed. But I knew the diet was right (i just felt it inside) and stuck too it – eating fresh organic vegetables, pulses and legumes, millet and brown rice with some fish and chicken too (a little red meat occasionally) – a little miso soup and seaweed. I later learned that these symptoms worsening was just my body ‘clearing out’ all the gunk, and toxins. After 3 months I felt better than I had in years.
Susan
I’m so encouraged to hear you say your symptoms got worse initially. We changed our diet dramatically about 2-3 months ago, and for the last 6-7 weeks we’ve all been suffering from congestion, sneezing, coughing, etc. I have horrible allergies and started allergy shots in January. Sometimes our symptoms feel like allergies and other times they feel like a cold. We’ve never been this sick for this long, with the exception of before I was diagnosed with asthma & allergies. I was wondering if it had anything to do with our diet. Like you, I know this way of eating is much healthier than our old ways, but I’ve been a bit discouraged with how our immune system seems to be worse. I was just wondering the other day if it’s because our body’s are trying to get rid of all the junk we had been putting into them for so long. 🙁 I used to have really bad acid reflux as well, but lately I’ve been tapering off of my meds to see if our new diet is working in that area. So far I haven’t had any problems, which has been a huge encouragement. Hopefully the allergy & asthma symptoms will improve as well. 😀
Lana
Just an idea with your changed diet, try Oil of Oregano as a addition. It will help with the over growth of yeast that causes many allergies. I used to suffer from migraines from the allergies and when I changed my diet and went through a total detox it helped tremendously. North American Herb and Spice is what I would suggest using. Their web site is great just read about it first make sure it’s right for you. I do know that it is not recommened it be used if you are on blood thinners or blood pressure meds so just do some reading on it, gain the knowledge and decide if it’s right for you. Best wishes and hang in there you will feel better before you know it and it will all have been worth it!!
Susan
Hey Lana,
Can you give me a little more info about the Oil of Oregano. The North American Herb & Spice website didn’t say much about it. When I looked up the benefits of it, one article said it needed to be a specific type of oregano with 70% carvacrol concentration. I couldn’t find any of that info on the NAHS website. I’m not familiar with this, but I’ve seen it in a couple of posts on here recently. Would you mind sharing some info? Feel free to email me at setodd14@yahoo.com. I’m really interested after reading about it. Thanks!
Lana
Hi Susan,
I sent you some things in your e-mail, hope that helps. For any others that would like some information about NAHS this link is a great start. http://www.oreganopro.com/oreganolp73.asp
Also, “The Cure Is In The Cupboard” by Cass Ingram is a must have book to start off with!
Keep up the change it will pay off in the end!!! Promise!
claire
Hang on in there Susan. it took me 3-6 months and some days my nose would be running like a hosepipe. All my allergies are totally gone now. I don’t think that everything is totally ‘out’ yet but I have made so much progress it just makes me want to keep on going. I spoke to one lady who cured herself of MS through her diet – it took her 4 years of complete dedication but she did it in the end. They say it takes 1 month for every year you have been sick. I think i was sick from the day I was born so that will be 2 years!! one year down – one more to go…
You are doing the right thing for your family and you will soon reap the rewards. well done.
Susan
Thanks for the encouragement! It’s been hard, but I know it will payoff eventually. 😀
Lana
Susan,
Just another thought, have you thought about Aloe Vera Juice for your Acid Reflux?? Works great for that and also has other added benefits!! The acid stops when the healing begins and Aloe Juice heals the lining. “Aloe Life” Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Juice is my favorite. Just like NAHS this brand just does it pure, love it!!
Lana
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts!! I was diagnosed 6yrs ago with Menieres which is a disorder of the inner ear that with improper diet can cause vertigo. Sodium being the biggest culprit with this condition. Being only 33 at the time to be diagnosed with what people say is “an older persons issue, 55-70yrs old” that just was so devastating for me. After I cried and felt sorry for myself I picked myself up and got strong with that diagnosis and learned to deal with it. I was able to deal with it by gaining knowledge of the condition, learning how to keep it at bay by a change of diet and with that I became conscientious about the amount of sodium that’s hidden in our diets and how sugars and simple carbs affect our well being. Omgosh it was so hard the first few months to cut out all processed foods, spices with sodium in them, many crackers and let me not get started on MSG and all it’s derivatives. I look back on how upset I was with the diagnosis and now feel it was such a blessing. I became a healthier eater and when I’m not under the weather for the most part I feel pretty good. I get the common cold twice a year and am usually over it in a few days but every now and then a big one like this sneeks in and sets me back, little bit of a let down especially when friends say “ohhh with all the vitamins and all the healthy things you eat I can’t believe your so sick” grrrrrr that bothers me because we all get sick but because we are so aware of our diets others judge. I have to say I do agree with what you said about diets with sugars and dairy in them. I grew up on goats milk and for the most part don’t crave desserts, sodas, chocolate, things like that. But, being Italian I will admit it’s soooo hard to get away from pasta…lol I make the best pesto and put it on everything I just had to learn that everything in moderation! It just gets discouraging sometimes when I’m at the store because I am soooo strict with my diet constantly reading ingredients and putting things back because I can’t eat them that sometimes I just want quick simple prepaired foods like so many others can eat that I can not because of the sodium. It’s what I have to do to not suffer from vertigo and I try to just stay focused and be so grateful that I find blogs like this to give me new ideas of healthy cooking!! Thanks again and happy, healthy days for you too!!!
claire
Lana – It was so interesting to hear your story too. I have a similar one. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue and have always had a very low immune system picking up all the colds and flu. I too am very healthy now and eat very well but i get a lot of flack from my work colleagues and friends. My boyfriend often says to me ‘have some icecream/chocolate/cheese – it will be good for you’. It makes me so angry that he doesn’t really understand. It is probably more my fault as I have been on a journey reading up on the condition but have not passed on this information to him. I am so much better now than i have been in years but still don’t feel like I am back to my full health. I am 28 and it is hard when all of my friends are out drinking and eating rubbish – I have a bit of a reputation for being sober and healthy.
I will check out that website you suggested. I have also been looking at Jon Barron’s detox programme. His book ‘Lessons from the miracle doctors’ was very helpful. his ‘super viacon formula’ is great – when i get a sore throat I gargle with it and it goes pretty much straight away. It is not cheap – but something’s are worth saving for.
Wishing you all the best
Claire
PS I know how hard it is to get away from pasta – i used to eat it at least 3 times a week!!
Lana
Claire,
Thank you so much!! ‘super viacon formula’ I will look into that. (Love new ideas) I had to put my “Big Girl Pants” on and really look past all the nay sayers that like to put down the healthy side of things. I look at it this way – pay now or pay later and I feel all that unhealthy eating will catch up later in life so they can talk now and I will talk later…giggles ; )
Take care
Barbara Grant
My teenage son went to Virginia with friends for Easter. When he came back he said to me, ” You know how I make fun of you for all this healthy eating stuff? I ate junk food all weekend and I felt awful, especially after drinking regular milk.” We love our fresh milk, and now that our goats have freshened we are so happy! There is hope for teenagers!!!
Lana
Too funny! Guess we just have to say atleast they can admit it, that’s the biggest step… Love my goats milk too!
Naomi
I’m also interested in how you can tell Elena is having a yeast flare up. I sometimes wonder about one of my daughters, but don’t really know where to look for more information. Thanks!
Sonja
Wow! I’m glad I’m not the only one that has uncomfortable moments at church, family, friend, and school functions. Yesterday, I was at the end of my rope with people feeding my children the “leftover Easter candy and cheap desserts” like they are a bunch of dogs getting the scraps. It is difficult because my children are old enough to experience the peer pressure and they roll their eyes when I express my disapproval. It is uncomfortable for me, my children, and especially those offering the offending junk food. I haven’t figured out how to tactfully deal with this almost daily problem.. All I know is that I spend a lot of time, money, and effort providing nourishing foods to my most precious assets- my children and husband. So I get a little defensive when someone comes by and splatters black paint on the beautiful picture I am trying to “paint”. Any suggestions? Sorry for the rant, but it was on my mind this morning.
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
Your daughter is beautiful! I am glad she had fun Easter celebrations! Your Aebelskiver look so cute and yummy! Did you fill them with anything, or were they just plain? Just a note, they are Danish! Norwegians go for the skinny flat kinds – kind of like a crepe. Good, yet not quite as cute as an aebelskiver! 🙂
KimiHarris
That’s so funny. And all this time I thought that they were part of our heritage, but we aren’t Danish. LOL
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
LOL! If you are Norwegian, I think it is close enough! 🙂