I have had some requests that I wrap up this special edition of no sugar month. I agreed to do it but only for my readers(it's not that I like it or anything)!

I have some news. We actually were allowed to have a little bit of sugar in Boston. I know, I was surprised too. My parents aren't that bad, I guess. Well enough about Boston and more about having NO SUGAR has been this month.

Well, this last month I have found quite a few things out. It has been really hard I have craved sugar so much. I have also really noticed how much sugar a day a person has! Overall I think this was a good but hard experience for me as a 12 year old.

-Scout (Sydney)

Please just some sugar-Special Addition by Scout

Oh, joy.

I just found out that we aren't ending No Sugar Month on the 30th of June but on the 13th of July. This is horrible because that means... NO SUGAR IN BOSTON!!!!!!!!! Sob. We are leaving for Boston on Friday (the 2nd of July) and we will be there a week. This means no sugar in Boston which is horrible because we already had to work harder at Comfest last last weekend. Whatever though, I will just wait it out. Well enough about Boston and more about how no SUGAR is affecting me.

Well these last few weeks it has been really hard I have craved sugar so much and I have freaked out a couple times and have used to no sugar as an excuse. I have really noticed how much sugar a day a person has! This has also made me want more sugar but having no sugar seems to have a good affect on me. For my sweet of the week last week I had some of Heidi's birthday cake. This week I had a giant lemonade at Comfest (a very very very good choice)

-Scout (Sydney)

Sugar (NONE OF IT)-special addition by Scout

Great, just great. My parents say that this month our family isn't going to have sugar. They also want me to blog about it. This month
I will be blogging regularly so check up to see how we're doing every once in a while.

We started this on June 13th after my brother's birthday so he could have sugar on his birthday. There are many things that people would automatically think of with sugar, but also we aren't having: sweetened cereals, maple syrup, sweetened yogurts, and artificial sweeteners. So far in the first week I have really started to appreciate fruit, which is so delicious. What is really hard is seeing other people with sugar and not being able to have any. When there was some cake at church, Ethan and I didn't have any because we wanted to save our one sweet for later in the week. That afternoon I decided that I would like to have some birthday cake at my friend's party.

We are each allowed one sweet thing a week. I have noticed how having one sweet a week is like gambling. You could have a cookie at the beginning of the week and then not be able to have some pie later in the week. On the other hand there could be a slushie one day that you decide not to have and later in the week you might not see anything else you want. This makes you think ahead to what you are doing in the week and makes you choose.

-Scout

Spring things

Wow, I totally missed the month of March and we're almost done with April. As usual, things have been a hoppin' here at the Red House. Biggest news is that we have new neighbors to the east. Long-time neighbor and friend Mary has moved off to northern Pickaway county to follow through on plans to raise Alpacas. Mary has been a great neighbor and we will miss her dearly... especially her ability to remember what day trash day is and get our dumpster in position for weekly pick-up! As sad as we were to see Mary go, we were cheered by the fact that good friends and neighbors on "lower" Tibet, the growing White family, jumped at the chance to move into her house. About a week after #3 White kid (Lane) was born on April 1st, the family shuffled their furnishings and toys east and set up house at 345. The Red House kids are thrilled to have more pals (and baby-sitting clients) right next door.

Scout & Ethan began the spring season of outdoor soccer at Whetstone with Papa J filling in as special deputy-assistant-vice coach for Ethan's team. Ethan got his first score of the season at his first game on a break-away after splitting defenders - a great shot past a huge goalie. Sydney has had a couple of great shots on goal, getting close to scoring her first. The indoor winter soccer has kept them both sharp-footed.

What weather we have been having this spring! Mild temperatures and lots of sun. Lawn and garden activities have been coming along quite well with probably the best showing of white lilacs since we moved to the Red House in Spring of 2003. Stay tuned for some garden pics!

Cleaning up the pantry

I'd had it...four different containers of brown rice (all partially full), red lentils buried under a bag of barley, no way to tell how much flour I had on hand. Our pantry was officially a mess. Plus, there was unplesant evidence of an occasional unwelcome visitor or two (or three). So, we make a quick trip to the Container Store via a few mouse clicks (a different mouse than previously referenced) and got some sturdy clear containers shipped our way. They arrived Thursday and the kids an I busted them out of their shipping boxes, washed them out and got 'em in place...Here are the before and after pics:

Thought of the day...

Silence frees us from the need to control others ... A frantic stream of words flows from us in an attempt to straighten others out. We want so desperately for them to agree with us, to see things our way. We evaluate people, judge people, condemn people. We devour people with our words. Silence is one of the deepest Disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts the stopper on that.

- Richard Foster, from his book Freedom of Simplicity

Scout's Birthday Dinner - the social event of the year...

at least so far! Scout and 9 of her girl friends were treated to five-course formal dining experience at the Red House last night to celebrate her 12th birthday. Working with Chef Papa, she created a tasty menu that was enjoyed by all. Resident cocktail guru Mama mixed up some refreshing "mocktails" to start things off, while the multi-talented Ethan helped cook, took coats, served appetizers and courteously waited on party guests (this, after scoring a goal at his soccer game earlier in the day!)

The evening's menu:

Appetizers: Breaded mushrooms & bruschetta
Course #1: Curried Cream of Pumpkin Soup - our friend Kate's great recipe
Course #2: Winter fruit salad - kiwis, pineapple, star fruit, mandarin oranges & dried cherries with a mint-lime dressing
Course #3: Lemon sorbet (palate cleanser)
Course #4: Main entree, baked whole wheat rotini w/ cheese, green beans almondine and glazed carrots.
Course #5: Dessert, apricot-ginger parfait.

Get Your Yum On!