Dear Cottage Cheese,

I just wanted to write to you and let you know how deeply sorry I am for the way I have treated you my whole life.  I completely miss judged you before I even got to know you.  I remember a few encounters we had when I was younger and they were not pleasant.  So I kept my distance. It wasn't until recently, when I wanted to loose a few "baby pounds" that a girlfriend suggested I give you another chance.  I admit I was very reluctant.  I saw you at the store week after week and avoided you time and time again.  Well, as you know, I finally gave in and picked you up, and I have never regretted it. 

Little did I know that you only ever wanted to help me.  That you were there to help me look better and feel better about myself.  I never knew that eating you would actually help to remove you from my legs and other areas (shhhhh!).  I have enjoyed you in so many different ways (w/pineapple, peaches, pomegranate, blueberries and even marinara sauce, YUMMMY?)  I hope that you will accept my sincere apology.  I promise to be more open-minded and I promise I will never mistreat you again.  Thanks for all you have done.  

Sincerely,

Becca J.                  

Thanks but no thanks...

For the past three months I have been trying to get Ella to eat baby food.  And for the past three months this is the reaction I have gotten.  When I mixed applesauce in with her oatmeal she gagged and then she would not eat the plain oatmeal for several days.  Perhaps for fear I contaminated it again.   But nine seems to be the lucky month because she has gradually started to acquire a taste for it.  No more shuttering or gagging.  

What's Twilight?

OK, so apparently there is a book (or a series of books) in circulation called Twilight.  I've never read the book.  I've heard of the book because I gave my mom (an avid reader) the series a year and a half ago for Christmas.  I've heard a lot about the book since then.  All my sisters have read Twilight, even Melissa who does not read books.  I've heard several of my friends talking about the book and the young women I work with in my ward are well, border-lined obsessed.  So I began to think, am I the only person in America who has not read this book?  Well I am proud to report that I am not the only one who has not read Twilight.  I found two other people, my husband and my dad.  Just kidding, they were even female.  

So, why haven't I read the book you ask?  Because I'm not a reader.  No, I'm not boycotting it because of the phenomenon it has created.  Or because of its questionable values?  Or because I'm afraid I'll get sucked in to this fictional love story.  I just simply struggle to find time to sit down and read a book.  However.....On a personal level, I do have a hard time justifying reading for entertainment when I struggle with daily scripture study and reading any of the slew of church books my husband has that will actually do me some good.  So I was talking to my sister and she put it quite simply.  Twilight is like cake (chocolate for me).  Every now and then I want some chocolate cake.  I know it's not healthy and I know it has sugar in it.  But it's good and I enjoy it and when eaten sparingly, has little effect on me.  

I guess the reason I all of the sudden got interested in Twilight is because my husband rented the movie and I really enjoyed it.  But it left me with a lot of questions.  Why do their eyes change color?  Why doesn't he just bite her and get it over with?  Are all of these "vegetarian" vampires really going to stay that way?  And what's with the shady red head?  So, yes, I will probably read Twilight some time this year when I am in the mood for a little chocolate cake.                 

Quallergies

Quinn definitely keeps life interesting around the Jackson household.  Apart from his hospital visits regarding his asthma and unforeseen accidents, managing Quinn's food allergies (referred to as Quallergies) is a continuous daily task.  Quinn is allergic to eggs, milk, wheat, nuts and soy.  So what can he eat?  Otter Pops of course.  If mom gets busy and isn't looking Quinn will go on a little Otter Pop binge.  I think I counted 8 wrappers!  But don't worry, each Otter Pop is only one ounce, so that is like drinking an 8 oz. box of juice....right?     

Quallergies also call for a little creativity.  At his sister birthday party Quinn could not eat the cupcakes and mom didn't have time to make his own special cupcake so dad came up with this very special treat for Quinn.  It is an apple cinnamon rice cake with Quinn approved frosting and sprinkles.  Quinn LOVED it!  What a trooper!