Pantry Challenge

Grocery Challenge time again.  I know I've tried time and time again but it's better to try and fail than to never have tried at all. 

Well Jessica at Good Cheap Eats, a blog that I just found- how have I missed it, is making it official. January is the month.   

The rules:  make up your own rules. 

Well my rules will be to try and shot for $500 a month WITHOUT depleting our food supply.  I know $500 sound like a lot and it is but we are feeding a family of 7 and a half:-)  The hubby tries not to eat things out of a box and is pretty much grain free.  And well I'm kind of a food snob.  So anything less would be extremely difficult and would cut into our pantry. 

I also want to freeze a handful of meals for when I just don't want to cook or I'm sick or something.  I could of used a few of those earlier this month. 

Also, can applesauce which I never did this fall.  After I finished those pears and the first trimester was upon me I just didn't do it.  The peoples love them some applesauce around here:-)

I don't want to deplete our food supply just clean it up and use anything that needs to be used. 

Here are the things I can think of off the top of my head that need to be used up.  

Frozen asparagus- why did I freeze #50 when I'm really the only one who eats the stuff with out force.
A case of "healthy" sun chips that no one is really digging.  Keep bringing them out until they are gone.
Butter I canned two years ago, use it and replace it. 
Try the cherry pie filling I canned this summer but have yet to use.

Well anybody else up for the challenge?  Should be fun!  See you in the kitchen. 

Kalahari 2011

The last few years we have been able to take advantage of Kalahari's BOGO free night.  Well this year we took full advantage and stayed 4 nights!  Fun for all.   We were upgraded to a stellar suite instead of our one room we were planning on.  Can you say full size kitchen and two separated bedrooms- yeah!  Thanks to Tara and Josh, who came too, for getting us upgraded, I guess it never hurts to ask.

(I just looked it up, for the room we had for four nights with the number of wrist bands for our family would need would normally cost $1519.00- ouch!!!) 
                                    
 Love these guys. 

 Lettie LOVED the wave pool, she spent a huge amount of her time in there. 

 My boys.  I know they're fat, must be all that butter:-)

 These two were inseparable. 

 Benna soaking it all in. 

I did a whole lot of this, it was great.

The wife does not like different but at least it works. cheerio

testing

if it works i will be happy

“God appoints people who do disappoint – to point to a God who never disappoints.”


Thanks to her for this.

So sweet..

Today at lunch I asked Racky to pray.

....and help mom to feel better. Not just because we want to go to Kalahari but just so she feels better. ....

He makes my heart melt! Love that kid.

Bring a hankie

If you have an hour go here. Bring a hankie, you'll need it. Then go hug your babies.

So I deleted the past post...

Sorry if you missed it cause it was pretty funny but it did lack discretion. I can't have something on here I wouldn't want my kids to read, maybe when they are adults I'll put it back up:-)

Would you like some bread with your butter?

Here is my very unscientific explanation on why you need to eat fat and why it won't make you fat in return.

1- fat makes you full and satisfied.

Ever try to eat a whole full fat cheese cake? You don't even want to do you? A sliver is all you need or want. One sliver of New York cheesecake is 350 cal. and 24 grams of fat and 26 grams carbs. Now, ever try to eat a large Oreo blizzard, 980 cal. and 36 grams of fat and 145 grams of carbs, 109 of sugar? Yup, it goes down pretty easy. Now I know the blizzard has more fat but when you compare the fat to carb ratio is is crazy low in fat. All that sugar keeps you shoveling it in.

2- fats make you happy.

My second child was VERY sensitive to everything. She never slept until we started to feed her olives. We did a rotation diet for years so we became quite good and figuring out what food did what. On olive day she slept- aahh. A full, non sleep deprived child is a sweet child. Olives became an everyday food.

90 % of the human brain is made of fats, if growing brains don't get enough REAL fats they get crabby. Serve butter on everything!!! By pass all low fat dairy products. Skim milk on a bowl of fruit loops will make kids so hungry and crabby in two hours you'll have to send them off to school because you won't be able to stand them. Also don't trim the fat or the skin on your food. If you are buying grass fed animals they have healthy fats.

Ever notice how "dieters" are know for being crabby? Everyone would rather have a fat mom than a crabby mom. Sure eat a salad but please skip the low fat salad dressing. Pour some olive oil on there or some sliced olives or avocado or hard boiled eggs. You won't want to chew your arm off in an hour or your kids head off.

3- your food will taste better.

You know everything tastes better swimming in butter or covered with gravy or cream. Nuff said.

4- fats slow carb digestion.

Popcorn, potatoes, bread all NEED fat to slow the carb digestion so your blood sugars don't spike. A diet coke and air popped popcorn with no fat is a recipe for diabetes. If this is your afternoon snack you will eat any and everything not tied down while making dinner. Unless you have super human self-control, which I do not possess.

5- because this is how our great grandparents ate, hey I told you this wasn't going to be very scientific, and only a very small percentage of them took medications or graced the inside of a hospital. I heard half of the ALL population is on a prescription- HALF.

6- I don't know about you but if I eat a sugary dessert or something I have this strangely intense hunger the next day for the whole stinking day- feed me!!! If I keep it real and don't eat junk at night I can go the next day as normal. No caffeine is needed to mask the low energy levels because of the sugar roller coaster from the day before. I just feel normal, strange I know. Sure I get tried but I nothing a good lunch and an afternoon nap can't fix:-) Hey I am pregnant, I'm allowed naps!
7- it aids in vitamin absorption- make those carrots backstroke through that butter!

I know there are lots of scientific reasons to eat fat you'll have to go elsewhere for those. I just know it's yummy and so far my kids and hubby are far from fat. Me, well I blame my weight woes on the 5 kids and the one baking:-)

(Yes fat has lots of calories but you won't want to eat as much because your blood sugar levels will be more normal. After lots of carbs your sugar levels spike then proceed to crash causing you to want to eat again to lift sugar levels back up, ever try to walk way from the dessert table once you've started. Fats slow and level blood sugar levels.)

Yup it's true, number 6! I can still hardly believe it:-)

Organized Sports Rant

I was talking with someone today about my kids and he chimes in with "if they play any sports that could really make things messy."

I told him we probably don't need to worry about that:-)

Yes, so far none of our kids are athletic. No one is overly competitive.

So it hasn't really been an issue. Racky did take karate for a year or so but it was a complete waste of his and my time.

Organized sports for kids is relatively new. None of my grand parents played on a tee ball team, took dance class or played basketball on a team. Guess what they turned out just fine, great actually. They were well rounded individuals, imagine that.

Kids used to be the kids. Adults ruled the world not the other way around. Kids schedules were made to work around the parents not vise versa.

Yes, kids played games with other kids but it didn't cost the family money, wear and tear on vehicles or their sanity by trying to juggle it all. Mom didn't have to get a job to pay for gas and uniforms, sign up fees and pizza on the fly.

If kids needed fresh air they were sent outside to play. Yes, play, like use their noggin and come up with something to do all by themselves. No "coach" guiding them so they don't have to think for themselves. No false reassurance, telling them great job even though they stink at a particular thing.

Here are my rebuttals against the reasoning's behind sports.

"He just needs to go, go, go." AKA my kid drives me nuts get him out of here.

People that "can't" stand to be home need to learn contentment, especially girls as we are called to be keepers of the home, hard to do if you "have" to go, go, go. Give him more work to do, channel his energy into something worth while.

"I don't want him to miss an opportunities."

What to be a ballerina or play in the NBA, okay whatever:-)

"It teaches him sportsmanship."

Play games with him and teach him yourself how to be a good losers and winner.

"It's good exercise."

So is jumping on the tramp or taking a walk or playing a game at home. Playing is also great exercise along with work.

"He needs the social aspect of it, he's a people person."

Great, there are people at home, neighbors across the street and strangers in the store let him talk there. Talking with a wide variety of ages will teach him more about people than a group of his immature peers.

I think its funny how people are willing to accept the fact that a family like the Duggars with their 19 kids don't participate in organized sports. They would never be home so clearly they can't. On the other hand if you choose to say no because you don't buy into all the hype you're mean and depriving your children of a full childhood.

Now don't get me wrong there is nothing sinful about these things. Just this summer two of the kids took a 4 day sports camp. But these activities didn't dictate our lives. Our marriage would be strained if we were gone too much. My hubby and I would hate missing family dinners and devotions as a family. I might be stretched to thin to have time for my hubby, which in turns makes for an unhappy family. Or else we might have to schedule a date night just to see each other. One night a week is not enough! He would feel more pressure to provide for false needs which is an unnecessary burden for him to carry.

Ask your husband what he wants. Does he really want to be Johnny's cub scout leader or would be rather have the family free for impromptu picnics and family day trips. Do these things take away from what God commands you to do?

When reading Shepherding a Child's Heart he suggest that you only do things as a family. While I don't think you have to do everything together is Billy's soccer season dictating the whole families next two months? Are you eagerly waiting for it to be over? Pull him out right now. Cook a big family dinner and just sit and talk together. Go jump on the tramp together or walk to the lake.

Alrighty then, I think I'm done:0)

So I might of come off a little harsh, sorry. As the hubby says I'm not the warm and fuzzy type, he too is the honest type:-)

So let me clarify. If you want your kids to play sports or whatever, have at it. Just last week I asked Racky if he would like to be in the school play. Parent involvement was a requirement so we had to hash this our first. He decided that he didn't want to, great even though I think he would be good at it. I told Lula she couldn't try out. Call me mean, she didn't want a speaking part- um no. Just make sure you know why you are putting your kids in these activities. If you marriage is on the rocks and money is tight and you have to forsake your family to work for these things really, really examine your life. They will turn out fine probably better with out them.

The Pill?

Go here for an excellent read about the pill.

Ignorance sometimes can be bliss but in this case it can sometimes be so much more.

Half way!

We're almost half done with the pears, yippee!!! 46 jars line my counters, its a nice feeling.

I have a tip, a wonderful tip. It was learned from the Prudent Homemaker, she is my new BFF she just doesn't know it yet. Give her time:-)

Oh, okay, the tip- place the pears in boiling water for 45 to 60 seconds then drop in cold water then proceed to rub the skin off with your fingers- ZERO peeling.

Racky can do 6 a minute and Lula 7. Puddin can do around 4. Hello that is 17 pears a minute!!! I can't even halve and core them as fast as the peel them.

My life just got easier.

In which I equate another thing to child birth

I tend to equate any thing torturous to child birth. Beginning another homeschool year, 18 holes of golf and CANNING PEARS! You just don't want to do it again.

I'll be trilled with the outcome but all that work- augh!

Remember last year and the 97 jars of pears that I canned? It was torturous, crabby mom, crabby kids and a disaster of a house. And yes, they are all gone- already!

At the time I vowed never to do it again, ever.

I told myself I would spurge and buy the big pears so there would be less peeling and peeling and peeling....but a year later I did it again and bought the much cheaper small pears. Why oh why do I torture myself. Oh yes I remember because I'm cheap.

Well they're ripening in the garage so I have a few days to prepare myself. Like you can prepare for that. Like child birth you just got to go through it and pray you make it out on the other side a stronger albeit slightly more traumatized individual.

Now on the other hand if the hubby has the audacity to ask me why I didn't make it to 100 jars like he did last year he might want to take cover:-) I jest! Okay not really.

Vacations Pictures

Benna walking in the sand was priceless as she looked like a drunkin' sailor. She's not the most graceful already so she gave us quite a few laughs. The obligatory Mac Dune Rides. The kids thought is was great. Daddy and grandma and grandpa were golfing so this was our activity while they are away.

Racky took this picture by zooming into the rear view mirror on the truck, quite imaginative.

After climbing the lighthouse we had a picnic at a park with a channel that leads from Silver Lake to Lake Michigan. It was pretty chilly that day but we still had fun.

On the top of the lighthouse. They wouldn't let me wear Benna in the baby carrier up the lighthouse. Everyone has to be able to walk up it alone so daddy went up with the other four kids. We watched a handful of sunsets. That week was the first time the hubby and I ever watched a sunset together:-) A walk out on the Pentwater Pier. While walking down it grandpa keep telling Lula that he was going to walk off the end of the Pier. She kept saying "no you're not!" Well we all did, pictures on the rocks at the end of the pier.

While we were there puddin' had a birthday. We wanted frosting for his dessert. Well I forgot the cake mix and frosting so we hunted down three different kinds of baked goods. Chocolate brownies, pumpkin cake and white cake.

His face was priceless the next morning when he jokingly asked for cake for breakfast and I said YES. It was so worth feeding him sugar for breakfast just for that face.

That's pretty much all the picture because my sweet four year old deleted all the pictures off of my camera, so these are from Racky's. Thanks for taking some pictures baby!

Most quotable quote of the week:

Lula to Racky as they were leaving to ride their bikes down to the beach- "we have to watch Puddin' like he is a $5000 dog!"

!??!?

Stay tuned!

I'm HAVE TO CLEAN my house and I mean REALLY clean my house. I should look at the kids school stuff too as we start TOMORROW. Whatever.


Oh deary I'm off, but first a picture of my peeps, the reason for the insanity! I love these people!!!

Budget Blowing and a Uterus Quiverer

Nuff said. Last Saturday we went to Trader Joes and Whole Foods on a little road trip. Seeings how they don't have a those stores by us you have to stock up:-)

Pretty much everything is treats, lots and lots of treats. Stevia pop, izzi's, tortillas, chips, candy, cereal, sparkling water, and cheap bananas. Ginger snap anyone? The hubby LOVES them he says they are more addictive than crack, not that he's ever done crack, that just what he says. I personally don't like them. Now those tortilla smothered with cream cheese and a few veggies- yum. Our vacation is coming up so we went a little crazy.

They also sell "three buck chuck", aka cheap and tasty wine. Don't fret my pet it's not all ours, we were taking orders. Other people also like the "three buck chuck":-)

Well I'm not counting a dime of it seeing how the money came out of the hubby's wallet:-) I did spend about $50 last week at the butcher shop and the health store. So I'm still on track, hahaha. I do plan on spending about 50 bucks of our vacation stash to grab a few more things like guacamole, brats, cheese and some chocolate otherwise I think we have pretty much everything ready to take with.

And on a totally different note here is Benna in a bucket, can it get much better. I tell her daily that she is so cute that she makes my uterus quiver. Hubby could do with out those kinds of words coming out of my mouth:-) But really she is so stinkin' cute!

Food Budget Update

No I haven't forgotten about the food budget, even though I wish I could:-) I balanced the checkbooks today so I have renewed vigor, if you know what I mean, wink, wink.

Anyways...

I went to Meijers last week Wednesday. I spent $55. Fruit a few veggies, yogurt, tortillas, wine, etc, etc.

Then Friday I stopped at the health store for 3 loaves of bread and a dozen eggs- $18. Ouch!

Today was the dutch store to the tune of $2.

So I'm at $205 so far with two weeks left. $95 is possible I suppose. Our bread habit kills the budget. Lula's bread cost $5.79 a loaf!! I'm optimistic, as the gardening season is upon us and we have quite a bit of meat in the freezer. And hey if we can make that box of wine last for the next two weeks we're golden:-)

We are hoping to make a Trader Joe's run so that could totally blow things out of the water but we'll see.

Weekend Shopping and a few Pics of the Kidlets

$14 and some change. Really how do people have 40 dollar food budgets?
Hair things were BOGO free.

Friday the infamous hubby treated us to the Coast Guard Festival. Here are the kids waiting to go up, just to plunge back down again. I think they liked it. I last ride, Lettie approved.

Benna and daddy on the carousal.

In which I went shopping but we still have "nothing to eat"

Don't you just hate when you drop a bundle on groceries and you still don't have anything to eat? That's just what we did. Costco $82 and Meijer $34, I think I can't find my receipts.

The basics, butter to Vodka:-) We hope to make some infused vodka, aka Sneaky Pete with the vodka. The white flour is a first time purchase at Costco so I can try the artisan 5 minute a day bread that has been floating around the internet.

Meijer has the buy 5 salty snacks get $3 off so we bought 5 bags of rancid vegetable fat chips- yum:-) Hey we can't be perfect.

Highlights:

Corn chips, it's salsa season.

String cheese

10 lbs potatoes, I want to try make and freeze potato boats for easy lunch and breakfasts.

Carrots to shred and mix in with summer squashes and freeze for meatloaf this winter.

BUTTER- of course!

Guacamole to go with the chips and salsa.

Must get in the kitchen and make some food ASAP! Lots of ingredients, no food.

To Protect?

Is hiding thing from our kids in the name of protecting them a good thing? Is trying to hide death from them a noble thing?

Yesterday we found out that someone the hubby knows took his own life. Heartbreaking. You get the feeling that someone punched you in the stomach to hear something like that. It is simply awful.

Well this morning we went to grab a card to send to his wife. Leave it to Lula to want to know what is going on. So I let her know that one of daddy's friends husband had died. Well how, she wondered. So I gingerly told her that he took his own life. Her face dropped. She was obviously very confused. I didn't sugar coat it or throw my opinion about anything in there, just the minimal facts.

A few hours later she asked if they had any children. No was all I said. You could tell she was still processing the information.

I could have easily blown her off and told her to mind her own business. Yet children are so much better off to learn about death and sin from a distance if at all possible so I talked to her.

Our kids have been to a hand full of funerals and another hand full of visitations. We walk up the casket, we show them the body, we talk about how it is better to be the house of mourning than out having fun. They have seen marriages crumble and homes broken they have seen the results of sin. We talk about these things as unbiasedly as we can. Only telling them what God thinks of these things.

I know other disagree with me on this. They feel like a child's life should be butterflies and sugar plums but it's not.

Learning these things from the safety and security of a loving home is by far better than finding out when they experience it first hand.

Ecclesiastes 7:2
It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart

Hiddy-ho there neighbor!

( Kobe Dean and Benna earlier this summer)

So it been a while...sorry I've got no excuse. Unless you take in to consideration that I'm just to lazy to come up with a rousing and lively post for you, my three readers.

We've been eating way to much ice cream and swimming at the pool way too much. (We have cut back because we can't be having us any punk country club kids:-) But really it's been hot and it is so easy to spoil your kids when you have the means to.

I have a to-do list about a country mile long to do but who really wants to paint or the like when it is 90+ degrees out. So this month will be busy.

I'm going to try a food budget again, but really we know how I am this those:-) $300 buck for the next four weeks...we'll see.

Why would I torture my self again? Well August is a huge month in the canning and freezing food world. Apricots, plums, tomatoes, peaches, and pickles are all on the to-do list. When you drop lots of money on fruits and veggies it got to come from somewhere.

Our vacation is coming up and last time I checked that too wasn't free. So we must horde a little money for that.

We also swapped our furniture for a cream colored floral sofa and love seat which means new paint, rug and curtains. Plus we would like to buy a couple of chairs for the living room now.

Tuition payments are due soon and making payments is yuck so must scrounge up some moo la for that too. So that my friends is why I'm torturing my self.

There is always something to spend money on isn't' there? So stay tuned for grocery pictures and living room redo picture and maybe even a few of my kidlets.

"A woman is the only creature that can conquer by surrendering."

The Morning After

Today is the day I start my "diet". So you know yesterday was the day I showed zero, zip, nada self restraint and ate whatever I wanted. I even ate food I didn't really want just because today I "can't" eat it, sigh.

I feel it. My hands are somewhat stiff. I had dragon breathe. My feet we're sore when they first hit the floor. What you didn't know that these are prediabetic signs. 33 year olds should not wake up sore and stiff, well unless they exercised- gag.

Now while I know heredity does have a bit of influence how we were raised and what we eat is the bigger part of it. Two of my brothers and myself show these signs. They are much much worse than I. They have a physically hard time walking in the morning, not cool. They drink pop and I mean they drink LOTS of pop. Like over a 2 liter a day- yuck. They also eat some seriously fake food. Can you say frozen pizzas and Wendy's daily. I should make they a salad stat.

So today is the day I take charge of my health and with the grace of God try to prevent and very preventable disease.

I'm going low carb, or primal or on the GAPS diet. Whatever it is you want to call it. Meat, veggies, LOTS of butter, tallow and olive oil. With a helping of fruit for dessert.

I haven't quite made up all of the rules yet so we shall see. I do know that 86% chocolate will be included as will the occasion adult beverage. On the other hand there won't be any eating cool-whip by the spoonful though, stinkin strawberry shortcake.

So here's to being proactive before I'm forced to be.

Have a fabulous day.

Daniel Boone Shmoone!

I've been reading the kids a book on Daniel Boone. The cover says an American Hero. Ha the guy is less than a hero.

I've been so irritated I can hardly finish the book. If you are unfamiliar with the story good old Dan is a Mr. Visionary and a wanderer. Not once but TWICE he told his wife that he would be gone a few months hunting and it just happens to turn into a few YEARS!

You know it's long when you have a baby while your hubby's away. I'm really quite appalled that he is considered a hero. Yes he could hunt and track and map out the country but really who cares.

I don't care if your the best at whatever in the country or the world if you pull crap like that I won't and don't like you. So take that!

Well I'm jumping back up on my soap box here today so you might want to come back another day. Just thought I'd let you know:-)

Why oh why does everyone think just because a child is "legally" old enough to stay home by ones self that he should? What reason is there for a kid at the age of 10 to be left to his own accord?

Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Yes at the age of 10 kids are long since on their way out of the rod stage of life but now is when the reproof age is really setting in.

Webster's defines reprove as-
: to scold or correct usually gently or with kindly intent

How can one reproof if they aren't there? That's right, they can't.

Also by leaving them at home they are missing out on so many learning opportunities.

Patience and long suffering. Ever grocery shop with five kids? Enough said.

Home economics. Food costs a lot, wise and prudent choices need to be made.

Self restraint. Do you see the junk by the check out?

World wide economics. Gas and food price correlation has been talked about a lately in our running around town.

How to communicate with others. This can be done safely with mom only a step or two away.

The are also learning that the daddy's need to make quite a lot of bacon to support a family. Like it our not it's a fact so boys get ready.

Car rides give you a great chance to communicate with your kids. No interruptions or distractions. They also have to listen, no place for them to wander off to.

They will be grown and out of the house soon enough. Keep them close and near to you it is a wise investment of your time.

Don't worry by the time Benna is 6 or so I'll probably be lax enough to let her stay home alone. Just as long as she keeps her cell phone handy and her biker boyfriend Bo and his buddy's are over to protect her. HA!

OAMC Real Food Style

When most people go to grab dinner out of the freezer is usually consists of something in a box, and most likely is involves cheese and pepperoni along with about 35 other ingredients. Well as of right now there are no boxes in my freezers. Please don't talk to me later after the co-op is delivered as I broke and ordered some deeply discounted fish sticks:-) Hey we can't always do it all.

Well blogger was down over the weekend so here is my OAMC, once a month cooking, marathon I did last Thursday.

First I boiled 10 pounds of red skin potatoes and 4 pounds of sweet potatoes to make mashed potatoes for shepherds pie and dinner that night. I chose red skins so I'd only have to peel a few sweet potatoes, it was going to be a long day no sense making it harder than it needs to be.
The night before this was full of ground beef, 27 pounds to be exact. Good this it was blinging hot because come morning they still had a long way to go before they were thawed.

As the potatoes were cooking I assembled three 8x8 pans of meat/ veggie loaf.

Meatloaf

1.5 lbs ground beef

chopped carrots

shredded zucchini out of my in laws freezer

chopped onion and a few chopped mushrooms

Sugar free ketchup

Seasonings- lots of them

Sorry I never use a recipe. (Meatloaf ingredients)

After the meatloaves made it to the freezer I browned three packages of beef for Shepherds Pie. Again no recipe. Pretty much beef with layers of carrots, onions, canned tomato, broccoli and topped with mashed potatoes.

After those were assembled and in the freezer another batch of meat was cooked and seasoned with taco seasoning, three meals worth.

While the taco meat was cooking yet another pot of beef was cooking. This pot I added onion and a few leftover chopped carrots. These will be used for spaghetti and what not. Three meals again.

And again I made another pot of meat to make three meals of sloppy joes.

Finally I chopped up a package of these chicken sausages from Costco, onion and mushrooms and bagged three meals out of it. These are lunch sized meals.

(Ice bath to cool meat before putting it is freezer bags.)

Here is how I cooled the pots of beef before putting them in freezer bags. I just plopped the whole pan in a ice bath. Please never put warm food in plastic bags unless you like to eat plastic.

The meatloaf and Shepherds Pies were put in glass pans covered with parchment paper then wrapped with foil and plastic wrap.

The final tally-

27 pounds of beef

5 pounds of chopped carrots

14 pounds of potatoes

2 bottles of sugar free ketchup

5 canned of diced tomatoes

lots of onions

1 package of chicken sausages

a few packages of mushrooms
salt and seasoning

= 20 meals -YIPPEE!!

By the way it only took about 5.5 hours with five kids under foot.

This is liked to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

So spring is upon us, aah I adore spring.

Playtime and free time abound. Relaxing days with out the school pressure. What more could a girl want. Freedom to step out side with out ice cold winds chilling you to the bone. Popsicles on the front porch with my favorite group of peoples. Sweet handfuls of dandelions from my loves. Seeing sweet Benna wave excitedly when we are heading out of doors.

Bliss pure bliss.

So what does spring and child training have to do with each other? Tons.

We have a family golf/ pool membership at a local country club. So that being said how does this deal with my kids?

We have decided even though we can all golf there for free if the kids go with out daddy, because this mama don't golf:-) They have to pay. Yes with COLD HARD CASH out of there sweet little piggy banks!

Do you know what the next verse is after the very famous to train up a child?

Proverbs 22
7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Life is not about play. The Bible repeatedly talks about the slothful and idle and the borrower. And not in a good way. If we allow our children to expect leisure over work we have failed them. It is already in our sin nature to want the easy way out but we must fight it and guide them.

The kids also want to take summer classes. Puddin' wants soccer, Lula wants anything with her cousin, and Racky wants to take a Lego Robotics class. Well guess what? They have to pay half.

Racky's class in the most expensive. So he has been working up a storm to pay for it. No more thinking about it when I offer a job. He is on it. Also it is that job or no job. No picking or choosing. If he were working for a real employer he couldn't say I'll pick up sticks but I don't like to pull weeds. Also we pay by the job not the hour. So it is in their best interest to work quickly and see if mom will offer up another job.

What really kills me is the fact that I need to work along side of them and teach them to work. It is so much easier to do something by myself than have 5 kids helping me. So many people send their kids out into the world and let other teach them to work. That's not how it should be it is the parents job.

Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground;

The Zoo

Yesterday our zoo membership expired. Thus one last trip to the zoo. We went to the "far away zoo."

We haven't been there in years so it was new and exciting.

Benna LOVED the animals. She would pull herself close and just stare. I love seeing the world through their eyes.

Own it

Lately the idea of starting a new blog, an anonymous blog, has been bouncing around my head.

Why? So I could shout from the hill tops my opinions with out backlash or repercussion. I could spout off whatever I wanted.

This my friends would not be good. I'm sure my very few reader all know that I am of the very opinionated sort. Pretty much its my way or the wrong way. I know I'm working on this.

Well lately I've had a big hang up with people not owning up to their mistakes. They want people to cover for them or simply pretend its not there. Or even better they want to shift the blame to others. OWN IT FOLKS! Talk about erk me.

Then it dawned on me. An anonymous blog? Surely I wasn't being like them?

Why yes I was. Ugh! I didn't want to own it or stand behind it.

Ouch that hurt.

If I can't put my name on it I shouldn't write it. Even if it was always anonymous and perfectly hidden someday I will still have to own it.

Proverbs 18:7
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Weekend Blessings!

We've been sick! All weekend long and still today we aren't quite up to snuff. No one wants to hear that so here our blessings just from this weekend.

Friday our wonderful SIL watched our five kids plus her three plus her daycare kids while the hubby and I went to a business meet and greet thing at Fredrick Meijer Gardens. Thanks Sharon we owe you big time!!!

While we were there we were drawn for a $25 gift card to Panera. So we after stopping at Chipolte our date night full of wine, cupcakes, and finger foods and butterflies and yummy burritos bowls only cost us $15. Not bad for a nice night out who says dates have to cost a lot of money.

Saturday said sister in law called to let us know that the Walker Bike Trail group was giving out bike helmets at the local fire station. Well two kids "needed" new helmets. Benna and Hubby both received bike helmets free to us.

While standing in line for the helmets a girl gave us 5 free kids meals to Applebee's and 2 free frosty's- only two of the kids like frosty's!!

Sunday morning everyone was well enough to go to church!! A hour later not so good but at least we made it.

Monday we received a phone call that Puddin's name was drawn from the helmet thing and he won some car washes, Ucello's and subway gift cards.

Not 20 minutes later we got yet another call that Lettie had one a free pizza and Lula won a BIKE. Yes it's a boys bike and too big for her we were still quite stoked!

God is good!

Mr Steady

Hey Racky who do you want to be like when you grow up? "ME!" He answers.

Oh to be so comfortable in ones own skin.

This kid is great. He is a kid that is truly fine with someone out running him or being stronger or smart than himself. He doesn't worry about the small stuff or even care.

While he does have a little bit of a short fuse in him he hates injustice. He just can't grasp people being mean just because they can. He's bewildered by the teenager texting on the car next to us, "she might hurt somebody". Dumbfounded by the kid who doesn't listen to his teacher at school. And don't even read him a book on slavery or the like.

Young innocents. I hope he never out grows it.

Purpose to Smile

I was watching 19 kids and counting or maybe is was 16 kids and counting or 17 kids and counting.. what ever you know what I'm talking about. And Michele Dugger said that when her kids where little she would "purpose to smile at them". Even when she was overwhelmed and knee deep in toddlers and she couldn't do anything else she smiled. What a wise woman. That just always stuck with me. A smile reciprocates a smile.

Food.. again

Again with the food!

I found out where our local supermarket gets their pineapples from and went directly to them to buy them for cheaper. Yippee!! $1.90 each and they are the big ones. That turns into this...

9 pineapples= 14 quarts. $1.32 each with lids.

So with that turning out pretty well I went down the street from them with my SIL to see what else we could scrounge up.

5 lbs. mushrooms -split with SIL

35 lbs. potatoes - split with SIL

40-45b lbs. spaghetti squash

6 pineapples - yes more.

5 lbs. mandarins. - these were fabulous!!

$55, yes that takes a huge chunk out of your grocery cash but if it saves me a buck or two I'm game. We have enough bellies to fill and will go through it all that it's worth it.

If you think of it in terms of pounds of food it's a steal. $55 divided by about 90 pounds equals 61 cents a pound for REAL food.

I'm hoping to go back and get more pineapples so that I can hopefully get about 25 quart jars more. I didn't get them all at one time because I couldn't spend all of my money in one spot you know.

Mr. Visionary

My sweet little Puddin' Pie as we so affectionately call him. Now this kids wife is going to have to be quite something to put up with this guy.

He is so the third child, he has no idea what to do by himself. He must have something or someone to entertain himself at all times. He also says strange things for a boy of his age.

"When are we going to move, I'm bored of this house?"

"When can I have a new blue thing for my bed?" aka comforter.

"I'm bored of my bed that way, can we move it?"

Oh my sweet child you look so much like your father but are so different all that the same time. I'll take my Mr. Steady any day. I pray that the Lord is creating a little beauty out there who will be able to deal with you and your grandiose ideas.

Love

I have this little running game with the kidlets. I tell them I love them but don't tell anybody. Then the proceed to say "but mom everybody already knows you love me."

Today the oldest added on that all mothers love their kids. I told him a few don't but yes most do.

Then I got to thinking about it. According to Biblical love most parents DO NOT love their children.

Heb. 12
5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Proverbs 13:24
24He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Hebrews 12:6 (King James Version)
6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

As we can see Biblical parental love is not an emotion, it's an action.

There is a reason why Titus 2 commands the aged women to TEACH the young women to LOVE their children. It just doesn't come naturally to us. They must teach and we must be willing to learn.

Titus 2
3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Do you see that last phrase there,that the the word of God be not blasphemed. This is serious business ladies.

Have you loved your kids lately. I know I have one sweet bundle that could stand to have a little more biblical love applied.

Alright I've had enough rebuking for the day how about you:-)

Emphasis mine.

Gas Prices?!?!

So everyone knows that gas is super expensive right know but how really does it hit home?

Well yesterday was run around town day. I filled up at 9:00 to the tune of $75- ouch!

By 3:45 I had drove 65 miles. I picked up the SIL and went to two Target stores, the "meat" store, the discount bread store, dropped off SIL, home, to school to pick up kids, to the discount food store, the bank, post office, back to school to pay for volleyball camp for Lula then home again jiggidy jog.

Well our 12 year old paid for mini that we love and adore because she is paid for, get 15 miles to the gallon city and 17 miles to the gallon highway. Yes I know that is awful but remember she is paid for and very cheap to insure for so we deal with it.

So my 33 dollars spent isn't the actual cost if I add gas it cost me an additional 13 bucks, so much for being frugal. Do you know how much food I could buy with 13 dollars -ugh?

So for the next week or two I am declaring 3 mandatory stay at home days. Mon., Tues., and Thurs.

So how much are you spending? How much does that quick run the Meijer really cost you, I know it cost me almost a whole gallon of gas to run there. How about those extra activities that the kids are in?

So here's to being "green" and saying no to the extra trips even if they are good deals.

Photo Credit

two worlds collide

You know the world were the bathroom is clean enough to take a picture and the world were I actually take the picture. So here finally are the pics of the bathroom you have all been waiting on pins and needles for:-)

So here is our new floor. It's she beautiful!!!

She used to be half linoleum and half WHITE CARPET!!! Gross!!! Gag!!! Yuck!! Who puts carpet in a bathroom? Definitely not somebody with a handful of kids.

Okay in all honestly this is what is usually looks like, sigh. The house will be clean when they all move out right?

Target Run- Run to Target ASAP

Target is running a pretty sweet frozen food deal this week. Buy ANY 7 frozen food items get a $5 gift card!! Here is what $23 bucks will buy you.

If you take off the fruit snacks our total would be just under 19 dollars.!! 19 dollars for 42 items. That's an average of 45 cents a piece. Or you can just think of it as taking 71 cents off each item. Veggies 99- 71 = 28 cents!!! OJ 1.19-.71= 38 cents!!! Mini ice creams 99-71= 28 cents!! Fruit bars 1.99- 71= 1.38!!! Old orchard juice 99-71= 28 cents.

This week is the week to buy veggies and juice. The kids are begging for more fruit bars because they are so yummy but we'll see.

Our Valentine's Day

Here is a few pictures of our Valentine's Day candle light dinner. Who knew that eating burgers by candle light would make them SO happy. The candles lead to hearts and decorations strung from the ceiling fan. In the back of the kids is the valentine that Lula made for Isaac and I, love her!!!

Little fun fact for you too. Kids are much easier to get out of bed when the pancakes are heart shaped.

I hope you had a happy day with your special loves!

Pics

Here is my attempt to take better pictures of my kids than the gal at Sears. They're not great but better than lasts night family picture disaster!! She's one today!!! Sweet baby girl!