One year later

I realized today that it had been a little over a year since I had made my breakfast vow, which was my commitment to wake up earlier in the morning to prepare breakfast for my family and convinience breakfast items. We had decided that bagged cereal and other processed breakfast foods were 1) too expensive and 2) too full of sugar (or more likely HFCS).

So, how has it been? Not bad at all! On mornings where I wake up a little later than usual I have my quick staples:
~oatmeal
~toast
~smoothies

And on mornings where I have a little extra time....and energy....I have other things I fix:
~pancakes
~scrambled eggs
~waffles

One thing that has been very helpful over this past year is to fix some things ahead of time. I have a baked oatmeal recipe that we all love that can be made the day before and warmed up in the morning. It has also been really helpful to make baked goods in bulk. Usually if I bake something (muffins, quick breads, even pancakes and waffles) I double the batch and freeze the rest. This has been WONDERFUL for mornings that I've been sick or have been up all night with someone who is sick.

Over the past year I have only bought ceral twice. Once, when I had just had Kate and was recovering from my surgery and the second time when our house was overrun with the flu (me included!), which was just this past week. I knew I was doing pretty well with my commitment when Bradley had no idea what the cereal was and kept calling it oatmeal. :)

Is anyone else out there trying to stay away from processed breakfast foods? What are some things that you regularly serve at your house?

Thanks for checking in! We have been busy busy busy around here!

Wish you and yours many blessings!
~A

Good Day?

John sent me this in an email and said he thought of me when he read it. (click on the image to see it bigger) As soon as I saw it, I burst out laughing! Take away the chair, whip, and TV and add one more child and definitely more laundry and you've got John's coming home scene on an average day. :) (Even down to the wet spot on the couch...gotta love potty training!) Can any other mothers relate??

But, I know there will come a day when the children are grown up and I will look back on these days and realize these are the best days of my life. Thank you God, for my wonderful husband, 4 amazing children, and this opportunity to stay at home. I love my job!

According to my 5 year old....

...this is very blog-worthy!

Normally, I don't blog about this kind of thing but when your 5 year old says "Oh, Mama! You should put this on your blog." Well, you just gotta take her advice, right?

John and I have been trying to get our family system a little more organized. You know, family rules, schedules for our days, blah blah blah. One of the things we decided on was making a tangible, physical way for our children to see what chores they have left. In our house when a child turns 4 years old they are old enough to be assigned daily chores. So, that means Lilly and Luke are our little work horses...er....helpers. :)

The idea is pretty simple really. Use whatever theme you want- soccer balls going into a goal, food going from a plate to a mouth, etc. I chose money and piggy banks. You have a slip of paper with the chores on it:

Aren't my pennies so life like?? Hey, I majored in psychology not art...bare with me. You keep them in some little pocket contraption depending on your theme:

And then in the morning or during the day the child can pull out a piece of paper and read what chores they have yet to do. Once they are done they move that piece of paper over to the other pocket contraption:

We decided that for every night they completed all of their chores they would get a sticker on their chart and after an alloted time if they had so many stickers they would get a treat of some kind.

Like I said, it's a very simple concept but I'm hoping it will save me from going horse every morning from saying "Lilly? Did you get ______ done??" or "Luke, you still haven't _______"

Because, let's face it, I homeschool. I hear myself talk enough. :)

Blessings!

~A

Blessing #2

When you hear a fearful racket
Like a miniature cyclone
With some sounds so strange that surely
Their like was never known
While a Mother listens calmly
Even with a smiling face
You may know it's nothing serious
There are boys about our place.

When there's famine in the cupboard
And the milk pail soon runs dry
And we can't keep bread or cookies
No matter how we try
When we vainly seek for apples
That have gone and left no trace
Hard times is not the trouble-
There are boys about the place.

When there's sawdust on the carpet
And some shaving on the beds
When the rugs are tossed in corners
And some chairs stand on their heads.
While, if a tool we're needing, we
All around the house must race,
We can know they're making something
Those boys about the place.

When the house is full of sunshine
On the darkest kind of day,
And we have to smile at seeing
Some creative, boyish play,
And when eyes so bright and loving
Oft are raised to meet my face,
My heart pleads softly "O, God bless him
Bless those boys about the place."

-author unknown

Today we are celebrating our little Luke's 4th birthday. He adds so much to this family, I simply cannot imagine it without him. We love, adore, and cherish him so much. I can truly say I feel so thankful and privileged to be his mother.
Happy Birthday, Luke! We love you SOOOO much!

~A

Family Favorite

The other night I was taking inventory in my kitchen trying to decide what to make for dinner. I realized we had all the ingredients to make one of our favorite meals called Taco Rice. I had completely forgotten about it for a while. Everyone was very exicted to see it on the table that night! Sorry, I don't have a picture of it...

Taco Rice

1 lb. ground turkey (cooked and seasoned with taco seasoning)
3 c. rice (cooked)
1 jar salsa
I container sour cream (16 oz...maybe??)
2 c. shredded cheddar (maybe 3 cups....)
biscuit dough recipe (follows)

Mix turkey, rice and salsa and spread in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle cheddar over the top and then spread sour cream on top of that. Spread biscuit dough over it all and then bake at 450* for 20 minutes.

Biscuit recipe

2 c. flour ( I use whole wheat but feel free to use all purpose)
3 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 c. milk

Mix dry ingredients. Add oil and cut in until it is course crumbs and then add milk. If you want to bake it into biscuits then back at 450* for 20 minutes.


Very yummy!

Thanks for reading!
~A

The many faces

Silly

Surprised

Mad

Grumpy

Happy

I love these guys.

NO MEN ALLOWED!!

Today's post is strictly for the ladies. So, to the two men that read this (Hi Dad and John!), please step away from the computer before I die of embarrassment.

I have been wanting to write a post about this ever since I read it. I've been a teensy bit busy lately (ha!) and it slipped my mind. But just the other day I remembered and had to post on it! The IT I'm referring to is our lovely little monthly friend. Periods. Those of you who know me well know I don't usually discuss these kind of things. I embarrass WAY too easily over this stuff. So, I'm taking the easy way out! I'm sending you over to Laura's blog to read THIS post.

Go ahead. I'll wait.......



Crazy, huh?? The thing that freaked me out even more than the post was the comments section. Woman after woman said " So that's what's been going on!" or "That same thing happened to me!" Yikes. Was anyone else aware of this? I've been in the baby making business for the past 6 years or so. My "friend" and I parted ways for a while but we are about to reconnect here shortly. But, boy, have things changed! I have a few ideas about some healthier alternatives, which were discussed over at Laura's blog. (Again, taking the easy way out!)

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

~A