I spoke once before about margins and how they helped us financially. Right after watching that video series I was convicted of how I needed a margin. I was squeezed so tight, and I still am, that I didn't have any margin: emotionally or time-wise. I realized then that something had to change.
Ray has always been a good provider, but that has meant that he has worked 6 days a week most of the time. That in turn has meant that he has done yard work on Sundays, which has meant NO TIME OFF. Our kids looked at Sundays as a work day. They did not look forward to Sundays at all. Church in the morning and then yard work in the afternoon.
As I know, that is not Biblical. Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. But how do you rest when you have a yard to keep up, a house that seems to never get finished being built, and business banking and school reporting obligations to fulfill on Saturday and Sunday?
I decided to formulate a plan. I was not going to write about this until I had seen it in action long enough to report that it was actually working. Time has gone by, and I can safely say: I love it!
Monday to Friday we school. We fluctuate how much we do and when we do it but those are school days. When I have to do the banking the younger ones do what they can and then have a 'Pro-D' day. The older ones can proceed without me. That banking day only happens about once every two-three weeks, so it works perfectly fine. No more Saturday banking. The school observations (that I have to send to the school where we are registered) are done in an afternoon. No more Saturday observations.
The boys are now cooking dinner most days, so I can also find more time to do the banking and observations within my weekdays. Then the big change is Saturday. This is a new day for us. Right now there is nothing Ray can do outside due to the snow, so he continues to work on Saturday. But once the weather breaks he will work at home on Saturdays. But for the rest of us Saturday is a big day and I love it.
I have never had a scheduled cleaning day. I am not into it. Who knows when I am going to feel like going to the beach, shopping, to the library, caught up in a project, or who knows what. Well, then my cleaning day falls away and I feel lousy. I used to clean here and there through the week, but not one complete scrub-down in one day.
BUT, now I have this plan. Saturday we clean the whole house. The girls are (well, Mesai) helpful. They clean their room. The boys clean their room. One big boy cleans the bathrooms thoroughly. Another big boy washes the floors, and I vacuum the floors and carpets.
As well as this, I have been using each Saturday over the last month to purge and clean out. Last Saturday, I was reorganizing bookshelves: putting things back where they go, cleaning out doubles of books, etc. By the time I was done the shelves were tidy, and I had a pile of books for the second hand shop.
As well as cleaning the whole house top to bottom, I am putting together two very simple recipes. One of the recipes is for Saturday night and the other is for Sunday. Saturday is a chicken and rice recipe and Sunday is a stroganoff (or one other alternate). They go in the fridge, until I need to put them in the oven.
And finally, the laundry is running constantly. I am finalizing all laundry that needs to be run through before the end of the week: church clothes, emptying everyone's basket (each child has their own basket to make laundry easier to do). As the loads come through during the course of the day, my laundry committee comes together: Gadisae, Cooper and Mesai. They fold and deliver.
The kids all have their Saturday night baths/showers and make sure they have their clothes ready for Church for Sunday.
We have a quick dinner on paper plates and then we have our Saturday night family movie. The kids love it and it is a reward for work well done by everyone.
On Sunday, the way we go through the day is to do only what is necessary. No laundry. No real cleaning. Vacuuming as necessary. (Sorry, I can't stand a mess, and if I was to ignore the crumbs that eight kids make I would fill a dustpan on Monday morning!)
Get up, I bead the girls hair at the crack of dawn before everyone wakes up, eat breakfast, go to Church, come home and eat lunch, naps for littles, big ones sit around and read books, play games, watch a hockey game, kids wake up, play, eat dinner on paper plates, throw out the dishes *grin*, get kids ready for bed, then Ray and I go to our Couple's Group with three other couples, while the big boys babysit and put the kids to bed.
We have done this for four Sundays now, and it has been liberating!! Absolutely marvellous! There is time to just simply 'be a family' and not 'be doing'.
As time goes by, we will be challenged by the busy building season and Ray feeling the need to work on Saturdays, but hopefully we will be able to remember how rewarding our six day week has been and we will stick to it. My plans include beach days, ski times, zoo trips, day trips.
And God did intend for us to recharge our batteries. Everything has a season. Remember even God took a break on the 7th day. He knew we would need time off to enjoy what He had created and to do what we love to do!
.
.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sort of Schedule
So how does busy look in my house? I don't do well with chaos. I am sure you find that odd, since I have a large family. You have to realize a large family does not have to equate with chaos. You can have two kids and have chaos! I do have boys and *that* equates with chaos, though!
I have always tried to have a somewhat organized morning routine. Somewhat and organized - not all in the same breath. It has come to be time to be 'just plain almost organized'. So this is how my day sort of goes:
Cassidy (12) hits the floor at 6:30 am. He comes downstairs and opens the blinds, has a shower, makes the coffee, goes upstairs to wake the girls, and then comes back downstairs to start the breakfast. It is usually a big vat of good old fashioned hearty oatmeal, or toast and jam. He makes enough toast and jam for the younger five and himself, or the oatmeal for the whole family.
At the same time, Ray or I am knocking on bedroom doors waking the troops: the girls go to the bathroom, Cooper and Austin make their beds and get dressed and then play in their rooms until they are called. Briton is my tag-along. It is my only way to ensure that he is not being Mr. Destructo. He is so busy that it is safer to keep him in my room until my day takes off. I then hustle the big boys, who are *supposed* to have been in and out of the kitchen by 7:00 am. They never make it!
Mesai is the next one on the job. She and her sister make their beds and then she heads downstairs and does the dishwasher unloading, while her sister dresses. After this is done she gets dressed and then by then Cassidy is assembling the younger troops to breakfast. They traipse downstairs and they are so wonderful about sitting quietly in their chairs with their eyes closed waiting for the last little one to arrive. At which point one of them begins to pray for their meal.
While this is happening Colt and Dane are getting ready for school or work, and I am getting my day started. I am working really hard on training my boys, so that they will be amazing husbands. You might think after hearing my list of jobs for the boys that I don't work, but who do you think is training all these skills into the boys? *smile*
Once the kids are down from breakfast, the little ones head upstairs to wash up, brush teeth, and begin their playtime. Austin (9) takes on the kitchen clean-up, while the other kids begin various forms of school. Me? I wander from person to person, job to job - working and training. Meanwhile, I have phonecalls to field - I have begun *not* answering phones. I simply screen calls. I have a select few people that I will respond to simply because I don't have time to sit and chat. Sadly, I have a couple messages on my phone that are *still* waiting for a callback and it has been at least a week! You know who you are and I *will* call you! Looking for a gap!
From here we move into lunch, which I make, usually from leftovers and the troops reassemble, inhale their food and then head for naptime. Cassidy does the lunchtime cleanup, while I put the kids too bed. Thankfully, all four of the younger children lie down or sleep, and the 9 year old reads in his bed for two hours.
At some point of my morning the older child who is cooking dinner has a session with me. Since I have instituted this two week menu things have been so much smoother! They really only need a little guidance from me and I only have to worry about meals 2-3 days a week. I love it! And I have now begun adding more to their plan. We are a family that is well versed in the frozen pea department, but lately, since I am not rushing to get dinner on the table, I am able to teach my Cook of the Day how to do a nice vegetable. Suddenly we are able to eat different veggies that require extra work: broccoli and cheese, fresh carrots, etc. Sounds pathetic, but believe me, in my life it is much easier filling a saucepan with frozen peas than it is 'doing the vegetables'. But hey, that is now another lifeskill my boys are learning.
Our day flies by with school and cleaning up and cooking and before I know it another day has shot by. The kids have dinner, baths, big boys do kitchen cleanup and bathroom cleaning, while little boys tidy up other areas, and little ones get ready for bed.
Our day is now over by 7:30. I used to have kids in bed by 8-9:00 pm. I now have the girls in bed by 6:30pm. Can you imagine?! I used to hear of people with kids in bed at 6 or 6:30 and I thought - why? How? But the girls so need their sleep! They fall asleep at 6:35 pm and sleep til we wake them at 7:00 am!! They also sleep a solid two hours every afternoon.
The little boys follow suit at 7:30 and then the middle ones after that by 8:30. But having big, big ones keeps the house moving until later. I have just instituted the 10:00 pm rule. I have been getting to bed so late - past midnight. It has been ridiculous and it has a lot to do with having older sons. But you know, they are not out on the town, so there is no reason that we have to stay up so late. So now it is 'get up early, head to bed earlyish'.
They don't like it, but I don't like such late nights. So now, when I say, 'lights out' they know I mean it, because they know I can flick the electric breaker if I don't get action. And trust me, with teenage boys, you don't get action. You get plodding.
This is just the frame-work of my day. I can't even begin to list off my day when it comes to the stuff that really eats up my time! It is busy! But I wouldn't have it any other way! I think of people who go to work to get fulfillment, and I think that noone ever showed them the many ways they could be fulfilled at home.
I am a:
beach sitter, tubing mama, road-trip planner and executor, English as a Second Language teacher,interior decorator, tutor of highschool students, teacher of elementary grades, baker, cook, graphic artist, blog designer/writer, sewer, knitter, photographer, memory book maker, hairdresser/hair beader and designer, book writer, reader of many good books, house builder, gardener/landscaper, business bookkeeper and accountant - and the list goes on.
The list is as limited as you want to make it!!! Anything that your heart desires to do can be done at home, while raising your family.
So though I am insanely busy, I am very happy. I just have to learn to create more margins. And that will be my next post.
.
I have always tried to have a somewhat organized morning routine. Somewhat and organized - not all in the same breath. It has come to be time to be 'just plain almost organized'. So this is how my day sort of goes:
Cassidy (12) hits the floor at 6:30 am. He comes downstairs and opens the blinds, has a shower, makes the coffee, goes upstairs to wake the girls, and then comes back downstairs to start the breakfast. It is usually a big vat of good old fashioned hearty oatmeal, or toast and jam. He makes enough toast and jam for the younger five and himself, or the oatmeal for the whole family.
At the same time, Ray or I am knocking on bedroom doors waking the troops: the girls go to the bathroom, Cooper and Austin make their beds and get dressed and then play in their rooms until they are called. Briton is my tag-along. It is my only way to ensure that he is not being Mr. Destructo. He is so busy that it is safer to keep him in my room until my day takes off. I then hustle the big boys, who are *supposed* to have been in and out of the kitchen by 7:00 am. They never make it!
Mesai is the next one on the job. She and her sister make their beds and then she heads downstairs and does the dishwasher unloading, while her sister dresses. After this is done she gets dressed and then by then Cassidy is assembling the younger troops to breakfast. They traipse downstairs and they are so wonderful about sitting quietly in their chairs with their eyes closed waiting for the last little one to arrive. At which point one of them begins to pray for their meal.
While this is happening Colt and Dane are getting ready for school or work, and I am getting my day started. I am working really hard on training my boys, so that they will be amazing husbands. You might think after hearing my list of jobs for the boys that I don't work, but who do you think is training all these skills into the boys? *smile*
Once the kids are down from breakfast, the little ones head upstairs to wash up, brush teeth, and begin their playtime. Austin (9) takes on the kitchen clean-up, while the other kids begin various forms of school. Me? I wander from person to person, job to job - working and training. Meanwhile, I have phonecalls to field - I have begun *not* answering phones. I simply screen calls. I have a select few people that I will respond to simply because I don't have time to sit and chat. Sadly, I have a couple messages on my phone that are *still* waiting for a callback and it has been at least a week! You know who you are and I *will* call you! Looking for a gap!
From here we move into lunch, which I make, usually from leftovers and the troops reassemble, inhale their food and then head for naptime. Cassidy does the lunchtime cleanup, while I put the kids too bed. Thankfully, all four of the younger children lie down or sleep, and the 9 year old reads in his bed for two hours.
At some point of my morning the older child who is cooking dinner has a session with me. Since I have instituted this two week menu things have been so much smoother! They really only need a little guidance from me and I only have to worry about meals 2-3 days a week. I love it! And I have now begun adding more to their plan. We are a family that is well versed in the frozen pea department, but lately, since I am not rushing to get dinner on the table, I am able to teach my Cook of the Day how to do a nice vegetable. Suddenly we are able to eat different veggies that require extra work: broccoli and cheese, fresh carrots, etc. Sounds pathetic, but believe me, in my life it is much easier filling a saucepan with frozen peas than it is 'doing the vegetables'. But hey, that is now another lifeskill my boys are learning.
Our day flies by with school and cleaning up and cooking and before I know it another day has shot by. The kids have dinner, baths, big boys do kitchen cleanup and bathroom cleaning, while little boys tidy up other areas, and little ones get ready for bed.
Our day is now over by 7:30. I used to have kids in bed by 8-9:00 pm. I now have the girls in bed by 6:30pm. Can you imagine?! I used to hear of people with kids in bed at 6 or 6:30 and I thought - why? How? But the girls so need their sleep! They fall asleep at 6:35 pm and sleep til we wake them at 7:00 am!! They also sleep a solid two hours every afternoon.
The little boys follow suit at 7:30 and then the middle ones after that by 8:30. But having big, big ones keeps the house moving until later. I have just instituted the 10:00 pm rule. I have been getting to bed so late - past midnight. It has been ridiculous and it has a lot to do with having older sons. But you know, they are not out on the town, so there is no reason that we have to stay up so late. So now it is 'get up early, head to bed earlyish'.
They don't like it, but I don't like such late nights. So now, when I say, 'lights out' they know I mean it, because they know I can flick the electric breaker if I don't get action. And trust me, with teenage boys, you don't get action. You get plodding.
This is just the frame-work of my day. I can't even begin to list off my day when it comes to the stuff that really eats up my time! It is busy! But I wouldn't have it any other way! I think of people who go to work to get fulfillment, and I think that noone ever showed them the many ways they could be fulfilled at home.
I am a:
beach sitter, tubing mama, road-trip planner and executor, English as a Second Language teacher,interior decorator, tutor of highschool students, teacher of elementary grades, baker, cook, graphic artist, blog designer/writer, sewer, knitter, photographer, memory book maker, hairdresser/hair beader and designer, book writer, reader of many good books, house builder, gardener/landscaper, business bookkeeper and accountant - and the list goes on.
The list is as limited as you want to make it!!! Anything that your heart desires to do can be done at home, while raising your family.
So though I am insanely busy, I am very happy. I just have to learn to create more margins. And that will be my next post.
.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Waiting For Time and Inspiration
It has been very quiet over on my blog hasn't it? Life is so incredibly full!!
People wonder when I find time to blog. Well, I'll let you in on a secret: I haven't blogged in six weeks. I actually sat down and did a ton of blogging over two nights and then scheduled them to post one per day. I was hopeful that after the last one posted I would have had time to start writing again.
Unfortunately it didn't work that way. For me, blogging is a quiet time activity where I *feel* what I write. I like to reimmerse myself in a situation and write it as if I were reliving it. To me, that makes the writing real. I can't write any other way. It is just not me.
Last night, when I was off to bed, at a late, late hour (once again) I began to feel the beginning of the desire to blog again. Sad to say, but unless I have time I lose the desire to write. Once I have time I get excited and the posts just roll out of me. I will only write if I have things to say because I am not into posting for the sake of it. *smile*
Well, as I headed to bed, a few random thoughts crossed my mind. That is how a post begins for me: a situation happens; someone says a funny phrase; an event occurs; life with teenagers, children, or adoption creates something that I just need to share. Then I write. Not before. But that night as I went to bed, I was too tired to write out my tidbits, and guess what? They are all gone. I have no inspiration.
They will come back and I will be back. Soon. Very soon. Probably this week. And when you see the flood of them you will think I was pulling your leg. *grin* But honestly, I am dry right now. I suppose if I keep typing thoughts will flow through my mind and I will be off and chatting, just like in a regular conversation. Then watch out!! *laugh*
In the meantime, I have a few stolen minutes, so I will share busyness. People who know me have no idea what busy is. No offense to them; they just have no clue.
I was busy before. Very busy. I chose when to write or call a friend. But this is different. I remember having a friend with eight children from ages 2-16 when I had four. My life was pleasant, organized, and a bit busy. I rarely saw her. I didn't get. I didn't complain, but I didn't get it.
Then I had six children and I still didn't get it. I was busy. Very busy. As I said, I rarely called friends, or had time to take off with friends - but I also didn't have the desire; I enjoyed being home with my kids and routine.
And then I had eight.
Okay, now life changed.
Did I mention that my friend with eight had children aged: 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16?
Now I get it. Finally my life has matched hers! I have children 4, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 15, 17.
There is absolutely no comparison to my life six months ago. Back then I had no schedule, no routine, I was a fly by the seat of my pants type person. Meals came at any time from 5-7 pm. Bedtime was usually about 8:00-9:00 pm for the younger set. Routine - did I mention I had no routine? Did I tell you how schedule resistant I was? Oh yes, I am the Queen of Schedules - that is the Queen of Making Schedules - NOT enforcing them. I liked to make them. I spent many hours working on the perfect schedule. But I had a problem actually using them. So finally about five years ago, I realized it was rather pointless making these schedules. They would never get used. So I quit. And we continued on just fine.
That is, until we acquired two more children and suddenly I needed routine. Not just for them, but really for me. I would not survive unless I had a plan. A plan of attack. How would I managed so many kids unless I knew what end was up?
And that is when my life changed. I began hooked on routines. And boy have they been liberating.
To be continued...
.
People wonder when I find time to blog. Well, I'll let you in on a secret: I haven't blogged in six weeks. I actually sat down and did a ton of blogging over two nights and then scheduled them to post one per day. I was hopeful that after the last one posted I would have had time to start writing again.
Unfortunately it didn't work that way. For me, blogging is a quiet time activity where I *feel* what I write. I like to reimmerse myself in a situation and write it as if I were reliving it. To me, that makes the writing real. I can't write any other way. It is just not me.
Last night, when I was off to bed, at a late, late hour (once again) I began to feel the beginning of the desire to blog again. Sad to say, but unless I have time I lose the desire to write. Once I have time I get excited and the posts just roll out of me. I will only write if I have things to say because I am not into posting for the sake of it. *smile*
Well, as I headed to bed, a few random thoughts crossed my mind. That is how a post begins for me: a situation happens; someone says a funny phrase; an event occurs; life with teenagers, children, or adoption creates something that I just need to share. Then I write. Not before. But that night as I went to bed, I was too tired to write out my tidbits, and guess what? They are all gone. I have no inspiration.
They will come back and I will be back. Soon. Very soon. Probably this week. And when you see the flood of them you will think I was pulling your leg. *grin* But honestly, I am dry right now. I suppose if I keep typing thoughts will flow through my mind and I will be off and chatting, just like in a regular conversation. Then watch out!! *laugh*
In the meantime, I have a few stolen minutes, so I will share busyness. People who know me have no idea what busy is. No offense to them; they just have no clue.
I was busy before. Very busy. I chose when to write or call a friend. But this is different. I remember having a friend with eight children from ages 2-16 when I had four. My life was pleasant, organized, and a bit busy. I rarely saw her. I didn't get. I didn't complain, but I didn't get it.
Then I had six children and I still didn't get it. I was busy. Very busy. As I said, I rarely called friends, or had time to take off with friends - but I also didn't have the desire; I enjoyed being home with my kids and routine.
And then I had eight.
Okay, now life changed.
Did I mention that my friend with eight had children aged: 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16?
Now I get it. Finally my life has matched hers! I have children 4, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 15, 17.
There is absolutely no comparison to my life six months ago. Back then I had no schedule, no routine, I was a fly by the seat of my pants type person. Meals came at any time from 5-7 pm. Bedtime was usually about 8:00-9:00 pm for the younger set. Routine - did I mention I had no routine? Did I tell you how schedule resistant I was? Oh yes, I am the Queen of Schedules - that is the Queen of Making Schedules - NOT enforcing them. I liked to make them. I spent many hours working on the perfect schedule. But I had a problem actually using them. So finally about five years ago, I realized it was rather pointless making these schedules. They would never get used. So I quit. And we continued on just fine.
That is, until we acquired two more children and suddenly I needed routine. Not just for them, but really for me. I would not survive unless I had a plan. A plan of attack. How would I managed so many kids unless I knew what end was up?
And that is when my life changed. I began hooked on routines. And boy have they been liberating.
To be continued...
.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Cute Little Boys
Ray, Dane and Cassidy were watching the World Junior Hockey Tournament (ages 19 and under) - Russia against Canada. The winner of this game will go to the Gold Game. The other kids were all at the table waiting to begin dinner. I went to the TV room to let Ray, and the boys, know we were ready. As I arrived, the game had 1 minute left in the final period, and Canada was 4, while Russia was at 5. About 10 seconds from the end of the period, the Canadians scored - tieing the game 5-5. The boys were thrilled.
I went back to the dinner table and told the kids what was happening and that we would start without the guys - it was now into overtime and would be a while. Colt prayed over the meal and we began to eat. Cooper then announced he wanted to pray about the game.
He began, "Dear Wohd (Lord), Thank you for Canada score - and not," at this point he paused, not knowing who the other team was.
"Russia," I interjected.
He continued, "Now we're tied and nobody feels bad about wosing (losing). Amen."
I interrupted to say, "We should pray that Canada wins."
Cooper's face screwed up in confusion and he said with concern, "That's wude. (rude)"
In his sweet innocence, he simply felt that noone should win, so that noone felt bad about losing. He had no idea of the importance of this game! *grin*
.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Austin's Dinner From Start to Soup
I have been doing my new plan of teaching the boys to cook for the last three weeks. I am loving it. Cassidy remarked to me yesterday that I have the easy meals. My response? You bet I do! I am teaching them the hard meals, so we have something tasty, and I am riding on the easy meals. If I choose to get fancy, then I can pick a new recipe to try. But in the meantime, I am enjoying knowing what I am cooking - whether it is a prefrozen spaghetti sauce, or an easy make meal!
Today was Austin's day to make Chicken and Rice. He is nine years old, and he found this a very simple recipe with which to begin learning to cook.
Saucy Chicken
1.5 cups ketchup
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup vinegar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1.5 tsp onion powder
1.5 tsp garlic powder
1/3 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Put the chicken breasts in a casserole dish (or two casserole dishes, in our case) and spread sauce over chicken. Cover. Bake in 350* oven for about 1 hour. To check for doneness there should be no pink inside chicken.
Rice
1/4 cup butter
parsley, basil, oregano, pepper, salt
3 cups uncooked white rice
can of chicken stock
Melt the butter in a pan. Add a couple shakes of spices. Add 3 cups of uncooked rice. Lightly brown, while stirring around in butter. Add can of chicken stock. Add 5 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Turn down to Low. Put on lid and let cook for about 20 minutes. (do not open) Fluff with fork when done.
Check out all the "Learning Skills" that happen while training to cook.
Reading and Comprehension Skills
Learning Food Names, While Collecting Materials
Learning to Read Fractions, Use Measuring Cups and Spoons, and Measuring Accurately
Austin read the first ingredient: Ketchup - but did not read that he needed 1.5 cups, so he began pouring the ketchup into the bowl. "How much are you going to use?" I asked him. LOL.
Mixing His Ingredients
Goofy Austin - Look Mum! Frozen Chicken!
Science: Learning About Salmonella Poisoning
Pouring the Sauce On: Ratios
Learning How to Operate the Oven Controls Safely
Making Rice: Learning and Identifying Different Spices
The Finished Product
Austin did a wonderful job and the meal was delicous!
This was the specially cooked extra chicken breast and leftover rice. This ziploc bag will be put in the freezer, until I am ready to make a new soup. The last time I made a soup with one chicken breast, it fed us for three lunch times, and I was feeding eight children and myself! How do I make one chicken breast last so long?
I add ten chopped up carrots, six chopped large potatoes, 3 stalks of celery, 1/2 cup or more of barley, 3-4 cups of mixed beans (see below), any other leftover veggie bags from the freezer (up to about 3 cups), 2-3 cans of tomato soup, 3-5 cups of water (depending on how thick you want it - or how long you want it to last).
I spice this up as I see fit. I taste it and then throw in pepper, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and sea salt. I adjust it to my taste.
Depending on the sauce you had the meat or chicken or meatballs in will dictate the overall flavour of your soup!
The second day the soup is lessened, so I add more water and another couple cans of tomato soup, and usually some more freezer food - more rice or something else ready and simple to thicken it with. This usually keeps the soup going for two or three days - and my kids eat plenty!
I manage to go from soup to soup in the winter:
meatball leftovers - meatballs soup;
meatless chili - bean, veggie soup;
chicken and rice - chicken and potato soup;
roast - beef barley soup.
.
Today was Austin's day to make Chicken and Rice. He is nine years old, and he found this a very simple recipe with which to begin learning to cook.
Saucy Chicken
1.5 cups ketchup
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup vinegar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1.5 tsp onion powder
1.5 tsp garlic powder
1/3 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Put the chicken breasts in a casserole dish (or two casserole dishes, in our case) and spread sauce over chicken. Cover. Bake in 350* oven for about 1 hour. To check for doneness there should be no pink inside chicken.
Rice
1/4 cup butter
parsley, basil, oregano, pepper, salt
3 cups uncooked white rice
can of chicken stock
Melt the butter in a pan. Add a couple shakes of spices. Add 3 cups of uncooked rice. Lightly brown, while stirring around in butter. Add can of chicken stock. Add 5 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Turn down to Low. Put on lid and let cook for about 20 minutes. (do not open) Fluff with fork when done.
Check out all the "Learning Skills" that happen while training to cook.
Reading and Comprehension Skills
Learning Food Names, While Collecting Materials
Learning to Read Fractions, Use Measuring Cups and Spoons, and Measuring AccuratelyAustin read the first ingredient: Ketchup - but did not read that he needed 1.5 cups, so he began pouring the ketchup into the bowl. "How much are you going to use?" I asked him. LOL.
Mixing His Ingredients
Goofy Austin - Look Mum! Frozen Chicken!Science: Learning About Salmonella Poisoning
Pouring the Sauce On: Ratios
Learning How to Operate the Oven Controls Safely
Making Rice: Learning and Identifying Different Spices
The Finished ProductAustin did a wonderful job and the meal was delicous!
This was the specially cooked extra chicken breast and leftover rice. This ziploc bag will be put in the freezer, until I am ready to make a new soup. The last time I made a soup with one chicken breast, it fed us for three lunch times, and I was feeding eight children and myself! How do I make one chicken breast last so long?
I add ten chopped up carrots, six chopped large potatoes, 3 stalks of celery, 1/2 cup or more of barley, 3-4 cups of mixed beans (see below), any other leftover veggie bags from the freezer (up to about 3 cups), 2-3 cans of tomato soup, 3-5 cups of water (depending on how thick you want it - or how long you want it to last).
I spice this up as I see fit. I taste it and then throw in pepper, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and sea salt. I adjust it to my taste.
Depending on the sauce you had the meat or chicken or meatballs in will dictate the overall flavour of your soup!
The second day the soup is lessened, so I add more water and another couple cans of tomato soup, and usually some more freezer food - more rice or something else ready and simple to thicken it with. This usually keeps the soup going for two or three days - and my kids eat plenty!
I manage to go from soup to soup in the winter:
meatball leftovers - meatballs soup;
meatless chili - bean, veggie soup;
chicken and rice - chicken and potato soup;
roast - beef barley soup.
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Sunday, January 4, 2009
Happy New Years!
We contemplated what we would do for New Years this year. We could take the kids tubing at the hill again, or we could rent a stack of movies, buy some treats, pop, and pop some popcorn. The kids chose the relaxing New Years.
The whole crowd enjoyed watching Fly Me To The Moon - a cute 3D movie about 3 flies that go to the moon.
Then they went to bed and the middle kids: Austin and Cassidy, stayed up for the next movie, and they were sent off to bed, and the older boys, Ray, and I stayed up til 1:00 am watching the last movie. It was relaxing, but really nice to just veg out and watch some movies after a very hectic year!
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The whole crowd enjoyed watching Fly Me To The Moon - a cute 3D movie about 3 flies that go to the moon.
Then they went to bed and the middle kids: Austin and Cassidy, stayed up for the next movie, and they were sent off to bed, and the older boys, Ray, and I stayed up til 1:00 am watching the last movie. It was relaxing, but really nice to just veg out and watch some movies after a very hectic year!
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Saturday, January 3, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Little Boys!
Briton came in the kitchen with a balloon under his shirt. Ray saw him and said, "Ho, Ho," which is Briton's name for Santa Claus.
Briton's response? "NO, boobs."
Sorry, people, little boys are only little for so long and we all died laughing.
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Briton's response? "NO, boobs."
Sorry, people, little boys are only little for so long and we all died laughing.
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Buying on Credit Cards and Points
Hi Linda,
Actually, our boys will be taught HOW to use a credit card. That is certainly something that must be taught correctly, you are right! The reason for us moving from credit to cash is because I think we are spending more than we should be. It is so easy when using credit or debit to spend more than you are actually aware of.
I used to use the envelope system. I would put a certain amount in each envelope for different catagories: car insurance, groceries, spending R, spending J, clothing, Christmas etc. I found when I did this system that our money always went way further than it did without the method. It made me really think about all those 'incidental miscellaneous' purchaes - that add up to another few hundred dollars a month!
We have even bought things on time, so that we could have them now, but put aside the money each month, so that when the item came due we would have the money. We actually paid for it the month or so before it was due to be totally safe. This can only be done if you know you have available cash to pay this extra money to a purchase. But it made it possible for us to buy things that came on a good deal when we didn't have the immediate cash. We became our own savings account.
As to the points: yes! I totally agree. I am the Queen of Points *grin*. I am known in Safeway. I go in there when they have things I want to buy, and I buy a ton of it. Even if it is enough for a year. Once I bought enough soap to keep us going for over a year! But I never buy anything I don't actually need. What I find is that the points for Airmiles only add up very slowly: 1 point per $10 - $20 spent. But when I find the Safeway flyer, they always have deals like buy 3 cans of Hunts Thick and Rich for $4 and get 50 airmiles for every 6 cans bought!
Wow, when those deals happen, which is about once a month, I get up to 900 airmiles on a shopping trip! It is really very funny where I live. They often will not have enough of what I want - I suppose it is not everyday that someone comes in and wants 60 or 120 cans of Hunts Thick and Rich - but *I* do!! That is 500 or 1000 airmiles in ONE shopping trip! And I use about 20 cans a month! Well worth it. So now, Safeway has a system for ME! Isn't that hilarious! I am probably the only person in our small town that goes in with three shopping carts and comes out with only three different brands of things - but yet has the shopping carts overflowing. *smile*
Now, they give me a special rain cheque - they don't give these out, but they realized the amount of money that stood to lose if they didn't let me have the rest of my shopping list when they brought more stock in *grin*.
So those purchases I certainly buy on credit card. The regular groceries are only about 100 airmiles a month. But my husband has a construction company, so through him I am able to save a fortune in airmiles.
I have been to Disneyland with four children 2 years ago, plus flown to Tennessee to see my good friend, twice, and then our last road trip was financed in part by the airmiles.
Right now, I am halfway to a trip for ten to the Dominican Republic!!! That is my holiday goal! Airmiles will pay our way there, and I am squirrelling away a little bit each month towards our family having a two week holiday. That will be our first real family holiday. I have taken portions of the kids on the road before, but we have never as a group of 8 or now 10, gone away for a lay back and relax holiday. So before our biggest son leaves home, it is our goal to take our children to the sun for a wonderful holiday. The boys can parasail, scuba dive, surf and deep sea fish, and the little ones can play in the sand and water.
Ray and I went to the Blue Lagoon in Fiji for our honeymoon. That was back in the days of prosperity: before kids and mortgages. But we also used credit cards! Now this holiday will be a cash holiday. Not one we are paying off for the following year. We have learned alot over the years!
.
Actually, our boys will be taught HOW to use a credit card. That is certainly something that must be taught correctly, you are right! The reason for us moving from credit to cash is because I think we are spending more than we should be. It is so easy when using credit or debit to spend more than you are actually aware of.
I used to use the envelope system. I would put a certain amount in each envelope for different catagories: car insurance, groceries, spending R, spending J, clothing, Christmas etc. I found when I did this system that our money always went way further than it did without the method. It made me really think about all those 'incidental miscellaneous' purchaes - that add up to another few hundred dollars a month!
We have even bought things on time, so that we could have them now, but put aside the money each month, so that when the item came due we would have the money. We actually paid for it the month or so before it was due to be totally safe. This can only be done if you know you have available cash to pay this extra money to a purchase. But it made it possible for us to buy things that came on a good deal when we didn't have the immediate cash. We became our own savings account.
As to the points: yes! I totally agree. I am the Queen of Points *grin*. I am known in Safeway. I go in there when they have things I want to buy, and I buy a ton of it. Even if it is enough for a year. Once I bought enough soap to keep us going for over a year! But I never buy anything I don't actually need. What I find is that the points for Airmiles only add up very slowly: 1 point per $10 - $20 spent. But when I find the Safeway flyer, they always have deals like buy 3 cans of Hunts Thick and Rich for $4 and get 50 airmiles for every 6 cans bought!
Wow, when those deals happen, which is about once a month, I get up to 900 airmiles on a shopping trip! It is really very funny where I live. They often will not have enough of what I want - I suppose it is not everyday that someone comes in and wants 60 or 120 cans of Hunts Thick and Rich - but *I* do!! That is 500 or 1000 airmiles in ONE shopping trip! And I use about 20 cans a month! Well worth it. So now, Safeway has a system for ME! Isn't that hilarious! I am probably the only person in our small town that goes in with three shopping carts and comes out with only three different brands of things - but yet has the shopping carts overflowing. *smile*
Now, they give me a special rain cheque - they don't give these out, but they realized the amount of money that stood to lose if they didn't let me have the rest of my shopping list when they brought more stock in *grin*.
So those purchases I certainly buy on credit card. The regular groceries are only about 100 airmiles a month. But my husband has a construction company, so through him I am able to save a fortune in airmiles.
I have been to Disneyland with four children 2 years ago, plus flown to Tennessee to see my good friend, twice, and then our last road trip was financed in part by the airmiles.
Right now, I am halfway to a trip for ten to the Dominican Republic!!! That is my holiday goal! Airmiles will pay our way there, and I am squirrelling away a little bit each month towards our family having a two week holiday. That will be our first real family holiday. I have taken portions of the kids on the road before, but we have never as a group of 8 or now 10, gone away for a lay back and relax holiday. So before our biggest son leaves home, it is our goal to take our children to the sun for a wonderful holiday. The boys can parasail, scuba dive, surf and deep sea fish, and the little ones can play in the sand and water.
Ray and I went to the Blue Lagoon in Fiji for our honeymoon. That was back in the days of prosperity: before kids and mortgages. But we also used credit cards! Now this holiday will be a cash holiday. Not one we are paying off for the following year. We have learned alot over the years!
.
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