Update on the meals

Food here is sort of a big thing. I have found when I neglect this part of my mothering, I end up with crabby kids.

My most recent discovery is packing washed and cut romaine lettuce in wide mouth canning jars and vacuum packing them. It is very easy to do with my Foodsaver vacuum packer. I started doing this about 3 weeks ago. The amount of salad the family is consuming has tripled. We now regularly go through 5 large heads of romaine lettuce. I buy the romaine at a wholesale vegetable store, look for white bottoms of the head of lettuce (indicating freshness), bring it home and pack it up. The whole family helps out with different stations/jobs. One washes, I cut, one scoops into the salad spinner and dries, the lettuce goes into a big bowl and is then packed into jars, then vacuum packed and into the frig. The lettuce lasts 10-14 days this way.

It has been wonderful for meal prep. Absolutely wonderful! I grab a couple jars and some toppings and we have a fresh salad on the table.

I have also been making homemade dressings. They taste so much better than the store bought. I have been making salad dressing for a while but we had glop problems because I was making them in canning jars. #4 and #5 regularly had "ranch floods" on their plates. I found at Gordon's Food Service squeeze bottles. The opening of the bottles were wide mouth so it is easy to pour dressing after it has been made.

DH thinks a salad isn't a salad without croutons. I learned how to make croutons. I now have a use for all those bread crusts and ends that the kids won't eat. After I make a batch, normally an entire loaf of bread worth, I also vacuum pack them in mason jars. With the whole family eating croutons the jars are regularly empty! I know I hit upon a good way to make them when the 16 year old said at lunch yesterday, "These are the best croutons Mom."

Salad-in-a-jar.com has other great ideas.

Oh.my.goodness!

I emerge from the shower to find both girls snuggled up with dad in our bed. Since we have had a few puddles around here lately, I asked them to go to the bathroom. They resisted. It is cold this morning and the bed is warm. So, I shoo-ed them out of bed. This is the comment I hear:

#6 to #5

"OK, OK! (rolling eyes and rubber chicken body), let's go squeeze de lemon."


never a dull moment around here

Overheard from the Basement Bathroom

DH opens the door to the basement bathroom. #6 had gone in about 5 minutes earlier.

DH: What are you doing using a magic eraser on your bottom!!???
#6 smiles
DH: Who made this puddle on the floor?
#6 smiles

Sometimes husbands ask the silliest questions.

Sitting at the dining table with #1 and #2

#1: No!! You can't touch this!
#2: You are NOT M.C. Hammer.
#1: Gasps
#2: and if you are M.C. Hammer, I am Chuck Norris. And I CAN touch you.

mother is laughing and almost needs the Heimlich maneuver.

Giggle for the Day

Mom! Dis is how I wite cuwsive...

See?! I swibble cuwsive!!

Thank you #6!

(I would have posted a picture but she used yellow dry erase marker on her white board. It didn't show up.)

School is on the move today

We are heading to a library for school today. #1 and #2 are meeting a math tutor (DH is so busy with work he can't do math lessons with them anymore.). That means 4 other kids and a mom are schooling in the library.

The little girls are packing everything in sight. No joke. "Mom? CAn I read OUR books at the wiebwawy?" #5 just started to panic. "MOM! Are we going to pack the piano??? Cause I haf to do piano fowa school." I just calmed her down and told her to go practice her piano now.

deep breaths, deep breaths

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

“People often say to me that motivation doesn’t last. Well neither does bathing…that’s why we recommend it daily. In a perfect world, we hear something once, we record it in our brain and never need to hear it again. Well, I don’t know where you’re living, but my world is far from perfect. I occasionally have doubts, fears, and disappointments in my life. During those times I need “shots of inspiration” to reinforce, to encourage, and to motivate.”

Zig Ziglar

The Bike Adventure a.k.a. disciplining different kids calls for different methods

#1 and #2 are biking to seminary in the morning. If it is not raining or rained the night before. They have headlights, tail lights, bright orange vests with reflector tape and a cell phone.

Seminary starts at 6:25 am. The ride is 4.6 miles long and takes about 20-25 minutes depending on potholes. They left a little late this morning. #2 is the keeper of the phone. We got a pay by the minute phone for them to use so they can check in when they get to the church. One ring and hang up then mom knows you are safe.

This morning the ring didn't stop.

I jump out of bed, get the phone and talk with #2. "I am here fine but the last time I saw #1 he was at the end of the driveway." #2 hates to be late and #1 was not going as fast as #2 wanted him to go. The last time #2 saw #1 was at the HOUSE end of the driveway. He took off and didn't stay with his brother.

I get dressed and start the Suburban and start the drive. Praying the whole time. Alternating prayer with, "that stupid kid. Why didn't he just wait?" I get the church and see two bikes parked. whew

The phone rings about a half hour later. #1's chain won't stay on. Please come get us. I pick up #1. Tell #2 to ride home. #1 relates to me how he broke down halfway to the church but he didn't have a phone because his brother took off and he was 25 minutes late getting to class. Oh, and what is for breakfast? (you know that important boy stuff, "I am safe, feed me.")

If I was to have this conversation with #1 it would involve blocking out an hour of time. He would get defensive, we would have to go around and around with him ending up growling at me and doing extra chores and push-ups.

Instead I had this conversation with #2:
"You guys are like missionary companions. You stick together. If one of you had been hit by a car at a high speed there is a strong possibility you would not be able to dial a phone. Therefore you must stick together. Keep each other safe."
"OK mom. I will stay with him from now on."

I let it sink in for a half hour. He is sitting next to me at the breakfast table. I look over at him and ask, "Do I need to go over this conversation again with you?"
"Nope. I got it."

wow, what different kids these two are.