The oldest kids plan and cook

From the time my kids were able to help pour things in a bowl with ease, I have had them helping me in the kitchen. I always thought it was important to teach them to cook. I never made a meal once until I got married! By the grace of God, I have learned to cook and bake and enjoy it very much. But occasionaly it is a blessing to not have to worry about a meal. So...part of our home education is once a week, the oldest 3 must plan a meal. That includes a budget that I set, ingredients, perparation and the dreaded clean up! (Which is nothing new, because they have meal clean-up every night anyway!) Last night my oldest son and oldest daughter decided to chip in together and make a meal with dessert.

On the menu:

Grilled pork chops marinated in sesame terriyaki sauce
Hot dogs on the grill and brat burgers
Homemade french fries
Corn casserole
Grapes

And for dessert...
Fruit Pizza (our family's favorite!)


Won't he make a good husband someday?!

 

A wife and mother in the making!

 

Grilled chops anyone?

 

The table is set!

 

I highly recommend doing this with your children! It is a great feeling of accomplishment for them and it encourages them independence once on their own. I also teach our younger children to thank them excitedly which just adds an added blessing to everyone!!

Where arrreeee you...

I lost my 18 month old for awhile...we called his name...nothing...called his name again...nothing...and then the door slowly opens...and...

 

...there he was...

 

...oh, if only he were not so stinkin' cute! It makes being a responsible, consistent, parent reeeaaalllyyyy hard! :)

 

Foto Friday

Before the heat wave comes, we decided to have a picnic and some fun at the park! Enjoy your weekend, blog friends!

In Memory...

Today I have a favor to ask! In memory of Savannah, today would you take a few minutes to pray for those of you who know people who have lost children.

The parents of Savannah, dear close friends of mine, are remembering 2 years ago today when she went home to be with Jesus. I have never had to go through this kind of pain and NEVER want too. I have watched the pain it causes and seen the sorrow and brokenness it causes.

I cannot imagine walking in the door of the home that she once walked through but will never walk through again

Passing the bedroom she once slept in but will never again lay her head on HER pillow

Going to the store that she always went to with YOU and never being able to buy her that outfit she couldn't keep her eyes off of

Seeing her favorite color but not being able to watch her smile in delight,
Christmas without buying her a gift

When her birthday comes and you remember the first time you held her in YOUR arms knowing now that although now she is in Jesus arms YOU will never hold her again in yours

Seeing somebody that would be her age and wondering what SHE would be doing

And I will never comprehend the pain going to that grave sight and seeing my child's name on the stone and knowing I will never again see her this side of heaven!

When you lose a spouse, you are a widow or widower,
When you lose your parents, you are an orphan,
There is no name for it when you lose a child!


Today, Willie and Roland, I think of you and want you to know I am lifting you up in prayer into Jesus loving arms, and know that He is holding Savannah also!

To my dad- I know when my sister, Gail died, you too felt all these things. You were so strong for mom, my brother and I as you walked through the deepest pain of your life! Thank you for holding US up when YOU needed to be held! You were so selfless! Thank you for showing us to look to Jesus and reminding us that this life is just a vapor in the wind and we have a greater hope that soon, we will see her again! I love you!

Savannah's mom has started a blog in memory of her, check it out here www.savannahshope.blogspot.com

One-handed

One of the arts of motherhood is how to do things with baby in tow!

Things I can do one-handed while holding a baby:

1. Paint my toenails and my fingernails
2. go the bathroom
3. cook an entire meal
4. get dressed
5. play bowling on the WII
6. my make-up
7. vacuum
8. type (not real speedy)
9. write thank-you notes
10.change the next to oldest diaper
11.eat (have dropped my share of food on the poor sweet things head!)
12.fold laundry
13.sort laundry
14.drive (just kidding) Did I get your attention?!
15.sleep ( I know, you can suffocate them! So far I have taken naps with all 11 and we have never had a problem! :)
17.dust
18.grocery shop
19.eat ice cream
20.make cookies

Time goes too fast!
I must hold this little one while I can.
So for now, things may be messier,
And it would be easier to do these things with 2 hands,
But all too soon this scrumptious baby will be all to big to carry in my arms
So I will continue to work while I can,
With my baby in my arms!

 

Let me know of some things you have learned to do one-handed!

Foto Friday

Big sister being attacked by her brothers! Have a great weekend blog-friends!

 

You know when....

You know there is a new baby in the house...

 

...when suddenly you feel your hearing has gotten dramatically better and everything seems to have gone up 85 decibels.
... "ssssshhhhhh" is being said at least once every two minutes while the baby is awake and every 30 seconds while baby is napping
...your laundry has increased by 2-3 loads a day and that is burp clothes alone!
...you wait an extra hour to go somewhere because feeding time is just around the corner!
...the hour you wait for to feed the baby, changes because the baby is so sound asleep that you would not dare wake baby up, so the hour you were waiting turns into 2 hours
...You sometimes have to just erase all your plans to go somewhere because you realize it is just easier to stay home
...You watch your local weather 3 times a day to make sure you have the baby dressed properly and that baby does not get to cold or hot
...You could GIVE your local forecast for the next 7 days
...You have taken up a second language that can discern every cry you hear in Wal-mart
...Your living room has more furniture for people under 25 pounds than it does for adults
...you look in the mirror for the first time in days and you realize that the nights of missed zzzzz's are taking a toll but for the first time you really do not care!
...everyone in the entire house runs to see the first smile and it makes EVERYONE talk in high pitched voices just to see baby smile again
...when you realize that nothing in life really matters but the little miracle you are holding in your arms
...for the first time you realize that this is what life is all about!

They used MY writing-check it out!

Today, this wonderful blog used one of my writings for their guest contributer. Please check it out! This is a beautiful blog for those of us who are trying to be the Godly woman Christ desires of us. Just click on the box above!