Family Fun Weekend

It is great to have daddy home!

1. Worked out at the YMCA. Chris gave me his head phones so running is more entertaining now with TVs on each machine. Chris uses the elliptical. I did some weights too.

2. Stopped at the bank. Ran to Uhaul to get some things from storage for the upcoming holidays and luggage to pack for our trip this week.

3. "The adventures of Mr Toad," as put on by the High School students at the library for free. It was about an hour and both boys sat very well, we weren't sure how that would work out, but I think we all enjoyed it.

4. A picnic, Caleb's idea!

5. Nap time soon, Chris is so tired from the trip, so I am sure he is looking forward to it

6. Date night after the kids go to bed! Fun times.

How was your weekend? I am also speaking in church tomorrow on Temperance from Elder Watson's GC address. Oh and we have home teachers coming, it has been since BYU when we had a regular HT, so it is a nice change.

We've Survived

Yes, we have survived Chris first business trip (well he won't be home until 9:30 tonight)! He went to Cleavland. The man he traveled with who lives in VA had a flight at 2pm ET so Chris sat in the Cleveland airport today for about 5 hours. I bet he was bored.

The boys and I went swimming today after preschool.

Yesterday we went to the park.

We like having places to go, it makes us all feel better!

Tonight I am seriously considering putting them to bed at 6:30. I haven't had nap time for Caleb this week on the days he has school because by the time they get up it is too dark (it gets dark around 4:30) to go out and play. I just felt like we didn't see each other much. Plus Josh struggles to stay up until 2:15 for a nap and then he cat naps for a minute in the car and thinks that is all he needs, so I end up with him screaming all afternoon.

BUT, Caleb needs a nap! He is so cranky and Moody without one, I have noticed. I have about had it! I've resulted to the TV, a Barney episode on demand.

Child Labor/ AKA Preparation For Adulthood

As parents one of the major roles is to prepare our kids to be responsible, well adjusted adults.

To aide in this process, I may expect child labor.

This is what Caleb did today to help with the household.

-Got up with his brother and got him a drink and played with him before I got up (these kids get up too early and going to bed later doesn't help the situation, but promptly by 6:15 they are rearing to go, every day!)

- Removed breakfast dishes from the table

- Got himself dressed, brushed his teeth, made his bed

- Put away his laundry

-Set the table for dinner

-Put dinner dishes in the sink (Josh did his own)

-dried his brother off after bath

-cleaned up the playroom

I am sure there were other things, but these are the highlights. In an attempted to teach him about money, he has a sticker chore chart for some things (getting dressed, making his bed, cleaning up toys, etc) and he gets 5 cents for each sticker at the end of the week. It is usually about a $1 a week. I need to be better about keeping tract and I think he is old enough to start learning about tithing, so something else I want to tackle.

What do your kids do to earn their keep?

Funny Things Kids Say

So on the way home this evening Caleb said, "when I get a car I want one just like this one."

I said," cars are expensive so you will have to work hard to earn money and buy a car."

He said, "I will cook lots of food."

I said, "oh you are going to be a chief, I thought you wanted to do construction."

He said, "no I will just cook lots of food."

I said, "Oh, who are you going to cook for?"

He said, "My kids, of course."

I responded, "oh you think I make lots of money to cook for you?"

Caleb said, "yes."

I said, "mommy doesn't get paid a dime to cook for you, I do it because I love you."

"Well you should get paid, maybe I can share my chore money with you."

"That's okay you can save you money, but that is nice."

"Okay I will save my money and buy a car."

"Well you will be saving for a long time."

"Well I can't drive until I am 16 anyway."

LOL. Too cute!

I Know It's Not Menu Monday, But This Is My Blog...

I tried two more recipes this week and both were a big hit with my hubby. I also had a request from a friend on FB for one of them, so I thought I would share both.

1. Red Beans and Pasta
3 15oz cans chicken or veg broth
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 TBLS chili powder
1 garlic clove, minced
8oz spiral pasta
half a large green pepper, diced
half a large red pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
15 oz can red beans, rinsed and drained
chopped fresh parsley or cilantro


This is what the book said to do...
1. Combine broth, cumin, chili powder, and garlic in slow cooked.
2. Cover. Cook on high until mixture comes to boil.
3. Add pasta, veggies and beans. Stir together well.
4. Cook. Cover on love 3-4 hours.
5. Add parsley or cilantro before serving.

My alterations...
1. In the past pasta has cooked much faster than the recommended time. I checked it after an hour and it was more than done. It was almost at the nasty pasty level. Next time I will check it after just 30 minutes.
2. I didn't have fresh herbs, so I put a little parm cheese on top.

2. Nachos Dinner

1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
2 cup taco sauce
1 can refried beans
10oz can cream mushroom soup
1 envelope dry taco seasoning (I make my own)
salt to taste
2 cups cheddar cheese
tortilla chips
lettuce
chopped tomatoes
sour cream (opt)

1. Brown beef, onions and pepper in saucepan. Drain.
2. Combine all ingredients except chips, lettuce, tomato and sour cream in slow cooker.
3. Cover. Cook on high 1 hour, stirring occasionally until cheese is fully melted.
4. Pour into serving bowl and serve immediately with chips, lettuce, tom, and sour cream, or turn to low to keep warm and serve from cooker.

UP; Watched It Wednesday

The boys and I rented Up from redbox yesterday. I don't think I ever even saw a preview for the show, but I heard a lot of positive things about the movie. My sister in law said on FB she got it for her kids and so I thought Caleb might like it since he is over a year older then her oldest. Others also raved about the film, so I thought it would be a no brainier.

I was wrong. Caleb found it to be too scary. Every scene that has a dark background to it is scary to him. I know others might think he should grow up and get over his fears, but he is 4 and I see no hurry to get him into watching older things. I really don't understand how kids his age watch PG13 shows. Perhaps we shelter him, but that is a role for parents, in my opinion. I don't really think there are scary parts to the movie and I am sure lots of kids like it, but for now Caleb is content with PBS, which is fine with me.

Chris watched it last night and actually really enjoyed it. I thought it had some creative parts to it, but I was a bit bored. So we are split in our opinions, so watch for yourself and let me know what you think.

In other items, I have found some new dramas I like to watch on demand. I LOVE the free on demand that I can watch when the boys nap and I fold laundry, write a grocery list, plan menus, etc. I have enjoyed the following...

1. Three Rivers. It follows the patients who are in need of a donor organ, sometimes the donors too. It is a clean show, I am a cynic and say it is because it is the first season of the show, but hopefully I am wrong.

2. We have also enjoyed NCIS LA. Chris likes it more than me, but it is interesting.

3. Good wife. There was an episode I turned off, but for the most part it is pretty interesting to me. It is about a supportive wife whose husband was sent to jail (I am a little unsure as to why, I didn't see the first few shows), but he was an assistant attorney. The wife is a lawyer.

Thanksful Tuesday

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I was a crank. Sorry Chris. He came into the kitchen to see what he could do to help with breakfast and I snapped.

So I am thankful for my husband who doesn't run away when I am having a bad morning. In fact he even called on the road since he was traveling today.

I love him!

Shipwreck, Menu Monday

Now that we have gotten back to a normal schedule, I want to get back into my original posts. Monday, if you don't recall was Menu Monday where I share a new recipe.

Tonight I made "Shipwreck" in the crock pot. I love the crock pot because it is so easy. I think good recipes are hard to find because of the texture issue, but this one was pretty good.

1lb ground beef, browned
4-5 potatoes cut into french fry shape
1-2 onions chopped
1 can kidney beans drained
1 can tomato soup
1/4lb Velveeta cheese cubed
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Layer in crock pot in the order given above. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (mine only took about 3).

I told Caleb we were being pirates, but he didn't buy it and only ate his required 4 bites of beans. Josh had 2 servings. Chris really liked it. It didn't look the prettiest, but I would give it a 7 out of 10 when given the ease and taste.

Have you tried anything new lately?

Saturday

We went to the YMCA. the boys played with the kids and babysitters. Chris and I went to zumba.

Then we went to the Nashville zoo. We are considering getting a membership there when our Cleveland one expires. There isn't much to see at this zoo, but it is another place to go to, so we shall see.

Then we stopped for lunch at BK.

Came home and everyone had naps. Except I think Caleb got up and watched Thomas. At least he was quiet. Did I tell you I have him nap in the bathroom? Odd I know, but he can't nap in his room because at the most he sleeps for 60 minutes and Josh needs to nap much longer than that.

We had family game night. Connect 4, Bingo, Puzzles. Josh didn't like to share.

And now I should be getting dinner. Caleb wants to make a pumpkin pie, maybe tonight, or maybe tomorrow. I don't think I have it in me to do it this evening, I am tired.

And church tomorrow, hopefully. Caleb has had a cough this evening. Sickness is going around, I guess.