In the kitchen

 We have a new budget. And it has seriously impacted my grocery budget. We have always eaten "healthy" - what I mean by that is organic, whole foods, no preservatives, no food colorings, no white sugars, LOTS of produce, etc. You get my drift.… However, the past few years b/c of an increase in children, increase in work hours for myself and Jonathan, and an honest decrease in paying attention to my spending, the grocery budget has slowly increased. B/c my time was much more limited, I was trading making a lot of my own stuff for convenience in the way of healthy things… well, that gets expensive after awhile. B/c healthy things packaged are expensive… and a lot of times, still not as healthy as you'd like them!

So… enter loss of job. Bingo. I now have more time and I have to decrease my grocery budget. But, I am determined not to do it while sacrificing a healthy lifestyle. (I feel like this is what I read on most food blogs :) I know I'm just another woman who is trying to make good choices for her family while being a good steward of all that God has put her over!) When you 'work' as a mother, many times you have to trade off something else for that time you're not at home, or in my case, at home but behind my laptop. For me, it was cleaning and a lot of time in the kitchen traded off for a lot of Trader Joes foods :) (I still love that store!) Ha!

Now, I must stay I am thoroughly enjoying my time in the kitchen. I'm trying a bunch of everything… really trying to make foods that are going to save us money in the long run but be healthy as well. So, Wyatt and I have been in the kitchen a lot. A lot. We have made granola, granola bars, pita bread, tortillas, two different kinds of whole wheat pizza crust, we've been soaking beans, and making soup, and freezing it, and then making a new recipe for pancakes… He is learning a lot! And he's great with a rolling pin! Today he was spanking the dough as well as giving it a fohawk... really? Boys :)

 I think our favorites so far have been homemade tortillas. We've done these a few times now… they are great in lunches. And the boys loved them spread with PB and honey then topped with some of our homemade granola. We roll them up and pack them in Henry's lunch. The great thing about the pizza crust is both times we've made them, we roll them out into about 15 mini pizzas and then freeze them. So easy… and we are suckers for pizza in this house. So the boys can pull out their own crust, get the sauce, the cheese I pre-shred for them, and make their own pizza comletely on their own. I jsut put them in the oven. They love it b/c they feel very independent, and I love it b/c it's one less thing I have to do! :)

Anyways… that's what we're doing over here. Exciting, huh?!

Messes

I must admit that kids have chilled me out a bit. I have learned what really trips my trigger... and what I can let go of. For example, messes like this don't bother me anymore. They do after awhile, but I can actually go 12-16 hours now without even touching it (I know, for some of you that sounds pathetic... but it's improvement for me!). In fact, I can walk around it, over it, through it just to get to the bookshelf and the most I might do is kick something out of my way. Because I know at 7pm, it's pickup time and everyone helps. Even if you didn't make the mess, you pick up. But there was a day that I would have been cleaning up messes like this as they were happening... and I'm serious. Have you ever tried to follow around a 18-month old cleaning up? It's tiring! Well, after this many kids, I decided I could either spend my day doing that (literally) or actually get something else done. 

Now.... what I still can't stand is a messy kitchen. It's weird... It feels much more personal to me to have a kitchen that looks like my family room. So, if I would have photographed my kitchen, you would see a clean counter, dinner prep cleaned up, and very few dishes in the sink. I can THINK better when my kitchen is clean, I can function better, I actually feel like I can be a nicer person when my kitchen is clean! (Is that even biblical...? I'm sure it's somewhere in the Bible that clean kitchen = nicer woman!) There may be a day when I have to give this up too...! I hope not! :) 

But I love pictures like this for my own record... this will be a great memory :) It makes me smile already when I think of how much fun Wyatt and Myles had this morning. Wyatt built a satellite and Myles just walked around pulling anything out he could find. So fun to be kids! 

Some of the ones I missed...!

Thanks to my sweet sis-in-law...

And one I forgot but knew I had...

... see this is the danger in having so many places with pictures! We had great visits from both grandparents over the holidays. Both came bearing their servant hearts which was a true blessing to us. The kids LOVE Buck... sorry Mom and Dad... :) They love you too, but they're really all about the dog!

And for the record... right about when I stopped blogging about the 12 Days of Christmas is when we got sick... funny, forgot I had even started that!!

December 2012 - Season of the Sick

I have laid in bed many nights blogging (in my head) about December. If I had posted them all, you'd have loved it. I would have loved it even more! But, suffice it to say, I have rarely made it to my own blog page in the past 8 weeks let alone anyone elses! We were a very sick family in December - all started around the 13th. Three sick at once with respiratory illness... flu, sinus, adenovirus...?? Who knows? Myles ended up with pneumonia for the 3rd time in his little life and was hospitalized for 2 nights. Jonathan stayed with him the whole time since I have not pumped or given Tess a bottle (I know... lazy me.) and by time they were released, Jonathan was sick. I visited everyday but of course he didn't get a break at night and he was exhausted. He ended up with a fever on Christmas Eve and was miserable. Never in 12 years have I seen him with a fever! :) It was crazy! (To make things more interesting, we also found out early in the month that I was losing my job. Bummer in some ways, blessing in disguise in many other ways. But added to the December stress by trying to fit in budget talks!) By the end, five out of six of us had fevers and illness. It was a whammy... but I console myself by thinking that we are all stronger for it and have built up antibodies... right? Right. :) At least that's what my pediatrician has told me... and I have been known to believe everything she tells me.

*way back when we decorated for Christmas...before we were attacked by the germs. Oh, and we got a real tree as always but of course no photos ... um, actually, they're on my phone.. but I haven't connected it to the new computer yet. Oh whatever...*

*the sick room... full of germs, fevers, and breathing treatments... oh and gatorade... the only reason why the boys like being sick*

However, the good that came out of all of December (besides the antibody build up!) was that we were homebound, had no travel plans anyways, and we were the recipients of much love and care from our families and church family. And of course, we spent a lot of time remembering the Gospel as we looked back at the birth of Jesus. We had more help than we could have ever asked for... it was truly a blessing and a wonderful time to see God's people at work.

*my heart fills up when I see pics like this*

The month of December also brought a new computer... which is another reason why my blog has suffered b/c I had a lapse of time where I was computerless, although I guess my phone is kind of like a computer. So I have spent much time learning the new computer. I don't know. December was just strange. I feel like I was in a time warp. Ever had days, weeks, or months like that? I'm sure there are those who've had years like that!

*I think this picture is crooked... or maybe cropped crooked... but again.. whatever! At least it's documented! Ha :) Beggars can't be choosers! We're all smiling and that's a beautiful thing.*

But of course, 2013 came, we rolled on into January, and here we are. I can hardly believe it is almost February. I hope to be blogging more b/c at this point, it is the only guaranteed record of our family that I have (at least on this side of heaven!) :) I have lost loads of pictures in past computer crashes, and my only consolation is that I can't take them to heaven, so I try not to dwell on what is gone. (B/c if I do, I'd be a basket case!) But be thankful for what I do have... and the memories that are always stored up in my heart. Many of those aren't captured in photos anyways.

*They are looking so much older to me*

*Always a good try at this*

*And another good try!*

*A wonderful week-long visit from the grandparents who are now proud permanent residents in the state of FL.*

*He's really been into crawling into small spaces lately. Then he plays on his pretend iPhone and acts like he can't hear us b/c he's too busy texting.*

*We had an amazing snow over the holiday break. It was awesome. Hope to post some sledding videos*

*But for now, here are some sledding pics... this one's main goal was to hit all the ramps.. no fear*

*He reminds me of the kid in Elf in this picture... when him and Will Ferrell have the snowball fight with the mean kids... Anyone?*

*There he is again... he got pretty comfortable on the sled. Hot stuff.*

*Who can pass up football with Daddy and Grandpa.. even Tess couldn't turn that one down.*

*I love big brothers. I had 4 of them, so I guess I better love them!*

*I failed to mention the cake in Wyatt's b-day post. His request this year... "Please tell Aunt Beth that I want a cake with a dinosaur riding a bike by me and Henry playing in a pile of leaves." Seriously? I think the inspiration came from the shirt he is wearing. The morning of we decided to make it a dinosaur party. That's about the extent of our party planning in this house. I'll try to post a better picture... b/c Aunt Beth deserves a shout out on this one. She did not disappoint. But of course the better picture is on Daddy's phone... or my phone... or whatever!!! It's somewhere for goodness sakes!* 

*These guys are best buds. I love it.*

*I made these 'bird nests' for Wy's b-day breakfast. Of course, he didn't like them. However, Henry pulled through and ate about 7 of them. So at least someone liked them. I was tempted to be offended, but then reminded myself he's 5 and it'd be really immature to be offended by my 5-yr old not liking his b-day breakfast. Right? Grow up Michelle. I said, "Oh no... so sorry little buddy. Here's a bowl of granola." :) :) :) Seriously, that's what I said!*

OK, well I think I've written enough to jog my memory if ever needed. This post is simply to document the illness we had in December 2012, to recollect the the thankfulness we felt toward those who poured out their love on us, and to remember some of the memories by photos. Then I will say goodbye to 2012. Time goes by so fast. So... Goodbye 2012! (I wish I could backdate this! I think I'll write blogger... but then again, it's after midnight, so I won't. Good night!)

Happy Birthday Wyatt - the BIG 5

Happy Birthday to our newest 5-year old. Wyatt has grown a ton this year. I was looking at his 4-yr old b-day pics, and he seems so little and chubby still! Now he is taller, thinner, more freckles, and witty as ever. He loves to be the ham, make people laugh, and we're working on helping him to draw boundaries with his humor! He is excellent with puzzles. He is very compassionate... LOVES his siblings (he is always reminding Henry that they are best friends) and we are always commenting that maybe someday he will be a pediatrician b/c of his tenderness and love for little ones. But he has informed us he might be a dentist (I think b/c he got a play-doh dentist set). He is in pre-K one day a week and only knows the name of his 'girl' friends. Bella, Megan S., Megan O., and Coco (say those out loud with a very emphatic tone and you'll get the idea of how he talks). He also likes to be snippy and sassy with his mouth, and struggles with self-control (doesn't every boy at this age? Or is it just mine?). He likes to hit when he is mad, but he has grown this year in being honest. (An answer to prayer!) He loves to lay on top of anything or anyone (like a dog) and we frequently have to remind him to get off of Myles head (he'll pin him to the floor by sitting on him) or stop laying on top of Tessa or stop catapulting himself on Henry's back. And he's been known to haul off and smack my bum. Yep, I know. That's just who he is. And we love every single ounce of him!!! But we are def teaching him he can't smack girls bums... or mine... or anyone's for that matter. We love laughing with him and love how many smiles he brings to us each day! Happy Birthday Super Wy!!!!!

Very cool puzzle. I think Wy owns every Melissa and Doug puzzle! 

*B-day party*

Granola

Many of you already know I lost my part-time job that I've had for 12 years... That is a whole other post that I'll write later (ok, prob not... But maybe... Umm, Prob not..). Besides the income loss, it's been so wonderful focusing on just my home and family (and the 100 sub categories that fall under those two headings!!). For example, making granola. Something I did a lot of before the 4th kid AND working. A great healthy snack we all enjoy! And some bonus pics :)

We're still here

December was a less than average month for us! We're starting to get back on the train again :) Here are some recents for now... For the record, it's been over 60 degrees here the past two days. Strange, but we'll take it. Although we were really enjoying the snow!!!

Day 6

On the sixth day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me... A notepad and eraser for drawing! (The cover of the notepad is Henry's artwork!)

Day 5

On the fifth day of Christmas, my mommy gave to me... a Milky Way and a book about Jack and Annie!

Day 4

On the 4th day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me... Tackle time, game time, and a handful of gummies! (and 3 fevers!!)

Day 3

On the third day of Christmas, my mommy gave to me... Football boxers and a peppermint patty.

Day 2

On the second day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me... Socks, socks, more socks, and a peppermint patty!