Thursday, December 31, 2009

January Freezer Cooking Day

One of my goals this year is to get more organized in many areas of our lives. And food happens to be one of them! Between 4-5pm is the hairest time of the day around these part and the last thing I want to do is make dinner.

I have done a fair job at meal planning and making sure that we have plenty of dinner options available to us at any given time. However, I am forever running into road blocks (primarily small children) when it comes time to actually trying to get dinner on the table.

To me, having dinner ready for Trent is very important. It is one piece of the puzzle of me trying to do my part to be a supportive and loving helpmate. So, after failing many nights to not get the dinner that was defrosted and waiting to be served up on the table and after receiving much motivation from other Mamas dealing with the same exact dilemma, I have taken on the challenge of once a month cooking.

Here is my plan. Trent will be home over the holiday weekend and has graciously agreed to watch the kiddos, or at least try and keep them out of the kitchen for a good portion of the day. I figure it will take me all day to accomplish even some of my list. None the less, I am excited to see what I can get done!

List of meals:

Chili x2
Lasagna x2
Meatloaf x2
Whole wheat waffles x3
Meatballs x2
Broccoli Cheese Chicken Rice x2
Slab Apple Pie
Turkey Pot Pie x2
Shredded Beef
Enchilada Casserole
Freezer Mashed Potatoes
Turkey Tetrazinni x3
Ranch Potato Wedges x2
Plain Potato Wedges x2
Blueberry Muffins
Banana Muffins
Chocolate Chip Muffins
Bean Burritos x12
Beef Stew

Too ambitious? Perhaps, but this is my wish list.

All ingredients are purchased and ready to go. Deep freeze is now resting comfortably in her new home, the basement. Let's get cooking!!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Advent Wrap Up

Our Advent family fun continued throughout the month of December.

We learned about the Shepherds and how they went to see Jesus.
We made little sheep out of our hand prints and colored sheets.

Daddy and the boys making their sheep crafts

We also talked about the Wise men and that they brought Jesus' gifts.
We did do a coloring sheet to go with this lesson, but some how that sheet turned into a drawing of one of Charlie's famous "city scapes"
.

When our cousins were here for our Christmas dinner (a few days early) we colored our Jesus pictures.

Brandon colored this one for me.

It is easy to get lost in all the hub bub of the holiday season. It is so easy to allow making commercial magic for our children become the priority on Christmas morning. I confess, I LOVE everything about the Christmas season. I love shopping for gifts for the ones that I love, arranging presents under the tree, baking cookies, twinkling lights, Christmas music, decorating the house with fir trees and sparkling glass balls, and the visit to see Santa is high on the list. And even though we will always put cookies out for the jolly ole elf, we have also made greater strides to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas.

I feel so blessed that our family decided to take even a few short moments during this past month to talk about, read and create all around learning about our Lord and Savior. It was a great experience and something I hope that we will continue to do throughout the year.



Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Holiday Fun



We have had a lot of fun this month.
Starting off celebrating Nana's birthday.

Preparing our Good Samaritan boy boxes



Lots of fun with friends


Welcoming Santa into town

Lots of baking, and eating of chocolate :)
decorating cookies
and eating them


playing bingo, thanks Miss Sharon!

Repairman Tommy At Your Service

If in need of a plumber or perhaps an appliance repairman, look no further. Sir Thomas seems to be in the business of
turning off hot water valves
fixing hot water pipes and turning down temperature gauges, defrosting of freezers.


All parties are innocent until proven guilty.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas 2009


Hightlights of Christmas 2009
Being together

Christmas in Papa and Nie Nie's new house
Advent preparations as a family

Monday date night before Christmas with Honey Trent

A little Christmas Cheer ;)

Hearing Santa's sleigh bells on Christmas Eve

Charlie leading his Sunday School class in singing "Away In A Manger"


Christmas Dinner at our house with Nana and the cousins (Wednesday, December 23rd)



Christmas Morning at our house



A Country Christmas at Nie Nie and Papa's house(Christmas Day-Sunday, December 27th)



Happy Birthday Jesus!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Santa Claus is coming to town......


The boys with Santa


Charlie telling Santa his list
Tommy being SO proud that he was sitting on Santa's lap

Charlie's List 2009
Geo Trax Timber Town Train Set
2 candy canes, a blue one for Tommy and an orange one for Charlie

Tommy's List 2009
Mimi (a rescue vehicle)
Tow (tow truck)

It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas


















Sunday, December 20, 2009

Country Lights 2009



Every year we go to the local farm for their Country Lights display, Santa's workshop and to see Santa of course.

This year was extra special as some of our dear friends joined us.

Charlie and Tommy making their toys at Santa's Workshop


Tommy, Maggie and Charlie painting their toys


Charlie and Ricky