Another week gone by. Wow. I can’t understand where the time
is going!
Twenty-one weeks we are into our school year.
Twenty-one weeks.
We only have to do a total of thirty-six.
Wow.
But even with the busy week, there’s still plenty to be
thankful for. I won’t delay…as I know we all have much to do.
Well, I do…so there.
And again, not counting my thankfuls, I am thankful:
- That the PBA can (and do) make their own breakfasts and lunches.
 |
| This was after one lunch for the two of them...really? That many knives? |
But they do sometimes produce a lot of dirty silverware.
Which is really not a big deal because…
- They know how to load (and unload for the most part; if they don’t know where something goes, they put it in the drying wrack. Just like their father does. The apple, you know…) the dishwasher. Been doing it (well, the loading part at least) since they were 2yos. No joke. Yes, I’m that kind of mom.
- That I am really only responsible to making sure there are things for them to use to prepare said meals.
- And that I only have to make the dinners. Which I don’t love, but it’s only approximately 30% of the meal preparations so I think I can live with that.
- AND that I had an epiphany this week. I apparently have enough food in my pantry and freezer to provide us with dinner for the next four weeks (at least…probably more than that if I was honest).
- That I SHOULD only need to go to the store for fruit and veggies and other perishables.
- Except yogurt…I won’t need to buy that. I made my own this week. I was thankful to learn how to do that, and now I have a starter to use for the next time.
- That I took the time to pull out the juicer I was given (back in June…don’t judge) and figured out how to use it. The I used it twice and combinations were tasty but WOW it wasted a lot of stuff. I could not believe how much was leftover. I will have to research how to use it all before I do any more juicing. You know how I don’t like to waste anything.
- That it was clearly it was my week to be a winner: I get lots of freebies in my mailbox, but this week I won from a limited (supposedly but who really knows) of coupons for BOGO on gallons of milk.
- That I won a free Snickers bar…which I am sure I will give away (ok probably not) since I am back to writing down my calories in and calories burned. Yuck-o.
- That my 12yo selected and then PAID FOR his own outfit at Old Navy. Not only that, he wore it to church on Sunday.
- That my 12yo, WITHOUT PROMPTING, took a shower “because I sweat a lot at the gym”. Wow.
How can a girl NOT be thankful with a week like that?
Hop on over to visit the other lists linked up with Lizzi to see what
everyone else is thankful for!
COOL WEEK...Not having a dishwasher I find the silverware the most daunting but still worth having everyone take care of their own lunches and breakfasts that's for sure! Was the waste what was left over after the juicing or left over juice you didn't use? just wondering?
ReplyDeleteYes, dishwasher is one of the things I am so thankful for!
DeleteSorry I didn't make that clear: the waste was what was not juiced...the "pulp" I guess it would be. There was just SO much...it's difficult for me to toss it!
so the reason I asked is I have used this recipe before with carrot pulp and any kind of not too wet fruit pulp...http://www.alwaysorderdessert.com/2009/07/earlier-this-year-i-tried-to-make-soup.html
Deletealso the pulp of fruit works great in making jam or marmalade etc... just gotta boil it down with water and sugar and if not using apples I use a cut up apple for pectin.
hope that helps!
Zoe that helps tons...thank you so much! I had also thought that maybe the carrot and apple pulp might be nice baked with a little brown sugar...have you ever tried that? Maybe pineapple too?
DeleteA cool week when a lot got done! Great, Kristen!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Michelle! :) Have a great week-end!
DeleteThat is a great week - all that winning! And kids who make their own food (knives aside) is pretty good. Kidzilla isn't quite there yet - she has the desire but not necessarily the physical strength, height, or motor control to accomplish the job yet. But I love watching her lug the heavy milk jug across the kitchen - it looks like it weighs almost as much as she does!
ReplyDeleteWhat did they do with all those knives?
What did they do with the knives? I think there wer PB and marshmallow cream sandwiches made, packages were opened (and why they think the knife is dirty when they use it to open say a package of cheese is beyond me. But they do. I think that's why there was such a plethora of knives. Sometimes I don't even ask..I'm such a good mom. ;)
DeleteSometimes I really think it's just better not to ask. Preserves sanity.
DeleteI love that last one and will say nothing is better when the kids don't fight getting cleaned and seriously can't wait for the day when they can do it for themselves, here now, too! Happy Weekend and enjoy!! :)
ReplyDeleteYes in some ways it is better when they can do it for themselves, but at the same time, they might not be as thorough as I was in bathing them....so there is that... :)
DeleteSounds like a great week to me Good for you making your kids responsible. In the end, it will matter and you are not alone in being "that mom". My kids are responsible for table/dishes/trash among other things in the house. I am one person and they are many. We would live in a hovel if I had to do everything alone or I would kill myself trying because I'm a little on the clean freak side. I am going to read that post on making yogurt. I would love to make my own!
ReplyDeleteI know...honestly I don't know how moms who enable their kiddos can do it all!
DeleteGood luck on the yogurt...I think it will be a big savings if your family eats a lot of yogurt. Please let me know how it goes! :)
While my kids are good about getting their dishes into the dishwasher, the dishes are never put in the way I want them. There is a certain way to load them in order to get the maximum number of dishes washed. I always have to rearrange. They are much better about emptying it.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the juicer goes, that sounds about right. That's why it's healthier to eat a piece of fruit and not just the juice. Most of the fiber and other "good things" are in that "pulp".
Congrats on all the free stuff!
Isn't it wonderful when kids start worrying about their hygiene and appearance? Three of my big kids frequently take showers on their own. Of course, there are also weeks where they forget and I have to ask them when they last showered. Progress...
Agreed when it comes to juice vs actual piece of fruit, but I am looking at it as fresh juice vs crap from the store with a bunch of sugar and preservatives...and for the record, I always choose the fruit but some people in my house insist on drinking juice so I am trying to make it as healthy as possible. :)
DeleteIf you tell the kids they will need to handwash whatever doesn't fit in the dishwasher, you will be amazed how many more dishes they will be able to fit in!
DeleteYou made me laugh! Wonderful! jean :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Jean! :) Have a great week-end!
DeleteI can't wait for the girls to put away their own dishes. As soon as we have the dishwasher, we'll teach them how to put away their things. Amazing how they learn new things all the time and become more and more independent. Yay for winning stuff, and clearing out the pantry the right way :-) Have a wonderful weekend, Mrs.!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a big help to have the boys able to be self-sufficient. But at the same time, it is a reminder that my time with them is oging by quickly. Make me a little weepy although I know it's how things SHOULD be. They SHOULD grow up and move away...but at this point I am not looking forward to it.
DeleteThanks for stopping by...have a fabulous week-end!
Prize Candy bar! I don't think I can remember winning a candy bar… very cool.
ReplyDeleteWith the two of (Una is excused from doing the dishes) there is not such challenge to who does what but… I suspect Christine has been talking to Phyllis here, as she seems to have this thing about the 'tines must always be pointing up'!! and, mind you, this is not a dishwasher! it's one of those plastic plate holding things that go in the other sink.
overall sounds like a good week!
Yes, I have to admit that the free candy bar was possibly the high point on the list...with the free gallon of milk being a close second. :)
DeleteI remember that feeling around this time of year (back when I was teaching) that the year was moving along too fast. At other times, it seems to move too slowly. How is that?
ReplyDeleteWe also probably have that much food in our freezer, but it doesn't stop me from heading back to the store.
Well, yes I went to the store...and bought more than I needed, although much of it was good deals I COULD NOT pass up! (Aren't they all?)
DeleteThanks for the vote of confidence...it's funny that you say that because I often consider that my job...to train the PBA to be good husbands. Time will tell!
ReplyDelete:)
I, too, had some thankfuls about kids' independence... it is so liberating as a mom, isn't it? (and sometimes just a tad bit sad....but mostly liberating!) ;)
ReplyDeleteGillian just recently started taking her showers without me prompting her. That's so funny, "because I sweat a lot at the gym"..
...am really thinking about that yogurt thing.. thinkin' I may try it.
Yes, the preparation to launch is a little bittersweet. I know I still have "lots" of time, but it is racing by so fast!
DeleteYes, you should. Like I said, it's not thick but it's not horrible either. Let me know if you try it!
You were definitely a winner this week! I am so guilty of using plastic/paper silverware and plates a lot since I don't have a dishwasher.
ReplyDeleteOh, it is always cause for celebration when boys (or girls) get to the point of wanting to take a shower! :-)
ReplyDeleteI like the way the PBA fully utilize your vast collection of cutlery.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that kids and husbands can FIND dishes in the cabinets when they want or need one, but they are unable to put the same dishes away when unloading the dishwasher? There really aren't that many options, as cabinet space is limited.
Heyyyy, you could have used the juicer on the wet toilet paper rolls and not had to waste them.....