CPS & OCD!

Seriously, is my kid the only one who plays in the snow with shorts on?? It got up to about 55 today, so not really a heat wave, but I guess it was warm enough for him.  I will probably have a visit from CPS tomorrow.  Notice the gloves.  He insisted on those to keep his hands warm. 

This is what Luke did.  We are thrilled that he loves to build stuff, but the intensity he has about them becomes an issue.  It was a battle to get him to put it aside for dinner tonight.  I promised him I would not destroy it, so we agreed to proudly display it on the table rather than put it back in the box.  He even cleaned up other toys after I assured him we would not tear it down.  I just pray that the focus he has for these things will find its way to school and future jobs! 

Meals!

Ok, I thought I would give the meals at the end of the week so that I could report any recipes that did not turn out well.  But, I think it makes sense to give them out at the first of the week for those who are interested!  If you see something you would like to try and need the recipe, I am happy to send it to you!  My e-mail is lnanl2000@yahoo.com. 

So, here are the meals for this past week and for the week to come!  Happy planning!

Jan. 8-21
Sat. 8 Shepard's Pie with green salad and bread (all of the boys loved this one)
Sun. 9 Mediterranean flatbread sandwiches
Mon 10. Pulled chicken sandwiches with white sauce and fresh, raw veggies
11. Chicken and dumplings (a family favorite)
12. Cheddar potatoes with rice and corn
13. Italian beef polenta with spinach salad
14. leftovers/ out to eat
15. Antipasta pinwheels with rolls
16. Crock pot roast and mashed potatoes with green beans (a family favorite)
17. Chicken soft tacos and black beans
18. Red beans and rice with avocado salad
19. Paninis and chips
20. Baked pork chops and mustard cream sauce with asparagus
21. leftovers/out to eat

Just wanted to add a pic of my guys.  This was from this morning...it makes me happy that they are still getting use out of those Halloween costumes!

Homeschool Group II!

We hosted our homeschool group this week.  We talked about Switzerland because we have a friend who just moved to Zurich, so I figured the boys would enjoy learning about their new country!  We talked about all things Switzerland including the food which has become a theme with our geography lessons.  We melted cheese and chocolate and had an array of goodies for dipping! We also colored the Swiss flag for our book of flags!

This little guy was really into the chocolate!

Fun facts about Switzerland:

The capital is Bern

The Swiss guard protects the Vatican and the Pope.

There are about 400,000 people living in Swizterland.

They are known for their really good chocolate and cheese dishes!

On average, a person living in Switzerland will consume about 23 lbs. of chocolate in a year!

The Red Cross was started in Switzerland in 1859 by Henry Dunant after witnessing a tragic battle in which many lay dying or injured.  The symbol for the Red Cross is the Swiss flag with inverted colors!

The Swiss also make very beautiful and very expensive watches.

Switzerland is a neutral country and has a democracy in which the people get to vote on issues within their cantons (region).

The book Heidi was written by a Swiss author, Johanna Spyri.

Chess!

Lyndon is teaching me chess!  And, I am terrible at it!  If he wants any real competition, we will have to wait until Bubba can play!   

Still Stuck!

Another snow day!  I tried to rally and be somewhat productive.  We graduated Luke from the sippy cup which we thought would be a challenge.  However, he seemed to like the idea of using the "big boy" cup! We have the "big boy" theme going on now to manage the meltdowns.  It is amplified lately most likely from being stuck in our house.  He is really testing us on his independence, and it is taking everything I have to be patient and find new ways to get his cooperation.  I have read articles and looked for books, but they all pretty much say the same thing.  And I am summarizing here..."Just give it time and know that these children have skills that will serve them well in school and into adulthood.  They are usually focused and good leaders. As small children, they can be a challenge, but it is important not to "take" those things from them."  Nothing has really given me any ways in which to handle a throw-down fit in a public place.  Of course I could just pick him up and leave, but then Logan is the one who suffers because he is minding his own business and following directions.  So, that is our current challenge.  It is small compared to some of the concerns of others, and I know at some point we will find a way to direct his independence to the right places. I just have to pray that the good Lord will guide me and remember that this too shall pass!

I really wanted a picture of them in their cute sweaters.  Luke was very upset because he wanted to work on his puzzles rather than go to church. This was quite a battle this particular Sunday.  A smile from him was out of the question.

Sippy cups are sooo out!

We also got the boys all bundled up and let them play out in the backyard!  There was no way I was going out there today!

Then we rearranged the living room, and made some dinner, chicken and dumplings.  I have a really easy and tasty recipe for this, and all of the boys love it! The good news is that tomorrow we are supposed to have a play date! Yippee! Let's hope the ice melts enough for driving!

Have a warm and cozy night!

Stuck!

Today we woke up to a lot of snow!!! Well, it is a lot for me anyway. 

 As usual, I had to make the dog go outside. She kept looking at me, at the door, at me as if she were pleading.

 
Lyndon decided to go on in to work because, you know, so many people were thinking of buying A/C units today!...hehe! He did come home early at least.  It is just a big sheet of ice now! That means another day stuck in the house!  Logan BEGGED me to take him outside in the front yard to work on a snowman.  He finally wore me down, and we headed out right before lunch (that way I could use hunger as an excuse to come back in)! Luke lasted 5 minutes, but I had to drag Logan in after 45 minutes. The snow was actually really soft which made it very difficult to construct anything.  Lyndon can take them out tomorrow while I sit in by the fire! 

As we ate lunch, we sat and watched the many birds in the backyard hitting the bird feeders.  I think they were a little baffled by the snow!  This woodpecker was hard at work, but he gave up with the rest of them when the snow started to fall even harder.  I have never seen snowflakes this big before.  It is beautiful, but I am good with one snowfall a year! 

Cold weather blues!

More cold weather on the way in another day or so. We are talking another round of snow!  I loved that we had snow for Christmas, and I loved that the boys got to play outside in it.  But, I am done with it now.  I want spring to be here and warmer weather.  I didn't mind spending 30 minutes getting the boys in their coats and socks and shoes and hats to run to get two items from the grocery store because there was the promise of Christmas.  Now, it is just really time consuming.  Even the dog is cold.

 We are having to fight her for space in the bed, and thanks to our sweet friends who sent this incredible blanket, we are having to fight her for it too! Every morning, I have to nudge her to go out!  Needless to say, we are all ready for some warmer weather!
On to other things, I am very excited to report that my food calendar is working out very well! Lyndon stopped by the store last night and got the fresh stuff for next week's meals.  He spent just a little over $40.  I originally thought I would just post all of the meals, but there are a lot of them which also means a lot of recipes.  So, what I thought I would do instead is share what I cooked at the end of each week.  If anyone wants a recipe, I can send it to them.  I did have one recipe that did not work out this week, black bean burgers.  If anyone has a good recipe for those, I would love to have it! 

January: 1-7
Sat.  Blue cheese and pear sandwhiches with black-eyed peas
Sun. Chicken pasta with asparagus
Mon.  Baked potatoes (with bacon bits) and raw veggies
Tues.  Chicken chow mein
Wed.  Black bean burgers (I nixed them and we ate chicken sandwiches)
Thurs.  Salmon patties with Greek salad
Fri.  Dinner with friends!
Hope you all have a fabulous week!!!