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Share the wealth

Published by Aubrey

At the wives conference I went to last month for our ministry I was asked to present a little something on healthy, family cooking and menu planning during the “share the wealth time”. I thought it might be fun to share it with you too. Here are my notes.

3 types of cooks:

  1. love to cook, enjoy thinking of new recipes, menu planning
  2. enjoy cooking but not the planning part of it
  3. just don’t like it

But… no matter where we fall we still have to do it so here are some helpful hints.

menu plan and shop accordingly

plan to cook 4 meals, use left overs 2 nights and then take out/go out one night

think of 3-4 go-to meals that have few ingredients that you often have in stock when you get in a pinch

represent food groups each meal, hint make it colorful

make extra and freeze

plan ahead-set out food in morning to defrost. Am I using the crockpot?

use crockpot- nice to have one pot meal

try a new recipe every couple weeks to shake it up

Have your go to meals for when Dad is gone- easy, fun

puree veggies when can and be sneaky

  • Deceptively Delicious by Seinfeld’s wife
  • Cauliflower in enchilada sauce, marina, meatloaf
  • Broccoli in pizza sauce, meatloaf
  • Butternut squash in mac-n-cheese, French toast

Kid friendly suggestions

  • Make it fun- picnic in or out side
  • Breakfast- waffles, French toast, smoothies wife flax seed and honey
  • Serve  meals in muffin tins
  • Quiet time for kids ½ hour before for final dinner prep and for your sanity

All.recipes.com

Rachel Ray

Everything crockpots

Trade recipes with friends

I’d love to hear your ideas as well Please share the wealth!

Our preschool sure is fun!

Published by Aubrey

We are very blessed and thankful for the the preschool situation that we have worked out for our family. We get to do it some great friends, it’s fun, relaxed and hey can you believe it the kids are even learning something!

There are 4 families involved with 4 eager and energetic 4 year olds ready to go! And don’t forget about the 6 other siblings (all girls) that are a part of our time in one way or another. There is one older sister and 5 younger sisters that like to get their hands in the mix as well. Mondays is school day for us for about 2 hours. We rotate who hosts and teaches preschool while the other moms help out. We have been working our way through the alphabet, a letter a week. Today was letter “V” so we are moving right along. Also, we have chosen a variety of fun topics to teach the kids like: ocean, safety, harvest, 5 senses, space, health & nutrition, feelings and manners and farm. Right now we are talking about Easter and planning a fun Easter dinner when the dads will join us.

I have enjoyed doing home school preschool more than I thought I would. I like the planning part and thinking of creative ways to teach new concepts to the kids. I like to be on this adventure with my friends. It’s not just Mason that is having fun but me too. I like to watch Mason learn. I like to see him get excited when learns something new for the first time and help him when he is challenged. And bonus, my girls think they are in school too and love it!

It’s been a great experience for our whole family and yes, one more thing we will miss when we move. Here are some pics from today’s preschool.

Starting off with circle time

Learning the Easter story through a cooking project

Matching letters to the sounds they make

Playing a math game out in the sunshine

The little girls are keeping busy too!

5 on Friday

Published by Aubrey

1. I’m on hunt for a new bedspread. It’s not urgent, definitely don’t need it anytime soon since we won’t be settled in our new place for awhile. But it’s fun to look and when the time comes to buy I’ll be ready. I’m on an Anthropologie kick right now. Love that store! Can’t really afford anything in there but it’s great inspiration! Here is what I like right now. Isn’t it just fun?

2. So March Madness has started. I enjoy filling out a bracket even though I don’t watch much basketball throughout the year. I pick my teams based on weird things like the sound of their names, if I randomly heard a sentimental story of a player or coach or any kind of connection I feel I have to the team. So one would think I would pick my alma mater Ohio University to at least win their first game even if they were said to have NO chance at all. Well I did not. And guess what? THEY WON! #14 OU beat #2 Georgetown! Crazy. Proud to be a Bobcat. Wish I had more faith in them when I was filling out my bracket. But just so you know, as I write this I am wrapped up in my OU blanket. The pride does run deep, really. Go Bobcats!

3. The ball is rolling. We have started looking into moving companies, talking through options of what, when, where, HOW? We are making steps toward our departure from Chico. I’ve also started cleaning out things. Oh the clutter we collect. Here’s a pic of some stuff making its way to Goodwill tomorrow. Feels good.
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4. I’m always searching for new crafty blogs. One that I love is One Pretty Thing. I love it because it compiles a bunch of craft ideas everyday. So fun and inspiring! Now if I could just find the time to do some of these crafts…

5. And just a couple more pics from our St. Patricks day party yesterday. 13 kids plus moms and we had a great time. We made one-a-kind leperchaun noodle necklaces, fruit loop rainbows, went on a leperchaun treasure hunt and ate a lot of green food and sugar! Yes, lot of fun.
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Copycat

Published by Aubrey

The kids and I were eating dinner the other night and Mase was chewing his food with his chin to his chest, looking down at this place (I don’t know why he was doing this, not the point). I looked over and saw Theia watching him and then do the same thing. She had her chin down with her eyes glancing over at her brother making sure she was doing it right. I pointed out to Mason that Theia was watching him and copying his actions. I thought how cute, Theia was following what Mason was doing, not knowing what or why he was doing what he was doing. She still wanted to be like her brother.

Later that night I was putting the girls to bed. Their new thing is wearing socks to bed. It’s a big production. I can’t just pick any socks out for them to wear, they have to make own decision, putting much thought and consideration into it. This could be considered cute but at the end of the day when Mommy is done, cute is not the word that comes to mind. Anyways, Mason was in the room watching them and then I noticed he left without a word. I put the girls to bed and headed into Mason’s room to tuck him in . As I was covering him up I noticed he had put socks on. Now he doesn’t normally wear socks but for whatever reason he wanted to copy his sisters. He wanted to be like his sisters.

These instances got me thinking how my kids are always watching something. Whether it be each other, me or other influences they are always watching and drinking in how to act, talk and do. What examples am I giving them? If I am their number one source of input am I being the example I want them to follow? Well, I would like to say yes, all the time! But that would be a lie. I act and react in ways I don’t want them to copy. At times I have an attitude that I discipline them for having and I do things that I wouldn’t want them to do. Frustrating, yes. But that is where grace comes in. I know the only way I can come close to being the example I want them to see is if my number one source is Jesus. My desire and prayer is to love and know Jesus more than anything else.

If my kids are going to be a copycat of me, then I want to be a copycat of Jesus, ultimately bringing them to copying Jesus themselves.

Who do you copycat?

Who is watching you?

Raw talent

Published by Aubrey

*** Disclaimer*** I asked Mason if he would mind if I posted this on our blog or would he be embarrassed? His response: “Mommy, I would definitely not be embarrassed. I am a good dancer. You can show it to anyone.” So with that said….enjoy!

5 on Friday

Published by Aubrey

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1. On Saturday I ran a local race in Bidwell Park. It was a 1/2 marathon, 2 laps around the park that I just can’t get enough of! This is my 4th time I’ve ran this race. I wanted to do it one more time before we left Chico. I didn’t train much and didn’t have much expectations going into the race. I even told Brian to stay home with the kids. BUT….I had a great race…my best time! I had fun and enjoyed the race. I truly embraced the word we are attempting to live by these last few months in Chico…SAVOR!

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2. This weekend we purchased a juicer. It’s something we’ve been thinking about for awhile. Wow! What fun it has been. Each morning we are having some crazy healthy concoctions. Carrots, broccoli, beets, apples, oranges and pears are some of the foods we’ve been juicing. I feel I have more energy throughout the day and I’m not as hungry as quickly for lunch. Also, the juicer catches all the “pulp” from the fruits and veggies. It’s great for compost or adding to meals. I made a great meatloaf this week with all kinds of goodies in it!

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3.The sun has been out this week more than we have seen in awhile. Today Mase and I spent some time in the backyard soaking up the goodness and getting some Vitamin D. Here is a pic of Mase getting some sun with his beloved night-night. Cuteness.

mase dentist march2010
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4. We survived 3 dentist appointments this week. Thankfully we have an awesome dentist who also happens to be friends of ours. He is awesome at what he does. The entire office makes the experience so enjoyable and even fun for the kids. It was the girls first time. And to my surprise the girls acted opposite of what I expected. Usually Theia is our cautious one, especially in any new situations. Kaia is normally one to jump in without much fear. For whatever reason Kaia didn’t want to have anything to do with the dentist. Except making sure the hygienist was doing her job with her sister. Theia was the most compliant, as easy going as I have ever seen her in such a situation. Mason is always a rock star at the dentist and asks a million and one questions of what and why is happening. This time though he left with a return slip because of 3 cavities. Bummer.

5. Brian is gone for the next week. He is at the SXSW conference in Austin, TX. I’ve always wanted to go to Austin. From what I’ve heard it sounds like such a cool place.  Anyways, it’s me and the kiddos for the next week. Any prayers of patience and strength gladly accepted.

On my night stand

Published by Aubrey

I am reading a new book recommended by a friend.
Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist.
There are short chapters that are easily doable even after a long day.
It’s light hearted but still thought provoking.
I’m enjoying it.

What are you reading?

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