Losing the Battle

Pin It Now! I think I may be losing a long, well-fought battle sooner rather than later. It's 4 against 1, and I think my thickly built wall may have just been breached.

My "weapons" (excuses) cannot hold out much longer. Weapon, I mean excuse #1, doesn't quite work anymore. My kids are no longer little requiring constant attention and training, which would drain every last drop of energy right out of me. So, excuse #1-- no energy from babies and toddlers just doesn't cut it anymore.

Excuse #2--Soon, I may not be able to wield my being-dirt-poor-can't-afford-it sword.

Excuse #3--The fact that I don't like messes will always remain a true and reliable defense, but how much damage can I really do with only one arrow left in my quiver?


And I think my family is mistaking my research, planning and preparation for enthusiasm.


So, are you dying to know what I am researching? Dogs. Yes, dogs. I know, most have heard me say the best kind of dog is no dog, but the 4 humans that share a home with me don't agree, especially the smallest human.

If it's really going to happen, and if I really must wave my white flag of surrender, well, it's going to be done right. And by right I mean my way. :)

Of course I am exaggerating a little, but seriously, I want to be completely prepared so it can be a good experience for all of us. That means lots of Caesar Milan DVDs, books from the library, and whatever else I can get my hands on!!!!


Oh, and I think I have already picked out the me perfect breed (my family agrees). Anyone want to take a wild guess which particular breed we are reading up on? Here's a photo of a darling puppy as a hint!


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Make Your Own French Fries

Pin It Now! Making your own fries does take more time, but I think they are much healthier and they taste pretty good, too. Plus, when you get a huge bag of potatoes on sale, it's a great way to save money while providing a healthy snack or side dish to a meal. :)

Here's what I do:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

I usually use about 4-5 baking potatoes for a side dish to feed a family of 5.

I like to use my crinkle cutter but a regular knife will do. I like to cut medium sized fries, so they aren't too difficult to remove from the baking sheet. I leave the skin on.

After cutting, I put the raw wedges into a bowl. I drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and mix--coat well. Next, I add spices: salt, pepper, garlic powder and sometimes I add in a dash of red pepper. I don't want my fries too spicy!

Very lightly oil the baking sheet and spread out the fries. I cook mine for about 30 min. I tend to like them a bit crispy. Too soft and they won't come off the baking sheet without a fight!

I really do like these fries--but they are different then the frozen kind or the fast-food kind.

Once you get the hang of it, they are so easy to make!!!

Homemade fries work for me!! Visit We are That Family for more great tips!

Also linked to Tasty Tuesday

Can I Pick 2?

Pin It Now!

Recently, the kids and I finished our journey through the book of Proverbs. Our purpose for this particular study was lots of memorization!

Here's what we did:

We'd read a proverb together during our morning Bible time. I'd have the boys each pick one verse from that proverb to memorize. To make this especially personal for them, they could pick whatever verse they wanted--whichever verse spoke to them the most.

Then, they would write their verses down. Mullin chose to write his verses on note cards and Lincoln chose to write his in a notebook.

The next day, we would review memory verses.

And this continued for the next few months--read, write, and review.

By the time we finished, they'd memorized 31 verses. (Except for Shiloh ~ I only assigned 4 verses from the entire book, and she learned them very well!)

What we did next:

I told the boys to narrow their favorite Proverbs verses down to 5. Then, for their last Proverbs assignment, I wanted all of the kids to pick just one to print out and hang up in their rooms.

With a hopeful look in his eye, Lincoln asked me, "Can I pick two?"

"Um, YES! Of course!" Like I'd say NO. :)

Here's what they picked:

One of my favorite verses in Proverbs is Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

Lincoln chose that one and Proverbs 3:11-12 ~ "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves as a father the son he delights in." (Hmm, I guess technically he chose 4 verses. :))

Mullin chose Proverbs 3:27 ~ "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is your power to act."

Shiloh picked Proverbs 22:6 ~ "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." ( She even cut out pretty paper as a background on which to glue her verse. She was so happy about hanging it up by her bed. So sweet.)

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The Very Ugly Can

Pin It Now! This is one of those giant sized coffee cans. And it's ugly. Not ordinarily a can I would use and set out on my counter.

I saved it because I intended to use it for a specific purpose after I took the time to cover it with scrapbook paper and some stickers. If I'd really sought my heart's desire, I would have bought a nice jar/container and been done with it, but I was trying not to spend extra money.

Last year around the holidays, we set out a "giving jar" so each member of the family could drop in loose change or dollars as they felt led. It wasn't required or anything, and at the time my kids were hardly getting any allowance. But still, my kids gave. We prayed as a family for God to show us what to do with the money and how we could maybe help a family or donate to a certain cause around Christmas time.

It was such a blessing to have our entire family involved in working together for the sake of someone else. I got this idea that for this year we could put a "giving jar" out starting in January. Again, we could pray as a family for God to show us how to use it.

This brings me to that ugly coffee can pictured above. It was the middle of January and I hadn't found the time to decorate the can, so I hadn't put it out yet. I had already told the kids about my plan, though. So last week sometime Lincoln asked me where that can was that I said I was going to set out. My vain response was, "Well, I haven't had time to decorate it yet?"

"Can I get it and go ahead and put some money in it?"

Without hesitation I said, "Of course." (Thinking at that moment how silly I'd been to wait to put it out just because it was ugly.)

Lincoln found the can and joyfully added way more than I would have ever expected. I was really touched. My kids still don't have a regular allowance schedule ~ he was giving birthday money. Wait the story gets better.

Shiloh wanted to get in on the giving, but Lincoln said, "But all you have is a quarter." Next thing I know sweet, little Shiloh is coming into the kitchen with her purse handing me her only coin. My heart was getting softer by the minute.

Later when I was cooking dinner, I heard Shiloh, who was playing in the backyard, tell her friend, Wyatt, about our giving jar and how it was for the poor. She asked him if he would want to give. He ran home and came back with a few coins in his hand. Wow, the can had only been out for an hour and not only had 2 of my kids donated, but now they were sharing with friends?!

When daddy came home and the kids were blasting him with news of the day, they mentioned the can. I was standing at the sink (still preparing dinner) chiming in about how touched I was, and I guess my heart just got too full ~ like a big storm cloud or something. My eyes filled with tears and a few stained my cheeks. Goodness, I am really becoming such a softy!

I share not to boast about what we are doing or how totally awesome my kids are, but because it amazes me sometimes how shallow I can be without even knowing it.

So. The can. It's still on my windowsill. It's still not decorated. It's still ugly . . .

But only on the outside. It 's beautiful on the inside, and I am proud to display it for all to see.

Okay, I would still like for it to be more attractive, but I am not ashamed of it or anything. I might decorate it, or I might just keep my eyes open for a really cute and inexpensive container. I did see a flower pot at Ross for cheap, and it matched my curtains exactly. I may go back and buy it. We'll see.

The Christmas Present She Didn't Like

Pin It Now! Girl-time has become such a precious part of my daughter's and my life. We have so many "just us" things we do . . . reading Tinkerbell novels, sipping fraps, sweet night and morning cuddles, and baking together. So, for Christmas I had an idea to find a sweet, personalized apron that she could wear when we do the baking thing.

I was so excited about finding this CUTE apron, with the help of a facebook friend. My mother's heart just gushed. I ordered it and even found some girly sprinkles and dainty muffin cups to add to complete the gift.

I kind of had the feeling, though, that Shiloh might not be as thrilled about it as I was ~ at least not at first.

And . . . I was right.

Yep, Christmas morning after she opened the apron, she gave me that this-isn't-what-I-really-wanted look. I was prepared, so my feelings weren't hurt too much. I knew it would be a gift she'd grow to love. Toys may bring immediate, short-lived joy, but this apron would symbolize so much more and many memories would be made while wearing it!

Okay, I think the face has changed just a tad!! Here is my HAPPY girl all decked out in her new, unstained apron ready to bake her heart out! See, sweet girl. Mama knew. :)

Homemade chocolate cupcakes ~ YUM!

Frosting and sprinkling means closer to EATING one!! But they're too pretty to eat!

Squeezing and piping is HARDER than it looks, huh? Mama helped with that part.

Darling little morsels on a special princess plate ~ just beautiful!!

Just some added touches to make them even more special. ;)

Too, too fun. Love me some girl-time!!!!