An Idea for your Freezer Meals

On Sunday, Ryan helped me make a gazillion freezer meals using some Tastefully Simple recipes with leftover product samples I had lying around. The new catalog has an awesome freezer meal collection that has me longing to spend a couple of hours every other weekend filling my freezer with ready-to-cook meals.

Before buying the kit from the catalog, I used some sale ground beef and chicken to prepare some recipes that I already had on hand.

Having a freezer full of Ziplock bags is one thing, but when I'm in a hurry, sometimes I don't have time to thaw a giant blob of ice before throwing it into a pan. Then I remembered an idea I saw years ago.

This is about half of the meals Ryan and I made. And Ryan begged to be in the picture since he helped!

I grabbed the pans that I planned to use for the meatloaf and casseroles, pressed the unfrozen blob into the shape of the pan, and froze each IN the Ziplock IN the pan until it was firm.  Then I popped the bag out of the pan, returned the bagged meal to the freezer and washed the pan so I can use it in the meantime.

The crockpot meals were left to freeze in a giant blob form, but the grill meals were frozen flat and the oven meals were frozen in their intended-to-be-cooked-in pans. I felt like a genius for remembering that tip! My freezer is now full of ready-to-cook dinners and I won't have to cook for weeks!!!

A Big-Deal Day!

Yesterday was a big day in our house.  Not only did Kaylin start a new tumbling class (after being away from gymnastics for many months) but Ryan is officially a Cub Scout. 

Kaylin hasn't had routine, physical exercise since last summer. This was brought to my attention when I took the kids on a bike ride recently and Kaylin pouted, cried and complained the ENTIRE time: "This is too hard!" and "My legs hurt!" and "I want to stop...can we go home???" I knew we were in trouble when the whining started two blocks from our house.

Both kids are excited about their new activities, but I hesitate to use the word "excited" to describe Ryan.  It's like saying that the Grand Canyon is a "pretty big hole."

I can honestly say that I have never seen this child act this way about anything.  Not football, not one of his birthday parties, not even Disneyland.  He's the type of boy who doesn't handle anticipation well...he asks 1,000 times when we are going somewhere or when so-and-so is coming over or when an event is going to begin. Because of this, I tend to give him little notice when there's something to look forward to. You would think the self-control over his excitement would improve over time, but I haven't noticed that yet. 

So the day Mike and I got the green light that there was room in a 2nd grade Cub Scout Wolf Den (oh yes, I know all of the lingo now), I took him to the Boy Scout Shop (and yes, there is a whole store dedicated to all things Scouting) to get his uniform and handbook.

For days, every time the doorbell rang, he threw on his uniform and hat. He loves to carry the handbook under his arm and he can often be seen standing at attention for no reason. He begs to wear the neckerchief during meals. He wears the hat to pick Kaylin up from the bus stop.

"Excited" just isn't the right word.

Last night's meeting couldn't come fast enough. During the loooong six days since we agreed he could join the scouts, my mom has tirelessly been sewing on patch after patch to get him all ready for this first meeting.  Unfortunately, there's only a couple of months left before his den breaks for summer, but I think it's the perfect amount of time for him to get his feet wet and meet some of the boys that he will advance with over the years. And he fully intends to try to catch up and get his Wolf patch, which the other boys took months to earn.

Ryan desperately needs this.  He has missed being a part of a group.  Football ended at the same time we began homeschooling in November, so he's been a lone ranger for several months...and I can tell that it bugs him.  I truly hope this fills his bucket and meets that need of hanging out regularly with other boys!

Extreme Consequences

In addition to our "No More Yelling" rule, I've added another annoying habit to the dry erase board on our fridge: Meal-time is for EATING.  My kids' main goal when sitting at the dinner table is to make the other laugh, and when Kaylin already takes an eternity to eat her food, meals can take up to an hour to consume. It has become my newest pet peeve.

We've tried everything with her: threats, bribes, timers, ignoring the issue completely...I'm really over it.  Then last week, I had an epiphany: all week, the kids were looking forward to a "Pajama Party" in the library of the school on Thursday night. They were bouncing off the walls all day, were showered and in their PJs by 4:00 when the event started at 6pm, they were pumped.  I sat them down to eat dinner around 5:15ish and Kaylin, which this event was technically hers, proceeded to fool around for more than 30 minutes without touching her food.  At 5:45, I let got the boys' shoes on, did the dishes, cleaned up the kitchen, and let Kaylin know that we weren't leaving until she finished her dinner. (knowing there would be cookies and milk there and that she wouldn't get any unless she ate her teeny bowl of pasta) 

She spent the next TWENTY minutes eating the pasta one noodle at a time, chewing it thoroughly, washing it down with her water, then slowing taking another bite. The boys and I sat on the couch, ready to walk out the door, watching her eat for twenty. minutes. Around 6:00, I threatened that if her bowl wasn't empty by 6:05, we weren't going because we'd be so late, we'd miss the storytime and most of the activities.

The fact that she still barely finished her food in time (it was really more like 6:07) made me realize that this might not be a deliberate problem. Sure, she giggles and messes around before eating, but the way she eats is actually ridiculously slooooooooooooooow. (*sigh*)

Going back to the point of my post: I told the big kids that we will spend 30 minutes at the table for every meal, not a second more.  If they are not finished eating after 30 minutes, they will get a chance to eat again at the next meal/snack...or the next morning in the case of dinner.  Period.

I also explained that there will be consequences for fooling around at the table. The faster they eat, the faster they can be excused to play and laugh and joke around all they want. In addition to the eating-all-day issue, I also want to teach them good table manners.  And burping, flailing around (which results in spilling drinks and meals), and all of the other "how can I get everyone to laugh" antics are not good table manners. I don't want to get to a point where everyone dreads mealtimes...there are enough issues with eating disorders and weight problems in our society!  Meals should be pleasant and enjoyable and a great time to chat as a family.

I asked for the kids' input in the consequence. Ryan immediately said, "No Wii for a week!" and Kaylin chimed in, "For me...no t.v. for a week!" It sounded extreme, but I wondered if that would get them to take this exercise seriously...?  So I posted it on the board.

It took 5 meals before Ryan lost the Wii.  Five glorious meals. He lost the Wii at breakfast, then that night at dinner.  But no Wii for 2 weeks...already?  It seemed a bit harsh.

Now I need to have a conversation with them about appropriate consequences for negative actions. Let's not make mountains out of molehills, people! I still don't know what the consequence should be...maybe we'll just go back to $.25 for each offense...? I just feel like we're working on so many things at once. (*sigh*) Parenting is a never-ending job...

For the sake of my waistline, a new schedule is needed!

Since we began our homeschooling journey in November, going to the gym has become a sporadic activity, if that. At first, we were getting used to our new routine, then came the holidays, then ridiculous traveling in a relatively short period of time, and now...well, now I have no idea what my excuse is other than I'm just flat out of the habit of making fitness a priority.

I used to go to the gym every morning except Sundays, but now we spend our mornings in the school room. I've tried going after Kaylin gets off the bus in the afternoons, but the kids are so excited to play with their friends in the beautiful weather, I hate to pull them away.  When I'm motivated, workout videos are nice, but motivation has been quite a problem recently.

Last night, I noticed that I have merely five weeks until our trip to Cancun. Five short weeks to shed a few pounds and feel comfortable in my summer wardrobe again. I've been hiding out in jeans and baggy shirts all winter...but I'm done hiding. Enough is enough.

So I've decided that I need to make working out a part of our morning routine again and utilize our drive time by having the big kids do their self-directed workbook activities. Then, when Kaylin's home this summer, we'll do the majority of our schoolwork in the afternoons when it's 100++ degrees outside.  

For now, here is how I'd like our days to look:

7am - Wake up, breakfast
7:30 - Jason in playroom while we do our morning chores
8am - History lesson while the kids color.  As the temperatures rise over the next few months, we'll spend this time playing in the backyard before the heat of the day becomes unbearable.
8:30 - Grammar lesson
9am - Spelling and Phonics review
9:15 - Snack time
9:30 - Leave for the gym; kids work on Spelling and Phonics workbooks in the van
10:30 - Drive home from the gym; kids finish Spelling and Phonics workbooks (if necessary)
11am - Lunch
11:30 - Kaylin leaves for the bus, boys play together while I clean up lunch
12:00 - Jason naps, Ryan does Math
12:30 - Ryan reads while I work
1:30 - Freetime
3pm - Jason wakes up, Kaylin home from school, snack time
3:30 - Kids play outside

The rest of the day will be the same until May.  I'm hoping this will get me back in the habit of exercising and will take the wiggle out of my jiggle!  

Confession time...

In the last couple of weeks, I've realized a few things.

I've realized that, now that I can get email on my iPhone, I hardly sit down to a real computer anymore.

I've realized that if I don't blog about a topic within 24 hours of thinking of an idea, the inspiration disappears forever.

I've realized that I miss blogging more regularly. It keeps my head clear of extra "stuff" floating around all the time.

I've realized that I eat healthy throughout the week, then ruin everything by blowing it on the weekends. I then need to take the week to balance my weight with healthier eating until Friday hits, then the cycle starts over.

I've realized that without regular workouts, eating healthy during the week might not undo the weekend damage.  Yes, it's that bad.

I've realized that the 3:00 hour is bad for me. Since Ryan began Kindergarten a few years back, the "after school snack" concept has turned into a daily sweet treat habit that is difficult to break.

I've realized, since starting our "no yelling for Lent" idea, that I don't raise my voice nearly as often as I thought. I still get frustrated, but I'm as loud about it as I used to be.

I've realized that when I get loud, it happens quickly and seemingly out of the blue.

I've realized that I tend to yell when I have a one-track mind about something and I'm thrown off course with bickering, begging or other short-people interruptions.

I've realized that Jason interrupts me. A lot.

I've realized that I don't like hurrying around and that, since we began homeschooling, rushing has become a pet peeve.

I've realized that I've developed a bit of a bad attitude about the "disruption" that sending Kaylin to afternoon Kindergarten has become every day.

I've realized that half-day Kindergarten half-days are a complete waste of time. I drove Kaylin to school at noon on Friday, only to realize that it was a half-day and that everyone was already gone. I can thank the fact that Outlook crashed for my ignorance about the school schedule change!

I've realized that I don't enjoy working my life around someone else's time table. (read: Kaylin's school) This seemed selfish and controlling until I compared it to someone who has run their own business by their own rules but is suddenly thrown back into working for a regimented government office with little flexibility. We get into a morning groove with homeschooling, then if I'm not paying attention to the clock, I need to stop everything to rush through lunch and race Kaylin to the bus stop. I can't wait to have her home with us all day.

I've realized that there are days that I don't step outside until its time to round up the kids from the front yard for dinner. Years ago, this would have bothered me beyond measure, but now, not so much.

I've realized that I was so grateful for February to be over and that I didn't have to wake up early every day anymore, that I completely forgot about my March goal of not using Facebook for month. OOPS. So if it's March 5th today, I suppose I can't check Facebook until April 5th. That sounds fair.

I've realized that Pinterest is not my enemy.  A friend explained that she peeks around for 15 minutes each night before bed and that's it.  So, after weeks (months?) of having an account and refusing to log in, I am officially enjoying Pinterest. In healthy doses.

I've realized that since losing all of my Outlook files, my virtual organization is a mess. I've enjoyed synching my new iPhone with my new Macbook, but I'm still not doing things as efficiently as I was way back at the beginning of February. That was an eternity ago...

I've realized that keeping my "Picture of the Day" project organized is much more difficult with my Mac. I'm not used to how my photos download and where to store them and haven't taken the time to mess around with it enough. So I have dozens upon dozens of pictures on my camera just waiting to be downloaded. But I avoid.

I've realized that I would love to do some Spring Cleaning, but I just don't have the time. Or think I don't have the time.  I could probably squeeze in a little each day.  I should probably squeeze in a little each day. Stay tuned for more on that.

I realize that this post wasn't nearly as juicy as the title inferred, but I had to get your attention somehow! Life's not exactly interesting these days, which is fine by me. 

I'm Elmo and I Know It

Thanks to the school bus driver, my five-and-a-half year old princess now knows the chorus to "I'm Sexy and I Know It". And has asked me what "sexy" means. All because this lovely little ditty is played on her bus daily. Awesome.

Ryan has heard the neighborhood kids singing it and thinks it's called, "I'm Sassy and I Know It." Is it bad that I didn't correct him?

All of this annoyed me until I saw the video below last week. I have decided to show it to the kids repeatedly until THIS chorus is the one that is stuck in their heads. We'll see if it works! If you have a couple of minutes, check out this video with your kids. Cute, innocent, and comical when compared to the original.  Enjoy!

Jason-isms

Jason is quite the character. His cuteness far outweighs his defiant, controlling demeanor. When he enters the room, he shouts, "Ta DA!  I'm HERE!!!" or "Hello, Mommy...I'mmmmm HERE!" as if I've been waiting for him all day.  He seriously cracks me up.

Here are some of the sweet things he mixes up right now.  He's suddenly pronouncing his L's and R's much better, so his toddler-speak won't be around for long. (*sigh*)

Words I want to remember:
"checkup" = ketchup
"chicken" = kitchen
"spur" = stir
" case in idea" = quesadilla
"epha-lent" = elephant
"scudder" = scooter, which he asks to ride every time we pull into the garage
"forgive us" = forgiveness - as in "Jason, go apologize for pinching Ryan and ask for forgiveness."  "Sorry Ryan, will you forgive us?"

He also says, "How we doin'?" after he says "hi" sometimes.

With all of his silly words, his speech continues to awe and amaze strangers. Just this week, some girls at the park were entertaining each other having him recite their names and random sentences that they asked him to say. I should act as his manager and begin charging a fee for his services...!

No More Yelling

Happy Ash Wednesday!  Last night, Mike and I were talking about what we could give up for Lent (no, we're not Catholic and yes, we still do Lent) and Mike couldn't think of anything for himself. I asked him if there are any bad habits that he'd like to stop. If it takes 30 days to make a habit, certainly he could get out of a habit during the 40 days of Lent!

He suggested that he'd like to stop yelling at the kids.  And by "yelling," he really means "raising his voice."  Mike hardly ever actually yells, but speaking impatiently to the kids and raising his voice to get his point across is more frequent now, with the daily stresses of his new job.

I liked the idea so much that I decided that we'd do this together as a family. This morning, we laid out the plans for the kids...when Mike or I raise our voices or argue, we will pay $1 to the person who X's us.  When the kids raise their voice, argue or make a request (our new focus of contentment), they will give $.25 to the person who notices it.  This includes the big kids catching each other.

As the morning wore on and quarters were traded, I thought of a positive spin on our 40 day challenge: when the kids do chores without being asked and I catch them, they get $.25. And when they obey the first time, doing something diligently, they get $.25.  That has been another issue we've been struggling with: with our new loose homeschooling schedule, there's been a lack of a sense of urgency around here.  It's been nice to have a more relaxed environment, with the exception of the fact that when the kids are asked to do something, they turn into Pokey Little Puppies.

It's only lunchtime and I already have $5.25...and I'm a little shocked/proud that I haven't given up any money yet. I figured I'd be giving back their money little by little, but apparently not. I did kind of shout for Jason who was in the playroom when I thought he was upstairs, but I immediately stopped myself. (even though Jason isn't involved, I still pay $1 for raising my voice at him) This accountability thing is working!

I'm really hoping this new little game of ours helps change the tone of our home again.  There has been so much going on in the past five months: Mike's layoff, his new job, starting to homeschool, the holidays, tons of travel...we all need to get back on track.  And I, for one, am so ready.

What are you giving up for Lent?