Don't Rob Me of MY Time

When my kids were babies, I was the naptime Nazi. Bedtimes were exactly 90 minutes after each feeding, which were every three hours from 7am-7pm. At 7:00, the lights went out. I loved that our routine was predictable and that I could schedule life around well-rested, happy kids. This non-negotiable bedtime lasted until Kindergarten, at least. I slacked off occasionally, but bedtimes were a rigid requirement for many, many years.

Somewhere along the way, we got off course. Bedtime moved to 7:30, then 8:00. Story time would linger. Kids took turns popping out of bed for extra kisses or a drink of water. The nail in the coffin was when we began homeschooling last year...no more rushing around in the morning meant no sense of urgency to get to bed at night. We became very lax about bedtime.

Feb 2010 - Story time with Daddy

Recently, my mom went to my BFF's house to babysit for her when she was in a bind. She made a comment that lingered in my head: "Her kids (four of them from 2-8 years old) go to bed immediately when they're told. Right at 7:30, no arguing or complaining." My heart twinged a little as I thought, "Hmph - so do mine!" Then reality set in, "Oh wait, they don't so much anymore..."

I think because they've become so independent, we say, "Go take a shower" or "Head upstairs and put on your PJs" and expect them to do it. But often they dawdle or distract each other and we get caught doing something on our own and don't follow up with them when they're done. Then everyone gets thrown off.

When I talked to my friend about how she's stayed so diligent with her bedtime routine, she simply replied, "Because every minute past 7:30 that the kids go to bed is one less minute I get to spend with my husband."

Well, when you put it that way...

My fire was relit. Bedtime in our house was immediately 8:00 and not a minute later. I thought this would be met with some resistance, but as it turns out, the problem wasn't the kids...it was me and Mike. When we ask them to do something and follow up with them, they don't get as distracted and they're fully capable (and willing!) to stay on course.

Mike hasn't been quite as neurotic as I have about sticking to the 8:00 bedtime. If the kids are getting along and everyone's content, he tends to not want to upset the applecart with the announcement of bedtime. The problem lies in the fact that when we allow them to stay up later, we get less time together and less individual time to relax and deprogram before we turn in for the night. As a couple, we begin to feel disconnected and as a stay at home mom, I feel like it's all kids, all the time; from the moment I wake until the moment I go to bed.

Don't get me wrong...I love my kids. I choose to spend day in and day out with them and love that I don't send them off to school each day. But I still need MY time. I need OUR time. 

So showers and stories now start at 7:30, lights out at 8:00. Period. The bedtime Nazi is officially back in business. 

Clutter Keeper Solution

One of my biggest pet peeves is when things are strung all over the house...especially the kitchen. With kids, this is going to be inevitable with toys and games, but it's just so...constant.  Especially in a two story home. Things from upstairs migrate downstairs and toys from our downstairs playroom end up in the kids' rooms with no where to put them "away".

I finally have a solution!

These great totes are on clearance through Tastefully Simple for $8.95 (originally $27.95) and they fit perfectly shoved up against the wall of our staircase. Three might be a bit excessive...I've found that every time I head upstairs I grab one and empty it right away. The idea was to have one for kids' stuff, one for schoolroom stuff and one for office stuff/bills to file. I have one at the top of the staircase, too, for items that belong downstairs. 

The reason this is working is because when I can't put something away because it belongs upstairs, instead of putting it helplessly on the counter, I stick it in a staircase bin. It now HAS a place! My counters are clearer, the kids rooms have less piles of "I don't know where to put this" and I'm less cranky about random stuff being everywhere. 

Halla!

These totes are a great neutral color with chocolate brown (faux?) leather trim on the bottom and handles. They're lightweight and durable and the perfect size! (12.5" x 11" x 10")

(Are you feeling a sales pitch coming on? Brace yourself...)

They also have an awesome oblong tote that matches perfectly and is a little longer at 17.75" x 8" x 10".  It was $39.95 but is now only $9.95! I bought several to corral my office supplies near my desk. 

Both of these totes would also be great for holding mittens/hats/scarves, magazines, mail/paper clutter, it could be a Wii/Playstation accessories holder or a movie bin near the DVD player...the possibilities are endless. 

You all know I sell this stuff, so feel free to go online and order; click on the 80% off picture right under my big blonde head on the main page of my website. You'll see what I mean.  There's also some other cool stuff on clearance: a great tote bag ($50 off - only $9.95), an adorable set of 4 ramekins (I use these almost every day for my oatmeal) for only $8.95 and some hearty draw-string, taffeta gift bags for only a buck.

PS - the shipping is a flat rate up to $60, so whether you buy one $10 item or six, the shipping is the same, so definitely peek around the site to snag some other fun deals. You know where to find me if you have questions!

 

Meal Plan 12/27/12 - 1/5/13

This is my leftover-Christmas-food meal plan. LOTS of repurposing! There are so many leftovers in my fridge that I need to spend some time this weekend assembling and freezing some of the recipes below so the meat won't go bad. Several of these are easy to prepare ahead.

Thursday - Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup (add carrots and broccoli)
Friday - Shrimp Pasta with Tomatoes, Lemon and Spinach *
Saturday - Healthy Turkey Pot Pie
Sunday - The Pioneer Woman's Leftover Turkey and Cheese Panini *
Monday - New Year's Eve fiesta: Ham and Spinach Quiche *, Goat Cheese Sun Dried Tomato Party Dip * and Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls *
Tuesday - Cheese and Turkey Enchilada Casserole *
Wednesday - Cheap and Easy Korean Beef
Thursday - Lasagna Soup
Friday - leftovers or eat out
Saturday - Turkey Tetrazzini
Sunday - chicken on the grill with rice and salad

Sweet Treats
Chia Cranberry Apple Crisp *
No-Bake Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies *
 

Merry Christmas to All...

from my family to yours

 

Snow Day, 2012

We haven't been up north to play in the snow in three years, so it was officially time. Last trip, the big kids were 3 and 5 and didn't last long because we didn't dress them properly. (apparently jeans get cold when they're soggy) We borrowed what we could from friends and pieced together the rest ourselves.  This year, Ryan wasn't scared of flying down steep hills face first at warp speeds. Jason would have done the big hills alone, had we not stopped him because he refused to hold on to the handles and kept tumbling off. 

The little hills were fun until Ryan discovered a monster hill. It was steep, huge and packed flat with icy snow. The kids couldn't get enough of it.

Jason has never seen the white stuff in person and, although he enjoyed sledding, he had the most fun pelting us with snowballs. (we went up when he was 2 months old, but it doesn't count when you're asleep in an infant carrier the whole time)

We topped off the afternoon with cocoa, then pizza at Oregano's, before making the long drive home.

Jason passed out (napless) 15 minutes before we reached the house. And it wasn't until we unloaded the car that I realized my phone was missing. I think it slipped off my lap when I let Jason go to the bathroom on the shoulder of the highway in the middle of no where. (*sigh*) We were about 30 minutes outside of town, so we're going to see if we can find it later today. I'm thinking a new iPhone 5 might be in my future if we aren't able to locate the needle in the haystack!

Glittered Peppermint Macaroons - Cookie Exchange Winner!

I went to a cookie exchange this weekend that raised the bar. There were prizes for best tasting cookie, best looking cookie, best platter presentation, best recipe card and best packaging. This cookie won in almost every category and I'm fairly certain the votes were spread out just because no one wanted it to be a sweep.

The clear boxes were ordered online and the tags were hand crafted, as were the recipe "cards" which were actually little booklets. (they were round like a macaroon and the pages were the "filling" - over the top adorable!) To be clear, I did not make these, but I plan to next year! They looked and tasted amazing.

This recipe is not for the faint of heart, but it is a huge crowd-pleaser!

Macaroon Ingredients:

3 large egg whites

1/2 c almond flour

1 c powdered sugar

1 vanilla bean

1 1/2 c white sugar

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Blend the almond flour, powdered sugar and the contents of the vanilla bean (scrape the inside) in a food processor until fully combined.

3. With a mixer, whisk the egg whites on medium-high speed until foamy. Add in the white sugar and whisk until soft peaks form.

4. Add the egg whites to the flour and fold to incorporate until mixture is just smooth, using no more than 50 strokes.

5. Fit a pastry bag with a large round tip and fill with macaroon batter.

6. Pipe 1" circles onto parchment-lined baking sheet.

7. Let the better rest on the pan at least 30 minutes before baking to form a film and prevent cracking. 

8. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 280 F for 15-20 minutes on the middle rack. To test for doneness, gently touch the top of a macaroon to make sure it's dry. Gently lift the macaroon from the paper and if it comes away pretty easily, they're done. If not, check on them every 2 minutes until the bottom is dry.

9. Once removed from the oven, allow them to rest on the pan for 10 minutes to cook completely before removing.

10. Cool macaroons completely before frosting or filling.

Peppermint Filling Ingredients:

1/2 c butter, softened

1 1/2 c powdered sugar

3 oz. good quality white chocolate (chopped, melted and cooled to room temperature)

1 Tbs milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 c peppermint candies

Directions:

1. Place butter, chocolate, milk and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat until smooth. Incorporate in powdered sugar until combined, then add peppermint candies.

2. (optional: spread a thin layer of melted chocolate on each macaroon before adding filling)

3. Fill macaroons with 1 tsp filling, then place another macaroon on top to complete the sandwich cookie.

Glitter topping:

1 c water

1 c white sugar

red edible glitter

green edible glitter

Directions: 

1. To make simple syrup, combine water and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool.

2. Paint a small layer of simple syrup onto each macaroon, then sprinkle with glitter. Tap off excess glitter.

 

The Man of the House

This morning, I needed to keep everyone occupied while I cleaned the kitchen, so I asked Ryan to assist Jason with his favorite new dinosaur puzzle.

Jason loves this puzzle and I love that he's learning to appreciate a quiet, non-physical activity. For once! Jason worked diligently to find pieces that matched and Ryan seemed to be helping, until I heard him say, "Jason - drop the puzzle pieces on my head like RAIN!!!" (this huge puzzle only has 24 pieces...so each one is big and heavy) Jason was suddenly in the mood to be wild instead of playing calmly. Awesome. 

Before I could speak up, I heard Ryan yelp, "OW!!!" I pulled him aside and tried to help him understand the sequence of events that occurred up until he got hurt.

1. Jason is an extremely rough and tumble kid.

2. Everyone in the house hates how he destroys things and that he defaults to aggression while playing.

3. Knowing #1 and #2, I've intentionally been trying to redirect Jason to more peaceful activities, like puzzles.

4. Jason is finally engaged in an age-appropriate puzzle but can't complete it on his own yet. I sent Ryan over to assist and he encourages the lion-who's-playing-like-a-lamb to turn from his new ways and revert back to the old.

Is it shocking that Ryan ended up getting hurt? Not really. 

I didn't know how to get through to him that he needs to start acting more mature and responsible. The younger kids look to him to be more of an example and when he acts crazy, they see that as a green light to follow suit. Then the following words came out of my mouth:

"When Dad's at work, you're the man of the house. I need you to start acting like it."

Immediately, Ryan perked up. He sat up a little straighter. His head was a little higher. He heard me loud and clear. "I'm the man of the house?" 

"Yup."

For the next hour, Ryan meditated on this concept, both personally and aloud.  "As the man of the house...when Daddy's gone, of course...can I have more grown up responsibilities?"

"Hmm, like what?"

"Like staying home alone? And riding my bike to the grocery store to get food? Oh wait...how would I get it home on my bike...? Never mind about that last one.  Can I stay home alone?"

"When you start proving yourself to be responsible when I AM around, I will begin to trust that you are old enough to stay home alone. I'm not talking about behaving for just for an hour or a day...I'm talking about most of the time."

That thought took a minute to sink in.

We work on self-control a lot around her.  Our "We Choose Virtues" card explains it this way, "I make myself do the right thing. I am not wild, rowdy or disorderly and I don't expect others to control me."

Someday this will describe my boys. Someday I will look back on this post and breathe a sigh of relief that the rough and tumble days are over. In the meantime, I will consistently encourage my little guys to be more civil. Not to de-masculanize them, but to help them grow into the respectful young men God intends them to be.

(Lord, help me.)

  

Meal Plan - 12/17/12

This week's meal plan revolves around lots of leftovers from last night's Christmas party. I ended up doing a baked potato bar with lots of toppings including two different chilis and several cheesy, bacon-y dip mixes from Tastefully Simple. 

Monday - Leftover Baked Potato Bar with salad

Tuesday - Ravioli with beer bread

Wednesday - Chili with Cornbread with Cranberries and Pecans

Thursday - Quinoa Soup (I can't find the link to this - I found a bag of it in the freezer. It's a mystery soup!)

Friday - Healthy Cream of Potato Soup (seriously, we have a lot of leftover baked potatoes!)

Saturday - Chicken on the Grill, rice and veggies

Sunday - leftovers

New Recipe Review from last week:

- Skinny Chicken Enchiladas - YUM! A lovely, lower calorie/fat version of an old time favorite. All of us loved these except one of the kids at any given time. Kaylin didn't love them the first night and Jason wouldn't eat it when we ate them as leftovers.

-  Crock Pot Greek Chicken - This was fine...nothing amazing, just fine. I can't remember what I served it with (maybe rice and veggies?) but the flavor wasn't very strong. We all added salt and it still tasted like it was missing "something". Probably oil or butter? 

- Almond Toffee Bites - Oh. My. Goodness. These little bites of heaven were DELICIOUS and can never be made in my home again or I might eat my weight in toffee. Again. I made one batch with pecans and milk chocolate then a second one with almonds and semi-sweet chocolate. The pecans were a much softer nut to bite into and the milk chocolate was much less intense, so we preferred the pecan variation for sure. Next time, I might attempt to make little clusters and turn them into turtles.  Oh wait - didn't I say I wasn't allowed to make these ever again!??!!

- Buffalo Chicken Bites - This was a party winner for sure. Cream cheese, chicken and wing sauce inside of a crescent-like roll? No brainer.

- Hot Chocolate Cupcakes - Unusually easy to assemble and absolutely adorable. So fun - I highly recommend!