Republican National Convention

Mitt Romney was BRILLIANT!!


I even enjoyed Huckabee and I don't even like him!


Rudy Giuliani .... DRILL BABY DRILL!!!


and Sarah Palin was .....MAGNIFICENT!!!!


http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/ (Beware... occasional language...) had some great post speech comments ... like 700 of them!! Some of my favorites: "She had me at Hello...", "Sarahcuda", "I am glad to now have a reason to vote FOR McCain instead of casting a ballot AGAINST Obama"
"I can't believe how excited I am to vote for McCain now. I never, EVER thought I'd say that.
She was amazing.
My favorite moment was Piper licking her palm and smoothing baby Trig's hair. Too cute.
But the line about Obama using the term 'victory' only to refer to his own campaign and never to the war was very powerful.
I choked up a few times. She's truly amazing. And they can talk about speechwriters all they want, but that message was hers alone.
Can't wait for the VP debates. Clock meet cleaner. LOL! "

Mom Lunch Recipe?

During the day I frequenly struggle with finding good, healthy things to eat at lunch time.... ....especially since I am trying to lose weight. Today I tried a recipe out of my favorite Italian cookbook that is low in calories (90) and only 4g of fat. It is only 2 Weight Watchers points. I made a 1/2 recipe so that I could have it today for lunch and then will have 3 servings leftover in the fridge for other days. I ate it with a 1/2 slice of sprouted, multi-grain toast. It was great!! (and I really don't like cooked spinach... but I liked this!)

Spinach-Polenta Soup

8 servings

2 Tbsp. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 c. finely chopped onion

1 bag (16 oz) frozen chopped spinach

3 cans (14.5 oz each) vegatable broth

1 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp. dried)

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1. Cook garlic and onion in hot oil about 5 minutes, stirring occassionally, until onion is tender.

2. Stir in frozen spinach and broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Stir in remaining ingredients except cornmeal. GRADUALLY stir in cornmeal. (stir the soup constantly so the cornmeal won't clump)

3. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, until soup is thickened.

Second Class Citizen??

Over the last few days, in the wake of John McCain's announcement of Governor Sarah Palin as his choice of a running mate, there has been an onslaught of media attention on her as a mother and on mothers in general. I have read and read about how Palin is NO Hillary (hallelujah) and stands for everything that women of America (aka feminists) don't need or want. One journalist went as far as to say that Palin promotes stay-home moms who are 2ND class citizens.

WHAT????!!!!

I am NO second class citizen. No woman who works outside of the home whether by choice or not is a BETTER or WORTHIER CITIZEN than I am. I CHOOSE to stay home with my children. It was a CHOICE. My husband and I TOGETHER decided it was better for our family. It was hard at first to give up that 2nd income ... but we did it.... and I have NEVER... even for one second.... felt otherwise!

I don't judge those that work outside the home.... especially those that don't have a choice. As a matter of fact, most women I have spoken with have commented on how lucky I am to be able to stay home and raise my own children.... and what they would give to be able to have that opportunity.

I went to college. I want my girls to go and graduate from a University. However, the one thing I always wanted to do more than anything else in the world was to be a mom. Aren't we taught that you always do your best in any job or career you have?? Well... I felt that the best way for me to do my very BEST in my role as a mother was to be home with them. Any sacrifice, monetary or otherwise, has been worth it.

I CHOOSE my children. I CHOOSE to help better prepare the next generation.

What JOB or CAREER is more important than that???

And just in case you couldn't tell..... I 100% support Sarah Palin!!!

(I like her more than McCain!!) http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/

TRYING to raise healthy eaters!!

Trying to always make sure your children are eating right is a never ending job. I DO think I do a pretty good job but it is a constant learning process.

Over the past couple of weeks I have started making my kids (every morning) the power smoothies that April listed on her blog a few months ago. Its really great and the kids absolutely love them. When I am busy, this is sometimes all I get in the morning and I am totally fine until lunch!

I start off with some type of frozen fruit mixture I get at Costco or Sams .... the triple berry blend, Dole fruit medley, etc. I use about 1 1/2 - 2 cups. Then I add a LOT of fresh fruit. Always a banana. We love Mango, kiwi, fresh berries - we love black berries! Anything we have on hand. Then of course the vegetables.... always at least a cup of fresh spinach leaves and a large carrot or a hand full of baby carrots. Throw in 1 - 2 Tbsp. flax seed meal along with fresh orange juice and.... BAM! A healthy power packed smoothie to start your day!

Of course the remainder of breakfast can be a challenge. I have great recipes for 100% whole wheat waffles and pancakes made with freshly ground wheat BUT..... the kids pour syrup all over them!! How healthy is that... really? The vast majority of Bagels sold have high fructose corn syrup listed in the first 5 ingredients.... yuck. So we usually go for eggs - scrambled, poached or sunny side up, with John's homemade 100% wheat bread/toast. On Sunday I made a recipe out of "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld.... green scrambled eggs made with spinach puree... and they are REALLY green!! But they taste just like regular eggs so my kids inhaled them!! (Especially after I told them the were Ogre Eggs!!)

We also like old fashioned cooked oatmeal with mom's canned peaches on top. If we are short on time we grab the trusty box of cereal .... but always one from Trader Joe's.... usually shredded wheat, raisin bran or some variety of granola..... but I do try to only have cereal no more than twice a week. (9 am church so Sunday is usually one of the 2 days!!)

School lunches are even more challenging. I can't even imagine what my kid's friends say about their lunches!! I try to rotate between turkey (from Trader Joe's.... no nitrates!) and PB and J (I made the jam and the PB is from Traders too!! All natural!!) Both made on dad's homemade wheat bread. Sometimes I will make homemade pizza and throw cold slices in their lunches the next day.... they love that! Katie also likes a good salad from Fresh and Easy. After the "main dish" I usually throw in at least 1 or 2 different fruits. Sometimes vegetables...... Livy LOVES shelled edamame (soy beans). Sometimes I throw in a yogurt (again ... Trader Joe's is the only one I have found without high fructose corn syrup in it....) We almost never have chips and only have a sweet on Fridays.... for fun! I also put a frozen water bottle in the lunch box to keep everything cool and to drink. NO juice boxes here!

Snacks at school are challenging too .... especially when my younger kids see what "snacks" their friends bring. Our kids usually have fruit, carrots, edamame, peanut butter crackers, pretzels (not my favorite), even beef jerky on occasion.

ANY IDEAS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

At dinner I just try to cook a good variety. I try to make fish at least once a week.... depending on whats available. All my kids love salmon, shrimp, halibut and Ahi tuna. If I can find anything else on special that is fresh caught I will bring it home! We try to only eat farm raised salmon once a month. We also eat a lot of chicken. I do throw in red meat once a week too. We all LOVE a good medium rare steak (I know.... gross... but I LOVE it!) Vegetarian meals are hard for me ... I have a handful that we like. My kids love Cuban black beans and rice, Spaghetti squash with sauce, regular wheat spaghetti with lots of veggies in the sauce, some salad, etc. I need to get better at vegetarian meals!

I also struggle with side dishes.... we always have at least one vegetable but I always want to throw in the rice or potato.... and not brown rice either!! Good old sticky white Japanese calrose rice!! Luckily my kids like most vegetables.... and we are working on the ones they don't! I even have them eating brussel sprouts!!

I guess the key for me personally is to expose them to all the good healthy stuff. I want them to at least try a great variety of things. Sometimes my younger guys aren't very willing but I don't make separate meals .... you eat what mom makes or you don't eat. I am NOT a short order cook! We also don't have snacks after dinner either. If they are hungry after dinner .... they didn't eat enough at dinner time! I don't care if they have to dip their food in ketchup to get it down (although scallops in ketchup about made me heave.... but she ate it!!) What ever it takes!!

I know they won't starve .... and I do know kids are smart enough to refuse new things if they know mom or dad will give in when they cry they are hungry or starving and make them something else they will eat!

So.... if you have any suggestions or recipes for me..... send them along!! PLEASE??!!!!

Thanks!!!

Keeping A Family of Eight Organized....or At Least Out of Chaos!

With school starting again it was time to bring out the trusty chore charts. They don't seem to work as well over the summer but they really work during the school year! (I always look forward to getting back to a solid routine!)

We started off with a fun Family Home Evening. I had John take the face off of our grandfather clock to show the kids the gears and working parts behind the face. I showed them how there is not just one big gear (mom) but multiple gears and wheels making the whole clock run. I explained that everyone in our family was like a part of the clock... each working together to help our family run smoothly. Then I reintroduced the chore charts and the kids got really excited!!

We actually have 3 separate charts on our fridge. One for weekday chores, one for Saturday chores and one special chart for daily habits. This last chart is my favorite. It's really what keeps my house organized and running smoothly! I call it our "I Can Take Care of Myself and My Own Things" List.

The bottom line is that last year I got tired of picking up after my school age kids. When they get home from school at 4:00 my downstairs is always clean .... but by 8:00 - bedtime - it would look like a bomb went off! I am NOT a maid! So.... the "I Can Take Care of Myself and My Own Things" List was born!

On this chart I list all of the things I expect my kids to do on school days. Most are basics like brushing their teeth morning and night, making their beds in the morning before school, hanging up their backpacks after homework is completed and signed, filling their own water bottles and putting them in the fridge or freezer, putting their lunch boxes in the pantry, picking up their own clothes out of the bathroom, picking up their rooms before bedtime, etc. We are just making sure that they are being responsible for themselves and for their own things. I want these things to be habits!

How the chart works is with Popsicle sticks. Each child has a jar with their name on it on top of our fridge. Monday morning each child starts with 10 Popsicle sticks. If they forget to do something listed on the chart, they loose a Popsicle stick. Depending on their age, each child has a special number of sticks they still have to have by Saturday....i.e. Katie has to have 8 by the end of the week but Olivia only has to have 5. If they do have that designated number of sticks they get to go to treasure box! Katie and Rachel have never missed going to treasure box. All of the things on the list are second nature to them!! So I guess that means its working!!

Now I don't consider any of the things on that list "chores" .... but habits in the making! The other 2 charts are strictly chores. Every day I have each of the 4 older kids rotate being responsible for a chore - kitchen helper, laundry helper, yard clean-up (yep... poop duty!) and picking up the upstairs hall and loft. None of these things take very long since they are getting done every day.

The Saturday chore chart is just those more intense chores like dusting, vacuuming, changing sheets and cleaning bathrooms. Every child is responsible for changing their own sheets (I help the younger ones), vacuuming their own room, and 1 big chore.

Luckily all of my kids are good sports about the chores. They all LOVE the treasure box and so are very motivated! I LOVE that they are doing these things automatically and I don't have to ask or say anything!! It really makes our home a better, happier place. AND.. for me personally it is all a huge help.... and anything that helps mom stay sane is a good thing!!

Out of The Mouths of Babes....

Today Eric tried to bribe me. I told him it was time to take a nap. He really wanted to play a train game on the computer instead so..... He said "If you'll let me play on the computer.... I'll give you a dollar..."

Keeping me on my toes or...

Driving me CRAZY!!!!!!!

Yesterday...
She did it AGAIN! I arrived to church 15 minutes early. Our family was all situated on a pew, waiting for services to begin when... RIP!! I hear fabric ripping. Sophie had ripped yet another beautiful Sunday dress. Then she reached down and ripped with her hands even more!! And it wasn't a seam.....

During lunch she grabbed a butcher knife out of the dish washer and decided to go after her daddy with it ... in full "Psycho" fashion..... with the stabbing up and down motion!! Complete with mischievous smile and glittering eyes....

She picked up the dog's bowl and filled it with water ... it was already full of dry dog food. Then she dumped it on the floor....

After dinner, I hadn't cleared all the dishes from the table, and she decided to "help". She dumped a whole bowl of cinnamon sugar mixture on a plate and was licking it up.

Everyday
She won't leave her diaper on .... but won't go on the potty yet either. She is naked right NOW!

She loves to play in water..... sink, shower, dog bowl, toilet.... any water will do.

2 is just plain hard....

Breaking Dawn

LOVED IT... LOVED IT.... LOVED IT!!!!

My favorite of the entire series!

I guess I have to return to my life now ..... I have been completely useless for 2 1/2 days .... my house is a mess!!

Of course I could decide to read it AGAIN!!

First Day of School!

Katie ... 6th grade this year!! Next year.... Jr. High!! Ugh!!

The whole gang ready for their first big day back to school!!

Rachel .... 5th grade

Adam .... 2nd grade

Olivia.... 1st grade


It sure is a lot quieter around here today.... I miss them!!
(although I have spent the majority of the day with my nose stuck in Breaking Dawn!!)

Breaking Dawn

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=9094519&ch=4226713&src=news

OK.... I am a dork.... I was there!! (But I did't buy a T-shirt or get a tattoo...!) I even brought Katie and Rachel and I won't even let them read the books!! They had fun doing crafts and sippping on QT icees 'till midnight!!