Economics

I am a big fan of soup.  It is economical, healthy and a snap to put together.

 Lately with Glenn's job change going from a steady paycheck to commission I have tried to scale back on groceries.  Not the actual groceries of course, just trying to keep costs down.  Soup is the easiest way to do this.  I have lots of dried beans in my pantry, and it is the best way for me to get tons of veggies into my kids bellies. 

 

Plus it's a no-brainer, as in I just throw whatever is in the fridge into a big pot without a recipe.

First I roasted some vegetables.  An onion, half an acorn squash, some carrots, a lone chunk of broccoli & some baby bell peppers.  While these veggies roasted (about 20 min.), I sauteed about 2 cups of celery in some oil, and then added 1 cup of white beans & about 6 cups of liquid.


Then I added about 1 Tablespoon of vegetable stock (paste) and whatever spices  caught my eye, basil, rosemary & fennel.

After about an hour (or really whenever you remember)  add in all those yummy carmelized vegetables.

Then if you have kids who balk at every chunk, puree it.  I left lots of chunks because I like it like that.  But I did compromise and tried to dish out the kids bowls with not too many.

I am in a fight with this picture because it does not do this soup justice.  Roasting the vegetables makes it so delicious.  I usually just add all my vegetables into the pot and saute but not anymore.  I thought this soup was one of the best I've ever made.  


I just need to learn how to be a better photographer because I am not going to have something so good look so bad.

P.S.  This might not be the best meal when it's almost a hundred degrees outside,  But economics won out.

Goals

We are encouraged to set personal & family goals in our church.  We are taught this from the time we are young. 

Left hand corner wedding photo, 1996, continue counterclockwise

My family completed this project a few months ago & I love it.  I guess you could call this a family mission statement.  What we believe & what we hope to accomplish as a family.  This is our list:


-We believe the gospel is true
-We work hard
-We pray and go to church together
-We encourage each other & never give up
-We respect our bodies & feed them well
-We laugh, play & have fun together
-We apologize & forgive
-We keep our promises
-We obey our parents  
-We read our scriptures together
-We love The Church of Jesus Christ
-We pick up litter
-We dress modestly & respect our bodies
-We belong together, We are a Family!


I love seeing these pictures and seeing our beliefs and goals in black & white color everyday.  I know from experience how easy it is to get off track.  I hope I can be a good example to my kids and keep them focused on what is important to us.


I can see this list getting additions in the future.  

-We obey curfew
-We do not sass our parents
-We love to study
-We only date those our parents approve of
-We do not put importance on name brand clothing
-We realize our parents are the coolest people ever
-We love being the only kids in the world without cell phones
-We never roll our eyes


Goals.  Not always attainable.  Just something to strive for.

Free

Thought I would take a moment to document some of the stuff I have been given, or Found.  Yes, found.  Nothing better than finding  something great on the side of the road with a free sign on it.


-The girls bedding.  Emry's neon pink blanket and Lila's shabby chic quilt were given to me by two different friends. 

- This bench was a find on the side of the road.  It was a horrible cherry wood with brocade cushions.  I had Glenn work his magic taking off the cushions, painting & distressing it and adding a shelf on the bottom. 

-This little kitchen was another find.  Lila and Emry found it next door and promptly brought it upstairs to it's new home.

-Bookshelf, set of 3 (in the corner).  Our neighbor gave us these.  Bookshelves can always be put to good use in our house.  Two are in the office and one is in the "playroom" (a large landing at the top of our stairs).
Side note.  Most of the items in the playroom are from garage sales.  While not quite free I did score 2 boxes of polly pocket toys and dolls for $5!  And one of my favorite things is the sweet little chalkboard and desk that my mom gave to Lila (also from a garage sale).

-Bookshelf gifted from my grandma & couches gifted from Glenn's parents.

 - I can't take credit for these great chairs. My sister found them on the side of the road and cleaned them up and then realized she didn't have room for them so I stole them away.  I absolutely love them.

They just need a tad bit of work. Mom?

-This cute high chair was Glenn's when he was little.  It's standing in for a similar chair I found on the side of the road but have no picture because my sister is borrowing it.

That's it for this edition of "Free".  Don't worry, knowing me, there will be others. 

Gone

Another huge change in my life.  Starting today, I can't believe I am saying this, all 3 kids are in school full time.  What????

Ethan is in 1st grade, Lila in 3rd & Emry is in 6th grade which in California is Junior High.  Crazy! 


Also crazy are Lila's blinggity bling shoes.  That girl loves shoes.  I used to be so much more controlling about what the girls wear and now I just let their true colors shine.  Why not.  I would have to tie them down to wear ribbons and bows and smocking now, but it was fun while it lasted.

Ethan deserves a shot of his own since he was the only one who would pose for me.  The girls were way too giddy about getting away from me and getting to school.  

Might have something to do with years of  being brainwashed into believing they would be miserable hobos digging through garbage for food if they didn't get a good education.  So far it's working as they wake up at the crack of dawn excited (or terrified of the alternative) to go to school.

Fall 2005

 I have loved every minute (okay not EVERY minute, but that's a whole other, much longer, post) of being a stay at home mom and am now excited to watch my little birdies fly.  They all love new experiences and adventure and as far as I am concerned have led a completely charmed life.  They did miss out on one thing though.  Emry tells the two younger ones tales of the time she went with Glenn on a business trip and got to stay in Cisco daycare for 2 days.  They sit there in awe, longing to know what the "magical" world of daycare must be like.  They feel left out.  It is a regret they will never get over, poor kids.  But c'mon, Cisco daycare.  They probably passed out cell phones and Ipad's with the snack.


I am completely getting off the subject.  Which was............ Oh yes.  I have all day to myself.  What will I do.  Like I said, changes.  Only time will tell.

Changes

Not the most original post title, but I don't have the time or energy to be clever as 2 little kids are waiting for me to play "Junior Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"  


This is Glenn's home office where he spends hours each day doing......well whatever it is he does for work.  I can barely blog so do you think I understand the High Tech world my husband lives in?

His computer's been missing him of late.  Glenn was laid off last week after working for Cisco for 10 years.  For at least the past 4 years Glenn has been wanting to make changes within Cisco.  Then it got to the point where he just wanted out.  So leaving with a severance package isn't a bad way to go. 


Glenn is already working at a new company as he is not the type to sit still (and kinda can't since you know, he has 5 big mouths to feed).  The only immediate worry is health care.  When you work for  a giant like Cisco, you are very well taken care of.  Now we're on our own.  Time to navigate the health care system on our own, Yikes!


Isn't there a saying that 'The only constant is change'?  Well there are a lot going on in this household right now.  It's exciting, it's scary.  It's happening.

Six Flags

Summer is officially OVER!  School doesn't start until next Wednesday, but as far as I am concerned the next few days can be spent scrubbing pots and pans.  My kids have had the most fun/sun & cousin filled summer ever and I am worn out!

The finale to Summer 2011 was a trip to Six Flags yesterday.  The kids earned free passes through a reading program at school and have been waiting all summer to go.  It did not disappoint.


Emry was in heaven as they have some of the fastest, scariest, highest & best roller coasters in the world.  She wanted to go on them all.  For the first part of the day Glenn and Emry ran from coaster to coaster while I took the 2 little ones to Toon Town.  

                                                                                                  
We met up with Glenn and Emry at 4pm and decided to convince Ethan and Lila to go on some big kid coasters.  I rode on about 4 Roller Coasters before a headache and nausea got the best of me. I was super impressed that my timid Lila and Ethan were brave enough to go on a few.  Afterwards they were high on adrenaline and ran from one ride to the next.  Each one faster than the one before.  They were so over Toon Town.

The Ultimate Thrill Seeker.  Emry is truly a child who will try ANYTHING!!  Be it weird food, jumping off a super high bridge into a lake (when she was just 5!!!!!),or any new experince.  The girl is up for anything!  She is also a huge fan of reptiles and begs to stop at the Reptile store at least once a week.  She's a fun one.

You see lots of interesting (read tattooed and scantily clad) people at amusement parks.  I thought some of the girls had gone too far with their outfits and should have been ousted from the park.  But when the kids were riding the Wonder Women Ride I realized that they actually promote this type of dress.

Now I know why there are so many teenagers at theme parks.  Their parents must have taken them when they were younger and have since wised up and washed their hands of these outings.


I am just saying.  I told my kids I sure am glad they had fun because it might be many years before my stomach can take another beating.

Easy Rider

Lately the kids & I have been going on an evening bike ride.  Even though we get plenty of activity going to the beach and pool, it's nice to feel a cool breeze  once the sun starts to set.

What I realized about this picture is as active as a family as we are, we are also quite lazy.  We definitely have a carefree California hippie vibe about us.  

Let's start with Lila, she is wearing her pajamas.  Then there's Ethan wearing Ugg boots, not because it's cold, but because in his own words "my sandals are too hard to put on".   Emry is wearing no shoes,  obviously too much effort.  Next there's Brutus who is off his leash.  We can't be bothered with those silly California leash laws.  And let's be honest, is anyone truly scared of a Chihuahua?  

Then there's me.  I am out of the picture but rest assured I am the ring leader of all this laziness.  I couldn't even bother with getting dressed.  I am still in my bathing suit from the pool earlier.  I knew after our bike ride that I would curl up directly in my bed.  So does it make sense to change into clothes for a bike ride and then change again afterwards?


Exactly!


And like I've said before, one of the great things about living in Southern California is that a bathing suit is always appropriate.


Just what lazy people like to hear.