Just finished one of the most motivational books yet!

I just finished the book- The Life Changing Magic of Tidying up by Marie Kondo.  I am excited and overwhelmed at the same time.  I am at my wits end.  We live in a huge house and stuff is taking us over.  I am so excited and blessed that I found and read/listened to this book!!  I am ready to find joy in this house even though we are renting it.  I feel trapped by the stuff around me and can't enjoy my family!  Tomorrow is a CC day so I will not be starting then, I need my energy for class:)  but I will be getting the room ready to go through my clothes.  I will be using the spare room,as my family will be sleeping during hours I will be going through my closet.  I think this will work good for going through all the areas.  This way I can work on it and still close the door and return to life.  I plan to bring everything in to this area then have a place to return it.  My goal was to take our week 6 off school to begin this but I am just too excited about it!!  

Big Drinks

Little man R is about 10 months old we have been work on drinking from a cup, usually I have to hold it so he can take a drink...   Today he made a big leap, he held the cup tilt his head back.  Now he didn't do this without spilling but who doesn't at one time or another.   

For the record:  I don't just leave it on the tray for him ( that would be even more messy)  I sign him drink and give it to him.

Overwhelmed by things on the floor

As I look around the living room, I think how did this happen in just a few hours.  Every toy a was on the floor. I play with them but didn't realize until I sat down to take a break at nap.  All I could do was look at it and feel overwhelmed.  I made a cup of coffee and began to search for answers to help with this.  I got on The Flylady FB page. I talked with some other ladies they suggested a 5 min room rescue, after reading that I thought and replied, we just move on to the next thing all day. We get distracted and off routine when the littles have to go potty. I guess after that we should just go back to that area and pick it up. And maybe no eating until the area we were playing in is picked up.  


We take potty breaks but sometimes they don't have to poop then,  I also try to keep us eating at the same time so when the food is ready we wash up and eat.  So what I think is we will have to pick up before then.  But more important is that they know where to put things,  I think I am going to have to shell out a little bit of money for some shelves in the living room.  This is where they really like to play.  I am thinking cubes and baskets. 




For the over all storage I found an idea I like at The cottage home blog.  I have tried this in the past.  But I tried to take pictures of all the toys in the bins.  Why didn't I think of taking the pictures from the web and just printing.  I already have an inventory of the toy we have since DCFS needed one.  I will update when its done.  

Homemade Fish sticks

I haven't served my family processed chicken nuggets in just about a year now.  We have fish sticks once in a great while only because I didn't know if fish sticks would turn out right homemade.  We gave it a try and they devoured them.  We will be making again!


I made them just about the same way I make chicken nuggets:


1 package fish fillets ( I used a frozen bag and thawed it)

2 egg
2/3 cup bread crumbs ( I used seasoned) 
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese ( wanted to use fresh but only have the kind in the green container)
2 tablespoon  butter, melted

Pre heat 450

My fish were long so I cut them into squares.  I let the kids do the work.  They are so good at cracking eggs.  The eggs went in one bowl and the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in another.   I sprayed a cookie sheet so they wouldn't stick and let them go to work.  They  first dipped the fish in the egg and then in the crumbs.  At first there was so bickering. Someone was always in the other ones way.  Then they came up with an assembly line ( now that's not what they call it)  but they gave jobs and set up a line and worked together.  What a sight!  F did it for a little while and then just watched.  I think she was a little disgusted, wait to see her face below. Pour the  melted butter over the the sticks.  Put them in at 450  

we let them cook for about 5 min and then flipped them to cook on the other for 5 more min.  I was worried about them sticking and not cooking on both sides.  So use your judgement on how long. 

Fish I used for Aldi 

Of course R had to taste it.  She liked getting her hands in it. 

C took over while F watched.  

It's water time in October!!

Who new you could have summer fun in October!

Family Traditions: Jimmy's Pizza Crust

Growing up Jimmy a family friend would make pizza every Friday night and I believe he still does. I have memories of eating the dough he trimmed off and helping with the sauce, cheese and sausage.

I have since begun to make this every Tuesday. That is my shopping day and it ensures I eat before I go, otherwise I may spend more since I am hungry. This tradition has worked the kiddo's can almost make it themselves. The younger one's however just want eat the flour and explore in it. I am thinking I will get a bowl together so they can do just that. While the older ones and I do the measuring and mixing.

What you need:

• 3 3/4 cup flour
• 1 3/4c water
• 1/4 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoons dry yeast
• ½ table spoon oil

What to do:

• Mix all the dry ingredients together
• In another bowl mix the liquids
• Make valley in the dry ingredients
• Pour liquid in there
• mix ( I use my hand a knead it a little).
• Leave in the bowl for 2 -3 hours.
• Roll out the dough (you may need to knead it and add flour. I roll it out and then flip it a few times)
• Make sure it is big enough to hang a little over the pan
• Grease the pan
• Trim the extra's hanging over

Best Bubbles

What you need:

1/2 gal of water

1/3 c liquid soap

1/3 c corn starch

1tsp baking powder

What you need to do:

Just them mix together

This made some really big bubbles.

I sent the kids around to gather things they wanted to try. They came back with...

Fly swatter: very cool when they spun around fast and bubbles landed cool

slotted spoon: worked great

spatula with holes: not so well

circle ring: big bubble but did not form to float away

team work. Love it when they work together to figure things out!

pipe cleaners made in a circle: not to good

bubble wands: worked but not as fun

cookie cutters: worked well

Apple slicer: fun

F really like it when they popped on her hand or she was able to hold them.

Crushed Ice

I bought a snow cone maker but it has been making them very watery. It has been CRAZY hot out so I was looking for something to keep them cool and busy.

I froze some kool-aid in ice cube trays in the morning and by afternoon they were ready. I did lemonade and strawberry. Just what I had. We never drink it anymore. Worried about all the dye.
We put the ice cubes in a zip lock bag, put a towel over and used a hammer to crush the ice. Everyone's favorite part. Sorry there are no pictures of that, was making sure the hammer stayed on the table and off little toes.

I wanted to layer the colors and make it look really cool. They just wanted to eat the ice.

We will do this again.
I thought the bag with get a hole and it did. Any ideas on what else to use ? An added tip we used the side of the hammer for some of it. Broke it up a little easier.

Face painting

Jenea over at I can teach my child had a great post on homemade face paint that she got from The Preschooler's Busy Book. ( which I have order ). So of course we had to try it out on this rainy afternoon.

I grabbed four small bowls. The kids mixed together 1 tsp corn starch and 1/2 tsp milk. I think we added a little more milk. oops. After that was mixed well we added 5 drops of food coloring.

Here is what we came up with. Note: I am not a face painter. We will be doing this again so we will see how I improve. But its a start!!

My attempt for Spider Man.

C doesn't know who the Hulk is. But he wanted green. He was going for a monster.

I later added red lines like his friend with the Spider Man face.

Little miss independent (R) would not let me do it at all.

F wanted blue with red lines.

Note : the boys in the back playing out their new roles.

T sat still and let me draw a sun and a star.

Too cute not to add!

And of course they all wanted to paint me, so there you go.

Note: the rainy-humid hair.

Kisses.....

more kisses.

Wanted to be like her big brother.

Not just a sand and water table anymore

When I am planting flowers the younger girls are always in the dirt. I thought why not add it to the sand and water table. The next time I was at the store I picked up a bag and have been waiting for a time that they had that I have nothing to explore look.

Instead of playing with the girls. C decided he was going practice his golf swing.

He came around and had a great time playing too.

Hours of fun with a bag of dirt. F and C started to add sand and I brought out some measuring cups. I could here the them baking something. They were asking the younger ones for ingredients and adding a little bit of this and that.

Love it when all play well together even if it is only for a few minutes. They usually play very well when they play in the sand and water table.

Not just a sand and water table anymore

Today I cleaned out the sand and water table and added dry ingredients. Some stuff we haven't used in a while baby cereal, pancake mix, and some cream cereal.

Added some kitchen favorites and we all played together. I thought about adding some water. Just not today. F took my order and made it. Over heard C saying 3 cups flour, 2 eggs, 1 cup sugar. Every time I need a cake he makes it. He can just about make a cake himself ( box cake that is)

What do you do when the rain finally stops?

Well you go play in all the water of course.

This is their mud bog hole full of water. C is standing in the middle.

F is getting a bowl to move the water. C says to her it's not going to work too many holes.

She was like but look how cool it is.

R is telling C to put the water in here using some words but more gestured. Glad C can pay attention to her wants.

R and T go right to work playing it the water he filled for them.

R and T wanted help getting in the water but then had no trouble doing it themselves.