Swimming Lessons

So the boys have been in swimming lessons at the YMCA this last session. Corban is taking his first class without Mom or Dad, Waterbug. He is pretty nervous, but goes. He starts with 30 minutes in the gym for a KinderGym class and then they take him to the pool. He is doing pretty well. We have learned by watching the teacher what we can do with him in the pool.





Caleb is in the Parent/Child swim program, Mighty Mites. He loves it and enjoys kicking a beach ball with his feet while laying on his back. Since we've learned from Corban's fear of going underwater, we have tried fun games with Caleb that involve underwater jumps and splashes. Caleb is getting pretty bold in the water! Dad sometimes gets the time off to swim with him.


*Well just yesterday, we took the kids to open swim and Corban swam with the only support being a noodle. This is huge for him. He has been so nervous if we let go of him. Now he wanted us to take our hands off the noodle so he could swim. He said his common line, "Mom and Dad happy!"

Update on OAMC

So I've been slowly working through the meals. Since I have taken my time tackling the meals and didn't work on it in one day...we ate two of the "freezer" meals. We love jalepeno chicken, so that was done with right away and then we ate the beef stroganoff tonight.

So here is what I got done:
Pictured: 2 Blue Chicken, Cranberry Roast Beef, Stroganoff, Chinese Ginger Chicken, 2 Cheese and Ham Ziti, BBQ Short Ribs, Bacon Garlic Chicken, Dr. Pepper Spaghetti.

This all went pretty well today. I worked on and off most of the day and am tired right now, but I was going about it really casually.

Here is what is left to make:
Super Burgers
Holiday Spice Chili
Chicken Quesadillas
Stuffed Peppers (I think we will have these for supper tomorrow since I have the peppers already)
Sloppy Joes

So I have the beans soaking for the chili. I need to brown the rest of the hamburger meat. This should all finish pretty quickly.

I also want to make these for fun:
Caramel Popcorn
Christmas Wreathes
Candy Cane Cookies (read Legend of the Candy Cane with it)

Freezer Cooking Start

So...I'm starting the cycle 2 for Freezer Cooking (Once-a-Month Cooking) -- recipes below. I'll put up an update as I go. I do this a lot for myself--so I can see what works for next time.

Edible Christmas Trees

Corban and Caleb made some yummy Christmas trees after reading The Jesus Tree by Annette E. Dellinger. We talked about the evergreen tree being like Jesus, reminding us how He is alive and one day we will be alive with Him in heaven. We put sprinkles on the tree and some M&Ms for lights and ornaments, representing that Jesus is the Light of the World. The different colors make the tree beautiful just like God made the world beautiful with people of different colors of skin.

The boys sure loved making them!















They enjoyed eating them too!

I got this idea from Confessions of a Homeschooler.

Now the leftover frosting I can use between two graham crackers--a treat I remember from growing up.

December Freezer Cooking

Here are the recipes for this once-a-month cooking cycle. I have been successful with around a 15 meal cycle since it lasts us around 20-25 days and it takes me all day to cook with dealing with the kids and nursing Carissa.

Here we go:
Chinese Honey Ginger Chicken
Ham and Cheese Ziti x 2
Janell's Beef Stroganoff
Blue Chicken x2
Super Burgers
Holiday Spice Chili x2
Low-fat BBQ Beef Short Ribs
Jalapeno Chicken
Bacon-Wrapped Garlic Chicken
Chicken Quesadillas
Cranberry Roast Beef
Stuffed Green Peppers
Dr. Pepper Spaghetti
Sloppy Joes x2

Okay...now I have found my 18 (with doubles) freezer meals. Next... grocery list and process for cooking.

Recent Pictures

Carissa Lynn

Carissa Lynn joined us on June 23rd at 7 lbs 7oz. The labor was slow going, but very manageable. Again God has blessed me with another relatively easy, natural, pain-free delivery. I don't know why that is...but I love it! She is our little peanut with her weight being 2 pounds less than her brothers!

Once a month cooking

So I have totally been getting into once-a-month cooking!!! I love pulling a meal out of the freezer and being able to stick in the oven. All I need to plan for the day is breakfast/lunch and side dishes for supper. Since we eat mostly salads with our entree, the planning is pretty light. Even though it does take a lot of initial planning and cooking (one whole day), I LOVE having the afternoons free to rest, read, clean, whatever I want...not cook.

I will be using the blog to post some of my planning and post our reviews for my future reference.

Maybe you can enjoy some of the same meals!

Wow! A lot has happened...

A lot has happened since last time we've posted. We had a girl!!! Carissa Lynn was born on June 23rd. She is now a beautiful 5 month baby loved by her brothers!!!