Productivity.....

We worked until we dropped! OK, I'm planning to drop as soon as I post this entry. ::snort::

Hmmmm....what did we do today. Arielle and I went through the game closet - or game room - or something. We store games on big shelves in the garage...and in 7 big, black, wide Rubbermaid drawers. We threw out a lot of games with lost pieces. I packaged up puzzles and games for Salvation Army.

Mike, Jamin and Jared emptied out our storage unit. We discovered (as I suspected) 80% of it belongs to the girls. ::snort::

Arielle & I packed away all the snowmen and Lent things and put up the normal fripperies....now to figure if I should take any since I won't have an entertainment center, hutch or piano to set things on. ::snort::

Jamin discovered parts to a bed and claimed it.

Mike and I took a load of stuff over to Josiah's apartment. The boys will move into their new apartment mid-June.

Ah - Josiah DOES have something on the walls of his apartment....the family calendar I made this year. ::snort::

Mike and I went to Lowes and bought a Kitchen sink, faucet, mini-blinds, 2 toilet seats and something else..... We also discovered it may be cheaper to buy a NEW dishwasher than it is to replace the rusting racks. We priced carpet.

I called and scheduled another painter and a carpet place to give us estimates....this way we'll have two estimates of each.

We came home, ate dinner....Mike and Jared are hanging mini-blinds. Josiah was here briefly and then had to leave. Jamin's at work. The younger ones are hitting the showers after a full day of bike riding and such.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Appliance Storage

I AM going to google and see what I can find out. We will NOT have an overseas TMO briefing - the packers arrive before the once a month briefing on base.

If you've stored (or heard of the correct way) freezers and fridges....pass on your expertise. I think Betsy told me to put charcoal in there. Mike is quite sure she didn't mean a bag of Kingsford.

Back to sorting.... BTW has anyone else ever taken a chunk out of their face when they were shaving their arm pit? How did I DO this????? It's not healing quickly....this means I will attend PWOC's tea tomorrow with what looks like strawberry jelly on the side of my face.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Creamy Mac & Cheese (Heavenly Homemaker)

The verdict is out on this. I ate some "immediately" and it was tasty. Creamy, cheesy - needed a few more spices for my taste. I had hoped this would cure the kids from Annies Mac and Cheese and Annies Peace Pasta so I didn't add spices......timing of dinner was a bit off and by the time they tried it it resembled a cheese glob.....but it was good when I sampled it.

This is another High 5 Recipe from Heavenly Homemakers.

Creamy Mac and Cheese
2 1/2 cups whole wheat pasta
3 cups whole milk
1/2 t. sea salt
1 cup shredded cheese (I use white cheddar)

Mix pasta, milk and salt in a large sauce pan.



Cook over medium-high heat STIRRING ALMOST CONSTANTLY until the pasta is tender (10-15 minutes).

(A for unique cooking style ::snort::)



Remove from heat. Add cheese and stir until melted. Serve immediately.



*Don't give up, just when you think the whole thing is a failure - it thickens. ::snort::

If you've not checked out Heavenly Homemaker go click through her recipes. ::snort:: Click for more of my Yummy Eats (also linked in the labels under the header).

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Saturday is Coming

This week everyone can write about whatever topic interests them. If you have written an entry either this week, months ago, or between now and Saturday that it in some way relates to Super Size Families....be sure to check back Saturday to link your entry.

This will make it easier for readers to find you.

I'm contemplating several theme weeks in the near future as my life moves into packing mode.....I'll post a schedule.

Need more info? Guidelines, Archives/ Purpose (you can find this any time with the labels under the header.)

It's not hard at all. You don't have to write an essay. Have you written a few thoughts that you'd like to share with new readers? I plan entries on nutrition, schooling, parenting, Bible study....really any topic at all that contains tips that would be helpful for "large" families is welcome. Join the fun!

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Another...well...BUSY...day! ::snort::

~Gym

~Office Depot to buy envelopes for CD's that I'm selling

~Organized material that has sold

~Parish Advisory Committee

~Piano Lessons (worked on photos)

~Met with ladies buying things ...

~As I waited for dinner I FINALLY caught birds in the pond....

~Cy unexpectedly showed up as I snapped photos.... He and Jamin are on the waiting list for a 2 bedroom apartment in June, the earliest they could get one.

~Everyone was home for dinner.

~Cy headed for a play he has to attend, and took Nolan with him. I almost went with him but knew I'd fall asleep.

~Jamin bought Pendragon and we're going to watch it. It was filed by the Burns Family - a Christian film company.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

CIRCUS!

Jamin brought home coupons and asked if we could go to the circus. I've not been since we lived in Hardin, MT....14 years ago. It was HOT, smelly and miserable.

Mike and the kids went to the Circus the day Arielle joined our family....and that was 11 1/2 years ago.

Life always seems too BUSY to go to the circus, we don't like crowds, we don't like spending money ::snort::.....but with Jamin suggesting it, the kids wanting to go, and us not knowing if there are Circus' or Rodeos in Japan..... I took these folk to the circus.



Before the circus, the boys thought it would be fun to interact with the performers, as our little ones wouldn't..... Jamin bought us Popcorn.... Priceless!


We walked out through a back door and studied all the RVs and Semis that it takes to move a circus from spot to spot.

Jamin took us to dinner after the circus. Mike was able to join us for dinner. It was a wonderful afternoon. Listing to Zander and Stacia laugh and giggle uncontrollably at various antics is exactly what I needed yesterday.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

BUSY, BUSY DAY!

~ Worked on "things" in the a.m. Fought feelings of panic by reading various list mail. ::snort::

~Had the Realtors tour our home.

~Had a painter come visit and he'll send an estimate.

~Six kids and I went to the circus - more on that and photos tomorrow.

~Made Jamin's Senior Page for SACHSA yearbook- VERY simple...but done.

~Made Family Page for SACHSA yearbook. I used Shutterfly Studio , a free download recommended by SACHSA, to create the pages.

Yes, I realize our last names are on these...but since Jamin started publishing articles and I linked to them, that train left the station. ::snort:: As I said these are SIMPLE.... I would normally have taken the time to digi SCRAP them...but in this season of life it is good to have them done. The simplicity will remind us of the busy April of 2009.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.