My Peacefully Chaotic Life

I mentioned yesterday that I was trying to prepare a family breakfast each day. I have wanted to start doing this for a while for several reasons. It is such a nice way to start the day together. It also helps us to establish more of a concrete routine. It is an easy way to flow into family devotions and homeschool time. The children are more cooperative and settled when their tummies are full. A light breakfast means constant requests for snacks and a bad case of the grumps. Well, my children were not really on board with it yesterday. They did not eat very well and they kept looking at each other with this hesitant expression ( what's up with Mama? why are we all at the table? ) LOL I am great about lunch and supper but a family breakfast just isn't something we normally do on a regular basis. I have my cappuccino, the children have their breakfast and The FisherMan takes a snack or egg sandwich or something with him to work. Well, not to be deterred I tried again today. It ...

Today was a busy one! But I managed to have a lot to show for it. I cooked a nice breakfast for the family. I don't usually do all that. I just normally feed the children. But The FlowerChild is staying hungry and it is affecting her attention span so I am trying heavier meals. We had eggs, hashbrowns, sausage and biscuits. I think I could get used to that! Afterwards I cut The Fisherman's hair before he headed to work. Then I cleaned up the kitchen and did some laundry. I also got a loaf of bread in the machine to bake. While that was going we started school time. School was finished by early afternoon. The washroom is about halfway cleaned up now. I still have a PILE of clothes to do something with. Some are maternity and the rest are the children's clothes they have outgrown. Lunch was soup and sandwiches. Afterwards we read aloud for a while. The FisherMan braved the cold for a few minutes when he got home and took the girls out. It was just too cold to take little Smi...

Chuck Wagon Beans 1 lb dried navy beans 6 cups water 1/4 lb salt pork diced 1 large onion 1-3 garlic clove (your taste) 1 large green bell pepper 1 1/2 lbs meat (cubed chuck steak, ground beef, even hot dogs) 1 1/2 t salt 1/2 t oregano 1/4 t red pepper 1/4 t ground cumin 8 oz tomato sauce Soak beans overnight. In the morning rinse beans. Brown salt pork and add to slow cooker along with beans. Saute onion, garlic, and pepper in drippings. Add to slow cooker. Brown beef and add to slow cooker. Add spices and tomato sauce. Add more water if needed just make sure to cover beans. Cook until tender.

Well, another quiet Sunday afternoon. Ok, this is our house I'm talking about so maybe not exactly "quiet" but relaxed, we'll say. The GuitarMan came home for a quick visit yesterday. After his dad helped him change his oil he went up to town and visited with friends. After church we had lunch and he has headed back to college now as classes begin tomorrow. His schedule looks to be about the same times as last semester. So he will be up bright and early for 8:00 AM class tomorrow! I'll have to be sure and stock him up with coffee and energy drinks to get him going in the mornings! He is more of a night owl. It was a good morning at church despite low numbers due to the cold and the rain. We knew many of our older folks would not be able to battle the bad weather. Then we had others who were out for various reasons. We always have fellowship and prayer at church before Sunday School and I cooked today. It was so cozy in the kitchen this morning even with it dark a...

The cutest thing I've seen today is my little man waving bye-bye! Precious! He had been experimenting this week, watching his hand as he went. The last couple of days you could tell he started understanding what he was doing. Today he has waved at everybody! Of course, he is smiling when he waves. If that isn't cute enough, just wait til he starts blowing kisses!

Cheeseburger Pie 2 Cans refridgerated croissant dough 1-2 pounds cooked ground beef or ground turkey shredded cheese BBQ sauce Use any flavor of cheese and BBQ sauce that your family prefers. Mix BBQ sauce in with meat. (Add amount to your taste) Roll out one can of dough as your bottom crust in a casserole dish. Make layers starting with the meat mixture and alternating with cheese. Top with the other can of dough as your top crust. Bake according to croissant directions. May also add vegetables if you like. Enjoy!

Ah, warmer days! Oh, well we are in the South. We'll probably be back in the seventies by next week! For now, we'll stay in our sweats and have another cup of cocoa! And dream of a warm beach!