Pumpkin Surprise

In case you're looking to mix it up a little bit this Thanksgiving, here's a super-easy pumpkin pie alternative that my husband just LOVES. We'll be having this on Friday for our "Second Thanksgiving" instead of the more traditional pumpkin pie. Thanks to bigoven.com!

Pumpkin Surprise

3 Eggs	12 oz Evaporated milk
1 c Sugar	1 Box Yellow cake mix
1 can Pumpkin	2 Sticks Margarine
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Beat eggs in bowl, add sugar, pumpkin, cinnamon and evaporated milk and mix well. Pour into greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over this mixture. Melt the margarine and drizzle over the cake mix. Bake 350 degrees for 60 minutes. Serve with cool whip or spoon softened cream cheese through the hot mixture.

How I plan to feed 40 people for Thanksgiving without going over my $60/week grocery budget

First of all, we can't fit 40 people in our home at once! Our family and a few friends will gather for a "progressive Thanksgiving" on Thursday (Appetizers at my sister's, main meal at my house, and dessert at my mom's). On Friday we've invited several international students, plus some friends and co-workers without family in the area for "Second Thanksgiving". Each meal will number somewhere around twenty people.

Trick #1: I'm not providing all of the food. On Thursday, my mom is providing the turkey and all of the desserts and my sister is making a casserole. That leaves me with a couple of easy contributions: a corn casserole and rolls plus the sweet potatoes for sweet potato casserole. Since my husband specifically requested Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (homemade would be cheaper!), my contributions for this meal total about $11.

On Friday I am doing much of the cooking, but I delegated the mashed potatoes and the sweet potato casserole to friends. That leaves me with the turkey, stuffing, gravy, rolls, corn and green bean casseroles, cranberry sauce, pumpkin dessert, apple pie, and cool whip. We'll be drinking water and coffee.

Trick #2: I'm not buying all of the ingredients for that meal this week - I have some of them on hand already. When turkeys first went on sale at Safeway, I bought a 20 pounder out of that week's grocery budget. I also have cranberry sauce, pumpkin, apples, and canned vegetables on hand from sales in previous weeks. That leaves me with less to buy this week - and the hope of actually staying in my budget!

Trick #3: I'm making things from scratch where I can. Although we are giving in to the Pillsbury crescent rolls, I do plan to make my gravy and desserts (including pie crusts) from scratch. Besides just tasting better, I figure that I'm saving around $10 (vs canned gravy and pre-made desserts) for my effort.

Trick #4: We're eating from our stockpile the rest of the week. Our other meals this week will not be fancy recipes that require extra ingredients. I have plenty of chicken and ground beef in my freezer from previous sales, plus beans, rice, pasta and frozen veggies. Our menu for the week will likely include quesadillas, chili, Italian chicken pasta, meatballs and rice, and leftovers.

So what do I have left to buy this week? Here's the list with estimated prices:
Crescent Rolls: $7.50
Cake mix: $0.79
Stuffing: $4.50
Cream-style corn: $1.50
Corn muffin mix: $1.50
Sour cream: $2
Evaporated milk: $2
Creamed soups: $1.50
French-style grean beans: $0.80
French-fried onions: $3
Cool Whip: $3

For an estimated total of $28.09! That leaves me plenty of room to stock up on a couple of other great deals and necessities:
Clementines: $4.99
Broccoli: $0.98
Cheese: $5.99
Milk: $4.98
Eggs: $1.50
Salt: $0.50
Juice: $3
Bananas: $2
Spinach: $1.50

For a total of $25.44. After adding that to my list of Thanksgiving meal supplies, my total comes out to $53.53. Hmmm . . . maybe I should buy one more $4.99 turkey for the freezer while they're still on sale!

Check out Rocks in My Dryer for more great tips!

A song about . . . math???

I'm of the sort that usually doesn't bother to listen to song lyrics. I judge a song almost completely by how it sounds - and often I'd rather that the people with annoying voices would just be quiet so I could listen to the music!

I was listening to the music of the Annie Moses Band this evening. I'd never heard them before, but I was thinking that I really liked their instrumental pieces but I could do without the vocals. Then they started singing about numbers - yup, a song called Golden Ratio. Now that's my kind of lyrics - take something really neat about the physical world (in this case the number 1.618033988) , flesh out the concept with clever language and point it all back to the Creator.

Check it out at their website.

A couple fun pictures

I was downloading pictures today, so I thought I'd share a few. Abby's comment as she viewed my photographic masterpieces? "Abby has pretty red eyes!"

Thanksgiving

We made a "Thanksgiving Tree" today out of big sheets of brown paper. It's rather awkward-looking, as "cutting recognizable shapes" was not one of my best classes. Isaac cut some "leaves" out of construction paper, and we each wrote one thing we're thankful for on a leaf before taping it to our tree. We plan to do this each day until Thanksgiving, when our "tree" should be full of leaves! Everyone who visits our house will also be invited to contribute.

I also plan to check out Thanksgiving books from the library tomorrow, role-play the Pilgrim story next week, and make handprint turkeys to decorate the walls besides involving the kids in the cooking of the feast. Does anyone have a special Thanksgiving tradition to share that would help me teach my kiddos that Thanksgiving means giving thanks - not football, store specials and turkey?

Heart Swell

Abby's Journal

I can’t believe you’re almost two! It seems just yesterday that you were a tiny baby . . . yet you’re so obviously NOT a baby anymore! I’m so glad you still like to cuddle – you always choose to sit on my lap (instead of next to me) as we read stories and often you grab my hands and pull to wrap my arms around your little tummy. I have had to start making you walk more, just because you’re so heavy and you’d still like to be carried all of the time.

But a big girl – yes. You pick your own clothes every morning and had your first haircut (bangs trim). You’ve taken over putting away the clean silverware and anytime I’m cooking you are right there watching the action. Your concentration astounds me – I can set you up with your toy dishes or your “dollies” and you will stay busy for forty-five minutes or more. You also take very good care of Baby Hope – feeding her, putting her to bed, spanking her (and kissing her afterwards) and telling her how much you love her.

You’ve gotten in on Isaac’s preschool action too! One day we did some simple experiments with water, and I asked you kids to tell Daddy about it at suppertime. Isaac shared about how we painted water onto construction paper and then it dried and the water went into the air. You thought hard for a minute then blurted out, “It turned into water vapor!” Our mouths dropped and we had quite the chuckle. You sit very attentively while we read our poem and Bible reading for the day and then you usually lose interest as I start on phonics with Isaac. But you’re getting a head start for sure!

You have a very encouraging heart. Often you pay people compliments such as, “Isaac, you’re a good boy” or “Daddy, you’re a good man.” When Daddy was in Brazil for two weeks, you were my little comforter. One night I was actually crying with frustration that we’d been unable to connect via internet or phone with your Daddy. You just came and cuddled in my lap and told me, “It’s okay, Mama. Why you sad?” I just squeezed you for all you were worth and was so grateful for you in that moment.

Isaac's Journal

So often lately I look at you and think, “Where did my baby go?”. Your face is thinner, your legs stretching tall and you just act so big. I’m trying to adjust to a little boy who doesn’t always want kisses from his Mama – sometimes that’s just not cool.

A couple weeks ago I returned the pedals to your bike and after about ten minutes of me helping you balance, you took off! Now that you have no training wheels you are fast and the couple of times we have gone on walks in nice weather, you have raced far ahead of Abby and me. Then you have to sit and wait while we catch up. Daddy has also taken you several times down to a vacant parking lot where you go round and round and attempt to jump curbs. All of this just thrills you and it is delightful to see you so excited.

This month Daddy was gone in Brazil for two weeks and it almost seemed like you felt like the man of the house while he was away. Several times you commented that you would do the driving for me or that you were going off to work or that you would take care of Abby and me. Amazing to see those instincts in you so young! I think you really missed your Daddy, though. It was interesting to watch you when he got back – I think you held back a little bit because you were afraid he would leave again. But all is now well in your mind. You and Daddy have been having lots of fun together. One day we had a blizzard and Daddy got to stay home from the office. You and he walked to the grocery store together in driving winds and drifted snow purely for the fun of it. What a toughie – last year you would have never made it.

We’ve also started “preschool” this month – we have a designated activity and reading time each morning. It’s amazing to watch you eat up the knowledge – you’re working your way through the alphabet doing letter recognition, plus showing great interest in whatever topic I bring up for the day. For science we experimented with water, and one day for math I showed you how to use a tangram puzzle. You kept busy with it for over an hour, making your own designs! On your own you’ve begun attempting to write letters, even writing your own name one day (though the “a”s weren’t quite discernable!). Yesterday you even drew pictures of people for the first time – complete with head, eyes, ears, mouth and legs. And you continue to count up a storm, though now it’s all the way to forty-nine!

It also makes me so pleased that you have begun doing some of your chores without me even having to ask. Some days you will come to me and tell me that you have finished emptying all of the wastebaskets without my prompting. You also volunteer to set the table, make orange juice and help with laundry. So often I thank God for His work in you – a year ago I wondered if you would ever even sit still for ten minutes, much less show budding signs of responsibility.

I wonder if that will be much of my remaining journey parenting you – awe at what you accomplish and at who you’re becoming, knowing that it is in spite of me and because of Him. How I pray that your heart will turn to Him in gratitude, as mine so often does.

Christmas Shopping

I'm done with my Christmas shopping. In fact, I'm considering wrapping some gifts today, just because I feel like it! Heavy on my heart this year, however, has been the thought that somehow I want to give more - not to friends and family who already have everything they need, but to those who do not have even basic life necessities.

The kids and I poured over the World Vision Christmas catalog yesterday. They liked the idea of giving a goat or some chickens as a Christmas present. This morning we went to Target to shop for our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. The kids loved picking out toys and clothes for "a little boy" and "a little girl" who may not have those things. I was amazed that Isaac and Abby never asked for anything for themselves - they seemed to really enter in to the idea of giving.

And just now I viewed this video and I hope that the giving has only begun. Watch it.

Preschool

We had our first blizzard last week, so I'm glad I was ready to start preschool in earnest. I decided that each day after "jobs" (around 9:30am) we'd sit down for around forty-five minutes of deliberate learning. So far our plan has gone like this:

Monday: Math (manipulatives mostly - balancing, counting, adding, shapes, Tangrams)
Tuesday: Slow and Steady activity (from the book Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready)
Wednesday: Science (last week we covered water, next it is air - simple experiments)
Thursday: Library day (pick at least one book each week from my list of excellent kids books)
Friday: Art (project from the book 1-2-3 Art)

After we finish our activity, we sit on the couch together and read one poem from a children's anthology and a section of our children's story Bible. Then the kids each pick one other book to read. When that's done, I give Isaac the option to work on letter recognition in Alpha-Phonics and he's wanted to do it every day so far! (I'm just paranoid about pushing him on this and making him not WANT to read.)

In addition, I play a classical music cd each day while they eat snack after naps and we talk about the composer (Vivaldi this month). The only thing I haven't worked in that I need to is Scripture memory.

This morning we restructured a bit to go for a walk since it was the first beautiful day in a while. I told Isaac we'd do preschool after naps and he was actually upset about that! I'm glad to see it's been a hit and both kids are loving to learn. It definitely Works for Me!

Family fun day

It's been a bit of a stressful week, so a mini-vacation was just the thing. We bought a package deal at a local hotel that included wristbands for a waterpark. The kids were so excited for "Family Fun Day" and so were Keith and I!

After checking in around 4pm yesterday, we changed into swimsuits and went swimming! The kids both really enjoy the water, but after about four or five trips down the big waterslides they had had enough. So we jumped in the pool, floated down the lazy river, and sat in the hot tub (except for pregnant Mama).

We took a break for Arby's supper in our hotel room then swam a little more. Isaac got to sleep on the hotel room couch! and Abby was excited to sleep in the same room with Isaac. Keith and I watched football and played a game together after the kids were asleep.

In the morning we had continental breakfast and played Candyland in the room while we waited for the waterpark to open. Our wristbands were good until 10:30am so we enjoyed another hour and a half of fun before heading home.

Fun becomes something even better when you get to watch your kids having fun.

Safeway Shopping

Safeway has some good deals this week! I bought:

6 - 5lb bags Gold Medal flour

2 - 40oz boxes Bisquick

2 - boxes Betty Crocker Au Gratin Potatoes

2 - boxes Betty Crocker Muffin Mix

1 - box Betty Crocker Cake mix

2 - boxes Quaker instant oatmeal

4 - cans pears

4 - cans cranberry sauce

1 - 12pack Cherry Coke

3 - Hallmark cards

And not pictured are 2 gallons of milk and a 20lb turkey!

Grand total? $40.

I calculate that if I had paid full price instead of waiting for sales and using coupons, this same purchase would have cost me just over $100.

Snow days

We had a blizzard yesterday. It snowed, well, a lot. I don't really know how much since areas of our yard had four foot drifts while other areas were almost swept bare by the 60mph winds. Keith got to stay home from work, so at one point yesterday we all dressed up in our snowsuits and went outside. It was cold, mostly because of the wind. We toughed it out for a little bit, but Abby kept her face buried in my shoulder and was more than happy to go in the house. The guys stayed out a bit longer, later even trekking to the grocery store for no good reason.

Today the snow remained but the wind had died down and the sun was shining. It was a perfect day for playing in the snow, so I bundled the kids up to go outside once again. Isaac was super excited, but the minute Abby caught sight of the snowpants, she started screaming and crying. I tried in vain to explain that today was a warmer day, that she could actually have fun outside if she would just calm down. No luck. I made her go outside for ten minutes, but she just stood and cried the whole time. I popped her back in the house and had her stand by the window while Isaac and I had a grand old time in the snow.

Makes me think: how many times do I mentally kick and scream at the Lord - "Not again, Lord! It was so difficult last time!" I think I know what He's taking me into, when really it's something altogether different. If Abby had just been able to trust me, she could have had a really fun time, but she made the decision to fight me before she even stepped foot outside. Oh, that I may mature spiritually beyond the point of toddlerhood!

More than what we ask or think . . .

It's a little depressing the morning after the election to realize that not one person I voted for got elected. None of the ballot initiatives or amendments went the way I wanted. Sometimes I wonder what is wrong with people: voting against the abortion ban, voting for a senator who can barely talk (following a stroke), voting for a president who seems poised to ruin our country.

Hmm. I think I need some perspective. What is really important? What do I really need? And Who is over and above everything more than I could ever want or deserve?

"Jesus is not pleased that His brethren think of Him in a poor manner. It is His pleasure that His precious ones should be delighted with His beauty. We are not to regard Him as a bare necessity, like bread and water, but as a luxurious delicacy and rare delight. He revealed Himself as the pearl of great price in its peerless beauty, as the bundle of myrrh in its refreshing fragrance, as the rose of Sharon in its lasting perfume and as the lily in its spotless purity. Think how God esteems the only Begotten, His unspeakable gift to us . . . Therefore, believer, think much of your Master's excellent greatness. Study Him in His heavenly glory, before He took upon Himself your nature. Think of the mighty love which drew Him from His throne to die upon the cross. Admire Him as He conquers all the powers of hell. See Him risen, crowned, and glorified. Bow before Him as the Wonderful, the Counselor, the mighty God, for only in this way will your love to Him be what it should."

~C.H. Spurgeon

The winner

Wish I knew who today's big election winner is going to be . . . .

(Don't forget to vote!)

But as we all wait to hear that big news, we have a winner of our own right here! The winner of my 200-post giveaway (as determined by Random.org) is: entrant # 60 jsc123! Congrats!

There. Now at least some of your suspense has been alleviated. Thanks to all who entered!

He CAN do it!

Isaac received a itty bitty bike with training wheels for his second birthday. It took him until nearly his third birthday to figure out how to pedal the thing. That meant a lot of pushing him around on my part and I was glad to be done with it. This spring and summer we enjoyed lots of long walks as I pushed Abby in the stroller and Isaac pedaled his bike alongside.

Only the poor little guy desperately wanted to be like his big cousin (a year older) who could ride without training wheels. Every time we saw anyone riding a bike, Isaac would ask, "Why do they have a bike without training wheels." And I would say, "Well, they're just a little bigger than you are, Bug." But I could see that he really REALLY wanted to be just like those bigger folks.

Though I didn't want to face another year of pushing his bike around, we took Isaac's training wheels and pedals off a month ago. The idea was that he would learn to balance by propelling himself forward with his feet and then gliding. It sort of worked - his seat didn't go quite low enough for him to really put his feet down and build up speed. So a few days ago I put the pedals back on and decided on a whim to let him try it before I added training wheels.

He can do it! All it took was ten minutes of running alongside him and he was off! We spent much of the weekend at a vacant parking lot, watching him build speed and confidence. He's jumping curbs and pulling his feet off the pedals and speeding around and he is thrilled! I really hadn't thought he was old enough (three and a half) or coordinated enough but I'm so glad I let him try.

I need to remember this lesson. My tendency is to hold him back because I don't want him to fail. But what a reward he earned for his determination!

This morning he asked for a second session of Alpha-Phonics. He's too young to learn to read, isn't he?