Bahamas

Hey, did I mention, we went to the Bahamas???
It's been so busy since I got home, I haven't had a chance to put any pictures up. Here's a few:

Bert getting ready for the boat drill:)

The infamous towel elephant
At the aquarium in Atlantis

Bert's playing with the starfish

Cooking again

It seems that everytime I get the kitchen cleaned up, it's time to start again. I like when I have extra kids over, they become my guinea pigs (watch out, Jen). My kids will eat almost anything, but my girlfriends boys do not. She had complained that her boys would eat nothing except instant oatmeal. So I tried a new recipe out on them. Success! Everyone had seconds, and I think they would have eaten more if I had had more available. Nice change from oatmeal, which I don't mind eating, but do get tired of.

Baked Oatmeal Squares (compliments of All recipes)

1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar (I used brown sugar instead)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Cut into squares.
I let them set for a few minutes and they were still a little crumbly, but overall were great. I would perhaps say they gobbled it up because I hadn't fed them, but typical boys they have eaten non-stop.
I'm off now to clean the kitchen. I would like to mop the floor as it sticks to one's feet, but I might as well wait until they all leave (tonight).

Quick, call the zoo, there are elephants upstairs!

Ok, not quite elephants, but 4 -11 yr boys, 1- 7 yr boy, 1- 5 yr girl, 1- 4 yr boy and one baby bully sure make alot of noise upstairs! Oh, yeah, and I invited them all---brain fart!

My friends sons came over to spend the weekend, and of course, the boys in the neighborhood are here also. Personally I think the 2 that live nearby usually come over because I feed them:)I really do hate the grocery shopping and the planning, but I love that my meals are pre-planned. Yesterday we left home early for kids class (across town is 45 min for you that live in the hole in the wall towns!), ran errands, and picked up friends kids. And when I got home, dinner was in the crockpot. Yeah! We had black bean soup, which suprisingly everyone always eats. Even the picky kids. Fry up some corn tortillas and dinner is served.

Today the downstairs looks like a tornado came thru (larger than normal), but all are having a good time. Shelby would like to have a "girl friend" to spend the night, but all we seem to meet are boys! I'm sure she won't mind that in the future (gulp). Still, she plays well with Kyle (7 yr old) and has a great time.

Garry started basketball this week hosted by a local church. They started off with a bang as the coach took 11 boys to see a Magic game. They were given VIP treatment, given goodie bags, and even got to go down and get autographs. I'm sure if Garry had actually known who the players were it would have been even better, LOL. However, he did have a great time (Magic won) and is looking forward to learning to play basketball. This game is much more up his alley, since, per his 6 year old words, "Dad, do you know in football, you fall down and get hurt?!". I guess football is not on the agenda, ever...

Bryce says the darndest things:)

As I was getting in the van tonight, my hunny apparently made a comment about me. How do I know? My family circus child in the back seat that said"Mommy's so Texas!" Um, thanks?? Translation? "Mommy's so sexy".
Later, when the same child dropped his ice cream, I hear "Oh, my God", before I could say something to correct him, I hear him finish "I trust in thee" (a Bible song). He couldn't have timed it better....or...is this a cover up??!

Grocery day (ARRGH!)

It's no secret that I HATE grocery shopping day. As I look over the receipt (I've spent almost ALL of my grocery budget for this week), I can't really tell where I'm going overboard. I start w/$150 for us for the week. Upon leaving Wally World today, I have $19 left. About $30 was diapers, toilet paper, etc. The rest was strickly groceries. I stuck to my grocery list. There was no snackies on this list, but I will go by the dollar store and get a couple of snacks and bread (less than $10). Still need 2 gallons of milk, which should probably put me at the limit. We aren't even eating extravagant meals-I don't think?!?
Wed: Chili
Thur: Beans and cornbread
Fri: Black bean soup (w/shredded chicken)
Sat: Lasagna
Sun: Turkey pot Pie (left over turkey was in the freezer)
Mon: Pork tenderloin/rice/veggies (left overs are packed for Bert)
Tue: Turkey soup / chedder cheese biscuits
Wed: Black bean tacos (leftovers from Fri)
Breakfast and lunches are not anything out of the ordinary. Oh, yeah-the part that really puts me thru the roof???? I HAVE TO COOK IT ALL!!!! :)

Lap desks

We're heading to Tx at the end of the month, and it's gonna be a long ride. We made this little project tonight for each of the kids. All helped and did a terrific job. The wooden tops have games on them, which they can use with dry erase markers, and the pillows velcro to the bottom so they can take them off and use them if they want to. Check 'em out! By the way, this was a recycle, reuse and renew project. Everything we needed we had here except for some velcro and more (I ran out) modpodge.

On Track

some of my sick kids:(
Well, it's Sunday morning and I slept most of the night. Now, this might not sound too exciting, but since Monday, either I or my children have been sick. We've spent every night up with one or more. All are still coughing around here, but hopefully the worst is over.
Dad and the big kids went to get our frivolous purchase this morning. My eldest is the most excited. He can't wait to hook up his Wii and give it a go. We will be extra sure that everyone uses the wrist band and tightens it down. Shelby accidentally thru hers at the wall the other day bowling. Her wrist is so little that the wrist band that came with the 2nd remote is too large for her hand and she slipped out of it. It was very funny (she didn't think so) when it slipped off her hand and at the wall. However, I'm sure no one will be laughing if it hits super tv:)

My food budget is going well so far this week. I might even have a little bit to put away. We've been using food out of the freezer before I buy anything else. We did buy Sonny's on Friday(brought it home) but we've been able to span it over several meals, so it wasn't too bad price wise. It is a hard habit to break, eating out regularly. Tonight we are having a ready to eat meal -- Chicken Voila. I got it on sale at Publix (B1g1 4.99) and used 2 coupons on it (printable at http://www.coupons.com/) and am making rolls courtesy of Pillsbury. If I fix dessert (walnut brownies) and iced tea, dinner will be about $6.50. Not too shabby for a family of 6 (reg fam of 4.5 or 1.44 ea). Guess I can't eat out anywhere for that! I used all my play money already, so I guess I will be staying home until Friday. How fast my pocket money goes away!!!!