Busy in the Kitchen

Just hanging at home today. Mr. Right worked all night and will probably sleep most of the day. Since he's upstairs I've been trying to keep everyone on the main floor and quiet. Tough job.

I started out with a sheet of paper where I listed everyone's names and chores to do for the day. I figured I need to keep them busy somehow! I worked on the kitchen, roasting two turkey breasts that have been patiently waiting in my fridge, baking pies, cleaning the fridge and emptying out drawers and cupboards that my son shop vaced out for me. I got rid of bags of stuff and decided to repaper some drawers. See what was there? It's got to be really old, it was all over the kitchen at one time or another because when we took the drop down ceiling out, everything above it to the ceiling was this paper.

I picked out this cherry contact paper a long time ago. I found one roll at Fred Meyer and called every FM in the state until I found one with four more rolls. After all that work, do you think I got around to papering my drawers?

Finally!
Oh the beauty!

Waffle Breakfast

Around here we needed a little respite from turkey and cranberry sauce. I asked the kiddos what they wanted for breakfast this morning. Of course, they chose waffles. Thankfully (to go along with our thanksgiving theme this weekend) I got one of these for Mother's day last year (see how they love me?):
The Waring Pro waffle maker. Next time you are at Costco, you really should pick one up for yourself, they are great.

Since having this handy-dandy gadget I've tried many, many waffle recipes. We've finally decided that Money Saving Mom has it down to a science. See her recipe here. Do be advised to double this recipe, however, if you've got a house full of hungry children. And, if you want leftovers, you may be in the kitchen all morning, but quadruple it.

Here are my two "helpers" who couldn't wait for the long, drawn out process of waffle making and helped themselves to apples from the fruit bowl while on the counter.

Once the first ones came off the waffle iron, they scrambled down for some warm, delicious, whole-wheat goodness.

If you must use syrup, break out any jars of jam that didn't set up for you during canning season. I'm sure that I can't be the only one that just labels their runny jams and jellies as "syrup" can I? I had a whole batch of this jelly that didn't turn out that my children just love on pancakes and waffles.

But today I just set out butter and a sifter full of powdered sugar and let them go to town. It takes a lot of hand strength and time to push that sifter so not much sugar gets on the waffles. It does look pretty and satisfy the kid's desire for a topping.

And, let this post be an example to you. Next time you think that you don't have anything to post about, remember that you can post about anything. Even your kid's choice of breakfast food. :)

Loooong Afternoons

I have temporarily lost my oldest daughter to a job and as always, my husband's schedule is erratic. These circumstances make for some long afternoons at home. It's too early to do the dinner/bath/book routine and too dark to play outside. Thank God for Your Story Hour, new play dough (recipe here)
and the big boys with their drawing books. I know I'm not the only mommy who dreads the cold, dark months with energetic children! Take a peek here too, there are lots of good, cheap recipes for things to do with children. And don't forget the ever popular sensory tub, add dry beans, popcorn or rice to a tub with spoons and measuring cups for dumping and pouring. Just be sure they know it stays in the tub.

If you've got a plan for these long nights, please leave me a comment, I need all the help I can get!

Great Diaper Deal

If you're like me and still buying diapers, here's a great deal from diapers.com. I just made my order. Hurry, before December 2 and send yours in too! Imho, it's never too early to start stocking up on newborn diapers if you are expecting. :)

Children's Literature: Thanksgiving Edition

After reading some of our Thanksgiving books today, we made headbands like the Indians may have (I use that loosely, I'm not sure about how much construction paper and school glue they had at their disposal) worn. All five of the children who were home today enjoyed that activity. Really this picture has nothing to do with the post, it's just a shameless way to add more photos of my own children. :)

Here's the real posty part of this post -

Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons

This is a good book to introduce your little ones to why we celebrate Thanksgiving. It has a brief history of the first holiday and then it shows some of the traditional things that happen today to celebrate. With lots of drawings a few words it's good for the preschoolers who can't sit for too long, making this, as with all of Gail Gibbon's books a favorite.

Our Thanksgiving by Kimberly Weinberger

Make school a little different this week and have your emerging reader working on this book.

The Story Of The First Thanksgiving by Elaine Raphael

Sorry for the bad picture here, but this is a great book. Elementary aged and possibly even older children will enjoy the pages in the back that teach them how to draw everything from Squanto to a turkey. The story is a nice one too.

An Educational Coloring Book of the Colonies

Since this is from a series of coloring books, it's not actually a book, but don't let anyone color in them so they can be scanned a printed over and over. Each book comes with a tape (maybe a CD these days?) that they can listen to while coloring. As the title would suggest, it's educational.

Cornerstones of Freedom The Pilgrims

For the older child, this book gets to the nitty gritty of the experience these settlers had. There are nice drawings along side real pictures.

Thanksgiving activities

I know that some of you are taking the week off from school or at least Thursday and Friday, but you don't have to stop the learning with the ruling of "no school work." Brenda has put together a few fun and educational things to do with the kiddos for the holiday. Check it out here.

Beany Math

My son just said to me while doing his math, "Hey mom. You should be able to figure this out. Maria used three pounds of beans to make 36 burritos. How many burritos could she make from just one pound of beans?"

My son sees me as a bean counter.

My life.