How to have more peace in the backseat!

With 4 kids and often our neighbor in the backseat, it seems we were always having squabbles over who gets to sit where and by who.

To solve this we numbered popcicle sticks and assigned a number to a seat.  Whatever numbered stick they pull out is assigned to that seat.  It was amazing how they learned to work together to get to sit where they wanted too.  "I get car sick", "I don't mind sitting in the back" replaced the fighting, they traded around. 

Now we just have to say, "pull a stick" and they figure it out peacefully.  I still keep them in the glove box though.

We originated this on a trip to the Grand Canyon.  We had been driving a lot with 5 kids and the  fighting was horrible.  After a quick trip to the DQ, with each of them getting a dilly bar, we used their used sticks and created this system!
Good Luck!

This boy...

I love watching him run.  God has given him a gift. 

We talk a lot about using our gifts for His glory.  How do you run for His glory?  He has found a few ways.  Brings tears to his mama's eyes.

He has won every race this season.  He waits at the end of the chute and encourages all of the finishers, not just his teammates.

He suggested they pray before the race as a team.  They have different boys pray each race.  These are 13-14 year old boys, they astound me! 

He is a peer facilitator at his school and is with a boy with a traumatic brain injury, confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak.  Aaron pushes him around the school and loves to make him laugh.  He is considering asking if he can run with him on the track to see if he would like it!

I love watching God work in my children's lives, it brings me so much joy.

Monday Menus

Busy weekend of birthday fun with my baby turning 10.  Someone told me when my kids were real little the quote:  "The days are long, but the years are short."  I find this to be so true.  Seems like yesterday I was complaining that I couldn't leave the house with my brood.  I would be so happy to not leave the house for days on end now!  Seasons of life, this season will pass too quickly too and they will be grown up.  I am trying to savor these moments and make good memories for my kids.  I want them to look back and say "Mom loved God first, and she loved me well".  Hard, weary work.

Monday
Chili in the crock pot
We have a Cross Country meet, and it is going to be chilly outside. My chili is so basic, but the kids love it. 

Tuesday
Grilled flank steak
Grilling season is coming to a close, so I want to get some more in before it gets too cold
Big salad

Wednesday
Shredded chicken tacos (crock pot)

Thursday
Leftovers

Friday
Pizza or out to eat.
My recipe for Chili:

1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound ground turkey
1 large can tomato sauce
1 large can of water
1 envelope chili seasoning
3 cans of  beans, 1 pinto, 1 kidney, 1 black
Cook in crock pot all day
Serve with cheese and fritos.

Monday Menus

It was a little bit calmer weekend, not as many games.  The weather has been gorgeous, and I got to shop for a homecoming dress for my oldest.  So glad she doesn't mind shopping second hand! We have a crazy weekend coming up with Andrew's birthday, a party, small group, homecoming and a going away party.  Andrew gets braces this week, Joe gets contacts and I get to have someone clean my house! Whoo hoo.  I still have to cook though, so here is our week long menu.

Monday
Chicken Pot pie
Watermelon

Tuesday
Grilled chicken breast
Caesar salad
watermelon

Wednesday
Cheeseburger soup in the crock pot
bread

Thursday
Shredded chicken in crock pot for Tacos

Friday
pizza

Recipe- Stuffed Peppers

Ok, so please know that I strongly dislike (we try not to say hate too often around here) green peppers.  Any peppers, really.

A friend gave me a bag of green peppers from her garden and I thought I would give stuffed peppers a shot.  I looked through a bunch of recipe sites and couldn't find what I was looking for.  They were either too fancy, too unhealthy, or just gross sounding.  So.... I made up a recipe, for something I didn't think I would like.

I cooked them in the crock pot too!  When I got home from work, I thought eww the house stinks like peppers!  Once I tasted them, I changed my mind about the poor, defenseless green pepper.  These are so good.  2 out of 4 of the kids liked them.  Ann is my harshest critic, and Andrew thought they looked  "disgusting".  He will try one after football practice though.

I used ingredients I had around the house.  I used leftover spaghetti sauce from our meal last night too.  Regular tomato sauce would work too I guess.

Tia's Stuffed Peppers

Filling:
 2 cups brown/wild rice
1 pound browned turkey sausage
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 onion diced small and browned  in olive oil (kids can't see them)(you could add peppers too, remember I don't like them though :)
2-3 cups spaghetti sauce (depending how saucy you want it)
Mix all together.

Cut the tops off and deseed the peppers.  Fill with the filling and sprinkle with some cheese( I used Mexican cheese, because that is what was in my fridge)

Bake in crock pot on low for 3-4 hours.  I turned it on "keep warm" until we could eat them.

Monday Menus- I'm back!

I need to get back on my menu and schedule, so this is a step in the right direction.

Monday
Crock pot Beer chicken- new pinterest recipe.
(kids thought me buying beer was hysterical!)
salad
brown rice

Tuesday
Hamburgers on grill
green beans
tomatoes

Wednesday
Spaghetti and meatballs with whole wheat spaghetti

Thursday
Chili in crock pot
fritos and cheese for toppings

Friday
leftovers

Menus on a Tuesday

“Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Ps. 73: 24-26

This is my prayer today. God is my strength when I am feeling overwhelmed, and that is me today.  Thankful I have a heavenly father to help carry the load!

Tuesday

Homemade crock pot spaghetti sauce

Wednesday

Pizza Calzones and Ham and cheese calzones

watermelon

Thursday

Lazy cooks chicken

corn on the cob

watermelon

Friday

Leftovers

Saturday and Sunday

Baseball and soccer

This is what I did all weekend.  Watched my baby play baseball, I love it!

And then we visited my MIL for her birthday.

Sweet baby Sydney!