Ready or not...

I can't believe summer is here again. I have been gathering my thoughts trying to prepare. Our family does best with a plan. The kids seem to like the order and structure of knowing what is expected and what they need to get done. It's pretty much a chaotic house after that... :)
Here are some of the ideas we are going to use this summer.

The kids loved the"Summer to do list" from last year so we are doing it again.


We are going to try a version of the "I'm bored Jar" that I saw on Pinterest.
I just wrote the ideas on big craft sticks. I printed the label from this website. I also included some fun things we like to do as well as some of the fun activities I have pinned on Pinterest.



Loved these "Good Deed Punch Cards".


Found these big charts at Dollar Tree. I thought it would be a fun way to track the books they read.


Will continue with the job charts, this is a good way to make sure everything gets done.

 Jobs include things like practicing piano, practicing typing, practicing a skill (diving, shooting baskets, math pages, something they are working on from "The Plan", etc.) reading scriptures and books, an act of service, cleaning job for the day.

Type to learn again for the 11 year old and 7 year old. The older two are now proficient keyboarders.



Last year I bought a bunch of Chuck E. Cheese tokens and used them for rewards for different things. We had a fun time at the end of the summer redeeming all the tokens. We will probably do something like that again.

Sounds like a plan right?... I think I need to make me a chart. I get a smiley face for being "calm, nice mom". A sad face when "crazy yelling can't stand this crazy, messy house any more mom" rears her ugly head.  I'll let you know how I do.

My Guilty Pleasure...

A few weeks ago I gave in to my inner organizer. 

My name is Angie, I'm addicted to Diet Coke and I love to label. 

There I said it. I feel much better now. I really have to stop myself from labeling things. It's been a lot easier lately, because I really just don't have the time. But if I could I would print out a cute label for everything that didn't move.  

My darling 1 year old discovered the drawers in our coffee table. They were full of random card games, Nintento DS stuff, Leapsters and who knows what else. He would take out something, drop it somewhere in the house and then go back for more. I would just shove it back in and this was repeated about a dozen times every day. You can imagine what it looked like. (I wish I had taken a picture) A couple of weeks ago I remembered that oh yeah... I used to be organized and maybe I could even bring some order to these drawers. I found these containers at Wal-mart for about $1.50 each. They all fit perfectly, it was so exciting!!!

It was so fun... I forgot how much fun it is to have a project like this. I know I'm strange, but it made 

me happy to organize this little piece of my life. (Meanwhile the rest of my crazy life got a little less organized but it was totally worth it!) I even gave into the little voice in my head that said you should print off pictures of what is inside and laminate them and then label everything.

My kids are very impressed and have even played the games more now that we now where they are!

While I was at it I tackled my dresser of junk drawers where we keep all the random stuff in the house. It was a huge mess. No labels this time, but I love seeing everything so tidy. It wasn't even very hard or expensive. (The dividers are about $1 for 3 at Wal-mart) When I was done I showed everyone where everything went. So now it will stay like this forever, right? It is so nice now not to have to rummage through every drawer to find what we are looking for. 

Before:

After:

Family Goal 2012

 Over the years we have developed a pretty good habit of family scripture study, but I have struggled in helping my kids to develop their own (and my own) habit of daily personal scripture study. This year we decided to make it our family goal. Just to keep it simple this year, that is it. That is the family goal for this year. We have different ways we are tracking it and encouraging it. I think that is going to be the trick, just keep helping them remember until it is a habit.

This is what we are doing right now to help us remember. This chalkboard is right in our busy hall. We all pass it several times a day. It has been a great reminder to all of us. And besides...we like a little bit of friendly competition in there to see who can be the first to read their scriptures that day.

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Put your whole self in.

That's what it's all about.

Crushing on you...

One of my favorite traditions is our "Valentines Dinner of Family Love".  We have a fancy dinner of steak and shrimp and chocolate dipped strawberries. We also take the opportunity to tell each person why we love them. It is a special time for our family. 

 I saw this idea for a drink on Pinterest and had to copy. 

This will be fun for our dinner. Here is the link for the PDF I made. 

 When I got put in as Primary president in December it was crazy. We didn't have time to give the teachers a Christmas gift in appreciation for all they do. Now that things have slowed down a little bit we put these together (idea from Pinterest, once again) for the teachers for Valentine's Day. Here's the PDF (generic, just Primary kids) for that as well.

 I love Valentine's Day and it makes me appreciate my sweet family and husband. It's nice because there isn't the pressure like with Christmas, and often it's the small tokens of affection that remind us that we are loved.

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Forget me not

I planted these seeds back in October and I had almost forgotten about them. I wasn't sure really what would happen, or if I planted them in the right season, etc. But lately they are looking great and yesterday I noticed the first blossom! Yay! Nature amazes me. It gives me hope. If there is that much potential in a little seed;  if I just keep doing everything I can to nourish myself and my family that Heavenly Father can make something beautiful out of us too.

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Freezer Friday - Mini Cheesy Meatloaves

No one (including me) in my family is a big meatloaf fan, but then I started making these. Everyone but Tyler loves them, and he may join the ranks soon. He has to practice liking a bite of what he doesn't like so maybe one day he will be on Team Mini Meatloaf.

I found the recipe on a blog called My Sister's Cucina almost three years ago and I adapted it to the freezer after I made it the first time. It's a great thing to have in your freezer. We love to eat it with Stuffed Bleu Cheese Potatoes or just baked potatoes and green beans. 

Mini Cheesy Meatloaves
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup oats
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
3 Tbsp onion (chopped)

Sauce - make extra to get them really good and covered.
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp mustard
1/3 cup ketchup

Combine all ingredients very well. Use ice cream scoop to form into scoops of meatloaf.
Place in greased, shallow baking dish. Cover with sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

To adapt it for the freezer be sure to use fresh, not previously frozen ground beef. When you scoop the meatloaf  just put them onto a greased cookie sheet and freeze. I freeze with the sauce already on. It is a little messier, but I have found that is the simplest way. (I am all about simplest way :) Once they are frozen put the desired amount into labeled Ziploc freezer bags. 

To prepare, thaw in fridge during the day and cook for 30 minutes. Or cook directly from frozen for about 45 minutes (covered).

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