Menu Planning and Housework in General
I have found, that I am busier than ever. You scoff. Of course I'm busier. Have we not just taken on another child? Was I not busy before? Well, yes we have and yes, I was busy before, but not constructively busy. My days were a whirlwind of chaos including meals, laundry, and breaking up fights. Now, in large part to Chris, there is a rhythm to my days and a feeling of peace. Peace, because, despite the fact that we have taken on another child, the house is tidy. The kitchen always clean at night because while I am readying the kids for bed, Chris is busy putting away food and washing dishes. While I am making meals, Chris is directing the cleanup of the new playroom (I love the sound of that-more on that later). It's so nice to have the cooperative partnership. I'm sitting in a warm and toasty keeping room (chris built me a fire....) that is neat and clean because yesterday everyone pitched in to help me clean it up after the madness of Christmas. The kids put away toys (they each had a bag to use and that helped the process) while I dusted and swept and vacuumed.
We have turned one of the basement rooms into a playroom. Chris did have a lovely train set in there, but due to time and money constraints, nothing more was ever done with the train. So, we have packed it away for the time being and turned the room at the bottom of the stairs into a playroom. Having five kids upstairs has made us realize just how small those bedrooms are. So, we have moved the train table and Thomas toys as well as the Little People toys to that room. The kids each got a bean bag chair for Christmas and those reside down there, too, along with an archaic tv and dvd player. So, now, the kids can watch a show downstairs and I can sit in my warm and toasty and most importantly, quiet keeping room and blog or work on the menu.
And speaking of my menu, goodness gracious can our new boy eat!! I am amazed at his ability to eat and eat and eat. At 3. We might need another mortgage just to feed him 10 years from now. Okay, not really, but it is amusing to me the quantities of food I have been preparing. Before, I would make food, dish up plates and we'd eat, no leftovers, usually. Now, I have returned to the meals of my youth and we are eating family style with minimal leftovers. I guess that stands to reason since we are a family, but you know what I mean. I'm thinking I need some restaurant grade cookware. Maybe a stove, too, while I'm at it. Why not go for the whole shebang and put in a dream kitchen of butcher block counter tops and island, bar stools for all the kids, restaurant stove/oven/grill. It would be just like the good old days. Okay, maybe just some nice pots and pans to start.
And, tomorrow, Sarah moves in with us. Did I mention that before? I wonder if she eats a lot too. We're going to have one crazy household, here.
We have turned one of the basement rooms into a playroom. Chris did have a lovely train set in there, but due to time and money constraints, nothing more was ever done with the train. So, we have packed it away for the time being and turned the room at the bottom of the stairs into a playroom. Having five kids upstairs has made us realize just how small those bedrooms are. So, we have moved the train table and Thomas toys as well as the Little People toys to that room. The kids each got a bean bag chair for Christmas and those reside down there, too, along with an archaic tv and dvd player. So, now, the kids can watch a show downstairs and I can sit in my warm and toasty and most importantly, quiet keeping room and blog or work on the menu.
And speaking of my menu, goodness gracious can our new boy eat!! I am amazed at his ability to eat and eat and eat. At 3. We might need another mortgage just to feed him 10 years from now. Okay, not really, but it is amusing to me the quantities of food I have been preparing. Before, I would make food, dish up plates and we'd eat, no leftovers, usually. Now, I have returned to the meals of my youth and we are eating family style with minimal leftovers. I guess that stands to reason since we are a family, but you know what I mean. I'm thinking I need some restaurant grade cookware. Maybe a stove, too, while I'm at it. Why not go for the whole shebang and put in a dream kitchen of butcher block counter tops and island, bar stools for all the kids, restaurant stove/oven/grill. It would be just like the good old days. Okay, maybe just some nice pots and pans to start.
And, tomorrow, Sarah moves in with us. Did I mention that before? I wonder if she eats a lot too. We're going to have one crazy household, here.
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