Halloween Costumes

If you have a household full of kids you know that life may need to be a bit different for them than households with just one or two. Some kids get brand new Halloween costumes every year from the store with all the accessories to match. And that might be a good idea for the first few years. But my kids know they aren't getting new costumes and enjoy figuring out how to put together or make one for themselves. It makes the season so much more fun....and so much less expensive!

Easy Enchiladas!

This enchilada recipe starts with a sauce made with the large size can (26 oz) of Cream of Chicken Soup and about 1/4 cup of tomatillo salsa. Mix together and spoon half into bottom of casserole dish. Save the other half for topping. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown 1 lb of ground turkey or beef with 1 tbl minced garlic and 1 tbl Taco Seasoning. Add cilantro and green onions to your liking. Spoon mixture into flour tortillas, add jack cheese and roll. Place rolled enchiladas side by side in pan. Spoon the remaining soup/salsa mixture over the entire dish and cover with cheese. Bake until cheese is bubbly. Yields approx 8-10 servings.

Daily Affirmations

Children (and adults) will meditate on what is said to them most. So it's our job to make sure they're meditating on something Godly and meaningful. Having a list of daily affirmations and reading them each day to each child helps to give them positive messages to cling to. Our having a scripture of the week that we all have running through our minds will keep us more centered. This is a tip I need to work on too, but that's the best we can do, right?

Grief Share

It's important to remain aware of your children's grief process. Losing a sibling or a parent will most likely be a lifelong process of grief as each person is tossed about in a personal trial. Keeping their focus on a loving and caring God is key. They need to have the hope of eternal life and can use their tests to create their testimonies. Giving the death of a loved one some sort of purpose in this world will help them to keep their eyes on Jesus and His promises for us. Evil is a very real entity and we aren't supposed to be removed from our loved ones. But God can create goodness and light from the darkest circumstance, if we allow Him to do so.

Family Fun Nights

Just about every Friday we have Family Fun Night. We order pizza and a movie, make popcorn, or have a family dance party complete with decorations, or a game night where we play board games/wii. It doesn't really matter what we do as long as we spend time together! Hopefully, this will become a tradition that our children will do with their children. Maybe they'll even let grandparents come. :-)

Mexican Lasagna

Want an EASY but yummy recipe? Try this one. It's inexpensive, easy and serves 12-15! Take large casserole pan and layer the following: Sauce (canned tomato sauce, taco seasoning); corn tortillas, meat (browned ground beef and chorizo with minced garlic), cheese (Jack's my choice). You can also add corn, black beans, and green onions if you wish! Once you've made enough layers to fill up your pan top with cheese and back at 375 degrees until bubbly (usually about 20 min).

Easy Quiche- 8 servings!

Take a pre-made piecrust and bake in a pie pan until golden brown. While it's baking, brown a small tube of sausage in a pan, mix together 6 eggs and about 1 1/2 cups of milk. Stir in sausage and 1/2 cup sharp cheddar. Pour over crust and bake at 350 degrees until firm and nicely browned on top. Let stand 10 minutes before serving and top with sour cream and green onions if you wish. I like to serve it with a side of fruit. This breakfast costs less than $3 and serves 8!

Cheeseburger Helper

Personally, I can't stand Hamburger Helper and the like, but the version I made tonight was pretty good. Elbow maccaroni (cook drain and set aside), about 2 cups ground beef (brown with some olive oil and minced garlic, then add half a cup of red wine), add 29 oz can tomato sauce with a pinch of salt, stir in about a cup of sharp cheddar, and 1/2 cup of mozarella, then sprinkle grated parmesan cheese. Mix together and enjoy...YUM!

Chores

Every Saturday the four older kids are responsible for thoroughly cleaning their rooms, bathrooms, and closets from top to bottom. We have a weekly schedule for daily chores such as watering the plants, feeding the dogs, and cleaning the kitchen. Having their help with chores allows me to keep my sanity and teaches them to respect our home and their belongings. Sami and Jon are too young to participate in these chores but love to help out with the Swiffer and dusting. The kids see us working on the house all the time, so I think it builds a sense of comradery and ownership between us and our home.

Chicken or Beef?

In order to keep expenses down I purchase either the largest "tube" of ground beef for the week's meat OR chicken breasts. The ground beef is made into tacos, Mexican lasagna, lasagna, teriyaki meatballs, sloppy Joe's, etc... Then I'll alternate each week with a week of chicken. I find it easiest to bring a big pot of water to a boil, then drop all the chicken in. Once it's been boiled, I can chop it up and use it as needed in salads, white chili, chicken enchiladas, etc... Depending on the size of your family, the meat may not last all week. Many Europeans view meat as a side dish rather than a main course so the meat portions don't need to be large. I think Dr. Oz said the size of your palm is the desired portion. Once the meat has been used up, make meatless dishes with more veggies, cheese, potatoes, rice, etc... They're little digestive systems will thank you!

Early Bedtime

Setting an early bedtime allows the kids to get all the rest and sleep they need and still gives you time with your hubby before you both knock out. We gather, say our prayers together, and tuck in the older kids by 7:30. That may seem early but they usually don't fall asleept til 8:15 or so. They wake up rested and refreshed, though. If they stay up any longer than that, our kids get grumpy. This early tuck in time also gives them a chance to pray, gather their thoughts, and mentally prepare for the next day without having to play with the little ones. They rotate through showers and brushing teeth beforehand and have their clothes layed out for the next day. Our 4 year old wants 1 show each night, then goes to bed. It works well for us!

Behavior Cards

Homework/Behavior cards (small paper sheets with squares for each day of the week. Each card has 25 squares.)can be found at any bookstore, teacher supply store, Target or WalMart. With so many kids, allowance may be difficult to make happen each week. If each child has their own card, then each child can earn a sticker per day for good behavior, following directions, etc... (more frequent stickers for smaller children would be a good idea) After each child fills up their entire card, they earn an allowance of your desired amount ( $5, $25) Our cards are only worth $5 but the children are allowed to redeem their card with Daddy or Mommy on a special trip for ice cream or something else that would only cost about $5. This way they get one-on-one time with the parent of their choice, which is sometimes hard to get in a full house! We also don't feel guilty about not having an allowance system, which many of their friends in smaller households seem to get.

Lunch Trays

Using lunch trays to dish up meals will help you: use less dishes, make fair portions, clean up easier, and encourage you to fill their trays with a variety of items. They are cheap and available at any Target or WalMart..love 'em!