Mommin' It Up!

October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

Christmas in Moderation

I know, you’re moaning and groaning because this post has the word “Christmas” in the title and it’s only October 29th. It’s totally ridiculous. But for me, you see, shopping season comes early; Sophie’s birthday is November 16th. It’s followed closely by my husband’s on Novmember 26th and then Jonah’s on December 17th. Oh, yes, and THEN Jesus’ on December 25th.

So. I’m shopping.

Last year I overdid it big time on Sophie’s birthday and Christmas. Mostly because it was the first time that Sophie really, really, really, completely, fully enjoyed and understood these events. Also, I found a TON of great deals last year for both her birthday and for Christmas. However, I probably should not have bought them all. The big kids just got way too much. Joshua’s birthday is 8 weeks after Christmas so by the time we got there, we were on full toy overload. And the kids’ expectations were just too high.

I know it’s “rough” having a birthday so close to Christmas. They don’t really get presents any other time of the year. But this year, I’m trying to teach them that it’s not about how much stuff you get. That, of course, is easier said than done.

To get us started on the path to gift moderation instead of present overload, I borrowed an idea from my friend Tess. For Christmas, they give each child four presents: something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. Brilliant, right?? I immediately decided to adopt this idea for our family for Christmas and birthdays. So, a few weeks ago I broke the news to the big kids.

At first, Sophie was excited about it, until Joshua clued her in to the fact that it used to be “something you want, something you want, something you want, something you want.” So they both kind of pouted for awhile, but after a few weeks of talking about it on and off – I think they’re both finally on board! Sophie gave me an appropriate birthday list and yesterday Joshua made his Christmas list for me in line with the new guidelines:

Didn’t he do a nice job? I’m proud of him and of Sophie! I hope they can keep their good attitudes through the holiday season – the first of the toy catalogs arrived today and they were both pretty excited.

We’ll see how the experiment goes this year. I’m hoping it -along with our Operation Christmas Child boxes – goes a long way in teaching them that Christmas is really about God’s gift to us.

What do you do to teach your kids that it’s better to give than to receive?
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Lead photo via Creative Commons

October 26, 2012December 4, 2012

#LittleChefs Chef Boyardee eCookbook & Giveaway!

One of my family favorites as a kid was Chef Boyardee Pizza. (I still luuurve it.) We made them at home with my parents, which was fun, but my favorite way to make them was when Emily, her sister Anna and I made them with our Grandma Burns. (I love a Chef Boyardee pizza any which way you slice it, but no one makes one taste better than my Grandma Burns!) Last year, my kids made one with my mom for the first time and they loved it.

(Side note: I also loooves me some Chef Boyardee Ravioli. Mmmm!)

So naturally, when Chef Boyardee and the Motherhood asked me to take part in a project focusing on cooking with kids, I said yes! I was privileged to be a part of the Little Chefs eCookbook, now available for download here! I know, I’m not exactly a culinary genius, but I did have a few things to say about getting my picky eaters to enjoy foods more when they take part in the cooking process by adding their own fun flavors.

Here we are having fun with flavors! Joshua added lime juice (and BBQ sauce!?!) to a salad (he loves all things sour!) and Sophie added tortilla chips to top hers (she loves all things chips!) We had a lot of fun cooking together!

To celebrate the Little Chefs eCookbook, Chef Boyardee has given me a fab prize package to give away so you can do some fun cooking at home with your Little Chefs!

One lucky winner will receive:

Kids’ kitchen measure and prep kit
Kids’ recipe box
Scrapbook album
2 Chef Boyardee chef hats
Chef Boyardee adult apron
Chef Boyardee child apron
Chef Boyardee pizza kit
Time capsule
2 coupons for free Chef Boyardee Beefaroni
5 Chef Boyardee recipe cards

To enter, just click over to the new the Little Chefs eCookbook and then come back here and leave me a comment telling me which chapter you think sounds most interesting!

For a bonus entry, tell me your favorite dish to make with your kids.

One winner will be drawn at random on Friday, November 2 at 6 pm EST. Good luck!

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I am being compensated for my work on the Little Chefs eCookbook by Chef Boyardee and the Motherhood.com.

October 25, 2012

Migraines, anyone?

So today (yesterday, by the time you’re reading this) I had a weird medical experience. (I’ve been having a lot of weird medical experiences lately, come to think about it!) I have diagnosed myself with a migraine, but since I’ve never had one before, I’m looking to you, interwebs, for confirmation of this.

I woke up in the morning feeling nauseated and sick to my stomach… just not right. I slept in for a while but had to go to work for a few meetings. Everything hurt – my skin was sensitive to the touch, and walking seemed like an insurmountable chore. I don’t remember having a headache at that point, though. I went to one meeting, slept in my car during my lunch hour, and then went back for three solid hours of meetings, during which is was almost impossible to sit still. I was so uncomfortable! I did not get the friendly co-worker of the day award. After that, I went to get Sam and drove home, although I had a hard time deciding which sounded worse – driving home, or waiting another 50 minutes for Andy to come pick me up. Anyway, when I got home, I turned on a TV show for Sam and went straight to bed. Andy and Kate got home 10 minutes after we did, and I didn’t wake up at all. I didn’t wake up for another two hours, actually, but when I did, I had the worst headache I have ever had in my life. Andy and the kids had gone to Subway, and I couldn’t bring myself to get up out of bed to take medicine, even! Not long after that, Andy stopped at home and brought me Advil (I insisted on taking 4 against his recommendation!) and took the kids to the park. I went back to sleep, and by the time they got home, the medicine had kicked in and I felt so much better. I feel like a new person now.

After some googling, I have determined it was a migraine. Do you concur, Dr. Readers?