Apples 2011

And here we are at 2011.I tried a caramel apple pizza… not so hot.  It would’ve been delish if it didn’t have tomato sauce on it!  The biggest hit with the pizzas was pineapple and caramelized onion.  So here I am popping pizzas in the oven while Sarah measures out the ingredients for caramel.  Yum.

Fortunately, the kiddos still enjoyed rolling them in toppings.  {mini m&ms, coconut, sliced almonds, Heath crunchies, mini marshmallows…}

I dipped mine in almonds.  Yum.

Note the caramel spot on Andrew’s nose.  And how many marshmallows he managed to stick onto one little apple slice.  Talent, I tell ya.  That boy’s got talent. 

Note most of these pictures are taken from above.  Way above.  Chris had a lot of fun standing on barstools, counters and other tall spots.  Seth was rooting him on.  Then we had a dance-off with Clara and Abbie.    Good times with great friends.

The End.

Traditions Revised… or Not

Thanksgiving is coming, followed by 32 days full of family, celebration… tradition.

Pick up any magazine this month, from Real Simple to Family Fun and you’ll find articles touting new, better, more. Better decorations, special family moments and recipes promise to revitalize your worn-out Holiday Traditions.

New can be fun… but new practices aren’t traditions yet.  While new, better and more always promise glitz, they often add up to holiday stress and clutter instead.

“Traditions are called traditions precisely because they form a link to the past.  One value of tradition is that it is a celebration of sameness, not change.” writes Dr. Richard Swenson in The Overload Syndrome.

I love creating memories with our family.  I’ve scoured blogs for new ideas and have multiple Pinterest boards dedicated to the holidays.  I guess you could say I have a tradition of developing new traditions.  Dr. Swenson’s insight has brought balance to my insatiable quest for better.

     “There is no remembrance of former things,” Ecclesiastes 1:11 warns.  I’m listening!  Slow down and enjoy today, remember the great times past and allow the routine to be a salve to a busy soul instead of being driven to scramble after some elusive perfection that doesn’t even exist.

     Again in The Overload Syndrome, Dr. Swenson instructs busy Americans to look to routines not to add spice to life, but to “add a much needed and pleasurable stability.  These routines are called programmed decisions, and they cut down greatly on decision stress.”

     During the busy holiday season, doesn’t everyone want to reduce stress?!   Look to favorite memories of the past or carefully schedule your holiday to-do’s to develop family history.  Your Thanksgiving menu and the way you give thanks to God may be your family anchor for the holiday.  Outdoor games, family singing, a football game, Grandpa’s prayer, going through the Black Friday ads, bringing a pie to the fire station… what makes your Thanksgiving uniquely yours?

     Tried and true traditions can be meaningful, memorable respites in the busy instability of life.  Dr. Swenson suggests that these family memories do more than alleviate the burden of choice and declutter schedules.  He calls traditions “a valuable anchor for the soul.”

     May your soul find rest this holiday season and your thanks be genuine to the One who gives every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).  Happy Thanksgiving.

This article was originally published in The Creekline.

The Value of a Dollar ~ Part 3, PRACTICAL Ideas~

Wait!  While this article is good alone, it’s intended to be read in order from The Value of a Dollar series. Start with Part 1 here. Then read Part 2 here.

Every parent wants to raise financial geniuses.  We’ve explored financial responsibility, now let’s delve into some practical ways to equip your children- from toddlers to teens- as they learn to value a dollar.

Little ones usually don’t comprehend money’s value.  In the van today, we discussed money-making opportunities.  We’re gearing up for our family trip and everyone wants some spending money!  Andrew (4) was shocked I’d be willing to pay him $1 for an involved job.  “A whole dollar?!” he exclaimed joyfully.  That dollar lost it’s glamour quickly when we discussed how much a snack or souvenir will cost.  Still excited, he now understands he’ll need to work hard to save for a fun trip just like Mom & Dad.

Children have limited opportunities to earn money.  Encourage them to be creative!

• Keep a “paid jobs” list.  Dave Ramsey maintains, and I agree, that certain chores are a child’s contribution to family life and are unpaid.  However, I often make a list of extra jobs I’m willing to pay for.
• Allowance.  If you say you’re going to give it, keep your word!  You may consider having standards the children must meet in order to receive it.
• Talk to the neighbors.  A responsible child may be hired to walk a neighbor’s dog, babysit, mow lawns, rake leaves, pull weeds, or house sit.
• Sell something!  Neighborhood garage sales are bi-annual in most N St Johns County neighborhoods.  Allow your child to set up a lemonade stand or join with friends to sell outgrown toys.

Now that they’ve earned some money, remind your family to “Save, Spend & Give.”

Searching for a practical way to encourage saving?  One local dad matched savings- dollar for dollar. Adam Frederick remembers, “Dad definitely built into me a desire to save and watch my money closely.  It was a lot of fun to watch the account grow.”

His Dad showed him monthly statements that tracked balance and interest gained every month over the 5 years he matched savings- until Adam started working.  “He built into all of us a lot of financial ideas along the way.  He cited Proverbs 22:7 when he taught me to always pay off credit cards at the end of the month and never build debt.  Dad was very intentional.”

As your children get closer to adulthood, consider involving them in the family budget.

Len Fontenot shared, “I sat my kids down and showed them real life. I’ve shown them how much comes in, how much goes out on basics, for savings, supplemental retirement and retirement, how much for emergency and how to manage and manipulate credit. My boys learn far better from what I show them as opposed to what I tell them. In other words if you are practicing what you preach show them how the family finances work and let real life be the teacher.”

Practice what you preach.  As you train your children in financial responsibility, remember you are writing part of your family’s story.  Let it be consistent of your values in the rest of life- full of faithfulness and generosity.

This article was originally published in The Creekline.

Chore List {or, earning money for our road trip!}

This trip, I’ve jotted down a list of chores I’d like to have help with and how much I’m willing to pay for them.  So far, it’s working like a charm!  The children have already completed half the list and our home is looking spic n span!  (Did your Mom use that expression when you were a kid?)

This is the Ohio Paid Chore List I printed for this trip.  I left room at the bottom to jot more down as I think of other dirty nooks.  I’ll pay out right before we leave so no one looses their money, puts it in someone else’s piggy bank, or otherwise misplaces it.  We’re one step closer to our big trip… the countdown is on!

Planning for a {long} trip

ROAD TRIP! I'm looking forward to scenic drives & great family memories!

We’re gearing up for our family vacation… and it’s time to figure out how to keep six children under 12 happy for thirteen plus hours of car time.  Each way.  Heh heh

Going on a Bear Hunt is ringing in my ears… What a beautiful day, we’re not scared!  Maybe I should be…  Nah!  It’ll be FUN!  This is our third big trip (first was to DC, second to the Smoky Mountains and Asheville, North Carolina) so I’m going to pull out my tried-and-true ideas and add in some fresh ones for a grand ole time!

Today is brainstorming… I’ll share the links & ideas I like with you:

1) Print some funny questions for family giggles.
2) Here are some fun printable ideas, including Road Trip Bingo, and a great tip… laminate, laminate, laminate!  I also love these, but the chick is from Australia, so we may have a hard time finding a Holden (?) or a Kangaroo Crossing sign!
3) I may make one of these to keep the van trash-free.
4) This car magnet could keep my kiddos from getting run over in parking lots.
5) I like some of these ideas… like pinning up our destinations in the van.  Maybe I could put something fun on the back of each for us to do upon arrival… or something to look for while there (I like that better)!!
6) I made a homemade I Spy bottle last trip & it was a hit, I plan to do that again.
7) I’ll print a US Map for the liscense plate game- the children can color in the states as they see plates from each.  We see ‘em all here in Florida!
I always include an itenerary to reduce the “are we there yet” and “how much longer” questions.
9) I’ll include some fresh snack ideas, like these “Energy Bites” and these Chocolate Coins.  {Am I really gonna have time to make all this?}
10) I wish I liked sewing.  I’d make a Road Trip Quilt & include fabrics that remind me of each destination.  Forget scrapbooking, I could make a quilt for each trip!  Maybe I’ll take it up… Hmm…
11) Almost done- I need some sleep.  I saw several ideas on Confessions of a Homeschooler‘s site that may help me with our folders.  I’m getting excited just looking all this up!
12) I hope to have time to make a Road Trip Playlist.  What are your favorite trippin’ songs?!  I don’t want to forget any!

It’s gonna be fun… send me any ideas you love & I’ll add it to my arsenal!!!