I don’t know what the problem is around our house lately. Apparently the boys are all sick of breakfast food.

Oh, they all still want to eat breakfast. The boys are as hungry as ever in the morning. But for some reason nothing sounds good to them.

Grr

It’s not like I’m making gross stuff. Or the same thing every day. I make all kinds of yummy variety of pancakes, waffles, muffins, breads, eggs, smoothies, hashbrowns, oatmeal, milkshakes…. ALL kinds of things. 

When the kids turn up their noses at my breakfast foods these days, I don’t hesitate to (lovingly) remind them that “back in the day” children got to eat the same breakfast of “a bowl of gruel” morning after morning after morning and if they didn’t eat it, they would just go hungry and so they ate it day after day and they didn’t ever complain because if they did complain their mother would (lovingly) give them a shovel and a bucket and send them out to clean out the privy…

That little speech is always so effective.

Yeah, whatever.

Well…I will admit that I understand the boys’ issues somewhat. I was a TERRIBLE breakfast eater when I was little. There was hardly anything I would eat, so my mom finally resorted to feeding me “last night’s leftovers” for breakfast before I left for school. I’d eat macaroni and cheese, meat loaf…whatever in the world Mom could get into me before time to leave for the bus. 

So yeah…I get it. And I think we’re about to get over this hump. The boys tend to go through these anti-breakfast phases once in a while…then they get over it and start eating better again. (Probably because of my really, really good “back in the day” speech.)

My question for you today is:  Are you a breakfast person? Do you love it? Do you skip it? And…what’s your FAVORITE breakfast food?!

Let’s talk for a moment about pets.

I personally am not a big fan. I don’t usually care for wet noses on my neck. Hairy couches require frequent vacuuming. I also like breathing an awful lot. Animals tend to make that simple act a bit difficult for me.

I grew up on a farm. You’d think I’d be more of a pet lover. I wish I was. 

At this point in my life I really can’t handle the thought of bringing anything else into my home that I would need to take care of, feed, water, love, nurture, discipline, train, tell to be quiet…

And don’t suggest that we get a fish. They have tanks that get dirty and sometimes they float on top of water because they’re dead. And then you have to have fishy funerals. I don’t have time to hold a fishy funeral.

I know many of you feel differently about pets. I’m very much okay with YOU having pets. I know those of you with pets love ’em like crazy! I actually think it’s pretty neat that others love their pets so much. Way to go, animal lovers! Me not enjoying pets is simply my own personal opinion.

So tell me…do you have pets? Love pets? Kiss your pets on the mouth?  What kind of pets do you have? Take a moment to brag on your pets.

OR are you like me and leave the pets to someone else?

I’m working hard right now to put together the new free ebook full of fun pre-schooler ideas! Wow, you all are amazing, you know that? Talk about some super fun ideas of activities to do with the little people in your life!

THANK YOU for your wonderful response! Because of you, this ebook should be a wonderful resource for moms and dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles, babysitters, teachers, ANYONE who loves children!!! 

Here’s what I need from you now:

• Any last minute preschool activity ideas you may have. (Email your ideas to me please:  laura at heavenly homemakers dot com)
• Pictures of the activity or idea if you have them…and if you don’t mind them going into the ebook. (Again, email the jpg to me please)
• A TITLE for our ebook!!!

Leave a comment with your title suggestion for this ebook. The book will be free to everyone. It will be full of ideas, activities, recipes and games for young children. 

After reviewing your title suggestions, I’ll put a poll up here so that everyone can vote for their favorite!

Okay, let’s hear your creative and brilliant title ideas!

Since I didn’t need to cook for the soccer team today…and since I have fresh peppers coming out my ears…I decided to make salsa.

Mmmm…my house smells good. 

I usually plant chili peppers and use those for my salsa instead of jalapenos. Most of the people at our house don’t really like their salsa very hot. The chili peppers make our salsa just right.

(I’m sorry I can’t share my salsa recipe with you. It was my mom’s special recipe. You wanna hear that story sometime? It makes me very happy.)

What I’m curious about today is:  How do you like your salsa?

Are you a hot salsa kind of a person…or do you like yours mild? Do you like steam coming out of your ears when you take a bite or would you rather just have just a tiny bit of spice? Or, do you even like salsa?

I have a friend who’s ten year old boy would eat a big bowl of hot salsa like soup if she let him. Wow. Somebody hand that kid a chip. And a big glass of water. And a Tums.

I need some input.

My husband helps coach the women’s soccer team for our local college. The players arrived last week to start practices and training. The dorms don’t open for another week and the cafeteria is charging a hefty amount to feed the teams. To help save the soccer budget some money we (coaches and spouses) decided to serve dinner to the girls in others ways. 

Long story short…I offered to cook dinner for 21-31 people each evening next week, Sunday through Friday.

If you know me very well, you know these two things:  1) I’m a little bit crazy and 2) I love to feed people. 

I’m pretty excited about the opportunity and will really enjoy this. I think it will be fun to treat the girls to a great meal after they’ve been working hard for hours. They are all super sweet and this will give me a chance to get to know them a little bit better.

SO…here’s where you come in. I am working hard on the menu planning and food prep this weekend. I have a few ideas of meals that will work well to feed a large group, but we’re talking about SIX meals here and I’d love a few of your meal suggestions.

Here are a few details: 

• Some of the meals will be at a park…some will be in my home…and some will be in the church fellowship hall. 
• The girls are going to be having THREE practices a day this week. They’ll need nourishment and a lot of it!
• On the flip side of that…a couple hours after dinner the team will have a big run. I don’t want the meals to be incredibly bulky if I can help it.
• I want the meals to be simple to prepare in large quantities, yet I really want to “treat” the girls to some good eatin’. I’d love for them to feel like I really cared enough to feed them well.

So, bring on the meal ideas. What do you like to feed to large crowds? Feel free to give me recipes and links if you’ve got ’em. 

You’ll see my choices on Sunday afternoon when I post my menu plan. THANK YOU in advance for your input. You have no idea how helpful this will be for me. 

Also, if you could come wash a few dishes while I cook, that would be great.

I don’t know why I haven’t asked you this before (since I am ever so nosy and all of that).

What kind of music do you listen to? 

I generally listen to Christian radio…I have a radio in my kitchen and LOVE listening to Christian songs while I work. 

My favorite group (currently) is Switchfoot. Somehow we ended up with their “Beautiful Letdown” CD. (Someone accidently left it at our house a couple of years ago…is it yours?)  We keep it in the van and listen to it over and over. I love their song Twenty-Four. 

And, well..you know I like this song and this one.

But I don’t know what kind of music you like listening to! Share! What do you like?

Feel free to sing to us in the comments as well. Singing is always appreciated.

Soooo, Christmas isn’t all about gifts…we all know that. But I’m excited about my Christmas present…and I want to know what gifts you are excited about too! 

Matt got me some awesome software (PhotoImpact) that will allow me to design my own Gratituesday graphics and  website banners…and edit photos…and make nicer menu planners…and oh so many other things I can’t even believe what all this software will do (if I can figure out how to do it all)!

With the software…I was able to create a fresh new look for the site (with the help OF COURSE from Char , who always, always generously helps me do all the techie stuff I’m clueless about). (By the way…if you are clicking around on any links and they don’t work anymore it’s because I’m switching a bunch of stuff around to hopefully make the site more user friendly. Be sure to let me know if you find links that are messed up!)

Anyway…I got software for Christmas…I’ve heard a few of you say you got the grain mill you’ve been wanting…and Pam? Wanna know what Pam’s husband got her?

He came to my shop and bought some of my ebooks that she’s been wanting…printed them…spiral bound them and SURPRISED her with them. Is he sweet or what?

So let’s hear it! What did you get for Christmas? (Or what was your favorite gift you gave someone for Christmas?)

Let’s talk about Christmases past… 

I got a doll for Christmas every single year until I was probably in my mid-twenties. Often my mom made the doll, or at least she would make the doll clothes to go with it. I LOVED (LOVE) dolls.

One year…my parents got me twin baby dolls, a boy and a girl. My mom sewed matching clothes for them. AND my dad built me some little bunk beds for those dolls. That was one of my favorite Christmases!! (We still have those sweet little baby doll bunk beds that my dad made!!!)

Oh, and that was also the year I got that Doll Head thing. Remember what my brother did to that? (See this post…#8)

While that was my favorite Christmas memory…I also remember a Christmas that I was really sad.

I was a seventh grader. That year, we had a foster girl living with us who was an eighth grader. Mostly it was fine having her live with us, but for Christmas that year she was supposed to go for a home visit. I was ready for a break from her and to have my own family back to myself for a few days. On Christmas Eve we got word that her family wasn’t doing well and she couldn’t go home after all. I remember having a really, really hard time being happy that Christmas. Sounds a little selfish I suppose. That poor girl NEEDED a happy Christmas in our home. I bet she was sad that Christmas too. Anyway…

Sometimes we would travel for Christmas, but usually we had Christmas morning at home and then went to Grandma’s for Christmas dinner and an afternoon with our big family. I loved Christmas!!

What are your favorite (or not favorite) Christmas memories as a child?