2023/2024 School Year

 The newly minted 11 year old started school last Wednesday.  He was none too happy about it, but so far he is adjusting ok.  We had grandparents over on Saturday, and we took school friends to the lake yesterday to celebrate his birthday.  It was a beautiful day and I think the boys had a good time.

The big boys go back to college this week.  The oldest is leaving Thursday and the middle will go back on Saturday.  I'm going to miss having them home.  It's not the same without them.  But they have to go and do their thing. Sometimes having big kids is even harder than having little kids.  There tends to be more "pain" involved.  They need you a lot less and there is more coming and going with more going than coming.  No one tells this part about being a parent.  You get tons of advice and stories when you have babies and toddlers, but as they get older the sage advice wears off and people don't share as much information.  And as a parent, you know this time is coming, and even though you brace yourself for it, it comes so fast that you ultimately feel unprepared for it.  This if life.  And all parents go through it.  And some days are easier to let your big kids go more than others.

Sunday in church, there was a small child (I'm thinking toddler but I didn't actually see him) and all through the consecration he was making a loud groaning noise.  It was coming from behind me in the back of the church.  It almost sounded like he was just over mass and was letting out these loud guttural sounds in protest.  I couldn't help but smile because I wondered if that is how I sound to God every time I protest against something he is asking me to do, or asking me not to do and it goes against what I actually want.  Do I sound like this child protesting because I'm not getting my way?  I bet that is exactly how I sound.  So this week when the boys leave, I'm going to put on a big smile, and a bright cheery attitude and thank God for giving me these big kids, and be thankful that I am sending them out into the world and I pray that they are bringing God to others.  I promise I will not groan in protest because I'd rather keep them little and keep them home with me.  I will not promise, however, that I won't ugly cry on the way home after I drop them off.  I am human, after all. 

Changing Out Some Seasonal Decor

 If you know me, you know that fall is my favorite season.  I love everything about it.  But, the older I get, the less happy I am to see summer go.  Winter here in Ohio can be harsh.  January and February are some very long months for me.  I'm not looking forward to them.  So although I love fall, I'm not ready to decorate for it yet.  I just want to enjoy the season I'm in.  The "red, white, and blue" tree was starting to wear thin on me.  I love the patriotic decorations, but they've been up since May and I felt like I needed a change.  So today, I just changed out the tree to sunflowers and took down the patriotic mantle and just added some sunflowers there too.  That is all I'm doing for now.  The first or second week of September is when I will bring out the rest of the fall decor (Halloween doesn't show up until October 1st).  The older I get, the more I just want to live in the moment.  

After I took the decorations off, I took the tree outside and blew it with the leaf blower to get all the dust off of it. Oh Boy!  It was so dusty!

No fall leaves.  Only sunflowers.

School Starts This Week

 I can't believe it's back to school time already.  I'm not ready.  The 10 year old is not ready.  But ready or not...

I bought some uniform shorts and knit shirts for him from Amazon a month or so ago.  They were on sale for $6 for the shorts and $5 for the knit shirts. Those were great prices.

Then two weeks ago we headed to the uniform store for pants and a few shirts with his school name embroidered on them.  We also bought shoes at the outlet stores, and supplies from Walmart (Walmart was so crowded).  

Then last week I took him for his school hair cut and for all intents and purposes, we are ready to go.

It was funny grocery shopping this week.  I had to remember to buy school lunch items and quick breakfast options.  

The big boys don't go back to college for a few more weeks, but they should be all set too.

post hair cut ice cream

Ducks!

Chagrin Falls

Can't resist the toy store

Summer Vacation 2023: Litchfield Beach, SC

 Our annual trip to the beach was so fun!  I absolutely love the beach, and especially South Carolina.  Whenever I am there, I feel like I am "home".  I'm already looking forward to next summer and I'm hoping that we will be able to go again.  We never know what life has in store.

Sausage, Potato, Pepper Bake

Ingredients:

1. 1 medium onion

2. 6 large baking potatoes

3. 1/2 tsp of salt

4. dash of black pepper

5. 1/2 Tbs. of dried basil

6. 2-3 Tbs of olive oil

7. 2 pounds of mild Italian sausage (hot will work too of that's what you have on hand or prefer)

8. 2 large or 3 small green peppers

9. 3/4 cup of water

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Slice the onion in thin strips

3. Cut the potatoes roughly into 1/4 inch pieces

4.  Layer onion and potatoes on the bottom of a greased baking dish

5. Cut peppers into rings (this time I cut them into slices because the kids prefer that) and place on top of potatoes

6. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and basil (above measurements are approximates.  I season to taste and sometimes add garlic powder and onion powder depending on my mood.  Season the way you like it)

7. Pour oil over veggies and mix, then add the 3/4 cup of water

8. Arrange sausages on top and piece each link with a fork

9. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour

10. Uncover and bake for another 20-30 minutes until sausages are browned and the potatoes are tender

Makes 6-8 servings 

I sometimes serve this with a side salad and rolls or fresh Italian bread.

Enjoy!!
 

Summer 2023

 We have been doing baseball, baseball, and more baseball.  It's been a lot.  But this is our last week. So far all things are going well.  The older boys are working at their internships, and the little boy is playing baseball, attending camps, and doing well.

I have not been online much because my information was hacked at the beginning of June, and it is taking me weeks to get everything back, and secure my information.  It's daunting.  Truly.  I pray I have a handle on this.  It's a terrible feeling knowing that someone is out there trying to take over your cyber life.  

This week coming up, we have the 4th of July, and our final baseball tournament.  

I have been trying EVERYTHING to get our grocery budget under control.  I'm not doing so well with that.  I can spend a lot less, but then there is so little food, that the boys are not happy.  I'll keep trying and report back if anything works.  So far, NO.

Happy 4th of July!! 

Trying To Feed This Family On A Budget Isn't Easy

 Oy Vey, friends.  I swear the price of groceries is just taking its toll.  I keep trying different things to get this budget under control, but IT IS SO HARD. 

And honestly, it's not easy.  

Last week I went to Costco (and got a lot of things but I'd be embarrassed to tell you what I spent).

I have done Aldi.

I have done the local discount store.

I have done the regular grocery store.

I have done the local butcher/local farm.

I'm telling you, I have really tried it all.

And my budget is blown all the time.  

I feel like I'm failing at this.  But...

I'm not giving up.  I have been scouring YouTube and watching many frugal YouTubers.  I'm going to try a different tactic.  

What I'm not going to do:

Homesteading.  This is not for everyone and we are not farmers.  I did plant my garden.  And I will still visit local farms, but I am not a farmer.  

Processed food.  I do think processed food can be cheaper (and easier), and we do eat some processed food (I am not making my own crackers).  But I would still like to keep most of our meals home cooked.

Meal Kits.  We have food allergies in our family and most of the meal kits I have looked at will not work for us.

Starve these people. I do make a few meatless meals per week, but these people are meat eaters.  The suggestion I keep seeing to only use meat for flavoring is just not going to work here.  

Deplete my entire freezer/pantry stash.  I am going to use this stash, but I will be replenishing things as we go.  I am keeping the food instability of 2020 in the back of my mind.

But I am going to be making some changes on how I shop for our food and home needs.  It's just getting so out of control.  I feel like I'm white knuckling this food budget every month.  There are stresses in life that we can't control.  But this is one of those stresses that I can control.  

So stay tuned for what works and what isn't working.  I will share all the good, the bad, and the ugly.