New Year’s Sandwich

What’s for Dinner: Chipped Beef Gravy over Toast, Peach Cobbler

At the Sewing Machine: Cutting the strips to the Raggy Jacket

On the Scrapbooking Table: Taking advantage of the CVS 10¢ print sale!

When I was trying to decide what to make for our New Year’s Eve gathering, Meghan chimed in with the excellent idea of our Stromboli Sandwich. As a black and white dish, it’s one of those meals that gets cheers from the children when it’s on the dinner menu.

The universal favorite meat/cheese combination is Ham & Cheddar Cheese, but also yummy are Turkey & Swiss and Salami & Pepper Jack. For the bread, I use homemade bread dough equal to one loaf for each sandwich. You could use frozen bread dough to be even quicker. Two sandwiches feed our crew of nine eaters. I’ll make four for tomorrow night.

Enough of the prologue – Here’s the recipe:

1 lb Frozen Bread Dough, thawed
2 Tbl. Butter, softened
½ lb. Sliced Deli Meat
½ C Shredded Cheese

Roll out dough to about 10x15 inches; spread with butter. Top with sprinkle of cheese, meat, rest of cheese. Roll up jelly-roll style; pinch to seal and tuck ends under. Place seam-side down on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let sit for a few minutes, then slice and enjoy!

Lainie

Check This Out!

What's for Dinner: Spaghetti & the last of the Christmas Leftovers

At the Sewing Machine: Raggy Jacket for Me

On the Scrapbook Table: Do I finish up a few more pages or start new ones?

The after-Christmas toy bomb has wrecked havoc in our house. I don’t know why I am always shocked by how much mess eight children can make, and yet I walk through the house just shaking my head.

Like an answer to prayer this week’s FREE download from CurrClick is
Tips for Successful Kids Chores by Wendy Young. Click on the CurrClick box to check it out. It's the free resource on their homepage.

This e-book includes the following:
1. How to organize your children’s rooms including how to perform a 3 day blitz!
2. How to deal with unsavory attitudes over chores
3. Age by age chore suggestions & help
4. Zoning your child’s room
5. Dealing with Chore Allowances
6. Motivation for training your children to do their chores
7. How to set up your chore pocket system

While I love the job charts we’ve created for our children, it seems once they have them memorized (or think they do), they get lazy about checking to make sure everything on the list is done. When that starts to happen, it’s time to mix things up a bit. There seems to be more diligence when things are new. I’m hoping to have new lists done for school starting back next Monday.

Happy Cleaning!
Lainie

Speechless

What's for Dinner: BBQ Kielbasa, Rice, Cornbread, Green Beans

On the Scrapbook Table: I wrapped up three spreads yesterday!

At the Sewing Machine: Repurposing a pair of jeans into a skirt for Emelie

Saturday we made one of our frequent shopping excursions to Wal-Mart. The primary purpose of this trip was for the children to purchase the gift for the sibling whose name they drew. After buying all the food items needed for this week, we were standing by the jewelry counter working out the logistics of who goes with whom to keep everything secret. An older lady came up to me and held out some money. She said that she and her husband had no little children to buy for, and she had been watching us go through the store. Since she came from a big family, she wanted to bless a large family and buy something for our children.

I said, "Oh, ma'am, I can't take this!"

"Oh, yes you can! I really want to do this," she replied.

I glanced at Bryan, who looked as stunned as I felt. As a loss, I said, "God Bless You."

She answered, "God Bless You, too," and walked away.

I turned around to Bryan and the children. Everyone's mouth was open and their eyes were big as saucers. Admittedly, I started looking everyone ever to make sure everyone was wearing shoes and had clean faces. I hoped we didn’t look like we needed the money! Isn’t pride lovely!

In the end, Bryan used the money to cover the little things the children pick for each other. And we made sure to put something in the bell-ringer’s bucket.

Merry Christmas!
Lainie

I'm Back!

What's for Dinner: Hashbrown Casserole and Biscuits & Gravy

On the Scrapbook Table: Tying up loose ends and trying to catch up

At the Sewing Machine: Repurposing a pair of jeans into a skirt for Emelie

When I last posted I didn't know I was pregnant, and now I have a three-month-old. So much for that 2008 New Year's Resolution to post three times per week. Oh, well -- There's always 2009! And Baby Hunter is sure a cute excuse for a break!

Tomorrow starts our Christmas Break, and I am ready! My hope is to catch up on many sewing and scrapbooking projects. I'm moving some scrapbooking supplies to my kitchen peninsula so I can finish up some layouts during the day. Hopefully little hands can be kept busy elsewhere. When they see the Cricut come out, all of a sudden everyone needs their name cut out in 14 different sizes and fonts.

I also am hoping to get the skirt and two culottes that are collecting dust in the craft room finished for Emelie. I did just complete a peasant blouse for her last night. It was our first long-sleeved attempt (and she has VERY specific ideas on what the sleeves should look like). We're happy with the results, and the color is lovely. Hint - I had to take about 8 inches off the neckline elastic to make it fit appropriately.

Everyone is so excited for Christmas. I have only one more purchase to make, so I'm feeling pretty relaxed and ready to enjoys the annual traditions. I just love the way the house looks all decorated. It covers the lack of interior decoration the rest of the year! Jacob, especially, was enjoying the process of readying the house. He was ready to go as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey had been cleared.

Lainie

Thank You, Miss Jane Ann!

What's for Dinner: BBQ Chicken Stew and Dinner Rolls

On the Scrapbook Table: Still Working on Christmas!

At the Sewing Machine: A huge mess!

The girls were so excited by the bounty of clothes from the boutique known as The Miller Attic and Hand-Me-Down Emporium. They were as thrilled as only numbers 3, 6, and 7 of 7 can be at receiving a bunch of next-to-new items. Don't they look cute?!

Adorable Twirly Skorts

What's for Dinner: Black Beans and Sausage over Rice

At the Sewing Machine: Matching Cow Print Outfits for Brigitta and Heidi

On the Scrapbook Table: Stuck on Christmas, but cropping this weekend!

While looking for a new sewing pattern for Emelie, I stumbled across a pattern for my little ones called the Twirl Skort. It's an adorable full skirt with attached ruffled pantaloons underneath. Since the pattern was a download, I started one that evening and now, a week later, have finished two. Brigitta loves them, and I love not seeing diaper as she sprawls around. Meghan has requested one. Since she's going on 8, the pattern will require some modification. I know this is going to become the new staple of the girls' wardrobes!

A Really BIG Grocery Trip

What's for Dinner: Taco Salad

At the Sewing Machine: Twirly Skorts (more on these later)

At the Scrapbook Table: December & Christmas 2007 layouts

Instead of doing our usual once-per-month grocery, this past Saturday we went for two months. In fact, because of how paychecks work out, we shopped for nine weeks. We decided to do this to 1) save money (you can't spend it if you're not in the store!) and 2) eliminate the better part of one Saturday per month being consumed with food procurement.

The trip took no longer than usual, although we didn't have the whole crew with us - just baby and two cart pushers. We spent less than double the normal amount, so hopefully we'll see a savings in the end. Our menu plan is up on our website.

Here are some shots of what the pantry looks like now. God provides for all our needs - and so much more!

I brought the above cart up from the basement to hold extra cans

This is WAY up high - the tower of cereal and pasta!