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Sunday, August 29, 2010

What a week

Hello all, Hope you had a great week. I have been busy organizing. I am feeling a real need an urgent need to get ready for the baby. The potty training is going well about 75% of the way there. I am hoping to make it to 36 weeks at least with this baby, But not sure that is going to happen. I am soooo tired like I have never been before. And the braxton hicks are coming everyday.

I just took advantage of the hooked on phonics sale, They had complete sets for 50% off then an additional 55% off that price with promo code SLICK55. I got the toddler complete edition and the Kindergarten complete edition for $37.88. We are excited to get these this week and start the little ones on it. I think the hooked on phonics will be good for the boys (adhd). They do better with complete structure. The love reading so I think this kit will be good for them. I will let you know how it goes. From what I understand the hooked on phonics websites has these sales quite often. To keep up with all the great sales online go to www.pinchingyourpennies.com and add them to blogger.

Hopefully I can find more time to blog I miss it terribly. I think it will be much easier with summer ending. Have a great week all, Michelle

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Potty training for #6 done!!!!

Every child is so different with potty training it can be frusterating. I learned long ago when they are ready they will let you know. Girls are easier in my experience then boys. Two year old Matthew finally decided 5 days ago he was a big boy and has done all his business in his potty since then. He is a very very proud little man. I am very excited to have him potty trained before the new baby gets here, This makes life alot easier. YEAH MATTHEW Good luck to all of you who are venturing into potty training , Michelle

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Portion control and frugality

I was just reading my Living on a dime newsletter from livingonadime.com and it was about portion control for children. It talks about how kids are given too much to eat all the way down to juice and the obesity issues and poor health that come along with too much of anything. My family is living proof of what happens when you give your kids too much of anything and what happens when you give your children propotionate amounts and try to adhere to daily suggested amounts.

My two oldest children almost 20 and almost 18 are examples of what happens when you don't know or don't pay attention to portion control. I had no clue what I was doing to them. Noone ever taught me about portion control or grazing or overeating. I fixed huge and I mean huge meals when they were little and put everything on the table and let them go at it, Always with soda or large containers of juice. Plus I always had snacks out for them to get themselves, which they did. Looking back I can't believe how much I gave them for lunches. Both of them are overweight and eat like crazy. Poor habits taught by me. Now don't get me wrong I don't like the government telling me what I can and can't feed my children, NO WAY. But we as parents do need to know that we are wasting so much and teaching them really bad things.

My 4 younger children 14,5,5,2 are all fit. They are healthier and I can't say this has anything to do with it, But have only had to have antibiotics one time in their lives. I can honestly say I don't remember them even really being sick. (Other than the 3 little ones being born with a congenital defect, which they all had far less effects from then the average child and was easily fixed).

What I did differently was I stopped making huge huge amounts of food for each meal. I have learned and paid attention to exactly what my family needs to eat at each meal and I make the amounts accordingly. Very rarely is all food put on the table, 99% of the time I make the plates in the kitchen and take them to the table. This also saves on clean up time. Noone is allowed to have seconds of anything until all food on the plate is eaten. Then if they want they can have more of something but a smaller amount is given then the first. Plates and bowls are huge nowadays. I can't believe how huge bowls are now, If you don't believe me look next time you go to the used store and look at the bowls that came with dish sets from years ago they are portion sized and drastically smaller. I purchase these small bowls and plates when I find them. My kids are not allowed to snack unless I give them something. To be quite honest they don't really ask for snacks because they fill up at meals and are not hungry.


What does this have to do with being frugal??? I spend approx. 1/2 to 60% less on groceries then I did back when I had only 2 kids. And I stockpile which I did not do before and household items are included in the food budget.

Some tips I learned along the way....
#1 if your child eats breakfast and 1/2 hour later they say they are hungry:
See if they are just bored, Try getting them involved in an activity if they are truly hungry they will let you know.

#2 Have water readily available at all times. If my kids have milk of juice for some meal and they don't drink it all , it is put on the bottom shelf in the fridge and that is something they can get themselves. We have water bottles, and a water machine with small cups always available.

#3 On the rare occasion we go out to eat or stop for something while we are out, The smaller kids are never given their own plate of food they share usually from ours or share one small kids plate.

#4 Learn portion sizes, There are actually portion sizes according to age. I learned some today from the living on a dime newsletter that I never knew. 1 banana is actually 2 servings. A 2 -5 year olds daily suggested amount of juice is just one sippy cup full. I have to admit I probably give my kids 3-4 times that much, although I do water our juice down, I am going to cut some of that out.

These are life lessons that we need to teach our kids and ourselves, If you grew up like me with no boundaries on anything and coming into motherhood with not alot of common sense knowledge. And on the side of frugality it can take a huge chunk our of your grocery budget learning portion control and learning to make and serve enough food to nourish our bodies but not make eating a focal point of our lives. Hope this helps, Michelle

Friday, August 13, 2010

We need to pay attention to this

http://www.infowars.com/senate-bill-s510-makes-it-illegal-to-grow-share-trade-or-sell-homegrown-food/

We need to pay close attention to this and any other bills that come up regulating our right to grow our own healthy food. Take the time to learn about monsanto and what it is doing to our food and farmers. Michelle

Nesting mode

I love the nesting part of pregnancy. My family maybe not so much since I make them help hehehe. I have been really feeling an urgency to get ready for the baby. I have been quite lax and lazy this time around. Usually I have everything I need by now and I really don't have anything much yet. I still need a crib and all that stuff. I have plenty of clothing to start off with. This last week I felt the house was not in order. And incorporated everyone in helping with get things in order to where I felt it was ready for a little one again. I had my doctor appointment on Wednesday, He scheduled my c-section for October 21st, although none of us think I will make it that long. I have had braxton hicks every night for a month now. Nothing to bad but I feel them intensifying. I am hoping I make it to 36 or 37 weeks. I am 29 weeks now. Doctor said everything looks good thus far. I did finally gain 8 lbs 2 check up ago, But this last time I lost that. But good news is the baby is growing. The last 3 pregnancies I have not gained anything ended at my normal weight. I would like to see the baby get beyond that 5 lb mark. Just going to concentrate on getting the things we need now, We have put the word out around town for things we need, so waiting to see what comes in first. Wishing you a great weekend all!!! Michelle