Shopping by the Month

I've been asked a few times lately..."You really only shop once a month?  How can you do that"... Yes we do and here's how we do it.

I decided to try the idea after talking about budgeting with friends and discussing a NPR broadcast that claimed shopping a month at a time supposedly saves enough money that people can pay off their debt.  Our only debt is student loans and we feel no pressing need to pay those off quickly, they don't hurt our credit at all and are very low interest.  But, extra money in the budget is always a good thing so I decided to try it. I researched and found this blog post here.  I based my planning off of her style and this is where homemade pizza night came from.  She made it sound like such a cheap and easy idea that we have just adopted it and enjoy it very much.

Priya decided my list looked tasty so this is a little beat up.

I fold a paper into sections, whatever works.  Then I put a food type/category at the top of each section.  Mexican, Oriental, American, Italian, Crock-pot, Easy, Pizza night is just assumed in planning. Note:  I also have dessert and make ahead breakfast categories on the back of this sheet. I fill in 4-5 recipes under each category.  I don't plan for every day of the month because we always have dinner dates, dinners at the neighbors and our parents that come up so I leave a little room so I'm not over buying.  I do a lot of work and research in planning our menus because we don't repeat meals very often...maybe every 4-6 months we'll repeat a meal which is a lot of work, but we love variety around here.   This concept could so easily be simplified by sticking to a few favorites and repeating, but that doesn't work for us.   We make one dessert a week usually on Fridays to go along with our pizza.  The make ahead breakfasts are of my sanity.  I love that I don't have to think when I'm groggy in the mornings and the kids still get a nutritious breakfast, so lovely!

From my menu I gather my recipes, review our pantry inventory and compile a shopping list.  I have a template that is organized isle by isle of the grocery store we shop at.  I drive 30 minutes to shop at a WinCo store because we save so much money shopping their bulk items.  My list are always typed up with as much detail on the item as I can think of.  This is because my husband helps me do the shopping and if I don't write down what I'm wanting he's more likely to get what I want. ;)  The more description the better!  

The shopping trip is really the worst part of the whole thing.  We take 2 cars, we each take a cart, a kid, and half of the list.  Even spliting it up we're there an hour to 2 depending on the kid's behavior.  Then you go to check out and one way the store keeps their cost down is by having you bag your own groceries.  It's a little crazy with 2 cranky kids and oodles of groceries.  By the time we're headed home I'm exhausted.  Aaron is usually a dear and suggests picking up dinner that night.  Love that man!  

Aaron does have to stop for milk and produce on his way home sometimes because produce doesn't keep and we fly through milk.

 

This is the explosion of groceries after our last trip.  We put away groceries and store anything we can in the basement.  The other thing I do is freeze ANYTHING I can.  I always have 6 loafs of bread in the freezer, 4 packages of tortillas, hamburger buns, and English muffins.  Then a ton of meat.  I watch grocery ads for cheap meat, it's worth stocking up when it's a good price. 

 

 The kids play with anything they can reach 

 bulk is our friend and saves us so much cash

 It's always a long day because the last thing I do is any and all prep work.  Buying a roast is cheaper and you get better meat for stew if you cut it up yourself... see what I'm getting at.  A whole chicken is cheaper than boneless skinless breasts ect.  Buy in bulk and do the work yourself.  So I cut up and package meat in 1lb baggies.  The picture above is tofu I cut up (a favorite snack of P's-- satte it in butter and garlic salt, it's good!) this save me so much time.  I pull all the grapes off the vine and put handfuls into snack baggies.  Same with cucumber slices and carrots.  

 Then I put it in a basket.  My kids are more likely to eat healthy snacks if there are lots of option and they can see and choose for themselves. 

This is what you'd find in this basket:

• carrot slices
• cucumber slices
• grapes
• raisins
• kiwi
• apples
• oranges
• tofu
• string cheese

I keep another basket on our counter with:

• teddy grahams
• gold fish
• cookies
• mini rice cakes
•   ritz crackers
• graham crackers
• fruit snacks 
• drink flavor packets
• dried fruit

These I make sure to package in 100 calorie serving sizes.

Now, why would you want to put yourself through this 24 hours of work and sometimes painful misery (a.k.a. Priya screaming at the supermarket).  

1. It has taken away 1/4 of our grocery budget.
2. I know we're saving on gas by not making as many trips to the store, but haven't bothered to add it up. 
3. When you're temped to just eat out it's hard to justify because you KNOW you have everything you need for a meal.  A much more affordable meal. 
4. You only have to live through one shopping trip with the kids a month. 
5. There's a plan and a list.  I adore both of these and love crossing meals off our menu.

You asked... now you know.  It works for us at this time in our lives.  Happy Wednesday!

Why We Celebrate!

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day.  The 3rd month of the year, the 21st day of the month, representing the 3rd copy of the 21 chromosome.  We came up with a list of reasons why our family celebrates Individuals with Down Syndrome and especially our Son on this day.

1. Because close to 3 years ago we were blessed with a baby who had this 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome.  We named him Porter Ray.
2. We were welcomed into a community of people who were full of love and acceptance.  It was/is beautiful. 
3. We meet and know so many individuals with Down Syndrome who have proven so many people wrong when others have told them, "You can't... You'll never... Don't get your hopes up...You'll never make it... Your health will not last"  Seems like a dang good reason to celebrate.
4. We witness Christ-like love all the time.  Porter loves without question, which is incredible to witness.
5. Individuals with Down Syndrome make the World a better place.
6. We've learned to work through health problems and be grateful for good health.
7. People with Down Syndrome teach others tolerance, acceptance, kindness, bravery, and so many other admirable qualities. 
8. Any individual that touches hearts and compels others to love more deeply is worth celebrating.
9. We are that family.   The family that you catch yourself staring at, feeling sorry for and we try to show you that you should be jealous not sympathetic.  We are happy!  We like our family exactly how it is! 
10. Down Syndrome has made some things harder in our lives and our son's life particularly, but we now know  We/He CAN do hard things! 
11. As Husband and Wife we know that we love each other enough to face the unknown, hand-in-hand, NEVER wondering what the most important commitment is to the other person.  It's our family.  (You may wonder how Down Syndrome taught us that.  When we were faced with that first diagnosis it rocked our whole world and we come through it safely together, stronger forever.)
12. Parent Training: We've been so lucky to have amazing service providers (early intervention, speech, etc.) that have willingly taught us information and knowledge that's helpful in raising any child.
13. Having a child with special needs has humbled us to know that we had misunderstood individuals with special needs in our past.  We knew we could be better but knew from then on we'd give our best effort to be kind to everyone. 
14. We appreciate that every life has value. 
15. Being an outsider gives you empathy and welcoming arms to others. 
16. Advocate:  we get to speak up for those who can't speak for themselves.  Like now, Meghann is going to take this chance to remind you the word RETARD or RETARDED hurts, it is inappropriate and unnecessary.  Be creative people, use a different word that actually says what you mean.  Also, remember to use person first language..."What's that?" you ask... well, so glad you asked.  My son is a kid with Down Syndrome.  He is NOT "The Down Syndrome Kid".  This is important because we don't define people as traits or characteristics about them, we define them as people first and always.  I'll get off my soap box, remember I love you and know you are a wonderful person who wants to spread the love as much as we do.  Match your words to your heart!
17. As a teacher, Meg understands it SO much better now.  She has an understanding of what obstacles children with special needs face and she can't wait to take that back to the classroom! 
18. Our family knows some Sign Language. 
19. We will be the recipients of sincere loves and cuddles for the rest of our lives.  Aaron will probably be Porter's favorite person forever!
20. We've learned to let vanity go.  We adore a 2 year old in glasses.  We've learned that beauty doesn't always come in perfect packages and we look to the soul of a person for what matters most.
21. Trust!  In God, in the good in people, in each other, in Porter, and in the power of Love.  We trust. 

Please, take a second to think about all the good individuals with Down Syndrome have or could bring into your life.  If you know Porter think of his love for you.  I hope you're smiling and have a better day because today is WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY!  I know we will! 

Weekends Are Great!

I started my weekend a little early with a girl's night out with my Best Friend since 6th grade, Hollie.  We had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  We talked until we couldn't stand the stink eye from the manager, waiter, and bus boy all wanting our table.  Then we walked around the mall for another 2 hours talking.  It was so nice and we agreed that we needed to get together more often.  Hollie is one of my friends who accepts me completely, knows my faults and still loves me.  It's so nice to have people like that in our lives.  I'm blessed with lots of people like this in my life and always feel such gratitude after spending time with them.

Friday the boys got haircuts.  P needed 2 Otter Pops to keep him calm, but he did great!   Saturday we had lots of work to do.  During the afternoon we were lucky enough to get a visit from Grandpa Randy and Uncle Micah.  My favorite part of the visit was Priya obliging her Uncle Micah's request for a kiss, he was a little taken back by how slobbery baby kisses are.  :)  After they left, I headed for my parents' house with the kids for an overnight visit.  I had some laundry that required front loaders and they asked to see the kids.  It was really nice to spend time with them.  There is nothing like going back to the place you were raised to be with your parents.  My heart is at peace there.  We only spent the night because Aaron went to the Real Salt Lake home opener for a Guy's Night.  He had a lot of fun.  We rushed home early Sunday to make it to church.  It was a tiny miracle we made it on time!  We were lazy Sunday afternoon and all took a nap.  We decided to copy cat a dinner we had at my cousin's house earlier in the week.  I was super excited to make some home made sweet potato fries to go along with it.  They were awful.  I was disappointed, they were a lot of work.  Oh, well.

Sweet Potato Fry---FAIL

He likes the vibration.

I just finished up a batch of chocolate chip cookies with Porter helping through the whole thing.  I was so proud of all the things he could do by himself.  Baking together has taught him some very specific skills.  He scraped the beater with the spatula, measured, poured and (his favorite) turned the mixer on and off and to a higher speed.  He also has learned his safety rules very well. That doesn't mean I don't watch him like a hawk and unplug the mixer until we're ready to use it.  However, he knows- "You can only turn it on when Mommy says, hands on the bowl or top at all times when the mixer is on - no wild hands.  If you don't listen, you don't get to help."  Little quiet moments like this make me so grateful to be their Mother and at home with them.  The funniest thing to watch was Porter tasting the flour after being pleasantly surprised by the sugar... he sputtered and gasped after taking a mouthful of it.  We had a little talk about the difference between sugar and flour.  He took it to heart.   He'll be so proud to serve his cookies at FHE tonight.

Porter Potty

I know the title is terrible, but it made me chuckle. We have started down the long dreaded road of Potty Training.  As I try to post this we're gearing up for another session.  P is stuffing his face with Junk food he is normally not allowed, to make him thirty enough to drink water.  He hates water.

I have read 4 different potty training methods and just recently found one I felt would work for Porter.  I liked the other methods and felt there was a lot of good points in them and will most likely use them with Priya, but they just weren't right for Porter.  I read an article in Parent Magazine about potty training that referred to this book.  This is the course that we have decided on.  Aaron has been a big help in this process of selection. 

 

Why we picked it:

1. Your child doesn't have to give up diaper 100%.  This was big for us because learning new skills as big as this takes time for Porter.  We need him to feel successful, having to go straight to underwear all the time would be so discouraging for him.  We don't want that. 
2. The whole book is focused on little boys.  It is very sensitive to issues unique to boys, which I like. 
3. Training is done in sessions and progression.  With each little step you give your child more to build on.  This is just what Porter needs. 

I felt like the other methods would work if I could ship Priya off for a week and do nothing but focus on Porter completely for the whole week.  But Aaron was kind enough to remind me that Porter's personality is such that if he senses that pressure at all, he will have nothing to do with it.  This method is very low stress (as far as you can take that term with Potty training) and ubber positive. 

We went shopping for supplies Saturday.  Mentioned favorite junk foods of Porter's shown below.  He picked his potty and Mickey mouse underwear.

Sunday afternoon we had our first session.  We switched him out of diapers to underwear.  Since then he hasn't wanted to wear underwear, which I'm fine with because that makes catching an accident so much easier for me.

This isn't part of the method but I liked it from Potty training in one day and used it with Porter as part of starting.

"You want me to do what?!"

If you wonder this is what my house looks like at the end of a session.

There have been enough accidents for me to get discouraged, but I'm trying to keep that to myself.  He has made huge progress in this week though.  He now says "Ah-oh" before he goes and we rush to the potty so he can go.  HUGE!!!  I need to finish this up and go start another session... wish us luck.

We went to the park on one of the warm sunny days we've had.  This is a special needs swing and I could fit both kids in it...not so securely.  No babies were harmed during this outing.

I love this picture of him at the park.  He loves being outside!  So do I!

 P has been without glasses this week because of some unfortunate circumstances.  He has been so frustrated with things he can normally do, like eat dinner.  His glasses will be fixed Monday!


Day light saving cuddles!  Love the cuddles, can't wait for us all to be adjusted to the change.

I hope you are all doing well! Love~Meg

Priya's In Trouble

Maybe the title should be, We're in trouble.  Little miss has been letting that personality of hers burst out lately and I love and adore her.  She also has such a strong will that she also pushes me to my limits every day.

To help with some of that feisty demand for attention.  I'm trying to spend more one-on-one time with her.  So while Porter goes to school on Tuesdays we go to breakfast.  It's never too soon to start Mommy Daughter dates!  She loved every second of it.  She didn't like IHOP pancakes but really dug into her banana.

While there is some devise confusion she has started to talk on her phone.  So cute!

How can you not give that face exactly what she wants.  I took this today during some more one-on-one time with her during P's naptime.  She loves this elephant of mine from college.  Isn't this the sweetest picture.

The wind has been really strong here the last few weeks and we were buys lots of day passes to our local rec center, so we bought a month membership (a month, isn't that awesome) to save money.  We may have to find a way to afford a membership for me because it  has been so convenient.  The kids go to this amazing drop in day care while I run.  The label on her back is left over from day care.  This is really Priya's first socialization experience and she is just soaking it up.  She refuses to watch from the bouncer like the other kids her age and demands to be out and about with everyone else.  That's my girl, getting her way no matter what!

She loves laundry baskets!  LOVES THEM!  I feel like every time I turn around she is face first in a fresh load of whites with her feet up in the air kicking until she can wiggle her way in.  What is it with kids and laundry?  Such a pretty smile.  She is starting to stand independently.  She's getting so big. :'(

When I feel up for a mess we give her the spoon and let her go to town.  She feels so grown up when we let her feed herself.

This next series of pictures will illustrate Priya's most recent form of mischief.

wiggle

push and wiggle

steady

"Got it!"  Can you see how proud she is?

There has been lots of cheering and clapping for children who sit on the potty.  You better believe she was going to get in on that.  She makes me feel like I should be training her as well.

Did you know that if you remove a few cushions from the sofa and make them stepping stones you get an indoor jungle gym?  My kids have played for 2 hours straight on the sofa like this.

She is one tough cookie!  She keeps falling down the stairs because she insists on going down forwards on her bum.  I'm making progress in this area with her.  Porter has made lots of improvement lately but every once in a while he gets a hard tackle in and AHH!!!  She can take a hit-- which makes me sad, but I'm also really proud of her for being so tough and determined.  If you show her any sign of sympathy, however, she also knows how to milk it. 

Our fiesty little Priya Lynn! We can't help but love her!

Taking Back The House

This is what happens when Mom is decommissioned for over a week.  Priya was much more excited about the laundry than I was.  It's still scattered all over the floor in front of me in various degrees of completion.  Laundry made me miss Downton Abbey so I pulled up the suggestions on Netflix for similar shows and found this little gem.  I feel like I must have been living under a rock to not know about this.  I was newly wed when it aired which it's pretty much the same thing, right?  I really liked this North & South series, another BBC, Bates is in it, the characters are great and it's different from Downton Abbey so it is a nice variety.  It helps with the void a bit.

Mr. Thornton isn't nearly as charming as Matthew but so good lookin'!

One bonus laundry pic, because she's just that cute!  Big news for Priya first step on Tuesday and 3 steps tonight.  I'll try to get some videos and pics for a more in depth post about this big milestone.  She must sense I don't want her to walk because she will never walk for me. She's my little baby bug and I'm not ready for that to change.  She's such a feisty delight! 

I caught the kids being destructive, but playing so nicely together.  I went to take a picture and Porter saw me trying to document his kindness and would have none of that.  They have formed a resistance together against my efforts to reclaim the home.  Porter was following me around yesterday literally undoing everything I had just cleaned up.  Guess things being a bit messy doesn't bother him.

I encouraged her to play with TP like her brother used to love to do but she was only interested if I draped it over her head.  To each kid their own, right?

I took this picture and sent it to Aaron at like 9 a.m. with a text message that said, "Sometimes I wonder who really is in charge."  Bath at 9 in the morning?  They asked with such authority.  They would play really well then burst into tug-of-war over bath toys, which escalated to pushing and shoving then yelling.  Then they'd be back to laughing together before I could intervene. 

Priya is not as innocent as she may seem.  Mobility and coordination have blessed her with fighting back skills for better or worse.  She is also a tad over dramatic about things.  She reminds me of a soccer player flopping in the world cup.  "I saw, but really?  Seems a bit much, dear?"  She has also become a sneaky instigator.  I have to really focus on being positive and focusing on their good behavior towards each other in those bad moments where I feel like I'm wresting two small animals away from each other.  I pray about it a lot and I make them pray about it a lot.  *shrug*  I smile and try to see the humor in it while hoping to teach them how to love each other.

Today was an exhausting day.  I haven't been able to sleep in our bed for over a week.  I've been sleeping on the couch and it takes me several hours to go to sleep, a combination of coughing and residual runner's high.  I'm switching my run to the mornings to test that out and feel like the coughing should stop soon.  P has been waking up at 6 this week which is killing me and him.  He's cranky, I'm cranky, his nap schedule is off and as a result so is his sister's and we're all a little foggy all day.  When Porter is tired there seems to be endlessly destructive energy.  I tried so hard to redirect him all day today; he simply wasn't interested in any activity I tried to engage him in.  We got him ready for bed on schedule then I announced that he got to stay up late to watch "The Lion King", his current favorite.  He was super excited and tired when it was over. Here's hoping this kid sleeps in tomorrow.

Last but not least, FOOD STORAGE!!!  I went to the cannery this afternoon with my dear friend, Heidi.  She was a champ and taught me everything I needed to know to have a successful dry pack experience.  It was much easier than I had imagined.  I came home with 5 cans quick oats, 13 cans regular oats, 2 cans dry milk, 2 cans dehydrated onions, and 2 cans dehydrated apples.  The kids dived into the apples 2 minutes after I walked in the door.  I'm so excited to be working towards better preparedness in this home!

Grandma, hopefully, this time next year when you ask what my food storage supply is I can tell you we have a year supply of food instead of 2 weeks. :)  

Love you all, 

Good night! ~Meg

(Our internet service has been flacky so this post has been one that I've have written in several sittings.  Just in case it's disjointed, that's why)

The Simple Truth

My family is spending the day at my In-law's home because I'm still sick and Aaron needs more work hours.  I can't keep up with the children right now and need to rest.  Even though that's the last thing I want to be doing.  So it's quiet here, my thoughts and I are all alone. :( I need an outlet, this is it.  I hope you will forgive me, but this is my journal.

•   I love Aaron and He loves me.  It's wonderful, safe, and happy.  Sometimes it feels like I'm living the "Happily Ever After" part of the fairytale.  We're not perfect, but we are perfect for each other.  He is so much of the GOOD in my life. 

 

• I'm am so disappointed in myself sometimes.  Especially when I look back on the person I used to be.  There are people in my life who will only ever see me as that person, making it hard to forget.  But, I value myself.  I am so far from perfect and no one needs to remind me of that... I already know it, but I am trying.  I can only control myself so I do my best to let go of the things and choices of others that cause me pain.  I place them in the hand of God until they're handed back if they should ever need to be.  This life is meant to try us and teach us.  It's not suppose to be easy or perfect.  However, it is suppose to be joyful even in the hard times.  I feel that joy.  I find that joy and I bask in the beauty of it.  I protect it and do my best not to let anyone else rob me of it; but I'm happy to share it with you if you're willing to truly open your heart to me.  We're all meant to feel joy, I hope you see it in your life too.  I hope that you may never feel that I am the thief of your joy.
• My sweet children are the most BEAUTIFUL gift I could ever receive.  I'm at a point with our family where the thought of having more children creeps into my mind from time to time.  That and as my friend said the other day, "Pregnancy is really going around right now."  :)  So many people are expecting around me it makes me wonder if I should be too.  You know, like peer pressure.  I am not in that place, however.  This may seem very selfish to some people but I need a little time for me.  I need to build myself back up so I have plenty to offer my children right now and the children who may come.  That and I feel like a spinning question mark right now where more children are concerned.  Are we done?  We want to Adopt, can we do that?  Are we suppose conceive another child? Luckily for me, the one overwhelming feeling I have is... it's not time to think about those things yet.  When it is the answer will be clear.
• My secret hobby: I am running.  Or at least I was until it became impossible to climb the stairs without wheezing.  I didn't want to share because it's really trendy right now and I don't like to do things because they're trendy.  I have also had problems in the past with running, but I've checked with my doctor and dietician.  If I manage my diet correctly I shouldn't have problems.  I'm also terribly afraid I wont be good at it or worse I might not be able to do it at all.  Then I saw this on the Ragnar FB feed and decided to heck with what anyone else thinks, to heck with being fast.  I'm running.  I run slowly and I'm completely out of shape, but I do it.  I'm even starting to like it. 
• Pinterest:  LOVE IT and HATE IT.  I love it because there is so much good stuff on there.  I'm a visual person and get sucked in.  I hate it because it makes me feel like I will never be able to think of something truly original ever again. I really like finally knowing what my style and taste is, instead of hoping I stumble upon it at the store. 



Dinosaur Feet from School.  He loves them.

• Honesty-- I don't try to hide anything in my life.  Perhaps that's taboo.  Sometimes things need to be private, but I'm not referring to those things.  I'm referring to the bad days and the not so pretty stuff.  It happens. I'm grateful for it.  I figure it's here to teach me something and often I learn from it.  I hope I don't come across as negative when I admit to crying during the middle of my day.  I have emotions, there are days that are really hard.  I feel no weakness in admitting that.  That's all part of life and I'd like to have an accurate remembrance of things.  I don't want my children thinking everything was perfect in our lives.  I want them to know when things get tough, they need to be looking to God for the reason.  If Heavenly Father doesn't answer them right away, I want them to know to have faith, hold fast and live by the principals of the gospel until the Lord sends the answer or direction they need.  I want them to work for their joy.  I want them to know that they were a work of joy themselves.  So I write about it all, the good and the bad.

See the two soars on her head, that's the handy work of Porter.  I'm trying really hard to dig deep and see what I'm suppose to learn from my children fighting so much.  I haven't had any great answers except that Porter gives me lots of opportunities to show him and his sister how to love each other.  Maybe it's something they'll learn for the rest of their lives.  At least I tell myself that so I can keep up with them.

 

 

When I un-complicate the many facets of my life I see the simple beauty that surrounds me.  I feel so blessed and happy.  I'm so grateful.