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Category Archives: family fun

from the archives….

this was posted february 18, 2008.
annie is so little.

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pancakes

when i walked in the kitchen this morning
these two were busy.
within 3 minutes of being awake i had my camera in my hand.
(i put it down for a moment so i could make some coffee.)

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annie was in the best mood.
she was talking a mile-a-minute and so happy to be with daddy.
i could tell you she has bed-head…
but this what her hair looks like all the time.

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"i want to crack the egg!"

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"i got egg on my hand!"

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"i want to pour the oil!"

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sneaky.

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"mmmmm….sugar."
(annie calls it 'souuu-dawh')

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"i want to turn it on!"
can you tell she is three?
she is becoming so very independent.

do you make your pancakes in a blender?
this is the way craig has always made them…
probably because his mom did it that way.
i am pretty sure we always did bisquick growing up??
am i wrong mom?
there's nothing wrong with bisquick. i use it when craig isn't here.
maybe i should post his recipe….

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this routine of pancakes with dad is special.
it's a 13 year tradition….going strong.
all the kids like to help (or did at one time) 
and of course they like to eat them.
now that we add blueberries i love to eat them too.

it makes a mess but the memories are worth it.

charlene @ lanfranchi family.blogspot - OMG! I started reading this blog 2 years ago and this was one of the first entries I read. Actually it was the first blog I ever started reading. So I remember this well. to me Annie is still this size!

Rachel / cREaTe - so cute! i grew up with my dad being “pancake man”, my grandpa also was a “pancake man” and thank goodness my husband is “pancake man”. 🙂 i agree – such a great tradition. and i can cook or bake almost anything under the sun … but i seem to screw up EVERY batch of pancakes {and i’m talking BISQUICK}.

Staci - Look how little Annie was 🙂 Ahhhhh 🙂

dinny - we do the bisquick ones, never heard of blender pancakes… curious about the recipe:)

Natalie - these pancakes look amazing!! mine are never that pretty 🙂 i’m loving your blog.. i have to be a follower!!

Bailey - Did you ever post the recipe? I’ll have to go through and look, looks like fun!

Elk Lighting - I have a brother who has done this every saturday forever. In fact now his grand kids come over and he does it with them. Special Daddy’s are the best!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Those look so good! What a special time with dad:)

Toddler Girl Clothing - So cute shes up making pancakes with your husband! I love how she wants to just do everything! So cute, yup, deff. 3!

Angela - That is awesome–pancakes in a blender.
I love her hair–mine was the same way as a kid. Hmmm…actually isn’t much better as an adult. 🙂

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a day in the life….

tuesday february 16, 2010.
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Morning T - This post is incredible- I love it! Just stalking your blog thanks to “between you and me’s” post on you today. Your family is precious as is your home and your blog. I’ll be back…
T

karol - love this post. it is simply beautiful. can’t believe no one asked where those super cute sunglasses were purchased. you have fabulous style. always enjoy your blog.

Katie4Life - I just started checking out your blog. I have to say I love your randomness. (Hence your title, right!?)
Love your old quilts! Strawberries in our neck of the woods have been great too – fairly cheap – and I live in the middle of coldness prairie land!

Nan - (((sigh))) I live this post.
That was an accidental but true typo. So I kept it.

rebecca - dear lauren:
you’re pretty, and that locket is fantastic.
🙂
(thanks for sharing your day with us, meg!)

Pat - This is real, this is typical, this is fun, laughter and treasured memories.
Thank you for sharing!
xoxo
Pat

melissa - i’m tired just looking at all of these!!!! it looks like you had a fabulous day!
melissa

stef - this was a fun post! you’ve given me a great idea 🙂

Vera - Love your family!

Gemma - What recipe do you use for your cookies? They look so lovely!!!

melissa @ the inspired room - Seems like only yesterday you were just MY friend. 🙂
Now I have to wait in line for Miss Popular here to say I love your day in the life. Happy happy moments. My son and I laughed our head off over the photo with your dog and his foot by your daughters. Precious.
xoxo

Melanie - This was a great post. You see everything so creatively. Looking at the pictures (which I loved by the way) made me tired. Was that all in just ONE day? No wonder why you are tired.

jen - I love this.

tara pollard pakosta - I just absolutely LOVE “day in the life” type pix! my fave kind! these are awesome!!!!!!!!!!
these would be fun to scrap in a mini albuM!
I am going to be doing A PHOTO A DAY for the month of March and probably a day next week, I will be doing A DAY IN THE LIFE again! I do this every so often and they are my fave pix ever!
thanks for sharing!
tara

pambuller - it’s like a story book. 🙂
your family is awesome, meggie. but my favorite is still you know who.

Rachel / cREaTe - so so so cool. love it! great idea. 🙂 reminds me of this awesome artwork i saw on etsy the other day: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38579404 i just love “the basics” of the every day. 🙂 it’s what makes life OURS. it’s what is cozy & familiar NOW. but it’ll look different all too soon. thanks for sharing!

Newborn Clothing - What a sweet family. Love how you posted pictures of your family!!! The dinner option list is just to cute!

elma - I just LOVE your blog!! What wonderful pictures. I love the butterfly quilt on your couch. You know have you tried the market place pantry cereal at target?? My kids love it and it saves a lot of money:)
Love all the cookies how long did they last??:)
Laundry never ending isn’t it?? I do at least four to five loads a day and with nine beds I try to do a couple extra loads every couple of days for bed sheets:) Busy but so worth it. Thanks for the wonderful pictures. I never get tiried of looking at your family:)

jennifer - Looks like a busy, fun, perfect day!

gina - and what a life!
is that your husband tickling the kids? i did a double take- it looked like Matt Damon – you lucky girl. 🙂

Melissa - looks life fun! You will miss all this when you go to Africa.

Mirjam - Loved looking at the pictures! Do you have a recipe for these cookies!? 😀

donna good - loved how you share your family life!

Christina - Your Talby reminds me of my Michaela. She even has that same fleece, and wore hers today (the 18th). 🙂 I love that you captured all the moments…sweet family.

Tanya - I LOVE this! And what a neat idea!!

Erin - This is a fabulous idea for a post! What a busy, but joyful day! Inspiring without saying a word!
Have you read Crazy Love or are you working on it? I have heard it was good – just curious!

kindred spirit - Hi, will you adopt me? 🙂
what great photos of your family! thanks for sharing….

Kelly - I like the butterfly quilt! And I’d like to eat the straweberries please. Kelly

DreamGirlLisa - Great day!

candace - an absolutely beautiful day in a beautiful life

Amy R. - This is an awesome post! I don’t know how you do it with 5 kids! Looks like you enjoy your action packed life with your family! The dinner idea is great!
Amy

Julie - a sweet life!

The Bookworm - I absolutely love doing ADITL’s! We try to do one at least once a year.
Here is our last one:
http://ourimperfectlife.blogspot.com/2009/09/day-in-life.html

Kirsten - You are golden. And I want my son to marry your daughter. She wants to move to Seattle, right? Then we’d be related 🙂

Jen Christians - I love this..I really really LOVE this… It has taken a little time, but I must say that I am REALLY enjoying my ordinary days so much! I am so happy to know that you are too!

the inadvertent farmer - We play on the bed before bedtime too…well daddy and kids do while I watch! Great snapshot of your life, Kim

Juli Jones - my four year old was watching me scroll through your pictures and as I pasted the close-up of talby he said,’whoa, stop. go back up. that girl is cute,no…she is bootiful!’ too funny, i had to share. love the photos btw. what a crazy blessed life you lead:)

Genevieve - A lovely day, a lovely life! Great post!!

Marie Tere - Really….it resembles a day in the CK house.

Marisa@make*happy - I love this! I’m definitely going to do this soon.

Dina - Can I come live with you? …. 🙂

Miranda - This is such a beautiful post! You have such a gift for mothering + documenting. And Talby’s handwriting? My goodness it should be a font!

Laura - I am reading Crazy Love with our small group and I am really loving it. The author has video clips that really bring the book to life.

Amber - the photos of the back of annie’s head could so be my daughter’s. in fact, my husband caught a glimpse and said “is that abigail?” um, no! wrong blog. 🙂 though i’m sure her and annie would hit it off!
love the photos…inspires me to take more of our daily happenings. and love the “old” blankets on the couch! so cozy!

Rach - I totally have to do this! Mind if I nap the idea? I’ll let you know if I post it.

julie - Lauren’s bangs are adorable.
I love them!
Random question… didn’t you used to have a blue washer and dryer? Or is that just me imagining that I have them?

Deanna - LOVE it! My little boys favorite thing to do is wrestly onour bed too…with me or my husband! My husband usually ends up getting hurt! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
http://www.deannablogs.blogspot.com

princess lasertron - aww this made me so happy.
getting the mail was MY favorite.

Julie Wriston - Love this! What a beautiful family!

Ruth - love this!
particularly the shot of annie’s feet with waffle’s paw!
fabulous sunglasses too.

mel - love seeing your “a day in the life”.
what a fun filled house you have!
your polka dot sunglasses are too cute!

Elisa - Love 🙂

Bec - Ugh- I’ve spent the past two days with a stomach bug. But, it has given me the time to finally get this up and running:
http://www.theiheartblog.com
You are in the inspiration list!

meaghan - awesome post! i think i’ll do it and link up to you ; ) what a great day, what a great life ; )

Erika - Oh my goodness, I so LOVE that quilt and quilt-top pillow on your beige couch!! Handmade? Antique? New?

tasha roe - these pictures make me want to move it! 🙂
i need to do this once a month!! great idea! oh and the bottom cabinet knobs on your kitchen cabinets are super rad!! and the spindly-legged buffet/server with the TV on it – to die for!!

Tara - love this! It’s inspired me to do one of a typical day at our house. …might be scary!

Tiffany - I have one of these planned for next week…don’t think I’m copying if you would ever check out my blog!! Sometimes we bloggers are on the same wave length.
Love your blog!!

Julianne - Awesome post! I love it. I feel like that’s my life (without the extra 4 kids…just one over here), and I push “Replay” every.single.day. But that’s (usually) a good thing.

Tricia - Ah, it looks so much like my days. Including the very same coffee jar (would not make it w/o that coffee ;), the Dora on TV (far too often for us), and the wrestling. Yeah, except my kids aren’t so good with the dishes getting into (much less out of) the dishwasher. 😉
Looks like a great way to spend a day to me!

Tegan and Tage - I love “day in the life” posts. I do one each month on my little guy’s birthday day. So important to capture the “day to day” life. Mel from the Larson Lingo turned me on to 10-on-10 and it’s the same idea. If you haven’t checked out her posts on the 10th of each month I highly recommend them. 🙂

sara's art house - I LOVE your day in the life pics! Every single time you post I think- “now why didn’t I do a post like that? Such a good idea!”

Gina - great post! I love love love the picture of annie and waffles’ feet!!!!

Sarah @ For the Love of Naps - Love this post. I might copy it and do something similar…if I can think to pull ou tmy camera and capture the little moments. The things you captured are things that your children will love remembering because they are the everyday little things that make your family life unique.

Katie - That was sweet to see. I love seeing other people’s “real life”.

Julie - Love these shots! Great job of capturing the every day at the real levels too!
Julie

Michelle Whitlow - how funny, we had spaghetti for dinner yesterday too 🙂 Minus the meatballs…Lent 🙂

Tammy R - Love it!! Especially the feet and dog paw!

Shari Barnes - LOVE this… just PERFECT! I think I am going to challenge myself to capture a day in our life real soon!

MaryAZ - Awesome post! I am trying so hard to remember to value the everyday things & not just let the day get away from me…this a great reminder! (my favorite picture is your daughter & the dog “holding hands”!)

Toni :O) - You have a beautiful home and a beautiful family. Such blessings and this post made me so happy. I LOVE Waffle…wanna squeeze him he’s so cute!

Elise - “plain macaroni and with cheese” That’s my favorite too. 🙂

lucy - loved your pictures and was inspired to do it at my house and scrapbook it someday…..when all my 4 girls still at home are grown and gone……:)

AmyB - I seriously want to clone Waffle!! So cute!

Courtney Walsh - I am totally going to do this one day… more for myself than anything, to see all that I actually do! (I’ll make sure to plan it on a day when I’m not lounging around drinking coffee and reading magazines like I am today!)
ha

keely - This was great. I love seeing daddies and their kids. Just when my boys have had ENOUGH of their mommma (and vice versa), daddy walks through the door and everyone gets a second wind.
Lovely post.

Micah - You got a package in the mail!! Was it something fun???

Wendi - That was fun 🙂

purejoy - what a great memory to have. enjoyed hanging out with you today. love the pillows. love waffles. LOVE a long way gone. love that talby has good taste (mmmm ramen noodles!) love little girl and doggie toes. love that boys like to read. love me some daddy time. and audience participation after a meal?? i LOVE that!!
basically, love you, your blog, your photos, your joie de vivre. thanks for inviting me in for the day!

april walker - can i come live with you? i love all this family & fun! what awesome pictures of true home life 🙂 …and i would LOVE to hang out on the couch with waffle. he is just the cutest thing ever! lucky annie 🙂

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Great peek into your daily life. Looks like a life full of love:) Cute sunglasses!! I can’t believe you have the will power to make chocolate chip cookies and not eat any…you my dear are super woman:)

kbonikowsky - Is that a moth quilt on your couch? It is beautiful! If someone made it for you (or you did) I’d love to learn more!

a thorn among roses - love this…and now i dont feel so crazy!!

Sandy - Love it. Your days seem so peaceful and happy. You are creating wonderful childhood memories for your children. God bless you and your husband….and your children. 🙂

Dianne Avery - I loved this! Thanks for sharing your day with us. 🙂

CarrieBeth James - love love LOVE this. so beautiful 🙂

kelli - love it megan! thanks for the inspiration to catch an ordinary day around here in pictures too. i just saw a great video this week about this very thing… watch this with a couple of kleenex and then bookmark it for those rough days of mommy hood! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olSyCLJU3O0

jamie - REAL! Love it..No Words needed..

hattie - What a beautiful, loving family you have! You’re such a lucky lady!!!

amy jupin - one of my most favorite posts of all time.

Barb - What a perfectly wonderful snapshot of your life. Someday your kids will look back on this and thank you for recording it. Because they will forget what it was like in February 2010.
And now I want a cookie…

Tara @ the cinnamon post - FAB-U-LOUS. But missed your pretty face which is clearly behind the camera! Love this so much.
~Tara

katy - Love it! Have a colorful day Meg, I’m off to make myself do LOTS of housework. *smiles*

Dani - You and your family amaze me. Y’all seem so together. I love seeing the smiles on your kids face.

Krista - I enjoyed experiencing a “day in your life” through pictures. Thanks for putting a smile on my face today, I love love love your blog!

jeanne - Love this!!! Sweet day with all your gorgeous children!!!

Amber Zimmerman - I love this!! What happy memories. =)

Rebekah - Ah, those precious “everydays.” 🙂

paige - i love how you have the gift of making the simple ordinary moments of the day seem even more magical & grand!!
i know there are days when we all have to deal with stress & yuckies, but i love seeing all the smiles, hugs, messy heads of hair & sweet puppies in your day
xo

rhonda - It’s amazing how many times we load the disherwasher at our house. I glad we’re not alone. Thanks for sharing. Loved it.

Lisa - Wow that’s one day? I got tired just looking at the photos. How do you do it all?
Take care,
Lisa

Debra - That’s great post! What a happy, joyful, family!

Danielle @ Transforming Home - Beautiful photos, as always. Love this post.
Danielle

chelsea - I loved this! What a great idea. Your family seems like such a fun loving classic american crew! and don’t even get me started on your beautiful teenage daughter… yikes for you.

Kimberly - Ok you have crossed the line… you have polka dot sunglasses too! You didn’t even put those in your post about polka dots… but that’s ok I still loved seeing them this morning. There is just something about polka dots; I even love saying polka dots…. I tried on a pair of prescription glasses that had polka dots on them and I thought does Meg own a pair of these too?

Danielle - Love this post! What a great idea – it’s the simple things that make up a great life! Thanks!

Holly - so my kids are not the only ones that dont put the cap back on the toothpaste! Love it!

Nancy - it shows it all. lots of love and fun. what a great life. what a blessing.

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - Talby’s list made me want to reach right thru the screen and squeeze her. Especially the part about mashed “potadoes”- like you can hear her saying it or sounding it out. Sweetest thing ever! 🙂

Tonya - a day in a beautiful life…i need to do this…:)

Staci - Whew Girl 🙂 I’m tired just LOOKING at these pictures 😉 Loved this post 😉 and of course I loved Annie with her big smile bringing in the mail 🙂

Jules - That’s it right there! Those pictures shout happiness and love…something to be thankful for! I LOVE your blog! Have a fantabulous day!

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no school

everyone was home on monday at our house.
we were so glad to get one extra home day because our weekend was FULL.

we ventured out all together for some fun.
about 3 blocks from the house craig pulled over & said "that's it!! we aren't going if you kids can't behave"
but everybody got it together and we left.

we dropped him off at the gym first.
then lauren at the mall.
then i took the four kids to barnes & noble.
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i got a starbucks and got to look through a few books too.  
we picked up craig after his workout and saw this truck in the parking lot.
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it made me smile.

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we went to my grandma's house to surprise her with a visit.
my kids always think they need to exercise on her ball, lift her weights, etc.
they get all sweaty.
so goofy.
my grandma just returned from a 5 week trip to australia.  
she is amazing.
    
i wish i would have taken HER picture.
instead i got annie doing arm exercises.
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lauren was picked up from the mall.
then we went bowling.
it's always fun….but loud.
and i think with kids that bowling should be 6 frames instead of 10.
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a time out.

name that movie….
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Dude
this dude was bowling with his grandchildren in the lane next to us.
we bothered him extremely.
then i touched his personal bowling ball….big mistake.
such a bummer to be around grumpy adults.
at least grumpy kids can change their behavior pretty quick.
i had to whisper to each of my kids to stay away from the grumpy grandpa.
annie was totally staring at him wide eyed.

it wasn't that big of a deal…craig didn't even notice….but it just makes it harder to enjoy your time
with your kids when someone is watching and sighing and scowling.
 

 
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we ate pizza and drove home.
we just laid around the rest of the evening….chillin'.

the rest of this week is busy!
all good stuff.
but busy. 

that movie was pee wee big adventure.  :) 

josy - Grumpa! 🙂

Messy@Bungalow'56 - Very brave bowling shot. My bowling shots were cropped. Although today I have one posted in my bathing suit. From the shoulders up : ) Whenever someone told me “It just gets busier” I thought they were looney. Now it’s what I tell my sisters who have younger children. I’m sure they are rolling their eyes thinking I have it so easy…

cynthia - ah, little does the grumpy old man know that we all know who he is now. (well, sort of.) i did a great impression of grumpy old man from SNL back in the days. nowadays, i prefer criag ferguson’s impression of old men. 🙂

Staci - LOVE snow days 🙂 And I am CRACKING up….My hubby actually BOUGHT Pee Wee’s Big Adventure last week and we watched it the other night!!!!! “Can you say ADOBE??” heee heeee 🙂

Melanie - Don’t you just love B & N? I could stay in there all day long.
I love the pic of Lauren in her flip flops. That is me. Floridian in the north with snow on the ground longing to wear flip flops. I miss my f f:(

Rebekah - Did you ROYGB the bowling balls?

gina - Fun pics- as usual!
We spent Monday bowling all day at a Girl scouts event. All day. 9 hours. (I have girls in Daisies, Brownies, and cadettes level) , esterday we chilled, today we have a magic show to attend, tomorrow my friend and her itty bitty baby boy are coming for a visit and Friday is Barnes and Noble ! Woo- hoo!!

Viktoria - Love your picrures!
We love bowling too

Christina - My kids love Barnes & Noble! They can hang out in there for such a long time, peacefully.
Your bowling pictures are so fun…I love how you work in your colors all the time! 🙂 Sorry about the Grump.

The Virginia House - I love your pictures! The one of the bowling balls lined up is so neat. Great post!

amy jupin - i swear we’re twin-bo’s! or twinkies!
bookstores, lattes, pee wee, being loud and annoying others…YEP!!
i was giggling when i saw that you put the bowling balls in a rainbow. the attention to detail…
got your package today. it was 100% happy mail. thanks so much for all my goodies. and you’re right. the football shirt was made for my ben. thank you for thinking of him! it made my day. it really did.
‘night night.

Toddler Boy clothing - I’m hoping we get school off tomorrow! I have a programming class at 8 in the morning. LETS PRAY!

DreamGirlLisa - oooh, I hate grumpy old men…love the rainbow of bowling balls, and I LOVE Pee Wee 🙂 Sounds like a good day!

Dianne Avery - Ugh! I hate grumpy people, they suck the fun out of the air. My hubby is oblivious to it too. I wish I could be, but I can’t.

candace - Did you really ROYGBIV the bowling balls? That’s fabulous.
I forgot all about that movie!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Why is it that old people are either super sweet or really grumpy and irritable? Strange! Love all your pics.
Couldn’t help but notice your oldest hunched over texting. I am so gonna hate giving my kids a phone someday. But what are you gonna do…be the only ones without one!

Debra - You sure have an awesome grandma! An exercise ball and weights? Wow!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Your G-ma has weights and a ball? Holy Moly. I had to re-read that sentence thrice, so sure that I was reading it wrong. 🙂

Newborn Clothing - Seems like a great day! We hd a snow day today to, heck..it’s still a blizzard outside. Darn new england!

Elisa - I always end up saying something to people like, I just can’t help myself.

Jill - I love that line from Pee Wee! I also love when Simone tells him, “merci beaucoup” and he says, “merci blah blah”. You and your blog are such an inspiration to me! 🙂
Thanks,
Jill in Nashville

Michelle - Great to hear that your Grandma came to Australia. I live in Brisbane so hope she got to visit our city!

Holly - our kids have been out of school for more than a week due to snow! Glad yall got out and had fun!

Diana - crabby old people, bleah… and geesh, bowling alleys are SUPPOSED to be loud mr. grump!
lord, let me be a sweet old person someday 🙂
lovely family day… only thing better woulda been warmer weather huh!
♥

kristine - nice balls! 🙂 great colors!
i knew it was pee wee!
your hair looks cute! (still!)
don’t you love mo willems?! (pigeon books)

jeanne - Sounds like a fun day. I like to act like I don’t love to bowl…but secretly I want to kick everyone’s butt and rule the game. Don’t get me and my husband together….because we could rule the world;-) Game on!! 🙂

Thea - These pics are fabulous! You truly captured your day. My favorites are the B&N ones and Annie in her time-out…the colors are amazing! BTW- I love polka dots/pots too!!!

Stephaine @ Geezees - Looks like you guys had a fun time!!

Rachel / cREaTe - BUMMER about the GRUMP! LOVE the pic & circling of him, though. 🙂 he even looks like he’s covering his ear. 🙂 i went bowling yesterday with my oldest 2. we had the NICEST group of 20-something year old guys next to us, too. i heard ONE curse word slip & the guy covered his mouth & looked over at us [and the other groups with kids]. sharing pitchers of beer, being guy’s guys & being 20-something – they were STILL conscientious of fellow groups & families. made me happy to see such good, well-mannered people. sorry you guys had the opposite. such a bummer to be around people who suck all the good mood out of the air. 😛 and i liked your comparison to grumpy kids w/ time-outs. 🙂 so true!

adrianne - One of my favorite movies!

elisa hernandez - Best line from Pee-Wee’s big adventure is, “I’m a rebel Dottie, you don’t want to get hooked up with a guy like me.” Love that line and I use it from time to time when I’m bothered. Looks like you had a great time with all your kiddos, despite the minor irritant (grumpy man). Have a blessed day.

Julie - What a fun day! Love days like this to kick back and enjoy. Now today it’s back to reality with the mounting piles of laundry and dirt to scrub while they are in school…oh well!
Love the rainbow of bowling balls!
Julie

Jaime - Sounds like a packed weekend. BTW, love the Pigeon books! The author visited my daughter’s school a few years back. They got to submit names to name his new book. Isabel’s was chosen (I am sure a few matched) but she won an autographed copy of the new book she helped name and a congratulations letter – it came from Disney. I resealed it and will let her have it when she’s older! She named it Pigeon wants a Puppy. lol… 🙂

mary - i just woke my napping dog up by laughing at your simone quote hahahahahha
well done meg!
fun day!!!
*BOO* to crabby people
get a life dude…so she touched your special bowling ball
if you did not want to interact with humans you should have stayed home crabby mc craberson

holly lesue - I was so excited to comment since I knew the quote from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. We own that movie, I love it.
“Can you say that with me?”
“Adobe.”
“A-DO-BE”
And my oldest is named Inez (a family name) and she LOVES the fact that her name is in the movie.
It’s nice to run into someone else that has an appreciation for that movie too!

julia - I’m so impressed with your rainbow colored bowling ball pic! Happy Picture!

Megan - LOVE IT!

sarah - I LOVE the pigeon books!
Sounds like a lovely day {minus the grumpy grandfather.. how sad for him and his grandchilren}

Susan - What a fun family time. I just had to laugh at a couple of things. 1) Love the Pee Wee Herman line “big butt”. 2) Teen daughter on the cell phone. Which as you know is not for making phone calls at all…..it’s for texting. 3) I love the scripture truck. Thanks for sharing. We love bowling….I think I have some bowling photos on my blog too. I wouldn’t allow any rear end shots of me.

susan - What a fun day. I hate grumpy old folks too. It’s really a shame for their grandkids. I love that movie!

julie - what a fun family weekend! there is nothing like an time spend in a bookstore with a cup of coffee! sure makes for a perfect day. and ha, i laughed at the “better behave” comment b/c we def. had some of those growing up.

H-Mama @ Family Team - Looks like a fun time! As always, cute pix.
I usually love old people… they’re less occupied with so many things people my age tend to get caught up in. Grumpy ones? I can’t explain it. Sad. Just sad. Scaring lil’ kids? They should know better. 🙂

Courtney Walsh - ohh, I love a day off of school so much! Ours went way too fast. Wish we’d gone bowling. Last time, we were next to a high school bowling team and their coach was sort of a grumpy gramps. He was swearing at them the whole time! I was like, “Dude!! Six year old over here!”
I should’ve washed his mouth out with soap like mama used to do.

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monday

well….that was a good weekend.
thank you for buying out the shop.  :)
and now it's me and the postman together again.

what can i tell you about this weekend?
hmmmm….

i missed this baby shower.  
i was sitting at home doing nothing in particular and completely forgot.
sometimes i am such a space cadet.  (most times?)

i watched the super bowl and we didn't host a party.
we never do that.

i forgot to sign up my kids for indoor soccer…so i have to pay a late fee.
space cadet….
 
i have so much laundry it's insane.
here is half the clean laundry….who is going to fold that?
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i am sending in for my visa in the morning.
africa is getting closer and closer.
it's just unreal that i am going….amazingly awesome.

i was running/walking on the treadmill this morning and everything felt like it's soooo heavy.
cause it is.

hot coffee really is so good.

now…how about some pictures.
of nothing and everything.

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breakfast on the go.

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scott is #3.
these were from a few weeks ago.
he LOVES basketball.   
the other kids….don't like waiting and waiting at their siblings games.

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on sunday i only had sean and annie for the afternoon.
we got groceries after church and i told them they could pick a meal in the freezer section.
"we CAN?!!  THIS is the BEST DAY EVER!!!"
talk about easy to please?           

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annie and micah (her buddy) are talking in the other room and i just heard her say 
"micah…my mom signed me up to play soccer and i am going to!"
he said "i already play soccer and i have shin gaaarwds"
annie was so interested and asked "SKIN GOGGLES?!"

happy monday. 

Lisa - Meg, you’re awesome! I just checked out your Whatever Shop and had to buy the typewriter print. I also featured it on my blog http://www.simple-e-design.com in hopes to drive more traffic to your blog and etsy shop. Hope it helps w/ funds for your Africa trip, but more likely you’ll be the one helping whoever is reading, like you do for me! Can’t wait for my print 🙂 It’s soooo cool. Thanks for keeping me sane everyday! xoxo, Lisa

Nan - I am LOVING your blog! So freakin’ cute! :^D

Katie Fuller - my 4 year old, Autumn Grace, and i were checking out your pictures this morning. she loves to look with me. anyways, she had a little something to say here and there… like things we have that are similar. when we got the the picture of your son she said “well i dont know who he is, but he’s REALLY cracking my out”… that means cracking me up around here ;). thanks for all your beautiful pictures, you totally inspire me!!! hoping one day to have a good camera and take beautiful pics like you 🙂

Trina McNeilly - i always love your randomness…. fruit loops have never looked so good
xx

Melanie - I love all the pictures. I wish I had your creative eye.

Vicki - Why is it when one woman speaks “mom” (my kids would rather have a frozen dinner than me cook, or the laundry pile is so high I can’t see over it) we all can give a collective, “UMMMMM, HUMMMM.” The human expereince is really more the same than we think I suspect…
Good luck with Africa…I went when I was 19 years old. The sights, the smells the feel…still there.
It is a humbling experience.
I think Dr. Suess said it best, “oh the places you will go…”

Erica - Love, Love the sock monkey tee! Monkey with a bow? Too cute!!

lucy - my favorite picture was the one of your daughter and her ‘baby’sweetly sleeping under her blanket:)

Laura Phelps - You wanna know why I love you? Why I so totally enjoy looking at pictures of fabric, and yogurt, and children I do not even know?
I love it because every single word…color…expression…all of it screams JESUS.
Is this weird?
Let me try again here.
There are some people who preach and preach and shove their God down your throat…and when they do that, it makes people turn the other way.
Then there are those like you. People who have that “certain something”. In Hollywood, we call it the “x factor” or simply “it.” Some people you look at…and you think, “I want what SHE has.” And it is not the house, or the kids, or the husband..although yours ARE fabulous..but rather, it is the way you make God the center of your life. IT SHOWS. In your words and photographs, without even mentioning God name, IT SHOWS.
That is why I love being here.

mel - Your laundry pile is about as big as mine. I just can’t keep up with it & I only have 2 kids. I can’t imagine how out of control it would be if I had 5 kids! did you make Annie’s sock monkey shirt? LOVE it! My Kate would LOVE that! You should list those in your shop!

Messy@Bungalow'56 - Thanks for showing your laundry pile. It makes me feel better. Is that your picture that just made it into the first group finalists on Pioneer Woman? The cheerios picture up above is awfully similar to one in today selection.
I’ve also missed important parties, just because I didn’t remember, and it has become a family tradition to sign up for things late. It makes it more exciting to see if there is still room : )
Dana

Christy H - Great photos, Lauren looks so grown up., That awesome that your shop sold out Congrats, hope you get the $ you need towards your trip! ooh and love the fabric shot

ashley - Okay, so you wash my pile that high, and I’ll fold them! Laundry’s everywhere.
Lovely photos. Just lovely.

susan - what great photos, i could relate to the pile of laundry 🙂 and a few others. we have a basketball player too! have a great week! susan

Carrie - Meg –
I am telling you, if you are willing to take in a 33 year old I will take care of all that laundry for you. I am still not sure why you haven’t taken me up on the offer.
Love your pictures. My husband got me a DSLR for Christmas. I am already noticing a difference in my pictures. My biggest issue is that it seems HUGE compared to the little digital I have always had and I feel like everyone is staring at me when I take a picture. I love it though!

Cary - Your pictures are so pretty!
Have to know where you found that chenille fabric (photo of your fabric stash)!!!!

gena - The bowl of fruit loops look really good at 1 am. BTW I just awarded you the Sunshine Blog Award. You can check it out at http://www.smallburst.com. Just add it to your umpteen awards!

Staci Danford - LOVE your honesty.. LOVE your heart. Glad to know a few other gals space out every so often. haha
Staci

Amber - two thoughts…that you don’t have to reply to. 🙂
i think i have the same couch. or at least similar couch from the same place. your denim couch is looking an awful lot like my loveseat that came from sofa mart. and actually i have it in couch form too – but in the cream color. purchased at differant times. love the couch…but wow! the denim fades from sunlight!
second thought…love your red curtains. i’m going out on a limb and assuming you made them…and wondering where you found the fabric?!
btw…great post.

purejoy - the mountain of laundry made me sigh. now that it’s just the hubster and i, i STILL look at my paltry little pile and avoid it.
i wanna play soccer. i want some skin goggles, too. sounds so fun the way she says it!

Anna Marie - Is that your “cool new phone with texting”? Ha! 😉
Love these posts! Makes my crazy days seem not quite so crazy knowing that others go through the same stuff :o) Thanks!!!

Dianne Avery - Okay, now I have to go get chalk paint and paint a wall. I love that!!

Rachel - I love your random photos. Now THAT is real life! Some of them are just plain ART. And your kids are adorable.

amy jupin - what parallel lives we lead!
i’m surrounded by hungry kids, dogs, laundry, stuffed animals, crayons, and silly conversation too!
where, oh where, is talby lou?

Jessica Reed - Looking at pictures of your kids makes me want to drop out of college and have a BABY!… but then I realize I only have one semester left and though babies are SO cute… the responsible thing is to just wait a few months… ah! You’re kiddo’s are cute though… that was the main thought. 😉

angela - Meg,
I smiled when I saw the basket of laundry waiting to be folded. I did a post tonight on laundry. Check it out.
Oh, and the picture of Lauren with the dog….Love It!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Love the posts where you just ramble and show random pics. Feels like I’m a fly on your wall:) Those were great! That one with your oldest and your sweet dog…just beautiful. She should go into modeling…gasp:o

JerriR - Cute pics, cute post…ugh I hate those laundry piles and “skin goggles” totally made me smile 🙂
PS Don’t worry with 4 children you so allowed many “space cadet” moments…its all good!

Tiffany - Your photos are great!! Your mountain of laundry made me laugh out loud. I’ve been right there. {grin}

Hattie - Love all the pics! Skin goggles! Baaaaaahahahahah!

Heather - Love the pics. We live in Kansas now…so question: Why do they say Rock Chalk Jayhawk? Thanks, Heather R.

Amy at The Red Chair Blog - Love that pic with the tucked-in stuffed animal in the foreground and Annie in the background. Precious!

Joni - You certainly are a BUSY woman! And going to Africa, too…aMaZiNg!!!! I love that your everyday life pictures are worth sharing….we love them as much as you do!
XOXO
Joni

Tara - love this post…we could be friends in real life.

Staci - Favorite pic….Annie in the background coloring and her little kitty cat (?) all tucked in nice and cozy 🙂 HOW sweet is that?????

jerusalem - love the everything pictures. just life – so great : )
Once a month at our church we have a “brown bag sunday” where we all have lunch together – either fast food, take-out or brought from home. my kids love Brown Bag Sunday b/c it is the one time a month they get Lunchables – very exciting indeed!

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five - Just discovered your blog via TaDa Creations…
What an inspirational space! And your ginormous laundry pile is making me feel oh-so-much better about mine.
Sometimes I wish there were a Laundry Fairy…
Enjoy your week and all of that everyday busyness!

Cori - Thankyou thankyou for showing your laundry. I have a huge mountain in my house. Yours looks prettier somehow. I have a dream of someday having every bit of wash put away every sock matched, every bin empty. A crazy dream, maybe unatainable but it gets me through the day!

Immyyas - Laundry totally multipies doesn’t it!!! Lope the pics… those all the fun colors you always have going in your house. Annie is adorable… love how she tucks in Micha… my girls do that too 🙂

Jo - Lauren is VERY beautiful 🙂 I love her hair, she is a total cutie!
Annie’s conversation’s are too cute. THE BEST!!!
Your kids are so fun, just kids in general

Tonya - i love the glimpses you give of your life…..it’s so real! Seeing a little “ROCK CHALK” helps too! 😉

emily - lauren is absolutely gorgeous. & i love hearing the tidbits of annie’s conversation.

annalea - ha, sounds and looks familiar – i think i washed 7 laods of laundry this weekend and i am avoiding folding the last three loads cause i am worn out. i checked out the shop on saturday afternoon and it was almost gone even by then – how awesome that it sold out! i went to honduras last year all by myself – left the kiddos and husband at home – and it was so amazing. crazy hard and life changing. i pray that your africa prep continues to go smoothly.

Jen - I love that you shared a pic of your laundry pile!! Mine looks the same way after a day of washing!

candace - Oh to be a fly on the wall when Annie is engaged in conversation – how cute it would be!
Do you happen to know the basketball coach/school that got “punked” with that blindfolded half-court shot? If you guys haven’t seen the youtube video, your son may really enjoy it!

Lindsay Thomas - I could look at pictures of your kids all day long! (Is that creepy? I don’t mean for it to be!) The picture of your oldest daughter is beautiful – the one with the dog. Look at those eye lashes! All of your kids are just adorable.

Genevieve - Loved this post! Thanks for sharing a bit of your lovely & colorful life!!

Dawn Gahan - I can’t believe how much Waffle looks like our sheered-back Old English Sheepdog Gideon. Makes my heart melt looking at these two fellas.
Dawn

Beth - and you dropped your hat in the parking lot, it’s hanging behind the desk at the WC.
You’re welcome!

Katy - Love your pictures!! Where is sweet Talby at?

Charity Palmer - I love Annie’s tie-dyed dress…very cute. If I ever have a daughter I will make her a tie-dye dress 🙂

jack - Thanks for giving us a snapshot of your weekend – I love the chalkboard wall!

julie - what a precious family!!

Sophie - Such a beautiful family you have, Meg. Such great pictures. The random everyday ones are the best.
By the way, I’m really loving Annie’s sock monkey t-shirt. So adorable (:

emily anderson - rock chalk, jayhawk.
love that picture.
well, love all your pictures!
emily

Jenn - Um, those red and white curtains??? Did you make them? I am in love. How about posting some of those lovelies in your shop? 🙂 If you bought them, please tell me where they are from. I love your blog

julia - send ticket = someone to fold your laundry
I have a pic just like your car one from our last trip home! I love my iPod thing that I use…I can’t drive w/o music

Cathy - Skin goggles – love it! I have to ask again, because I’m a stalker like that. What kind of camera is it you have? I sooo need a new camera.
Oh… did I ever tell you we did try that crescent chicken, its a huge hit here, I’ve made it 3 times so far (in a little over a month) my daughters loveeee helping with it because its so easy 🙂

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if you give up sugar….

then saying yes to making a cake isn't the best idea.
but there was nothing else to do…so i said yes.  (with rachel's voice in my head…selfishness megan)
 
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she did all the pouring and mixing.
i put it in the pans…and took them out of the pan.
i made the frosting but she put it on.

i licked my finger once.
then i gasped.
(it was like charolette in the shower in mexico with the water….spit it out. spit it out. spit it out.
)
i'm serious about this sugar thing.

while it cooked she got out all the things she wanted to put on the cake.
sprinkles, candy canes, marshmallows.
she kept calling it a christmas cake.
i asked her "why is it a christmas cake?"
then she said "it's a cake for jesus!"
 
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i said "it is?  will he like it?"
she answered "OH YES!!! but he can't eat any…only we can"

then she sang "happy birthday to jesus."

i think they must have done it at sunday school or preschool…because we haven't ever done that.
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i didn't touch this cake.
she did it all.
i loved watching her create with food.

i told her "i think you will be a baker when you grow up"
"No mom. a chef. not a baker.  and i will be a mom and you will be a grandma"

ok…i'm good with that.

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one for the cake…

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and one for annie.

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nice job annie.
jesus would love it.  
 
 
   

Foy (Garden Cook Write Repeat) - That’s so cute and she did a really good job!
Way to let your kid learn from experience!

tami reed - I love her cake, great job!

Bethany - WOW that is such a sugary cake– hehe! It does look yummy though- Annie did a great job 🙂

Kristine - it’s like a gingerbread house…on a cake! so cute! great job for saying YES! AND for resisting the sugar. you are doing better than me!

Suzanne - Jesus certainly would love it…and Annie is so very adorable!

Kelly - Yea for Annie! Great job! Kelly

linda lou - annie did such a wonderful job on decorating the cake who knowns she just might be a cake decorator when she growns up!! blessings.
linda (amy’s d mom)

dori - I don’t have kids of my own, but you’ve inspiring me to let my students be creative with more than just paper, scissors, and glue.

Lisa K in FL - Oh my gosh – Annie is so totally adorable and you are the very best mommy ever! I wish was I was more willing to allow my kiddos to be free to create. I’m going to get with God on that one.

Heidi Jo the Artist - This is so awesome! We love singing happy birthday to Jesus too!

Trina - Great post! That is awesome. So wonderful that you caught it all on camera!

Amy - What a sweet day. Thanks for sharing. Still giggling about the Charlotte comment. 🙂

Routhie - You need a like button for things like this. Super cool of you and her!

Melanie - She is so cute and you are a great mom. Very good for you about the sugar!

rhondagill@comcast.net - That last photo is perfection. What a beautiful blessing God has given you.

Staci Danford - What a darling cake.. You are just an angel to sit through that and not eat the whole thing.. Loved the sweet smiles on her face.. That was a load of sugar in its self.
Staci

Diana - Whewwwwwww, I can FEEL that sugar all the way across town! LOL! We don’t do a lot of sugar ourselves… but we let the grandkids do that when they are here. I’ve never been one to take much to sugary things, and amazingly, my own boys didn’t want lots of candy or stuff like that when they were growing up.
Why am I stunned that so many said they haven’t let their kids do things like this??? I’m thinking that you posting this is going to start a whole new craze with parents and kids in the kitchen! I’ve always done things like this with my kids and now my grandkids. It’s such fun to watch them create all by themselves! I would not trade those moments for anything!
LOVE that AWESOME cake, Annie! Christmas cake for Jesus is good ANY time of the year!
♥

Jerilyn - i absolutely love your blog, so i nominated it for an award (over on my blog)

Stina - I’ll bet someone has already said this (sorry, didn’t have time to check), but I know of a few people who make birthday cakes for Jesus on Christmas Eve or Day. They use white cake and white frosting (purity)…but the same idea your daughter had. Sing ‘Happy Birthday’, read the story of His birth, remember why we celebrate Christmas.
And that Annie of yours is pure gold! She is such a sweetheart.

Christina - I’m actually crying. How precious is that face?! And what a cake! She didn’t hold anything back, did she? 🙂

Vera - LOVE!! That girl ROCKS! Plus, it looks like she’s helping you out by getting all the sugar out of the house!

Tiffany Morris - LOVE this!

janie - This post cracks me up because I did that one year ago, and only made it until my daughters birthday. I baked her a wicked delicious birthday cake and as she stared at me with adorable 3 year old eyes saying “Mommy want some cake?” I caved, hard. But the exercise in self control really did make a difference to the cravings, both physically and mentally.
I found your blog through the homies, before you won, but put my vote in for you the moment I saw your blog. I’ve continued to enjoy!
Best of luck with your resolutions!

the inadvertent farmer - I understand the whole sugar thing…but for me I’ve gone vegan and must leave the room when the cheese is out! Yes, happy birthday Jesus, He would love it…sugar and all! Kim

linda@LimeintheCoconut - oh. my. Goodness.
I could eat that little girl up with a spoon she is so adorable.
The cake…I’ll save for jesus…and annie.
Beautiful post!

Angela - Love, love. love it. This year we started our own tradition and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and ate cake for breakfast before we read some children’s books about the true meaning of Christmas and then we enjoyed our stockings and presents. Our eight month old simply played along, but our three year old truly enjoyed celebrating Jesus’ birthday…who can say no to blowing out candles and eating cake when you’re three. I also wanted to thank you for your link to Rachel’s beautiful speech. I immediately linked my friends and family to her speech via our family blog and have scheduled it for viewing at our women’s bible study this week. I am so excited to watch it for the second time and absorb everything she has to share all over again. I like you have her voice in my mind and keep saying “I am here to serve with joy” over and over again. God bless you Meg.

karen - We are on a sugar holiday of sorts at our house too and it is BRUTAL! I wanted to share a little something I found that helps take the edge off. (I even sound like an addict. And don’t get me started on caffeine.) Have you tried “organic Raw Blue Agave”? It is low glyvemic and won’t spike your blood sugar like the good ol’ white stuff. Perfect in things that you need a little sweet…oatmeal, grape-nuts,tea, etc. My kids even eat it on pancakes. (My mom gave it to them and they didn’t know the difference.)
Good luck…I’m cheering you on! 😉

robyn - fantastic. beautiful.
and you can tell her that he “can” eat it- eating fish was how he proved he was human and not a ghost post-ressurrection. she can quiz her friends at preschool as to what jesus ate to prove he wasn’t a ghost, then trick them by the cake lead-in =)
nice cake.
and man alive, i guess this year you’ll have to carve out time for comment-reading alone?! 😉

JerriR - Annie is so cute…cake was lovely…and I wish I had your will power…cutting back on all things bad for me…slowly but surely! Good Luck!

Heather Giustino - What a sweet girl!! Love her fun cake, and singing to Jesus!

Jennifer Dawn - That is truly the cutest thing ever!

Donna - Annie is just about the cutest girl I have ever seen! And what a wonderfully creative cake…..I love it. We love to make cakes at our house, too. I need to learn to be a bit more hands-off, and I think I can do it after reading your post. I just can’t stand the sound of sprinkles crunching under my feet for the rest of the day 🙂 I love your blog!!!

Gina - We sing happy birthday to Jesus every Christmas morning at breakfast. This year we sang 4 times in a row. It’s fun! I love Annie’s cake, and Jesus would love it too! :o)

Lisa Liddell - My girlies made a jesus cake for christmas, it is so much fun. I am amazed that you have all the lovely candy goodness in your cupboards, uneaten and waiting to be used on cakes. It would be gobbled up in my house. I have to do special runs to the supermarket when decorating calls.
BTW I watched rachels story last week, oh my it changed me! I need to write the four truths down. Know God, Know yourself, know the gospel, know your purpose. ALL GOD CENTERED! What a challenge.

Jessie - Loved the Rachel link. There should have been a kleenex alert before viewing. Great message.

Ali Richardson - Great job staying away from the cake (& one finger lick is NOT a big deal)! I am new to commenting but definitely not new to reading. My sister in law is the one that made that cool scrapbook paper wall that you featured on your sidebar. Anyway, LOVE your blog! Oh yeah, and I made your crescent chicken yesterday and it turned out GREAT (and you’re right….no leftovers). I am a “mac n cheese” out of the box kind of gal so it was nice to find something so tasty that was super easy to make. Keep doin’ what you’re doin’!

Kara - Laura’s comment is funny…”Jesus gave up sugar too”! Did she eat this cake after she made it? It looks way too sweet to actually eat!

Jacci - “But there was nothing else to do”????
What does that mean? As in – there was nothing you could do to avoid giving in to her sweet smile or do you mean that you had nothing else to do that morning besides let her bake a cake?
Just wondering.
~Jacci in Ohio

Christy - She is just the cutest thing ever! Love the cake! A friend of mine did a “cake for Jesus” with her kids when they were little, so sweet.
Congrats on the sugar kick! Mine is Dr. Pepper, so far over a week into it & I am doing pretty good.

immyyas - Love this post! She is an absolute doll. Seeing kids be imaginative & creative is the best! Good for you on the only licking your finger once… impressive!!!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - WOW!! She did an amazing job. I love your reference to that Sex in the City scene, so funny!!! I feel ya. I’m doing a no sugar thing too. I would have done the same thing. You are one strong chick to even stand that close to the cake, just the smell would do me in:)

Brooke - i absolutely love this…what an awesome memory for her…

Flower Patch Farmgirl - It’s perfect. 🙂
Also, I just listed to Rachel. THANK you for telling us about that. How could it not change us?

christi - hi meg! quick and silly question for you. i think it was on your blog {in the sidebar} that you linked to this colorful canvas someone did that listed out their family goals. i can’t find that link in my bookmarks. do you know what i am talking about and if so, could you pass along the link to me again? thanks SO much!!

Tegan and Tage - Too sweet. 🙂 There is nothing like the precious heart of a child. Thank you for sharing!

Staci - HOW AWESOME IS ANNIE!!!???? Well, we allll know that answer 🙂 Sweet Sweet Annie!!! I’m serious, I’ve said it before….my littlest guy will turn 5 in March….please let Annie marry him!!!! And then, I, too can have a Happy Birthday Jesus Cake made by Annie 🙂 (But we would make her go to OU football games!!! 😮

Ashley - How cute! The way you are with your kids is so inspiring to new momma’s like me!

Val Russell - The Charolette scene (and what followed) was great!! And the cake looks yummy!

Summer - So sweet! You’ve inspired me to go on a sugar detox….I was getting so out of control. I haven’t had any in four days. Really, I can’t believe how much better I already feel. I do have to say, that is some real self control on your part!

Jill - So sweet!

Melissa - That is the most darling cake I’ve ever seen. And your reference to Charlotte in the shower just made me laugh so hard I snorted.
In my family we have a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve. We light the candles, sing, the whole she-bang, and the kiddos get to blow out the candles when we’re done. 🙂

Jessica - I showed this photo to my 4.5 year old. She said she wants to be Annie’s friend so she can make cakes with her.

christi - seriously? she is such a cute girl!

feather - that is one precious little girl. and one awesome mama. i love that you let her do it all. how special for her. and rewarding. and you didn’t go back for a second lick? impressive

sheila payne - I don’t know hat was more beautiful her or the cake… Yes Jesus would love it it is fit for a KING! Happy Wednesday to you and yours.
Sheila

Rosemarie - Beautiful! And the Charlotte comment had me cracking up – I’m pregnant and did that with raw cookie dough the other day – and I thought about the SAME exact thing!

Laura Phelps - I hear that Jesus is off of sugar too
looks like Annie gets the whole cake!

elizabeth - Her bangs/haircut just kills me. She’s so freaking cute. And your sugar boycott is inspirational, although right now, I’m cutting sugar vicariously…

Courtney Walsh - I feel ya on the sugar thing. Attempting to cut back my ridiculous coffee consumption right now. It’s making me cranky with a capital CRANK!
Love Annie’s cake. 🙂 She’s is quite the little CHEF!!

Sara - That is darling! So cute! I would eat it up though, good self control!

shelly - Oh my goodness!!! You are the front runner for mom of the year! Not only did you agree to bake a cake while doing no sugar, but you let her frost and decorate it too!!! I really need to loosen up and just let the kids create! Love how loaded the cake was! Reminds me of our Christmas cookies with and inch of frosting and twice as high in sprinkles! (Serious kudos for only taking a lick…I thought letting the kids get schwan’s ice cream cones was hard!)

Shirley Wood - I never had the nerve to let my children do something like that in the kitchen. You are such a great mom to do that. Sorry I missed out on such things.

Jen Hinton - OMG…way too yummy!!!
FYI-I’m highlighting your blog on my show today 12pm EST! http://bit.ly/7BxxHw

Rachel - How cute! Better than I could do!!

Ruth H. - Very cute! Reminds me of yesterday…minus the cake. My six year old asked me during lunch if I knew how to find “the place for poor people to live.” I replied that I could find out, why did she need to know? She explained that she was hoping we could spend the afternoon shopping for clothes and shoes and toys….all for the poor people, then we could take them there. I agreed that it was a very thoughtful idea, but wondered what made her think of that. Her reply: “Because Christmas isn’t about getting gifts, it is about giving them. It is about love. It is about what Jesus would do.”
Apparently, it is still Christmas. As it should be!

Renee - Great post, Meg. I love to see Annie in all her glory. I thought of you yesterday while we made sugar cookies and let the kids go to town with cutters and sprinkles. Steve and I were both silently cursing the dough that wouldn’t cooperate. I said, “We’re making happy memories for them, remember?” He just laughed at me. It was good. It was a “Meg moment.” Cheers! xoxo

Tracy - this is the cutest thing I’ve seen and heard all day! So precious.
LOVE how serious you are about kicking the sugar – GREAT job resisting…that cake *does look delish!
Happy Wednesday~

emily - such a beautiful cake!!
i’m so going to let my girls make a cake on their own like that!!! it would make their whole year!!

Kacey - That is the sweetest thing! And wow, is she creative! What a perfect kid cake.

julie - absolutely precious! well done annie!

gina - Gorgeous cake! Of course, once she added all that candy, I wouldn’t have been able to eat it. Well, okay, but just the bottom two layers. 😉

Kate - Annie – the cake is beautiful! Great job!!!

Tracy - HOW PRECIOUS and SO SWEET! She is such a cutie pie! P.S. I, too, am trying to give up the sugar habit – it is like crack to me! HA! Good luck and keep up the good work – you can do it my friend! Big hugs! :o)

sandy toe - Every time I look at your pictures…I think I wish I had the “gusto” to be so patience…not concerned about the “mess” etc….your kids seem to be “kids”….
sandy toe

Kathy - Gorgeous cake Annie! I could never give up sugar I’m just too weak!

Amy - She’s precious! I love how kids come up with this stuff all on their own without any prompting from us. That’s awesome and it did make Jesus happy 🙂

Niki - Don’t you know that, that cake made her Father smile!!!!! How precious she is to you and Him! Thanks for sharing!

No.17CherryTreeLane - these pictures are ridiculously cute. i need to squeeze that kid.

Jenni - I’ve done the “spit out” thing when I’ve been on sugar fasts in the past, too. It’s rather comical! Loved the photos, and the commentary. So sweet.

Tara @ the cinnamon post - I just love this post. Well done Meg with the sugar. You are to be commended! As for me I ate one and one-half cinnamon buns yesterday…before bed…it would have been two whole ones but someone caught me. It was a weak moment for me. Annie is so cute. Love the bangs.
~Tara

Holly - It is a beautiful cake! As for the sugar thing I am the same way with caffiene right now. Funny thing is that I have given up a lot of sugar by giving up the caffiene. I am starting to think I may survive it also,lol!

carissa... brown eyed fox - oh He does!
and HOW you resisted? you need to do a REALLY big “whoooop”… that is awesome!
that is hard!!!

Krista - Go Annie! Good for you, I don’t think I would have been so strong to avoid sugar this long! You are inspiring 🙂

Cori - Jesus would love the cake!

becca - That is so sweet!

Jo - OH MAN! That’s unreal. I really really love it. 🙂 She did such a great job just like her momma would do. Both are so creative!

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gingerbread and hot glue

IMG_0814
 
so yeah…i chickened out of the REAL gingerbread house.
and yeah…we didn't make our houses until december 30.

but WE DID IT.
and they really loved it.

i tried to build the tiny houses with grahm crackers and my royal icing but they wouldn't hold.
sean asked "can't we just hot glue it?"
i laughed "NO sean…we can't hot glue them…WAIT…we could HOT GLUE THEM!!!"
i told sean he was a genius.
(and he remembers)
it worked.
i told them to cover the glue with frosting so it didn't look too dorky.

you do what you gotta do to make it work….right?
it's not like we were going to eat them anyway.
 
IMG_0463
IMG_0503
i LOVE group projects that start with everyone having the same materials.
and every single one turns out very different.
each personality shows on their work.
 

IMG_0485

IMG_0481  IMG_0470

IMG_0495  IMG_0509

i was happy that scott joined in.  
if there is candy involved…he is usually close by.  
annie was on hour 21 of those princess jammies.  
i had asked her to get dressed at noon and she said "but i'm just so cozy!"  
true.

they turned out to be a very cute little gingerbread neighborhood.
there's a benefit to having five kids…your gingerbread houses make a whole block!   
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annie covered her entire piece of cardboard with frosting and candy.
when she was finished she said "it looks like a gaw-den!"  she was right.
a beautiful candy garden.
 

IMG_0828
creative tree that talby made…her own idea completely.
and i loved the use of the swedish fish for a door!

Gg
IMG_0830
the happiest house on the block.    :)  

Tracy - We too do our gingerbread houses after Christmas. It started a few years ago when I forgot that we bought the stuff, ran of time and then decided to make them on the 26th…we have been doing the same thing every year since.

judi - Love it! We never made ours this year at all – so now I am buying Valentine’s day candy and going to make a cupid cottage instead. I had thought about using hot glue – glad to see it worked. Will do that for sure. Also, since it won’t be edible – I like the glitter idea!

Jill - Hey… I whipped out the hot glue gun for our gingerbread houses this year too! Then I decided that since we already ruined the houses with glue, we might as well sprinkle glitter all over them too, you know, for sparkly snow? It was lovely and non-edible. Buddy, our chocolate lab, ate them anyway. There is glittery poop in my backyard now. The joys of the holidays! :o)

Kristine - hot glue IS genius! frosting not holding is exactly why i cringe at gingerbread houses. NO MORE! winter 2010 will be my year!

house for sale Philippines - Lovely gingerbread houses. Yummy 🙂
You guys are really great.
Deirdre G

Angelica Bays - Cute! And that dude of yours is gonna be a high-payin’ engineer someday ;o)

Kelli - I LOVE that you used hot glue! We too made ours after Christmas and got so frustrated that the house wouldn’t stay together! Guess we will have to use hot glue net year! Thanks for the tip! 🙂

Jaime Melcher - Love your gingerbread village! My mom hosted a huge gingerbread house- decorating party last Christmas & we used the trusty hot glue gun, as well. Worked like a charm!
Wanted to send a quick thanks for posting your yummy family recipes… I live in Little Rock and Mr. Weatherman says to expect the coldest weather we’ve seen in 15 years over the next 4 days. Needless to say, I’m stocking up at the grocery store today and plan on making your tortilla soup, potato soup and chocolate chip cookie bars! 🙂 Thanks and Happy New Year!

alyssa - Okay, I was able to vote for you over at the homies. You probably don’t care, but I wanted to make sure you knew. You know, just in case you picked me!
I am definitely making individual gingerbread houses next year. Why didn’t I think of that. Now Kade can destroy his own house! I love it.

Mrs. - Okay, what do I know? But…I know that if you add a GENEROUS helping of cream of tartar to your store-bought icing it makes it very thick and sticky (but NOT tasty). Also, if you think in advance, you can snag some of those empty kiddie milk cartons from school. If you “glue” your graham crackers to that base, they hold up really well.
Even so, yours are lovely. I wish we had done that (maybe next year), and maybe, because I have only 2 children, we can make it into a party and invite some friends. Boyo, I sure do have a lot of plans already for next year!

aubrey - You pick good candy–those look so good. Like as in tasty good. (And decorated nicely 🙂 )

Diana - Mmmmmm, hot glue… now that’s a genious idea!
ADORABLE houses!! They have their mama’s creativity! 😉

Kelly - uh, i’m the girl who once hot glued something to dirt . . . yeah. hot glue on gingerbread, Sean is a genius!

amanda - hot glued 25 for my son’s 2nd grade christmas party at school, also glued them to the chinaette(spelling?) plate – the kids loved them and no slipping, etc…love your blog!

Jaime - Glue gun was a great idea… who’da thunk it?
Love the pics… feels like I’m there with you all!

Becca Parker - Nothing wrong with hot glue! It is a miracle epoxy!

the inadvertent farmer - ROFL…yet another reason I could not live without my glue gun! Kim

christi - hi meg! i so love your blog!! thanks for all the beautiful photos and great stories. you are an inspiration to me.

Heather Giustino - LOL! We always hot glued ours too!!! Love the gingerbread neighborhood – too cute!

Sara - Love it! Whatever works, right? Upon a recommendation we made some with whipped frosting from a can – it actually worked really well. We did use a piece of yarn around the perimeter for stability, but other than that it was 100% edible! Pics are here: http://sarasdailydetails.blogspot.com/2009/12/ive-been-looking-for-something-fun-and.html
BTW, I don’t comment much, but I love your blog and it’s been such a great source of inspriation for me!!
Happy New Year!

MOW - Glue gun=genius idea…
Growing up me, my sisters and all my cousins would collect the little milk cartons from school, rinse them out, take them home, slap frosting on those, and then graham crackers and decorate! Just another way to keep it all together!
I’m 23, and gingerbread houses is a family tradition that I look forward to the most at Christmas!

purejoy - mmmmm… looks like deliciously good fun!
i’ve never tackled a gingerbread house with my kids. maybe next year. (i’ll have to get the sedatives before hand)

meaghan - okay…A. having 5 kids makes hauling all that stuff out so much more worth it, and 2. i made your rainbow cake today for my son’s 2nd bday!! it tastes even better than it looks (if possible)!

Traci - i think i see lemonheads. my favorite!!

gina - We made these and just used canned frosting that I had put in the fridge over night- it makes it very thick!. We also braced the roof with little stacks of candy instead of another piece of “gingerbread”.

Kelsey - haha totally used hot glue on my gingerbread house this year too!!

Courtney Walsh - I have never made one of these…but the problems it that I am a total candy junkie!! I would’ve eaten all those Mike and Ikes long before they were glued down!

Staci - We didn’t do gingerbread houses this year ;( Looking at the fun you guys had….I’m sad I didn’t just suck it up and do it!! LOVE the idea of hot glue!!!!!! I think My Jake stayed in his pajamas the ENTIRE Christmas Break 🙂 LOVE IT!!! And now…it’s back to reality today! Happy New Year!

Sarah @ Clover Lane - Hot glue or not, your photos make them look deliciously edible!

Laura Phelps - my kids would have eaten them
glue and all

Trina - I am with you…. that icing is a pain in the butt…..and loved that you used graham crackers.. brilliant!
xx Happy New Year!
Trina

Jainatina - My family always uses hot glue to hold the houses together. It helps them withstand the holiday season. 🙂 We also use pampered chef gingerbread house molds… which turn out super heavy chunks of cookie so the only thing that can hold them together is hot glue. ^^ Tuns of fun.

Ryanne - I can’t believe you let your kids make crafts on such a pretty tablecloth.

Jennifer - We bought a prefabricated house and it still fell apart! I did everything they said, yet still, within about 20 minutes everything slid and the house became condemned. Thank God my husband is handy. He came home and drilled their house together-not sure how exactly, but it worked and Christmas was saved. You have to do what works, I agree. Your family looks so fun! We loved doing your pompom ornament craft. 🙂

Jenny - Brilliant! Loved it!

Vera - Those are some seriously awesome gingerbread houses!! Love all the color – they just make me happy looking at them!
My trick is to beat the royal icing (the real egg, cream of tartar, powdered sugar kind!) for like 5+ minutes until stiff, it’s glue-ier than glue that way.

shari - I LOVE the hot glue on the gingerbread houses… makes it a much more enjoyable experience for everyone involved!! We never eat them, so it’s no big deal. GREAT houses! I wish we had done them this year but we ran out of time. DEFINITELY next year!!!

H-Mama - They look perfect. We made ours after Christmas too. 😉 I’m going to have to remember hot glue for next year!! We never eat them either!

Kelly - This is always an after-Christmas project we do with my inlaws. They aren’t coming until this weekend 🙂 Your houses are adorable!

diane - we always made graham cracker houses growing up and I think most of the time they were hot glued. I am looking forward to starting this tradition with my little ones. Those are great photos!

Amanda Jo - Too cute! Kids are so creative!

Darlene - The icing never works – even though it seems like glue. You’ll be surprised to know I actually just bought a glue gun. Now I’ve got the power in me to glue anything that comes my way. Happy glue-ing!

Heather @ Cookie Mondays - Looks very similar to our gingerbread neighborhood 🙂 And my kids never got dressed the whole two weeks, so don’t feel bad!

Ashley - So fun! With only one child we sure didn’t have a whole block of houses!! And this is after the fact…but I melted sugar in a pan and then used that to connect the crackers…but it prob would have just been easier to use hot glue…not like you eat them!!! :0)

No.17CherryTreeLane - wait….is there something wrong with glue guns? because that’s how we roll…..

Rachel - So cute! It’s so neat how they are all so different.

Susan - Love the idea of hot glue! We never end up eating those things anyway…great job!

tasha roe - awesome idea! and no one would have known about the glue hidden under the frosting anyway. 😉 They do look yummy!

stodd - We use hot glue too! I did read somewhere last year that if you add a little bit of cream of tartar to your icing, it dries really hard and holds well. But, I like the glue better… the kids are kind of rough as they decorate. It’s one of their favorite things to do. In fact, we made haunted houses for Halloween and gingerbread for Christmas!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - I think we need to start a mom of the year award. You would rock that category I think with all the fun stuff you do with your kids. Adorable house:)

Karina - I should have used hot glue – we used icing instead and my waistline does NOT thank me!!! We (OK, a lot of it was just ME) ate the whole house – thank goodness I have “only” three children and wasn’t tempted to eat a whole block’s-worth!!!

Scrappy Girl - That tree is fabulous! So creative! We have never made houses…it’s on the list for next year!

julia - we had major structural problems with our gingerbread house. it only lasted 24 hours before the roof caved in. i should have called the insurance company and blamed it on a hurricane and collected money to fix the roof and then turn around and use the money to buy a new gingerbread car. it’s a florida thing.

Ashley Ann - He is a genius…wish I had thought of that one!

feather - well, you aren’t the first mom to use hot glue on gingerbread houses. seriously, i think our culture should do away with houses and go to gingerbread piramids. the egyptians had it right. just lean everything into on nice little point on the top. why are we trying to fight gravity?

Amy C. - I starting doing the “real deal” gingerbread house about 3 years ago. I checked out a book called Gingerbread Houses:building and making memories by Nonnie Cargas. Recipes
for the house work great.
We made a train last year and a tree this year.
What I’ve learned is make the dough and icing 2 days before you need it. Cut and roll out the house the next day. Let it sit overnight to firm up. Decorate it the next day.
I store royal icing in mason jars. It keeps it from drying out until you are rady to use it.
It is too crazy for me and a very long day to try to do it all at once. More enjoyable to break up the steps for me and the kids.
The hot glue cracks me up.

Nancy - You bet, I used my glue gun,too … best secret in town! It will keep us sane and that is a good thing.

Andrea - We used the caramelized sugar for the first time and thought it was revolutionary! But, since everyone only picks off the candy and never eats the graham cracker part, hot glue is brilliant!

Amber - hahahahaha. hot glue! we should have done that. our gingerbread house looked like a smeary mess! But my daughter’s hands were covered in goodies and she sure like that. 😉

Holly - ok I love that you hot glued them! How funny! You gotta do what works,lol!

Joanna @ The Casa - Great houses! I love how she is standing on the chair. I remember being that into a project when I was little.

Jenn Grigoryev - i tried to use caramelized sugar on my gingerbread house, only to realize that 20 minutes of whisking and burnt fingers produced something that looked EXACTLY like hot glue. so i busted out the glue gun and finished up and boy was i WAY happier. my husband claims it’s cheating, but it’s not like anyone was going to eat month-old gingerbread anyway, right?

PaisleyJade - Those are just so cool!!! Never made a gingerbread house but you have inspired me (and also made me open to the idea of a hot glue gun and trying to make one well after Dec 25th!)

rachel - HAHAHA love this post – the kids have made a lovely job and who wouldn”t want to live in a block like that 😀

your cool friend Cheryl - If you look closely at the pics of our gingerbread houses, you’ll see I totally used my glue gun, too!
We’ll never eat anything that’s been so man handled by a 3 yr old and anyway, I don’t trust that icing one bit…

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first post of the year!

we enjoyed january 1, 2010 by sharing a candle lit dinner with our kids.
Candles
we even ate in the actual dining room.
with the christmas plates and glasses.
sean set the table with a tablecloth and got to light the candles…by himself!
(that is pretty exciting stuff if you are 9)

 
Card
talby made place cards and made the seating arrangement. 
everyone was in charge of making one dish each…whatever they wanted.
(craig and i helped them)
 
Sean
the good kind.
velveeta brand…nothing but the best for a fancy dinner.

Scott
we made these on new years eve so made another batch last night too.
ALL fancy dinners have hot wings. (pioneer woman recipe)

Potatoes
since she was in charge there was no cheese on top…because she doesn't like melted cheese.
she likes cheese…but not when it melts…except on pizza…that melted cheese is ok. 

Me
i had to push the fruit. 
our kids would eat starch and sugar 24 -7
 if we let them.
(and so would i)

IMG_0772
everyone was cooking at once.
annie chose PANCAKES as her dish.
craig helped her make 6 chocolate chip pancakes….mmmm.  

Milk
the kind from the store…in the milk section.
TREAT!
 

Frog
Cheers
fancy dinners also have napkins bibs…and tiaras.

Eat
and you know what?
there were no spills.
no fights.
no mean words.
and no crying.

it was a LOVELY meal.
i am sure this is a tradition we keep.  

(ps: lauren wanted NOTHING to do with us.  she took a plate of food & ate alone in her room by choice)

*************************************************************************************************************************

i finally made some blog post categories!
i have gone through all of 2009 posts and assigned them categories.
and i will go back through rest soon.
   
now when you need a waffle fix you can click on "WAFFLE the wonder dog" & see all the pics of him!
at least all the pics of him in 2009.
so if you are new here…go have fun clicking through the categories.

Rachel / cREaTe - that is HYSTERICAL. 1st photo & text, i thought this was indeed a big fancy, formal event. then as the menu played out my smile just got bigger. hilarious. your kids will remember that forever. 🙂 so fun to let kids be kids and run the show once in awhile.

Diana - I would have helped Talby with those mashed taters! They look scrumptious! {I don’t like cheese melted on anything but pizza either… well, maybe on cheeseburgers, too.}
LOVELY family, LOVELY meal… such LOVE!
Happy New Year to all of you!

the inadvertent farmer - Raising my glass of chocolate rice milk in your direction…cheers! Have a happy, healthy, and blessed new year, Kim

Logan - You are a fun mom. I know it isn’t perfection all the time, but you are creating wonderful memories for your kids and I love reading about your adventures and seeing the pictures. Thanks for sharing your life with us!

Laura Phelps - we got a hamster and a case of beer on New Years Day.
hmmm….
I am feeling like I have fallen a little short here…

Amanda Garrett - Your family is too cute. I always enjoy reading your blog. Happy New Year!

Amy - What a great idea! So cute! 🙂

Vicki - How wonderful to live in a house where the hum in the background is filled with laughter, happy busy chatter (okay, maybe a fight or two now and then, and memory making. You gotta feel the love, just gots too. Even if your not sitting at the table but up in your room, you still feel it. That’s the stuff that you take with you when you leave home and go out into the world on your own. When you start a family of your own and some how automatically know what it means to be a family. It’s cause your mom did stuff like this.
I think we started a tradition at our house too this year. We have little ones so we did a brunch for New Years day with family and friends. It was so much better than staying up late with little kiddos and having them be grumpy all day. Think we’ll do it next year. Happy New Year!

Jenn Grigoryev - i can’t wait till my three boys are big enough to try this idea out. what a fun mom you are.

amy jupin - this looks fun!
too bad lauren didn’t want to join y’all…one day that too will change! 🙂
happy happy new year, my friend!

jessica - Oops! Typo. You make my day with “your posts”…..not no posts. You are the best! Thanks for inspiration and smiles!!
Jessica, Alabama

jessica - Can’t stand it anymore. Had to comment! I have been a long-time blog stalker. I just love it!!! You made my day with no posts and always make me smile. After reading this post I had to tell you…..you are seriously the best mommy on the planet. I cannot believe you balance five kiddos so well, and you are just a spring chicken yourself. Kuddos to you, your beautiful family, and all of your fabulous ideas. Cheers and Happy New Year!!!
-Jessica, Alabama

WizzyTheStick - I tried family dinner on my birthday. The results was sad or hilarious, depends on if you are a cup half full or half empty kinda person. From reading this post I’m guessing you fall into the former category. Great share. Loved this peek into your family life.

aubrey - You have such a lot of really good ideas and I really like this one. When my kid are big enough to do their own cooking, I think I’ll try this one. Maybe by then we’ll have a dining room too. 😉
Oh, and I feel like a jerk that I didn’t buy chocolate milk for any meals over the holidays–I’ll have to remember to do that next year. It’s so nice when the little ones are so easily satisfied. 😉
I have to say (even though I haven’t had teenagers yet, but stil remember being one)–it’s kind of cool that you let Lauren have her space and exercise her independence (within reason it looks like). My parents didn’t let me and I resented it sometimes, but I came around anyway. I think you’re doing a really really good job as a mom.

Liesl - How fun! Meg, what are your christmas dishes. They look so fun!! I am looking for holiday/winter tableware . . .
Thanks – I enjoy your posts and your creativity. Happy New year!!

Sarah @ Clover Lane - That fruit salad looks SO good…the other stuff looks good because for once a mother knows it will ALL be eaten! Everyone’s happy, yeah!!!!

Julie - now, THIS is why i love your blog. Incredible family. incredible inspiration. happy new year!

DreamGirlLisa - Love it! Carbs rule!!!!
Lauren will come back to you, teenage years are a challenge, but fun too.

gina - Looks like a great tradition to start! My 15 yo calls most things we do, that she joins “Triple F”. >sigh<

Dena Rooney-Berg (sugarshop) - What a seriously fun dinner!!! Thanks for linking to my Pineapple Vodka post! Not only did it lead me to your site (LOVE it) but it’s been fun to meet some of your readers as well! Can’t wait to see how your Pineapple Vodka turned out and to see if it was a hit. XOXO

julia - in a few years Lauren will say “why aren’t I in any of the pictures???”

Christina - This is so great! I LOVE your fancy dinner. What a fantastic idea…everyone looks like they had such a good time.
When you said the kids would eat sugar/starch 24/7, but so would you I chuckled…the apples never fall far from the tree. It’s true here, too. My youngest has a new play kitchen from Christmas, and she has been cooking these last few days. I think she’s made chicken once (which she doesn’t really eat), and the rest of her creations have been chocolate. 🙂

Dianne Avery - Looks like a perfect evening! Fun pics as usual. 🙂

Kelly - Such fun! I love y’all’s definition of a fancy dinner! I am excited to have fancy dinners with my kids one day! Right now I can tell the baby likes to eat because he/she usually kicks during dinner. 🙂 Kelly

Karen - What a great Mom you are! My two cents says ‘make’ her participate. We had the same troubles w/ our oldest. At one point I mustered everything I had not to push him out of the car on a vacation, but to hear him tell it now, it was THE BEST vacation! Unreal! (Was he on the same vacation with us??? He made it MISERABLE from beginning to end!) Kids. Go figure.

renee cauley - What a great night… Don’t worry bout Lauren, kids do the funniest things…. Mine are all grown now and they want to hang out with us and go on vacations with us… strange… its all good. I just love your blog…Have a happpy 2010

Mrs. - Sorry about Lauren. My oldest is 12 and I am really, REALLY having a hard time LIKING her. I can’t believe that we shared the same food, air and blood for 9 months. She seems so disconnected from me. I imagine soon she will want to eat alone like Lauren as well. *sigh!*

Lorilee - How fun to cook together. I usually cook alone! Sometimes my sweety will help, but the boys run and hide! I’m not sure where I went wrong!
Blessings,
Lorilee

Erin V. - What a great idea! I love the fun stuff you come up with to do with your kids!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Aw man…I wondered about Lauren. Thought for sure her dish would be something really cool – like sushi or something olivey.
Sounds like good ol’ messy fun! And the menu is to die for.

Christian@Modobject at Home - “…there was no cheese on top…because she doesn’t like melted cheese.
she likes cheese…but not when it melts…except on pizza…that melted cheese is ok.”
My seven year old son’s sentiments EXACTLY.

Lori - Great family time idea. And aren’t teenagers just the best?! If it’s any consolation, our teen daughter was exactly the same. But as she turned 18 and nears the time to go to college, she seems to enjoy some of our family times more than she used to.
Thanks for all of your real, sometimes funny and sometimes touching posts. The present you opened from your parents made me cry too.

Rach - What a fun tradition! Great to get everyone working together.

Vera - This is SO much better than black eyed peas and ham hocks and greens ha! Sounds like a great, fun, and yummy tradition!!

Sue K. - HaPpY NeW yEaR!1! Wow. What a great tradition! I love it…gonna copy this one for sure! So Im wondering, who helped with the cleanup?? That is the worst part by far for me 😛
Blessings to you and your family in 2010.

Shari Barnes - Is that a Jenn Air gas cooktop in the island? We have one and it looks very similiar – LOVE it! 🙂 Looks like a geat meal!!!

jeanne - I love all the sweet things that your family does together!!! I truly believe that someday your “children will rise up and call you blessed”.

Melanie - You are a great mom, Meg! You are the fun mom and your kids will remember these things that you do for them. Sorry about Lauren:( I just don’t know what to say about that. I have a 15 yr. old son and I haven’t had the ‘teen’ thing happen. I know that I am lucky and I wish that for you.

Heather Giustino - How fun!!! Everything you guys made sounds so yummy (especially the Velveeta mac ‘n cheese – my “yucky” treat!) We had a fancy dinner too, and even drank sparkling cider out of champagne glasses : )
Happy New Year to you and your sweet family!

Kate - That all looks lovely!
Eeek, teenagers are vile creatures! heh heh

Tanya - Adorable! Great first post of the year!

Naomi - I don’t comment often, but read ALWAYS. What a FUN tradition. Can we borrow and copy it?
Still making that rainbow cake you posted about eons ago!

immyyas - This was really sweet. What a fun idea & a great way to include each kiddo. I might have to steal this idea… : )

H-Mama - you’re such a fun mom. 😉

Mindy - This is so much fun! I am stealing it for our fam! My kids are little though so it might be hard for them to help a lot but at least they could each choose. Don’t worry about Lauren, I was the same way when I was her age and I turned out okay … just takes a while sometimes. You are a great mom!

stef - the chocolate milk part made me LOL. My kids would love fancy dinners at your place 🙂
Happy New Year!

mary - awesome!
and don’t worry a bit about lauren
i remember how i was at that age
and my sister, my cousins, my friends, etc
chocolate milk rocks…and annie is a good pancake chooser(tell her i said that she will giggle)

sandy toe - Sounds perfect.
sandy toe

se7en - Lovely tradition – Oh keep it up!!!

Tiffany Morris - How fun is this! You guys do some really cool things… thanks for sharing ideas with all of us!
Hugs – Tiffany

Keri R. - I am just like Talby! I love cheese but not when its melted! Unless of course on Pizza!!! Happy New Year!

Pineapple Princess - I love how you celebrate! So fun! 🙂
Happy New Year to you and your awesome family!!

Kimberly - What a wonderful idea!!! Happy New Year!
Kimberly
http://yeptheyareallmine.blogspot.com/

Kelly - What fun! And too bad Lauren missed out! It looks like a great time! I love traditions like this! We have a similar one on New Year’s Eve 🙂
And I agree on the chocolate milk from the store. My boys go crazy when we have that stuff in the house! I actually almost got it for our New Year’s Eve bash but opted for orange pop in bottles which was a big hit too. 🙂 Happy New Year!

Courtney Walsh - Seriously agree about the chocolate milk from the store in the fridge section. What is it about that stuff? It’s like dessert. Yum.
I love your fancy dinner. 🙂 Good stuff, Meg!

Jacci - Great fun 🙂 Sorry Lauren was a stinker.
Categories are also great fun! Thanks!!! And Happy New Year 🙂
~Jacci in Ohio

Georgia - Happy new year!
I LOVE the fancy dinner idea, its brilliant!!!
Im the same as Talby, melted cheese is Yukky except on pizza, or Pasta is ok. 🙂 🙂
xxx

Sarah @ Dream In Domestic - Happy New Year, Meg!!! What a beautiful meal with your beautiful family! Thanks for the categories. I’m not new, but I like to go back from time to time to find things, so that will be very helpful!

sarah - So fun!! I love that everyone made a dish, and the chocolate milk in pretty christmas glasses.
I love that Annie made pancakes… since that’s what they chose to eat, when we had enchiladas, when I was her age… or maybe just a few years ago, I probably would have chosen pancakes too!

Dina - What a great New Year tradition! My kids are 5, 3, and 1 and always WANT to help cook … but really I must draw the line:-) … I guess I need to step back and just enjoy the fact that they WANT to take part in meal preparation:-)
Happy New Year!!!!

Nicole Q. - love the idea of the kids each making a dish. good idea . i also bawled at your xmas gift from your dad . . . what a neat gift and so much meaning!!! Happy New Year!

diane - I love this idea!
I totally get Talby and her cheese preferences.
I don’t like cheese but I love queso. My husband likes to point out that what I am really saying is, I don’t like cheese, but I love cheese.
At almost 31, I am starting to branch out though. Maybe in this next decade I can simply say, I like cheese.
Happy New Year!

Holly - That sounds like fun! We actually started off 2010 by having cresent chicken and the kids LOVED it!
Happy New Year to you and your family!

carissa... brown eyed fox - i love it! we have got to get on the kids making a dish thing… seen yall do that before too… i just love that!
now…
raising my coffee mug right now… wait… hold on… okay…
{cheers}
here’s to an awesome year!
and meg… i have to say…
thanks for being such a big inspiration in my life in 09.
you make me laugh… hard.
you make me cry… just yesterday.
you make me want to dance… even if i look like a fool.
thanks girl! big hugs… buckets of blessings!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - LOVE IT! What a wonderful way to bring in the New Year. I love everyone in the kitchen making their favorite dish. Great pics of all of you. Just warms my heart:)
Oh and your daughter being a teenager…that just kills me. I swear when my kids get to that stage I’m gonna need a pill or something to help me get through it:0

michelle - so fun Meg! what a great idea and a wonderful memory created. we might have to try it. i think it would be interesting just to see what it would be that my kids would chose as their dish. hmmmm? too bad about Lauren. sadly, i would have probably been just like her. always bucking the system i was. she’ll come around.
happy new year my dear friend!
xoxo

Staci - What a FUN night!!!!!!! I am soooo glad there was no fighting!!! I wish your dear sweet family the Happiest of New Years!!!!!!!!!!!!

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