my girlfriends in my bible study group decided to do a food swap.
it took us awhile to get it organized but we did it!
i was so excited about it.
some of us are kind of picky and i love that we were honest about that too.
i have a bunch of picky eaters here so it wouldn't save me anytime if i did this
and all the meals were yucky to my kids.
my meal was lasagna.
that's really is MY meal.
i make it for anyone who has a baby…family in the hospital….lost a loved one….company coming…
everyone!
and everyone tells me it's so good.
so i believe them.
i made seven.
all in my jammies, slippers and apron.
with christmas music on and all the kids at school and an entire pot of coffee by my side.
it really was such a nice morning.
it took me 3 hours exactly.
that was twice as long as i thought it would take but all the stirring and layering takes time.
after you make your meal you cover them with plenty of foil
("no air in there"….name that line)
label it with instructions and freeze them.
then you bring them to the swap already frozen.
we all opened our trunks and swapped out our casseroles for five different ones.
the different meals were:
chicken enchiladas
turkey tetrazzini
manicotti
chicken and stuffing
bierock casserole (small town german favorite)
and my lasgana
my freezer is so happy. i think it smiled and winked at me….
now for december…the busiest month…i have six meals already made!
AWESOME.
i think all of you should do this with your girlfriends.
(or with your co-workers or neighbors?)
set your rules of money, ingredients, recipes and GO FOR IT!
it was so fun.
Heidi - love the pics, especially all the crafting ideas! i’m not a huge craft making person, but i want to start doing more and seeing you do them with pictures of the finished product is encouraging. thanks for sharing!
love this blog! don’t know how you do it all:)
Robin Laws - look at that header!! wooo hooo for youuu!!!! very nice work there. very nice indeed. and i do think the larger than life photos draw your visitors closer in to your life, your blog. i adore, simply love that first photo with annie all 0 and singing her heart out like a norman rockwell painting! you have perfect children 🙂
XOXOX
p.s i am glad for the upswing in visitors…double? wow! now can you help me figure out how to do the same thing at my place??
🙂
a thorn among roses - we had a program much the same sunday…and my #3 ran off the stage screaming. yep, it’s true! love the pics!
Suzanne - I can just imagine the torture being felt by the parents, I mean kids, in the back room;)
Those programs are the stuff video cameras & still cameras are made for…too priceless!!
Glad you ALL made it through!
Alyssa - so cute and I am not a grandma either….adorable
carissa - deodorant… so funny… i sweat like a nut when i am anxious too!
the sounds of children singing…
you hear it in your HEART!
what great pics Meg… SO glad you shared!
katie - hahhahahaha…extra deodorant!! nothing like a room full of kids to make you TOTALLY pit out your clothing. It happens everytime I volunteer in the classroom…phew!
what a darling night…i ALWAYS cry when children sing..i can’t help it!
traci - The first picture and what you said CRACKS ME UP..lol
For some reason I had in my head that you went to a sm. church but from the amount of kids in that group you do not go to a sm. church!!! How lg. is your church? Great photos…as always.
Nothing better than the kids program!!!
Trina - Wow, girl you must have an extra helping of patience from above but I’m sure that extra deodorant helped out 😉
Jess - cute pictures! I borrowed your idea for putting the ornaments in seperate boxes for the kids….awesome idea! great for my 2 and 4 year olds who went a little ballistic when they saw the huge box of decorations….they went right to work with their own!!!
sara's art house - I am so there with you- ours is next week…thank goodness they are cute!
Ashley - Those are so great. The deodorant comment cracked me up! And – yes – I’ll still be posting pictures just not crazy amounts of sessions like I was. I love photography, but the stress related to the juggling act with kids just isn’t worth it. Also, I am SO JEALOUS of the ornaments you posted earlier. Our tree is all non-breakables. It is really ugly, but the boys are proud of it so I guess that is what matters right? At least that is what I tell myself!
Amanda - Those kids look adorable! I recognize Childrens Place clothes anywhere…its one of my favorite splurges for mine…
And your pictures are priceless! Is it ok if Im not a grandma and I still like them? he he
God bless-
Amanda
Heather - 🙂 I occasionally lead in the children’s division at our church and let me tell you — shorts and t-shirt (to say nothing of the extra deodorant) would be sooooo much more appropriate than heels! My kindergarten boy has his Christmas program tomorrow night. Should be entertaining!
Lori - My kids are 17 and 13, and I sooo miss that sweetness! What cuties!
meaghan easterhaus - that’s the best!!!!!!! nothing better!!!
amy j. - Lawson was so disappointed he wasn’t there! But I’m sure those 37 pre-school parents appreciate that he was gone. Darn yucky germs at our house!
Jennifer - Too funny! It’s like a wedding — all prep — and then you blink and it’s over!
They look so darn cute though!
Smiles,
Jen
Queenie Bee - As a former preschool music teacher, I’m feelin’ your pain sister! 🙂
soooooooo incredibly cute though!
Shannan - So precious! And I’m still stunned over the second picture of the doe-eyed, curly topped beauty. She reminds me SO MUCH of my Ruby. If you know her mom, could you please ask her what products she uses on her hair? It looks like the exact texture of Ruby’s, and what can I say, I’m getting a little desperate here. 🙂
mom - Thanks for sharing that with us grandmas. So wish we could have been there. I am very proud of Annie – tell her that, please!
PamperingBeki - Awww, CUTE!!
There was a time before we had kids that we were visiting a church at Christmas-time. The children got up and sang and I cried through the whole thing! Haha! I thought it was the most beautiful thing ever and couldn’t wait to have kids of my own to watch do that.
traci - nothing like adorable kids singing christmas carols to get you in the christmas spirit. cute!!
casey Ohmen - I know exactly what you were going through. I am an x-preschool teacher and have done that routine many times. In the end it is all worth it and you are so proud of each of them. Looks like fun.
Lorilee - Four years old has to be the most fun age! I guess that is why I am teaching that age! heh heh! Those four year olds are absolutely adorable!
Blessings,
Lorilee
Sandy - The behind the scenes pictures reminds of American Idol – and you just never know, do you?!
I’m glad it went well.
By the way, last night I had a dream that I met you. How crazy is that?!
Sandy
Troy, OH
sharanya - 🙂 Sweet and precious
Jenny - Gorgeous!
Love the first photo with the mouths wide open singing.