Friday, July 9, 2010

The Summer of Yes


My little boy came up to me the other day and asked a crazy question. The question was "Can I have some ice cream" ? It was a crazy question because it was ten in the morning.

Anyone that knows me, even a little bit, knows that I am one for rules, traditions and routines. I think that they bring stability and harmony to a home and after all .....I am a first born! :) (We firstborns like to run the show and as a mama it has served me well.)

Until this summer.

This summer I have come to realize that there is power in saying yes to a child.

I looked at my little boy who was practically vibrating with excitement when I told him that he could indeed have the ice cream at ten in the morning. (After looking at me like I was pod person who just looked like his mama.)

I have to be honest that my gut reaction was to say "no" and I had a list prepared of the reasons why. Then I paused. Its summertime and we had no where to go. Was the lunch police going to come and ticket me? I thought it sounded good myself. So I got out three bowls and started a scoopin.

I explained that this was not an everyday thing but a special "yes thing". (I don't think he really cared what it was as long as he got the ice cream) We sat down and happily ate our ice cream talking about what we should do this week and what books we still needed to read in our library basket. There was giggling and ice cream spilled and lots and lots of chipped tooth grinning going on in my small kitchen. I loved every minute of it.

It got me thinking....how often do I say no to things that really do not matter? Is my saying no so much preventing him from hearing me say no to the REALLY important things?

I will tell you that we did have a nutritious lunch that day but it was pushed back a little later and he ate as much of it as if the lunch and ice cream had exchanged places. "Hmmmmm" I thought...interesting.

Yesterday, I let my 2 kids and their cousin make my whole front room into a fort with clean sheets that had just been washed. I smiled as I heard them plan what they would take in and what supplies were still needed. I would have to wash the sheets again. I would have to take it down and clean up said supplies. One of my funnest memories as a child, however, was being over my friends house and her mom letting us do this in her living room. It was as magical to me as Narnia.

Hearing whispered plans and hushed giggles coming from the living room made my heart skip a beat at the power of the word yes.

Of course I cannot say yes to everything but I have decided that this is the "summer of yes" for this mama.
Is it wrong that I am actually having as much fun as they are?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Works for me Wednesday: Cooling off corn quick!

Nothing says summertime like corn on the cob. In fact, going into a supermarket and seeing the bright green stalks is when I know summer has "officially" arrived!

My littles LOVE the stuff. What I do not love so much is their protests that its too hot to eat! I used to try running it under cold water only to get wrinkly fingers and hot spots on the corn.

It was a fluke that I discovered this.....


I simply put the cob in a large glass of ice water for a couple minutes and its totally kid ready.


For more great WFMW ideas visit We are That Family!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Wildfire Bean recipe


Ok ladies...I found this recipe and I have to say that it was a BIG HIT on the 4th!! I am a sucker anyway for anything slowcooker but after tasting it...I am sold!


Slow Cooker Wildfire Beans

1 jar Bob Evans Wildfire BBQ sauce
1 package Bob Evans Express Bacon
1 (55oz) can baked beans
2 (16oz) can light red kidney beans, drained
2 Tbs molasses
2 Tbs mustard
1 small onion, chopped


Combine all ingrediants in a slow cooker. Stir well. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Menu Plan Monday: Use those grilling leftovers!

4th of July was so much fun, but we are still recovering from all the food! We had all kinds of family over but our eye were bigger than our bellies. (Meaning a ton of leftovers!!) I have decided that we are wasting NOTHING! We are using the chicken in quesadillas, hot dogs in mac and cheese and hamburger patties in a recipe I cannot wait to try!!! Happy eating y'all!!!

Monday: Leftover chicken quesedillas with black beans and peppers

Tuesday: Beef Stroganoff Casserole (recipe below), mashed potato's, green beans

Wednesday: Mac and cheese with sliced hot dogs, mixed veggies

Thursday: Asian pork chops with snap peas and zucchini, egg rolls

Friday: Pizza night!

Saturday: Breakfast for dinner- Orange french toast, maple sausage, fresh fruit

Sunday: Fried chicken, wildfire beans (recipe tomorrow), salad, cole slaw

Beef Stroganoff Casserole
1 lb. left over hamburger patties
1 can Cream of mushroom soup; condensed
8 oz. Sour cream
1 can (small) black olives; sliced
1 can (small) mushroom stems and pieces
12 oz. Egg noodles


Cook egg noodles according to directions. Add hamburger patties, soup, sour cream, olives, mushrooms, and noodles and cook until heated through.