Grocery Shopping, Our way

Something as mundane as grocery shopping really makes me think. My kids are growing so fast. If the next 5 years pass by as quickly as these past 5 have flown, the days of tiny voices and sticky fingers will be over before I can catch my breath. There will certainly come a time, probably sooner than I am actually ready for, that grocery shopping will no longer require the logistical planning it does now. But at this point in time we have a system in place and it works for us.

It is best to head out early, right after breakfast. Well rested kiddos with full stomachs will usually produce the best results.

Have a list that is organized by departments or categories. This will help prevent back tracking in the store.

Set expectiations ahead of time. I tell the boys exactly what behavior I expect from them and what the reward or consequences will be. My usual plan is to pick up a package of fresh cookies from the bakery right before we hit the check out. If all children follow the rules they are rewarded with a yummy cookie when we get back to the van. If they misbehave then they have the unpleasant experince of watching everyone else enjoy this treat while they go without. Our grocery shopping rules are:
*speak in a low voice
*do not touch or pick up items unless Mommy asks you to.
*stay together
*be polite to strangers
*stand still at the check out

In addition I like to give each child a responsibility to focus on while we shop. These responsiblities may look like this:
Aiden- ride in stroller and look cute.
Brendan- push stroller and add prices with the calculator, keep track of our total.
Benjamin- help Brendan push Aiden, help mommy put items in the cart.
Nathan- carry the list and cross off items as we go along
Cameron- sit in cart (he is the most likely to run!) and hold on to special items that can not get smashed.

If things are going well I try to do a lot of pointing out of different items- especially in the produce and meat section where we can see some more unusual products. I try to talk to the boys about prices and ingredients and why we do or dont buy certain things. We are usually stopped by fellow shoppers at least a few times but the comments are almost always kind and it gives the boys a good opportunity to practice good manners.

At the check out the boys like to watch the total ring up- this is where Brendan gets to see if he kept up with his calculator while I loaded the cart! By this time the boys are getting antsy and anxious for the cookie prize when we return to the van. Brendan loads kids, I load groceries then we have a quick review of where our behavior was really wonderful and what areas we can improve on. Then it is cookie time! (usually for everyone!)

Our menu this week!

Sunday- Chicken salad wraps, baked beans, green salad (I needed to prep dinner early b/c Brendan had a baseball game and we came home late. We would normally just grab take out on the way home but we need to cut back expenses)

Monday- Grilled burgers, baked sweet potatoes, green salad

Tuesday- Spaghetti, garlic bread, green salad

Wednesday- tacos with fixings, buttered corn

Thursday- Ham & cheddar stromboli, broccoli

Friday- Pancakes, eggs, and bacon

Breakfasts- oatmeal or yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit and juice

Lunch- peanut butter or tuna salad sandwiches with carrot sticks & dip and pretzels

Running List in my Head

~Wash sheets I spilled coffee on.

~Grocery shopping with the boys.

~Meal planning for the week.

~Catch up laundry.

~Organize closets.

~Mail birthday invites.

~Make lists for Fathers Day and Birthday party.

~School planning.

~Schedule outings.

~Upload pics.

~Clean laundry room.

~Sort baby clothes.

Pieces of Today

~Aiden getting a good nights sleep, and being such a cheerful little guy this morning.

~Forgoing our scheduled 'Breakfast Time' & making a large pancake breakfast instead- just because they asked for it & because we can manage our own time.

~Nathan sounding out his words so sweetly- I taught him that.

~Aiden clapping his hands along as we clapped out our Days of the Week and ABC songs.

~Spending a few hours soaking up the sunshine in our backyard.

~The simplicity of crockpot spaghetti sauce for dinner.

~The aroma of homemade garlic bread.

~Daddy home early.

~Windows open wide.

~Sunshine filtered through thin white curtains.

~Yogurt, banana, granola & honey parfaits for snack.

~Cameron fast asleep in the middle of play.

Happy Mothers Day

Yesterday came & went like any other Sunday. Well, thats not entirely true- Shane's heroic deed (in his opinion) was that he prepared the boys breakfasts & lunches so I wouldnt have to do it. I had to make my own though. He did recently order me jewelry as my Mothers Day gift so he assumed that the day itself could just pass on by- he is not a Halmark holiday kind of guy. But in actuality it was a perfect day- I spent Mothers Day being a mother. I nursed my beautiful baby boy, packed the snack bag and headed to the baseball field to cheer on Brendan and his team. While we were there I watched the little guys blow bubbles and pick me buttercups. I dressed them all in green in the hopes to have a family picture taken but that didnt happen.

I spent Mothers Day being a mother. How great is that!?!? To think that God chose me to mother these 5 amazing people is just overwhelming- I feel so unworthy and so, so blessed. After they were bathed and dressed is clean pj's I cuddled with them and smelled their damp curls- beautiful & perfect moments like that are mommyhood at its finest.

10 months old

Aiden is 10 months old now! Time is just flying by! I wish that I could just capture these moments in a bottle because they are so precious. Aiden is the sweetest little guy in the world! He loves to give hugs and kisses, he is constantly babbling- and says Mama and Dada quite clearly. He enjoys eating solid foods such as banana, avocado, sweet potato, squash, yogurt, split peas, oatmeal, barley, brown rice, lentils, and beans. Aiden is also quite fond of drinking from his sippy cup.

Now if only he would start sleeping better at night.....

Soccer Boy

Nathan is playing soccer this sping and so far it has been quite an experience! He is so proud of his shin guards and cleats that Daddy took him out to buy. He was full of anticipation as we waited for the first practice, but when the time came he was actually quite nervous. He did well the first practice but the subsequent sessions have been hit and miss. Apparently he is so awesome he doesnt need to practice.

When his first game day arrived he spent the first few minutes standing still in the field before he finally sat down and was scooped off the field by his coach. Luckily he warmed up to the idea and ended up having a wonderful time running on the field with his team. He doesnt quite grasp the technical end of the game but he does love to run!

Nathan is a highly imaginative little guy and is constantly taking on a new personality. He has continued this at soccer and his coaches are wonderful about indulging this little quirk. It is precious to hear them shouting Go Leo, Go Mr. Incredible!

He is beaming with joy at the end of a game, even though he never goes near the ball! It brings us so much joy to see him so happy, Nathan is so full of life and such a sweet blessing!