Author name: amy

Taking the time with your children



When I first became a mother I had an older wiser woman tell me to get down on my child’s level often. But as a mom of many I realize the reality of much to do in a days time. It is very easy to forget what my most important jobs are.

061 - Copy

If you want to connect, really connect with your child, get down on their level. While talking to them look into their eyes so that they know all your attention is on them. Listen to what they have to say. If it is a crawling baby, get down and crawl around with your baby, nothing worse than seeing mom walk off to no mans land and not being able to catch her.

When walking with your child, if not absolutely necessary, don’t keep their arms pulled up into the air for long periods of time. I think that if I had to constantly look up or keep my arm extended up while holding someone else’s hand, it would become tiresome.

 

Do something out of the ordinary to surprise your small children, throw on some music and start dancing for half an hour with them. Grab a piece of paper and draw a picture for them–you don’t have to be an artist, make it fun.

If you have a fussing baby, walk them outside for a moment, just a change of scenery will brighten their day.

When my children goto bed each night, I want them to lay in bed thinking about the fun they had that day. I don’t want them to remember all of mom’s crabby moods. I want them to think about the picture I drew, or the flower we picked, or the bug we looked at.

014

As always remember this little life has been handed to you, it is your job to nurture and help it grow. Take the time to stop and enjoy with them just being a child. See the blessings that the Lord will bring forth by
taking those few extra moments with them.

John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

 

 

 

 

 

Potato bacon chowder soup and mess free crackers

 

We all need more hours in our day.   Preparing and serving meals takes up much of that time.  Soup is a great time saving meal, that is enjoyed by all.  I love having a big pot of soup simmering on the stove all day, served with a nice fresh loaf of homemade bread–unfortunately today was not a homemade bread making day, so we served it with crackers, still just as good.  You can modify this depending upon the size of family you are serving.  This makes one large pot, enough for our dinner plus lunch the next day.

 

Start by peeling and dicing  10 lbs of potatoes.
Image00003

 

 

 

When your hand has fallen off, from peeling and dicing all of those:)its time to move on.
Image00006

 

 

 

Add a package of bacon bits to your pot, you can also fry up a package of bacon, but I am looking at the ease right now.

 

Image00007

 

You can then add some diced onions, I didnt have any on hand, but did have some dehydrated ones that will do the trick.  We added 2 Tablespoons, or you can dice up a whole onion, depending upon what your likes are.

Image00008

 

Fill your pot almost up to the top with water and add some chicken bouillon to taste.  I added about 6 Tablespoons, but you can add however much your family enjoys.

Image00009

 

 

Cook on medium heat until all your potatoes are tender.
Image00012

 

Then it is time for your thickener.  I like to use instant potato flakes, baby rice cereal(yes if you have lots of leftovers from babies like we do) or today I am using leftover mashed potatoes that I have previously frozen.

Image00014

 

Place it in your pot and slowly stir away.   It should start to thicken in the next few minutes. Start by adding about 1/3 of the box of instant potato flakes, baby cereal or 2 cups of mashed potatoes.  Then as the soup thickens you can add more depending upon how your family likes it.

Image00015

 

 

 

After it is all heated and thickened, add a 16 oz container of sour cream and stir.  Don’t boil the soup any longer or the sour cream will separate.

Image00016

 

Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with green onions.

Image00018

 

Here are the “lower half” children’s soup

 

Image00019

 

Our children really like saltine crackers crushed into their soups.  But with 6 little ones all crushing crackers at the table, it can get very messy real quick.

 

Here is what we do to solve that.  Take a package of crackers.

Image00020

 

 

Let your children help crush the crackers inside the package.  Be careful not to break the wrapper.

 

Image00022 Image00023

 

 

Pour on top of the soupImage00024

 

 

Is this cool enough to eat yet Mom?

 

Image00026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scroll to Top