Monday's Menu Item

Photo credit: MeeMom

Note: It has taken (literally) years for MeeMom to find a chocolate chip cookie recipe that works for her.  This is THE recipe!  Enjoy.

MeeMom's Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
2 cups butter (no substituting)
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond oil (or 1/2-1 teaspoon almond extract)
4 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups chocolate chips (DooDad prefers milk chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together butter and sugars until creamy.  Add eggs, vanilla and almond oil. Add dry ingredients: flour, salt, and soda.  Mix until incorporated into dough.  Mix in chocolate chips.

Make cookie dough balls the size of golf balls.  Place 2x3 on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes on until golden brown.  Remove from pan and let cool on cookie rack . . . if they last that long!

Monday's Menu Item

photo credit: MeeMom
Pizza Soup with garnishes

We know, we know.  It doesn't sound so good, but try it once and you'll be hooooooooked!  In our family, we like to start with the soup as the base and then have a bunch of "garnishes" or "sides" that are added to the soup.  This allows for everyone to put in their soup what they like. That means they'll eat every bite instead of picking out the onions and the olives and the peppers and . . . .


PIZZA SOUP
Feeds a Hungry Family of Eleven

1-2 pounds ground beef or Italian sausage (or both)
2-3 Tablespoons oil
2 large cans or bottles of your favorite spaghetti sauce
2-14oz cans of Italian tomatoes, pureed
6 cups chicken broth (or 6 cups water + 7 boullion cubes)

Brown meat in oil.  Drain and rinse.  Place remaining ingredients in large stock pot or slow cooker.  Let simmer for an hour or longer, if you have a lot of time.

Soup Garnishes/Sides:
cooked macaroni or shell pasta
bell peppers
onions
cheeses (Mozarella, Parmesan, Cheddar, Colby)
fried pepperoni (yum!)
kidney beans
black olives

Serve with bread sticks or garlic toast

I'm Sick!

photo credit: MeeMom

MeeMom: While on the phone on Sunday evening, Staccato held up this note for me to read because, unlike some multi-tasking women, I am incapable of talking on the phone and effectively communicating with my children using out of control hand gestures at the same time.

Staccato: I felt very sick and I wanted MeeMom to know because DooDad had been sick all day and didn't go to Church because he was feeling that bad.

Treble: And I stayed home from school on Friday because I felt so gross.  Actually, I felt gross on Thursday but went to school because I had a test.  What a great student I am, don't you think?

MeeMom: Ahem.  So once I read the note and took a look at Staccato I noticed that he was ghostly white.

Bass: That got MeeMom off the phone right away.  I'll have to remember to use that tactic next time. :)

MeeMom: So I tucked sick Staccato into my bed with a heating pad and a cozy blankie.

DooDad: Staccato is a little tease.  And I really thought he was pulling my leg when he said he felt like he wanted to throw up.  Until a little while later when Staccato was out of bed, fumbling and mumbling for the "Throw-up Bowl."

Middle C: We have an official "Throw-up Bowl" so we won't use it when we make a salad or something.

DooDad: And lo and behold, my bedroom floor was covered with his dinner.  Poor little guy.  And it just got worse from there.

Staccato: I tried to sleep feeling so sick.  I kept asking MeeMom if it was morning.  It seemed like forever just laying there and feeling so icky.

Fermata: And that was about the time that I found THIS on our dining room wall and well, it helped
Staccato forget his ickies for a few minutes.

MeeMom: Thank goodness Allegro and B Sharp were in bed - asleep! - or we would have had chaos times ten.  Let's hope no one else gets sick (or eaten by a spider)!

Monday's Menu Item



photo credit: MeeMom
Waffles with sour cream sauce and fresh peaches!

Truth be told we DO have breakfast for dinner!!  This is one of our very favorites!

WAFFLES WITH THE WORKS
Yield: Enough for a hungry Family of Eleven
(This is a perfect recipe for a Belgian Waffler Iron)

5 1/4 cups white or wheat flour (or half and half of each)
3 Tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
6 eggs
5 1/4 cups milk (I always use pre-made powdered milk)
1 1/2 cup oil

Place all ingredients in a large mixer.  Beat until smooth.  Bake in heated waffle iron.

Serve with all or some of the following:
Maple Syrup
Peanut Butter
Powdered Sugar
Fresh Fruits
Jams or Jellies
Honey
Ice Cream
Whipping Cream
Yogurt
Sour Cream Sauce: mix with sugar to taste and a drop or two of almond oil
Fruit Sauce

What We're Laughing About Today

Monday's Menu Item

Photo credit: MeeMom

DUTCH OVEN IN THE OVEN STEW
Feeds: A Family of Eleven


Ingredients (add what you like, the amount you like)
Potatoes, quartered
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts cut in pieces
Roast Beef, cut in small pieces
Carrots, cut into pieces
Corn
Onions, cut into large chunks
Salt and Pepper to taste
Olive Oil
1/2 cup water

Place in 350 degree oven and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until potatoes are soft.

Serve with gravy or BBQ sauce.

Saturday Sound Off

MeeMom: Another Saturday. Another Sound Off.

B Sharp: I did SOMETHING that WAS COOL. I was in BASs AND TREBle's room AND I shot the little basketBALL from FAR away and made iT iN the HOOP!

Allegro: l love my family and my parents, even when my dad stole my scooter and Mezzo stole my scooter. We were going on a walk to the school and they stole the scooter away from me and rode it down the street. Signed, Allegro.

Middle C: So today we had to get out of the house. We weren't given a lot of options so we were happy to walk to a school near our house and we raced on a track. We were all running the 50 yard dash and Doo Dad was timing us. On the last race before we left I came in second because I was slower than Bass. My best time was 7.9 seconds I was pretty fast, but my slowest time was 8.00 seconds. After, we went to our neighbor's house, The Rock Stars, because they let us watch College Football at their house because MeeMom says she won't get satellite TV and DooDad couldn't find the games on the internet. It was a lot of fun of fun for me because I ate tons of food.

MeeMom: Let me just say a word about these little foot races we had at the school. I discovered a fifty yard dash marker and thought it would be fun for the kiddos to time themselves because, if I remember correctly, I ran the 50 in 7.2 in 6th grade! I was just checking to see if my kiddos are as fast as I was. Notice the operative word is was. Because before we walked home, we had one final race that involved everyone. Yes, I thought it would be fun to see how I would fare running against all the kiddos. I should have listened to my gut because I never finished the stinkin' race. I pulled some glute muscle that rendered me a limper for the rest of today. Tomorrow's pain doesn't look too promising, either.

Staccato: I don't really want to write anything because our neighbor, Maraca, told me today that she's reading our blog. So I want to be on my best behavior.

Bass: I wish that we had Comcast, but I also like that we don’t have it. I want it so we can watch sports such as football and basketball. But I am glad we don’t have it because it is so much money to get it and pay for it every month. I like sports very much.

Treble: I so agree with Bass. I want Comcast or whatever people have these days, but we can't afford it. Today I went to the Rock Stars' house to watch college football.  They are nice to let us come. What excitement! Thanks for reading the blog!

Mezzo: There is a lot to say on this "free day" Saturday. First, what an exciting day to talk about sports. College football, that it. I always like the exciting, edge-of-the-seat last play, a field goal block, an interception or a touchdown. When we went to the school this afternoon played some basketball, rode bikes, and ran a timed 50 yard dash. My best time was 7.1 seconds. My legs start to hurt after awhile. I tried to help DooDad connect our internet box to our TV so we could watch College Football in the confines of our own family room, but it didn't work. So we went to our neighbors, The Rock Stars, and ate and watched football games. Treble and Bass are bad sportsman and have bad sportsmanship. They were cheering for the team I wanted to lose and booing for the team I wanted to win.

MeeMom: About the food at the Rock Stars' house. I am so embarrassed because it wasn't supposed to be us, Family of Eleven, going across the street to watch football and eat them out of house and home. I tried my best to make some eats to take over, but I must have been overtaken by an alien cook because nothing I made turned out. Nothing. So I went over with a bowl of sad, sticky popcorn and ranch dressing and left my excuse for breadsticks at home, cooling off in the garbage.  My kiddos owe them a HUGE thank you for the intake tonight! I'm thinking I owe them a dinner. . .

Fermata: I forgot I that I hadn't summarized what I had read this week, so I ended my Saturday doing Language Arts homework.

Coda: All the football made me grumpy and tired. I kept trying to wail my way back home, but everyone thought I was just plain cute. It finally took falling asleep on MeeMom's shoulder that got me home and to bed.

DooDad: Yo MeeMom, I ran the 50 in 6.8 in 5th grade!! And yes, we definitely owe the Rock Stars dinner!

What We're Laughing About Today

photo credit: MeeMom

So this evening, right before family prayer. Staccato informed us of a little altercation that took place today during recess.

Staccato: Do you know what Tambourine did to me today? (Tambourine is one of Staccato's second grade class mates).

All of us (in unison): What?!

Staccato (all matter of fact): He kicked me.

MeeMom (slowly and suspiciously): He kicked you?  Why?

Staccato (drawing in a deep breath): Well . . . I saw him hugging a girl. So I went up and said, "Dude, why did you do that?"

We all broke out in hysterics because that is just the kind of question you get from Staccato.  He doesn't beat around the bush.

Mezzo (being the BIG brother that he is): I bet he kicked you because he was embarrassed that you caught him hugging on a girl.

Staccato (scrunching up his face): Not only that, she was a first grader!

We Are Family

photo credit: MeeMom

MeeMom: This month of September we join with families across the globe in celebrating OUR FAMILY! Okay, not our family specifically, but our families in general.

Bass: I am a twin. Being a twin is very fun and cool. It gets very annoying when everyone says, "You look just like your brother?" or "Does anyone ever call you Treble?" Of course I smile and answer "Yah" to both questions. Other than that, it is cool to have a twin to play with and fight with.

Fermata: The other day when we were at Costco I saw many people start counting with their fingers how many kids we had in our family - - - and we were short THREE, and I could tell that they were still surprised. It happens all the time when we go places.

Mezzo: I am the oldest in the family of nine kids. I sometimes love to be the eldest. Sometimes I get annoyed. Once time my aunt and uncle and my five cousins came to watch all of us so my parents could go out on a date. We decided to walk to a park that wasn't too far away. As people drove past they started to count, thinking my aunt and uncle had 14 kids! I told them that's how people look at us all the time.

B Sharp: I Love my FAMILY. mY dad and MOM Are The BEST.

Allegro: I'm a good girl because i love my family and my mom and dad and my grandparents. Signed, Allegro.

Staccato: All I know is I couldn't get away doing what I do if I were in another family. My ability to tease was one of the talents given me in heaven. MEEMOM! Why are you writing things like that? Now my teachers from school will read it.

Coda: Ahh, all I can say is that being the youngest in this family means I am the c.e.n.t.e.r. of attention. And I love it!

Middle C: My family is the BEST like when we go to awesome places. But sometimes, because I am in the CENTER, I get picked on. Mezzo won't let me into his room and Staccato will just do things to me that make me so angry. But, I always LOVE my family. About what Fermata said, almost every time we go somewhere someone will ask MeeMom or DooDad "Are those all your kids?" MeeMom says one day she's going to make us wear our Scout uniforms for no reason just to pretend we are a Scout troop instead of a bunch of brothers.

Treble: Our family is special. We love to go places together like swimming, to the park, to Costco, and to the grocery store (to see if we can put stuff in the cart that MeeMom won't know about until the checkout). Sometimes my siblings get really annoying and don't stop, but I forgive them. Our family is the best!

MeeMom: While I may be wrong, as I am on many occasions (but shhh, don't tell the kiddos), I have come to believe that somewhere in a Great Meeting in Heaven, we were given the opportunity to choose our family. I know that might be a stretch to even consider, but I believe that if we have full agency here, we probably had full agency up there. Which means I don't think the Lord sent us to our families kickin' and a screamin' (although I've had a few delivered like that). It's been enough to make me think that our relationship before we came to earth was important enough that we decided we would take on earth-life together, as a family!

DooDad: Family, Ah....a six letter word...like....wowzer or insane or sleepy. These are just a few words that describe our family. You know, they really are the cream of the crop. With all the chaos that exists within the walls of this home (and outside as well), I would not trade my wild tribe for anything. I would have to say, MeeMom and I did pretty darn well.

Monday's Menu Item

photo credit: MeeMom

BUTTERSCOTCH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Yield: Enough cookies for a Family of Eleven

3 sticks butter, softened and almost melting
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
6 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars until well blended.

3. Mix in eggs and vanillla.

4. Gradually add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, beating until well blended.

5. Stir in oats and chips

6. Make into racquentball-sized balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.

7. Bake 8- 10 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool slightly and remove from cookie sheet an dplace on wire rack.

8. Watch them disappear!

Have You Seen Me?

photo credit: Bass

MeeMom: Oh the joys of having pets. Currently we have a dog and two box turtles . . . er, one box turtle. On Friday evening one of our sons decided he would go the extra mile and let the turtles roam the back yard. . . Which was a very thoughtful thing for this son to do. However, instead of taking them out and watching them ever so closely, he placed them carefully in the grass and then turned around and walked right back in the house. It wasn't until Saturday morning when DooDad happened to peek inside the turtle's box that he noticed ZERO turtles in their home. It was easy to find Fiona (not her real name, just in case a crazy out there is searching for box turtles) because she likes to cozy up in her shell and rest. She was pretty much right where Staccato had left her. But our crazy, could-beat-a-hare turtle, Guy (name is also changed to protect the innocent), was no where to be found. this happened before. But he had only been missing for 20 minutes. Those 20 minutes have now stretched into days.

Middle C: When we went to look for our turtles Saturday morning, we went to our neighbor's house. We couldn't find him. We prayed to find our turtle but it has been now three days and we still can't find him. I hope that this is not the answer to our prayers. I feel so bad for him. I hope we find him soon.

B Sharp: WHEN WE Went To looK FOR OUR TURTLE WE LOOKed Everywhere

Allegro: We went to look for our turtle but we couldn't find him. Signed, Allegro

MeeMom: Just FYI, B Sharp and Allegro are becoming very independant and are quite determined to type their thought on their very own. The above (and I am sure everything else that is to come from here on out) was typed with their very own sticky fingers. Literally.

Treble: I really miss the turtle! (Why MeeMom named him "Guy" is beyond me. To protect the lost innocent?) He has been missing for the past many days now. He loves to crawl around. I bet he could cross 1 yard in 30 minutes. How far do you think he could be? I really hope to find him. Tomorrow I'm going to ride my bike around the neighborhood to ask neibors if they have seen him. I am also going to make fliers for everyone. I hope I find him, that little explorer!

MeeMom: So the kiddos were talking about putting up "LOST TURTLE" posters around the neighborhood to go with the "LOST DOG" posters that appear every now and again. They were mostly concerned about which picture of Guy they would use.

DooDad: I finally had to say "Kiddos, the reason why people put pics of their dog is because there are at least a hundred different types out there. How many "LOST TURTLE" posters have you seen in your lifetime?"

Bass: Ha ha. We are so glad for DooDad because we didn't even think of that.

Middle C: Thanks DooDad.  But I agree with with Treble, Guy is a little explorer. I bet he could cross the road in about 20 seconds. I think he is on the other side of the street. I don't know but the Lord does.

Treble: I don't think he is on the other side of the street. How would he get in someone's front yard whe he starts in their backyard?

Fermata: This is very sad for me. I don't like saying goodbye to pets. I still remember when our horned toad died and we buried him. I remember when the stray cat that MeeMom would not let us feed or let into the house kept hanging around and she decided it was time to take that cat to the animal shelter. I made me so sad. And now our turtle Guy (My heavens MeeMom, what kind of turtle name is "Guy"??), who we have had as a pet for almost three years minus a few months, a few weeks, a few days and a lot of hours, is gone. I am so very sad.

Mezzo: We lost our box turtles on Saturday. I wasn't surprised when the turtle, now named "Guy" by MeeMom so some crazy out there doesn't track us down, came up missing. Dad found Fiona by some cinder blocks. So boys and girls, the moral of the story is you should always be obedient to the rules.

Bass: I miss our little Guy. (Guy?) I think he has gone the way of our neighborhood, I mean the way of the earth. And I like rotissere chicken.

Staccato: No one said that it was me who took the turtles outside. But it was me. And I am so sorry about it.

DooDad: Nice to know you Fireman . . . WHAT?? I'm not supposed to use his real name?!?

Dessert Entitlement

Photo credit: Bass

MeeMom: When DooDad and I were first married I already had my own compilation of favorite recipes - all desserts!!  While I have since added much, much more variety to my recipe collection, I have successfully passed on a love of desserts to my children. All of whom have sadly grown-up thinking that a dessert comes with every meal!

B Sharp: My favorite dessert is cookies and ice cream. I like ice cream for breakfast, but MeeMom won't let me have it unless my brothers make a fruit smoothie on Saturday morning. Then she says it's okay.

Coda: Puh-lease don't talk about dessert.  I still have to work my way up to rice cereal!

Treble: Okay, so I love dessert! But I don't think that every night we should have one, but I think that every once and a while we should have one - at least four or five times a week. Some nights I really. feel like one, but I don't constently ask for one. GO DESSERT, I say!!!

Middle C: I am one of the guilty parties who ALWAYS asks MeeMom "What's for dessert?" Most of time she makes us desserts. But when we get irritated that she didn't, DooDad tells us we should be grateful because GrandMeeMom only made desserts once in a while. And DooDad said when her cookies came out of the oven, if they weren't eaten hot, they were used for hockey pucks 10 minutes later.

Staccato: I got mad today because I could see frozen cookie dough in the freezer from the cookies MeeMom made yesterday but she wouldn't bake them for me. She said we were going to have dinner in a half an hour. A half an hour is such a long time. I think I was going to starve.

Bass: Dessert is the best ever! I prefer dessert over pretty much anything. We should get a dessert every once in awhile, not everyday. Tonight, I feel like dessert. My favorite dessert is cornflake chewys. Fermata is a cornflake chewy and a really big piece of snow pudding.

Fermata: We should not eat dessert any day of the year because it is bad for our bones! HEY, Bass typed that! I think we should eat stuff like cheesecake so we can get our dairy for the day. We also need to eat banana cream pie so we can get our potassium. Chicken pot pie should be considered dessert so we can get our protein and veggies.

Mezzo: I like dessert. It is the best at our house. Our mother is the best chef in the world. I think that we should have dessert some of the days of the week (at least the ones that end in -day).

Allegro: My favorite part of dessert, other than eating it, is helping MeeMom bake. I like that. Signed, Allegro.

DooDad: Dessert? I'm more of a main-course kinda guy. Succulent steak or tender, slow-cooked ribs is my kinda dessert.

MeeMom: Gulp.  Pretty sure we are now on the USDA/Michelle Obama radar as an unhealthy, dessert-loving family. . . Just you wait until we blog about c.h.o.c.o.l.a.t.e.

Monday's Menu Item

photo credit: MeeMom

Here is the Argentine Dinner we made last week. Mmm, it is always a treat to eat what DooDad loves. This meal takes a lot of time to prepare but it is so worth it. I didn't use a recipe for the Milanesa Nepolitana, so I will give you the basics of what we did. (Nepolitana means it is layered with sauce and cheese. You could eat it without it if you would like).

The Gnocchi's are best served with your favorite sauce - red or white - and then sprinked with Parmesean or Mozzarella cheese!

MILANESA NEPOLITANA
Chicken Breast and a beef roast (we asked the butcher to slice it as thin as he could)

1 column Soda Crackers
1/2 cup flour
1 Tablespoon granulated garlic
1 1/2 Tablespoon Basil
1 Tablespoon Oregano
1 - 3 tsp salt
2 tsp ground black pepper

Bowl #1: Crush soda crackers until fine. Add all other ingredients.

Bowl #2: Beat 3 eggs with 1/8-1/4 cup milk.

Tenderize beef. You could fillet your chicken breasts and pound them a little if you like. We just filleted them.

Dip meat in egg mixture, then in dry mixture.

Fry in 355 degree oil until golden to medium brown or until meat is done in the middle. (Will take longer for chicken if your beef is thinly sliced).

Spread a thin layer of your choice of marinara sauce and sprinkle with Mozzerella.


GNOCCHI'S - Potato "Dumplings"
2 pounds baking potatoes, washed but not peeled
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour

1. Steam potatoes until tender. While still hot, peel potatoes, place them in bowl and mash.

2. Beat in egg and salt. Slowly mix in flour.

You want the dough to be soft and firm, but not sticky.

3. Turn mixture on floured surface and knead.

4. Put a pot of salted water to boil.

5. To form gnocchi's: Break off small pieces of dough and roll to make short ropes. With a knife cut

them into 1" pieces. Press gently each piece with the tines of a fork. (This is not really necessary, it just makes it look nice).

6. If just one person is cooking, you may want to form all your gnocchi's before boiling them. If this is the case, place gnocchi's on floured napkins so it can absorb the moisture from the potatoes.

7. Drop the gnocchi - several at once - into the boiling water and cook for about 3 minutes of until they rise up to the surface. (No, they won't turn brown as one of our children asked how we would know it was done).

8. Remove cooked gnocchi with a slotted spoon and drain well.

9. Set gnocchi's on a clean, dry dish towel for a few moments and then place on a platter.

10. Cover to keep warm while cooking remaining dumplings.

Obedience

photo credit: Bass

For the past two weeks we have been working on memorizing and living the Christlike attribute, Obedience, found in Preach My Gospel (PMG). We've "likened" it unto our family and this is how we recite it in our home:

"As a member of my family, I am expected to keep the commandments willingly, to obey family rules and to follow the counsel of my parents. Obedience is the first law of heaven. It is an act of faith. I may sometimes be required to do things I do not completely understand. As I obey, I increase in faith, knowledge, wisdom, testimony, protection and freedom. I will strive to be obedient to the Lord, the living prophet and my parents."

Here's is what each of us are learning and/or doing about obedience:

Middle C: I memorized the first paragrah and the half of the second of obedience in PMG. I learned that you should be obedient to the Lord and to your parents. Obedience it is the first law of heaven and it is an act of faith. And it is kind of hard to be obedient to my parents but then after a while I am obedient to them.

Allegro: I'm learning about being nice to my brothers and sister and obeying my mom and dad. Signed, Allegro

Bass: I'm going to write about "As I obey I increase in testimony." To me that means that I should go to church, read the scriptures, pray etc. When I do that I can increase in testimony and that will make me the missionary I want to be. For me it is a little hard to be obedient to my mom and dad. There are sometimes when I don't want to do things when my mom and dad ask me to, but I will try my hardest to be obedient.

B Sharp: I am obedient to my mom and dad. I like to be obedient except when I don't want to be obedient. by B Sharp

Treble: I'm going to write about "As I obey, I increase in knowledge." I know that when I obey my knowledge can grow. Now that I am in school, I know that when I obey my parents my knowledge can grow stronger. I know that when your obedient to everyone, your knowledge and grow and you can be smarter than a 5th grader.

Staccato: It was me who chose obedience for our family to memorize!! It was so I could remember to be obedient. It is hard for me to be obedient. I like to tease and make faces so one time, I had to write "Obedience is the first law of heaven. It is an act of faith." SEVEN WHOLE TIMES times because I wouldn't stop bugging Allegro.

Fermata: I'm going to write aboout "As I obey I increase in faith." You can't do anything without faith. With the Lord or with faith nothing is impossible. We need to be obedient to our parents because it is one of the commandments.

Mezzo: In our family we have a family motto thing about obedience. We recite what MeeMom wrote at the beginning of the post. It's not very fun to recite this but it helps us to be obedient to our parents. It's hard for me to be obedient to my parents. This weekend I had to write up a contract about using my IPod. It's okay, I guess. I'd really just would like to use the computer and my IPod for as long as I want - like when all my downloads are finished, and other stuff, but my parents think I'm on the computer too long.

MeeMom: Oh, how I remember being 14 and thinking that obedience was such a hard, difficult principle of the gospel. I remember thinking that my parents were the meanest parents in the whole entire world for having family rules. Now I'm a MeeMom and I am realizing how crucial good, firm family rules are in helping each of learn and live obedience. I appreciate Mezzo's honesty because we all want to think that the sky is the limit when it comes to our choices.  I am learning that disobedience only takes us down a road of captivity while obedience increases our ability to be free. That is SO not what the adversary would have us believe.

DooDad: If there is one thing I have learned about obedience over the years it would be this; obedience is not about doing or not doing something because I am "supposed" to, it is about doing or not doing something because I know God is wiser than I.

Saturday Sound Off

photo credit: MeeMom

MeeMom: Since this blog is new and each family member has a say in what we write about, the kiddos want to have a day when they can talk about anything they want.  So it's looking (as of week 1) that Saturdays are the day to SOUND OFF about anything that has happened  in our family during the week.  So to give us all a little memory jogger here are some things that have happened this week: back-to-school father's blessings, wearing school uniforms, Saturdays, Milanesa and gnoochis, swimming, homework, our "new" daily responsibility chart, and Mezzo's IPod contract. Certainly this is not all inclusive, but it's a start.

Mezzo: My IPod contract is okay. I wish my parents would let me go on the computer to get apps and that kind of thing. My parents hardly ever let me get apps for my IPod. I wish I could get more ITunes Gift Cards but I don't.

MeeMom: Mezzo had the golden opportunity today to write up his own contract regarding the use of his IPod and the family computer.  It's not like we hardly ever let him get apps, it's more like we don't let him get whatever apps he wants whenever he wants to get them.  So, after it was all said and done, I was very impressed with his capacity to try to see his parents' side of things.  And I'll be even more impressed to see his contract in action!  I'll see is he will let me post a copy of his contract in the weeks to come.

Treble: I don't really like Saturdays, because we don't do anything. Even if we do something it's what the younger kids want to do. I always want to do something after cleaning the house but we don't really do anything. I think that Saturdays are one of the weirdest days. But I guess it's good because we get a break from school!

Middle C: I don't really like Saturdays either because we hardly do anything so we just sit around and watch TV.

MeeMom: Treble is right.  Saturdays are our "get the work done day."  It does seem that by the time we get everyone in the cleaning groove it seems like the day is already gone.  And Middle C seems to think that TV is what he should be doing in between the cleaning groove he should be getting in.  Take today, for example, I was ready to pull out all my grey matter (for that matter) due to children being over-indulgent in other people's business and not their own.  It took h-o-u-r-s for us to be somewhat done withour chores because everybody wanted to do something other than what they should have been doing.  Finally, when we were ready to get out and go, we had to have a family council to figure out what we wanted to do.  Because we do have such a large family and DooDad is self-employed, we have to be very creative on finding activities that are free or next to nothing.  Going to library, playing basketball at the Church gym, going for a hike all come to mind, but it doesn't always jive with everyone, so there are compromises to be made. And that's what happened today.  We got out of the house and did what the younger kiddos wanted to do.  At least it saved my grey matter.

Fermata: Every day we have individual daily responsibilities. This Saturday I had to unload the dishes, -and I HATE unloading dishes. I don't mind the other chores, so every time I have unloading I try to switch chores with someone.


MeeMom: Yup, he tried to switch with me, but I had a cushy responsibility today: clear and wipe the dinner table and put away food.  (Oh, if that were the ONLY responsibility I had . . . .)


Staccato: I have a new teacher.  This is her first year teaching.  She is the nicest teacher.  Tomorrow I'm going to Church and having an interview with my Bishop because I'm going to get baptized.  Am I done now?  Because I can't think of anymore things to say.


Allegro:  What we should have had for dinner was peas, carrots, corn, coconuts, chicken and that's all.  Instead we had corn and this stuff with cheese on it - what was it called?  Oh yeah, milanesa and pears and soda drinks. Signed Allegro.

Bass: Our dinner was very good. We had many things: milanesa, chicken, soda drinks and much more. My mom and dad are the best cooks in the world. Hope they cook something big tomorrow.

B Sharp: I played games. I played games with my family.

DooDad: What is left to say? Kids with wiggles and always hungry.  We had a great Argentine dinner that took about two hours to prepare. The funny thing was that during the two hours of dinner prep the kids asked over and over when dinner would be ready. When it was finally done, it took them about 10 minutes to finally drop what they were doing, wash up and get to the table. It's like that every day.

MeeMom:  And well, that about sums up our first Saturday Sound Off.  BTW, believe me when I say the Milanesa and gnocchis were out. of. this. world. Yummo.

Got Milk?

photo credit: MeeMom

MeeMom: With eleven bodies in our home, most of which are children who think they need to eat and drink because they will starve to death, we go through A LOT of milk. If we weren't such city folks we would seriously consider buying a milking cow. But since we would never seriously consider milking a cow, we settle for the double pack of milk (times five) everytime we pass through Costco. (And who can just "pass through" Costco?)

Coda: Well, I'm not the cow milk drinker so no one can look at me. I'll stick to my Kirkland brand formula, thank you very much! Isn't that why you go to Costco anyway, or is it really for the food samples???

Treble: Well MeeMom, I hate to burst your little bubble, but milk is sick! I don't like it! Sure, drinking milk is great with cookies and cereal and that stuff, but drinking a plain glass of milk is gross. It's Mezzo who loves milk. He drinks it for every single meal. I think milk is just a gross, gross liquid. YUCK!

Middle C: I agree with Treble, I don't like milk but it is good with cookies and cereal and when I put a lot of chocolate or strawberry syrup in it. Ooooooh, now that is when milk is good!

MeeMom: So now I know where all the Hershey syrup disappeared . . .

B Sharp: I have to have a milk whenever I take a drink. But, if there is juice or soda, I will choose soda. I leave my cup of milk in the fridge so it will stay cold because I don't like drinking warm milk.

Bass: Just for the record, I do. not. drink. milk. But I do with waffles or pancakes. Milk is my last preference of drinks. Water, on the other hand, is my favorite thing to drink, and I drink about 5 cups a day.

MeeMom: Umm, so where is all the milk going?

Allegro: Milk is good. I like milk. I especially like giving myself a milk mustache.

Fermata: I'm with Bass and Treble on this one. Milk is definitely not on my beverage list.

Mezzo: I LOVE MILK! Milk is the best drink that has ever come into our house. I love milk so much that it doesn't matter to me what temperature the milk is. I pretty much drink milk when ever I get a chance. And boy, do I take all my chances!  Folks, milk is the best!

MeeMom: Ohh-kay, I just figured out that we've been buying 10 gallons of milk a week for one teenage boy who, honestly, can drink a gallon or more a day!

Allegro: I want to say something else: I love milk. It is so good because I love it. Signed me, Allegro

Staccato: Milk is my comfort food (I didn't write that. MeeMom did and I had to ask her what comfort food means). I like milk so much that when I was six MeeMom made me a quilt with cows on it so I could dream of milk when I went to bed.

DooDad: Let's just say that milk is, well, rather moo-ving. :)

MeeMom: Whoa, this topic opened my eyes to some ways we could budget our food money and use more of that powdered milk that's in Food Storage. Tofu, anyone?!?!

Bingo

photo credit: Treble Clef

MeeMom: So, we have this game we play as a family while we drive. Whoever spies a Volkswagon bug or a yellow car, they shout BINGO and then the person next to them gets slammed with the fist. When Mezzo sits next to me my arm is about ready to fall off because he doesn't quite figure out that I AM NOT A PUNCHING BAG. And I'm the driver!! So I decided to put my foot down yesterday (with the Bingo game, not the gas pedal) and let the kiddies know that while they are more than welcome to shout "Bingo" as many times as they want, there is no. more. punching. BTW, I can't believe how many yellow cars there are out there on the interstate. Honestly, who would choose to drive a yellow car that's not a school bus or a taxi?

Bass Clef: The game B.I.N.G.O is very, very fun to play. Hitting my brothers and sister is just so fun to do. But when I hit them, I know it is fun for them while they are getting hit. For the past couple of days I have found so many yellow cars. Buses are the easiest to find while driving home from school. It is fun to hit my brothers very, very hard so there arm hurts like it's jello.

Staccato: Yeah, I like Bingo. It's fun. Hey, can I play bingo before I go to bed?

MeeMom: Umm, Staccato, it's not that Bingo. It's the one we play as a family when we drive in the van and see a yellow car.

Staccato: Oh yeah. That one. Can I have a cookie before I go to sleep?

Middle C: I love B.I.N.G.O! Sometimes we all think gold or orange cars are yellow, so we purposefully hit our neighbor (seating partner, that is) ten times! Around school time, school buses are very simple to find. MeeMom said that you just yell Bingo on Volkswagon bugs. What she should have said was that it can be any yellow cars. And, if we see an old, yellow convertible Volkswagon with its hood down, we get to hit 5 times. And Bass Clef, when you punch me it doesn't make my arm feel like Jell-o!!

Mezzo: My friends, not my brothers, punch me so hard that I get bruised really bad because they have been playing Bingo their whole life. Sorry Bass Clef.  When we were coming home from Scout Camp, exhausted from getting four merit badges including the painful Shotgun Merit Badge, we played Bingo and it was 2 to 1. By the time I got home, my left arm was one giant bruise. It is a really fun game. SOME FRIENDS!

Treble Clef: Bingo! This is such a great game to play. We drive 10 miles to and from school so it's a perfect time to get out my energy by hitting my brothers. I think Fermata does not enjoy playing the game. Whenever you hit him he hits you back because he hates the game! Poor, poor Fermata does not love to have an enjoyable time with his brothers and sister in the car. Whenever I get in the van I sure do enjoy the fact that we are hitting each other. Whoa Middle C, your arm probably does feel like jello, your just to tough to admit it.

Fermata: I don't agree with Treble Clef. Okay, so it's true that I used to hate playing Bingo because my older brothers would punch me like I was their pillow and I would get these HUGE bruises. But I have had a change of heart and now I like it because when they punch me I punch them harder. Also I find lots of yellow Beetle bugs, and other yellow cars. Treble Clef always asks me "Does that goldish yellow car count?" Then I say "no" because it is not fully yellow.

Allegro: I like playing Bingo. I sit in the very back, so most of the time my brothers forget I am there because they are too busy punching each other.  Does every family who drives in cars play this same game?

B Sharp: My favorite part about Bingo is getting to hit someone.

DooDad: I am pretty much King of Bingo, but without the punching. Really. Ask MeeMom. I give her sweet, little love taps when we ride along and I find the yellow cars. One time I had 8 Bingos to her zero. Woop, woop, I am King of Bingo.

MeeMom: Ahem, now you know why I had to put my foot down!

First Day of School 2011 - Chaos in a Can

MeeMom:  I did it. I mean, we did it. Got seven kids off to the First Day of School - all in uniforms mind you - by 7:35 this morning (SEVEN.THIRTY.FIVE.A.M.) all after family scripture study, showers and a wholesome, USDA approved breakfast of chocolate muffins.  Of course we started at 6:00, which has not been a part of our schedule - let alone our thinking - since we got out of school in early June.

Middle C: Today was my first day at a new school and it is the best school ever!!!  I was so tired when I had to wake up at 6.00 am to start getting ready for school, and it is such a long drive to school.  At school I was so tired! At school I played "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" on the smart board, for those who don't know . Those chocolate muffins that MeeMom mentioned were so good. When I was waiting for the carpool to come (aka our 15-passenger van), it felt weird because at my old school I usually went right out of the door and walked home.

Treble Clef: So, waking up at 6:00 in the morning got my day starting out tired. When I got to school, I went to my locker ( Man, I feel so proud that I have my very own locker. YES!). It was my first day in 7th grade and I had to go to eight classes to meet eight teachers to know what is happening. My first period class was English, and I was told by Big Brother, Mezzo, that the English teacher was REALLY REALLY MEAN! Right when I got to class, two classmates darted in like a bullet (that fast!) and sure enough, the teacher yelled at them like they were her kids! So the rest of the day I read my silly-buses, because the teachers told us to. And that is how my First Day Of School went. Pretty Awkward!

Mezzo: Today I started EIGHTH grade. It was a great time seeing my friends again. The teachers were really nice and they were very helpful. My friends were great and my favorite classes are Geometery and Honors Science.

Staccato: Well, my 2nd grade teacher was nice and I got Elephant Bucks. And, hey Middle C, I just saw a horse fly fly by.

Allegro: I tapped my teacher before school let out and told her that I didn't know the name of my carpool.  I was really nervous about it but then they called just our last name and I wasn't nervous anymore.

B Sharp: It was so much fun staying home ALL day without my brothers and sister to bug me.  I worked on my math skills and colored while MeeMom tried to figure out this blog and sew pants into shorts for the boys. I'm so excited go to kindergarten in SEVEN more days!

Bass Clef: The first day was okay I guess. I can tell 7th grade is going to be a very long year! Hope school goes by very, very fast but filled with fun stuff.

Fermata: The first day was fun, but very slow. My teacher is very nice and awesome. We were lucky to be able to get lockers in sixth grade because last year, hee hee, Bass and Treble didn't get lockers AT ALL, hee hee.

MeeMom: So tonight we gathered around the table to figure out what our family carpool name should be for this year.  Who wants to go by just their last name?  Especially if their last name is common like Jones or Smith or Marinoniolla?  Last year our 15-passenger van went by the name "Hey guys, we're going home."  So we tossed around some names like "1 Sister and 7 Misters" and "Uncle Rico's here to get you."  Like usual, it caused a hot debate.

DooDad: And because of the hot debate that was brewing, I finally had to put in my two cents worth because three boys were trying to climb over my chair and two others were having a very loud discussion about naming or not naming this year's carpool "Snow White and the Seven Dorks," all while I was feeding  Baby Coda and the dog was barking out of control because he hadn't been walked since this morning.  So I threw out the name "Chaos in a Can" and there was a heavenly moment of silence before everyone broke out in hysterics.  The dog even stopped barking.  I think that's going to be our family carpool name this year.  Watch out!  Because it is true! We are Chaos in a Can.