Duck, Duck, Goose....and many blessings around

Still Counting the things that bring me joy and gifts from God.  In January, the kitchen at church was being cleaned out.  A whole bunch of expired bread was going to be thrown out.  I knew I had a busy day the next day with some lag time in between appointments, but not enough time to do anything productive.  I volunteered to share the bread with the local birds.  I have a favorite spot at Sedgwick County Park on the north end, it is full of these ladies and gentlemen.  One of my favorite things to do with the kids over the years.  Haven't done it for several years. The weather was beautiful.  Something therapeutic about being outside and watching and experiencing God's creation.  Thank you GB for sharing the bread with us.  We had a great time. 
1067.

 

Hockey Player preferred his spot in the van. 

Dad's Bud found a quiet spot to himself and the birds.

Thanksgiving morning!

Jumping back into time a bit further than usual.  First batch of carmel rolls with pecans in 6 years. 
They were heaven.  So Thankful, tree nuts are not an issue for THE MAN.  He does not eat them.  But so far, we are able to consume them and not cause an issue for him.  That was our goal for having him tested for individual nuts.  Make life a bit easier on the rest of us.  I sometimes need a quick protein snack and a handful nuts are just an easy go to snack.  Not something I typically due with a peanut allergic kid around....but having an option is always nice. 

Cooking Lessons and Trades

I have been out of commission for almost 2 months now.  Though to be honest I have not done a whole lot of cooking for over a year now.  Thanks to hubby's job and the shifts he works....well I tend to teach school and work on any number of things around here (at least till the car accident) and someone else takes on the job of food prep.  One of the tasks that would normally fall on me, but can be delegated else where.  I had to let go of somethings, and well I was comfortable with this one.  I prayed for husband that could cook.  I got one!  I also got a husband that has the patience of saint in the kitchen and he doesn't get flustered by kids and he teaches them well.  Lately, my older two are proficient in the kitchen and I teach by giving them verbal instructions or an older shows a younger. 

This particular day we needed a chicken cooked.  Fun Girl just grosses out over whole chickens.  I do remember being a teenager girl and freaking out about them as well.  Except, my dad wanted me to chop it up and fry it.  That went over like a ton of bricks much to my Dad's frustration.  My kids have it easy.  Just rinse the bird out, make sure nothing is inside, put it in the cookware.

Well the commotion in the kitchen was absolutely crazy.  Fun Girl is offering to clean the kitchen.  (She despises this chore, only slightly less than laundry!)  Will Hockey Player please prep the chicken??  He doesn't know how.  Fun Girl offers to tell him what to do, standing over his shoulder she gives instructions.  Little Princess runs for my phone to take pictures.  There were like 20 plus pictures on my phone when all was done and over. 

 

Dinner was perfect!

Favorite Things....Whole Chickens

Thanks to my sister early on in my mothering years, I discovered whole chickens.

Can't say I started cooking them right away.

I think I waited till child number 3 was a year or two old.

Before that, well, I had all the time in the world.

I just didn't know it!

Why do I love whole chickens??

They are super versatile.

Put in the oven at 350 for a couple of hours.

Put in the crock pot all day.

Put in a pot and boil on top of the stove.

 

All are ways to cook and forget about for a time.

 

You can pick the/carve the meat and serve as part of your meal.

You can use for making enchiladas.

You can use for making soup.

The possibilities are endless.

Depending on the size of your family, you can get 2 to 3 (or more) meals out of one whole chicken.

You can even freeze it, just like you would turkey and use it later.

The great part is, you can start the cooking, leave it and go about your day.

Talk about multi-tasking.

I like these menu plan ideas.

 

We often have a meal with it.

The leftovers are made into a soup.

If I am industrious enough, I will use the juices/broth for the soup.

Just depends on my time and energy for the day. 

Now a days, I am lucky to have enough for soup later.

 

It is the most economical way to have chicken for dinner in my family!

Sibling Sweetness Melts My Heart

One particular day, I entered my living room on two different occassions.  I found THE MAN with his sister(s). 
1065.   School for her + WebKinz for him

1066.  Itouch game together.

I want this!

I saw it at Marshall's.  Didn't think I had a place for it.  Then my brain stuff started kicking in....
Hubby has been more than accomadating to get the basement in order and I found a place. 
But it was gone.  Sigh.....    I think this sign fits out home very well.  Maybe another day, another time. 

No words needed!

1064.  I love my boy!