The boat!

Dear Al,

I have not abandoned you on this blog. :)

I think the only thing that sucks about going back to normal food for the kids is that you might have to be making multiple meals/sides for each meal to get everyone enough food. But I think that it would be extremely difficult to get your pizza loving older children to become vegan. Grace on the other hand would probably be ok with just about anything. Even bugs. It must be a matter of training.

I have pinned a couple of things from this lady- Budget Savvy Diva. She has recipes, kids stuff, coupons, budgeting tips, etc. My favorites were restaurant fake-out recipes like the southwest eggrolls from Chili's. Yum. My new favorite pinterest board is called 4H ideas. I am obsessed with finding projects for Haley and Alyssa to do this year. I found this cool desk organizer made out of cereal boxes and fabric. It would be a perfect use for the remains of your cereal addiction.

So, I am super impressed with not only our children's behavior on the boat on Friday, but also that no one fell off the boat or drown. I know that you don't worry about stuff like that, but I had visions of Phil crawling off the edge or Grace jumping from the side sans life jacket. I am not a Bible quoter- mainly because it doesn't feel natural to me, but I do read it and recite this one to myself because I am a worrier- Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34. I also like the one from Matthew; Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest... For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. I try to remember that I can't worry my way out of anything.

I did have lots of fun and so did the kids. Here is some proof:

Today we are going to the dentist to have Haley get the initial stuff done for her to get braces...Ugh. I am going to try to finish my class and then RAGBRAI!! I am not in good enough shape I am afraid. I didn't even want to go for a ride with Todd yesterday. It was hot. :/

See you soon sissy!
Love, Em

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- See more at: http://www.womensbiblecafe.com/2012/02/50-scripture-verses-on-worrying/#sthash.uw3NXax4.dpuf

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- See more at: http://www.womensbiblecafe.com/2012/02/50-scripture-verses-on-worrying/#sthash.uw3NXax4.dpuf

Cheap Food and Non-Vegan Children

Dear Em,
I think I'm giving up on getting my kids to eat a vegan "whole foods" diet. It's been 5 months, and they still hate everything, complain all the time, and refuse to care about the treatment of the animals they so desperately want to eat. And, frankly, it's been expensive to buy all organic, all vegan food, and I'm cracking down on our budget again. So, my new goal is to feed them as cheaply and healthfully as I can (don't ask me which is more important; I'm honestly not sure at this point). I found a fabulous website called $5 Dinners: http://www.5dollardinners.com/frugal-food-for-large-families/ and it is my new favorite blog. Aside from this one. I'm choosing not to think about the beef we gave away earlier this year (it went to good homes) or the $5 salsa I was addicted to (I found $1 Fareway salsa in a can which is kind of scary but still tasty).
I don't think I can do the meat thing, and John still wants to lose weight, so we are going to become cheap vegans (I think that means beans, rice, and grass clippings). I did have a Noosa the other day and it was like heaven...dairy may make a comeback at some point. I experimented with drinking yesterday's coffee warmed up in the microwave this morning, and it's pretty good. Then I had a bowl of cereal with 1/2 almond milk, 1/2 water and it was better than you would think. We're switching to oatmeal soon, so I'm eating cereal like crazy until it's gone (I might be the only person on earth with a cereal addiction). We're going back off pop again too...we've had a month or so of drinking it again, and I think we had our last can yesterday. Sniff.
If you have any ideas for cheap eating, let me know. I'm willing to try anything except Ramen noodles and bugs.
Love,
Al