Are we helping our kids grow up or not.

How many times have you heard "Mom, do you know where my DS charger is", mom, "do you know where my laptop charger is"" mom........................OMG, it can drive you crazy. So, I started lableing them with tape so they know who's is who's and the argument is over before it starts. I also dedicated one drawer in the house specific to those easily lost cords. A good idea would be to say this. If I find this cord laying around the house and not put back after using it than that electronic becomes mine for a week. It is amazing how fast they put back the cords when they are done. My kids do not have a clue about the price of things. I am trying to teach them and it is fun to watch their eyes open wide. Gloves are a biggy around here. They take them for granted because in Vermont it is one of the things we collect and value so dearly. If you lose your gloves and are forced to wear the cheaper ones than your hands will freeze. After wearing a pair of those long enough I guarantee they will keep a closer eye on the good ones. Making them pay the price of things makes them pay more attention. Mom and Dad are not there to replace things. We are here to provide them but not over and over and over. I am so guilty of doing this and now that I am getting nervous that they will not know how to be accountable as an adult I am spending every waking moment teaching them about life and reality of things. I am already sad thinking of one of them leaving home in 5 years. I sure hope he can find his laptop charger. hee hee   So, now that I do not have to look for cords, it allows me to do something else. Life is a beautiful thing.

Why worry about things

Have you ever worried about something and in the end it all worked out the way it was supposed to or the way it was going to anyway whether we worried about it or not?. We all worry. I was the queen of that too. I was frazzled,frustrated and discombobulated most of the time. In the last couple of years I have spent a LOT of energy making my life peaceful and in order for me to do that I had to give up worrying. Easier said than done. Yesterday my husband said to me "it must be nice not having to worry about anything" After I about killed him for his snide remark I thought about it all day. I wanted to defend myself and then realized, "good". I am proud that he would think that. All my hard work is paying off if I am demonstrating peace with my body language and words. I don't want to worry about the flat tire or the broken garage door. It is what it is. I want to take a deep breath and let it work out. Me worrying about it is not going to fix it. I also do not want to worry about what others think of me. It is not any of my business. I do think it is cool that that is how my husband thinks of me though. So, I will put my red shoes on today and continue to make peace in my life. I can only fix the things that are in my control and those are the things I have a right to worry about. If I can fix them then I don't have much time to worry either. Have a peaceful day.

Trapp Family Lodge

When we lived in Germany we were able to tour the beautiful countryside and learn about the Trapp Family. I romantisized about where the movie was shot. It was beautiful. Today my son had a ski race at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. It was breathtaking. It was there that Koben and I decided to take up cross country skiing. We went to the ski rack tonight and bought what we needed to do it. The bindings will be set and we will be cross country skiing by the week-end. As we were driving home we got stuck in a snow storm and it took us over an hour to get home. What an awesome day. Vermont is the most wonderful place to live.

I love you!

I will admit, I am a needy kinda gal. I need to hear this from my husband all the time and still wonder if he loves me. Separate topic. So the other day I said I was going to tell my kids I love them but in a way they would always remember. Both my boys have freckles and one is left handed and one is right. So I said, "You know what I really love about you, I love your freckle on the left cheek right under the other freckle". I told the other one the same but on his right cheek. This was at different times but they both looked at me like I was a freak. I know that they will always remember this because they still remember what color I love them. I love one the purplest. So, put your red shoes on and tell someone why you love them.

Crusty Bread

This is the best bread I have ever had. I bake 1 loaf a day now. It is too easy not to. Enjoy. All you need is a 6-8 qt. Dutch Oven. I bought a Le Creauset at TJ MAXX for half price and love it.

3 Cups of All-purpose Flour or Bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
1 1/2 Cup plus 2 Tbs. water

Mix and cover with plastic wrap for 12-18 hours.
Flour work surface and pour bread out. Fold over 1 or 2 times, lightly flour and cover with plastic wrap for 15 miutes.
Flour kitchen towel (not terrycloth).
Quickly shape bread into a ball and put on towel.
Flour top and cover with kithen towel for 2 hours.
Pre-heat oven and Dutch oven to 450.
Put hand under towel and flop into dutch over.
Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until golden brown. It is absolutely to die for.

I mix one at night and in the morning. I always have the makings of fresh bread ever since I tasted this. It has been one week. hee hee. So put your red shoes on and bake some bread. You deserve it.

The Wedding Gifts

How many of us have fine china, silver and crystal? Things we got as a wedding gift or things we only use at the holiday time. WHY. At Christmas time we eat on beautiful plates with silver spoons and cloth napkins. Our tables are set all pretty and the candles are lit. NO, NO, NO. You and your family deserve to eat on it every day. I decided this last year. I have now moved my silver into the everyday drawer. When I bought it I bought enough for both boys to take with them (heirlooms). Last Christmas I realized they probably would never know it was ours for how seldom we used it. Not only do you deserve it but it will be something special and unique about your family. Candle light dinner everynight is a wonderful family tradition. Setting the table can be time consuming so when you put the dishes away, put them back on the table for the next meal. Your table is always set. Put fun little notes on each ones plates. By having your table ready at all times, it forces us to eat together more often. So put your red shoes on and set the table. Enjoy

Spirit of Holidays

Have you ever heard someone say. "I need to clean my house, we have company coming"? What, you don't deserve to live in a clean house?. Not saying how you should keep house but you should have it the way you enjoy it. If my house gets messy, my head get messy. I function much better when things are picked up. I love to cook but I can not cook in a dirty kitchen. So many times we let our homes get that way because we are busy but the fact of the matter is we need to take that as a sign. Call in sick. Take a mental health day. Do whatever you need to do. Your head health is a major part of not only your life but your family's. Think about it for a minute. I am learning to just sit down for 5 minutes and not move. That sounds silly but when I am running 100 miles an hour I feel overwhelmed. By just sitting there and taking a few deep breaths I can figure things out. Please don't wait for company to come. It's your life. So put those red shoes on and play catch up. I also make my kids account for certain things and they need to feel needed anyway. We have created this team (family) so let everyone play their position. We do not have to be super woman. We don't.