Today is Columbus day, and for us it’s also Fair Day, so the kids are out of school. We’re not about to go to the fair (too crazy and expensive and hubby had to work), so we’re just at home today. It’s cold and overcast, so it’s an inside day.
We have had so much fun. Last week, at some point, I tried to think of a big project that I could get done today, but last night I decided to make it a day all about the kids. We’ve played board games, carved our jack-o-lantern, and generally had a lot of fun. I did finish folding and putting away the huge pile of clean laundry that had been steadily growing. I took it to the living room so it was in the middle of the fun for the day. Now I’m ready to start my new task of doing a load a day without being in the hole. In case you think I’m exaggerating when I say “huge,” here’s proof:
Today was one of those days when I appreciate the house being in order. We were able to get out the pumpkin and start carving it. No decluttering of the table was needed! And it’s already cleaned up. Sometimes I hesitate in doing things with the kids because of all the extra work involved. It’s hard to bake cookies on a whim when every baking sheet, mixing bowl, and wooden spoon is dirty.
I know there are a million reasons why I have to keep this up, but my family, and quality time spent with them are #1.
Here’s Jack! We gave him two faces, for the fun of it and because we wanted more pumpkin for our Jack-O-Lantern pie!
Here’s Jack’s eyes, nose and mouth! I also cut out some of the inside wherever I could to add more to our pie. A quick call to Grammy and we had instructions. Cover the pumpkin flesh (don’t use the stringy stuff) with water in a big pot and boil like potatoes until it can be easily pierced with a fork. Then mash it up and use it like canned pumpkin.
We also washed the seeds (excellent job for a six year old), and toasted them in butter in a skillet on the stove. My sister-in-law happened to stop by and told us how she did it when she taught second grade.
Here’s the pumpkin after boiling, draining, cooling, and then peeling off the skin. Don’t peel until it has cooled! I’m planning to make a cross between this recipe and this one. I don’t want to make a crust and I don’t have evaporated milk. We’ll see how it turns out!
We put in about two teaspoons of butter over LOW heat cooked them for about three hours. We stirred them every little bit.
It’s official. The pumpkin seeds are yummy! I’ll let you know how the pie turns out.
And in the midst of all the fun (really before it), I:
Made bed.
Emptied dishwasher.
Folded all the laundry, and put away.
Cleaned kitchen.
Swept kitchen. Checked bathrooms for clutter.
Did five minute walk through.
Wiped down bathroom counters and toilets last night.
This is what motivates me, being able to do a fun activity with the kids like “normal” people and clean up after and not have it be a huge ordeal. Also, helping other moms in the neighborhood and having spontaneous playdates without having to stay up all night to get ready. I get really mad at myself when I see a neighbor who could use a couple kid free hours but my house is too dirty to even have small children over.
When I do pumpkin seeds or squash seeds, I just toss with a little olive oil and salt and roast on a pan in the oven at 400 for about 15 minutes.
It’s the stuff like this that makes me want to stop living in the storage facility my house became…from day one. If I could put things like my bread machine and juicer away, my very limited counter space would be freed up so I could prepare whatever I want. Mostly, at this point, what I want to do is to be able to buy all of my salad fixings…and prepare enough for several days at a time. But that takes counter space to set the veggies and other fixings…along with the wide mouth Mason jars I want to start using…so when I open the refrigerator door…all that healthy goodness is right there in my face. 🙂
Hi, Nony,
I found you a few weeks ago when it showed up in my feed that a friend had “Liked” you on Facebook. I was absolutely hooked within minutes (seconds, really.) I bought all your books for my Kindle and read them one weekend. I went link crazy on your blog, following link after link after link, before I finally just decided to start at the beginning.
I’ll just echo so many other commenters and say that we’re so much alike. I go to my friends’ houses and mourn that they have “grown up” houses while mine is covered with clutter and barely living room. My master bedroom mirrors yours to the point where, when you explained taking the doorknob off so no one could unintentionally wander in, I thought, “Hey, that’s a great idea!” One year, we had friends over for new years, and my daughter got sick. While she was throwing up in the bathroom, my friend asked if she could use MY bathroom so they could get going. What could I do? Tell her, “No–you have to wait for my kid to finish puking and then for me to clean up in there because there’s no way in hell I’m letting you walk into my room to get to the master bathroom?”
Anyway. I know this is an old post, but I had to comment on this particular one because your words are really hitting home for me. This: “Sometimes I hesitate in doing things with the kids because of all the extra work involved. ” is me to a T. I’ve had a gingerbread house in my closet for two years because our counter is never clean enough to do it. We carved pumpkins on the floor last year because there was nowhere else to do it. Ditto dying Easter eggs.
I started typing this and got long-winded and totally forgot why I started writing in the first place. Our schools were closed today because of extremely cold temperatures. My neighbor was asking on FB if anyone could watch her son so she wouldn’t have to miss work again. I WANTED to tell her that my daughter was right down the hall and would be happy to watch him…but I couldn’t. Because my hosue is too messy and I’d be embarrassed for her to see it. 🙁
I’m working on this. I’m loving your methods. And I’m SO very thrilled with your honesty and glad you’re sharing this with all of us.
~RC