Sveta is such sweetheart. Funny how she tells me all the time that she doesn't want kids when she grows up because they are messy, noisy, and have too many stinky diapers, yet she is always showing love to Dennis. She has watched me for so long, following me when I go to give him a bath, following me when I go to make him some food, following me when I go upstairs to put him down for bed. And now Sveta often just up and helps me with Dennis like it is second nature to her. It really is a beautiful thing to see. And I know that no matter how much she says she dislikes babies, I do know of one that she is very fond of.
We are spoiled. Just look at these extravagant berries (from the 99 cent store) drizzled with sweet milk that we have been topping our waffles with in the morning. I was humbled when a fellow blogger made the comment that she would not be making my borscht because the ingredients were too expensive. Let me clarify, please. At times, I will spend a little more money when I am making something like borscht, but it is offset with the days when all I serve for dinner is Top Ramen. I normally shop at warehouse type stores where I buy off brands and in bulk. I have started going to the 99 cent store for a lot of my produce because it is one third the price then at a regular store. Fruits and veggies are very expensive compared to junk food, but I think they are a necessity. Besides, my kids love them. If you really want to make the borscht but want to spend less money, you can cut out any veggie you want except the cabbage and potato and add less of all the other veggies. You can compensate for the less veggies by chopping them finer.
The other night Dennis got a stool and pushed it up to the kitchen island so that he could sneak the last two blueberry muffins off the counter. Here he is caught in the act!
You should have been here the other day when we melted a big Hershey kiss and dipped marshmallows and graham crackers in it. It was like a feeding frenzy, me included. My Mom bought each of the kids one of those big Hershey kisses for Valentine's Day and actually gave it to them a week ago thinking they would save it till then. Hah, hah, hah, Mom---- good one. The kisses are all gone now and other then for this picture and the few pounds I have put on, there is no evidence that you go the kids anything for Valentine's Day!
p.s. Thank you. We all enjoyed them so much!!!!!
28 inspiring thoughts:
I'm with you on the produce. I went to the grocery store the other day and a pound of strawberries were 8.99. Holy moly, those must be some very delicious berries.
I like to make a big casserole and we eat off of it for at least two meals.
I love the picture of Dennis and the blueberry muffins. Yup, he's busted alright. How cute.
I agree with you also. Its just so expensive these days to buy fruits and veggies. We only have three people in our family right now and we too buy many things in bulk and also not name brand. (Costco or Cash and Carry) you had mentioned on your blog once or twice that you have a cereal or "breakfast" for dinner once a week. We began doing that also and just love it. My husband is often out of the house by 4:00am to work and doesn't get to share the breakfast that I do with our daughter so its been great for all of us to share breakfast together once a week in the evening. : )
Dennis is always so cute. I love to see all the pics of all your kids and how they help care for and play with their littlest brother so well. Thank again!
Catherine
What is the 99 cent store? Is it like a grocery store? Where I live we have stores like the Dollar Tree...but they don't sell produce. I buy most all of my produce and spinach at Costco.
Fruits and veg may seem expensive, but you are buying cheaper health care for your child's future. Compare that!
Also, produce in season is cheaper than imported out of season produce. If it's expensive, out of season, I go for frozen, not fresh.
mmmmmm, we have had a few nights as a special treat a slice of jam and cream filled laminton roll topped with frozen berries and drizzled with pure cream. It's summer so the frozen berries are a nice cold burst in your mouth. Aparently someone is working with someone else around here to finally get us a farmers market... not holding out hope though.
What a fun idea (the melted chocolate) - I wouldn't have necessarily expected it to melt "right". Glad it did!
You probably have much less expensive produce in California, too! If I bought strawberries now, they wouldn't taste like much of anything.
And I remember (and appreciated) your "super ramen" dinner idea!
We don't have those 99 cent stores. I always buy fresh produce and fruit but try to buy what is in season to save.
Your SIL's advice about paying for the fresh veggies and fruit for health reasons.
Those berries look fabulous.
When blackberries and raspberries are on sale, I buy them. My rationale is that I don't smoke and waste money on tobacco.
Lovely post.
I love the pic where Dennis is eating the muffins. My little guy does that..
Hi Christine,
Why are you so easily made to feel guilty about things like feeding your children fruits and vegetables? It's sad that people are so critical and judgmental of one another. What do we save money FOR if not to feed our children foods that will make them strong? Please don't be apologetic--you don't need to defend any decisions you make for your fam. BLESS YOU! sbess
Fun!
Aldi's is another great place to get produce if you have one nearby. We've got several farmers' markets in the area (St Louis, MO) and those are a LOT cheaper than the grovery stores. For borscht I usually just buy all of the veggies raw. Around here it's cheaper that way, but I know that's not true everywhere!
What beautiful strawberries and blackberries! It makes me excited about June. We have several blackberry vines and they produce the sweetest nicest berries!
Sarah is with Sveta on babies. Yet, she loves to play with our grandsons when they come over.
I seem to recall a diaper change last year, when she saw our grandson for the very first time.
(It was also her first time to see a boy without a diaper)
She took one look and said, "I think I'm simply going to faint!"
LOL
We have some sort of fresh fruit or veggie at every meal. Once when I came home without them my husband asked where they were (he wanted raspberries and blueberries). I told him they were way too expensive and I refused to buy them. He turned to me and asked, "How much is chemotherapy?" From that point on I bought fresh no matter how much it was. We just had an Aldi open up near us and that's where I do most of my shopping these days.
Love the picture of Dennis with the muffins. Busted! ;)
Katrina's got the same opinion of babies as Sveta, but she loves to play with them every chance she gets, too!
One of our cats is part pig, too. He snorts & grunts all the time!
As for the dog issue, I would need more information about the cirumstances, but often taming down greetings works. Excitement peeing often happens, for example, in situations like the family coming home and greeting the dog. It can help (with time) to simply ignore the dog completely (no looking at the dog, no touching the dog) until the dog calms down, and then do a calm greeting, asking the dog to sit in front of you first, or do something else that requires more than mindless excitement on the dog's part. I would recommending calming down whatever situation is bringing on this behavior in your dog. It can be a tough thing to break, though, especially if it's been a long-standing problem. There could also be a medical cause, so if you're really worried about it, you may want to look into that.
I never comment, but I enjoy your blog and think you are an amazing family!
That is funny about Sveta not liking children, but being interested and participating in loving/caring for Dennis. I was the opposite, LOVED babies, dolls, etc. when I was a kid, but don't have any babies (NOT by my choice though!).
So much for Valentine's day! HA HA!
And poor little Dennis getting busted........that was funny!
Hi Christine! We met at Shaver Lake last summer. I thank you for your transparency in our talk! I tell people about your answer to my question about, "Why adopt after 6 bio children?" quite frequently. I so agree with you, we need to impact the world, finding out how in our own individual lives, is the issue.
On the veggie issue, I went organic last spring for my own health and way expensive it was! The kids would bring me a piece of fruit or veggie and have to ask, "Mom, is this one yours or can we eat it?" SAD! But, then I found www.AbundantHarvestOrganics.com and so now we all eat organic for a really good price!! They offer fresh produce up and down California, you and your CA readers can look on their website to see if there is a drop-off spot in your area.
WOW! Having not seen Dennis for 6 months, what amazing growth in the little guy!!
She's going to make a great mommy! :) My daughter is the same way!
Your dogs are so adorable! I have a half-Chihuahua and he has those same expressions, too. Those s'mores sure sounded good!
I, too, go to a discount store to buy produce. I am going to cook up the Borscht recipe today. I am looking forward to it. I love your posts about your family. Sveta is so precious with how she follows you around when taking care of Dennis. She's so sweet!
LOL at Dennis. I hope he had waited for them to cool down before pinching them. My Jack always takes a handful of anything cooling on the rack on the bench.
I tried the Polska Kiebasa recipe. I did have to subsitute the polish sausage though as I cant get it here. I used spicy pork sausages instead. Hamish and all the kids except one loved it. Any ideas on what other sausage I could use?
C, I just typed a comment on one of your posts, but was unable to send it. It looks like you deleted them before I could comment.
I won't go down that road. I just want you to know that you rock! You stand upon a solid foundation and I pray that God blesses you.
I would like to say that I am appalled at the comments I saw on the post you deleted. One person brought up the fact that you were white and another used ignorant language!? I am so sorry that people from my state are on your web site posting. LOL Christine I am sorry. I would like to say that it is just a taste of what I hear every day from the people from here. I am constantly mentally and verbally abused by Obama followers.
Hi Christine,
Just testing my new openID through Yahoo. Thanks, Laurie A.
Loved the ice cream story. I was sorry to see it go but I was able to share it with a few who also thought it was excellent.
I've been meaning to check out the 99 cent store fruit - heard about it from friends. With our two new ones from Ethiopia (plus 2 bio) we CANNOT keep fruit in the house. When they first came home a month ago we were eating about $6 in fruit a day (and that was what was on sale). It has tapered some now thank goodness.
Man, Dennis is one hungry little fellow. He must be growing like a weed.
♥ I love the Dennis's double fisted eating. My kids used to do that with their sippy cups or bottles. The twins would grab each others and then try to drink them at the same thing. :)
While fruit is expensive, we have got to eat it!! Buy it girl, when ya can. I think it is wonderful, that you buy fresh fruit. Kids need it, and moms and dads too! Not to mention, not just for nutrient, but it is very refreshing to eat. Gives you a boost without having to eat junk food.
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