What's for lunch?

I begin hearing these words around 10:00 am every day. Months ago, I had a ready-made answer: Sandwiches!

But not anymore. Shaun's wheat allergy has changed all that. Oh, I tried to keep making sandwiches work as a suitable lunch. I bought the rice bread. The rice bread that's really thick and dry and gritty. And costs 4 dollars for one small loaf. And that the kids wouldn't eat. So, no more sandwiches for us.

During the summer, I would cook a great meal for my boys at lunch time. Then, when our home school year started, I realized that I was wasting over an hour of my precious time cooking and cleaning up. Since my children still need to eat, despite how crunched for time I am, I came up with some quick, simply recipes that my children love. They're healthy, and I don't have to give the kids anything they shouldn't be eating. I'm really quite proud of myself. Here they are:

Mexican Beans and Rice (I made up this title)

white rice (kids are allergic to the brown)
black beans
salsa
Monterey Jack cheese

I just mix it all together and then top the mixture with some additional cheese. Then I bake it for awhile and its done. The kids eat this like its going out of style. I make a big casserole dish full, so we can eat on it for at least 2 days.


Pizza

Bob's Red Mill Gluten/Wheat Free pizza dough
flax mill and water (as an egg substitute for the dough)
tomato sauce (made without high fructose corn syrup)
ground beef
onion
Mozzarella cheese

I just make the dough, sautee the beef and onion, spread the sauce, sprinkle the cheese and bake. One bag of Bob's Red Mill dough mix is enough for 2 huge pizzas. So, once again, we can eat this meal for more than one day. The great thing about this dough is that it tastes almost like thin-crust dough made from what. Its actually pretty good. And again-- my boys eat it like its going out of style.


Veggies and Mac and Cheese

2 boxes of rice mac and cheese mix
green beans (fresh or canned)
crowder peas or black eyed peas
any other kind of vegetable I have in the house

Mac and cheese has been a favorite food of Shaun's since...um...I guess since he could eat. Ditto on the crowder peas. My granny has fed him crowder peas from her garden since he was about 9 months old. They're delicious and full of protein. I was so thrilled to find boxes of quick mac and cheese made from white rice noodles. Just like Kraft, only the kids can eat it. Its also really good. You can detect a difference in the noodles. Not a bad difference, just a difference. I also mix in some ground flax seed for additional nutrition. Served with vegetables, this is a quick and nutritious meal.


There you have it. What we've had for lunch this week. Not quite as easy as slapping some ham and cheese sandwiches together, but not too difficult either.

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


I did NOT become a home schooling parent last week. I was not extremely nervous about is, and it did NOT go extremely well (for the most part).

I did NOT get the run-around from the school system again today when I took Shaun to his old elementary school to officially withdraw him. The wonderful office staff there did NOT disappoint me with the same rudeness and lack of knowledge I experienced last year. Once our withdrawal was complete, Shaun and I did NOT practically skip with joy as we made our way back to the car.

This past week it did NOT become apparent that I do NOT have a green thumb. I have NOT been waiting in anticipation for my first tomato harvest for the entire summer. And, since I love fresh, homegrown tomatoes, I was NOT completely disappointed when THIS is all my many plants have produced so far:


The larger tomato on the far left is NOT a store-bought Roma tomato.

I am NOT about to become an aunt again in 3 short weeks. And my sister/best friend is NOT naming her new baby boy after me.

Chris and I did NOT lose Jordan at church yesterday. After he was found, Jordan did NOT get his little hiney spanked really hard by his two frantic/terrified/relieved parents for running away and hiding from us in order to sneak back outside to the play ground. Nuh-uh. No way. That would NEVER happen!

Have a great week!

Parties!

Our family spent the day going to parties today. At least, 3 of us did. Shaun decided to stay with my parents, opting out of Jordan's friend Destiny's 5th birthday party. He was missed, but I know he still had a good time.

Here are some pictures from today:

We started out at Free Chapel, for Destiny's 5th birthday party.

Here's the birthday girl. I met Destiny back when she was 3 years old in my class at church.

These sweet girls were guests at the party, and also my former "students". I love them all!



Jordan was pretty much the only boy his own age at this party. I don't think he liked that too well. Which is why he spent most of his time by himself.




After we said goodbye to Destiny and her wonderful family, we headed across the street to our friend Naysia's "Berry Bound Celebration". I met Naysia last summer during Summer Xtreme. We hit it off and became great friends, in spite of our age difference. Maybe that's because I'm not very mature! She was also one of Jordan's teachers at church, last year when he was two years old. Our family has become so attached to Miss Naysia and we'll miss her so much!

Here I am with Naysia.


I think that Jordan was more than just a little tired out from Destiny's party by the time we arrived at Naysia's. That's why he was doing this:

And this:


And this:



He even had the nerve to snub the guest of honor!


Can you tell he's trying his best to wriggle out of her arms?!

He was one grouchy dude...until we gave him some cake. Then he sat quietly, happy and content, for a good 15 minutes.








We were feeling kind of sorry for Shaun because he missed out on such a great time today. Then we got back to my parents' house and saw that Shaun and my nieces were having a party of their own:





We finally called it a night after eating dinner with the family. What a great day!

They're perfect for me!

I had a rough day today. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe the kids were tired or bored. Or maybe I just need to send them to reform school. For whatever reason, my children were definite challenges today.

Shaun wouldn't listen. Or concentrate. Or obey. Or do any schoolwork without whining and crying. Jordan was just as bad. He cried. He whined. He pestered his big brother. And yes-- he pee'd in the floor. The home schooling daily schedule that I had so tediously planned out was slashed to smithereens as my kids tested and tried me in every way they could.

All of this, plus a bout of apparent PMS had me questioning everything. At one point, I was actually tempted to look up the phone number of Shaun's old elementary school and tell them that he'd be there tomorrow! I really felt like throwing in the towel with this whole home schooling thing.

Okay, so I knew going in that this wouldn't be easy. I knew beforehand (from trying to accomplish homework last year) that getting Shaun to hunker down and do some boring old school work was going to be tough. I knew he has trouble paying attention and would take longer to complete some tasks. I knew I would have to practice patience- lots of it!

I'll just have to start tomorrow!

We finally made it through the day and on to karate. During the drive my mind replayed our day. All the failures. All of my mistakes. Then the pity party began. I started again asking God all of the same old questions. Mainly, "Why can't my kids be like everyone else?"

Then came the answer. Right in my ear, clear as a bell, God whispered to me "They may not be perfect, but they're perfect for you."

Wow. How true. Now, I did NOT understand this to mean that my kids aren't perfect in God's eyes. Of course they are. My Heavenly Father just chose those words to communicate to me that He formed my two boys exactly the way He wanted my kids to be. And He thought we'd be a perfect match. My whole outlook on the day changed. What a humbling experience.

So, I'm heading into tomorrow with a new outlook. Of course Shaun's study habits and behaviors won't be perfect...but with God's grace we'll work around them and find what works perfectly for us.

Surreal

I've been feeling "surreal" this week. Its so strange to be relaxed and taking it easy while everyone around me is in a panic about their kids going back to school. I don't think I really realized that summer was over for most people.

Shaun and I have been working on some review stuff, but I haven't ordered his "official" curriculum yet. I'll do it this week. Or next. We're not "officially" starting the "School of Smiths" until September, when Jordan goes back to preschool. I just thought it may be easier that way.

Although I don't have all of our materials, I DO have: a schedule, some extra curricular stuff planned with the home school group from church, a work space for us, and some school supplies. So, even though I'm not as ready as I feel like I need to be, I'm still on the right track. And I WILL be totally ready by the first week in September.

One major thing that I DON'T have yet that I really should have taken care of before now is our "intent to home school" form. I went to the Board of Ed to get one yesterday and was told to go to another location clear across town. I didn't have time for that, so I called the number I was given yesterday to request the form. The nice lady I spoke with told me that I needed to take Shaun to his former school next week and formally withdraw him. I called the school to set up a time and was told that I just needed to "call the Board of Ed and let them know my plans". Soooo, I called the Board back and was told I needed to let the school know....yes, I was getting the run-around! I finally got it straightened out, but really, you'd think I was the ONLY parent who decided to home school this year...and I know for a fact I'm not!

Like I said, we've been reviewing for a few weeks. Usually when Jordan goes down for his nap, Shaun and I work on school stuff. Mostly math, language arts, and reading. I've been pleasantly surprised with what he's retained. And I'm still feeling good about our decision. I just need to get in gear!

What I like about him...

I ran into a friend today at church. She's my friend now, but we met at the pediatrician's office, where she worked as a nurse for the kids' doctor. The doctor who I absolutely love. Who takes such wonderful care of my children. Who listens to me and takes me seriously when something's going on with one of the kids. THAT doctor.

We started talking in the hallway today, and she mentioned how GREAT Shaun is looking these days. (And he so totally is!) I mentioned that Shaun is off all medications and has been healthy all summer. (Hooray!)

Anyway, all of that lead to THIS conversation:

Her: Dr O's nurse left again.
Me: Really, who?
Her: D
Me: Hmm, I don't think I know her. I haven't been in the office all summer.
Her: Yeah, she was new.
Me: Why can't he keep a nurse?
Her: Um, well, he's kind of difficult to work with.
Me: Really? Tell me what you mean.
Her: He's a great pediatrician. He's just very demanding. He wants everything done RIGHT
NOW.
Me: (Laughing) That's the reason we love him!

And its true! We love our pediatrician. Not only is he super nice (to us!), but we "get" each other. He takes me seriously and never makes me feel like I'm over-reacting. He gets the job done. He'd rather find out what's causing a problem and rule out anything more serious that just wait around to see what happens. If he ever moves, we'll have to move with him, because I refuse to go on another doctor search. And he doesn't downplay the power of prayer. We've found the right one! He's the one for us! We'll be with him forever...unless he gets tired of us and our many "unique" issues and kicks us out. Surely that won't happen.

I have the same feelings toward our pharmacist. I'll blog about him tomorrow!