While we wait on Malachi to come, I thought I’d share at least one app that I’ve put on my phone that I’m totally excited about.  This may be a regular thing, but I doubt it.  I just don’t have a ton of apps and the ones I do have are more for the kids.

Anyway, before I “got smart” with my phone, we used Our Groceries to create lists on occasion, but, for the most part, I still wrote out our bi-monthly shopping lists and we’d go to the store with paper, coupons, and kids in hand. 

When we got our new phones, I spent several days researching the different grocery apps and landed upon two I wanted to try.  One was “Out of Milk” and the other was “Mighty Grocery.”  I decided I’d start with Mighty Grocery first since it seemed to have everything I wanted.  So, I downloaded the “lite” version (aka free) and played around with it for a few days to see if I would like it. 

When I mentioned to Mark that I thought it was a nice app and I thought I might buy it (it’s like under $5), he remembered that he had gotten it from Amazon as their free app of the day!  He checked and did his finger magic and got it up on my phone.  The full version.  Free.  I love free!

But, I think this app is totally great.  For starters, you can create you list in different stores or move it around from store to store.  You can input prices, coupons (percentage and money amounts off) and make notes that show up in your lists.  And it has aisles.  It’s so organized that it takes no time to find what you need.  You can even personalize the aisles by numbers…however, remember, stores like to frequently change their aisles!

And, it syncs with other users/accounts.  Oh yeah.

So, here was the test.  Last night, we decided to get our first of the month Wal-Mart groceries.  I had my phone, Mark had his.  And we criss crossed the food aisles and could see, in real time, where each other was and what each other had gotten.  We were in and out of there in less than hour.  Now, keep in mind, our monthly Wal-Mart trip almost always lasts two hours.  But, we did it in one!  We cut our time in half.  That totally made me even more excited about the list.

All that to say, I’m totally sold on this app!

(Disclosure:  Mighty Grocery did not give me this app to review for free…but we were able to snag it on Amazon’s App of the day!  A must check out if you own a smartphone!)

Caroline asked:  Do you make your older daughters help raise the younger children and thus rob them of their childhood?

Good questions Caroline!  I’m sorry it’s taken like six months to get back on this band!  I can’t believe more of my peeps haven’t asked…I so would…even anonymously!

Let’s start with the first one.  Well, I only have one older daughter and the younger is two so she wouldn’t qualify in the “raising the younger children” scheme.  Raising our children in the fear of the Lord is our (Mark and I) job as parents.  We do give our other children responsiblities to make the house run smooth but that doesn’t mean they constantly on younger sibling watch, etc.  They run, laugh, play, and wrestle with their friends (yep, they have friends out side of our family…but that’s a secret).

When our children turn seven, and there’s a baby, then they will get the baby as a “buddy” when that baby no longer needs me to do a lot of their things.  These responsibilities include buckling them up, unbuckling them, helping them get dressed, help them put away clothes…and eventually, helping them learn their chores (i.e. picking up, unloading dishwasher, putting things away…that’s around 18 months or so).  When their buddy is walking very independently, they are required to hold their hand in the parking lot and making sure they don’t take off without the rest of us.  Now, since my children’s ages are 9, 7, 6, 4, 2, and 1 that means there are only two who are old enough to be “big buddies.”  And the seven year old is still slowly getting those responsiblities since he is a he and his buddy is only 18 months old.    We are currently teaching them that if their buddy doesn’t obey then to come to us and we’ll take care of the situation.  It is not and never will be their place to discipline their siblings.

Again, it’s not all work and I believe the older ones get more privileges than the younger ones.  For instance, Zoe and I occasionally go out for a meal and for a time to reconnect, get away and enjoy some yummy food (we both love the same kinds of meals she’s more adventurous in her orders than requesting McDonald’s).  She also gets to stay up later than her siblings and watch movies on occasion.  Ace gets his special time out with dad and is slowly getting to stay up later.

I guess, in summary, we are not in the parent camp that believes children should just be kids and not learn to work and contribute to the home.  We expect all our children from the time they can toddle to be willing and joyful helpers about the house doing age appropriate chores and activities.  We have no qualms in requiring our older children to help look out for their siblings as we have no problem looking out for all of them.  This is teaching them to be loving, gentle and helps them think of the needs of others before themselves (a Biblical model that we are striving for…JOY…Jesus, Others, You).  It’s our prayer that in teaching them these Christian character qualities that they will grow up willingly and lovingly and sacrificially sharing Christ with others.

This is quite long, so I’ll leave it at that.  The short answer is “no, we don’t have our olders raise our youngers.”  The long answer is above!

Leave a comment on this post or here if you have a question you’d like for us to answer about our bunch.

I know I haven’t posted much but trust me, it’s not because we’re sitting around staring at each other.  It’s been rather busy here.  We’re preparing for a baby for goodness sake.

So, for example, this weekend, we traveled a couple of hours away (in cold rain) to some friends’ child’s birthday party.  Not just some friends.  These are friends from back in Mark’s college days (and mine too, although I didn’t go to the same college).  It was wonderful to see them all and how much their kids are growing and I’m sure you’d like to see pictures.  But I didn’t take nary a one.  Yeah, we were good like that.  I blame it on the rain, cold, and trying to doctor up bruises and bumps from playing in the most awesome indoor three story play place ever.

Sunday, in between meals and church, I worked on some sewing.  My discomfort level is growing a tad so my sewing time is getting very limited.  I did get a cover done from this tutorial I pinned on pinterest (tell me you’re shocked!).

‘Cept I didn’t add the ruffle. Didn’t really see the purpose in it. But the pocket. I’m in love with! I can’t wait to use it.   And yes it’s big so that means hopefully enough coverage of the baby belly while nursing!  I’ll show off my version (with all the other fun stuff) when it gets closer to baby time.

I also made a super comfy maxi skirt to be worn post baby (okay, and pre too).  And I found the tutorial for it on…just guess…

Just pretend that’s me. Tall, blonde, thin and barely a bump to speak of!  I made this skirt for my Christmas outfit (go to our actual blog to see).  The first time I made it, the waistband was a bit too small and uncomfortable for the bump.  This time, too big.  So, I’m making readjustments again and hope to have it on and comfy by the end of this weekend.  One day I’ll figure out how to measure my waist.

I’m also busy reading Large Family Logistics and totally getting overwhelmed in spots.  I had to take a week off for my brain to process and see how her suggestions would fit into our world.  My impulse…to jump in and do everything but I know that I would go insane with that and getting ready for a baby.  So, I’m trying to apply some things that I know will work a little at a time.  “Rome wasn’t built in a day” as they say.  For now, I’ll say that this book is a must read for any mom…not just those with a bunch of kids.  I know I’m not going to finish it all this month but it will be complete by year’s end.  And, look on here for tidbits that I’ve gained and will be applying. 

Oh, we’ve also got house projects too…like Igor and a bike shed and deck decorating and the like…and field trips and school and freezer cooking and the like.  And watch out.  Mark is getting me a smartphone.  Don’t ask me what kind.  I’m still not 100% sure.  But it should make labor day quite interesting as we duel blog 🙂

Yes, life here is never boring!

My book list for 2011 was a great idea, but I admit that I got side tracked and did not read hardly anything on it.  I did read but not that much from my list.  2012 should prove a good year for reading as I will be nursing a wee one and I prefer to do that sitting down and to keep from going to sleep, I usually read.

So, here goes…I present my reading list for 2012.

January:  Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman.  I’ve been oogling over this book since it came out this year and my dear sweet husband purchased it for me for Christmas!  Isn’t he amazing!
February:  Deeper Waters by Robert Whitlow.  Mark’s mom introduced me to this writer and I downloaded the sample for his book and loved it.  It’s suspense, mystery and set in the south, Can a book get any better than that?
March:  Love Your Husband, Love Yourself by Jennifer Flanders.  My sister-in-law got this for me and I’ve read tidbits but nausea and pregnancy have kept me put off from actually digging in to it.  I can’t wait to get started though.  It does prove to be some good insightful reading.
April:  Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin.  I saw this book in a Christian book circular and thought it looked interesting.  With an author who has a last name Austin, it’s got to be good. Okay, so it’s spelled different than Jane Austen but it’s still pronounced the same.
May:  The Gentle Ways of the Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund.  This is a three in one volume so I will probably just read one book.  It’s an oldie, but supposed to be a goodie.  Oh, and I got it used for pennies.  Actually paid more for the shipping than the book.
June:  Ten P’s in a Pod by Arnold Pent III.  I do believe this has been on my list to read.  I think it will be a fun easy read.
July:  Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Teri Maxwell.  Okay, I’ll admit, I may need to read this every month.
August:  Duncan’s War by Douglas Bond.  A good fiction book to get back into the swing of things with school.  I’m reading it to see if it’s appropriate for the kids to read.  No, really, I am.  Okay, it’s set in Scotland.  I couldn’t resist.
September:  The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer.  My sister got this book for me for Christmas.
October:  No Longer a Slumdog by K.P. Yohannan.  I’m scared to read this book.  I know it will break my heart and turn it even more towards caring for children but I must read it.
November:  Well, that leads me to a book that I purchased that I can’t remember the name of nor can I remember where I put it.  Really.  No wait, I found out the name.  It’s 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I’ll be grateful when I can find it again.  Let me know if you see it.  Well, I’ve got eleven months to locate it.  Updated to say that I found it. I mentioned to Mark that I had lost it and he produced it, announced he had read two pages and it was too depressing and had put it down.  Yay for me to read.
December:  Given that I didn’t do so well getting through my list last year, I might just leave this month open to catch up.

I will say I had one small accomplishment, I read through the Bible this year.  Chronologically.  Which is pretty interesting.  I didn’t read it alone.  Zoe and Mark read through too.  My eight year old daughter read through the Bible in one year ya’ll!  That’ll keep ya accountable if nothing else will!  And honestly, I think just reading the Bible is the more important that all these other books I have listed.  Well, Large Family Logistics runs a close second though.