Last night’s chocolate pie turned into a coconut cream one when the chocolate seemed to have been shared by elves in the house.  I have to laugh every time such situations come up, each member of my teen and young adult family looks piously at the other and says “did YOU eat the chocolate?” and then they laugh.  “What’s for Dinner?” at our home is a conversation starter.  I had a blogger call me out yesterday to ask why I would make such a deal about dinner, or bother cooking when I have been educated, can hire someone, or whatever her point was.  My point is this. Family dinner is a priority for the Berry family because it is time shared.  Preparing the menu, sharing the time shopping, prepping together and sharing the meal is a way to stay in communication with our family. Our meals are often simple, not complicated or expensive, but because they are prepared for, table set or a pretty napkin shared, the children and my  husband feel nurtured.  Is it my favorite thing to do? Sometimes. Other days its the LAST thing I want to do, but systems like having menu choices, keeping a few easy to prepare ready to go meals in the freezer help bridge the gaps of desire those days.

Zucchini apparently has a new spelling in my picture today. Life is that way some days.   This morning I had to pause as the kitchen was NOT cleaned last night, we’re out of the habit. It’s so defeating to not do small things you know to do, for when they pile up its not pretty. Do you like to tackle things as they come? I don’t particularly but I have learned from child rearing years if I don’t do what is before me routinely, shortly the routine will roll me over with have to’s. You know the kind, “Mom, I HAVE to have socks for school”  “Honey I HAVE to get bakery on the way if you don’t have time to bake for the office”  Routines and schedules aren’t for their sanity, they are for mine! I’m about loose schedules, as in one to six things a day to accomplish so that tomorrow I can focus on 1-6 new ones…not 104!

When I consistently choose small actions, the big ones seem to get done.  How about you?

~Sweetie

  You know that at my house everything gets quickly out of order without a plan.  I’m not a Type A personality, so plans do not come naturally to me, or rather the continuation of enacting them doesn’t. Strategist create plans, managers enact them. At home however, I am the home manager and the strategist. Menus are a great way to do a few supportive things at once:

a) Menus allow us to focus on health and habits of eating

b) Menus allow children and spouses to look forward to their favorites and to engage in conversation and ownership of the family meal table.

c) Menus allow my budget and pantry to be supportive of our likes, wants, and special celebrations and gatherings.

d) Menus make a way for others to participate in helping prepare the meals, support getting it on the table, and encouraging ownership of our family!

What are you having at your house tonight?

This Easter we gathered a few of our family, Les’s mom and his oldest daughter Kim joined us from Oklahoma. It is good to have family in town! Easter’s are a time of family, of coming together and we were so glad to have a few of ours!