Family Mailboxes

Add some twist to your family communication! Kids love getting mail and as long as the mail isn’t bills, parents love mail too. Add some zip to your family communications by creating a family mailbox. Great for leaving messages of encouragement, love, and support for fellow family members. It is also a great way for kids to “vent” and get some things that may be troubling them and are unable to express in words off their chest. A great activity for family nights.

Family New Year Resolutions

If you haven’t already done so, take time as a family this month to create a family New Year’s resolution. A family resolution is one the entire family can participate in creating and fulfilling, a goal the family works toward together. For example, one resolution may be to spend time each week together as a family, or another may be to volunteer the family’s time two hours each month to a local charity or cause. Be creative and have fun. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Involve all members of the family in the creation of the resolution.

• Be flexible and willing to try new things.

• Don’t rush to get this done. Begin by introducing the idea at dinner one night and give everyone some time to come up with ideas.

• Hold each other accountable for the success of this goal.

• Set up mini celebrations throughout the year like a trip for ice cream or a dinner out to celebrate your continued success.

Counting Moo

Make dinner time fun and enjoyable with this fun dinner game and easy to make and great tasting dish. Be sure to check out the helpful hint at the end!

Counting Moo

• Go around the table counting, starting with the number one.

• Whenever you get to an even number, say “Moo.”

• For example, “one, moo, three, moo, five, moo…”

• Anyone who misses a “Moo” or a correct number must take a sip of milk and start the game over.

Variation - Try this with odd numbers, prime numbers, or multiples of 3 depending on the ages of your children. You can find this fun game as well as many more in our Family Dinner Games.

Lemon Chicken

Ingredients
4 Chicken Breast Halves (or 2 whole breasts)
1 Egg
5 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice
1/2 Cup Light Butter
2 Chicken Bouillon Cubes
1 Cup Boiling Water
1/2 Cup Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Paprika
1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

Beat the egg and 1 Tablespoon of the lemon juice in a bowl. Combine the flour, paprika, and garlic powder in another bowl (large enough to coat the chicken breast). Dip the chicken breast in the egg mixture and then coat it on both sides with the flour mixture. Melt the butter in a pan or electric skillet and brown each chicken breast on both sides. Dissolve the bouillon cubes in the boiling water and then add the remaining 4 tablespoons of lemon juice. Pour the broth over the browned chicken and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with warm white or brown rice. Serves 4

Helpful Hints

Try organizing your weekly menu by themes to help with meal planning and grocery shopping. For example, make Monday chicken night, Tuesday pasta night, Wednesday crock pot night, etc. This helps make it easier to plan which meals to serve and streamlines grocery lists and shopping.

Oh…I Didn’t Think You Meant that Couch…

Well the missing sippy cup has been found and even though it didn’t smell too bad, it was filled with spoiled gunky milk so I threw it away. I found it under the living room couch…you know the one I asked my husband if he looked under? Apparently when I asked him if he looked under the couches I should have clarified and said both couches - you know the one in the living room and dining room….next time I will just do it myself!

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Polly

My friend Bobette over at Marketing Strategies has invited me to join in this fun game. Thanks, Bobette!

1. I’m a huge Alan Jackson fan and have just about every one of his songs downloaded to my iPod.
2. I don’t have any patience for whiners. I avoid them like the plague.
3. I don’t believe in coincidence. Every thing happens for a reason and everyone is born with a purpose.
4. Unlike Bobette, I don’t collect anything and I hate clutter. I throw out a lot of stuff….including things my husband thinks needs saving…
5. Getting everything done on my “do list” brings me great joy!

Some people I admire and would like to know more about are Alicia Staz, Susan and Janice, and e-Mom