What, no video games..........

My husband works at a drug and alcohol rehab center, and as much as possible he likes to sit down and chat with the boys. A couple of weeks ago he got into a conversation with a couple of boys about video games, and the way I took it, they think our children are deprived. The topic came up that he should go out and buy our children some games, and my husbands response was, we don't allow video games in our home, and they thought he was a mean daddy. I would like to mention that this may not be for every home, we feel that in our situation this is in the best interest for our children.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

I would like to make a list of things that my children do for fun:

1: Read : We all like to read in our home and this is a highlight of the day is to sit down after Bible devotions of an evening and read a few chapters in a book.

2: Crafts : My children love to sit down, cut and glue anything, they also enjoy coloring or
drawing.

3: Chickens : This is something they look forward to doing every morning, going and letting the chickens out to run the yard and checking for eggs ( we only have 1 laying )

4: Chester : This is our dog, and although he can be playful at times they enjoy spending the
day with him.

5: Building : My son loves to build things, bird houses, bird feeders, and sometimes I am not
sure what it is that he is building, but I know that whatever it is he is learning.

6: Cooking : As you all know from my posts Chloe loves to help mommy cook, one of these days
I will be asking her questions.

7: Riding bikes : All three of my older children could ride all day, they love ( even Chloe ) to try
new tricks all the time.

8: Throwing knives : This is something that we enjoy doing as a family.

9: School : Although my oldest don't care much for school, ( what can I say, he is a boy ) Chloe
enjoys it very much.

10: Being Kids : My kids love to be out side playing in the dirt, sand, and water.


I have noticed that most children are talking about what is going to be on T.V. tonight or what level they are in on their hand held game. I am thankful that my children don't even know what is on the T.V, and when it comes to video games they are totally clueless. I see it as, they are out there learning. My husband and I are trying to raise them as the Lord would want us to raise them.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

A lot of the things that they enjoy doing, Gage building, Chloe cooking, is raising them in the way that they should go, Gage being a hard working man :

Proverbs 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

Chloe being a keeper of the home:

Titus 2 :5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient, to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

My husband and I strongly believe that we as parents would be heading our children in the wrong direction if they sat in front of the T.V. watching something or playing a game.

Canning

Wow it has been a while, I am sorry that it took me so long to post again. There really is no excuse, except for this past week. Chloe and I started canning apples, and what a wonderful time we had together. We sliced and peeled 5 dozen apples, 2 finger cuts and 1 burn later we had 8 quarts, 1 apple pie, and the peelings, cinnamon, and cloves making the homestead smell just wonderful. Thankfully daddy was working over that night so there was no rush to keep up the laundry and other house duties.

Then on Thursday of last week someone had given us another basket full of apples, so after the children were all snuggled in their bed I set off to slicing in peeling once more to can the next day. I had put 2 dozen in the crock pot to make some apple butter, and all together I think I sliced and peeled another 51/2 dozen, with 2 more dozen to go. I had placed the apples in some cold water and salt and into the refrigerator they went to be canned the next day.

I waited for daddy to get home late that night around 12 I would say, he got home checked his mail and so on, by 12:30 my oldest daughter who is 5 woke up sick. She had never really been sick before, so needless to say she did not know how to go about running to the bathroom first thing. Not 15 min later, my youngest daughter, who is 17 mo old, started in. While I was cleaning up Chloe daddy cleaned up Rissy. Daddy went to bed being he had to be up early and out the door by 7. Mommy stayed up with the Chloe and Rissy till 4:30am, not to mention my 7 year old woke up somewhere around 2 and started in.

Now I don't want you all to forget, I have apples in the crock pot, and in the fridge to be canned the next morning.

I got daddy out the door, took a 2 hour nap, and started my canning for the day with out my Chloe by my side, being she was laying down all day. I sure do miss her when she is not there to help me cook and clean. :( With all that being said I got 6 more quarts canned, 3 pints of apple butter made up. I was exhausted that night, thankfully daddy surprised us with pizza so mommy did not have to cook.

I have some pictures of Chloe helping me do some canning that I will post later.

Canning the apples

Slice and peel apples
Place then in the bottom of pot with a little water
In another pot stir 2 cups of boiling water to 2 cups of sugar
After sugar is dissolved poor over cooking apples
Simmer for 2 to 3 min
Place in Quart jars
With a hot rag put the lids on tightly
Place jars into hot water bath for 25 min
When done turn jars upside down until completely cool

I also added cinnamon into some of my jars for cinnamon apples

Apple Butter

Place sliced and peeled apples into crock pot until the pot is full
Do not add water, and let apples cook over night for 12 hrs do not stir
In the morning add sugar, and spices. Stir well. Cook uncovered for 5 hrs
stirring often.

Place in pint jars and place in hot water bath for 10 min
When done place jars upside down and completely cool.