Showing posts with label canning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label canning. Show all posts

Friday, October 21, 2011

Mostly Boring Every Day Stuff...

We've been very busy having lots and lots of fun lately.  Since I last blogged we took a trip to San Diego, visited Ben's family in Denver, and enjoyed a visit from my mom at our home.  Ben and I also decided that the differences between us can be summed up by saying that he is like Voltaire, and I am like Victor Hugo.  Take that as you will.  I'll post pictures and videos from all of that soon, but I thought tonight I would just do a general "What We've Been Up To Lately" type of post.  So, here it goes.

The biggest thing this week is that we moved Tommy from his crib into a big boy bed (a.k.a. a twin mattress on the floor).  We have been putting this off for months because of the horror stories we have heard from other families about that particular transition.  But, alas, as we all settled down for a nap last Saturday afternoon Tommy climbed out of his crib for the first time and that's when we knew our lives were over.  We set up his new bed, installed a baby gate at the top of the staircase, and dismantled the crib that afternoon.  He was a little upset that his crib disappeared, but he got instantly excited about his new bed when I brought out the Thomas the Tank Engine sheets.  We practiced "sleeping" in his new bed all afternoon so that by the time bedtime rolled around he was a pro at it.  We bought a childproof doorknob and explained to Tommy that if he stayed in his bed we wouldn't put it on the door, but that if he got out we would have to put the doorknob on the door so that he stayed in his room.  We gave him three tries the first night and then had to put the doorknob on.  He screamed and cried for about 10 minutes before he went to sleep.  It was awful and reminiscent of when we sleep trained him as a baby.  But, after 10 minutes he fell asleep on his bed and stayed there all night.  It's been almost a week now and we still use the doorknob on a case-by-case basis.  There have been several nights that he has chosen to stay in his bed so we haven't had to use it.  He hasn't woken us up during the night once so far, which I am very grateful for.  I'm not nice when I don't get enough sleep:)  Overall, we are very proud of Tommy for learning to sleep in his new bed and he is absolutely thrilled to have, as he put it, "a beautiful new bed."

Speaking of funny things Tommy says, here are a few great quotes from the little guy lately:
  • When I asked Tommy which song he wanted me to sing for him in his bed he replied, "I want the Jesus song where Jesus tells the children go higher and higher. They go in a rocket ship and go faster and faster. That song.” 
  • “I am a prophet!” 
  • While wiping Tommy's runny nose and having a hard time getting all the snot out, Tommy reassured me by saying, “Don't worry, Mommy, I will pick it.” After I was done he said, “Good job, Mommy, washing my face.” I really appreciated the positive reinforcement and the reassurance that he would take care of it if I couldn't.
  • “I'm gonna send a text...to the birds outside...(while holding the phone to his ear) Hi birds!”
In other news besides Tommy news, we got a new dining table and chairs!  It has been a long time coming and we are thrilled to have finally bought a new set.  Our old Target set was great at first, but it has become increasingly dangerous and uncomfortable over the past couple of years.  I don't think those things are made to last more than a year or so.  Our new set is big and sturdy, has six padded chairs, and a leaf.  We actually have room on the table for our plates and the serving dishes, plus Ben doesn't get up and wander around every 2 minutes because the chairs are uncomfortable.  It has been great, to say the least.  Tommy put his Cars chair up on his dining chair and calls it his Monster Truck.  Every time he climbs up or gets down he says something like, "Wow, that's a big truck!"  But, he sits and he eats his food, so I don't care.
I have been busy this week canning and cooking 80 pounds of chicken.  That's right, 80 pounds of raw chicken.  I only have about 15 pounds left to can or freeze, but it feels like running a marathon.  The last little bit is always the hardest no matter how much you have already done.  Hopefully tomorrow will be the last of this chicken marathon.  I have 35 pints of canned chicken so far and almost 30 freezer meals put together.  My goal is to have about 45 freezer meals ready to go when I have the baby so that I essentially don't have to cook for a couple of months.  It's a lot of work right now, but hopefully it will pay off in January and February.  Plus, with all the canned chicken I shouldn't have to buy/handle/cook chicken again for almost a year:)

I am feeling extremely pregnant these days.  This Sunday will be 30 weeks (almost 7 months), so we're moving right along.  I'm getting to the point now where I can't do everything I want to do.  I can't bend over or sit on the floor much.  My feet ache if I stand up for too long and I'm not sleeping well.  But, on the up side, I am still running and I usually feel really good, as long as I don't overdo it.  I'm sure my running days are numbered, but I am happy to still be able to do it on these cool October mornings.  Below is a picture of Tommy using the baby monitor to listen to the baby's heartbeat.  He told me, "I'm the midwife, means I'm Karen, means I need to check your baby."  Too cute.  He's so excited to be a big brother.
Ben continues to work hard to bring home the bacon.  If anyone out there knows of anyone that needs a freelance writer, Ben's your man.  He has a couple of contracts writing for blogs and websites right now, but he is always on the lookout for more.

While my mom was here Ben and I enjoyed a little stay-cation in Scottsdale.  We went to an improv comedy show, went to dinner, and enjoyed a little hike together.  The hike was a little tougher than we expected, especially with my pregnant belly.  That's why we both look so exhausted in the picture.  It was a beautiful view of the valley at the top, though.  It was nice to get away for a night.  It was probably the last time we'll be able to do that for a couple of years:)

Friday, October 7, 2011

Zaycon Chicken $1.49/lb.

I wanted to post this as soon as found out because it is a real steal!  Seriously, I did my happy savings dance when I received an email informing me that Zaycon is selling chicken for $1.49/lb.  That's not a typo, that's simply the best price you will ever find for boneless skinless chicken breasts.  I just ordered myself 80 pounds of it.  Maybe that sounds like a lot, but I ordered 40 pounds last March and have been surprised at how fast we have gone through it.  This time I am planning to can about 50 pounds of it (for my post on how to can chicken go here).  With the other 30 pounds I am planning to make freezer meals in preparation for our baby to arrive.  Hopefully I won't have to cook for a couple of months that way:)

For those of you who are new to Zaycon, Zaycon Foods is a Spokane-based company that brings fresh meats and other products directly to consumers at wholesale prices. Their specialty is Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – 100% natural, no added hormones, additives or artificial ingredients. Even better is that their chicken comes directly from the farm – it is never frozen, and always fresh. The chicken is sold in 40 lb. boxes, and comes packaged in (4) 10 lb. bags – (perfect for those that want to split a box with another family).

The process is easy:  you order from Zaycon directly through their secure website, and then you pick up your order at a specific Zaycon Food Savings event.  For those of you in Arizona they have locations in Mesa, Peoria, Queen Creek, Chandler, Marana, Flagstaff, Prescott, Goodyear, Tucson, Maricopa, and Casa Grande.  The date and time for pick up are different for each location, so check their website here.  For my readers in Utah they have locations all along the Wasatch Front and in St. George.  They also have locations in Idaho, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California, and in most states throughout the country.  If I were you I would go ahead and register on their website so you can receive email notifications when they have events near you.

How can you get it on this amazing deal?
  • Register at Zaycon Foods to be notified of future sales.
  • Place your order and select a pick up location.
  • Pick up your chicken at the time and location you have selected.
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!