Just Your Average Fall Day

One thing about having all the kids in school is that I'm a little at a loss for posting material. All my entertainment (and frustration) is out the door for several hours five days a week.

Today is what I would consider an average fall day. It's sunny, mild, but not warm, breezy, and ridiculously quiet. I'm feeling off. There is no lack of things to do, but I just don't feel like doing any of them.

I enjoyed a morning out with this season's Bible study ladies and have to run out again this afternoon to take three kids to the eye doctor, pick up one from play practice, take one to work, and pick him up again two hours later (I've been known to forget this part). Because of all that busyness during arsenic hour (that time frame where everyone is a combination between tired and hungry), supper is in the crock pot.

 I've deemed Monday mornings as grocery time. If I'm out the door early enough, I can often pick up items such as bread or chicken for 50% or 30% respectively off their original price. With this big family and the way these kids eat, that's a good thing.

 We live very close to a border city. Meaning that in a very short time, we could be shopping in the United States. Tons of our peers do exactly that, and we're constantly asked (or it's even assumed that we do) if we shop in the United States. We do not. Unless money here gets reallllly tight, I can't imagine that we ever will. If it truly comes down to being able to feed my growing children, or not, then it might be a possibility. We don't for several reasons.

There is no reason that stands out among the others except that I feel that in a country where one does not have free health care, it's a good thing that groceries are significantly cheaper than groceries in Canada. I also know that the same groceries will vary in price from one state to the next. Try getting cheap groceries in Florida or California for example.

 Another thing for me is that my time is at a premium. I have seven kids who almost all have places to go, friends to enjoy, homework to do, etc, etc. When they're home, I'm busy dividing myself between them. When they're at school, I'm busy trying to catch up (never mind keep up) with the laundry, the housework, the yardwork, etc. I really don't want to have to drive +/- 20 minutes to get to the border, spend the time on the bridge crossing the border and then the time to grocery shop, deal hunt, etc. I really really don't like shopping be it groceries, clothes, etc. I did not get that female gene.

 There are a few other reasons too, but I'd rather not mention them as I don't want to create a discussion about whys and wherefores. It is what it is for our family.

Sometimes I wished we lived at least a couple of hours from the border. Oh those poor Canadians who can't cross border shop ;o)!

Anyways, I digress. I have been for weeks stocking up on sales. I decided after putting the groceries away yesterday that aside from milk, and possibly cheese ( I also need to buy a big bag of barley yet), I really shouldn't have to go out for groceries for the next for Mondays. Think it's possible? I'll let you know. So October 30th should be my first real grocery trip again. If I go that long, I'm thinking we may need more oatmeal (breakfast of growing kids) and some baking sundries too, but we'll see. I'll let you know at the end of October how well I did.

So back to today. Today, I am going to pour myself yet another cup of coffee, continue reading Anne Frank, watch the sunlight dance among the leaves (they aren't falling too much yet), and enjoy the peace before the evening rush. Tomorrow I'll go like crazy again. By the way, I'm almost ready for a craft room reveal :o)!

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