It's nearly Christmas

Almost Christmas.  Nearly Christmas holiday.  I cannot wait.  Two weeks of no early morning school rush, no driving through traffic to get to work, two thirds of my kiddies off to kindergarten.  In short:  Bliss.  Pure bliss.

Our menu for this week doesn't include Xmas dinner.  As yet, I haven't got a cooking clue what we'll be cooking up...   

Menu for the week

Monday                         Risotto with Feta, Butternut & Bacon for the Carnivores

Tuesday                         Grilled Salmon with leftover risotto, haricots verts, and 
                                          gingered carrots

Wednesday                     Courgette & Mascarpone tart with vegetarian schnitzels

Thursday                          Homemade Tomato soup & bread

Friday                                Homemade pizzas

Saturday                           Spaghetti with tomato sauce & vegetarian meatballs

Sunday                             XMAS dinner.... still to be decided...

Have a good week! 

 

Survival meets Consumerism

I came across this on Facebook:

This time of year is terrible.  Being bombarded with advertisements that encourage you to buy, possess, own, have, purchase.  Here and there a lost advertisement for charity and poverty and need.

Don't get me wrong:  I live in this world.  This consumerist world.  I buy my kids lavish gifts, purchase books and stuff all year long.  I own an expensive house, my own car, luxuries. 
I consider my status in this world in my job as a university lecturer and my ego puffs up a bit more whenever I drive in our (even more) luxurious Volvo. 

In my own small way, the only time I really think about poverty and people suffering, is when I chuck away food that has spoiled in my fridge.  Then I always think of some mother somewhere who would give her limbs if her child could only have what I'm chucking out. 

I can't help thinking that the way I'm living is wrong:  With all this need in the world, what am I doing or contributing that will make others' lives better?  What have I done today to help a child go to bed with a full tummy? 

This Christmas will be different in our house, I promise.

You know you're living with boys when...

 

...you find a tank in the Christmas tree. 

Today!

This says it all about my attitude for today!

We're making Christmas decorations for our tacky tree (Xmas trees should be tacky!!!) and trying to stay warm on a cold and windy day here in the Netherlands!

Tonight some leftover soup & bread, make a fire and melt some marshmallows.  Haven't done that in years.

:)