8/25/08

Setting our Minds!

Today I woke my kids up, cooked them breakfast, made their lunches, and we sat in the living room as a family, taking a few minutes to talk about creating a plan that will help our kids to consistently think about things above through this next school year (Col. 3:1-2).

Yes, today was the first day of school for our 3 kids. And our oldest son drove all three (sniff-sniff!)

The breakfast I cooked today is one that my mom cooked for my sisters and me, 35 years ago! I call it, “Egg in Toast,” – but when I was growing up we called it a “Toad in a Hole.”


TOAD IN A HOLE
Take a piece of bread and cut a circle out of the center (I use a glass or mug). Heat your frying pan and spray the bottom.

Put the piece of bread in the pan, crack an egg in the cut-out-hole, and add salt and pepper and cook. Flip to the other side and cook some more. Butter the circles and fry on both sides.

(I use Costco’s Omega 3 eggs and Innkeeper’s 8 grain bread. Make sure you use a large enough piece of bread, and cut a rather large hole. You don't want your eggs to run all over). Ready to Serve!

It’s a breakfast that your kids can learn to cook, just as my sisters and I did growing up, and one that our kids have learned to make on their own.


Oh, and by the way – we do not have perfect mornings in our household. The kids knew that today was special, being the first day of school. But in the future they are on their own to set their own alarm clocks, cook their own breakfasts and make their own lunches, if they want to take one. My husband and I are early-risers and we head to our offices and get started in our work-day rather early.

It’s our goal this year to meet three times a week in the mornings to “set our minds” on what really matters. But we know we also have great goals at the beginning of the school year – and our good intentions often get thwarted by busyness or forgetfulness.

But at least we started in the right direction today.

Are you excited for the school year ahead?

(We also take advantage of dinnertime to connect and go deep with our kids. You can read, Children Seen and Heard, here.)

(Coughlin kids heading out to school this morning.)

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actually, it sounds like your mornings ARE close to perfect. I love hearing about others' working out their routines and doing the everyday stuff. Good stuff! :)

And PS: My eggs always run out of the hole...

Jen said...

The first day of school I always have a lump in my throat all day long. Crazy I know. I love the picture of the kids and the mountains int he back ground.I have never made the toast and egg for breakfast. I should though.
I hope you had a good day while the nest was empty....talk to you soon.

Christian - Modobject@Home said...

I love your intentional way of starting the school year. No better time to "set our minds" than when they are fresh.

~nanashouse~ said...

Tyler will be homeschooling this year and I know the temptation will be to do school in jammies after a bowl of cold cereal. Thank you for your reminder of "setting our minds". My goal is to always have our home ready just in case someone stops by. I'll have to carry this into Tyler's school, just in case...

Michele said...

My kids called that dish "egg in a frame" and still is one of their favorites!

The first day of school was especially bittersweet for me this year as my baby became a Senior and, like your son, drove herself to school. The last one's about to leave the nest...sob, indeed!

Ms. Tee said...

This sounds like a great start to me. :)
I just read the Children Seen and Heard post. I loved it. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh how I love all the first day photos I took of my kids through the years. So great to look back on. Blessings on your 3 as they start another year...

An Ordinary Mom said...

Lovely post! I am actually very excited to see school begin next week.

tammi said...

I LOVE "Toad in the Hole!!" Awesome breakfast! And what a great way to start the day and school year ~ not just the breakfast, but sitting down and creating a family plan, a mission for the year. So many great ideas for intentional living.... now if only I could get off my butt and start implementing some of my own!!

Shannon said...

Sandy - What beautiful kids!

Anonymous said...

In my family these eggs are called "gas house eggs" They were featured and named in a Shirley Temple movie (I have no idea which one)

School always starts with mixed emotions for me--and this is my baby's Senior year.
Hug to you

Kirstin said...

Yum! I made those and posted on "toad in a hole" a few weeks ago. I love the inn keepers bread!

Your kids are too cute! I think our girls would get along really well. I think what you are doing is awesome. I homeschool but also wouldn't have a problem if our girls wanted to go to school but we'd have lots of talks as you have. How can I set the pace? How can I keep setting my mind? How can I be Jesus to someone? We do that now with soccer teammates.

Jill said...

As a kid growing up and being raised by a single mom, I, too, was on my own to get myself up and off to school. I will expect the same from my kids when they reach a more independent age (can't turn my 2 you loose to cook his own breakfast yet - ha!). I'm amazed at the number of mothers who think I'm a little bit "hard" to expect this, yet at dinner time sit around eating in front of the TV barely speaking to their children. I (and my husband) think being responsible for yourself in this way teaches great lessons to kids. Like you, hubby and I are off to work to earn a living for our family very early in the morning, but we're home by 5:30 to prepare a great meal for our family. Great post. (And that breakfast looks yummy!)

linda t said...

Oh I miss my kids first day of school!
I keep thinking I would love to do a scrapbook of just pictures that we've taken over the years of their first day of school. Wouldn't that be fun to see the changes from year to year.. the clothes they chose to wear that first day each year?
And I LOVE breakfast foods... gotta add your "toads in a hole" to my various menu ideas! YUM!

Girl Raised in the South said...

We took a 'first day of school' photo all the way up to their senior year and I loved how the expression changed over the years. I sure do treasure them now that school days are far behind them. I loved the look on your oldest's face - looked very familiar to that of ours once they were in high school and we were still having them stand there for God and the whole neighborhood to see, having their photo taken.

Anonymous said...

That photo of the three is priceless. I'm sure they were enthused about taking that one, huh:)

grace said...

i see that your kiddos can barely contain their excitement for the new school year... :)
this is a fun breakfast, definitely one that youngsters can recreate for themselves. i hope the first day went well! :)

duchess said...

Great breakfast idea. I'll give it a try (on a weekend). We don't usually have time during the week -I have sleepyheads.
Glad your school year is getting off to a good start.
Ours is going well so far, it's day 6...we'll see.

Darla said...

School starts for the GD today. Yeah, I know, on Tuesday seems odd. The biggest question she and her friend had recently was which of the two classes they would get assigned to and would they be together? I can't wait to talk to her tonight and see how it turned out.

Great pic of your three.

Darla

Gina said...

My daughter started Kinder yesterday and to see you right "sniff sniff" , I just know there will be LOTS more tears shed as they grow, hopefully not as many as yesterday! This breakfast was a favorite of mine as a little girl and of my little girl's too...we call it "Eggs in a Basket".

Christy said...

Your breakfast looks yummy! I've always called it "eggs in a basket".

As school started today, I was reminded of how our family needs to be intentional and purposeful with what we are doing. It's this time of year that we begin to look at our priorities again, and see what areas we want to commit our time to. It's so easy to become too busy and overcommitted. This verse will be on the forefront of my mind and I know it will be a great one to share with my children as we make family decisions.

What a wonderful way to start the school year.

Thank you for your words of encouragement.

Linda Lou said...

First day of school-new clothes, new backpack,new teachers,and Mom gets a break!! Yummy breakfast..

Neighbor Jane Payne said...

Pretty exciting day at your house when the oldest can get the rest to school. Good luck to all of you for a great school year.

We call them one-eyed sandwiches and they're a staple.

Kelli said...

We started yesterday here at home.

G. said...

My mom used to make that for my brother and I growing up and we called it "egg in the eye". I introduced it to my husband and now, we make it for the kids and they love it.
My kiddos are not in school yet but, this year I'm starting pre-school at home with my son. He's excited...I'm a little nervous. :)

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

What a great breakfast idea! I will give it a try for sure! Good luck with the beginning of the school year! :)
-Carrie

Linda said...

I have never heard of this. I am going to try it on my oldest tomorrow. He is always willing to try something different, moreso than my little ones. Hope their first day was a great one, including the one who drove off. :)
Blessings,
Linda

Rebekah said...

What a great thing to purpose to do with your children at the start of each school year. Thanks for sharing. I want to do this!

Sisterly Love Card Co said...

That looks like a fun breakfast. I will have to try and cook that for my kids. They will love it. Thanks for the idea!!

The Summer Kitchen Girls said...

Hello Sandy! I had to laugh when I saw the picture of your eggs - my 9 year old took a cooking class for kids this summer and learned to make many things and "eggs in a basket" and since then, we have had it every week. This morning was the first day of school and she wanted to make it - the older one wanted pancakes, and won...guess what's for breakfast tomorrow??
Have a great week!
Karla & Karrie too

AngiDe said...

Oh we love eggs and maybe now my 3 year old will eat them! Thanks for the tip. P.S. found you through Tip Junkie! Love your blog!

Anonymous said...

I had a toad in a hole the other day for breackfast it was yummy! I had never had one before and saw them on Pioneer woman. My kids love them. We call them Egg in a basket. My kids also do thier own lunches and breakfasts (except my little one)