Going to be almost doubling our family size for a few months

**YankeeMom** · 10-10-2010, 11:24 AM

I need any and all ideas

My brother & his family (wife & two kids) are going to be moving from Florida to NY. Brother is already here & staying with us, the rest of the family will be here in December. We have plenty of room, get along great with all of them, have two full bathrooms and one half bath so I don't think that will be a problem. They have similar parenting philosophies, work ethics, etc. They will also be contributing to the grocery, electric & water bills (the only things I can think of that will increase with more people). My brother has already earned his keep & then some by fixing my dishwasher and is at this moment helping dh to fix my van. He also plans on fixing the water hookup to my fridge

Any organizational suggestions? Showers for 9 are a little more difficult to schedule than showers for 5 (dd18 moved out last month). Not to mention laundry & the extra dishes. I'm kind of worried about where everyone will sit at dinner time..my table only seats six. We'll have to spread out into the kitchen (no counters) at the little table I use for prepping. Also the parking will be a bit like musical chairs...they have two vehicles and we have three.

Also meals? The only extra big, budget-friendly meals I can think of are spaghetti, chili, soups, and various pasta dishes (lasagna, goulash, mac & cheese, etc).

**nodmicks** · 10-10-2010, 11:31 AM

I don't really have any suggestions on organization but bless your heart for helping them get started in a new place!

When I have all my nieces and nephews over or a few of the kids friends I am feeding 9-12. I make pasta's like you suggested , a big turkey , sloppy joes, homemade pizza, tacos , chili, soups etc.

As far as showers, maybe 1 family showers at night and the other mornings??
Good luck!

**Marie78** · 10-10-2010, 12:03 PM

That is so nice of you to host your family

. Are they staying for a long time?

Some meal ideas: breakfast for dinner, pasta fagioli, crock pot meals (although you might need 2 or 3 crockpots

with a crowd that big ). Chicken and dumplings, tater tot casserole, ham and potato casserole, Home made pizzas night

. Good luck you are a good sister!

**cab54** · 10-10-2010, 12:40 PM

Crockpot. A BIG one. Or two. And a bread machine. That's how I handle crowds.

You are a GREAT sister.

**YankeeMom** · 10-10-2010, 12:41 PM

Marie, it's so good to "see" you again!! Congrats on baby #2

They will be here about 2-3 months. Thanks for the suggestions!

**AnW819** · 10-10-2010, 02:13 PM

Your an awesome sister! and I also agree on the one family showers @ night, and the other in the morning!

**mauimagic** · 10-10-2010, 03:20 PM

What wonderful memories you'll be making!!

Turkeys should be on sale soon - I'd freeze 2-3 for later definitely.

Salads and veggies with beans in everything!!

Let us know how and what you are doing!!

**Paws** · 10-10-2010, 04:22 PM

Invest in another slow cooker and double all your recipes.

The Duggars have a nice website that features a few of their favorite LARGE family recipes...

Favorite Family Recipes | Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Family

**Luckybustert** · 10-10-2010, 04:27 PM

Rice is a great meal stretcher and goes with pretty much everything! In the winter, chili over rice with a little bit of shredded cheese and chopped onion makes a very filling meal! Any meal you can cook in the crockpot which has a lot of gravy or juice is also normally good over rice.

**pollypurebred39** · 10-10-2010, 04:53 PM

Well, my Grandmother always had a whole bunch of us at her supper table. She had 9 kids, their spouses and their kids, we were quite a crowd. She used to make skillets full of fried potatoes, waffles, potato soup, huge kettles of chicken and dumplings, vegetable soup, string beans and potatoes flavored with bacon drippings, biscuits, corn bread, macaroni salad & potato salad.

On Sundays after church we almost always had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, iceberg lettuce salad with sliced onions & tossed with oil and oregano (or homemade French-mayo and ketchup), biscuits & gravy. It's still a inexpensive meal for a crowd if you buy chicken legs on sale, and make everything from scratch.

There was always cakes and pies to snack on. Bacon ends were part of every breakfast, even if you had oatmeal. If you still have a garden producing, tomato sandwiches, tomato gravy over bread, or fried green tomatoes.

I've made grilled peanut butter and jelly, or banana sandwiches to break up the PB&J boredom. Or I stuffed bread with cream cheese and fruit/jelly dipped in french toast batter and grilled. I sometimes make fried balogna sandwiches. Wacky cake and milk pies are often on my table as they are dirt cheap to make. Homemade pudding mixes are inexpensive to make up, jello is rather inexpensive, and what kid does not like jello? Sweet tea!

**Momto5RN** · 10-10-2010, 05:24 PM

there are 7 of us and 1 bathroom here we jjust figure a schedule by who has to leave for work - / school etc when .
two of boys shower at night.

**JerryG** · 10-10-2010, 05:43 PM

You ARE splitting up the responsibilities, right? As in - you're not the only one worried about showers, meals, clean up, laundry, etc? It will all work out.

I rarely have that many people over for that length of time but my sis does and she sets up a schedule as far as what time meals are (and menu) when laundry is going to get done (and who gets to do it), etc. She works from home but it saves a lot of " can I, should I, may I " questions that keep getting repeated.

One more comment - I grew up in a very large family (10 kids) and one sole bathroom. The strategy then was simply that if you needed more time in there you better get up early but the bigger siblings could always remove you physically if necessary.

So, you have enough bathrooms - do a schedule as far as who's going to be leaving first and who's going to be coming home the filthiest. If I came home beat and filthy I would not want to wait until the next am to take a shower, that's for sure.

**Russ** · 10-10-2010, 06:06 PM

Cheap card table from Walmart.
Walmart.com: Mainstays 34" x 34" Square Folding Table, Black: Furniture

**frugalwarrior2** · 10-10-2010, 07:25 PM

I would assign washing machine nights as well. All of us have a night here as the kids are really adults. i only do my own now.

**hmcart** · 10-10-2010, 07:41 PM

wow..its great that they can stay with you! I think everyone has given some great ideas. Just make sure if it gets overwhelming dont be afraid to say what you need help with.