2021 Week in Photos #8

 Here's a look back at our week: 

Saturday - We went to Darryl's mom's house to celebrate his birthday.  

She surprised him with this Charlie McCarthy Ventriloquist Doll.  This actually belonged to his brother Adam who got it when he was about 7.  She found it stuck back on a shelf in their garage and she and her husband fixed it and replaced missing parts in order to give it to Darryl.  It means a lot to Darryl. 

Josh and Nate ventured onto the ice at their Grandparents house while we were there but they have a true respect (umm fear) of ice so they didn't stay on it long! 

Sunday - It was a quiet day at home followed by dinner at my moms. 

Monday - Darryl's birthday!! 

Tuesday - Friday - We had school.  It was a pretty normal week! 

Weekly Menu - It is March!!

 Wow, this year is flying!  It's March.  It's almost spring time and I feel like we did not get much winter!  February was a little brutal thanks to bitter cold but otherwise, it's been pretty mild!  Hopefully that doesn't mean we are in for a super hot summer because that is not my thing!  But I digress, here's our menu for the coming week. 

Friday - This is our favorite eat out night.  I think we are all done from the week and the last thing I want to do is cook.  Plus we are at TKD until close to 5:00 so I don't really want to come home to make dinner.  And . .. it is also just fun to eat out! 

Saturday - We are going to be in Grand Rapids today so we will eat in town. 

Sunday - We are going to be out for part of the day so I'm not 100% sure what we will do for dinner yet.  Maybe out or maybe at home.  Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup possibily! 

Monday - Baked Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops, Baked Beans, roasted zucchini, and crescents. 

Tuesday - Perfect Pot Roast, Noodles and Carrots.  I don't know why, but a good roast just sounded so good!  

Wednesday - Stromboli and Salad

Thursday - Chicken Pot Pie Crescent Braid and Salad. 

What I actually read in February

 Book #1 

Change of Heart is a book off my shelf that I actually had already read but didn't realize it!  It's a simple story of learning to trust again and rekindling old friendships that build into bigger relationships.  It's a pretty easy read but a charming story. 

Book #2

This is one of my February reading goals and one of the books I purchased in January.  I love books that take place in Michigan which is one of the reasons I picked this book as it takes place in the Upper Peninsula.  It is a story of redemption and rebuilding relationships between two sisters.  While the story itself was good and well written it had flashbacks, which I just totally skipped over (I really don't care for stories with long flashbacks that really don't pertain to the story).  It also ended abruptly and with lose ends.  It made me question what the last few sentences really meant and how could the author end a book without really ending it.  Unless there is second book to this one, I'm not sure I would pick up another book by this author. 

#3

This book came recommended either from a friend on Facebook or maybe just a general Facebook recommendation but either way it was a good story.  I will admit, after reading so many books by Julie Klasson who is an amazing story teller, this book started off a bit boring and choppy.  The author doesn't use precise and creative language (I mean the main characters names are Diane and Barry . .. )  but the over all story is a great one about reconciliation and learning the truth about why the characters respond to situations the way they do.  There is some language in this book but overall it is a good read.  Ironically this story has flashbacks but they are really part of the story; actually it is the story as it tells the story of the main character and what brought her to the place she is in currently.  I can handle those flashbacks :-) 

#4

I'm coming to the end of Julie Klassen's book list and this one did not disappoint.  The Silent Governess was one of my favorite books.  I loved the way that this one tied the story of several families together and, in the end, there was actually happiness in each of the families because truth was brought to light.  Julie Klassen is such a great writer and really just brings the reader into the story.  

#5

Well, I've run out of Julie Klassen books.  This was the last one that I had not read and, honestly, it is probably my least favorite.  I found it a little . . . .cringe worthy, as my kids would say.  It made me roll my eyes and I found it slightly comical.  I think it had to do with the dancing, the description of the dancing master, and the behavior of the main character.  It did end well but it just wasn't super exciting or nearly as deep as the previous one I read.  I guess they can't all be winners! 

2021 Week in Photos #7

 Here's a look back at our week: 

Saturday - We went to my mom's and the boys went sledding!  We also enjoyed dinner and Darryl put her new snowblower together and had to make sure it worked! 

Sunday - Valentine's Day! 

The table before all the food :-) 

Yes, the cat.  Always has to be in the center of things HA!  (Don't worry, he was removed from the table as soon as the photo was done - naughty kitty . .. .but cute kitty HA!) 

Dinner was spaghetti with meat sauce or chicken alfredo along with salad and garlic bread.  We also had Valentine's cookies that I picked up from a local bakery.  

My special Valentine!  

Monday -  We had a Holiday!  Our on-line school takes Presidents Day off and since Josh and Nate are already weeks ahead, we took it off (some years, we are already behind so we treat it like a normal day).  I really enjoyed my day marking off some "to do" things and I spent hours scrapbooking! 

Tuesday - It was a snow day!  Actually, my kids had a virtual field trip to learn about Sue-The T-Rex.  It just so happened that it was a snow day for our friends too.  Everyone got to participate in the field trip.  The kids also spent a good hour or so outside playing in the HUGE piles of snow!  

This was the true total as the deck was completely cleared off prior to the storm - it was right about 6 inches of fresh snow. 

Wednesday - Darryl had a procedure at the hospital so he and I spent the day there and then got our favorite Tacos for a late lunch/early dinner before heading for home. 

Thursday - School . .. and haircuts.  

Friday - Wow this week end fast.  I squeezed in grocery shopping, cleaned up the house, and went to Tae Kwon Do with Nate.  

Weekly Menu - Darryl's birthday!

 It's time to celebrate the Big D!  It's Darryl's birthday so we will have what he wants :-) 

Friday - Eating out/eat in :-)  

Saturday - We are heading to Darryl's mom's house for the afternoon to celebrate Darryl's birthday! 

Sunday - Since we were out on Saturday, we are going to my mom's for dinner tonight :-) 

Monday - Darryl's birthday!  I asked him what he wanted and he said "not to celebrate" HA! but I told him that is NOT an option.  So he picked a favorite of Dill Shrimp Pasta.  I'll add some spaghetti sauce as an option for those that don't like shrimp :-)  Along with some good Garlic Bread and, of course, Carrot Cake for dessert! 

Tuesday - I finally found red enchilada sauce so I'm making our favorite Chicken Enchiladas! 

Wednesday - Chicken Noodle Soup and Rolls

Thursday - Ham and Cheese Quiche, Sausage Balls, and Fruit

2021 Week in Photos #6

 Here's a look back at our week! 

Saturday - We stayed home because it was snowy!  Actually, we went to my mom's for dinner (the advantage of living just a few miles away - the snow doesn't stop us!) and then I had a zoom call with my brothers and mom.  Otherwise, I did some scrapbooking and worked on some projects. 

Sunday - Superbowl!!  In case you didn't know, we love Football.  I didn't even go over board with snacks.  We had Mexican Dip and chips and cheese and crackers.  We actually ordered pizza for dinner and it was the best thing ever.  

We also had these great cupcakes!  Such a fun thing to have at our little party.  Now, if only the game had been a little more exciting! 

Ready for the game to begin!  Josh likes to make faces just as I'm clicking the button on the camera - then I don't notice until I post them or print them!! 

Monday - A school day - and we accomplished a lot!  Once our friends arrived from school, the kids went outside and played in the snow. 

Josh knocked this icicle off the house. 

Nate found his own :-) 

Tuesday - Darryl took the day off so he could drive Nate and I to Nate's doctor's appointment downtown - in the "big city"!  I don't mind the drive but I HATE the parking garage.  This particular one is underground, very tight and you have to park by a certain elevator or you'll end up in the wrong building!  Anyway, instead, Darryl dropped us off right at the door and he and Josh went to Starbucks for a coffee until we called to be picked up.  Nate's healthy - just a check-up for his asthma!  After the appointment, we got Taco's at our favorite place - do you know how hard it is to eat tacos in the car?  Well, it is HA!  There are pieces of cheese and lettuce everywhere! 

Wednesday - a full school day!  

Thursday - The boys had to finish up their seat work which included piano practice, AWANA sections, and few other small things while I went to a leadership team meeting.  My mom surprised with with lunch :-)  Then I went to the grocery store.  

Friday - Our week was done!  We got to sleep in a little.  :-)  Nate had Tae Kwon Do in the afternoon and I got set up for my Virtual Scrapbooking Weekend Crop! 

Well, because cats are cats - I set this book on the desk to take a photo of it.  Turned around from grabbing my camera and this is what I see HA! 

There was a mystery box for the weekend crop - getting set up for the big reveal zoom! 

And . . . .look who is now sitting on the box.  HA!  I love that cat! 

I took a photo of the blue book because . . .. Nate finished his first cursive book!  Nate has taken to cursive like a fish to water.  He loves to write in cursive!  This is something we do outside of school (seatwork) because I think it is important that they know how to at least read cursive.  Don't get me wrong, our school does teach it a little but they don't spend near enough time on it.  Nate is starting book 2 this next week. 

Josh and Nate made a Valentine to share with our homeschool co-op in our on-line Valentine's Day activity.  

Finally, here are a few samples of my scrapbook pages that I worked on for the challenge's within the weekend crop.  There were 6 challenges and I completed them all.  It allowed me to scrapbook my photos from January 2021!  Now, for the rest of the weekend I'm working on 2016 :-)  Time to get caught up! 

Weekly Menu - Valentine's Day Included

 February offers us lots of special days - Superbowl, Valentine's Day and Darryl's birthday!  I think that's a good thing or the shortest month of the year might feel like the longest!  

Friday - It's our eat out/eat in night.  Even with restaurants now open we are enjoying eating our take out at home!

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's :-) 

Sunday - it is Valentine's Day!  Dinner is:  Alfredo and Spaghetti, Cheese stuffed meatballs, Salad, Garlic Bread, Chocolate Covered Strawberries and maybe something else for dessert.  

Monday - Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Rolls, and a veggie

Tuesday - Spaghetti and Garlic Bread (Yes, again) 

Wednesday - Chicken Noodle Soup and Rolls

Thursday - Beef Tips and Noodles and Carrots (I saw an episode of Pioneer Woman where she cooked the carrots right with the beef tips so I'm going to try that!) 

2021 Week in Photos #5

 Welcome to another week of photos (or sometimes lack of photos HA!) 

Saturday - We had a quiet day at home.  I got some scrapbooking projects done and we went to my mom's for dinner and to play cards :-) 

Sunday - We were "snowed in" :-)  I love a good snow storm. 

We are very thankful for the snow blower - it was my dad's.  When my mom moved, it landed in our garage and we are not complaining!  

Monday -  It was a beautiful day.  We had a full day of school and accomplished a lot! 

Tuesday and Wednesday - School all day :-) 

Thursday - There was talk of a snow storm coming in on Thursday night so I decided to hit the grocery store on Thursday morning.  My mom invited us over for lunch when I dropped off her groceries and, as I was driving there, we learned that the schools were dismissing early!  It was a crazy day!  It was also the Princess' birthday so we got to celebrate her! 

Friday - What a wonderful day!  We got to sleep in, everyone was home (even Darryl!) due to the snow storm, our friends stayed home and we just hung out!  I got a lot of things done and loved watching the snow! 

So, the dog wouldn't go out.  HA!  Josh went outside and shoveled the deck and side walk.  Then, he shoveled paths for the dog - one so he can go under the trampoline and one so he can get onto the side patio.  The dog finally went out once he had a path! 

Josh was tired! 

Nate loves the swing set.  He also loved jumping into the snow. 

And sliding down into the snow drifts. 

And he also loved standing in the "snow throw"!! 

Nate also wanted to learn how to use the snow blower.  He did a few swipes.  It won't be long he will be big enough to do the whole driveway. 

Josh walking to shovel off the front porch.  See that path he is walking in?  Darryl snow blew that.  Why?  For the Amazon deliveries HA!  For real.  What?  I order things I forget at the store like Dramamine for my kid that gets car sick! The path actually goes all the way to the neighbors driveway so we have a path to get to their house if we need something :-)  

So I guess our week was school and snow! 

Weekly Menu - It's Superbowl time!

 We look forward to this weekends game all year but it's also sad to know football is done for another season!  We will have lots of good food to snack on though! 

We are getting hit with a big snowstorm!  I love storms especially when we can all be home together!  

Friday - Tonight is technically our eat out/eat in night but it will depend on the weather.  If the roads are clear enough, I'm sure we will pick something up otherwise I'll HAVE to cook at home HA! 

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's

Sunday - Superbowl!  When it was just Darryl and I, I made snacks and we just ate snacks throughout the day.  In the evening I'd cook some hot things but really, we just grazed.  Kids don't graze so much HA!  They like food.  So, here's the plan.  Lunch: Chili along with Spaghetti and some snacks like cheese and crackers, fruit and dip, and tortilla chips and Mexican Dip.  Dinner:  Well, we have to order some pizzas and Cupcakes for dessert.  

Monday - Leftovers.  For real.  I also make way more food then is needed so we will just have leftovers.  

Tuesday - Stuffed Shells and Garlic Bread 

Wednesday -  Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, corn, and crescents

Thursday -  Swiss Chicken (Josh's favorite), Stuffing, and Green Beans 

What we are eating - Breakfast Enchiladas

 

I really love breakfast foods so when I came across this recipe for Breakfast Enchiladas I just couldn't resist trying it.  I was actually prepared to not like it thinking that it would have a weird texture BUT it was super good.  It is a recipe I will make again AND because you can make it the night before, it would be great for a holiday or even a Saturday morning brunch.  

You can find the recipe HERE 

A couple of things:

1) I cut the recipe in half because I knew my kids wouldn't eat it.  It worked perfectly.  I did use the bigger tortillas so they fit perfectly in my 8x8 pan. 

2) The store had no bacon bits and I did not buy bacon.  I didn't miss it (and I love bacon!).  I just sprinkle the last of the sausage on top :-) 

February Reading Goal

Even though I list my reading goal within my monthly goals, I like to post my specific books as well.  I have big aspirations for reading this year and I feel like this helps me be more accountable. 

1. It all Starts at Home - I won this book through a blog about 10 years ago.  I think I might have started it once but, at the time, I was living the toddler life and didn't read much HA! 
2. Taming the To-Do List - I bought this book years ago because, well, I'm a HUGE to-do list maker.  I don't think having a To-Do list is a bad thing but I think sometimes they can be controlling if a person isn't careful.  I'm curious to see the take on this topic by the author. 
3. Stripped - is the book from January I didn't get read.  The author is a good friend of mine so I'm hoping it's good HA! 
4. Training Hearts and Teaching Minds - is the family devotional book we are trying to start.  It is a Monday - Saturday book and it seems like each Monday something happens to keep us from all sitting down to dinner.  We might need to do Tuesday- Sunday instead HA! 
5. When Twilight Breaks and All That We Carried - These are two fiction books that were recommended on a blog I follow from my favorite book store, Baker Book House.  I don't usually order books online from the store but the price was right for each and there was free shipping.  I'm looking forward to reading both of them this month. 

February Goals

I felt like January went really well and I was able to focus on accomplishing alot of my goals. (Even if my brothers made fun of me!! HA!)   I also fully realize that part of the reason that happened (and a BIG part) is because there was no school!  My expectations will still be high for February but I also know my time is more limited during the day.  

1. Complete 28 pages in Scrapbooking (towards my 365 total page goal).  I actually have a list of more specific goals as well and this month the goal is to scrapbook Jan-Feb 2016, January 2020 and 2021.  I also set a plan each month of what photos to order from the other years I haven't completed yet.  (For the record, I'm hopeful to finish out this year with 2016, 2020, and 2021 completed.)  There is a virtual weekend crop in February that I'm specifically planning to use for January 2021 photos.  

2. Read my FIVE books in my plan this month.  Record them in my Pinterest folder of what books I read this month.  Why 5?  Simple - I have one left from January, two pre-planned for February in the non-fiction section and then I picked up two newly released fiction books from my favorite book store (shipped for free!) that I would like to ready this month as well. 

3.  1000 hours outside - My goal this month is to introduce this concept to the family and actually track the time outside.  Playing in the snow, tossing a football, ect. - just track the time that is outside without over planning it.  

4. Decluttering Calendar/List - The goal is to get through week 5-8 on my "52 Weeks" list.  

5. Order the Macaroon making kit on Amazon.

6. The basement - The end goal is to have a well organized, useful basement.  So, my goal this month is progress. I do have a "silent" goal of trying to do just one thing a day in the basement - it can be cleaning off a shelf, bringing up one box of things to donate, or cleaning out one bin but again, any progress is something so even if I only clean off one shelf or carry up  one box all month, that counts! 

7. Read one chapter in my photography book and PRACTICE the skill.  

8. Put all memorabilia in albums that are already done (I have a whole file drawer full of things that are sorted by date that need to get put in albums)  

9. Pick camping dates for this summer and reserve the spots I can. 

10. Go on one date with Darryl. 

11. Practice the song I picked to record for Christmas - the goal is to learn page one. 

12. Plan out the first adventure to visit at least one of the great lakes. 

13. Get some spines imprinted - I will usually be placing an order each month for pages so I'd like to order 2-3 spines depending on the year I'm ordering for at that point. 

14. Update my Holiday Journal with ideas from the Superbowl and Valentine's Day.  Look ahead at plans for St. Patrick's Day and Easter

15.  Plan something fun for Darryl's birthday as well as take the boys shopping. 

16. Visit Flour Child Bakery - it's a bakery I follow on Facebook in a town not far from home.  I've wanted to go and buy treats but never have - this is the month to do it since it is Valentine's Month after all!

17. Take the boxes and bags of "donation" items that are currently in both vehicles and drop them off somewhere (we have a few local charities that accept donations vs. Good Will) 

18. Clean out Darryl and my closet - get rid of clothes and shoes we haven't worn in years and turn all the hangers backwards (it's an organizational trick - at the end of the season, any hanger not turned around - that item needs to go!) Also organize our dresser and make a list of summer clothes we both need. 

19.This one is hard to measure - I need to start organizing/decluttering/setting up the "Toy/Lego Room" in the basement.  Yes, it is technically on the 52 Week list but I don't have it on there until fall.  This is kind of like the rest of the basement - I need to just start with the first bin (blocking the walkway HA!), sort it, and make a home for it.  Whether I get through one bin or 5 bins - it counts as something. 

20. Make a drive to the Lakeshore.  I love Lake Michigan.  Whether it is frozen or not - just to be near it is so peaceful and it grounds my soul and brings me peace.  Now that football is wrapping up, we will have some free time for some drives and this is one that is on my list.  (Another is to visit Michigan's Covered Bridges but we might need to start that one next month HA!) 

21.  Here are my misc. items that need to get done. A) Josh got a punching bag penguin for Christmas that we need to set up - get some sand to add as a weight and blow it up.  B) My mom made beautiful shadow boxes for each of the boys for Christmas that we need to get on the walls.  C) Josh got a new solar system set to hang from his ceiling but he wants it measured out correctly so Darryl needs to help get that accomplished.  D) Clean the "piano corner".  I'm revamping how I store my scrapbooking stuff so that opens up that corner :-)  E) Set up my 52 envelopes of saving plan 

So, there's 21 goals for February (well, goal # 21 always has a bunch of "mini goals" ha!)  I feel like it is doable and I look forward to accomplishing as much as possible!