Summer Fun Week 13

 This is our last official week of summer.  This was one of those "pop-up" weeks where we started the week with not much on the plan but then things "popped up".  

Monday - My brother, Kel, came into town so we had dinner at my mom's and played a game.  

Tuesday - Kel and I got to meet for coffee at our favorite coffee place and "catch up" for a bit. 

Wednesday - My teens and I headed to my mom's early for breakfast before my brother took off. Then we had an afternoon of fun with games with our homeschool co-op.  That was followed by Josh and Nate hanging out with friends

. 

Thursday - Nothing!  Actually Nate had his back to school call with his on-line teacher.  Otherwise, we had nothing :-) 

Friday - Outside of Josh's last PT appointment for now, we enjoyed the start of the holiday weekend.  I worked on school plans for next week too. 

Saturday - we attended a concert! 

Sunday - we had a quiet day at home. 

Weekly Menu - The unofficial end to summer

 While we all know that summer really doesn't end until mid-September when Fall officially starts, Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end to summer as Schools jump back into full swing and life returns to a different pace and schedule.  We officially start school this coming week, all be it slowly, and then all of the "stuff" starts the following week.  This summer felt more busy than it has in the past and, because of that, it has kind of flown by.  

Our menu took a fast right turn this last week when our area got hit with storms, tornados, and straight line winds last Thursday evening.  While we had no ill effects from the storm, just a 1/2 mile from us there was damage and power outages that lasted for days.  That meant I did not actually do grocery shopping until Saturday evening so I switched my menu to accommodate what I had on hand. Then, my oldest brother made a quick trip back to my mom's so we had dinner with them one evening.  Finally, on Tuesday, a friend of mine who owns a catering business texted me and said, "Don't cook dinner!  We have tons of food left over from an event this weekend and I'm bringing you dinner".  Not only did she bring enjoy for Tuesday, we had enough for dinner on Wednesday too.  What a true blessing that was!  

With all of that said, here's the plan for the coming week. 

Friday: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie and a Salad

Saturday - Our plans are up in the air at the writing of this.  We might head towards the Lakeshore for a concert and if not, maybe we will actually have a bonfire and roast some things over the fire.  

Sunday - Beef Acini Soup and French Bread 

Monday - Labor Day!  We are heading to my moms. 

Tuesday - I am going to a Ladies Dine Out.  I plan to leave stuff for BBQ cups and chips for the guys. 

Wednesday - meatloaf and crash potatoes 

Thursday- stuffed shells and salad

Summer Week 12

 We are still enjoying summer.  Our friends have returned to school and we have two full weeks that we call "we don't have to go to school" weeks. HA!  I try to throw in a few things to do but really, we all enjoy two weeks of sleeping in, no school, and no activities!  After Labor Day everything starts again and we get busier! 

Monday - Friday -  we enjoyed a quiet week.  

Saturday - We all headed to my FIL's for his birthday. 

Sunday - Sunday evening I headed to a celebration for a long time Pastor Friend of mine.  It was great seeing him honoroed and seeing so many friends. 

Weekly Menu

 I've tried a few new recipes from Tastes Better From Scratch and have been pleasantly surprised. I've find them to be tasty, easy to make and budget friendly.  I'm looking ahead at this coming week and am following the inspiration of this weeks menu plan.

Friday - French toast, sausage and bacon, and crash potatoes 

Saturday - Originally today we were going to a wedding reception for a friend from church but then my Father-in-law asked us to come over to celebrate his birthday before he heads out of town for a few weeks.  My FIL turns 83 in another week and has had a few health struggles this year so we decided that celebrating him was pretty important.  I'm not sure what we are doing with him for a meal yet. In the past we have picked up KFC (chicken only) and then brought along sides so maybe we will do that. 

Sunday - The past few weeks we have had sandwiches and have enjoyed this easy after church meal.  I usually pick Hawaiian rolls or wraps for bread and then have extra topping.  Plus a summer salad and chips and salsa round it all out. 

Monday - Beef and Acini soup and French bread

Tuesday - stuffed Shells and garlic bread

Wednesday- Chuck-fil-a nuggets and fries

Thursday - Mini Meatloaves, crash potatoes, and Salad.  I have several great meat loaf recipes (we really like meatloaf in the winter - it is such a great comfort food on a cold evening) but this one cooks in a muffin tin and has a shorter baking time making it easier to cook up in the summer!

Summer Fun Week 11

 Officially, we have two weeks left of "summer".  Our friends go back to school today so we will enjoy our extra two weeks off - the perks of homeschooling!  Last week was oddly full of things to do! 

Monday - We all headed to my in-laws for the afternoon.  The kids enjoyed putting together the "nearly impossible puzzle" and playing yard chess.  Then, I left Nate for the week and the rest of us headed home. 

 

Tuesday - Josh had physical therepy but otherwise this was the quiet day. 

Wednesday - Joshua got to attend a baseball game with some friends. 

Thursday - Joshua headed to a friends house for the afternoon and then worked at a Community Dinner. Nate had some fun with kayaks. 

Friday - The kdis and I enjoyed brunch at my mom's house with my brother and sister-in-law.  Then, Joshua, Darryl and I met up in Grand Rapids for dinner.  This is something Joshua had been looking forward to for awhile.  

Saturday - Today we had a family birthday party to attend.  

Sunday - I attended my in-laws church to see some college friends.  Then, in the evening, Nate, Darryl and I headed to a concert while Josh attended a Praise service at our church with my mom.  

Weekly Menu

This is the second week I'm using Tastes Better From Scratch as my menu planning inspiration.  Last week I actually ended up only using one recipe only because our week changed after I menu planned!.  I am using it again this week - Ironically this week there were several recipes I did not like HA!)  Even though I don't use all of the recipes it is great to use as inspiration as well.  Our "school schedule" is starting too which means I'm gone some evenings and have to plan meals that are quick and/or we can eat in shifts.   My choir practices started this last week again so Mondays we eat in shifts.  

Friday - We are going to treat Josh to dinner at one of his top places, which happens to be a buffet . . .and Nate doesn't love it so it's the perfect time to go (Since Nate is still at the grandparents house)  

Saturday - We are attending a birthday party for Darryl's brother-in-law. 

Sunday - We have a little bit of a busy day with church and some of us then attending a concert so I'm going to just have sandwich fixings, chips and salad for lunch. 

Monday -  Crock Pot Pork Chops and Gravy with Rice and Green Beans.

Tuesday - Chicken Fajita Pasta and Garlic Bread

Wednesday - Thai Basil Beef and Rice

Thursday - Chicken Tortilla Soup and French Bread

Summer fun week 9 and 10

I missed posting on Monday about summer fun week 9 so decided to just post it together with this week.  We've had some quieter weeks but our weekends are ful!

Week 9

Monday and Tuesday were both quieter days.  Outside of Josh attending PT on Tuesday, we just hung out at home

Wednesday - Joshua had an appointment at the children's hospital for an ultrasound on his hip. So he and I headed downtown for that and then enjoyed lunch on the way home

Thursday - Another quiet day outside of PT for Josh. 

Friday - We headed to a friends house for the afternoon to hang out and swim.  I took zero photos though! 

Saturday - My mom, Nate, and I headed to southern Ohio for a baby shower for my niece.  We had a great time seeing family and just hanging out.  

Sunday - Just church and then a quiet afternoon! 

Week 10

Monday - a super quiet day which was great! 

Tuesday - Josh had PT and then the guys mowed my mom's grass. 

Wednesday - I had a leadership meeting that my guys tagged along too so they could hang with friends. 

Thursday - Today we had a great field trip to SMAT (School of Missionary Aviation and Technology).  It was a great time with our co-op group!

Friday - A great day to stay home! 

Saturday - Joshua and Nate attended a Lake Day event with their youth group.  

Sunday - My brother Kel, and sister-in-law, Deb, are in town for just a day or so.  We enjoyed dinner and some games at my mom's house.