Weekly Menu - A New Normal

This is a normal week.  I'm not sure when I wrote that last and meant it.  The coming week is just, well, normal.  My mom has returned home as of today and we already miss having her close.  Darryl returns from his trip today.  Next week we will hunker down into school and after school activities.  I'm not quite sure what to do with that normal but we'll just keep moving alone and see how we do!

Friday - Darryl returns tonight but I'm not sure when.  Tonight we are just eating frozen pizza. 

Saturday - Amish Chicken, Noodles,Green Beans, and Rolls.  A good comfort meal after some busy days.

Sunday - It's time for a roast.  Roast, potatoes, carrots and biscuits!  Later in the evening, we'll make some homemade pizza.

Monday - Baked potato bar and open faced ham sandwiches.

Tuesday - Chicken Alfredo over Cheese Ravioli, garlic bread and green beans

Wednesday - AWANA starts tonight for the boys and Darryl often has practice.  Dinner needs to be quick, kid friendly, but something I enjoy too. Tacos is the choice for this week - something we all like and its easy to make!

Thursday - Cheesy Chicken Divan Casserole, Salad and French Bread

I'm really ready for the cool fall days that dip into the cold days of winter where I can warm up the house just by cooking a really good dinner.  I also love the way that a good roast can make the whole house smell so good!!  I am just a little amazed that we are nearing the end of September already though.  This year is slipping away!

Weekly Menu

This past week summer ended.  School started.  As is always the case the first week or so of school takes me off guard with the amount of work it takes to keep two boys on track and half way happy during school time; how little I am able to accomplish in a given day; how tired I am at the end of the day.  For that reason, I haven't written much anything this past week!  I always figure that writing out the menu is a good place to get back into it so here's the coming weeks menu.

My husband is taking off on a "once in a lifetime" trip with his dad.  No, they aren't going anywhere exotic or far, far away but they are taking a week and exploring the East Coast together - something they have never done.  It's also my mom's last week at the campground.  Plus more of our "things" start like Swimming Lessons and Thursday school so I'm keeping it ultra simple this week.

Friday - Darryl and I will be attending a wedding rehearsal for a wedding we are playing in so dinner is provided.  The boys are hanging out with Nana

Saturday - We have the wedding to attend.  Dinner will be after the wedding but I'm not sure where we will eat afterwards before heading back to the campground for a campfire and smores.

Sunday - Today is the official start to Football season (yes I know the 1st game was really on Thursday but this is SUNDAY!)  So, I thought it was time for some football food.  Teriyaki Wings, Fruit Dip and Fruit, Corn Dip and chips, and and some dessert.

Monday - I'm voting for burgers at Applebees before swimming if my mom agrees :-)

Tuesday - Slow Cooker Chicken, Potatoes and Green Beans (Yes, I will cook!)

Wednesday - Our last Wednesday were we get to have dinner with my mom :-)

Thursday - Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas, Rice and Beans.

Weekly Menu - And its September

Wow.  I love the fall season but I'm a little sad that summer is coming to an end.  We've had such an enjoyable time with my mom in town, swimming, and just hanging out.  School is starting, Home School Co-op starts soon along with other fall activities.  AWANA starts soon  and so does Christmas Program Practice.  Lots of things to keep our schedule busy!

Here's whats for dinner in the coming week

Friday - Burgers on the grill, Corn on the Cob and French Fries

Saturday - Baked Chicken and Zucchini, Macaroni and Cheese, Salad and Rolls

Sunday - Meatball Stew in the Crock pot and Homemade Rolls

Monday - Labor Day!  My mom is making her famous BBQ Ribs. I'll add sides and dessert and it will be a great meal! 

Tuesday - Beef Tips and Noodles and Salad

Wednesday - Our Wednesday dinners with my mom are almost done (Sad!) but we still have this week and one more after this!

Thursday - Sweet and Sour Shrimp Tacos and Rice

Summer Fun - The End of 2016

How depressing is that title?  The end of 2016 HA!  Really, it's just the end of summer fun.  I was thinking back through this summer and came up with this list of things:

1) Vacation Bible School - two different times.
2) Trips to the park
3) Swim Lessons
4) Swimming
5) Hayrides
6) Camping with Nana
7) Camping with Mom and Dad
8) Movies
9) Ice Cream
10) The Beach
11) Slip-n-Slide Fun
12) Staying up late
13) The Olympics
14) Catching a toad

I'm sure I missed some things too.  It really comes down to the simple fact that the boys had a fun, busy summer.  They were so busy at times that they complained of being tired.  They slept until 9:00 (or later) some days.  They stayed up until midnight (or tried to) a few days. They caught bugs, toads, and crickets and planted a weed garden on Nana's picnic table.  This summer was nothing like I was originally planning back in March but, really, it turned out much more relaxed and fun. 

So now, this coming week we start to transition from Summer Fun to Fall Fun which includes school.  :-)

Family Fun - Leaping and Games

February brought Leap Year!  I saw a great idea where you take a photo of the kids "leaping" in the air.  Well, back when I took my photography class a few years ago I knew how to get the motion shot but I couldn't remember how to do the settings exactly so this was my attempt.  The idea is to do this every leap year and it will show how much the kids have grown.

Obviously we needed more light.  I've worked on this skill since then and have gotten some other "leaping photos"

The boys love to play games, especially with Darryl.  They got Clue Jr for Christmas and finally got a chance to play it with their dad. 

They also love to build and I usually have to take photos of their creations before they knock them down.  They were busy building with their Lincoln logs and created a whole ranch.  It was pretty cool.  And so were these cool kids.

Of course, sometimes I just take pictures of our cat.

Weekly Menu - Its time to camp again

We are heading out on another camping weekend.  This is what I learned the last time we camped about a month ago.  I don't want to cook. For real.  I felt like I spent so much time prepping, cooking and cleaning up it just took some of the fun away.  So, I'm doing it a little differently this time - keeping it simple.  The other thing I'm doing is shopping when we get in town.  This is two fold.  One, I'm only taking our electric cooler this time - we used it last time and loved it.  It is so much easier to use without having to dig through ice. Two, we are leaving early in the morning to head to a church over an hour away where my husband is doing a concert (well 2) that morning.  I don't have the cooler space to use for the food!  I am taking our small cooler with ice to house the things I already have on hand but space will be limited.

Friday - Taco Pizzas, Beans and Rice (I never made this last week)

Saturday -Beefy Noodle Casserole, Salad and Garlic Bread, (A carry over from last week too)

Sunday - Camping Day One. Lunch - out; Dinner - Hot Dogs (over the fire so no clean up!), Chips and Dip, and a store bought salad.

Monday - Camping Day Two. Breakfast: Cereal (no cooking!); Lunch - out; Dinner - Steak Kabobs (for real over the fire so no clean up!), Chips and Dip and Store bought salad

Tuesday - Camping day three:  Breakfast:  Cereal; Lunch - On the road on the way home; Dinner - Chicken Quasidillas, Rice and Chips at home!

Wednesday - Dinner with my mom :-)

Thursday - I haven't planned this far.  I'll need to go grocery shopping by this day so I'll plan accordingly.

Do you realize that this Menu ends on SEPTEMBER 1ST!!!!

Pizza Grilled Cheese

Pizza Grilled Cheese 
adapted from Kirbie Cravings

I have always loved a good grilled cheese sandwich.  My kids, not so much.  I mean, really??  So, I don't tend to make them often.  I came across a recipe for a pizza grilled cheese and had to try it especially since pizza is my favorite food (I could seriously eat it every. single. day.) It's a pretty simple sandwich and it was very good.  Next time I would put a little more pizza sauce on it than I did (I was afraid it would be soggy) and use more ingredients!  I just had bacon in the fridge to add to it but any of your favorite toppings would be good.  If you use veggies, though, I would saute your veggies first or they will just be crunchy! 

Ingredients
Bread - the better the bread the better the sandwhich
Butter spread
Mozzarella cheese - either shredded or slices
Pepperoni or your favorite toppings
Pizza sauce

I'm not sure I really need to give directions so I'll just tell you what I did.  Buttered one slice of bread and placed it in the pan.  Then I put some cheese on it and my toppings, and more cheese.  Turn the heat on under the pan - keep it low so the cheese will have time to melt.  Then spread the pizza sauce on the other slice and lay it on top; butter the top side of the bread. 

This was really yummy and I plan on making it for myself for lunch often during the winter months!