Too Cute Not To Toot!

Don't hate me for starting out with a Christmas Ornament but the well is almost dry for new ideas so I'm taking what I can get!!  This idea comes from Simply Cute Creations.  These would make great gifts and, since Hobby Lobby brings out Christmas decor in . .. July . .. you can get them done early!

My mind has been taken up with camping and "new outside ideas" to use all summer.  I love this idea of a yard twister game from eucharisteo.  The kids would have a blast with this one.

Learning 4 Kids 
gives an awesome idea . . .or should I say ideas . . .for a backyard water park.  I might have to pick up some cheap pools to do something like this during this summer. 

This is a really cute craft from Craft Goodies.  I'm not sure if it is something we will try this summer or if I will file it for next spring when the boys are just a tad bit older.

That's it for today! 

Summer Preschool - Our Plan

We are officially 1 week into our summer routine and I love having a plan.  I took an idea I used last year and tweaked it through an idea of a friend and planned our summer.  I took montly calendars for  June, July and August and first plugged in all of our set in stone plans like camping, vacation and special trips.  Then, I took my bucket list and plugged in as many ideas as I could on free days (day's I don't babysit).  Finally, I took the simple ideas like making lemonade and plugged those ideas in as well.  Finally, I filled in the blanks with crafts, fun food to make and outside activies so we have lots to keep us busy.  This is just a plan - it allows me to look ahead a few weeks and make sure I have supplies on hand to do the things we want to do; it doesn't mean we will do everything. 

 Besides my bucket list, I had two other resources that I have used to help make plans.  One I found on Pinterest and is from Modern Parents Messy Kids.  It is a printable book called "Camp Mom" and includes so many awesome ideas that are easy and often use just items you have at home.  There is a fee to purchase this book but it really is worth it to have everything in one spot.  The other resource I used is called GR Now for Kids and shows you how to "Map your way to 92 days of summer".  This will only benefit you if you live in West Michigan but I wanted to share just in case any of my readers are planning a vacation to Lake Michigan - this would also be a great way to find things to do while on vacation! I also have various Theme Units and Crafts saved in Pinterest to use as well and promise to share any links of the items I use this summer.

Now, to share some photos of what we did this past week!

 Our big event this week was a field trip with the homeschool group to our local airport.  Josh was in his element and enjoyed every moment of watching the small airplanes fly in and out of that airport.  We learned that there is a small viewing area (which is where the outside photos were taken) where anyone can come and watch the planes.  I'm hoping for some "perfect" Saturday afternoons this summer were we can take a picnic lunch and enjoy the planes.

We didn't do anything else this week school related.  My little guys played outside for hours and hours AND hours.  I wasn't about to stop the creativity outside to bring them inside to sit at the table and do something.  Not to mention this cold I've had has made me not want to do much either!!  We are enjoying a very cool start to summer (which I LOVE) so, while the outside play time is good - I'm going to let them play.  I'm sure that come July and August we will have some hot days and NEED to stay inside.

A few of my favorite things!

I thought I would share a few of my favorite things today :-)  I haven't done this in a long time so here goes!

1) My new swing.  My parents surprised me several weeks ago but giving me a new-to-me swing.  They ended up with several swings and decided I needed one too!  I was so excited when I came home and saw it and was able to really enjoy it for several weeks before the Mosquitos woke up and attacked but I try to use it when I can and am looking forward to cool fall days reading on it!


2) Chocolate Milk.  My boys and I both love it.  It is one of those things that, as an adult, I buy.  It was a treat as a kid but now, it is a weekly item on the grocery list.  I do try to limit it to two gallons a week for all of us and then we have to "make" our Chocolate milk (which is no where near as good.)


3) Pepsi.  My "summer" coffee is an ice cold Pepsi.  I'm trying to limit my Pepsi intake though so I tend to lean towards having a glass at night verses one in the morning but some days, the morning just needs Pepsi.


4) Pina Colada Freeze from Taco Bell.  Wow, I'm sensing a theme - all drinks! HA  Have you had one ove these?  I crave them.  AND they have "Happy Hour" from 2-5 where they are only $1.00 :-)


5) Photos of some more things!

 The joy of learning to pedal a bike :-)  Now he is ready for his big boy bike!

 My puppy dog, China,  She doesn't have many places to lay during the day  . .. .

 A boy learning to dress himself . . .love backwards pants!!

 Hot days require near nakedness :-)  The pull-up boys!

 Brothers and best friends willingly raking up some freshly mowed grass :-)

Update on 101 in 1001

It's been a few months since I've shared my updated my 101 goals in 1001 days lists.  Just click

HERE

to see the latest updates.  I can say that there are some others on that list that are in progress or in the plans over the next month or so but I didn't give away everything :-) 

Food Friday - Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas
adapted from Real Mom Kitchen

This really was a success and was very good.  I would make a few tweaks to it next time and I'll share those at the end of the recipe.  The nice thing about this recipe is that you could throw it together the night before and have it ready to throw in the dinner the next evening.  

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp cumin
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 large bell pepper, seeded and sliced (I use half a green and half a red)
• 12 flour tortillas
• Toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and guacamole – if desired

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken strips in a greased 13×9 baking dish.
2. In a small bowl combine the oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt
3. Drizzle the spice mixture over the chicken and stir to coat.
4. Next add the tomatoes, peppers, and onions to the dish and stir to combine.
5. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Serve on tortillas with desired toppings.

  I, personally, would cut the Cumin and Chili Powder in half.  It was very overpowering.  That's just me though :-)

Weekly Menu - The one where we DON'T go camping

Ok, I had this whole post written last week but it was based on us going camping.  We ended up canceling our camping trip for various reasons including things like the chance for rain was looking pretty high (and still is for Sunday), both Darryl and I have been fighting nasty colds - the thought of even trying to prep for camping is more then I want to do even today as I write this on Wednesday - no one likes to camp while sick and my husband is coming off a long stretch of work meaning by Friday at about 4:00 he is done.  Spent. Has nothing left.  How does one set up a campsite when there is nothing left?  Last year when we camped, he took the Friday off which made a huge difference but, we couldn't do that this time since he is taking a week+ off for vacation in just over two weeks!  We are planning our next camping trip and it WILL include him taking Friday off and I think we might have to throw in a trip in September just for fun ;-)

We've decided to make this a fun family weekend anyway including the boys (Josh, Nate AND Darryl) doing backyard camping on Saturday evening. (I am going to sleep inside, in my bed, in the A/C HA). 

So, here's our plan for the next week:

Friday - Darryl and I both realized this week that we NEED some gillin' to happen around here so we will be having Hamburgers, Homemade Potato Salad, and "Ken's" fruit salad.  I may or may not pick up some corn on the cob at the store since Nate has been asking for it.

Saturday - Brats/Hotdogs and left over salads from the night before for lunch and then Marinated Steaks, Jacki's Asian Slaw, and Baked Beans for dinner

 Sunday - Darryl has a concert at a local festival so we are going to head that direction for the day.  I plan on putting Chicken Philly stuff in the crock pot before we leave so we can have sandwiches and leftover salads/sides from the weekend for dinner.  This is a new recipe I have been wanting to try!

Monday - Another new recipe that looks good - Crock-Pot Chicken and Noodles over mashed potatoes with broccoli.

Tuesday - Tacos.  I saw an Avocado dressing on Pinterest I want to mix up and try too. 

Wednesday - Darryl has practice so the boys and I will fend for ourselves.  Maybe leftovers, Maybe a pizza, maybe running out for dinner.

Thursday - I'm not 100% sure yet.  I have a big roast to use in the freezer and have a recipe I remember seeing that I need to find to try . . some type of balsamic pulled beef recipe; or maybe leftovers depending on how the fridge looks; or maybe something else.  I usually have to make a store run mid-week for milk/bread so I can always pick something up. 

I also have a new cookie recipe to try - I had it at a banquet and was just given the recipe.  As I recall, I could have eaten the entire pan but didn't want to make a scene :-)  They are a "bar" cookie which are my favorite in the summer since the oven only has to be on for a few minutes. Our other "big" dessert will be S'more's around the camp fire on Saturday evening (and then in the microwave with the leftovers all week HA!) 

It's hard to believe that when I post the next Weekly Menu, it will take us up to vacation. We cannot wait!!

June Craft Goals

So, I'm going to go on the low-down for Craft goals this month.  I usually post photos and list all of the great projects I want to complete but this month, as I've already talked about a few times, we have a busy month ahead so I'm not going to be getting a lot of new crafts done.  I want to get our towel beach blanket sown together and work on some things for traveling but beyond that . . .well, not planning a whole lot more :-)

I realize I didn't really have to post this but since I've done a post every month, I didn't want to miss June !  I promise to share any crafts I DO complete this month!