Weekly Menu - The One with My Birthday!!

Wow, it's my birthday week.  How did that happen?  This year, my birthday falls on a Sunday, which is nice because I don't have to plan my day - instead I get a day "off"  .. kinda :-)

Here's our plan for the coming week!

Friday - It's the start of the birthday weekend so the kids will get Mac and Cheese and Darryl and I will order in!  No cooking for me YEAH!

Saturday - Darryl has the day planned and, again, no cooking for me!

Sunday - We'll be at my parents so, again, no cooking for me :-)  I haven't decided what I will do about my cake . . .I usually make myself a turtle cake because I love it and it is my birthday but I would have to make it on Friday so I'm not sure  . .

Monday - Back to reality ;-)  I'll do something with Chicken, Potatoes and a veggie. (I don't even plan on going to the store until tonight after practice so it is "clean out the fridge" night!)

Tuesday - It is time to grill - the plan is Hamburgers or pork chops - depends on what is on the best sale this week!.  We did chicken last week and it was awesome.  The sides will be based on the mean choice.

Wednesday - I "think" Darryl will be going to practice this week so I'll pick up frozen pizzas for the boys and I.

Thursday - It is Soccer night so we'll grab something after soccer.

That's the plan . . .always subject to change!

Easter 2014

We had a wonderful Easter and I hope all of you did too!!  Actually, our whole weekend was wonderful.  Saturday I was able to take off at about 9:00 and head into "town" for a day of Scrapbooking.  I actually took advantage of my trip and started the day with a little shopping (to finish up some Easter Shopping) before going to the crop.  I then worked all day on my main goal which was to finish up June 2013 (our vacation to Mackinaw) and I did!  I also got half of July done.  Darryl got to spend the day with the boys and I heard they had a great time!!

Sunday dawned a beautiful day!  We started our morning by heading to church for Easter Breakfast.  Now, one of Josh's favorite things is to eat at church.  I have no idea why but he does - it is HUGE for him and this was extra fun because it was breakfast!  They got their fill of Pancakes, Sausage and Krispy Kreme donuts!!  That was followed by a great church service where I was able to use my ministry and sing in an ensemble as well as sing a solo which was just great.  I love to sing (even though, yes, I get nervous still after signing for over 30 years in front of people!) Once church was done we headed to lunch.  I know I left you all hangin' last week as to what we were doing but after much thinking, and re-thinking an idea popped into my head that was perfect.  We went out to the Chinese Buffett!!!  Yes, Chinese on Easter!  We got there before the regular church crowd hit so it wasn't busy and the food was good.  The boys love it because they can pick food and get ice cream when it is done ;-)

 Josh and Nate :-)  Trying to get them to do "normal" smiles is a tough job at this age!

After dinner we headed home for all of our Easter fun but we took the long way home with the windows down to enjoy the fabulous weather!

 Their "Easter Baskets".  We like to keep church first on Easter Sunday so we don't put out the Easter Baskets first thing.  Instead, as the boys head out the door, I quickly set up their stuff so it is there when we get back from church.  The Pogo sticks I had actually bought at Christmas but they had enough stuff so I put them away for Springtime.  Their main gift was some new tools and I bought them each a Thirty - One Tool bag that said "Josh's Tools" and "Nate's Tools".  It was a huge hit!  It was funny though because Nate kept saying the Leprechan came while we were gone and left his Easter Stuff. 

 Again trying to get them to stand with their stuff was useless.  This is the best I could get!

 The boys also got some new Flip Flops for the summer, a pair of binoculars that I had picked up last summer on clearance as well as a Bubble Blower that I bought last summer too.  We had also found some bug nets at Target for $1.00 each and of course, some candy.

Josh trying Pop Rocks for the first time.  He actually liked them which kinda surprised me !

Nate is a Bubble King.  He loves bubbles so he headed right out side to use his new Bubble Maker.  (Yes, a Halloween shirt on Easter but he loves his "bones" shirt!)

After enjoying their gifts for awhile, we got out the eggs to decorate.

 Like last year, I used Kool-aid to dye the eggs.  It smells good and washes off pretty easily. 

 "Decorate" might be too strong of a word.  How about, "dip and be done".  Next year I think we'll be ready to get more creative ;-)

For the record, we did 14 eggs and yes, I'm eating quite a bit of egg salad for lunch this week.  :-) :-)

Then it was time for the Egg Hunt!

 I "hid" all of the eggs in the front yard.  Originally, I had done them in groups of two but then gave up and just figured it could be a free for all. 

This, again, was the best photo I could get of them with their loot!!!  They were hoping for money in their eggs but I just did some candy.   Honestly, they have already forgotten about the eggs (and the candy) . . .maybe next year I will do change in them instead.  Who knows!

Finally, we just had some Bubble fun!

 Bubble's anyone?  Everyone laughs at me for buying all of these but Walmart had a great deal and, we've already gone through 1 and a half bottles!

Nate caught himself . . .hahahaha


So, that was our Easter!  Always a fun day!

Christmas in . . .April?

I've had a project that I have needed to finish since, well, Christmas.  It was actually supposed to be done to put out as decoration FOR Christmas but between a week long bout of the stomach flu that I had back in December, winter storms every time I planned a shopping day in town and a mistake in my order when finally ordered the stuff I needed on-line . .. well, it just got done! 

It is a very simple project that revolves around the Nativity Scene - something that is the basis of my Christmas! 

 All you need is some basic supplies like glass blocks, Christmas lights and ribbon. 

And a super cute kid who wants his photo taken (oh wait, that really isn't a requirement!!)

Here's the final product!!

Like I said above, this really was a simple project.  I ordered the vinyl from MWC Vinyl Lettering on Etsy and was very pleased.  She included a full sheet of instructions on how to make the project look like the one she shared on her Etsy page.  All I had to do was add the vinyl figures to the glass blocks.  Now, if you look close you will notice that the blocks in the first picture are not the same as the final product!  When I ordered the blocks originally, I order two small squares instead of two rectangles!  I finally picked up the right blocks at Hobby Lobby just a week ago.  I also ended up ordering some white LED "wedding" lights to use instead of traditional Christmas lights.  The lights come with a switch on the strand instead of just a blog.  The only thing I haven't done is to put a frosted glaze on the blocks only because I haven't found a . . .well, frosted glaze yet.  That will help cover up the intensity of the lights.  

I'm really excited about this project because I've always wanted a nativity set but didn't want all of the little pieces.  This is the perfect solution.  I look forward to displaying it in just 8 short months HA!  

 

Homeschool Corner - Pinterest Style

I wanted to have some pictures this week of what I accomplished but I don't have photos yet.  I DID work on some of my projects though so pictures will come - hopefully next week I'll have them!

So, here is what I'm going to "investigate" this next week and either toss or create.

1. The Verse of the Week Chalkboard concept.

 2. Some printables for the boys to practice letters. 

3. The Sunflower Clock - the boys love time and I think this would make a great asset to our classroom.

4. Name Practice - good review for all of the boys.

Hopefully I can wrap up last weeks plans and also accomplish some of these and show them all next Monday :-)

Happy Easter

Today we celebrate Easter.  We begin with taking time to remember that Jesus not only died on the cross to cover our sins but he also rose again and brought new life. 

We finish our day with some traditional fun by coloring eggs and going on an Easter Egg Hunt. 

We wish all of you a blessed and fun Easter! 

"Saved the Day"

With Easter Weekend upon us I thought I'd share one of my all time favorite songs which happens to be an "Easter Song".  It is "Saved the Day" by Phillips, Craig and Dean.  The group my husband plays in also does a version of this song and I just love it!!  Enjoy (I'm off to scrapbook the day away leaving the boys and the Big D home to enjoy the day together.)

Food Friday - One Pot Meal

One Pot Meal (Roasted Drumsticks and Potatoes)
Adapted by Let the Baking Begin

I was using up items in the freezer recently and had a bag of Drumsticks in the freezer that were begging to be cooked.  I went to Pinterest and searched for recipes.  This "One Pot Meal" caught my eye because, well, it was easy.  The recipe sounded really tasting and it did not disappoint.  Not to mention that my house smelled fantastic! 

Ingredients

• 8 chicken drumsticks
• 6-8 large potatoes, cut in quarters or halves
• 5-6 carrots, cut in 1-2 inch pieces
• Kosher salt
• Black ground pepper
• 4 tsp ground pepper or 5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
• 3-4 Tbsp olive oil.
• 
  

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with foil or even better, parchment paper.
2. Thoroughly wash the potatoes & carrots with a scrubber and cut them in smaller pieces. Pat dry with a paper towel.
3. Rinse the chicken under running water & also pat dry with paper towel.
4. Add chicken, potatoes and carrots to the lined baking dish and sprinkle with salt, ground pepper and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil. Toss everything to coat.
5. Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Check for doneness, if the potatoes and chicken drums are soft and easily pierced with the fork they are ready.
6. If the chicken and potatoes have not browned up as much as you would like, turn the broil setting on the oven and broil for 5 minutes. Watch carefully, or they will burn.
7. Remove from the oven and serve right away in the baking dish or transfer to a warm serving plate.