Our Week in Photos #47

Here's what we did this past week!

We had a great family day on Saturday.  We got some things done and then had our first bonfire of the season that evening.  It was a great fire.  We also set off our last "big" firework left over from 4th of July. 

On Sunday we attended another of Darryl's concerts.  This one was at the Drive-in Church.  Yes, it's just like a drive-in - you park in the lot, tune in with your radio and go to church in your car.  

And this happened this week.  What's that you ask?  The boys learned to tie shoes.  Don't judge.  My kids haven't had tie shoes until this summer (Nate) and Josh just got his a few weeks ago.  Before that they had Velcro, Zippers, and runner ties that you just pull tight.  So, since they both have tie shoes - it was time.  This was a job I gave Darryl since I'm left handed and it is hard to teach this skill backwards :-)  I went to the laundromat and he taught them in a matter of 10 minutes how to do it.  I firmly believe that sometimes, waiting on a skill is better - instead of it taking hours of frustration and shoes always untied due to teaching a 5 year old, we waited and the boys had it down in 10 minutes and now tie there own all the time.  Amen and Amen. 

 This year, Josh has a book club for school where he has to read a book with his class and then they all discuss it together. Here he is reading with his best fat - Harley  That cat loves him even when he almost sits on top of him in the chair HA!

What else is happening?  Nate has taking a true interest in Football.  He heard about Fantasy football and got us all involved.  So all four of us have our own team in our family league and Nate is positive he will win.  Why?  He picked the top players for his team first.  We will see who wins this weekend! 

 Of course we end our weeks right now with Friday School.  This is Nate playing in gym - he is the kids in the front in the red jacket.  I love that he is loving being in gym. 

 The boys in their camping class (they are in the center of the photo - Josh in the yellow shirt and Nate facing the camera, kinda) 

 And their Jury Trials class.  This was a class that took them a while to like but now that it is week 4, they are actually enjoying it.  

So, that was our week.  Lots of school with some fun thrown in for good measure.  

Weekly Menu

Truth:  I have yet to go to Aldi's after all I wrote last week HA!  I remembered that I was $39.00 away from earning another reward at Meijer so I went to meijer.  Then I had $25.00 in rewards to use so I went back to Meijer.  So, maybe next week I'll try Aldi's HA!  This week is different because we will be gone for a few days.

Friday - Velvetta Skillet Meal and Green Beans.  As you know, I hate cooking on Friday after a long day at Friday school so it has to be easy. 

Saturday - Tacos before we head out.

Sunday-Tuesday - We are going on a get away with my mom so I don't have to cook.

Wednesday - Frozen Pizza/Chicken Nuggets

Thursday - Spaghetti and Garlic Bread. 

Our Week in Photos #46

This was a busy week for us!

 On Saturday we spent the afternoon at the campground.  There was a cute petting zoo where this super adorable Donkey.  She was my favorite. 

 We also spent a few hours in the pool :-) It was a near perfect day! 

 The boys put on their costumes and did trick-or-treating around the campground.  It was a great evening with the sun setting and the weather was perfect plus they got full bags of candy. 

 This is proof of a great day - a kid sound asleep on the couch before I could even get him in the shower! 

 On Sunday we went to Darryl's concert. 

 On Thursday the boys had their well child checks in the morning (they are both well and both children HA!) In the afternoon our local 911 dispatch office had a customer appreciation day so we went to see all of the vehicles. (Kind of like a big touch-a-truck event)  

We ended our week at Friday School where Josh got to work on his science experiment. 

Weekly Menu - the one where I try Aldi's

Ok, I admit it.  I'm a food snob.  I like what I like and that's all that matter.  But, I also want to try and save more money on groceries so Darryl and I decided to try the Aldi challenge for a month   week (ha!).  He's even willing to eat Aldi yogurt instead of what he loves - Dannon Fruit on the Bottom - so that I only shop at Aldi's.  I'm not so willing to give up a few of my favorites (like my favorite Crystal Light flavor for my water - I've tried the cheaper versions at Walmart and don't like them!)  So, to help with this, I searched for Aldi Meal plans on line to come up with the best plan.  There is one that I've looked at before that gives a menu based on the Aldi ad but looking at it for this coming week - it's gross HA!  So I found another one that looks better so hopefully I can still get it on the cheap.

Friday - BBQ Cups and French Fries

Saturday - Quesadilla's and Chips and Salsa

Sunday - Darryl has a concert so hopefully we can grab something quick afterwards before heading home.  Dinner will be Velveeta Beefy Mac and Cheese and Roasted Zucchini.

Monday -Beef and Black Bean Tortilla Stack, Savory Rice and Salad

Tuesday - Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas and Chips and Salsa

Wednesday - Spaghetti and Bread

Thursday - Sweet and Sour Chicken, Rice and Broccoli

Our Week in Photos #45

It's been a few weeks since I've done a photo post with the summer posts ending!  Well, this week I think I actually have photos for you! There are a few photos from last week too!

 On September 11th, my mom and I went to hear Beverly Lewis speak about her latest book.  It's always a treat for me to hear an author that I've read for years.  The photo is small but if you look closely you will find my mom and me . . .oh, and Josh and Nate too!  

 On Thursday we attended a Homeschool event at one of our local Libraries.  The boys always enjoy gathering with friends to do something fun. 

 The boys started Piano lessons Thursday night.  They were both excited.  Their teacher is wonderful - she could be my sister we get along so well - and, to brag just a little, she said they are both naturals and she looks forward to teaching them!  She is already talking about them playing duets together! 

 Friday was our 2nd week of Friday school.  I'm thankful for other people taking photos because I just don't get it done!  The boys helped in the morning opening with the song.

 Josh working in Science Fair Class

 Tae Kwon Do!  The boys do so well! 

 Nate's in the red shirt on the right in the photo - Gym class! 

 Both Josh and Nate in Camping and Survival Skills. 

This weekend is Halloween at the campground!  Tonight we carved pumpkins. 

 The boys played some pool 

And we went on a wagon ride.  Oh, and I went swimming - it might have been about 65 degrees with a wicked wind blowing but the pool was warm and relaxing!  I enjoyed 30 minutes of quiet swimming!!  

Weekly Menu

I'm becoming an expert on "quick" meals.  You know the ones.  They live in the freezer section and the "packaged dinners" aisle.  They are quick and easy and that makes me happy.  I think you might start to notice alot of repeats on the weekly menus on certain days just because that also makes me life easy!  So, here's the plan for the coming week.

Friday - Pulled Chicken BBQ, Mashed Potatoes, Mac and Cheese and Crescents.  (Everything premade - super easy HA!)

Saturday - Taco Crescent Rolls (I have left over taco meat!!), Leftover rice and beans, salad and I might try some fried plantains for something fun.

Sunday - Darryl has a concert in the morning so I want to keep dinner simple too.  Crock Pot Chicken and Stuffing with veggies and Rolls

Monday - Cream Cheese Spinach Stuffed Chicken, Crash Potatoes, and Roasted Asparagus

Tuesday - Lasagna, Green Beans and Garlic Bread

Wednesday - Chicken Noodle Soup and Crusty Rolls

Thursday - Hawaiian Meatballs, Savory Rice, and Corn

Looks good!!

Weekly Menu

I feel like maybe . . .just maybe I"m getting back into the cooking grove.  We have busier evenings now though so I'm having to be a little creative with ideas of quick meals that can be eaten in "shifts" based on when we are home.  That's ok, though, my kids have limited tastes so they don't mind repeat meals HA!

Friday: This is our first week back to Friday School and I can promise you that we will be so tired by the end of the day.  The last thing I want to do is any major cooking so, instead, we will have Lasagna (and spaghetti) and garlic bread.  And, yes, it all came out of the freezer section HA!

Saturday:  Our planned eating out night.  Whether we order in or eat out, I just don't want to cook :-)

Sunday - Tacos.  I am attending my niece's babyshower that is little bit of a drive away so I'll leave Taco fixin's for the boys and also it's easy for me to make a taco if I'm hungry when I get home!

Monday - Creamy Sausage Pasta and Cheddar Biscuits

Tuesday - Velvetta "Hamburger Helper" - this stuff is awesome HA!, Garlic Bread and Green Beans

Wednesday - Tonight starts AWANA.  It's so easy to eat out when it is just the boys and I so I'm trying to plan simple meals.  Tonight we will have Pre-packaged BBQ Pork, Bob Evan's Mashed Potatoes, and Mac and Cheese.  It's not real cooking but something we all like.

Thursday - Tonight the boys start Piano lessons.  So dinner has to be easy and quick to eat before we go so Spahgetti it will be!  (Nothing like giving their teacher garlic breath on the first night HA!)