2021 Week in Photos #5

 Welcome to another week of photos (or sometimes lack of photos HA!) 

Saturday - We had a quiet day at home.  I got some scrapbooking projects done and we went to my mom's for dinner and to play cards :-) 

Sunday - We were "snowed in" :-)  I love a good snow storm. 

We are very thankful for the snow blower - it was my dad's.  When my mom moved, it landed in our garage and we are not complaining!  

Monday -  It was a beautiful day.  We had a full day of school and accomplished a lot! 

Tuesday and Wednesday - School all day :-) 

Thursday - There was talk of a snow storm coming in on Thursday night so I decided to hit the grocery store on Thursday morning.  My mom invited us over for lunch when I dropped off her groceries and, as I was driving there, we learned that the schools were dismissing early!  It was a crazy day!  It was also the Princess' birthday so we got to celebrate her! 

Friday - What a wonderful day!  We got to sleep in, everyone was home (even Darryl!) due to the snow storm, our friends stayed home and we just hung out!  I got a lot of things done and loved watching the snow! 

So, the dog wouldn't go out.  HA!  Josh went outside and shoveled the deck and side walk.  Then, he shoveled paths for the dog - one so he can go under the trampoline and one so he can get onto the side patio.  The dog finally went out once he had a path! 

Josh was tired! 

Nate loves the swing set.  He also loved jumping into the snow. 

And sliding down into the snow drifts. 

And he also loved standing in the "snow throw"!! 

Nate also wanted to learn how to use the snow blower.  He did a few swipes.  It won't be long he will be big enough to do the whole driveway. 

Josh walking to shovel off the front porch.  See that path he is walking in?  Darryl snow blew that.  Why?  For the Amazon deliveries HA!  For real.  What?  I order things I forget at the store like Dramamine for my kid that gets car sick! The path actually goes all the way to the neighbors driveway so we have a path to get to their house if we need something :-)  

So I guess our week was school and snow! 

Weekly Menu - It's Superbowl time!

 We look forward to this weekends game all year but it's also sad to know football is done for another season!  We will have lots of good food to snack on though! 

We are getting hit with a big snowstorm!  I love storms especially when we can all be home together!  

Friday - Tonight is technically our eat out/eat in night but it will depend on the weather.  If the roads are clear enough, I'm sure we will pick something up otherwise I'll HAVE to cook at home HA! 

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's

Sunday - Superbowl!  When it was just Darryl and I, I made snacks and we just ate snacks throughout the day.  In the evening I'd cook some hot things but really, we just grazed.  Kids don't graze so much HA!  They like food.  So, here's the plan.  Lunch: Chili along with Spaghetti and some snacks like cheese and crackers, fruit and dip, and tortilla chips and Mexican Dip.  Dinner:  Well, we have to order some pizzas and Cupcakes for dessert.  

Monday - Leftovers.  For real.  I also make way more food then is needed so we will just have leftovers.  

Tuesday - Stuffed Shells and Garlic Bread 

Wednesday -  Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, corn, and crescents

Thursday -  Swiss Chicken (Josh's favorite), Stuffing, and Green Beans 

What we are eating - Breakfast Enchiladas

 

I really love breakfast foods so when I came across this recipe for Breakfast Enchiladas I just couldn't resist trying it.  I was actually prepared to not like it thinking that it would have a weird texture BUT it was super good.  It is a recipe I will make again AND because you can make it the night before, it would be great for a holiday or even a Saturday morning brunch.  

You can find the recipe HERE 

A couple of things:

1) I cut the recipe in half because I knew my kids wouldn't eat it.  It worked perfectly.  I did use the bigger tortillas so they fit perfectly in my 8x8 pan. 

2) The store had no bacon bits and I did not buy bacon.  I didn't miss it (and I love bacon!).  I just sprinkle the last of the sausage on top :-) 

February Reading Goal

Even though I list my reading goal within my monthly goals, I like to post my specific books as well.  I have big aspirations for reading this year and I feel like this helps me be more accountable. 

1. It all Starts at Home - I won this book through a blog about 10 years ago.  I think I might have started it once but, at the time, I was living the toddler life and didn't read much HA! 
2. Taming the To-Do List - I bought this book years ago because, well, I'm a HUGE to-do list maker.  I don't think having a To-Do list is a bad thing but I think sometimes they can be controlling if a person isn't careful.  I'm curious to see the take on this topic by the author. 
3. Stripped - is the book from January I didn't get read.  The author is a good friend of mine so I'm hoping it's good HA! 
4. Training Hearts and Teaching Minds - is the family devotional book we are trying to start.  It is a Monday - Saturday book and it seems like each Monday something happens to keep us from all sitting down to dinner.  We might need to do Tuesday- Sunday instead HA! 
5. When Twilight Breaks and All That We Carried - These are two fiction books that were recommended on a blog I follow from my favorite book store, Baker Book House.  I don't usually order books online from the store but the price was right for each and there was free shipping.  I'm looking forward to reading both of them this month. 

February Goals

I felt like January went really well and I was able to focus on accomplishing alot of my goals. (Even if my brothers made fun of me!! HA!)   I also fully realize that part of the reason that happened (and a BIG part) is because there was no school!  My expectations will still be high for February but I also know my time is more limited during the day.  

1. Complete 28 pages in Scrapbooking (towards my 365 total page goal).  I actually have a list of more specific goals as well and this month the goal is to scrapbook Jan-Feb 2016, January 2020 and 2021.  I also set a plan each month of what photos to order from the other years I haven't completed yet.  (For the record, I'm hopeful to finish out this year with 2016, 2020, and 2021 completed.)  There is a virtual weekend crop in February that I'm specifically planning to use for January 2021 photos.  

2. Read my FIVE books in my plan this month.  Record them in my Pinterest folder of what books I read this month.  Why 5?  Simple - I have one left from January, two pre-planned for February in the non-fiction section and then I picked up two newly released fiction books from my favorite book store (shipped for free!) that I would like to ready this month as well. 

3.  1000 hours outside - My goal this month is to introduce this concept to the family and actually track the time outside.  Playing in the snow, tossing a football, ect. - just track the time that is outside without over planning it.  

4. Decluttering Calendar/List - The goal is to get through week 5-8 on my "52 Weeks" list.  

5. Order the Macaroon making kit on Amazon.

6. The basement - The end goal is to have a well organized, useful basement.  So, my goal this month is progress. I do have a "silent" goal of trying to do just one thing a day in the basement - it can be cleaning off a shelf, bringing up one box of things to donate, or cleaning out one bin but again, any progress is something so even if I only clean off one shelf or carry up  one box all month, that counts! 

7. Read one chapter in my photography book and PRACTICE the skill.  

8. Put all memorabilia in albums that are already done (I have a whole file drawer full of things that are sorted by date that need to get put in albums)  

9. Pick camping dates for this summer and reserve the spots I can. 

10. Go on one date with Darryl. 

11. Practice the song I picked to record for Christmas - the goal is to learn page one. 

12. Plan out the first adventure to visit at least one of the great lakes. 

13. Get some spines imprinted - I will usually be placing an order each month for pages so I'd like to order 2-3 spines depending on the year I'm ordering for at that point. 

14. Update my Holiday Journal with ideas from the Superbowl and Valentine's Day.  Look ahead at plans for St. Patrick's Day and Easter

15.  Plan something fun for Darryl's birthday as well as take the boys shopping. 

16. Visit Flour Child Bakery - it's a bakery I follow on Facebook in a town not far from home.  I've wanted to go and buy treats but never have - this is the month to do it since it is Valentine's Month after all!

17. Take the boxes and bags of "donation" items that are currently in both vehicles and drop them off somewhere (we have a few local charities that accept donations vs. Good Will) 

18. Clean out Darryl and my closet - get rid of clothes and shoes we haven't worn in years and turn all the hangers backwards (it's an organizational trick - at the end of the season, any hanger not turned around - that item needs to go!) Also organize our dresser and make a list of summer clothes we both need. 

19.This one is hard to measure - I need to start organizing/decluttering/setting up the "Toy/Lego Room" in the basement.  Yes, it is technically on the 52 Week list but I don't have it on there until fall.  This is kind of like the rest of the basement - I need to just start with the first bin (blocking the walkway HA!), sort it, and make a home for it.  Whether I get through one bin or 5 bins - it counts as something. 

20. Make a drive to the Lakeshore.  I love Lake Michigan.  Whether it is frozen or not - just to be near it is so peaceful and it grounds my soul and brings me peace.  Now that football is wrapping up, we will have some free time for some drives and this is one that is on my list.  (Another is to visit Michigan's Covered Bridges but we might need to start that one next month HA!) 

21.  Here are my misc. items that need to get done. A) Josh got a punching bag penguin for Christmas that we need to set up - get some sand to add as a weight and blow it up.  B) My mom made beautiful shadow boxes for each of the boys for Christmas that we need to get on the walls.  C) Josh got a new solar system set to hang from his ceiling but he wants it measured out correctly so Darryl needs to help get that accomplished.  D) Clean the "piano corner".  I'm revamping how I store my scrapbooking stuff so that opens up that corner :-)  E) Set up my 52 envelopes of saving plan 

So, there's 21 goals for February (well, goal # 21 always has a bunch of "mini goals" ha!)  I feel like it is doable and I look forward to accomplishing as much as possible! 

Weekly Worship - Laura Story - He Will Not Let Go

Every week I try to keep my eye (and ear) out for songs - especially songs that others post on social media because they impacted them that week.  This is a beautiful and timely song by Laura Story.  Enjoy. 

2021 Weekly Photos #4

 Welcome to a look back at another week! 

Saturday - It was a glourious day of relaxation.  Darryl, Josh and Nate played video games together for part of the day and just did whatever for the rest of the day.  I scrapbooked all day and met some of my goals for the month.  We went to my mom's for an amazing dinner of fish and chips and played Five Crowns.  (It's pretty obvious who is competitive in the family and it. is. not. me. HA!)  

Sunday - We woke up to a beautiful snowfall (it's why I love Michigan!) and enjoyed another quiet day . .. until the Football Playoffs started HA!  Then we cheered on our teams and enjoyed pizza for dinner. 

The story behind this photo - Josh had asked all week to order pizza as late as possible just for fun.  Well, Darryl and I are old and can't eat pizza at 9:30 at night so we ordered our pizza at 6:00 (like good old people HA!) and, later, at about 9:15,  we went and grabbed a Little Ceasers Pizza for Josh.  (And yes, he eats the whole thing)  I believe in making memories and getting to eat a pizza at 9:30 at night is a memory for sure.

Monday - Today is our last day of no school before second semester officially begins so we enjoyed it.  We all slept in (Well, not Darryl, he worked HA), got McDonald's for lunch and Nate had his friend over for the afternoon.  This days of nothing are nice when I know that tomorrow brings days of school (well . .. unless there is a snow storm if the rumors can be believed HA!) 

Tuesday - Well, today was a snow day!  We got hit with the first REAL snow storm where we ended up with about 4-6 inches of snow.  Our friends had the day off and were here all day so Josh and Nate got the day off as well.  We will start the 2nd semester on Wednesday (hopefully!) 

Wednesday - Finally, we started 2nd semester.  It was nice, quiet, and went smoothly.  It did remind me that I get next to nothing done while we are doing school but I also know that once we get our schedule running like clock work I will have some time slots throughout the day when both boys are working independently.  (Hopefully!)

Thursday - Today was a 1/2 day for our friends (so a 1/2 day for us too!).  My mom came over to hang with the kids so I could get our (hers and mine!) grocery shopping done for the week.  

Friday - Our goal each week is to finish up school by Thursday so our Friday is free!  Plus our friends have another 1/2 day.  Throw in a little Tae Kwon Do and the day is done!