Summer Fun Week 5

 

This week will be different because Josh and Nate are at day camp Tuesday-Friday.  

Monday - I debated some things for today but in the end, we stayed home.  It rained and the kids had to get ready for camp.  

Tuesday - Today is day 1 of day camp - I'm not there (obviously) so I'm hoping for some photos from camp to share.  The rest of us used today as a free day.  

Wednesday - After taking Josh and Nate to camp, my two extras and I went to McDonald's for breakfast before going to the wooden park for a bit until it was time for the Library Activity.  We headed home for a relaxing afternoon until it was time to pick up the other two! 

Thursday - Today was the opposite of Wednesday.  We enjoyed a quiet morning.  Went to the teen library activity and then left there to head over to get Josh and Nate from camp.

Friday - It is Free Friday :-)  We took the boys to camp and ran some errands before coming home for a bit.  Then, we went out to lunch at Taco Bell before running more errands.  It was nice the three of us to get out of the house for a bit -- there was a whole lot of TV watching going on this week LOL  

Weekly Worship - Casting Crowns - Scars in Heaven (Official Lyric Video)

I heard this song for the first time this past week.  It will give you all the feels -- Casting Crowns really nails this one.  

2021 Weekly Photos #24

 Welcome to another week!

Saturday - Today we celebrated Nate's 11th birthday - his "day of activity" which was delayed from December due to covid/covid restrictions.  It was an amazing day. 

We started his day at Chuck-E-Cheese.  It is his favorite place.  We played for two hours!  It was nice this time because they are both old enough to do their own thing and we payed for time instead of tokens so Darryl and I could play too.  I threw quite a few skeet balls :-) HA! 

After Chuck-E-Cheese we had lunch at McDonald's and actually got to eat inside.  That was the first time since pre-covid!  Many McDonald's don't have their lobbies open yet but this one did!  

Then we headed to Glow Golf and arcade.  (Can you guess Nate loves arcade games?)  The gulf is fun and it is nice that it is indoors!  

The video games are unlimited with the cost of golf.  Lots of air hockey, pin ball, and old school video games.  Honestly we spent about 4 hours total at this place and Nate was not ready to leave!!!  

Nate wanted McDonald's as his second meal of choice (he originally said he was going to go to Chili's but decided he just wanted nuggets).  We agreed ONLY if the other three of us could get Five Guys Burgers instead.  He agreed 100% so we enjoyed burgers on the patio of Five Guys and they were a.m.a.z.i.n.g. as always.  

My "birthday boy" - he's really just past 11 1/2 but I'll stick to calling him 11 for now! 

We also tried out this fabulous cookie place called Crumbl -- best cookies ever.  I'm not one of those people to say "I can only eat half of that" - I mean, we eat the whole thing of everything . .. but . . these cookies are HUGE, sweet, heavy, and did I say huge?  - 1/2 a cookie is perfect for a dessert.  That's ok - makes them last longer!!!  

It was a perfect day.  

Sunday - We were ALL Feeling it today after all the golfing, throw basketballs and skeet balls and hair hockey games HA!  Josh had youth group . .. . but unless someone posts pictures, I get nothing!! 

Monday - Today was "get ready for camp day".  It might only be day camp but they still have to take their stuff!  

Tuesday-Friday - Josh and Nate had Worship camp.  Friday night was the concert when the campers played with their bands to show what they had accomplished.  It was so awesome to see how much they learned in just 4 days of camp.  (My photos are a little out of order) 

One of the classes Josh took was drums.  He loved it and has already asked for a drum set for Christmas and Drum Lessons.  

Nate took Guitar - which he has wanted to learn forever.  He is so excited that Darryl is giving him one of his guitars and is finally going to continue with his lessons. 

This was on Tuesday - heading to the first day of camp.  

Part of Worship Camp is that they form bands and either write original music or learn to play several worship band songs.  This is Josh's group - Josh played the keyboard for his band.  

This is Nate's band - yes, that's him with the rainbow wig and bumblebee costume.  This group wrote their own song and it was actually pretty awesome.  Nate sang and played guitar. 

They really did have such a unique and fun time.  They both learned so much and brought encouragement to others too.  

Weekly Menu - The week when my brother visits

 This weeks menu is more of an idea.  My brother, Ken, and his wife, Lynnette, are staying at my mom's for the week.  We will get to enjoy some meals with them which will be great fun.  (We laugh alot when we are together!)  

Friday - Josh and Nate have their Worship Camp concert tonight so they get to eat at the church.  Darryl and I will eat . .. something HA!  

Saturday - We are eating at my mom's with my brother

Sunday - We are eating at my mom's with my brother, I think!!  (If not, we will eat something at home!) 

Monday - Stuffed Shells, Garlic Bread and Green Beans 

Tuesday - I'm going to get a good roast again and make the Mississippi Beef Roast in the crock pot.  We will beefy noodles and carrots with it. 

Wednesday - The plan is to head to the fair.  We will have something simple at home (sandwiches, corn dogs, etc) because we will also buy some fun fair food too!!  

Thursday - Pork Chops on the Grill, Mac and Cheese, Broccoli and Rolls 

What We Are eating - Baked Tacos

 

In the first Hello Fresh Box, one of our favorite meals was the Beef Flautas, which are basically baked tacos.  They were super easy and I knew I could alter the recipe to make them at home without all of the Hello Fresh Ingredients.  They did not disappoint! 

Simply: 

1) Make your taco meat however you like it - with taco seasoning, with homemade seasoning, with green chili's and onions - it is 100% up to you!  (I cooked about 1 1/2 pounds and had some meat left) 

2) Preheat your over to 425 degrees.  Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.  The size of the tray will determine how many you can fit in a row - I used a medium size tray and got 11 on the tray. 

3) Lightly brush both sides of the tortilla with olive oil.  Scoop 1/4 cup of the meat on the tortilla followed by about a tablespoon of cheese.  Roll tightly and lay side by side on the pan.  (Like piano keys!!) (I wish I would have taken a photo of the pan before cooking!) 

4) Once they are all rolled, place them in the oven for about 12 minutes.  They come out crispy yet soft.  They are amazing. 

I added a "salad" - lettuce, black olives, tomatoes and cheese to eat with the tacos and also had homemade guacamole and sour cream too.  I sprinkled some cheese on top after they came out of the oven.  

This is our new favorite taco recipe - we love these 100% more than plain old tacos! 

On a side note - these re-heat up fantastically in the air fryer for leftovers.  I set mine to "reheat" and cook them for about 5 minutes.  They taste like they are fresh out of the oven 

Summer Fun Week 4

 

We are now into July!  Wow!  This is the full month of Summer -- June includes the tail end of school and our friends return to school in August.  We have Library Events, Day Camp, and Family visits this month!  

Monday -Today was a 100% free day because our friends are out of town until Tuesday.  Anytime I don't watch them we view it as a vacation day and don't do much :-)  

Tuesday - I always find that after 4th of July we tend to settle in a little and don't do quite as much.  I debated a few things for today but in the end, we just stayed home and did the typical "no electronics" time in the morning and afternoon. 

Wednesday - Josh and Nate went to Nana's to hang out with some new friends. 

Thursday - Library Phone Scavenger Hunt

The teen group does NOT want parents in their activity.  This is the closest I could get.  

The activity was a phone photo scavenger hunt (they don't use polaroid's anymore!).  I was able to get pictures of their pictures.  Yes, this is Nate acting as a statue. 

This is their group (I have no idea why this photo is sideways) with a guy with a mustache.  Their group consisted of all friends - Josh, Nate, Cooper and another friend from our co-op, Layla.  I think they had  a blast considering Nate said - "I wish they did that every week." 

Friday - Nate had TKD in the morning and then, as I shared on Saturday, we had a meet up with our Co-Op.  Usually Friday's are free but who can pass up ice cream! 

Yes, it was a bit quieter this week and, honestly, a little lazy for the kids but that's ok.  Most years the week after the 4th of July we tend to be pretty relaxed.  Growing up, I always loved my summers and the last thing I wanted was a list or required things to do so I try to balance it with the kids - a few things that get them off the electronics but lots of time to do nothing!  

Weekly Worship - Lauren Daigle - Hold On To Me ~ (Lyrics)

I can't remember if I've shared this song before but I really enjoy it so I decided it wouldn't hurt to share it again!