Weekly Menu

We had a good week.  We ate out a little, I cooked a little . .life is good.  I know I need to get back into trying to get the kids, most specifically Nate, tasting new foods.  I am not a "eat it or go hungry" kind of parent; probalby because I'm a little bit picky myself but, I do find it annoying sometimes when the pickiness becomes well, refusual to try something.  Josh is willing to try a little more (shoot, the kid loves sweet potatos) but Nate, he could live on Chicken Nuggets and Mac and Cheese!

Anyway, all of that to say, this is what is planned for the week and who knows, maybe Nate will learn to like something new (For the record, he has learned to like grapes, apples, and "salad" - he loves croutons dipped in dressing. . .even blue cheese dressing :-) )

Friday - We get a special treat as my mom is coming over and she is providing dinner :-)  We haven't seen in her a few weeks and are going through withdrawel.

Saturday - I don't cook on Saturdays.  For real.  This Saturday I have plans to do a few fun things with the boys while Darryl is working, along with running a few errands, and then meeting him for dinner.

Sunday - Simple BBQ Ribs, Cheesy Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes and Biscuits; Then we will have Homemade Pizza for Dinner.

Monday - Cheesy Broccoli Soup and Ham Sammies.

Tuesday - Stir-Fry Beef Lo Mein and French Bread

Wednesday - Stuffed Shells with cheese, Salad, and Garlic Bread

Thursday -Slow Cooker Enchiladas, Mexican Rice and Chips and Cheese

What We're Eating

What we haven't been eating is too many new recipes.  I'm just getting back into cooking after a pretty laid back summer.  The few new recipes I've tried fall into two categories:

1) I'll never make it again

or

2) I took a photo but due to my computer kinda half-way craashing and backing everything up on my external hard drive so I can use Josh's school computer . . well, the photos need to be sorted.  

I did try a new evening snack though! 

Ok, this is a photo from Google and my version of this was much simplier! 

In this house, we tend to eat dinner early.  I've actually started trying to push dinner to 5:30 or 5:45 instead of our normal 5:00 just to try and eliminate the second dinner at 7:30 HA!  Because we eat earlier, I am ready for snack by 8:30 and it is easy to just start grabbing stuff.  I've been working on finding some new, healthier options that still meet the "sweet, crunchy, salty" craving that comes at night.  

My simple version of the above is: 

1 carton of vanilla pudding (you know - just a pudding cup)

A handful of raspberries (or blueberries, black berries etc)

Throw in a little bit of your favorite granola (or nuts of any kind)

It's easy, its tasty, and it is just the right amount for a snack. 

Fall Fun - School, Home Depot, and Airplanes

Like my summer "series" about our weekly activities, I thought it would be fun to share some of what we do each week.

This past week (Sept 26-Oct 2) we really focused hard on school.  We've had a lot of interruptions during the first three weeks - both planned and unplanned - so we needed to catch up and get back on track.  Our basic schedule right now looks like this:
Monday - Wednesday - We hit lessons hard, doubling up on subjects like Math and Reading.

Thursday - Thursday School (Co-Cop) in the morning; Educational Technology in the afternoon (this is a fun lesson where they get to play on the computer)

Friday - In the morning we catch up on anything we didn't get done and do art.  Nate also has a Live Lesson.  The afternoon is Tae Kwon Do.

Even with the busy schedule, we still manage to find a little fun too.

On Monday nights the boys have swim lessons.  This is my view for about an hour every Monday night.  Once I replace my bathing suits that fell apart, we might even stay for open swim after this just so I can get into the pool and not just sit beside it!

 During one of Nate's science lessons this week, he and I had to go outside and observe a plant (Practicing the scientific method) As we were talking about what the plant looked, felt and smelled like, Nate caught sight of the biggest catipillar I've ever seen.  Because I'm a freakazoid about poisenous things, we looked it up to make sure it was safe (and it was) and our science lesson took a turn.  Both boys enjoyed watching this guy crawl and, yes, poop.

 Just love this candid shot.  And yes, Josh is still in PJ's.  It's a battle every. single. day.

 This photo doesn't do it justice - it was about three inches long.

To add to our science lessons of the day - Josh snapped this photo of a cloud he thought was just amazing.

 We ended our week with some fun too.  Being the first Saturday of the month, Home Depot hosts their kids workshops.  These workshops were something I reserved for my dad when it worked out for him to take them so it was a little bit emotional taking them myself.  Nate said, as we pulled into the parking lot, "Mom, I have some tears in my eyes trying to come out."  Then as we worked on building their fire trucks they both talked about how much Papa taught them about building.

After enjoying lunch at Olive Garden (Nate's favorite place) we headed to the Airport to the Observation Park to see the airplanes.  We hit the motherload too - I think we saw a good 10 planes land and take off.  These cuties just had a blast running around and watching planes.

Weekly Song - I have this Hope

A week or so ago, someone shared this song on Facebook and it included the story behind the song but, of course, I can't find that post now.  Ultimatly, the story doesn't matter because the song itself is so powerful.  It doesn't matter what type of pain or unknown you are walking through right now - We have hope.  Some days, it is what gets me through the day as I cry out to God and ask him, "Why" - "I have this hope; In the depths of my Soul."  So powerful.

Family Fun - St. Patricks Day and TKD Testing

So, I have to admit that as I'm going through photos from March, it gets a little harder because I know now that my dad's time was counting down.  It makes it more emotional.  I wish I had taken a few more photos of him when he was with the boys but I'm thankful for photos we do have taken in March when we gathered at my parents house to see my brother.  It's like another "first" seeing photos taken just weeks before my dad's stroke and realizing there is a "before" and an "after".


Somehow, St. Patricks Day has become my most fun holiday to celebrate other than the "big ones" (Christmas and Easter).  It's just plain fun.  I think part of it is the simple fact that the boys truly believe that a Leprechaun comes into the house and leaves candy all day (Rolos).  It gets harder each year to hide them without them seeing me but still - it's fun.  I also love buying them a special t-shirt - it's the first summer shirt of the season and it is just plain fun.

 Wow, they are pasty white HA!  Compared to right now where they are super tan . . .yikes!

 Josh and "Itty Bitty"  - he loves that cat.

 Our annual Green dinner.  Stuffed Cabbage in the crock pot, Green Jell-o, Green Kool-aid, Crash potatoes and Green pudding with coins in the bottom of the glass.

The boys were able to test for their next Tae Kwon Do belts on March 18th.  They had worked hard during two semesters of Friday School to learn what they needed.  A cool thing was at the end of the testing, they got to break a board with their foot.  It was fun to watch.

They both moved on to their yellow striped belt.  (And yes, they are already working hard on being able to test for their next belt in the spring)

Weekly Menu

I had the best intentions this week to get back into posting daily but then, well, it's Friday.  We really dug hard into school this week and focus on getting my husband better and back to work (he's getting better and did go back to work).  Fall is here.  It happened overnight - we had 80 degree temps on day and 60 degrees the next plus rain, wind, and cloudy skies - I love fall!!  I enjoy cooking a little more as the weather cools off and my kitchen isn't hotter than . . well, you know ;-)

So here's the plan for the coming week!

Friday - Pork Chops and Rice, salad, and garlic sticks

Saturday - I'm not cooking.  I have no idea what we will have but I'm not cooking it :-)

Sunday - After church we'll have Grammy's Swiss Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Cheesy Green Bean Casserole and Rolls.  For dinner later, it's soup time!  I'm going to a new soup - Asian Rice Noodle Soup and french bread.

Monday - Chick-Fuh-Lay Nuggets, Crash Potatoes, and Roasted Cabbage slices.  (on a side note - we have Chick-Fuh-Lay Resturants opening all over the place by us!  Can't wait to try the real thing!)

Tuesday - Meatloaf, Twice- baked Potatoes, Carrots, and Bisucits

Wednesday - Chicken Quesadillas, Rice and Chips and Cheese

Thursday - Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn and Crescents.

Weekly Song - "Clean"

For the past several months, we've had free XM radio which has been great.  I love listening to "The Message" every time I get in the truck and, since it isn't a local station, they play songs that are new to me.  One of those is this song by Natalie Grant called "Clean" which just touched my heart the very first time I heard it.  The words are so simple, yet so true.