Weekly Menu - Father's Day Included

 Hello!  It's another week of food.  Next week I'll share a post about what I thought of our Hello Fresh Meals and if I'll do it again.  This week though, I'm back to cooking my normal stuff.  A few weeks ago I had some things on the menu that I didn't cook because of a mess of errors (like the meat got left on the counter not just overnight but for a day and half because I thought it was in the fridge!!) so I am going to throw those back on the menu this week! 

Friday - It's take out time! 

Saturday - Dinner at mom's 

Sunday - Father's Day!  Darryl get's to pick today and he picked Shrimp Quesadillas (we had them a few weeks ago and he said they are his favorite!) and Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberries.  I'm going to make a chili cheese dip to go with the quesadillas.  

Monday - Brats, Fries and BLT dip (a new dip recipe I've been wanting to try!) 

Tuesday - Crock Pot Fajita's (my mom's favorite so she will eat with us too HA!) 

Wednesday - Yorkshire Pizza and Salad.  This is a recipe from a friend that has been on my list forever.  It's supposed to be amazing so we shall see! 

Thursday - Mississippi Pot Roast (I have my normal roast recipe but wanted to try something different), mashed potatoes, and asparagus 

Pensacola Beach Vacation Days # 9 and #10

 These last two days are our travel days home! 

This was just before we headed out.  We had the luggage cart all loaded, had checked everything off the list and needed to load the truck.  Our view and our week were amazing.  Breathtaking.  

This is the iconic Pensacola Beach sign that you see just before crossing the bridge to the Island.  We were sad to drive by one last time! 

So, when we were driving down to Flordia, both kids said that visiting Mississippi was on their bucket list for this trip because we woudl be so close. Well, it would have ben an "easy" thing to do if the bridge wasn't closed but with the closed bridge it took some work to make this happen. We ended up driving through Mobile, AL which has not only some amazing bridges over the water, there was also a tunnel under the water.  

Yes, we made it to Mississippi.  From the sign, we now headed home with a first night goal of Nashville, TN.  As we were driving along, Nate's phone alarm goes off and he says, "Mom, did you get that Amber Alert?"  I'm like, no??  Then he says, "MOM, it's a TORNADO!!"  Yes, we were in the middle of a Tornado warning . .. not just one warning but several due to a big storm system.  Do you know how hard it is to figure out where a Tornado is when you have no idea where you are??  Well, it is hard!  Ironically, one of the things on Josh's bucket list was to drive through a tornado because he said that all the rest of our family has fun stuff happen to them but we never do HA!   

Our other adventure was that we stopped for gas and snacks at some out of the way town.  I was inside in line with lots of other people when a lady came in and started an argument with the cashier.  She was threatening him and he was threatening to call the police and they were both screaming as each other.  Well, Darryl was outside filling up the truck and couldn't figure out what was taking me so long and was concerned that something was happening.  He started to walk toward the building and I waved him away . . he was mouthing to me "Get out of there!".  Well, as soon as their was a path behind the screaming woman, I was out of there!!!  Uuugg.  

We stopped for dinner about an hour from our hotel at Waffle House (we needed one last Waffle House fix!).  We finally rolled into our hotel at about 9:00.  Darryl did much better on this hotel - it was brand new with perfect beds and all the bells and whistles.  We even got to enjoy breakfast in the breakfast room . .. in the middle of . .. a TORNADO warning!! For real!!!  I glanced at the TV where there is a Tornado warning flashing and the weather people all stressed out and noticed it was a local station.  Needless to say, I want to the front desk and asked - do we need to take cover?? She promised me we were fine because it was "in the next town over".   Crazy Tornados!!  

One last request from the boys was to stop at the Tennessee Titan Stadium again so they could go to the gift shop which wasn't open last time.  We did and picked up some fun stuff before heading for home.  Now, we are not effecient travelers.  I mean, if my brother Ken was riding with us, he would literally go insane with the amount of time it takes us at stops.  (He's like the speed demon of trips - no stops and you better have a strong bladder HA!).  At one point someone asked how long until we get home and the response was 3 1/2 hours.  We drive, made a bathroom stop, got back on the road and noticed that it was . .. 3 1/2 hours until we got home.  That happened 2 more times LOL  I guess what they say is true, the last 3 1/2 hours are always the longest!  

I think we pulled in at about midnight so we didn't do much except hug the dog and go to bed.  We unloaded in the morning and (sadly) had to return our amazing vehicle.  It kind of marked the end of vacation.  

We are all hoping and planning to go back to Pensacola Beach next spring break because we loved it so much.  

Pensacola Beach Vacation Day #7 and #8

 Days #7 and 8 of our vacation were days that we wanted to explore and then do our favorite things! 

This is our condo!  We were the second floor from the top in the middle.  It was amazing!  Such a great view being so high up. 

It took me all week to remember but I finally got a photo by a palm tree and, as the boys said, "It wasn't even a pretty one." LOL  Oh well! 

On Friday we swam in the pool and then headed out to explore our island more.  We had driven to one end of the island by going to Fort Picken's and now headed the other direction and drive through some amazing National Seashore Land.  It was beautiful and I didn't take a single photo.  We didn't make it to the end of the island but made it quite a long way (into the next town over actually) before heading back.  We also took time to do some more souvenir shopping.  We had shopped our first day but waited to go back until the end.  We all kind of had things in mind we wanted to pick up.  Dinner was at a place called Crabs on the Beach.  The food on this night was just amazing!  It was so good, in fact, that we voted to go back on Saturday night. 

Saturday we knew we wanted to do our favorite things one last time.  We visited the pool first thing and swam for just a short bit.  Then, we headed to Fort Picken's as there was one area Nate and Darryl had not explored the last time we were there.  The views are just breathtaking. 

Yes, they got locked up several times HA!  

Of course we had to head to the ocean one last time.  The waves were much calmer but we still had some fun on the beach. 

Finally, we headed back to Crabs on the Beach for what we thought would be an amazing dinner.  (This is the Parrot outside the restaurant)  Well, twice was not the charm because our service was awful and the food was not great.  I actually sent my food back because it was ice cold (like out of the refrigerator cold) and ended up eating some of Josh's fries because our server put his order in wrong and we ended up with a double order.  Oh well, they can't all be winners! I didn't let it damper my wonderful experience in Pensacola Beach.  

Once back at our condo, we all just tried to enjoy the last bits of time before heading to bed.  I sat out on the balcony as long as I could just watching the moon and listening to the waves.  

Summer Fun - It's that time of year!

 It's that time of year!  It is Sweet Summertime! 

Josh and Nate finished up school a few weeks ago and our friends finished up school last week.  So, after letting every enjoy a break from school with a free week it's time for some summer fun.  As the kids all get older, I plan less.  This is for a few reasons.  One, they can self entertain a lot better now then when they were 2, 4, 5, and 6!  Two, I want a break too and if I plan too much I spend most of my summer prepping and planning just like during school!  Three, the kids like time to do their own stuff (like watch TV and play video games, truth be told!) Despite that, I do still like to have some sort of plan/schedule so that we don't get to August and wonder what in the world we did all summer!   Last week, we signed up for the Library Program, signed up for "Kids bowl free" (we usually go about . . .once!!), and I planned out a few things for the coming weeks. Also, each day there is "no electronics" time -- we did this last year and it seemed to help on a couple of levels.  It stopped some of the arguing that tends to happen when you are together every day and it gets everyone outside or doing something new. 

What will our week look like on a normal basis?  Let me tell you (I know, you are thrilled!)  

Mondays - I like to call this my recovery day.  It's recovery from the weekend - clean up all the stray piles, get laundry going, and do any final planning for the week.  The kids get to enjoy their own stuff. 

Tuesday/Wednesday - These are the two days I'll try to have something planned.  One day an at home activity in the afternoon and one day we will try to hit a park, a splash pad, a beach, or some other fun but cheap (HA!) activity.  Unless it is an all day activity - I usually try to do the activity in the mid/late morning before the day gets hot and busy (mornings tend to be less busy at parks/splash pads!) We will also get to have a few treats out like ice cream, donuts, or lunch at Pizza Hut. 

Thursday - This is our Library Program Day.  This is also my grocery shopping day :-) 

(

Friday - Free Day!  I love Friday Free Day!  On Friday's the kids are "free" to play all day (meaning there isn't even "no electronics" time!).  No planning and normally no plans.  For me, this lets me wrap up things from the week, put stuff away, and get ready for the weekend.  (and hopefully work on my scrapbooking goals!) 

What happens during "no electronics" time?  In the morning, there will be a 30 minute electronic break and during that time everyone has to go outside.  (hopefully before the day heats up too much!).  Yes, there will be complaining but usually once everyone gets outside they fill the 30 minutes with a walk, the trampoline or tossing a ball.  In the afternoon, there will be a 60 minute electronic break.  The first 20 minutes will be for reading each day.  The last 40 minutes will either by an activity I have planned (on Tuesday or Wednesday) or they will have to find something to do.  So, really, that 1 1/2 hours gets filled up pretty fast.  

There's the introduction to our summer!  I'll normally post a recap of our week on Mondays (just like this post is showing up on a Monday!).  I joked with my friend who's kids hang with us all summer that my plan goes well until after 4th of July when summer is HOT HOT HOT! and then we just all lay around and stay cool LOL  This year, July is our "busy month" with, well, the Holiday, Josh and Nate have a day camp and my brother and sister-in-law are coming to visit.  Maybe that will get us through the July slump! 

Weekly Worship - MercyMe - Say I Won't

I happened to come across the Facebook of the man who is the inspiration for this song - he's a long time friend of Mercy Me.  I love learning the meanings behind songs and this one will pull at your heart a little bit.  Such a great song with a great message 

2021 Week in Photos #19

 Here's a look back at our week: 

On Saturday we continued on with our project!  After killing everything along the side of the house, we laid down landscaping fabric.  

Next came the mulch.  This was a family affair :-)  It was hot out but we got it done petty quickly. 

We ran short by about 2 bags of mulch . ..  hopefully next week will be the "finished project" post!  

On Sunday - we went to the beach!  As I already mentioned, it was HOT last weekend (and all week!).  At lunch time I said, 'Lets go to the beach!"  And, we did.  

I personally think the water still had ice cubes floating in it because it was THAT cold but these three got in it.  I'll usually give in and go in eventually but not this time!  Holy Moly it was cold. 

When we left the beach we stopped at Norm's Ice Cream for a treat.  The line was long and the ice cream was good!  We were tired, sun-kissed, and relaxed after a fun afternoon away. 

Monday and Tuesday - Josh, Nate, and I slept in and enjoyed our last two mornings of relaxation.  Our friends who hang with us had their last two half days.  

Wednesday - We went to the Library to sign up for the TEEN summer reading program.  I have THREE in the teen group since it is by grade (2 6th graders and 1 7th grader . . .including our friends!).  So the Princess has to tag along to the Teen stuff this year.  

Thursday - The plumber came out to work on a couple of plumbing projects but only had time to get to one (fixing the outside spigott) and has to come back this next week to finish fixing a pipe in the bathroom.  I tried to go to the grocery store in the afternoon but the power was out at the store!  

Friday - Our last Friday school!  After classes were done, we had a pizza party and the kids played a game of 9 square.  It was crazy hot.  We got home in time for an hour of down time before Tae Kwon Do!  

Weekly Menu!

 This week's menu is going to be slightly different!  I received a "free" trail to Hello Fresh Box.  (It is free . .. until I bumped it up to 4 people/4meals.)  So I am going to use those recipes for meals this week! Here's the basic plan and I "promise" to share what we think of Hello Fresh after we try all the recipes! 

Friday - Our "take out" night.  Fridays are busy right now so getting take out is a nice way to end a busy week. 

Saturday - Mom's :-) 

Sunday - Day One of Hello Fresh! 

Monday - Day Two of Hello Fresh! 

Tuesday - Day Three of Hello Fresh! 

Wednesday - Day Four of Hello Fresh! 

Thursday - Brats (hopefully on the grill!), my homemade potato salad, and fruit! 

I'm looking forward to trying Hello Fresh and have heard good things about their food so hopefully we like it!  Doing something like this is fun once in awhile!