Our Week at a Glance

 We had a pretty busy weekend followed by a week full of "things".  

Our weekend started with the Free Fair Parade!  Joshua and Nate got to participate by walking with the float for the Heart Beat Music Studio where Joshua takes drum lessons.  I think they had a lot of fun :-) 

Sunday:

Fair Day!  We always attend the fair one day and this year it was determined by the fact that Joshua was scheduled to play drums on Sunday Afternoon.  The school where he takes his lessons was providing the music Sunday afternoon and he was the one drummer chosen to play.  It was pretty cool! 

Of course, after the performance, it was time for rides!  This is one of Nate's favorite rides!  It goes super fast and he has a blast!  

Another favorite ride is the Airplane.  Both guys enjoy this one!  

This is an annual tradition - the photo before the Ferris Wheel ride :-)  The three of them go on it every single year at the fair :-) 

They are in the pink car :-) 

Another favorite "ride" are the Bumper Cars.  They both love them and it is fun to watch them smash into each other!  This was taken while in line - Josh hiding his face HA! 

I think this is Nate's favorite ride ever and it was finally working this year!  (The last two years it was not working the day we were at the fair).  He is in the very back seat and it goes SUPER high!.  He rode it twice back to back and I think could have ridden it more! 

The animals are a great part of the fair - but we never spend much time because we save it until the end and we are all so tired!  My mom made a friend though!  

On Monday I had to run some errands.  I treated myself to a Biggby drink thanks to my Mother's Day gift from Nate - a gift card!  It was super yummy on a very hot day! 

On Tuesday, Nate and I headed to Grand Rapids for his twice yearly visit with his pulmonologist. Part of the fun is walking across the bridge that connects his doctor's office with the Children's Hospital.  It has an amazing view of downtown.  (And his lungs/asthma are doing well!) 

On Wednesday I treated my guys to Taco Bell.  Our friends are here this week so it was nice to be able to do something special with just us.  A few years ago, Joshua and Nate challenged my brother, Kelly, to a hot sauce challenge.  They brought him all the levels of hot sauce from Taco Bell which he promptly ate like they were candy HA!  Well, they tried the "Fire Sauce" again today and it did not end well LOL  

 We have a big project going on here this week!  Nate is moving into his own room.  We started on Monday with moving stuff out of his room, then did some big furniture moves on Tuesday before finally moving his bed in on Wednesday.  He spent a lot of time the rest of the week organizing and cleaning things out.  To say he's excited to have his own room is an understatement!  Joshua is also enjoying his own space (but no pictures yet as we have work to do in there !) 

The final room!  Nate just loves his space so much! 

One last photo!  I saw this while out and about earlier this week and had to snap a photo.  I sing this to Josh almost every morning :-)  It is "our" song. 

Weekly Menu

 This coming week is a first - one of my guys is heading off to summer camp for the week!  Both Joshua and Nate have gone to a weekend winter retreat but this time one will be gone for the entire week!  I'm excited for Nate because camp is great but it will not be the same around here without him!  It doesn't impact meal planning much though :-)  We still have to eat!

Friday - Roast, Noodles and Green Beans

Saturday - Darryl will be with his dad today but my guys and I are still heading to my mom's for dinner

Sunday - Continuing with our grilling theme - Chicken on the grill, french fries and salad

Monday - Chicken Alfredo and garlic bread

Tuesday - Tacos, Chips and Salsa

Wednesday - Pork Chops, Scalloped Potatoes and Salad

Thursday - We will treat Josh to Domino's tonight.  :-) 

What we are Eating - Triple Berry Crisp

 

I'm always on the look out for easy but delicious dessert recipes.  This one took me back to the days of the pandemic when I would make fresh apple crisp every Friday.  I always did our shopping on Friday mornings.  Then, I would come home, unload and put everything away.  Then, I would put together the crisp to have after dinner and throughout the weekend. 

Well, this Triple Berry Crisp from Skinnytaste did not disappoint!  It was the perfect blend of fruits (and the blueberries popped in your mouth!) and crunchy topping.  I will admit that I doubled the sugar because I knew it would be super sour if I didn't.  It still had a bit of a "bite" to it but I love that sourness.  I served it with whipped cream (you know - the kind in the can!) but it would be amazing with vanilla ice cream. 

You can find the recipe HERE 

An Attitude of Gratitude

One of the groups I'm part of on Facebook is an accountability group with some Christian Ladies.  The group formed about 7-8 years ago and it has been a great group of friends.  I only know one in real life - the rest I've met through the group and we have all walked different roads together.  One of the ladies recently shared this and it is spot on so I thought I'd share it here as well.  It is a great reminder - Gratitude is really a mind-changer; a life changer; an attitude changer! 

 "Change my attitude, with GRATITUDE! The Lord has been dealing with me on the subject of being grateful/ thankful.

Philippians 4:6-8 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things."

We have the power through the word, the name the blood and our testimony to change our surroundings, relationships and even world situations by declaring the promises of God. Who wants to join me in a daily challenge of declaring the word over our lives and seeing the hand of God move?

What scripture(s) do you use to declare over yourself, family or others?"

I love those verses! What a list of things to meditate on! Do you realize that if we spent more time (or all of our time) meditating on that list of GOOD things we wouldn't have time to grumble and complain? Or that we can lay all of those requests; desires; hurts; questions at the feet of God and he will give us peace through him? Wow. What a great set of truths to dwell on this week.

Weekly Worship - Steven Curtis Chapman - "Still" (Official Audio)

This is one of Steven Curtis Chapman's newest songs.  He's one of my favorite artists and I always enjoy his new music! 

Our Week in a Glance

 I felt like this week was a little more busy.  We had a few things going on and were maybe out and about a little more than normal.  When I look back though, there weren't a lot of "picture moments"! 

On Saturday we headed to my nephew's house for a birthday party.  It was a great day with family celebrating a great one year old!  Lots of visiting, some amazing burgers on the grill and such their back deck is just so relaxing - you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere!  My nephew Kaleb is the oldest of the my mom's grand kids and Joshua and Nate are the two youngeset so it was fun to get a photo! 

On Sunday we went out to lunch "one last time" to a long time local favorite - Southside Restaurant.  It was originally a Big Boy but a few years ago the owner became independent and called it Southside.  After 30 years he decided to retire and, according to the rumors, the person who bought it does not plan to turn it into a restaurant. Darryl and I have enjoyed a lot of meals or desserts here through the years.  It will be missed. 

On Wednesday, one of the kids I babysit had to leave for a drum lesson mid-day.  When she returned, she surprised me with a specialty coffee form Sozo - a favorite coffee shop,  I enjoyed it while reading a great book! 

Finally, on Friday we had a meet-up with our Homeschool Co-Op at a local Ice Cream shop that also has a fun play area/sand lot for the kids to play in.  Well, they had fun burying one of their friends in the sand!  Everyone went home full (from ice cream), sweaty, sandy, and, I think, pretty content from a great afternoon. 

Weekly Menu

 I have no wise words today.  I am just trying to stick to our menu and make sure to plan in a way that I actually want to cook the food!!  

Friday - Roasted Pork Loin, Fried Zucchini, and Green Bean Casserole

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's 

Sunday - Josh actually has to play at the Ionia Free Fair today so I know at some point we will be eating some fair food.  We will have sandwiches after church to hold us over until we can get an elephant ear! 

Monday - Lemon BBQ Mini Meatloaves, Mashed potatoes, Peas and Rolls 

Tuesday - Chicken Pot Pie Bread and Salad

Wednesday - Chick-Fil-Lay Nuggets, Baked Mac and Cheese, and Fried Zucchini.  ** Disclaimer - I'm not a big fan of baked mac and cheese but most others in the family love it HA!  I do have a recipe I've made before that I like as long as it is hot!! 

Thursday - Stuffed Shells, Green beans, and Garlic Bread

No Skinnytaste recipes this week :-)  I'm reading the point of summer cooking that I'm looking for easy, "old" favorites so I don't have to think much!