Summer Fun - Week 1 2024

 

Welcome to the recap of  the first official week of our summer break!  It started out hot and humid but thankfully it cooled off and the humidity left by the end of the week!  

Here's a look at our week in photos! 

Sunday, June 2 - This was a fun family day that was kind of unplanned.  We went to church and then headed into Grand Rapids to pick something up from Darryl's work.  We planned to get lunch afterwards and couldn't decide HA!  Nate ended up with McDonald's, Josh got Speedway (yes, he loves gas station food), and Darryl and I got tacos from a Mexican place.  We actually wanted our favorite Tacos but the Adobe is not open on Sundays which is what caused our inability to decide HA!  We laughed a lot thought and just enjoyed being together. 

Monday, June 3 - Joshua and Nate had their piano recital.  This is my favorite event of the year.  Why?  I get to hear them practice all year, take them to every lesson, push them to do better and I get to finally hear a fabulous performance that showcases all of that hard work!  

Tuesday, June 4

Finally, the last day of school!  Joshua took his last math test and we were done!  Nate actually finished up last week but we took our photos today! 

Nate - at the beginning and end of the year.  One of the big changes - Nate got glasses!  I hadn't gotten a good photo of him with his new glasses until this photo :-) 

Joshua at the beginning and end of 9th grade.  

Wednesday, June 5

I actually got to do something today!  One of my close friends is here for a month from Florida.  They come up every year to spend time with family.  She and I met for coffee and conversation :-) 

Thursday, June 6 - I clean on Thursdays normally so I left earlier than normal in order to be home for lunch since my extra kids had a half day.  Nate spent the afternoon with his friend Monty and also attended Monty's last soccer game with his family.  I love that my guys have great friends! 

Friday, June 7 - Today was an end of an era.  I have been babysitting/watching my friends kids since the oldest was born in 2010 so almost 14 years.  Well, today was their last day.  It is bittersweet because they have been part of our everyday lives for so long.  They are good friends though so it wasn'nt good bye, it was just a "see ya later". 

I just happened to have this photo saved on my phone from 2017.  I'm sure if I dug through photos I could find an older one of these four.  They loved having matching shirts! 

The crew today! 

They have been great friends for so many years! 

Saturday, June 8 - We attended an open house for a friend - he's one of my guys long time friends.  His dad is also our pastor :-)  Josh and I also went star gazing at 4:00a. 😊

We

And the night ended with a beautiful rainbow! 

 

And that's a wrap!  

Weekly Menu

 Well, it is officially summer break!  School is done and most of the "extra" stuff is done as well.  Nate has TKD through the end of June but otherwise everything else is done.  It's nice to hit the summer slow down . .. granted the next few weeks are still full with summer camps and open houses but not the "normal" stuff!  

Here's the plan for the coming week:

Friday - Joshua and Nate are at a birthday party throughout the afternoon and I believe are getting dinner.  Darryl and I are having a frozen PF Change dinner and rice.  Super simple. 

Saturday - We have an open house to attend for lunch so dinner is at home tonight since my mom is also going with us to the open house.  The plan is teriyaki chicken thighs, Knorr rice packets (Like Rice-a-Roni), peas and crescent rolls

Sunday - I have a concert so I grab something beforehand.  I budgeted a little for the guys to stop on their way home from church and pick up their lunch too.  We don't eat out often anymore as it has really gotten expensive but I do try to budget for a treat every once in while. (Even "cheap" fast food is now expensive - it is crazy!) 

Monday - With TKD still going on - dinner still has to be easy and able to be eaten in shifts.  So it is our standard BBQ Cups and Chips. 

Tuesday - A family favorite - Spaghetti Carbonara and French Bread

Wednesday - Ham and Cheese Quiche, Banana Bread and Asparagus

Thursday - Tomato Basil Chicken, Crazy Jane's Salad (it's based on a seasoning mix called Aunt Jane's Crazy Salt Mix) , and Garlic Bread

I have been working on a menu plan for the summer.  It is easy to feel like I'm constantly planning and cooking when we have nothing extra going on so I have tried to make a "routine" or schedule based on style of meals.  Obviously things come up and change and that is ok!  

My basic plan is as follows (because I know you are all thrilled to know this info)

Sundays - Crock Pot Meals so that they are ready after church.  This is also our optional "grilling" day where we have a light lunch after church and then grill later in the day.  

Monday - Crock Pot Soups - yes even in the summer soups are good.  I tend to make hearty soups with lots of meat, veggies, and pasta in them making it more of a meal.  

Tuesday - Odd-Ball stuff HA!  Such as meatless items, homemade pizza, seafood and pork.  Really these are all things that I have limited recipes for so I just combined them into one night. This is also the night for new recipes along the way too. 

Wednesday - Breakfast!  I love breakfast foods like quiches and pancakes so I enjoy cooking it for dinner. 

Thursday - Chicken. 

Friday - Beef

Saturday - We usually go to my mom's for dinner.  

Truth be told, I tend to do these ideas and get bored about three weeks into the plan HA!  So, we shall see how long this one lasts!  I also just cleaned out all of my recipes and threw away quite a few that I've made once and have no desire to make again.  Maybe I'll find a few more to throw out by the time I'm done LOL 

It's Summertime (almost!)

 

I missed posting last week but since it isn't officially summertime yet (we are still wrapping up school) then I guess that's ok.  HA!  This will be the last "unofficial" summertime post as week 1 of summer technically started yesterday.  I chose to post these on Tuesdays to give me time to update it after the weekend. Anyway . .. summer is knocking on the door for sure!! 

Over the past two weeks we celebrated my mom's 80th birthday, had a great Memorial Day with family, finally finished up school, participated in a Library teen activity, and more!  Not to mention the Father/Son Retreat and my fun Scrapbooking "retreat".  I'll share some photos below from all the fun!  

On Memorial Day we gathered at my mom's with my nephew and his family and we celebrated my mom's birthday as well.  She loves having family over!  

I always snap a photo of the oldest and youngest grandkids - my nephew is the oldest of all and Nate is the youngest.  Looking at this photo I do believe Joshua and Nate might be taller HA!  (One of these days I need to find all of the photos of the three of these guys through the years!) 

My mom's actual birthday was celebrated at our house with dinner, gifts, and dessert!  She made out like a bandit HA! 

She was protecting her dessert and candles.  In our house, no one technically blows out the candles but they breath hard and talk with ALOT of breath to try and blow them out while they are being lit.  Fun times!  

This past weekend Darryl, Joshua, and Nate attended a father/son retreat. 

Weekly Menu

 This weekend is unique!  Darryl, Joshua and Nate are heading to a Father/Son Retreat so I designed my own Scrapbooking Retreat right in my living room with snacks, movies and lots of time scrapbooking.  It's been a long time since I've had something like this so I am SOOOO looking forward to it.  I know they will have a blast together and . . .I know I will enjoy my time relaxing at home doing something I really enjoy! 

Friday - The guys head to camp; I'm going to enjoy dinner at my retreat! 

Saturday - The guys return today but not until after dinner so, again, it's all part of my retreat. 

Sunday- Hamburger Stroganoff over noodles and green beans

Monday - My guys have a piano recital tonight so I'm keeping it simple - tacos

Tuesday - chicken nuggets and fries 

Wednesday - Spaghetti and Garlic Bread

Thursday - Individual Lemon BBQ Meatloaves, Mashed Potatoes and Corn 

Weekly Menu - The Official Start of Summer

 This weekend brings the official start of summer . . .. even though it has felt like summer this past week!  We even put our AC in already - I usually hold off until June most years but NOT this year.  We get to celebrate my mom's 80th birthday this weekend AND enjoy time with family for Memorial Day!  Here's the plan for the coming week. 

Friday - Joshua and Nate are heading to a friends house so Darryl and I are on our own!  

Saturday - It's my mom's birthday!  we are having burgers, fries, salad and dessert! 

Sunday - I’m hoping we can grill today!  Just thinking chicken sounds good.    Then corn on the cob and crash potatoes! 

Monday - We are celebrating Memorial Day at my mom's with some family. 

Tuesday - Spaghetti Carbanara and French Bread

Wednesday - lasagna and garlic bread 

Thursday - BBQ Cups and Fries

It's Summertime (well almost) Pre-Summer Fun

 

While we are not officially into our weeks of summer yet, we do have things going on over the next few weeks so I'm going to start with some "pre-summer fun" posts.  

I will start with Friday night, May 10th just because it was so cool!  We had an amazing show of the Northern Lights.  I was so surprised that we could see them and am thankful I stepped outside just before heading to bed to catch a glimpse. 

This top photo I took with my phone camera.  I had been reading about using a camera to see the lights because it filters out so much light.  It was amazing!    The photo below is more with the "naked" eye.  I still used my phone but I turned off a setting so it didn't filter out quite so much. 

On Saturday, May 11th, Nate participated in a formal Black Belt seminar to be trained on how to teach the new requirements that are part of the federation is school is a part of at this point.  Darryl, Joshua, and I went to my in-laws for most of training but I did catch the last 20 minutes or so and it was impressive to see all of the Black Belts together. (There were some higher colored belts as well as they are considered "in training") 

Nate is standing with the official banner as well as the Grand Master. 

Sunday, May 12th - Mothers Day!  I love these guys :-) 

Wednesday, May 15th was the last youth group for the year at our church.  This is a portion of the group - there were several missing.  The youth group has almost doubled in size in the last few months and it has been great to see!  

Weekly Menu

 We are enjoying a beautiful May.  I love being able to have the windows open and enjoy the beautiful spring breeze.  Everything has turned green and it's just so pretty out.  It's also the time of year that it seems every school assignment DRAGS!  We are trying really hard to finish up school  . . .and then all the projects hit HA!  Oh well, it will all get done, just not as soon as any of us would like (which would be yesterday . . LOL) 

Friday - Nacho's and Salad.  

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's 

Sunday - Dr. Pepper Meatballs, 7-Layered Salad, and Mexican Dip with chips.  

Monday - Pot Pies

Tuesday - Spaghetti and Garlic Bread and a salad

Wednesday - Mac and Cheese, Ham and Watermelon

Thursday - Lasagna and Garlic Bread and salad