Our Weekly Snapshot

 Here’s a look back at our week.  My photos loaded backwards do it really is “back”🤣

Nate finally returned to Thursday night TKD after two months off due to a busy schedule. 

The teens enjoy having friends over but I don’t always get to take photos.  I did sneak this one with Nate’s friend Monty.  

Nate enjoyed another week of Centershot! 

Darryl, Josh, and I attended a celebration of life lunch for my Uncle.  This is all of the cousins that were able to attend along with one aunt and one Uncle. 

Weekly Menu

 Summer is quickly coming to a close.  While we homeschool and you might think that it is a different feeling, as a former full time teacher, I still get the same feeling at the end of summer as we move into a different schedule with school and activities.  Guess what stays the same?  Meal planning! 

Friday - Amish Breakfast Casserole 

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's

Sunday - pork roast, crash potatoes, salad and biscuits

Monday - Shrimp Scsmpi and Red lobster biscuits 

Tuesday - Beef, Tomato and Pasta Soup with French Bread

Wednesday - Baked Teriyaki Chicken and Fried Rice

Thursday - BBQ Cups and Fries 

Recipe Fun

 

This recipe is a long time family favorite - Stuffed Shells.  Years ago, before we had kids, we went on a vacation to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and, while there, visited some long time friends.  She made us a wonderful lunch of stuffed shells and they were amazing.  They are simple and filling and too me, this is just one of those comfort food recipes.  

Danny Gokey - Only For A Moment (Official Music Video)

Our Weekly Snapshot

 Here’s a look back at our week: 

Last Sunday Nate attending a Great Lake party with the youth group.  

On Tuesday we had a teen lunch with friends from the co-op

• And Nate had his first official week of Centershot and he even got a bullseye!

Weekly Menu

 The next two weeks are my self imposed relaxing weeks before the rush of the school year.  My guys aren't quite as excited about these weeks but I like keeping it simple.  I'm sure things will come up and we might go bowling again.  We shall see!

Friday - Beef Drip and Fries (Basically a beef drip is a style of French dip) 

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's

Sunday -our church has a meet and greet with a youth intern and I’ve heard there might be pizza.  If not we will just grab Little Caesers

Monday - Broccoli Cheese Noodle Soup, Ham, and Rolls

Tuesday - summer beef stew and biscuits

Wednesday - Amish Breakfast Casserole, Fruit Salad, and Overnight Cinnamon Bread

Thursday - Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Loin, Crash Potatoes, and Green Beans

August Goals

 Every year in August I find it a little hard to write a list of goals.  August is my month to breath before school starts (I know I will mention this in several posts in August I am sure!)  So, instead of writing out a long list of goals I'm focusing on some key things that must be done before September.  Anything beyond that is just icing on the goal cake HA! 

1. I created a list of 31 drawers, cupboards, and small spaces that I want to declutter and organize throughout the month of August.  The goal is to finish all 31.  Most of them are 5-10 minute jobs.  
2. List, sell, and then donate any unsold Homeschool Books we are done with.  I'm hoping to make a little money to help cover the cost of the rest of Josh's books for 11th grade.  
3. Clean off the TV stand, move it from the wall and work on the craziness of cords.  Nate told me he would help with that job.  
4. Wash the outsides of the main windows - Josh told me he would do that (Plus is the only one that can go high up on the ladder without fear of dying LOL) 
5. Plan weeks 1-3 of Joyful - for real.  I need to pick out our verses, plan activities, and prep all of my bags 
6. Steam clean the carpets - Dining Room, Living Room, Bedrooms
7. Continue with the basement clean out - just 15 minutes a day
8. Replace the board on Nate's bed. 
9. Josh's room - just keep helping him plug away on the last pieces 
10. Work on "It is Well with my Soul"
11. Date with Darryl
12. Read at least 6 books with one non-fiction.  I still need to read a non-fiction book for June and July. 
13. Memorize 1 verse for August (and June and July) 
14. Review my 101-1001 goals so I can tackle more of those items. 
15. Review my 2025 Goals and see what I need to accomplish. 
16. In my menus I have plans to try two new recipes - I would like to utilize my cookbooks I own and try two new options from one or more of my books. 
17. Order July Photos
18. Scrapbook - I really need to schedule my scrapbook days and then stick to it- once I get moving I generally keep moving; it is just making the effort to do it!  So, my goal for August is to Finish January-March of 2025; then to Finish 3 months of 2011 photos.  (I'm not really that far behind - someone I skipped over 2011 when I was moving through years) 
19. Make Christmas list plans for both guys and slowly start picking up some things. 
20. Plan a family activity for this quarter (July-September). 
21. Attend planned activities - Teen Brunch, FunTyme Meet-up, at least one more time with Kids Bowl Free, a Worship on the Waterfront Concert, and maybe a movie if there is anything good out there to see! 
22. Write my blog posts for upcoming weeks. Ideally I'd like to have them written through the end of September (yes, I do most of them in advance) and then stay on top of the weekly ones such as our Weekly Snapshot and then any related to my Joyful Co-Op class. 
23. Follow the Fly-lady plan for August with the 15 minute daily challenges for cleaning and/or decluttering.  
24. Lay out plans for the rest of the year - retreats, known field trips, family days, etc.  Calendar planning is my "thing" :-) 
25. As always - complete at least 1/2 of these goals.  

Geesh, I did not think I would have 25 items this month - but somehow, I do!  Lets go August!