This is a pretty normal week for us. In fact, I can't think of anything that will interrupt our regularly scheduled meals.
I may have overstocked the freezer with chicken the last couple of weeks, so we'ere a little heavy on chicken dishes this week, but since that's what everyone likes best anyway I'm just going with it. So here's the plan:
Sunday: Homemade pizza and mozzerela bread sticks
Monday: Swiss Chicken Casserole, corn
Tuesday: Baked chicken, Twice baked potatoes, peas
Wednesday: Philly Beef Sandwiches, raw veggies (This is an experiment to use up some leftover roast beef I've had hanging out in the freezer for a while.)
Thursday: Chicken and biscuits
Friday: French toast, fruit
Saturday: Pork chops, rice, green beans
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Lenten Plans with Little Ones
While I always try to do something outside my normal routine to mark Lent and prepare for Easter, I've never tried to get the kids on board with me. This year seemed like a good time to start letting them in on what Lent is about.
We (which really means me) decided that we would only have dessert once a day during Lent. Not that we always have dessert, but somehow during the Halloween/Christmas/Valentine's Day onslaught of candy, the kids started expecting that we would always have something sweet after a meal. My three year old asks for dessert when he finishes his breakfast; I do draw the line there, though.
So we've been talking about this. That it isn't a punishment, but a little thing we can give up each day to help us remember the big thing that Jesus gave up for us. I think Nick gets it, but isn't very excited about it. I'm pretty sure the other two don't have a clue, but that is alright too. I'm just hoping they get a sense for what the season is about.
We (which really means me) decided that we would only have dessert once a day during Lent. Not that we always have dessert, but somehow during the Halloween/Christmas/Valentine's Day onslaught of candy, the kids started expecting that we would always have something sweet after a meal. My three year old asks for dessert when he finishes his breakfast; I do draw the line there, though.
So we've been talking about this. That it isn't a punishment, but a little thing we can give up each day to help us remember the big thing that Jesus gave up for us. I think Nick gets it, but isn't very excited about it. I'm pretty sure the other two don't have a clue, but that is alright too. I'm just hoping they get a sense for what the season is about.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Project Simplify: Closet Cleanout
I had planned on joining Simple Mom's Project Simplify right from the beginning, but life happened and the only closet cleaning I did last week was to give a jacket and a shirt to my mom while she was here visiting. But just thinking about it all week gave me the motivation to start trying on clothes Friday afternoon, and by Sunday night I was through the whole closet.
I realized that I'd been hanging on to a lot of clothes becasue they reminded me of who I used to be. I had a lot of clothes that I wore when I was teaching--6 years ago--that I didn't need or even want anymore. And there were some clothes from Hawaii--like the dress I wore when Ben returned from his first deployment--that just reminded me of who I used to be.
I realized that I'd been hanging on to a lot of clothes becasue they reminded me of who I used to be. I had a lot of clothes that I wore when I was teaching--6 years ago--that I didn't need or even want anymore. And there were some clothes from Hawaii--like the dress I wore when Ben returned from his first deployment--that just reminded me of who I used to be.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Thoughts on joining a CSA
I've been contemplating the advantages of signing up for a CSA for the last year or so, and am once again trying to decide if this would be worth it for our family. I really like the idea of getting produce fresh from the farm. And I like that I would be supporting local, family farmers.
But I'm still holding back.
Last spring, when the time to sign on came, I hesitated. I was pregnant, and would have a newborn when the crops started rolling in. Was I really going to have the energy to experiment with new vegatables? So I passed.
This spring I've gotten the hang, mostly of running a household with three littles ones under my feet, but I'm still hesitating. I have two main fears:
1. Will anybody eat the food we receive? My four year old is notoriously picky. My husband is generally a good sport about trying my new creations, but I'm not sure how long that would last. The two little ones will eat anything, so I'm not so worried about them. Would I try everything? Hmmm...I'm rather notorious for being picky myself.
2. Does the cost make if feasable? $250 is almost our entire grocery budget for a whole month. If I still have to supplement with fruits and veggies we need more of, this could put a serious cramp in my summer grocery budget.
I know the answers already. Yes, people will complain, but it would be good for us to stretch our palates a bit. And yes, the cost is substantial, but if I start squirling away extra grocery money now I could easily have enough by early summer.
The real problem may just be a generalized fear of doing something I've never done before. Which means it's high time I went ahead and signed up.
But I'm still holding back.
Last spring, when the time to sign on came, I hesitated. I was pregnant, and would have a newborn when the crops started rolling in. Was I really going to have the energy to experiment with new vegatables? So I passed.
This spring I've gotten the hang, mostly of running a household with three littles ones under my feet, but I'm still hesitating. I have two main fears:
1. Will anybody eat the food we receive? My four year old is notoriously picky. My husband is generally a good sport about trying my new creations, but I'm not sure how long that would last. The two little ones will eat anything, so I'm not so worried about them. Would I try everything? Hmmm...I'm rather notorious for being picky myself.
2. Does the cost make if feasable? $250 is almost our entire grocery budget for a whole month. If I still have to supplement with fruits and veggies we need more of, this could put a serious cramp in my summer grocery budget.
I know the answers already. Yes, people will complain, but it would be good for us to stretch our palates a bit. And yes, the cost is substantial, but if I start squirling away extra grocery money now I could easily have enough by early summer.
The real problem may just be a generalized fear of doing something I've never done before. Which means it's high time I went ahead and signed up.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Super Saturday, but so much for Sunday
Autumn is my favorite time of the year and yesterday was just a perfect day. The sun shone, the breeze blew. It was warm enough for shirt sleeves, but not so warm that I broke a sweat.
While the boys napped I took Anna for a walk in the stroller. She's almost three months old and I think this was the first walk the two of us had taken by ourselves. It made me think back to when Nick was a baby and I was out with him in the stroller two or three times a day...so much different now with the older ones around.
When we retruned from out mommy-daughter walk the boys came outside with us and played. I collected some flower seeds and weeded along the fence. Nick rode his tricycle and played parade. Luke pulled the wagon. Anna napped. We all enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air and felt good when we went in for dinner.
Today was not such a success. I started out running behind and never caught up. I did, grudgingly, let the boys play outside for a bit when we returned from church. I promised we'd be out more in the afternoon but we never went back out. Nick was dissappointed. I still feel guilty, especially knowing that the next week is going to be considerably cooler and rainier. Ah, mommy guilt.
While the boys napped I took Anna for a walk in the stroller. She's almost three months old and I think this was the first walk the two of us had taken by ourselves. It made me think back to when Nick was a baby and I was out with him in the stroller two or three times a day...so much different now with the older ones around.
When we retruned from out mommy-daughter walk the boys came outside with us and played. I collected some flower seeds and weeded along the fence. Nick rode his tricycle and played parade. Luke pulled the wagon. Anna napped. We all enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air and felt good when we went in for dinner.
Today was not such a success. I started out running behind and never caught up. I did, grudgingly, let the boys play outside for a bit when we returned from church. I promised we'd be out more in the afternoon but we never went back out. Nick was dissappointed. I still feel guilty, especially knowing that the next week is going to be considerably cooler and rainier. Ah, mommy guilt.
Friday, October 15, 2010
CVS trip to roll ECBs
After several failed attempts to get out the door on Wednesday, the kids and I finally made it to CVS just before dinner. We would have skipped it altogether, but I didn't want to loose the eight dollars in ECBs I had that were expiring that day.
Here's what we got...
2 Dawn dish soaps (free after coupons)
2 Colgate toothpaste (free plus overage after coupons and ECBs)
Brach's candy corn (free after coupon)
Dial soap 3-pack (.64 after coupon and ECB)
Envelopes (we were out of these and I needed something to put my total over $8)
ECBs spent: $7.99
ECBs earned: $6.98
Total OOP: $1.71
Here's what we got...
2 Dawn dish soaps (free after coupons)
2 Colgate toothpaste (free plus overage after coupons and ECBs)
Brach's candy corn (free after coupon)
Dial soap 3-pack (.64 after coupon and ECB)
Envelopes (we were out of these and I needed something to put my total over $8)
ECBs spent: $7.99
ECBs earned: $6.98
Total OOP: $1.71
Outdoor Challenge
The first full week of my "Get the Kids Outdoors" challenge is over. For the most part I think I was pretty successful. We spent a good chunk of time playing outside all but one very hectic, mixed up day. That day they probably only got to run around for ten or fifteen minutes; the other days were closer to an hour and some (like last weekend) they were outside the majority of the day.
Something I noticed this week is that when Lucas has had enough of the outdoors, he just heads for the porch, says, "All done" and in he goes. I like knowing that he really got his fill of fresh air and was ready for a change. Nick, however, always has to be told that it's time to head inside.
Something I noticed this week is that when Lucas has had enough of the outdoors, he just heads for the porch, says, "All done" and in he goes. I like knowing that he really got his fill of fresh air and was ready for a change. Nick, however, always has to be told that it's time to head inside.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)