Menu Plan Monday

It is the first week of summer! So excited to be heading out to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.

I enjoy camping but I have a few requirements. Really just two. Indoor plumbing & showers. I can handle just about everything else.

I get nervous when it comes to camping and food because of the lack of refrigeration. I have to get used to it though because our family is not going to stop camping any time soon!

So here is my weekly meal plan...camping version!

Monday:
B: bananas, dry cereal (we finished off the milk and I am not buying more until we get home!)
L:on the road
D: hot dogs, chili, salad and of course...
SMORES!

Tuesday:
B: pancakes, eggs and bacon
L:sandwiches, chips & fruit
D: bbq chicken kebobs , fruit and grilled corn
Treat: fruit cobbler made in the dutch oven

Wednesday:
B: breakfast casserole with sausage/bacon, potatoes, eggs
L:sandwiches/hot dogs
D:in town
Treat: woof 'ems

Thursday:
B: pancakes/cereal
L:sandwiches/hot dogs (just depends as we are busy during the day!)
D:taco salad
Treat: whatever is left :)

Friday:
B: cereal/leftovers
L:in town
D: leftovers

Saturday:
B: whatever is left
L:on the road
D: at home...with electricity! We will probably stop and grab a pizza or something!

So that is it! I am looking forward to family time. Even though my teenage daughter informed me that, "I will probably spend the whole time wishing I was at home." Ahhh I can just feel the love!


For literally HUNDREDS of meal ideas, head on over to OrgJunkie!

Happy Fathers Day

Almost 14 years ago, I became a Mother. And at the same time, Ben became a father. Since that day, he has:

**stayed up late with kids
**put multiple lego sets together
**sat through concerts, programs, promotions...
** cut hair

**given baths
** put up a trampoline, bunk beds, shelves...
**moved furniture
**built lego tables

**gone camping
**gone to Scouts
**barbequed more times than I can count
**taken the family to Disneyland, LEGOLAND, Six Flags, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, along with museums, science centers...

**gone to the pool
**gone to the beach, hauling chairs, towels, buckets etc.
**gone to practices
**helped the coaches

**gone to Scouts
**helped with homework
**built Pinewood Derby cars

There are so many more that I could never list them all. I love my husband and the father that he is. He is a loving husband who has financially, physically & emotionally supported me.

Happy Fathers Day, Ben! We really do love you to "pieces".

I made it!!

Its over! The crazy busy school year (especially the last 2 weeks) is now over! I am amazed at all we fit in and were able to do. Besides being absolutely exhausted I am so glad I was able to attend my children's events.

So oldest to youngest, this is what we have had going on...

Harmony:
Although she had a plethora of end of year events, she is not a big photo taker. So I have no photos of her trip to Magic Mountain, her day at the bowling alley...The Mama-razzi was there for her promotion! After a trip to Ross to find the perfect dress, she was set. Dress, shoes, and a necklace. I did her hair and put a little bit of make up on her. Then I just wanted to cry! My baby girl has grown up! I love that girl.

Ethan:
The 6th graders at Monte Vista participate in Greco-Roman games. They have a 3 strikes and your out policy, and so Ethan made sure his behavior was perfect. Despite getting one strike for missing homework, he managed not to get any more. He decorated his own shirt, which turned out so awesome! I love it! After a day of participating in games like chariot races, relays, tug of wars...his team came out victorious! They won first place and were rewarded with candy and prizes. He was so excited!

Connor:
Connor was my other child who promoted this year! Moving on from 5th grade to 6th. I can't believe he is already heading to middle school. The time has flown by! Even though the kids were asked to dress nicely, Connor wanted to wear his bow tie. He looked so handsome. The next day he got sunburnt at the 5th grade picnic. Connor really liked his teacher this year and had a hard time saying goodbye!

 

 

 

 

Ivan:
Although I was more excited than he was, I was able to attend Ivan's spring concert. They were asked to wear red, white and blue. I set out a nice pair of blue church pants and a red & white polo. When he came downstairs...he was wearing a Super Mario shirt. He informed me that it was ok since he was still wearing red, white & blue! He did a great job and participated in all the songs. It was cute to watch.

Mason:
Even Mason got in on the end of the year festivities! His last day of school, his class held a share circle. They sang some really cute songs and followed it up with ice cream cups. He gave his teachers big hugs and loves looking at the picture book they gave him. He had such a fun time at school and I know he is looking forward to going back next year.

We are all ready for summer...at least until the "I'm bored's" start!

Drowning...

Over Memorial Day, our family headed to the beach. We packed snacks, buckets & shovels, towels, chairs and all the items needed for a day of sand & surf.

There was a time where being at the beach was 100% hands on. Our kids were little and had to be watched every second.

This time however, Ben & I sat in chairs and watched them play in the water, build sandcastles, lie on towels reading magazines. I was able to take pictures, look at a scrapbook magazine and sit and talk with Ben. Keeping a very "lazy eye" on my kids.

Ivan has no fear. Never has. He scares me. Sometimes I hold my breath just waiting to see what he will do.

 The Pacific Ocean is anything but warm, and yet he stayed in the whole 3 hours we were there.

The tide was coming in, and he would get swept up in the waves. He popped right up and did it again and again. He would scare me as he got knocked off his feet, repeatedly. I would  hold my breath as I waited for his head to pop up out of the water. I was sure that one good wipe out and he would be in the sand for the rest of the day.

But he showed me. He kept on smiling, laughing and playing. Followed by going back in. Never staying down. Never giving up.

For the past few weeks, I have felt like I am drowning. In basic day to day Mommy tasks, in keeping up with schedules, meals, church callings, in keeping up with my coupons, blogging. My life. Being a wife. Being me.

My lack of organization does not help in the slightest.

I have been tired. I have been stressed. I have been handling things as best as I can.

And yet I still feel like I have been knocked down and am having a problem getting up. And when I do, my smile is nowhere to be seen.

So, today I am going to take a cue from Ivan. To get back up when  I am knocked down. Not only to get back up, but to do it with a smile on my face.

No more letting life sweep me off my feet. Bring it on world.

Mail

In the mail today, I got this envelope. From my daughters HIGH SCHOOL

 High school?!  Seriously?! Am I ever going to get used to this? I don't see how...

Gentlemen wanted

Having 4 boys, I have so many things that I want them to be. The most important? To be gentlemen!

To hold doors.
To carry groceries in.
To help elderly ladies cross the street.
To take the garbage out.
To be men.

Some days, when all I hear them talk about are video games, burps & farts, I think my work is lost on them. They are, after all just boys. And we all know that boys will be boys.

But then, you get that little glimmer of hope.

I attended a field trip with Ivan today. The parking was a nightmare and so we were parked out in the middle of nowhere. As we were walking back to the car, I tripped on a piece of raised sidewalk.

I went down. I was on the ground when I heard, "Mom, Mom are you ok?" Ivan, who had been running ahead, came back and helped me up.

He gave me a hug and kiss and asked again if I was ok. My palms were scratched and bloody, my knee was killing me (still is actually!) and because I was wearing sandals, my toe was scratched and bloody.

He helped me up. Then took my purse and carried it for me. I got an extra hug and kiss out of him and he got in his seat.

I realize that I am his mother, and maybe he wouldn't have done that for just anyone. But I choose to believe that he will. That all those lessons are making a difference.

I love that kid. Sigh.