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What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
It’s another packed full week, but we are looking forward to a three day weekend. This is the first Memorial Holiday weekend that we have not traveled in quite awhile. We are hoping to have some fun family time at home plus get some projects done that have been on our list for awhile. The kids have their last full week of school (and 2 more partial weeks) which is full of homework, tests, and quizzes. I want to keep the menu simple so we can get a lot done during the week and be prepare for this weekend. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Crockpot Roast, Mash Potatoes
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Hamburgers, French Fries
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Garlic Bread
- Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Pasta Casserole, Steamed Vegatables
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
Travel & Vacation: Swiss Family Treehouse, Tom Sawyer Island, Hall of Presidents, and Tomorrowland Speedway at Disney’s Magic Kingdom (Orlando, FL)
Silly Karlie!
While at Magic Kingdom we had so much fun! It was great to get a chance to spend time having a grand time together as a family. We enjoyed our adventures and exploring the various places around Magic Kingdom. While we were in line we had opportunities to talk and catch up on the various activities that had been going on over the past few days.
Jake and Karlie exploring the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse
Hanging out with my girls at the Swiss Family Treehouse
Having fun
My handsome man
Hiking through the treehouse
Target practice… on Tom Sawyer’s Island
Look out! Did she hit the target?!
Fun times!
Checking to make sure we were coming
Exploring
The girls loved this moving bridge over the water.
This was my view across the river when I was crossing the bridge. Pretty, but at a funky angle.
Jake figured out that he could splash the water on the girls when he bounced a little on the bridge, they thought it was great.
Hanging out
Pausing for a moment on Tom Sawyer’s Island
Hall of Presidents Show, very educational
The girls enjoyed learning about all the different Presidents
My driver on the Tomorrowland Speedway
She was a good driver and all smiles!
Travel & Vacation: Fireworks at Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort (Orlando, FL)
Jake and the girls in front of the fountain outside our hotel
We got to see Jake at random times throughout the first part of the week since he was in meetings most of the day. So when we did get to see him if we could we’d snap a picture or two. We didn’t realize that our hotel would be doing fireworks that night we were outside walking the Boardwalk. The fireworks were for a work event, but we thoroughly enjoyed them too from where we were standing on the sidewalk by the hotel! Thankful for a chance to come and enjoy this beautiful place!
Beautiful and loud fireworks!
Very colorful!
Super cool fireworks!
The kids love a good display of fireworks and we got a great view!
The noise and lights filled up the sky. I am pretty sure it woke up a few kids that were sleeping in the hotel too. We noticed quite a few people and kids come out onto their balconies to watch the fireworks.
Free Ebooks: Tea with the Queen, The Health Trap, Polar Brrr’s Big Adventure, The Red Letter Life, Early Birdy Gets the Worm, and more!
The price to download these books is currently $0.00 (although the price may change at any time, please confirm prior to downloading). The ebooks are specifically for Kindles, however, you can click here and download the free application that allows you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.
Download a free copy of Tea with the Queen by Chrissi Hart
Download a free copy of The Health Trap: Why “Healthy” Eating Isn’t Always Healthy by Chris Sandel
Download a free copy of Polar Brrr’s Big Adventure by Bruce Lansky
Download a free copy of Smoothies for Weight Loss: 37 Delicious Smoothies That Crush Cravings, Fight Fat, And Keep You Thin by Jackson Nash
Download a free copy of The Red Letter Life: 17 Words from Jesus to Inspire Simple, Practical, Purposeful Living by Bob Hostetler
Download a free copy of Early Birdy Gets the Worm by Bruce Lanksy
Download a free copy of The Bodybuilding Cookbook: 100 Delicious Recipes To Build Muscle, Burn Fat And Save Time by Jason Farley
Song: Not for A Moment by Meredith Andrews
He is constant. He is good and holy. God never forgets or leaves us. He is with us always!
You were reaching through the storm
Walking on the water
Even when I could not see
In the middle of it all
When I thought You were a thousand miles away
Not for a moment did You forsake meAfter all You are constant
After all You are only good
After all You are sovereign
Not for a moment will You forsake meYou were singing in the dark
Whispering Your promise
Even when I could not hear
I was held in Your arms
Carried for a thousand miles to show
Not for a moment did You forsake meAnd every step every breath you are there
Every tear every cry every prayer
In my hurt at my worst
When my world falls down
Not for a moment will You forsake me
Even in the dark
Even when it’s hard
You will never leave me
After allCelebrating Christmas!
Merry Christmas from our family!
We had a wonderful family Christmas. Jake was on call Christmas day and thankfully it was for the most part quiet. It was great having a day with the family. Love having time together. It was a relaxing day with fun, food, and activities. Thankful for a season where we can celebrate such a great event as Jesus coming to earth as a baby in a manger.
OH, YES WE DID!!! We put streamers, balloons, and a trap on the girls bedroom doors on Christmas Eve. Four confetti poppers to be exact attached to their bedroom doors. We had 3 poppers above their heads and 1 trip wire popper. When they opened their doors that Christmas morning they exploded!
Trip wire ready for the kids to wake up!
Jake putting the finishing touches on the explosion traps!
They thought the confetti poppers, streamers, and balloons were awesome!
Confetti spray!
One of the presents was a perfect “STOP” sign shape so we put it in front of the tree!
Chatting as we make breakfast!
Opening her stocking – fun stuff
Oh yeah! Hand sanitizer!
Sweet girls
Goofy girls
They thought the “stop” sign was hilarious!
Karlie girl!
Glad to be home and hanging out with my family for the day!
Giving Skipper a Christmas treat!
Giving the goats a Christmas treat!
My handsome man!
Laughing at Jake’s note on one of my gifts!
Lounging around!
Silly girl!
Family lunch!
Ham, salad, sweet potatoes, and mash potatoes!
Matching Tiger outfits!
The funny part is Jake and I got matching Tiger outfits too! Let’s just say we have a picture with all four of us dressed up as Tigers, but Jake made me promise not to share it on the blog. Seeing him in a full size Tiger outfit had us three girls literally rolling on the floor with laughter. Seeing him walk around with his Tiger outfit, hood, ears, tail, etc… was hilarious!
Space Scouts Monthly Educational Program Review
Space Scouts is a monthly educational subscription club for kids who love Space. Each month your kid will receive a package in the mail from Space Scouts including a new place to explore in space, space exploration, science, and astronomy. Roxy and Jett will join them as they scout out the galaxy around us through hands-on discovery, learning activities, and exciting challenges. Every package will include magnets, stickers, toys, and more fun!
We received the first two months of the Space Scout subscription! The girls were super excited to get the packages in the mail! Here are more details on the items we received in each package:
First Month’s Space Scouts Package:
- Metal Space Scouts Lunchbox
- Space Scouts Solar System Poster
- Space Scout Puzzle
- Constellation Postcard & Startup Kit
- Stickers
- Constellation Chart
- Activity Sheets – What is a Scout and Things You Might Find in Space
- Introduction to Space Scouts Letter
- Wikki Stix (twistable, stickable, buildable, playable, one-of-a-kind creatables – self sticking no glue necessary)
Second Month’s Space Scouts Package:
- Ursa Major Postcard
- Bionic Claw
- Scout Fun – About Astronauts
- Ursa Major & Big Dipper Expoloration Plan
- Roxy and Jett Magnet
- Two Astronauts
- Sticker Scramble
- Astronaut Activity Sheets
- Stickers
Our girls really enjoyed getting the Space Scout packages and all the goodies. They had fun reading the space information, doing the activities, and playing with the toys. One of our girls, especially, is a big space fanatic so some of the activities were fairly easy for her. It didn’t take long for our kids to finish all the space activities. I don’t think the activities are suppose to take a huge amount of time, but a lot of the information they have already learned through us and school so they may be at the top end of this type of program.
It is a wonderful program with a lot of great information, activities, and goodies. If your child is just getting into space this is a wonderful program for them to learn more. Although if your kid has been into space for several years they may be more advanced for some of the activities. Either way it is a great learning tool or a refresher.
If your child is into space you can check out the Space Scouts monthly program. Space Scouts is a fun, educational experience where each month builds upon the previous. Price is affordable at $11.95 per month + $3.00 shipping. Discounts for multi-month purchase. Space Scouts is designed for kids age 6+.
Visit Space Scouts website to learn more! What’s even better is you can get a 20% discount – when you use promo code USFAMILY20 at checkout. The promotional code gives you a 20% discount on initial purchase of any Space Scouts subscription plan. The code expires on December 31, 2014 so sign up soon.
A special thanks to US Family Guide and Space Scouts for sponsoring this post! Any specific product information was provided by US Family Guide and Space Scouts, however, the opinions expressed in this post are our own. We received a complimentary products for sharing information and our family’s experience.
Josh & Megan’s Wedding Day Celebration (Mt Vernon, IN)
Megan and Josh saying their vows!
We were super excited to celebrate Josh and Megan’s big wedding day with them! It was a beautiful wedding! I am happy to welcome a sweet new sister into our family (now the girls side is even)! Thankful that Josh found a godly and beautiful lady to share the rest of his life with too! We took some candid photos throughout the wedding day that we are going to share here (we tried to stay out of the way of the photographer so a couple pictures you will noticed are off to the side). Welcome to the family Megan! We are thrilled to have you as a part of our rowdy crew! 🙂
A picture of our crew before the wedding!
Josh and my Dad talking in between pictures! Still hard to believe my baby brother just got married, but thrilled for him. We are all growing up and starting families of our own!
My Dad, my oldest brother Jeremy with his beautiful wife Amber and their oldest son Nathan.
Brina Bee
Dad, Megan, Josh, and Mom taking their pictures!
Megan and Josh with Josh’s parents and siblings! This is definitely a “candid” shot as we are waiting for the photographer, ha! Thankful for my parents and 3 brothers! Even though we don’t always get together as much as we would like we have fun when we do get a chance. Love you!
My beautiful, sweet, loving Mom looking great as always! Thankful for a Mom who loves unconditionally, is supportive, encouraging, always willing to listen, and who invests her time and energy not only in my life, but also into the lives of my kids too. Love you Mom!
Brina and Karlie were in charge of the guest book, programs as well as the gift and card table. They took their jobs seriously and wanted to make sure EVERYONE signed the guest book (even to the point of hunting people down during picture time to make sure they signed it)! 🙂 Thankful for my girls and their caring spirits.
Brina and Karlie watching Great Grandpa CE Hendrich sign the guest book!
My younger brother Lee with his beautiful wife Becky!
Two of my good looking nephews – Brandon and Nathan! Brandon looks so serious, but I got a good smile from Nathan!
Flower bouquet at the card and gift table!
My cousin Renelle had these cowbells engraved with Josh and Megan’s name and my Uncle Rick and Rod attached them to their getaway vehicle.
Megan’s siblings playing violins as the wedding guests arrive. Michelle, Darren, Rachel (hard to see because of the candles), and Bruce. Very talented musicians in Megan’s family! They actually played their violins at my wedding over 14 years ago! 🙂
Mason jars with candles along the runner up the aisle.
Brina and Karlie’s sunflowers! I see we are already missing a few petals!
Megan’s Brother-in-law Todd bringing Grandma Willa and Grandpa CE up the aisle.
My nephew Nathan escorting my Mom and Dad up the aisle.
Part of the wedding party! The dashingly handsome man standing up front on the right is my husband Jake, not only is he handsome, but also an amazing husband and Dad. I am one lucky lady! 🙂
Josh waiting patiently for Megan to come down the aisle!
Megan looking beautiful as she walks down the aisle with her Dad!
Josh all smiles! The big day has arrived!
Wedding ceremony!
Saying their vows!
They are officially married! WooHoo! Congratulations to my brother Josh and his new bride Megan! Welcome to the family Megan!
What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
I am really hoping for a more normal week this week. Last week I cooked for my family, however, my stomach was still upset from the epidural steroid shot so it was a little more challenging. This week I am trying to keep it simple as it will be a busy week. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Beef & Bean Chili, Cornbread
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Hot Dogs, Steamed Vegetables
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Spinach & Chicken Casserole, Fresh Salad
- Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Broiled Salmon, Mash Potatoes
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
Charleston: Historic Joseph Manigault House
Visiting Charleston’s Historic Joseph Manigault House!
Another neat Historical house we visited one time when we were in Charleston was the Joseph Manigault’s House! This was one of the few houses they allowed pictures inside the house so we have a few extra to share with you. We arrived a few minutes before the tour of the house started so we got a chance to explore the gardens and area around the house. We learned a lot about this house during the tour.
Joseph Manigault a French Huguenot descendent was the original owner of the Joseph Manigault House. He had this house built during the antebellum period in the lowcountry. Manigault was a rice plantation owner, businessman, and politician. His wealth was inherited from his grandpa, who gave him several rice plantations and more than 200 slaves. Joseph Manigault first married Maria Henrietta Middleton. Maria’s father was Arthur Middleton who was signed the Declaration of Independence. His second wife was Charlotte Drayton. Joseph and Charlotte had eight kids who spent time in this home.
Like a lot of the other houses we visited in downtown Charleston this was his city house. Although, during his time this house was considered to be located in the country because it was outside of downtown Charleston. Now it is considered downtown Charleston. The house contains a beautiful spiral staircase in the entryway with a gorgeous chandelier. The furniture is not from the original family, however, they have acquired pieces that fit that time period and the decorations as well as the paint match the original colors from that time period.
Outside they had the kitchen, slave quarters, stables, privy, and a gate temple. The outdoor buildings (with exception of the Gate Temple) have been taken down, but foundations can still be seen with signs describing what was once in the various spots around the yard. It is a beautiful yard to walk through on a nice day or to sit and relax on the porch. One side the house faces the Charleston Museum and the other side faces downtown Charleston.
The girls enjoyed visiting the various houses in Charleston.
Exploring the gardens around the Joseph Manigault house.
Hanging out in the shade at Gate Temple.
Spiral staircase and chandelier in the foyer of the house.
One of the circular side balconies faces the street. The balconies were often open allowing a nice breeze to flow throughout the house.
Charleston’s Historical Joseph Manigault House located at 350 Meeting Street.
