Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I just finished reading the book Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls. They were a little confused when we first started this book because they expected the next book in the series to be about the little girl Laura and her family, not about a boy named Almanzo. Although they were unsure about it at the beginning it only took a chapter to get them hooked and back into the series.
Farmer Boy is book three of the set we are currently reading through with the girls. The book introduces Almanzo, Laura’s future husband. While Laura growing up in a little house on the prairie with her parents and two sisters Almanzo was living on a big farm in New York State with his parents, one brother, and two sisters.
The book is written from Almanzo perspective and goes through many of the things he did as a boy from chopping wood, cutting ice, planting corn, raising a prize pumpkin, training his steers, and much more! The girls found it fascinating reading about Almanzo’s days. They especially liked that he was found of horses.
If you are looking for a fun book to read to your kids (both boys and girls) or have your children read themselves this is a great book. I know the girls will be going back and reading these books again on their own after we finish with the series. They have really enjoyed this series and learning a little bit about how Almanzo grew up fueled their excitement even more!
Super Easy Way to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
I am all about finding ways to help make cooking even more efficient in our household. Our refrigerator typcially has a carton with hard boiled eggs in it for making a quick egg salad sandwich, to stick in a smoothie, make deviled eggs, salad topping, or many other uses we find for it. Several years ago my husband started putting the eggs in the steamer to hard boil them. I LOVED it! It is super easy and my eggs don’t crack (once or twice an egg has cracked if it already has a weak spot or was knocked when put into the steamer)!
Steamed Hard Boiled Eggs
- Eggs
- Steamer
- Water
Stick the eggs in the steamer (we usually do between 10 to 12 eggs depending on how many we have in the carton). Fill the water level up to high. Steam for 25 minutes. Once it is done steaming remove the lid and allow eggs to cool. You can run cold water over them if you need them to cool quicker. Use hard boiled eggs or place back in the carton to use for later.
If you come to our house and open up an egg carton you may encounter something like the picture above. I make sure to mark the eggs that have been hard boiled with an “X” so anyone that wants to grab an egg whether regular or hard boiled it is easy to decipher which ones are which. This especially comes in handy with kids who like to help in the kitchen! 🙂
Travel & Vacation: Kennedy Space Center (part 2)
We got to hear, Bob Springer, an astronaut that has been in space more than once speak and take a picture with him afterward! The girls were very excited to meet someone who has actually gone into space!
I shared a little bit about our trip to Kennedy Space Center earlier today. Here is a little bit more about what we did during our adventure. Thankful for the opportunity to spend some time in Florida, tour Kennedy Space Center, and spend some time catching up with our friends too.
Live feed of them docking! So neat to watch it before it is posted to the public.
After talking with an astronaut for a few minutes the girls wanted a picture in front of the live feed so they took a seat on the edge of the stage.
Two little chickies are ready in their 3D glasses for the NASA show!
Pausing for a moment to relax while waiting for our food. Karlie is processing it all and so THRILLED to be finally exploring Kennedy Space Center!
Having a BLAST at Kennedy Space Center!
Brina having fun and enjoying her Icee treat!
Travel & Vacation: Kennedy Space Center
Karlie has had a fascination with anything space related for several years now. She loves to talk about rockets, planets, astronauts, and more! Back when the girls were in preschool (more than 3 years ago) she received a Chic-Fil-A Kids Meal from school and inside it was a coupon for Kennedy Space Center. She asked if she could hang the coupon up on the refrigerator so maybe sometime when we go to Kennedy Space Center we can use it. The coupon was on the refrigerator for a long time (even after it expired). We did get a great deal online for a food package while at Kennedy Space Center (buy one get one free coupon) which covered all our food and snacks for the day.
A few months ago we made it to Kennedy Space Center. I still remember the day we told her we got tickets and were going to Florida. I think she jumped up and down, clapping, and giggling for several minutes. She was over joyed and immediately counting down the days until we would leave for Florida.
Our whole family had a blast exploring Kennedy Space Center. It was really neat to see all the history and learn so much about space, rockets, and everything else we could soak in that day. We arrived at Kennedy Space Center a few minutes before it opened and left as they were closing the gates. It was a neat experience!
We are getting closer!
Starting to see some cool stuff – United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
Karlie is on-the- edge-of-her-seat excited her dream to visit Kennedy Space Center is coming true!
We made it!
Daddy and girls strolling on into Kennedy Space Center, so cute seeing the girls excited and holding hands.
They look so tiny next to the base of this rocket!
Daddy and the girls trying it out!
Karlie is soooo excited and has looked forward to going to Kennedy Space Center for YEARS!
Sweet Brina had a grand time. Even though rockets are more of Karlie’s love she had a lot of fun exploring the area with us.
Dogs Are Kids Too
Skipper climbing into the jungle gym
Our dog is one of our “furry four legged” kids. She loves to be in the middle of the action whenever the kids are outside. I am not sure when it began, but our dog Skipper decided one day, with the encouragement of the kids to climb up the jungle gym ladder. She has gone down the slide a few times too.
Many times when you see the kids playing on or around the jungle gym you will also see Skipper up in it as well. Occasionally, she’ll even sleep up there during the day or at night even when the kids are not outside, see my Skipper’s New Dog House post. She climbs up and down the ladder by herself without assistance from anyone and rarely with any encouragement.
Skipper loves to play in the jungle gym with the kids and when there is a bunch of kids it can get a little crowded with a black lab in the mix too. If she doesn’t want to go down the slide she’ll come back down using the ladder. It is hilarious watching her go up and down, but she is pleased with herself for doing it and the kids love it! Thankful for a dog who loves playing with the kids.
Skipper hanging out with the kids in the jungle gym
Save A Lot: Deals for the week of January 23 – 29, 2013
The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience. It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meat and Seafood
Fresh Split Chicken Breast – $0.99 lb
Pork Boneless Center Cut Chops – $2.49 lb
Sirloin Steaks – $3.99 lb
Boston Butt Roast – $1.79
Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage (12 oz) – $1.99
Fairgrounds Hot Dogs (12 oz) – $0.99
*Pick 5 for $19.99 promotion on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more.
Fridge and Freezer
Banquet Meat, Fruit, or Breakfast Pot Pie – $0.69
Morning Delight Buttermilk Biscuits – $0.59
Imperial Spread Quarters – $0.79
Kiggins Corn Flakes (18 oz) – $1.69
Arby’s Seasoned Curly Fries (22 oz) – $2.59
Stouffer’s Dinners (9 – 10 oz) – $.199
Redi-Serve Chicken Patties (35 oz) – 5 for $19.99 special*
Signature Pick 5 Pizzas (26 – 28 oz) – 5 for $19.99 special*
Redi-Serve Char-Broiled Rib Patties (26 oz) – 5 for $19.99 special*
Signature Pick 5 Onion Rings (2 pounds) – 5 for $19.99 special*
Signature Pick 5 Corn Dogs (25.6 oz) – 5 for $19.99 special*
Redi-Serve Chicken Nibblers (30 – 36 oz) – 5 for $19.99 special*
Redi-Serve Chicken Strips (36 oz) – 5 for $19.99 special*
Signature Pick 5 Seasoned Potato Wedges (2.5 pounds) – 5 for $19.99 special*
Signature Pick 5 Sausage Biscuits (12 count) – 5 for $19.99 special*
Take & Bake Pizza’s – $5.99
Fairgrounds Premium Lunch Meat (14 oz) – $2.99
Fairgrounds Sliced Bologna (16 oz) – $0.99
Farmington Pork Sausage (16 oz) – $1.99
Produce
Russet Potatoes (5 pounds) – $0.99
Yellow Onions (3 pounds) – $1.49
California Navel Oranges (3 pounds) – $1.99
Vine Ripe Roma Tomatoes – $0.99
Grocery
Del Monte Pasta Sauce (24 oz) – $0.88
Barilla Spaghetti Noodles (16 oz) – $0.88
Save A Lot (2 liter) – $0.89
Portmann’s Salad Dressing (16 oz) – $1.49
Tipton Grove Apple Juice (64 oz) – $1.69
McDaniel’s Classic Roast Ground Coffee (32 oz) – $4.99
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – $0.49
Portmann’s Mayonnaise (30 oz) – $2.49
J Higg’s Potato Chips (10 oz) – $1.69
Diane’s Garden Diced Tomatoes (16 oz) – $0.49
Nissan Ramen Noodles (12 pack) – $1.88
JJ’s Pies, Apple, Cherry or Chocolate (4 oz) – $0.50
Hunt’s Tomato Sauce (15 oz) – $0.79
So Cheesy Mac & Cheese – $0.39
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends. For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list. Please make sure to check with your local Save A Lot store, the ads do vary per region.
Would You Rather Hold A Scorpion, Spider, or Snake?
Karlie was so excited to hold a scorpion!
I was going back over some pictures from a few months ago and came across these…..pictures from the Critter Keeper event we attended. The girls are fascinated by animals, bugs, and any other kind of wildlife. I love animals too, but I like to keep a safe distance between myself and certain critters like large scorpions, spiders, and snakes! One of the biggest highlights for them was being able to hold, touch, and learn more about a variety of different animals. They LOVED it!
That’s one big spider!
Do you see the huge yellow and white snake? Yikes! Can you find Brina and Karlie in this picture?
So proud of her “I held a Scorpion!” sticker
Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping (Week 3)
Our family finished week 3 of our no grocery shopping goal. Every new year we set goals, challenge ourselves to reach new heights, and to focus on what’s really important in life. I have made it a goal to simplify my life more by enjoying the blessings and not wasting what God has given me. One of the ways I did this was by going through several No Grocery Shopping weeks, picking up only necessities while trying to use the items we already had in our fridge, freezer, and pantry.
When I did it this 2011 it was my intention to go 1 month, but I made it 8 weeks (with only a few hiccups). It is my plan to do this again with the hope of making it at least through the month of January. I will be sharing with you the successes and challenges on those specific areas in my life as I go through them.
Life Simplified Goal:
- No Grocery Shopping (except for necessities) in the month of January.
Explanation of the Goal: My goal during the month of January is to not shop for groceries other than necessities (milk, eggs, bread). Our freezer is full of meat, produce from our garden this summer, fruit, and other great items. Our pantry is also overflowing with all the great deals that we have picked up over the past few months. One of the reason for the goal is that I want to use the items I have and not waste them. Stockpiling is wonderful but there may come a point when we need to eat through that stockpile before it expires, save the extra money to work on a financial goal, and be creative with what we have at home. I have been thinking about this challenge for several weeks over the Holidays. Over the past few months (including our experience traveling to India) it has really hit me that we have been really blessed yet there are children and families that content with a lot less. Menu planning may take a little extra creative thinking on my part but I think I can do it. If I do purchase something it needs to meet one of the following criteria:
- FREE – I don’t want to waste free grocery coupons that my family will use while doing this goal
- Necessity – Milk, Eggs, Bread, etc…
- For Someone Else outside of my household. For example I make meals for new Moms in our church and if I need to pick up an item for them on the way to deliver a meal that will be an exception.
What Happened this week?
I finished the third week of this goal. The only thing I purchased this week was a 1 gallon, 1 loaf of bread, and a handful of fresh produce. Our menu was pretty basic this week, but mostly because it was a busy schedule this week.
It takes a little more time and focus to come up with a menu but everyone seems to be doing pretty well. The real challenge will come at the end of the month when we are getting low in the pantry and when we host guests!
I will share with you the challenges, successes and what I had to purchase so you can keep me accountable or even go through the journey with me by participating and sharing your story. I would love to extend this goal into February if I can make our pantry stretch!
Life Simplified is a series on getting rid of the extras in our life while learning how to enjoy what God has given us so we can continue to be a blessing to others. Our homes can quickly start are bursting with “stuff” and if you are like us we just have too much. I am doing a series on ways we are learning to simplifying our food, homes, and lives. When our hearts, lives, and homes get too cluttered we may start missing out on opportunities to serve and bless the people around us.
Let Mercy Hold You by Jason Crabb
When the road is winding through the darkness,
And the load is heavy as your heart is now,
And you’re full of doubt,Every night is holding back a sunrise,
Every storm, shadowing a blue sky,
I know it’s hard,
When there’s nothing else you can do,
So let mercy hold you,So let the valley teach you how to sing,
And still believe, grace is everything you need,
It’s only here you’ll see,Joy is coming with the morning,
You just gotta wait for the dawn to break,
Joy is coming with the morning,
Don’t lose hope…What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
I am not sure how we managed to schedule so much this week but since we have arrived we are plunging into the week with a smile and a steady stride. One of the ways we keep the evenings flowing smoothly is by planning out our dinner menu in advance. With everything that is going on this week I kept the menu simple (a couple of these dishes are being pulled out of the deep freezer, Lasagna and Hashbrown Casserole, for us to eat). I am glad I took the time to make double batches earlier so we can grab a meal from the freezer which saves us a lot of time and extra energy during a busy time. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Seafood Entree): Lasagna, Garlic Bread
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Hot Dogs, Fresh Fruit
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Hashbrown Casserole, Steamed Vegetables
- Thursday (Pasta or Pork Entree): Special Event
- 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
