What's for dinner?

I dread the late afternoon rush... after the kids naps, just before my husband gets home, when toys are everywhere, laundry needs to be folded (and put away!), the dishwasher needs to be emptied and everything needs to be done all at once. Out of all that, though, the thing I hate most is trying to think of what we will have for dinner...a mere hour before it is time to eat. Inevitably, once I finally decide on something, there is always an ingredient or two missing and only about 30 minutes to whip something together.

I've always wanted to be a "meal planner". You know... the kind of mom who actually spends some time planning out what the family will have for dinner each night of the week ahead.

I've tried. I really have. But for some reason, I just can't keep it up. Perhaps it's just motivation that I am lacking?

I made this nifty meal-planning-template today in hopes that it will motivate me to stick to it this time!

 

 

It was really, really easy to make. I created the "design" (if that's what you want to call it) in Word. Printed it out and stuck it in a $3 picture frame from Walmart. Ta-da! ;)

 



Great Gramma

Emma finally got to meet her Great Gramma today!

Navitat

This past weekend we took the family to the mountains. It's been a looong time since we went to the mountains. I forgot how beautiful it was! Not to mention how good the air feels and smells.

We stayed at a really nice, little ski resort... in an awesome cabin. We had a huge game room with a pool table and a hot tub on the deck overlooking the gorgeous mountains.

Our view!

Lea and her Aunt Sarah enjoying the pool.

Gaga and her grand-daughters.

Hanging out in the game room.
(Lea found the perfect little seat for her...the huge arm rest!)

The point of the trip was to go to Navitat Canopy Adventures... a zip line tour through the mountains.

 

What a FUN time! I was pretty nervous on our way there. It took about three zip lines before I chilled out... but even then, stepping off a wooden platform that is over 50 feet above the ground to go souring through the mountains above the trees... well, that's just not something you do every day.

 

Here are some pictures from our adventure... (I am apologizing in advance for the blurry pics. These were taken with our cheap snap-n-shoot... the one we let Lea use. So, the lens has quite a few tiny fingerprints all over it!)

 

Papa and Kevin checking out the map.

The route.

We rode in these trucks up the mountain to our starting point.

Kevin getting ready to zip!

We got rained poured on the first 40 min or so, but we still had a blast!

One of our tour guides talking. Notice all the black straps gathered in the center...
there wasn't a single moment that each of us wasn't tethered to a main line.

Walking across one of the two suspension bridges.
THIS was the scariest part for me!

Me coming down a zip line!

My sister-in-law, Sarah, zipping!

Looking down as Papa repels down from one of the platforms.
We were pretty high up in the trees!

Kevin repelling down.



Four Months Old

Our little peanut is four months old. She has changed SO much in this short amount of time. It's hard to believe how much more she will be changing in the very near future.

Beautiful Girls

Front Door Project

We finally finished our front door project. Not too long ago, we worked on our mailbox (put a new one on the post and installed a flower bed around it). Well, our front door also needed a lot of work. The faded red was just boring and outdated. So, I chose a nice... bright... green!

Here are some before and after pictures.

Before = faded and outdated!

Our little helper!

Ta-da!!!

I love, Love, LOVE the new color and the new hardware. It is so bright and cheery!

First Day Succuss!

Lea is now napping after a successful first day at preschool. I feel like I can breathe now!

This morning, she trotted right into her room, put her lunch box in her cubby and immediately started playing and exploring.

I am one proud mama!

Lea and her friend, Jackson.

 

 She got a good report at the end of the day. And... she said she wants to go back! Yay!

Preschool!

My baby big girl has her first day of preschool tomorrow!

I'm feeling a mixture of excitement, nostalgia and proudness. As I nurse baby Emma, I can't help but think about Lea when she was a tiny baby... and now she's an opinionated, energetic preschooler!

I've explained to her that we will leave and come back later to pick her up. We've met her teacher and spent some time in her classroom. Her dress and hair bow is picked out. Her lunch is packed. Daddy is even working from home tomorrow so he can come with us when she gets dropped off.  I don't think we could be any more prepared.

We spent a fun, family day today at a local kids museum. Then we went out for a celebratory dinner. It was a lot of fun!

And, here's my very first attempt at packing a school lunch. I think I did a pretty good job but we'll have to see what comes back after school tomorrow!

Whole wheat rotini with peas, lima beans and home-grown cherry tomatoes, sliced carrots, baby grapes and yogurt covered raisins.

 

We're proud of you, Lea! Good luck on your new adventure!