Menu Plan Monday

Since we're leaving for CO mid-week for my brother's wedding, it will be a short week here.

Monday: Grace's birthday supper - pizza

Tuesday: Stove Top Chicken & applesauce

Wednesday: Salmon Patties & boiled potatoes

To check out more complete :) menus & great recipes, go to Organizing Junkie's site.

Sunburned, Tired, Tick-bitten, and Happy

It used to be, when we went camping & I wouldn't take a single picture. I was always too busy caring for a baby or chasing a toddler to have time to think about anything else, much less take pictures! But as my kids grow older, I find I have time for all sorts of things: like visiting with other adults, or going to the bathroom unaccompanied, or eating an entire meal in my own chair! It may not seem like much, but after 10 years, it's a milestone. Believe me.

This past weekend, we went camping with two other families to Osage Hills State Park. Despite a thunderstorm on Friday night (which made things exciting), we had beautiful weather, and enjoyed a relaxing weekend together.

Thankfully, there were plenty of helpers around camp

...and plenty of work to do.
On Saturday, we took all these crazy kids (and one beautiful baby) to Woolaroc for the day.

We fed the lama. We met the Mountain Men and threw a tomahawk...or two.

We enjoyed the wildlife. After our fun outting, it was back to the campsite for some yummy food. We ate way too much until our tummies were full. Then we laughed until the wee hours of the morning & worked it all off.

Today we hiked down to the river & played above the falls. It was cold & slimy, but it was fun.

The girls got brave enough to leave the rocks.

And the brave boys scared the mommies, who insisted they should stay on the rocks!

Phil's a great daddy. He took all the kids out on the rocks one by one.

It was a fun weekend. Now to make a dent in this mountain of laundry...

Evidence of manhood

Daniel & Noah were trying to put together a new carseat. Daniel was about to open the manual, when I overheard Noah declare, "I don't need instructions!"

Not that anyone cares, but...

I just made an itemized list of all the supplies that we need to take camping. It's hard to remember everytime we go camping, so I decided it was high time for a master list. And then I counted. I counted what items I am responsible for, and what items my husband is responsible to bring. Let's just say the list is 6:1. Now I understand why he wonders what the big deal is, and why I stress about getting everything together. So, there you have it. In case you care. Please someone care. I need someone to feel sorry for me.

Not really.

That time of year...

This weekend we're going camping with friends. I never thought I would actually enjoy camping, but I do. I'll admit, I don't really enjoy all the work it takes to get ready, but once we're there, it feels like a vacation. Maybe that's because we usually camp with other families and there are other moms to share the work load. :) It's when the idea of communal living looks very appealing...until you come home & are glad to be just your family once again. We've made a lot of fun memories & the kids look forward to the fun things we do...

... feed the wildlife (Cheerios)...
...be cute & content, and direct all attention to yourself...

...build a bridge, or a fort, or a raft, or ???....

...hang out with friends in the hammock...

...and play Pooh sticks & see whose leaf or stick floats the farthest...

First for everything

In an attempt to get organized, save money, and become efficient, I'm trying something new. I've planned menus before, but I have never tried planning them according to what I already have in my pantry or freezer. So here goes...

Monday - Stir fry & rice
Tuesday - Sloppy joes w/ peaches
Wednesday - Spaghetti w/ green beans
Thursday - Leftover buffet
Friday - Hamburgers & hotdogs

For other great menus & recipes, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Progress - slow & steady

I am not a gardener. I never professed to have a green thumb. The only thing I am guaranteed to do is kill plants. That's why you'll only find fake ones in my home. But many years ago, I met a wonderful Michiganite who had been transplanted in Kentucky, and she told me to try hostas. "You won't kill hostas." I ordered ten hostas by mail. I didn't even know what kind I was getting. (I still don't know what kind they are. I actually tried to look it up to see what kind I have, but there are too many different ones! So I just distinguish them by color.) My friend was right. I didn't kill those hostas. They have grown & multiplied over these past 6 years.

My little "garden" is a work in progress. I'm not sure what good it is to take an "after" picture when you've forgotten to take "before" pictures, but there you have it. Grace helped me dig up the "odd ball" hostas & replant them in the front yard a couple of days ago. We moved all the matching "green with light green edges" to the back of my planter, and then I planted flowers on Friday. So I'm still not the best gardener, but at least I'm doing better than I was 6 years ago. :)