Thankful Christmas

So much to be thankful for this year:

1. Family who come see us!
2. Husband home with us
3. Home to live in
4. Chickens to feed

5. and hold
6. beautiful weather

7. growing chickens and children (T is holding Liberty here)

8. more family
9. new van that can seat us plus some family

10 plenty of time to celebrate Christmas!
Following a tradition started in Baltimore, we started early this year- right after Thanksgiving. 

After a wonderful Thanksgiving, we headed out Friday to find a tree

We did some Christmas baking! See Nola Grace's cookie jar!

Went to see Christmas decorations at the Poe house

Donned our Christmas clothes- don't they all look nice!

This turkey is a little out of order but it was really good!

We had amazing weather for Thanksgiving. This tree was beautiful and the kids cute too!

Love visits with family!

KG with her favorite East coast uncle!

The good weather lead to some photo ops out back

Smily V with his Nana

We trimmed the tree!

Donned our Christmas PJs (all of us!) 

Got lots of wonderful presents!

Merry Christmas! And to all a good night!

Little c isn't so little anymore- "I'm Free"

"I'm growing up too fast Mommy" and that's the truth! whoever said the days go slow and the years fast was right too! Just yesterday this sweet little girl was a teeny tiny baby and now she's big!

We had a fun birthday for this sweet "Fwee year old" We met Daddy for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings. Then little c got to go with Daddy to the zoo (AKA Petsmart.) She even got to ride in the truck with him (it was all the way on the other side of the parking lot while the rest of the kids went to Dollar Tree with me.)

She was so excited to open the presents they picked for her at Dollar Tree.

Cupcakes are always fun!

V didn't get a cupcake but a ride in a laundry basket is pretty fun too!

She had a birthday party with friends too! Pizza, playtime, pinata, presents. 

sweet to have some friends about her size!

this sweet girl got to celebrate with the LewCrew, with friends, with Nana and Papa, and with Grandma and Pops Leon. a well celebrated 3rd birthday!

Soccer 2015

little c and her friend- they were so sweet. they hugged every practice and game and played sweetly together 

Goalie T- he loved it!

I sad mostly sad that soccer is over. We really enjoyed it. The kids improved a lot, had lots of fun, and met lots of super friends. Mostly because it will be good to get our nights and Saturdays back- especially in time for the holidays! We are almost ready for our soccer team. K playing defense, C on offense, KG as midfield, T as goalie, and little c as cheerleader!

Here's the big panthers after their potluck. That was a great idea for an end of season party!

Backyard soccer was super fun! and doesn't have to end. Most days we had backyard soccer!

The best days of backyard soccer were with Daddy!

I was wrong when I thought that going to soccer games wasn't family time- it so is! Lots of time cheering for each other!

where's my zoom lens for my defender?

little panthers after their last game! No one would guess KG was youngest on the team!

Nana and little c cheering on little Panthers at their first game

We were glad that Nana and Papa could make the big boys' first game too!

Not a soccer! but super cute and Cs in a soccer uniform :)

 Ks practice

little c and her friend playing light stick tag- she loved having her friend there! They bonded while playing mudpies  

Meal Plan Monday

well now it's Tuesday   Wednesday and again I didn't meal plan. I did order groceries online. I guess I'll plan meals from what we have instead of what we're getting. I need a plan! not just for this week but for every week. I'm hoping my wonderful husband will help pick a plan- hint! hint! or any of my dear friends and family!

I did find this Meal theme blog post tonight. but it may have a few too many ideas for me. I'm not saying God planned wrong but I definitely could have lived in Little House days- where there weren't so many choices of everything!

maybe
Mexican Monday
Travel tuesday
Warm Wednesday:  comfort food
Thrifty Thursday:  leftovers, cheap eats, use up last bits (think soups or fried rice)
Friday night Pizza night
Saturday night grill night
Sunday night 

that still leaves breakfast, lunch, and snacks to plan for. seriously are we supposed to school, clean, and play too- feels like we eat all the time :)

breakfast is ok. we usually alternate oatmeal with eggs & something (pancakes, waffles, puffed pancake), then cereal Sunday

lunch I need a plan: gonna check out some of these 

I'm not the only one struggling here- simplehomeschool.net/menu-planning-make-ahead-meals-the-busy-homeschool/ has some good links. I really need/ want to start freezer cooking- one of these days!! 

http://www.thekitchn.com/beyond-taco-tuesday-20-more-ideas-for-meal-templates-223100