Menu Planning Again

Well, August is upon us, and July is over. After a long month and going way over the budget, my parents were here for a week and we went on vacation, I have seriously decided that I WILL, NO MATTER WHAT STICK TO THE BUDGET THIS MONTH. I don't know why I have such a hard time, maybe my planning is not good or I just get in a rut for meals and don't want to cook what I have planned for that day. So after much deliberation, I plan on doing this for the month, making each day a certain type of food, except for next week, because we will be at soccer camp from 5:30-8:00pm everyday. The kids will have to eat before we go, and I will have to have something. I will also need some snacks for when they get home. Anyone have any suggestions? I can always use the help.



Here is my strategy this month:

Monday: Italian

Tuesday: Mexican

Wednesday: crock pot

Thursday: grill

Friday: pizza/new recipe

Saturday: leftovers/grill

Sunday: leftovers/ out to eat

We shall see if this helps. This week we are having a soccer camp, so the menu will be out of commission, but I will start hard next week. I stocked up on fruit and veggies for snacks and dinner. I am planning on making a few big lunches this week in place of a big dinner since we will have to be at camp by 5:30 every night. I have also planned a budget for my grocery budget. I am going to try and spend only $150 every two weeks. This gives me a little extra at the end of the month and for months that are longer than four weeks. Hopefully this will help. It is the 3rd and I have already spent $130 on groceries, however, I did get all of my meat and most everything else, besides milk and fresh fruit and veggies for next week. I have $20 left to spend next week.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday, off to laundry.

Beach Vacation 2009

We went on our family vacation to the beach on Sunday after church. Our time together was wonderful and we spent a lot of time just enjoying each other's company and having Justin with us for three full days, uninterrputed.

Sunday after we arrived, we walked on the beach after dinner. The kids couldn't resist getting wet! Monday, after sleeping in and eating breakfast, we headed out to the beach, loaded with all our beach gear, only to enjoy the cloudy sky and cold water for about 3o minutes until the rain came. We decided to sit on the covered porch, watching the rain, while the kids had a snack of fruit snacks and a capri sun. After playing, lunch, and a nap (which only Noah and I took), we took our chance again and headed out to the cloudy beach, again only for about half an hour.

Tuesday it was for casted to rain all day, but we woke up to a beautiful, sunny day. The high was only 85 degrees. Again, we headed out to the beach with all our gear ready to spend the whole day there, which we did except for a brief lunch back at the house, a good five hours enjoying God's creation, building sand castles, playing in the waves, reading (me mostly), and just being together. After a good nap and dinner, we went to feed the ducks. Noah has his first encounter with a very hungry goose, and he got bit on the finger. Poor thing, he wouldn't let me put him down after that. We saw a lot of deer on our golf cart ride that evening, and then we were off to Ben & Jerry's for some ice cream!

Wednesday I spent cleaning up while Justin took the kids riding on the golf cart. Justin said Noah was silent the whole ride until he saw the geese and he said, "bite." Children have such good memories.

Here are some pictures of our trip, along with some music, hope you all enjoy!

Necklaces for All!

I don't know what to say about my lack of blogging, except that I have been in a slump. Nothing seemed worthy of blogging, and I just haven't been that crazy about my computer lately. We are having a great summer, lots of swimming at the YMCA pool, playing, grilling, and just recently a wonderful visit from my parents, (more to come on that later).
One morning before we went to the Y, Karis decided to make everyone, including Calvin, a necklace. She and Noah sported theirs to the Y, and Calvin wore his all day long!