What is on your menu this week?

Hi there!  Can you believe January is almost over?  Craziness!  It's been a while since I've done a Bits & Pieces post (post totally about random things).  I have lots of things to share with you.  So here goes! 1.  My three big kids ("big" meaning school aged) are playing basketball.  This means that our Saturdays are full of lots of basketball games.  And the week is pretty busy with six different practices.  They are loving it though, so it's worth it!  Here's my free-throw shooting 9 year old! 2.  I hosted a baby shower (girls night) for my friend that is having baby #4.  My friend is gluten-free, so it was fun to think of gluten free food to have.  I made a few treats and had some cucumber lemon water ready and everyone else brought other yummy food.  I made some churro chex mix and white chocolate popcorn w/chocolate peanuts.  Yum!   4.  Last week for dinner I tried a new s...

I've spent the last few weeks thinking of goals for this year.  In the past I've made long lists of goals that I want to achieve and things I want to accomplish.  Sometimes it just seems to be overwhelming because, of course, I'd like to be better at everything I do.  There's always something that I should be reading, or studying, or cleaning or working on, but there's just not enough time in a day to do everything I want.   I've decided for this year that I just want to have one word goals for different parts of my life.  They apply to lots of different things.  Here goes... 1.  STRENGTHEN my body, my relationships and my faith. Do more than just go running:  Insanity workouts, weights. Eat foods that nourish, not comfort.  Be kinder and be a better listener. Spend less time on social media and more time reading actual books and the scriptures.   2.  Help my children show RESPECT to each other and our home. ...

It's pretty fun to look back at a year of blog posts.   I used to be super faithful at posting on my family blog, but now I'm like two years behind and I haven't made a photo book (that my kids love) in three years.  However, at least I have a record of our menus each week.  And I usually share a little tidbit of what we have going on.  So, I guess it's kind of family journaling, right?   Anyway...I thought it would be fun to do a little recap of some of the highlights of this year and the blog posts that went with it.   This year was definitely different than other years for me.  I was even busier than I ever have been (some of which came from having my kids being a year older, having a bigger house, huge yard and amazingly productive garden).  I posted very few recipes, but have a bunch that I need to get ready to post because I want to share them with you.  I posted menus almost  every week.  I posted lots more ofte...

Hi guys!  Does anyone else agree that May is totally crazy?  The last few weeks have been jam-packed (kind of like normal), but my normal computer time hasn't been spent blogging (obviously since I didn't post my last two weeks of menus and I've missed hardly any weeks since I started this blog in 2008). Anyway...Here are a few things that have been occupying my time. 1.  These kids...I love them!  They are super, super busy, but I'm so blessed to be their mom!  I loved mother's day and their homemade cards and gifts and extra effort to be sweet.    2. I know I'm not the only baseball mom out there.  :)  We have baseball practices and/or games almost five days a week.  I'm learning to love the game a lot more and my boys are enjoying it!  It's been a good experience for our soccer-playing-family.  Dinnertime and getting homework done has been a bit of a challenge lately.  Not much time to do anything else other t...

Hi guys!  Happy Friday!  I thought I'd do a really quick  Bits and Pieces post . First things first.  Can we talk about the Seahawks?  Holy cow!  It's crazy to live in a place where people actually care about sports and are passionate about their team and we live four hours from Seattle!  It's especially weird since I just moved from a town of scientist and engineers who for the most part aren't really sporty.  I love running errands around town and seeing everyone in their Seahawks gear, especially the cute great-grandma and grandpa age people! I pass this sign at least four times a day.  I love the Seahawk pride! I made our favorite chocolate chip cookies this week.  They didn't work out the best.  I seriously can't get used to my new oven.  I can't burn the bottom of cookies!  I've had a gas oven for the last six years and switching to a smaller electric oven is not going so well for me.  And the altitude...

We just got back from my first trip to Disneyland.  Yep, my first!  It was obviously my kids first time too.  I loved it.  It was fun seeing what it was actually like and comparing it to what I'd imagined it to be in my 30+ years of life. My family loved it too.  Before we left my five year old wasn't convinced that it would be fun.  He really wanted to go back to Legoland.  Once we got to Disneyland he didn't mention Legoland once. Here are a few things that I learned while at Disneyland... 1.  Going with another family is the best!  My sister-in-law and her family joined us for the trip.  They'd been to Disneyland lots of times, so they knew the ins and outs and best places to go at what time.  My kids loved having cousins to go on rides with.  Our trip wouldn't have been nearly as fun (or as stress-free) without them! 2.  I wish I would have had an over the shoulder purse.  We took our diape...

Hi guys!  Time for another Bits and Pieces posts .   First thing...my Whirley Pop giveaway ends TONIGHT at midnight.  I'll pick a winner in the morning.  Don't forget to enter. If you already have a Whirley Pop, you should still enter and give one to your favorite person that doesn't have one.  I used mine this week to make a double batch of kettlecorn that was INHALED in minutes by six hungry boys having a playdate. Have you started having holiday cookie exchanges with your friends yet?  I went to one last night with ladies at church.  I made seven layer bars , which are always a favorite. This week I've done a bit of baking, kind of just using whatever I have in my cupboards and freezer. I had some coconut and random baking chips and nuts to use up, so besides making seven layer bars  I also made sweet and salty granola .  I've been eating it for breakfast every morning on vanilla yogurt.  It's super yummy! I've actu...

Hi guys!  Are you as glad as I am that it's Friday? Anyway...this weekend should be pretty fun.  Our town is doing their Halloweekend this weekend (not quite sure why they can't actually do it next weekend on Halloween, but whatever).  I'm making final touches on my kids Halloween costumes.   I made successfully made my kindergartner a Yoda costume.  He's so happy!  And I'm happy that worked and took no time at all. My older son wants to be a football player, so we borrowed a jersey from a friend.  I spent a little time last night making his last name to put on the back of the jersey using freezer paper and paint.   After browsing football pad images online last night I decided to make him some pads using a yoga mat that I never use and got for free.  He loves them.   My daughter's Greek Goddess costume turned out better than I imagined and involved no sewing!  Seriously, I'm so glad for the internet or my kids w...