Swimming Lessons

We finished up swimming lessons for the summer last week. It was a very successful session.

Last year we skipped the swim lessons altogether. Tboy had tubes put in his ears last May and we were a bit leery of ear infections. Tgirl is a little fish and was already pretty water safe. Since we didn't feel that we were hurting Tgirl, the new tubes combined with the fact that Tboy takes after his dad and isn't a huge fan of water anyway, we thought it best to skip for just one year.

So I wasn't sure what to expect this year.

Tboy loved his teacher. She did a great job of knowing when to back off and when to push him. He ended up letting her dunk him completely under water several times and is progressing along in his willingness to put his face in the water. Another positive is that he discovered that a little water on his ears isn't a bad thing, so baths and washing his hair have been easier.

Tgirl was amazing. She was in level 2 for 2 summers and this was her first time in level 3, which has three different levels built into it. The third day of lessons she was promoted up to the top level 3 group. When she got her 'report card' she passed the level altogether!

So proud! :)

Menu Plan Monday

Whoops! Missed last week on the blog completely.

Here is this week:

Monday: grilled chicken with corn, rice and caesar salad
Tuesday: creamy penne and squash with broccoli and rolls
Wednesday: crockpot beef with BBQ sauce with corn on the cob and rolls
Thursday: campout at Grandma's with my brothers and sister-in-law - hot dogs, corn, watermelon and smores
Friday: pizza salad and bread sticks
Saturday: eggs, sausage, toast, and fruit salad
Sunday: crispy almond chicken

Menu Plan Monday

It is Monday again already! Where does time go?

This week promises to be fairly busy. In addition to our summer home school lessons, weekly trip to the library, and other normal weekly activities, the kids start two weeks of daily swimming lessons today and we have a playdate, a birthday party, a day with an out of town auntie, a Pampered Chef party, and quite possibly Tgirl's first sleepover with friends.

It is a week of lots of leftovers - mainly things that we had previously and I froze half of for later. This week is later! :) So we shall find out ....

Monday: frozen pizza (it is getting in the way in the freezer and needs to be eaten up)
Tuesday: beverages - we are going to my in-law's for a family dinner as my sister in law is in town from 'up north' and I am in charge of beverages
Wednesday: turkey divan
Thursday: taco cornbread bake
Friday: chicken and rice taco fiesta
Saturday: breakfast for dinner - cause the boy has been asking for it :)
Sunday: pepperoni loaf - the first new recipe of the week

Why We Should Be Allowed to Play Wii

This afternoon Tgirl and Tboy presented TDaddy and I with the following list (complete with stick figure illustrations):

"We think we should play Wii because
1. In the Star Wars game we have to work together to be able to pass the level.
2. It helps us get our energy out before we go to bed.
3. It helps us exercize."

Combined with no whining or fighting for the rest of the afternoon, their presentation was successful and TDaddy even let them stay up 20 minutes late playing.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: leftover Swedish meatballs
Tuesday: taco cornbread bake
Wednesday: crockpot turkey breast
Thursday: squash and sausage cassarole
Friday: turkey divan
Saturday: baked focaccia sandwich
Sunday: pizza

Menu Plan Monday

Whoops! I missed Monday! Between starting summer, which makes the days of the week blend together a bit, and Tgirl, TDaddy, and I all being sick (AGAIN!!) at the end of last week and over the weekend, my sense of time has been a bit discombobulated.

Anyway, here is the menu plan for this week:

Monday: crock pot lasagna
Tuesday: Swedish meatballs
Wednesday:Chicken and Rice Taco Fiesta
Thursday: meatball sub sandwiches
Friday and Saturday: TDaddy and I are going away for a couple of nights to celebrate our 15th anniversary! :) The kids will be staying with my mom. :) Hooray for grandparents!!
Sunday: Father's Day celebration at my parent's house - I'm not yet sure what I will be bringing

My Boy, the Next Iron Chef

So while his sister was sick in bed, Tboy and I decided to make banana bread. Because as he said, it is his favorite. We had so much fun!

He did a great job. Tboy stood on a chair in the kitchen and showed me which measuring spoons to use, pouring everything in the bowl after I measured it. He did all the mixing (with the exception of me doing a final mix to make sure all the ingredients were incorporated off the bottom of the bowl). And amidst all of this, didn't spill a bit.

He was so cute in his apron, a full Winnie the Pooh apron. We talked about tying it on as a half apron, "like real chefs," but he decided it was more important to protect Woody and Buzz on his Toy Story Tshirt. When it was time to check the bread in the oven he had to put the apron on again, this time folded over like a half apron. He was so cute I had to take a picture of him. As I was getting the camera out and turning it on he stood there with his fists on his hips, a serious expression on his face. But when I went to take the picture, he wouldn't put his fists back on his hips because, "Mama, I'm not a REAL Iron Chef yet!"

Has he been watching too much Food Network?