I drove the kiddos and myself nine driving hours (which translates into 12+ when you are doing it solo with three young ones!) up to Indiana last week to visit family.  A wonderful time was had by all–perfect 80 degree weather throughout the week, two cook outs, watching the kidlets and cousins run around in the evening air for hours, soaking up the sights of farmland all around, crisp nights and beautiful sunsets.  With the military keeping us at a distance from family, I soak up every minute of it that I can.  I am so very blessed with extended family that loves my kids as much as if they saw them every week.

Benjamin, my three year old, doesn’t do so hot with sleeping places that aren’t his home.  Since he was a tiny baby, he’s needed that, despite my hope every trip that this one would be different.  This trip proved no different, however.  After four nights of not sleeping well and then another fitful night after arriving home, throw in a birthday party today, and he was tuckered out.  Playing in the dining room this evening, we noticed him quickly slowing down.  Silence.  And we found this.  Shoes still on, even.  Sweet boy.  And not yet a peep out of him, sleeping quite soundly. One quick wake-up asking to be tucked into bed and he was out again.  His eyes were shut before I even got the blanket pulled up around him.

Last week I got off easy with menus.  SoldierBoy requested a few simple meals that I was able to freeze and, upon pulling into the garage Saturday evening, I found him prepping Sicilian-style pizzas to bake and pulling garlic breadsticks out of the oven.  Yum!  And, after too many fast-food meals that week, a home-cooked meal sounded even better.

A cool front is coming through this week–we’re supposed to get down to 94! one day, even.  Needless to say, I’m going to limit the use of the oven as much as I can!!  Time to pull out summer recipes!

Breakfasts
Toast and fruit
Smoothies
Oatmeal
Orange streusel cinnamon muffins (new recipe!)
Cereal

Dinners
Sunday–Maple smokehouse chicken sandwiches with maple bourbon barbecue sauce, fresh fruit
Monday–Skillet pasta, garlic bread cooked on the griddle
Tuesday–Arrachera in corn tortillas, lime rice, pineapple, tortilla chips with roasted salsa
Wednesday–Sloppy joes, crispy oven fries, cole slaw (cabbage from the garden!)
Thursday–General Tso’s chicken, stir-fried veggies, rice
Friday–Mystery meal (a.k.a. nothing sounded good while menu planning, so I’ll decide later in the week!)
Saturday–Chipotle-crusted pork tenderloin, roasted white & sweet potatoes, salad, rolls

Spring cleaning fever has hit and I have several organizing projects that I started.  I’m excited to get some spaces organized while I’m also spring cleaning.  It feels so nice!

I forgot to take a before picture but…you can imagine! All of this was scattered throughout the door as well as miscellaneous napkins, straws, packets of ketchup and so on.

I had the wooden basket already but, for less about $10, I fully organized the drawer!  It makes putting things away easier and finding what I need SO, SO much easier!  I can’t believe I waited this long to do this project.  I LOVE it!!  And, when we move again, the baskets can go with us and be used for whatever storage space I need.

The right side of the drawer.  Basket division: measuring cups (yes, we have three sets…and usually still cant’ find what we need! LOL), measuring spoons below that (again, yes, multiples), assorted small gadgets (can opener, wine opener, vegetable peeler, ice cream scoops) and (half-hidden) small baking stuff like offset spreaders and brownie & cookie spatulas.

Left side of the drawer includes a basket for serving & cooking spoons, spatulas and salad tongs, a small one for cookie cutters and corn-on-the-cob items and the last basket is bag clips & the baby mesh feeder.

After putting everything into baskets, I had a few items that were too large to fit in any, so they are in the back of the drawer.

Next week I will be making labels for the baskets (per SoldierBoy’s request) for my 52 in 52.  (I’m going with the thought that if I write down what I will be doing, I’ll feel more accounted for and will actually follow through!)

Easter pictures were so much easier when the 3yo was a babe!  At 3mo, he just sat where he was supposed to and smiled.  Easter at 15mo he was newly mobile and it showed.  Last Easter we were all sick.  This Easter?  He was trying to put leaves into the electrical sockets!!  And, of course, the other two had to check out what he was doing.  Love the look on EGirl’s face, though. A good picture of me, at least!

Two busy weeks ahead, so I am trying to keep my menu plans simple.  I struggle with simple menu plans–repetition, quick-assemble, it all sounds so nice.  But I get caught up in trying new recipes and such.   If all goes as planned, SoldierBoy will be gone for four months beginning in June and I am going to need simple menu plans if I want to get through those months.  So my goal is to work towards that now.

Lunches
Out to lunch
Quessadillas
Pizza pinwheels
Cheese/fruit/veggie/cracker trays x 2
Leftovers
French Dip sandwiches

Dinners
Sunday–Steak, salad, corn
Monday–shredded beef barbecue in the crockpot, ??? on the side dishes
Tuesday–Southwestern chicken pasta salad
Wednesday–Buffalo ranch chicken sandwiches in the crockpot, carrots & apple slices
Thursday–Teriyaki chicken, rice, pineapple
Friday–Hamburgers on the grill, crispy oven fries, green beans
Saturday–Beer can chicken, cajun sweet potatoes