Sunday Snapshots

We are so going to have to start taking these Sunday pictures before we leave for church.  I really love having pictures of Jack and Claire dressed up!  We took these after church, lunch, a trip to Target, and naps on Sunday.  Oh, well!  Here are the cuties!

Week in Pics

We have had a nice week this week.  Blake worked Monday thru Thursday, and was home pretty early most days.  Yay for family time!  He also got to come home for lunch, which is an extra bonus!!  We have had lots of rain this week, which was much needed.  We have had a couple of pajama days, and took lots of naps. :)  Jackson watched Hercules and LOVED it.  Above is Claire showing her muscles.

This is the costume Jackson created.  I just love it.  He loves to dress up and pretend, and it cracks me up!

Our landscaping in the front has been very low on the priority list, and Tuesday night, Blake couldn't handle it anymore.  Ha!  He got started on a project out front.  He completely weeded the front flower bed, and our (his)  plan is to trim the bushes, lay a new barrier, buy fresh mulch, and put some river rock around the edges. 

Monday, we met Robin and Ben at the Aquarium and water play area.  Our plan was to go to the Aquarium...unfortunately we went to get our tickets, and were rudely informed that our passes are expired...even though the card says August 2011-August 2012.  On the back in TINY print, there is a clause that says they expire at the end of the school year.  Luckily, Jackson did not care at all, and was just excited to play in the water with his best friend for several hours.

Other Weekly Randoms:
-Blake and Jack have been watching Andy Griffith on Netflix at night.  Jack loves it.  I wonder if my family lives in the wrong decade?  Just kidding.
-I made two new things this week in the kitchen..nothing fabulous.  I have just never made them before.  I made banana bread...I usually make pumpkin.  I cooked black beans in the Crock Pot...they were so good.  I usually just buy a can of them. 
-Jack wrote his alphabet.  I was proud.

4th of July

Nice, Quiet Monday

As a side note, Claire took maybe 20 bottles of milk her whole life, but now gets her baby doll's bottles, and wants to take her bottle.  Crawls up in my lap, and says she needs a bottle. What a mess!

Bruce Wayne

So, I made the homemade Pop-Tarts.  They were more like Toaster Strudels.  Jackson asked where the icing and sprinkles were.  I made half strawberry, and the other half apple cinnamon.  Blake and I both loved them.  Jackson did not care for them (too gooey).  They were kind of messy to make, but I always make huge messes when I cook (especially if flour is involved), plus I let Jackson help, so there was flour all over the table, and I had to mop the floor upon completion of the recipe.  I got to use my food processor, and that always makes me giddy, so I am sure I will make them again. 

Psalm 150

¹ Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
² Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
⁴ praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Sunday Snapshots: My Girl Edition

Jack-Man drank a little too much lemonade during class today. :) No pics of the little guy in his church clothes today.

Everybody's got a story everybody's got a song
Everyone's a little different but we all went wrong
Then a Savior came and He took the blame
Changed everything
Then a Savior came and He took the blame
Changed everything

I could sing about His forgiveness
I could praise Him till the sun goes down
I could say that I am a witness
I was there when His love came down
Love came down on me
Love came down on me

Love broke through my darkness now I can finally see
He paid the price for my freedom no more chains on me
Since the Savior came and He took the blame
Changed everything
Since the Savior came and He took the blame
Changed everything

Words and Music by Lindell Cooley, Lenny LeBlanc

Song Title: Love Came Down

Our choir sang this song this morning, and it blessed me.  Love it!

Changes

Towards the end of May, I was pulling in the driveway from Publix.   Blake called to let me know that he would be changing jobs for the 2012-2013 school year.  Knowing that he could be placed at any school in the county from Ooltewah to Sale Creek, we were both surprised and excited that he would be going to Soddy Daisy Middle School, as the principal.  Only 7 minutes from our house.  He has been driving downtown for the past five years, so that was exciting!  This is the school we both went to as middle schoolers, and Blake is very excited about serving at the school in our community.

This situation did not come without a few little quirks.  Blake's mom has taught at SDMS for 18 years, and his aunt, Tina, has also taught there for a long tenure as well.  Darla (and Tina, too) both received letters that stated they were being relocated to new positions due to the nepotism clause in the Memorandum of Agreement.  Seriously, who gets a promotion, and his mom and aunt get displaced from their job?

 Tina and Darla both got placed in great schools.  Both are now teaching elementary school.  Darla is teaching 2nd grade at Allen.  I know she will be awesome.

Tomorrow, Blake officially starts his new position, and I am super proud of his accomplishment.  

What's For Dinner?

 Last summer, Blake and I started going to the Farmer's Market most Saturday mornings.  I love going, and love teaching Jackson about where food comes from.  We have kind of gotten out of the habit of going, but we made sure to go this morning.  We may also try to go to the bigger market downtown on Wednesday afternoons.  They have a ton of food there, and it is just a fun experience.

Today, we bought pole beans, yellow zucchini, potatoes, fresh eggs, and grass fed beef.  The beef is really good, and I don't really even like red meat.

So...here is what we are doing with our finds this week.

Monday:
Meatloaf
Green Beans
Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday:
Homemade Chicken Nuggets 
Zucchini Chips
Salad

Wednesday:
Leftovers


Thursday:
Salad
Baked Potatoes

Friday:
We will most likely eat out or make homemade pizza.

 Whole-Wheat Toaster Pastries  I may give these a try this week for a new breakfast option.  I don't know if my kids would like them or not?  They are weird about textures and anything "gooey."  I think an apple and cinnamon combination would be good.

What are ya'll eating this week?