Happy 5th Birthday Kenner!

Happy Birthday to my first baby, Kenner MacArthur Svitak aka General #1. Here is Kenner as he grew (another reason why I am so thankful to have this blog...all my pictures are in one place.) Unfortunately, I didn't start this until after he was a year old...so no baby pictures. Love you Kenner!
1st year - He LOVED ice cream!

2nd Birthday - This is what he did when he got excited. 3 years old - Loves America like his Daddy and Mommy 4 year old - Mr. Cool and poses like his dad!Happy Happy Birthday not so little boy any more. You are becoming to be such a responsible and dependable little guy. I am excited to see how much of a helper you will be when your new brother and/or sister arrives. You wow me everyday with your creativity, love, and energy.

Love you very much Kenner! Love Mom

Meal plan for this week

Meal plan for this week

Monday:
L: Leftover Subway Sandwiches
D: Pepper Steak Crock Pot (Betty Crocker Crockery Cooking)

Tuesday:
L: Mom's Style Hamburger Helper (freezer cooking recipe)
D: Lasagna (Grandma Georgene's Church Cookbook recipe)

Wednesday:
L: Chimichangas (freezer cooking recipe)
D: Going to Omaha to see our AZ cousins

Thursday:
L: Healthy Choice Meals (we didn't end of up eating these last week)
D: BBQ Meatballs and Peas (freezer cooking meal

Friday:
L: Leftovers
D: Hamburger and french fries

Saturday:
L: General Chows (not how you spell it...but loss for spelling at the moment) Chicken and Rice
*Got suckered in at the Sam's sampling place...this is Daddy's favorite!
D: 4th of July party at Casey's friend. I have to make a side dish...any suggestions?

Sunday:
L: Out to eat after church and/or create something at home
D: Steaks and/or Kabobs

Freezer Cooking?

I have a friend in Beatrice that organizes a freezer cooking group.

How it works:
At the end of each month she sends out an email to get people to sign up (see email below).
Then, by the first Friday of the month, she gives your recipe, the amount of servings needed, and a list of everyone who is participating (so that you can label each meal with each person's name on it).
- She works very hard each month to make sure there is an even amount of beef, chicken, or just a variety of different casseroles, grillables, etc.
You make the recipe she gives you and make it the number of times you need.
Another great aspect is she tells you if you need to make 2 8x8 portions or
1 9 x 13 for the various family sizes in the group.
Each month I have done this the number varies from 7 to 13. This means that each month I have done it, I have 14 to 26 meals for my family to each, because each person usually makes each recipe into two portions. These also double as great mercy meals for others without taking a lot of extra time.
You have to keep your receipts, as you send her the totals before the "exchange" she puts them in to her handy dandy excel program. Then she tells you if you have to "pay in" or "take out" of the pot. You bring the amount in change to the exchange. This allows everyone to spend the exact same each month. The meals also average $4.00 - $6.00 a meal...beat that
McDonald's:)
The only kicker to this exchange is that it happens on the first Friday of the month at 10:00 am in Beatrice. It is a very slick and quick process.
But for me and my work schedule, it is sometimes hard to get down there.
She is flexible if you aren't able to make it every month, but it is best to bring your food and take your food.

I was thinking that if there was a group of people that wanted to do this we could either:

A) take turns going down on the First Friday of the month(as she does a lot of work putting the correct meals together and she has a plethora of freezer recipes to choose from as she has done this for more than 5 years now)

B) If enough interest, I could look into taking Freezer Cooking Organization
101 from Carla and organize one in Lincoln.
I will be signing up this month. If you have any questions or interest in this, please let me know.

EMAIL FROM CARLA (GREAT GREAT GREAT LADY!)

Here is a great way to start the school year sanely! A freezer full of meals waiting to be served to bless your family.
This will be our last month where the schedule is "half grillable"
meals. If you are not a griller, fear not. Throw it on your broiler pan or into the crockpot for the same quick and easy convenience. I love using the kabob meat in stir-fry. I just cut it up smaller and it is so yummo!
I predict this to be a big month as I have already had ladies sign up, not wanting to miss out. So if you really one to get stocked up for a busy fall, this may be your month to jump in on the fun.
The exchange will be on Friday morning, August 6 at 10:00 a.m. at 606 Clearwater Circle in Beatrice. This is never ever a "closed" group.
Invite anyone to join.
If you are part of the exchange that will take place THIS Friday morning, July 2, would you please send me your totals spent so that I can email you the exact amount of money you need to bring or take from the pot? Thank you.
Have a great week and will see 8 of you this Friday morning!
car

Kenner's 5th ART themed Birthday Party

We all had a lot of fun at Kenner's 5th Birthday party. It is unbelievable that he is 5 already (or tomorrow). He had an ART themed birthday party. It is my goal to go "all out" for every 5th birthday. Aunt Annie helped me make jello jigglers as another snack. It was fun to put them in the trifle bowl and they were yummy!

*Did you know that you need 4 boxes of Jello with 2 1/2 cups of boiling water and 3 hours to make the jigglers. I was suprised at 4 boxes...but they were good:) The birthday cake - thanks to Family fun for the idea. I did forget the twizzler and fruit leather paint brush...oh well.

I had 8 different art stations:

Color your own paper bag with markers and misc stickers to decorate with- so they had something to take their projects home in.

Color a Toy Story 3 picture with crayons

Stamping with our ONE stamp (that caused great chaos in our house...keep reading the blog for story)

Scratch and color - use a wooden stick to scrap the black off for a color below

Foam name plate - used a variety of foam letters and shapes

Finger paint (which quickly became closed...because it was TOO messy)

Shaving cream fun - just wrote in the shaving cream with their fingers

Play Dough - I made it with a recipe from googling Playdough made out of koolaid. EASY!

Self Portrait/Bracelet making- I had paper plates with pipe cleaners, beads, glue, and many things to make a self portrait. Many kids turned it into a bracelet making station...so that was fun to see them make their own station!

From the foam name plate section:

Bracelet making

Scratch and color with uncle KK

Instead of serving this cake, I made cupcakes and had different colors of frosting as well as all the sprinkles in my house for the guests to make their own cupcake. We served ice cream and jigglers along with the cupcakes. Everyone was suppose to stay for Subway (sandwich artists...), but many left. So we were left with many sandwiches to eat this week.

The kids enjoying their decorating and cupcakes.

Kenner and his cake

Kenner's favorite part. His face when he opened each one was priceless...again a need for a flip camera.

Last but not least was the pinata. Kenner picked out his own Transformer, which was about as big as Patton. Daddy and mommy had fun putting the candy in it.

CANDY!

Fun was had by all! Thank you to all that were able to come and for those of you that weren't able to...we missed you. Put November 2011 down on your calendar for Patton's #5 Bday!

Kreative Kenner

Both Kenner and Patton have been extremely creative this past week. Creative can be GREAT in their eyes and FRIGHTENING in mine. Casey was gone to St. Louis last week for the Guard, so it was VBS in the morning, then major need for a nap time (for mommy) in the afternoon. The boys did need naps, but that didn't mean they actually took them.

I had the entire dining room full of art gear for his party and for VBS. It was off limits, but some how the boys didn't think that it applied to them.

Here is Kenner being creative with the outer space foam shapes. This was considered funny in my eyes:) Just snap shot of a day in the life of scheming what the day would bring them. I really really wish for a flip camera, so that I can actually document their conversations on video...maybe for my birthday:)

I haven't gotten the guts to take a pictures of the negative creativity...as it brings great anger (seriously) out when I think about it...so I will just document the results. This is Kenner "getting a mark" for doing a chore. With his creative juices, he decided to slash (yes I said slash, like with a very sharp Pampered Chef knife) all three of my slip covers. It looks like Freddy Kruger made an appearance in my front room. So this resulted in Kenner having to do 300 chores before he gets to watch cartoons again. Was it coincidence that we read the book, Berstein Bears and Too Much TV the night before this happened? I think not. It has been fun without the TV on. I think it is too funny that we went to the movie Toy Story 3 which is about toys getting loved on again as this all happened. Our toys in our own Toy Story are having a blast getting loved on again.

Later last week, I took a nap alongside Kenner and Patton or so I thought. They got up from their nap and went down to the forbidden art supply. Kenner got the tempera paints and four bowls. Proceeded to pour each color into a different bowl (which I am not sure who he knew to do this), got the big paint brush and watched his brother do his art. Patton painted one of my paychecks, our wooden floor, my fridge and the wall. The wall has yet to be covered by 4 coats of paint. To make the story even better the first coat of paint I used wasn't the right color...so now we have a really creative kitchen wall. Then they got out the stamp pads and the one stamp. Patton must have walked in it, because his feet were black long with my carpet and everywhere he walked. Needless to say, I called my mom that day and said, "You are lucky to have two grandchildren who are still live." They were immediately sent to their room...and believe it or not they took a long nap...nice!

I got over it (or somewhat got over it) and had an all out water fight with the boys another day. I am thankful for glass doors...or I would have been drenched! It was fun!

Vacation Bible School - Puppet Parable Style

Last week was Vaction Bible School at Zion Church in Lincoln. It was Patton first time at VBS (and he was a BIG boy - wore underwear - all week!)!!!! I was able to organize and do the craft section all week. I only had 20 minutes with each group. It was a lot of fun!

Here are the puppets showing - The Pearl of Great Price. The boys loved going to the "puppet show" everyday. The first day was The Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan craft varied for the big kids and the younger kids. Everyone except the oldest group colored a picture (of their choice) and then put bandaids on it. The oldest group painted ice cream buckets with tempera paint for our senior saints (or the older population) in our church. I will be putting tissue paper, a flower and some candy in and delivering them.

The Sower and the Seed (or soil, like I called it) craft was inspired by my Kindergarten friends from school. I used a "sight word" book idea for each day.

Title page:

Packed soil - I cut brown construction paper so all they had to do was glue it down and stamp an eagle and place a "seed" or bling found in the craft section at Walmart.

For the stony ground, each child colored over a door mat to make the stony ground, colored the sun and put on the seed. I choose the seed and other designs so that it too close to no time to dry.

For the thorny ground - I put a strip of tape on the table (sticky side up) and had them place the toothpicks on it. Then they stuck it to the paper and put the seed on.

For the good soil - I had them draw their own creation of good soil and a pretty plant. It was a fun activity for all the ages. The time FLEW this day!

For the Lost Sheep Parable, I found a printable sheep that folded and the younger two groups glued (with glue sticks) cotton balls down and colored the sheep's face and legs.

For the Lost Sheep Parable for the big kids, I found the yarn sheep pattern from Family Fun. They had a lot of fun making it.

We also did the parable of the Pearl of Great Worth, which was a paper plate folded in half with shredded paper glued down with a white pom pom for the pearl. The last parable was probably the most fun after it dried...House on a Rock. I used shaving cream, black tempera paint and glue to have the kids make the rock and they used foam sheets to create a foam house. The rocks dried in 3D

Here is Patton and the dreaded tag that flew up in his eye and scratched it. He did so well.

Toy Story 3

Not exactly what the doctor prescribed for Patton's torn cornea...but Aunt Becca was in town for Kenner's bday. We promised to take them to the 3D Toy Story 3. Fun times! Hey Grandpa Patton

Some one was entralled the entire movie!

Aunt Becca said to not put this one in...but I think it is funny!

There is a good one (see he couldn't even take his eyes off the screen to take this pic!)

Thanks Aunt Becca for a fun 3D time!

Meal Planning Monday

Monday - is gone and so am I. VBS zapped me for the day...thankful to have a built in playmate to play together while I don't feel well

Tuesday -
L: Chimichangas (freezer cooking)
D: Old Chicago with Aunt Becca and Toy Story 3

Wednesday -
L: Grilled Cheese
D: Simply Elegant Steak and Rice (I didn't make it last week)

Thursday -
L: Healthy Choice Meals
D: Chicken and Grilled Veggies (woohoo zuchini from our garden!)

Friday -
L: Lunch at VBS
D: Boys' Choice

Saturday -
L: Leftovers unless Dad gets back early
D: At my friend Jenn's Wedding!!!

Sunday -
L/D: Kenner's Art Birthday party!

Questions about meal planning:
How do I do it: I plan my meals around what I have in my cupboards and buy what I need to fill the recipe. I (sometimes) plan two weeks out...so that I plan my meals for the next week for what is on sale this week. Make sense?

I have, as many of you know, been on a saving money kick. Little did I know that time spent and gas money spent getting EVERY deal is maybe not saving time in my life. I have not thrown out my coupon book...but I have put it on the back burner. I have a friend who does and organizes freezer cooking each month. Then she spends minimal amount of groceries on veggies, milk, and other things to supplement the freezer cooking. I think that when I begin to work again the fall I am going to do the freezer cooking each month. If anyone is interested in knowing more about freezer cooking, let me know and I can let you know of the in's and out's.

Meal planning has saved me money, because I don't have the urge to just go to fast food because I know I have something waiting for me to cook in the fridge or better yet waiting for me in the crock pot:)

Having fun in June

Not sure why I am not busier with the job world (PRN SLP work), but I'll take it. With the morning sickness lasting all day long and two little boys wanting fun times with their mom, it has worked for me.
Patton (and Kenner, but he had his garb off before I could click) decided that they needed to get on all the winter gear to play football. I am sure that their "uniform" didn't protect them from the tackle football they were playing. Kenner and Patton got to spend almost a week in Hebron at my parent's house. They got to really get to know my brother's (pictured) girlfriend, Abby.

While the boys were in Hebron, I got to spend the weekend with my Craziee Aunt Jane in Salina. It was a great weekend. She made the top to this person's recycled car out of recycled plastic bags

Casey (along with our good friends the Huttes) have really gotten into biking. I would too, if I only had a bike....

Casey tried this little experiment for a block and decided that the second option below was a better deal.

Bubb is in his "carriage." They sure do love their dad (I do too:)).

Porch - Before and somewhat after

Before (and we thought we were safe walking on it) Little did we know that they rotted boards that were on the top were the only supports holding us up. Crazy that no one fell through!

NEW PORCH!

I have only finished painting the right side of the porch...now to finish the roof and the last side of the house.

Meal Planning Monday

Monday
L: out to eat (boys are gone and Casey is working on the porch...gotta "pay" him somehow:))
D: unsure...

Tuesday
L: eating at Cristina's with my friends for one last mexican dinner with my friend Jennifer in Crete
D: I have a Pampered Chef Bridal Shower in Plattsmouth...so maybe on our own

Wednesday
L: Sandwiches (will probably be picking up the boys)
D: Grilled Kabobs

Thursday
L: Hotdogs and beans (yum I know...)
D: Simple Elegant Steak and Rice

Friday
L: Grilled Cheese
D: Probably headed to Aurora

Saturday
L/D: In Aurora - I have a Pampered Chef Bridal Shower on Sat morning

Sunday
L: Picnic lunch after church...we have to get ready for VBS
D: Hobo Meal on Grill

There are some great sales today at Hyvee (including Cottage cheese...so I will be making a ton of lasagnas this week to freeze). yum!

Lemonade anyone?

If anyone sees these three boys sitting (or any kids for that matter) along side the road, please stop. The parents will then see this...

as a response:) Kenner was SO excited to get customers!

Annual Memorial Day Project

Thanks to everyone honoring Military on Memorial day...our weekend usually ends up in a big project. Retaining wall added this year. Landscaping done this year.
I know did a project last year at this time...but I can't remember. This year's project was putting a new porch on. We kept everything the same except the flooring...so I guess I should have said - putting a new floor on our porch.
BEFORE: Yikes...after tearing this off we were lucky that Grandpa Jimmy was the only one to fall off our porch. We can't believe that no one fell tHROUGH it!

After pictures to come.

Torch Run

We were able to go to our first Saltdog's Game of the year and also see our Dad help run the Cornhusker State Game torch in. It was pretty cool to see our dad out there! Can you spot him?