View from my dinner table

Tonight at dinner I was just sitting and enjoying my view of my three guys having fun playing the silent game, Daddy trying to coax them into eating by having them eat at the same time. The picture didn't come out as great at I thought I would...but it is sufficient for me. It is not a still picture but a moment in time where we are spending as a family. Many times I miss those moments with wanting to get the perfect picture. This is in no way perfect...but perfec to me:) Just snap shot into the evening of the Svitak's.

Meal plan for this week

Well I am not sure I could even tell a person what my grocery bill has been this month, because life has just been out of control. The carnival is over, school is winding down, and the boys and I are enjoying life. I will get back on the watch wagon in May. I still have a major compulsion that I can't get buy anything without it being on sale...so be assured that I have stayed under my $300 budget...just can't tell you exactly:)

We had a great weekend at home. This week will be filled with friends and sewing. I have a few things going on at school with end of the year socials and I have 4 tshirt quilts to get completed...yikes!

Monday:
Hamburgers with grilled mushrooms and squash

Tuesday:
BLT's and Doritos (yes I splurged...1.77 a bag:))

Wednesday:
Crock pot Roundsteak with something:)

Thursday:
Ham and Cheesy potatoes

Friday:
At my friend Amber's house:)

Saturday:
L: Boys at Track meet with my mom and Rylan - me sewing maniac
D: Homemade pizza

Sunday:
L: Out to eat
D: Grilling out

Have a great week!

Planting

The boys got a chance at choosing their own flowers and planting them how they want. It was a fun activity for them to do and be proud of as they grow (cross our fingers they grow...or we will have another lesson in the life cycle).

Omaha Zoo with cousin

We had a great weekend with Annie, Rylan, Jeremy and Aunt Becca last weekend. Here are a few more pictures (refer to previous post) Anxiously awaiting the train.

A mom trying to capture a moment in time:)

This is the reason to never leave these three alone at the same time...Monkey See, Monkey Do!

Nothing like cousin fun!

Teddy Bear Weekend at Omaha Zoo

The Henry Doorly Zoo had a Teddy hospital and check up center last Saturday. We were able to go for free with my sister and nephew. It was an awesome day. Both Quackie and Puppy checked out fine.

Both Kenner and Patton checked their animals in by themselves. Kenner said that Quakie's mouth didn't work. The lady looked at me and said, "It isn't suppose to open." I looked at her like "play along lady." They were all very nice and all volunteers!

Puppy needs to eat a little more, because his weight is dropping everytime he gets washed:)

Quackie's foot x-rayed fine (yes that is a copier...so creative!) BTW Ducks have webbed feet not people feet, but good thing that Kenner didn't pick up on that.

The clean and repair station.

Patton wasn't sure about having Puppy go through all the vigorous tests...but he gave in after a little coaxing from his brother.

Stories from Last week

From the last post, I have not had my camera ready...so sorry that these stories are pictureless.

Locked in car
- I got out of the car on Wed night between School and Awana. I left the keys and my purse (which holds the spare set) in the car. Kenner proceeded to climb into the front see pursuing gum, but found my keys. He then pushed every button on the keys - lock, unlock, lock, panic button. Meanwhile Kenner's side door is open and Patton still in his heavy harnessed car seat. I ripped the keys out of Kenner's hands, pressed the panic and thought all was okay. Kenner climbed out and closed the door as I ventured around the car to get Patton out. Went to open Patton's door, when I realized it was locked. Patton must have read the expression on my face, because he let out a shrill like no other. The poor child was locked in the car while locked in his car seat. It was like a person stuck in a fish bowl. Daddy was summoned by Kenner and Daddy stepped Patton through the process to get out of his shoulder straps enough to reach for the car door. Only in time for me to test all the doors one more time and viola...the driver's side door was unlocked. AMEN. Thanks to child lock's...Patton would not have been able to get out of the car even if he would have been able to reach the door handle.

Stop and sit down Mommy
- Kenner and Patton (and I) did our first Lincoln Safari this weekend. We went to the Water Conservation garden (which I might add many of the plants in the garden are ones we have around our house...5 points for us for choosing the cheapest plants but also the ones that take the least amount of water). The garden is on North 27th, which is a very busy street. I really wanted the boys to get out in the nice weather, blow off some steam and get back in the car so I could get some things done. Kenner and Patton wanted to sit on a bench. "Sit on a bench and watch the TRAFFIC?" I thought. I refused at first, then sat. It is amazing how fast we all go, but hardly ever take time to just sit and watch. I had a boy on either side of me. It was a great time to reflect how quickly their 3 and 4 year old lives have passed and I am continued to be worried about getting my to do list done. Hmmm...reality check? I think so!

Helicopter lands in SPRAGUE
- On Saturday, the boys and I arrived in Sprague, only to be passed by speeding police cars and an ambulance. Every time I see one I pray for the person and the family that is suffering. We pulled up and saw many people gathered around the bar. Then we heard a helicopter...surely they wouldn't bring a helicopter to Sprague. They sure did and it landed in a grassy field just outside the town. A high school boy had been doing tricks on his bike when he landed face first into the concrete going quite fast. I pray for the boy that he recovers. By the time he was being flown, he was able to recall his name. It brought back many memories of our sweet (CRAZY) Kenner who was flown to Omaha. Yuck and THANK YOU GOD for allowing us more time with Kenner. May this too be a reminder that I take a lot for granted...and kissing my boys to bed and hearing them say, "I love you Mom." Is something I won't take for granted.

Meal plan for this week

This week will be crazy with the CRETE ELEMENTARY CARNIVAL on Friday...but here is the plan for my meals.

Monday - Layered Mexican Casserole (that we didn't eat tonight, because Grandma Carlece took us to Pizza Hut)
Tuesday - Daddy's smoked pork and green beans
Wednesday (AWANA) - Frozen Pizza
Thursday - Stir Fry with Chicken (cheap broccolli and cauliflower at Hyvee:))
Friday - CARNIVAL!
Saturday (pending on Aunt Annie's plans)
L: Mac and Cheese or Sandwiches at the Omaha ZOO!
D: ?? Momma's choice

Sunday:
L: Lunch Bunch with the Holm's
D: Hamburgers and Grilled Veggies

Meal plan for this week

We had a great weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Elge's house. It was a huge treat to have Great Grandma Georgene as our cheerleader for our kickball game:)

Here is the plan for the week:

Monday - eat out of fridge...if we are hungry with the amazing meals this weekend:)

Tuesday - bacon wrapped turkey fillets (aka turger burger with bacon wrapped around it) with some veggie

Wednesday - Leftover chicken something in the crockpot:)

Thursday - Ground beef tacos with beans

Friday - Homemade pizza with sausage

Saturday - Guard Drill
L: PC party in Omaha
D: left overs

Sunday - Guard Drill
L: PC party in Lincoln
D: Layered Mexican casserole - out of my Busy Woman's cookbook.

Have a great week!

Quiet = Trouble (usually)

I am so blessed to have a built in playmate with the boys. I was able to get my sister's wedding quilt done, curtains hemmed, and started on the 3 Tshirt quilts I have to do all with my boys playing nicely with each other. I become super suspicious when the pitter patter of feet stop, because that means they have done something really bad or they are not within my ear range.

2 projects into the morning I could not hear them playing upstairs any longer...so I went to investigate. I knew I had left a bag of sugar on the table (from breakfast) and I had a few other possible disasters waiting to be initiated by the boys upstairs...so I cautiously went upstairs. This is what I found...
...two innocent boys watching TV without clothes. I am glad it wasn't sugar, but I wasn't sure why they didn't have clothes on,but it made me laugh!

Thanks to Cindy (our postmaster) the boys received a package in the mail today. They LOVED the candy, stickers and STICKY HAND in it.

Grandparent's Day

Due to the busy week, only Grandma and Grandpa Kenner were able to come visit for Grandparent's Day. It was a great time. Patton got to ride the bus with Kenner to come for a visit...which was a special treat.

new header

Thanks to Pastor Keith, Kenner is really into telling jokes. His jokes are not jokes at all, but rather a 2 part conversation ending in a one person laugh (Kenner, not mommy) that is first initiated by "You aren't going to believe this one Mom,...(joke)". I thought I would change our header in celebration of the great weather and fun we are having outside and in the car.

Hope you have a glorious Spring as well!

Family Fun in Omaha

Besides Patton being in timeout (for the exception of snapping these pictures) the entire time, we had a great weekend in Omaha last weekend. We stayed at Aunt Becca's (uncle Mike was gone). It will probably be the last time we are invited to stay...Patton broke a coaster by pushing it off and falling through her staircase, breaking a candlestick and smearing red candle on her wall, and coloring on the carpet. Yes YIKES!

On to the good times though...
Dying eggs at Aunt Annie's house with Rylan. Playing at the park by Becca's house. As you can tell Spring has not quite arrived when you are still playing in your winter coats at the park...but we will stress playing at the park which was OUTSIDE!!:)

Shopping Trip

I see now why I need to go shopping every week. I have been telling myself that it is okay not to get the deals every week. Well the time that I do go shopping I can't help myself but get ALL the deals. So I did okay for this week...I could have done a lot better, but I still can't figure out the scenerios where I get Register Rewards and spend less. But this is learning experience for all of you. I still got a lot of items for not spending much. You can't come out of Wags, CVS and Target every week spending $5.00 or less:)
Target:

I spent:

1.98 2 dozen eggs, +.06 2 Buddy soaps (2 $1/1 Q), 4.98 Flinstone Vitamins (on clearance for 5.98 - 1 $1MQ), 1.19 Johnson's and Johnson's Soap (boys needed shampoo), +.01 Kids Crest Toothpaste (Stacked $1 TQ with .50 MQ and the price was 1.49 to start with), $4.50 for 3 Ore Ida Potatos ($1/2 Q B2G1 Free), Pinapple 2.50

TOTAL: 15.08 plus tax :)

I got all these in this picture from Walgreens in three transactions (still could have done better) for 16.72 (including tax).

Water and Weather

Tonight the boys were so excited to play outside. They were MORE than wound up. My grandparents called on their way back from Minnesota and asked about supper. I had made a chicken in the crockpot and offered it to them, but they said they needed to get going. They were going to stop by though...okay...I will make cookies. I get out the package and begin to make them. No eggs. Called Yoshi, our neighbor that is similiar to the Dennis the Mennis and Mr. Wilson's relationship. She lives two doors down with no street to cross so the boys go over there all the time to say hi and oh get about 5 suckers. I called and asked if we could have an egg. Kenner was so excited to go run an errand for me. The errand was successful. He returned with a whole egg...no cracks.



I put the cookies in the oven and went about my business. I checked on the boys outside. Redirected them from throwing balls at the windows, redirected them from throwing the balls at the cars, and urged Patton to put his shirt back on. I went in to get a camera to document how cute (although arnry (sp)) Patton looked. As I walked into the kitchen I hear the water running. I immedieately thought, "Hmm I didn't turn on the dish washer." Then I hear a rush of water in the basement. AHHHHHHH I rushed down the stairs to find a gush of water pouring from around the water heater. Beside the water heater is our shut off valve. In the split seconds, I thought I will be burned if I go over there. I scream, "Help" as if anyone is going to hear me or help me...Casey is not home by this point. I felt a splash on me and it was freezing water.

It was okay to "dive" in and wade over to the shut off valve. Then I thought, "I really wish Casey would have shown me which one it was. So I turn one valve...wrong one - I got drenched with the drain for the sprinkler system. Then I discovered that my two monkeys had turned on the water outside. They were thinking it was summer and they needed to get a drink of water from outside. After trying one other valve, I dashed upstairs out the door and of course I am screaming..."NO WATER, NO WATER." I turned off the water and it was done.

Water everywhere, one soaked mommy and two boys just having the time of their life in the nice spring weather. Ahh the joys of being a mom! I am glad that my mom was obsessed with rubbermaid tubs...because everything was in one and nothing was ruined.
I got my basement floors cleaned:) and we also discovered that our sprinkler's froze this winter. It could have been a lot worse. It could be a month from now and I just turn on the water from outside and let it run for a while only to find out later that the water was not only going on my plants but all over my basement while we were outside playing. It could always be worse:)

Grocery Cart Challenge

You have to go and subscribe to the Grocery Cart Challenge. She is a woman of faith that completely inspires me. A few weeks ago she had home made cleaners on her blog. I made her shower cleaner (2 cups vinegar, 2 tsp jet dry) and it has worked wonders. It has sparked me to make more of my home made cleaners.

The vinegar can make a person crazy (or a particular husband:) so I went out and bought Tea Tree Oil and Lavender. The Lavender works...but the Tea Tree oil I haven't figured out about it yet.

Any other household cleaners you use at home?

Vinegar, baking soda are my two top choices at the moment.

Meal Planning Monday

I am super glad that I planned two weeks of meals last week...or we might be in trouble this week. I have a great friend who has brought some new light to saving money on groceries. She uses the philosophy that the Grocery Cart Challenge uses...only buy what you need that week. THis way you don't have a lot "money" sitting on your shelves in your house but in your pocket.

I do agree with this and find myself always bargain hunting...but if I would stop hunting for a minute and look at my cupboards I would find that we could life off the "wild" of my cupboards and I can take a break from hunting. I came to a huge realization when we recently received a 1/4 of a beef. We have not gotten a beef for a couple years (I stretched a 1/2 a beef into two years:)), so it was time for me to clean out the freezer. I have found that I have bargain hunted with lots of meat that were just sitting and waiting for me to use them. I have decided to try the Eat out of my Pantry Challenge (like in January) for the month of April. I do feel that I won't have many groceries except milk and fresh produce. We will see how I do.

To start me off I decided to eat from my pantry this week as well:

Monday: Whole Chicken in the Crockpot with asparagus
Tuesday: Beef and Noodles (freezer cooking meal)
Wednesday: Homemade spaghetti (frozen sauce found in freezer)
Thursday: Ham and Scalloped potatoes...or taking any Ham recipes. I have 1/2 a ham to do something with...any suggestions?
Friday: Lunch - mac and cheese Dinner: Soup at a friend's
Saturday-Sunday-Monday: At Elge's
Monday night: Left overs/canned soup or something

Have a great week!

Meal Planning Monday

I am SO excited for this weekend...we get to spend the entire weekend with my sister's at their house in Omaha. For that we have a short week of meals this week.

Monday - Chicken Tortilla Bake - recipe I got from a Congra coupon booklet
Tuesday - Bacon Wrapped Turkey burger - trying out the ground turkey I got on sale:)
Wednesday - No Awana, so we will have a treat of Homemade Spaghetti Sauce and spaghetti
Thursday - Philly cheese Steak Sandwiches and asparagus
Friday to Sunday at Aunt Becca's house in Omaha.

Homemade laundry soap

Thanks to my friend over at Blessed Beyond Belief, she has encouraged me to make my own laundry soap. I finally found Fels Naptha and Washing Soda at HyVee on 40th. I was able to make a 5 gallon bucket of laundry soap in 45 minutes (and waiting a day) for $2.00.

You should try it too. Thanks to the Duggar family's recipe http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

Kitchen

Of course you can never get the correct angle or great light...but I had my kitchen clean so I thought I would show you what our kitchen looks like now with the tile. I am so thankful for a very handy husband!

New Big Boy Bed

We had a minor incident with Kenner's old bed a month ago...so we changed the crib into a big bed. I went to bed last night and found Kenner sleeping with his tiger and couldn't resist taking a picture of him loving on his tiger:) We are waiting for Aunt Becca's bedding (bed skirt). She and I are switching the bedding once I finish her wedding quilt:)