Day to Day Adventure: 5/22/11 - 5/29/11

Friday, May 27, 2011

Families that PLAY together STAY together!

We are sliding in to our summer here.  There is still school left to finish up from this year but I have loosened up about the schedule.  We’ve been sleeping in a bit.  The kids just might get to play before Mom is ready to kick off the day.

P1120033This week we took off to go to St. Louis.  Steve had a class Tuesday night, so we threw together some traveling food for the hotel & we spent Wednesday playing at the City Museum.  It is a TON of fun but if you ever go be ready for a real work out! 

Steve & the kids have been complaining about sore muscles & knees since we got back.  Think of it as one big jungle gym that you climb, slide down & explore!

There are so many things I am thankful about this trip. A year ago if you’d told me I would be crawling through tubes & in to small spaces I would have laughed at you. P1120035

Yes that is a high as it looks. 

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Since my hip surgery in January I have been slowly getting back to normal.  P1120066

Each of the kids & Steve said to me multiple times that they were glad I could be with them at the Museum.  It was challenging—I won’t say it was a breeze.  Stairs are still not a lot of fun & I am so slow. 

I did manage to climb the 11 stories to go down the really LONG slide!  It is possible to do crazy things with your family when they are cheering you on!

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It was hysterical when the kids would go in to a new place they would holler back “Mom, you can do this one” or “Mom, don’t come in it is UGLY!”  They were really looking out for me. 

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It is challenging to get away right now, since it is Steve’s busy time of the year at work.  We don’t always get to spend a whole day hanging out together unless we plan to run away!  I am planning and plotting for the next one!

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Food for Traveling

We made a super fast trip out of town yesterday. 

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I knew it was coming but wasn’t sure we were going to be able to go or where we were going to stay.  Steve had a class to go to so I was on my own when we arrived around 6:30 p.m.

What I didn’t want was 4 starving kids & me having to find food that was close to the hotel and inexpensive.

Instead I cooked at home.  Weird you say?  You thought I was leaving town?  I did and I brought my slave with me.

Before I went to town for a few groceries & the girls Bible study I put my plan in to action.

Step 1--I grabbed a package of BBQ Chicken out of the freezer.  I defrosted it in the sink in cool water enough that I could break them apart.

Step 2—Next, I dumped the chicken in the crock pot & turned it on High.  Normally I do this on low all day but I was short on time.

Step 3--Elizabeth grabbed 6 potatoes, washed & wrapped them in foil, and stuck them in the oven on 300 degrees.

We were gone for about 3 hours and when we returned home the chicken & potatoes were done.

Step 4—I dumped the “juice” from the chicken, put the potatoes in the crockpot & replaced the lid.(I didn’t want sauce to spill in the suburban)

We packed up the suburban with our clothes, games & the food.

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Step 5--2 hours later at the hotel I shredded the chicken with a fork & we had BBQ chicken sandwiches with a baked potatoes.(It was still very warm!)

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The perfect end to a busy day.  I love using my crockpot & freezer to make life just a little bit easier!

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Toad Stalker, Say Cheese!

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Linked up at Sweet Shot Tuesdayimage

Crowded Garden

I love tomatoes. 

You would know that if you could stand beside my garden spot.

Last year we had around 25 tomato plants.  This year there are 33.  I think I am probably at the max for this spot. 

And yes I know I am CRAZY to have that many plants!

The really cool thing that I am thankful for is that I canned/froze enough diced tomatoes for our family for 9 months.  Not to shabby for around a $5-10 investment.  It isn’t usually that much but I bought some t-posts for holding up my fencing.  So hopefully this year we will go for a full year without buying tomatoes from the store.

Since I bought those posts I am changing how I “cage” my tomatoes.  I used to use the normal circular cages.  That took up A LOT of room.

Now I am using what I call a trellis but it is just some fencing that we used to keep the dog out of my flower gardens.  Using the t-posts to keep the fence upright seems to be sturdier than the circular cages which seem to blow over whenever a Missouri thunderstorm comes through.

It allows me to plant things a little closer together.  It is SO much easier to weed and water everything.  Speaking of weeding.  I do have helpers who are great at pulling weeds & finding those yucky tomatoes caterpillars!

Gardening should be a family thing!  My men turn over the soil, I plan it out, the kids & I plant & everyone helps with weeding & harvesting.  Here is a prize from last year!

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