Getting Ready to Party!

All three kids were occupied at the table happily at the SAME TIME. It was so monumental I had to take a picture. Everyone was supposedly working on something for the birthday party. We made butterflies with construction paper and suckers.

The Ugliest cake evah. I bought sugar that was "extra fin" which is apparently not powdered. Fine, but not fine enough. So we had some serious sand dunes on our cake. But Marianna and Liv though it was super awesome and pretty, so that's all that matters:)

Posing with the cake:

Silly poses, just for fun.

School time with Fancy Livvie

Marianna was "teaching school" to Liv and her dolls (and her tomato paste apparently) and Liv needed me to take a picture.  Very cute student indeed. 

Menu Plan (early)

I am going to start my menu plan early this week in hopes that I will get it done before a busy week.  Plus I am working on a little variety after a summer of the same thing pretty much every week (which isn't so bad, just getting a little old!). 

I'll leave a couple of Daniel's favorites on the menu so if he hates the new stuff all won't be lost:) 

Sunday:  Chili and cornbread with new friends (and new arrivals to France).  Crockpot meal!

Monday:  Teryaki Meatballs over rice with mixed veggie stir-fry

Tuesday:  Carribean Spice Squash soup with bread zucchini bread

Wednesday:  Taco Salad

Thursday:  Broccoli Chicken and brown rice casserole (need to buy rice and broccoli!)

Friday:  Homemade Sourdough pizza, fresh veggies

Saturday:  Quiche (this is Marianna's birthday party day so it will be good to have something quick to throw in a crust.  Just eggs, creme fraiche, bacon, broccoli and spices with a little cheese and its done!)  Served with a salad most likely

Oh and so I don't forget, I will be making either corn dog muffins or homemade pigs in a blanket for one of Marianna's bday meals in Oct.!  Every time we eat something she even remotely likes she asks for it to be one of her bday meals lately, so I am going to have to use my judgement on this one.  I know she'd love that it isn't something we have super often since the hotdogs we can get aren't super healthy.  A good special bday meal!  She already picked out some boxed cereal for her bday breakfast which is special since we don't buy boxed cereal here EVER.  She picked meusli, funny girl.  Well I guess that was partly because I banned anything funny colored or chocolate so that narrowed it down some:)

Family photo shoot outtake

I voted hard for this to be the one that made it on our soon to come out newsletter.  But alas, Daniel didn't go for it.  We look GOOD.

Around the house "chore time"

Daddy and Louis vacuum ensemble

This is the normal amount of energy Liv has for chores.  Usually one of us is assigned to keep Liv on task...

 Marianna usually does a fantastic job of dishes.  She can be a great helper!

Our kids' chores are this right now:  Marianna:  Dishes and cleanup as needed.  Liv:  laundry takedown.  Both girls help put the laundry up when they aren't in school.  Louis:  throw diaper in garbage in the morning( I know its silly, but we are trying to ease ourselves into the idea that he will be an actual help to someone someday...let's hope!;)

Menu Plan

We had a pretty good week around these parts...the first full week of school went well for the girls and I somehow made a little "language jump".  Its weird how for months you feel like you make zero progress in learning and suddenly you realize you can (for example this week): understand 90% of what the teacher's say at the parent teacher meeting at school, have a conversation (beyond "hi how are you, how old are your children) with someone at church, watch the news and follow it without too much pain;)!, etc.  Things are just starting to get easier and it feels like a real MIRACLE.  Anyway, so if you are learning at language and reading this...be encouraged!  The cycle has its downs yes, but also its ups:)  So thankful for those times of encouragement.

On to the menu.  We've been buying more and more at our local farmer's market (and I went over budget this week as a result...eek!) but I have some gorgeous squash, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots, cheese and milk in my fridge.  YUM!  I've been trying to eat more salads lately and as a result have been trying out new dressing recipes.  This one is SO good! I made a few lame alterations (dried parsely instead of fresh for example) but it was still delish.  I figure eating huge salads with healthy dressings can't be anything but good for me, especially in place of an extra helping of dessert:). 

So here's this week's menu: 

Monday:  Roast Lamb, cauliflower, salad, bread

Tuesday:  Lamb broth soup, zucchini muffins, cheese

Wednesday:  Quiche, salad

Thursday:  Mexican:  Beans and Rice

Friday:  Homemade Pizza (hopefully I will have time to make sourdough crust again...yum!)

Saturday:  Hamburgers or Hotdogs, fries, fresh veg, popcorn (movie night maybe...trying to make some family traditions.)

Sunday:  on verra...

What's on your menu this week and do you ever make your own dressings?  If you've never tried, its actually super easy and way more delicious than bottled!  

We did it (finished the first week of school!)

Playing Horsey on the brooms. Louis wanted in too but didn't understand that you couldn't actually sit down on the horse so he got booted out by the sisters quickly.

Playing with the farm set grandma Kathy brought. It was a rare and beautiful time when both the girls were engaged in quiet play together for more than 5 minutes! And no fighting! Hasn't happened again since, but hoping it will again sometime...

Toddler boy kisses...so awesome and so disgustingly slobbery all at the same time!

Louis loves to read and be read too...in short spurts. Think 2 minutes max. But he loves it all the same.

Roadblocks everywhere

"Why can't I get anywhere in this house?" says Louis.

First Day of School

The girls all ready for their first day of school!

Marianna's class: she's in the "grand" section now

Olivia's class: she's in the "petit" section

Louis is in mama's school of "hard knocks" Just joking. He keeps us in line at home...mostly making sure that I don't find the time to relax:)

All in all the first week of school went GREAT! No tears, new friends, and definitely a feeling that mom and dad are much more competent to talk with the people in school this time (as opposed to when Marianna started in January!)

Liv Sings "petites poissons"

This is Livvie singing a song she learned on the first morning of french school.

The "rentree" meal plan

My girls are both going to school in the morning!  I am excited for them, nervous and a little sad all at the same time.  So many mixed emotions!  I really hope it goes well for Liv...there are so many things that "could" happen...potty problems, nap issues, tantrums, confusion...who knows!?  But at the same time there is so much to be gained too...a structured day (which we have at home to a good degree but there are some "free times" that are difficult for her and I just don't have the time to sit down and do everything right with her...), lots of french, and learning some school skills that I think she is ready for but I don't have the time to sit down and teach her.  Also,  maybe she'll grow up a little having the big girl school to go to...we'll see.  Anyway, I am still sad to see my baby go into this new situation without me! 

Here's our menu plan for this week:

Monday:  Chicken, potatoes, green beans (crockpot meal)

Tuesday:  Chicken and rice soup, homemade bread

Wednesday:  Beans and Rice, veggies

Thursday :  Quiche, Salad

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday:  Burgers or Hot Dogs, Fries

Sunday:  Chef's choice:)

What's on your menu?