I am officially half way finished with my summer break. I have 5 weeks left until I return to work full time. The exciting part is that I am actually going to be out of town for three of those five weeks. Another “change” is that next week, our church will provide dinner each night as part as VBS. I will likely cook some type of lunch but maybe night just depends on the mood I am in.  I really want to get at least half of my summer goals completed this week but I am not even sure if that is possible. I have to keep reminding myself that some progress is better than no progress.

Breakfast- Saturday- Matt and I worked on getting 12 batches of biscuits in the freezer. I also made some homemade gravy to go with our biscuits that morning. Sunday-I had cereal.  Monday- Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs). We also have some French toast and Dutch boy pancakes in the freezer.

Lunch- Saturday- Gyros.  Sunday Olive Garden for Kendall’s birthday. Monday-  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- I want to keep on top of the left-overs but sandwiches are always a choice as well. We also have some left-over pizza that needs to be eaten as well.

Dinner- Saturday- left-over pizza   Sunday- left-over pizza  Monday-French Dip sandwiches  Tuesday- Pasta Salad Wednesday- Honey Garlic Chicken  Thursday- Hot Dogs at the member appreciation day at the pool.  Friday- Spaghetti and meatballs.

Week three of summer break starts today. It promises to be much busier than last week with several appointments this week. We are also heading on a short but exciting trip at the end of the week.  I don’t plan on getting alot of extra food prep done this week but need to focus on cleaning.

Breakfast- Saturday- I made a breakfast casserole and actually froze a second one Sunday-Breakfast bar..  Monday- Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs). We also have some French toast in the freezer, left-over Dutch boy pancakes as well as grilled cheese sandwiches.

Lunch- Saturday-Sandwiches.  Sunday-Gregg’s   Monday-  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- I want to keep on top of the left-overs but sandwiches are always a choice as well. Easton has started enjoying a pack of crackers and a pack of gushers.

Dinner- Saturday- Olive Garden    Sunday- Matt and Lily made sushi  Monday-Pork Chops and mac n cheese Tuesday- Pasta Salad Wednesday- Chicken Enchaladias   Thursday- Fish Sticks with French Fries Friday- Eat on the road.

Today officially starts week 2 of my Summer break!  I have one appointment this week and Easton has two. So this is likely one of the slower weeks this summer. My goal for this week is to start making a dent in my summer goals. I also need to probably establish a day to do a weekly report on these goals in order to keep me accountable. I did spend some time this weekend, going through the freezers and pantries in an attempt to figure out what we have and what we need to purchase. I am surprised at the amount of meat we have. It has been two full years since we purchased a cow so we are starting to see the end of some of that meat. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we have alot of what I wanted to meal prep for next school year as well. I have already gotten 10 meals in the freezer for the school year. I am not 100% positive I will always post a menu plan every week this summer but this week, I wanted to focus on getting some major meal prep done as it appears to be a slower week!

Breakfast- Saturday- We made Dutch boy pancakes and bacon Sunday-I had grits.  Monday- Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs). We also have some French toast in the freezer, left-over Dutch boy pancakes as well as grilled cheese sandwhiches.

Lunch- Saturday- I made a pepperoni pizza to use up items in the fridge.  Sunday-East Coast Wings  Monday-  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- I want to keep on top of the left-overs but sandwiches are always a choice as well

Dinner- Saturday- Chicken sausage pasta on Blackstone   Sunday- Hamburger sliders  Monday-Chicken Broccoli Casserole Tuesday- Pasta Salad Wednesday- Salisbury steak, rice and broccoli corn bread.  Thursday- Pork Chops and Mac and cheese Friday- Hot Dogs and French fries

These next two if not three weeks are the busiest yet!   I am grateful that we were able to do some meal prep this weekend and I am hopeful to continue to start getting things used up and organized so the real meal prep can start the first week I am home. Sunday morning we made a huge batch (two full loaves) of French toast. The best part is that I went ahead and flash froze and moved to bags so they are ready to heat and eat!   Last night (Sunday) I made up 4 bags of muffin mix into mini muffins. Matt was able to package these up for grab and go as well! My goal is to have a realistic plan and stick to it for the remaining 3 weeks of school. I would like to think I could get a jump start on the summer but right now I want to focus on surviving!  Meal planning is not fun right now but needed!

Breakfast- Saturday- I made an omelet. Sunday-French toast Monday-mini muffins.   Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs).

Lunch- Saturday- Raman noodles and left-overs   Sunday-Kimono’s   Monday Wednesday, Thursday- I went ahead and made up three salads to use these days!  Tuesday- depending on how long Kendall’s awards day is I am hoping to eat at home if not I will grab something on the way to Mocksville. Friday- definitely eating out!

Dinner- Saturday- salad spread and crackers  Sunday- Everyone had left-overs  Monday-Crockpot Queso Rice over chips Tuesday- Mashed potatoes and country style steak, green beans. Wednesday-Blackstone meal  Thursday-  Hamburgers and French fries   Friday- Breakfast for dinner

This week I am going to admit that menu planning has been a struggle. I know one of the reason is that I don’t have any “Convivence” freezer meal and I also don’t have time to add in. I am also trying to be mindful of using up items we have purchased such as salad supplies but I really am tired and don’t want to cook. I have  three weeks before my summer break so I have to finish strong even with Kendall’s graduation, foster care pressures and just life.  I finally made a menu plan and my goal is to stick to it!
This week we started with graduation activities for Kendall on Thursday, she will receive her associates degree from Davidson Davie Community College.  I am also going on a field trip with E and we have two additional appointments related to foster care.

Breakfast- Saturday- pancakes made by Matt. Sunday- I had peanut butter and jelly on a toasted hot dog bun.(yeap this is honest)    Monday-Cereal bar Tuesday- strawberry baked oatmeal, Thursday- I plan to make mini muffins for everyone   Wednesday and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs).

Lunch- Saturday- Chicken tacos from the freezer  Sunday- Steak and baked potatoes.  Monday- Friday- I want to make at least one salad and use left-overs but I also know I will be eating out on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday due to a busy week of “fun” stuff.

Dinner- Saturday-  Chinese from Panda Panda Sunday- Dinner at Cracker Barrel  Monday-Dorito Chicken Casserole  Tuesday-  Grilled chicken salad Wednesday-Sloppy joes and french fries Thursday-  Spaghetti   Friday- Insta pot hamburger helper.

I am divided, I do not know or feel like the first of May on one hand but on the other side, I feel like I am starting to get into a better routine and catch up with my life. May has been called “Miss it May” and this is true for my work schedule but we have lots of different things happening around here. Braxton has ballgames, E has appointments and Kendall is graduating both Community College and High School this month.   So my brain and body need to get together and make it happen. This week we have lots of appointments and both ballgames are at 6pm which means we likely will not make it to either but we will try.

Breakfast- Saturday- Jimmy Dean Croissants . Sunday- I had gravy toast.    Monday-Sausage biscuits homemade, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs)My goal is to make a baked oatmeal for one  morning  this week but we will see.

Lunch- Saturday- Lunch at the Zoo  Sunday- Christos   Left-overs are always great for lunches.

Dinner- Saturday- Mexican Truck at Campground Sunday- Homemade biscuits   Monday-Hot Dogs and Chips  Tuesday-  Salsa Chicken and Mexican rice Wednesday-Ham and Broccoli casserole Thursday-  KFC bowls  Friday-  Left-overs.

This is shaping up to be one of the busiest weeks this Spring with baseball games four night, court and Matt’s birthday.  We did make the trip to Costco yesterday (Sunday) so I am a little bit more confident in our ability to start eating at home more next week. As for this week, we ate out twice on Saturday due to two baseball games, Matt’s birthday is this week and we have a double header ballgame in Mocksville on Thursday so there is no escaping the reality of fast food.

Breakfast- Saturday- Bacon and eggs and toast. Sunday-  Grits with egg and a Dutch boy pancake.   Monday-Muffins purchased at Costco, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs)My goal is to make a baked oatmeal for one  morning  this week but we will see.

Lunch- Saturday- Dario’s after ballgame  Sunday- East Coast Wings  Left-overs are always great for lunches. I also purchased two loaves of bread for use this week due to the schedule.

Dinner- Saturday- Chinese take out Sunday- Chicken  and stuffing  Monday-Chicken Stew from the freezer  Tuesday- Bad Daddy’s for Matt’s birthday.   Wednesday-Chicken Enchilada Thursday-  Eating out around ballgame  Friday-  Grilled Chicken

This will definitely be one of the slowest weeks of the year!  The reason it is the week before Spring Break!   We only have 1 baseball game this week. In other exciting news, we have finished our part of the Foster Care licensure process. Now we get to wait!

Breakfast- Saturday- Gravy and Biscuits Sunday-  Cereal or Oatmeal  , Monday–Baked oatmeal  , Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,  Friday,   find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs)I would like to make some additional muffins this week but I am not going to promise anything quite yet!

Lunch- Saturday-left-overs  Sunday- Panda Panda  Left-overs are always great for lunches. I am encouraging people to eat out of the fridge this week. We have a ton of food that needs to be eaten.

Dinner- Saturday- Blackstone noodles, zucchini, peppers and onions with skirt steak.   Sunday-I had banana muffins and popcorn  Monday-Parmesan Chicken  Tuesday- Turkey pot pie Wednesday- Ham and broccoli casserole Thursday-Chicken enchiladas  Friday-  Zach is in charge!