Challenge Rewarded

Because Jr. Jr. read the whole New Testament (see my post from January 29 this year), we got him a king-sized candy bar of his choice. He was happy about that.

It's a good thing we got him that reward before his teachers who gave him the challenge gave him a reward. It was worth a bit (a lot) more than a king-sized candy bar. 

I texted them to tell them he had accomplished the goal and they had Jr. Jr. call them later to talk about it and what he had learned. So he definitely earned his rewards.

Dinner Club

Six Sisters' Stuff started a dinner club. All you have to do to join is eat dinner. Yep. You can do more than that but only if you want. They've been doing some contests. They wanted people to post to their Instagram stories about what they have for dinner. People can get ideas from those that Six Sisters repost and for me it's kind of motivation to have side dishes and decent food if I'm going to post about it. But hey, since I usually take pictures of food anyway because of using our celebrating in menu planning, it wasn't that much harder to put them in my Instagram stories.

I was posting fancy things like Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs and Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole (which Instagram autocorrected to "blue") with homemade French bread and Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole (from Six Sisters' Stuff), then after leftovers night I got picked and won a gift card. Ha Ha Ha.

Six Sisters' Stuff have also had a few live meetings/videos on Instagram and that's been fun to participate in. I've been getting more ideas for recipes to try and it's a nice break in my day... something for me (I've been getting burned out lately. Sigh).

Their first Dinner Club meeting was on Friday, September 10, which is Swap Ideas Day. How appropriate. We were definitely swapping ideas for the club and dinner ideas. That's where I got the idea for the Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole.

At the end of the day, the older members of our family swapped ideas about what to watch after the younger boys went to bed.

I didn't put it on my picture with Leftovers Night but I made hot cross buns for dessert that night because September 11 was Hot Cross Bun Day.

Anyway, here are other things I've been posting on my stories for #dinnerclub

 

September 12 was Videos Games Day. People took turns playing video games while the more ambitious of us worked on our parts for our at-home potluck. I made chicken noodle soup with a whole chicken like grandma used to make but I didn't follow her recipe for noodles. I used some of the nokedli Jeremy made to be eaten with the chicken paprikash. It was fun and I love that everyone contributed (even though we chose and prepared for Jet- water to drink). 

September 13 was Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day so I told the kids they were in charge of dinner that night- not fend for yourselves but making dinner for the family. Nichole stepped up. Yay, Nichole.

Lucky had fun with the holiday, too. He wouldn't let me in the kitchen and put up a barricade with a sign, "The kids have taken over the kitchen!!!! Mwa ha ha haaa!!!" Jr. worked on dishes.

I got to relax and have some snuggles with a couple of my kids then later since it was International Chocolate Day and National Peanut Day, we all had Whatchamacallit candy bars. Mmmm.

September 14 was Eat a Hoagie Day. It was also Ants on a Log Day. I had plans to make ants on a log but the celery wasn't any good so we grabbed some fries out of the freezer instead.

September 15 was Double Cheeseburger Day. I made hamburger buns that turned out pretty small so I made hamburger patties to match. Hey, less meat that way when you're doubling up patties. It was also Linguine Day so I used The Food Nanny's recipe for Linguine with Butter and Parmesan Cheese.

September 16 was Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day. I adapted a recipe from The Food Nanny and Jet helped me make the cinnamon raisin bread. He helped out and it wore him out.

The Chicken Tikka Masala recipe was another one from Six Sisters' Stuff. It was so good. I was going to make other Indian foods to go with it but I ran out of time so I threw some other sides together. It worked.

On September 17 Nichole and I discussed "The Count of Monte Cristo" while I made Monte Cristo Sandwiches (recipe from The Food Nanny) on Monte Cristo Day. I love finding reasons (and ways) to celebrate.

 

The posting did slow down a bit after the contests for posting on stories ended but the Six Sisters are still encouraging people to share what they're having for dinner so I still do from time to time. And Dinner Club is still going on.

Some More April Catch Up

So much catching up to do. Wish me luck.

Monday, April 27, was Babe Ruth Day. We had a little snack of Baby Ruth candy bars (even though Baby Ruth candy bars have absolutely nothing to do with the baseball player, Babe Ruth). Here's a fun picture of the baby with the Baby Ruth. He didn't get any, though.

Tuesday, April 28, was Great Poetry Reading Day. Jr. read a poem in a book then the other kids started reciting "The Jabberwocky."

Nichole (while holding a bag of Parmesan cheese): It's kind of hard to recite poetry when at the same time you're reading, "Shredded cheese the way it's meant to be," over and over again.

 

End of April- Springtime. Outside time. Time for playing with sidewalk chalk 

and going for walks at the park, especially at a park with a lot of trees on Arbor Day, April 30.

 P.S. Baby ducklings are sooooo cute. Spring!

A Couple More July Celebrations

July 28 was Milk Chocolate Day. We had milk. We had chocolate. We put them together and had... chocolate milk.

Later, Nichole remembered that she had a milk chocolate candy bar in her room.

July 29 was Lasagna Day. I got an early start on dinner but it still took me a long time to make the lasagna I was making. There was a lot to it but it was worth it. Soooo yummy. I also had to stop a lot to take care of the baby and there was a Youth Music Festival that night to watch online. 

It Never Ends

The school year is completely over for Nichole yet she still had a teacher bring by a couple more certificates and some big candy bars.

Mother's Day 2020

Breakfast in... the living room (as compared to in bed, they gave me a choice). Jet slept long enough for me to eat my breakfast prepared lovingly by Jr. Jr. and Jeremy.

A card/sign made for me by my little Lucky and "L is for love."

Skillet chicken parmigiana made by my wonderful husband.

More Chocolate Rolo Cake Mix Cookies again made by Jr. and made into ice cream sandwiches.

A day off-ish. I changed diapers and fed the baby but Jeremy wouldn't let me shred cheese for dinner. And my sweet family took turns entertaining Jet so I could spend some time blogging.

And of course church at home together with my family after watching Music and the Spoken Word (Mother's Day rebroadcast from 2019 because... you know).
And a Mother's Day candy bar and card from the bishopric that says, "We'll all be back here soon," with a picture of our chapel on it. Awww.

80 Year Anniversary

80 years ago, June 2, Babe Ruth retired from baseball.  To celebrate, we had Baby Ruth candy bars while at the Teddy Bear Picnic for the Orem Library's Summer Reading Program.

We also stopped in the library to see Jeremy's creation this year.  It was not as big as Starry Night was last year but it fit this year's theme.  "Nature Jedis: May the Forest be With You."

After visiting the library, we got to go over and play with some friends we haven't seen for a few years.  The kids had a blast and I enjoyed spending time with my friend.  This friend and I used to spend time when we were newly married and when we were both pregnant with our first children.  It's fun to have friends you can be so comfortable with when you get together even if you haven't seen them for a while.

Other things we did today-
Watched a movie while playing in balloon boxes.

Nichole's loose tooth came out.

It was a good day.

Thank a Vacuum Day

February 4 was Thank a Mailman Day.  We usually draw pictures or write letters to our friendly neighborhood postal worker.  This year we didn't get them done in time.  Sorry, friendly neighborhood postal worker.  We still like you.
But, Jeremy made a poster and I stuck little candy bars on it and Jr. Jr. and I delivered it to the post office.

The note says, "You guys are first class forever.  Happy Thank a Mailman Day."

Jr. Jr. was so patient waiting in line and holding the poster until we got to the counter then I lifted him up and he put it on the counter.  I told the man at the counter and then Jr. Jr. repeated me, "This is for you guys for working so hard."  And "Thank you."  The man at the counter was so friendly and appreciative.  He told Jr. Jr. thank you and that they would really enjoy those later.  Then he gave Jr. Jr. a sticker on his hand.  That was so nice.

Since February 4 was also Create a Vacuum Day, for a special activity in the evening, we sucked an egg into a glass bottle.  I'd been wanting to try that for a long time and we finally had the opportunity.  We lit some newspaper on fire with a match and stuck them in the bottle then put a peeled hard boiled egg on the opening and let the vacuum that was created by the fire burning the oxygen suck the egg in.  It was fun.  The kids enjoyed it.

 Someday we'll do it where the egg stays intact as it is sucked into the bottle.