meal plans August 10-17

Here's the run down for the week... in no particular order :)

pancakes, scrambled eggs
*I used the blueberry pancake recipe from Martha's All American Cookbook I just checked out from the library

nachos, black beans, taco rice

tuna salad and egg salad (pick your preference) sandwiches, baked beans, fruit
*I'm also using Martha's recipes for tuna salad and egg salad

skillet lasagna, canned veggies, fruit
*this recipe from Pioneer Woman

Hawaiian chicken, rice

poppyseed chicken, rice, roasted veggies
*Pinterest inspired, from The Girl Who Ate Everything

leftovers

10 Bedtime Books

I'm joining the August 10 for 10 Picture Book Jog today...

Moriah LOVES when we read to her, and we're thankful as Matt and I both LOVE to read!  Here are some of our most recent (and some longstanding) favorite bedtime (or anytime) read alouds for our 2 year old daughter.  She really is pretty attentive as we read, so I know these aren't all the most age appropriate for every 2 year old, but I'd encourage you to give them a try and enjoy reading with your little one.

1. The Big Picture Story Bible
We read Scripture to Moriah every day, throughout our days, and this is our current night time reading.

2. All Asleep
Whimsical illustrations with a fun sing song-y rhyme perfect for bedtime, especially "Even the babies who wake up all night are sleeping now, are sleeping tight" :)

3. Time for Bed
A wonderful bedtime rhyme, Moriah really loves "Time for bed, little bird, little bird, close your eyes not another word", she likes to cover her hands as we read, precious!

4. Eloise Wilkin's Treasury
I love these illustrations and have found so many classic and lovely stories to read aloud.  It really is a treasure.

5. Caps for Sale
*this link isn't the traditional story, if you're planning to read it look for that one instead!
Moriah loves the monkeys, and likes to read along with me as I say "Caps, caps for sale", a fun read aloud for sure!

6. Goodnight Moon
I especially love the poetic rhythm of the story, the more I read it to Moriah, the more it grows on me, as I didn't always understand the charm (maybe I'm not the only one)!

7. Am I Big or Little?
Such a sweet story about a little girl wondering whether she's big or little... she finds out that she's big enough for some things, and little enough for others!  Just right for the 2 year old age, of so much independence with time left for sweet cuddles and a little help :)

8. Madeline
A classic that is well loved here.  Madeline has also sparked some pretend play as Moriah often does "surgery" to take out an "appendix" like Madeline's.  I had a Madeline doll from childhood and my classroom which Moriah enjoys, we looked and even found her scar stitched on her tummy!

9. Dog
An interactive moving book... no pop ups, lots of sliding, pulling, and moving pages this is perfect for our dog loving little girl.

10. I Kissed the Baby!
A fun find at the library, we've checked it out more than a handful of times.  I of course, kiss Moriah as the story goes, which she thinks is so funny!

August's first full week

Here's a wrap-up of our fun this week... many things didn't go nearly as planned, but having had an initial plan was good for our structure, and my thought process.  The little ones were very content to be home bodies early in the week so some of our away from home activities weren't received with nearly the enthusiasm they would've been any other day.  Instead we stayed, to play "sushi" (Mr. S. recently went out for sushi and was quite intrigued as you might guess!), "doctor" (Moriah's favorite these days, included appendix and toe surgery this week), and do lots of "working" (might have been building a house on the couch, or a construction site, or laying pavement of blankets, etc.)

We also...

went to the library

went to Henry's Ark and fed the animals... we were well stocked with carrots, bread, and apples!

she was EXCITED!  I couldn't get her expression, but I recall the thrill :)

baked homemade sugar cookies and cut them into Olympic rings and medals

a very willing baker, mostly because he can't wait to taste!

went on a walking tour of Foxhollow Farm and enjoyed their wheel barrows

working hard

made a collage of varied craft supplies on clear contact paper

seeing light

"They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delight.  For with you is the fountain of life, in your light do we see light."
~Psalm 36:8-9

831. a quiet Sunday
832. evening ice cream in ice cream bowls, new to us from "The Attic" on campus (a free thrift store)
833. a family walk
834. extra cuddles at night as Moriah adjusts to sleep without pacifiers
835. her newest word, "excited" always used at the most exciting times of course :)
836. homemade popsicles
837. God's protection in our collision with a deer yesterday morning
838. Matt's quick thinking to keep us safe (he stayed on the road without swerving)
839. a brave girl who wasn't scared at all
840. Moriah exercising with Matt
841. swimming together on the weekend
842. church family that loves us well
843. a new John Deere tractor toy for Moriah
844. the Lord at work in the lives of those who seek Him
845. Olympic women's soccer
846. a brother who's baking, and calls for some help
847. a clean bathroom
848. a wobbly table with legs tightened and as good as new
849. cooler weather accompanied by rain
850. listening to Matt and learning more about his current interests, Heidegger if you're curious
851. shopping for a wedding gift, to celebrate with a sweet friend
852. an available seamstress to help with alterations
853. reading an intriguing book, historical fiction is my favorite
854. dinner coming from the freezer, prepared in advance
855. the tiny voice of a little girl singing along
856. buying helpful books with store credit accumulated from selling to the used book store

nanny life in August

Since my last nanny update, I've had a flexible schedule with lots of time off for various travel which has taken the family out of state, or brought their family in town.  I'll be getting back into the swing of things for the tail end of this week then picking up again with normal 4 day weeks through the end of August.  All three of the little ones (a 14 month old, new 2 year old, and almost 4 year old) will be home full time as no other scheduled activities are underway, so I hope to have a good but flexible plan for fun together!  I'll likely have some extra hours, both early mornings and late nights which also call for additional planning.  I compiled a list of fun and organized it by day for the rest of our summer... here are 4 activities each week we hope to enjoy!

KaZoing
Oldham County Public Library visits (once weekly)
Pottery Barn Kids story time and mall picnic
Foxhollow Farm tour
Barnes and Noble, train table and LEGO table play
Henry's Ark, animal park
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
sprayground, we're hoping to try Long Run Park
All About Kids
Art Sparks and nearby park
Louisville Zoo and sprayground
Kentucky State Fair
ChickFilA tunnel play

I also hope to incorporate some Olympic related crafts and fun, but educational, pre-school prep for the almost 4 year old (while the little ones naps) as he returns to pre-school at the beginning of September.

This Thursday we enjoyed working a half day and stayed at the house to play.  Since this was a reunion of sorts all were happy to play together again!  Moriah was even able to celebrate her birthday, as Mr. S. and his mom made and decorated a birthday cake for her, and we contributed her favorite "purple" ice cream (black raspberry chip from Graeter's here in Louisville)!

Moriah's picture "smile" really means scrunching her eyes and nose!  too funny

On Friday, we'd hoped to visit the new Oldham County All About Kids location.  Unfortunately, it's not open after all.  The website wasn't very clear as I read through it, so I wrongly assumed it was up and going.  Instead, we waiting for our outing and went to the library after naps and our peach strawberry smoothie snack.  We crafted mid-day and made goggles like the Olympic swimmers wear :)  Mr. S. also wanted to use his watercolors and I had a swimming coloring page on hand that he painted.  Both Mr. S. and Moriah love to swim so it seemed like the Olympic sport they would instantly understand best.  Moriah and Mr. S. also enjoy using toilet paper tubes to make Olympic ring paintings!  Painting with toilet paper tubes is fun and easy for little hands.  I'd highly recommend trying it.  They're getting in the Olympic spirit of things, just a little late, haha.

Happy Birthday Moriah!

Today my sweet girl turned 2 years old!  I can't believe how fast these two years have passed.  She's really not a "baby" any more.  She likes to call herself a "big girl" but if Matt or I tell her that she's our "big girl" she corrects us and says "no, mommy's baby".  I think that must always be the case from a mother's perspective.

celebrating her birthday today at work, with a cake made by our kind friends

She's such a blessing in many ways, here are some of my favorite things about Moriah Grace...

*her affectionate heart that loves to share hugs, pats, and kisses
*her great memory that is quick to recall, with surprising enthusiasm, the details of our days
*she lets me sing to her, and seems to like it :)
*she's my "big helper" and likes to be right by mommy's side doing most chores
*her words, which are now sentences most of the time, we talk and talk all day (that won't surprise those of you who know me well I'm sure!)
*her spunky and very silly moments at play
*her giggles and requests for "more tickles"
*her thrill over hiding from us, while announcing where's she is of course
*her love of reading, and joy in being read to
*her listening ears as we speak of the Lord, pray, and read the Word

I'm sure I could go on, though no one needs a doting mommy right?  I've enjoyed each day of these two years though some have of course been more challenging.  I really can't imagine our family without her, and thank the Lord for His goodness.  It is our prayer that we would trust the Lord and rely on Him to graciously work in Moriah's life as we seek to be faithful and loving parents.

meal plans July 30-August 10

A meal plan update is in order!  We really stocked up for our family's visit and birthday party, and now we're able to be blessed by the abundance that created.  Plans change, especially when we have visitors and I'm slowing learning flexibility :)  We needed some frugal options and have two weeks worth of unconventional meals ahead, some are more "well rounded" than others!  Here's the list...
*I only linked one recipe this week as I think all others have been linked on past meal plans or are pretty self explanatory!

Monday July 30 -
Pinterest inspired caprese salad topped chicken breast, vegetable gratin from the freezer stash

Tuesday -
cilantro lime chicken (for Matt), bland foods for Moriah and I who seem to have had a little bug

Wednesday -
roasted green beans, potatoes, and lemon (basically the chicken recipe, minus chicken!), baked beans, rolls

Thursday -
leftovers

Friday -
breakfast burritos with egg, bacon, and cheese in spinach wraps

Saturday -
veggie sandwiches with sweet potato fries

Sunday -
nachos with black beans, taco rice, Rotel, cheese, avocado

Monday August 6 -
egg plant lasagna from the freezer, bread, green beans

Tuesday -
fruit and yogurt parfaits, muffins/toast, eggs

Wednesday -
frozen pizzas (still in the freezer unopened from our previous purchase)

Thursday -
corn on the cob, Northern bean and rice salad

Friday -
pasta with marinara sauce (I'll decide which pasta looks best as I shop, maybe ravioli!)