Winding up February

Hello everyone- here is what's been happening here.

Cooking 
Meal prep seems to be all the rage and it truly is a good time and money saver.

So, last Monday,  I pulled some fresh produce from the fridge and spent about 20 minutes making a big salad,  chopped veggies to add to tuna salad and cottage cheese and sliced veggies for sandwiches.  I always put drippy veggies like tomatoes and pickles in their own dish as they don't play well with the other fresh veggies.  

We liked them so much!  By Friday they were all gone so I made up another batch.

Another big salad and an even bigger box of sandwich vegetables.  

Another meal prep that is not glamorous is opening ice trays, making iced tea and orange juice.  

Having all these foods ready just makes meals go so much easier.  

Spring cleaning - 

Our fridges were in need of a deep cleaning and organizing.  It took a good hour but I got both of them done.

I sorted the condiments and added labels to the shelves with masking tape and a marker.  

If the labels work out,  I may get something more Pinterest-worthy in the future.  

My husband and I cleaned out the back of our clothes dryer.  We don't think the dryer has been moved since we got it several years ago.  

And Man, Did It Need a Cleaning!  

We filled up the canister on our vacuum cleaner twice during this job.  

My husband took the back off the dryer and disconnected the vent hose as they were full of lint too.  

We know all this lint was a fire hazard and just gross.  

Shopping 

I went to CVS once last week and after coupons, a 20% coupon from the mail and $20 in EXtraCareBucks,  I spent NO cash at all for 

2 laundry detergent

3 granola bars

1 foundation

1 toothpaste 

And 1 Men's Razor

My favorite thrift store had a $5 a bag clothing and shoes sale.  

I filled up 2 bags with children's clothes.  I got lots of play clothes, pants and shirts mostly for the 3 youngest grandsons as they are messiest and need fresh clothes often.  

One day last week,  baby Jackson needed 4 pair of clean pants in about an hour span.  I didn't have anymore clean ones in his size and was about to send my husband to Walmart to buy some.  I looked hard and found some 2 sizes up that worked in a pinch.  

So I am especially thankful to of added 6 more pair in his size.  

To get the maximum clothes into one bag,  fold them or roll them up as smooth as possible.  I learned that trick from a friend I used to see at a biannual church rummage sale that also sold things by the bag full. 

Sewing 

I made 4 matching outfits for my 3 grand daughters and my daughter in law's niece who is just about the same age as Andie.

Th white leggings were ordered from Amazon.  

Decorating 

In the dining room,  I hung up some silhouettes my mother cross stitched in the 1960s  and paper silhouettes I made of the 2 oldest grands when they were toddlers.  

I was very impressed that Kindergartener Elizabeth and 1st grader Gavin knew that the first silhouette is George Washington and the first President of the USA.  

Family Fun

Andie turned 4 and her parents hosted a wonderful party to celebrate.

And Very Big News is we are expecting Grandchild #8.  

He is a boy and will have Andie and Charlie for his big sisters.   

We are all thrilled!