This week's list and traveling photos

Hello everyone

Below is our to do list for this week.

I printed off a number of recipes about a week ago and I wrote down their titles on this list, I may cook some and I may not. 

Easter lunch and egg hunting will be at our home after church on Sunday and I've got a tentative menu planned- but I've already changed my mind and think we will have tabouli instead of the pasta salad.  The ham and baked beans can cook in crockpots and the cold dishes will be ready in the fridge so I'm hoping to have an easy to serve meal with lots of time for egg hunting.  My grandchildren think plastic eggs are super fun.  

Last week was spring break in Oklahoma for just about every school.  

We took our 2 grandchildren to Branson Missouri for a short vacation.  We stayed at a condo-type hotel and ended up eating most all our meals in our little kitchen-dining area.  

On our first day in Branson, we went to Dixie Stampede.  This is a Dolly Parton production with dinner, a pre show with an amazing juggler and the show has lots of singing, horses and beautiful costumes.  

On the 2nd and 3rd days we went to an amusement park, Silver Dollar City.  With my husbands military service, we got a very low price on our tickets.  

The first day,  it was a pleasant, just warm enough day.

My husband and Gavin like this ride.  The riders shoot water guns at targets and people watching or waiting to ride this ride can shoot back. 

Elizabeth didn't ride but she liked shooting water back at her cousin and Grandpa. 

This ride would be especially fun on a hot day.  

In our hotel, the cousins enjoyed coloring and making Perler bead crafts.

And eating! 

Our second day at Silver Dollar City was much much colder! 

Grandpa and I didn't even pack jackets so we stopped at the Branson Super Walmart on the way to the theme park.

Grandpa found a windbreaker on clearance and I ended up with a Branson hoodie sweatshirt.  It's not really my style but it was very warm and seems to be the style in Branson.  

Gavin had brought 2 warm camouflage jackets so he lent one to Elizabeth.  Both cousins got warm hats at the Walmart.  

Riding more rides

On our 4th day, we saw Moses at the huge Sight and Sound theater.  I don't have any photos but it is our favorite Branson theater.  Last year, my husband and I saw Jonah on our Branson trip.  

These Biblical plays are so good!  If you go to Branson, we suggest you put Sight and Sound on your must do list.  

Our son took a trip to Ireland during spring break.  He shared photos daily though his cell phone app and I got them on my iPad.  Technology is wonderful sometimes!

The Dublin airport decorated for St Patrick's day.

Incredible castles 

An old Methodist Church

This round structure made entirely of stone, even the roof, doesn't seem like it should be possible.  

The white dots in the background are sheep, of course. 

And if you got this far,  I am planning a post of my tips for glue on nails soon.  

Have a good week everyone! 

The last 10 days or so.......

We pick up grandson JJ one day a week at his preschool.  One of his classmates had a birthday and the classmate brought these super cute Super Hero capes for everyone.  JJ was so happy with his and he wore it continually.

The capes were made so nice and were a completely no-sew project.  They were cut out of felt for the cape and the circle and star ironed on with a fusible.

The closure was Velcro attached with fabric glue and it held just fine.

I still like doing my manicures at home with press on nails. 

I found these cute sets over the weekend at Dollar Tree.  They need a glue to hold them on but I don't like Dollar Tree glue.  

I wore the black and white polka dot set first.  

Then today, I switched to another Dollar Tree set, a French manicure look with a tiny silver stripe.  

I also like the Impress brand nails that have adhesive already on them.

We haven't done much shopping but my husband got these USMC goodies and a few other things when his favorite Marine store was having a moving sale.

He paid $6.50 for this mug and shirt.

As usual, I cooked a lot. 

Silver dollar pancakes and oven baked bacon cooked when grandsons Gavin and Braeden were here. They requested bacon AND sausage but I think one meat at a time is plenty.

I cooked extra pancakes to freeze for future breakfasts.  

Sandwich buns - I make a batch of them just about every week 

My Texas brother was visiting and we all met up at my parents retirement home.  Pizza was delivered for the main course and I took Cheese Squares and some dip and fresh vegetables cut up. Both dishes were empty when I came home.

I have mostly  loosely been following the Trim Healthy Mama plan as I try to lose some weight and not need blood pressure medicine anymore. 

These next 3 are Trim Healthy Mama approved recipes.  You can find them on my Pinterest under "eating my way" 

These are some sausage cheese balls I found on Pinterest that were delicious and a keeper.

This is a recipe called Dirt E Rice by the Coers family.  I really like this and my son in law is crazy about it.  

Below is Egg Roll in a Bowl.  

I've been making this Taco Seasoning from allrecipes.com for more than 10 years.  This a batch for my daughter.

We are having spring like weather even though it is still winter.

My husband, JJ and I enjoyed a picnic lunch in our backyard.  It's especially nice to eat outside this time of year as the pesky flying insects aren't around yet.  

Oklahoma is home to many many bugs, ick! 

Then, my husband put 2 chickens on his rotisserie.  

His grilled food is so good and his chicken is my favorite. 

I added some green beans, homemade rolls and fresh strawberries.

Then we packed it all in a big ThirtyOneGifts tote and took it to my parents for supper.

It is a simple plain menu but when I cook for a group, especially for 4 generations with different food preferences and dietary needs, basic food just suits us all best.  

Believe it or not, I haven't been to CVS since I last blogged.  

We've also been busy doing some more cleaning and organizing at home.  

I've done a little sewing but nothing I photographed.  

That's about it!  Nothing crazy exciting but I prefer it that way.  

Elizabeth's very good idea

My daughter stopped at our house this morning and we adults discussed that we all planned to vote in Oklahoma's Presidential primary today.  

Kindergartener Elizabeth said "if I grow up and become President,  I'll make a National Craft Day and go to everyone's house and help them make fun crafts". 

I told her that was a great idea! If more people were busy at home making crafts, they would not have time to do all the awful stuff we see on the news.  Right? 

Who knows?  Maybe we will have a chance to Vote Elizabeth for President in about 2046.  

She has great ideas but I might be prejudiced since she is my granddaughter. 

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!