Golden Arches

First, a disclaimer - I happen to enjoy McDonald's once in a while, but my offspring really. don't. like. it.

Anyway, we were driving past our local McD's today and I commented that they were expanding.  Lincoln swung his head around to look (we had already driven past it before he could pull his nose out of his book).  "Oh, No - that means MORE gross food!!" was his comment.  I asked him if he liked McDonald's (Most of the kids have liked it for a while when they were younger and then outgrew that liking, and last I knew he still did)  His reply - "It's poison - I don't call it food, I call it edible poison..."

Emily is officially going on the schedule

as a main cook!  Up until now she has been a "cook's helper".  But after the apple pie she made for supper tonight, she has received a promotion.  Same pay, more work - and more compliments.

A week and a half ago...

... we took a mini vacation to visit some friends in Iowa.  We decided to leave a day early and drive up the Mississippi River Road to do some eagle watching.  We had a fun trip - saw several eagles and had a great visit with our friends.

If you look really hard, you can see an eagle up in the nest.

Menu for the week of 2/24/13

Sunday

• Breakfast -  Scrambled Eggs,  Toast
• Lunch - Sandwiches & Chips
• Supper - Leftovers

Monday

• Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs & Toast
• Snack - Cheese Sticks, Bananas
• Lunch - BBQ Chicken Pizza, Popcorn, Pears
• Snack - Graham Crackers
• Supper - Breaded Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Squash

Tuesday

• Breakfast - Crock Pot Breakfast Burrito Casserole, Tortillas
• Snack - Crackers & Sausage
• Lunch - Leftovers
• Snack - Yogurt
• Supper - Italian Beef Sandwiches, Potato Salad, Peas, Apple Pie

Wednesday

• Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs, Toast
• Snack - Granola Bars
• Lunch - Leftovers or Sandwiches
• Snack - Apples & Peanut Butter
• Supper - Spaghetti & Meat Sauce, Garlic Bread, Salad, Green Beans

Thursday

• Breakfast - Baked Oatmeal
• Snack - Cheese & Crackers
• Lunch -  Sandwiches
• Snack - Fruit Bars
• Supper - Ham & Beans, Cornbread

Friday

• Breakfast - Pancakes & Steamed Eggs
• Snack - Chips & Salsa
• Lunch - Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
• Snack - Muffins (From Freezer)
• Supper - Potatoes, Brats & Green Beans, Applesauce

Saturday

• Breakfast - Eggs in a Nest
• Lunch - Pizza, Popcorn
• Supper - Leftovers

A new bark on the porch

Some friends of ours have decided that because of travelling to visit their kids in all different parts of the country they needed to find a new home for their dog.  So... we welcome Ladd to "Critters on the Porch"

Ladd is a 6 1/2 year old pure bred Collie.  He and Loyal have really hit it off and I think they will be great friends for years.  He is very gentle and smart and great with the kids. 

I think it is just born in them...

We don't have a television, and I doubt they have watched a full hour of TV since they were born - so no cowboy and Indian or any other shoot 'em up type shows.  They have never watched a movie - just a few videos on You Tube of airplanes and balloons and things.  We have a gun for coyotes and other critters that invade our yard or pasture, but we don't shoot for sport, nor have we ever hunted (not that we have anything at all against hunting or gun sports done safely).  They have a couple of cap guns which provide hours of entertainment when the weather is nice.

So how is it that after supper tonight, Lincoln and Garrett pulled their guns out of their pockets (ie their fingers) and proceeded to shoot out all the lights and star decorations we have around - with great sound effects and form???

Boys. Just. Like. Guns...  And they will make them out of whatever is available!

A couple of pictures from the day

It was "warm" out this morning - in the high 40s anyway.  Garrett found this pair of 6-12 month jeans and was sure he should wear them for shorts.  They DID button, but a little lower than where they should and quite a bit tighter than would have been comfortable.  He was fine with wearing them that way, though. 

Heidi dressed up as Samantha from the American Girl Doll books.

It doesn't bode well for the night when...

Just before midnight Garrett wanders sleepy eyed into your room  And climbs into your bed - You ask him if he is OK - he assures you he is.  You get the mother's intuition that he isn't, really, but because it is so late, turn out the light and start go to sleep...

In walks Abby...  Lincoln just threw up, but I was able to keep his head in the middle of his bed so it didn't get on floor... (thankfully, since he is  in the top bunk)- (That wasn't the case a week and a half ago when his sister got sick in the night and we were cleaning carpets into the night...) could it be that this is the same bug with a 10 day incubation period - hopefully, because that means at least one child won't be getting it...

And then you go to get the pillow off of the first little boy's bed and discover that your intuition had been right... and his bed wasn't such a pretty sight either...