Kirchhoff Menu & Activities: Week of June 24, 2012

Kirchhoff Menu & Activities

Week of June 24, 2012

This week, I'm knocking things off our Summer Bucket List.

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Food	B: granola bar L: Mi Conina D: Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta & Baked Asparagus w/ Butter Balsamic Sauce S: homemade peanut butter & chocolate granola	B: cereal L: leftover Mi Concina D: Creamy Taco Mac & green beans S: homemade peanut butter & chocolate granola	B: oatmeal w/ blueberries L: out D: (bucket list) Breakfast for Dinner: Quick Cinnamon Rolls & Crockpot Casserole S: Greek yogurt w/ Grape Nuts	B: leftover breakfast/dinner L: Chuck E Cheese D: Baked Panko Chicken Tenders w/ Basil Aioli & corn on the cob S: Fish Snack	B: oatmeal w/ blueberries L: leftovers D: Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken, rice, & hot & sour eggplant S: Greek yogurt w/ Grape Nuts	B: oatmeal w/ blueberries L: out @ Firewheel D: leftovers S: Fish Snack	B: oatmeal w/ blueberries L: leftovers D: build your own pizza night S: Greek yogurt w/ Grape Nuts
Activities	AM: church PM: (bucket list) mentos & coke explosion, catch up on chores & laundry Evening: personal blog & DDD	P @ Pre-School AM: return phone calls, QT, plant bulbs & dig up garden, take down Father’s Day stuff & put in attic, put up 4th of July decor PM: research chiropractors & make appt, apply to school districts, & pick up pans from Cooks & Villaloboses Evening: G work out, hang rods, & move curtains to bedroom	P @ Pre-School AM: QT, exercise, shower, & About Face Appt. PM: About Face Appt. & start cutting for last pillow Evening: G school & AF Blogs	AM: housekeepers coming, Landen’s bday @ Chuck E Cheese PM: (bucket list) 4th of July Craft (stringing stars) and/or Tissue Paper Fireworks Evening: G work out & AF Blogs	P @ Pre-School AM: exercise, QT, take monthly photo of Addie PM: Finish last pillow & work on Bobbie’s wedding stuff  Evening: G school & AF Blogs	AM: walk & go see Madagascar  PM: (bucket list) attempt to make this w/ P for bathroom (She paints old cutting board. I hammer and string.) Evening: time w/ hubs	AM: (bucket list) go on a hike to Squabble Creek Trail PM: bake Boston Creme Pie cupcakes & freeze popsicles  Evening: time w/ hubs

Last Week’s Keepers

Quick & Easy Peanut Butter Granola

Coconut Chicken & Warm Honey Vinaigrette Salad

Sweet Strawberry Buns

Won’t Make Again

Skinny Salisbury Steak w/ Mushroom Gravy

Eggplants!

I am totally surprised with this little crop of eggplants. And so was Miss P, although I think she was a bit disappointed they weren't actually eggs.

But it's hard to resist liking the shape, feel, and color of an eggplant. I might be the most proud of these over any of our other gardening ventures.

None of us love the taste much, but I came across Emily's Super Eggplant Sauce on Allrecipes a few years back. It's a fabulous way to use a bunch of veggies I don't love on their own and disguise them into an easy tomato sauce.

After it's finished cooking, I take the disguise one step more by pureeing the entire thing in the blender until I can no longer actually see the chunks of veggies.

This night, we piled the sauce high on top of shell pasta, topped it with cheese, and ate it right up. We - including Miss Picky P - made happy plates.

We Grew Butterflies

Not-so-recently, we gave one of Miss P's friends a butterfly kit from Insect Lore for her birthday. I went ahead and bought two. Here's the story of growing butterflies.

The larva, what looked like tiny, skinny caterpillars, arrived in this cup.

The food was supplied on the bottom, and there were itty-bitty holes in the lid. All we were supposed to do was not disturb the cup or put it in direct sunlight.

After a week or so, those caterpillars started getting fat.

And then, one at a time, they form cocoons, or crystalists, on the underside of the lid. (There was a piece of paper they could attach to.)

They were unexpectedly pretty with their metallic gold color.

One of the caterpillars formed its crystalist on the bottom.

After they were all crystalists, we took out the paper they were formed on and pinned it to the side of the included butterfly habitat.

The one that never made it to top of the cup was placed in the habitat. I'll give you the bad news: This little one never did make it out.

They all lived peacefully in the habitat for a week or two.

Until one day, I glanced over to noticed this butterfly! 

It "hatched" so silently. It was amazing what took place right under our noses, and we didn't even notice!

At first the butterflies were brown and moth-like. But after a day or two of drink the nectar - a homemade mix of water and sugar soaked into a wadded up tissue - they began to take on more color.

And they became more active.

And they left behind a yucky mess of dried cocoon.

After all three blossomed and we were convinced the fourth wasn't coming out, we got to release the butterflies!

This one didn't want to leave it's cozy habitat.

Miss P worked hard to coax it to go see it's "mommy." (Too much Dora the Explorer where all the animals want to get to their mamas.)

Seriously, butterfly. Go see your mama.

 "He won't go, Dad!"

Good opportunity to take a pic of it's pretty wings and marvel at what God allowed us to grow and witness.

But eventually, it did fly away to survive the hot, Texas summer. For $20, this was a great experience, and I highly recommend it for all ages - even moms and dads.

Kirchhoff Menu & Activities: Week of June 16, 2012

Kirchhoff Menu & Activities

Week of June 16, 2012

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Food	Father’s Day! B: Sweet Strawberry Buns & Bacon L: Five Guys D: Grill (meat, veggies, & bread from Farmer’s Market) S: Frosty S’more Cups	B: oatmeal w/ blueberries L: Turkey Wrap w/ Cucumber Cream Cheese D: Coconut Chicken & Warm Honey Vinaigrette Salad S: apple fritters	B: oatmeal w/ blueberries L: out D: Skinny Salisbury Steak w/ Mushroom Gravy, Skinny Garlic Mashed Potatoes, & Peas S: apple fritters	B: oatmeal w/ blueberries L: out D: Leftovers S: Quick & Easy Peanut Butter Granola Bars	B: oatmeal w/ blueberries L: Turkey Wrap w/ Cucumber Cream Cheese D: Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta S: Quick & Easy Peanut Butter Granola Bars	B: oatmeal w/ blueberries L: Turkey Wrap w/ Cucumber Cream Cheese D: Homemade Pizzas S: Quick & Easy Peanut Butter Granola Bars	B: pancakes & fruit L: Firehouse Subs D: Leftovers S: S’mores on a Stick
Activities	AM: mow, Father’s Day breakfast, church PM: nap, family outside time in “pool,” & grill Evening: Time w/ Hubs	P @ Pre-School (pay for TOTS class) AM: QT, exercise, email Greenville & Royse City ISDs, finish living room pillows PM: finish living room pillows Evening: Read a book	AM: Story Time @ Library PM: Candy Sushi Play Date Evening: Read a book	AM: Princess & the Pea @ Calloway’s PM: Splash Park Play Date Evening: Read a book	P @ Pre-School AM: QT, exercise, & AF blogs PM: AF blogs Evening: Read a book	P @ Pre-School AM: QT, exercise, & curtain rods for bedroom PM: prep for DIY Day Evening: movie curtains into bedroom	AM: DIY Day for Bobbie’s Wedding PM: DIY Day for Bobbie’s Wedding Evening: Time w/ Hubs

Last Week’s Keepers

Yellow Squash

Summer Minestrone Soup

Won’t Make Again

Creamy White Chicken & Artichoke Lasagna 

Strawberries & Cream Muffins (Good but didn’t LOVE them.)

Green Bean & Pea Salad

Kirchhoff Menu & Activities: Week of June 10, 2012

Kirchhoff Menu & Activities

Week of June 10, 2012

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Food	B: oatmeal & blueberries L: Taco Cabana D: @ Harbor w/ in-laws S: cherries	B: oatmeal & blueberries L: pb, banana, & honey toast D: Creamy White Chicken & Artichoke Lasagna w/ Yellow Squash (make 3) S: Strawberries & Cream Muffins	B: waffle L: leftovers D: Mom’s Best Pork Chops, stuffing, Green Bean & Pea Salad S: Strawberries & Cream Muffins	B: oatmeal & blueberries L: Bring these to play date D: Summer Minestrone Soup S: trail mix & fruit	B: cereal L: Turkey Wrap w/ Cucumber Cream Cheese D: leftovers night S: Frosty S’more Cups	B: cereal L: Turkey Wrap w/ Cucumber Cream Cheese D: Skinny Salisbury Steak w/ Mushroom Gravy, Skinny Garlic Mashed Potatoes, & Peas S: Frosty S’more Cups	B: Sweet Strawberry Buns L: Out D: Homemade Pizzas S: trail mix & fruit
Activities	AM: gas, church, & groceries PM: make meals, deliver to Cooks, & pool time w/ in-laws Evening: Watch DDD	P @ Pre-School AM: QT, exercise, 3rd pillow PM: make muffins, to-do list for Bobbie’s shower, Evening: AF blogs 1-3	P @ Pre-School AM: QT, exercise, visit w/ Katy, mail Father’s Day cards, groceries PM: Last pillow, tidy for housekeepers, make dinner, & make snacks for play date Evening: Hobby Lobby w/ Mom  & Bobbie (get hoop for bow holder & canvases)	AM: Housekeepers coming & Hungry Caterpillar Play Date PM: Meal to Villaloboses & make these for bathroom Evening: Make bow holder for girls’ bathroom	P @ Pre-School AM: QT, exercise, finish up bathroom PM: Clean craft closet Evening: A-F Blogs 4-6	AM: Visit w/ Evan PM: Prep for Father’s Day Evening: Brooks family over for dinner & personal blog	AM: Just for Kids Farmer’s Market PM: Build Your Own Pizza Night Evening: @ home date night

Last Week’s Keepers

Creamy Spaghetti Squash w/ Asparagus & Rosemary (as a side, not a main course)

{Peek @ My Pinterest} Father's Day & Guy Gifts

Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend! Have you planned for Father's Day yet? It's a week away, and daddies everywhere should be celebrated! But sometimes it's difficult to come up with ideas for what to do for a guy. I've started a Pinterest board about a year ago for Father's Day & Guy Gifts.

Here's a sample of what's there...

Decoration Ideas

Fun Activities for the Kids 

Cute Printables

Snacks...Most Have Printables Included

There's are also links to other blogs and sites for even more ideas! Interested? Check it out here.