Uncontrollable

With the start of school, comes school lunch.

I mostly have my kids take a lunch. 

It's healthier and cost less, but is not without it's own down side.

My problems our as follows.
I have to make them lunch.

I have a small kitchen and treats are stored on top of my fridge. Ugly.
I have to make them lunch

The second I bring home snacks my five vultures eat all of them up.

I have to make them lunch.

I have solved 2 of those pesky problems.

I bought 2 metal bins from Walmart.

They fit perfectly on top of the fridge.  Ugly no more.

I spay painted a T and a S, then glued them onto the metal bin.

T stands for, if your a hungry little vulture you can take freely from me.

S stands for school lunch only.  

Don't even think of eating anything from here unless your butt is sitting in a school cafeteria.

Ugly before.

Nice and organized after.

I also packed a treat bin for the car.

This has come in so handy.

In fact it saved me today.

I had just done a super amazingly hard work out and didn't have time to go home

for my recovery snack before story time started at the library.

Never been so happy to have trail mix in my life.

I am pretty sure without it I would have died.

I'm not saying a treat bin in your car will save your life, but are you willing to take that chance?

I'm not and am alive today because of it.

McNoway

Hi I am Kem, and I like to eat out.

Its not a pretty part of me, its one that I have tried in the past to best.

This time I have a plan.

I am not your most organized person and I am not

a homebody by any stretch of the imagination.

So most of the time when I grab a quick bite to eat, its for lunch.

I am out and about and have not planned accordingly.

So knowing that is one of my underling causes.

The other is $1 drinks from McDonald's,

Whoever came up with that is a marketing genius, evil genius.

So with all that knowledge of my inner monologue. 

Here's how it's going down.

1st. I have a snack bin in my car for those moment of unplanned lunch time outings.

2nd. I will try my hardest to not be out around lunch time.

I have some fun fall activities I am going to be doing with my little ones that should help with this. 

3rd. It's well know that you can reprogram your brain

and in most cases it takes about 21 days to start or break a habit.

So September is my no eating out month.

Period.

What about date night you ask?

We can eat at home then go for a hike or to a movie

or whatever floats our boat.

 4th. I joined a 12 week challenge at my gym.

I am accountable for my progress or lack of.

I also am sorta competitive and I will kick some weight loss butt.

5th.  If for some reason I don't win the 12 week challenge 

which is a flat screen TV or a Spa package.

With the money that I saved I am going to go and get myself some new clothes.

Who am I kidding I am going to do that even if I win.

6th.  I am going to rely on my Lord to help me be strong.

At times of weakness I will pray for help.

I also love this because if fits perfectly with my goals for this school year.

I love how one thing such as not eating out fits in so many of them.

Spiritual.

Anything that makes me a stronger person and teaches me that the Lord is their is

welcome in my life.  This is not a habit I want and the money I am

spending is a gift from our Savior and I am accountable for how I use it.

Financial.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Health

Are you kidding me? 

A doctor pepper a day doesn't keep the doctor away. 

I think this fits with all my goals but I'll just focus on those 3 for now.

I just need a moment

For all you mom's out their who just don't want to face dinner.

Enjoy.

Happy weekend.

Back to School Feast

Last night we had our back to school feast.

We invited both sets of Grandparents over, my kids have the best Grandparents.

The menu was suppose to be.

Fish Taco's with fresh pico, 

cafe rio style dressing, salad, rice and beans.

as seen here.

I was thinking of what I had planned for our feast and realized, it was all for me.

This night is all about my kids, so I changed up the menu.

Ribs, 

Mash Potatoes,

Salad, 

Hand Shucked Corn on the Cob 

(any what about bob fans?)

Watermelon.

For Desert I made 2 Slab Pies

an Apple and a Peach.

We pretty much always get our corn form this stand.

They have been selling for 49 years and really do have the best produce.

We got our corn and watermelon from here.

They are located on Main St in Kaysville kinda by Taste Doughnuts.

As a side note the lady who runs the stand is a firecracker and we love her.

I took this picture from my car, because I am sure she would have yelled at me for taking it.

 Don't tell.

After dinner Justin and the Grandpa's gave the kids a Father Blessing for 

the start of the school year.

You can find out more about blessings here.

This school years theme is 

Joshua 1:9

\

(source)

I hope it will help my kids remember that the Lord is always with

them and that they have no reason to fear the world.

Stand and be true my little ones.

p.s. sorry for the crappy phone pics its all I had time for.

Happy School Year!

Happy school year folks.

For me way more then new years, the end of summer is a time to reflect.

I decide to focus on five areas of my life.

1. Spiritual

"I don't have a soul, I am a soul..."

C. S. Lewis

2. Financial

This is my biggest hurtle right now.

Budget needs to become my new best friend

3. Family

I really kinda love these guys.

4. Health

The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful body

and it is my job to treat it as a gift from God.

Also to make it as rocking as I can.

5. Home

I want my home to be a haven from the world.

After all 

"There is beauty all around when there's love at home"

 (Mike took these pics at the 4th of July with my phone)

To help me reach my goals, I will be posting thing related on this blog of mine.

Here's to a new school year and new possibilities.

Best watch it, before you get Schooled

Monday my 3 oldest chicklets went back to school.

I already miss Summer.  Call me crazy but I do.

My kids are ready,  so off they go.

Dallin is now in 9th grade.  Holy crap.  

Now everything matters, grades! Holy crap.

It's time to prepare to get into a great college. Holy crap.

Breath!

Back to Dallin.  This kid is awesome.  

He is a tuba playing maniac.

He is one of the few 9th graders playing with the Davis High Marching Band

and is doing their field show.

Davis High is very proud of their Band and Football and being Davis High.

Mike is in 8th grade and is also awesome.

He is playing the baritone which my little ones call the baby tuba.

He loves to skateboard and pester.

He is great at pestering, its a true talent.

Dallin and Mike pose stoically.  Why yes that is doughnut on Mike's mouth.

Lauren is a big 5th grader now.  Crazy.

She also is awesome.

Lauren has the kindest heart.  She is super good.

She has a talent of making everyone around her feel loved, young and old.

She also is a great decorator, she rearranges her room like daily.  No joke.

I got the kids doughnuts for the first day of school breakfast (Mike's mouth is prof), because

I may have slept in and didn't have time to make french toast.

The boys left for KJH.

(I wish it was socially ok for me to walk them the first day, but such things are frowned upon) 

Curled Lauren's hair and luckily 5th graders are fine having their mother walk them to school.

Lauren and her bestie Mia.

It was a great day and so happy my kids loved it.

Even if someone with doughnut on his mouth said it was okay.

I know he meant amazing.

Menu Thursday

Here's the game plan for this weeks dinners.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs 

(Milo keeps asking for the large meatball meal)

I use panko bread crumbs instead of oats,when I make my meatballs.

Also if your by Trader Joe's,  I'll use the turkey meatballs in this.

Makes it super yummy and easy.

Crockpot Taco Chicken Bowls

This is a new one, can't wait to try.

Homemade Pizza with a yummy salad.

I'm thinking pepperoni with black olive.  

Maybe on french bread or Jimmy Johns bread?

(You can get Jimmy Johns day old for only 50 cents a loaf)

BLT'S with homemade baked potato chips and fresh fruit.

Have you tried a fried egg on your BLT?  Supper good.  

I also love to add cucumber to mine.

Black Bean Burritos with salad and corn.

I like to make these how my dad always makes burritos.

Your grill them in a little oil and make them supper crispy on the outside and warm and melting on the inside.

Sweet Buffalo BBQ Chicken with baked potato and veggies.

I'll share the recipe later.  My kids love this.

Fish Taco's with fresh pico, 

cafe rio style dressing, salad, rice and beans.

This is our back to school feast and I'll have more on it later.