Menu Plan Monday

I am looking forward to our menu this week.  Especially the pasta dish on Monday night (love me some pasta!) Hope you are inspired to create some menu's of your own also.. but feel free to use this one.  There are a TON more menu's to browse on, over at orgjunkie.com

Notice the recycle bag... it was Earth Day yesterday you know!!!

 

Monday:
Rigatoni with Broccoli and Sausage,Sliced Garden Tomatoes, Garlic Cheese Toast

Tuesday:
Sloppy Joes with Veggie Dippers & Sun Dried Tomatoe Hummus



Wednesday:
Beef Taco Casserole, Garden Salad

Thursday:
Leftovers (cleaning out the fridge night!)

Friday: We'll be camping!
Chili-Cheese Dogs, chips, sliced apples

Saturday:Still roughin it!
Breakfast: Sausage and sweet rolls
Lunch: Peanut Butter & Jelly, chips
Dinner: Hambugers, chips, cookies

Sunday:
Breakfast: Eggs & Bacon
Lunch: Peanut Butter & Jelly, sliced apples, pretzels
Pampered Chef, Pepperoni Pizza Twist, Garden Salad

Holding Hands

Each day after picking up my oldest son from school, we pull in our driveway unload our many bags, books, and groceries from a day of school,work, and errands; and make our way down the street and around the corner to the mailbox. 
Being  natural competitors,  my older boys usually line up on the sidewalk set for the race. As they dash off, my 3 year old will run up to my side, reach up, and slip his small delicate hand into mine.  As his small body rushes to keep up with my longer strides, I know all he is wanting is the security my grasp offers him as we walk along. I love knowing he is depending on me, and I love knowing he is feeling secure and safe by simply being in my presence. 


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Each day as we stroll , I can't help but think about our Heavenly Father, and the joy it must bring to Him when His children reach up, ask Him to hold us; offering security and safety within His Holy Spirit! What rejoicing there must be to know His children are walking with Him, seeking refuge and comfort, depending on Him to guide them through the paths He has laid before them.
¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ²⁰ Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, ²¹ so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Do you experience God's word through your children? What truth is He sharing with you this week?

Our Unique Family

The other day I was browsing around at Finding Joy and come across a post on what makes Rachel's family unique... It got me thinking, hmmm what makes our family unique?  So after some thought and observation and chatting with my hubby and kids. Here it is... the things that we love about our little family, the things that fill up our days, and the things  that bring joy to us all. 

• Once a week, we all stop to spend time doing something we love... Pizza, Popcorn, and a movie!
• Almost everything we own has sentimental meaning behind it!  Just ask. I'll share the story! But my favorite item... Drop leaf table.
• Everything is a competition... we do have a houseful of boys you know!
• Books are a huge part of our lives.  We all enjoy reading and being read to.
• Food is a love for each of us, for some of us it's homemade fettuccine Alfredo or perfectly grilled steaks... for others it's chicken nuggets and peanut butter and jelly.

• Like Cage fighting or WWF? Tickets are on sale now... We don't have to watch it on TV, all we have to do is stick two boys in a room and before long the giggles, wrestling, goofing will begin.
• We love to laugh. The joy that is shared in our home is contagious and I love to share it with others.
• Everyone is unique and we try our best to celebrate those differences and passions.
• Deep conversations about God, beliefs, and faith spring out of thin  air. I love that God is alive here and a natural curiosity is always welling over.

I love the closeness that our family shares. I love that each person has a special place and purpose  and that even through the little tiffs and arguments, that ultimately we know we were woven together as a family by God's unique plan.

Word Filled Wednesday Matthew 7:13-14

"Brennan go get in bed. " And this is what we find.  Brennan always takes the road less traveled! I'm hoping this characteristic is a blessing, and as he grows he will stay on the "road less traveled".

Complete with a happy crash landing. :)

Goodnight Sweet Boy.

 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 

Matthew 7:13-14

For the Love of Books!

I love books. I love to turn page after page and watch the story unfold before my very eyes.  I love the feel of the smooth, crinkly (that is a word, right?) pages and the musky smell of a good used book. I love to think of the adventures that readers before me have experienced and wonder if they also felt the same emotions or if the book has touched them in the same ways it has touched me. There is something magical that happens when I get to read a really great book, a classic. I have had this love of books from a very young age.  I cherish the memories of drifting off to sleep as my mother read chapter after chapter of Boxcar Children, Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, and so many others.

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I also love now, that these are moments, characters, and stories that I get to share with my children. I love that William reads everything he picks up. I love that on Thursdays when he comes home from school with his new library books, he can't wait to get to his quiet room, and his comfy bed and sit for the rest of the day combing over the pages, analyzing the characters, and immersing himself into the story. 

I also have found a new way to share these stories with my children.  We spend at least an hour a day in the car. Like most of you, I'm always driving to and from school, grocery store, post office, sports practices, activities... you know what I'm talking about.  I know many mom's use car DVD players... but that just isn't me.  We usually listen to Christian radio or play alphabet and counting games in the car...until recently.

We were at our local library for story time, while I was glancing over a few of the DVDs when I came to the section of books on CD, my eyes instantly rested on one of my all time favorites, Little House on the Prairie.  I found myself hoping one day my boys might want to read a book about a family with 3 little girls... Yeah right!  But I decided I would get the CD and just see what happened.... turns out they love to hear about Laura and Mary, and the adventures they have as they travel in their wagon and make a new home.  We are now on the fourth book in the Little House on the Prairie series and the kids request it every time was get in the car. 


I love the exposure to classic literature they are absorbing. I love the history that the stories hold, and the raw adventure and emotions that are expressed as we listen intently. I love the questions and conversations that keep coming from my boys as they listen to what life was like in the pioneer days, and the joy that they feel with every victory the Ingalls family has.

I hope to continue to show my children the fun and adventure that can come from something so simple as a book; I also hope that they too will grow a love for the written word and that it will follow them through life.  ]

Do your children love to read, or be read to?  What do you do to encourage that love?
I'm always looking for more wonderful stories to share with my family...What are your favorites as a child or favorites that you share with you children now?

First EVER Caldwell Family Camping Trip

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Spring is in full swing down here in South Texas and us Caldwell's have decided to take full advantage of the gorgeous weather.  Santa brought us a tent Christmas morning and we put it to use this weekend with our first ever camping trip.

Choke Canyon State Park, proved to be a perfect choice for our outing. So after school Friday, we loaded up and made the quick trip to our weekend destination.

 Our tent! It was perfect!

 We did a lot of tree climbing,

 Saw an alligator!

 Splashed in the water,

 Did some fishing,

 Played with icky worms,

 More fishing,

 Slept in  tent,

Boys Battled,

 Relaxed,

 Cooked up deliciousness,

Did a little painting and creating,

 Played baseball,

 Found a huge ant colony,

More relaxing,

More fishing,

 We were silly,

 and Happy,

 It was all quite a balancing act.

This is the only fish caught all weekend... a red rubber fish to practice casting.  Each time Brennan reeled it in (must have been 200 times) He would say, "Mommy, I think I caught something! Look it's a fish!!" He was so proud!

 Of course, we took time for smores!

 Dad got the fire, just right!

 The smores made us really Happy!

 William told us some spooky stories before bed.  The other boys chimed in as well.

Perfect creation + Perfect weather + Family = A Perfect Family Camping Trip!

DIY Craft: Lightsabers from Pool Noodles

You don't have to search Pintrest very long to find these little jewels... and I'm not taking about those cute boys (don't they look fierce?)

Pool Noodle Light Sabers have become a staple in our house. With a quick trip to Wal-mart, you can have all the supplies you need to make 4 light sabers for under $10.

What you will need:

2 pool noodles

Gray Duct Tape

Black Electrical Tape

Serrated Knife (I used our bread knife)

Scissors

What to do:
Start by  cutting each noodle in half with your serrated knife, just eyeball it, no need to be exact. Use Gray Duct tape to cover one end of the noodle. Then generously wrap the tape up the noodle about 7 inches.  Finish the wrap with an even edge. Decorate your light saber by adding borders, buttons, and switches using black electrical tape.  Ta- Da... that's it your done! Release the Jedi's!

Fun, Soft, and Perfectly Safe! 

OH YEAH!! 

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!