Big Family Food and Fun: May 26-June 1, 2024

Here’s our Big Family Food and Fun: May 26-June 1, 2024 post!

Here are a couple of photos that I didn’t have ready to share yet last week. As we wrapped up our Saturday, I gave myself a night off and made Orange Chicken from Costco, Cilantro Rice, and Steamed Broccoli.

After dinner I surprised the kids with Ice Cream Cones. This was super fun for them and I loved that serving their ice cream in cones meant that I didn’t have extra spoons or bowls to wash. ;)

And now on to the new week…

Big Family Food and Fun: May 26-June 1, 2024

Keith had his final soccer game of the season after church, so once again, I packed a lunch for us to eat between church and soccer so we wouldn’t have to drive all the way home and then all the way back across town.

I packed Salami, Guacamole and Chips, Strawberries, Cheese and Crackers, Veggies, and Hidden-Spinach Cupcakes.

After church and lunch, we headed out to Keith’s final game of the season. Elias had gone to Texas to spend time with Malorie’s family, but thankfully Malachi was back in town (he travels a lot for his work) so he could coach the game.

Justus and Kelsey left for a trip that day and we were given the privilege of caring for their Little Sweetheart while they were gone. Lots of church friends had signed up to come help us since we’d have an extra baby for several days. So Sunday evening was a delight as we got to know our friend Hannah better. And just look at Beautiful Eva and her sweet baby bump. We’ll get to meet that little one soon! Also in this photo is Angela, one of our wonderful housemates. :)

For dinner that night, I stirred together and warmed up all the leftovers from Elias and Brayden’s Pasta Meal from last week. We ate it with salad (made by Kiya), corn, watermelon, and berries.

Monday morning, Asa and Eva came over for a while.

Late morning, we put together sub sandwiches for our lunch. Then we headed out to join church friends at Atlas where they had plans to hand out lunches and serve cold lemonade to people in the neighborhood. We were excited to check out this ministry!

Our crew arrived with wagon and stroller and got to learn how Atlas works. We are thankful to learn more about the opportunities to serve in our city.

Later that afternoon I put water in a pool and took a variety of measuring cups and containers outside. Brayden, Kiya, and I then enjoyed a lesson on measuring based on a fun activity detailed in our Summer School at Home Toolbox. What better way to learn about measuring on a warm day?!

Acacia came out and joined the fun too. :)

I had set out a container of cream cheese to soften so late afternoon I blended up this Easy Bean and Cheese Salsa Dip recipe to have in the fridge.

The Case Family came over to help us with all the kids and Little Sweetheart. Since it was Memorial Day we decided to enjoy a big meal together. Matt and I had tag-teamed on smoking a Pork Loin and I made Baked Beans, Mixed Veggies, Buttered Rolls, and cut up a Watermelon. The Cases brought a tasty Pasta Salad to go with our meal.

We are so thankful for dear friends!

Tuesday morning we warmed up Breakfast Sandwiches I’d premade and put into the freezer.

Our friend Jess came over to help us with the baby and our kids that morning. At one point I walked into the living room to find a bunch of them piled on her watching videos about foxes. :)

Late morning we all grabbed apples and headed out for a walk to Sunken Gardens.

We were hot and hungry when we got back so I got out the Easy Bean and Cheese Salsa Dip I’d made the day before and we ate it with veggies and chips.

That afternoon, the Cases came back over to help with kids while I took Brayden and Kiya to serve at Food Distribution. As I was leaving, Christina had the three little girls engaged in cutting veggies for dinner. :)

Our Food Distribution coordinator texted me last minute to see if any of our adult kids might be available to come help because they were short-handed. Malachi to the rescue! He worked alongside Brayden (or rather Brayden worked alongside Malachi) ;) to clean up coolers as food was handed out.

We arrived back home to a full Taco Dinner made and ready. Christina had put it all together while we were gone and had even fed three of the littles!

We had birthday cake outside after dinner to celebrate one of the Case kids.

Wednesday morning the Perez family came to help out with Little Sweetheart.

We went outside mid-morning and worked together on a project from the Summer School at Home Service Suggestions file. Only one flower pot broke, so I’d consider this a success. ;)

Kiya drew animal faces on most of the kids with her make-up. I took cheese and fruit out for a snack on the porch.

Then we gathered lots of non-perishable food from our pantry and loaded it into backpacks. We headed out for a walk together to distribute the food into some of the Little Free Pantry boxes around our neighborhood.

The kids LOVED unloading their groceries into these boxes as we talked to them about how people could come help themselves to the food as the needed to!

Back at home, we pulled out pasta leftovers from Sunday and Monday plus sandwich fixings.

That afternoon we set up a Twister Water Game in our yard and the kids had a great time running through it!

All this outdoor play and long walks are making our kids HUNGRY. For dinner, I made Sloppy Joes and took them outside on a tray for the kids to eat (my cheater way of avoiding dirty plates). The joes were almost all gone before I remembered to take a picture. I had to cut Brayden off at three Sloppy Joes because he’d been playing so hard and was so hungry!

To end our day, we walked to our nearest library to get our kids signed up for the Lincoln Library Summer Reading Program.

Thursday morning I made a quick batch of Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters and we ate every single one.

We had made plans to go to the zoo with the Perez family that morning, so I gathered lunch and snack items for us to eat there. I made Tuna Salad for us to eat with croissants or crackers plus packed applesauce, pears, peach cups, cucumbers and cookies.

All the kids were hungry the moment we arrived (at 10:35) so the bag of pears was gone before we made it through the gate!

I didn’t get many photos of our time at the zoo because we were too busy enjoying our friends. But I did get a few at the Butterfly Pavilion. It is only open between Memorial Day and Labor day so this was our first time in this season and we were EXCITED.

They have little q-tips with nectar that everyone can pick up to try and attract a butterfly to “hold.” This is so much fun for everyone!

As we headed back to our van after our visit, the peacock met us to say goodbye.

It rained that afternoon so we spent time reading so we could keep on learning this summer add links to our Summer Reading Book Worm. :)

Keith spent some time putting together his fire truck puzzle.

And it was a tough job, but I did a lot of baby snuggling all afternoon… :) :) :)

For dinner, Brayden helped me make four pizzas and Kiya made a salad.

Our friend Maggie and her daughter came over to lend a hand with the baby that evening so we had fun visiting and playing after dinner.

Friday morning Keith helped me make a bunch of Peanut Butter Honey Sandwiches to take to the park.

The Perez family joined us to help again so we played for a long time and ate at one of our favorite parks.

That evening we had “French Fry Friday” with a super fancy dinner of Chicken Nuggets, Sweet Potato Fries, and Fruit. Our friends Heather and Delaney came over to help with the baby, and I realized after they left that I didn’t get any photos of their time with us. :/

Saturday morning, our housemate Angela offered to make Pancakes for our family!

Our neighborhood was hosting yard sales so we walked around for several blocks to try and meet more of our neighbors.

Then we loaded up and went to a park to meet up with the Case family for a music festival.

I packed a snacky lunch so we could play at the park with friends longer: Chips and Guacamole, Cheese and Crackers, Applesauce, Pistachios, Juice, and Yogurt.

When we got home some of the kids were excited to help our neighbor, John, plant more flowers in his yard.

This is a photo John took a few weeks ago when we went over to “help.” He’s been so good to teach the kids about different kinds of flowers and plants.

We had leftovers for dinner, and that was our week!