Meal Plan and Thankfulness
Wow, it's Thanksgiving week already! Time flies, as always.
This weekend I have been thinking a lot about how thankful I am for my husband. I was reading through some of the archives on homeschooling over at Like Mother Like Daughter and I happened upon this post about keeping Sunday as a day of rest. It really brought a few things home for me.
I feel like our best weeks happen after we have had a restful weekend-- meaning plenty of down time and sleep time, but it also means that each member of our family has participated in an enjoyable and restorative activity, without pressure or agenda from the rest of the family. And in turn, we also get lots of enjoyment from one another on those types of weekends.
It is because of my husband's support that this happens for our family. He serves me and the girls joyfully all weekend long. For example, on Saturday he woke up at 6:30 to brave the grocery store and get our week's groceries using the list I prepared Friday night (and he does this every week). I got to stay home and enjoy a leisurely morning with my girls, snuggling in my bed with them as they each woke up and came in to see me, and eating breakfast slowly without any pressure to get dressed or go anywhere. M sent me out for a run after he returned from the store, and he took the girls to the mall because they had been wanting to spend some of their quarters earned from chores on the coin-op rides. As I ran my nine miles on Saturday and enjoyed the bliss of time to myself... time to think without little voices interrupting... time to just be quiet for a while... I was overwhelmed by how blessed I am. How many other fathers in the world actually enjoy getting three kids dressed and taking them out, and giving their wives several hours of alone time? And this happens pretty much on a weekly basis.
It really is restorative to take "a day of rest" or even a whole weekend of rest... it helps me not just to have alone time, but time to enjoy my girls "just as they are" without trying to teach or correct.
Here are some pictures from our restful weekend:
N spent most of the weekend weaving on her new potholder loom... I had so much fun helping her while the other girls were napping on Saturday. Man she is driven... she finished an entire potholder in the first day. She just wouldn't stop until it was done.
All three girls were up just after 5 this morning (normally we're dragging them out of bed at 6:30 when we have to leave for church). Since they had extra time, they sat together and N read them Mars Needs Moms for a little while before they put their church clothes on. Such a sweet moment.
Here's the meal plan; it's short this week since we'll be in CT for Thanksgiving.
(Thanks Laura and Jill for the link-up!)
(Side note... I seem to be in a rut with lunch ideas. Any suggestions for healthy and kid-friendly lunches??)
Sunday breakfast: Soaked Baked Oatmeal
Sunday lunch: PBJ and salads in the car on the way home from church
Sunday supper: Leftover groundnut soup for grown-ups; Annie's Mac for kiddos
Monday breakfast: leftover baked oatmeal
Monday lunch: grilled cheese with tomato
Monday supper: seafood casserole
Tuesday breakfast: poached eggs
Tuesday lunch: cheese quesadillas and smoothies
Tuesday supper: beef bourguignon in the crockpot
Wednesday breakfast: steel cut oats in the crockpot
Wednesday lunch and supper: at Grandma's
Thursday through Saturday: at Grandma's for Thanksgiving!
Best wishes to all for a happy, restful, and thankful day on Thursday.
This weekend I have been thinking a lot about how thankful I am for my husband. I was reading through some of the archives on homeschooling over at Like Mother Like Daughter and I happened upon this post about keeping Sunday as a day of rest. It really brought a few things home for me.
I feel like our best weeks happen after we have had a restful weekend-- meaning plenty of down time and sleep time, but it also means that each member of our family has participated in an enjoyable and restorative activity, without pressure or agenda from the rest of the family. And in turn, we also get lots of enjoyment from one another on those types of weekends.
It is because of my husband's support that this happens for our family. He serves me and the girls joyfully all weekend long. For example, on Saturday he woke up at 6:30 to brave the grocery store and get our week's groceries using the list I prepared Friday night (and he does this every week). I got to stay home and enjoy a leisurely morning with my girls, snuggling in my bed with them as they each woke up and came in to see me, and eating breakfast slowly without any pressure to get dressed or go anywhere. M sent me out for a run after he returned from the store, and he took the girls to the mall because they had been wanting to spend some of their quarters earned from chores on the coin-op rides. As I ran my nine miles on Saturday and enjoyed the bliss of time to myself... time to think without little voices interrupting... time to just be quiet for a while... I was overwhelmed by how blessed I am. How many other fathers in the world actually enjoy getting three kids dressed and taking them out, and giving their wives several hours of alone time? And this happens pretty much on a weekly basis.
It really is restorative to take "a day of rest" or even a whole weekend of rest... it helps me not just to have alone time, but time to enjoy my girls "just as they are" without trying to teach or correct.
Here are some pictures from our restful weekend:
N spent most of the weekend weaving on her new potholder loom... I had so much fun helping her while the other girls were napping on Saturday. Man she is driven... she finished an entire potholder in the first day. She just wouldn't stop until it was done.
All three girls were up just after 5 this morning (normally we're dragging them out of bed at 6:30 when we have to leave for church). Since they had extra time, they sat together and N read them Mars Needs Moms for a little while before they put their church clothes on. Such a sweet moment.
Here's the meal plan; it's short this week since we'll be in CT for Thanksgiving.
(Thanks Laura and Jill for the link-up!)
(Side note... I seem to be in a rut with lunch ideas. Any suggestions for healthy and kid-friendly lunches??)
Sunday breakfast: Soaked Baked Oatmeal
Sunday lunch: PBJ and salads in the car on the way home from church
Sunday supper: Leftover groundnut soup for grown-ups; Annie's Mac for kiddos
Monday breakfast: leftover baked oatmeal
Monday lunch: grilled cheese with tomato
Monday supper: seafood casserole
Tuesday breakfast: poached eggs
Tuesday lunch: cheese quesadillas and smoothies
Tuesday supper: beef bourguignon in the crockpot
Wednesday breakfast: steel cut oats in the crockpot
Wednesday lunch and supper: at Grandma's
Thursday through Saturday: at Grandma's for Thanksgiving!
Best wishes to all for a happy, restful, and thankful day on Thursday.
I love this... I feel so blessed as well that my husband happily takes that chunk of time with the girls every Saturday. You reminded me that I need to tell him so more often! Have an amazing time away at grandmas!!
ReplyDeleteA restful weekend is so important! We try to get in one solid weekend of rest every month, it is so good for everyone! Have a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDelete