Monday, April 30, 2012

Meal Plan Week 9


blueberry cheesecake

Week 9 of the Peters Family Band 15-Week Meal Plan

Breakfast Options:
  • oatmeal, granola, toast, grits
  • yogurt, smoothies, or milk
  • cold cereal on the weekend
Lunch Options:
  • cheese sandwich, tuna sandwich, egg salad sandwich, peanut butter sandwich, quesadilla
  • strawberries, pineapple, banana, peaches, or applesauce
  • water or watered down juice
Dinner

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
  • cowboy hot pot
Thursday:
  • burritos
Friday:
Saturday:
  • I don't cook on Saturdays. We typically eat leftovers, pancakes, or order take-out.
Sunday: (Michael cooks)
  • roast chicken
  • mashed potatoes

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Rylan Says...

Rylan: We should get a pet.

Me: What kind?

Rylan: We can't get a dog because Daddy doesn't like dogs, and we can't get a cat because you're allergic.

Me: Good point.

Rylan: When Daddy dies, can we get a puppy?

Me: But you don't like dogs.

Rylan: I didn't say a dog. I said a puppy.

Me: But puppies grow up to be dogs.

Rylan: When it grows up, we'll put it outside.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Parade of Peters

Three times a week if it's not raining, Rylan and I ride our bike to pick up Cole and Eli from school.

If we leave early enough, we take the long way, following the greenway through 3.5 miles of car-free backwoods. We zoom along the mostly flat path, braking only for squirrels and stray cats. Some days we spot deer. Once, we nearly ran over a snake.

If we're running late, we take the short way - 1 3/4 miles of city streets and sidewalks. We take a route with little traffic, but I feel comfortable now riding on the street, taking the lane when necessary or bumping up onto the sidewalk. Rylan's cheery smile calms even the most aggressive of drivers.

We meet Cole and Eli outside the school - they give me an earful about their day as we head up the hill to the bus stop. Then there are trees to climb, flowers to pick, snacks to eat, while we wait for that familiar blue bus to round the corner.

at the bus stopat the bus stop

When the bus arrives, I wrestle my bike onto the rack, and off we go. My boys are old hats at riding the bus, perfect charmers for the mix of blue collar workers, starched and pressed businessmen, and tourists that catch the R-Line.

"Hello," we greet the bus driver with a smile. The drivers all know us by sight. One day the driver missed our signal to get off, and when I called out, "Wait!", she called back, "I'm so sorry! This is where you get off!"

on the buson the buson the bus

I'm sure the bus drivers are not the only downtowners who could pick us out of a line up. We are a sight to see as we wrestle the bike off the bus and head the final half mile home - Rylan in the front seat, me pedaling, Eli on the rack, Cole running beside. A parade of Peters coming home from school.

PAST POSTS ABOUT OUR "COMMUTE"

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Meal Plan Week 8


Eli's 7th birthday
  Eli's birthday cake

Week 8 of the Peters Family Band 15-Week Meal Plan

Breakfast Options:
  • oatmeal, granola, toast, grits
  • yogurt, smoothies, or milk
  • cold cereal on the weekend
Lunch Options:
  • cheese sandwich, tuna sandwich, egg salad sandwich, peanut butter sandwich, quesadilla
  • strawberries, pears, banana, peaches, or applesauce
  • water or watered down juice
Dinner

Monday:
  • pizza
  • salad
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
  • frittata
  • toast
  • kale or swiss chard (from the garden)
Thursday:
  • black bean tacos
Friday:
  • fried rice
Saturday:
  • I don't cook on Saturdays. We typically eat leftovers, pancakes, or order take-out.
Sunday: (Michael cooks)
  • slow cooker sausage and vegetable medley

Friday, April 20, 2012

Cycles


flowers

A few days ago, Michael and I had a tiny spat triggered by a certain aspect of Michael's personality that drives me crazy. Later, I was letting the argument fester, and I thought, "This only annoys me at certain times of the month." Then I thought, "That is not true. It always annoys me. I only react at certain times of the month."

Then I started thinking about women's hormonal cycles, and I came up with a theory that our Time of the Month is supposed to be a time of purging - not just physically, but emotionally - so it's okay to be more short-tempered then. Right?

Or on the flip side, maybe women have cyclical hormones so we can learn to overcome them - our spiritual selves dominating over our physical selves, or something like that.

Then I remembered that in ancient Jewish culture, women were relieved of many of their normal duties during menstruation. By religious law, they didn't have to cook or go grocery shopping or wait on their families hand and foot. Instead, they used that time to rest and recupe, and at the end of their cycle, they'd perform a special cleansing ritual as a symbolic start to their new month.

I think that is wonderful. I think we should consider adding something like that to our own culture. Can you imagine being able to say to your husband, "I've started my period. You're in charge. I'll see you in a few days." I know how I'd spend my Time of the Month - lounging in bed, reading, ignoring everything that needs done, ignoring annoying things my husband has said, ignoring the constant head-pounding bickering of my children. And then once my days were past, I'd emerge a well-rested, more relaxed, more loving wife and mother, never reacting to things that only annoy me at certain times of the month.

I'm serious. We should get this going. Who's with me?

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Spring Break

brothers

brothers

DSC_0022

brothers

brothers

Normally at this time of year, we head up to the Shenandoah Valley where we have a timeshare at a resort called Massanutten, but this year we decided to save a little money and take a stay-cation instead.

What we did on our 2012 Stay-cation Spring Break:
  • playdates
  • Wii
  • Netflix
  • Gameboy
  • Redbox
  • ice cream
  • bike rides
  • Krispy Kreme
  • library
  • Marbles
  • haircuts

marbles mirrormarbles mirrormarbles mirror

Monday, April 16, 2012

Meal Plan Week 7


four burritos

After eating four burritos.

Week 7 of the Peters Family Band 15-Week Meal Plan

Breakfast Options:
  • oatmeal, granola, toast, grits, english muffins
  • yogurt, smoothies, or milk
  • cold cereal on the weekend
Lunch Options:
  • cheese sandwich, tuna sandwich, egg salad sandwich, peanut butter sandwich, quesadilla, leftover pizza
  • strawberries, pineapple, banana, peaches, or applesauce
  • water or watered down juice
Dinner
Monday:
  • biscuit pizza
  • salad
    Tuesday:
    • vegetarian tortilla soup
      Wednesday:
      Thursday:
      • falafels with pitas
      • salad
        Friday:
        • fried rice
        Saturday:
        • I don't cook on Saturdays. We typically eat leftovers, pancakes, or order take-out.
        Sunday: (Michael cooks)
        • sausage gravy with biscuits
        • broccoli

        Wednesday, April 11, 2012

        Brothers

        brothers

        Monday, April 9, 2012

        Meal Plan Week 6

        first picnic

        Week 6 of the Peters Family Band 15-Week Meal Plan

        Breakfast Options:
        • oatmeal, granola, toast, grits, english muffins, banana muffins
        • yogurt, smoothies, or milk
        • cold cereal on the weekend
        Lunch Options:
        • cheese sandwich, tuna sandwich, egg salad sandwich, peanut butter sandwich, quesadilla, leftover pizza
        • strawberries, banana, peaches, or applesauce
        • water or watered down juice

        Dinner

        Monday:
          Tuesday:
          • burritos with salsa and guacamole
            Wednesday:
            • egg salad sandwiches
            • kale
            Thursday:

              Friday:

                Saturday:
                • This Saturday we have an activity at church. I'm making biscuits.
                Sunday:

                Sunday, April 8, 2012

                Eggs Dyed Naturally

                Easter eggs 2012

                I finally did it. I've been wanting to give natural egg dyes a try for years now, and this year, we finally made time for it.

                BLUEBERRIES:

                Easter eggs 2012

                BEETS:

                Easter eggs 2012

                CARROT TOPS:

                Easter eggs 2012

                GRAPE JUICE:

                Easter eggs 2012

                Tuesday, April 3, 2012

                Free Scoop Day at Ben and Jerry's

                ben and jerry's

                Monday, April 2, 2012

                Meal Plan Week 5


                Rylan sunny day

                Week 5 of the Peters Family Band 15-Week Meal Plan

                Breakfast Options:
                • oatmeal, granola, toast, grits, english muffins, banana muffins
                • yogurt, smoothies, or milk
                • cold cereal on the weekend
                Lunch Options:
                • grilled cheese sandwich, tuna sandwich, egg salad sandwich, peanut butter sandwich, quesadilla, macaroni and cheese
                • strawberries, banana, peaches, or applesauce
                • water or watered down juice
                Dinner
                Monday:
                Tuesday:
                • veggie quesadillas
                  Wednesday:
                  • fried eggs
                  • toast
                  • sweet potatoes
                  Thursday:
                    Friday:
                    • fajitas
                      Saturday:
                      • I don't cook on Saturdays. We typically eat leftovers, pancakes, or order take-out.
                      Sunday:
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