Day 8

Well we got Hayden signed up for baseball today!!!!!  Really "blast ball" which is like tball but for 3-4yr olds.  He is technically too young but they want him to play anyways.  He is so thrilled!  He can't wait for his first practice.  


Tonight was Casen's first practice and he had a great time.  He had a lot of fun and was really happy to be back out there.  


Landon came home from school with his folder signed YET again.  5x in the 7 days of school!  So I wrote his teacher wondering what in the world was going on because this isn't like Landon at all.  His teacher called me back to talk about it and said that pretty much all the kids have been getting signed a few times and that she can tell Landon is a really good kid and he's just adjusting to her rules but she likes to enforce them from day one and she thinks that after he gets used to it he'll be great.  She said he's very smart and well behaved just keeps talking.  She also said though that most of the time he's getting in "trouble" is during math and I figured out why today.   He brought home homework, a math worksheet with about 20questions on the front and 20 on the back, he sat down and was done in about 2 minutes.  So....he's bored!  But they are reviewing from last year so I'm sure once they get into new stuff he'll be fine.  Just gotta get past these first few weeks.  I'm really glad I talked to her though because we had been grounding Landon to his room everyday he got his folder signed.  After talking to her today and realizing what it was about and how he really wasn't being "bad" we won't be doing that anymore.  If later in the year he starts getting in trouble again we will address it then.  


Today Casen left his lunchbox in his locker so luckily I had bought some extra little containers so I packed his lunch in that today.  Tonight for dinner we tried 'chicken in a crockpot' and Casen loved it and asked for LOTS in his lunch tomorrow....so here are their lunches

Chicken in a crock pot (Landon has some BBQ sauce to dip, couldn't find anything to put in Casen's 'lunchbox' to give him some so without for him)

Apple Banana Muffin

2 Carrot Snack Sticks

Cantaloupe and Strawberries

Granola Bar

Bottle of water

Day 7

School just started and both boys have already asked me to buy their lunch :(  WHAT!?  Landon said he just wanted to buy on chicken nugget day so next mission is to find a good recipe for nuggets that the breading will hold up to being in the lunchbox all morning, not get all soggy and yuck.  I think with Casen it's just the new factor.  First year in school, most kids in his class buy so he just wants to try.  I'll eventually give in and let him.  He said the biggest reason is he wanted strawberry milk so fine, that's what they get in their "water" bottles today.  Yeah, yeah I know....strawberry milk, sugar, unhealthy, etc...but I figure occasionally having stuff like that is fine, there is no reason to go fully without and make them want it even more.  


I've been cooking all night since they went to bed.  I was going to do it earlier but I got the new Shark Vac Then Steam and I got a bit carried away. If you have a lot of tile, wood flooring in your house you NEED it!  It's amazing, love it!!!!  Then I cleaned out the fridge, reorganized it and cleaned all the shelves and drawers...looks good :)  Then had to clean the rest of the house, make snacks, get the boys settled so I could jump in the shower.  Then get everyone ready to go to Casen's parent orientation (which went really well!) then home to make dinner, baths and boys in bed.  Then I've been cooking......laying in bed now typing this up about to go to sleep.  Tomorrow evening is Casen's baseball so thinking we'll do a crock pot recipe tomorrow, not so much work!  

Day 7's Lunch

Granola Bar

Apple Banana Muffins

Carrot Snack Sticks

Pretzels

Cantaloupe

Strawberry milk

Day 6

Well today starts week 2 at school!  Casen was very excited to go this morning, Landon was dead...so tired from practice last night, really didn't want to get up.  Hope they have a great week :)


First, snack plate from Friday.  Landon had practice this afternoon so I made more than usual and they were still hungry after eating it all!

PB pancakes with cream cheese and grape jelly inside

apples with PB to dip

granola balls

turkey

cheese

mash ups 

And their lunch for today.  I had to do grocery shopping yesterday then drop it off at home and take Landon to practice that started at 6pm, didn't get home until almost 8 and still needed to feed, bathe and get the kids in bed.  Bedtime is usually 8 but they didn't get in bed last night until 9.  By then I was just tired and didn't really feel like cooking for a few hours to prepare lunch stuff.  Sooo...today's lunch is pretty simple.  Today I need to cook and prepare some lunch and snack stuff.

Landon on left:

cream cheese and strawberry jam on sandwich thin

strawberries and kiwi

applesauce

for a treat kettle corn and a few blueberry pretzels

Casen on right:

PB&J

strawberries and kiwi

applesauce

kettle corn and blueberry pretzels

Both with water

Baseball Practices Have Started Back

Well fall season has started!  The boys are so excited to be playing again.  Landon's practices started back on Friday.  Casen hasn't had a practice yet but I'm sure this week.  


Landon amazed me on Friday though!  Last season was his first to ever play, he played on a team with kids that had been playing since they were like 4....they were good.  Most were also aging out of coach pitch and ready for kid pitch so they were just some awesome players.  Landon being his first year really wasn't very good.  He was a bit scared of the ball so wouldn't get out there and try and catch it, he didn't throw well and barely hit the ball.  But on Friday he got out there and was so into it.  He was into the game vs playing with the kids this time.  He was catching, fielding and throwing so well.  They even had him practicing on 1st base which he was thrilled about.  He really did a great job!  Tonight they had another practice and he played short stop and 3rd base, he did good but the sun was in his face and we forgot his hat so not as good as Friday, he is super sensitive to light so he could barely see.  But after practice he asked to stay and throw some more and he was in the shade then and was doing so much better.  Fielding REALLY well, caught a pop fly which he was thrilled about and throwing so much better.  His aim has gotten a lot better he just needs to throw a bit harder, he can't get it from 3rd over to 1st but he's doing sooooo much better than he was last season.  They practiced batting today and he didn't get a hit but he was swinging much better and harder so he'll get it soon I'm sure :)  


He is really hoping to get to play infield and some bases this season.  


Casen can't wait for his practices to start he's been so bummed about Landon having 2 and him none so far.  They've been practicing all summer he can't wait to show his coach how much he's improved too.  


The season officially starts on Sept 7th so I'm sure we will have our first game that day or that week.   The boys are going to be worn out from school and practices or games almost everyday but we are excited.  


Tomorrow starts the 2nd week of school, Casen has talked about it all weekend and can't wait to go back tomorrow :)

Back To School Blog and Twitter Party with Fed up with Lunch

Feeding my boys healthy, homemade foods is something I feel very strongly about.  I am constantly trying to improve their eating habits and have them try new foods.  I love when I come across blogs that help me with that. I hope that one day my blog will be as informative as theirs and help other moms come up with ideas for school lunches and healthy recipes to make for their kids


I found a blog today via www.anotherlunch.com called Fed up with school lunch, they are doing a Back to School Blog and Twitter party.  Go check it out!  http://fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com/2010/08/back-to-school-lunch-revolution-blog.html  Questions from her blog post.....

• How is “Back to School” going for your family? Great so far, we are one week in and I have to say this week was a total success.  No tears, happy and excited kids that are ready for next week
• Is school lunch important part of your child’s day? Yes, lunchtime is one of their favorites, what can I say my kids love to eat!  
• What is school lunch like at your school or your child’s school? Pretty typical I think, they do offer a fresh fruits and veggie bar each day, but the entree choices are what I remember as a kid...chicken nuggets, burritos, pizza and all the flavored milks
• Does school lunch need to be reformed? Yes!  Healthier options!  Our last school was a bit better, they had chef's salad almost everyday, baked potato bar, a lot healthier options
• Do you pack lunch for your kids and what do you pack?  Yes, I try and change it up, I've started posting their daily menu here on my blog.  Sandwiches, wraps, pastas, rice cakes, fresh fruits and veggies, homemade snacks and treats.....lots more to come as we get into the school year more.  We did fairly easy stuff this week just because it was all so chaotic getting back into the school routine
• Do you write notes in your kid’s lunches and what do you write? Yes the lunch boxes we got this year have a little white board inside so I write them a note everyday usually telling them I love them, to have a good day, etc.  I think I'm going to take from someone else I saw that answered these questions and do little facts on there too
• What are some of your favorite lunch recipes (kid-friendly or adult-friendly)? Southwest turkey wraps, granola balls, turkey pesto meatballs...I find a lot of my recipes on www.weelicious.com
• What are some great beverages for kids and adults? We mostly do water or maybe some watered down juice
• What is a traditional food item that you have made even more healthy and how did you do it? I think by making things homemade instead of relying on processed already made things it helps alot, using fresh ingredients.  We like to make homemade pizza pockets but stuff them with veggies and use pizza dough from a health food store or make our own
• How much time should kids get to eat lunch? About 25-30min
• What are some products that you use when you pack lunch? We love our lunch boxes from www.gogreenlunchbox.com  we also use camelbak water bottles that we really like

Day 5 Lunch

Can't believe tomorrow is already the end of week 1 of school for the boys.  They are absolutely loving it, but are also completely worn out and tomorrow starts baseball practice so even more tired, maybe they'll actually sleep in on Saturday.  


Today was a much better day around here, Casen finally remembered his daily folder and he's gotten stamps all week (good thing).  His teacher called today to schedule parent orientation and told me he is the sweetest kid in her class, so well behaved, polite and very smart.  Yay :)  


Here was their snack plate from today, they were still hungry after it, piggies. 

Blueberry yogurt pretzels

cheese cubes

banana

cream cheese and strawberry jam on a whole wheat tortilla

For lunches on Friday I'm going to let them fully choose what they get so here is what they chose this week

Casen's on the left and Landon's on the right

Casen: 

PB&J on honey wheat bread

strawberries kiwi and grape

blueberry yogurt pretzels

cheese cut into shapes

Revolution Foods jammy sammy (apple cinnamon oatmeal)

Bottle of water

Landon:

Southwest turkey wrap

strawberries and kiwi

blueberry yogurt pretzels

yogurt raisins

Revolution Foods jammy sammy (apple cinnamon oatmeal)

Bottle of water

Snack plate and Day 4 lunch

I've been trying to make the boys a snack plate so when they get off the bus they have something to eat because they are starving.  Here was today's, which they loved!

PB&banana quesadilla, grapes and veggie straws

They will be really excited about tomorrow's lunch because they love wraps, especially these.  We are trying something new too, the pb&j yogurt.  Hopefully they enjoy it all

Southwest turkey wrap, strawberries and yogurt raisins, veggie straws (becoming a huge favorite), PB&J yogurt, grape mashup and bottle of 1/2 water and 1/2 apple juice

Yesterday's lunch was a hit with Landon, Casen said he didn't really like the pb pancakes but he's not feeling well and hasn't been eating much so I think that has something to do with it, I will be trying again, probably during a weekend so I can encourage him to eat them more and see what he really thinks