Train ride

I got a Groupon a while back to ride the Coopersville train so we went with friends a couple of Saturdays ago.  It was the boys' first train ride.

 See?  Noah's very excited.  

 At least Andrew looks like he's having fun.

 Levi's trying to get Aaron to look at the camera.

 Julia's pretty interested in the little boy to her right...

 Ready to go!

 Watching the engine back up and reconnect.  We were at the back of the train on the way there and at the front of the train on the way back.  

 Waiting for the whistle to blow.

I think he likes it!

What's Cookin'

Mon~Leftover chicken noodle soup, brats, watermelon
Tues~Spaghetti, salad
Wed~Grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans
Thurs~Pork roast, mashed potatoes, corn
Fri~Barbecue chicken sandwiches a la Uncle Johnny, cold veggies
Sat~Oven tacos, fruit

Source: blogchef.net via Heather on Pinterest

Sun~Meatball soup, bread

Pinterest recipe reviews

I started a new board on Pinterest today.  It's recipes that I've tried and I detail whether they worked or not.  Check it out here.  

What's Cookin'

Mon~We had the regular Labor day feast while hanging out at the pool with Chris's family.  Hoping the boys sleep in tomorrow since they were in the water half the day today.
Tues~We're taking advantage of Applebee's Tuesday promotion:  Get 2 free kids' meals per adult entree.
Wed~Taco salad, fruit
Thurs~Pork roast, mashed potatoes, corn and beans
Fri-Sun~Mom's gone for the weekend so dinner's up to dad.  I'll leave a pot of soup and bread for Sunday lunch and Fri and Sat will be mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, or frozen pizza.  Better throw some carrot sticks in with that too.

Grocery Deals this week

At Family Fare:

*Ground beef is $1.85/lb.  Buy a family pack (about 3 lbs) and 3 Kraft cheeses on sale for 3/$5 and get $3 off automatically and $2 OYNO.  I don't normally go to FF, but I'm completely out of ground beef so I'm going to try go this week.  Thanks, Nora!

At Meijer:

*Lay's potato chips are Buy one get one free- Use the $3/1 coupon on facebook here to get them for 65 cents/bag.

*Kraft deal-Buy 10 Kraft products, get $10 OYNO.  I bought Planter's peanuts, cheese, and dressing with some previously printed coupons, but if you don't have any coupons, you can still get shredded cheese for about 88 cents/ package when you buy 10.

*Nabisco, Triscuit, Ritz crackers-$1.33 each when you use the buy 2, get 1 free from coupons.com

14 weeks

After a very long break, I think I'm ready to get back to blogging a bit.  I'm sure you all know that I'm currently expecting our 5th baby.  I am due February 25, 2013, Lord willing.  I was so tired for the first couple of months that blogging fell by the wayside.  My baby is now about the size of a lemon and I heard the heartbeat for the first time last week.  The boys know mommy has a baby in her tummy, but beyond that, haven't expressed much more about it.  As for gender, we never find out, so you can all be surprised along with us in February.  :-)

And now, I should start the schooling for the day.  We never really quit, but since all the kids around us started school today, it feels more official to do school every day.

Thoughts for Sunday

"Give Me Jesus" by Fernando Ortega
(I have been to a few CCM concerts and Ortega is far and away the most authentic CCM singer I've ever seen. He in no way conforms to the pop music standards of the world.  His love for Jesus shines through in his work.)


"And when I come to die, give me Jesus. You can have all this world, but give me Jesus."

The same sentiments also written by Fanny Crosby over 100 years ago.

4th of July

We went and sweated at the parade in Allendale.  The kids like this one because the candy loot is great.  :-)

 Waiting with candy bags ready.

 These guys in the yellow nylon bodysuits must've had a bit of perspiration.

 Tons of tractors!  Joel was enthralled.

Aaron definitely had his quota of candy for the day.

After the parade, we went to Aimee's for lunch and fun.  The kids had a great time in the kiddie pool.

The "big" kids got in on the action too. :-)

Beach day at Hoffmaster

We went to the beach at PJ Hoffmaster today with my brother and sister and cousins Jess and Caylee. We parked at the visitor center and walked a ways through the woods to the lake and had the whole beach to ourselves. No one else dared walk that far in the heat, I guess. :-)

 Give this boy a truck and he's a happy camper.

 Uncle Nate helping Aaron get some water.  Aaron didn't dare go to the lake to get it himself.

 Playing in the trench Caylee and Jess dug to the lake.

Eating sandwiches, chips, and sand.

The boys all gobbled down their lunches. 

Hanging out with Uncle Nate.

Playing on Caylee's tube.

Group shot!

Meijer deals this week

Turned out to be quite the couponing week at Meijer.  Here's a few things:

(for direct links to coupons, check out savingaddiction.com)

Chi Chi's salsa~ 50 cents after coupons
Kikkoman soy sauce~ Free after coupon, mperk, and $2 OYNO when you buy 3
Mott's Apple juice ~About $1.25 for 64 oz after coupon and instant savings (Have you ever had the Mott's for Tots?  Tastes kind of like flavored water.  I think they took a bit too much sugar out.)
Kraft dressing~79 cents each after Facebook coupon

And a few more things I picked up this morning.  I ended up going to Meijer 3x this week, but was able to do it without a lot of impulse items added to the bill.  I got some free soy sauce, Coffeemate for $1.12/bottle (coupon at coffeemate.com), and some Magnum ice cream bars (These are delicious!) and Yosicles for about $1.25 after I use the $2 OYNO when I bought the 4 frozen treats.

Winning at Walgreen's

I haven't been going to Walgreen's too much in the past year since I stocked up pretty well last summer.  Also, if I watch the sales at Meijer, combined with coupons, I can still do pretty well.  This week they had a great deal on Starbucks coffee.  I was able to get 3 packages for 15 bucks.  But first, I bought two Coppertone products, spent 16 bucks with a $5/2 coupon and got $10 RR  back.  I used that RR to buy the coffee and 2 Suave shampoos ($1 each) and paid about 7 bucks and got $2 RR.  Fun!  

Encouragement for the day

Keep on looking unto Jesus. Faith shall soon be changed to sight, and hope to certainty. Looking to Jesus on earth by faith, you shall end with seeing Jesus eye to eye in heaven. Those eyes of yours shall look on the head that was crowned with thorns, the hands and feet that were pierced with nails, and the side that was pierced with a spear. You shall find that seeing is the blessed consequence of believing, and that looking at Jesus by faith, ends with seeing Jesus in glory, and living with Jesus for evermore. When you awake up after His likeness, you shall be satisfied. - J.C. Ryle


Jack Westerink's blog

New Favorite

Found these at Morries's last week.  Delicious!

 
Photo from google images.


And while we're on the subject of potato chips, did you know you can make delicious chips in the microwave if you have some potatoes, salt, and olive oil?  Here's how.

Save money on swim diapers

I wish I knew this tip long ago.  It works, I tried it!

Pics from today

 Aaron loves the "wata!"

Joe's super happy he got to ride on the "tracta."  

(I guess we have to work on -er word endings around here!)

The surest way to gain 10 lbs (at least!)

I have been married for almost 10 years and have been making chocolate chip cookies for at least as long. My cookies have always turned out tasty, but flat and definitely not bakery worthy.

Until now. I have finally discovered a recipe that will forever change the way I bake chocolate chip cookies.

Source: tendercrumb.blogspot.com via Taylor on Pinterest

Jacques Torres' Secret Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Makes twenty-six 5-inch cookies or 8 1/2 dozen 1 1/4-inch cookies

Ingredients 
1 pound unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups plus 2 tablespoons pastry flour
3 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 pounds bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars.
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Reduce speed to low and add both flours, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and chocolate; mix until well combined.
- Using a 4-ounce scoop for larger cookies or a 1-ounce scoop for smaller cookies, scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake until lightly browned, but still soft, about 20 minutes for larger cookies and about 15 minutes for smaller cookies.
- Cool slightly on baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely

Definitely click on the recipe link and read her tips for these cookies.  Do not substitute different flours and be sure to let the dough rest for at least 24 hrs.  Self-control, people!

What's Cookin'

Mon~Crockpot mac n cheese, smoked sausage, green beans

Tues~My folks are taking pity on my temporary single parent status and taking us out for dinner.

Wed~Chicken Quesadillas and Wonton tacos, chips n salsa, salad

Th

Soue: hungry-girl.com via Heather on Pinterest

Thurs~ Grilled pork chops, garlic fries, corn
Fri~Hamburgers, mac salad, dessert (picnic at the park)
Sat~Pizza, cold veggies
Sun~Veggie beef soup, bread

Beach day

Our 2nd trip to Millenium this summer:

Playing in the sand is serious business.

Aaron loved dipping his toes in the water and playing in the sand: the splash pad, however, was a different story.

Somehow, the beach always brings out the hungries in these kids.  Sand's good for digestion, right?

Andrew's trench

Friend Casey.

I've learned to bring a truck to the beach or I'm chasing the kids back from whoever's truck they're trying to steal.

I love the beach!