Menu Plan Monday

The kids painting the chapel shed

Something about fall makes me enjoy cooking and baking all over again, so my menus recently have been a little more inspiring. I'm going to try to save them here, so I can look back on them for inspiration when I get stuck in a rut ..... in oh, February or so.

Breakfasts
Banana Bread (from the freezer) and OJ
Cereal x2
Homemade Granola Bars (Mom's recipe, with honey instead of corn syrup)
Fruit Smoothies
Pancakes, eggs and bacon (on Saturday)

Lunches
Leftover Soups from last week: Sherried Tomato, Taco Soup, Chili
Leftover Meat and Potatoes
Turkey and Cheese Sandwiches
PB & Honey, Carrot Sticks
Apples and Swiss Cheese Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

Dinners
Broccoli and Cheese Soup, Crusty Bread
Chicken Parmigiana, Green Beans
Leftovers
Hearty Beef and Noodles
Corn Dogs, Tator Tots, Fresh Fruit (per Bloom girls' request :)
Smoked Salmon Chowder, Crusty Bread
Marinated Roast, Baked Potatoes, Roasted Carrots, House Salad

Fall soccer

Another season down. The boys played fall soccer, and they had their last game on Saturday. I have to admit, I'm going to miss it, even the early Saturday morning games (maybe). I have loved watching them play together on a team, learn to be leaders and listen to their dad as a coach. Lots of lessons to be learned in sports!

Ethan is getting so much better - we can see a definite improvement from last season! He has a lot more focus this year, and he can control the ball a lot better, keep it in bounds, etc... I think he scored at least once every game, so he was pretty excited about that!

At the beginning of the season Dave had lots of talks with him about being a leader among his teammates. They were a sweet but silly (and easily distracted) bunch of kiddos - and we noticed right away that Ethan usually just followed the crowd and joined in on the goofing off. It was neat to see him take his dad's advice and try to lead by example, to put his best effort into everything, and to encourage the other players to get into the game.

That is something we've been praying for the Lord to produce in Ethan's life. Every morning when I drop him off at school, we pray together and I ask the Lord to help him stand up for what is right and to make right choices even if other kids aren't. And sometimes, when it's his turn to pray, he prays for this too. :)



Simon was able to play this season too - a year early (usually they start them at 4 in this league), and only because Dave was the coach. He was so excited. And honestly, for a 3 year old, he is pretty good - he made a few break aways with the ball, and did a good job as goalie. Mostly he just followed Ethan around.

Which I thought was just super sweet. :)

Apple Festival

Sunday was Topeka's annual Apple Festival. We hope to make this a fall tradition - it was so fun!

Watching a pioneer make apple fritters over the campfire.


Petting zoo.


50 cent rides on the hand car.


Sasparilla faces. :)


Clare was just happy to sit and observe!