Nature, Organizing and A Bird!

I got this cool idea off of our cool blog

The fairy blog Mother

We first painted the bottom of an egg carton different colors

then we decorated the box

then we went on a walk in the woods and found all sorts of wonderful things

A daisy from Bridger :)

I have been organizing (maybe nesting) and organised the school area into categories that will hopefully be a little more manageable

A spray painted cupcake tin with plastic cups becomes an organized art central for supplies

One kid doing legos the other one checkers

I organised my fridge too.  Before I went out shopping I washed it out and then put cirran wrap or cling wrap onto the shelves to make spills and everyday use cleanup a lot easier in the future

I took plastic organizer drawers and plopped them into my freezer to put things in sections.  I just pull out my box and SEE what I actually have. This works so much better for me now because I was always missing something under something else.

I am wanting a better budget with meal planning.  I have never been good at meal planning or grocery lists so now I am going to change that.  I need to. I need to SAVE! 

 I looked through the recipe books that I have and copied down (onto 3X5 cards) the recipes that are my staples that I use all the time and the ones I love.  I then put a list of all the things that would have to be bought at the store on the back of the recipe card.  So all I have to do when making my shopping list is to go to that recipe and look on the back for the list.  Even meals that I don't use recipes and it is all in my head I wrote them down so that others in the house can start making the meals as well especially when this baby comes.

Thrift photo book with the cards in it and then I put labels for Breakfast, Lunch and dinner and then for sides and others

I made a calendar on Word (if any of you want it I can e-mail it to you) and then I printed it onto magnetic paper (you can buy on amazon) and then laminated it using the self adhesive laminating paper.  Then I stuck it on my fridge and filled it in with things I am wanting to make this week.  I found those things from my little recipe book I just made and Pinterest. I have the days daddy works that week and the days he is off so I know if he needs a lunch packed for him. and also I will be having a school boy here soon so I will be making lunches on the go as well as lunches at home.  Then I have the extra's like snacks, sides, treats and drinks that I want to make or try as well that week.  So I make the list of the things I want and then I make a shopping list.

This is the shopping list which is in the templates on Word (already made).   I just did a little customizing for myself.

I stuck to this list when I went shopping and then I am almost done with this week and will be able to incorporate a lot of the stuff I bought into next weeks list as well.  With this menu plan I have gone through things a lot slower than usual and I know what we are having for our meals and I don't have to guess anymore.  It is nice and I look forward to it working and helping me save $.  This all took me a whole afternoon of prep time to write down everything but now I have it it will be stream line and faster.

we Got a BIRD!

A parakeet.  She is just 4 months old and the boys named her sparkles.

This is on the way home from Ramstein with our new bird

Bridger is tuckered out from Swimming.

Here is our make shift bird cage which doesn't work that great but keeps her in for at least over night.  She loves to FLY all over the house.

Socializing with it.  Joseph is so good with the bird and helps the boys to experience it too.  It is fun to see this other side of him.  I like it :)

Notice Gideon's finger....He must have an imaginary bird on his finger :)

Harvesting PEAS!!!

They are YUMMY!

Bridger has been into 'writing' lately and I was really impressed to see he stayed in-between the lines.  He loves bringing me books that he has memorized like Good night Zoo and read them to me.  I can't wait to start school with this little guy.  I love to see him wanting to be independent and wanting to learn more and more.