Week in Review - We Stayed Home for a Change!

This week I made an effort to stay home for a change.  It seems like we have gotten so incredibly busy over the past few weeks.  We're always running here, running there...  So, aside from the activities that we had to do, we stayed home.

Monday, Haley had her choir class, and the boys and I went shopping for shoes for her at Target.  We also got some really cool glow in the dark spider web stuff to hang on our porch for Halloween.  We live in a huge neighborhood and get tons of kids, so everyone tends to go all out when decorating.  Haley had a friend over for a bit that afternoon after choir, and then Monday night Haley had girl scouts and the rest of us had play practice.  The play is starting to look better as all of us get more comfortable with out roles.  Maybe, just maybe I will be able to do this.

Tuesday we stayed home all day and worked on schoolwork and chores.  That night we had play practice once again.

Wednesday was another day at home with schoolwork and chores, then off to dinner with my in-laws at a barbeque restaurant we've been going to since before Glen and I were married.  Its always so weird to see my kids playing out front of the restaurant when I remember my nieces when they were that age playing there.  We used to meet Glen's grandparents, his dad and step mother, his sister and two nieces, and the girls other grandfather there every week.  Now, both Glen's grandfather and Papa as we called the girls' other grandfather are gone, his sister moved away, but the tradition of going to the barbeque place still remains.

Thursday...you guessed it, stayed home all day until play practice that night.  We worked on our New World Explorers unit study in the afternoon.  The kids had great fun practicing their new knot tying skills.

Friday morning we got some school work done, then it was off to a friends house for lunch.  When the kids were younger we all used to have weekly playdates on Fridays.  Now, all the kids are school age, and with the exception of my kids, all are in school.  That afternoon I tried my hand at some new recipes.  Haley and I made homemade meatballs to freeze for use in various recipes, and then we made a meatloaf to put in the freezer for another day.  Haley enjoyed getting her hands yucky making the meatloaf!

We also made homemade granola to use in homemade granola bars that I finished up this morning.  It was actually simple to do and made the whole house smell yummy.  The boys helped me make a batch of freezer chocolate chip oatmeal cookies to bake another day.  Now we have a gallon size freezer bag full of yummy cookies to make as snacks when the mood strikes.  Friday night I had a girl's movie night with a couple of my friends.  We went to see Life as We Know It and then ended up at Steak and Shake drinking milkshakes until midnight.  Who knew Steak and Shake was such a happening place at that hour?

This morning my kids woke me up way too early, but after a cup of coffee I managed to try my hand at making french toast for the freezer.  Of course, the kids ate some first, but you're supposed to freeze the rest for another day.  It started out well...

But my brilliant idea to line the cookie sheet with wax paper was a complete disaster.  The french toast stuck like glue!  No way was it coming loose.  So, eight slices of bread gone, I regroup and try again.  This time I grease a cookie sheet, leave off the wax paper, and it worked much better.  Although the french toast still stuck a bit, it was a huge improvement.  I also made a couple slices the old way (on the stove), and tried one of each.  The ones that were baked in the oven were crispier and more toast like, while the ones on the stove were only crispy on the outside.  They are both good though.  Now if I can just figure out how to keep them from sticking!

Lastly, I finished up my granola bars this morning.  They actually turned out really well.  However, I think next time I'll use mini chocolate chips for the kids, because these are VERY chocolatety.  Maybe not a bad thing though, right?  I would prefer raisins, so I'll have to try that too.  Its still a work in progress, but I'll keep you posted.  Now to just clean up the huge mess I made of my kitchen with all my baking...

How was your week?  For more Weekly Wrap Up posts, be sure to stop by Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.