It’s National Ice Cream Day!  What better way to celebrate than with ice cream!  The kids and I have been celebrating this afternoon using our  new Thirty-One Gifts bowls, which come in four fun striped colors.

Thirty-One Gifts has a new fun print that you will find super sweet!  Their new Sweet Sprinkles print is sure to make your day!  Featuring popsicles and ice cream cones in bright colors, this one will be a favorite!  I love how fun it all looks together with the colors and options.

The new print is currently available in the Large Utility Tote, Oh-Snap Bin, Double Duty Caddy, and of course the matching Get the Scoop Bowl Set.

Some new matching personalization options are now available as well.

Giveaway:

Woo hoo!  Our friends at Thirty-One Gifts have generously offered to give one lucky reader a set of the Sweet Sprinkles items!  The winner will receive the following:

• Large Utility Tote
• Oh-Snap Bin
• Double Duty Caddy
• Get the Scoop Bowl Set

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We’ve been using the Accountable2You program with our family for almost a year now.  It’s a great way to monitor what my kids are reading, searching, and holding them accountable.  You can read my review on this program here.

Accountable2You is is an accountability software that you can use on multiple devices with a membership.  Basically it tracks the activity and will alert you when something fishy is triggered, whether in an internet search or even in a text message.  The program can be set up to have someone be the accountability partner and receive an instant text or email when there is questionable activity.  This program cannot be disabled unless you know the password and will instantly trigger an alert as well if it’s attempted.

It’s important to note that this is just an accountability program and NOT a web filter.  The website recommends other programs for filtering.

More than just accountability on devices, it can also be set up to alert if someone is on a device after a certain time.  This is perfect for kids that may try and sneak their device after it’s supposed to be put up for the night.

Accountable2You Discount Code

Intersted in checking it out?  Head on over to create an account  and receive your first month for FREE!

What a lovely weekend it has been!  Lots of fun and some down time.  I think often we get too busy in the summer that we forget to have downtime.  This week, we have a lot going on so keeping it fairly simple.

Monday: Sandwiches at the park

Tuesday: Chickfila Cow Day

Wednesday: Pizza for my middle daughter’s 8th birthday!

Thursday: Cajun Cream Chicken, Salad

Friday: Roast in the pressure cooker, carrots, salad

Saturday: Chicken Enchiladas

Sunday: Leftovers!

What a weekend! My brother in law got married, we had my husband’s grandmother here from New York, lots of busy busy busy! Definitely one of those times where you need a weekend from the weekend!  It was  great time, though!

I’m working with the kids to plan our summer bucket list and I can’t wait to see what they decide to do this summer.  Now on to the meals!

Here’s what we plan to make this week:

Monday: Pizza

Tuesday: Mushroom Thyme Chicken, salad

Wednesday: Grilled pork chops, brussel sprouts

Thursday: Black bean burritos

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Cookout with friends

Sunday: Fix your own dinner 🙂

Through May 30th, you can get a fantastic deal on a Sam’s Club Savings membership.  I have been a member for several years and it comes in handy quite often!  Plus you can’t beat feeding everyone on the inexpensive meal choices!

For just $45, you’ll get the following:

• Sam’s Club Savings membership
• $20 gift card
• free rotisserie chicken
• free rolls
• free apple pie!

This deal is good through the end of May only, so keep that in mind and don’t delay!  Deal is available for new members only.  Click here for more information.

Holy smokes, this weekend was insane!  I think I went nonstop from Friday until Sunday night!  I had a mother/daughter day with church friends and my 2 little girls, all of the kids had their end of the year homeschool family night show, and a gymnastics show among other things!  So glad that homeschool co-op stuff is almost over so things will slow down a bit.  I don’t know how public school parents can keep up with things!

Monday: Burgers, zucchini, macaroni and cheese

Tuesday: Cajun cream chicken, salad

Wednesday: Black bean burritos

Thursday: Taco pie, salad

Friday: Grilled Chicken Salad

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Brats, grilled veggies

What are you making this week?

We’ve moved most of our stuff to the new house from the old house and it’s coming along nicely.  Having breathing room has been beneficial to all of us.  Now I’m having fun decorating and reminding the 18 month old that the table isn’t for standing 🙂

The week ahead brings a friend staying with us a few days and then our 15th anniversary!  I can’t believe it’s been that long.  It’s surreal.

Here’s what I plan to make this week:

Monday: Dinner out with friend

Tuesday: Lazy Lasagna

Wednesday: BBQ Chicken in the Crock pot

Thursday: Eggs, sausage, toast

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Chicken quesadillas

Sunday: Poppyseed Chicken, salad

Hope you have a great week!

I normally don’t blog here about the downsides of mylife.  The chaos.  The crazy.  The exhaustion.  But today I need to let it out!

I’m tired.

5 kids are exhausting!

Homeschooling 4 of them can be stressful.  4 different levels for all the subjects to teach and grade.  Pre-Algebra makes me want to pull my hair out most days.

Have a toddler who speaks in screams is enough to do us all in.  He loves to hear his voice and he loves to be VERY loud.

My husband works long hours and although I’m very proud of him and what he does, it makes it hard to be the one to get the kids up and put them to bed and do the daily stuff.

Adding a play and play practice for 2 of the kids on top of other extracurricular things makes my head spin.

I make a meal plan each week.  Normally things go according to plan.  This week, not so much.  This week, my kids have had peanut butter sandwiches for dinner 2 days in a row now.

Our bed sheets all need washing.

The bathrooms are a disaster.

“Mount Washmore” is reaching new heights.

I may or may not have showered this week.

I’m trying to eat healthy but the chaos jumps in the middle of that and sometimes convenience has to win.

I’ve yelled.

I’ve moved toys to the new house because I was tired of the kids fighting over them.  I have a beautiful new house that we can’t move in yet because lots still needs to be done.  It’s a little overwhelming and time consuming.

I haven’t kept up with my reading and quiet time.

I’ve thought about stopping this blog.  I just don’t have the time anymore and have a hard time paying to keep the blog running.  I’ve poured 7 years into this blog and I think I’m running out of steam.  Plus I wonder if anyone is even reading.

I’m grumpy and tired.

Through the midst of this, I know that God is still giving me new mercies each day.  New grace.  New breath and a fresh new start.

I do enjoy sharing a bit of our life with you guys.  I love sharing the new recipes.  I love sharing our homeschool adventures.  I love writing when I have time.

Tomorrow is a new day, and with that I can rest.

Psalm 62:5-8: For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him;  God is a refuge for us.