Weekly Wrap- Up: The Week We Had a Mini Party

By Thursday afternoon I decided to change this week's Friday Favorites to a Weekly Wrap- up as I was starting to feel that my favorite moments this week were dwindling away.  I tried to stay upbeat! I really did but by Thursday we had three kids who are all miserably fighting off end of summer/ change of season colds, I had heard from Alec's school at least a half-dozen times this week, and my head is spinning with changes; these looming changes that I just can't keep ignoring like I really want to. I don't know about you but I typically don't do well with change.



I woke to this beautiful bouquet on Friday morning and I couldn't help but smile (I had picked it up for myself at the grocery store Thursday night).  I just love this color combo!



Ian and I had an appointment at the DMV for him to take his learner's permit test that had been postponed from April.  I'm not sure who was more nervous him or I!  He was allowed to get 4 or 5 questions wrong and still pass but he only missed 2!  We had heard the test was hard to pass the first time around so we were so relieved it all worked out.  Their appointment times were spot on too and even with all their safety protocols in place we weren't there all that long.


After dropping Ian off at work I headed home to make cheesecake cupcakes for Evan's party.  We made chocolate (using the recipe from my birthday and swapping out the toppings to whipped cream and mini Oreos) and chocolate chip versions (using this recipe but subbing out Nilla wafers for the cookie dough; we should have used chips ahoy cookies!).  The house smelled amazing!!






For dinner we grilled up some ham steaks and I cooked up some homemade sweet potato fries and corn on the cob to go with it.

We had a small, early birthday party planned for Evan on Saturday.  His birthday isn't until the end of Sept. but we like to celebrate a month early and have his friends over swimming.  He only invited 5 friends this year and all but one was able to come!  I spent my morning making up some food trays and getting ready.




Everyone arrived around 12:30 and we had the best time!  These are 5 of our favorite homeschooling families and all us moms are great friends too.  We were reminiscing at how much the kids have all grown since we first met.




We grilled up hot dogs and hamburgers to go with the food trays and the cheesecakes and just had leftovers for dinner.  Someone around the lake was setting off fireworks so I ended my night on the deck watching them.




I didn't have any plans on Sunday but we all ended up going on a nice two hour hike.  It did start raining part way through but the tree cover was enough to keep us dry. 




I couldn't believe it was already starting to look like fall! 


We arrived home around lunchtime and I spent my afternoon reading, working on the blog, and doing lots and lots of laundry.  It rained the entire rest of the day; which no one complained about as we really needed the rain. 

For dinner we grilled up chicken tenders which we made into sandwiches and ate up some of the leftover chips with salad.  We ended our evening with a rainbow; can you see it?  It was kind of faint.



Ian has asked to go shopping for a wallet on Monday.  Since just him and I were going I offered to let him drive.  It is both so exciting and so nerve wracking to be in the passenger's seat.  He did great and we ended up finding a wallet at the first place we looked.  



I spent the rest of the day reading and cleaning house.  I also checked in with Alec to make sure he was finishing up his summer reading assignment.  We got his schedule in the mail and he is so excited that his first shop on the trial rotation is culinary!  

For dinner I made my Weight Watcher's American Chop Suey; a nice easy meal that almost everyone eats.  We served it with salad. 



We spent a quiet day at home on Tuesday.  Ian was fighting off a head cold/ allergies so I spent much of my time reading when I wasn't fetching him food & drinks.  We did check in with our doctor to make sure it was OK for everyone else to go about living their normal lives and to make sure they didn't want to test him (and we could and they didn't). The younger boys and I did manage to squeeze in a little hike along a nearby nature trail where we spotted this little toad. 



For dinner I made shrimp & vegetable stir fry over rice (with chicken for the younger boys) even though only Ian and I were home to eat as the others all went to get their haircut. 

Ian was feeling better on Wednesday but we kept him home for some rest.  I started a new puzzle (the pieces are so tiny!) and read a good portion of my latest book.  Evan went out to lunch with my mother in law and in between rain storms we did walk up to both drop off and pick up mail from our mailbox at the end of the road.  





For dinner we made shake and bake pork chops with egg noodles and salad. After dinner I went with my husband into the woods to cut up a tree that had fallen in our way during the tropical storm.  He didn't get much cut before it began to rain again. 

First thing Thursday morning Evan was knocking on my door complaining of a sore throat and stuffy nose so the cold was making it's rounds.  By breakfast Alec admitted he wasn't feeling so great either-- scratchy throat and post nasal drip. Ugh! As long as everyone can get healthy by the start of school that's all I really care about.  At least the lake was really beautiful.  We've had cool nights and mornings with mild temperatures during the day and the break from our heatwave has been so nice.



Ian conned me into making homemade waffles for breakfast since everyone would eat it and I wouldn't have to make 3 different breakfasts.  LOL.  I whipped up a double batch so we have plenty in the freezer.  


After they ate I headed out to get groceries.  While at the store the doctor's office called to schedule my surgery for next month. I was so excited but as the reality sunk in of me being out of commission for a month or so while trying to navigate Alec's new school schedule (which changed twice already this week)... and trying to keep us all healthy so I can actually make it to my surgery I could feel my anxiety getting the better of me.  I truly have no idea how any of this is going to work out but somehow I am sure it will.  I just have to breathe and focus only on those things that I can control.  

I spent my afternoon doing food prep., making up some homemade chicken soup and bread, and writing up a BJ's grocery list since my husband and I were heading out shopping after dinner. By the time we got home both Alec and Evan seemed to have perked up tremendously and Ian seems almost back to normal too.



Linking Up With: Morning cup of joe,  On the Edge, 


Comments

  1. Congrats to your sweet boy on his license! You have my mouth watering over here again at 6am! Ha! Have a great weekend

    ReplyDelete
  2. The cheesecake cupcakes look so good and just the right size! Glad he was able to celebrate and hope you have a lovely weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They were just the right size and I was pretty glad we didn't have many left over either as they sure were tasty.

      Delete
  3. Yay, your boy got his license! Mmmm cheesecake cupcakes. Love the pic of you and your man!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, his permit anyway; it's basically a practice license and then he can get his official one in a few months.

      Delete
  4. WOW!! you had a busy week!! Congrats to your son ! Those cheesecake cupcakes look amazing! Did I miss the recipe?????
    Thanks so much for stopping by!!
    Stay safe, healthy and Happy!!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had a very busy week. I just went back and added a link to both those cheesecake recipes.

      Delete
  5. HIS face!! You can see how excited he is. That is such a big deal to get their permit. I remember when Anna got hers for the first time. Such exciting times. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is so excited!! I was actually surprised he was to nervous to drive home; but I remember being the same way.

      Delete
  6. I love reading your weekly adventures! Thanks for always sharing. I will add you to my prayer list now for your surgery and for your family's school situation to be figured out. New Jersey's school situation is constantly changing too! Do you have a receipe for those mini cheese cake cupcakes?! Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you! More prayers are always appreciated! I just linked up the recipes we used in the post.

      Delete
  7. Those cheesecake cupcakes look AMAZING! Yay for your boy getting his license!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congrats on the permit test. Gabbie had hers - it's expired now - but I wouldn't let her drive with me, just with Dave!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. Ian has only driven with me and not with my husband yet! I thought I'd be so much more nervous with him driving.

      Delete
  9. I would have been nervous about my son driving too, but it is cool that he is able to start learning. Those cupcakes look amazing. I am glad you got to have a small party. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is so cool that he can finally drive. He has been driving around on our property and road (it's private) for years and is quite good but obviously nervous to be driving with others on the road with him.

      Delete
  10. Always all that lovely food! I love to read your posts, they have a good sphere!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can't even fathom the idea of my kids driving someday, but how awesome that he got his permit in one shot! Also, you have me salivating over all those food posts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't believe he's old enough to drive already! I never really got that saying that the days are long but the years are short until I had kids.

      Delete
  12. Grocery store flowers are the best! Looks like a great party, those cupcakes looked delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They sure are and they always last a good week too!

      Delete
  13. Wow - what a week! I remember what having the kids at home was like, and I didn't even homeschool! :) Your flowers and cupcakes both ROCK! Happy Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  14. All the food looks so good and congrats to Ian on his license!!! He ROCKED that test! I hope everyone is feeling better and that you remain healthy for your surgery. Enjoy your cooler weather -- I'm still waiting for it to get here and our heat is bad right now. Ugh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! They are feeling much better today.

      Delete
  15. Joanne, I am with you with all these school changes. My head is spinning and I feel like I am avoiding all of it until the last possible minute...which is apparently fast approaching! My kids will be in for a big shock once a schedule is implemented again. I hope the transition is easy for all of the kids, parents, and teachers this year. Thanks for sharing the last bits of your summer fun with us and joining my link party!

    Shelbee
    www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've had no less than 2-3 emails a day!! The changes are changing back to old models or modifying only portions of it... I keep reminding myself and Alec that the schools are going to work with us if we're confused or have days/time wrong as they're just as up in the air as we are. I can't believe he starts next Wednesday!! Eeek!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Share Our Lives: 5 Items I Can't Live Without

Prime Purchases in February 2023

Let's Look At... Our Grocery haul