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Hey, friends! After traveling last week, we spent this week in full recovery mode. Let’s just say that a “vacation” with three little boys isn’t exactly relaxing. Fun, yes. Restful? Not at all.???? But we’re back in the routine (kind of) around here, and I’m popping in today with another roundup of Our Week in Meals!
For those of you who are new to the blog, Our Week in Meals is where I share a little bit about what we’ve been up to over the past week — as it relates to our meals each night. This series gives you a glimpse “behind the scenes” at some highlights from our life, shows you how I balance a busy schedule with feeding my family, and offers a few new ideas for your own weekly meal plan. Now let’s back up to last weekend…
If you read last week’s recap, then you know that we were on vacation all week at Martha’s Vineyard. Sunday was our travel day home, so we left my parents’ house at 5:00 a.m. to catch the 6:00 ferry off the island. Such a beautiful sunrise trip!
Once we arrived in Woods Hole, Keith hopped on a shuttle to Logan Airport in Boston so that he could catch a flight to Europe for a business trip for the week. Aunt Barbara, the boys, and I proceeded on for the rest of the drive south to Virginia. But not before picking up an Everything Bagel with Lox, Cream Cheese, and Tomato for breakfast at Cape Cod bagel in Falmouth!
It was actually kind of a brutal drive. Traffic was insane, but the kids were troopers. We had a few unplanned pit stops for bathroom emergencies, sandwiches for a picnic lunch at a rest stop in New Jersey,
and finally arrived home around 7 p.m. That’s a 14-hour travel day! We were exhausted and there wasn’t much food in the house, so we all agreed on bowls of cereal and apple slices for dinner before crashing in bed. Not fancy, but it worked!
The kids were so excited to be home with all of their favorite toys on Monday morning. Even before we ate breakfast, Spence was out on his tractor with the sunrise.
Casey and I joined him for a walk around the property.
I spent the rest of the morning doing laundry, unpacking suitcases, and planning a few meals for the week. We needed to restock our kitchen after our trip, so I dragged all 3 boys to the grocery store with me after lunch.
This was the kids’ request for dinner: a salad (I added tomatoes and cucumbers later), a rotisserie chicken, and a box of our favorite Horizon Cheesy Mac White Cheddar Shells. It was a simple and fast meal that I could quickly pull together when we returned home from the pool in the evening.
The dinner was delicious, but I was really excited about using this new salad chopper (<– affiliate link) to make the salad. My old salad bowl cracked not long ago, so when I saw this advertised I knew that I needed my own! It’s just like the bowl and chopper that they use at Subway to make the restaurant-style chopped salads quickly. Just toss all of your ingredients in the giant bowl and use the cutter (which is a lot like a double-edged pizza cutter) to slice everything. It cuts through meat, cheeses, veggies, herbs, and (obviously) lettuce. Plus, the bowl is nice and BIG so it holds everything easily. LOVE this!
Tuesday was a beautiful, sunny (but not too hot) day, so we stayed at home in the morning and kept busy with plenty of outdoor play.
After lunch I took the boys over to Yoder’s so that I could pick up some lunch meat at the deli, as well as a pint of local blueberries.
They each had an ice cream cone for dessert and played on the playground after I was finished shopping. SUMMER!
We spent another afternoon at the pool for the boys’ swimming lessons, and then came home to a delicious new dinner recipe (which I will share with you on the blog soon). I served this 5-Ingredient Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken with rice and steamed broccoli.
Wednesday morning coffee on the porch while supervising outdoor play…
One of my new mugs from Chilmark Pottery on the Vineyard!
We went to Costco for the first time in ages and restocked our supply of paper towels, laundry detergent, etc. Not necessarily a fun task with 3 kids in tow, but we were efficient and made it home by lunchtime.
Dinner that night was one of the boys’ favorites (and a meal that we often have while Keith is out of town) — 4-Ingredient Spring Pasta (it’s really just pesto pasta with chicken and peas). I used the leftover rotisserie chicken from Monday night in this dish.
The boys were thrilled to see our babysitter Hannah arrive on Thursday morning so that I could go to a regular appointment at the dermatologist in Charlottesville. I was thrilled with the few moments of peace and quiet in the car! Plus, I arrived in Charlottesville about 15 minutes early, so I had time to pick up a mocha at Starbucks. Mom Treat!
Is it sad that a solo doctor’s appointment felt like a relaxing getaway?!
I stopped in the grocery store next to the doctor’s office to pick up a few things on my way home, so I also grabbed some sushi to eat for lunch. I needed to get back to relieve Hannah by noon, so this was a great grab-and-go option (and it’s a rare indulgence since we don’t have any sushi in Madison).
Real Crab California Roll + Spicy Tuna Roll
We were back at the pool for swimming lessons later that afternoon, and then picked up our CSA at my neighbor’s farm. This week’s stash included a quart of blueberries, these beautiful blue hydrangeas,
and another loaf of Jan’s homemade multigrain bread (with cranberries and seeds). This bread! My family is obsessed! Jan told Gibbs that she would teach him how to make it, so I’ve now got my fingers crossed that Gibbs will become the baker in the family.????
The boys were starving after swimming, so they came home and devoured this meal: Garlic Marinated Pork Tenderloin + Jan’s Bread + Caesar Salad. Hit the spot!
Keith made it home from his trip late on Thursday night, so by Friday morning he was out mowing the grass before work.
While the boys followed him around the yard, I took a post-breakfast walk up our road for some exercise and fresh air. It was still cool, so the morning was gorgeous!
The baby calves in the distance share our back fence line. Can you spot them?
The corn is growing taller!
And hay is everywhere!
We spent the afternoon at the pool,
and then came home to a delicious Vegetable Lasagna and salad for dinner. I will share this recipe in a couple of weeks, since it’s a perfect way to enjoy some summer veggies! Love when I can get all of my boys on board with a vegetarian meal…
We were up and out early on Saturday morning so that we could leave by 7:30 to get up to Northern Virginia for my nephew’s baptism.
The whole gang! Keith’s brothers, my sisters-in-law, my in-laws, and all 7 grandsons!
Lunch after the service was a barbecue feast at Keith’s parents’ house. Delicious!
Barbecue Brisket + Barbecue Chicken + Caesar Salad + Coleslaw + Chickpea Salad
We made it home around dinnertime, so I reheated leftover lasagna from Friday and served it with leftover salad. No time (or energy) for anything more!
And that’s where I’ll leave it for the week! I hope that all of my American readers have a very happy and safe July 4th holiday! Tomorrow’s recipe post includes a fresh and easy seafood dinner, so stay tuned for that as well!????????
I love to read your blog and watching the boys grow up
Hi, Joyce! Thank you! I’m so glad that you enjoy the blog. It’s crazy how fast the boys grow, isn’t it?! Time is flying!
First I want to say I love Yoders. My favorite time to drop by is in the fall with all the homemade pumpkin goodies. I saw your 5 ingredient crispy honey garlic chicken and thought to myself I have chicken legs in the freezer and wasn’t sure what I was going to make with them.
I have the exact hydrangea in my flower garden. They are beautiful.
I always love your blog.
Thanks so much for your kind note, Diana! I agree — Yoder’s is the BEST in the fall! Pumpkin everything! 🙂
I sent you an email with the chicken recipe. Enjoy!
hi, love your blog. what does your husband do to travel so much; just curious..I look forward to sunday afternoons for your latest blog. thanks
Hi, Nancy! Thank you so much for your sweet note. I love that you enjoy our Sunday updates!
My husband works for Amazon! 🙂
We just had zucchini pie and baked drumsticks for dinner… wish I had the garlic honey recipe! Maybe next time? Your extended family is beautiful. Great good week.
Hi, Maryellen! I just sent you the chicken recipe via email so that you can make it next time! 🙂 Hope you enjoyed the zucchini pie. I need to make it again soon — love that!
Hi,
Just picked the zucchini today from our garden… the pie was/is delish! Thanks for the honey garlic chicken recipe.
Maryellen
Wonderful! Homegrown zucchini — such a treat! 🙂
First of love these posts and Happy 4th July from Ireland. As the mom of a very energetic small man but determined fussy eater, would love to know how you encouraged your boys to eat such a great range of healthy foods…
Hi, Elaine! It’s so tough…kids can be incredibly finicky! I’m no expert, but after watching my own 3 boys grow and eat, here are some of my basic tips:
1. Realize that all kids are different, so never blame yourself for a picky eater! My oldest and my youngest definitely started out picky, while my middle son has always been adventurous and willing to eat anything. I’ve obviously raised them the same and fed them the same foods, but the other two boys are just more sensitive than Casey.
2. Even when you have a picky child, realize that there are some things that you can do to help encourage a wider range of food experimentation — it just might be a really slow process. 🙂
3. Don’t let your child’s tastes dictate your meals so that you’re eating the same chicken or pasta every night, or (worse yet) making separate dinners for everyone. That’s just stressful and hard, so don’t do it. 🙂 Instead, plan meals that YOU want to eat, and encourage your child to at least try one bite. Often, the kids realize that the food actually tastes good and they want to eat more. If not, that’s fine. I don’t push it. In order to not feel guilty and send my boys to bed hungry, I try to include at least one option on the table that I know they will enjoy. For instance, if I’m serving a new casserole that I don’t know if they will enjoy, I will be sure to have a veggie side dish that they like or a side of garlic bread that they will definitely eat. That way there’s something for them to fill their bellies with — even if it’s not the world’s most balanced meal. 🙂 It all works out over time, and by taking the pressure off of you and your child, you will probably find that he slowly but surely finds a few new foods that he likes and eventually broadens his palate and becomes more adventurous with food.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Thanks so much, that’s really helpful advice and great to know others have made it out the other side of the fussy eater phase…was beginning to think he might go to college only eating cereal and mashed potato ????
Just a specific question if you don’t mind, did/ do you serve everybody the same food family style and let each pick what they like or would you recommend making up plates? My little guy gets very excited about serving everybody but it can then be challenging to get some veg on his plate
Thanks again
Hey, Elaine! I always serve the plates myself, set the table, and then the boys sit down to say the blessing and eat what is on their plate. I keep the portions small, and I try not to let too much of the food touch each other (since the little kids often don’t want the different dishes to mix). If I didn’t serve the plates, I’m sure that my boys wouldn’t put everything on their own plates either! 🙂 Maybe you could let your son help to serve the second round — IF he has tried at least one bite of everything on his plate first? A little bit of motivation!
Elaine I like your suggestions. The touching thing seems to be a big problem .Then letting them happen themselves to seconds is a good idea.
Hi All
Going to give it a try and see how we go, think the incentive of being mom and serving might really work.
Will let you know how we get on 🙂
Hope you all enjoying your holiday
Perfect, Elaine! He’ll come around!
I always enjoy your posts! Such a beautiful family. And thank you for sharing such healthy meals and beautiful pictures. ????
Thank you, thank you, Cheryl! Your kind note completely made my day! Thanks so much for your support. 🙂
I always enjoy reading your posts, and hearing about your family! The honey garlic chicken looks so good! Can you make it with chicken breasts instead of the legs? I know the cooking time will be different. Thank you!
Hi, Joanne! Thank you for your kind note, as always! Yes, you can definitely prepare the chicken with chicken breasts instead of legs (with an extended cooking time). I will send you the recipe via email!
My goodness 7 Grandsons & not a girl in the large group. With feeding picky eaters I find small portions are need on the plate. That large overwhelm them. Looks like a lovely long week. Thanks Blair.
I agree, Jeanette — smaller portions is always better than overwhelming them with big portions. Great tip!
I find if I am not feeling wee & my husband cooks. Presentation is not good so large abouts dropped on a pkate. I am uable to eat it as it does not look good.
Sorry about the spelling. I do not know what happened there. Computer had a moment.
Oh, yes. My husband loves to grill (which I SO appreciate), but his presentation is definitely lacking. 🙂
Thanks Jeanette…I have introduced smaller portions in the last few months and seconds and it has definitely helped but we still have a long way to go ????
Dd would pick through my dishes to see what was in them. I started using the food processor to fix that habit as you could not find a veg. but there were a lot of them. Now I did start meals with lots of veg. & dip. Plus every restaurant. She like that.. Today she is the only one of her friends that will eat the Brussels Sprouts. Go figure this must be why many of us have gray hair.
Oh my gosh I love everything about this post!!! Cape Cod is where hubby proposed, Everything bagel with Lox is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE breakfast, that pesto pasta is genius, the vacation spot looks relaxing and outdoorsy and wonderful, SUSHI is god’s gift to our taste buds, hydrangeas were our wedding flowers and that lasagna looks amazing! Basically, you are my hero.
Hah! That’s funny, Jennifer — I’m so glad that you found so much to love in this post! You obviously have great taste. 😉