1. Larabar
I love having an energy/snack bar of some sort in my pantry that I can grab on the go. I’ve discovered my favorite…Larabar. 
Not only does it taste delicious, but it’s healthy because they use real food to make these bars. My favorite bar is “Pecan Pie” and the ingredients are: dates, almonds and pecans…that’s it. It tastes just like pecan pie…yum.
A friend introduced me to these great placemats. I pulled them out this week for our special birthday dinner for my youngest son (big 2 yr old!) I love how durable they are but how “comfy” the designs are…remind me of scrapbooking. The biggest benefit is that each one the company offers has Biblical truth on it that you can discuss over dinner. (if you want to check them out click on the title above to be directed to their site).
3. Stuffed Animal Safari
This is one of my boys’ favorite activities. We played it again this week…and it delivered a lot of joy and laughter. Gather all the stuffed animals you want to play with, then take turns placing the animals around the house. When you finish call all the “hunters” to go on safari to find the animals. 
4. Zippy Honey Chicken
When I got married my older sister made me a little book of all her favorite recipes. Every night for the first few years of marriage I made something out of that book for dinner! This is one recipe that is still in the rotation because it’s easy to make and I usually have all the ingredients on hand (butter, honey, mustard, curry powder, and chicken).
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Melt 1/3 cup of butter in a baking dish (i use an 8×8 or 9×9 for 3 chix breasts; 9×13 for 6 chix breasts).
Remove dish from oven when butter is melted and add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of liquid honey, 1/4 cup mustard, and 4 tsps curry powder. Blend well.
Roll chicken (fryer or breasts) in mixture and place meaty side down in pan.
Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes, basting; turn and bake 15 more minutes until chicken is tender. (1 hour total cooking time)
I would only make this dish if you enjoy curry. Rice is a great side and some yummy steamed veggies or salad.
5. The “Winnie the Pooh” Movie
Before kids, my hubby and I went to movies on a weekly basis. I grew up going to see movies. I just love going to a theater…the shared experience, the big screen, the cold soda (yeah i’m originally from the midwest), warm popcorn. LOVE it all! Since it’s been in the 100s every day for the past 17 days or so, I thought one way to beat the heat was take the boys to see a movie.
“Winnie the Pooh” was the perfect option. It is only 69 minutes long. It’s sweet, who doesn’t love the classic Pooh characters. There is a great lesson taught: put your friend’s needs before your own. Lastly, it was really funny…not any cheap, naughty humor (like most kids movies these days) but just good ole-fashioned funny. One of my favorite memories of the week! (and yes, we shared a soda and a bag of popcorn =))
6. Max Lucado’s Children’s books…”You are Mine”
Remember when I wrote early this week about the topic of comparison/contentment? This week one of my sons wanted me to read him the book, “You are Mine” by Max Lucado. As I read this book I realized how perfectly Mr. Lucado wrote a story describing our tendency to compete, compare and work for contentment, only to rob us of true joy. Here is the summary from Max Lucado’s website:
“In You Are Mine, the Wemmicks compete with each other to collect the nicest and the most boxes and balls in order to appear more “important” than others. Punchinello, not wanting to be left out, resolves to do whatever it takes to fit in. But he doesn’t realize how much it would cost him. Eli steps in to show Punchinello that he is loved simply because of whose he is, not what he has.”
This book is a great way to initiate a conversation with your children about contentment and how it’s only our identity in God that ultimately matters.
What are some of your favorites from this week? Please share with us!
Love Larabars, too! And I’m totally going to have my kids play the Stuffed Animal Safari game. Sounds so fun! Thanks. 🙂
One of my faves this week has been caprese salad – I bought some yummy tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balls from the store. I sliced them up, chopped some basil to go on top, poured on some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Yummy lunch! (you know my aversion to sandwiches for lunch!)
um yum erin! i’ll join you for lunch any time! =)
Had to add Max Lucado’s book “You Are Special” – my absolute favorite children’s book! And of course…Bluebell’s dessert trio! Definitely looking forward to the Pooh movie!
yes ashley!! absolutely LOVE that one too. He has sooo many good books. And of course the dessert trio…that should have been top of my list. thank you for introducing me to that naughtiness. =)
i LOVE larabars, too! sometimes i need a good chunk of calories without a lot of work–and i always reach for them. mmmmm.