Introducing Yoda the Anole Lizard

So it was reptile/amphibian week at the preschool and the teachers decided that for Show and Tell the kids could bring something to go along with that theme.  It could be a picture, stuffed animal, or other toy.  Being the director, I thought it would be cool to have Logan bring a live reptile.  I figured his class would love to have the real thing visit.  So after school on Wednesday, we stopped at the pet store.  I told the worker that I was looking for a cheap reptile or amphibian.  She directed me to the anole lizards ($7) and asked if I had some to keep him in.  When I said no she took me to where the habitats were.  I was expecting a smallish plastic box, something portable that I could carry him to preschool in.  Oh, no...anoles require the same type of set-up as the bigger more expensive reptiles.  She starts putting stuff in my basket and I'm too embarrassed to tell her I just wanted something to last until Friday for show and tell. Over $100 later and we have a new pet!

 Nice digs, huh?

 Judging by his green color, he likes his new home.

Here's the kicker...the pet store was all out of portable carriers, so we didn't even get to take him to show and tell.  It took all of about 30 minutes for me to be completely creeped out by htaving a lizard in my home.  He has to eat live crickets so we have those in the house, too.  We'll see how long this lasts...I'm thinking there's some cousin who might like Yoda even better. 

The Evolution of Laundry

So, when Paul and I first got married and moved into our house, this is how the laundry room looked.  I would fold clothes straight from the dryer and put his in one basket and mine in the other.  And there they would stay until we needed something out of them or they were too full to add anything else.

Then we had Sophie and it looked like this.  I just added a third basket for her stuff.  The good thing was her folded flat when not used.  I also didn't put anything away until the baskets were full and I needed them for whatever was in the dryer (so I could dry those that were in the washer).

Then we added Logan and another basket.  I'd switch around who got what basket depending on who was going to have the most clothes, but usually I kept the bigger ones for Paul and I since that meant I could go longer before I had to put them away.  It did make the laundry room crowded with baskets on both the dryer and the washer.

Now that the kids are old enough to put away some of their own clothes, I've added 2 more baskets...one for each kid with the clothes that go in their dressers.  Of course, now I have to put clothes away much more often (unless they are nearly empty and can be stacked).  I have specific days that the kids put theirs away (it's their chore for the day).  And if you're curious, Paul's clothes are sent out to be laundered and ironed.  If you know me at all, you know I DON'T IRON EVER.

And this is why any basket of clean, folded clothes have to either be put away or stored back in the laundry room.

Meal Plan Monday April 16

Here's what we had the last 2 weeks:
Italian Crock Pot Chicken (found on Pinterest)

Asian Noodles with Stir Fry Veggies (from Eat at Home site)

Pizza and Salads
Brisket and Hot Dogs at the Bryce's for Easter
Ham Easter Lunch at the Walker's
Crock Pot Meaty Taco Soup (also from Pinterest)

Vietnamese Fried Rice with Chicken (Eat at Home)

Wild Rice Casserole (Pinterest)

Crock Pot Roast (kit from the store)
Purple Pig Restaurant
Taco Cabana
Spring Creek Barbeque

Here's the menu for this week:

Monday: CORN/Freezer Meal

Tuesday: Easy Parmesan Chicken

Wednesday: Sessler Salads

Thursday: Asian Chicken, Stir-Fry Veggies, and Rice

Friday: Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup

Saturday: Out for Dinner

Sunday: Leftovers/CORN/Freezer

Check out more menus from Organizing Junkie.

Getting the Shot

I tried to get a picture of the cousins recently when we all went to the zoo.  This is what I got instead.

Meal Plan Monday April 2

Check out more menus at Organizing Junkie.

Here's what we ended up having the past 2 weeks:

Monday: Thai Peanut Chicken

Logan and Paul loved this. Logan even had some leftovers later in the week for lunch. I think it was a little too spicy for Sophie.

Tuesday: IHOP

Wednesday: Sessler Salads
I let the kids choose their own salad dressing for their salad. This is how we decided.

Thursday: Lentil Tacos
Paul didn't seem to like this much (because it didn't have any meat in it). I liked it and even took the leftovers to work for our potluck as a bean dip with tortilla chips.

Friday: CORN
We ate stuff from the fridge since we were going to be gone for the weekend.

Saturday: Pizza Party
It was my niece and nephews birthday party so we had pizza.

Sunday: Dinner Out

Monday: Salmon Patties
My mom was here so I requested salmon patties and mashed potatoes.

Tuesday: Egg Salad
My mom made this for Logan, since he loves hard boiled eggs so much.

Wednesday: Pizza
We used the last of our fundraiser pizzas...so sad.

Thursday: Chicken Nuggets
The pizza kit from the night before had chicken nuggets in it so I did those for the kids.

Friday: Thai restaurant
The kids had dinner at Grandma's while Paul and I went out.

Saturday: Sandwiches
I knew the kids mostly snack at Grandma's so I just did sandwiches and yogurt for the kids.

Sunday: Ekrich Sausage

Here's what's on the menu for the next 2 weeks:

Italian Crock Pot Chicken (found on Pinterest)

Asian Noodles with Stir Fry Veggies (from Eat at Home site)

Pizza and Salads

Quick and Easy Chicken Parmesan (in the new Kraft magazine)

Crock Pot Meaty Taco Soup (also from Pinterest)

Vietnamese Fried Rice with Chicken (Eat at Home)

Wild Rice Casserole (Pinterest)

Crock Pot Roast (kit from the store)

With Easter, we will be out of town so not sure what we'll be eating