This was the first year our kids were truly old enough for Elf on the Shelf, it’s even better and more fun than I could have imagined. Meet Argyle, the newest member of our family. We love him. Also, does he absolutely need to be packed away on December 25th? Can we keep him around through Spring Break? Asking for a friend.
WEEK OF DECEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 23
GROCERY SHOPPING = $381.14
$111.72 at Trader Joe’s for the Big Sunday Shop, $44.07 for mid-week shop at Target, and $225.35 at Costco for a bi-weekly run.
DINING OUT = $63
$33 Sunday Lunch + $30 Monday Lunch
SUNDAY LUNCH
After Hebrew School, we decided to pick-up kolaches from our favorite spot. They’re starting to get expensive, 8 kolaches now cost $33 with tip! Worth it though. They are SO GOOD.SUNDAY DINNER
We baked gingerbread cookies in the afternoon, and decided it would pair perfectly with spaghetti and meat sauce for dinner. We had to do a shirtless spaghetti dinner, because toddlers.
MONDAY LUNCH
Today was a work from home day for my husband, we went on a few errands by foot (err, by stroller) together with the baby and picked up lunch on our way home $30 with tip.MONDAY DINNER
I planned on roasting a whole chicken with potatoes and carrots, rosemary and lemons, however, it didn’t quite thaw enough yesterday from the deep freeze. Sigh. Went with my favorite Thai-inspired chicken dishes with rice instead.TUESDAY LUNCH
The kids each had a classroom holiday party, so the baby and I did that — and we filled up on sugar cookies and rice krispy treats, and took the big kids home early. I had last nights leftovers for a late lunch, the kids ate the lunchboxes I packed earlier in the morning (PB sandwiches, grapes, cucumbers, strawberries, bell peppers, apples, and TJ’s school house cookies).TUESDAY DINNER
While the kids were coloring, I got started on “The Team(s)” Upside-down Chicken, a recent family favorite!
WEDNESDAY LUNCH
Instead of racing out the door for a half-day of preschool, we decided to have a slow morning at home + story time at the library + playground. Worked out well! I packed (3) BentoGo boxes, and the kids at their lunch at 10AM during story time. I managed to hold off until we got back home from the playground and heated up Sunday nights spaghetti.WEDNESDAY DINNER
Before we left for the library, I threw together an easy bread recipe, and let it rise the rest of the day. We had hearty vegetable soup for dinner with the fresh homemade bread I baked as the soup was cooking. So good!THURSDAY LUNCH
Officially Day #1 of Winter Break. We spent a beautiful winter morning at the zoo with some friends. Each kid had their own BentoGo box with a full lunch, that they licked clean at the zoo. But when we got home, the big kids ate Lunch #2. My daughter polished off the last of Sundays spaghetti, and my older son had a second PB&J with apple slices. I had two bowls of last nights soup & some more bread.THURSDAY DINNER
I taught a cooking class tonight, so my husband and my cousin did the whole dinner-bedtime-cleanup routine for the three kids. I threw Tuesday nights Upside-down Chicken in the slow cooker, set to warm for them. It’s just easier for them to have it already warmed up, ready to scoop onto plates.FRIDAY LUNCH
Winter Break Day #2, we went to the History Museum’s Kids Clubhouse. I packed (3) BentoGo boxes for our morning adventure, yet still found myself making the kids sandwiches for lunch when we got home. PB&J for my older son, grilled cheese for my daughter. I finished the hearty vegetable soup from earlier in the week, and my husband made himself a turkey sandwich. The baby napped through lunch.SHABBAT DINNER
Slow-cooked Sesame (Street) Chicken (I plan on posting the recipe soon!) with rice, roasted broccoli, & sesame seeds for garnish. So good! My daughter is really into Asian flavors and anything chicken, so I’m going to run with this for a while.SHABBAT LUNCH
We took a walk to the library and the park this morning, and afterwards came home for PB&J sandwiches for the kids, and leftover sesame chicken for the adults.SATURDAY DINNER
I whipped together a meal using pantry items & more items from the freezer: half a bag of macaroni that I wanted to use up + chicken thighs + vodka sauce. It turned out great, the kids loved it.It was a good meal planning week! The kids had really good appetites and Week #1 of Winter Break went smoothly. I spent way more at Costco than I thought, but I needed a lot of staples and a lot of meat. I bought beef, lamb, chicken thighs, peanut butter, confectioners sugar, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, bell peppers, lettuce, granola, bread, English muffins, black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, diced tomatoes, and somehow it turned into $225… oh well!