Big Family Food and Fun: July 12-18, 2026

Here’s our Big Family Food and Fun: July 12-18, 2026 publish!

Before I share about our week, I’ll end up speaking concerning the finish of Saturday, July 11. 🙂

July 11, 2026

We had spent the morning at Discovery Days on UNL campus, then got here dwelling for relaxation time that afternoon. Arrow was with us so whereas he and Auggie napped and the opposite youngsters performed exterior, I spent an hour and a half within the kitchen.

I spent period of time attempting to compensate for dishes (an enormous, by no means ending job), then made a double batch of Breakfast Cookie Bars and a pan of Flourless Peanut Butter Brownies (and dirtied up much more dishes, ha!).

While they have been within the oven, I put collectively a double batch of No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars for our Sunday lunch dessert.

I washed the baking dishes I’d created, and it felt nice to lastly really feel extra caught up within the kitchen! When Arrow awakened from his nap, Brayden learn him a guide. This scene is so valuable!

And why, you would possibly marvel, was Arrow at our home that day? Well, in case you recall, he’d change into a giant brother the week earlier than! I used to be ready to introduce her to you till after Asa and Eva had shared publicly. Now that this has occurred…

Here she is, candy little Phoebe Jean.

Phoebe’s title was chosen based mostly on the gorgeous tribute Paul wrote to a servant-hearted lady in Romans 16:1-2. Her center title honors her fantastic maternal grandparents. Phoebe is tiny, wholesome, valuable, and such a present!

Here they’re, every week after her beginning, a candy household of 4!

Well now. The meals footage I’m about to share are nothing compared. But right here’s some chocolate as we transition again…

Big brother, Arrow, was occupied by his aunts and uncles that Saturday, so Lolli completed a bit extra kitchen work after the baked items had cooled. I lower the Breakfast Cookie Bars into two Sunday breakfast plates. Then I lower and individually packaged the Flourless Peanut Butter Brownies for grab-and-go wants. I air fried a Sam’s sized field of Taquitos for a snacky dinner whereas we watched a World Cup soccer sport.

The night was enjoyable! Heartlands church had a males’s kickball/cookout evening so Matt and all of the boys (even the little guys!) headed off to take pleasure in their time on the park. We ladies had a craft evening collectively! I’m pleased to say that we had twenty precise minutes of calm, candy, peaceable crafting whereas we listened to reward music – which I contemplate to be a HUGE win contemplating all of the particular wants of our family. We cleaned up and loved a frozen deal with exterior collectively earlier than tub and bedtime. We watched a brief present on TV whereas screaming our means by means of hair brushing time (oy!). Then I tucked within the ladies simply earlier than the fellows bought dwelling.

Big Family Food and Fun: July 12-18, 2026

Sunday morning, there was extra screaming, however the hair brush and I have been decided to win and I used to be in a position to get Anna’s hair achieved for the primary time in weeks!

We loved a Fiesta Taco Salad bar for lunch with Crock Pot Salsa Shredded Beef, greens, corn, beans, tomatoes, olives, bitter cream, guacamole, cheese, and chips. Friends introduced recent fruit and we loved the pan of No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars for dessert.

Our buddy Jamie was the one who bought Anna to eat that day. Dear ones who do that for us/Anna do not know the reward they’re giving us all. They simply assume they’re having lunch with a candy little lady. But getting energy into this expensive one is a large feat, and sometimes non-family members can accomplish it with rather more ease than we will. So we thank our associates profusely for feeding her and they’re identical to, “yeah whatever no problem; I had fun eating with her.” Meanwhile we’re standing by sobbing with pleasure. Hahaha.

Fellowship round our tables and round our kitchen island is so, so wealthy.

Matt and I loved Community Group that afternoon whereas the youngsters watched a film within the basement. I made 5 Frozen Pizzas for dinner. The youngsters performed exterior very nicely for some time.

Then we loaded them up for a particular deal with outing! My niece had despatched us some Runza ice cream cone coupons so we used them that evening! The youngsters all ordered their very own, and we have been in a position to hold all of them out of the parking zone – a giant accomplishment. 🙂

The youngsters did nice with this outing! We loved our drippy summer season deal with and felt grateful for the bundle of moist wipes we all the time hold within the van. 🙂 We bought dwelling in time to wash up and head to mattress!

On Monday morning, 4 youngsters went to VBS, two youngsters went to basketball camp, one child went to volleyball camp, and one child had ABA remedy. Our buddy Christina went to the VBS additionally, so she was gracious to assist us with transportation whereas Matt and I went in so many various instructions that morning.

While Kiya was at volleyball, I had a small period of time to run to Sam’s and Wal-Mart. I raced by means of these shops as quick as I may, although ran out of time to get all that we would have liked. (Grocery purchasing for our family often takes about three hours each week.) I stuffed a cart at each shops, with plans to return to complete procuring the subsequent day whereas Kiya was again at volleyball camp.

I occurred upon a clearance sale on GoGo Squeeze applesauce at Sam’s, making them half value! Did I purchase ten packing containers? I completely did. Do I nonetheless marvel if I ought to have purchased greater than ten? Kinda. I imply, we undergo these packing containers quick, and these have been tremendous low cost!

Back at dwelling with the crew, we labored collectively to unload groceries and put away chilly meals. Matt had made lunch for us and we tried to rush and feed youngsters earlier than taking 5 of them again out once more to go to an Art Camp. Emma arrived to babysit the youngest three for the afternoon, and she or he helped me dump sauce on hen for our dinner that evening. It was a whirlwind, however we made it out the door on time!

Somehow I used to be in a position to snap this image to point out how low cost our dinner meal could be. Chicken legs, man. They are so cheap! Typically I get them at Costco and Sam’s for $0.99/pound. I had discovered these packs at Aldi for $0.89/pound, giving us 24 hen legs for a complete of solely $6.98. Amazing!

Emma had a picnic lunch with the three youngsters left at dwelling.

After Matt and I dropped the opposite 5 at camp, he and I went to hang around with Phoebe (and her dad and mom). 🙂 Arrow was napping so we missed seeing him that day.

When we bought dwelling, we began 5 youngsters with their night ABA remedy periods and I bought the hen legs on the smoker. Oh, and ELIAS AND MALORIE arrived for the week!! It was so good to see them that I didn’t take any footage.

Dinner was Smoked Chicken Legs, Caesar Salad, and Strawberry Parfaits.

On Tuesday morning, I made scrambled eggs for breakfast whereas getting some baking achieved for our snacking wants. I made a double batch of Banana Muffins.

Plus I made a Spinach Cake. I stuffed that cake so filled with spinach – however nobody may inform and everybody devoured it up later! We have three adults consuming this smoothie now, so I’ve been making a jar of it virtually daily this summer season.

Christina picked up 4 of our children for VBS and Matt took two boys to basketball camp. Auggie began his morning ABA session, then Kiya and I had attachment remedy. Right away after that, I dropped her off at a volleyball clinic then went to complete extra procuring wants.

We watched a World Cup sport that afternoon. Elias and Malorie had supplied to make dinner, so I turned the kitchen over to them! They pulled Brayden in to assist, which was good. 🙂

I used my free time whereas they have been making dinner to show Sunday’s leftover Salsa Shredded Beef into Burritos for the freezer.

Dinner was scrumptious! Elias made Pizza Bake and Malorie made Red Lobster Biscuits. Everyone ate nicely (because of Elias saving out some plain noodles for a few the youngsters to eat with simply butter and salt, ha).

Wednesday morning, whereas all the youngsters have been at VBS or camp and Auggie had ABA remedy, Kelsey and Hopelyn came to visit to hang around with me! Hopelyn discovered the chef’s hat in our playroom and began to prepare dinner yummy meals within the play kitchen. 🙂

That afternoon, 5 youngsters went to Art Camp whereas Acacia, Josie, and Auggie arrange a rock and grime kitchen exterior. They performed there like champs for over an hour!! This allowed me to really watch a part of a World Cup soccer sport with Matt, Elias, and Malorie. It was wonderful!

I smoked Chicken Apple Sausages for dinner, lower up Sweet Peppers and Watermelon, and made 5 packing containers of Mac and Cheese.

Four youngsters had three hours of ABA remedy from 3:30-6:30, then we loaded up and went to Popsicles within the Park with our church household.

Keith although? He noticed a gaggle of children enjoying soccer within the grass beside the splash space and simply hopped proper into the sport. Those youngsters have been gracious to incorporate him, and he stayed there your complete night.

On Thursday morning, Keith and Bonus Buddy had their ultimate day of Basketball Camp, which included a event for folks to look at. They had enjoyable, labored onerous, and got here dwelling with ribbons and certificates!

Most of the opposite youngsters have been at VBS all morning, then again at dwelling we had a lunch of Tuna Salad, Boiled Eggs, and Smoothies earlier than heading again out to take 5 youngsters to Art Camp.

Late afternoon, Kiya helped me get some baking achieved. She made Lemon Muffins whereas I made a double batch of Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. We deliberate to have the muffins for Friday’s breakfast. And the cookie bars have been for each a VBS potluck lunch on Friday plus a household birthday dinner Friday night.

Dinner that evening was tremendous straightforward and low cost! While procuring on Monday, I had discovered frozen baggage of Chicken Pineapple Rice on clearance for simply $2.00. I grabbed a bunch as a result of that was a tough value to cross up for a handy meal that gave me an evening off from cooking. We ended up going by means of 4 baggage of them that evening, plus everybody had fruit.

Friday morning, I made a giant pan of Chewy Granola Bars to have available for quick starvation wants.

Five youngsters went to VBS, Matt stayed dwelling with three youngsters, and I went to Wal-Mart and Aldi. We have been having a household birthday celebration that evening and there have been some particular meals objects we would have liked. I discovered plenty of enjoyable clearance objects whereas I used to be at Walmart (however did not get an image) – the perfect being a $5 World Cup Soccer Ball! Aldi was simply up the highway so I bumped into get just some issues there – principally fruit/veggie pouches as a result of they’re the one means we will get a few of our children to eat veggies.

We all met up on the youngsters’ VBS to take pleasure in a program and a potluck lunch.

That afternoon, 5 youngsters went to their ultimate day of Art Camp. I took the three youngest youngsters to the park whereas Matt went to assist a buddy with a home undertaking. The youngsters and I began within the sand the place it was shady. Then we moved on to the sunny swings and slides. I used to be shocked that the youngsters lasted out within the warmth for nearly two hours – however it was a fairly nice afternoon and I used to be grateful! We went dwelling and took good baths to chill them off and to get all of the sand out of their hair and out from between their toes. 🙂

When everybody else bought dwelling, we labored collectively to shuck a dozen ears of corn. It’s superb how briskly this course of can go together with so many youngsters!

The remainder of the evening was sooooo nice!! We had plans to rejoice Malorie’s birthday that we’d missed in May, plus Eva’s birthday that had occurred this week. Miraculously, all of us have been in a position to be collectively, together with all of our housemates. Malachi had flown dwelling simply in time after his video work in Texas all week. Eva felt up for coming over and carried Phoebe round to maintain her from being swarmed by all of the little youngsters. These moments collectively are my absolute favourite!

Elias has perfected the artwork of constructing Steak – and he nailed it that evening!

To go together with our Steaks, we had Caesar Salad, Corn on the Cob, Cheesy Potatoes, and Berry Parfaits. I additionally had a crock pot filled with Hot Dogs for the youngsters who didn’t need steak. Malorie requested Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars for dessert and I had Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies within the freezer that I knew have been Eva’s favorites. So all of us loved birthday cookies after our superior meal collectively!

Saturday morning, I put collectively a giant pan of Layered Chicken Enchiladas for our Sunday lunch the subsequent day.

We met Kelsey with Hopelyn and Arrow on the library for Sensory Storytime. Then all of us loaded up and headed to the zoo!

Arrow was a giant boy consuming an awesome long island on the way in which there.

Two wagons, ten youngsters, three adults, 13 water bottles, and one picnic bag later – we made our means in to take pleasure in a highly regarded few hours animals and enjoying within the numerous play areas.

Hello Flamingos. You are our favourite.

I had packed a really random assortment of lunch objects to be able to accommodate so many meals preferences. We had chips, blueberries, cheese, salami, meat sticks, slivered turkey, mandarin orange/pear/peach cups, yogurt, and pistachios. Everyone bought full, then we headed on to play within the climbing space.

We bumped into our associates Sarabeth and James with their youngsters on our means out. We hadn’t seen one another in years, and I used to be bummed that we didn’t take footage collectively! What a deal with to run into them!

Back at dwelling, we put Arrow down for a nap, the youngsters performed, and we bought able to host a giant World Cup Final Game Lunch/Watch Party the subsequent day. And that was our week!