Everydays An Adventure

My Favorite Things...

My Favorite Thing to share this week is our Gymboree bubble blower.  We have had our first one for a few years and recently bought two more so that everyone can have one.  They blow lots of tiny bubbles that last for a long time if you use the Gymboree bubbles.  They really are better than regular bubbles!  You can purchase the bubbles and blower at Gymboree stores or at the Gymboree Play and Music locations.  It's definately a favorite outside toy at our house!  For more favorite things head over to fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com.

Our Coupon Page

We have just added a page of links to online, printable coupons here.  Please visit and let us know if you have some great coupons that should be added to the list.

Works for Me Wednesday - Meatloaf

Another favorite blog carnival that I enjoy reading is Works For Me Wednesday over at rocksinmydryer.  I have learned lots of great tips that others have shared so I decided to join in. 

With school starting this week our schedules get more structured and definately busier.  I love to be able to open the freezer at the beginning of the week and be able to pull out some prepared meals to thaw.  One of our favorites is meatloaf.  It is a little time consuming to make so I make three at a time.   We eat one for dinner that night and I freeze the other two.  I put the other two flat in freezer bags and burp out as much air as I can.  Then they stack nicely in the freezer.

3 pounds ground beef

2 Tablespoons chopped celery

2 Tablespoons chopped green pepper

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

1 Tablespoon Worcestshire sauce

1 Tablespoon dry mustard

1/2 Tablespoon garlic

1/2 Tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

3 eggs

3/4 cup bread crumbs

Crumble the ground beef in a large bowl.  Add next nine ingredients and mix well.  Add eggs and bread crumbs and mix well.  Divide into two or three equal portions.  (I divide into thirds as my children are still young.) Shape one portion into a loaf and put in loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. Cool for 10 minutes before slicing.  Put remainder into freezer bags and freeze.

Perfectly Peachy Family Outing

A few weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon we took the kids out to pick peaches.  They have been to pick blueberries before but this was our first time to pick peaches.  My friend, Suzie and her husband Rick recently opened Wagon Wheel Orchard in Gardner. The kids were excited to pick the peaches but they were equally excited to see Suzie and Rick's kids as our kids are the same ages.  As soon as we got there Rick took us on a hay ride out to the peach trees.  The kids quickly filled two bags and then explored the gourd maze.  We then took a hay ride back to the barn for apple and peach flavored slushes.  It was a very hot day and the slushes were very yummy!  They then spent some time playing with  their friends and visiting the animals.  They have 3 goats, 4 ducks and lots of chickens.  It was a great family outing and there's nothing quite like a peach straight from the tree that you picked yourself!  Now we are anxious to go back when the apples are ready!  You can find out more about Wagon Wheel  Orchard here.   If you aren't in the Kansas City area and would love to enjoy a family outing like this visit here. to find an orchard near you.

My Favorite Things...

For a few weeks now I have been reading Sarah's weekly "My Favorite things" posts over at her blog.  I have enjoyed them so much that I decided to join in.  Stay tuned each Tuesday for My Favorite Things and then head over to her blog to check out more. 

This week's favorite is the Inchbug labels that I have on all of Connor's sippy cups.  I used to always write his name in permanent marker on the lid of his cups in the nursery at church.  Only then to notice that he had a big black smudge of ink on his nose that lasted all day!  My sister called one day to tell me about these labels that she had seen and wanted to know if I wanted to order some with her.  Of course, I did as I am always looking for things to make my life easier.  The labels really stay on the cups and go right through the dishwasher!  Connor even knows which sippy cup is his by the label.  No more sampling everyone else's sippy cup cocktails!

Exploring the Children's Museum in Indianapolis

  It's...Big!  Very big and very cool!  The Children's Museum in Indianapolis is the largest children's museum in the country.  From the enormous water clock in the entry lobby, to the dinosaurs, to the steam locomotive, to the polar bear rearing up on it's hind legs and the colorful four story glass sculpture rising through the central atrium, the Children's Museum impresses everyone who visits.

We had heard how enjoyable and educational this museum was for children, so we made a visit part of our Summer travel plans this year.  We weren't disappointed.  Our four children range in age from eight years old to a nineteen month old toddler and they all found many exhibits that fascinated and amazed them.  The Children's Museum has animation demonstrations, a classic carousal, a Curious George play area, some great hands-on water tables for kids to dip their fingers in and much more.  The dinosaur section included several full sized dinosaur skeletons.  At certain displays children are encouraged to touch the bones. 

The Children's Museum makes having a great day easy with convenient free parking in a covered garage and a large food court near the main entrance.  Wide ramps spiral around the central atrium giving easy access to all four levels to visitors in strollers. 

  Connor, our toddler, played and played until he just couldn't.  The Children's Museum has so much to offer that you will need at least an entire day to experience everything.  Fortunately, the gift shop stays open a half hour after the rest of the museum closes so you can still shop for a souvenir on the way to the parking garage.  Our kids had a wonderful time and we recommend the Children's Museum in Indianapolis to any family looking for an enjoyable adventure.