What's in your lunchbox

School supply shopping has officially begun!

For the last two school years I have used plastic, reusable containers in Paige and Leah's lunchboxes. I occassionally have to use the plastic baggies when they forget their lunchbox at school. I think these are a great idea. I started thinking about the number of baggies I used each day in their lunches (around 4 bags each lunch x's 2 kids x's five days a week = 40 baggies) They went straight in the garbage can after they used them. So I went looking for an alternative and found the one that my model Leah is holding in her left hand at The Container Store. I ordered it online (Don't forget about e-bates). Just search for it on their site by typing in Klip-it Lunch Cube. There is room for a sandwich in the lid, and 3 compartments under it for fruit, cookies, chips, etc. It is one unit so you don't have to worry about prying off or keeping up with lids.

Paige had one too, but I think some 6 grader's tuba landed on it and cracked it. She didn't want to carry it to school with duct tape wrapped around it so we had to find a new container for her.

I puchased the one in Leah's right hand at Target and it has space in the bottom for a sandwich and then there is a freezie thing that goes in the middle and the 2 other containers go on top. There is a lot to keep up with as far as lids and pieces with this one, but she managed to do it all year. At the grocery store I often see the Wonder Bread container for sandwiches. Whatever works for you. Just look for ways to pack lunches in reusable containers. You'll be glad you did and you'll save a few bucks over the year not buying so many of your favorite brand of baggies.

Highlights of Paige and her 6 gr year at Church

The Harvest

I mentioned I liked to grow vegetables. Well you're looking at the latest pick. One, uno, un. No matter how you say it...one lonely bell pepper at a time.

I planted this bell pepper plant last summer. I got quite a few peppers from it last year. It survived all winter and I've had 3 already this year. I don't see any more though. So sad. My yard is so shaded I have a difficult time growing vegetables. Right now I have a tomato plant in a container. We'll see if it does anything. I am able to grow some herbs. I have rosemary and lavender growing around the bell pepper plant and I have basil in a container. We ate the pepper tonight with chicken fajitas. Of course it was supplemented by another bell pepper purchased at the grocery store. But there is something very satisfying about growing food and actually putting it on the table and eating it. I would like to start a compost bin, but my husband doesn't share my vision on some things....like compost bins and rain barrels, but I won't give up maybe one day he'll see things my way.

Our Neighbors, Brothers, Sisters, Sons, Daughters, Fathers and Mothers a.k.a... Our Troops

This is a picture of my neighbor William. William is currently serving in the Army in Iraq. I try and remember to pray everyday for William and all of our troops. Recently my friend Linda let me know about this website http://www.prayercentral.net/. You can go to this website and subscribe (no charge) to get a daily one-minute prayer e-mailed to your computer. I signed up this week and my prayer assignment comes to my inbox every day.

We get busy here at home and sometimes forget to think about and pray for our men and women serving overseas. Go to the website and get your prayer assignment. You will be blessed and so glad you did.

Chris is William's Dad and he writes " I appreciate your including William’s picture in your blog and as his father and a Christian I would like to personally appeal to your friends and family for their prayers on behalf of my son and his platoon and all our brave servicemen and women carrying out the mission that they were given so far away from home."

On the website look for Baghdad Prayer Patrol click on that and sign up for the prayer assignments.

Summer Reading

We took our first summer trip to the library this past week to pick up some summer reading material. Paige came to the check out counter with none other than Gone With the Wind. I have to admit that I've never read this book. I've seen the movie a couple of times. I'll keep you posted on her progress. There are over 1000 pages in this book. She's on page 90 now. She has lots of questions about what is going on in this book and wants to read me "scenes". Can you guess what the reading level of this book is???

I was thinking about 11th grade. Paige thought it was around 10th grade. Well I looked it up and it is 7.1. Can you believe it?? I think that it should be higher than that. But since that's the case I guess she's right on the reading level.

We'll rent the movie when she's finished.

We also rented the A&E Biography on Condoleezza Rice. What an amazing woman. Check it out from your library if you get a chance. You'll be glad you did.