Long Weekend With Dad...

Clark was able to take a long weekend and spend some time at home with us. It was so fun to have him all to ourselves ALL day long. He's always so full of energy, just like the kids, so it's always interesting to see what he will come up with next.

First off, after Clark had gone on a bike ride himself, he pumped up the boys up for their own workout. You have to have a sweatband and muscle shirt right?


Caleb started with some free weights and was taunting Dad saying it was too easy.


Zachary trying to be stealth and slip away before his turn...


He was caught though and Dad got him going on the push up bars. Proper body positioning is important!


Now down......


Unfortunately he didn't make it back up. So we'll count it as 1/2 push up and try to improve next time! :)

Leah just laughed at the boys saying how grateful she was to be a girl. No need to worry about being rough and tough....just cuddly and sweet. She's already got that down!


So last weekend we bought a large canopy for our backyard cement patio and it is so nice! Not only does it block the terribly hot afternoon sun from our family room, but it allows us to get outside without having to drive somewhere. The weather was great all weekend so we spent lots of time out there and the kids loved it ....for a time at least. What kid likes anything for more than 30 minutes really? Clark loves it too because he can ride his bike on the trainer out there or just bum around in the yard while we are close by. Sorry, no picture from the outside. Just from the view of Clark's lawn chair where he was sitting.


I was rubbing Caleb's arms after his hard workout.


Not only do we do lots of playing when Dad is around, but we do lots of organizing, cleaning, or whatever project needs to be finished. We decided, since both of us were home, that we'd finally do a large batch of homemade baby food. Now, I don't claim to be a Suzy Homemaker or anything. I don't spend lots of time in the kitchen and the meals I make are very simple. However, Clark and I both know that there are some savings in making homemade baby food. Obviously we won't be able to do it as much when the trio starts eating more finger foods but for now, when they are eating foods of a smooth consistency, we're all for it.

So we busted out the food processor I received for Valentine's Day and headed to Sprouts Farmers Market. We went there because green beans were on sale plus their produce is just better in general. We bought green beans, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, carrots, mangos, and bananas.


So here is where the savings are and I'll just do it with the veggies since we haven't made the fruit yet. Try to follow along. With an accountant as a husband, that can be hard sometimes.

1 jar of baby food (4 oz)= ~$0.99

3 Sweet Potatoes=$3.63 yielded 60 oz
3 lbs Green Beans=$3.00 yielded 40 oz
2 Yellow Squash=$1.16 yielded 16 oz
2 lbs carrots=$2.00 yielded 28 oz

Grand total=144 oz of food for $9.79

144 oz/4 oz (each jar of food from store)=36 jars

36 jars at $0.99 each=$36

$36-$9.79=$26.21 in total savings

When we calculated it out for an entire month of food assuming the babies were each eating three jars (9 jars a day for everyone), the savings was even more significant. Putting out money for the processor was hard, but with what we'll be saving each time we use it, we'll only have to use it 2 1/2 times and it will be paid for!

Ok, enough math for the day? I just wanted to note all the numbers so I could remember. Especially when produce goes on sale I'll be able to know what's going to get me the most for my money.

All in all, the whole process took about two hours from getting the processor out to putting it away. Really, all the time is spent in the prep (Clark did all the prep :). We're excited though and the kids could care less if the food if from the store or made at home. We're just happy to be saving a few bucks!