Day 3

Breakfast for everyone today was identical to yesterday.  
Lunch today was a treat!  We've gotten into a cherished routine of having lunch at our friends' house most Wednesdays. 

All 5 of our kids together one day going to the park.  Love this car-ful of joy!

The kids all enjoy eating lunch and playing together while my friend and I get to catch up for a little bit!  It's such a blessing to my children and I, not only to have this fun time almost every week, but just to be friends with this family.  C. Daddy and I are super excited about our adult's only double date this weekend with said friend and her husband (our husbands actually grew up together, so we met through the guys at church one evening, and we've developed such a close friendship over four years, but our husbands never get to see each other because we are usually hanging out together for play dates, etc. while our husbands are at work!) 

So lunch at her house was sweet potatoes with honey, crockpot chicken, and a delicious crazy named apple (something along the lines of Kiku) that I'd never heard of, but it was so sweet and good!  YUM!  A soul warming meal on a rainy day.  Or maybe it was the company that was soul warming.  Good food and good company combined are just balm for the soul. 

The kiddos ate smoothie popsicles and chicken nuggets and pears for lunch.  Cave Daddy's lunchbox had in it : nitrate free turkey deli meat, preservative free bread and butter pickles, a boiled egg, green beans, and a fruit salad that I made for him!  I just cut up oranges, apples, and bananas and added pineapple juice to keep the fruit from turning color.  He loved it!  Honestly, I loved making it for him.  Yall know I love to feed healthy stuff to my family and it makes me so happy when they love to eat it! 
Supper was leftovers from Monday night.  C. Daddy and I have a philosophy about leftovers.  Most of them get better over time because the flavors have had more time to meld together.  This was one of those dishes.  S.A.V.O.R.Y.

A lot going on.  Review that recipe, but what you're seeing is basically onions,
cabbage, chicken, cooked in seasonings, preserves, and tomato relish. 

 The Cave babies ate homemade trail mix, and popsicle smoothies.  This week, some of my favorite moments so far have been lots of snuggling and cuddling with the babies, seeing a dishwasher that has been emptied before I get out of bed, and coffee made, sweet hugs, kisses and "I love you"'s from my man, and lots of time reading books and making crafts with the babies.  Its been rainy and chilly outside, which doesn't make a nice combination for outdoor play with toddlers.  One or the other, we can handle, but combine them and someone gets sick. 
I have been enjoying Ann Voskamp's blog and especially her Joy Dare. The blog has been very encouraging and convicting to me as a Christian wife and mother.  The Joy Dare has been helping me to change my perspective and retrain my mind.  I have loved reading what other's find their joy in also. 
Today's Joy Dare: 3 Gifts Found Behind a Door Today
Me:
1. My Warm Monkey Woman Jacket!
2. Babies in their beds after naps
3. My husband coming home after work. 

Happy birthday to my big sister today!