Everyday Life and Menu Plan 5.8.17

Spring has FINALLY arrived! We even got a rather summer like day earlier this week and I celebrated with this season's first iced coffee outside with a book.

Ahhhhhhh. It was promptly followed up by a thunderstorm, the likes of which I can't remember in almost thirteen years of living in Seattle. Yet was still small potatoes compared to the most average Midwestern storm. It was, however, certainly like nothing the kids had ever seen, and it was fun to see them geek out over the lightning. It also made our rhododendrons explode the next day.

We also celebrated my youngest turning seven! 

Normally we take a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge for the kids' birthdays, but this year will be a slightly bigger trip to Chicago next week, with a visit to the Shedd for our aquatic fun. For more immediate gratification, we took them to dinner and a movie over the weekend (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was excellent) with cake and presents on their actual birthdays, of course. Big brother is up this week with the big ten, double digits, a decade... Time to distract myself with menu planning!

• Monday - Pizza
• Tuesday - Thai Ground Beef with Veggies and Brown Rice (a favorite from Cooking Light)
• Wednesday - Grilled Chicken with Garlicky Green Sauce and Quinoa (from Annies Eats)
• Thursday - Aidells Sausages on the Grill and Roasted Potatoes
• Friday - Tequila Lime Sheet Pan Nachos (from the Cookie Rookie)
• Saturday - Penne with Vodka Sauce (an Rachael Ray staple)
• Sunday - Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Salad (from Everyday Reading)

As always, I'm linking up with Org Junkie, and now Beth Fish Reads weekend cooking - be sure to check out all the great weekly food inspiration!