I know I haven't posted in a couple of weeks.  I'm going to have to go through my pictures though, because I know I have some that I must just not have gotten around to.

Lately, Hailey is wanting to help out with cooking meals, preparing her lunch on the weekends, and now be a part of packing her lunch for school.  I'm fine with that!  So, here are Hailey's choices for lunch tomorrow.

Cream cheese and jelly on wheat, grape tomatoes with ranch, cheez-its, blueberry yogurt, cantaloupe, and a mini kitkat.  

I think she did a good job!!! :)

So after a fun-filled (sunny!) weekend, I get back to the grind...making lunches, and trying to remember to take a photo.  Too bad we lost an hour of sleep last night.  I have a feeling that one little hour is going to make this next week draaaaaaaaaaag on.  Hopefully Hailey's lunch will brighten her day tomorrow!

Hailey's lunch for tomorrow: Heart shaped cheese sandwiches (with a container of mayo), carrots and a container of ranch, strawberries, vanilla yogurt with sprinkles, and some jelly beans.

One more for this week!

I forgot to post Hailey's lunch from today, so here it is.  Tomorrow is leftover day.

Hailey's lunch: Half a soynut butter and jelly sandwich, grapes, a cheese stick (cut in half), a container of yogurt raisins, strawberry cheesecake yogurt (um, the best yogurt I've even tasted - I'm not a yogurt fan, either!), and some chocolate rice cake minis.

Last week I tried to use a lot of leftovers.  I didn't want to make lunches, let alone post photos of them.  As a matter of fact, I didn't want to even be in school (it was supposed to be our February vacation, after all!), but now it is a new week.  I'm hopeful it will be a good one!! :)

Hailey's lunch for tomorrow: cream cheese and jelly on whole wheat, pirate's booty, grapes and strawberries, yogurt, yogurt covered raisins, and a container with a few jelly beans

I was SO excited to see jelly beans in the grocery store this weekend.  I may have to hide them from now on though - Paul has already finished the bag!!!

Tonight I took pictures of both girls' lunches for tomorrow.

Cailyn's lunch: halved blueberries, cubes of cheddar cheese, peas and carrots, and smile fries, cut into smaller pieces.  She also has a vanilla pudding cup.

Hailey's lunch is cheese on bread (ahem, I used to LOVE getting this in my lunch!!) with a container of mayo, cheez-its, blueberries and strawberries, yogurt, and a fruit roll-up.

Non February Vacation Lunch

This week was supposed to be February Vacation week.  After all of the snow days, we had President's Day off, but need to go to school/work the remainder of the week.  Oh well.  I can't complain after all the days off last month!!  I figured I'll give Hailey a palm tree to pretend that she is someplace warm. :)

Hailey's lunch for tomorrow: A cream cheese and jelly palm tree, baby swiss Cheez Its, vanilla yogurt with green sprinkles, chocolate rice cake minis, strawberries and blueberries, and a small packet of Pez as a treat.

Valentine's Day - a little early.....

Hailey has been a bit sad this week, and having a hard time with going to bed because "mommy is leaving."  I tried to explain to her that I will always be in her heart.  I figured I would give her some extra hearts tomorrow.

She has two heart shaped grilled cheese sandwiches, grape tomatoes (forgot the ranch again!!! darn!!!), chocolate rice cake minis, pirate's booty, mixed berry yogurt, and a hershey mini candy.

Breaking out the Love

Since Valentine's Day is sneaking right up on me (ummm, hello? I feel like January never existed this year!!!!), I figured I'd start introducing hearts, pink, red, cupid, etc. now.  Hailey loves Valentine's Day, so I hope she enjoys.

Hailey's lunch: two mini cheese sandwiches (heart shaped), some grape tomatoes (oops!!! I just realized I forgot ranch....I wonder if she will eat them anyways??), parmesan flavored goldfish, a fruit roll-up, mandarin oranges (in honor of "o" week at school) with a little heart pick,  and vanilla yogurt with pink sprinkles.

Forgot to post yesterday!

What a nutty week (yet again)!  We had only one full day of school because of all this snowy weather.  I wonder when we will ever have a full week again?  We haven't since....hmmm.....the middle of December??  Insane!

This was Hailey's lunch from today:

Half a cream cheese and jelly on multi-grain bread, pirate's booty, yogurt, grapes (with a snowman - how apropos), and some scooby doo gummies.  

Tomorrow, I was going to send Cailyn with leftovers from tonight's dinner: pulled pork.  I had never made it before, but was excited to try.  The girls loved it, but I thought it was a bit dry.  I have no idea what I may have done wrong (not that I'm surprised), but I figure I'll try it again another time.  Cailyn has leftover mac and cheese, yogurt, animal cookies, and something else....but I'm too tired to think.

I don't send Hailey with items that need to be reheated, but she seems fine with that. :)

Hailey's lunch: half turkey and cheese (other half from yesterday - I was going to eat it myself tomorrow, but Hailey said she really liked it today!) on  sandwich thin, a container of mayo (the green spoon is for her to spread the mayo on herself), white cheddar cheez-its, blueberries, vanilla yogurt, and two oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

The end of a CRAZY week!

I love snow.  I love the powdery white stuff even more that we have 25.5 fresh inches in our yard.  The storm gave us two unexpected (well, I completely expected one - not two!) days off  from school.  It was so nice to have the extra time just to "be" home.  We didn't have to rush around to a variety of places.  As a matter of fact, even if we wanted to, we couldn't.  The plows didn't have our street cleared until the middle of this afternoon!  It was fun to bake, cook, play dollhouse, read, watch Cinderella, play dress-up...I could do that every day! I'm secretly hoping for a delay tomorrow morning also.  Well, I guess it isn't a secret anymore, but I'll still keep my fingers crossed.

Hailey's lunch for tomorrow:

Soynut butter on celery (she asked for three of these....I'll see if she actually eats them since they came home last time!), a diced cheese stick, strawberries, Pirate's Booty, yogurt, and yogurt covered pretzels

Two Bentos

Cailyn and Hailey both have "cool lunches" for tomorrow.  I don't think they are cool, but if it makes Hailey happy (Cailyn could obviously care less), then I'm happy. :)

Cailyn is having diced chicken, diced cheddar cheese, cinnamon goldfish, and yogurt melts.  She is kind of throwing me for a loop lately, so we'll see if she appreciates any of these options!

Hailey will eat cheddar and leftover chicken on white bread, cheeze-its, yogurt, cinnamon goldfish, and peaches. No, I couldn't even bother to remove the peaches from the package.

Is anyone looking at this?

To an extent, I'm doing this for myself.  I like getting some ideas when Hailey says "I don't know what I want..." or just putting this bookmark down as a time when I was somewhat creative (well, in this manner anyways!).  I figure, Hailey won't like these lunches forever.  Quite honestly, she may decide that she hates them as soon as she enters kindergarten.  But, for now, she loves them, and I'm going to continue making these bentos, taking pictures of them, and posting for the whole world (umm....me?) to see. 

Hailey's lunch for tomorrow: Cheese and crackers, grape tomatoes on a bed of baby carrots with a container of ranch (the carrots can't really be seen in this picture), vanilla yogurt, pineapple cubes (frozen...will thaw in time for lunch, of course), a small container of raisins, and a mini candy for a treat. 

A New Year!

I can't believe how quickly the past week has come and gone.  We had a fantastic holiday and a wonderful, relaxing break.  I'm sad to see my loves go back to school tomorrow - they were so much fun to hang out with this week!!  It pulls at my heart to see how close they are....I truly hope they maintain this bond forever.

I didn't take a picture of Cailyn's lunch, but I did snap one of Hailey's.

Two mini heart sandwiches (soynut butter and jelly), pomegranate Craisins, a cheese stick, strawberry yogurt, "Scrabble" cheeze-its, and a couple shortbread cookies.

Crazy week

So THIS will be a crazy busy week due to Hailey's 4th birthday and the shortened holiday week.  I'm SO excited!!  Truly, this week can take its sweet time.  I'm going to savor every moment.

Hailey's lunch for tomorrow: ham and cheese Santa crackers, mini pretzels, peach yogurt, blueberries with a Santa pick, carrots and a container of ranch, and a rice krispie Rudolph resting on a red of snow (mini marshmallows).

Last full week of work!!

Last week was beyond crazy.  I was out too many late nights due to work events and my birthday (happy birthday to me!!).  I was lucky I even had time, or the desire, to make lunch.  I did have bentos for Hailey each day, but didn't have the energy to take a photo or blog.  Anyways, I'm back for (hopefully!) another full week this week.  Hey, December is crazy for most, right?? :)

This week is another "full week" of work.  Next week will be only 3.5 days before the long Christmas break.  Can't wait.

Hailey's lunch for Monday:

Ham and cheese on homemade bread (in the shape of a present, under a Christmas tree pick), blueberries, peach yogurt, a clementine (I tried to get another present cutout, but it didn't quite work....), mini shortbread cookies, and scooby fruit snacks.

Cailyn's lunch for tomorrow:

Blueberries (sliced in half), cheddar cheese cubes, garden tomato snacks, peach yogurt, and cinnamon goldfish

It's the holiday season!

This week will be a busy one.  A full week of work, my 29th birthday (ok 31, but is anyone actually reading this?), my Winter Concert with school, and a night out with my bestie.  Too bad the weekend couldn't have lasted an extra day.  We ended up cutting down our tree for the 1st time this year (fun!), decorating with the girls, finished up most of the holiday shopping, got Cailyn's 1st birthday pictures/family pictures done (finally!), and more.  Seems like the weekend FLEW by, and I'm just plan exhausted.  I wish I could just go to bed right now, but it is only 7:30.

Anyways, here are Monday lunches for my cuties!

Hailey has two candy cane sandwiches (cream cheese and jelly), a babybel with a candy cane cutout, goldfish, yogurt, and two mini sugar cookie presents under a Christmas tree.  I also sent reindeer snacks with ranch (think she will eat them if I refer to them as reindeer snacks?  We will see!)

Cailyn will have cream cheese and jelly, cheddar cheese, peaches, and yogurt.  I may send her some vanilla pudding also.  Hopefully, I will remember!

Oh Christmas Tree.....

I'm so excited for this weekend.  We are going to get our Christmas tree, decorate the house, maybe even get the lights up outside (Paul...yes??).  I absolutely love this time of the year - from the cold weather, to the smells of festive candles, to the hustle and bustle of the shops....so much more.  I'm loving making holiday themed lunches for Hailey.  I hope she doesn't get sick of them by the time Christmas is actually here!!!

Hailey's lunch:

A ham and cheese Christmas tree with a cheese star on top, cheddar cheese gifts, cherry yogurt, strawberries and blueberries, cinnamon goldfish, mini marshmallows, a teddy bear of raisins, and some chocolate candy treats.

Hailey asked for blueberries and strawberries when I went grocery shopping last weekend.  Those two items cost over nine dollars!!!  Hence, the reason Hailey has had strawberries and blueberries this week....every.single.day.

Cailyn's lunch for tomorrow:

Chicken and peas, cherry yogurt, cheddar cheese, blueberries, and some animal crackers.

How is my baby going to be ONE tomorrow??

Hailey is so incredibly excited for Cailyn's 1st birthday tomorrow.  It totally makes my heart melt to see my two girls playing, laughing, and showing each other so much love.  Hard to believe that one year ago, Cailyn was not even here yet!

Hailey's lunch for tomorrow has a little love from mommy: Half a ham and cheese sandwich on Arnold's Sandwich Thins - with an extra cheese heart on top, blueberries with a little turtle pick, pirate's booty, vanilla yogurt with heart sprinkles, and a few fudge cookies for dessert.

I forgot to take a picture of Cailyn's lunch.  It isn't anything "birthday" related, or anything "special" for that matter.  I did manage to send her with her favorite (grilled cheese), diced blueberries, and yogurt.  I also baked some sugar cookies (compliments of Betty Crocker - LOL) for her little playmates at daycare.  Where does the time go??  I'm feeling so sad that she is already through her first year...but I'm so incredibly happy that this sweet little lady is in my life. I love her more than words can say.  We are very blessed.

Full week ahead...

I'm beyond excited that we have a full week of school this week.  Well, no, not really.  But, it is the last full week of classes before Thanksgiving.  That is certainly something to be excited about!! Also, this is the week my baby girl Cailyn is going to be ONE.  Where did the time go?!?!?  Friday (her birthday) can stay away for the time being....I'm not ready to have her turn one!

I took pictures of our three bentos for tomorrow.  Enjoy.

Cailyn's lunch: Diced ham and cheese, diced blueberries, yogurt, peas, and a few animal crackers.

Hailey's lunch: Ham and cheese on honey wheat sandwich bread, mayo in the little container with a spoon for spreading, Pirate's Booty, blueberries, yogurt, and some marshmallows and raisins.

My lunch: Ham and cheese on the honey wheat sandwich bread, celery and carrot sticks with a container of blue cheese, Pirate's Booty, and a mini Snickers bar for dessert.  Hey...I should help get rid of the Halloween candy, right?? ;-)

I forgot to post Hailey's Friday lunch.  Often, I take the picture, and then get sidetracked, forgetting to update my blog.  Here was Friday....

Cheddar cheese with a little pick, wheat thins, grape tomatoes with a container of ranch, applesauce (I stuck a little blue spoon in there also), whole wheat goldfish, and a little fish container of M&Ms.