Tuesday Lunchbox

Today is the start of our week since the girls were out of school yesterday. We spent our Monday at home. I cleaned while the girls played. They did wipe the dining room chairs down before using them as a train while I mopped. Over the weekend we went to the local Trade Days event and got some yummy treats that I've included in today's lunchbox.
I made mini sandwiches with creamy peanut butter and blackberry creamed (local) honey on whole wheat bread. The creamed honey was a little pricey, but there is a lot of it, a little goes a long way, and it tastes DIVINE! They both have a rainbow of veggies to dip in ranch dressing including grape tomatoes, baby carrots, and peeled celery. I've found that peeling the strings from the outside of the celery, not only ensures that the kids will eat it, but also makes it crisper and juicier.
They have a Cutie (orange), and a blueberry yogurt tube. I scored and peeled back the rind at the top of Isis's orange to make it easier to peel, because, at 4 years old, she can peel it, but it takes a while for her to get it started.
For dessert they get another treat from the weekend. Joplin has cinnamon pumpkin kettle corn, and Isis has the honey roasted variety. They will both choose milk and juice from the cafeteria.

On a different note, I have mentioned before that I live on the edge of town, and enjoy a taste of city and country life. Today is a testament to that, be it good or bad. On my way home from taking the girls to school I saw a big beautiful doe run across the road about 1/4 mile from my house. When I got home I opened all the windows to get some fresh air, sat my baby girl in her highchair, and while enjoying this gorgeous view of the backyard I heard the highschool band practicing very loudly, and NOT altogether in an organized manner. 

The highschool was built about 1/2 mile from my house shortly after we moved in, so I am now sandwiched between it and the state university. This is a definite drawback because we hear every football game in town. I also think we must be in some kind of sound vortex because I hear the happenings at both schools, highway noises at the end of the road, music from the bar up the highway, the train behind the bar, and even the bells from the Catholic church across town! Perhaps I'll search for a house in a bubble if we move, or at least thicker walls. 

Momma on-the-go breakfast

Weekday mornings are always hectic no matter how much I prepare ahead. I spend my evenings packing lunches, laying out clothes, and going through homework, notes, and papers, but still find myself rushing in the morning. I'm no early bird, and not one of those ladies who gets up at dawn to exercise or do yoga before the kids wake. I get up about 10 minutes before my kids, which is just enough time to get a quick breakfast on the table for them. While they eat I dress and get ready to take them to school. Fixing hair (one of the "joys" of being a mother to 3 girls) and finding shoes, putting ice packs in the lunch boxes and getting the baby changed and dressed takes up the remainder of the morning. So I find myself short on time and starving!
Thankfully my husband is usually pretty good about getting a travel mug full of coffee ready for me to grab as we run out the door. Unfortunately, coffee is not considered a good breakfast for anyone, especially a breastfeeding mom.
I'm still working on ideas for easy and healthy take-along breakfasts. After realizing that smoothies are NOT quick (gathering 5+ ingredients, blending, pouring, then washing the blender...no thanks) I started thinking about less conventional options.
My favorite so far is this lightly salted rice cake drizzled with honey. Not everyone enjoys rice cakes, but the honey really adds good flavor, it's filling, and soooo easy. Add a piece of fresh fruit, and you'll have a few hours of energy, and none of the fat and processed sugars in other grab-and-go breakfasts.