PlanetBox Lunchboxes

I knew this summer I wanted to make packing the kids lunches more of a priority this school year.  I love eating together as a family, and since that's not an option when they are at school, I wanted their lunch to be like a little love note from me.

About a year ago I started following a lunchbox company on Instagram called PlanetBox.  There were so many well thought out, colorful, healthy lunches with literally thousands and thousands of ideas online.  I entered numerous give-a-ways hoping to win one of these little investments, but no luck.  And I say investments because they aren't cheap!  They also seem to never go on sale, which made me question whether or not they were worth the big price tag.  I told Kevin, if we could, I'd like to set aside some money so we could order them before school started.  I kept waiting..... and waiting.... because I had a hard time justifying the purchase.  Right at the end of July, they offered a 10% off promo + free shipping.  It gave me the little push I needed to order them.

Not only did I get the rover box (that holds the food), I ordered the lunchbox, thermos, and ice packs too.  Each lunchbox comes with a free set of magnets that make it more fun and colorful.  (I'm hoping to order the Christmas set this year too!)  I like that I can change the magnets as their interests change.  Allie got unicorns and Hayden got dinosaurs. 

Top Left :  Each box comes with a "big dipper" and "little dipper".  they have a plastic ring around the top of the lid to prevent leaks.  Top Right:  The ice pack.  Bottom Left:  The thermos lid.  It all comes apart to ensure it stays clean!  Bottom Right:  I love that front pocket.  It holds notes, napkins, and utensils.

It seems like with our old lunchboxes, if I used a bigger container for a salad, there was no room for anything else.  We also dealt with smashed sandwiches or leaky drinks.  These new lunchboxes seemed to really think of everything. I should also mention they ship lightening fast!  One other perk:  they are dishwasher safe!  Most days I just hand wash them but every few days I like to put them in the dishwasher :)

Before school started I made a list of main courses, sides, and desserts the kids liked.  It's taken some thinking out of the lunch packing process in the mornings.

This was the first week of school lunches.  The little fish at the center is a chocolate :)

1st Day of School

Allie got to meet her teacher a couple days before school started.  :)

Hayden and Allie started school last Wednesday.  They were both really looking forward to it!  I've known Allie's teacher for many years and it made me more comfortable with this big transition knowing she'd be in great hands.  Hayden's teacher is newer to the school and I know nothing about him, but he's a young guy and I really think Hayden will enjoy a male teacher. (Meet the Teacher is this week, so I'll learn more about him soon!)

I had lots of people ask me about how Allie did, and how I did with Allie being at school.  The truth is she was SO excited to start school that I was excited for her.  The first day of school I made pancakes for breakfast.  I got both kids up in plenty of time to eat, shower, get the hair done, and let me take their picture!  As soon as I got done with my pictures, it started pouring!  The entire first day of school was rainy, but it didn't seem to damped anyone's spirits.  I took each kiddo to their classroom.  Hayden walked right it and waved and said bye (no more big hugs for me).  Allie was a little more hesitant but once we found her desk she seemed to immediately settle in.  Her teacher came over and gave her some coloring instructions, so I gave her a quick hug and said bye.  

I did get a little misty-eyed driving home after dropping her and Hayden off, but I reminded myself they were both going to have a great day and it was silly to be sad.  I came home that first day and made cupcakes and thought about them all day long :) I got an email at lunch time from Allie's teacher to say all the kids were doing great and the only tears this morning were from the moms! Ha!  My days are getting more productive and we are starting to get a new daily routine.  Allie has come home almost every day telling me about new friends she's making.  Hayden's enjoying seeing his buddies from last year.  This weekend, Allie was genuinely disappointed she didn't have school. 

Krissy and Austin have had a harder transition that anyone.  The first day Hayden and Allie were gone, those two argued and fought ALL day!  I'm happy to report the last few school days have been much better.  I realized if I kept them busy (playing, reading, coloring, running errands), they were much happier.  I've caught them playing together multiple times and that makes me happy!  I also feel like they are getting good one on one time with me and Kevin, and what kid doesn't want that.

 

This was day 1 arguing....

This was this morning :)

The homework is slowly starting, and so are the extra-curricular activities, but we are really enjoying and embracing this season of life and looking forward to a great school year!

Cinnamon Honey Butter

I've waited to share this recipe to make sure I got it just right!  I've made this butter 3 or 4 times and it's a hit!  It's so sweet and cinnamony that it's impossible not to love.  I love it best on homemade bread...  And I think I'm going to make more bread this week to use up the extra butter I have from Allie's party!

Ingredients:
1 C salted butter, softened

1 C powdered sugar

1/8 heaping C honey

2 tsp cinnamon 

Directions:
Put softened butter in stand mixer and beat until whipped (2-3 mins).  Next add in the powdered sugar and mix for 1 minute.  Add in the honey and cinnamon and mix another couple minutes.  Voila!

P.S.  I updated my strawberry butter recipe and it's so uh-maze-ing!  Much sweeter than the first version and you'll not be able to pick a favorite between these two!

Allie's Birthday Celebration

The night before Allie's birthday I was feeling sentimental.  This birthday feels like a bigger deal since she's starting kindergarten next week.  I told her it was the last time I'd brush her 5 year old teeth, we said a little birthday prayer, and I tucked a grinning little girl in bed.  She had a hard time falling asleep and kept coming in the family room to check to see if her presents were put out.  I assured her I wouldn't put them out until she was "upside down in her bed and snoring" (half of the time when I go to bed that's how she's asleep)!  Allie woke up a little earlier than usual the morning of her birthday.  It was 7am and I told her she could wake everyone else up.  That morning we gave her a new watch, a new picture from her room, her new personalized unicorn backpack, and a unicorn barbie. 

She requested sticky buns for breakfast.  (No pics because I was working on dinner while breakfast was baking!)

After lunch, we all spent a little time outside picking up stuff in the yard so Kevin could mow.  Hayden came over to me and said "Hey mom, what's this egg?"  And it was one of our new chickens (Bunny's) first egg!  I don't know when she laid it, but I assumed it had been that morning.  All the chickens were in their run all afternoon (I wanted the new ones to not have the option to lay them in the yard, and get them use to using the nesting boxes) and before the party started we ended up getting another tiny blue egg in the nesting boxes!  Such a fun surprise on Allie's birthday!

Allie spent the morning and afternoon playing.  Kevin left to go get balloons, I made her birthday cake, and we put some finishing touches on cleaning the house (Kevin spent the entire morning working on the yard and it looked great!)
We invited our family over for dinner.  We had a few neighbor kids come over too!  I put together a salad bar and served it with homemade rolls and cinnamon and strawberry butter.  

Topping included:  bacon, chicken, diced ham, carrots, cucumber, cauliflower, eggs, strawberries, blueberries, apples, cheese, sunflower seeds, and craisins. 

Homemade rolls and flavored butter (strawberry/cinnamon) were my fave!

Allie LOVES unicorns, if you hadn't picked up on that yet.  So, she decided months ago she wanted a unicorn party.  She also decided she wanted a naked cake (no icing on the sides) many months ago too.  She requested chocolate cake with chocolate icing, but I made some regular buttercream to pipe along the sides.  The cake topper is a horse from the dollar tree with a "horn" I super glued on and then painted gold.  

People got a kick out of their unicorn names ;) Thank, Pinterest!

 The kids ate outside and the adults ate inside.  I wanted to sit with the birthday girl so I stayed out with her. 

While we were eating, we kept hearing thunder.  The skies didn't look bad, there was no rain, so we didn't think much of it.  Then our neighbor, Ali, said "Look at the double rainbow!"  I mean how cool is it to have a unicorn party with rainbow colors, and then there be a rainbow during your party?!

Clearly Allie was excited about it!

I decided after Kevin spent so many hours working on the yard, we should put the chickens up in their run.  They like to visit us on the patio and then poo on it , and that's not really very welcoming to party guests.  I felt bad keeping them put up, so I gave them lots of dinner scraps and they loved me once again. 

 Cute party goer pictures :)

Allie was so excited to open her gifts.  She got some cute clothes, cute toys, and her new lunchbox and lunch accessories, among other things :)

My sis offered to take our picture and I never think to do these things until after the party is over, so I was very happy to get this pic!

When we all started singing "Happy Birthday," she got all smiley and loved it. 

My brother and his family

Other party goers

Someone snuck in to the cake while we were staying our thank yous and byes....

Happy Birthday Allie baby!  We love you!