The Kassel Family Project Life 365

The beautiful flowers on our back porch.

Happy Father’s Day!  Today began with the kids letting Daddy sleep in a bit.  They helped me make coffee so that Daddy could have some when he woke up.  They also insisted on helping me make breakfast.  Laura selected Breakfast Burritos for this morning’s menu.  Next up was mowing the lawn.  I’m aware that it’s Father’s Day and he should have the day off, but we leave for Dallas on Wednesday and so mowing was necessary.  After mowing though, we ate lunch and then headed out for fishing at Finger Lakes!  Fishing was certainly an experience.  Laura did manage to catch her first fish ever within a minute of putting her line in the water.

The kids were quite short on listening skills though so after about 90 minutes, we packed up and headed home.  We spent the rest of the day eating and relaxing.  All in all, a great Father’s Day!

To my husband – I love watching you with our beautiful kids.  They both adore you and I always just smile at their reactions to you.  Here is to many, many more wonderful Father’s Days!  I love you!

John was wide awake tonight.  He just wouldn’t go to sleep.  He seems to be moving past the point of always needing an afternoon nap.  He took a nap today and was a ball of energy from about 3:30 pm until very nearly 11.  About 11 though, he fell asleep on me and I thoroughly enjoyed the short amount of time that he slept on me.  Moments that don’t happen much anymore…..

Today, Alia came to play with the kids for the day.  The kids had a great time and did a lot of different things.  They watched some television, rode bikes in the garage, played with every toy the kids have, wrestled, ran around the house, etc.  Alia even got to stay longer than normal because the Lowerys came over for dinner (Tortilla Salad = YUM!)  Thanks B and Rach for bringing Alia so the kids could have some friend time!

Two special things happened as well.  Laura left about 5:30 pm with Andrea and Kathryn to spend the night at Kathryn’s house.  Laura’s first sleepover away from our house!  It was strange just having John in the house last night.

With John being the only child after the Lowerys left about 8 pm, we played some Wii Bowling with him and then special thing #2 happened.  John got to see his first Fireflies (Lightning Bugs)!  He was so interested in them and was having a great time pointing them out.  A little bit of special time with John is something that we don’t get often and it made for a very special evening.

Usually, for our monthly groceries, I shop at Hy-Vee, Sam’s Club, and occasionally Moser’s.  Hy-Vee is a “big box store” and it has the best produce around.  Sam’s Club has the best deals on fresh steaks, pork, etc.  Moser’s is a locally-owned grocery store that has some extremely great deals on varying things.  Recently, a new Aldi grocery store was built in Columbia.  We’ve had an Aldi for a long time, but I never shopped there.  Why?  Well, because I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m a snob.  There was always a certain stigma attached to shopping at Aldi, but I’m 38 years old now.  I should know better than to think such things.  So, I checked out the new store.  My first time in there I was a bit stunned by the prices on some of the various foods.  $1.39 for a box of graham crackers?  I usually pay $2.50 at our regular shopping spot.  Snacks for the kids cost me $5.  Easily $12 at my regular stores.  That convinced me to return.  The next time in there I found MORE things at a distinctly discounted rate, not the least of which was frozen chicken nuggets for $2 less a bag.  On my last menu plan, I spent $110 for two weeks worth of food between Aldi and Hy-Vee.  Shopping at Hy-Vee alone would have been $200.  Somehow I can’t ignore saving $90.  This month, I’m experimenting a bit more and I’ve spent a grand total of $50 at Hy-Vee (mostly milk, coffee, and produce) and only $140 at Aldi.  At this rate, our monthly grocery bill will total out to less than $250.  THAT IS APPROXIMATELY A $250 PER MONTH SAVINGS.  Let me repeat that…$250.  While I will continue to shop at Hy-Vee, Sam’s Club, and Moser’s for some things, Aldi has become my main grocery store.  And next time I find myself thinking that some place is beneath me, I’ll think twice….  How funny that a grocery store slapped me back to reality.

I think that most of you know that this year was the year for the 13-year cicadas to emerge.

Well, John can’t say “cicada.”  He says “micaya.”  We’ve corrected him a ton of times and each time he looks at us like we have lost our minds.  Almost as if to say, “That is what I said!”  As the 13-year cicadas begin to die off, it occurs to me that “micaya” is something I want to remember….  After all, he’ll be 15 the next time they emerge and, somehow, I don’t think the micayas will be anywhere near as interesting.

Kathryn and Brent came to play today!  Kathryn was here all day and Brent came over for the afternoon.  The kids had so much fun and did all kinds of things.  It was a day of bikes, toys, running, eating, and movies.  By the end of the day, my downstairs looked like a tornado of toys ripped through it.  Thanks to both Andrea and Jenna for letting Kathryn and Brent play!  It made the day lots of fun for the kids!

Running!

Kathryn and Laura

Movies!