Freezer Meals and Anticipation

From the time of my last post on June 21st until July 4th weekend I was able to accomplish a lot. While the kids visited my parents, I finished making a little over 30 meals to stash in the freezer. Not the usuals like lasagna and plain ol' soup, rather interesting pizzas, enchiladas, quiches, various burgers (salmon, beef/pork) and so forth.

Spinach, mushroom, red pepper, feta quiches.

After reheating, the texture is a bit off but the taste is great.

Italian style mini meatloaves.

I'm usually not a meat loaf person, but John will ask for it on occasion so

I thought I'd give them a shot.

Spinach and feta pizza and fontina, kalamata olive, artichoke, red pepper pizza.

The goods in the freezer.

When the boys returned home from Camp Noni Pop Pop, my entire focus was on having good days and just being with them. We succeeded! It helped that I had everything finished (almost) on my list of things to do. I wasn't anxious for them to get to bed so I could do something or annoyed when things didn't go quite right with the day. I think that's how it's supposed to go, but when you're an over achieving stay at home mom it's hard not to focus on what you didn't get done.

The days leading up to the arrival of the ship were filled with more anticipation than two toddlers and a mamma could take. Turner was a bit more quite than usual and, if I asked if he was grumpy, he'd say "No, I'm just bein' quiet." It was a little sad to know he felt the anticipation and anxiety but I was happy to know he understood we were DONE! Eli had and still has no clue. Or last days of the deployment were spent with our wonderful friends, Grace and Cicely and I couldn't have been happier about that!