Blustery Day

What a blustery, rainy morning we are having! I kind of like it, to be honest, the wind and wet outside makes my home seem all the cozier inside by comparison :) I like the cooler days that fall brings. Yesterday I simmered orange slices, cinnamon and cloves on my stove, just for the smell of it, and the orange and yellow leaves blowing past the windows made me smile.

But this weather is not so nice for my school-age sproutlets, whose classrooms may be a bit gloomy, and who won't get outdoor recess - so I tried to put a little sunshine into lunch time. Smiling sun cheese quesadilla (atop the scraps from cutting it out), turkey rolled up on flower picks, grapes, and salad. Bright, cheerful oranges & greens.☀

An elephant mama & baby PB sandwich for Pickle. 

This Lunch Punch reminds me of Disney's Dumbo, which reminds me of the lullabye "Baby Mine" that I sang to my Pickle at bedtime when he was a baby, and still do to this day. I doubt he will think of that when he opens his lunch, but it brought a smile to MY morning  ♥

Did not, did not, did not

This morning did not go very well. I did not get up on time. Pickle did not cooperate about getting ready for school. I did not choose the sproutlets clothes last night, so I had to rush around putting outfits together this morning. I also did not give lunch any thought before going to bed so had to scramble in my preparation this morning. We did not have enough bread. Beanstalk and Sprout did not want cold lunches, so I had to make them ramen noodle soup to take in their thermoses. I did not dress the kids for the rain. We did not leave for school on time and barely made it. Birdie did not want to me to leave her at preschool and I did not want to leave her crying. Ugh.

I tried to make a cheery lunch for this not so cheery rainy day. Made a sunny fruit & veggie garden for Bella. Almonds in the blue container. For the carrot butterfly antennae I used a fork to poke 2 holes in the baby carrot and stuck carrot slivers in them.

A smaller version for Birdie. She also had a little container of ramen noodles. 

And a peanut butter sandwich Koi pond for Pickle.

Tomorrow, I will be more prepared. Tomorrow WILL go better. Fingers crossed.

You are my Sunshine

♪ My only sunshine ♫ You make my happy, when skies are grey... 
This morning was another grey one, so a sunshine themed lunch sounded perfect... and by lunchtime the sun was out, so the sproutlets got to enjoy their sunny lunch in the sunlight :)

Beanstalk and Bella each had the Easy Lunchbox version:

A little love note peeked through the lids to brighten their day :)

They had sunshine shaped three-cheese quesadillas on a bed of Sun Chips with cheddar suns, Clementines, Sun Maid raisins (grapes & sunshine!), honey roasted peanuts, and Teddy Grahams. 10 year old Beanstalk asked me not to make his lunches too cute, so he didn't have sunshine shapes or bears, he had more peanuts instead. Not pictured is a family favourite, sunshine juice (lemonade + orange).

Sprout & Baby Bird had a muffin tin version:

Pickle had a smiling sun peanut butter sandwich

(with his usual yogurt and apple juice)

Everybody loved their lunch. Beanstalk blushed at his note but I could tell he was pleased - he hugged me after he was finished eating! And Bella said she definitely wants me to make this for her school lunch. Hooray!

Now lunch is over and the sproutlets are outside in the back yard soaking up some summer sunshine while they still can :) I think I'll go join them ☀

Like the look of our EasyLunchboxes? Get some!

And the Mini Dippers, and the cookbook too!