Living Life One Cheerio at a Time

Well it looks like it is meal planning time again. Fridge is getting low..... Sunday (lunch) Stuffed chicken breasts mystey sides (dinner) Steaks, baked potatoes, salad {having friends ovah} Monday Porkchops/fried apples/ broccoli {cook extra porkchops for later in the week} Tuesday Chicken~mushroom soup~cheese~cresants/ veg/fruit {probably cheese cresants for kids} Wednesday Ham and bean soup {chicken nuggets for kids} Thursday Pork lo mein {insert cook pork for earlier} Friday Turkey breast/sweet potatoes/cranberry sauce

Outside my window...snow & to think it was 60 Friday and we were at the zoo. I am thinking...about summer vacation with my parents/in laws~9 of us total. A family tradition with tons of memories for my kids! From the kitchen...home-made granola for snacks and turkey meatball subs for dinner I am thankful for...God's forgiveness especially since I don't deserve it I am wearing...jeans and t-shirt {I am not a very exciting dresser these days} I am reading...Hosea I am going...to Bible study this week I am hoping...the weather clears up and spring is coming I am seeing...my little boy has no pretend clothes and is forced {by his sisters} to dress in pink clothes. Around the house...laundry baskets with clean clothes One of my favorite things...nap time when everyone naps {rarely happens} Plans for the rest of the week...CBS, parent-teacher conference, dance class A Bible verse...1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Now it is your turn ...

I can't stand it~ he's starting to lose his baby look and gain his little boy features. SIGH Well daddy gives her "wild lion" rides a lot so she was so kindly returning the favor to baby Cassidy and baby Jen {Jen is the one who's a casualty of the game already}.

We went with some friends, Chaos and Pandemonium, to the Newport Aquarium . Lots of fun. Here are a picture of the girls playing in the frog bog. the boys unfortunately were confined to strollers.

At the begining of the week #1 celebrated one hundrad's day at school. She had to bring in a shirt with 100 items attached to it. We had some foam shapes and glued like crazy the front and back.

So last week got a little rearranged because of the date the hubs and I had for Valentine's Day. But we will begin anew this week.... Saturday night: maybe pick up Chinese on our way home from church! Sunday: Grilled hamburgers and chips/fruit {pancakes and sausage for dinner} Monday: Jamin' Chicken, mashed potatoes, vegi, fruit Tuesday: Chinese Pork buns/rice/veg/fruit Wednesday: Turkey meatball subs/Salad/fruit Thursday: Taco night/fruit Friday: Egg and ham Breakfast Casserole/fruit

Outside my window... the snow is melting. I have grass albeit brown. From the kitchen... tonight's dinner {lasagna} I am thinking... how much #1 has grown this school year {tonight at dinner she was singing "when 2 vowels go a walkin' the first one does the talkin'"} I am thankful for... a husband who loves that I cook a hot meal for him I am wearing... dry clothes-I should wear a wet suit for bath time! I am going... bed soon. I've been up since 4 am I am hoping... be a better parent I am hearing... child #1 SNORING! I am reading... square foot gardening. I am also passing on "The Hiding Place" to a dear friend who's never read it... One of my favorite things... a Mint Condition from Caribou Coffee A verse to share... "Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 Now you can do this too! http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

I know its not Monday, but really grocery shopping happens on Friday/Saturday for us so here's the meal plan for next week {before I misplace the scrap of paper I wrote it on} Monday: Lasagna, salad {some form of noodles/ butter/parm cheese/ meat sauce combo for kids} NEW {to us} fruit MANGO Tuesday: Jammin' Chicken, baked potatoes, fruit Wednesday: Sausage pepper/onion sandwiches, fries, baked beans, fruit Thursday Chicken potpie {dairy free and dairy full versions} fruit Friday Lazarus Chicken Quesadillas, beans, rice {soy cheese/chicken quesadilla for some and plain cheese sans chicken for #1} Saturday Turkey burgers, mac and cheese, carrots and fruit So fruit choices include : bananas, grapes, apples, blueberries, canned pears and mangoes My kids love their fruit so by Friday night its low, low low. Lunches include: pbj (regular and sunflower), turkey lunchmeat/cheese sammy, soy granola bars from Trader Joe's, chicken nuggets, leftovers, tuna, pizzas on pita pockets, ...

Haven't tried them yet but they sound good so I'll share: Granola 3TBSP dark brown sugar 3TBSP pure maple syrup 2 TBSP honey 1TBSP canola or vegetable oil 1tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a rimmed cookie sheet with dairy free non stick cooking spray. Place brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg in a 2-quart saucepan. Cook over ow heat, stirring constantly about 30 seconds, until sugar melts and sauce is well blended. Remove from heat and stir in oats. Spread mic evenly on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Sprinkle fruit over granola mix; stir and spread out evenly. Bake an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Stir. Cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes and then place in a heat proof bowl to cool completely. {Recipes from "What else is to Eat?" the dairy-egg and nut-free food allergy cookbook" Linda Marienhoff Coss} ...

Outside my window...snow and more snow Thinking...I am ready for a change in the weather I am thankful for...my husband who shares parenting duties with me From the kitchen...a sink full of soapy water and a drainer full of clean dishes I am wearing...comfy clothes I am creating...nothing but I have something brewing in my brain I am going...to #1's Valentine party on Friday {ice cream sundaes at 10 am} I am hoping...the fighting and arguing between #1 and #2 will cease soon I am hearing...my husband read bedtime stories to the kids Around the house...the quietness of a no TV day I am reading...Have a new kid by Friday One of my favorite things...my husband playing with the kids {the new refreshing laughter he brings} You can do this too! http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

I have been doing it mentally for years now. But after seeing some other blogs do it like my college friend Hope { http://hopefilledhome.blogspot.com/ } and another blog I stalk regularly { http://thematzats.blogspot.com/ } I thought I might as well get it in print too. Its always good for ideas anyways. Monday : fish sticks {kids} or fish fillets, peas, fries and fruit Tuesday : Meatloaf cups, salad, green beans, fruit Wednesday : Ham and cheesy potatoes {adults} broccoli and fruit Thursday : Taco or Quesadilla {for kids}, rice, beans, fruit Friday : Apple cider pork chops, mashed potatoes, fruit Saturday : BBQ beef samies, mac and cheese, fruit Meals are quiet a conundrum for me. Child #1 doesn't typically eat meat, #2 and #3 are lactose intolerant, #3 is allergic to tomatoes, chocolate, nuts and strawberries. Cheese slices {soy or regular} or yogurt is always available for the super picky ones on any given night. {SIGH} So this week looks pretty good at making only one-ish meal....

Over the past few months {sorry if I'd posted this before, I can't remember} I have been making my own bread. Mostly because of taste and some because of the allergies my kids have. So my friend, Kristin, gave me this recipe that was really working for her. YUMMO. My little boy wouldn't eat sandwiches but with this bread he's more inclined to eat a little. Especially the sunflower butter and jelly ones. Its easy and freezes well too! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Amish-White-Bread/Detail.aspx

My kids love Raisen bran cereal "sunshine cereal" on a regular basis {pun intended}. I was trying to use up the box before it went bad so I went to post's website and found this website. They are pretty yummy. I stuck some carrots in {probably next time a puree and not the shredded kind} the muffins. Tastey non the less. Enjoy! http://www.postcereals.com/recipes/post_recipes/default.aspx?rid=R2356v0E

From my window...a layer of ice I am thinking....what are we going to do on this day off from school? From the kitchen...peppermint mocha coffee I am hearing...2 kids playing, 1 snoring I am thankful....for children who are feeling better Around the house....4 baskets of laundry that needs to be put away I am wearing...sweat pant confiscated from my hubs and a t-shirt from college I am praying...for my hubs and his heavy heart, a friend's request, to be a better parent I am reading...children's books and lots of them, and 2 Kings I am craving...sausage biscuits and gravy, dinner maybe? My favorite things...snow angels made by my little angels A few plans...CBS this week, aquarium with friends that got rescheduled,dance class A verse to ponder... Psalm 69:30 "I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." A picture... {My sister in law took this picture on Christmas eve of my CHEERIO GANG. They are the light of my life!} Now it is your turn: h...