Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Potty Breakthrough!

I've mentioned before that Amelia is not as easy to potty train as Isabella was. Isabella was/is pretty easily pleased, so putting up a chart and letting her pick all kinds of stickers out worked great for her. Actually, she was ready to start before I was, I had bought a seat to go on the toilet on it in preparations for her to potty train and once she saw it, she wanted to start then. It really was just a matter of telling us and getting there in time for her, but she was potty trained with no accidents by the time she was a 28 months. Amelia on the other hand, has gotten bored with the "treats", stickers are fun, yeah she likes to get a stamp on her hand, but not enough to go potty constantly for us. We have tried everything we can think of to get her to go, for a while she would go every now and then when we would put her on the potty, then she would cry when we put her on the potty (until she went and then she was happy for the attention), we make a big deal of this, call daddy at work, do a little made up potty song and dance, high fives...... just not caring or getting it. I was almost, ALMOST tempted to do the one thing I do not want to do --- buy a seperate potty chair. I might be the only mother that feels this way, but that's just nasty! And really like I want to have to empty and wash that thing out...... oh please, don't tell me that's the one thing I'm going to have to do. Thankfully, No! Since Sunday I have only had to change 2 diapers (actually pull ups) -- WOO HOO!!! Can I tell you just how thrilled I am? And she's actually been telling us when she has to go, and here is the reason....... if you come to my house now, later, tomorrow or maybe even next week, this is what you will see......


(Well minus the ashy legs, can't believe I didn't notice that before I took the picture. Although in the winter this is either typical or they are being chased down by me with lotion in hand. I think I have found a good help for this though, more on that later. :)

Her DORA NIGHTGOWN!!! For a few months now, nightgowns have not been an option for her because she wore them one night, took her diaper off, then had peed all over the bed. No fun for mommy, so I had told her before no nightgowns until she was going potty -- too easy of access. I recently told her she could wear this if she went in the potty, and some how it has stuck. If we are home, and she has a dry pull up (yeah, they have Dora on them too), then she can wear her nightgown. If she goes in her pull up, then she has to change out of the nightgown -- and yes I do stick to this, just ask my friend Becky, she was a witness. :) Yesterday she wore it all morning, then she messed in her pull up, we changed her clothes, and then she was back to going potty the rest of the evening so she could keep Dora on. Today, she told me right away in the morning she had to go, she told me after breakfast, and then 2 times while we were out........ (I'm also seeing that her tiny little bladder must be another reason for the late potty training. My shopping trips are going to be much longer now.) As soon as we got home, the first thing she asked for was her "Backpack nightgown" -- so she is back in it again. It actually took a little convincing to get her out of the nightgown and into pants and a sweater to leave, she kept telling me "I go pee pee" -- I had to convince her it was cold, that I PROMISED she could wear it when we got home, she could wear her Dora shoes and also she could wear these........


What?? You don't know what these are? They're ear muffs, what else would be wrapped around her waist?!?!

So even though this just proves my daughter is WAY too enamored with Dora (I still don't know how that happened) and as much as I always said I didn't like the cartoon character clothing, accessories.... I have given in..... and the less diapers I have to change the more I am confident in my decision to do so!! Hopefully this will continue, it sure would be nice to have her potty trained.

And can anyone guess what she'll be wanting for Christmas?!?

Monday, October 27, 2008

Menu Plan Monday


Yay, I'm actually getting this done on time! Got a couple new things I'm trying this week and then old faithfuls.


Monday


Breakfast: The girls wanted cold cereal this morning so easy morning for mommy just a bowl of Strawberry Cereal

Lunch: AB & J Sandwiches, homemade applesauce

Dinner: Taco Salads (baking tortilla shells in those cute little pans. :) Lettuce, ground turkey cooked in spices like cumin, red pepper..., beans, tomatoes and cheese


Tuesday


Breakfast: Egg Biscuits (using up leftover biscuits I made yesterday - recipe below)

Lunch: Squished Potatoes with leftover meat from last night (decided not to call the mashed because I'm not making them with butter and milk, just squishing up baked potatoes and adding leftover meat and cheese)

Dinner: Turkey Stroganoff, kind of like THIS recipe, except I will make homemade whole grain egg noodles and probably do my typical adding and subtracting of things. Good recipe to go by though if you want one and I have leftover turkey and gravy from Sunday's dinner.


Wednesday:


Breakfast: French toast (Kenny is leaving this morning for a business trip so we'll all eat a nice breakfast together before he leaves.) The last time I made french toast I used yogurt and an egg to dip the bread in. I will either do that, or I found THIS vegetarian recipe that sounds good. Well, if you like bananas and coconut milk it sounds good. :)

Lunch: Bean Quesadillas -- seems to be a constant in our week, but the girls love them and their cheap

Dinner: Leftovers from last night, has to be quick this night


Thursday


Breakfast: Our fast typical gymnastics breakfast -- "Ants on a Log" It actually works the best for Isabella too, it seems to fill her up for gymnastics.

Lunch: Sandwiches

Dinner: White Chicken Chili (I boil the chicken in water, then use that water/stock, plus a little extra broth for the base, Northern Beans, Garbanzo Beans, Chiles, Cumin, pepper, some garlic and basil) This is a favorite soup at our house!


Friday


Breakfast: Hot cereal with fruit and flax

Lunch: Mini spinach "quiche" on a biscuit. Found THIS recipe and thought it looked and sounded good so I thought I would try it. Make a half a batch of biscuit dough and I might change up the cheeses as I have Rice Moz Cheese and some goat cheese.

Dinner: DADDY'S HOME!! Homemade pizza, per his request.


Saturday: Gone all day at a Adoption Conference, probably leftover soup for dinner


Sunday


Breakfast: Same as always, daddy gets the girls breakfast

Lunch: Chicken in the crockpot, green beans and my favorite Curried Brown Rice Salad (Honestly, I can ignore the rest of the meal and just eat this LOVE IT!)

Dinner: Leftovers or out with teens


RECIPES

Curried Brown Rice Salad

Cook 1/2 cup brown rice in 1 cup chicken broth.

Stir in 1/4 cup chopped parsley (I don't always have this and it still is great),

1/3 cup chopped red onion (or none at this house),

some chopped celery,

1/3 cup choped red pepper,

1 small apple quartered, cored and cut into 1/2 inch pieces,

3 TBSP dried cranberries and

3 TBSP toasted sunflower seeds.

Then make the DRESSING: 1 TBSP Mayonnaise, 1/4 cup lowfat plain yogurt, 1 TBSP rice wine vinegar (I think I've used apple cider vinegar as well), dash of salt, fresh ground pepper and 3/4 tsp Curry (I use more curry because I love it. :)

Mix dressing in with the rice/veggie mixture and either eat slightly warm or you can even cool it and serve it cold. Its is delicious either way!


Whole Wheat Baking Powder Biscuits

1 cup Whole Grain White Whole Wheat (This does not mean its "white" bleached flour, it is a lighter wheat instead of the red winter wheat, it is whole grain)

1 cup Whole Grain Graham Flour

1TBSP aluminum free baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup shortening (I used 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Coconut Oil instead)

3/4 cup milk


Combine dry ingredients, cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk to form soft dough. Transfer dough to lightly floured surface and knead lightly about 10 times. Roll out to 1/2 inch and cut with round cutter. Place biscuits on ungreased sheet and bake at 450 for 12-15 minutes.

(This recipe came from Hodgson Mill Whole Grain Baking Book)


For more menu plans visit Organizing Junkie!!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Poor guys

I had a knock on my door today, and since I couldn't avoid it, I had to answer. They were from a different church and belief than ours and I know they must have walked away saying, "Did you see that crazy woman, she was in unmatched pajamas at lunchtime, no make up, and had an aroma of..... what is that? Oh yeah, needing a shower! Thank goodness SHE wasn't interested in being converted" In my defense, its a lazy rainy day today, I just had to wait to get Amelia down for a nap before I could shower today, oh who cares.... I was in pjs, at least my kids had been fed and my kitchen was clean, right?!? Come one, someone tell me that's ok. :)

On a more serious note, I hate that I'm not more prepared or maybe its just bold at times like this. Where I could be "fine, let me tell you about what I believe and then you can tell me..." Of course, this was a man that was talking so it wasn't like I was going to invite him in, but I guess I could have said "come back later if you want to share and my husband can share with you." Yeah, that's it put it all on my husband.

Anyway, I may well be known to these people as the crazy stinky lady. At least I had brushed my teeth today.... I think. :)

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Menu Plan "Monday"


I actually had this made up yesterday, but Kenny had first aid/CPR training last night at work and didn't get home until about 9:30 so I didn't get a chance to sit down and type it out. Last week was a crazy week, I wasn't thinking about all that we had going on. Friday I spent the day baking goodies for the cake walk, had boo in the zoo, then Saturday got up and spent about 8 hours at the church between decorating for and going to the fall festival. Sunday was church, my mom's birthday, and then back to church for Awana. We came home and fell in bed and hoped our girls remembered to brush their teeth and get to bed ok. Just kidding about that, we obviously got them in bed first. :) All fun stuff, but busy --- and what does this have to do with this weeks menu??? Well, Steph, you're going to be disappointed because a few of the things I had on my plan last week I never got around to making, we opted for much faster easier meals. So, they're showing up again this week.


Monday:

Breakfast ---Griddle cakes

Lunch--- Leftover Pasta

Dinner--- Made kind of the same chicken "tart" I made last week, except I had used capers and the girls didn't like them and I also totally forgot the chicken and yet somehow the girls still loved it: Phyllo Dough, spread a little bit of olive oil or melted butter, cut up red peppers, goat cheese and some asiago/parmesan cheese. This is a horribly messy meal though, that Phyllo dough flakes like crazy and my Amelia is a crazy messy eater.


Made Pumpkin Millet Muffins for breakfast


Tuesday:

Breakfast--- Smoothies & Pumpkin Millet Muffins (These were really good, I didn't toast the millet like the recipe calls for. My girls loved them, especially Amelia. We once again had the little raccoon attack. I got the girls dressed and ready, then went and got myself ready, came back into the kitchen and noticed a couple half muffins on the counter. I think Amelia ate 5 muffins today (1 for breakfast and 4 between breakfast and lunch. I'm going to have to get some kind of container that has a lock on it to keep her out of things.)

Lunch--- Daddy took us to lunch today -- Mexican. :)

Dinner--- Leftovers


Wednesday:

Breakfast -- Grapefruit, yogurt with flax

Lunch -- AB & J sandwiches, grapes

Dinner: Mango Tango Chicken (didn't get to make this last week) and a salad


Thursday:

Breakfast -- Smoothies and muffins (if Amelia hasn't found them and eaten them)

Lunch -- Bean Tostados (Corn tortillas, refried beans, corn, cheese)

Dinner -- Tilapia Cakes (another I didn't get to make last week)


Friday:

Breakfast -- Egg omelets

Lunch -- AB & J sandwiches, I'm going to try carrot sticks and maybe some hummus dip. My girls don't really like raw veggies, but I'm going to try and find ways to get them to eat more. Cooked veggies, they do fine, raw, not so much.

Dinner: Potato Corn, Chicken Sausage, Soup (More or less I'm going to make potato soup, throw in some sundried tomato basil chicken sausage I bought last week at Whole Foods, and some corn and whatever else seems to strike my fancy that night)


Saturday:

Breakfast -- Whatever Daddy decides he wants me to make

Lunch -- Either leftover soup or a picnic lunch as we are hoping to go to the pumpkin patch or somewhere else fun.

Dinner -- Homemade pizza


Sunday:

Breakfast -- Whatever Daddy is cooking, which means cold cereal or eggs. :)

Lunch -- Basic Sunday dinner, whatever type roast I find at a good price, preferrably a chicken or a turkey breast, potatoes, and veggies

Dinner -- Leftovers


The nice thing about this week is that all I have to buy at the grocery store this week is potatoes, cheese for pizza, and chicken/turkey for Sunday.


For other (and I'm sure better) menu plans visit Organizing Junkie

Monday, October 20, 2008

Boo!

My "Monday Menu Plan" will come later, but for now I thought I would show you the 2 cutest little kitties ever.
Aren't they adorable?! We went to Boo in the Zoo at our local zoo this past Friday. We have a membership there, so we always get to go on the first night. We've gone since Isabella was a baby, so this was our 5th year. The girls love it, I love seeing them all dressed up, and its always such a nice non-scary environment (well, except Amelia didn't like some of the costumes that kids had on) This year Isabella told me she wanted to be a kitty cat, mainly because she wanted me to paint her face. Her reasonings always crack me up. Amelia wanted to be "backpack" or "fru fru" -- I decided on a "fru fru" kitty cat and made her a little tutu to go with her outfit. She loved it. I think she knows just how cute she looks.

I asked Isabella if she wanted a tutu and she said no. After I got her dressed up, I:

1. Noticed that in buying the $1.50 pair of tights instead of the $4 pair of "dancing" tights, you could kind of see the black line. It wasn't as noticeable as it is in the picture (flash photography does crazy things to black clothing.)


2. I thought the tutu was just way too cute, she should've had one.


3. Wondered why I gave her a choice....


4. Noticed she looked way too "grown up" and decided if we go to anything else this season, I'll be making her a tutu. :)

I think this was the cheapest costume yet, we already have gymnastics leotards, they have black shoes, they needed black tights, so its not just for the costume, and the headband/bowtie/tail was $4 at Wal Mart and it cost me less than $4 to make the tutu. And although, I didn't spend a lot on last years Dorothy and Glinda -- they were much more time consuming for mommy to make. Maybe they will be kitties every year from now on. :)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

A Mary Heart

Have any of you read "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver? I have actually been reading a couple different books lately, this one and one called the Mission of Motherhood. Both are REALLY good. I don't have a great deal of good books at home. I love to read and I love these type of books that can be an encouragment spiritually, but quite honestly they are expensive. So, I've started taking advantage of my local library. This book was one I found there. I love it - on the front cover it says "Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life". Exactly what I need. Right now is so busy... the last few months it has gotten even busier. I have the daily duties of caring for my children The rewards are wonderful, the time with my children is wonderful, the work though is hard. I would say especially with toddlers, but then I know once they hit school I'll say especially with school age... But trying to train your children, potty train one, discipline, do a little teaching with my 4 year old since I opted out of 4K so I could spend time with her, life in general... its busy. Then with trying to eat healthier and be more frugile, that is another busyness. Again, the rewards are great -- we are saving money, I feel better eating healthier and I know the long term benefits are great, and I really do love to cook. But honestly, how much time do I have to spend in this crazy kitchen. Cook breakfast, eat breakfast, clean up after breakfast -- short break for getting kids dressed and ready for the day and somehow its time for lunch and the whole cooking, cleaning happens again. (I can't stand a dirty kitchen so I have to clean after each meal. Not to worry though, I'm saving time by not cleaning my bedroom :) Then supper, bedtime routine, and you start all over. Sometimes I don't know where the days go. I know many of you are feeling the same way. Then to make life even busier and a little discouraging our church has been having some "issues". We've been praying about things since spring, really wanting God to change things. Of course, the changes that God chose so far have been a surprise to us. Quite honestly, I've noticed lately that God really isn't following my plans at all, what's up with that. :) The first was that our pastor gave us a week notice in May and left. Not what we were expecting, but I do think this can be a good change. God is still in control. Another changes we have been praying about, is that people are so uncommitted. I mean, its easier to sit in a pew, complain, or not even come to services than it is to actually serve, right? I still don't know HOW God is working, but I know He's working. Kenny ended up going on a trip to Seattle with the teens, he wasn't supposed to go, but God changed those plans and had him go. He came home on fire and more committed to God and helping the church until God changes HIS mind (God's mind not my husbands), the teens came home on fire and committed to God -- and honestly, there is nothing more encouraging and convicting to see teenagers wanting to do things for God. As discouraged as I was and am, I don't want to be a stumbling block for him or the teens. So when he came home, we knew that if nothing else, that God wants us to serve Him and try to do what we can for the church. So now this is where we stand: My husband is a deacon, he's on the pulpit committee to find a new pastor, he's the youth pastor, he's the game director at Awana, he helps me teach SS every 3rd month. I'm in charge of typing and printing the bulletins, by "default" I have become in charge of Children's Church and nursery (unless I didn't want my girls to have this), teaching SS as above, teaching children's church, doing nursery, working in Awana, helping my husband with youth group, helping plan/organize our fall festival, responsible for my own "shepherding" because I'm rarely actually in church.... and I'm not saying this like we're the only ones doing things because others are just as busy at church. I'm just saying it because I have felt overwhelmed lately. And I even told Kenny jokingly "I know I'm getting no rewards in heaven because I'm grumbling as I do these things." Jokingly -- but seriously. And then the bad thing is that we are in a town that there is a church on every corner, (Honestly, if you are thinking of church planting, please don't come here, there is no need for more churches here, there's one on every corner, just not always enough faithful people wanting to serve in all of them.) churches where I could sit in, get fed and not have to lift a finger, my girls would have tons of friends, rather than the few kids that are at our church,.... But I know that God has not built me that way and He definitely hasn't built my husband that way. We were made to worship, we were made to Love Him, but in that we were also made to serve. So here I was feeling sorry for myself yesterday, discouraged about the problems, discouraged about my own personal time being stretched so much, and I sat down to read my book. Boy, it took all of 5 seconds for God to convict me. The author writes:

"Satan still plans his attacks around what I call the "Three Deadly D's of Destruction.: They are Distraction, Discouragement and Doubt. Throughout time, Satan has restored to these tactics to bring down God's best and brightest. The underlying strategy is farily simple: Get people's eyes off God and on their circumstances. Make them believe their "happiness" lies in the happenings that surround them. Or send them good news -- about somebody else. When they're thoroughly discouraged, tell them God doesn't care. Then sit back and let doubt do its work."

It is hard, to look around and feel like there is an easy way out, that I really don't need to be doing this work That why should I care if no one else is. To find myself unhappy just because I'm frustrated with the situations. My parents church is really big and doing well, that could be discouraging just because we wish our church was doing better, but then that's not where God has us. And we've actually benefited from that because my parents are taking Isabella to Kids 4 Truth there, so she get to go with them on Wednesdays instead of to youth group with us. (Which is also a help to us as she can be a cute little distraction for the teens. :) )

"(Satan) knows that if we're overly worried and bogged down with duties, chances are good our hearts will not hear the Savior's call to come. ..... getting our eyes off of what is important will certainly make us more vulnerable to attack."

(Luke 10:40) "Martha was cumbered about much serving", she was distracted, she was overwhelmed, she was bothered. Yeah, I've felt that way lately. Then I read the following, and this really hit me in between the eyes.

"'But even pure ministry for Jesus can become a weight we drag around,... Its called the treadmill annointing and it isn't from God.' ..... Even on those days when I have the best motives, my heart can be pulled away from doing things 'as unto the Lord' and settle for simply gettings things done. And when that happens, I can tell you, this Martha isn't very merry."

Yeah, me neither.

"Then when we're distracted, discouragement is just around the corner. Weariness creeps in as life overpowers us.... Discouragement breaks down our perspective and our defenses. Though we may have just completed great things for God, weary discouragement tells us we're useless, hopeless, and abandoned." She then talks about Elijah and how he had just had a mighty victory, but then became afraid of Jezebel. This is a prayer I need to pray for our teens, that they saw great things in their life, God working in them, and not to get their eyes off of God, not to worry about the noncommittment around them, not to get discouraged. But then the author shows us the story in 1 Kings 19 about Elijah. Even though he was discouraged and asking God if He even cares, doubting God, God sent an angel to bring him food and rest.
"When we're distracted and discouraged, tired and overwhelmed, there is no better place to go than to our father. He alone has what we need."

I decided to read more of 1 Kings 19 and I love these verses: "And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." That's where God is, in that still small voice. And if I become so distracted and discouraged, I'm going to miss the blessings God has for me because I'm going to miss His still small voice.

Then she notes that God is concerned with what concerns us. Martha asked "Lord, don't you care?". "We have our questions.... but He wants us to trust His love enough to tell him what we are thinking and feeling."

"First, we can bring our needs to Jesus anytime and anywhere.... (Matthew 7:7)"

"Second, Jesus really cares about what concerns us. (1 Peter 5:7) Jesus didn't laugh off Martha's concerns. He didn't become angry. Instead, He spoke to her wtih infinite gentleness and tenderness recognizing the pain in her whining voice."

"Finally,Jesus loves us enough to confront us when our attitude is wrong. (Rev. 3:19)'.... Martha spoke her secret fear aloud, and we can too. But, like Martha, we must stick around long enough to hear the sweet reasurrance of his answer. Don't expact any explanations or apologies. After all, God is God."

Ouch. So that's what I'm trying to do, take my concerns to Him and accept His answers. Will I never get discouraged about this same thing? Yeah, right, I was getting discouraged again today. Just writing about it makes me a little stressed. :) Do I know HOW God is going to answer all my prayers -- nope, but I trust that He is going to work things out. And I've seen God answer some prayers already: There are other people in church who truly have the desire to help the church, our interim pastor has been great - he has such a heart for God, we are hoping to outreach to our community with this weekend's fall festival, I have seen people respond better to serving in areas than I thought I would. Here at home, we have new neighbors and they have 2 little girls. My girls and they have become fast friends -- this is also a matter of prayer as I feel I have extra training to do and it actually is more busyness for me as I think I will be having 2 extra little girls at my house every afternoon and I'm overly protective of my children and what they are doing, where they are outside, etc. I think the neighbor girls are in the "can we fool this woman?" and "what all can we get by with?" stage, but that will pass, they're learning quickly that I say no ---- alot. :) But Isabella said last night "God blessed us with new neighbors." She's never had a neighbor friend, our neighbors have all been older or have older kids. She's very excited! And God continues to show me how much He truly cares. When I am discouraged and tired, He is concerned, He's concerned for taking care of me, but He is also concerned with my questions and He is definitely concerned with my response and how I deal with things. And I have to remember to try not to get distracted, I can say no, I will say no to some things, but I have to at least be doing the things I'm doing for His honor and His glory, if not they're all in vain anyway. He is sufficient, He has my ultimate good in mind and I have to listen to His still small voice instead of the voices of discouragement all around me.

Anyway, I'm really enjoying this book. Have any of you read it? Its not a new book, I think it says copyright in 2002. If you haven't, get it and read it. I've only read 3 chapters and it has been great, can't wait to see what God is going to teach me in the rest. If you have, I'd love to hear what God has taught you.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Menu Plan (October 13 - 19)


Surprisingly, I'm actually going to get this in on Monday, barely, but at least I don't have to try and change this to "Half A Menu Plan Wednesday."
Monday
Breakfast -- Whole grain pancakes
Lunch -- Girls had AB & J sandwiches, grapes, veggie chips
Dinner -- Leftover Red Lentil and Butternut Squash soup, homemade whole gr. graham flour rolls. (If you want the recipe for the soup see the link from last week) It was DELICIOUS!!! A definite new fall favorite soup. I love the flavor of curry, if you don't like it, then don't make this soup or put alot less curry in it. But I happen to think curry is extra yummy! Amelia wasn't crazy about it. She ate it, with some prompting, but not a favorite for her, she might not have her mommy's love of curry. :) If you want the recipe for the rolls, let me know, it came out of a book I borrowed from the library and they were nice and soft.
Tuesday
Breakfast: Egg in a Hole/Egg in a Basket (just learned my dad calls this French Eggs?)
Lunch: Bean Quesadillas, apples (I will probably be eating the last remaining bowl of leftover soup)
Dinner: Homemade pasta with sundried tomato/basil chicken sausage with a tomato sauce, side salad
Wednesday:
Breakfast: Grapefruit, yogurt with wheat germ or nuts
Lunch: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Dinner: Chicken and Red Pepper Tart. (My husband says he will eat this as long as I cut the roasted red peppers up small, I can definitely accomodate. :)
Thursday:
Breakfast: Pumpkin and Millet Muffins (I will be using coconut milk and I will use probably rapadura, honey, or brown rice syrup in place of the sugar, not sure which yet) If you can't tell, I love Whole Foods website for recipes.
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Chicken and Mango Tango (Recipe below)
Friday
Breakfast: Hot cereal with fruit
Lunch:
Dinner: We will be going to Boo in the Zoo, probably eating something really quick or grabbing something since Kenny will get home right before we have to leave and I will be dressing up my 2 little kittens. :)
Saturday
Breakfast: French Toast or Omelets -- those were Kenny's suggestions, he wasn't sure which one he would want and this is the only day that he really eats breakfast with us.
Lunch: Tilapia Patties
Dinner: I'm probably going to have a snack in between breakfast and lunch and consider the tilapia my dinner, we are having a fall festival at our church and the girls will probably eat a hot dog there.
Sunday:
Breakfast: Muffins and possibly smoothies
Lunch: Its my mom's birthday, so I'm not sure if we are all getting together or what the plans are. I will plan something after I know.
Dinner: Leftovers or possibly homemade pizza
Chicken and Mango Tango (from Superfoods Cookbook)
1 large ripe mango, peeled and stone removed
2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
juice of 2 limes
4 spring onions, trimmed and chopped (I will use some of the onion I have left)
2/3 cup EV olive oil
1 large bunch of cilantro, washed and roughly chopped (I doubt I will use that much)
1 medium sized cooked chicken or leftovers from a "roast" --- I will be using chicken breasts
Large lettuce
1/2 cucumber peeled, halved, seeded and diced
Put mango, celery, lime juice, and onions into food processor or blender. Blend on moderate speed. Add olive oil gradually. Add half the cilantro to the dressing without whizzing any further.
Remove all the white meat from teh chicken and take off any skin and extra fat (hence why I'm using the chicken breasts that I already have) Arrange lettuce leaves on plate. Sprinkle with cucumber. Pile the chicken on top and pour on the dressing. Garnish with rest of cilantro. (This looks so yummy, I'll let you know how it turns out)
Tilapia Patties
(I have Tilapia in the freezer, its our favorite fish, but it just hasn't been sounding good to me lately, so I'm going to make it nice and fattening by turning it into a "fish cake" instead. :)
Cooked Tilapia (probably around 2 cups)
2 cups mashed potatoes
A small squeeze of lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Herbs that you want to add, probably parsley and paprika
Eggs and breadcrumbs if you want them breaded, if not just shape them into patties let them cool and saute up in a little bit of extra virgin coconut oil
If you do want them breaded, dip into eggs and then breadcrumbs and either bake at 450 until lightly browned (probably 15 minutes) or you can fry them up in the extra virgin coconut oil.
Hope everyone has a good week!! For more go to Organizing Junkie.

My non-vegetarian

I'm going to be late posting my menu plan for the week. Since we were gone this weekend and didn't get back until last night, I feel like I'm starting the week a little disorganized, but hopefully I'll get it posted later. For now, I thought I would leave you with the funny story, I've shared with some of you already. Of course, its about my Isabella -- I'm sure you're not surprised. Isabella LOVES animals, actually she loves any living thing -- while I was gone she found 2 worms and informed us later that she kissed them (I know, gross!) She loves animals, most bugs, other than the ones that mommy screams at and squishes, I think she's figured they must be bad, loves birds, loves fish.... She actually is alot like me in this area. I've wondered if she would end up becoming a vegetarian once she truly realized chicken is chicken and fish is fish. She's never really asked, although when she found out salmon was fish, she was worried we might eat her fish Rexy-Keeko. No, I will not be baking a Beta fish. :) Anyway, the other day, we were standing in line at the store and the notion of her love for animals causing her to be vegetarian was squelched when she asked me:

"Mommy, if we cook up a chipmunk, can we eat it?"

I was shocked, grossed out, a little mortified that she asked and just responded with "WHAT?!?! NO! That's gross!" I kind of wish I could have responded in a more redneck kind of way to shock the people around me like (in an extreme southern accent) "Well, if that's all your Daddy brings home, we'll be eating chipmunk stew for dinner." or "Why, did you see one on the side of the road and forget to tell mommy?" Where does the child come up with this craziness?

NO, Chipmunk will not be on my menu plan this week.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Blogger hates me

Really, I think it has something against me. I went on my blog this morning and tried to click on the link for the Red Lentil Butternut Squash soup recipe. I was taking Isabella to gymnastics and we pass the grocery store so I knew that I needed coconut milk, but wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything else (since this is my first time making this.) Anyway, I noticed my link wasn't there, honestly, I had put it on there but it wasn't showing up. I tried to correct the problem and the same thing as last time, half my post was in minute size. Also, last night I was trying to add the butterfly picture and it kept coming in sideways, no matter what I did, I even tried rotating it thinking maybe the digital file was registering the other way or something, nope, just blogger hating me. :) I finally shrunk it and cropped it and it worked.

All that to say, sorry. If anyone happened to come by and read my menu and wanted the recipe for the soup, here it is: http://wholesomegoodness.net/2008/02/08/creamy-red-lentil-and-squash-soup/

And the Chicken Taquitos: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=2077 although I think the only thing I follow on this is using chicken and corn tortillas, I change most everything else for taste and I just add water to the pan I've cooked the chicken in to do the tortillas, I'm not wasting money using chicken broth just to make the shells soft enough to roll. Still you get the idea. Sorry my links aren't working. This is probably why people pay for their own website or pay for a different "host", oh well, I'm cheap I like that blogger is free. Even if it hates me every now and again.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

And even newer pet

Today, Isabella got what she has been waiting patiently for, a brand new butterfly. And here it is:

What once was her caterpillar, then her chrysalis, today became her butterfly. She's so excited. And isn't it a pretty one?! My niece Olivia was at our house for the day and we were all making lunch together and Isabella said "Ooooh gross", I turned around and here was this wrinkled up tiny black think wiggling around in her bug house. She thought it was a different bug in there. It was kind of weird looking and small looking and wiggling around. To be quite honest, it looked so weird that I thought "Oh great, we've done something wrong and this thing is dying on us." So we grabbed out her little butterfly home and put him in there and then he did his thing to stretch, grow and harden those wings. What a great "project", it was a great science lesson and a perfect time to talk about God's creation as well as talking to her about the new life we can have in Christ. Just amazing!

We'll keep him (oh sorry, Isabella says its a "her", anything pretty has to be a girl) for a few days and then let it go. I didn't realize this, but butterflies only live 2-4 weeks. I haven't mentioned this to Isabella, nor will I.

A little funny story to go along with this. I was on the phone with my friend Becky today and Isabella was wanting to tell her about the butterfly this is what she said "Auntie Becky, Auntie Becky! My butterfly likes me! I think he likes me because I gave him weed." Becky and I both couldn't stop laughing. Finally Isabella asked mommy what it was called... "Oh, I think he likes me because I gave him parsley." Oh, she keeps me laughing.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Its all about presentation...

...even if it is just for yourself.

Doesn't this look yummy! This was my lunch for today. I like salads, but I normally like mine with some Feta or Blue cheese, and a good blue cheese dressing, balsamic vinaigrette, or my favorite, Brianna's brand Blush Wine Vinaigrette (whose first ingredient listed is sugar, of course its good.) This salad I was supposed to only use a little lemon juice for the dressing. As I started to make up this salad, it started looking better and better. Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, a little bit of fresh ground spices and a little bit of lemon juice. I think presentation makes healthy taste even better! And it was so pretty that I had to take a picture of it.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Sorry about the confusion on the last post

Sorry that my text formatting changed mid stream, I did notice it. For some reason, blogger let me make the first 3 days in a larger font, but when I tried it with the last 4, it would cause the whole bottom half of my post be so small you couldn't even read it with a magnifying glass. Very weird. Blogger has a mind of its own sometimes -- I couldn't edit my post to include this without that happening. Hope you have a good week!!!

Menu Plan Monday


This weeks menu will be different because I will be gone from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening. My mom and I are heading to West Virginia for a ladies conference which will be on Friday night and Saturday. This is the conference that we've gone to for the last few years at my cousins' church. The men of the church will be cooking and serving us, so it will be a nice break for me for a couple days. :) Then we will be heading over to my uncle's and aunt's. My dad, husband and girls will meet us for "Friends and Family Day" at my uncle's church. I'm looking forward to the weekend, I will get to see family on both sides that I haven't seen for a while, plus a little break at the conference so I'm excited. The other reason it will be different is that for the next 3 days I am doing a energy detox diet from the Complete Superfoods Cookbook, so I'll be eating differently (other than Tuesday night) than my family. In reality, I eat some meals different than my girls anyway, I just don't always list them. Unlike them, I don't want AB & J sandwiches constantly. :)
Monday
Breakfast: Girls: Cereal (as well as "sharing" mommy's food)
Me: Orange, 1/2 grapefruit (ended up using the whole thing since the girls wanted some), and plain yogurt with 1/2 tsp of chopped nuts on top
Lunch: Girls: Leftover Chili (unless they decide they have to have eggs like mommy)
Me: Scrambled eggs with mushrooms on a bed of mixed salad leaves, dried fruit compote

Dinner: Girls & Daddy: Girls will make pizza (they didn't get to do this Friday because we enjoyed a picnic at the zoo with out of town friends instead)
Me: Red pepper stuffed with brown rice, raisins, onion, parsley, mint and pine nuts and cooked. One piece of homemade whole grain bread
Tuesday
Breakfast: Girls: Eggs, toast & apple slices
Me: Leftover dried fruit compote, plain yogurt, orange

Lunch: Girls: Cornflake chicken nuggets (same recipe as the one 2 weeks ago)
Me: Half avocado sliced with tomatoes, cucumber on mixed leaved with lemon juice. 1 piece of whole grain bread

Dinner: Mustard Marinated Salmon Steaks, spinach puree and some tropical fruits for dessert

Wednesday
Breakfast: Girls: Hot Cereal (make extra for griddle cakes tomorrow)
Me: (supposedly a vegetarian day) Slice of whole grain bread and banana

Lunch: Girls: Going to see if they will eat the following recipe with me, Isabella's not crazy about rice though, so it might be AB & J for her :)
Me: Risotto Con Salsa Cruda (from the above mentioned book)
Recipe: Cook 1/2 cup long grain brown rice and a pinch of salt. Combine 2 chopped tomatoes, 1/2 peeled and diced cucumber, 1 garlic clove finely chopped, 2 spring onions (I don't have these, so I'll just put a little bit of chopped onion instead), 2 finely chopped carrots, 1 finely chopped zucchini, 1/2 Tbsp peas -- add in 1/4 cup olive oil and season lightly with sea salt, pepper, and allow to marinate for 30 minutes. Stir this mixture into the warm cooked rice, season to taste and sprinkle with chopped parsley and chives ( I don't have chives)

Dinner: Kenny & Girls: Chicken and couscous and probably some of mommy's
Me: Eggplant Caviar (from the above mentioned book)
Recipe: Bake 2 eggplants until soft, cut it open and scrape the flesh into a bowl. Add juice of 1 lemon and beat in 3 Tbsp olive oil drop by drop (I'm going to use part organic unrefined coconut oil), to form a smooth cream. Stir in 2 Tbsp yogurt and 1 crushed garlic clove. Season with salt, pepper and 1/2 tsp crushed coriander seeds. Combine well, cover and chill for an hour. Serve with strips of carrot, celery, cucumber, cauliflower and fennel (I don't have fennel) **I'm cutting this recipe in half because I don't think my family will love it so no need to waste.

Thursday
Breakfast: Girls: Griddle Cakes and fruit (This has become a much requested item from them)
Me: Smoothie with berries, banana, coconut flour, gr. flax seed, juice/water, kefir

Lunch: Baked Chicken Taquitos in corn tortillas

Dinner: Red Lentil and Butternut Squash Soup
This recipe sounds so good to me. Butternut squash is one of my family's favorites and since I got in on sale this week, I'm excited. (This recipe came from Wholesome Goodness, which you can click the name and see it)

Friday
Breakfast: French Toast

Lunch: Lunch with daddy since I'll be leaving

Dinner: I'm going to put some turkey meatballs in the crock pot with spaghetti sauce and then Kenny can cook some pasta to go with them for dinner.

Saturday: I'll be gone, but my hubby will probably make the girls eggs or whole grain pancakes for the girls and should be able to have some healthy leftover alternatives to give the girls instead of taking them out.

Sunday: Gone

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Hmmmm

I just sent my hubby to Wal Mart to get Isabella some shoes and some toilet paper.... anyone want to guess what kind of shoes he may bring back? :) I've decided she cannot wear her Crocs to church Sunday morning, I've finally come to the realization that it truly is fall and she can no longer wear her sandals, but when I got out her other shoes there was no squishing her feet in them. I'm a little nervous..........

...... about the shoes, not the toilet paper, he'll do fine on that one.