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menu plan monday : 1.7.13.

 

my first meal plan of the new year - woot!  we had a bit of a kitchen mishap last week when the crock of my crockpot slipped from the mound of dishes that were drying in the sink and, as the two year old of the house says, "broke into a million pieces."  thanks to amazon, the new one arrived on friday and i've already used it twice.  i love the kind that i have so much i bought it again.

here's what we'll be dining on this week :

meatless monday : lemony lentil soup.  i had pulled this out of an issue of parents magazine a few months ago.  if i remember correctly, this is the soup that leighton threw on the dining room rug the first time i made it.  and then deemed it "delicious!" the next day.  a super easy soup that i was able to pull together during carson's psuedo-nap this am.  my favorite part?  he was able to eat it as well!  just in a more mushed texture.  our first dinner where all five of us ate the same thing!

i've selected monday as a night of the week for our family to eat a meatless meal as it tends to be more budget friendly as well as a friendlier option for the environment. my meat and potato eating husband tends to go along with this idea because i also make him a yummy dessert in addition to his meatless meal. what can i say, i'm nice like that.

tuesday : slow cooker beef and tomato stew.  another recipe that i pulled from a magazine - can you tell i recently went through my cookbook cabinet to tidy things up?  i keep pulled recipes in a binder divided by type so when i'm looking to try something new i have them at the ready.  andy is a big stew kind of guy so i have a feeling this will go over well.  this is also where i should note i'm still i mourning that everyday food will no longer be published. *sniff, sniff*

wednesday : leftovers.  time to clean out the fridge...

thursday : homestyle chicken and noodles.  this looks like comfort food at it's finest!  kristin hasn't steered me wrong yet so i'm excited to give it a try.

friday : pizza.  andy's parents are coming into town so that we can celebrate faux-christmas, what i've deemed our holiday celebration on the years that we aren't together on the 25th.

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menu plan monday : 11.12.12.

menu plan : the thanksgiving 2012 edition.

hello 2013.

 

 

this is how we closed down 2012.  lots of party hats and horns and appetizers and the girls think it's a party.  love that they're so easy to please!  this was andy's holiday weekend to be on call.  five days straight.  we're definitely looking forward to the weekend as the daddy of the house is more than exhausted.

and now we're focused on 2013 and all that it has to offer.  specifically our big move.  lots of purging happening at our house.

here we go!

 

the two of us.

 

blogging has been shoved to the back burner in the last few weeks as we celebrate the holidays.  and to be honest, as i continue to try and figure out how to get everything done each day.  there aren't enough hours and something has to give.

as i'm sitting here printing out photos for our december daily album, i came across this gem that andy took before we headed to church a few weeks ago.  finally a decent photo of my sweet boy.  (even if he still considers napping an optional activity.)  sure, i need a haircut.  and i look tired.  but hey, there are few photos of just the two of us together.  bonus points for both of us smiling and looking in the camera's direction.

 

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that's us.

carson : 6 months.

she is her mother's daughter.

 

another priceless preK project and another reason why i love that she goes to a christian school.

last week, camryn was asked what she would've brought baby jesus for christmas and this was her response.  proof that i've influenced her thinking in that she chose reusable bags.  i've also evidently passed along my love for target.  

and a target in heaven?  i can't even imagine how awesome that would be.

carson : 6 months.

 

so hard to believe we're at the halfway point to a year.  ack!  not hard to believe?  that it's taken me almost two weeks to get this update up.  carson hit the six month mark when we were out of town traveling so although i got a photo taken, this mama is constantly treading water and trying not to drown.  thus some of the below stats are no longer accurate, but were for when he hit the six month mark.  for christmas i'd like five extra hours added to my day.  preferably night time hours when my children are sleeping and i can get things done.

at 6 months, carson :

• is in the 98th percentile for height.  so not shocking.
• is 17 pounds 6 ounces.  the 68th percentile.  i've never had a baby not in the 90th+ percentile for any measurement.  this skinny guy is a first!
• goes to bed between 7:15 and 7:30p and wakes up between 6:30 and 7:30a.
• napping continues to be a struggle.  it's a good day if he naps a total of an hour and a half the entire day.  some days he naps a total of 30 minutes which makes for a very long day.
• is nursing five times a day.
• started solids.  thus far has had squash and sweet potatoes and enjoyed both.
• is enjoying the vantage point from his high chair.  i love being able to sit him there with a few toys while i get meals ready.
• still isn't a fan of cereal.  that is unless it's made with milk instead of water.  a luxury i told him he won't be getting used to.
• still thinks that tummy time is the most inhumane thing to ever occur.
• adores thomas, especially his tail.  they both jockey for a position on my lap when we're playing on the floor.
• has begun to enjoy his bumbo seat.  of course because he's about to outgrow it. 
• can sit up.  although if he knows i'm behind him, he'll fall backwards intentionally.  such a fun game.
• is constantly amused by his big sisters.  it's fun to watch his relationship grow with both of them and how they interact.

 

and my new favorite monthly tradition, a photo of all three.  wonder how long they'll all fit in this chair?

hello ohio.

 

on thursday we headed out for a long, quick trip to our soon-to-be home state of ohio to look at schools for the girls.  this was at 8:37a, shortly after heading out.  it became a joke to andy and i for the rest of the trip.  when someone was crying, whiney or just irritated with being stuck in the car, i began chanting 8:37.  the time when everyone was happy and even carson was chatting to his reflection in the mirror unaware of what he had gotten himself into.

 

 

there were many books read and many a doll dressed along the way.  i spent the majority of the trip in the middle row keeping everyone entertained.  andy will tell you the trip wasn't that bad and i'll tell you he can say that as he was in the front by himself.

 

 

one boy that's oh so happy to be out of his carseat.  stopped to eat somewhere in indiana or ohio.  let's just say traveling across indiana shouldn't be on the top of anyone's must see lists in life.

 

 

oh chik fil a, it's been way too long.  a stop for lunch after our first school visit.  at 11a.  which means it was only 10a our time.  so very good.  mcdonald's is getting kicked to the curb after we move.  i also had andy drive thru on saturday morning as we headed out of town so i could get a chicken biscuit for breakfast.

 

 

a bit of driving around after seeing our last school of the day.  that building in the background?  andy's new hospital.  oooh la la.

 

 

the best perk of our trip to cleveland?  getting to spend time with our friends the larsons.  all of our kiddos are just a few weeks or months apart.  ironically they're moving back to wisconsin at the end of the month.

 

 

angry eyes from the back seat after i told her it was nap time as we headed home.  it should be noted she was asleep in less than three minutes after this loving interaction.

so nice to be back home and getting things back to our normal routine.  after thanksgiving and then a road trip, we all need a bit of normalcy before the next holiday.

menu plan : the thanksgiving 2012 edition.

 

i'm a bit of an ocd organizer.  just ask my husband.  i have a binder with every thanksgiving menu i've planned and prepared.  this year marks year number seven.  i love everything about this holiday.  the planning of and preparing of the meal and just hanging out with family.  i don't make a big meal for christmas so this is my one chance to go all out.

this is what we'll be dining on this year...

citrus rubbed turkey with cider gravy.  a new turkey recipe from everyday food.  i made a turkey from EF last year and obviously didn't find it that memorable as i'm switching things up again.  part of it's prep starts tomorrow with lemon and orange.  hoping it's as good as it sounds.

aunt ruthie mashed potatoes.  already made and in the fridge awaiting baking on thursday.  it wouldn't be thanksgiving without them.  there is rarely anything left of this dish.

sweet potato casserole.  love that this can be made in advance and served at room temperature.

citrus cranberry sauce.  this is always the first dish that i make and signals the marathon kitchen session about to take place.  i really enjoy it warm.

cornbread and sausage stuffing.  everyone loves it so it's the only stuffing i've ever made.  i've actually adapted it to make it in the crockpot to free up oven space and it works really well.

brussels sprouts with bacon and apple.  i wanted to try pioneer woman's balsamic brussels sprouts this year but was vetoed by andy and his sister as this recipe has bacon.

green bean casserole.  i've tried making more refined versions, but really only the classic will do.

rolls.  a family recipe that i always remember my aunt making each thanksgiving.  each year i tend to give her a call about her potatoes and/or rolls and we end up having a nice long chat.  always a highlight.

upside down pumpkin pie.  i don't care for pumpkin pie, but this stuff is good and super easy to throw together.

brownie pecan pie.  l-o-v-e.  and it makes two pies.  i was scolded by my husband the year that i gave the second one to a friend instead of keeping both for us.

apple pie.  andy always requests this and i've yet to find a recipe i love or want to devote my time to making one so preparing this one was pawned off on his mom.

here's to everything coming out of the oven at the same time!

that's us.

SportsFreaks? yes, that's us.

i was the vice president of the student athletic board - we promoted all of the non-revenue sports on campus - and we were interviewing for new members.  and in walks this guy wearing this absolutely horrible gold mizzou hat.  through his entire interview all i could focus on was that hat.  long story short, he became a member of our group and our paths continued to cross through the various baseball and volleyball games we attended to earn points for the best football and basketball tickets.  and of course, the guy ends up being my future husband.  go figure.  (and you know that one of the first things i did was lose that gold hat.)

our love of sports continued and has been passed along to our children as well.  literally.  the middle names of each of our children is a street around wrigley field - go cubs!  people always think when they hear their names that they are family names, and i'm sure they are, they simply aren't anyone we're related to.  now that the girls are both a bit older, it's awesome to watch their love of sports develop.  they know that mizzou plays on saturdays and the bears usually play on sundays.  granted, trying to explain the rules of football and basketball to a four and two year old is a bit tricky...

with the holiday season upon us, being like minded it's a win/win to find andy something sports related as a gift.  in fact, i already have!  i like to collect memorabilia for him to go into his "someday office."  that would be the space he'll have in a future house that's all his.  that he doesn't have to abandon to make into a room for one of our children as he has done in the past.  the bears calendar was the perfect gift for him and the rest of our family  to enjoy together as i was able to personalize it with our birthdays and anniversary dates, including photos.

i love that sports is what brought andy and i together and it's something that our family - no matter the age - enjoys together now.

Showing off your team spirit has never been easier! Whatever team you root for and whatever sport they play, find the gear you need at SportsFreak365.com. Just in time for the holidays, you can get 30% off  any purchase using the code “Clever30.” And while you’re there, be sure to enter to win $500 toward team gear in Ditka’s SportsFreak of the Week Contest!

I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective.

10 inches later.

 

a very exciting afternoon at our house as i took camryn to get her hair cut.  her first real cut as everything else has been a trim to this point.  ten inches donated to locks of love.  so proud of this girl.  

she says she wants to do it again.  wonder how long it will take to grow ten inches of hair this time around?

wordless wednesday : not a rockstar.

 

my attitude towards this one after only taking a 20 minute nap this afternoon.  if he wasn't so cute...