Menu Plan Monday- 10/11

**The links are somewhat harder to see this week

 but if you place your mouse over the main dish it will take you to the recipe.  Enjoy!

Monday- Pineapple-Teriyaki Chicken with Snap Peas and Brown Rice

Tuesday- Ricotta Cheese-Stuffed Shells with Garlic Bread and side salad

Wednesday- BBQ Chicken Tenders with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans

Thursday- Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with French Bread

Friday- Out to dinner (Mia and Mom) and leftovers (Macie and Dad)

Saturday- Honey Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Parmesan Orzo

Have a great week!! 

Pumpkin Treats

As many of you know I am not a baker, a cook, someone you would trust overall in the kitchen...but I am learning- sloooowly, I am learning.  The past couple days I have tried my hand at two pumpkin recipes (mostly so the scent of "fall" could be smelled throughout our house as the yummy treats baked :) ).  I do have to say, they both were pretty easy to put together- and I even made icing for the first time (Betty Crocker had previously been my confidant when it came to smothering a cookie or cake with frosting)!  B commented on the finished products, "I married a baker!  Who would have thought it?  She didn't even know I married a baker!"  These words I will take as a testament that everything turned out edible at least. :)  So what did I bake?  

Pumpkin Cookies
(Click on title of the treat to get the recipe I used).

**I added chocolate chips (b/c nothing is dessert until it has chocolate in it, right?!)  

Pumpkin Bread
(Again, click on link above for the recipe).


**I added raisins, 1/2teaspoon of all spice, and 1/2 teaspoon of cloves to add a little more holiday flavor. 







The big test: Tonight friends will be served these treats for dessert.   We will see if they enjoy them or go home with green faces! :)  Happy fall baking everyone!!

Our Attempt at Fall Fun

 All week M and M (and mom :) ) have been very excited about visiting Cagles Family Farm with some friends of ours, The Crescis,  for some "fall fun".  Friday was finally here- we were up and ready to hit the road bright and early.  With the growing anticipation of what fun was ahead of us, I thought Mia would pop with glee!  We arrived a bit before The Crescis so decided to get out of the car and explore a little bit.  We spent about ten minutes planning all we wanted to try out- the hayride, the super jumpy pillow (somewhat like a trampoline),  and petting all the animals just to name a few.  As my Little Ms were checking everything out, I was busy observing that most of the groups that had arrived came on a bus or seemed to be in a big group.  I brushed it off as, "Oh it is still not even 10:00, maybe it's too early for other 'singleton families'.  It will surely be getting busy soon ". 

Leaning on my sis for some loving as we devise a plan for the day!

We can't wait for our friends to get here!!!

Crescis arrived and we made our way over to the ticket booth so we could pay our way into all the fun which lay ahead of us.  The booth was closed.  Kristy says, "Hmmm, that's weird, it's after 10:00 (the time they open)."  Whitney replies, "Well, let's see what we want to do, while we wait for them to open up." (pointing to the sign which listed the activities).  We noticed below each activity description were times the event was available for purchase.  It became quickly crystal clear why only groups/schools were gathering and no "singleton families"...the farm was only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays!!!  "WHAT?!" was both moms reaction followed by, "Alright, what should we do now?"  After tossing out different options, we made the decision to throw in the towel to the whole "fall fun" themed day and head to another fun place we all love- PLAY (head over to PLAY for our summer visit there).

Here are some photos I was able to take on our attempted morning at the pumpkin patch:

Even though our original plan was a bust we ended up having a fabulous time at PLAY with Katherine and Lucy!  All four girls climbed around in the foam pit, jumped like crazy on the trampoline, played around in the ball slide, and experimented with their gymnastics abilities on the gym equipment.  Our playdate ended with  lunch at Chick-Filla and a good, long nap for all the little ones! 

Maybe we will attempt "fall fun" at the pumpkin patch again someday soon. :)

Sunshine and Smiles

This morning after we dropped Mia off at school, Macie and I made our way to the park.  The weather was begging us to go- a perfectly crisp temperature, the slightest little breeeze, with full sunshine above us!  

When we arrived Macie was, at first, a little hesitant; she stood there a minute taking it all in.  Once she assessed what was to be tackled first, she was off!  And then the smiles, giggles, and squeals of delight set in... 

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, nothing, NOTHING compares to having this special privelege of one-on-one, uninterrupted time with my sweet soon-to-be middle child.  And I will say it a million times more, there is NOTHING that warms my heart more than seeing that big, bright, smile flash across her face followed by her intoxicating laugh!  I know the sun was shining, the temperature was warm, but it was without a doubt, my sweet little girl's smile that warmed me from the inside out and it is this warmth that will give me the strength to tackle whatever is left ahead of me today...with a smile on my face!

I love you, Macie D, through and through!!!

Party Prep

Each year we host a Halloween Party for M and Ms little friends and their parents.  This past weekend I began preparing for the fun event.  Something I've created are Halloween-themed display stands (think cakestand).  They were SUPER easy to make and didn't take very long.  All you need are recycled soup cans, spray paint, ribbon, scrapbook paper, a glue gun (my best friend :)), and burner covers. 

First, spray paint the burner covers to whatever color you choose (I chose black).  Next, wash and dry out the cans you decide to use (whatever size suits your needs).  Then, cut scrapbook paper to fit the width and circumference of the can.  Follow this with hot gluing the paper onto the can.  

After this is completed use whatever decorative materials you choose to attach around the can and/or the burner covers.  

Viola!  You have stands you can use to display food, condiments, party supplies, etc. in a fun and decorative way!  

 I plan to reuse the tops of the stands (if I can get the pumpkins to come off :) ) to make Thanksgiving-themed ones for Turkey Day.  The options for creating a use for these are endless- any holiday, birthdays, baby showers, "just because", etc.

  Happy Crafting!   

Menu Plan Monday- 10/3

Happy Monday!! 

 Fall is in the air, so that means it's time for some fall-type recipes! 

 A little tip (as a couple of you have asked for recent recipes)...anything that is highlighted in color (i.e. dark yellow), just click on it and it will take you to that recipe. 

 Hope this helps! :)

Monday- Taco Soup with French Loaf

To make Taco Soup:

-2lb of ground beef (or ground turkey- that is what I usually use)

-1can black beans

-1 can pinto beans

-1 can kidney beans

-2 cans Rotel tomatoes with green chiles

- 2 cans corn

-2pks taco seasoning

-1 large onion, chopped

1 pk dry Ranch dressing

1) Brown the beef/turkey with chopped onion.

2) Mix all remaining ingredients into crokpot (or dutch oven for stove top preparation).  Add the browned meat (after draining).  

3) Set crockpot timer for 2-3 hours on high and then 1 hour on low, stirring ingredients periodically (if you are home to do so :) ).  

4) Serve with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheese.  

Tuesday- Breakfast Pizza with biscuits and fruit salad 

** This is a runover from last week.  The day we planned to have this we ended up supporting a fundraiser at Mia's preschool...pizza! :)  

Wednesday- Roasted Pork Loin with Herb Rice and Roasted Asparagus

Thursday- Mexian Lasgna with veggies

Friday- Mandrain Chicken Salad

Saturday- Lemon Baked Chicken and Roasted Potatoes 

A Little Down Time

What a week it's been!  My cousin Marc tied the knot on Saturday afternoon and I have been determined to be there to witness him marrying the girl of his dreams, no matter what my doctor has been recommending (he said I could not travel because it is too close to my due date).  B and I made the last-minute decision (after already sending a "decline" on our RSVP)  Wednesday we would go, regardless of Dr. Moore's advice- "It's only 3 1/2 hours away.  It will be ok."  Who would have known that this decision would have spurred so many bumps. :) 

We all woke up Thursday morning, to none other than Littlest M's fever!  (It should be noted that she has not had a fever in forever!!  I actually have lessened my neuosis of another possible seizure occuring).  It kept up all day, and actually as the day progressed it worsened.  By 10:00 that night she had developed not only a high fever, but hives all over the lower half of her body.  After a call to our pediatrician, we decided we would stay home. 

Friday, we woke up (well 3 of the 4 of us actually woke up- one of us never actually went to sleep- insert the reinstatement of "seizure neurosis")...hives were gone and the fever low.  We decided, "If this keeps up, we will go."  All morning she did great- she even began eating again (didn't eat all day Thursday).  At nap time, she went right to sleep...and woke up with hives ALL over!!  After a quick call to the pediatrician for a late afternoon "please make time for us even though it's almost 4:00 on a Friday" appointment, it was decided once and for all, "I don't think we're going."  God clearly had a plan for us and making the trip to NC to be with Marc on his special day was NOT it (clearly! :) ).  

So what to do with a weekend that was wide open- no plans anywhere in it (a rarity around here!)?  We spent it with a perfect mixture of chores, projects, and down time.  On top of the list for chores- Organization! (can you say nesting?!) The linen closets, girls closets, my closet, the baby's drawers are now all in working order.  As for projects, B and I both had a couple on our lists.  Mine involved finishing the outside fall decorations and prepping for our upcoming Halloween Party.  B spent a good part of the weekend helping The Hutchersons continue "Project Move In" and renovating our mud room and laundry "room" (nothing a little beadboard, wood, and fresh paint can't spruce up). 

The rest of the weekend was spent finding some down time to just be with one another, enjoying this awesome fall weather!!!  This was our favorite part:

 Sitting in font of our first bonfire of the fall, roasting marshmallows, and making S'MORES!!!!

The girls loved poking their marshmallows into the fire!!

She was a little apprehensive (imagine that...actually unsure about something! :) ).

Biting into our bonfire sweet treats! 

 YUMMY!!!!

From the look on her face, do you think she was enjoying our family time?

 What about this one? 

 I know it's hard to fathom with a mother who has a "slight" addiction to anything that mildly resembles dessert, she actually preferred hanging out with her fam

 over savoring her tasty creation!

As the weekend comes to a close, I can say, even though nothing big or extravagent took place, and even though I was initially quite disappointed to not have been able to attend Marc and Jordan's wedding, this weekend turned out to be all kinds of "sweet"!