Time for more meal planning! I've been trying to use up everything in my pantry (you all have those items that you bought months ago that just never got used) and utilizing my WIC food (huge blessing!!). This weeks menu uses WIC groceries, some random pantry items I have and some meat on MAJOR sale at Festival! After my shopping trip today: I am feeding my family of 4 this week (5 dinners + leftovers for lunch) for $30! booya. That receipt put a big smile on my face:)
Menu:
Thai Chicken/Rice
White (turkey) Chili/Chips
Pancakes/Bananas/Maple Sausage
Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken Diablo (honey-curry chix)/Rice
So I use my WIC items, sale items and food I have stashed in my pantry and freezer to save extra money this week....what do you do to lower your food bill?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Water Park Fun!
A few weekends ago we went to the Dells for our annual winter water-park vacation! We tried a different park this year instead of The Kalahari; we tried The Wilderness. Overall, I think we all liked Kalahari better but we made the best of it and still had a fun time!
We go with my family; my parents + my 5 siblings + 1 sis-in-law + 2 nieces + 1 nephew + our family of 4 = 15 of us! It was a blast! Here are some pictures of the fun that we created:)
Our attempt at a family picture; not to shabby! Our boys loved all the kiddy areas with things to climb on and fountains:)
Since our group is so large we go for the condo approach; we rented a condo with 2 bedrooms, loft, full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a great sun room with a hot tub (the whole point of that was to explain the following picture..whew.) Who needs water to enjoy a hot tub? Apparently not me and Joe! Here we are enjoying some pie in an empty hot tub...how cool are we? very.
Once we filled the hot tub it became quite the hopping place to be! All the cousins (yes all 5 of them!) piled in there with me and Christie during the Superbowl (there was a TV in the sunroom so we could watch the game from the hot tub!) All the kiddos LOVED it! 
Here you can see the TV (with the game on) and the hot tub and chairs...seriously, how cool is that set up??
Auntie Tessa was Judah's bud! She can get Judah giggling so good!
Here's mom taking pictures (how clever am I? taking a picture of someone taking a picture! )
You can see the great kitchen behind her; we were able to bring all of our
own food and make 3 meals a day there (talk about a money saver!!)
I can only imagine how fun this summer is going to be with my two little fish; pools and beaches watch out!
The weekend was filled with water fun; good food; great company and lots of laughs!
We go with my family; my parents + my 5 siblings + 1 sis-in-law + 2 nieces + 1 nephew + our family of 4 = 15 of us! It was a blast! Here are some pictures of the fun that we created:)
Our attempt at a family picture; not to shabby! Our boys loved all the kiddy areas with things to climb on and fountains:)
Since our group is so large we go for the condo approach; we rented a condo with 2 bedrooms, loft, full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a great sun room with a hot tub (the whole point of that was to explain the following picture..whew.) Who needs water to enjoy a hot tub? Apparently not me and Joe! Here we are enjoying some pie in an empty hot tub...how cool are we? very.
Once we filled the hot tub it became quite the hopping place to be! All the cousins (yes all 5 of them!) piled in there with me and Christie during the Superbowl (there was a TV in the sunroom so we could watch the game from the hot tub!) All the kiddos LOVED it! 
Here you can see the TV (with the game on) and the hot tub and chairs...seriously, how cool is that set up??
Auntie Tessa was Judah's bud! She can get Judah giggling so good!
Here's mom taking pictures (how clever am I? taking a picture of someone taking a picture! )
You can see the great kitchen behind her; we were able to bring all of ourown food and make 3 meals a day there (talk about a money saver!!)
Both my boys l.o.v.e the water; they could play in it for hours!
and they got to there:) I love my little fish.
and they got to there:) I love my little fish.
I can only imagine how fun this summer is going to be with my two little fish; pools and beaches watch out!
The weekend was filled with water fun; good food; great company and lots of laughs!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
More Meals
Time for more meals!
Here's what I'm planning for this week:
*French Dip/Chips/Broccoli
*Southwestern Chicken and Black Beans/Rice
*Italian Dunkers/Veggies
*Grilled Honey-Lime Chicken/Rice/Corn
It's Joe's birthday this week and we're trying a new restaurant with his family to celebrate! Night off of cooking for me:)
Here's what I'm planning for this week:
*French Dip/Chips/Broccoli
*Southwestern Chicken and Black Beans/Rice
*Italian Dunkers/Veggies
*Grilled Honey-Lime Chicken/Rice/Corn
It's Joe's birthday this week and we're trying a new restaurant with his family to celebrate! Night off of cooking for me:)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Chips Please?
Mr. Judah is quite the mischief maker.
Today I left a bag of tortilla chips on the coffee table sealed with a chip-clip. Judah woke up from his nap and I brought him out to play with me in the living room. I took a phone call and looked over to check on him....
...he had discovered the sealed bag of chips; somehow managed to get the clip off to; and was enjoying a little snack (and mess) of chips! When he noticed that I saw him he started grinning and laughing..that little stinker!
I wasn't able to get a picture of this particular mischievous plan (because I wanted to selvage the chips!) but here's one of our littlest crazy man:
He found an empty cupboard at our condo at the waterpark and crawled right in. Multiple times over multiple days. Like I said: mischief maker.
I should go now...I can hear my mr. Judah under the desk by my feet getting into the trash and playing with it....oh man. I love this kid!
Today I left a bag of tortilla chips on the coffee table sealed with a chip-clip. Judah woke up from his nap and I brought him out to play with me in the living room. I took a phone call and looked over to check on him....
...he had discovered the sealed bag of chips; somehow managed to get the clip off to; and was enjoying a little snack (and mess) of chips! When he noticed that I saw him he started grinning and laughing..that little stinker!
I wasn't able to get a picture of this particular mischievous plan (because I wanted to selvage the chips!) but here's one of our littlest crazy man:
He found an empty cupboard at our condo at the waterpark and crawled right in. Multiple times over multiple days. Like I said: mischief maker.I should go now...I can hear my mr. Judah under the desk by my feet getting into the trash and playing with it....oh man. I love this kid!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Playing Nice
Yesterday we had ECFE and Ethan created quite the quotable moment....
Ethan and I had just finished making a bag for his valentines; I was going to put his bag away to dry (2.5 yo with glue + paper hearts = soggy bag) and he went about his business to find something more to play with me. I look over and he's walking over to a table with 2 little girls and another mom there - he asks me "can we go play over there?", I say "sure".
Then I hear laughter from the mom at the table and the teacher; I missed the actually act but they re-told it beautifully:
* Ethan went over to the table to play - and looks at the 2 girls playing*
Ethan: are you two playing nice?
Girls: yes.
Ethan walks away.
The funny part was: the girls were about to NOT be 'playing nice'; the mom and teacher said the girls were starting to fight over a specific item and then Ethan showed up - asked them if they were playing nice - they stopped fighting over it - and then Ethan moved on.
It was a joke then that Ethan was patrolling the classroom to make sure everyone was 'playing nice'.
I think it's funny because I SAY THAT A LOT at home to my little guys.
Me: Ethan and Judah - are you two playing nice?
Ethan: yes. (and then they stop fighting over the toy)
I love how what we do at home as moms are mirrored by them when we go out! This is a good reminder to all us SAHM to be aware of how we talk to and treat our kids - they could (and probably will!) do the same as us!
Ethan and I had just finished making a bag for his valentines; I was going to put his bag away to dry (2.5 yo with glue + paper hearts = soggy bag) and he went about his business to find something more to play with me. I look over and he's walking over to a table with 2 little girls and another mom there - he asks me "can we go play over there?", I say "sure".
Then I hear laughter from the mom at the table and the teacher; I missed the actually act but they re-told it beautifully:
* Ethan went over to the table to play - and looks at the 2 girls playing*
Ethan: are you two playing nice?
Girls: yes.
Ethan walks away.
The funny part was: the girls were about to NOT be 'playing nice'; the mom and teacher said the girls were starting to fight over a specific item and then Ethan showed up - asked them if they were playing nice - they stopped fighting over it - and then Ethan moved on.
It was a joke then that Ethan was patrolling the classroom to make sure everyone was 'playing nice'.
I think it's funny because I SAY THAT A LOT at home to my little guys.
Me: Ethan and Judah - are you two playing nice?
Ethan: yes. (and then they stop fighting over the toy)
I love how what we do at home as moms are mirrored by them when we go out! This is a good reminder to all us SAHM to be aware of how we talk to and treat our kids - they could (and probably will!) do the same as us!
Back to the Kitchen
We're back! We had a relaxing, 4-day weekend away at a waterpark and now it's back to meal planning!
Here's what's cookin' for the next few meals~
*Taco Soup/tortilla chips (soup=plop everything taco-esk in a pot *spicy sausage, orzo, corn, peppers, tomatoes, etc* add some broth and make it a soup!)
*Pork Roast/Potatoes/Peas
*Burrito Bowls (I could eat these e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y.) *layer in a bowl: rice, seasoned chicken, sauteed peppers and onions, black beans, corn and top with sour cream* hmmmmmmm.
*Rigatoni Casserole
Nothing too exotic this week...I'll get back to trying new recipes next time!
Happy eating.
Here's what's cookin' for the next few meals~
*Taco Soup/tortilla chips (soup=plop everything taco-esk in a pot *spicy sausage, orzo, corn, peppers, tomatoes, etc* add some broth and make it a soup!)
*Pork Roast/Potatoes/Peas
*Burrito Bowls (I could eat these e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y.) *layer in a bowl: rice, seasoned chicken, sauteed peppers and onions, black beans, corn and top with sour cream* hmmmmmmm.
*Rigatoni Casserole
Nothing too exotic this week...I'll get back to trying new recipes next time!
Happy eating.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Short Menu!
Hip Hip Hooray! It's almost vacation day! (well couple of days:)
Here's what's cooking this week for the few days we're here...then it's off to pretend it's summertime at an indoor water park!
Artichoke, Tomato, and Spinach Pizza (I made this already...mmm mmm good!)
Beef/Raisin/Peppers Empanadas and chips
Pork/Veggie Fried Rice
Leftovers!!
Here's what's cooking this week for the few days we're here...then it's off to pretend it's summertime at an indoor water park!
Artichoke, Tomato, and Spinach Pizza (I made this already...mmm mmm good!)
Beef/Raisin/Peppers Empanadas and chips
Pork/Veggie Fried Rice
Leftovers!!
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