What we ate:

So I forgot (or rather was too busy!) to post what I was going to make this week...the week is over so I will share what we made! I don't know if anybody else likes to read these menu posts but they sure are helpful for me:) I love to look back to get motivation for my menu plans.

So, here's what we chowed on these past few days...

*BBQ pork chops/rice/carrots
*Nachos Supreme (chips, chili, cheese, beans)
*Tex-Mex mini meatloaf (which I made into meatballs this week)/warm bean-corn-pasta salad
*Oven mac-n-cheese (spicy style with a little pepper-jack cheese!)

Now it's time to make another menu plan and write out my grocery list...I love my lists! Does anyone else write their lists in the order that they walk around the store? I find it helpful:)

..just about anything...

Judah will eat that...just about anything! That little boy sure loves his food! He has his favorites but will eat pretty much anything put in front of him - which is wonderful for me! I love to cook and try new things; and my boys all try it!

Here's my little guy sharing (or stealing) my ice cream at Easter a few weeks ago. He sees someone that has food and is over to them in an instant; staring at them with those puppy dog eyes and irresistible smile! It's so hard to say no (don't worry..I frequently do say no to him!)

Some of his ultimate favorites: bananas, berries (of any kind), ice cream, cheese, pasta to name a few...the list goes on and on:) We had asparagus a few nights back and the little man gobbled that up too! way to go!

"5 Green and Speckled Frogs"

Ethan singing a rhyme from storytime that he loves - he even added in a visual aid he thought of on his own:)

ENJOY!

Gotcha!

watch out Ethan...your baby brother is getting older and smarter....

Toddler Logic

This morning Ethan (purposefully) tipped over his bucket of crayons. A little while later I requested he pick them up. After a few minutes (of what I thought was him picking them up) I hear from the living room....

Ethan: "Mommy are you my friend?"
Me: "Yes I am!"
Ethan: "Ok. Then can you help me pick up my crayons?"
Me: "No, you tipped them over, you can pick them up. You're doing great bud!"
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Ethan: "Mommy are you my friend?"
Me:"Of course I'm you friend Ethan"
Ethan: "Then can you help me pick these up?"
Me: "No Ethan, you're doing a great job! Keep it up!"
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Ethan: "Mommy are you my friend?"
Me: "Yes Ethan...."
Ethan: "Then can you help me pick these up?"

and on and on.... eventually all the crayons did get picked up but I got a kick out of his logic:

If you're my friend, then you should help me.

Makes sense in most cases right? Smart kid I tell ya. I think he caught onto that when we call him and Judah friends and they 'help' each other.

My Little Peanut

My little baby is growing up! I brought him to his 15 month well-child check this morning (a few weeks late mind you..) and it dawned on me how old he is getting!

Here's his stats from the appointment:
Height: 28.25 inches (0%) yes - you read that right: zero percentile.
Weight: 18 lbs 14 oz (1%)
Head Circumference: 47.25 cm (51%)
So - Judah is a peanut with a large head. An extremely cute peanut:) (and I'm sure he'll grow into his head!) He's right on track with all his developmental stuff and has such personality! Oh I love this age (and the baby age and the toddler age...)

I just have to share a funny story about Judah that happened a few days ago....

I was getting ready for the day in the bathroom and stuck my head around the wall to check on them....this is what I found!

Yeah..Judah learned the valuable skill of climbing on the bench and then onto the end table! To his credit - I'm sure he just wanted to see what was out the window:)

He then tackled the couch from there. Too Cute. Thankfully he hasn't fallen (yet.) My little monkey.
My baby is getting so old! Stacking pop cans, climbing on tables...what's next? Driving? ahhh! :)

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies. Ever.

You read the title right. We have discovered the BEST chocolate cookie recipe e.v.e.r. seriously. We saw it on America's Test Kitchen months ago and have been hooked ever since. I've made them many times and have perfected all the little details to make them seriously perfect. I am drooling thinking about them...I may have to make some after I type this!
Chocolate Chip Cookies
America's Test Kitchen

2 1/8 cups (2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons) flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 to 2 cups chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Mix flour, salt and baking soda together in medium bowl, set aside.

2. Mix butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in egg, yolk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; mix until just combined. Stir in desired amount of chips.

3. Form 1/4 cup (or a little less if you want more cookies) balls of dough. Don't roll them into perfect balls; kinda plop them on the sheet so it will look more rustic. Place balls on parchment lined sheets.

4. Bake 15-18 minutes until cookies are light and golden brown and outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft and puffy. (start checking at 13 minutes) Cool cookies on cookie sheet.

*we have learned that the quality of the cookie sheet matters a TON with this recipe. I have made a batch and cooked them on 2 different sheets and have gotten 2 completely different results! The batch cooked on our nicer-heavy-duty sheet came out beautiful. The batch on our cheap-flimsy sheet came out flat and crunchy. So, make sure to use your BEST cookie sheet!!

ENJOY!

Menu Time

I know I just posted what I cooked..but now I am posting what I am going to cook. How cool am I? Writing down everything I plan is actually really helpful when I am in a rut of what to make. I pull up all my old posts for menu's and have tons of ideas right in front of me!

Here's what we'll be chowing on this week:
*Pork Tenderloin with Cuban Mojo Sauce/rice/beans
*Chicken Cacciatore Sandwiches (new recipe I'm pumped to try from Rachael Ray!)
*Southwestern Chicken and Black Bean Burritos/rice
*Meat Loaf Muffins/biscuits/veggies

In almost everything I make I used onions/garlic in some way...what do you always use when cooking?

more meals..

It's been busy around here with Joe starting his new full-time job and myself starting my new part-time job...so my menu plan is extra necessary! It's so helpful to know exactly what I am going to make; know that I have everything I need for it; and get it done! The nights I work my part-time job I have dinner ready in the fridge for Joe to throw in the oven; so I have at least one oven meal a week now:) Adds an extra dimension of planning....woo-hoo!

After all that rambling...here's what we had this week (yeah it's past-tense...I'm a little late in posting...ah well):

Crunchy onion chicken fingers/asparagus/corn/rice
Waffles/fruit
Pasta Bake (yep-that was the oven one for last night!)
Baked Tacos (on deck for tonight!)

Anybody have a favorite-easy-oven-dish? Pass it on! I try and make it during rest time and have it in the fridge ready to roll when Joe gets home.

How do you work these?

Ethan trying to use chopsticks like daddy does.....

How do you work these things?

I'd better stand up to get a better angle...
There we go...
I got some!!

He went back to his fork pretty quickly....

Happy Resurrection Day!

Jesus, Thank You

Sovereign Grace Worship

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary
You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son
Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end

Lover of my soul
I want to live for You

*Thank you Jesus!
The Lord is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed!