Menu Plan Monday

Hello! Welcome to another week.... We didn't end up with a menu last week because I was in survival mode. We lived on Grape Salad and Green Salad. Mmmm...it was good. Here is the recipe for Grape Salad...it's really, really good.

Grape Salad

1 bag green grapes

1 bag red grapes

1 8 oz package cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 cup sour cream

* I also add about a 1/2 cup brown sugar

Mix cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla. Pour over grapes and mix. Add mix-ins of your choice: craisens, pecans, white raisens, whatever...

Make it. You'll love it.

That being said, here is my meager meal plan for the week....

**My goal is to eat a lot more salad...with a lot more veggies...

Monday: Turkey Steaks, Mashed Potatoes, Fruit

Tuesday: Ham Fried Rice, Jell-O, and Salad

Wednesday: Hot Dogs at the Daddy Daughter Date

Thursday: Noodles with Parmesan cheese, broccoli, peaches

Friday: Taco Soup

Saturday: Taco Soup leftovers

Sunday: In the works...

I'm also very excited about conference weekend! Any fun traditions that you do with your little ones to keep them occupied? I've got Bingo all ready to go. I think I'll maybe do a candy bowl with specific words that they can grab a candy if they hear that word. And of course we'll color, paint, and play with playdough....

Life is usually good...

Don't you think? It is and we are so blessed in so many ways. But today I am having a hard time keeping up with the 18 month old as she drags out and de-pairs every pair of socks in her basket and every sippy cup and lid in the drawer. I'm annoyed as she shuts the dishwasher for the 10th time making it so I have to dry the dishes before I put them away, which has to be done before I can tackle the breakfast dishes from this morning and the spill over of dinner dishes and dessert-making that went on last night while I was away at a Hypnobirthing class. I am having a hard time gathering the energy to find the money, which there is none and will most likely have to come from my private birthday stash, so that I can go to the store and buy diapers and still make it to Mialee's class on time for her Birthday poster explanation, which will make nap time late, and having to suck it up because it's my fault a blew the budget on birthday celebrations and clothes and food and whatever-the-heck else I bought. It's a good thing I still have one diaper left...cuz Aiddie just pooped. I am tired from the deadlines that have been swirling in my head all week...birthday's to make extra special, re-arranging work schedules so I can make it to classes on how to be a better parent and how to have a successful natural childbirth. I am worn down from keeping up on being a good mother; scripture study, piano lessons, homework, dishes, dishes, dishes, laundry, picking up toys and socks (I am really beginning to hate those socks) and clothes and books. I am tired of the self-control it takes to not push my especially clingy, not feeling well, children away from me as they climb on my ever growing belly. Elbows from the outside meeting elbows from the inside and the tears that result as I yelp in pain only to hurt the feelings of a child who was searching for a heart-felt-hug. I am tired of worrying about the blasted apartment that I am supposed to be painting and can't ever seem to find the time to do. I am tired of relying on and trying to find babysitters to help. I hate asking people for help. I hate it more than anything, except when you break down and actually ask them to help and they are inconvenienced by your call and their lives are too busy to help anyway. I love motherhood. I love my life. I love my kids. But today, just for a while, I want to be alone. I want to have all the money in the world. I want to feel not fat. I want to be able to put on a pair of pants and tie my shoes. And I don't want to take out all the garbages. And I don't want anyone to help me do it, I just want it to happen, as if by magic, without guilt. If only wishes were dreams and dreams came true and we could all have a day when we need one. I guess a rant on my blog and a good cry while I did it will have to do... Here's to anyone who's had a bad day. And here's to moving on with mine...

In the Life of an almost 4-yr-old

Nikell has been dazzling me with her understanding of life lately...

"Mom, is this my right hand?"

No this is your right hand.

"Oh, so this one is my wrong hand?"

"Mom can I have some candy?"

No, candy is not good for you expecially when you are sick.

"Yeah, cuz it has sugar and when you eat sugar it goes in your belly [making you fat] and then you get a baby."

Ummm, no sugar does not make babies.

"Well, if you drink soda, and it has sugar, then it goes down there (pointing to my big fat belly) and there's a baby down there."

True, but sugar does not make babies.

"Mom how old is our house?"

Ummmm, our house is actually REALLY old.

"But we can still use it, huh, cuz it still has food."

Yeah, we can still use it.

"Yeah, and it still has movies and a piano and we can still look out the window."

Yep, that's right. I guess it will last us a while yet.

Menu Plan Monday

Hello! Welcome to another Monday! How was Daylight Savings? My kids are sick so their sleep schedules are off the rocker anyway...so no biggie here...

Monday: Tin Foil Dinners (We didn't get to it last week)

Tuesday: Chicken Noodle Soup

Wednesday: Grilled Cheese

Thursday: Green Pasta

Friday: Thai Peanut Butter Chicken Wraps

Saturday: Mialee's Birthday!

Sunday: Meatballs and rice

Profiles

Last night as I was laying in bed, saying my prayers, contemplating life, not sleeping...I considered quite a few people. Some need lots of help and others a little and some I'm not sure what they need. I like to help people, but I have issues with how to help. So, it is my proposal that blogger profiles and facebook profiles should be useful. Really, who cares what kind of music you like? Or movies for that matter? I need useful information...

Here is a little of what I think profiles should be about...

1. What are some of your go-to snacks for kids? What are their favorite things, the ones you always go back to, the ones that are always in your cupboards? How about special treats?

2. If you have had "one of those days" what is your choice way of winding down? What are your favorite comfort foods?

3. Name 3 meals that your family will always eat...pizza? Lasagna? What fruits and veggies will your kids consume?

4. What is your idea of a night on the town? By yourself? With friends? Hubby? Where would you go? Restaurants?

5. Name 3-5 things that are considered "extras" for yourself. Things that you always want, but feel like they aren't a necessity and tend to get swept under the rug when your kids go through a growth spurt and suddenly need 5 new pairs of pants.

6. If you could have a fairy-god-mother right now, what would she do for you?

7. When you go to the grocery store, what is that one treat that you have to avoid walking by?

8. What is your favorite item to buy when you go clothes shopping? Jackets? Shoes? Fuzzy slipper socks?

9. What is your idea of a romantic date?

10. What is your idea of a girls night out?

Okay, it's a little biased and more for Mom's and girls... What else would you add? Oh, and feel free to post your answers!

Menu Plan Monday

This weather is killing me...I need some sunshine. I have this unfathomable craving to go up the canyon and roast me some tin foil dinners...We may just do them at home, in the midst of a snow storm :(

Monday: Sloppy Joe Pie

This is an old, tried and true, Bisquick recipe. I can't remember why I had Bisquick, but it needed to be used and this is the recipe that worked the best...We didn't have it last week.

1 lb ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tsp mustard

1 1/2 cups Bisquick

1 cup milk

2 eggs

2 Tbsp sesame seed, if desired

Heat Oven to 400. Cook ground beef and onion in skillet, drain. Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Heat to boiling. Spoon into ungreased 13x9x2 pan.

Stir Bisquick, milk, and eggs with fork until blended. Carefully pour over beef mixture. Sprinkle with sesame seed.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Tuesday: Hawaiian Chicken or something close

Wednesday: Whole Wheat Blender Waffles, easy and healthy and scrumptious!

Thursday: Sandwiches

Friday: Clean out the fridge day!

Saturday: Taco Soup or Tin Foil Dinners

Sunday: Turkey Steaks or Leftovers

Next week, I'll think I'll keep this recipe available...it looks fun...Chicken Noodle Soup Casserole

How do you kiss?

I have a confession....I have a bubble. Sometimes it's a really big bubble. And being married and having children to love has tested that bubble. Perhaps it's a fault. I don't really know. But if there is one thing I do know it is that there is only one person on this earth that I have ever enjoyed kissing on the lips. Anyone else better keep their stinky, slimy, germ-infested, lips away from me. And sadly, this, for the most part, includes my children. Which is hard because that other person (the one I mentioned who I actually sometimes really enjoy kissing on the lips) purposefully kisses our children on the lips. So they think I should too. And I have this really bad habit of turning away just as they approach so that their well-intended lip-kiss hits me safely on the cheek where most kisses really should land anyway. Am I crazy? Jason says I need counseling. I say that maybe my bubble is a little bigger than it needs to be, but really lip-kissing in general is over-rated. What do you think?

Because it's good to have choices...

This post refers to the video-commercial posted below. And let me preface by saying that if you are on birth control, that it is not my beef. It's your choice and I make no judgements. My issue is with the absurdity and overall audacity of this commercial in general. The very opening line riled me up, "You know what you want today, but you never know what you might want tomorrow." Excuse me? How shallow do you think woman are? Granted, I know a few gals who just can't seem to see past the end of their noses. But, in general, the woman I know are full of purpose and understanding. It's not the future choices or goals that we have problems with.

And then, as I watched the rest of the commercial, my heart began to hurt. I was offended and shocked and...yes, hurt. Is this really what the world is coming to? To think that by making the choice to not have children "today" really would make my life the dream life that we all want. I could have the house and the boy and the vacation and the car... But the real kicker for me, and perhaps it's because I have a life within me or that I know a few too many people that want babies, was when the stork showed up and she non-chalantly pushed that baby away for a trip to Italy. For some reason, this hurts me the most. And I can't really explain why...but let me expand a bit...

This pregnancy has been a little weird for me. I really didn't think that 5 was that big of a deal. But apparently I do not share the same opinion with many of my friends and neighbors and family. Not that anyone has been openly rude, but it's not like I can't tell just how crazy you all think I am. Well, I have news for you. I'm not crazy. I am firm in my knowledge of what I want today, tomorrow, and especially forever. On one of my friends blogs I read this little quote, "If you think my hands are full then you should see my heart." If you could just have a look into my soul and know the amazing things I am learning. I knew a long time ago that having children would change me, but I didn't realize just how much I needed, and still need to change. Ezra Taft Benson said, "There are couples who think they are getting along just fine with their limited families but who will someday suffer the pains of remorse when they meet the spirits that might have been part of their posterity." And he continues, "The Lord did not say to multiply and replenish the earth if it is convenient, or if you are wealthy, or after you have gotten your schooling, or when there is peace on earth, or until you have four children."

I'll stop, at the risk of sounding any more preachy, because that is not my point. My point is that this commercial undermines everything I know. Everything I stand for. It undermines the beautiful spirits that I have brought into this world and are now an inseparable part of me. And I'm not saying that we should all have 10 kids, but I am saying that we are intelligent enough to look into the future and know that it's not the big house that makes us happy. It's not that trip to Paris that brings us joy and peace. I believe it comes in having someone(s) to share a life with. It comes in discovering our true potential as woman and especially as mothers. It comes in finding a balance. It comes with sacrifice and blessings that are more than I can fathom.

My opinion? The commercial sucks.

Menu Plan Monday--Missed

Monday: Leftovers (clean out the fridge)

Tuesday: School Cafeteria Enchiladas

Wednesday: Cafe Rio Leftovers

Thursday: Sandwiches or leftovers

Friday: Fried Pasta

Saturday: Ward Spaghetti Dinner and Dessert Auction

Sunday: Sloppy Joe Pie