Weekly Menu

A little recap from last week:

It's amazing what a little motivation and a lot of accountability will do.  I was able to stick to the schedule and even made two meals in one night so that lunch would be ready when we got home from church on Sunday (score).  Perhaps letting whoever reads my blog in on my menu plan will help keep me on target.  We'll see!

Turkey Enchiladas

This dish was fabulous!  I've decided this is what people should do with their leftover turkey - seriously, mexican food can knock any appetite into gear after days of turkey (and stuffing if it's a holiday bird).  And it was incredibly easy since the meat was already cooked from a turkey my mom baked up a couple of days before.  Saute onion, a can of rotelle, and the turkey for a few minutes.  Mix it up with a little enchilada red sauce, some sour cream, and some queso cheese.  Roll it up in a tortilla, top with the rest of the enchilada sauce, and shredded cheese (monterey jack or cheddar).  Bake at 350 until bubbling (30ish minutes).  Done!

Cheesy Turkey Pot Pie

This is the second of the turkey meals I produced in one night.  It's a super easy and yummy twist on chicken pot pie.  Mixed veggies, cream of chicken soup, some sour cream, parsley, poultry seasoning, shredded swiss, and two strips crumbled bacon.  Top it with pre-made pie crust (or your own if you're good at that sort of thing - I'm going for easy here). Bake it at 350 for 40 minutes or until crust is brown.  Done.    It was good, however I would have added more salt and/or some more sour cream.  I thought it need just a little more of a 'punch.'  But it was good, and it was even better to have it done and ready to be bake when I arrived home.

NEXT WEEK'S MENU PLAN:

This week will be easier because I'm only planning three meals.  We're taking off for the weekend to see friends, so I'm off the hook for the rest of the week!


Monday - Home made chicken fingers

Tuesday - Lasagna Roll-ups

Wednesday- BBQ Chicken Pizza

Thursday- Left Overs

One Tired Little Guy

Sleep 'til you're hungry, eat 'til you're sleepy. - Author Unknown

I think Eli might be one of the best examples of this observation.  His internal clock wakes him up everyone morning sometime around 6 with an almost immediate request for cereal (his all time favorite food).   Unfortunately, there is no snooze button for a child who wants breakfast. So inevitably we make our way to the kitchen to retrieve cereal and coffee (no, the coffee is for me). 
In this one rare instance however, Eli took the second half of the above quote literally.  He actually deserted his cereal in favor of an early bed time.  After a long day of playing his heart out, and on the heels of recovering from an illness, this poor boy was beyond sleepy, he was exhausted.  He fell into a deep sleep and didn't wake back up until the next morning.  

Monkey'in Around

Recently we enjoyed a visit from a few special people in our lives.  Hannah and Eli absolutely LOVED playing together with their cousins.  It is so neat to watch the kids play together, they have just reached this age where interaction begins and all sorts of games abound and imagination and make-believe start to come alive.
While they were in town we had the opportunity to visit the Atlanta Zoo, and WHAT A ZOO IT WAS!!  The place was PACKED!  One could have easily thought they were handing out pet monkeys the way everyone had flocked to that place.  I sincerely thought we had to be there with at least 80% of the elementary-child-toting population.  Wow, I honestly feel like I missed the forest for the trees.  I was so concentrated on not running over some kid with my double jogging stroller, or worst yet, loosing one of our kids amidst the busy mass.  I know I wasn't the only person feeling this way, a total stranger and I shared a laugh over the mass of humanity, because what else can you do?  It truly felt like someone had stepped on a human ant pile and everyone was running to either attach or get out of the way!  I literally had to merge into the human traffic every time we left an exhibit!

But all joking/venting aside, it really was a fun experience! :) And the best part of it all - watching the kids.  They had a GREAT time! No matter what we adults were feeling in relation to the over-crowded, hot atmosphere, the kids took it in stride and soaked up every bit of joy out of the experience.  Got to love that!  Boy, do I have a lot to learn from them.

A FEW DAYS LATER...

Wondering what these next few photos are all about?  Well, Daddy always has something up his sleeves when it comes to entertaining the kids.  This particular day it was semi-rappelling!

Don't worry Grandmas, Eli wasn't too high

 Loving the Ride!

 Going Tandem

 Every Good Climber Needs to Fuel-Up!

Weekly Menu

One of my goals has been to adopt the routine of creating a weekly menu.  For some reason this seems to be a constant battle for me as life seems to be in a seemingly never ending current of change and unpredictability.  However, I'm sure it's just my perception and if I really tried to be consistent I could really nail this menu fiasco!  So, I made myself sit down amidst the chaos and pick out easy to prepare family favorites.   So here goes, my menu for this week:

Monday - Loaded Baked Potatoes

Tuesday - Sloppy Joes

Wednesday - Easy night (fish stick or chicken finger staple)

Thursday - Ravioli 

Friday - Turkey Enchiladas

Saturday - Turkey Pot Pie

I'll let you know how it turns out!

A Mountain Retreat

Last week we were able to shed the stress of our "normal" (ha ha ha) life and head off to the mountains for some time catching up with friends and family. Jon and I spent some much needed time visiting with dear friends in Asheville, and the kids had a blast staying with their Nonnie and Poppie in Tennessee.

Hannah with Nonnie and cousin Daisy

It was incredibly refreshing to be once again back amidst the strikingly beautiful backdrop of western North Carolina and east Tennessee. The weather was rough during the start of our trip, but it returned to being beautiful as the week unfolded.

Enjoying Lunch at Cades Cove

Referring back to my comment about having a "normal" life, even in typing that one word I think that there is enough irony to pack a real punch - one that either makes you laugh hysterically or simply cry and I've done both. As far as normal goes, Jon and I have experienced a total of nine months of what most people consider to be normal. That nine months began when we started dating and ended the day his brain tumor was discovered. Since then, it seems that life has been a roller coaster full of all sorts of twists, turns, corkscrews, and yes, dark tunnels as well. I've always enjoyed a good thrill, but sometimes this roller coaster has just plain scared me with its unpredictability.

In the same way that a roller coaster always comes back to its original starting point, it seems that we too will be making a return of sorts to a starting point. Two weeks ago our tenants gave their 60 day notice, letting us know that they will be vacating our home on April 30th. This notice came on the heels of our seeking God, asking Him where Jon needed to pursue his BSN and if we needed to stay in Atlanta or not. At this point, it looks like we will be returning to our home in Tennessee and finishing school there.

This is has been another faith journey for us. We are in so many ways right now at the mercy of God and His provision, especially with Jon being in school. We are still in pursuit of our goal to complete nursing school, but it now appears that we will be coming full circle and returning to a place we left almost 2 years ago.

Enjoying Time with Daddy

One of the best and most beautiful parts of a roller coaster is the feeling you have once you've left the ride and are walking away back to 'normalcy.' One cannot and will not be the same - impossible. The experience, wether thrilling and wonderful, or terrifying and horrible will forever be part of you and you cannot be the same person. I believe our leaving TN was a necessary and needed experience, we have lived as we have never lived before and we have made cherished friendships along the way. We have grown and changed as a result of the journey. We will not and cannot be the same people we were before we left - it is impossible.

Life is an adventure... we married each other with this motto, and it has in so many ways carved out what life has held and looked like for us until now. I don't believe life will ever be exactly 'normal' for us, more adventures are still to come. And though not every adventure is a happy one, I welcome them nonetheless.

I wonder what will come along next?

Memories - Making the New, Visiting the Past

I can still remember hot, sticky, and muggy Atlanta summers as a child. It honestly seems like it was only a few years ago that I was running around my parent's home exploring, swimming in the pond, or pretending up all sorts of games. Of course, a summer in Atlanta would not be complete without making a visit to see Willie B.

Willie B.

Who is Willie B, you might ask? He was the patriarch gorilla of the Atlanta zoo, who in his own way changed the zoo forever. Most people in Atlanta knew of him and many came out to see him. I remembered visiting Willie B. as a child. The size and power of that animal was always intimidating, even from a protected distance. Willie B. would just sit in that hot Georgia sun and stare at all his admirers, seemingly unimpressed by his fame. He was a major part of the zoo that left its impression upon me... that and the reptiles!

Seeing the Elephants - a big favorite.

This was Hannah and Elijah's first visit to a zoo and they were able to experience the fun with a sweet friend of theirs. We're still adjusting to these abnormally warm temperatures (hence Hannah sporting a tank top), the weather was just right for us. It truly was a perfect time to visit the zoo.

The Hairless Mole Rats.

Eli seemed more interested in them than anything else.

The Warthog, Hannah was unimpressed.

Hannah on the Willie B. Statue

Look closely, can you guess who might be in there?

Dinner on Our Table and the Next Food Network Star

To honor a Queen, or so the story goes. That is how our modern day 'pizza' idea was born. The idea of a baked, crispy flat bread covered in toppings has evolved over time. Throughout most of history, it has was considered food for the poor - sold cheap on city streets from various vendors. But this 'fast food' became royalty of sorts when in 1889 Raffaele Esposito crowned a piece of flat bread with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, all the colors of the Italian flag. He gave it the name, 'Pizza Margherita' in honor of the Queen of consort, Margherita of Savoy.

Esposito was clearly a genius. His classic taste combo is still a favorite, and was on our table tonight! Glad to still be celebrating this Queen of consort, Margherita. Oh, and as an extra little golden nugget of info, Margherita means "Daisy" in Italian! :)

"Mommy, I help you!" Familiar words to my ears that come calling from some 3 feet below my range of sight. Hannah is already working pull out the step stool that is at least twice her size, quite a taxing task for a little person. But she is eager and motivated to help me cook in the kitchen, and I'm happy to have her. She is ready to mix, pour, measure, and well, take over my kitchen if ever I let her! She is still in a great stage of fascination and learning, and I am soaking up our time together. Tonight she took an active part in making our pizza as well as a delicious batch of cookies! Could she be on her way to being The Next Food Network Star...?

My Helper

Almost Ready to Bake

Individual Pizzas on Multigrain Pita Bread

Finished!

Top with grated parm, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes for a kick

Making Cookies

Soooo Happy!

Where's Eli you might ask. Well, he likes to make the occasional trip into the kitchen, squeezing his way up onto the stool, causing some minor disaster until he's shooed out of the kitchen and on his way to getting himself into some other kind of trouble. Somehow, I don't think he minds having to leave the action in the kitchen. It would seem that for the time making the mess was satisfactory enough for him - mission accomplished.

P.S.

Hannah decided that she need to call "Somebody."

Talking on her very cool phone

So Tech-y

The Dilemma

As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices:

take it or leave it.

~Buddy Hackett

Has anyone else dealt with a child who refuses to eat their veggies or perhaps the meal that you've worked to prepare? Well, that is the case in our home nearly every night. Eli simply does not want any part of whatever vegetable is served - and if it's green, forget it! So, inevitably we work hard throughout the meal to try to entice, bribe, coerce, and to do all manner of methods frowned upon in the 'parental world.' But I say, who cares? I want my children to learn to eat things they don't like, to at least try them. So the battle ensues and we plunge forward and persevere knowing that there is a 50/50 chance that some day our children will indeed get over it, eat their veggies, and maybe, maybe thank us for helping them learn to like their veggies . That's what we all hope for, right? Balanced, healthy children with a right attitude about eating healthy.

Hannah holding an unwanted bite of food, unwilling to give in just yet.

The struggle!

I feel this struggle so acutely because this is where I am today, right now! In so many ways I can identify with this struggle, the knowledge that I must do something because my Father says I should, though it is NOT what I want. I know that it must be good for me, because He is always good. But inevitably I will whine, pout, groan, and just down right fuss until finally at last I submit my will and embrace what He has for me. What a dilemma! Even now my children are learning to submit over something as small as a serving of veggies, and what I wish I could tell them and that they would understand is; GET USED TO IT! Unfortunately, it's never that easy.

SWEET REWARDS

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. Matt 7:11

The entire time that Eli and Hannah struggled through the battle of will and submission, I knew what awaited them in the end - an oh so sweet treat - ice cream! Their eyes lit up and their smiles couldn't have gotten any bigger when I set that bowl of goodness in front of them. Needless to say, the ice cream was eaten and gone much faster than the veggies.

I have witnessed again and again in my life that regardless of the struggle, God does indeed work good into situations that seem nearly, if not entirely at a loss. He is walking with us all through various trials, small or large, and telling us to trust Him, submit, and wait perhaps. And boy, do I fight it! Yet, He is so gracious, patiently guiding me through each bout of my will, assuring me of His plan and His desire to grow me, and reminding me that He will never leave me. I am always amazed at how He brings us through it and the way He works to bring about endless, soul-filling, heart comforting blessings that fill us back up and strengthen our faith. God is faithful and He has and always will bring gracious sweet rewards to those willing to submit and trust.

Finally!

Sweet Endings!