Menu Planning Monday

Ok Another Monday!

Last week went all crazy and I can't even remember what we ate and when so that says enough for itself! I also started WeightWatchers so I will try when possible to include point values...this week however not because I will count as I go.

Monday: Beef Stew (I know this is my third attempt but it is on stove now) 8pt
Tuesday: Salsa Chicken 6pt
Wednesday: Traditional Spaghetti
Thursday: Cheesey Chicken Spaghetti
Friday: Open for suggestions

Alright almost time to eat sooooo tata!

Ok sorry this is so late I have been away from home this weekend a lot since it is a holiday weekend.

Last week went well. We went all from pantry but that is because we went shopping the week before...this week will be the toughy.

Monday we made the Broccoli and Cheese Soup with Chicken. It was lovely! I ate it for lunch 3 days too!
Tuesday was hamburger helper and I enjoyed it.
Wednesday was the first bump in the road. We ended up eating in town with Clayton's mom and we had spaghetti.
Thursday we made Pot Roast and it was lovely. I made it in the slow cooker and I will definitely do this again.
Friday we went to Antonios with Clayton's mom and had Mexican.
All weekend we were fed by parents. This seems to be a ploy to see Lilly more often.

This coming week will hopefully be a little different because I joined WeightWatchers and its my first week so I can't fall off the wagon so soon. Here is what we ahve got so far:

Monday: Shrimp and Pasta
Tuesday:Chicken Tortilla Soup
Wednesday: Pork Chops, Mac'n'cheese and Green Beans
Thursday:Beef Stew and Bread
Friday: Dinner For Grandpa's birthday
Left Overs for the weekend

Veggie Recipe-Quick and Yummy

I just found the recipe challenge on LifeasMom.com so I decided to quickly tell about a good Veggie that everyone will love.

It is Fully Loaded Mashed Fauxtatoes (made with Cauliflower)

You just take desired amount of Cauliflower steam it and blend/puree it until it gets to the consistency of how you like your mashed potatoes.
While it is still hot add butter, sour cream and grated cheese...and viola!

Well that's my favorite anyways...you can also use ranch, bacon bits, chives and anything else you like in mashed potatoes.

Kids will love it and if you don't tell them probably wont even know it isn't potatoes.

Sorry no pictures

Family Photos for the New Year

...and the New Family.

Since baby Luke was born our family grew and since last New Years our family has grown by 3! Hillary married Cade, our sweet Lilly Olivia and then most recent Luke Silas. Here are our family photos from 01-01-10.
(Don't you just hate how good Hillary looks after having a baby 2 weeks before this)

So sweet!
Lilly knows he is something special and she knows she loves him! Already kissing him.
Mostly though she just wanted to touch him and that manifested in pulling his ear the whole time.
She loves being the big cousin....for now.
I made that bow!
Here is the cutie Luke wide awake!

The original three sibilings
Auntie M and her niece and nephew
Lilly loves her so much!
The sweet new family.
Our lovely family!
The siblings and their families
The new parents all together!
Those brothers are so darn cute!
The boys of the family with Dee Daw
All the girls
Dee Daw and her girl
The grandkids
Finally the whole gang!

This was day one of family pics. We had more the next day with the Pops and Manny.

My family will takes pics in April...well maybe march just depends when everyone can get together.

Menu Planning Monday

I feel so scattered today so I hope this all comes out right and not disjointed.

There are two exciting things I have found this weekend in blogland. First I found Menu Planning Monday at http://orgjunkie.com/. I am not quite sure how to actually link back to a blog so until my husband is awake to tell me...this is all I can do.
Before I do my first week of meal planning I need to tell you about the other thing I found. It is the Eat from the Pantry challenge at Life as Mom. This will sort of dictate what my menu's look like.
My family of 3 only grocery shop once or twice a month as it is but this month we want to cut as much as possible to save money so no better time for the pantry challenge. So here goes....

M: Broccoli Cheese Soup with Chicken chuncks

Tues: Hambuger Helper probably cheesy Quesodilla

W: Talapia, potatoes, and green beans

Thur: Leftovers but probably along with Mac 'n' Cheese

Fri: Pork Chops, potatoes, corn

Sat: Beef Stew

Sun: Shepard's Pie

I will make extra of everything so we can have leftovers and so Clayton can have lunch for work everyday.
For me I will have a bagel and cream cheese for breakfast everyday and for lunch I will have either a lean pocket or progresso soup.
Since this is a first for me I have no pretty ready-made recipes to post as I go BUT as I go this week I will take pictures and ready posts to go along with it.

Why I have been gone

Wow it has been almost a month since I have written.

I know everyone has a crazy Christmas time so that is only part of my excuse.

So early on December 13th my husband and I were going into town from our sweet little back-house at his dad's. When we go into town its for the whole day as not to waste gas and to get to see everyone. We stopped by his dad's and talked to his step-mom since his dad was outta town.

Ok jump back a week or so to December 3rd. Clayton's mom and sister are in North Carolina because Cade, his Marine brother is coming back from deployment. He comes in that Saturday the 5th (a day late) and we are all so happy. None of us here in Texas will get to see him though, including his wife who is 37 weeks pregnant because though he is back he cannot go on leave till Dec. 23rd. Hillary the Wife is inducing the 17th...so you do the math, he will barely miss it. So sad. Ok so back on story Clayton's dad goes out to see Cade after Mom and Sister get back.

With his dad out of town we go to see his step-mom. Roy, the dad, is coming home that day from NC and its also Lilly's 5 months! We are going to go see Santa too. Everyone keeps teasing that Cade will get to come home in time because last year he surprised us all for Christmas on the 23rd when he wasn't supposed to come home. We ask Sandra if she knows anything. She says no but we keep on until she breaks and tells us that Cade is on the same flight home with Roy. Cade wanted to surprise everyone but we decided to turn the tables on him. So we all go off to call everyone and get it all planned. The plane was supposed to land at 4:45 but got delayed until 10:45pm. Yikes its a Sunday and we all have work tomorrow. We make it up there though and surprise him. It was so good to see him. I had not seen him since the day after his wedding last April. His wife had not seen him since May 11th and she was busy puking her guts out at that time. He had never seen her pregnant, well noticeably at least. See they got pregnant on their wedding night and had only seen each other 11 days since they got married because he deployed a month later so he was in the Middle East and she was in Texas.
Cade was so surprised he turned bright red but was also so happy to see Hillary and he loved her huge belly. This was also Cade's first time to see Baby Lilly. He loved her too. we had a lot of fun those three days before....
That Thursday Hillary was induced and Baby Luke came at 2:50pm. Everyone made it to the hospital just in time. Well most of us had been there all day, even Lilly, but Clayton made it from work just on time at 2:45pm. Baby Luke was so tiny, it is hard to remember Lilly being that small. I will post more about him later. Then there was Christmas with all sides of the family. Then New Years and the 3rd was Cade's 20th birthday. Today in an hour I leave to take Hillary to take Cade to the airport. She doesn't want to drive so I am for her. He is going back to duty in NC. Hillary can't leave until Feb 6th. One Month! Cade wont see his brand new baby that he calls Bubba (adorable) for a whole month. I just die every time i think of that. She can't leave because she has to wait for her 6 week check up after delivery.
That's the worst part. When Hillary leaves I am losing not only my SIL but my best friend....it is going to be really hard to be away from them 3.
So this is why I have been super busy, I have been soaking up Cade, Luke and Hillary time. Not to mention Clayton was off and I was taking in some family time there too.
BUT
I have a lot to show you, a lot that I have done and a lot to do!