Ok so now I am a firm believer. I wasn't here last week and I had a bad week in the eating at home category and the weight watchers category so I will be back indefinitely.

Monday: Pork Chops and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes
Tuesday: Fat Tuesday out at Villa Diana with friends
Wednesday: Soft Tacos, corn and chips
Thursday: Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken, potatoes
Friday: Hamburger Helper and Broccoli
Saturday: Chili
Sunday: Talapia, pasta and broccoli

I hope I am better this week!

Words to Live By

I read somewhere on some blog (I am sorry I don't remember who) that you should have a word to define what you want out of the coming year. Though it is not January 1st or even January anymore I finally figured out mine!




Create!
This year my word is create. I have just gotten really involved in crafting and hand-making. I want to make things all the time. I read tons of blogs everyday just to find new ideas. I check boos out from the library on everything from sewing to scrapbooking and everything in between.
Also this year I hope to create a new life! Clayton and I want to have another baby next summer so that would involve the pregnancy starting this September/October. I am so excited and cannot wait!

My secondary word is important too!



Nurture!
I want to Nurture my young marriage it isn"t even two yet and already needs some TLC. It is wonderful I just need to make an effort more and show him I care. The little things, you now.
I also want to nurture my beautiful Lilly. She is growing and learning wonderfully but I finrmly believe our actions as a family as early as now effect her later so I need to nurture her and do everything in my power to lead her down the right path.
Lastly on Nurture I need to nurture my career because right now I I don't have one. I have my teacher's certificate and a M.Ed. I need to channel this and my love for children in a good school where I can stay put a while.

Both these words need to be my life in 2010 and I am committed to them. After thining about this I am so excited for the year. I cannot wait to live it!

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.