Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Appetite Spoiler?

Something strange about all this hot weather is I'm seeing a lot more bugs coming into the house. They're obviously in search of some AC, but they are gonna find the bottom of my shoe instead If they could possibly help pay for part of my electric bill we might be able to come to some other arrangement.

We are seeing a bug at least twice a day and they are strange ones. These have been somewhere between a beetle and a cricket. Of course Princess is the first to discover them, her being closer to the floor and all. She then screams, "Mommy, a bug a bug! Kill it, kill it." Hubby and I were just wondering the other day where in the world she was getting the new violent vocabulary. I guess that would be from me because my natural response to her has been, "Mommy will kill it. Yeah! Now it's dead."

The second time she screamed bug yesterday, I was in the kitchen. I asked her what it was doing. She got down on the floor, layed on her back and started kicking her hands and legs in the air. It was so cute I had her perform it two different times for her dad and aunt. What talent!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Weekly Menu


Monday: Basic Salad
Carrot Sticks & Ranch Dressing
Chicken Ringos for the girls:)
Apple Sauce

Tuesday: Hamburger Helper Ugh does not equate a great meal, but
it's in the cupboard and I might as well use it and it's quick and easy La la la
Wheat Rolls
Corn on the cob


Wednesday: Salsa Salad (Basic Salad with..dumtadum..Salsa!!!, Pinto Beans, and Fritos)
Bean Burritos for the girls:)
Peaches and Pears

Thursday: Broccoli-Cheese-Casserole
Apple Sauce
Homemade Wheat Bread from the bread machine, please hold all applause

Friday: Frozen Pizza
Frozen-Fruit-Salad cause we're talkin' consecutive triple digits

Saturday lunch: Cheese Nachos with tomato and olive

Saturday dindin: Hamburger-Spanish-Rice

Sunday lunch: PotRoast
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Tapioca Pudding(Not really, it just fit somehow)

Sunday dindin: Cereal
Scrambled Eggs/Toast

Monday, July 21, 2008

Menu Plan Monday

It's summer, it's Texas, and I am done cooking until fall. That's not the right attitude. I am going to post a menu, but it feels like a lie cause I haven't been exactly following the others I've posted. Too many spur of the moment happenings going on and my menu is being kicked out the window. And it is just too hot to eat and I should start getting skinny any minute now with all the sweat I'm perspirin'. Okay, here's the menu and thank-you to orgjunkie.org for the motiviation!

Monday: Beef Fajitas...can you believe a Taqueria here in town had a sign out advertising their FAHITAS?

Tuesday: Been and Beef Burritos
Taco Rice

Wednesday: Mozzerella hot sauce chicken
Fries

Thursday: Chicken and Rice
Steamed Vegetables

Friday: Tuna Sandwiches
Chips and Salsa

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Thursday Already!

Haven't had time to post cause Hubby's parents and nephews came to visit us this week. The girls absolutely adore their grandparents and cousins! It felt like our vacation had come to us. In my book, there is nothing better than to visit with family and still get to sleep in your own bed.

My mother-in-law cooked both Tuesday and Wednesday nights for which I am grateful. I can still want to give a short response to the taco salad from Monday night. It was not quite what I'm looking for and so I will not be making that recipe again. It was one of those meals where you are still full from it four days later. My dad always made a fantastic taco salad growing up and I'll just have to get his recipe.

I wanted to tell you about a great positive behavior reinforcement idea I heard about on the radio. I do recall a mother and daughter speaking about growing up in a single family home and instilling values in children. I wish I could give the daughter kudos because she shared this "fruit tree" idea that I thought was just wonderful. You put a homemade tree up on your wall somewhere and you let your little ones place fruit stickers on the tree every time you catch them "producing" the fruit of the Spirit. I'll be posting a picture soon!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Monday Already!

Hope you had a fantastic weekend! My menu this week has some repeats cause life happens and hubby drove us to CiCi's Pizza after church and it's just unlike me to order him home because I WANT TO COOK!

Monday: Taco Salad I Fruit

Tuesday: Salsa Cube Steaks Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli

Wednesday: Spaghetti, Garlic Toast

Thursday: Mozerella Hot Sauce Chicken Southwestern Rice

Friday: Fajitas

SaturdayAM: Chicken Ringos, Alfredo Noodles, Corn

SaturdayPM: Frito Pie

SundayAM: Inside-out Ravioli II Apple Sauce

SundayPM: Cereal/Waffles

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Who's wearing the smarty pants now?

Hubby and I were watching a rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond the other night. Debra and Ray had taken an IQ test and it turned out the Debra was smarter(no kidding, right?) Then they found out there was an error and Ray was smarter. Anyway the show went on and I turned to Hubby and said, "You must know I'm smarter right?" Of course I was joking. It's an understood fact he has a lot more knowledge, wit, and is an exceptionally good speller I might add. At times, my Hubby can be brilliant. I hope he reads this...

All that to say this. We were watching a 2minute segment of the game show Duel last night because Hubby was really watching that too fast for you race car movie, but there was a commercial. Hubby had nothing on me during those two minutes. IIIIIIIII am the chammmmpion my friiiieeeend. Try and test your skills:

Which animal helps produce cashmere?

A. Camel

B. Rabbit

C. Goat

D. Llama

Which food contains only three ingredients?

A. Baked Cheetos

B. Fritos

C. Peanut M&Ms

D. Cracker Jacks

The questions seem pretty easy right now, but hubby was way wrong on both. He said rabbit and Baked Cheetos. The correct answers are Goat and Fritos. Hey, I can be your phone a friend on Millionaire if you come across a question about fried snack foods and/or animals who graze. If you found that at all entertaining and would like to play a demo, click the link:

http://abc.go.com/primetime/duel/game/index

Friday, July 11, 2008

Menu Review

The sweet-n-sour chicken from last night was really good. Next time I'll be more prepared, but I should have put some sliced raw carrot in with the onion and had some of those great crunchy noodles to go on top. Chow mein noodles,of course! I love those things. I wonder if they would be considered a healthy snack? Maybe strange to admit, but I could snack on some raw Ramen Noodles too.

I think the girls and I will go on a short shopping trip this morning just to get out of the house. It must be short because Princess does not do well in stores for long periods of time. If she's not asking to use the restroom, she wants me to buy something she can't live without. Yesterday afternoon I was trying to persuade her to help pick up toys. As serious as can be, she turns her hands palm up and while cautiously examining them, she explains how she can't clean because her hands were red and they hurt. She must have learned that one from her exposure to daycare.

"Something else is gonna hurt if you don't pick up these toys!"

No, I wouldn't say that to a three year old. Instead of threatening a three minute rendezvous in her room, I thought I'd use some good old fashion bribery.

"If you help clean up, we can go get a present!"

Yes, Princess hopped to it and the floor got cleaned. So I'll make good on my promise and get her a new pair of ballerina shoes I saw at Tuesday Morning for $4. I wanted to get those anyway and now I have a pretty poor excuse. The only positive thing about daycare is that I can use it as a scapegoat if Princess turns out spoiled rotten.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Thankful Thursday

That lasagna I made last night WAS easy, but it dawned on me as I was layering it all together that the recipe did not call for mozzarella! I need more than just cottage cheese to make a lasagna mean lasagna. You know what I mean? I will definitely be making this again with the addition of some chesse. Without it, it almost tasted low-fat. Low fat is what salads are for, not lasagna. Point made.

I am moving the popcorn chicken to tonight because I think we are still going to Abilene Friday evening. I'm not too sure because hubby hasn't mentioned it. I am not the commander of this family, just the co-pilot.

I want to make today Thankful Thursday. I am so thankful for my church. My pastor said something last night that brought joy to my soul. I am very thankful for my pastor. Thank-you God for letting me be in this church at this time. Amen.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

That Poolman of Mine

Today is wash day. The only day I will not talk myself out of mopping some floor and using the washing machine more than once. I need to make sure all laundry is caught up because we are heading out to Abilene for the weekend to visit my in-laws. My husband and I had planned on going the weekend of my father-in-law's birthday, but it has snuck up on us. My menu is going to be waaaaayyyy off. Oh well.

This is a good time to come up for a shortened name for my husband. I will be using two different pseudonyms. I'm sorry, but sometimes "Hubby" just won't cut it. Sometimes my feelings do not reflect a name that brings smiles and warm gushy heart flutters. I will always love him, pray for him, and want the best for my hubby, but somedays I'll be referring to him as Poolman. Swimming pools is his main trade by the way.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Puddin's Calling Me

And I don't mean the chocolate kind sitting in my fridge right now. Today will be another typical summer morning. My 21mo old, let's call her "Puddin' ", will eventually call my name to be taken out of her crib. Then my 3yr old from here on out to be called "Princess," will come scooting out to the living room dragging her blankets and requesting PBS Kids. Then I will serve some waffles, cereal, or peanut butter toast for breakfast. Oooh how I love the summer! During the school year, I have to wake up my little darlings in the middle of their slumber and rush, rush, rush off to daycare. As always, the summer goes way too fast and ...Yeah, there it is. Puddin's sweet cry for mamma.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Menu Planning

It has almost been a year since I logged on to my "blog." I still don't know what I'm doing, but I think I have a little more confidence to just run with it. I have spent a lot of this past year reading other blogs. I also am quite addicted to the allrecipes site. I definitely want to start posting my dinner menu for the week. Maybe I'll stop wanting and actually do it. Here it goes...


Monday: SLOPPY JOES
TATOR TOTS
APPLE SAUCE

Tuesday: CHICKEN PATTY SANDWICHES
TOMATO/ONION
COLESLAW

Wednesday:EASY LASAGNA III
GARLIC TOAST
RED GRAPES

Thursday: TUNA SANDWICH
GRILLED CHEESE for the girls
APPLES & PEARS

Friday: SWEET-AND-SOUR POPCORN CHICKEN
WHITE RICE
BROCCOLI

Saturday Lunch: CHICKEN NUGGETS AND LIPTON NOODLE MIX
Saturday Dinner: Taco Salad I

Sunday Lunch: FAJITAS
Sunday Dinner: CEREAL/WAFFLES