Weekly Menu, 29.

Monday:

Stuffed peppers w/Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

Parmesean Potatoes

Tuesday:

Gone

Wednesday:

Farmer's Market Pasta

Green Beans

Thursday:

Hamburgers

Corn

Baked Beans

Friday:

Gone

Weekly Menu, 28.

Monday:

Spaghetti

Steamed green beans

Garlic bread

Tuesday:

Taco Salad

Mexican rice

Wednesday:

Chicken Fajita's

Refried beans

Thursday:

Jimmy Johns

Friday:

Pizza Bites

Salad

Weekly Menu, 27.

Monday:

Filet Mignon

Garlic mashed potatoes

Caesar salad

Tuesday:

Chicken stir fry

Rice

Wednesday:

Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Pasta

Green salad

Thursday:

Taco Salad

Friday:

Gone

Happy Summer!

Summer Checklist

In no particular order, these are the top 10 things that I hope to do this Summer!

1. Spend a weekend at the Ocean.

2. Spend the day at Alki Beach.

3. Take the kids to play in the big fountain at Seattle Center.

4. Go to the Sea fair Parade.

5. Go to a U Pick farm and make things with the pickings.

6. Road trip to California for a race.

7. Re finish an old dresser for Ava.

8. Take some sort of baking/frosting class.

9. Bike ride or walk 5 times a week.

10. Read at least 3 books.

Weekly Menu, 26.

Monday:

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Cornbread

Tuesday:

Stuffed Green Peppers with Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

Rice

French Bread

Wednesday:

Gone

Thursday:

Ranch Chicken (This is a new favorite at our house)

Parmesan Potatoes

Green Salad

Friday:

Gone

Weekly Menu, 25.

After this past weekend, Party season is officially on hiatus. That's not to say I wont have things here and there, but the bulk of everything will be dying down until the fall. While I love getting to help with parties, I am thankful for a break :) Since March, I have been a part of 5 birthday parties and 2 graduation parties, one that hasn't even happened yet. It has been fun but busy! This week I am looking forward to getting back to some normalcy.

Monday:

Baked Ranch Chicken

Steamed broccoli

Macaroni and cheese

Tuesday:

Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry

Brown Rice

Wednesday:

Pork Chops

Asparagus

Cheesy Rice

Thursday:

Gone

Friday:

Bite Sized Meatballs

Spaghetti

Salad

Weekly Menu, 24.

I have good intentions on following my weekly menu's, I really do. But let's be real..they rarely turn out 5/5. It's inevitable and definitely okay, that plans change. I find a new recipe to try, I end up going shopping or to dinner with a friend, last minute event/activity for one of the kids, so things get shuffled around. I don't always stick to my plan, but it's nice to know that I have one to fall back on :) Here's my attempt at a Menu for this week.

Monday:

Grilled Cheese

Macaroni & Cheese

Banana, Strawberry skewers

(Softball game)

Tuesday:

BBQ Brats & hot dogs

Macaroni Salad

Corn on the cob

Wednesday:

Meatloaf

Oven fried zucchini chips

Thursday:

Baked Chicken

Rice

Broccoli

(T-ball game)

Friday:

Taco Cups

Mexican Rice

(Softball game)

A Rainbow Party.

My niece Ava, turned 2 on April 21st. Since I have a Sister who knows how much I love parties, she sort of lets me create the vision's that I have. Since Ava obviously wouldn't know what kind of party she would want, I got to do the Rainbow Party theme that I have seen created all over the blogosphere. There are so many cute ideas out there and who doesn't love the Rainbow colors??

I was obsessed with making a Rainbow cake. I have seen them everywhere and I thought it looked so fun and super cute to make. There were no disasters and everyone was so surprised when the cake was cut to reveal all those pretty colors.

We made fruit loop Rainbow necklaces, Ava played on her new slide and the bigger kids just wanted to play outside, go figure :) I think Ava's party was a success and I can't wait until the next party to help with!

Weekly Menu, 23.

Monday:

Pot Roast w/vegetables

French Bread

Tuesday:

Black Berry Waffles

Breakfast potatoes

Wednesday:

Baked Meatballs in Marinara Sauce

Noodles

Steamed Cauliflower

Thursday:

Teriyaki BBQ Chicken

Pasta Salad

Friday:

Homemade Pizza's

Salad

Weekly Menu, 22.

The past few weeks have been super busy for me, so a weekly menu was just not realistic. Now that "Birthday Season" is slowing down, I've got more time to be making dinners.

Monday:

Spaghetti

Creamed Corn

Garlic Bread

Tuesday:

Taco Ring

Spanish Rice

Wednesday:

Pioneer Woman Grilled Chicken w/Lemon Basil Pasta

Steamed Broccoli

Thursday:

Chicken & Roasted Garlic Lasagna

Garden Salad

Friday:

Gone

Never Grow Up ♥

Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

This song by Taylor Swift,

reminds me of all

the children in my life.

I wish they could all just stay

little for ever.

Tomorrow my niece turns 2

and I can't help but wonder,

where did the time go?

Weekly Menu, 21.

Monday:

Baked Potatoes with toppings

Tuesday:

Taco Salad

Wednesday:

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Corn Bread

Thursday:

Country Style Ribs

Potatoes

Salad

Friday:

Gone

Weekly Menu, 20.

Monday:

Turkey Meatloaf

Steamed broccoli

Tuesday:

Chicken Stir Fry

Brown Rice

Wednesday:

Spaghetti

Corn

Garlic Bread

Thursday:

Baked Potatoes

Broccoli

Friday:

Out

Weekly Menu, 19.

Monday:

Country Style Ribs

Scalloped potatoes

Green Beans

Tuesday:

Italian Sausage subs

Wednesday:

Teriyaki Chicken Burgers

Greek pasta salad

Thursday:

Taco's

Friday:

Homemade Pizza

Weekly Menu, 18.

Monday:

Baked Chicken

Rice

Broccoli

Tuesday:

Italian Sausage Subs

Wednesday:

Taco Salad

Thursday:

Chicken Quesadilla's

Friday:

Gone

Weekly Menu, 17.

Monday:

Chicken Devan

Crescent rolls

Tuesday:

Out for a meeting

Wednesday:

Spaghetti

Salad

Garlic Bread

Thursday:

Shepard's Pie

(in honor of St. Patrick's Day!)

Friday:

Out with Shelby!

Sherry's Chicken Tortilla Soup.

I met Sherry and her husband Jarret through my friends Jeff & Shelby. Sherry is much like me and loves to cook, and try new recipes. Often times they will cook dinner and have people over or will bring it to Jeff & Shelby's house to share and I happened to be there one particular time when she made this soup. It was delicious and I begged her for the recipe and she happily gave it to me :) I make it quite often, probably once a week.

Sherry's Chicken Tortilla Soup

4 tablespoon's vegetable oil

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 C. chopped fresh cilantro

1 onion, chopped

1 (29 ounce) can diced tomatoes

2 tablespoons ground cumin

1 tablespoon chili powder

3 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

4 cans chicken & rice soup

1 regular size can corn

1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes w/green chile peppers

2 soup cans of water

4 Chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

In a large stock pot, heat vegetable oil. Add garlic, cilantro and onion and saute for 2-3 min.

Stir in all tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add cumin, chili powder, bay leaves and chicken and rice soup + 2 cans of water.

Return to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and add corn, and cayenne.

Simmer for 30 minutes, remove bay leaves and add shredded chicken. Heat through and serve.

*Note: Adding the spices as is, this can be pretty spicy. I am not a fan of that, so I halved all the measurements for the cumin, cayenne, and chili powder.

I recommend...

It seems as though everyone is sick these days. A few weeks ago, I had a pretty nasty flu, and I was so glad to have this thermometer to monitor my temperature. A few of my friends have them for their children and I can see why. It is so simple to use and takes only seconds with a simple swipe on the forehead. The reading's are very accurate and when I did finally break down and go to the Dr's, they recommended it as well. If you have children and even if you don't, you should have this!

Weekly Menu, 16.

Monday:

Chicken Teriyaki Burgers

Pea Salad

Tuesday:

Taco Cups

Mexican Rice

Wednesday:

Teriyaki Glazed Meatballs

Stir Fry

Thursday:

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Creamy Tomato Risotto

Friday:

Out

Weekly Menu, 15.

Monday:

Chicken Fettuccine

Steamed Broccoli

Garlic Bread

Tuesday:

Chicken & Dumplings

Wednesday:

Gone

Thursday:

Taco Cups

Mexican rice

Corn

Friday:

Gone

Weekly Menu, 14.

Monday:

Spaghetti Carbonara

Breadsticks

Tuesday:

Sausage, Pepper & Onion Subs

Wednesday:

Visiting the Harding's

Thursday:

Meatballs

Baby Red Potatoes

Steamed Broccoli

Friday:

Gone :)

Sweet Chloe.

Chloe Shae Harding

1.12.11

7lbs 3 ounces 20 inches long

One of my best friends Shae, gave birth to her sweet baby girl last Wednesday. Yet another baby that I am in love with. She has tons of hair, hardly ever makes a peep and sleeps constantly. She is the baby sister to Cadence, who is loving being a big sister.

I'm so proud to add this little sweet heart to my ever growing list of angels. I am so lucky to be a small part of so many children's lives. They all make me so happy!

Weekly Menu, 13.

Monday:

Gone visiting baby Chloe, oh how I love that little one.

Tuesday:

Ham Melts

Macaroni Salad

Wednesday:

Sherry's Chicken Tortilla Soup

Corn Bread

(This was a huge hit at our house last week!)

Thursday:

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Mexican Rice

Friday:

Spinach Lasagna

Green Beans

Garlic Bread

Weekly Menu, 12.

Monday:

Sherry's Chicken Tortilla Soup

Honey Sweet Corn Bread

Tuesday:

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Garden Salad

Breadsticks

Wednesday:

Off to Canada to meet baby Harding

Thursday:

Taco Cups

Mexican Rice

Rachel's Guacamole

Friday:

Filet

Baby Reds

Steamed Broccoli