Holly's Blog

Sunday
Hamburgers w/ Fries and Veggies (I bought a cheesecake for Father’s Day too, I know, bought. GASP!)

Monday
Asparagus with Fried Egg on Garlic Toast

Tuesday
Greek Seasoned Salmon w/ Rice and Broccoli

Wednesday
Forbidden Rice Salad w/ Shrimp - yes from last week.  Didn’t use it.

Thursday
Slow-Cooked Chicken Tikka Masala

Friday
Volunteering for the school carnival - Tim’s in charge

Saturday
Farmer’s Market/Soccer Game

I didn’t post a meal plan last week.  I had one planned out and even made 3 of the dinners on the meal plan.  Unfortunately, my week took a turn of the worst possible kind and I and Tim went into survival mode.  That means we made sure the kids were fed and taken care of and picked up from school on time.  Nothing else was done, the laundry and dishes piled up, no food was made (other than lunches for Riley) and sleep was elusive.  I’ve driven across the city these past 6 days more than I have in probably the past year.

I thankfully had made this weeks meal plan up a long time ago and we are trying to follow it.  I’m walking around in a daze and am lost in my head most of the time but since Monday (yes, I know it’s only Tuesday) it’s been going ok.  Hopefully this will be the beginning of getting back to normal, whatever that looks like.

I’m completely crushed, lost and unsure of myself.  I’ve never really felt like this before.  I’ve come close twice before but that was different and easier to take.  My children and husband are what have kept me from going over the deep end and sobbing uncontrollably in a corner for days.  I  have done a great deal of crying but mostly when the boys aren’t around.  My little men depend on me  to keep their world together and that is what is keeping me together.  I’m sure one day I will be able to see out of this sad place and come back to where things are good and happy again.  One day, I’m just not there yet. 

I hope that each and every one of you had a week that was a thousand times better than the one I had last week.  I hope that this week is just as good for you, that is, if you had a fantastic week last week. 

Also, don’t worry.  3 of the 4 of us are in perfect health.  The 4th (being me) will be physically fine in about another week.  Yes, I know.  I’m always the broken one. 

P.S.  If we haven’t talked to you personally don’t worry about it.  :)

Stories: 

• Meal Plans

Sunday
I have no idea what we ended up eating

Monday
Cool Chick Salad pg. 54 TLC

Tuesday
Spicy Noodle Bowl with Beef and Mango

Wednesday
Gramma and Grandpa over -bringing food!

Thursday
Bacon and Sweet Potato Hash with Avocado Cream

Friday
Date Night!

Saturday
Preschool year end BBQ
 

Today is Thursday.  Thursday use to be my favourite day a long time ago.  Before kids, before the weekends became more important to me.  When I started working back about 12 years ago Thursdays were awesome.  It was the day before my longest day at work and all the crazies usually showed up on Friday too which just made is much more enjoyable.  Thursdays were an easy work day followed by my favourite night on TV and coffee.  Back when I could have coffee at ten at night and still go to sleep at 11.  I miss those days sometimes.  I REALLY miss the coffee part but the rest of my life I think is better now, definitely more fulfilling. 

Thursdays right now are chaotic.  We have early dismissal from school so Lukie doesn’t get to his nap on time which leaves him off for the rest of the day (if he even naps).  Riley has some quiet time after school to read or play in his room.  He seems to enjoy it now.  At the beginning of the year he wasn’t too jazzed about it but not he appreciates it.  Also helps that he can read by himself and is always reading his new Geronimo Stilton's.  We have dinner and then rush off to the soccer field to watch Riley play his soccer game and then it’s home, bath time, reading time, bed time.  Followed by Mommy and Daddy collapsing on the couch for an hour or so and then dragging ourselves up to bed.  Oh, and Tim has started to throw a run in there on Thursdays. 

My favourite day now is Saturday.  I love Saturdays.  Tim gets up early with the kids and lets me sleep in for an hour or so.  I’m a terrible morning person and have gotten better over the years and having to get the kids up and ready for school but I still really appreciate and enjoy him letting me sleep in on Saturdays.  We have a yummy breakfast.  Usually waffles or pancakes with bacon/sausage, OJ, coffee, and fruit.  Depending on what time of year it is depends on what we are doing during the day.  In the winter, Riley had soccer on Saturday morning so we went to the indoor fields and cheered him on.  During the summer we either go to the farmer’s market or swimming or a bike ride.  Sometimes we even drive out to the country and camp out at a friends farm land.  Now that we have kids and Tim works all week and I’m at home with the littles we really enjoy and cherish our time together on the weekends.  It’s important to us to spend time together.  So many people we hear about and read about seem to be so overscheduled.  

I hope that you all have a good Thursday and a super wonderful weekend!  Talk to you next week!

You might notice that this isn’t actually a menu plan.  Sorry to disappoint.  I did have a plan for this week but it fell apart and we’ve been eating leftovers and using up what is left in the fridge.  It hasn’t been a very exciting food week but it doesn’t always have to be. 

Sunday
- After the rodeo we went to Wendy’s so the kids has pb and j and Tim and I didn’t eat.

Monday
- Stir Fry with Chicken

Tuesday
- Fish and Chips

Wednesday
- Chicken Tortilla Soup - yes, I actually put some effort in, woohoo!

Thursday
- I have no idea....  pork tenderloin something I’m thinking

Friday
- You seriously think I have a plan after Thursday?  Leftovers?  Grilled Cheese?

Saturday
- Hahahahahaha.  Yeah right.  

I’m late posting this too.  It’s just been one of those weeks. 

Sunday we went to the Rainmaker Rodeo which was a lot of fun with some close friends.  Lots and lots of fun for the kids.  Riley even went out of his comfort zone and tried some of the bigger rides.  He loved it.  We also got Tim a giant bag of cotton candy which apparently I have been denying him for years now.  I wasn’t aware of the situation so to rectify it I got the biggest bag of cotton candy they had.  

Finally got my garden beds moved.  The new and improved sandbox for the boys is going where my garden use to be and the garden got moved to the back corner beside the garage.  It was unused space and is out of the way from little fingers now.  I hope everything grows well back there because it is a great use of the space.  I’ve finally got some stuff planted too.  I planted a cucumber and a zucchini. Also got my carrots, radishes, chard, and beets in as well.  The tomatoes a very generous friend gave me need about another week inside before I can plant them outside.  I also have some herbs to put in that are still on the small side.  Maybe I’ll just got for the gusto and put them out this weekend.  We’ll see if it’s raining or not.  We FINALLY had a ton of rain today.  We needed it so I’m not complaining at all.  

After that is done I guess we need to put the sandbox together.  Yard work is never ending.  Nevermind the fact that I want to paint the main level and the upstairs hallway this summer.  I also wouldn’t mind finally installing the backsplash I’ve wanted since we moved in here and finally getting the headboard for my bed done.  Not to mention I still have not gotten any flowers for the front of the back yard.  Oh yeah!  I also want to paint the front of the house and the front door.  I found an awesome idea and really want to do it.  I think it’ll look super awesome.
 

See?  Completely awesome!  Our house has grey siding so I want to paint all the blue out white and paint the front door a similar colour.  So pretty.  Maybe yellow door?  I haven’t fully decided.  

Anyways, I’ll stop rambling.  Hope you all have a good rest of your week and I’ll be back next week with a meal plan!

Sunday
Hot Dogs w/ apple slices and chips

Monday
Leftovers

Tuesday
Pineapple Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

Wednesday
Slow-Cooker Barbecue Pork Sandwiches With Crunchy Coleslaw

Thursday
Whole wheat pasta salad with feta + pea shoots

Friday
Triple Citrus Glazed Grilled Salmon

Saturday
Fried Rice

It’s the Wednesday after a long weekend, which means it feels like a Tuesday.  I’m sleepy as we were up late on the weekend and I haven’t gotten back to my normal bedtime and also felt it necessary to make oatmeal chocolate chip raisin cookies for the boys last night at about 10.  I also pvr’d So You Think You Can Dance and of course had to finish that before going upstairs.  *yawn*  it’s going to be a long day as I already can’t wait to cuddle up in bed tonight and sleep.

We went to some good friends farm this weekend.  We helped plant some potatoes and onions.  Stuff that doesn’t need a lot of maintenance since we will only be up there at most every other weekend.  We had steak and potatoes for dinner and so many s’mores.  Yum.  Tried a new combination of peanut butter cups as the chocolate, so good.  Will do that more often.  The kids roasted hotdogs for dinner.  Riley ate three!  I’m not sure where he puts all that food.  He’s growing so fast.  We had planned to camp overnight out there but it was saying 70% chance of rain in the morning and I didn’t want to cook breakfast in the rain or pack up the tent in the rain so we came home late that night. 

We went to the Centennial Celebration of the Anglican Church in Edmonton on Sunday morning.  It was at the Winspear.  It started at 11 and we didn’t get out of there till 1:30 or around there.  The boys were amazing and didn’t complain or bug anyone.  The people we sat around even said they behaved great.  I think being in a new place and having neat things to look at and music made the event exciting for them as well.  When we were in it I wasn’t sure it had been a good idea.  Looking back now it wasn’t too bad at all and I’m glad we went. 

After church we came home and got to work on some yard stuff.  Moved the beds for my garden to the corner of our yard.  Got the sand box ready to go where the garden use to be.  Tim planted Riley’s tree he got from school.  Tim mowed the lawn.  I’m hoping maybe this coming weekend I can go get some flowers for the front yard. 

Summer has definitely started and we had so many things we can do every weekend.  This weekend there is a farm day at Riverbend Gardens, which is where our CSA comes from.  There is the Rainmaker Rodeo this weekend in St. Albert friends are going to that we could go to too.  The summer flies by so fast.  So many fun things to do and not enough weekends to do it in!  

Hope you all have a wonderful week and coming weekend!

Sunday
Carnitas w/ Corn Tortillas, Salsa, Guacamole, Sour Cream and Chocolate Fondue

Monday
Roasted Tilapia, Potatoes, and Lemons

Tuesday
Easy Gazpacho

Wednesday
Spicy Sesame-Soy Soba & Sliced Steak

Thursday
Spring Salad of Asparagus, Ramps, Snap Peas, and Peas, with Poached Egg and Lemon Zest Vinaigrette

Friday
Egg and Avocado Toast - field trip volunteer, so not cooking when I get home

Saturday
Chicken Picatta and Pasta w/ veggies

Mother's day was this past Sunday.  Tim surprised me with a box of chocolates and the day before we went out and got a new blender so that we can have smoothies all summer long.  The kids are excited and so am I to be honest.  I love smoothies.
 
Riley made me the sweetest little keepsake at school.  It's a picture of him and his hand print.  All too soon that hand will be bigger than mine and never want to hold my hand as we walk to school.  He's grown up so much this past year.  It's terrifying and has left me choked up with tears in my throat as I realize how big he is getting.  It's wonderful to watch but also sad for me as his Mommy.  I still see that little boy in his eyes once and a while and thankfully it reminds me that so far Tim and I have done a good job with him and that he still has innocence and littleness.  That hopefully we haven't rushed him to grow up to fast.
  
Lukah and I had Mommies night at his preschool this past Friday.  It was really fun.  The highlights for me were making the craft he is to give to Tim for Father's day and watching him sign and act out his "mommy" song and they had to remember to "point to their mommies".  We also got to share some cookies and juice.  Unlike Riley, he actually let me have my cookie.  Riley always ate my cookie.  I think he really enjoyed spending the time with me and I enjoyed the time with him.  He's such a handful and so head strong.  I love it when we can just play together and I don't have to telling him no or don't do that or please, stop that.  I got a very pretty handprint that they had made all the fingers into stems of flowers and put flowers on the tops of them.  Very cute.
 
We went to Tim's parents house for dinner on Mother's day.  Tim asked me to come up with something for him/us to make that wasn't too hard.  We had carnitas with taco shells and guacamole.  For dessert which went over super well we had chocolate fondue.  The kids loved it and I think Grandpa really liked it too if the spatula at the end was any indication.  We also went for a bike ride and introduced Gramma and Grandpa to geocaching. 

My mother sent me an e-mail a while back saying she didn't want anything for mother's day other than for me to be a good person...  so since I think I'm doing pretty well in that category 95% of the time I honored her request and didn't get her anything. 

This week should be uneventful which will be nice because I need some calm in my life.  Everybody needs calm in their life.  At least I think so.  Plus, this coming weekend is a long weekend.  Looking forward to some quality time with my family and some of our friends.  Maybe even a smore or too if I'm lucky! 

Enjoy your weekend everbody!
 

Stories: 

• Meal Plans

Sunday
Don’t ask, there was a plan but it went out the window.  Pizza and salad.  

Monday
Italian Style Halibut and Asian Slaw

Tuesday
Asian Chicken Noodle Salad with Ginger-Peanut Dressing

Wednesday
Brown Rice and Beans with Ginger Chili Salsa

Thursday
Margherita Tortilla Pizza

Friday
Roasted Tilapia, Potatoes, and Lemons

Saturday
Sesame Caesar with Za'atar Rub Grilled Chicken Salad
 

Monday has been as wonderful as a Monday can get.  It’s warm, practically hot at 30 Celsius today, with a breeze.  The doors and windows have been open all day letting the breeze go through the house and get rid of any of the stale air that might be left over from what has seemed like the longest winter in history.  I hope this weather sticks around.  I am happier and life seems more promising when there are big puffy white clouds against a light blue sky. 

I got a new bike last Friday.  Tim humored me and let me get a aqua coloured basket with an orange basket liner, a pink flower, and a bell with an owl on it.  So far I’m really enjoying it.  Saturday we went for a long bike ride and today Riley and I rode our bikes to and from school with Lukah in the bike stroller.  It was nice.  Makes the trip to school very quick.  Leaves a little more time for me to get my act together, which I always appreciate as I can never seem to get up with my alarm and then we are scrambling and flying around the house trying to make sure we get dressed, have breakfast, make lunch, and get Riley’s backpack ready to go in about half the time I originally planned.  I am not a morning person, I don’t function well.  I can go to bed at 9 and be completely refreshed when I wake up but I just can’t seem to shake the fog till about 8 am.  Another reason I am happy that summer will be here soon.  I can get up at 8 with the kids and we aren’t late for anything. 

Riley is at soccer practice right now with my hubby.  He’s been asking when it would start since indoor soccer ended.  I’m so glad he enjoys it. 

This weather helps me to get excited about planting my garden, spending evenings on the deck with my hubby reading and sipping flavoured water, camping with friends and late nights spent around the campfire roasting marshmallows and drinking the occasional beer, watching my kids run through the sprinkler and suck on whatever flavour popsicle I’ve thrown together for them that day (today was simple, apple), enjoying light salads on the deck for dinner, and homemade ice cream on the weekends when I’m feeling up to doing something special.

I love you summer, please don’t leave us too soon.  I do love fall the best but summer, you are a very, very close second.  

My new bike.  Isn't it pretty?

Have a good week everybody!  Enjoy the sunshine!
 

Stories: 

• Meal Plans

Sunday
Out

Monday
Avgolemono

Tuesday
Curried Chicken and Coconut Rice - leftovers

Wednesday
Anelletti Pasta with Sausage and Greens

Thursday
Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs & Basmati Pilaf with Dried Fruits and Almonds

Friday
Out

Saturday
Pita Pizzas also need to make Rice Krispie Squares and some kind of baking.  Doing coffee after service at church on Sunday.

12 Things you don't know about me (unless you know me really REALLY well, yes, I'm looking at you, Tim)
 

1. I like my peanut butter warm and oozy.  If it's not I will microwave it for 10 seconds just so it is.

2. I rarely wear my hair down, even though I have long hair.

3. I love coffee and English/Irish breakfast tea equally.  I limit myself to having one or the other 3 times a week.

4. I am paralyzed but the thought of failure.  It keeps me from being who I dream of being on a regular basis.

5. Dr Pepper is my favourite pop.  Did you know if you put Coke and Amaretto together it taste like Dr Pepper?!

6. My favourite places on earth is the country, and I don't mean 5 minutes out of the city, but really in the middle of nowhere, Tim and I take Cowboy Trail to Banff every year just so I can look out the window and see nothing but farmland and emptiness.  The other is the ocean, the smell, the sound, how it looks.  It calms me.  Which honestly, is hard to do.

7. I don't have many friends.  I have tons of acquaintances but only a handful of people that I love dearly and would do anything for them.  They are the family Tim and I have chosen for ourselves and I'm so happy to call all of them my friends.

8. I am closer to my Mother in law and sisters in law than my own Mother and sisters.  When I married Tim I found the sisters that I always hoped that my blood sisters would/could have been.

9. I miss my father, some days my heart aches so badly I'm sure it will never heal from the loss of him.  It saddens me to think that my boys will never get to know the amazing man he was.  

10. I love camping.  I love taking the boys camping.  I cry sometimes when camping, I feel it's unfair that my Dad isn't here to share camping with his grandchildren.

11. I go to church almost every weekend.  I'm struggling right now though, I don't feel anything lately when I'm there.  It makes me sad.  I feel lost.  I remain faithful.

12. I've watched and rewatched Six Feet Under and Big Love over and over.  Favourite shows ever.  I finished Big Love this past Friday for the third time and I still cried when Bill died.

Well, some of that got a little heavier than I had planned.  Sorry about that.  Apparently I needed to let it out.

Meal plan is easy this week.  Basics with a little flair.  I need to decide on what to make for coffee service on Sunday after service at church.  I have a few ideas...  Apple Cinnamon Toaster Strudels, Puff Wheat Squares, Sweet Tea Cookies, Blueberry Crumb Bars, or Spiced Applesauce Cake?  Thoughts?  What would you want?  I stayed away from nuts...  not sure about allergies.  I'm for sure making rice krispie squares and something and taking some boxed jammy cookies.  Just need to decide what that something is going to be.  

Looking for some inspiration from a awesome food blog?  Check out Dash and Bella.  Beautiful pictures and recipes and the stories are honest.

Have a good week everybody! 

Stories: 

• Meal Plans

Sunday
Out

Monday
Avgolemono

Tuesday
Curried Chicken and Coconut Milk - leftovers

Wednesday
Anelletti Pasta with Sausage and Greens

Thursday
Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs & Basmati Pilaf with Dried Fruits and Almonds

Friday
Out

Saturday
Pita Pizzas also need to make Rice Krispie Squares and some kind of baking.  Doing coffee after service at church on Sunday.

read more

Sunday
Mae’s Broccoli Cheddar Salad

Monday
Spring Vegetable Risotto w/ Poached Eggs

Tuesday
Fish Burgers w/ Sweet Potato Fries

Wednesday
Balinese Grilled Chicken

Thursday
Greek Lamb Stew

Friday
Chinese Chicken Salad w/ Sesame Ginger Dressing

Saturday
Avgolemono

Today was root canal day.  Honestly, it went about a 1000 times better than I thought it would.  I had a moment at the very begining but I'm not sure if that was actually caused by the fear of my impending doom or if it was Mommy guilt in a huge way.  I forgot it was beach day at preschool.  So, we get there only 3 minutes late and I'm feeling quite good about myself since I had to drive from basically St. Albert to Sherwood Park and managed to drop off both kids and not lose my mind.  Then L's teacher says "Good Morning!  I'm so happy your here for BEACH day!".  In less than a second I lose that feeling of being proud of myself to being utterly crushed as I look at my sweet little boy dressed in black pants and a long sleeved T.  F*CK!!!  So yeah, I may have been more having a moment about the consuming mommy guilt rather than the fear of my face about to be drilled into.  *sigh*  Maybe one day before they both move out and have families of their own I will get it right.  Just for one day.  I'm a work in progress. 

Anyways, the root canal.  Went fine.  Less traumatic than the last filling I had about 10 years ago.  That was a terrible experience.  I told the dentist I was having a little anxiety so he said he would make sure I wouldn't feel anything to let him know if I did.  He must have given me enough freezing in my face to freeze three people.  I went in at 9:15 and was STILL numb at 3:30 when I picked R up from school.  I keep thinking I'm done and won't have to worry about it anymore, but then I remember I still need to go back and get a crown put on and fitted for a night guard.  Let's hear it for cleching and griding your teeth due to stree at night!  Not. 

I also went into one of the worst potholes ever in the park today.  I lost a hubcap coming out of the mall.  I knew the root canal went too smoothy.  Tim has tried to make me feel better by saying he was going to throw them out anyways but it still annoys me.  Ah well.  Nothing I can do about it now...  unless you see my Ford hubcap in front of Sherwood Park mall.  I'd really like it back.  Thanks.

Meal plan this week is fairly simple and straight forward.  I'd love to move more towards salads and cold soups but with the weather not being able to make up it's mind and still thinking it's winter half of the time I've decided to sit on the fence for a bit longer. 

If you are looking for some new music I'm really enjoying Apparat - Goodbye ft. Soap & Skin.

Have a good week everbody! 

Stories: 

• Meal Plans

Sunday
Mae’s Broccoli Cheddar Salad

Monday
Spring Vegetable Risotto w/ Poached Eggs

Tuesday
Fish Burgers w/ Sweet Potato Fries

Wednesday
Balinese Grilled Chicken

Thursday
Greek Lamb Stew

Friday
Chinese Chicken Salad w/ Sesame Ginger Dressing

read more

Sunday
Curried Chicken w/ Coconut Rice

Monday
The Contilentil Divide pg. 79 TLC

Tuesday
Grown up Tuna Noodle Casserole

Wednesday
Grilled  Skirt Steak w/ Guacamole and Rajas

Thursday
Greek Seasoned Salmon w/ Rice and Veggies

Friday
Tomato Soup w/ Grilled Cheese

Saturday
Hamburgers w/ Ceaser Salad

The first meal I ever made was pork chops.  I was 10.  My mother and Grandpa had decided that they were going to paint our new house we were going to be moving to in a month or so and had gone over to paint it.  I do appreciate that they painted the house for us but it left a 10 year old in charge of a 6(7) and 4(5) year old.  Being a mother myself now I would never do that but in the 90’s I guess it was ok?  I don’t honestly know, all I know is there were two little girls crying for dinner and their mother could not be gotten ahold of as this was before everyone had a cell phone.  My dad was also working two jobs at the time and wasn’t home yet from work and I knew that he would want dinner as well...  I’d seen what would happen if there was no dinner when he got home. 

Anyways, getting back to first meal I ever made.  I remember being terrified but more terrified of my dad coming home to my sisters screaming and crying about how there was no food and mom wasn’t home so I sucked up and did my best.  I remember thawing the pork chops in the microwave, a little too long so they were a little cooked.  Getting out the shake n bake and reading the instructions.  Turning on the oven and not being sure if I did it right.  I remember making potatoes they way my Grandpa had done so many times and thankfully I knew how to do that part.  I put everything on two baking trays and put it in the oven.  I didn’t know where the timer was so I remember trying to figure out how long it would take on the clock.  I put peas in the microwave and waited.  I was so worried I would burn the pork chops and I would be in so much trouble I checked them several times.  Finally, everything was ready.  I don’t remember feeding my sisters but I must have because I know my dad wasn’t angry when he got home.  He made a plate for my mom and for my Grandpa and after he had eaten dinner he left to go see them.  There was no praise, no thank you, no shock or amazement.  It was just what was supposed to have happened. 

If I’d only known what I had done by making dinner that night I may never have done it.  I made dinner for my family basically till the day I moved out after that.  I took over the grocery shopping and cooking and some of the cleaning in the kitchen.  My sisters were supposed to help but I don’t remember them helping.  My mother would lay up in her bedroom and read and watch TV.  My friends in post secondary use to talk about how they couldn’t wait to go home to see their moms and get some home cooked food.  I didn’t understand when they talked about homemade pasta and pasta sauce or all these other things I’d heard about.  Pasta comes out of a box and sauce comes out of a can, Duh!  I didn’t know that some mom’s made care packages for their kids when they left to go back to school after thanksgiving or Christmas.  One friend would come home with plates and plates of pre made dinners that her mom had put together for her.  My dad bought me groceries a couple times when I was in post secondary, that was all the care packages I ever got. 

Now that I have kids, I want to be the mom that everyone wanted to go home and get yummy food from.  That makes homemade pasta and sauce.  That makes homemade bread and jam.  That sends plates of pre made dinners home with my kids so I know they are getting at least one meal a day that is good.  I want them to know that I love them and maybe it’s not perfect but I do it with cooking.  I do it already by making them cookies and squares.  Tim is the breadmaker (yeast and I for the most part do NOT get along).  I make dinner 99% of the time.  I make my older ones lunch for him according to order and yes he is sometimes a little picky but I do it because I love him and I want him to know that.  I let my little one help me make biscuits, even though I can do it twice as fast by myself because he likes it and it’s something we share.  I know right now they don’t recognize that by me making them dinner every night and baking occasionally for them that I love them more than they could ever understand.  One day, I hope they realize that I was trying my best. Trying be the Mommy I had wanted when I was little. 

Amusingly enough, I hate shake n bake now.  We also rarely eat pork.  I also don’t make those potatoes anymore because wowie my arteries are better without potatoes rubbed in butter.  I still eat peas though!  Honestly, when my kids are teenagers they will probably look back and think about all the times I tried to get them to eat some weird ass vegetarian thing or how I always made too many vegetables or told them that fish is chicken.  But, maybe when they have kids they will finally realize that I was doing it out of love.  Maybe.

Sorry for the long ramble.  It was in my head and I figured why not share.  Maybe this will explain why I'm so OCD about having a meal plan every week.  ;)  Have a good week everybody!

Stories: 

• Meal Plans

Sunday
Curried Chicken w/ Coconut Rice

Monday
The Contilentil Divide pg. 79 TLC

Tuesday
Grown up Tuna Noodle Casserole

Wednesday
Grilled  Skirt Steak w/ Guacamole and Rajas

Thursday
Greek Seasoned Salmon w/ Rice and Veggies

Friday
Tomato Soup w/ Grilled Cheese

Saturday
Hamburgers w/ Ceaser Salad

read more

Good Evening! 

Sunday
- Salmon w/ Brussels Sprouts and Ginger Scallion Sauce - Wednesday in the end

Monday
- Thrill of the Grill pg. 34 TLC - Not bad

Tuesday
- Fish Burgers w/ Sweet Potato Chips - Sunday in the end

Wednesday
- Feast from the East pg. 51 TLC - Thursday in the end

Thursday
- Chop Sooo-ey pg. 206 TLC - Used this on Tuesday

Friday
- I have no clue, apparently I forgot about Friday.  Grilled Cheese?

Saturday
- Curried Chicken w/ Coconut Rice

So, I forgot about Friday night.  I'm not sure why but I did.  Whoops.  Ah well, as you can see this week isn't playing out meal wise like I thought it would.  Oh!  I know!  I bought pancake mix at the butchers today.  We'll have pancakes and bacon on Friday night with some fruits.  Problem solved. 

Volunteered at Riley's school today.  It went well, I think he likes me coming in to do things at his school....  at least he hasn't told me not to.  I'll take what I can get.  My 6 year old is going on 16, at least in attitude. 

You might have noticed that last week I didn't do a meal plan.  We used leftovers all week from Easter.  Monday I think we just had plain old leftovers, Tuesday we made Omlettes from the leftovers, Wednesday we had lamb and I made some rice and veggies, Thursday was ham and cheese waffles and Friday I just couldn't do leftovers anymore and we caved and had chicken something.  I can't remember what exactly.  All I remember is Riley wouldn't eat it because the chicken was funny.  We got it from the grocery store instead of the butchers and he wouldn't touch it.  I'm raising food snobs and for the most part that is ok with me.  I like that they can tell quality already. 

Easter dinner was really really good, we had a whoopsy with the butcher we use, the ordering lady forgot our order but thankfully in the end we got what we ordered and I don't think it could possibly have been fresher as I believe it was slaughtered that day and brought to our house.  I know they messed up but they went way above and beyond to make sure that our Easter turned out the way we planned.  Also, the lamb was AMAZING and the ham wasn't to shabby either.  If you are in the market for a butcher or maybe want to break away from the huge grocery store and get some quality product try out Acme Meat Market.  They know meat and the customer service is top notch!  I order most of my meat via twitter because I hate using the phone, they are great at putting up with my aversion to normal communcation procedures.  We also get a CSA through Riverbend Gardens from July till October.  It's actually how we started using Acme.  Why not get some meat when Tim picks up the veggies?!  I admit that I stopped being a vegetarian last year because Tim started bringing home meat from Acme.  I eat meat about 3 sometimes 4 times a week now, I would say I'm ashamed but I'm not. 

Anyways, hope you all have a wonderful week and don't freeze to death with this ridiculous weather that we are having right now.  I'm so done with this cold.  Yesterday I told Tim I didn't want to live here anymore.  I was joking, kind of. 

Stories: 

• Meal Plans

Good Evening! 

Sunday
- Salmon w/ Brussels Sprouts and Ginger Scallion Sauce - Wednesday in the end

Monday
- Thrill of the Grill pg. 34 TLC - Not bad

Tuesday
- Fish Burgers w/ Sweet Potato Chips - Sunday in the end

Wednesday
- Feast from the East pg. 51 TLC - Thursday in the end

Thursday
- Chop Sooo-ey pg. 206 TLC - Used this on Tuesday

Friday
- I have no clue, apparently I forgot about Friday.  Grilled Cheese?

Saturday
- Curried Chicken w/ Coconut Rice

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Sunday
Out -Kids had hot dogs and fries at the Oil Kings game and we had waffles later after the kids were in bed

Monday
Yellow Split Pea and Ham

Tuesday
Baked Goat Cheese and Swiss Chard Pasta

Wednesday
Sausage Rolls

Thursday
Eata Fajita Salad pg. 47

Friday
Spring Vegetable Soup

Saturday
French Dip and French Fries

It'sTuesday evening!  Which means I have survived the first two days of spring break.  So far it's actually been pretty easy.  The kids for the most part have behaved themselves and we've had small outings to do both days which has broken up the day for them and me.  We've done some crafts and some baking for Easter.  I was dreading all the fighting between the two of them this week but so far it's been ok.  Now to survive the next two days!  We have plans with friends on Friday that they are looking forward to and Saturday will be prep day as I am hosting Easter and need to try and do as much ahead as possible.  We also  need to pick up our meat from the butcher on Saturday too.  Sunday is Easter and Monday Tim has off so we will plan something as a family. 

Hope you all have a wonderful spring break and a very happy Easter! 

Stories: 

• Meal Plans

Sunday
Out -Kids had hot dogs and fries at the Oil Kings game and we had waffles later after the kids were in bed

Monday
Yellow Split Pea and Ham

Tuesday
Baked Goat Cheese and Swiss Chard Pasta

Wednesday
Sausage Rolls

Thursday
Eata Fajita Salad pg. 47

Friday
Spring Vegetable Soup

read more

Sunday
Irish Soda Bread and Stew w/ Sugar Cookie Shamrocks

Monday
Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew

Tuesday
Gumbo

Wednesday
Leftovers

Thursday
Tongue Thai’d Pg. 179 ESBM

Friday
Orzo Stuffed Peppers

Saturday
Out

I know, don't fall over.  I'm early!  Wow.  No the sky isn't falling...  well wait.  It's snowing does that mean it's falling?  If it does that I guess we know the reason for the early post. 

Sunday night's dinner was really delicious!  Tim made the soda bread and it was quite possibly my favourite.  Nothing to do with the whiskey soaked cranberries.  Nope, nothing.  The stew was quite good and thickened up quite nice with the prunes added.  I think Ricardo did it right.  It smelled amazing and was so simple.  I'll save this one, good for winter...  which if you live in Alberta seems to be dragging on forever this year....  what are we going on?  10 years?  Oh, it's only been 5 months.  Well it seems a lot longer.  We also made cookies for St. Patrick's day and our friends brought over Leperchaun poop ice cream to go with them.  The kids enjoyed it and we had some nice chats. 

Ordered my Lamb and a ham for Easter.  Going to have 11 possibly 12 people for dinner on Easter.  It'll be nice.  We are having a mix of friends and family which will be nice for the Littles as it will give them some friends to play with.  I should make sure that the Easter bunny brings something for their friends.  Need to ad that to the shopping list.  I haven't finalized the menu but I'm thinking lamb w/ greek seasonings, lemon roasted potatoes, greek salad, peas w/ mint, ham, buns, sweet potatoes, maybe asparagus.   I think I'll do two desserts.  I'm leaning towards lemon pie and I'm not sure what the other one will be.  Maybe coconut cake with strawberries. 

Anyways. enough of my ramblings.  Have a good week everybody! 

Stories: 

• Meal Plans

Sunday
Irish Soda Bread and Stew w/ Sugar Cookie Shamrocks

Monday
Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew

Tuesday
Gumbo

Wednesday
Leftovers

Thursday
Tongue Thai’d Pg. 179 ESBM

Friday
Orzo Stuffed Peppers

Saturday
Out

I know, don't fall over.  I'm early!  Wow.  No the sky isn't falling...  well wait.  It's snowing does that mean it's falling?  If it does that I guess we know the reason for the early post. 

read more

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