Easter weekend

Adam had Good Friday off so we headed to Albia for a few days. The weather was pretty nice that Friday and Saturday, so we spent a lot of time outside. The kids played on the swing set and with the dogs. They even got to feed the goats with Nana.

Nana got a new toy, so her and Fletcher went for a drive in her new mini cooper convertible. While they were gone, Brynlee and I walked next door to my grandparents' house friday to hang with her greats. 

Later that evening, my Uncle Mike came over to get Fletcher and me, to head out to see his new baby calves. There was one particular calf that he was feeding off of a cow that lost her baby. Fletcher got a first hand experience, as my (our) uncle let him lead the calf to where he needed to be. Fletcher thought he was pretty big stuff doing that.  

Saturday afternoon, we left Pops and Nana's right around lunchtime and headed next door for lunch with the greats and Uncle Mike. My grandparents enjoy the kids so much and the kids enjoy them as well. He visited over our meal and then headed for Des Moines since it was past nap time and I had a little girl who was getting very crabby.

It was a fun few days hanging out with the family that we wouldn't be spending time with on Easter. 

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 16

April 5-19

Monday-old chicago tax day pizza prize
Tuesday-baked chicken chimichangas
Wednesday-baked pork chops
Thursday-cowboy casserole
Friday-confetti chicken and pasta

I don't know about you, but my fb feed has been blowing up lately with all sorts of recipes that people are sharing. Sometimes I just scroll right through them, but occasionally, the name or picture catches my eye and I and I'm lured in. That happened a few times last week and the result of that, will be the meals on Tuesday and Thursday. I'll let you know next week if they were as good as the recipe sounds. Friday's meal came from Pinterest.

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 12

March 18-22

Monday-taco pie
Tuesday-aloha pork chops
Wednesday-meatball stuffed biscuits
Thursday-leftovers
Friday-baked ravioli casserole

aloha pork chops are in a cookbook i have. i'll post the recipe on wednesday after we try it. i'll let you know if they are worth making or not.

meal planning monday-vol. 3, wk. 11

again, i forgot to hit publish. this is what we're grubbing on this week.
March 11-15

monday-tortellini with marinara, asparagus, garlic bread
tuesday-meatloaf, brussels sprouts
wednesday-white cheesy chicken chili
thursday-baked pork chops, squash
friday-crab cakes

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 10

monday-creamy chicken packets, corn, caramel apple pie
tuesday-ham loaf, twice baked potatoes
wednesday-pork roast, Brussels sprouts (carryover)
thursday-taco salads
friday-grilled cheese, tomato soup

***last weeks bacon mac and cheese wasn't a favorite. i will be making a new recipe, every other week, until adam and i find one that we like. if you have a favorite recipe, please share it. i'd love to try it out.

Meal planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 8

Monday-tacos, rice
Tuesday-home style chicken and noodles
Wednesday-Ravioli in Alfredo sauce, garlic bread
Thursday-meatball marinara sandwiches, mixed fruit
Friday-baked flounder, salad, corn, applesauce

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 7

a little late, but i still wanted to post this weeks mpm.

we've had a birthday, a night with only one parent, and a 'holiday' so i'm breaking my rules for the week and just feeding my family whatever. also, the easter season is upon this catholic girl, so 'no meat' fridays begin.

monday-chicken nuggets, french fries, mandarin oranges and birthday brownies with ice cream
tuesday-hot dogs, carrots and ranch, pretzels, pudding
wednesday-spaghetti, garlic bread
thursday-"heart" pancakes, sausage links, scrambled eggs
friday-freezer clean-up--fish stick sandwiches, potato wedges, cheesy broccoli

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 6

monday-fajitas
tuesday-chicken and noodles
wednesday-papa john's free coin toss pizza
thursday-crocckpot meatballs
friday-tater tot casserole

last weeks philly cheesesteak peppers were GOOD...only adam and i both agreed that the peppers need to be baked a bit before stuffing. next time i make them, i will put the peppers in the oven for about fifteen minutes first. perhaps i just had really think peppers, but the crunch and pepper taste kind of took away from the yummy-ness of the beef mixture and cheese.
also, the crockpot beer chicken was not bad (no link, but follow the directions under the picture on pinterest). i used a miller high life light (we're cheap beer drinkers), and the taste of the chicken was good. only problem, it was too dry because it cooked too long. my only recommendation-make sure you are ready to eat when it is done, or you'll be feasting on dry chicken.

Meal planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 5

Monday-tacos with the fixins
Tuesday-Philly cheesesteak stuffed bell peppers.
Wednesday-cheese tortellini, garlic bread
Thursday-crockpot beer chicken
Friday- pizza boat

Last weeks meals were not bad. I did not like the taste of the honey mustard sauce I used for the Aussie chicken, but once cooked and baked in, it wasnt as strong tasting. I will make again, but will alter how I fix it.
I could not locate the recipe I had for the bacon cheeseburger soup, so I took two different recipes and pulled ingredients from both. I was quite pleased with the taste and it too, will be made again.

Meal planning monday-vol. 3, wk. 4

as i post this on a tuesday, i reassure you that this was typed out on saturday evening on my phone. i have to plan ahead for what i'll be eating the following week, you know. here's what's on the many lists reminding me what i'm going to be grubbing on.

Monday-we had chicken quesadillas
Tuesday-per request of little boy, it's pizza night
Wednesday-Aussie chicken (search on pinterest for recipe)
Thursday-bacon cheeseburger soup (carry over)
Friday-tuna cakes (carry over)

Last weeks Tuesday meal, Italian layer bake, delicious. I was very pleased with the taste and Adam didn't have anything to say about it, which means its good. The kids even ate it, minus the peppers.

There was a bit of sickness in the house early in the week and we were gone Friday evening, so that's why we have a few carry over meals this week. I'm kinda excited to try the soup on Thursday this week and look forward to making (and eating) it.

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 3 & a confession

January 14-18

monday-taco pie
tuesday-italian layer bake
wednesday-chicken spaghetti with lemon garlic sauce  (click on top right photo for recipe)
thursday-bacon cheeseburger soup
friday-tuna cakes

confession~last week i was in a slump. truth is, i'm still not out of it. last weeks meal planning did not go as i had hoped. although i did make 4 of the 5 recipes, but they were not made on the days posted. with adam's 'new' job, he isn't getting home until 6:30 or 7, the weather is sucking all the energy i have and i just don't feel like doing ANYTHING.

 also, the bubble up pizza recipe....not fantastic. the topping was not very appealing to me, but it was edible. i will either not make it again, or i'll find something else to put on the top. maybe some little canned biscuits could do the trick. 

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk 2

here goes the first attempt at my new themed weekly meal plans. i'm sure i'll be able to stick with it for a few weeks before i begin cheating.

monday-chicken enchiladas
tuesday-pop up pizza
wednesday-spaghetti, garlic bread
thursday-honey sauced chicken over rice
friday-baked sandwiches

Meal Planning Monday-vol. 3, wk. 1 & a new planning method

January 1-4
tuesday-three cheese chicken and pasta
wednesday-pepperoni pizza and cheesy bread
thursday-blueberry waffles, scrambled eggs
friday-baked chicken, veggie saute

after this week, i'm going to try something different with my meal planning monday. i have designated certain days with a theme, in hopes of helping me come to a quicker decision when planning. i have a recipe box (and pin boards) full of recipes that have not been tried, but we also have our favorites that will be made often. with adam traveling back and forth with the 'new' job, this will make it easier for both of us to anticipate what we're having and i won't be waiting until he gets home (round 6:30p) to see what he feels like. here's hoping it works for me and that it will make it the whole year.

Mexican Monday
New Recipe Tuesday
Pasta Wednesday
Slow cooker Thursday
Whatever Friday

Meal planning Monday-vol. 2, 12/17-12/21

Monday-tacos, chips and salsa
Tuesday-chicken pot pie
Wednesday-brinner...eggs, sausage patties, hashbrowns
Thursday-date night with the hubs???
Friday-beef enchiladas (carry over)

meal planning monday-vol. 2, 12/3-12/7

i realize it's tuesday, but better late than never..right?

monday-cupcakes and apple slices...no joke!
tuesday-pepperoni rolls, pineapple, salad
wednesday-beef stroganoff, corn
thusday-chicken, broccoli, applesauce
friday-no recipe pinterest inspired dish (if it turns out tasty, i'll post the recipe i used)

meal planning monday-vol. 2, 10/29-11-2

baby girl JUST fell asleep, so i finally have time to get this accomplished. i've sat down multiple times today to write out this weeks mpm, and after our monday meal of spaghetti, garlic bread and salad, its finally getting done. here's the remainder of the week:
tuesday-crock pot chicken noodle soup, fresh from the oven wheat bread
wednesday-pancakes and eggs
thursday-stuffed pork chops, cheesy broccoli, cottage cheese
friday-homemade pizza, homemade applesauce

we carved pumpkins tonight. tomorrow little boy gets to wear his cowboy costume to school. he's thrilled. i'm curious how baby girl will to trick or treating. she's been saying yee-haw. that's her trick. cute, right? hopefully they get some good candy that i like.

meal planning monday-vol.2, 9/17-9/21

i had this all typed out and ready to publish, and apparently i forgot to hit the button, as it greeted me this morning. here's what we had last night and what we're having this week.

monday-taco pie, chips and guacamole
tuesday-grilled chicken salads, fruit
wednesday-fridge clean-out night
thursday-eggplant parmesan with spaghetti and garlic bread
friday-hot roast beef sandwiches, broccoli,

**the taco pie recipe is the one i used last night as a last resort. i had all those ingredients, but did not have all the ingredients for the original recipe i like to make-using crushed doritos and crescent rolls. it was ok, but prefer the other.

meal planning monday-vol.2, wk.25

monday-big o' chef salads
tuesday-ham steak on the grill, corn on the cob, fresh strawberries
wednesday-brat burgers, broccoli, mexican fiesta pasta salad
thursday-grilled chicken salads, fruit
friday-yet to be determined

meal planning monday-vol. 2, wk. 22

sorry for going M.I.A. the last two weeks were pretty sickly around here. baby girl was down for a week and then last week the husband had it. it was awful. there was a lot of lysol spray and and laundry action going on. i don't care to repeat those two weeks...ever.
so, without further ado...i give you MPM...on tuesday.

monday-hamloaf, stuffed mushrooms, lettuce salad
tuesday-baked sandwiches, corn on the cob, watermelon
wednesday-grilled chicken, grilled vegetables, fruit
thursday-chicken fried rice, egg rolls
friday-brat patties, lettuce salad, pasta salad

meal planning monday-vol. 2, wk. 20

monday-sliders and fries, pudding and berries
tuesday-pizza boat, salad (carryover from last week)
wednesday-grilled pork chops, asparagus, garlic bread, fruit
thursday-grilled shrimp and apple skewers, rice, salad
friday-hitting the road to minnesota with my sister and 5 kids. please pray for the adults.