Menu Plan Monday 10/31

 Happy Halloween! I'm not the biggest fan of the holiday... but I sure do enjoy the candy, and this year I'm blaming it all on the baby boy.  A few weeks ago, he needed a bag of milk duds... then it was caramels... and now our trick or treat candy is open and ready to be passed out tonight.  I never know how much to buy, but I figure if there are leftovers I could either 1- eat it or 2- take it to school.  Hmm.  We've got a busy week ahead of us, so the menu plan is not looking too exciting.  I have been making soup on Sundays (love the alliteration there) the past few weeks and it has been SO nice to have a few lunches for the week of leftover soup. 

Sunday: Ham and Potato Soup

Monday: Chicken sandwiches, au gratin potatoes, green beans

Tuesday: Penne Arrabiata, broccoli, garlic bread

Wednesday: omelettes w/ the last produce from our garden :-(, hashbrowns & fruit

Thursday: grilled cheese & tomato soup

Friday:frozen pizza

Saturday: out

Menu Plan Monday 10/24

Well, we had yet another busy weekend.  I think we are FINALLY done with registering for our little guy.  We spent a good 6 hours at Babies R Us between this weekend and last and even more time researching products online and texting our friends who are already parents for advice.  Some stuff is on Pottery Barn Kids, but that registry we tried to do online as much as possible. This week is also super busy... it's the last week of the 1st grading period, meaning I have to be all caught up and do my typical end of the nine weeks grades (participation, journals, etc).  We have plans with friends Friday night, I'm driving to Akron for a baby shower on Saturday... AND we are celebrating our FOURTH anniversary on Thursday.  Happy Anniversary Grant!! I love you more and more every day cannot wait to raise our little guy (he who does not have a name) with you!

Here's what we are eating this week:

Sunday: potato & corn chowder (without the chicken) in the crockpot

Monday: TJs Garlic Chicken Sausages, Potato pancakes (using leftover mashed potatoes from the potato skins I made for the Halloween party Sat. night)

Tuesday: Butternut Squash Risotto (looove this one... and I use Campbell's V8 butternut squash soup as a shortcut), peas

Wednesday: Ravioli, green beans & garlic bread

Thursday: celebrating four years of wedded bliss with our traditional dinner at The Melting Pot! Yum.

Friday: game night w/ some good friends

Saturday: Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Cider Syrup, eggs

Menu Plan Monday 10/17

This school year is going by QUICKLY.  I feel like last week flew by, but then the weekend, sadly, was even shorter.  It was also super busy.  We started our baby registry. I wish I could say it was a fun experience planning for and dreaming about the life we will have with this little guy... BUT... it was honestly stressful and overwhelming. I'm pretty sure Grant's words as we were leaving the store three hours later (only about 1/5 of the way done) were "if the women in Africa can raise children without all this, why do we need it?" Of course, I agreed... but unfortunately, when you are living in suburbia and driving everywhere, there are definitely some basics you need... like a car seat/carrier (didn't find one yet), a stroller (didn't find one yet) and a method of providing food for your little one while you are working (yup, haven't figured that out yet either).  This being said, we have a LONG way to go.  At least we have a crib picked out(which he won't sleep in for awhile) and some bedding, right?

I slaved away in the kitchen on Sunday, making apple brownies for a snack for our small group (they were délicieux- I also decreased the cooking time by 5 min), white chicken chili in the crockpot and pumpkin patch stuffed shells so we would just have to throw them in the oven.  We decided that the shells are good, but needed a little "kick," so we added some crushed red pepper flakes and a little extra cheese for the leftover portions for our lunches.  I think this pumpkin pasta recipe is still my favorite pumpkin pasta.  We will make it SOMETIME this fall... it just takes awhile. 

Here's the official menu plan: 

 Sunday: White Chicken Chili (I throw everything in the crockpot- I use chicken breasts and leave out the milk & masa and just add a little sour cream on top of each bowl)

Monday: Pumpkin Patch Stuffed Shells, salad, bread

Tuesday: Caramel Apple Pork Chops, Pierogies, green beans (didn't make last week)

Wednesday: Apple & Cheddar quesadillas, Mexican Jicama-Pineapple salad, refried beans

Thursday: Chicken Sandwiches, TJs Harvest Grains Couscous, baked acorn squash

Friday: having a snack before Tom's bday party :-)

Saturday: our cul-de-sac's Halloween Party... I'm taking Baked Potato Skins

For more menu-planning ideas go to http://orgjunkie.com/2011/10/menu-plan-monday-oct-1711.html

It's a boy!!!!!!

20.5 weeks

I always joked that God, in His sense of humor, would give me all boys whenever I had kids because I am from a family of all girls, and am fairly girly myself, so I figured He'd think it'd be hilarious and a good challenge/opportunity for me to grow in trusting Him (since I know I will be freaking out when he is jumping off of this and that and getting hurt).  And so far, my thoughts are true.We are both super excited to have a boy... We already love this little guy so much... we can't wait to meet him!

Twenty Weeks... halfway there!

Last Saturday (October 8), we hit the halfway mark with this pregnancy.  I cannot believe it is halfway over already.  And to think we are about to hit the holiday season, which always flies by.. scary how fast this second half will go. 

As a first time mom-to-be with quite a few seasoned parents who read this, I hesitate to say this... but so far, it really hasn't been that bad.  I know I have been one of the lucky ones.  I am not naive- I KNOW I will get super uncomfortable, that I won't be able to breath as easily, that my feet might swell, that I will so be hungry but have not much room for the food, that labor is going to be ridiculously painful with or without drugs... So please do not think "ha that girl has no idea what she's in for." I know there are some things I do not know about, but fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), I feel like I have been surrounded by pregnant women at church and work who tell it how it is, so I feel semi-informed on what is to come. 

Anyways, I just want to share with whoever may be in my shoes that being pregnant does not necessarily mean you will be clinging to the toilet for 16 or even 40 weeks. No one told me that, so I thought something was super wrong until I had my first ultrasound at 9.5 weeks.  I have been exercising (going to jazzercise 3 days a week during the school year), still walk fast, and still eat fairly normally.  And I know that with the next kiddo, I could have an awful, miserable pregnancy.  But the baby is growing and overall, I'm feeling great.  Minus the fact my face looks like I'm going through puberty again.  

I have seen this survey on quite a few blogs... enjoy: 

 

How far along? 20 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: gain fo sho. Doesn't matter how much, according to my doctor, as long as the baby is healthy and I am healthy! Oh I how I love her and how she is so laid-back.
Maternity clothes? Some of my baggy shirts still fit (but they are getting shorter), my workout shorts & pants, tees & outwear still fit (thanks to the elastic waistbands),  but as far as school clothes go, I am having to either wear one of those bands or maternity pants... which I will need to get more of.  I can zip, but not button. And when you teach high school, you do not want to have some sort of awkward moment, so I will make sure I am fully covered. 

Stretch marks? not from being preggo!
Sleep: waking up a few times a night in fear of another awful leg cramp... and then getting up once for a bathroom break
Best moment this week: fall treats (apples, apple crisp, pumpkin spice latte) & finding out the gender
Movement: Yes... but not a "flutter" like everyone else said it would feel like. I feel a little pulse/nudge/bump
Food cravings: just my normal cravings from when I'm not preggo... cheese, popcorn, and desserts
Gender: that will be in the next post. We found out on Weds 10/12
Labor Signs: HAH not yet, and I hope not for quite some time.
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
What I miss: wine and fully caffeinated drinks from Starbucks!
What I am looking forward to: finding out the gender
Weekly Wisdom: I have decided to reward myself with a scoop of regular coffee with the other decaf scoops on the weekend. It is delightful.
Milestones:1/2way there!

Menu Plan Monday 10/10

Today is parent-teacher conferences.  Always an interesting experience as a high school teacher.  Did your parents go to conferences when you were in high school? That's what I thought.  Anyways, I'm hoping for a super productive day between my conferences.  I won't have much time to work this week since Weds I have a doctor's appointment and Friday, my sister from Chicago will be in town for a wedding... so we're hoping to have an early afternoon coffee date :-)

Here's our menu for the week: 


Sunday: made Chicken Tortilla Soup in the crock pot during church... this is seriously one of my favorite clean out the fridge meals ever. I had green onions & carrots, so those went in... along with brown rice.  And I use 3 tsp of cumin.  However, is mostly for lunches this week, since we will be having dinner with our small group after pumpkin & apple picking! I'm taking corn bread. 

Monday: parent teacher conferences & the PTO is providing us with a late lunch/early dinner.  

Tuesday: Saffron Rice w/ italian sausage (see below), rice & garlic naan

Wednesday: the BIG ultrasound!!! Followed by a date at Brio or Bon Vie ($2.95 bar bites, yum!) to celebrate finding out if it's a boy or a girl.  If the baby doesn't cooperate, we are STILL going out to eat :)

Thursday: Buttermilk Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage & Fruit

Friday: frozen pizza!

Saturday: Caramel Apple Pork Chops, Pierogies & green beans


Saffron Rice with Sausage
this is a recipe from an after school cooking class I took in 5th grade :-) 

3 T olive oil
3 cloves minced garlic
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups basmati rice
4 cups chicken broth
1 lb italian sausage
2 pinches of saffron (it's totally worth the splurge for the flavor)
salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In an oven proof pan, heat olive oil.  Add garlic and onion and sauté over medium head until the onion is transparent.  Add sausage, breaking up into bite size pieces, and cook until almost done. 

Add rice, chicken broth and saffron.  Season with salt and pepper.  Stir, cover, and bring to a boil.  Place covered pan in the oven and cook for about 20 minutes.  Remove and let sit covered for about 5 more minutes. 

Baby Bump

I am now in my 19th week of pregnancy! Almost HALFWAY done. I have gotten numerous requests for a few photo updates... so here is a post of pics of my growing belly:

2 months (8 weeks)

almost 3 months (11 weeks)

2nd Trimester!! 3 months (13 weeks)

4 months (16 weeks)... finally a LITTLE something!

 

 

almost 5 months (19 weeks)

Menu Plan Monday 10/3

We FINALLY had a (semi) relaxing weekend at home! As refreshed as I hoped I'd feel, I found myself wanting the weekend to last for just one more day. Or two.  I'll admit, I may or may not have had the "maybe we'll get a snow day" thought Sunday night... HAH.  It's a little too early for that. 

Here's what we will be eating this week:

Sunday: Broccoli Cheese soup (with shredded cheddar instead of velveeta, and an addition of about 1 cup chopped carrots & 1/2 cut chopped parsnips) & sourdough bread

Monday: Black Bean & Corn Veggie Burgers (top w/ sour cream, salsa and cheese, YUM), TJs Sweet Potato Gnocchi (also a YUM), apple slices (as dessert...the baby needed a bit of caramel on those)

Tuesday: Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas (this recipe is actually quite healthy for an enchilada, and we are using multi grain tortillas), Mexican Rice, apples

Wednesday: after over 3 years, I am FINALLY invited to an event for Grant's work.  It's a company picnic and we are bringing Seven Layer Taco Dip (minus the olives and lettuce).  I am super excited to meet to of my loyal readers, Sarah & Tom :-)

Thursday: ravioli & green beans

Friday:  one last round of Pizza on the Grill... followed by a Grilled Apple Pizza for dessert

Saturday:grilled chicken & veggies

Have a good week!!! 

For more menu planning ideas, jump go to http://orgjunkie.com/2011/10/menu-plan-monday-oct-311-giveaway.html