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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

2 Meal plans in 1!

Because I'm just that far behind.  I didn't ever get around to posting my last meal plan.  There were no comments or questions about the lack of meal plan, so I have to assume that all 3 of my readers really enjoy this aspect of my blog. But somehow, if I post my plans I feel like I'm giving my suppers a little bit more validation and the effort of cooking every night is not "wasted". ha!!


Anyway.  Previous meal plan.  All I have left to make on this one is the mini meat loaves tomorrow.  Thursday night will be the biggest grocery shop EVER!


Grilled Chicken with Black Bean and Quinoa Salad
Cheesy Salsa Mini Meatloaves
Baked Ziti
Fajitas
Calzones
Broccoli Tuna Casserole
Mongolian Beef
Country Style Pork and Rice
Chicken Pesto French Bread Pizza
Taco Salad


Tonight we had French Bread Pizza.  I had gotten a recipe for french bread a while ago from my SIL, Audra, but had never gotten around to making it.  I did tonight.  Easy and SO GOOD!  It makes 2 loaves so I used 1 tonight so the other is in the freezer for next time.


French Bread
2 T active dry yeast
2 c warm water
2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
4-5 c flour
1 tsp cornmeal


In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.  Add the salt, sugar and 2 cups flour.  Beat until smooth.  Sir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.  Urn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.  Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top.  cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.  Punch dough down.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half.  Shape into (2) 12" long loaves.  Place on greased baking sheet.  Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.  Sprinkle with cornmeal. With a sharp knife, make four shallow slashes across the top of each loaf.  Bake at 450 for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.


New Meal plan!!


Sweet and Sour Chinese
Italian Omelette 
Microwave lasagna
Ship Wreck Casserole (New!)
Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Creamy Pasta Primavera
French Toast
Creamy White Chicken Chili
Shepherd's Pie
Chicken Bundles


Extras: Marinated Cheese, candy corn cupcakes, play dough



Pumpkin Spice Cookies



Pumpkin Spice Cookies
1 box spice cake
1 (15oz) can pumpkin puree


Combine and bake 10-12 minutes until firm-ish in a 350 oven.


Can serve with a dollop of cream cheese frosting on top, but they don't need it!  They're a hit in our house!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Today

 Luke painted and finger painted this morning.


 Typical Luke potty position


First, can I just say that he is SO ADORABLE!!  I could just eat him up.  Apparently Leta agrees, because those are her teeth marks 2 1/2 + hours AFTER she bit him.

Friday, October 15, 2010

The Farmers in the Dell

Vicki gave Leta these overalls.  It was too warm today for the long sleeve shirt that she had to go with it.  Since Luke has a pair of overalls as well, I decided to dress them alike today.  And they Kyle and I also wore our overalls.  Okay, not so much on that last part.  I love this picture because they're eyes are EXACTLY the same color.  I'm sure it's too small for you all to be able to see that, but they are.  Luke was so excited this morning to wear overalls like Leta.  Not quite as excited as he was when he found out that he and Kyle have 1 pair of matching underwear...but still, pretty excited.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Subscribe via Email!

Mom told me my old "subscribe via email" link wasn't working.  So I put up this new one, tested it and it works for me.  There is a delay, around a day, I think between when I post and when you get the post in an email in your inbox, but it should work!  So please try again! Sorry!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Grandpa Came!









 This picture of y dad and the kids is my favorite!!!

My dad came and visited the first weekend in October.  He flew his little Cessna Skycatcher down here and the timing worked out pretty perfectly.  Luke and I went straight home after Body & Soul and Kyle and Luke went to the Guthrie airport and picked up my dad while I stayed home with Leta to feed her.  The rest of Friday was spent playing inside and out.  Kyle had ordered a cross bow (he's going to try and get a deer with it here in a few weeks) so he and my dad spent nap time trying to get it all figured out and shooting at a target that Kyle had gotten.  After nap time was all outdoor play.  Luke rode his trike and cars and spent time digging in the dirt (a favorite of his).  After Leta woke from her last nap we decided to head out and try a new BBQ place we'd seen called The Boundary.  SO. GOOD.

Saturday morning Kyle and my dad got up bright and early.  Kyle left for the OU/TX game and my dad made a quick trip to Ponca City in the plane to the fly in breakfast they have there and had breakfast with my Pappaw and Grandma Key.  He was back here by 10:30.  Play play play!  After Luke's afternoon nap we went to the Parkhurst Pumpkin patch.  Leta enjoyed being outside in her stroller and looking at all the different things.  Luke liked that he got candy.  He may or may not have also enjoyed their Petting Zoo, hay ride, tire swing, hay maze, tractors and picking out pumpkins.

Sunday we all went to church for the big Oakdale send off.  Afterwards, Kyle met us at our usual after church eatery, QDoba, and was able to eat with us and take the kids home and put them down for naps while I took dad back to the airport for him to head home after a very nice, but too-short trip.

Head West Young Man....Head West.














This past Wednesday, the 6th we packed up and headed west to Hobbs to visit Kyle's mom and her husband, Hap, and Kyle's sister Bridget and her family.  We left the house at a decent time and made good time on the drive down.  It was the best traveling our kids have ever done.  Leta complained some, but didn't really spend much time crying, unless she was about to take another not-so-good nap.  Luke didn't nap at all, which was expected.  We arrived in Hobbs with two very tired kids, Luke more able to deal than Leta.  She was fairly clingy and not really into going to see anyone else.  Bridget, Danny, and Kaleb came over for supper.  Madison had dance so she was by later.


Thursday morning Kyle and I took Luke and Leta to a park where Luke enjoyed digging in the sand (of course).  Leta and I came home early for a nap and Kyle came back later.  Kyle headed out to eat with Danny.  After Luke's nap, Kyle stayed home with Leta and Vicki and I took Luke to a different park that had swings.  He brought some toys along and spend most of his time swinging and playing in the wood chips with the tractor and buckets and shovels that Vicki had to bring along.  That night it was out to eat at a Holidaze.  Luke was super hungry and ate a crazy amount of food.  Leta had her first saltine cracker and LOVED it.   I think she was pretty proud to be putting those 4 teeth of hers to good use.


Friday Kyle and Luke made another trip to the park armed with shovels and buckets and a couple toys.  Leta and I visited for a bit before her naptime.  Kyle hung out with the kids while they were napping and Vicki and I were able to hit a couple of gift shops in Hobbs that I like.  She's been so busy caring for Hap after his major surgery and now trying to catch back up at work, she probably hadn't been out to just browse 'just cuz' since the last time I was there.  I picked up a few Christmas presents.  That night was the Hobbs/Lovington football game that Madison was cheering at so everyone went to that. I stayed back to put the kids to bed and then put myself to bed early.


Saturday morning Kyle and Luke went over to Bridget and Danny's.  Bridget and Madison were at a cheer camp so it was just they guys.  Luke had tons of fun playing with Kaleb and torturing their poor cat.  He has a few scratches to seal their "friendship".  Saturday morning while Luke and Kyle were gone Vicki kept Leta for a while and I went to Hopscotch a children's clothing boutique in Hobbs.  I got a Christmas present, and a cute outfit for Leta off the sale rack.  I also picked up 1 pair of jeans for each child.  Luke needs 2T for the length but is too skinny for them.  We can get them to stay up with the adjustable waist band but they tend to balloon out at the hips and can still look a little funny on him.  I found a slimmer fit 2T there, so he'll have 1 pair of perfectly fitting jeans at least, for occasions when I care about such things.



Sunday we got up early and headed home.  The trip home took us a bit longer, and there were a bit more tears and a LOT more snacks and cheerios consumed, but we made it!

We had a great time seeing everyone and getting to spend time with them.  Leta has a pretty severe crush on Poppa Hap I think.  Saturday night when she was giving hugs and kisses before bed she didn't want to leave him and kept leaning back toward him so he would hold her some more.

Madison is a senior this year and is making the big college decision.  Kyle and I are pushing OU.  I'm bribing her with our washer and dryer, free meals, maybe some gas etc.  Kyle is thinking...hmmm OU student tickets!  I'm thinking...Madison is a GREAT babysitter!!!!  So, if you have any ideas of what to bribe her with, pass them along!!!

The trip could only have been more perfect in 3 ways.  1.  If they lived closer =) 2.  We had gotten to stay longer and 3.  If the kids would've slept through the night.  Every night 1 of them was up for 2 hours in the night or wee hours of the morning.  We are still recovering.  Luke slept until 9 yesterday and 8:30 this morning (he seems back in full swing).  Leta slept until 7:30 yesterday and 7:50!!! this morning.  The other interesting thing I'm seeing with Luke is all the independent play yesterday and today.  He was so happy to see his toys when he got home, as he always is, but spent almost all day yesterday and most of this morning upstairs playing by himself with his trains.  After so much excitement and being around so many people, I think he's ready for some alone time.  And I'm loving it!  I'm still recovering myself and unpacking and doing laundry, so basically being down to 1 kid is helping me get a lot done.  See? I'm already writing this blog and have the pictures downloaded and sent to Kyle for red eye correction!!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Well Baby

Leta had her well baby check up today.  She is 27" long and 16lbs 7oz.  She will be 9 months old on the 13th.  When Luke was 9 months old he weighed 17lbs 8oz.  So almost exactly 1lb lighter.  Leta's head is in the 50 percentile, her height in the 25th percentile and her weight in the 10th percentile.  Busy packing...short post.