Menu Planner

I recently have had several conversations about cooking(or not cooking) dinner each night and how to get it done and not spend too much time planning or slaving away in the kitchen. At the request of some friends, I am posting my menu from last week. We rarely eat out during the week and planning a menu for dinner really helps us stick to that. Here is how I go about planning our dinners. I do my grocery shopping every Thursday, since I am on a cash system and that is the day I get my cash for 2 weeks. Early in the week, either on Sunday or Monday I plan my dinner menu for the next week, based on what we have going on. I love looking in cookbooks, magazines, online and using friends recipes. I don't like to always make the same things. I make a list for what we need, making sure to look and see what we already have. Then when I go shopping, I take my list and pretty much stick to it. I find that this helps me not spend extra on things we don't need and I can estimate about how much I spend. I do buy some things at Costco that we need alot of or go through quickly. Here is what we ate last week. I usually only plan 5 dinners, since Sunday night is Care Group and one night we eat leftovers or something really easy.
Monday- king ranch casserole, green chille rice casserole, black beans
Tuesday- beef kebabs, salad, baked sweet potatoes
Wednesday-creamy chicken enchiladas, chips/salsa, green beans
Thursday- grilled cheese with mushrooms and onions on foccacia bread,broccoli and cheese, fruit salad
Friday-cod wrapped in prosciutto, salad, corn on the cob
Saturday- flank steak, green bean bundles, corn casserole
Sunday-Care Group
I'd love to hear what you make, how you shop, ways to make cooking, fun and not stressful. I will post recipes on our recipe blog (http://dishandspoonrecipes.blogspot.com/) and you can use them if you want.

Thankful

Recently I have been having conversations with Barrett about being thankful for what we have and not always wanting more. I realized that I am not always the good example of this that i should be. I find myself struggling to be content with what I have and appreciating the blessing in my life. There are so many things to be thankful for and I need recognize what I do have. I thought I'd take the opportunity to list some things I am thankful for.
I am thankful...
that I am saved by Jesus.
that I have a husband who loves me very much.
that we have two terrific kids.
that my kids are healthy.
that Derek provides for our family.
that I don't have to work and can be at home with my kids.
that we live in a house I love.
that Derek has painted alot of the rooms in our house.
that we live in Austin.
that we have wonderful friends.
that my kids have relationships with their grandparents.
that we can buy the things that we need.
that we can buy alot of the things we want.
that I have a computer, cell phone and t.v.
that Barrett will start back to preschool in a week.
that I have 2 pairs of jeans I love.
that Derek and I have gotten to travel to some great places.
that I got to eat pizza for lunch.
that it is summer.
that I got to workout a few times this week.
that Derek compliments me.
that I got a pedicure a few weeks ago.
that God loves me and calls me His.
There are so many things I can be thankful for. I hope that I can stay focused on the blessings I have and not always be wanting more, whether it is time, material things, etc. Thanks for reading.
Here's a few more...
I am thankful...
for my wonderful parents, sisters and brothers.
that my sisters are my best friends.
that I have friends, who are like family here in Austin with me.
that I have air conditioning in the house and car.
for the sunny day today.
that I got some new shoes.
that Kara brought me a purse back from Italy.
this is a new day!

Brooklyn turns 1 year old!

Brooklyn turned one on Saturday. We started the day out with a donut breakfast. We put a candle in a donut hole and sang Happy Birthday to Brooklyn. After our yummy breakfast and Brooklyn's nap, we spent the day hanging out as a family . I can't believe Brooklyn is already one! She is such a sweet girl!. She is 20.4 pounds and 30 inches tall. She is starting to get some teeth and her hair is growing in. Here is how she was changed over the past year!

Day one

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

Five Months

Six Months

Seven Months

Eight Months

Nine Months

Ten Months

Eleven Months

One Year Old!

Brooklyn's 1st Birthday Party

We had Brooklyn's first birthday party last weekend. It was a good time spent with family and friends. My mom came up early to help me get ready for the party. We had a garden themed party. We invited the babies and siblings Brooklyn is friends with and her cousins on my side were there too.

We had lunch and the kids played outside. Then we opened Brooklyn's presents. She had some help from Barrett and his friends. She got a lot of cute little girls things. She got some cute clothes and books. She also got some jammies and goirly toys to play with. She even got some baby dolls. She also got two grocery carts and a cute pink car to drive in(though Barrett is mainly using it right now).

We had cake and ice cream. Brooklyn seemed excited that everyone was singing to her. She was a little hesitant at first to dig in to her flower cake, but then she went after it. She got pink icing everwhere and her hair was more pink than blond by the time she stopped. I made a flower cake for everone else. It looked just like a cake my mom had made for me when I was little. It was fun to do something girly! We did the bubble machine at the end.

We had a great time and were glad we could spend time with our friends and family. My brother, Kurt, and his family made it for the party. Barrett and Shaelyn played from the time they woke up to the time Shaelyn had to leave. Kara and Shane and Elizabeth came too. it was fun to see them. My parents and Derek's parent also came. It was nice to have them here and let Brooklyn clelebrate with them. We ordered pizza for dinner and then everyone had to head home except my parents. It was a wonderful celebration and fun memories were made.

This and That!

Here's what we've been up to:

Derek took Barrett fishing a while back. They had a good time. Barrett caught a fish, but really enjoyed throwing rocks in the water.

Derek went fishing with his dad in Sea Drift. They fished all day and caught their limit of red fish. We will be having a fish fry this weekend!

Last week, Julie and I took the kids to the Austin Zoo. It is a rescue zoo and it is pretty small, but we got to see a wide variety of animals. Grant and Brooklyn enjoyed off roading in their jog strollers while we tried to keep up with the boys. Julie and I even spotted a snake in the grass. The boys had a great time feeding the goats, riding the train, seeing the animals and eating snocones. What a great time we had!

Our friends Brent and Andrea had a baby boy named Dane last week. We went to see them all at the hospital. Dane is such a cutie and Andrea looked great. We are so happy for them and glad that Dane is here!We had a party for Brooklyn on Saturday. It was a fun time spent with family and friends. I can't believe Brooklyn will be one on Saturday. I will post pictures later of the party!

30 Things about Barrett

Barrett is such an awesome kid. Here 30 things about our little guy.

1. He loves strawberries, blackberries and raspberries and would eat fruit all the time if we let him.

2.He loves pretzels and ice cream.

3.His favorite songs are Who Says You Can't Go Home by Bon Jovi , Waiting on the World to Change by John Mayer and 1,2,3 Like a Bird I Sing by Tim McGraw.

4.He loves to listen to music and dance on the coffee table.

5.He wants warm air on him when we are in the car, even in the summer.

6.He gets cold in the freezer section of the grocery store and wants to rush through that part.

7.He loves trains and cars, of any kind.

8.He loves to watch Thomas the Train on T.V.

9.He has the cutest smile ever.

10.He wants to be just like Derek.

11.He loves our dog, Jett.

12.He still sleeps with his comforter from his baby bedding.

13.He has worn a huge hole in the corner of the blanket and he calls it his spot.

14.He likes to wear his Red Sox cap.

15.He thinks Chicago is the best city in the world and wants to live there someday.

16.He loves going to the pool and swimming and having Derek throw him in the air.

17.He is potty trained, mostly

18.He loves to sing the Istsy Bitsy Spider song before he goes to bed.

19.He says the sweetest prayers.

20.He loves Brooklyn.

21.He loves being outside.

22.He is very compassionate and care about others.

23.He has many good buddies that he gets to play with.

24.He has a sweet singing voice.

25.He gives great hugs.

26. He loves building things.

27. He enjoys pretending.

28. He has a great imagination.

29. He knows his full name and the street he lives on.

30. He loves his family. And we love him.