meal plan monday

monday: crock pot burritos
tuesday: chicken & stove stop stuffing casserole, broccoli
wednesday: turkey chili and cornbread muffins
thursday: shrimp pad thai
friday: pizza
saturday:? dinner out
sunday: potroast with potatoes and carrots

girls week end

We had such a great time this week end! The drive was a little (a lot) unbearably long but once we arrived at our final destination it was worth it. We did a whirlwind tour of Forks and then it on to our cabin at LaPush. It was a great surprise. The website and the people on the phone were so vague we were worried we might have been duped by an internet scam. But we weren't! We had a cute cabin directly in front of one of the most beautiful beaches I've seen. We quickly poured ourselves a drink and went to the beach. It was a fun night of way too much yummy food, girl talk , hysterical laughing and bonding time. On the way home yesterday we stopped at the outlet mall and did some shopping. Girls week end + food + drink + shopping = perfect. Thanks ladies it was a lot of fun and I won't forget being yelled at by the navigation system, slangteasers and "honk three times!"

happy birthday mom!

(don't be mad). Love Jen

Tin-Can Jack-o'-Lanterns

Surfing around Martha Stewart's site to find some fall decorating inspiration I found these.Tin-Can Jack-o'-Lanterns - Indoor Halloween Decorations - Halloween Central - MarthaStewart.com#slide_6#slide_6 I think Aiden would love to make these robot/jack o lanterns. I better start saving my tin cans. If anyone has the large coffe tins I would love one!

fall to do list

It's that time of year again. I'm starting to feel a repetition to my life and I don't know if it's because I blog or the time in my children's lives but try as I might I can't come up with anything too wild or unexpected to do this season.

-decorate the house for fall (I haven't done anything except one white mini pumpkin)
-make pumpkin waffles for breakfast
-figure out the kids Halloween costumes (I'm pretty sure Amelia is going to be Snow White b/c I have the entire costume but she doesn't really like it because it isn't pink. If Aiden decides to be someone from Star Wars maybe she'll be Princess Leia {I love matching costumes!}
-go away for a girls week end (it's coming up and I can hardly wait!!!!)
-trip to the pumpkin patch (Dale told me the other day he's 'done with Stony Ridge' whatever we are still going!!!!)
- a girls Sunday afternoon - maybe a soup swap???
- drink hot apple cider
- a family picnic to Whatcom Falls or Elizabeth Park to admire the fall foliage
- figure out what to do with the remaing 50 pounds of apples!

gross kid story

Recently, friends reminded Dale and I of our 'grossest kid story.' The year was 2004 and we were getting ready to go to a New Year's party. I was in the bathroom putting make up on. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Aiden (not quite two years old) standing at the toilet with something in his hands. He had the base of the toilet brush holder and brought it to his lips. I was too far away to stop but I screamed so loud Dale came running. We were horrified and gagging ourselves but Aiden didn't seem fazed. We debated about what to do. He had ingested such a tiny amount I didn't think it could harm him. So we packed up our stuff and headed to Canada for the party. We watched him like a hawk half expecting him to start projectile vomiting but nothing ever happened. What's the grossest thing your child has ever done?

meal plan monday

monday: Costco rotisserie chicken, potato Caesar salad, fresh veggies and hummus
tuesday: southwest boca burgers, sweet potato fries, Mexican coleslaw
wednesday: beef strogonoff in the crock pot, salad
thursday:turkey, mushroom, zucchini patties with couscous
friday: spaghetti and meatballs, salad and garlic bread
saturday & sunday: Dale and the kids are on their own because I'm away for the week end. Wahoo!

this week end was...

rediscovering how yummy root beer floats are
apples
soccer
girls night out to the movies
baking a pie
football
family stroll by the water

sunday afternoon...

Aiden and I made an apple pie together. Had to start somewhere on that bin of apples. This was the first time Aiden helped from start to finish without losing interest. He even helped wash the dishes. Dale watched football, Amelia napped and I did a little craft. We are definitely getting into our fall groove. We headed down to Boulevard for some vitamin D therapy. Dale and Aiden tossed the football, Amelia threw rocks into the water and I took pictures. My photography class started last week. I need to practice with my new lens ( I have no idea what I'm doing). I was taking pics of Amelia climbing on the rocks when all of a sudden she stopped, announced she needed to pee, lifted her dress and peed on the spot, it was too late to do anyhting so I just kept taking pictures and changed her afterwards. I tried to get pics of the kids together which is always hard but today it was my fault. I need to remember the sun has to be on my back so they don't have shadows on their face. Basic but I never remember. Dale and Amelia played a little rock telephone game, Aiden climbed a tree (and fell) and then it was time to go home for dinner.

the apple farm

Today Amelia and I met up with Erin and her boys to do a little apple picking. I've never picked apples before but they beat blueberries (the only other fruit I like to pick) in instant gratification. I picked 60 plus pounds in less than 45 minutes. Now I need to figure out what to do with all these apples...

meal planning 101

As I've mentioned before I am finding that planning my meals for the week ahead and grocery shopping Sunday nights by myself is really working for me. Better self esteem through organized living, sick but true. I have found this grocery list and day of the week planner very helpful from Becky Higgins blog. I like that the stores I use are listed at the top and you can have the list on the side of the fridge and add things as needed or sit down and fill in the meals adding ingredients you will need to pick up.meals.pdf

childhood revisited

Last week (not this week) Amelia was letting me do her hair. Sunday we went to Target and loaded up on hair accessories. I had to have these barrettes that are identical to the ones I had growing up. Amelia pointed out the yellow ones looked like corn on the cob. I instantly remembered wearing that barrette in first or second grade when my Mom was trying to grow out my bangs. I thought it looked terrible and would pull out the barrette as soon as I walked out the door. She would keep calling me back to the house and put it back in. I wasn't smart enough to wait and do it at school.

Teriyaki Tofu and Peanut Noodles

This did go over reasonably well with the family. Dale and I liked it, Aiden is on a bit of peanut butter strike so he wasn't willing to like it and Amelia loved the noodles but was a little iffy about the tofu. I think next time I will cut the tofu much smaller and mix it into the noodles.Cafe Johnsonia: Teriyaki Tofu and Peanut Noodles

two tickets to the gun show....

Check out these pipes! Aiden is really proud of his muscles. Yes, we do feed him at least three times a day!

apple dumplings

This is the perfect fall dessert comfort food. Strange ingredients but delicious!???mountain dew??? Click on the link!Our Best Bites

Map Coasters

Map Coasters - Introduction - MarthaStewart.com
I found this idea online and want to use our maps from Whistler or NYC as reminder of our summer trips! Just need to find the cork coasters! Hopefully Michael's or Joann's carries them :)
* we have a Bellingham bike trail map that would be fun to use too. Especially if you found the streets your friends live on or you drive on all the time!

meal plan monday

This is really working for me!

monday: pizza party for Dale and the kids while I'm at work(free with my grocery receipt)
tuesday: chicken gyros, greek salad and roasted potatoes
wednesday: chicken enchilada casserole (from the freezer) and mexican coleslaw
thursday: terriyaki tofu with peanut noodles
friday:crock pot burritos and leftover coleslaw
saturday: jambalaya
sunday: who knows? maybe we'll eat out

two very very happy boys

Last week Aiden and Dale got new quads. This has been something Dale has wanted since selling the boat. Apparently 'boys need toys.' They are thrilled and Amelia and I even joined them yesterday morning. It was a very surreal experience hopping on the back of your 6 year son's quad and having him take you for a ride. When did he get so big? Amelia wants a pink quad but I don't think I'll be joining them again anytime soon. Way too dirty and noisy fro me!

afternoon playtime

Last week Amelia woke of late from her afternoon nap. Her hair was all sweaty, she was down to only one necklace (usually she wears a minimum of three pieces of jewelery) and her undies. I loves these pictures of her playing because they capture that 'just woke up' hair, her unusual good mood after a late nap and those beautiful blue eyes.

quirks.

We all have them. Here's a few of mine ( I won't share them all so you won't know how neurotic I really am.)
-I can't stand eating with cheap cutlery (you know the kind that hurts your hand because the metal is so thin and curved)
-drinking coffee out of Corelle mugs or the cheap ceramic mugs (it bugs my lips)
-cupboards left open
-every time I clean a bathroom I dust the toilet paper holder (to me that means the bathroom is really clean {and I do check that out in other peoples bathrooms!})
-stepping on crumbs in bare feet
what quirks do you have?

the creative chef strikes again....

Amelia was enjoying lunch while I had a shower today. Big mistake. She didn't really like what I had made so she went and got the mustard out of the fridge and had a big ol plate of mustard for lunch. Yum!

first day of first grade!

Wow! I think I had a harder time with today than the first day of kindergarden. It's the first time he has gone to school for a full day. I was worried he wouldn't eat enough, fall asleep at his desk from too much work, not know where the bathrooms were (in kindergarden they right in the classroom) but he did just fine. Aiden did open his lunch kit right outside the school and finish his lunch though. Hopefully tomorrow he'll remember to eat more at lunchtime. He thinks his teacher 'is great' and was able to see all his old friends at lunch and on the playground. Somehow his time at school still flew by and before I knew it was time to go and pick him up again!

back 2 school

Tomorrow is the first day of school! We had a little dinner party for Aiden to get him ready for the big day. We have decided to focus on 3 things throughout the school year:
be smart
be kind
have fun
I am planning on taping these words to his bathroom mirror for a lil reinforcement! Aiden is absolutely giddy about being a first grader tomorrow!

meal plan monday

monday: salmon, coconut lime rice, fresh green beans, salad
tuesday: rotisserie chicken from costco, broccoli, baked potatoes
wednesday: pizza pull aparts, salad or fresh veggies and hummus
thursday: roasted vegetable lasagna and salad
friday: Dale and the kids are on their own while I'm at work
saturday: pesto shrimp pizza
sunday: surprise dinner (I have no idea) probably going to try and get invited to some one's house :)

most embarrassing moment...

Well not my MOST embarrassing moment. If you know me well enough you already know what that is. Back to yesterday... I was at the grocery store and reached into my purse for my wallet. A strange look crossed over the cashier's face and I looked down. I had a cucumber in my purse. I forgot I had put it in there from my friend's garden the day before. I don't know what would be weirder (that I was stealing a cucumber or that I would have a cucumber in my purse). I pretended there wasn't anything unusual about the cucumber in my purse, paid for my groceries and left.

Satay Chicken Stir-Fry With Snow Peas and Cilantro

I made this recipe from Real Simple for dinner last night and everyone ate it. Definitely a keeper in my books!
Ingredients
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons soy sauce
juice of 2 limes
1/3 cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 cup coconut milk
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 long red chili, thinly sliced (I used 1 tsp chili pepper flakes)
1 1-inch piece fresh ginger ( I used 1 tsp powdered ginger)
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 cups snow peas
2 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves ( I left this out b/c Dale doesn't like cilantro)
Directions
1.In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, broth, sugar, and coconut milk.
2.Cut the chicken into 1-inch-wide strips. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, chili, ginger, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden, about 5 minutes.
3.Add the snow peas and broccoli and cook until the vegetables are just tender, about 1 minute. Add the peanut sauce and cook until the mixture has thickened slightly and the chicken has cooked through, about 3 minutes.
4.Garnish with the cilantro. Serve over cooked rice, if desired. I served it over whole wheat cappellini.

Whistler Day 4 and then there'll be no more (I promise)

Monday morning we drove around and checked out the Olympic sites. (Dale's wish: Dale + travel = crazy tourist) We went to the sliding center and saw the luge and bobsleigh track. We also went to the Nordic area and saw the ski jump (it's terrifyingly huge) the biathlon and cross country areas. It was neat to see these places before the Olympics start and it will be fun to know exactly where these events are held while watching them on TV. Dale is pretty determined to try and get tickets to something...we'll see.

Whistler Day 3

Sunday Dale and Aiden explored the village while Amelia and I napped. Afterwards, we rode the gondola to the top of Whistler Mountain and rode the Peak 2 Peak to the top of Blackcomb. At the top of Blackcomb we did the alpine walk loop and Amelia was such a trooper. She walked almost the whole hour on her own! We caught the gondola back to Whistler and had a fabulous salmon bbq on the patio. The scenery was beautiful and there was a live jazz band playing in the background. We completely lucked out the weather it was supposed to rain and every day was sunny and clear.