Menu planning

Im trying really hard to get back into menu planning. Let's face it, trying to come up with dinner on a week night is nothing short of chaotic, at least in this house it is. Plus, having a menu and a list helps keep me focused at the grocery store. I planned my menu for two weeks. I only grocery shop every two weeks because let's face it, grocery shopping with three children under the age of five is nothing short of a nightmare quiet stroll in the park. So, without further ado, here is our menu plan for the next two weeks.

Dinner tonight:steak fajitas

Source: food.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Alice spring chicken:

Source: amysfinerthings.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Cinnamon butter roasted whole chicken:

Source: leitesculinaria.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Garlicky baked shrimp:

Source: gimmesomeoven.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Homemade pizza:

Source: realmomkitchen.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Cheesy quinoa cakes:

Source: spoonforkbacon.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Pineapple chicken burritos:

Source: realmomkitchen.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Shrimp tacos:

Source: cleananddelicious.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Lemon chicken:

Source: barefootcontessa.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw:

Source: sweetandsavoryfood.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: allrecipes.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Some of the sides will include:

Salad with olive garden dressing:

Source: thecountrycook.net via Courtney on Pinterest

Parmesan pull apart rolls:

Source: life-as-a-lofthouse.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Avocado corn salad:

Source: authenticsuburbangourmet.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

I'd also like to make these apple rings as a snack:

Source: delightedmomma.com via Courtney on Pinterest

So there you have it. Lots of good recipes to try and enjoy. What are your recipes or menus for the week?

Chicken and Dumplings

Source: polishthestars.com via Courtney on Pinterest

You have got to try this recipe! It is as simple as that!

In the past, I have made my chicken and dumplings from scratch using an Emeril recipe. It was really good, but took basically the maqjority of the day to make. Then, my sister sent this recipe to me and it changed my mind on chicken and dumplings! It's super easy and has a lot of flavor and is just plain yummy!

I tweaked it just slightly (because that's what I do!) with adding sliced carrots, a whole clove of garlic smashed, some paprika, herbs de provence, and pepper.  It was so easy that even Hubby was able to cut up the biscuits, add them to the crockpot, and feed the kids all before I got home from work!

The chicken was super moist and flavorful. I had two bowls, yes, yes I did! The kids enjoyed it and I realized there is absolutely no reason to spend all day in the kitchen when you can have something just as good (I even think better!) in the crockpot. I  brought the leftovers to work with me today for lunch.

You really need to try this!

Such and such

Have you noticed the new blog name? Oh, and the new design? Yeah, that's all thanks to my friend Jen from Sweet Little Lovings blog. I've know Jen since we were in the sixth grade and she is super sweet and very talented. Jen has designed almost all of the birthday invitations for the boys. She does awesome work and  I highly suggest you check her out!

Life has been crazy busy around our house lately. The kids have been battling some sort of illness, which then got Hubby sick. Avonlea had to be taken to Urgent care the day after Christmas, which was a complete nightmare. We have like 5 Urgent Care's in town and there was a 2 hour wait at all of them! Finally we got to see the doc and they diagnosed her with acute broncitis and an ear infection. She's still recovering and has been seen twice by her regular doc since then to make sure she is clearing up. I am very ready for all the coughing to go away!

Work has also been crazy! I'm back to a full time schedule and trying to fit it all in gets a little hectic sometimes. I'm very lucky that I make my own schedule which allows me be able to take and pick up Peytonn from school and be home by 3:30pm later in the week.  I also attend RCIA meetings on Wednesday nights for church. I am really enjoying them. My sponsor is actually a friend of mine and co-worker. I always think its fun to get to know people outside of the work environment and I am so thankful that she is helping to guide me through this process.

With the wintery weather, I have been inspired to cook a little more than I was. With 3 kids and a full time job, its sometimes hard to always get a good homecooked meal on the table. Especially during the week. With Lent coming up, I have been playing around and introducing some vegetarian meals into our diets. Here are some of the meals we have been enjoying lately:

Source: thecurvycarrot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: polishthestars.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: allrecipes.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: dishingthedivine.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: handletheheat.com via Courtney on Pinterest

See, I told you I've had an itch to cook more! :) We have also made lentil cakes on homemade buns. You eat them like a hamburger. They were pretty tasty. Last night I made Passover Brisket from The Pioneer Woman. It was yummy!!!

I'm sure this month is going to fly by, just last the last few have. Pretty soon my little girl will be 6 months old and Peytonn will be turning 5 soon!! I'm so not ready to either of those milestones! Time needs to slow down, or maybe I do!

Breakfast cups

I found this recipe on Pinterest and I made it yesterday morning for breakfast.

Source: littlebirdiebaby.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

They are called Bird's Nests and they are super simple to make and delicious! They are easy to customize to your liking, replacing the bacon with ham or sausage, etc. I even left the egg off of a couple because Peytonn isn't a huge fan of eggs and requested no egg on his. They are easy for little hands to pick up and enjoy themselves.

I made 24 "nests" and froze individually what we did not eat. These are easy to grab and go! Give them a try!!

5 months old

Avonlea turned 5 months on Christmas Day. We have gotten into a good nap routine during the past month. I figured out that she likes to be swaddled when she firsts goes to sleep. It also makes it a lot easier to transfer her from my arms to the crib without her waking up.

Here is Avonlea on Christmas Eve before we went to my grandma's house.

Here is what Avonlea is up to at 5 months:
--weighing in at 15lbs 14 oz
--wearing size 3 disposable diapers and medium cloth diapers
--wearing 6-9 and 12 month clothes
--almost rolling from back to front. She gets 3/4 of the way over and then says "forget this!" and flips back over.
--still waking frequently throughout the night, but she mostly sleeps with me so it doesn't bother me too much
--naps mostly in her crib and sleeps the first 3 hours at night in her crib
--cooing and talking up a storm! She loves to hear herself!
--hasn't had very much solid food this month. I can probably count on one hand the amount of times she has had solids this month. But so far she has tried squash, carrots, applesauce, rice and oatmeal cereal, and we just tried peas last night.
--loves to jump in the Jumperoo or play on her playmat.
--moved her out of the bucket seat and into a convertible rearfacing carseat. She is much happier now in the car.

Avonlea also got to hang out with her Uncle Ryan during Christmas. My brother lives out in California and only flies home a couple of times per year. This is only the second time he has gotten to see Avonlea. It's always nice to get to see my brother and hang out with him. I wish he would move home!!

We had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend it with family, far and near! I hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday!

Our Anniversary

Last Friday we celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary. We have been through so much in the 8 year we have been together.

From our wedding day in Vegas where I was 14 weeks pregnant with our first:

To the birth of our first preemie baby, Peytonn:

To the birth of our second preemie baby, Bennett:

Then 5 months later, Hubby being deployed for a year overseas:

A year later and his return home:

And then the birth of our third preemie baby, Avonlea:

Who knew life could have so much up's and down's, twists and turns, and such amazing joys! I know this is just the beginning of our journey together and I can't see what life has in store for us!



Four Months

Miss Avonlea is four months old already! Little miss is chubbier and sassier than ever! I just adore her, and so do her brothers!

Here are her stats for 4 months:
Weight: 13 lbs 4.5 oz (50th %)
Height: 24 1/2 inches (50th %)

Our doc gave us the go ahead to start solids. With the boys, I waited until 5-6 months, but she seemed ready, so I tried some rice cereal with her. She wasn't a huge fan at the first bite, but by the end she was sucking it off the spoon. I don't think it will be something that we do every night/day, but its good practice and she is a champ and moving it to the back of her mouth. She hasn't choked or gagged at all.

Here is what Avonlea is up to at four months:
--can roll from front to back
--grabbing and holding on to toys
--cooing and interacting with people
--wearing some 3-6 month, but mostly 6-9 or even 12 month clothes
--Moved up to medium rise snap on cloth diapers
--enjoys playing in jumperoo, sitting up, and playing with the plastic rings
--tried solid food (rice cereal) for the first time
--still nursing and taking 3-4 ounces from a bottle
--mostly lost interest in the pacifier
--sleeps decent, definitely not through the night yet though
--loves to be held, carried around, and played with (likes to be the center of attention!)
--very interested in her brothers and she loves when they sing songs to her or play with her
--pulls herself into sitting position when sitting between your legs on the floor

She is also losing a lot of her hair. (as you can tell from this picture!) But she has little hairs growing in. It's hard to tell if she will be a blondie like Bennett or darker like Peytonn.  I can't wait for her to hair enough hair for me to put bows in and such. :)

She is still such a joy to have around. She is mostly a very happy baby and loves to smile at just about anyone!