Easter Pictures

Sorry that I have not posted this week.  Lots of things around her are coming to a close, and I had lots to do. I did want to share some of the pictures that we took on Easter. 

 I just can't believe how big the girls are getting!  

The girls before church- love the dresses!! They came from Here .

Easter Bunny Visit

Thought I would share the picture from this year's Easter Bunny visit.  As usual, not everyone is happy- to say the least!  It is funny though.  Maybe one year (sigh) all of my kids will be happy, and looking at the camera, and not picking their noses!  This, however, is not the year for that.  

Jumping Up and Down

Sunday was my very favorite day of the year at our church!  On Palm Sunday, the kids come in waving palm branches and singing a song called "Jumping Up and Down, Hosanna".  Even before my kids were involved in the jumping, I cried.   Now that two of the three are in it, forget about it.  I was a mess!  Thankfully, I was able to hide behind my camera.

In this video, you can't really see either of my children.  Liv is the tiny red bow that is attached to her teacher's leg.  You can probably tell what kind of morning we had.  

Here's Izzy, you really have to pay attention to pick her out of the crowd.  

So much fun!  And so awesome to see these kids jumping for our Lord Jesus Christ!  Happy Easter everyone!

Menu Planning Monday

Last week's menu went very well!  I actually stuck to it!  I have some new recipes to share this week, a few from the past two menus are new favorites.  I hope everyone has a great spring break.  The girls and I are going to Scranton to visit my Grandmother with my Mom, so the menu this week is a little weak (hahahaha).

Monday: Mike is on his own, we are going to Scranton (or Scrambled as Liv says)

Tuesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Wednesday: Hoisin Flank Steak with Asian Cucumber Slaw

Thursday: Halibut Meuniere

Friday: Chicken and Rice Casserole

Saturday: Dijon Pork Loin with Krash Potatoes and Tangy Green Beans

Sunday: Roasted Chicken and Potatoes

Menu Planning Monday

Someone asked me last week if posting a planned menu helped me to stick with the plan.  Unfortunately, not so much! It has, however, helped me save time at the grocery store:)  Not sure if it has helped in the saving money department.  I am not so committed to it that I look at what is on sale each week to plan my menus.  I pretty much just plan what sounds good to me and go from there.  We are starting a new week- and with that a new plan!  Having said all of that,  Mike traveling this week and the girls have a recital, so it will be a crazy.  I will give it the old college try though!  Hope it inspires someone out there.

Monday- Dinner at Life Time- Liv swimming Lessons

Tuesday- Chicken with Feta Sauce, Basil Orzo (from two weeks ago:()

Wednesday: Silly Night- Oatmeal Pancakes (new recipe)

Thursday- Grilled Chicken with Creamy Polenta and Roasted Broccoli  

Friday-  Grandma and Papa are here hooray!!!  Surf and Turf (crab cakes and steaks on the grill), Grilled Asparagus and Potato Packets

Saturday- Orcchiette with mini Chicken Meatballs-  a family fave

Today, it is 82 here!  So happy, that means we can use the grill more.  Yay! 

Emergency Craft Interruption

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you some super cool kids crafts!  Drop everything right now and check out these sites.  Start with Make and Takes and go from there.  I LOVE Make and Takes.  She always has the greatest ideas.  And now, she has rounded up the best of kids crafts.  Not only do you get the nine that she has found, but those nine have bunches on their sites.  Enjoy your time waster of the day:))

Rollerblades

Last weekend we decided to buy the two older girls Rollerblades.  Actually, we decided to buy Izzy Rollerblades, and then Liv decided that she wasn't leaving the store without her own Rollerblades.  So, we ended up with Rollerblades for everyone. Well, except Syd- and myself, and Mike.  When you see the pictures, know that I have since purchased elbow and knee pads for the girls.  Also note the helmet that Syd is wearing.  She insists on wearing it everywhere when we are outside.  She just wants to be one of the girls, and do what the other two are doing.  So funny!

This is the beginning, and when we discovered that our driveway sloped into the woods, and the mud.

Liv fell in style,  then decided to stay there for awhile.  Then just laid down!

Eventually, though: 

Izzy is getting more practice and the balance comes along with it.  Liv isn't a huge fan, but we will keep trying!  Here are some others I took that day.

"I want my own scooter"

Helping Dad.  Gotta train them early.

Getting a little help from Dad.

"I love my new helmet"

Shrimp Scampi Pizza

When planning my menu this week, I forgot to take into account a few things: 1.  I had to set up for MOPS on Thursday night.  2.  The weather was going to be beautiful Wednesday night and we would take a walk, not eating dinner until 7:15.  3.  I was not going to make it to the grocery store until Thursday, and 4. That I was going to be lazy.  Having said all of that, you can guess how my meal plan is shaping up this week!

While I was at the grocery store yesterday I decided that we would make pizzas last night before I went to set up for MOPS.  This always seems like a much better idea than it actually turns out to be.  I am not sure why, but my dough skills are terrible!  This goes for all types of dough- I just am not good at working with it.   While others make beautiful things with dough, I am lucky to get it rolled out and even.  Nevermind some sort of shape.  This includes pizza.  So no laughing at my pizza pictures!  I made the usual cheese pizzas for the girls.  I do love Wegman's dough (for dough).  Then I wanted to make some sort of grown up pie.  I remembered that I had leftover shrimp scampi in the fridge, so an idea was born: Shrimp Scampi Pizza!

A couple of weeks ago, a good friend gave me some garlic oil.  I LOVE the stuff!  It adds such flavor to even the simplest things.  I used that as my sauce- like a white pizza.  Then I added the shrimp, some grated  Gruyere that I had in the cheese bin, (yes, I love cheese so much that it has it's own bin in my fridge), and some fresh basil.

Yummy!!!  It looked so good, and smelled so good- it really was so good!   Here are the rest of the pictures so that you can laugh at my dough skillz.  I highly recommend Shrimp Scampi pizza.

Have a great weekend!

Burlap and Birdhouses

Two weekends ago, Mike and I went out to Lucketts to do some antiquing.  By the end of the day, Mike was picking up things and handing them to me because he said that he already knew I was going to pick them up.  They fell into these two categories: burlap and birdhouses, actually, anything having to do with birds.  So, when we were in Richmond imagine my delight when we stumbled upon this beautiful stall.

This small corner of beauty was designed by the super-talented gals from Through the Garden Gate antiques in Mechanicsville, Virginia.  She had burlap and birds all over the place!  I could have moved right in to the stall-except for the plumbing issues:)  But the item that put her display over the top was this:

These little beauties were everywhere in her space.  And they were adorable!  She wouldn't tell us what they were made out of- it kinda felt like an organic baby wipe????  But, they were sooooooo cute.  

I loved them!  Check out her site and if you ever find yourself in Mechanicsville, Virginia, look her up.  I can only imagine how beautiful her store is.  

Bizarre Bazaar

This Saturday, my friend Wendy and I went to a craft show in Richmond.  Neither of us had ever been to this particular craft show, called the Bizarre Bazaar, but we were up for a crafting adventure.  We left late in the morning, and were dropping the girls off in Warrenton at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  We got exactly two traffic lights from my Parents' house and were rear ended-while sitting still at a light.  We were fine.  The good thing about driving the largest SUV known to man is that it fares well when rear ended.  The poor guy who hit me was driving a Honda- his front end didn't do so well.  So forty five minutes later we were once again on our way.

Once we got there though: So much crafty goodness!!  And not the kind of crafty goodness that involves macrame plant holders or pet rocks.  We met so many super talented women.  This week, I am going to do a few posts on the show, one for each of my favorite stops.

The first booth was home to Bella Jane Originals and The Stella Collection.  Bella Jane Originals had the  cutest dresses, hats, and little blankets, and The Stella Collection was full of beautiful fabric matted frames and original artwork.  The girls behind the beauty were there and were soooooo friendly!  I bought three dresses from Bella Jane.  All made out of the same vintage 60's bed sheet.  One of the things that I love about her designs is that they can be changed up .  The ribbon at the neck can be changed out to whatever you like.  One of the dresses she had with her used a repurposed men's tie.  Brilliant!!!  Plus the pillowcase dresses can be worn as tunics and then cute shirts as the girls grow.

They both have Etsy stores: Bella Jane Originals, and 

The Stella Collection.  All the more reason to love them.  Please check out their sites and Etsy stores, they do beautiful work.

I love supporting women owned businesses, and fabulous businesses- all the more!  Stay tuned tomorrow for burlap and bird houses, two things I love, love, love!

Menu Plan (almost) Monday

I can't believe it's almost Monday again!  Whew... time flies.  Last week's menu didn't quite go according to plan.  Imagine.   I didn't feel well on Wednesday, so that made three days that I didn't cook.  Gotta get back to it this week!  Here you go.  Enjoy:)

Week 2 Menu


Monday:
Swimming Lessons- Dinner at Life Time

Tuesday:
Chicken with Italian Sweet and Sour Fennel and Creamy Polenta (carry over from last week)

Wednesday:
Crab Cakes with Radish and Squash Slaw.  Herbed Rice with Peas.

Thursday:
Slow Cooker Pork Carnita Tacos with Chimichurri Sauce.  Spicy Baked Beans

Friday:
Herb Crusted Chicken with Feta Sauce.  Browned Butter Orzo with Basil

Saturday:
Dinner out

Sunday:
Dina's Mini Meatloaves (I usually don't make mine mini:)  Plus, I am going to try these with ground turkey


If you have a few minutes and are looking for some menu ideas, check out This Week for Dinner.  She has great recipes and there are always lots of menus in the comments.  

Fun Crafts

I know that I have said it before, but Spring really gets me inspired!  There are so many fun things to do with the kiddos!  We had planned on going to see the Cherry Blossoms in DC this week.  However, due to the weather, and my aversion to cold rain, we are not going to go.  Maybe they will still be around next week.  I think both of the older girls would love to see them!  They are just so beautiful- and inspiring.  Not sure what they inspire me to do, but I know that all Spring I feel like trying new things.

So..........here are a few really cute Spring and Easter crafts.  I would love to try them all- alas I have to sleep.  Please check them out though, and the super cool blogs that they come from.  Just click on the caption below the picture to get all of the info and to visit the blog.

           

Easter Chalkboard Cards from Make and Takes

Baby Plant Craft from Art Projects for Kids

Easter Egg Candy Cup Place Card Holders from Holiday Crafts and Creations

Egg Carton Flowers from Skip To My Lou

Just a few things to keep you guys busy!  I guess when I say I don't have the time to do all of these things what I really mean is that I don't have the energy.  I am going to try though.  Let me know if you have any favorite Spring or Easter crafts.  Here's something interesting that I found: Martha Stewart has 62 different ways to dye eggs on her website- 62!!!  Wow.  I better go get started.