Monday, April 30, 2012

Menu Plan Monday - Week of April 29th


Oy, this month.  I'm ready to put April behind us.  First, the teething, then I was sick, and then Jack was sick, started getting better, but then got even sicker this weekend :(  The good news is, he's feeling much better now and I hope May is a better month for us!


Sunday:  Buffalo Joes with Ranch Potato Wedges

Monday:  Creamy Chicken with Black Beans and Corn (CrockPot) over Cilantro-Lime Rice with Chips and Salsa - carried over from last week

Tuesday:  Pulled Pork (from the freezer) Stuffed Baked Potatoes with Southern Green Beans

Wednesday:  Grilled Burgers on Homemade Buns with Oven-fried Onion Rings

Thursday:  Cajun Chicken Pasta 

Friday:  Leftovers/Out

Saturday:   Cinco de Mayo!  Steak Fajitas with Mexican Rice, Chips and Salsa, and don't forget the Margaritas!


I'm linked at Menu Plan Monday hosted by OrgJunkie.com

Monday, April 23, 2012

Menu Plan Monday - Week of April 22nd



We've certainly been busy around here.  Last week was the first week in a while when Jack was feeling back to normal after all this teething madness and I wasn't sick.  It was nice to have a normal(ish) week!  We had a day where Jack and I ran errands (including to a butcher shop to pick up some local grass-fed ground beef for $1.99/lb - steal!) and a day where we played with friends.

The weekend was also busy.  Saturday, I grocery shopped and ran to the library earlier in the day, then we had friends over for some pizza and Jack got to play with his little friend Carter that evening.

Sunday, Mark made us a nice pancake breakfast and then he picked up a sandbox for Jack while I did some laundry and later that evening we went out to my parents' house to visit with family and eat dinner.  It was Jack's bedtime by the time we got home and after folding some laundry Mark and I finished up season 2 of Downton Abbey.  We surprisingly like it even though I tend to have trouble with British-y shows.

Now Jack seems to be dealing with a little bit of a cold.  Considering he made it through Winter without any illness I'll take a little runny nose in Spring!

Here's what we're eating this week:


Sunday:  At parents' house

Monday:  Chicken and Noodles (from the freezer) over Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday:  Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken  with Brown Rice and Green Beans

Wednesday:   Meatball Subs with Roasted Cauliflower

Thursday:  Grilled Burgers on Homemade Buns with Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Friday:  Creamy Chicken with Black Beans and Corn (CrockPot) over Cilantro-Lime Rice with Chips and Salsa

Saturday:   Leftovers/Out


I'm linked at Menu Plan Monday hosted by OrgJunkie.com 

Monday, April 16, 2012

Menu Plan Monday - Week of April 15th



I'm finally feeling back to normal today after that nasty virus I had last week.  It seems like when you're in charge of a 2-year-old all day it's kind of hard to recoup your strength after being sick - go figure!  Anyway, after a relatively restful weekend complete with some awesome blueberry buttermilk pancakes whipped up by Mark, our resident breakfast chef, I'm definitely feeling back to my usual only semi-rundown self :)

I'm also happy to report Jack seems to be through the worst of the teething.  He's getting back to his usual (challenging, 2-year-old) self and is sleeping and eating better.  He's also stubborn and won't let me get a good look in his mouth, but I'm pretty sure if I could, I would see some brand new molars in there.


Sunday:  Italian Subs with Chips - carried over from last week

Monday:  Beef and Noodles (made with leftovers from French Dip Sandwiches) with Peas

Tuesday:  Grilled Beer Brats with Broccoli Salad

Wednesday:  Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps with Chips and Salsa

Thursday:  Grilled Burgers on Homemade Buns with Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Friday:  Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wraps with Ranch Potato Wedges

Saturday:  Leftovers/Out


I'm linked at Menu Plan Monday hosted by OrgJunkie.com

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Menu Plan Monday - Week of April 8th



This week certainly started out with a low.  I woke up Monday morning feeling a fever coming on and sure enough, by 11am I had a fever of 102-degrees.  At that point, I had to call in the reinforcements.  Mark came home from work to take over childcare duties so that I could go whine in misery in our bed.  I'm not sure if Jack actually had a virus last week on top of his teething, which he then passed to me, or if I just picked up something on my own, but either way, I'm sure a couple of weeks without a good night's sleep and spending last week stressed and worried certainly wore me down enough to leave me susceptible to getting sick.

Mark did a great job of keeping up with the necessary things like feeding and taming the toddler wildebeest and washing diapers, but most everything else fell by the wayside and I'm going to be playing catch up for the rest of the week.  Thankfully, I'm feeling better now.  I haven't had a fever since overnight Monday/Tuesday, but now I have a sore throat (why would a sore throat present AFTER a fever?  I've never had that before.) and I'm certainly feeling run down. 

And obviously I've had to move a few things around on our meal plan.


Sunday: With family for Easter dinner

Monday:  Sick - the boys were on their own

Tuesday:  Sick - the boys were on their own

Wednesday:  Chili with all the fixin's

Thursday:  French Dip Sandwiches (CrockPot) with Green Beans

Friday:  Parmesan Tilapia with Roasted Broccoli

Saturday:  Italian Subs with Carrots and Chips


I'm linked at Menu Plan Monday hosted by OrgJunkie.com

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Teething Sucks

I've mentioned before that Jack is currently working on his 2-year molars.  It feels like he's been working on them forever, probably because he has.  It seems like they start moving and then stop.  Move and stop.  Move and stop.  Which puts him in pain off and on.

I realized a week or so ago that his top molars were finally through.  Not all the way, but maybe 1/3-1/2 of the way.  Progress!  At that time, his bottom molars weren't showing, but his gums definitely looked swollen and red, so I thought they would be showing their poky selves any time.

His mouth has definitely been bothering him the last couple of weeks.  He's been waking up early (which he also did when he was getting his 1-year molars), sometimes he cries out when he's getting his teeth brushed if the toothbrush hits where it hurts, etc.

Which brings us to now.

Tuesday morning he woke up earlier than early and was in a bad mood (I thought because he woke up even earlier than he had been) didn't eat much and by the time naptime came around he was sporting a mid-grade fever.  He seemed to be a little better by the time he woke up from taking a reasonable nap, but wasn't feeling good again that evening.

Yesterday morning he slept in, woke up in a good mood, but didn't want to eat much or play.  He pretty much spent the day on my lap reading books.  He only took about an hour long nap and spiked another mid-grade fever again before bedtime.  We put him down for bed about 30 minutes earlier than usual and he was up twice before Mark and I even went to sleep.  Thankfully, his fever had gone down by the time of his first wake up.  He slept through the night after that and was up early this morning and only wanted some yogurt for breakfast.

Poor kid :(

I think we're all just ready for these teeth to be through.  He's felt so badly the last 2 days, I just hope this is the big finale before he has this mess behind him.

I'm exhausted.  I think it's more mental than anything.  Getting less sleep than usual isn't helping, but spending all day trying to keep him happy when he's uncomfortable, worrying about what's wrong with him, what he's eating/drinking/feeling is just wearing me out!

It has to get better soon, right?  We have to be in the home stretch at this point!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Menu Plan Monday - Week of April 1st



Moving right along into April, eh?  I feel like this year is flying by even faster than the last one.  It's already 1/4 of the way over!  Yikes!


Sunday:  Cheesy Beef & Pasta with Roasted Broccoli

Monday:  Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches on Homemade Buns with Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday:  Chipotle-inspired Chicken Burritos with Chips and Guacamole

Wednesday:  Pulled Pork Sandwiches (CrockPot) on Homemade Buns with Coleslaw and Chips

Thursday:  Chicken Enchiladas with Black Bean and Corn Salsa and Chips

Friday:  Homemade Pizza

Saturday:  Leftovers/Out


I'm linked at Menu Plan Monday hosted by OrgJunkie.com