She lives a life of danger...

I never knew how wild and crazy toddler life would be. Big sis, who is 21 1/2 months old now has had a wild couple of days. She danced so hard last night (which consists of spinning in circles as fast as she can!) that she got dizzy and slammed her upper nose into a wooden chair. She looks like she got punched.

Today her kitten wars produced a nice bloody gash where she got scratched on her cheek. M also has bruised knees after falling multiple times chasing the dogs outside -which previously she was too afraid of to get near-today she played with them for over an hour by herself(as I watched from inside). How she will survive to her second birthday is beyond me!

Menu Plan for the week of 7/13/09

This is my favorite time of day-right after putting M down for bed. This and from 11-1 in the afternoon-M's nap time! I sometimes get to take a nap with O at that time, depending on her level of cooperation with actually falling asleep and staying asleep! So...I get to spend a rare few minutes on the computer now! That is until O starts fussing which should happen soon:) So here's what's on the menu this week, which will be a heavy planned leftovers week so that Daniel will have food next week when I am away from him once again;(

This menu plan is interrupted by the nasty flu-and my inability to keep anything down all night long last night.

So Monday's dinner will be only for the toddler-probably Mac N Cheese instead:)

Monday: Italian Scrambled Eggs or another dish that uses lots of eggs, salad

Tuesday: BBQ chicken and sweet potatoes (on the menu for three weeks now!)

Wednesday: Hamburger Tator Tot Casserole-to use up some stuff

Thursday: Probably monday's egg dish

Friday: Teriyaki Chicken or the like with Brown rice and broccoli

After that I will be moving back with my parents again for a week or so until the floors and bathroom are done and our water/power is on in the new house. The rest of the work will be done while living there-fun times;)

So...back to the flu of death again. Going to lay down with baby O, drink apple juice with lots of ice and wait to die. Just joking:)

Loves me some grocery bargains 7/11/09

Here is my Albertson's haul this week: Less than $10 bucks after doubles and catalinas! Thanks to several friends who pointed me to the stores in our area that were stocked with tuna and to Marie my coupon supplier! Oh, the Dove chocolate was from Walgreens-used up a few expiring register rewards to get a treat:)
What was free? The lunchmeat, dressing and starbucks drinks. Baby wipes, trim juices, high quality ground beef, natural peanut butter were all $0.50 or less a piece after twice the value coupons. The tuna worked out to be like $0.10/packet after sales/coupons/catalinas and we use it a ton here when we have it-yay!

I am so thankful for weeks like these where I can spend very little on groceries (I did buy some produce on another trip for another $10 or so though) since we have been over budget on other areas such as gas due to our house renovation trips.

Quit Whining Already!

Yes, I have had a difficult few months in the physical and emotional sense with moving 4 times and having a difficult labor and delivery with our second child. But alright already, this article reminded me I need to quit whining! I really truly have a lot to be thankful for and things could be a whole lot worse. My husband has a job, we have a car and a roof (or several as we move from place to place:) over our heads. Plus plenty of food, great friends and family etc.

I needed this reminder after an incredibly trying day with my sweet toddler who wasn't so sweet. I lost my patience many times today and yelled at her. Convicted- oh yes I am.

Thanks to Amy's Humble Musings for the link.

Still housesitting...

We are blessed to be house-sitting. But I am SO ready to be in my own house! Trying trying to be patient and content in the meantime:)

Here are some recent pictures of our family:

Grandpa Blake and baby O

Snuggling with baby O

More mama snuggles

Grampa and the flying game

Daddy and M-story time

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

This dish is quick, easy, and so healthy. Versatile too if you want to add ingredients or make it different ways. Make it budget-friendly by stocking up on cheap boneless skinless chicken when on sale (mine was $1.79/lb) and buying the salsa in bulk, using coupons/sales or making your own with garden tomato abundance.

Its only four ingredients, too!

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
32 oz. salsa (any kind, be creative!)
2 cups frozen or 2 cans corn (add a little extra water if using frozen)
1 can black beans

Put all ingredients except for beans in the crockpot for 8 hours on low. (or 4 hours on high should work too). Add beans when chicken is done. Serve over rice or in tortillas if desired. I've read variations on this recipe adding sour cream or cream cheese to make it creamier, but I am doing the old weight watcher's core program so not so much for me:)


(this is the ready to be cooked picture)

This recipe is very forgiving on amounts, so using less salsa or less chicken or whatever is not going to ruin it. You may want to shred the chicken before adding the beans if using on tacos or in another mexi-dish. Yum!

URS is here.

Big Baby O

Here's a picture of me and girls at our church's fourth of July picnic. Thanks Shari!

Just weighed my baby girl (6 weeks old already!) and she's 13 lbs! At least by the digital scale at the house here-no wonder I feel like I am always nursing. Now if only she'd stay asleep for longer than 2 seconds after I put her down:)