Menu Plan and Happy Birthday Mom & Esme!

Two of my few and faithful blog readers have a happy birthday today! Hope its a good one mom and cousin Esme!;)

I started Weight Watchers last week (just the online version because I am cheap and don't have the time/money to drive into town just for meetings) and it is...going. Occasionally I think I am going to die of starvation, but the unlimited fruits/veggies on the new plan help a TON. My body is still adjusting to the lack of carbs but heartburn and another issue are much better already because of the plan.

Breakfasts: cold cereal, oatmeal, toast, eggs, fruit

Lunch: leftovers, hot dogs (for the girls), soup, salad (for me)

Dinners:

Monday: Taco Soup

Tuesday: Baked Spaghetti for the fam and whole wheat spaghetti w/ marinara and veggies for me, salad, french bread

Wednesday: Stir fry w/ chicken over brown rice

Thursday: Grilled steak or pork chops w/baked potato and asparagus

Friday: Hot Dogs (grilled chicken for me), homemade fries, green beans

Saturday: Vegetable Quiche/Frittata

Sunday: Up in the air

Anyone have any favorite low points recipes to share?!

Bargains this week

$0.38/lb bananas and Free Chocolate Silk Soymilk from Martin's Marketplace.

Albertson's: free lunchables, free garden ronzoni and cheap whole wheat pasta ($0.50 after coupon). I was glad I didn't wait to get a few until doubles came because the store was wiped out on Monday. I got a rain check so I'll get 10 more eventually (we use 1-2 boxes of pasta a week). The French's honey mustard was on markdown for $1.00 and I had $0.75 off coupons. The balloons and streamers were $0.50 on clearance and used for Liv's 2nd birthday yesterday!

Not so Quiet Time

The kiddos and I had "quiet time" together on the bed (them reading Bible story books and drawing while I did the last day or two of my Bible study). We usually do some verse memorization/catechism plus a family prayer time with Daniel but he got called out to work during that time. We're learning to be creative with our 3 three and under:).

Menu Plan May 22, 2011

Where has the time gone? My little Liv is turning 2 tomorrow and Louis is 3 weeks old today! I do sometimes wish for a little fast-forward for Louis so that I can get to the age where he sleeps through the night! Every night it takes a couple hours of weeping and gnashing of teeth (lots of crying from him) to get him to go to bed and then usually at least once a night he refuses to go back to sleep right away even with a full belly, clean diaper, and a pacifier. What gives, little man?!?

Here's what's on our menu this week:

Breakfast: (keeping it simple!) cold cereal, oatmeal, banana banana muffins (whole wheat with no sugar), eggs.

Lunches: leftovers, PB&J, mac n cheese

Dinners:

Sunday: Chicken Divan from the freezer, steamed broccoli, bread

Monday: Pizza, raw veggies w/ dip, cupcakes (Liv's birthday dinner)

Tuesday: Cavatini (didn't get to this)

Wed: Fried Rice or Stir Fry (Fried rice is the only meal all the adults in the house love that I can make for cheap)

Thursday: Chicken Spagetti w/ green beans

Friday: Camping @ Lake Wenatchee

Saturday: Camping

Sunday: Eat out or clean out the fridge (possibly still camping)

More pictures of the little man

Per Auntie Gin's request, here are some more pictures of the little man:

Lots of Daddy love and the crazy hair-ed little boy (when I wash it every few days it stands on end:)

Grandpa love: grandpa Blake watched the 3 kiddos on Monday so Daniel and I could catch a "speed date" at a coffee shop 3 minutes away. We took Phase 10 and drank coffee...in peace. Lovely. Oh and all three kids were sleeping so Grandpa said "this is my kind of babysitting:)"

Sleeping by the window: Louis fell asleep by the sliding glass door listening to the river while I took a nap (daddy was home watching him for me:)

Louis 2 week check up stats

Louis went to the Dr. for his 2 week check up yesterday. They did the PKU test=not fun. 25 minutes of heel pricking/squeezing blood and screaming baby. But he was fine afterward and took a nice nap:)

Weight 9lbs, 7 ounces! 68th percentile
Height 22.75 inches 96th percentile (now I know why he still looks so skinny! He's growing longer, not thicker;)

And cute update: he gets cuter every day!

Menu Plan for the week of May 15, 2011

This week Louis couldn't decide whether he wanted to sleep all the time, or not at all (today). I guess getting a schedule settled will have to wait.

Here's what's on our menu this week:

Breakfast: (keeping it simple!) cold cereal, oatmeal, waffles from the freezer (made yesterday).

Lunches: leftovers, PB&J, mac n cheese

Dinners:

Sunday: White Bean Chicken Chili in the crockpot

Monday: Casserole from Freezer

Tuesday: Cavatini

Wed: Turkey Fried Rice

Thursday: Pan Burritos

Friday: Hamburgers, sweet potato fries or homemade fries

Saturday: Frozen Pizza or pizza-braid

Sunday: Eat out or clean out the fridge

Apple Blossom Parade

Grandma and Grandpa Gregory took the girls to the Apple Blossom Parade last weekend. Baby Louis and mommy stayed home (daddy had to work). The girls had fun!

Weekly Shopping Trip (loves me some bargains!)

Fred Meyer $21.64

Founders Day is awesome! I printed up and clipped a few coupons and went yesterday and was glad I did. Lots of stuff that was out of stock when my mom went earlier in the week was back in (Skippy PB, Tillamook, etc.). My favorite deal was the Mom's best cereal for $0.25/box after coupon (I used two computers and printed 5 total). Other great deals: free Neutrogena facial soap using instore hanging coupon, Kettle Tias for $1.17 each (bought 4) after coupon, Knudsen Just Cherry Juice for $1.54 after coupon, cheap Tillamook cheese and yogurt and Luna Bars. Also got whole wheat pastry flour for baking since we're out: full price :(.

Rite Aid: $3.70

Notice the try me free on the Smart Start!

Baby Louis and Sisters

Louis making a move for Liv's hair already:

Sister love:

Not sure if Louis will have blue eyes like Liv or brown like M yet:

More sister love:

Menu Plan (May 9, 2011)

Now that my baby boy is one week old, I am starting to see glimmers of life again. That first week is always such a blur! Sleep is still not happening enough at night, but Louis is actually starting to sleep some at night now, so we're heading in the right direction!

My mom has graciously agreed to go to the Fred Meyer founder's day sale today for me and pick up a bunch of groceries. I did go to the local store today and found marked down bananas for $0.39/lb, cheap cucumbers, sugar free frosting marked down to $0.50/tub, and cottage cheese marked down to $0.99 which makes a good high protein snack for nursing mom:).

Here's what's on our menu this week:

Breakfast: (keeping it simple!) cold cereal, oatmeal, muffins from freezer

Lunches: leftovers, PB&J, mac n cheese

Dinners:

Monday: Taco Salad

Tuesday: Fried Rice

Wed: Turkey (from freezer), mashed potatoes, stuffing, canned cranberries & green beans (I'll let someone else cook this one:)

Thursday: Turkey Noodle Soup, bread from bakery

Friday: Baked Spaghetti, Salad

Saturday: Steak, Baked Potatoes, Broccoli

Sunday: Eat out or clean out the fridge

Welcome Baby Boy Louis!

Born May 1st, by VBAC: 9lbs 21 1/2 inches.