What's for Dinner?

That is what I am asking myself right now. I secretly LOVE getting our meal plan made for the week and then buying the groceries. I don't really love unloading them but God knows I need the exercise - so there.

Usually on Sundays, I take time to write out what we are going to have for dinner each night. Then I make out my grocery list, add the necessities in, and then go grocery shopping while Ava Grace is napping. For different reasons, this Sunday duty has moved to Tuesday this week and I don't have a clue.

Do you ever feel like you cook the same things over and over again? Well, I do. Ava Grace LOVES LOVES LOVES spaghetti, ravioli, baked ziti, lasagna! So I have to do atleast one of those once a week. She also LOVES LOVES LOVES Poppyseed Chicken Casserole! So I have to do atleast one of those a week. I guess I don't really "have to" but I like to see my baby eat - so whatever works. Right?

To try and save money I always look to see what I have in the pantry first and then decide my meals from there. I usually always cook Monday-Thursday night. Friday night we go out to eat or get something to grill and during the weekend we eat sandwiches until I go back to the grocery store on Sunday afternoon.

How do you plan your meals out for the week? Do you have any easy recipes for me to try? What do your kids LOVE to eat?

Love love :-)

Not Appreciated...

That's how I am feeling today.

Love love :-)

Fresh Start...

Don't you just love the beginning of a new year. It gives me a great feeling. I feel like I get to start over in a way. So... let's talk about New Year Resolutions!

I have about 20! Seriously. I do. So - let's go over just a few of them.

1) Okay. Workout 5 days a week. I have really struggled with this one. I know that you should make goals reasonable and 5 days may not seem too reasonable. I contemplated with 4 days - but anyway - I am just going to see how it goes.

2) Lose 10 pounds. Seriously. I really want to do this.

3) Eat Right - more fruits and veggies. I am also trying to cut out dark/colored soft drinks. Only Sprite and Water. NO. SWEET. TEA. (yea - we'll see how that goes!)

4)Go to church every Sunday - (when I am in town of course.) I have to work out of town on the weekends a pretty good bit in the Spring.

5)Keep up our Thursday date night and have more family nights/days.

6)Do more activities with Ava Grace. I feel like when she is at home that we are either leaving to go somewhere, doing things around the house, or sleeping. I want to take out some time and do more special activities with her.

So... there you go! What are your New Year Resolutions? Do you have just one or LOTS like me?!?!

Dora Dora Dora...

Okay. So I think I have found a way to get Ava Grace to eat (for now anyway!) She has not really been eating well for the last couple of days so I have been trying to think of something different to do to get her to eat. Today I found the CUTEST Dora place setting and flatware!! For those of you that know Ava Grace - you know how much she LOVES Dora. Well... IT WORKED! I gave it to her at about 4:30 and she ran to the kitchen and got in her seat and waited for me to fix her something to eat. Of course - I did not have dinner ready at 4:30 - so I pulled out a ravioli/green beans gerber meal and fixed it for her and put it on her new Dora plate. SHE ATE ALL OF IT!! Seriously! Then she kept asking for "more ravioli!" Then she wanted yogurt so I put her yogurt in the bowl and she ate all of it too!

I hope she keeps this up! :-)

Merry Christmas!

You know how I told you that Ava Grace LOVES Santa... Well... HE LOVES HER TOO!! Here are some pics from Christmas day!!

I hope that you and your families had a FABULOUS CHRISTMAS!!

Love Love

Santa Baby...

I took Ava Grace to see Santa Monday night! She LOVES him! We stood in line for about 45 minutes and when it was almost her turn she started getting really anxious!! We sang Christmas carols to pass the time and she made a few friends in line. She told Santa that she wanted a Barbie Jeep and then she got her picture taken with him.



Merry Christmas!!

I Love Christmas!

I love the way it makes you feel. I love getting together with family. Sharing meals together. Giving presents. Decorating. I love the smells of Christmas. I love Christmas music. I love the excitement of Santa. I love the reason for the season. I love baking Christmas goodies. I love watching Ava Grace's face when she opens her presents. I love Christmas movies. I love hot chocolate. I love cold weather. I love shopping for Christmas presents. I love that I am off work for a couple of weeks. I love that Ava Grace is out of daycare for a week and we get to spend quality time together. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

Here are some pics that I have taken this month... ok ok ok - It's really ALOT of pics! But since I have been a blog slacker, it takes a bunch!