Meal Planning Monday

This isn’t the typical Week in Review post, because it is going to take much more than that to sum up the past week. We went on VACATION! It was fabulous. So many incredible moments and precious memories made. June is a bit of a crazy month for our family and this is the only week that we will all be in town together. Next week Alex leaves for a trip to Haiti and then the following week I am gone to California for work. So, in an effort to have a week of normalcy before the rest of the month sets in I wanted to make sure our meal plan was in order!

Monday: BBQ Turkey Joes

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday!

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Grilled chicken and veggies

Friday: Family Night!! Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Spaghetti

I’m linking up once again with The How to Mommy and Finding Hope! Go check out the links and get some inspiration for your meal plan!

Week in Review: 4.29.12 – 5.5.12

Last Week

Evan went to the doctor for his 15 month check up. Everything looked great and we got a good report from the doctor. Evan weighed in at 21 lbs, 4 oz (9%) and 31.25 inches (50%). He’s a little guy, but he is sticking to a curve and growing.

He was not a fan of the doctor’s office. Anytime a nurse or the doctor got close to him with any kind of instrument he totally freaked out. He crashed after his appointment and ended up missing his final Kindermusik class.

We head to the beach in less than a month!! I don’t know how this trip has suddenly snuck up on us, but the realization that it requires a bathing suit kind of made me nauseous this week. SO, in response, my friend and I started INSANITY. If you aren’t familiar with this workout program, I highly recommend that you don’t ask questions and run in the other direction.

It’s actually an incredible workout, but it lives up to it’s name. More about that coming soon.

Alex and I celebrated 12 years as a couple with a date night out. We went to dinner and a movie. It was so nice to be able to spend a night together and just have unlimited time to talk. I am pushing for more frequent date nights!! They are so special!

Evan was in his true form for our date night sitter. Here is the awesome picture she sent us while we were at dinner of Evan being silly (aka normal life). haha

Next Week

This week looks like a lot of meals out or at various events. I guess it’s just not really meant to be a cooking week. We have a few meals thrown in there though!

Sunday: Cookout with our college outreach group

Monday: Dinner at church event

Tuesday: BBQ Turkey Joes

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Lettuce Wraps

Friday: my Mom’s birthday!

Saturday: Lunch – Sandwiches & Salad, Dinner – Homemade Pizza

I am linking up my meal plan this week with The How to Mommy and Finding Hope for Meal Planning Monday. Talk about a great weekly source of meal ideas. If you are working on your meal plan or brainstorming ideas for the future, make sure to check out this link up!

Week in Review: 4.22.12-4.28.12

Last Week

We had a great time at a birthday cookout for one of our great friends. Evan enjoyed playing and had a great time exploring the beautiful land their home is on. It was a little chilly, but everyone had a blast. We absolutely cherish the time that we get to spend with our family and friends. It’s a continual reminder of all of the love that has been placed in our life.

Evan has been changing every single day. Not necessarily big things, but the little things that make Alex and I smile and feel incredibly blessed. He is saying new words every single day and “parrots” continually. He is starting to call people by name and really make the connection with who they are. It’s so fun. One of these little things that seems tiny to anyone else, but I think is so neat are his new favorite snacks. We tried these applesauce pouches several weeks ago and it was an epic fail – this week, he can’t get enough. Who invented these things? They are genius, I tell you. Absolutely genius. I love these things so much you can anticipate an entire post devoted to “the pouch” coming soon.

Saturday was such a good day! We spent the morning at home catching up on laundry and having some family time. We played, and cuddled, and played, and cuddled – perfect perfect morning.

In the evening we had a chance to visit with some family and attend church together. We went to the park and played and played and played. It was so incredibly hot outside that we didn’t get to stay too long. Here is Evan post park – his little cheeks were so flushed. Evan is a pretty perfect mix of Alex and I, but I’m afraid he took after me in that area. :/ Sorry, little dude!

Next Week

We ended up detouring from the meal plan quite a bit last week due to unanticipated appointments and places we needed to be, so you will see a lot of those meals recycled into this week’s plan. What’s on your plan this week? We love being inspired by your favorites!

Sunday: Cookout with the family

Monday: Dinner at church event

Tuesday: Crock Pot Italian Chicken with whole wheat pasta

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Lettuce Wraps

Friday: hoping for a Date Night

Saturday: Lunch – Sandwiches & Salad, Dinner – Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with whole wheat pasta

I am linking up my meal plan this week with The How to Mommy and Finding Hope for Meal Planning Monday. Talk about a great weekly source of meal ideas. If you are working on your meal plan or brainstorming ideas for the future, make sure to check out this link up!

Week in Review: 4.15.12-4.21.12

I’m so excited to bring back our Week in Review. This is one of my favorite ways to share the day to day happenings in our life that make our family who we are.

Last Week

We had birthday parties to attend for two of our favorite toddlers. The first had a musical theme – there aren’t too many things cuter than children dancing and playing instruments along to live music. It was awesome!! The second was for our sweet goddaughter, Aubrey. She turned two and celebrated with a play gym party themed with primary colors. The kids played hard and the parents were rewarded with extra long nap times.

Bath time is still one of Evan’s absolute favorite times of the day. When he hears the water start running he bolts toward the bathroom with the full intention of climbing straight into the water – clothes and all. It’s a minor battle to stop him – but we usually succeed.

Summer is quickly approaching and so the cornhole boards have made their way out of the shed. Evan loves running back and forth and sitting on whichever board isn’t in play. It’s apparently the best game ever – give it a try. You know you want to.

Our Nashville Predators defeated Detroit and moved on to Round 2 of the playoffs on Friday. We watched the game at home with some family. There were moments of tense anticipation and moments of crazy victory – the ingredients of a fabulous game. We are hoping to head to “Smashville” to watch a round 2 game!!

We wrapped up the week with an amazing day with some incredible friends. We got to shop, eat, and watch the incredibly talented (& hilarious) Dave Barnes in concert. Absolutely fabulous day.

Next Week

Here is our meal plan for the upcoming week! It’s Alex’s last full week of teaching adjunct so soon he will only be working 1.5 jobs – what a relief!

Sunday: Birthday Cookout for a sweet friend

Monday: Crock Pot Italian Chicken with whole wheat pasta

Tuesday: Kindermusik & Chick-fil-a Family Night

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Lettuce Wraps

Friday: Chicken Stir Fry

Saturday: Lunch – Grilled Cheese sandwiches & Tomato soup, Dinner – Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with whole wheat pasta

I am linking up my meal plan this week with The How to Mommy and Finding Hope for Meal Planning Monday. Talk about a great weekly source of meal ideas. If you are working on your meal plan or brainstorming ideas for the future, make sure to check out this link up!

our week in review: 1.29-2.4

I’m writing this post because I have been spending some time evaluating the purpose of “Our Life.” This blog is meant to be about life, love, and family – not just about the big moments and milestones – but about the little things too. I want to chronicle the daily interactions, the ups and downs, the simple beauty of a family date or a get together with friends – not just the complex realities of learning to walk (that post is coming soon…). So, in an effort to do share Our Life with you, here is our week in review.

Last Week

This week brought lots of fun in the form of “ordinary” days. We rang in the second month of 2012 with a bit of shock at how quickly the first one passed us by.

We had Evan’s one year doctor’s appointment. He did really well – although he definitely was not a fan multiple shots and blood work. He bounced back quickly though! He showed off all of his “tricks” for the doctor and the nurses – blowing kisses, chatting, and walking to name a few.

We went to Week 2 of Kindermusik class. Evan still loved it and did really well. His favorite part of class is getting to bang together the wooden sticks and ring the bells. His least favorite part of class is putting away the wooden sticks and the bells.

Evan has been going to the nursery at church since he was about 6 weeks old. He always did so well until the Fall when we were traveling so much and he was out for several weeks. Since then, he developed a bit of separation anxiety and always cries when we leave him. It literally lasts until he gets into the room with his friends and toys and then he plays, has a blast, and doesn’t want to leave. Well, this week was the first week since then that he didn’t cry when I dropped him off! Yay for little miracles!

Daddy got a new toy and Evan really loves playing with it too!!

I was reminded of the “wonder of a child” when Evan discovered the children’s wing at church for the first time on his own. We have walked past it a million times, but he walked over on his own the other day and was just completely in love. He will have a great time there…but not for another few years!! We are in no hurry for you to grow up, little one!

We had a crazy fun game night with friends! We learned how to play a new card game (Nerts) and ate way too many Skittles! I wouldn’t mind a repeat of that every week – except for the whole staying up till 2am thing – I don’t do so well with that anymore!

We watched the Super Bowl with some great friends and about 50 college students from the group we work with at our church. Evan got to play with some friends and get loved on by lots of people! We all had a great night!

Coming Up

The upcoming week will no doubt be fun, but I’m thankful that our calendars aren’t packed full! We still have some organization work from our move that I would love to finish up! I am off work on Friday, but I’m hoping to reserve that day for lots of play time with my favorite one year old!!

Here is this week’s menu!

Monday: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches & Soup (I will probably have Tomato soup and I imagine Alex will have some Chicken Tortilla soup)

Tuesday: My dad’s birthday party! Yay!

Wednesday: Veggie Bake from Finding Hope

Thursday: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches from Weight Watchers

Friday: Spicy Beef Roast from My Happy Meals

We are linking up our meal plan with Finding Hope for Meal Planning Monday! Go stop by and schedule your meals for the week! Let us know what you pick! We are always looking for new suggestions!