Meal Plan

Okay, here is what is cookin this week here in So. Ind.  I am trying to use what I already have as much as possible.  I'm  also trying to add more vegetarian options to be healthy and to save money.

Sunday Crockpot Meatloaf (sort of following these directions ) with carrots, broccoli and wild rice.

Monday  Cobb Salad with Chicken Bacon, Avocado and Veggies (thanks to my friend Tessa for the inspiration).  I will probably check out Smitten Kitchen's Cobb Salad too.  I have had it saved for a long time but never used it.  We won't be adding the eggs, sadly, because of Brian's allergy and because I am staying away from them right now too. 

Tuesday Grilled Cheese/PB&J and Tomato Soup (Community Group night so we need to keep it simple)

Wednesday Vegetarian Tortilla Soup with Tortilla Chips (thanks for the heads up on this Laura)


Thursday  Taco Salad with Ground Beef

Friday Grilled Salmon with Baked or Grilled Sweet Potatos and Apples


Saturday  Kale and Goat Cheese Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms with Whatever Veggies are on Sale this Week

Sunday Pumpkin Pasta with Kale

I'm looking at this meal plan and not sure that it will pan out.  I will try and whatever I don't make will go on the next weeks plan.

Meal Plan...Last Week

I actually made a meal plan this past week and mostly stuck to it.  We were fortunate to get some very tasty heirloom tomatoes from Brian's parents and we also hit up the Bowling Green farmers market.  I am starting to trade meal plans with a couple of friends for inspiration and accountability so hopefully I will post here more often.

creamy broccoli soup with bread (this was really great and really healthy, no cream)
http://www.wholeliving.com/
130293/creamy-broccoli-white-bean-soup

crockpot chicken (chicken broth with heirloom tomatoes) and minty chickpea salad with couscous and tomatoes
http://www.realsimple.com/
food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/minty-chickpea-salad-couscous-10000001639803/index.html

Tostadas (fish (tilapia), refried beans, cheese, lettuce)

bean soup and cornbread & salad

cabbage and sausage with honey roasted sweet potatoes ( http://www.foodnetwork.com/
recipes/ellie-krieger/honey-roasted-sweet-potatoes-recipe/index.html)
 and roasted veggies (zucchini, tomato's, peppers and garlic).  This seems like a lot but it was basically leftover stuff from the farmers market that I threw together.  Brian loved the honey/olive oil/lemon mixture I put on the sweet potatoes.

We also made these the other day: Garlic Grilled Tomatoes
http://prouditaliancook.
blogspot.com/2012/05/let-grilling-begin.html

5 Months

Blog Roll

I thought I would share some blogs (of friends) that I have been keeping up with lately.  Warning: They are not always happy reads.  Actually, a lot of the posts are downright heartbreaking but also a reminder to pray for these friends who at times are in the midst of deep suffering.  Thanks for checking them out.

Lindsy and William are in the process of adopting a little boy from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Read about their process and lots of good information on adopting at their blog which is Word From The Wallaces.  There are also ways to donate to their adoption fund on their site.

My friends from college, Molly and Kendrick, have a blog for their little girl.  They found out last month that their 4 year old daughter, Izzy, has stage 4 cancer.  Read more about her at Izzystory .

3 Little Ones List

People are always asking how it is with 3 kids and whether the transition from 1 to 2 was harder or 2 to3.  I don't know...it is all hard but kind of a good hard.  Parenting is hard...harder than you would ever expect but when I say it is the "good" kind of hard I mean...in the end I know it is making me a person who is more dependent on God and less dependent on myself.  So, here is my list of things that I have learned/realized since having three little ones:

1.  I am one of those "late" people now.  You know, the ones you can always count on showing up 15-60 minutes late.  Yep, that is our family.  Kind of humbling

2.  I cannot do it on my own. 

3.  Planning the night before is no longer a "good idea" it is a necessity if we are going to leave the house before noon.

4.  Breastfeeding is easier with number 3...or maybe I am just wiser/more laid back with him.

5. It is impossible to have a completely clean house.  The dishes may get done but the floor will not be swept.  The laundry may get washed and dried but it won't get put away.  C'est La Vie

6.  I can go to the grocery with all three of them but it has to be the exact right time of day...a couple hours before naptime for Telia, right after a feeding for Caius, and before 5 for Ruby.  So, 10:15 a.m. is sort of doable if I have a short list.

7.  I can go about 3 nights on little sleep before I completely melt down

8.  I have had to change how I do things like cooking.  It is really hard to find the time to meal plan.  Right now I am doing good to get a meal on the table that is half way healthy.

9.  Nothing beats those 3 smiles, 6 arms for hugs, and all the giggles I hear throughout the day

10.  God has equipped me to parent these three children no matter how much I doubt that day in and day out.

11.  My husband is also a really good Daddy to our 2 girls and our boy

Growing and Growing

Caius is growing and growing and changing everyday. I am trying to take his picture each month on this quilt my cousin made. The pictures with his white animal onesie on is from when he was 3 months old.

Here is our little UofL fan at 4 months. 

A Normal Summer Day

Photo Credit to Bill Laffin