one of our Holiday traditions...

Every Christmas Eve my kids and I make Thumbprint Cookies for Santa, read the story of Jesus' birth, watch a Christmas movie and then I let them open one present.  Which is always the Christmas pajamas. I like to be able to take their pictures first thing Christmas morning by the presents and the tree in their brand new pj's. To me it just makes the pictures on Christmas Day so much cuter.

Tiny Prints is offering a deal this year for 50 FREE prints!! And I cannot wait to use their services.  And this is one of the cards that caught my eye. They have so many card designs to fit every personality!!

http://www.tinyprints.com/product/29755/flat_holiday_photo_cards_colorful_tape.html

Tiny Prints Holiday Cards

I am stealing this from a blog I read called Hostess with the Mostess. It is one of my favorite blogs to "pin" party ideas from.  Anyways, I have been using some different sites offering discounts and free cards for our Holiday cards and came across this awesome deal!!!

http://www.hostessblog.com/2011/11/a-rainbow-of-holiday-cheer-from-tiny-prints/#more-51785

Hostess with the Mostess says: "I’m excited to give a shout out to Tiny Prints today & also to pass along the news about a special promo they’re offering this week to ALL readers/bloggers interested in receiving 50 free holidays cards in the size & style of your choice!
If there’s one thing that immediately struck me from this year’s selection of Holiday Cards and Christmas Cards at Tiny Prints, it’s the serious array of COLOR going on… making for a fantastic rainbow-like look that definitely exudes holiday CHEER!  And speaking of things that make us cheerful, how about free holiday cards? The giveaway promo they’re currently running is pretty much a guaranteed win for everyone, because they’re offering up 50 free holiday cards of your choice to ANY reader/blogger that writes about Tiny Prints cards on their own blog this week! Interested? Just fill out this form, and a rep from Tiny Prints will contact you with further instructions. Want to see more designs? Check out the full selection of Holiday Cards and Christmas Cards at http://www.tinyprints.com/ ."

I wish...

Linking up with CrazyJoy for their photo challenge. This week is WISH.

Colton loves when Zack and Emilee have friends over. He loves going to their football and cheer practices. Every day I see him just watching them and "wishing" he could do what they are doing.

This weekend we had a small party for Zack who just turned 11 and the 6 boys played football and basketball outside. I could not keep Colton away from the big boys.

taken with my iphone

Menu - October 10-13

Monday - Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff over egg noodles, peas & carrots
             ***I really didn't like this recipe. Like at all. I like this one from Recipe for Crazy a lot better!***

Tuesday - Orange Chicken over rice, broccoli
            ***This was really good! I use a meat tenderizer thing and pound the chicken breast to make it more
                  tender. I also add fresh broccoli about 30-40 minutes before cook time is over.***

Wednesday - Meatball Subs with a salad

Thursday - Chicken Enchilada Bake with homemade Pinto beans

Weekly Menu (Sept 26-30)

Haven't done a menu in awhile...don't worry, we still eat! Like I could go without food. Haha!

This week I found some new (well to me at least) crockpot meals and decided I would give them all a try:

Monday - Crockpot Italian Chicken, rice, green beans
                 **EDIT - This wasn't that great. It was missing something, but I'm not sure what.***

Tuesday - Crockpot Chili (we are having frito chili pies or 3-way)
                  **EDIT - This was AMAZING!***

Wednesday - Poppyseed chicken, carrots (the only meal not out of the crockpot this week)
                  **EDIT - This was very tasty and the kids liked it also.***

Thursday - Crockpot Ravioli Casserole, corn

Friday - Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Soup, biscuits

Saturday - Help yo'self! Leftovers, sandwiches, etc.



I can't wait to gain about 7 lbs this week!

Hearty Beef Chili (for the crockpot)

You’ll need:

2 1/2 lb beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons oil
4 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 dried bay leaves
1 1/2 cups beef-flavored broth
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup green bell pepper
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons cornmeal
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles

Garnish with:
Freshly grated cheese
Sour cream
Chopped fresh cilantro

Directions
1. In large resealable food-storage plastic bag, place half of the beef and 1 tablespoon of the flour; seal bag and shake to coat. Repeat with remaining beef and flour. In 4-quart Dutch oven or other large pan , heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook beef in oil until brown on all sides; drain, if desired.

2. Transfer meat to crockpot and stir in remaining chili ingredients except cornmeal, beans and chiles. Cook on low about 7-8 hours or on high about 4-5 hours (it’s done when the meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender!).

3. Stir in cornmeal; cook and stir about 1 minute to thicken. Add beans and chiles; cook until thoroughly heated. Remove bay leaves. Serve chili with garnishes.

POPPYSEED CHICKEN

Chicken, cooked & cut up in small pieces

Linguine, cooked according to directions

Cream of celery soup

Cream of chicken soup

Sour Cream

TOPPING:

1 – 1 ½ sleeves Ritz crackers

1 stick butter, melted

2 tsp Poppyseeds

Boil 3-4 chicken breasts.  Cut in small pieces.

Boil Linguine-Drain

Mix soup & sour cream together.  Add chicken & linguine.  Put in a 9x13 greased pan. 

Crunch up ritz crackers.  Add melted butter & poppyseeds.  Put on top.  Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.



Zack ATTACK

My life!

My oldest son has a few nicknames, they are: Zack Attack, Zackary Daiquiri, and Z.  So this photo challenge is perfect for him. He loves him some football!!



Attack - Photo Challenge



Every Saturday he plays one football game...

I promise he is mean on the field!

...and my daughter cheers for two games.  This is her first year and I may be biased, but she is doing so good! I love watching her come out of her shell a little bit. She is kinda shy and quiet. She definitely doesn't get that from me. (She is in the middle).

Go Em!!

My poor baby (he is now 19 months old, so maybe I should start calling him a toddler, but I don't wanna!) gets to spend almost 6 hours every Saturday at the football field. Thank God for older siblings and other parents on the team who love my baby. (Also, I am very grateful for family that helps with C during his nap time!)

Weekly Menu (Sept 1 - Sept 7)

I forgot to plan ahead for last week. And I didn't have time to grocery shop. So we ate at my parents, grandparents, made spaghetti, and ate out.  Tonight I am going grocery shopping. Thank you pay-day!

Thursday - Slow Cooker Pork Chops (I know this recipe link calls for chicken, but we are having chicken in 2 other meals, so I am using pork chops instead!), Pasta, and Carrots

Friday - Easy Lemon Chicken, Cheesy Broccoli (thank you Amanda!), and Rolls

Saturday - Hawaiian Chicken Sliders, Baked Beans, and Corn on the Cob

Sunday - Cookout over at my friends house for her birthday!

Monday - Chili Dogs and Tater Tots (a very healthy, low-fat meal, haha!)

Tuesday - Pot Roast (the Lipton Onion Soup Mix way) with Biscuits

Wednesday - Mexican Casserole and Rice



***I could not for the life of me open this link***
EASY LEMON CHICKEN
Melt 1 cube butter in fry pan
Layer on 4 chicken breasts or chicken tenders
Sprinkle with 1 pkg. Italian Seasonings Salad Dressing Mix
Add juice of 2 lemons.

Cook until tender. Put the lid on at first, then take off at the end in order to brown and absorb seasonings.

*Can be done in crockpot, cook on high 4-5 hrs or low 6-8 hrs. When finished cooking, take out and shred chicken, and ladle on the juices.*


MEXICAN CASSEROLE
1.5 lbs ground beef
(1 t sald, dash of pepper)
3 cup crushed tortilla chips
16 oz salsa
15.5 oz can chili beans, drained
12 oz sour cream or 1 1/2 cup
10 oz can diced tomatoes
4 oz can sliced black olives, drained
8 oz shredded fiesta blend cheese

Brown ground beef in a skillet, adding salt and pepper, drain. Spread chips in bottom of 9x13 dish. Combine cooked ground beef, salsa, and drained chili beans. Spread over chips. Spread sour cream over meat mixture. Sprinkle tomatoes, black olives, then cheese. Bake uncovered @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly.


I hope this menu helps you out! Let me know if you make anything. Next Wednesday I will be posting some Crockpot meals that I have tried recently on Kelly's Korner . You should do it too!

Hope t