We have been so busy with football and cheer so I have kinda forgotten to post my menu. But I promise you that we have been eating!! We have football Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Games start this Saturday. So yes that is 5 days a week! Right now we only have cheer on Monday nights but that will change to 2 nights a week plus games on Saturdays next week. I will be doing lots of crockpot meals, casseroles, and easy dishes. Here is the menu:
Monday - Salisbury Steak Hamburger Helper, Green Beans, Biscuits
Tuesday - Crockpot Pineapple Chicken, Fried Brown Rice (I add a little soy sauce and a fried egg), Broccoli
Wednesday - Sweet Pork on King Hawaiian Rolls, Baked Beans, Fried Potatoes
Thursday - Chips & Salsa Chicken, Pinto beans, and Mexican rice
Friday - 3 Meat Pizza Casserole, Salad (with a really yummy, but secretive, dressing)
Saturday - we will be eating all the leftovers or sandwiches...I think I will make myself a quesadilla using the sweet pork!
Hope everyone has a great week!
P.S. I have found most of these meals thru Pinterest. I am so addicted!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes
I found a recipe for these cupcakes online and I have GOT to get better at writing down the links because when I tried to google: Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes using lemon cake mix and strawberry jello, the recipe I printed out is nowhere to be found.
Anyways, I made these for my "work mom's" birthday. And they were a hit. Well at least that's what people told me to my face!
I think they would be really cute if you put a slice of strawberry on top and maybe those little lemon candies. I may or may not have eaten 2 of them :-)
Anyways, I made these for my "work mom's" birthday. And they were a hit. Well at least that's what people told me to my face!
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| This photo was not taken by me. |
Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes
Cupcake Ingredients:
1 Box of lemon cake mix
3oz box of strawberry jello
1 1/2 cup diced strawberries
1C oil
1/2C milk
4 eggs
1 Box of lemon cake mix
3oz box of strawberry jello
1 1/2 cup diced strawberries
1C oil
1/2C milk
4 eggs
Cupcake Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. In large bowl, stir cake mix and strawberry jello mix together.
3. Make a well in the center of mix and pour in strawberries, oil, milk and eggs. Mix well.4. Pour batter into cupcake pans. *(I used foil liners)*
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. In large bowl, stir cake mix and strawberry jello mix together.
3. Make a well in the center of mix and pour in strawberries, oil, milk and eggs. Mix well.4. Pour batter into cupcake pans. *(I used foil liners)*
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Frosting Ingredients:
1. 1 stick of butter, softened
2. 12oz package of cream cheese, softened
3. 1TBS vanilla extract
4. 2 cups confectioners sugar
5. Zest from 2 lemons *(I only used one lemon)*
6. Juice from 1 lemon
1. 1 stick of butter, softened
2. 12oz package of cream cheese, softened
3. 1TBS vanilla extract
4. 2 cups confectioners sugar
5. Zest from 2 lemons *(I only used one lemon)*
6. Juice from 1 lemon
Frosting Directions:
1. Cream together butter and cream cheese.
2. Add vanilla, mix.
3. Slowly add in confectioners sugar.
4. Add zest and juice, mix well.
1. Cream together butter and cream cheese.
2. Add vanilla, mix.
3. Slowly add in confectioners sugar.
4. Add zest and juice, mix well.
*I frosted mine after they had cooled for about 30 minutes. I put my frosting into a Ziploc bag and cut a tip off the corner. I also put my frosting in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes. Next time I make these I will frost them the day of serving. And just keep the frosting chilled in the fridge.*
I think they would be really cute if you put a slice of strawberry on top and maybe those little lemon candies. I may or may not have eaten 2 of them :-)
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
a rainbow cake? sure, why not!
I only have one sister. Thank God, because she is more than enough. Ha! She only has one child. My niece, McKenna. I love her so much. Her birthday is June 25th. This year she was just having a small birthday/sleepover with her friends. The first birthday I wouldn't be invited too :-( So I called Kenna on the phone and said "well since you don't want to invite me to your party, would you like me to make you a cake and I can give you your present at my house?" and she said "yes!".
Here is how the rest of the story went down:
Me - What kind of cake do you want?
So I google'd rainbow cakes and every single recipe was way too much work for me. I used my imagination and a food coloring guide for how to make the colors of the rainbow. I picked up a box of regular white (or maybe yellow) cake mix, food coloring, and white frosting from Walmart. I got home and began working on it...
After I took it out of the oven and tried to flop it over to my cake plate thingamajig, it started to fall apart :-( I even sprayed the crap out of it with Pam. So anyways...I used my imagination again and just chopped some of the cake off and shaped it into a...you guessed it, a rainbow!!
I may not be Betty Crocker, or Martha Stewart, but what mattered the most to me is that I tried. And McKenna absolutely loved it. She was so happy that I had made her a rainbow cake!
Here is how the rest of the story went down:
Me - What kind of cake do you want?
K - Um, can you make me a rainbow cake? My aunt ____ was supposed to make me one last year but she didn't.
Me- What? A rainbow cake? How am I supposed to do that?
K - I don't know. But I really want one.
Me - Ok since I'm your favorite aunt ever, I guess I will try.So I google'd rainbow cakes and every single recipe was way too much work for me. I used my imagination and a food coloring guide for how to make the colors of the rainbow. I picked up a box of regular white (or maybe yellow) cake mix, food coloring, and white frosting from Walmart. I got home and began working on it...
After I took it out of the oven and tried to flop it over to my cake plate thingamajig, it started to fall apart :-( I even sprayed the crap out of it with Pam. So anyways...I used my imagination again and just chopped some of the cake off and shaped it into a...you guessed it, a rainbow!!
I may not be Betty Crocker, or Martha Stewart, but what mattered the most to me is that I tried. And McKenna absolutely loved it. She was so happy that I had made her a rainbow cake!
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| She really wanted her 2 front teeth for her birthday...lol |
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| We got her a tote, bathing suit, sunglasses, bracelets and nail polish! |
I really do love my niece so much. I have always treated her like she is one of mine and I try to include her as much as possible. I am her favorite Aunt Ally.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Day of Birth, baby #3
You can go here to read Part 1 and here to read Part 2...
February 17th was my due date. My doctor thought I could possibly have an 8 pound baby because of how I was measuring, carrying, etc. Em was 7 lbs 0 oz and Z was 7 lbs 5 oz. I had to get induced with my first baby and it was 28 hours of pure hell (story coming soon). Z was much easier, no pitocin and a very smooth and easy labor. I did not want to be induced. But Alan and I went ahead and scheduled for Colton to be induced on his due date (which was a Wednesday) and hoped he would come out before then. He did not. Stubborn little thing!
My big kids stayed the night at my mom and dads the night before Birthing Day. Alan and I made sure we had everything ready for the hospital and we went to dinner together and then came home to sleep. I think we were both so anxious to meet our baby boy that neither one of us slept much. We woke up at 4am and I showered, fixed my hair and makeup and off we went to be checked in by 5:30am.
They got me changed into my gown and got me started on the drip (Pitocin) around 6:30am.
Things were going pretty good. Alan and I were just talking and watching the machine (the one for the contractions and the baby's heartbeat). Around 8am the doctor came in and broke my water. Holy crapoly, this was horrible! With the other 2, my water broke on its own. This doctor put a little finger condom on that had spikes on it. For real! It took him two times before he finally broke my water. I was crying from the pain. Around noon I wasn't really progressing. I was still having really bad contractions, but I wasn't dialating. Like at all. I think I was stuck at a 6. I really don't remember. (P.S. I do not do epidurals). The whole time I was in labor, I was burning hot. They had to bring in 2 fans for me (this is the reason why Alan had his coat on the whole time. Ha!). My mom brought the kids up around noon. Zack was so concerned for me when I would have a contraction, he rubbed my back a few times and got me a cold washcloth. My daughter said she would never have a baby, lol. My grandparents came up. And Alan's mom and dad also. Around 1:30pm the doctor came in and said "do you want to get prepped for a c-section? The baby is kinda stuck in your pelvic area and you are not progressing like we would like you to be" and I said "is Colton in any kind of trouble or stress? am I ok?" and he said that everything was ok. So I told him that I wanted to get up and walk around and take a shower and see if I could do anything on my own to get dialated. Alan and my nurse helped me into the shower. I stayed in there and walked around for about 45 minutes. The nurse had me get back in the bed to get hooked back up to the monitors and she wanted to check me again. I was at an 8! And from there things went rather quickly. Around 3:10ish, the doctor came back and checked me and I was at a 10 and it was time to push. It didn't take me very long to push, but it was hard work. I was exhausted. Finally, at 3:44 pm, Colton James entered this world with a very quiet cry. And I remember Alan and the doctor saying "he isn't a very small boy!" and then the doctor put him on my chest so I could see him and Alan got to cut the cord. Then the nurse took him to weigh him and measure him and clean him off.
He was 9 lbs 9 oz and 22 inches long! My biggest baby ever. He was huge! I mean look at those feet. No wonder I was having breathing problems towards the end of my pregnancy. I didn't have diabetes, I was never really swollen or anything. Seriously, the only problem I ever had was with my sciatica nerve from about 32-33 weeks until delivery. I was so happy to be a mom again. I love babies.
Family and friends came to see us (well Colton mainly) Wednesday evening and Thursday during the day. They released us that evening and we were home by 7pm on Thursday night. It was so nice to be home with my family of 5.
February 17th was my due date. My doctor thought I could possibly have an 8 pound baby because of how I was measuring, carrying, etc. Em was 7 lbs 0 oz and Z was 7 lbs 5 oz. I had to get induced with my first baby and it was 28 hours of pure hell (story coming soon). Z was much easier, no pitocin and a very smooth and easy labor. I did not want to be induced. But Alan and I went ahead and scheduled for Colton to be induced on his due date (which was a Wednesday) and hoped he would come out before then. He did not. Stubborn little thing!
My big kids stayed the night at my mom and dads the night before Birthing Day. Alan and I made sure we had everything ready for the hospital and we went to dinner together and then came home to sleep. I think we were both so anxious to meet our baby boy that neither one of us slept much. We woke up at 4am and I showered, fixed my hair and makeup and off we went to be checked in by 5:30am.
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| I forget how huge I was!! |
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| I brought sexy back! |
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| He wore this all day long! |
Things were going pretty good. Alan and I were just talking and watching the machine (the one for the contractions and the baby's heartbeat). Around 8am the doctor came in and broke my water. Holy crapoly, this was horrible! With the other 2, my water broke on its own. This doctor put a little finger condom on that had spikes on it. For real! It took him two times before he finally broke my water. I was crying from the pain. Around noon I wasn't really progressing. I was still having really bad contractions, but I wasn't dialating. Like at all. I think I was stuck at a 6. I really don't remember. (P.S. I do not do epidurals). The whole time I was in labor, I was burning hot. They had to bring in 2 fans for me (this is the reason why Alan had his coat on the whole time. Ha!). My mom brought the kids up around noon. Zack was so concerned for me when I would have a contraction, he rubbed my back a few times and got me a cold washcloth. My daughter said she would never have a baby, lol. My grandparents came up. And Alan's mom and dad also. Around 1:30pm the doctor came in and said "do you want to get prepped for a c-section? The baby is kinda stuck in your pelvic area and you are not progressing like we would like you to be" and I said "is Colton in any kind of trouble or stress? am I ok?" and he said that everything was ok. So I told him that I wanted to get up and walk around and take a shower and see if I could do anything on my own to get dialated. Alan and my nurse helped me into the shower. I stayed in there and walked around for about 45 minutes. The nurse had me get back in the bed to get hooked back up to the monitors and she wanted to check me again. I was at an 8! And from there things went rather quickly. Around 3:10ish, the doctor came back and checked me and I was at a 10 and it was time to push. It didn't take me very long to push, but it was hard work. I was exhausted. Finally, at 3:44 pm, Colton James entered this world with a very quiet cry. And I remember Alan and the doctor saying "he isn't a very small boy!" and then the doctor put him on my chest so I could see him and Alan got to cut the cord. Then the nurse took him to weigh him and measure him and clean him off.
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| February 17, 2010 @ 3:44pm |
He was 9 lbs 9 oz and 22 inches long! My biggest baby ever. He was huge! I mean look at those feet. No wonder I was having breathing problems towards the end of my pregnancy. I didn't have diabetes, I was never really swollen or anything. Seriously, the only problem I ever had was with my sciatica nerve from about 32-33 weeks until delivery. I was so happy to be a mom again. I love babies.
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| A few of my favorite pics from the day. I can see the LOVE they all had for Colton. |
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Weekly Menu (July 17 - 22)
***Yes I know that this is a little late...I had it set to publish on Sunday morning but I guess Blogger had different plans.***
This week we are going to be super busy! As in like every day between now and November!! My daughter is doing cheer for the first time this year. And my oldest son is doing tackle football. Pad camp starts this week Monday thru Thursday 6-8pm and cheer is Monday, Thursday and Friday from 5:30-8. So yes you are correct that I have no life, yes Colton gets to live in his carseat and outside in this nasty heat, and yes my meals have to be planned accordingly and also something kinda easy for Alan to throw together so we can all eat dinner by the time I get home from work. (P.S. Alan is working nights right now, so he sleeps until about 2-3pm. This gives him plenty of time to cook whatever I have prepared. And I usually do the prep work for him and give him a very important task of FOLLOWING the recipe/directions EXACTLY as printed!).
Sunday - Mexican Lasagna and Corn Casserole (I don't remember where I got this recipe, but it was canned corn, cream cheese, sour cream, jalapeno, shredded cheese and you just mix it all together and bake it).
Monday - Salsa Roast (recipe below), Smashed Potatoes, French Bread
Tuesday - Everyone Ate This Fish, leftover corn casserole, black beans, fruit salad
Wednesday - Honey Onion Chicken (recipe below, can't find the link), Green Beans, Mac-n-cheese (I make this for the boys!)
Thursday - Beans & Cornbread, Salad
Friday - Sandwich night (turkey, ham, tuna, grilled cheese...whatever you want to make, you get to eat :-)
This week we are going to be super busy! As in like every day between now and November!! My daughter is doing cheer for the first time this year. And my oldest son is doing tackle football. Pad camp starts this week Monday thru Thursday 6-8pm and cheer is Monday, Thursday and Friday from 5:30-8. So yes you are correct that I have no life, yes Colton gets to live in his carseat and outside in this nasty heat, and yes my meals have to be planned accordingly and also something kinda easy for Alan to throw together so we can all eat dinner by the time I get home from work. (P.S. Alan is working nights right now, so he sleeps until about 2-3pm. This gives him plenty of time to cook whatever I have prepared. And I usually do the prep work for him and give him a very important task of FOLLOWING the recipe/directions EXACTLY as printed!).
Sunday - Mexican Lasagna and Corn Casserole (I don't remember where I got this recipe, but it was canned corn, cream cheese, sour cream, jalapeno, shredded cheese and you just mix it all together and bake it).
Monday - Salsa Roast (recipe below), Smashed Potatoes, French Bread
Tuesday - Everyone Ate This Fish, leftover corn casserole, black beans, fruit salad
Wednesday - Honey Onion Chicken (recipe below, can't find the link), Green Beans, Mac-n-cheese (I make this for the boys!)
Thursday - Beans & Cornbread, Salad
Friday - Sandwich night (turkey, ham, tuna, grilled cheese...whatever you want to make, you get to eat :-)
Salsa Roast
1 beef roast-size depends on your family size
2 cans golden mushroom soup
1 large jar of Paul Newman's Medium Chunky Salsa
Place all of the ingredients in your crock-pot and cook on high all day. I start ours at 8am and we eat around 4:30. We eat ours with sour cream and chive scalloped potatoes and sweet cornbread muffins.
1 beef roast-size depends on your family size
2 cans golden mushroom soup
1 large jar of Paul Newman's Medium Chunky Salsa
Place all of the ingredients in your crock-pot and cook on high all day. I start ours at 8am and we eat around 4:30. We eat ours with sour cream and chive scalloped potatoes and sweet cornbread muffins.
Honey Onion Chicken
1 package chicken tenders
2 eggs
1 can french fried onions
Seasoned pepper
Salt
Honey
Preheat oven to 350.
Dip chicken tenders in egg. In a ziplock bag, crush the onions and then coat the chicken in them. Line a 9x13 with foil and spray it with non stick spray. Place the chicken in it and and then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and drizzle it with honey.
Bake COVERED for 20 mins. Then, uncover it, drizzle with more honey and bake another 20 min's uncovered.
Laugh it up!
Linking up for the CrazyJoy challenge and this weeks word is LAUGH!
This was such a fun day...Colton and I had been watering my fresh herbs. My daughter and her friend joined us outside and started playing in the sprinkler. Colton was being nosey, so he decided to make his way over to his sissy and she started spraying him. He thought it was hilarious!
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| Laugh - CrazyJoy photo challenge |
This was such a fun day...Colton and I had been watering my fresh herbs. My daughter and her friend joined us outside and started playing in the sprinkler. Colton was being nosey, so he decided to make his way over to his sissy and she started spraying him. He thought it was hilarious!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Whoa, baby #3...part 2
Go here to read Part 1 if you missed it...
After the initial shock wore off that I waspossibly most likely pregnant, I went to Walmart to buy a test. I didn't say anything to anyone. Not even Alan. I was so scared. I know this is so wrong to say but I didn't want another baby. My older 2 were practically out of the house (being sarcastic!). For reals though they were doing things like laundry, dishes, etc on their own. I was able to leave them at home for small amounts of time to go run errands and what-not. Start over with a baby. I can't!
I took the test and 2 lines appear. I am pregnant. I did what any rational person would do in this situation, I curled up in to the the fetal position while I cried and sucked my thumb. Then I remembered that I was older this time (as in no longer in high school or college), I was in a relationship (somewhat committed, ha), and I had a decent paying job. Maybe I can do this. Maybe I can have another baby.
I peeled myself off of the bathroom floor so I could go wake Alan up to show him what we had in store. I think he cried too. He was already fathering my older 2 kids and I think he was a little shocked that he could possibly parent his own. We both decided to wait until we were in the 2nd trimester before we told the kids and our families.
E & Z were so excited about the baby. The grandparents were not so excited at first, but after getting over the initial shock, they started to be really happy about being grandparents again.
I had a fairly easy pregnancy, I am very fortunate to not really have morning sickness, etc. And I even continued to do Zumba up until I was about 33 weeks pregnant. I had to quit going because of how bad little man messed with my sciatica nerve :-( I only gained 27 lbs with him though.
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Day of birth to be continued in Part 3...
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After the initial shock wore off that I was
I took the test and 2 lines appear. I am pregnant. I did what any rational person would do in this situation, I curled up in to the the fetal position while I cried and sucked my thumb. Then I remembered that I was older this time (as in no longer in high school or college), I was in a relationship (somewhat committed, ha), and I had a decent paying job. Maybe I can do this. Maybe I can have another baby.
I peeled myself off of the bathroom floor so I could go wake Alan up to show him what we had in store. I think he cried too. He was already fathering my older 2 kids and I think he was a little shocked that he could possibly parent his own. We both decided to wait until we were in the 2nd trimester before we told the kids and our families.
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| 18 weeks, we found out the baby was a boy! |
E & Z were so excited about the baby. The grandparents were not so excited at first, but after getting over the initial shock, they started to be really happy about being grandparents again.
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| 26 weeks |
I had a fairly easy pregnancy, I am very fortunate to not really have morning sickness, etc. And I even continued to do Zumba up until I was about 33 weeks pregnant. I had to quit going because of how bad little man messed with my sciatica nerve :-( I only gained 27 lbs with him though.
Day of birth to be continued in Part 3...
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