Darth Tater

Zach has made sure that Spencer loves Star Wars as much as he and he has succeeded!  Zach came over for a visit the other night and brought Spencer a Darth Vader Mr. Potato Head aka Darth Tater.  Spencer loves it. 

I know Zach had some reservations concerning Spencer when he graduated nursing school and would be out on his own and in the real world.  They are so close and I know it was a concern of Zach's when he moved out and wouldn't see Spencer all the time.  Zach really makes an effort to come by when he's off and he always bears gifts for Spencer.  Ha!  Hey, that's what big brothers are for, right?  It's just so special for them to be so close and them have a large age difference between them.  I can't wait to watch them as Spencer grows up!  We are truly blessed!

Meal Plan 04.22.12

Not too exciting this week...well, the food anyway...

Saturday - Chicken and Spinach bake

Sunday breakfast - Cheesey bacon biscuits

Source: picky-palate.com via Kara on Pinterest

Sunday dinner - Starbucks roasted tomato & mozzarella panini (we're going to try to re-create our favorite sandwich from there)

Monday - Rick's birthday!!!!  Meeting up with him after work at our favorite pub and then ordering in so we can just chill (his choice & I love it!)

Tuesday - Grilled chicken salads

Wednesdsay - Fish tacos

Thursday - Taking Rudy's over to Zach's so we can see his new place.

Friday - Grilled brats (for Rick) & hot dogs (for Spencer & I)


Made coconut macaroons for the first time yesterday.  They are Rick's favorite cookie, but they have always scared me for some reason.  I trusted good 'ole Ina from the Food Network.  Of course, they didn't look as good as her's, but they were really good.  I've got to figure out something to keep them from "running" or "pooling" around the edges.  Any suggestions??

Meal Plan 04.15.12

Saturday - Vegetable & Chicken Bread Pudding

Sunday - Sloppy Joe's with baked parmesan fries

Monday  - grilled chicken salad

Tuesday  - Tilapia Vera Cruz

Wednesady - Stuffed Jalepenos

Thursday - Chile Rellano Casserole

Source: greencattlebeef.com via Kara on Pinterest

Friday - leftovers from Thursday

Easter 2012

We went the non-candy in the Easter basket route this year and it did end up costing us more, but so worth it.  He did have some little candy here and there, but not a basket full.

Buzz Lightyear gun

Spiderman mask

Hex Bug

Darth Vader slap bracelet

Gum

M&Ms

Yoda Pez

Chapstick

Welch's bites

And enter Spiderman...

The Spiderman moves were all the rave!

My parents came over that evening to eat and join in the Easter egg hunt.  The egg hunt was great except I think there were too many eggs for just one.  Half way through, Spencer was getting irritated and it seemed more like something he had to do than something he wanted to do.  It's definitely something that goes on the "Lessons learned of having an only child" list that I have.  ;)  He was so funny because every egg he put into his basket, he smelled.  HAHA!

Spencer waiting on Gram & PaPaw to get here

Opening up his Easter card from Gram & PaPaw...

Rick comes into the house and says, you have got to come see this.  Well, Gram was on all fours in the backyard letting Spencer ride and she was being a tiger!  Then we saw this appear in the kitchen shortly after!

And I just love this picture so much!  We rarely get a sit down picture because Gram and PaPaw are playing from the time they get here until the time they leave.  Spencer is so lucky to have them and it just fills my heart to hear all the giggles coming from him when he plays with them.  These moments are priceless!

Meal Plan 04.08.12

We have a lot going on this week, so this might be quite the boring meal plan.

Saturday - leftovers from Friday (stuffed cabbage casserole)

Sunday - grilled hamburgers and our famous corn dip (will post the recipe on Tuesday)...oh and orange brownies for dessert - My parents are coming over!!

Monday - picking up Applebees (meeting at school until 6:30)

Tuesday - BLT's and tomato soup

Wednesday - fish sandwiches

Thursday - everyone fend for themselves...mama won't be home until after 8:00!

Friday - paninis (we've had this on the plan for two weeks now and for various reasons haven't fixed them)

See, boring huh?  It'll pick back up next week!

Special Day

Spencer and I both were out of school Friday, so sometime Thursday night, Spencer started saying him and I were going to have a "special day".  And special it was.  We had such a great time!

We started off with lunch at Chick-Fil-A, i.e. Spencer's favorite place on the planet.

Then went to the mall and did some shopping...some serious shopping!

After nap, we met our sweet friends Erica, Cash and Livi at the park.

Spencer took such good care of Livi.  He always made sure he was holding her hand and helping her.  So cute!

Italian Beef *Tasty Tuesday*

Yep, this is pretty much greatness and SOOOOO easy!  Thanks to my sweet friend Donna, this is now a staple in our house.

Ingredients
2 lb-ish beef roast
1 jar of sliced pepperoncini peppers
1 packet of dry Italian seasoning
1 can of Pepsi

Cover the roast in the seasoning and put into the crockpot.  Dump the entire jar (juice and all) of pepperoncini peppers and can of Pepsi into the crockpot.  Cook on low for 8-10 hours.  (I'm sure you could speed up the time and cook on high.)  Shred and serve on your bread of choice.  We served ours on Ciabatta bread. 

Linking up with 33 Shades of Green!

Park time!

BUUHHH-UTIFUL weather = Park time!!

Meal Plan 04.01.12

Saturday - DATE NIGHT!!

Sunday - fish sandwiches with oven baked parmesan fries

Source: playwithsugar.blogspot.com via Kara on Pinterest

Monday - grilled chicken salads

Tuesday - Italian beef (recipe from my friend, Donna & will post on Tuesday)

Wednesday - Stuffed Cabbage Casserole...this stuff is sooooo good!

Source: skinnytaste.com via Kara on Pinterest

Thursday - leftovers from Wednesday

Friday - basil & chicken paninis