Menu Monday

Menu Monday on Tuesday

 

Yesterday I posted about our weekend but I want to get back to menu's and menu planning so here it goes.

Monday: Squishy Meat and Gravy (old family recipe)

Tuesday: Pizza Bagels & Salad

Wednesday: Dinner at Outback for Halloween

Thursday: Spaghetti Squash

Friday: Meatball Subs

Saturday: Country Fried Steak and Potato's

Sunday: Thanksgiving Dinner Lunch and Home Group

The Last Weekend of October

The Last Weekend of October

      Saturday we had a Fall Festival for our Battalion. Many of us had worked countless hours and were hoping for a great turn out! It was a big hit!!! We had a lot of people show up and the children seemed to be having fun. Our company sold Nacho's and Popcorn. I learned I would prefer to never work with a popcorn machine again. It is not the easiest of machines to work or figure out period! The games were fun and thankfully the weather held together so that is was not unbearable. It was a little cold but since the sun made its presence for a few hours it was not bad.

      Tyler and Walker got to wear their adorable costumes! Tyler wanted to be a Alabama football player so I let him and I wanted the kids to match so Walker was his football. The pictures I got Walker had a funny little face because he was hungry and not interested in a photo shoot. HA! Tyler has also decided football players have mean faces so it was hard to get him to smile.

Sunday morning we got up and went to church. When we got there Jon called to skype so I stood in the hallway and talked to him. It was nice! Walker was cooing and "talking" up a storm which Jon was happy to hear. Sometimes it hurts my heart when I think of all he is missing in our sweet babies lives. He has never been home with our children when they were babies. He will never get to feed them baby food and just as he did with Tyler he will not be here for most of Walker's first's. Most of our country has no idea the sacrifices soldiers make for this country. I am so thankful that we are able to skype and I can see his Handsome face and that our boys can see him! After church the boys took naps and I rested!

Pinterest Projects

Pinterest Projects

I am in love with Pinterest and have been for some time now. I love pinning but I have been really trying to accomplish things that I pin. I would have a lot more done if I had my helper home and not in Afghanistan. Boo! I decided that I would do a post that has some of the projects in it that I have accomplished. This may end up becoming a series of post of different things I have tried. I hope you enjoy and have fun pinning!!! :)

1. Copper Jack O' Lantern Make-Over
-This was fun! The paint does spray all over your hands when you are spraying it but it dries super fast! It looks fantastic on my porch also!

Source: eclecticallyvintage.com via Christina on Pinterest

2. Witches Broomsticks
-I made these for a coffee that I had at my house this week and they looked so cute! They are a little time consuming because of taking off all those wrappers but they look cute sitting out.

Source: kirstycolquhoun.blogspot.com via Christina on Pinterest

3. Peanut Butter Cookie Pizza
-This was made for the coffee that I had at my house and I posted the recipe two weeks ago here. It tasted very good but I would definitely spray really well on the pan because mine stuck to the bottom really bad.

Source: delish.com via Christina on Pinterest

4. Halloween Ring Toss
-Witches hats stuffed with newspaper for a game of ring toss. I thought this was so cute so it is what we are doing as a game for our Fall Festival tonight.

Source: google.com via Christina on Pinterest

5. Halloween Costume
-I attempted to make this. I have 250 yards of Tulle and it is not close to this full. I wore it for our coffee the other night and it is large and hard to move in. Think like a wedding dress that is full. Mine also was too long in some places and when I stepped I was slipping and sliding. It was fun to wear and I will probably wear it on Halloween night as well! IT TAKES FOREVER to tie all that tulle on!

Source: etsy.com via Christina on Pinterest

6. Apple Cider Punch
-This is the best punch!!!! It was great for a Fall party and I may do it at my parents for Thanksgiving! It was very tasty!

Source: eatdrinkpretty.com via Christina on Pinterest

Recipe Friday

Recipe Friday

Ghost Pancakes!!! These are so fun and Tyler and I will be snacking on them come Halloween morning and maybe even before then. SO EASY!!!!

Source: gourmetmomonthego.com via Christina on Pinterest

Ghostly Pancakes
Ingredients:
Your favorite pancake batter (or simple recipe below)
Chocolate Chips

Directions:
Spread pancake batter in blobs on griddle heated on medium-high heat. Don't worry too much about the shapes, just make sure they aren't circles.

Place two chocolate chips, pointy side down, on the pancakes for eyes and another chocolate chip for the mouth. Cook until bubbles form, flip pancake and cook for an additional 30 seconds-1 minute on the other side.

Remove from pan and serve!

Notes: MothertoMany had a great idea! She said, "A healthier version would be to use some "boo"berries for the mouth and eyes instead of chocolate chips, or raisins, or even craisins." Happy Ghosting!

Recipe from Here

Our Short trip to Nashville

Our short trip to Nashville was amazing! I got super brave and I took the boys for a weekend away! Friday morning we woke up, got dressed, and drove to Nashville! I had the whole weekend planned out even though most of the weekend did not go the way I planned! First on the list was to meet a friend of family for lunch. We got there early and she was running a little late. We went to Sam's and walked around and then we met Marie at Chick Fil A! Tyler got to play on the playground and I got to enjoy some time talking with a friend. After lunch I had planned to take the boys to another pumpkin patch but they were both super tired and I needed to check into our hotel. So we drove to the hotel and both of the boys feel asleep. When I arrived I got Tyler in the stroller still asleep and put Walker in it as well. I loaded all our things onto the double stroller and headed into the hotel. I picked the Sheraton and I really enjoyed my stay. Our room was very large! I loaded all of our items off of the stroller and the Tyler started stirring and wanted me to walk. So we headed downstairs and walked next door to Target.I got to shop Super Target with two sleeping babies!!! It was so fun!!! After Target I walked back to the hotel and Tyler woke up when we got back upstairs. He was hungry but I did not want to go anywhere so room service it was!!! I fed Walker while we waited on our food and then Tyler and I had dinner and then it was bath and bed for all 3 of us. Walker went down pretty easy and Tyler would stay in his bed but took him a little while to fall asleep.

Saturday morning the plan was to wake up and go to the Adventure Science Center but the boys and I both slept in. Walker actually slept later than Tyler and I!!! I turned on the TV to PBS and Thomas the Train was on and Tyler was so excited! It had the cutest song on it and Tyler was dancing and shaking it! I even videoed  it because it was so cute! Since we lounged around the hotel most of the morning the Science center was out. We went to the Cool Springs Galleria in Franklin. We had lunch at the Food Court and Tyler got his favorite, Chick Fil A. After Lunch we got in a corner and were able to skype with Jon. It was nice to see his face and Tyler was telling him how excited he was to be going to the zoo. Afterwards we shopped some and Tyler got some new shoes! After the mall we went back to hotel for a nap before going to the zoo. Everyone was in a good mood so we took a little photo shoot on our hotel bed! We got some very cute photos and I love them!!! The only thing that would make them better was if Jon's head was in them as well. Tyler wanted to take a nap in the floor and Walker took his in his bouncy seat while I read a magazine! Bliss!!! I got the boys up and we headed to Cracker Barrel to meet friends. We had a nice dinner together and then we all headed to the Nashville Zoo for "Boo at the Zoo". Tyler has been so excited about this for a long time! We all had a wonderful time! We went along the Trick or Treat trail and Tyler had so much fun saying "Trick or Treat". We then went to a scientist lab and a little show. We then headed over to do the carousel but Tyler was freaking out and his friends did not want to ride it either. They all wanted to ride the tractor ride so we waited in line to ride the hayride. It was a fun ride. After that we did a few more things then we headed to the car. After getting back to the hotel Walker was screaming because he was hungry so I told Tyler to let me feed Walker a little then I would put his PJ's on but he didn't make it. I looked over and he was fast asleep. After Walker's bottle so was he! With both boys asleep I fixed a cup of hot tea and took a long hot bath. 

  

Sunday morning when I woke up Tyler was looking at me and said "Hey Momma" and I started dying laughing. The boys let me sleep in till 9:15. It was blissful! Tyler was laying in his bed playing on his leap pad and Walker was still asleep on his bed beside me. I got up and changed Tyler and then I started packing us up and getting ready to go. I loaded us all up and we hit the road. I asked Tyler where he wanted breakfast and he wanted Cracker Barrel but when we got up to the exit Tyler was fast asleep in the car so I drove on back to Clarksville. When I got there we got Lunch and then we headed home where Tyler went to his room and napped some more and Walker had his lunch and napped as well. And Yes this time I benefited from these two naps and took one myself! Much needed weekend full of fun!!!!

Recipe Friday

Recipe Friday

Jack-O-Lantern Mexican Layer Dip

This would be perfect for your Halloween Party!

Source: stonewallkitchen.com via Christina on Pinterest

Jack-O-Lantern Layered Mexican Dip

ingredients

• 1 - 16 oz. can of refried beans
• 1 - 4.5 oz. can of chopped green chiles
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 avocadoes, peeled and diced
• 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup Stonewall Kitchen Black Bean Salsa
• 4 scallions, chopped
• 2 cups shredded orange cheddar cheese
• Blue corn tortilla chips, triangle shape
• Sliced black olives, drained

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a greased deep pie dish, spread the refried beans and then layer the green chiles.
3. For the next layer combine the sour cream and the mayonnaise and spread over the chiles. Continue layering the avocadoes, lemon juice, Stonewall Kitchen Black Bean Salsa, scallions, and cheddar cheese.
4. Bake for 20-30 minutes until heated through and bubbly.
5. Decorate top of dip with three tortilla chips forming the eyes and nose of the jack-o-lantern. Use the sliced black olives to form a mouth.
6. Serve hot with additional tortilla chips. 

Recipe from Here

Wordless Wesnesday

Life Here is busy and to top it all off the boys and I are all sick!

Our Weekend

Our weekend started off really rough. Friday night I was sick to my stomach. I woke up at 2:30 and got in the tub and the door to our bathroom flings open. I am almost jumped out of my skin but it was little Tyler. He was in tears so I got him to come give me a hug and talk but when he touched me he was burning up. So I got out of the tub and took his temperature and it was 102.9. My poor baby! I got him some Tylenol and we curled up in "mommy and daddy's bed" and I turned Disney Junior on and eventually we both fell asleep. When we woke up the next morning I took his temp and it was 101.5 so he got Tylenol again and I called the pediatrician's office and they wanted us at 9:15. I got both boys and myself ready and we headed out. By the time we got there Tyler seemed to be feeling better and had no fever. He was begging the doctor to go to the farm. She checked him out and ran some test which all came back negative but he did have a red throat. Tyler's doctor told him he could go to the farm so he was excited. We went to Ihop for the pancakes he was begging for then headed to Honeysuckle Hill Farm. That was the best pumpkin patch I have been too! We had a blast and I wish I had a lot more pictures from the day! It is hard to capture the memories when you are the only adult there. Tyler got to ride a cow barrel train, rope a cow, play on several playgrounds, duck race, ride a hay ride, pick a pumpkin out of a pumpkin patch, ride a pumpkin train, barrel run, corn maze, and got a caramel apple and popcorn! The petting zoo was amazing and the pigs were based off "The Three Little Pigs" it had one straw house, one wood house, and one brick house. So cute!!!! On the way out we got some mums and then headed home. Tyler and Walker took a nap on the way home and I cried. Having so much fun and making all these new memories without Jon is so hard. I wish he could have been with us! He would have loved it! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we got back in town we unloaded the car and worked on putting our mums on the porch. Walker was still asleep so I put him in the Mamaroo on "Car Ride" and he was sleeping away. Tyler helped me outside and played with his new toy gun and rode his bicycle. We also checked the mail and got some mail from Jon! Tyler was so excited as was I. Once it got dark Tyler played with his new light stick outside and then we had dinner and started our nightly routine.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday we woke up and Tyler had been over 24 hours without a fever so we got ready and went to church All 3 of us enjoyed it and Tyler colored a very cool Veggie Tales sheet. After church we had lunch from Chili's and picked up some things from Lowe's for the yard then headed home for nap time. While both boys napped I made a caramel apple pie for home group. So easy and was so yummy. 

Source: iheartnaptime.net via Christina on Pinterest