Come Play With Us

MTM-Wingin' It

I have been crazy busy at work last week and today, I didn't have any energy or time to think up a fun and creative theme, so I just had to wing it with the MTM this week.  

1.  Sliced Strawberries

2.  "Lambie" -  C's favorite stuffed animal to cuddle/sleep/play with is a lamb, so I put "Lambie" in our Muffin tin, also ranch for dipping.

3. Chocolate Pudding

4.  Ham - because I need to use it up.

5.  Broccoli

6.  Mashed Taters

C was eating before I even got my camera out.


Both girls ate really well.  The best part was watching all the creative dipping that was going on:  Strawberries dipped in Ranch, Broccoli dipped in Pudding, Mixing pudding in with mashed taters, Ham dipped in Pudding....here is E alternating bites of ranch and pudding:

I am linking up with Muffin Tin Mom.  Head over to her site to see tons of fun ideas!

Menu Plan 3/26/11

Here is our Menu for this week:

Sunday

B:  Silver dollar sprinkle pancakes

L:  At my In-laws

D:  Sloppy Joes, potato chips, baked beans

Monday

B:  Oatmeal and Fruit

L:  Turkey-Vegetable Soup, Saltines with butter

D:  Muffin Tin Monday

Tuesday

B:  Cereal and Fruit

L:  Ravioli and Marinara, breadsticks

D:  Grilled Steak, baked potato and salad

Wednesday

B:  Yogurt, Toast with Jelly

L:  Grilled Cheese and Alphabet soup

D:  Hot dogs on the grill, sweet potato fries, corn

Thursday

B:  Pancakes

L:  Frozen Pizza and vegetable

D:  Taco Pie, refried beans

Friday

B:  Oatmeal and fruit

L:  Hot ham and cheese pita, applesauce

D:  Baked Macaroni and Cheese, green beans

 

Aldi

I made my first grocery trip to Aldi on Monday of this week.  I haven't really ever shopped there before.  I haven't been doing much grocery shopping this past month because we have been pretty stocked up and we haven't needed much except the essentials.  But normally I try not to spend more than $100 a week on groceries.  A lot of the time it ends up being a struggle for me.

Because I had heard good things from others on a tight grocery budget about shoping at Aldi, I decided to give it a try.

I was able to get everything my family needed for this weeks meals, including a lot of produce (which is great because we are trying to eat more healthfully).  The only things on my list that they didn't carry were olive oil and soy milk, so I do have to make a seperate trip somewhere else for those.

Here is what I got!  I am reserving judgement on whether I am going to keep shopping until we try several of the products.  So far everything we have tried has been good. 

 

MTM-Spring Time

In honor of it just being the first day of spring yesterday, we decided to do a Spring Time Muffin Tin. 

The girls were over at my in-laws' house today, because of our current childcare situation.  They were REALLY tired this evening and both were on the verge of breakdowns, since E was up 45 min early and C was up 2 hours early.  In addition to that, E only got one nap (I am impressed that she slept at all, actually) and C didn't get a nap either.

Thus, here is what I had going on while trying to make dinner.

When I finally got everything put together, this is what I came up with.

I was kind of in a hurry, so I made them, snapped a picture, and slapped them in front of the girls, then went right back into the kitchen to make something for the hubs to eat.  Then I hear C over at the table saying "Mommy, aren't you gonna tell us about our springtime muffin tin?"  One thing that is important to me as a Mom is to try not to let my everyday duties of life get in the way of making time and effort to enjoy the little moments with my girls.  Although, sometimes it takes one of those little voices to bring me back to that conviction.

1.  Green Grass (string beans)

2.  Sunshine (orange slice)

3.  Butterfly (cheese and sprinkles)

4.  Tulip (jelly on wheat bread)

5.  Umbrella (turkey on a pick---quite a stretch on this one I know!)

6.  Raindrops (sprinkles on blueberry yogurt)

They both chowed down pretty well, actually.

I am linking up with Muffin Tin Mom, you can click the link to see more fun MTMs!

Menu Plan 3/20

Sunday

B:  Leftover pancakes and scrambled cheesy eggs

L:  Snacky Lunch

D:  Roasted Turkey Breast, Roasted Vegetables, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Monday

B: Girls at Nana and Boppa's

L: Girls at Nana and Boppa's

D:  Muffin Tin Monday-Springtime

Tuesday

B:  Cereal and Fruit

L:  Breadsticks and Marinara, Corn

D:  BBQ Turkey Pizza, Salad

Wednesday

B:  Oatmeal and Fruit

L:  Quesadilla and Canned Peaches

D:  Tacos, Refried beans

Thursday

B:  Jelly Toast, Yogurt

L:  Soup and Grilled Cheese

D:  Fish Sticks and Oven Fries, Peas

Friday

B:  Muffins or Cereal Bar, Yogurt

L:  Cheese Pizza, Vegetable

D:  Turkey Burgers, Baked chips, Salad

This Week

We are coming off of a rough week of me having a horrible ear infection (involving 3 trips to the doctor and $130 ear drops-ugh!), everyone else having a nasty cold, and finding out that Andy is going back to work on Monday without us *officially* having anyone to watch the girls. 

Plus I was told that I need to work out of a different office next week (1.5 hours away from home--if no traffic), in order to help my co-worker, co-supervision buddy at "catch up". 

Things are looking a bit down right now.  Hopefully we can find somone to watch the girls so we don't have to burden Nana and Boppa toooooo much. 

MTM-St. Paddy's Day

We did a St. Paddy's Day Muffin Tin tonight, even though we aren't Irish. We can still join in the fun, right??

 

1.  Root Beer Float (because everybody has to have some beer for St. Patrick's Day, right?)

2. 4 Leaf Clover (green pepper)

3.  Pot o' Gold (m&m's because Andy attempted to make hard boiled eggs and they didn't work out)

4. Green dessert (lime jello with pineapple)

5.  Creepy Leprechaun (Thin whole grain bun with cream cheese, carrots and black beans)

6. Corned Beef and Cabbage (Ruebens on a green pick)

Click here for lots of other fun ideas at Muffin Tin Mom.

C is feeling under the weather, she caught Andy's nasty cold, so she didn't eat well, and E wasn't very into anything on her plate today.  I enjoyed cleaning up all the rueben scraps though.

When I came out of E's room after putting her to bed, this is what I saw:

So sweet.

 

MTM-Rainbows

It is Monday, and at our house, that means Muffin Tin Monday!

We did a Rainbow theme today.  

1. Red:  Ketchup with Venison strips

2. Orange:  Honey Glazed Carrots

3.  Yellow:  Pineapple

4.  Green:  Salad with Cucumber

5.  Blue:  Blueberries

6.  Purple:  Grapes

A bonus M&M rainbow in the middle (used brown instead of purple-oh well).  The girls both ate their M&Ms and most of the fruit.  C ate all of her venison too.  E liked the carrots, but C did NOT, and gagged after 3.  I thought she was going to lose her supper...Yikes!

Daddy took the girls outside to play in the snowbank and the swingset today. It was a pretty warm day, around 35 degrees or so.

We also did a bonus MTM last Friday that was mainly just to use up a bunch of leftovers:

Yogurt, Kiwi, Chicken noodle soup, Green beans, Macaroni and Cheese, and Avocado.  

I am linking up over at Muffin Tin Mom.  Go check it out for more great MTMs!

Princess Wishes

C and I had a "Mommy and Me" afternoon today.  I was able to get discounted tickets to Disney on Ice Princess Wishes through my work, so I planned us a little afternoon date.

We went to Leo's Grill and Malt Shop for lunch and shared a super yummy Chocolate Banana shake.  I had a cheeseburger and chips, and C asked for chicken nuggets and fries.  The burger and shake were great, but a little spendy I thought.

Then it was off to the big city to see Princess Wishes.  

Normally, C always wants to watch a movie on long car rides, but today she spent the whole hour in the car looking through her Barbie and the Diamond Castle book.  

When we got to the event, I bought C a ridiculously overpriced snow cone ($12--ugh I am embarassed to admit), and then we went and found our seats.  

We had a really great time and it was SO much fun seeing how excited C got each time a different Princess came out.  

I asked Andy how his evening was with E, and he said they had a nice time, he took her for a walk, and played on the swings for a little while.  He did say that she was looking for her big sis, and went into C's room and was looking in the bed for her.  

The first thing C said when we got home was "Where is my little sister?"  

It isn't very often that our two girls are apart.  They are absolutely best friends, but I do think it is good for them to have separate time with Andy and I.  

Target 3/3

1 Huggies Wipes – sale for 1.99, used .75c off Man = 1.24

2 Xiliration Jeans  4.98ea – used 2 $5off  Target= FREE

Bambi BluRay – Sale 22.99 used $10off Man = 12.99

2 Kashi Cereal Bars – Sale 2.65 used 2 $1off Man = 1.65ea = 3.30

1 Annie’s Fruit Snacks – Sale 2.99 used $1off Man = 1.99

10 Koolaid packets – 22c each, used 2 .50c off Man = .12c ea = 1.20

4 Ortega Taco Seasoning – 59c ea, used $1off2 Man, .50c off2 Man = .21ea = .84

1 Thomas English Muffin – sale 2.24, used $1off Man = 1.24

1 Air Freshener – clearance 50% = 1.60

2 Up&Up facial cleanser – clearance 30%, used 2 $1off Target = 1.24ea = 2.48

2 Old Spice Deodorant – used 2 $1off Man = 1.24ea = 2.48

2 Nice & Easy Foam – sale 8.99, used 2 $3off Target, 2 $1off Man. = 4.99ea = 9.98

2 20ct Excedrin Xtra Strength- sale 3.59, used 2 $3off Target, 2 $1off Man = FREE

2 Charmin Ultra Giant Roll 6pk – sale 9.99, used 2 $1off Man, $2.50off Target + 2.99 Charmin wipes = 18.47 minus $5 GC = 13.47

3 Nature Valley Granola – 2.65ea, used 1.50off 3 Target, 3 50coff = 1.65ea = 4.95

1 Annies Macaroni and Cheese – sale 3.15, used 1 free coupon = FREE

1 Benefiber - reg 5.54, used $3off Target, $2off Man = .54

Spent: 58.84. 

Saved: 78.49