Menu 8/31/09 week

Join in one and all. I'm pulling your ideas into my weekly menus and loving it! Remember, just post in the comments section (and keep checking back for others) or post a link to your blog if it's on there.

MONDAY - Broiled salmon, cous cous, cajun-style black beans

TUESDAY - Eggplant parmesan, sauteed squash (Look for Cyle's comment on my last menu blog - there's the recipe)

WEDNESDAY - Chicken pot pie, spinach salad

THURSDAY - friends cooking, not me!

FRIDAY - Asian turkey wraps, mini egg rolls

SATURDAY - (the usual) Burgers, creamed corn, chips

SUNDAY - (always a breakfast night) Bacon Quiche, grits

Because every twin mama does it...

Dresses their little multiples in matching outfits. It must be done. It came with the twins handbook.


They're finally enjoying a little tummy time (after weeks of screaming to be delivered of this torture!)



And because there's nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby.

Menu 08/24/09 week

Ok, if you're in, just post your menu in the comments section (or just link to your blog if you have it on there). Can't wait to steal from you!

MONDAY - Sun dried tomato pesto ravioli, fresh bread

TUESDAY - Glazed chicken with apple salad

WEDNESDAY - Beef enchiladas, refried beans, chips

THURSDAY - Sausage-y Rice Thingy, pineapple slices, apple cinnamon muffins

FRIDAY - Cubed steak, corn on the cob, sweet carrots

SATURDAY - Burgers, baked beans, oven potato fries

SUNDAY - Breakfast burritos, grits

4 Months

The last time I posted numerical titles on this blog, it had to do with the preggers. Woooohoooooo, now it's about the babesy cakes.

My little tikes are now 4 months. They are less bobbly-headed, smile with mouths WIDE open, giggle when tickled, make googly eyes at their older sister and brother, SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT, and still smell like spit-up and daisies.

My how they've grown.

We had their well-check today. It has been a long 2 months since they last saw the doc. That was back when they were babies.

Now they're ready for kindergarten.

The Hunk weighed in at 13 lbs, 8 oz and is 25 inches long, while Tiny Miss weighed in at only 11 lbs and is 23 inches long. She may be a petite one, but she's got a pair of lungs that could out scream anyone (or any rabid hyena for that matter!).

We have to do some at-home physical therapy with The Hunk because he is very stiff. Doc said this should hopefully work itself out as he continues to grow. And the flat head we were worried about is just fine so we were glad to hear he won't have to wear a helmet! (Unless of course it's a UGA helmet in about 18 years when he gets his full scholarship as their starting linebacker!)

We have entered the fun stage (because we're all SLEEPING AT NIGHT FOR MORE THAN 2 CONSECUTIVE HOURS) and it just gets better every day.

Twins rock.

This is about to change your world...

...ok, maybe not so much change your world...but at least, make it considerably more enjoyable!

And streamlined.

Round abouts 2 years ago, after the birth of Buster Boy (or 2nd babes), I found myself flittin around the house all day and not actually getting a lot done. I was enthralled with my babies and thought every second they were awake needed to be spent in their faces entertaining them. And of course when they slept, I felt the need to sleep (I still believe in this part, mind you!).

But when Carter would come home from work and there wasn't even a HINT of dinner cooking, or dinner even being thought about, I started to feel like a slacker wife. So we'd pack up many nights and head to our restaurant of choice.

Soon I found that money didn't grow on trees and those darn restaurants preferred we pay with money, as opposed to other means. Silly them.

So I decided we needed a little organization to our daily routine. I developed a cleaning plan of what areas of the house I would tackle on certain days, when I would do laundry/ironing, etc.

Excellent concept.

Then came the dinner planning. I would sit down on Sunday afternoons and develop the week's menu, followed by a trip to the grocery store.

Changed our lives, I tell ya.

Ok, maybe didn't change them...just made them more enjoyable, less stressful, more streamlined. And now, with 4 little tikes at home all day, it's a NECESSITY to plan ahead and be proactive on all fronts. That way, when the opportunities arise (twins are napping, big kids are play-do-ing), I can begin browning meat, chopping veggies, or whatever else can be done early. And when the dinner hour rolls around, I just put it all together and press the "bake" key. Waalaa! (I even have those small clear bowls that I put all my prepped food in so I totally feel like a Food Network star when I get them all out of the fridge to throw together!)

Here's where you come in...whoever you are. I'm going to start posting our weekly menus each Sunday in hopes that maybe once in a while you might find something you can add to yours. If you need the recipe, you post a comment with your email address.

There are lots of these types of blogs around, but I don't ever know the people, so I thought it would be cool if we started another. Kara is already cranking at whatkarascooking so I know she's in (and will have most of the recipes on her blog already).

So here's what to do (until I figure out an easier way). Either post your menu in my comments section, or post a link to your blog.

Here is full permission to steal from me, as I will absolutely be doing the same.

Who's in????

WEEKLY MENU

Sunday (always a breakfast night for us) - Orange pancakes (just make regular pancakes but switch the milk for oj), sausage

Monday - Potato Kielbasa Skillet, cornbread

Tuesday - Steak Wraps, creamy red potato salad

Wednesday - Caprese pizza, spinach salad

Thursday - Friends cooking, not me!

Friday - Chicken won tons, cous cous, edamame

Saturday (always) - Burgers, brunswick stew (got to represent the hometown!), oven potato fries

Can't wait to see what you've got cooking! Don't leave me hanging....

Pre-K Schme-K

I think we’re the only family in G County that isn’t participating in some sort of out-of-the-home schooling for The Girl. Occasionally I’ll get odd looks from people who know the husb is an assistant principal at a great elementary school that has a pre-K…yet we’re not participating. More than once I’ve been asked, “Don’t you want to get AT LEAST one of your kids out of the house while it’s available?”

Are you serious Clark? Apparently they have not seen my diploma with my Masters of Stay-At-Home-Momness hanging on the wall. I chose this career!

There is a reason why The Girl won’t be attending Pre-K this year even though she’s hit the ripe old age of 4. It’s called: I NEED HER HELP!

What did I do to receive this gem of a daughter?



Carter has informed me that I’m going to be a basket-case this time next year. I firmly agree. To think I’ll be dropping off my first born, my Girl, to a huge building full of strangers, to be taught by someone I don’t know anything about, to be away from me for more waking hours than she’s with me. That’s a hard pill to swallow.

But I’m excited for her. As much as I’d love to keep her to myself and be her forever teacher, I can’t keep her from having those awesome schooly experiences that I had growing up. She needs a different voice…a different perspective…a challenge.

She informed me today, “Mommy, did you know that ‘alligator’ has 4 syllables?”

Well I’ll be.

Me thinks Little Miss Scholarly is going to be just fine without Pre-K.

NashVegas Baby!

To the farm we went. There is oodles upon oodles of toddler entertainment at the farm: smelling cows, feeding horses, tractor driving, Kubota/Polaris riding and the multiple family gatherings.

Buster Boy rode the tractor for about 14 hours a day and Henny Boy even got his first ride. He would have thoroughly enjoyed it had he not slept the entire ride.

Mama Dot (C's grandmother) turned 87 and we got to celebrate with burgers, cake and ice cream Saturday night and a trip to Western Sizzlin' Sunday after church. Nothing says 87th birthday like the Sizzlin's Sunday buffet!


JoJo, Aunt Mandy, and Aunt Laura with the kiddos.


The Akins boys: Papa, Buster, Carter and Henny Boy

And then just a few sweet ones of The Duo.

The Unkas

The little babies got to meet their great aunt Kim and uncle Bill for the first time, as well as their cuz Samantha. Of course, Buster Boy had his own names for them so they became Unka Bill, Unka Kim and Lammie Girl (because he can't say his s's!). I'm not sure who had more fun, but we need a return visit so Unka Bill can "undo" all the wonderful things he taught them to do (like eating goldfish off the floor!!).

It's always nice to have visitors for the day to hold babies. I think they get very tired of their bouncy seats (where they LIVE) and love the opportunity to be snuggled during the day (as you can tell from the pic!). If only I had octopus arms and could hold them all day!