our family vacation

Happy late New Year!
I have been away on our annual family vacation to Florida since the beginning of January and haven't had the chance to post. One of my resolutions for 2012 is to blog more. I always have so much I want to get written down but never take the time to write, this year I want to take that time.
Like I just mentioned the Hubs, Goose ( our son, not his real name ha! ) and I packed up and flew south for some of the winter. For the past two weeks we have been soaking up lots of warm sunshine, swimming, going for nightly walks, spending days at Disney World, going out to eat and just enjoying lots of quality time together. I LOVED IT!
We stayed with my Hubs parents, in a big house they rented. It was lovely and spacious. It was located in a gated resort, very close to everything but looked very secluded.
For the first week we lounged, relax, rejuvenated, did barely a thing besides go out to eat and go for walks or took trips to the resorts playground ( which was a large castle that was super cool and yes I did play on the slides and swings as well and no I don't believe you can be too old)
We seriously just took is easy and honestly I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
The next week we all decided to get tickets to Disney and we ended up getting a 5 day pass. Going day after day to a theme park is VERY exhausting! I enjoyed every second of it but wow didn't I fall asleep quickly at bedtime!
We went to 2 parks with my family in law. 1 park as just a family of 3 and the last one was just a day spend as a couple, just my love and I.
We went to Epcot. Had lots of laughs, a scare ( I got violently attacked by a bird! story for another day) and we got alone time to focus on just each other. It was so very much needed!
We spent most of the day at the world showcase side of Epcot. We had decided to get something from each country to eat, something they are the most well known for.
We ended up not getting something from all of the countries, will probably finish it next time but did at 4 of them.
Fish and Chips at England, a Pretzel at Germany, a Crescent at France, and a Canoli at Italy.
They were all so wonderfully delicious!
On Wednesday of our second week there we took a trip to Cocoa Beach. It is beautiful there! I am deathly afraid of the ocean and was a bit nervous to go but was the one who didn't want to leave when it was time to go. I am a beach person for sure. It was so peaceful and relaxing. Oh how I would love to be there right this moment!
This years family vacation was wonderful, a fun filled relaxing time away.
As much as we loved it though we are happy to be home and I am ready to get back to normal life, something I truly do enjoy.

Meal Plan January 24-February 9

Breakfasts-

Going to make a batch of waffles to freeze and take out to pop in the toaster
Banana Bread
Egg and Bacon/ or Sausage sandwiches for the Hubs

Lunches-

Pizza mini calzones
Tuna sandwiches
Meat and Cheese Sandwiches

All served with fruit

Dinners-

Oven Roasted Chicken Breasts with Brown Rice Risotto
Shredded BBQ Chicken using Homemade Buns
Tuna Noodle Casserole with Homemade Egg Noodles
Pizza using Homemade Pizza Dough
Spaghetti and Meatball with Homemade Garlic Bread
Chicken Soup with Homemade Bread
Homemade Alfredo Sauce and Homemade Egg Noodles
Homemade Sloppy Joes with Homemade Buns
Pigs in a blanket and Mac and Cheese
Meatloaf and Mashed Potato
Homemade Oven baked Popcorn Chicken with Oven Baked Ranch Wedges
Everything but the kitchen sink Burritos

Desserts-

Energy Balls
Homemade Brownies with Frosting

two week meal plan

breakfasts:
homemade sausage muffins
smoothies ( pb and banana, fruit and organic yogurt )
fruit salad with organic yogurt
multi grain cheerios cereal with banana


dinners:
Homemade Salisbury Steak with Mashed Potato, corn and homemade rolls
Homemade tuna noodle casserole using homemade egg noodles
Homemade chicken strips with Homemade baked fries
Tacos using Homemade tortilla shells
Chicken stir fry over brown rice using homemade stir fry sauce
Potato and Kalbasa soup with homemade rolls
Chicken and Rice casserole
"Christmas" Chicken over brown rice and homemade rolls
Pizza


snacks/desserts:
homemade freezer chocolate chip cookies
almonds
apples
celery with pb

recipe for Christmas

Recipe for a Merry Christmas

4 Cups of Good Cheer

2 Tablespoons of Joy

1 Cup of Relaxation

3 Teaspoons of Anticipation

2 ½ Cups of Jolly

A Splash of Eggnog

1 Barrel of Good Cheer

Take good memories and joy, mix thoroughly then add relaxation. Blend in anticipation; fold in jolly and eggnog.

Sprinkle abundantly with good cheer.

Bake with Love. ~ makes enough to last the whole season.

a godly home

“I believe that a godly home is a foretaste of heaven. Our homes, imperfect as they are, must be a haven from the chaos outside. They should be a reflection of our eternal home, where troubled souls find peace, weary hearts find rest, hungry bodies find refreshment, lonely pilgrims find communion, and wounded spirits find compassion.” ― Jani Ortlund

meal plan

My two week meal plan...
Its been difficult to plan on a budget this week because the sales just arent happening in the area stores :( but I am pretty certain I will be able to get everything I need for about 40 a week... for a family of three I suppose thats not too much...

Dinners:
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup using leftover roasting chicken and broth
-Sweet and Spicy Chicken Legs
-Stromboni using a whole wheat dough
-Homemade Corn Dogs and Cheese Sticks ( my hubs birthday dinner)
-Homemade Salisbury Steak with Mashed Potato
-Tacos using leftover roasting chicken
-Kabobes with Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Lasagna Bake with Homemade sauce
-Potato and Kalbasa soup
-Breakfast for Dinner
-Crockpot Roasting Chicken with Whole Wheat Rice
-Homemade Nuggets and Homemade Sweet Potato Fries

I am going to try out making my own evap milk.
Each meal will also have veggies or fruit and a starch

Breakfasts:

Cinnamon Raisin Bread ( breadmaker)
PB/Banana Smoothie
Fruit Smoothie with some spinach
Pecan Maple Breakfast Cookies
Banana Bread
Granola with Yogurt

I also want to make homemade strawberry sauce for milk and yogurt

Lunch is usually leftovers or tuna or pb sandwiches.

I might only make a couple of the breakfasts depending on the cost of the ingredients.

My goal is still to keep the costs low and the nutrition value high.

An art project...

During toddler school the other day my son and I made some leaf artwork. It was a leaf wreath for the front door :)

First we gathered leaves outside, then hot glued them to a small plate with a hole cut out the middle. Next up attached some left over rope. It was simple and fun!