Last Monday seems like a rrrreeeeaaaallllyyyy lllloooonnnngggg time ago!
To fill in the blanks from last week's menu, Friday night we went out to eat at Panera Bread. We almost didn't go there because the boys didn't eat well last time we went. Then I remembered the soup! The boys really like soup, and that's what they got. Caleb had the Low-Fat Chicken Noodle Soup (like he really needs low-fat!) with some crusty French bread for dipping. Jacob had Baked Potato Soup with crusty French bread and some fruit. The rest of us got a combination of soup and either a panini or a salad. It was really good - and knowing how well the boys ate their soup, we can go back with no worries.
Saturday night we went to Applebee's for steaks. (We would've liked to go to Outback Steakhouse, but "Restaurant Row" is always crowded on weekends. There's always been a long wait to get in anywhere over there - even as early as 5:30 p.m.!) For dessert, we each got a "Dessert Shooter", a small dessert portion served in a double-shot glass. Perfect! Between the six of us, we had all five flavors. Caleb and I both got the Chocolate Mousse; everyone else chose something different. (Sounds like the beginning of a logic problem...)
Here's what's on the menu for this week:
Monday: - NEW! Apple-Maple Turkey Sausage Breakfast Sammies (Rachael Ray's recipe calls for ground chicken, but I couldn't find any that particular day, so I bought ground turkey.)
Tuesday: - frozen pizza (Billy's class night)
Wednesday: - Chicken & Dumplings (I'll serve a salad with it if I can find some decent lettuce! The last few times I've been to the store, the lettuce has looked really bad. Maybe I'll go with Romaine; the boys won't eat spinach.)
Thursday: - leftovers (TV night!)
Friday: - Chili Cheese Corn Dogs (and a chili cheese hot dog for Jacob)
Saturday: - Omelets (with all ingredients separate for Jacob)
Sunday: - sandwiches (AWANA night)
Hmmm. I didn't realize I had planned two breakfast supper nights this week. The new recipe was added later when I had a blank day. Oh, well. We all like breakfast suppers, and I don't make them very often.
What's on your menu? Need more ideas? Check out others on Menu Plan Monday.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
13 Favorite Actors
Time again for the Thursday Thirteen. Today's topic: My 13 Favorite Actors (and my favorite movies of theirs, not limited to 13). In no particular order,...
1. Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Edward Scissorhands
2. Sandra Bullock - The Lake House, While You Were Sleeping, Miss Congeniality, Hope Floats, Speed, A Time to Kill, The Net
3. Julia Roberts - Steel Magnolias, Pretty Woman, Sleeping with the Enemy, Runaway Bride, My Best Friend's Wedding, Something to Talk About, I Love Trouble, The Pelican Brief, Stepmom, Flatliners
4. Harrison Ford - all the "Indiana Jones" movies, Six Days Seven Nights, The Fugitive, What Lies Beneath, Working Girl, Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games, Air Force One
5. Tommy Lee Jones - Lonesome Dove, Men in Black (and II), The Fugitive, U.S. Marshals, The Client, Volcano
6. Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Cast Away, A League of their Own, The Green Mile, Big, Turner & Hooch, The Money Pit, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, That Thing You Do!, The 'Burbs, Dragnet, Splash, The Polar Express
7. Nicolas Cage - Raising Arizona, It Could Happen to You, Con Air, The Rock, Face/Off, Gone in Sixty Seconds, National Treasure (The second one is set for release on December 21!)
8. Mel Gibson - Braveheart, The Patriot, What Women Want, Ransom, Maverick, The Man Without a Face, Forever Young, Bird on a Wire
9. Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast at Tiffany's, Funny Face, Roman Holiday
10. Doris Day - Glass-Bottom Boat, With Six You Get Eggroll, Pillow Talk, Please Don't Eat the Daisies
11. Meg Ryan - Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, French Kiss, When Harry Met Sally, Top Gun, "As the World Turns" (way back in the day)
12. Walter Matthau - Grumpy Old Men, Grumpier Old Men, Dennis the Menace, The Bad News Bears, The Odd Couple
13. Gary Sinise - Apollo 13, Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, Ransom, "CSI: NY"
There are plenty more I like really well (Denzel Washington, Steve Martin, Matthew McConnaughey, etc.), but I'm going to stop with 13.
1. Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Edward Scissorhands
2. Sandra Bullock - The Lake House, While You Were Sleeping, Miss Congeniality, Hope Floats, Speed, A Time to Kill, The Net
3. Julia Roberts - Steel Magnolias, Pretty Woman, Sleeping with the Enemy, Runaway Bride, My Best Friend's Wedding, Something to Talk About, I Love Trouble, The Pelican Brief, Stepmom, Flatliners
4. Harrison Ford - all the "Indiana Jones" movies, Six Days Seven Nights, The Fugitive, What Lies Beneath, Working Girl, Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games, Air Force One
5. Tommy Lee Jones - Lonesome Dove, Men in Black (and II), The Fugitive, U.S. Marshals, The Client, Volcano
6. Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Cast Away, A League of their Own, The Green Mile, Big, Turner & Hooch, The Money Pit, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, That Thing You Do!, The 'Burbs, Dragnet, Splash, The Polar Express
7. Nicolas Cage - Raising Arizona, It Could Happen to You, Con Air, The Rock, Face/Off, Gone in Sixty Seconds, National Treasure (The second one is set for release on December 21!)
8. Mel Gibson - Braveheart, The Patriot, What Women Want, Ransom, Maverick, The Man Without a Face, Forever Young, Bird on a Wire
9. Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast at Tiffany's, Funny Face, Roman Holiday
10. Doris Day - Glass-Bottom Boat, With Six You Get Eggroll, Pillow Talk, Please Don't Eat the Daisies
11. Meg Ryan - Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, French Kiss, When Harry Met Sally, Top Gun, "As the World Turns" (way back in the day)
12. Walter Matthau - Grumpy Old Men, Grumpier Old Men, Dennis the Menace, The Bad News Bears, The Odd Couple
13. Gary Sinise - Apollo 13, Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, Ransom, "CSI: NY"
There are plenty more I like really well (Denzel Washington, Steve Martin, Matthew McConnaughey, etc.), but I'm going to stop with 13.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Little Blue Ball
My workout buddy Kim called last night to say she wouldn't make it today. She had popped her knee out earlier in the day and figured it would be sore and stiff today. I was determined to go in anyway to keep in the habit.
I woke up to rain shortly before 6:00 this morning. It was raining harder when the boys and I began our school day. I was so tempted to stay in, but I knew if I did, I would feel lousy for it. As soon as we finished, we headed out. In the rain.
All the way there, I kept thinking, I should have just stayed home. The traffic on the interstate was slow, but since it wasn't at a standstill, I decided to stay on it instead of detouring and taking an extra 10 minutes or so to get there. I was already cutting it close for the boys' reservation time in the "Kids Clubhouse". Besides, since seminary students and family members aren't allowed to work out during the peak lunch hour time there, I would have to be out around 11:30. I wanted to get in as much of my hour as possible. By the time we got there, the rain had slacked up, the sky was looking a little lighter, and I was feeling better about getting out.
I stowed my purse and gym bag and headed straight for the racquetball courts, but they were both taken. I decided to bike for a while, so I rode about 3 1/2 miles (22 minutes). I had my iPod with me, so I enjoyed listening to a little Daughtry. Then I started playing through the alphabetical song list. I had noticed my heart rate had gotten up to near 130 bpm. Then a Josh Groban song came on and my heart rate dropped to 123. The next song was by Kutless, and I was soon back up to 130. My rpms varied slightly during the song changes, but not enough to really alter my heart rate. I think it was just the effect of the music. Interesting... I think I'll test it again next week.
I checked the courts again when I finished with the bike and they were empty. I went in, stored my gear in the safe box in the wall, and spent the next 20 minutes hitting that little blue ball back and forth. What a feeling! I had really been missing playing, so it was great to get in there and sweat and MOVE!
I wonder how sore I'll be tomorrow...
What Not to Say
The boys and I stopped by Wal-Mart on our way home to pick up groceries for the next week. Jacob climbed up on one of the large refrigerated bins in the middle of the aisle and studied the packages and packages of ground beef stacked in it. After looking at it a few seconds, he yelled out, "Are those worms?!?"
I woke up to rain shortly before 6:00 this morning. It was raining harder when the boys and I began our school day. I was so tempted to stay in, but I knew if I did, I would feel lousy for it. As soon as we finished, we headed out. In the rain.
All the way there, I kept thinking, I should have just stayed home. The traffic on the interstate was slow, but since it wasn't at a standstill, I decided to stay on it instead of detouring and taking an extra 10 minutes or so to get there. I was already cutting it close for the boys' reservation time in the "Kids Clubhouse". Besides, since seminary students and family members aren't allowed to work out during the peak lunch hour time there, I would have to be out around 11:30. I wanted to get in as much of my hour as possible. By the time we got there, the rain had slacked up, the sky was looking a little lighter, and I was feeling better about getting out.
I stowed my purse and gym bag and headed straight for the racquetball courts, but they were both taken. I decided to bike for a while, so I rode about 3 1/2 miles (22 minutes). I had my iPod with me, so I enjoyed listening to a little Daughtry. Then I started playing through the alphabetical song list. I had noticed my heart rate had gotten up to near 130 bpm. Then a Josh Groban song came on and my heart rate dropped to 123. The next song was by Kutless, and I was soon back up to 130. My rpms varied slightly during the song changes, but not enough to really alter my heart rate. I think it was just the effect of the music. Interesting... I think I'll test it again next week.
I checked the courts again when I finished with the bike and they were empty. I went in, stored my gear in the safe box in the wall, and spent the next 20 minutes hitting that little blue ball back and forth. What a feeling! I had really been missing playing, so it was great to get in there and sweat and MOVE!
I wonder how sore I'll be tomorrow...
What Not to Say
The boys and I stopped by Wal-Mart on our way home to pick up groceries for the next week. Jacob climbed up on one of the large refrigerated bins in the middle of the aisle and studied the packages and packages of ground beef stacked in it. After looking at it a few seconds, he yelled out, "Are those worms?!?"
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Ahhh, Fall
Well, I can't say that about the temperatures, but the color of the sky and the way the light and shadows play, I can tell it's definitely here. That and the fact that it's nearly dark by 7:30 now.
I took the boys to a nearby park this afternoon. We were supposed to meet some friends, but they didn't show up. I guess maybe they forgot because we planned this last week sometime. I started to call this morning to double-check, but I got busy. Anyway, when we got there, several school-age kids were running around. Most of them had tags of some sort pinned to their shirts. The 3 teachers sat on a bench in the shade and pretty much ignored everything but each other. Only when a kid came up crying to them did they respond.
The boys were having fun playing in the rocks (pea gravel, the ground cover for that half of the playground) with some of the other kids while I sat in a small shady spot and watched for our friends. Every so often, Caleb and/or Jacob would go running by to climb up the wooden "ship" structure and run through the mazes. Then I saw one of the older kids throw a rock at a boy playing directly in front of me. He hid and watched, then aimed to throw another one. Thankfully the "victim" moved out of the line of fire. About that time Jacob came up to get a drink of water. I told him it was time to go, so we rounded up Caleb and left. I explained to them why I didn't want to stay and suggested we visit a nearby playground that was around the corner. They were excited to check it out since it opened this spring and we hadn't been there yet.
I found a shady spot in the parking lot and we walked over to the deserted playground. (Yes!) Jacob immediately noticed the spongy "floor" of the playground and started bouncing around and chanting, "Squishy, squishy, squishy!" I felt like I was walking on springs! The play equipment is painted in bright primary colors and has all sorts of things on it: a small climbing wall, two slides, all sorts of bridges, and steps and ladders to climb. One of the bridges is slanted and really hard to walk across, so you have to hold on to the chain "rope" above it to get across. Caleb went right on by, but my feet slipped a lot. (I think that had to do with my flip-flops.) Jacob needed help his first time across, but he went easily all the other times.
My favorite part of the play equipment was four vertical poles with circular steps about 2 feet high. The were anchored at the top and bottom, but they swayed one way or the other while you tried to cross. Caleb surprised me by going right across the first time. I went and was a little surprised at how uneasy it made me feel. I went across and back, but no more. Jacob wanted help getting across once. I'm not sure if he went across by himself of not. Something about that part made me think of Survivor.
While the boys continued playing, I sat on a bench in a tiny spot of shadow and watched the dragonflies overhead. The wind was blowing nicely and a few leaves were falling here and there. Everytime the breeze would pick up, I could hear the rustling. So nice, so relaxing... So quiet!
I definitely want to go back to that spot again. It's not a weekend place for us. The few times I've driven by on a Saturday, it's been wrapped up with kids. But it'll be perfect for lazy afternoons after we've finished school for the day. We might even pack up a picnic lunch and take with us. I'll definitely have to invite a few of our friends to meet us there. The boys would love playing "obstacle course" there with friends.
I took the boys to a nearby park this afternoon. We were supposed to meet some friends, but they didn't show up. I guess maybe they forgot because we planned this last week sometime. I started to call this morning to double-check, but I got busy. Anyway, when we got there, several school-age kids were running around. Most of them had tags of some sort pinned to their shirts. The 3 teachers sat on a bench in the shade and pretty much ignored everything but each other. Only when a kid came up crying to them did they respond.
The boys were having fun playing in the rocks (pea gravel, the ground cover for that half of the playground) with some of the other kids while I sat in a small shady spot and watched for our friends. Every so often, Caleb and/or Jacob would go running by to climb up the wooden "ship" structure and run through the mazes. Then I saw one of the older kids throw a rock at a boy playing directly in front of me. He hid and watched, then aimed to throw another one. Thankfully the "victim" moved out of the line of fire. About that time Jacob came up to get a drink of water. I told him it was time to go, so we rounded up Caleb and left. I explained to them why I didn't want to stay and suggested we visit a nearby playground that was around the corner. They were excited to check it out since it opened this spring and we hadn't been there yet.
I found a shady spot in the parking lot and we walked over to the deserted playground. (Yes!) Jacob immediately noticed the spongy "floor" of the playground and started bouncing around and chanting, "Squishy, squishy, squishy!" I felt like I was walking on springs! The play equipment is painted in bright primary colors and has all sorts of things on it: a small climbing wall, two slides, all sorts of bridges, and steps and ladders to climb. One of the bridges is slanted and really hard to walk across, so you have to hold on to the chain "rope" above it to get across. Caleb went right on by, but my feet slipped a lot. (I think that had to do with my flip-flops.) Jacob needed help his first time across, but he went easily all the other times.
My favorite part of the play equipment was four vertical poles with circular steps about 2 feet high. The were anchored at the top and bottom, but they swayed one way or the other while you tried to cross. Caleb surprised me by going right across the first time. I went and was a little surprised at how uneasy it made me feel. I went across and back, but no more. Jacob wanted help getting across once. I'm not sure if he went across by himself of not. Something about that part made me think of Survivor.
While the boys continued playing, I sat on a bench in a tiny spot of shadow and watched the dragonflies overhead. The wind was blowing nicely and a few leaves were falling here and there. Everytime the breeze would pick up, I could hear the rustling. So nice, so relaxing... So quiet!
I definitely want to go back to that spot again. It's not a weekend place for us. The few times I've driven by on a Saturday, it's been wrapped up with kids. But it'll be perfect for lazy afternoons after we've finished school for the day. We might even pack up a picnic lunch and take with us. I'll definitely have to invite a few of our friends to meet us there. The boys would love playing "obstacle course" there with friends.
10 Television Shows on DVD
This week's Ten on Tuesday wants to know what 10 television shows you have or would like to have on DVD. My list:
1. Monk (have Season 1)
2. CSI: New York (have Season 1)
3. CSI
4. Friends
5. Seinfeld
6. Homefront
7. ER
8. Chicago Hope
9. Everybody Loves Raymond (Thanks, Patois, for the idea!)
10. Psych
At first I thought this was going to be a breeze. I was putting down one show after another, then I came to a screeching halt.I absolutely can not think of anything else! I'm sure I'll come up with something later.
Mediterranean Hummus Pizza
Billy was able to get the good hummus yesterday at Fadi's! The pizza was really good, and it reminded me a lot of the Greek Pita Pizzas that I've made in the past, but it was quite a bit saltier. I think that was due to the combination of hummus, Kalamata olives, and marinated artichoke hearts.
I made it on a 15" round stone with my delicious homemade pizza crust, which complemented the Greek flavors nicely. I brushed olive oil and fresh garlic on the crust, then baked it completely. After it cooled a bit, I spread the hummus on top. Then I topped it with coarsely chopped kalamata olives, chopped onion (I forgot to buy red onion), diced cucumber, marinated artichoke hearts, diced tomato (on my half only), and feta cheese.
It was very filling! I've mentioned before that Billy and I can't eat as much pizza on the new crust, and it was true last night as well. The two of us ate only half, so we have leftovers for tonight. I hope it's good left over, but I can't see why it wouldn't be.
I didn't figure the boys would like that pizza, so I made a cheese pizza for them. They have 5 slices left, so that should be enough for them and the babysitter tonight.
1. Monk (have Season 1)
2. CSI: New York (have Season 1)
3. CSI
4. Friends
5. Seinfeld
6. Homefront
7. ER
8. Chicago Hope
9. Everybody Loves Raymond (Thanks, Patois, for the idea!)
10. Psych
At first I thought this was going to be a breeze. I was putting down one show after another, then I came to a screeching halt.
Mediterranean Hummus Pizza
Billy was able to get the good hummus yesterday at Fadi's! The pizza was really good, and it reminded me a lot of the Greek Pita Pizzas that I've made in the past, but it was quite a bit saltier. I think that was due to the combination of hummus, Kalamata olives, and marinated artichoke hearts.
I made it on a 15" round stone with my delicious homemade pizza crust, which complemented the Greek flavors nicely. I brushed olive oil and fresh garlic on the crust, then baked it completely. After it cooled a bit, I spread the hummus on top. Then I topped it with coarsely chopped kalamata olives, chopped onion (I forgot to buy red onion), diced cucumber, marinated artichoke hearts, diced tomato (on my half only), and feta cheese.
It was very filling! I've mentioned before that Billy and I can't eat as much pizza on the new crust, and it was true last night as well. The two of us ate only half, so we have leftovers for tonight. I hope it's good left over, but I can't see why it wouldn't be.
I didn't figure the boys would like that pizza, so I made a cheese pizza for them. They have 5 slices left, so that should be enough for them and the babysitter tonight.
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