Just Another Manic Monday

Have you noticed how many songs about Monday there are? Most of them are about how bad Mondays are, but I have started looking forward to Mondays. Weekends are busy, not that the weeks aren't, but we have a better routine during the week. That makes the weekdays feel more manageable.

This weekend we had some visitors! Grandma Deb visited and helped the peas do a little cooking in the kitchen.

They baked some Easter cookies and made PB&J sandwiches.

Everyone was satisfied with the results. 

Hannah just got to gnaw on a cell phone though. It's tough being the baby.

What's For Dinner Wednesday

It is becoming evident to me that I will not become a food blogger. By the time food is made around here, no one has the patience for a photography session! Tonight we had a yummy roast chicken in the style of The Barefoot Contessa.

I also had a parenting WIN today! As a side dish to our Perfect Roast Chicken, I made Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter and Toasted Pecans. They were delicious, but both of the Peas were reluctant to try them. In a moment of pure genius (inspired by A Christmas Story), I peeled off the outer, bright green leaves.

"Would the baby giraffe like to eat the leaf?" I asked Titus.

His face lit up and he nodded his head, "Huh!" (which means yes).

Titus proceeded to eat a bunch of Brussels sprouts, and Selah was eager to join in the giraffe game. So yeah, I got my kids to eat Brussels sprouts!

Hannah is trying new things too! We are starting slow, but so far rice cereal and avocado have been a hit. I can't believe she's old enough for food.

Titus may or may not have been eating the pecans off his plate in the style of Randy at some point during the meal.

What's For Dinner Wednesday

A day late...and with no pictures, of dinner at least. I succeeded in making two meals yesterday! Chili for lunch, because winter is BACK, and Crispy Honey Lime Tilapia for dinner.

Sidenote: what is dinner at your house? The noon meal or the evening meal? At our place, dinner is in the evening.

I had planned on being a good blogger and taking pictures, but dinner was delayed due to a certain farmer. When we sat down to eat, I was way too hungry to care about pictures, as were the little Peas. I will let you look at the pictures on How Sweet It Is (one of my favorite food blogs). I also made the Blueberry Lime Salsa to go on top. I ended up using it as a salad dressing as well, and Titus and Selah just ate it with a spoon. Eating healthy is easy when it tastes this good!

In between making meals, I introduced the Peas to baking soda and vinegar. I saw this idea on Pinterest, and it was a big hit!

I dumped baking soda on a cookie sheet, added food coloring to vinegar in little cups, gave Selah and Titus medicine droppers and let them go to town!

I am sure the next time they help me bake, I will hear requests for colorful volcanoes! 

Besides cooking meals, I got nothing accomplished in the way of housework. I am learning to be okay with the chaos in our house. BUT, I did get to play dress-up and have superhero races!

I wish these happy, smiley pictures depicted the whole day, but there was a lot of yelling, crying, and hitting in between all these fun moments. Not to mention the snot from three runny noses! It is all just a part of life with three kids ages four and under, I guess. 

I am thankful to be a part of it (most of the time)!

What's For Dinner Wednesday

So I thought I would post what we had for dinner, but it turned out to be an epic fail. I did not want to take pictures of it. I had attempted Jamie Oliver's Creamy Chicken and Leek Stroganoff. It may actually be really good, but in an effort to be healthier I used 1% milk instead of heavy cream. After I added the milk, several adorable distractions took me away from the stove.

The milk boiled.

It curdled.

It looked gross.

We ate it, and Robbie said it tasted good. But he dumped a bunch of soy sauce (what?!) on it first.

Lunch was a much more successful endeavor. I sauteed spinach and mushrooms in a little water, added 3 egg whites and topped with a little salsa. Yummy!

My goal is to be much more intentional with my food. It certainly is more difficult to put a meal together with three little ones demanding my attention, but I realize that as the person who is responsible for meals, I direct the health of my family. Yikes! I am hoping to limit the processed foods that I have started to rely on.

Nutella counts as a health food, right?