Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Ideas Please! Where would you take Five Kids on Vacation?

1:42 PM

For Christmas this year, Wes and I put it into the hands of our five children, ages 5-14, to "choose their Own Adventure." (You can read more about it in this post, it is adventure 5). We have several other Adventures planned for the year as well. 

When we discussed their choice vacation with them, they all wanted either Hawaii or Disneyland. We love Disneyland, but are thinking of maybe trying different things this year, and we are already going to Hawaii on a different adventure. We are actually pretty good a traveling frugally, which is part of the reason we can do so many fun adventures, but when we are already doing more expensive trips like Hawaii this summer, I asked the kids to think of some less expensive options. Maybe somewhere we have not been before.

So far, they are stuck on Disneyland and Hawaii. I think it is because that is what they know. Thus I decided that we need to broaden our horizons. I bought this book for them to give them ideas:

Sadly, the kids aren't interested in reading through (or even skimming) it. BUT what I think they would do is to discuss and research places as recommended by friends. That is where you all come in. Give me some ideas of places we could go with our 5 kids. What places can I let them google and research as they "choose their own adventure"?!

Please feel free to comment here or on Facebook with ideas. OR you can email them to me if you want to. Really, any way you are willing to post/give me ideas is totally awesome! If I get some responses, I will write a follow up post after I discuss those options with the kids! 

Thanks in Advance!!!
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Beckees Deal with Superbowl food

1:09 PM
We are a family full of football fans!!

Wes played football all growing up, I was always a fan, and our two oldest boys have played for several years. We have a split family when it comes to which teams we root for, but our most fanatical, vocal fan is our middle child AKA #TomBradysBiggestFan. Wes grew up rooting for the 49ers (don't worry local friends, he has mostly outgrown that!). I lived in Denver in my early teens during which time my friend's dad was the coach of the Broncos, so I have liked them for a long time. BUT as we have lived in Washington state for 5 of the past 8 years, we all kind of like the Seahawks. Well, all but #TomBradysBiggestFan. He is all about the Patriots. And if I am being honest, I am kind of with him these days. #GoPats! In case you doubt his intense fandom, this is what he wore to CHURCH on Sunday LOL:


Regardless of where our alliances fall, we always have a big family party on Superbowl Sunday! I don't make any specific meals, but we basically have appetizers of all different kinds available for people to eat throughout the day. Sometimes I will buy a huge sandwich from like Subway as well, but mostly it is appetizer day. We have a few faves, but we also like to mix it up. Some of the faves that I plan to make this Sunday are as follows:

NOT a low calorie day, but for sure tasty and fun (and low key for me as far as cooking so I can enjoy the game!)

Any ideas of other awesome foods I could add to my Superbowl snack/apps day?! 

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Meal plans for 1/30-2/5

12:32 PM

I bet you were wondering if I had made a meal plan or simply given up. I actually DID do a meal plan for this week, and so far we have stuck to it, but I didn't post it because it needs to be changed a little bit. 

The Superbowl is a huge deal for our family, and it is especially a huge deal with one of the favorite teams is playing. Those of you that know our family know that my middle son is oft referred to as #TomBradysBiggestFan. Seriously, he has been a Patriots/Tom Brady fan since he was like 3. And I mean he's a hard core fan. Like, we live in Washington State where people are fanatically huge fans of the Seahawks. like almost all the people. In fact, during football season schools, companies, even hospitals have employees/students wear their Seahawks gear each Friday. They call it Blue Friday (It's seriously a big thing. Read about it here.) Well, on Blue Fridays, my kid bravely and stubbornly wears his Patriots jersey to school. Every.Week. Relentlessly! 

So, Superbowl is a big deal. BUT when I was planning this weeks meals, I forgot that Sunday is the Superbowl. We do that say differently as far as food goes, so I need to change the plan for Sunday. I will write a whole post about that in a few minutes. For now, I will post my original plan, but keep in mind that Sunday will change! 

Above is a picture of my plan for the week. (With my notes and all) And for those that cannot see or read the picture, here it is:

Monday 1/30: Turkey Noodle Soup 
Tuesday 1/31: Leftovers! 
Wednesday 2/1: Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese with Salad and Brussell Sprouts
Thursday 2/2: Crock Pot Chili with rolls
Friday 2/3: Chicken Pillows W/Broccoli and Salad
Saturday 2/4: Baked Potato Bar 
Sunday 2/5: Roast, Orzo, veggies, salad (will change to SUPERBOWL food!)

So a few notes and recipes:

Monday 1/30: Turkey Noodle Soup
  • I pretty much always do turkey noodle soup the day after turkey.
  • I feel like my Turkey Noodle soup has really, really bumped up a level since my mother-in-law introduced me to these amazing noodles (which you can find in your local freezer section). Reames Frozen Noodles: 
Tuesday 1/31: Leftovers
  • Guys, when you actually cook every night, the leftovers can build up fast, so it's a great idea to have a leftover night at least once a week or so. That's tonight's plan!
  • Admittedly, some of my kids will not eat the stuff we have leftover, so we may end up supplementing with PB&J sandwiches or noodles and butter. We will see how it goes.
  • The best thing I did during med school/residency when I was trying to meal plan like a boss, was to plan leftover days, then CLEAN OUT ALL the leftovers after that meal. Pull out all the leftovers from the week, let everyone pick and choose what they want, then when everyone has eaten, get rid of the old food, clean out that fridge! Make room for next week's leftovers. :)
Wednesday 2/1: Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese with Salad and Brussell Sprouts
  • I might change the Brussell Sprouts to a different kind of veggie because we have eaten them a lot lately.
  • This is a favorite meal for Wes and the kids, but it is not low cal, so that's why I make sure that we have salad and veggies with the grilled cheese and tomato soup.
  • Also, since I cannot eat cheese or greasy foods, I will stick to the veggies and Salad for this dinner. BUT just because I cannot have it, doesn't mean the kids and Wes should miss out on a favorite meal!
Thursday 2/2: Crock Pot Chili with rolls
  • This might be my favorite go-to meal in the winter especially. It is SO easy and so good! 
  • EASY is the goal for Thursdays because it is so crazy with kids activities! The crock pot is my friend on Thursdays-lets hope this week I remember to start the food in the morning. LOL
Friday 2/3: Chicken Pillows W/Broccoli and Salad
  • This meal is a little bit of a thing to put it together, so I don't love to make it often, but it is THE favorite of several of my kids. They have requested this meal for weeks and weeks, so I finally put it on the meal plan-on a night when we have nothing else going on except date night for me and Wes!
  • Before I share the recipe, let me note that when I make chicken pillows, the morning of, I take our my small crock pot and put in 2 or 3 breasts of chicken and cook them in the crock pot all day-then I shred the chicken instead of dicing it. Just a little change that makes it easier for me and I like it this way! :) 
  • The picture below is the Chicken Pillows recipe I use (thanks Mom!) 
Here's the typed out version of the recipe:

Chicken Pillows

2 Cups diced, cooked Chicken (or shredded)
8 oz Cream Cheese, Softened (sometimes I use more if I want it creamier)
1-2 onions, chopped
2-4 stalks celery, chopped
8 oz fresh mushrooms, cut
2 (or more-I usually use like 4) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
Melted butter
Seasoned bread crumbs

Gravy: Make a white sauce (1/4 C flour, 1/2 square butter, salt, pepper, and 2 C milk, one bullion cube for flavor) OR open can or 2 of cream of anything soup, OR Mix the white sauce with a can of cream of anything soup (this is what I do)

For the Pillows:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Saute onion, celery and mushrooms in olive oil or butter. Add to a bowl where you have already mixed the cream cheese and the chicken. Mix the veggie in. Drop by spoonfuls on to the center of a crescent roll, Close up the roll and pinch the edges closed. Roll in melted butter, then roll in the seasoned bread crumbs. Put on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Serve with gravy.

Saturday 2/4: Baked Potato Bar 
  • Dare I admit that this is basically another meal designed to use up leftovers? I put this meal after chili, broccoli, and the chicken pillow gravy intentionally so we can use all those items as possible toppings for the potatoes! 
  • Besides the leftover toppings, I will have available, butter, sour cream, ranch dressing, bacon, and various other options. 
Sunday 2/5: Roast, Orzo, veggies, salad (will change to SUPERBOWL food!)
  • Roast, Orzo, veggies and salad is the traditional Sunday meal for my family. It is awesome! But alas, this Sunday it will change!
  • More on the Superbowl foods in another post
  • Go Pats!
And there you have it! Meal Plans for this week!!!

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