The Child’s Top 14 In 2014

I will admit, I have been a little lax the last couple of months for “Child Chat.” However, I do love year end top news stories…So here are the Child Family’s Top 14 Moments from the year 2014 (in no particular order).

1. We are adding a new addition to our family! Sometime around April 20, 2015, we will welcome a new baby. Will baby be a boy? Will baby be a girl? You only get so many surprises in life, so Brad and I have opted to have Baby #2 be a surprise just as Phoenix was. However, many people have “predicted” a girl. Thoughts? We will see!

2. Phoenix took his first trip on an airplane! What an exciting time! For more on that experience, go here –https://childchat.wordpress.com/2014/06/

3. We took an official family vacation to Clearwater Beach, where Phoenix learned to love the beach life…and Mommy and Daddy didn’t have a bad time either!

4. Brad expanded his business from BPC Painting to BPC Finishing. He is doing more cabinetry and finishing work with his business. This means no garage for me right now, but lots of exciting things for BPC! Check out some of his latest projects here: https://www.facebook.com/bpcfinishing

5. Phoenix received his first set of stitches! In case you’re wondering how…he was walking down the nicely carpeted stairs at his grandparents’ house, and fell on just the right banister corner. Three stitches later, he was back to his old tricks. Mommy and Daddy, however, are forever scarred from the ER trip! 🙂

6. Phoenix participated in his first Jr. Bix! We love the Bix, especially the Bix at 6, however this year did not do either one! Phoenix, filled in our absence (and shoes – haha) though! He and friends ran their little hearts out in the Jr. Bix! The hot dogs and popsicles after weren’t too bad either!

7. We became an aunt and uncle to another beautiful niece this summer! Sophie Elizabeth entered the world and our hearts July 20th!

8. I traveled to Florida a second time for the American School Counselor Conference in Disney World! What a “magical” experience, and I was able to hear First Lady, Michelle Obama, speak as well as Stedman Graham! Cool times!

Listening to Michelle Obama!

9. Although I missed my first rodeo parade EVER in  32 years, we still enjoyed another great year of the New Windsor Fair and Rodeo. Phoenix and Irelynn participated in their first EVER kiddie parade and won a  trophy!

Rodeo Kiddie Parade!

10. We discovered that we would be having our Baby #2 only 2 weeks after Amber and Brandon will welcome their Baby #2! Talk about a fun-filled adventure!

11. Kyson has entered the age of “I do what I want.” Which translates to – “I sleep when and where I want to sleep – aka the bed.” “Bread on the counter? Must be for me!” “Snack cabinet open? Those chocolates are calling my name!” In all seriousness, he continues to be a pretty good companion to not only Brad and I, but little brother, Phoenix. He still enjoys chasing his ball and a walk now and then, but when he’s done. He’s done.

Ball?

Still a sweet boy.

12. Our bathroom project is ALMOST done. I’m confident that 2015 will bring around the completion of the bathroom remodel. At least I can say the only thing pink left in the bathroom right now is the tub!

The BPC Boys working hard on our bathroom!

13. Phoenix continues to find enjoyment in even the smallest things. Whether it is coloring, drawing, sword fighting, pillow fighting, or dressing up – he just. has. fun. Dandelions, for instance, were the cheapest and most rewarding forms of entertainment this past spring/summer. https://childchat.wordpress.com/2014/05/

Hello, beautiful world!

Still loving the old swing!

14. Although there were big trips, we discovered our love for “little trips” too…like “bike night” at the school park, Family Museum, Niabi Zoo, grocery store, Lowes and more!

Bike Night!

Visiting the Family Museum on $1 Monday Funday night!

Fishing on Lake Lynnwood.

Well, that was our 14 from 2014. What was your 14 from 2014? Looking forward to making new memories in 2015!

Those Summer Nights…

Whoa. Did that just happen? Summer went by and now we’re full blown into fall! Oh, and yes, I did miss a monthly post in September. I’ll just go ahead and play the pregnancy card here…however, I really know what was going on…

Back to school!

School started, the weather changed and our lazy summer days and nights were over. It’s amazing how different 7:00 p.m. feels in the summer time versus when we return to school. At that time in the summer, you may find us just starting to eat dinner, playing at the park or heading out for a walk. Now, when 7:00 hits, I’m running through all the lists in my head that have to be done before bedtime and our day begins tomorrow.

It’s those times when I really miss the laid back nights of summer…when usually the biggest question crossing my mind was, “what should we do tomorrow?”

Enjoying some pool time in the backyard…

Don’t get my wrong…I love all things fall. Football games, chili, crunchy leaves, the colors. Winter, on the other hand, might be a different story.

Anyways, as I savor my hot potato soup on this Sunday evening, I remember those summer nights and look forward to them again in a few (but busy!) months not too long from now.

Fishing on Lake Lynnwood.

Christmas in July?

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression…or perhaps…sale slogan, “Christmas in July!” While I have heard this saying many times, this year, I really started to think about how July is really like a “holiday” season around our household. Of course, I know what you’re thinking… that it’s because MY birthday falls in July. However, there are LOTS of other festivities and reasons WHY July captures the magic of summer in my book. The month of December is filled with family, friends, laughter and fun…similarly, so is July in our book.

Celebrating my birthday! Azteca style…

July 1 of this year, I celebrated in one of the most magical places on Earth…Disney World! I was wrapping up my time at the ASCA Conference 2014, and was able to spend some time watching fireworks at Epcot and shopping Downtown Disney. If that’s not like a holiday, I’m not sure what is!

Fireworks at Epot.

Every July 3, we host our annual Fourth of July extravaganza! This all began when we first  moved into our old house over 7 years ago. We love to share the evening with our closest friends and family celebrating the Fourth. As an entourage, we walk up the street to the lighted parade and watch the fireworks. It’s a simple gathering, yet something Brad and I look forward to each year

Celebrating the Fourth of July with friends…

July is really the month where I celebrate the perk of working in the education system…while our summer break officially starts in June, I really feel like I am “on summer break” when July hits. Although I subbed a few days for summer school, I thoroughly enjoyed the moments Phoenix and I spent, walking to the park, picnicking with friends, visiting the zoo and enjoying ice cream on a daily basis.

Fishing on Lake Lynnwood.

July is a time when we sporadically take day trips or make impromptu gatherings that leave a lasting impression with friends.

Impromptu visit to the Brown’s…where the mommies enjoyed a canoe adventure!

Brad taking the ladies for a cruise…

July is also a month that I share birthdays with two of my three darling nieces, Irelynn and Sophie!

Spending some QT with my baby niece, Irelynn.

Newest July celebration – Sophie Elizabeth!

This July, we tried something new for the “holiday season.” Phoenix participated in the Jr. Bix run! Thanks to the encouragement from our dear friend, Karen, we entered Phoenix in his first “race.” It was so fun to be surrounded by the Bix energy and participate in such a great event.

Pictures from our first Jr. Bix event!

As July came to an end, I felt the need to try and pack as much as I could into the last days. Whether it was visiting the Family Museum, Niabi Zoo or just running here and there, I wanted to make each spare second count!

Train ride “selfie” at Niabi Zoo!

Visiting the Family Museum on $1 Monday Funday night!

Enjoying some pool time in the backyard…

I think this happens when you start to feel the “magic of the season.” Does that ever happen to you? If it’s not in July, I hope it’s another month when you feel the excitement like we do during “Christmas in July.”

Up Up And Away…Our Family’s First Flying Experience.

We did it! Our first family vacation…

And it involved an airplane!

On the plane!

I had read LOTS of blogs, articles, tips and advice regarding “traveling with a toddler” before we took off on our trip to Florida. Some of it, I read and used…some of it…I read and didn’t use.” However, most of the tips and tricks that I read were helpful…and luckily, we were on a quick 2 1/2 hour non-stop flight.

Get me off this plane! (Leaving Florida)

First things first…Going there was a bit easier than returning. Part of that was due to the time of the flights. Our returning flight was very early in the morning, and as you can see…Phoenix struggled a little with that. The “whiney/unhappy” three-year old was unleashed while boarding the plane…and I was having slight anxiety attacks thinking he would be non-stop screaming the entire flight back. As luck may have it, he settled down and even slept a little on the way home as well.

Checking out the plane we flew in on!

One of the best part s of vacation (for Phoenix) was getting to ride in an airplane for the very first time! He was very excited about this and talked about it a great deal before leaving, during our vacation and upon returning home. He had his very own seat, and enjoyed buckling (and unbuckling) his seat belt throughout a majority of the flight!

Although it was a short trip, the following things were helpful when making the flight “successful.”

• Stroller. We brought a stroller for my 11 month old niece to use…however, in the airports it was extremely helpful to have Phoenix ride in the stroller (even though he is 3). Oh and in case you’re wondering, my sister used an Ergo baby carrier to maneuver my niece around in!

Headed to check in!

• Light jacket/Sweatshirt. The plane definitely gets chilly, and I was glad to have packed a small sweatshirt for all of us!
• Snacks. I packed cereal bars, suckers, goldfish, granola bars, fruit…etc. I also packed a thermos for water.
• Gum. To help with the pressure and Phoenix’s ears, I packed LOTS of gum…however, he never once said anything about his ears feeling funny or popping…I had worried A LOT about this too! Mainly, he just loves to chew gum, so it was nice to have this available throughout vacation! (Bribery…)
• Small toys. I packed 1 quart size ziplock bag of toys for Phoenix. Yes. One quart size bag. He played with these “special toys” on the plane as well as when we would go out to dinner. These entertained him…YOU DO NOT have to pack a ton of toys. Trust me. He was just as happy to play with an inner tube from the pool while in the room.

Special bag of toys!

• Crayons, notebook, coloring book, pens. Phoenix likes to draw, write and color, so I did make sure to pack these items.
  

  Journaling about his adventures…

• Stickers. This probably entertained Phoenix the most on the plane. Just before leaving, Brad’s aunt had given Phoenix a Melissa and Doug book full of different scenes and reusable stickers. He loved peeling off the stickers and putting them on the page. Highly recommend this! He plays with it still at home as well!

Enjoying his new sticker book!

Melissa & Doug Sticker Book.

• I pad (with headphones). Just before leaving, Brad downloaded 2 “Jake the Pirate” shows so that Phoenix could watch them during the flight. If you had a longer flight, you could download a movie as well to keep your child (or self!) occupied.

Watching “Jake the Pirate”

Brad enjoying the Ipad AND cereal bar packed for Phoenix…

Following our flight to and from…there is really only one thing that I wish I would have packed and did not:

• A garbage bag! I wish I would have packed a grocery bag or even a zip lock bag for garbage. This would have came in handy!

So that’s how we traveled on a plane with a three year old. We enjoyed a relaxing and fun vacation at Clearwater Beach and can’t wait to go on our next adventure together!

Enjoying Clearwater Beach!

Dandelion: Flower or Weed?

When you look at a dandelion, what do you see? Do you see a weed or do you see a bright yellow flower? Our perception is our reality. One of my favorite lessons I teach to fourth grade centers on perspective and point of view. What might appear one way to an individual, may be seen in a completely different light through another’s eyes.

These past weeks, I have been stopped by children and their fascination  for the yellow flowers finally sprinkling our green grass. Phoenix started picking them about a week or so ago and has even went so far as to come knocking at the door to deliver me his prize position! Earlier this week, as I cruised down Locust Street on my way to work, again I paused as I saw one of my students bending over to pick a dandelion while meandering on his way to school. At recess, kindergarten students used much effort to gather as many yellow “flowers” to make a beautiful bouquet for their teacher. One even thought the teacher could have used it for a wedding bouquet!

Picking flowers for Mommy!

“If there were no dandelions, there would be no flowers.” – Kylie

All of this got me thinking about perception. What if other things in our life were like this scenario…sometimes you think your yard is covered in weeds, but to someone else it may be a bouquet of flowers to share with someone they love. Sometimes when things seem bad, someone else may find a silver lining. And don’t forget…these yellow “weeds” soon turn to white, fluffy blooms that you can make a wish on.

Making wishes…

Just when I thought dandelions couldn’t get any better to Phoenix, they turned white and fluffy. One day while waiting on Mommy and Gram, Phoenix discovered that if he kicked them, it could be great fun! “Mommy, can we go find some kickers at home?” he asked. When we go for a run now, we have to stop when we find a good spot to go and “kick.”

Exploring a whole field of “kickers!”

When I think of dandelions, I think of home. A yard full of yellow, is normal for a country girl. It’s hard to keep your yard free of those dandelions when you live out there. I think of sitting on the side of the road, and my Grandma Carol teaching me how to make dandelion chain link bracelets. She also told me you could fry them up for dinner, but I never went that far…and just today I read that in Amana, they make wine from dandelions!

Yes, green looks nice, but if my whole yard was green, how would I receive flowers of love randomly from my son?  How would children stop for nature?  When might someone make a wish?

 

Our Favorite Things That Tell Us It’s Spring

While the past few days may not exactly feel like spring, there have been a few tastes of spring  this past month. I’m not sure about everyone else, but I have been or was in a rotten, crabby mood about the weather we have had between winter and now. When we get those little tastes of nice weather though, it really makes you appreciate the beauty around us in spring! Here are the little snip-its of spring we have “tasted” so far and are clinging to these past days!

Enjoying some outdoor time on Easter!

Picking flowers (aka weeds) from the front yard. Phoenix is so proud to pick these little flower sprouting in our front yard!

First trip to the zoo for the season!

Hunting Easter eggs outside (four times!)

Flying kites in the country.

Phoenix riding his tractor…for hours…literally.

Swinging in a hammock (twice in one Easter Sunday).

Walks around town and up to the park.

Coffee on our back porch.

Lunch bunches at the picnic table with students from school.

Swinging in the tire swing.

Chives sprouting from my herb bin!

Sunday afternoon drinks in the garage at Aunt Julie’s…storm clouds, hail and all!

Bubbles.

Sidewalk chalk.

Kickball, baseball, soccerball…all played outside and NOT in our hallway!

I’m sure there are many more pieces I’ve missed, but this at least ties me over until May…which is just around the corner.

What tells you that spring has sprung?

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

While I am by no means a professional photographer, if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you know that I have a passion for capturing moments on film. I love pictures. I love taking them. I love posting them. I love looking at them. Period. I suppose I got this from my mother, who also shares this “addiction.” And when I say, “addiction,” I mean “addiction.” I think she’s had more cameras then purses! Well…maybe not that many, but you catch my drift.

Last weekend, my mom and I had the opportunity to go to a FREE photography class at the Figge Art Museum called “Beyond the Snapshot – The Art of Building and Creating Fine Photographs.” There were several presenters including local news photographers and teachers. Here are some tidbits that I took away from our session…

A Good Photo:

Tells. A good photo tells a story. These are my favorite kind of photos, thus, probably ones that I take the most of.

A little boy’s first hockey game.

The story of a boy and a dog.

We know the story unfolding here!

Teaches. A good photo teaches us about something when we look at it. Most of the photographs shared at our class taught us about the art of photography and gave me ideas about how to take photography to the next level.

Balloons taking off at the Balloon Festival

A monarch butterfly. Makes me think of first grade in Mrs. Duty’s class learning all about the transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly!

Running with daddy…

Touches. A good photo reaches out and touches. It touches your emotions, your thoughts…Perhaps this is where the phrase “a picture worth a thousand words comes from?”

One of my all time favorite moments captured by my mom of my Grandma, Phoenix and I.

I don’t know if I’ll ever grow old of this photo.

The Golden Rule of Thirds
This rule suggests that an image should be imagined as being divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. Important compositional elements (or photo subjects) should be placed along these lines or intersections.

An example of a picture using the Rule of Thirds the right way.

Angles
Work at taking photographs from different angles. Try taking a picture from down low…from up above…move the lense so it is at an angle to the picture you are taking.

Patience
This is a tough one…you have to be patient to get a great picture. This is especially true when you’re working with the subjects like I normally have – kids and dogs! Oh and the grandparents too! Just kidding, but seriously, why is it when you get the babies looking, the grandparents never are? Oh well…I digress…

Patience.

My FAVORITE:

The BEST camera is the one that you have on you.

I thought this was so interesting coming from photographers who use thousands of dollars worth of lenses and cameras daily. However,

“It’s not the camera that makes the photo, it is the photographer.” 

Some examples of me using the camera I have “on me.” My phone! Ready to get an iphone though – just for the camera! lol

My new favorite picture…

Reading under the Christmas tree…Sometimes you can catch a moment just perfectly!

While I still have lots to explore on my camera to figure out what all those symbols and acronyms stand for, I at least have some background in the artistry of photography which is a start! Many more photographs to come!

Top 10 Reasons Why We Are Currently ‘Okay’ With Co-Sleeping…

Yes. You read that right. Our son is 3, and we’re okay with the fact that he currently is sleeping with us. After some brief contemplation and decision to write this to make myself feel better and laugh, here are the Top 10 Reasons Brad and I are comfortable and accepting of this fact:

1. Key word = current. Phoenix hasn’t always slept in our bed…nor will he always sleep in our bed in the future. Like all other “trials” we have faced with raising our bouncing baby boy, this too shall pass and won’t last forever.

Catching some zzz’s within the first few weeks of being a new mommy.

2. We go to sleep every night and wake up every morning next to the people (and animal) who mean most to us in our lives.

Brad and his boys…resting while they could.

3. We appreciate each other more. I was always that sleeper that fell asleep or ended up wrapping myself around Brad during my sleep. Phoenix has clearly inherited this trait from me. I appreciate Brad for putting up with this for so long over the past years! Additionally, when I leave in the morning, and Phoenix then wraps himself on top of Brad’s sleeping head, Brad can then appreciate everything I have been through for the past hours.

4. More Sleep. Believe it or not, I go to bed earlier now than when Phoenix slept in his own crib/bed. By the time I would finally get him to sleep, showered and packed up for the next day, I always felt frustrated because I had no “me” time. Now, we still have a routine for bed, but as I have my “me time” reading or catching up on the ipad, it’s just happening lying next to my son.

Reading with my boys before bed!

5. Less Fighting. Sometimes, it seemed our time before bed was always a fight. We’d fight to get a bath, fight to put on jammies, fight to go to bed. I would be exhausted and before long, it seemed Brad and I would be fighting about fighting putting our son to bed. SO NOT WORTH IT! There have only been a couple times when voices were raised in the evening hours since switching to our current circumstances.

Daddy and mini me catching some zzz’s…

6. Phoenix is a night owl. Brad is a night owl. I. AM. NOT. Need I say more?

Enjoying a Friday night in with my crazy night owl!

7. There’s going to be a day when Phoenix isn’t going to want to snuggle with mommy, play with my hair and tell me he loves me. Today,however, is not that day.

Sleeping on mommy…favorite weekend nap spot.

8. Less Stress. Brad continually said to me, “I don’t know why you keep stressing about him sleeping in here!?” He didn’t care what everyone else did, and couldn’t understand why I kept obsessing over it. He only cared about what worked for us. Our son was happy. He seems like a pretty “normal, adjusted and fairly independent child” during the day. We were happy to get sleep. So why stress? 

One person never stresses about sleep in our house. I’ll let you guess who…

9. We’re like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!” And who doesn’t LOVE “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?” I mean, Charlie’s GRANDPARENTS shared a bed for goodness sake, surely us sharing our bed with our young son isn’t worse than that, right?

What? You mean you actually have to tell kids to go to sleep? Sounds ridiculous!

10. More of the Same…While endlessly obsessing, researching and ranting about this night time struggle in our lives, I grew to realize there seemed to be more people in our boat or that had BEEN in our boat than those who were not. WE ARE NOT ALONE!

Just like some little boys like super heroes…some like to sleep with their mommy and daddy too.

So, did I EVER think I would let our child sleep in our bed? NO. Funny thing is, when you actually have a child of your own, you realize how much of a survivalist you are. You start doing WHATEVER you can to get by. Everyone has their limits, but they can decide what they are.

There comes a time when man realizes sleep must come any way it can…

Phoenix will not be our baby forever, just like he didn’t breastfeed forever, have a pacifier forever or wear a diaper forever. He will also NOT BE IN OUR BED FOREVER. However, whether he decides tonight, next week or next month if he’s going to sleep in his own bed or ours, we’ve decided to be “OKAY” with that for now…

Make Ahead Freezer Meals…It’s So Cool…

It’s true. We are some of “those people” who make ahead freezer meals.  While we don’t eat them EVERY night, they are a lovely option when I don’t want to waste time thinking about and cooking a healthy family dinner.

Last year, Brad and I attended a couple clean cooking classes through our gym, which were awesome. They were taught and prepared at Hy-Vee. We really liked the prep classes because meals were paleo style and healthy, which basically means they did NOT include and pastas, rice, etc. This helped serve my thinking for home prep later on. Although these classes are still continuing once a month, we can’t always make the class and budget factors in as well. In November, I got to thinking that maybe I could create my own clean meals as well. It’s actually not as hard/time consuming as it sounds. Most of my combinations include minimal ingredients. I also, cook them in a skillet once they have thawed. I add sides to them as needed the night of (depending on what we have and what people want!)

My sister and I completed a Sam’s run just the other day, and while we were in line, she asked me some questions about my meal prep, so hopefully her questions (answered) will help you should you decide to try and take this leap of faith!

My MUST HAVES for “make ahead” meals and “clean meal” prep:

– Gallon Freezer Bags. (Invest in some decent ones – although currently I have been using generic Target brand!)

– Permanent Marker. For labeling the bags.

– A good knife or two and a cutting board.

– Table or counter space. (Although, as you can see by my pictures, I make due!)

Literally what my counter looks like during one of my prepping sessions!

– Ipad, tablet, tv, computer, radio. I set up my Ipad like a little t.v. and have some of my netflix shows going at the same time so I can catch up on some of “my t.v.” vs. Phoenix shows!

– Olive oil.

– Your top favorite seasonings. Garlic, onion powder, tumeric, cumin, rosemary…(Personally, I could not do without my Tastefully Simple Seasonings. They are simply the best! If you want to try them – start with Rustic Herb Seasoning, Garlic Garlic and Fiesta Party Spice – These are used sometimes daily in our house!)

My “go to” spices.

– Veggies/Sides. Easy ones include baby carrots – I choose these because you don’t have to cut them!, onions, peppers, zucchini, potatoes, broccoli, veggies, and whatever type of veggies you prefer.) Corn would probably be good, but since Brad cannot eat corn due to his Crohn’s, that is a side I reserve for just Phoenix and I.

– Fruits. I use pineapple and apples in some of my recipes to add some sweetness.

– The meats. You could use chicken breasts, chicken thighs (I use skinless), pork chops, fish, ground meat, steak, etc. etc…

– Oh yea – Recipes. I usually scroll through pinterest and my recipe cards, but do whatever works for you!

Where to shop?
Honestly, Sam’s is the place for me, but that’s because I can get a lot at once there. I usually always get my chicken breast, chicken thighs, fish and whole chickens there. They have hormone/cage-free whole chickens there that are great to use (2 per a package). Hy-Vee, as well as Aldi’s are also my other “go-to” stores.

Where to Begin?
Hopefully, before you went to the store, you thought about some meals you like or would like to make ahead of time. Personally, I do not shop and make my meals on the same day. Too overwhelming. The day of, get your list (or an idea in your head) of the meals you want to try and prep/make. Honestly, I usually do this in my head because sometimes I change my mind as I’m going through chopping and mixing spices – but that’s just me!

First Things First?
Get all your ingredients out and organized – except for the meat! You will save this for last. I make a grouping of spices, bags/marker, and veggies. Now is also a good time to start your music or show if you plan to have that going! If you know the exact meals you’re making, you may want to just label your bags now before food goes in. However, if you’re like me  – like I said – you might not know what kind of meals you’re coming up with!

You can use bowls/plates/whatever to make your piles of peppers/onions/veggies/fruits.

Putting It All Together
Usually, I dump in the veggies/fruits/spices/olive oil first. I kind of get an assembly line going of stacked up bags. I just eye ball, what I think would be enough for us. Once I get them all lined up, I clean up/move all those items out of the way. I have to make room for the meat! You want to do one meat at a time because of cross contamination. Also, I try and have the garbage can out to throw stuff away so I don’t have to touch doors/etc. Some people opt to use gloves when cutting meat. I do not. However, I wash my hands LOTS of times, because I don’t want to touch chicken and then other things. Once it’s all in the bag, I seal it and squish all the ingredients together.

Some meals just waiting to be thrown in the freezer!

How to cut?
I sometimes leave my chicken breasts whole, but you could also cut them into chicken bites, strips, etc. Same goes with the chicken thighs.

After cutting – dump them into your bags, zip, seal and freeze!

The glory of these type of meals, is that you can add sides if you want, but if you think in your head, “meat and veggies,“ you can add any combination of items that sound good to you.

Child Household Top Make Ahead Meal Options:

Roasted Veggies and Chicken
– Chicken (strips, breast or thighs)
– Carrots/Zucchini/Vegetables of choice
– Onion
– Peppers
– Olive Oil and Seasoning (Tastefully Simple’s Rustic Herb Seasoning is great for this!)

Coconut Chicken Nuggets
– Cut up chicken breasts (simply freeze these until  you need them)
– Shake them in coconut flour the day of (after they’ve thawed)
– Fry them up in some olive/coconut oil

Meatballs/Meatloaf
-Ground Beef
– Egg
– Onion
– Tomato Paste, Mustard
– Olive Oil and Seasoning
– Squish together…It’s great to do a big batch of this because you could make one big loaf for meatloaf, and another loaf for meat balls. Just wait until it thaws to make them into the meatballs.

Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot
– 1 whole chicken
– Carrots
– Potatoes
– Apples (I love to stuff these in the chicken and put around in the crockpot)
– Onions
– Olive Oil and Seasonings (Again, I use rustic herb, garlic, barbeque, rosemary a lot with these)
– Put a little water in bottom, and cook all afternoon.
– This usually lasts us two meals, and then I will pick the chicken off and make either chicken salad or chicken pot pie with the remaining chicken so nothing gets wasted!

What’s the Hardest Part?
The hardest part with meal prep is honestly remembering to take the meals out of the freezer the night before or day of. I use a dry erase calendar on my fridge to list out our meals for the week. Do we always stick to it? No. But it at least helps us a majority of the time!

Do you have any favorite freezer meals? I’d love to hear!

Hi, I’m Phoenix, and I’m Three!

That’s Me! Phoenix…and I’m Three!

My favorite things include, but are not limited to:

• Playing/antagonizing my older fur-brother, Kyson. I love to give him hugs, pull his tail, sit on him, slip him food and boss him around.
• Running chaotically through the house pushing my shopping cart. Please note, most often this takes place after 8:00 p.m. Also, I love using my shopping cart as a step stool and launching pad.
• Playing “kick” in the hallway with daddy (and sometimes mommy). This consists of me kicking my Cars ball as hard as possible down the hall and off the wall.
• Wearing my mask…to dinner, to parties, to bed.
• Lounging in a variety of pajama pants. I prefer to mismatch the tops and bottoms and would wear pajamas everywhere if I could!
• Wearing my mittens inside and outside!
• Wearing crocs no matter the weather.
• Building and working with Daddy.
• Reading “Blue Hat, Green Hat” as well as “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands” by myself.
• Writing with any type of pencil/pen and paper…preferably – a notebook, but I used to enjoy writing with a pen and checkbook so much that I would take it to bed with me.
• Opening the bathroom door the second mommy or daddy go in their to use the bathroom.
• Sleeping in mommy and daddy’s bed. Daddy says we’re like the “Charlie and the Chocolate” family. Mommy says she just wants sleep! I think Daddy has officially convinced mommy to stop reading sleep articles of what’s right and wrong, and to just do whatever works so that we ALL get a good night’s sleep!
• Speaking of sleep…as I turn three, my general bedtime falls around 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. Startling, right? I know!

Random Facts as I turn the Big Three!

• I love visiting the zoo and feeding the giraffes in the summer!
• Watching any of the following: “Curious George,” “Batman,” “Clifford,” “Caillou,” (mommy hates that whiny kid!) and most recently “Jake the Pirate” on the Ipad or Netflix is pretty normal.
• My favorite movies over the past months have included, “The Lorax,” “Horton Hears a Who,” “Toy Story,” “Planes,” “Frozen,” “The Sandlot,” “Elf,” “Finding Nemo,”  and “Cars.”
• I will do anything for a miniature marshmallow! It worked so well for potty training, that mommy and daddy bribe me with one every once in a while still!
• I love cookies.
• I love ice cream.
• I love pancakes.
• I also love pomegranate seeds and pickles – but not together!
• A “no-fail” dinner option for me is always a peanut butter and honey sandwich with greek yogurt.
• I tend to get obsessed with some type of object (pencil, cards, paper, book, toy) and carry that to bed with me. It doesn’t matter if it’s soft or not, it instantly becomes my bedtime companion!
• One time, I had a meltdown in the tub because daddy wouldn’t let me take a pencil in it with me.
• I have tumbled down the stairs in our house approximately one time from the very top. They are not carpeted and the floor is cement below. Miraculously, nothing was broken, and I was fine. Mommy, however, is still traumatized.
• I can’t wait for the weather to get nice so I can get back to riding my lawn mower again!
• I can “plank” in the bathtub.
• My favorite place to eat is Azteca, and I LOVE chips and salsa!
• I just started school this August and love being at Charger Child Care!

There’s so much more to add, but here are some pictures instead! Can’t believe how much our baby has grown and shown us so much love and joy these past three years!