A taste of Thai

I am constantly, looking for new dinner ideas, that both please my family and are budget friendly. This weekend we found a hit. In my new Season's Best pampered chef cookbook, I found Thai Peanut Chicken Stir-Fry Salad. It was so good.

1 bag of romaine.
1 1/4 lbs boneless, skinless chicken.
1/2 tsp. salt.
1/2 tsp pepper.
1 tbsp. veg. oil.
1/4 cup peanuts.
1 can corn.
1 medium red bell pepper.
1 medium red onion.
4 garlic cloves.
1/3 cup Thai peanut sauce.

First cut the chicken into 1 inch squares, add salt and pepper and mix. Put veg oil in a pan and heat, meanwhile slice up bell pepper and cut onion into 1 in wedges, chop peanuts and set aside. When oil is hot add chicken cook undisturbed for 5 minutes and then turn over and cook for another 4-5 minutes. When chicken is no longer pink in the middle add corn, bell pepper, onion, mince garlic and add. Stir and let cook till veggies get tender-crisp. When done remove from heat add peanut sauce and stir. Serve over cold romaine lettuce. Top with chopped peanuts.

Everyone loved it. It serves 6 and costs only about $2 a serving.

1st family night of the New Year!

We have honestly been really enjoying, our family movie nights. Even the kids are excited. This past weekend, we got McDonalds, the kids favorite. We also got the movie "Despicable Me".


It was a really cute movie and provided several talking points, with C.J. In the movie it shows three girls living in a home for girls. I know this is a new concept for my son, realizing that not every kid has a mommy and a daddy. We talked about what we can do to help them. C.J. said we can be their friend, play x-box with them, and buy them happy meals. Another really awesome point in the movie, is that the lead Mr. Gru had a change of heart. Showing that even mean people can learn to be nice, love others and be loved. We asked C.J. what changed his heart and he knew. He very quickly answered, "The girls". We then talked about things we can do to mean people we know.

I know it seems like nothing, but we laid the foundation for how to handle mean people, that everyone can change, and how to help kids who don't have families. These are points that will be addressed and grown upon in the next several years, or maybe a lifetime.

Sewing

I laid out my squares

I sewed them together and added the backing.

Heres what it looked like when I was all done!

This was my first attempt and I learned a lot. I'm sure the next one will be even better.

Making Ice cream

C.J. got an ice cream maker for Christmas and we have been having a great time making and enjoying our ice cream.

2010

As this year comes to a close and all my friends are posting about reflecting and what the new year brings, I sit back and think about all that has changed this year. Every year I have one goal, This year it was to be happier and healthier. I feel I achieved this in so many ways. I don't feel I have ever had one year that has held so much personal growth.

To reflect on some of the many things that highlighted this past year. I see so much growth in my kids.

C.J. has totally developed a more grown up personality. He tried basketball this year for the first time, his motor skills and social skills are way more defined. He started preschool and I really noticed his responsibility level grow, as his ability to adapt to new situations. His speech has really improved. he can now zip up his jackets and buckle his seat belt. i could go on and on.

Jasey is almost two, she has way more hair and is talking up a storm. her personality is also changing and developing every day. Her likes and dislikes are more pronounced. Her fine motor skills are developing and she has taken a love to coloring. You can see her test her free will, the closer she gets to two. I can see a huge difference in her problem solving skills.

I wonder what this next year will hold for us. I know I will spend probably every year trying to make it more meaningful then the last. Trying to be a better person, parent and wife.

Christmas Day!

Real Life Santa!

On Christmas eve, we were sitting in the living room. When what should we hear, but sleigh bells. They got closer and closer. Suddenly we heard a Ho Hoing... C.J. ran to the door and threw it open, what to our wondering eyes should appear? Santa! He came by early to say hello, to give the kids a gift and warn them to fall asleep fast so he could come back with more presents!

Christmas with us!

EXPLANATION: Many of our pictures show a blue blanket hanging in the background. It is be cause that entry way leads to the playroom. Which we were redoing and in the middle of redoing it I trashed all the curtains to three very big windows. Before I could buy new curtains, our dogs tore up the kitchen floor and we needed to redo that first, however, I didn't want every one to be able to look into my house. Thus, the blanket.


Mommy opening her present.

daddy opening his beloved Zombie DVD!

C.J. gave daddy the present he picked out all by himself at preschool.

Jasey looking fabulous in her minnie mouse robe

Mommy and Jasey in front of tree.

C.J. digging his new sweat suit from his Great Aunt and Uncle

This season Jasey's hair was finally braid-able!!

Christmas!

We are very fortunate to have a ton of family that lives near by. Every holiday season we have several get-togethers. every year it's amazing to see how my children have grown from the year before. I love watching them play with their cousins. I am very proud to say, they did a great job, saying thank-you and sharing their new toys. I have 532 pictures that I just upload to the computer from Christmas! I have even more things to talk about. I almost don't know where to start.

First we started with an extended family get-together. It is always done about a week prior to Christmas. All of my mom's brothers and sisters and their kids get together. My mom is the oldest of five, and I am the oldest of the first cousins. So the cousins that my kids play with that are their age are really their 2nd cousins. They are able to know their great-grandparents and all their great aunts and uncles. While I have a ton of pictures, I'm hesitant to post any until I get permission from the people in the photos.

Santa

Every year we take the kids to get pictures with Santa. Last year Jasey cried and screamed, this year she did so much better. Still no smile, but at least she wasn't screaming.

We take them to a local bank where you get a picture with Santa in return for bringing in non-perishable foods for a local food pantry.

Here are the adorable pictures, which are pictures of pictures.