Thanksgiving trip to Tennessee!

Keeping with our tradition, we went to Gatlinburg, TN November 22-27 this year. We changed it up from Boone, NC to have more activity for the girls and I say we chose wisely! A hotel with a great pool including a waterslide, Dollywood, The Island,  Ober Gatlinburg. Plenty to do! We had a great time! Always thankful for these 3. My life would be incomplete with the chaos, sticky hands, type A personalities, sensitive cries, busyness, the winks and pats on my back from Alan when I need it most and little arguments between the girls.  I love my little family(and our immediate/extended families) so much :)

 The view from our room.

 

The dancing fountains at The Island

Dancing with Daddy while the fountains dance

The Track

I'm countain on Riley to be my roller coaster buddy! :) 

We went to Dollywood on Wednesday. It was really busy, cold and lots of fun!

 

Love Riley's side eye.

 

Because when ginormous slushies aren't enough, cotton candy.

The highlight of Alan's trip was meeting Bumble!

Making cookies!

 

Menu/grocery list prep

While chatting with a group of friends last week, a couple of us talked about how we plan a menu and do a weekly or biweekly shopping trip. I thought this would be a good blog to write about to share how I do mine!

First thing I do every 2 weeks is clean out the fridge, freezer and pantry. While cleaning out, keep a tally of leftovers and meat count. I now shop 95% of my list from Aldi. I also like keeping bacon and kielbasa in the freezer. I bag up any leftovers from the fridge and put them in the freezer. I get a sheet of paper and  write down any leftovers. Any that are large enough for everyone to eat goes on the menu. Any small portions goes under the "lunch" section. You will see this below.. I usually write "freezer" beside it so I know it's a quick meal I don't have to cook.

While you are cleaning out, keep a list of any items that can be used as sides and make a "side" list. Your canned veggies, rice, pasta, etc. That way you aren't using any items that are planned for a meal. I used to be the worst at using my canned beans/corn and then going to make a recipe and my ingredients are gone! Also, write down any ingredients/spices you are low on. This is a good time to check your sugar, rice, and any other staples you like to keep.

Once I've cleaned out everything and wrote down my staples on my grocery list, I start making my menu. I go through my cookbooks and see what recipes I want and start writing them down. I have typed up and printed out recipes and put them in binders (one for regular recipes and one for crock pot) I pull out the recipes as I write them down on my menu. Any ingredients I need go on my grocery list. I only needed about 7 ingredients for these 21 meals. 

After I'm done with my menu and list, I put my menu, along with some pens and my recipes in a drawer in the kitchen. As I make the meal or use a side, I mark it off. As I have leftovers, I add them to the menu as a meal.

All of this took me about an hour without interruptions. Easy to do once you get in the groove!

Madison's Birthday Party

 

party at preschool

Mexican restaurant for lunch

Pumpkin Farm fun

Madison's preschool class took a trip to the pumpkin patch today. She had a really good time! She even let me take her pictures without fussing!

I am in love with this picture. Those blueberry eyes. Those glasses. Those freckles.

She even fed the cows!

I told her to squat by the pumpkins.... ;)

She loved the pile of tires.

Madison's Apple Farm field trip

This was her very first preschool field trip! My mom and stepdad made the trip to be with her! 

Waiting on the hay ride

 

The best thing ever! She bounced forever!

 Excited about the 'hay' ride