OPAM

OPAM = One Photo a Month

I've seen some people take on this project with their entire families...one of my very favorite photographers, Tara Whitney, did this last year...6 people, times 12 (Tara, her husband and their four kids) every month for a year. Amazing.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a family "portrait" every month, but it's hard because often, when McKenzie is over, Will isn't...or when Will and McKenzie are home, Luc and Mike are at their dad's. To get our whole crew of 7 (plus 2 dogs) together in the day time all at once is a rarity...and when it does happen it's usually chaotic and there's lots going on! (As I'm sure you can imagine! haha!)

SO, I decided I'd embark on a challenge to take a portrait of my four boys, all together...at least once a month...every month. Of course, I didn't decide this until April so my "year" is kind of lop-sided, but so be it.

I am planning to push to be more creative as the months go on, but for right now, this was a rushed evening shot we took quickly when we got home from one of the boys' sports practices...and I love it. I am going to print one for my desk at work so I can stare at those faces all day and dream of being a Stay at Home Mom. <3 And whenever they stress me out (because lets be honest...kids can stress us out), I can think of this moment and these faces and I realize it's ok.

I love these boys with every ounce of my soul...my four boys...take 1.

And just for fun...Mikey is a BURST of personality, and 9 out of 10 photos I snapped he was making a face kind of like this. He makes me laugh. hahaha!

Bagel Schmear

I'll never forget it...that fateful, quiet Sunday morning...Easter Sunday. It was just Benji & I...the man was sleeping (he's a 3rd shifter) and the older boys were at their dad's.


I was lounging on the couch, browsing all of my favorite blogs, when I came across THIS post on This Life is Sweet. At that very moment, a new tradition was born.


It was HOURS until dinner time...what could I eat in the meantime? Why, BAGEL SCHMEAR of course!! I actually got up and went to the store just for the ingredients. The moment I saw it, I knew I needed it!


It was DEVINE! I'm sure I'll make it again throughout the year (it would make an awesome dip for crackers too!!) but from here on out, I will make it every Easter morning so we can snack throughout the day on something besides Easter candy, and it will keep us happily satiated until dinner time!


So if you're looking for a delicious snack (or even something that makes a great light meal...I had it for lunch yesterday), try this...and while you're enjoying your Schmear, check out This Life is Sweet! Tell her Jenn sent you! :)

Bagel Schmear (recipe from This Life is Sweet)

2 8-oz. packages cream cheese - softened
1 pkg. Pastrami (I bought Carl Buddig) - chopped finely.
1 bunch green onions - chopped
2 c. shredded cheddar

Mix cream cheese, pastrami and green onions. Depending on how long you let your cream cheese soften, it might be difficult to stir at first. Then add your cheddar cheese and mix well.

Spread on a toasted bagel (I used Sesame bagels...yummy!) or onto Ritz crackers.





ENJOY!!!

It's TUESDAY!

You know what THAT means!!! My weekly "HOO ARE YOU?" from Night Owl Crafting!!

Love the variety of questions this week...fun stuff! The day isn't over yet! Hop on over and link up!!!




And the questions...

1. Do you plant a garden or flowers, or neither?
Technically, I plant neither...but we do grow some veggies in containers. (It hardly qualifies as a "garden" though.) We very much want to have a garden, but I need to do some research to learn about building raised garden beds. The people that owned the house before us has VERY nice landscaping (which we've wrecked, pretty much...we mowed down the HUGE garden in the back, after letting friends and family have their pick of the plants and flowers from back there.) We're left with some tulips in front and on the side of the house and one single poppy that comes up every year...but none of it planted by moi. :)

2. Does it bother you to have your blinds or curtains open after dark so people can see in your house?
Ehh...not so much when Adam is home...I guess more so if it's just the kids and I. (Although I admit that I love when other people do it...I find it really interesting to be able to see how people decorate their homes!! Does that make me a creepy freak?!? LOL!) It's not like I'm standing outside gawking or anything! haha! But if we're driving by, I might steal a glance. ;)

3. Do you like to go camping?
YES! We love to camp! I will love it MUCH more when we have a camper some day! For now we tent it...almost every weekend in the summer! Motocross pretty much EQUALS camping...non-stop camping! There are things I don't love, but that's another post for another day! LOL! (And if you asked me this at the end of the MX season...when we've been on the go for months, I might give an answer more along the lines of "I am SO flippin' sick and tired of CAMPING!" haha! Grass is always greener, right?)

4. Do you have a laptop or a desk top computer?
Laptop...although I am considering an all-in-one touch screen PC. Anyone have one?

5. What time during the day do you have your most energy?
On days at home, late morning to early evening.
Days at work...early evening when I get home from work. Work makes me feel like a lethargic lump. No lie. Blah.

Okay, amigos! You know all about me! Hurry over to Night Owl Crafting before Tuesday is done, and link up to HOO ARE YOU, TUESDAY!

xoxo

Menu Monday

Monday already? Gah! Where does the time go?!?

Did everyone have a fantastic Easter? I did...very much enjoyed time with my kiddos and I absolutely loved seeing their excitement over the goodies in their baskets! Luc started baseball (practice) this weekend too, so we are really starting to look forward to Spring sports!

I got our menu all planned out for the next two weeks and shopped on Saturday. (However, even though I plan for two weeks at a time, I'm only going to share one week at a time here.)

So here we go!

Sunday 4/24
Baked Ham
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Broccoli Ritz "Casserole"
Dinner Rolls (TOTALLY spaced it and forgot to make the dinner rolls last night!)
Strawberry Shortcake for dessert!

Monday 4/25
Honey Mustard Chicken (Slow-Cooker!)
Rice
Steamed Veggies
(We were supposed to have this last week and plans got changed.)

Tuesday 4/26
"Beefy Nachos"
(Basically a "nacho bar" set up with chips, taco meat, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, guacomole, and nacho cheese! Build your own nachos! Luc's requested meal of the week!)

Wednesday 4/27
Ham & Corn Chowder
Dinner Rolls
I will be using THIS recipe, as a base (using up leftover ham...woot!) but have some changes to make. If it turns out as deliciously as I'm expecting, I will create a separate post with the recipe!

Thursday 4/28
LEFTOVERS!! (Exclamation points make everything more exciting...right??)

Friday 4/29
Homemade Pizza...one buffalo chicken and one taco pizza (using leftover taco meat from our nacho bar day!). YUMMY! Can't wait! (This was Mikey's requested meal of the week!)
Salads

Saturday 4/30
Steak Sandwiches (Another new recipe I'll be trying...I will post if it's delish!)
Oven fries

FYI...

On our way to feeling better...after a couple nasty colds, a throat/eye/ear infection, and then the icing on the illness cake...Influenza B...we are FINALLY starting to feel better.





Flu shots for this family next year...yes-sir-ee.

Menu Monday

I tried to post this earlier but Blogger and I got into a fist-fight over formatting...Blogger won. Grr.

Trying again. :)

For the past few months I have been planning our meals two weeks in advance...and then shopping for our meals two weeks in advance. We love our new way of life. We eat healthier, because we rarely eat out. It saves us time because there are no last minute trips to the store and I know in advance what we are having, so there's not searching through the cabinets trying to make a decision when I get home from work. It also saves us money because I shop with specific meals in mind, I plan leftovers days, and I can plan meals that utilize leftovers.

It's still a flexible plan though...if something comes up and we need to switch days, no biggie. I am honestly so pleased with our decision to do this.

Anyway...thought I'd share our meal plans every week in case anyone is looking for meal ideas! Works for us!

Monday 4/18
LEFTOVERS (Leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes from Saturday)

Tuesday 4/19
Sloppy Joes
Baked Mac-N-Cheese

Wednesday 4/20
Tatertot Casserole

Thursday 4/21
Steak
Grilled Potatoes
Steamed Broccoli

Friday 4/22
Honey Mustard Chicken
Rice
Steamed Veggies

Hopefully this helps anyone struggling to think of meals on a day to day basis!