Bargain Meal of the Week

It looks like Hy-vee is making up for their so-so sales of last week with some great bargains this week. The first thing that jumps out of me is the whole chicken for $0.59/lb! I think we will be trying this over the weekend as the rumor is there is going to be so much snow we will not want to leave the house.

Baked Slow Cooker Chicken - Need 3lb chicken

Oven Roasted New Potatoes - 1.5 lb New Potatoes ($0.88/lb)

Side salad ($0.69 with in ad coupon)

Both the chicken and potatoes call for various spices that you probably already have on hand. If not you'll need to purchase them but their cost per use will only add a few cents onto each recipe.
I should add that I try skimming over the reviews when making recipes from Allrecipes.com. There usually are great tips and ideas from people that have tried the recipes.

A very yummy way to use the left over chicken is Chicken Pesto Paninis (works out well this week too, because Hy-vee also has their cheese on sale). We've made these before and they are great! One warning - if you try to save half of your sandwich to have for your lunch the next day, please don't leave it on the table while you take you children upstairs for baths. Hungry dogs have been known to get on the table and eat these while you are away. They are that good! (Ok, who am I kidding, my dog would eat anything - but he did eat my leftovers, and I was none to pleased about it).

Where'd he learn that

I admit that we are not the best about letting Bodie do things on his own. A lot of times it is just easier to do things for him. This morning we learned that Bodie is capable of getting himself dressed. In the past, we've seen him fumble around and manage to get his pants off. Sometimes even his shirt. I do have to say that I was pretty impressed with his skills this morning. He had a fit because Curt had picked out a shirt that he didn't want to wear. Curt sent him back upstairs to pick a new shirt out. I had gone up to pick out Barrett's clothes and Bodie quickly picked out a shirt from his drawer. He then tried to put it on but then told me "I need take pajamas off first". So he did. He even took his socks off (not a big deal in itself) and I told him that he could leave his socks off because Daddy had new socks for him downstairs. He of course didn't listen and then put his socks back on. I really didn't think he could put socks on by himself. Then he put his shirt on, and realized it was inside out, took it off and put it back on. I really think he could get himself completely dress if he wanted too. He didn't put his pants on because he still needed to get his diaper changed, but hopefully we'll see him do that soon.

Frugal Meal of the Week

I'm happy to provide a frugal meal idea using the Hy-vee weekly ad as my guide. I wasn't very impressed with the sales for this week, but after digging I've come up with the following:

Lazlo-like Rainbow Chicken ($3.85)
Mashed Potatoes ($0.72) (need in ad coupon to get the great price on potatoes)
Steamed Baby Carrots (.40)

What is on sale: Chicken breast ($1.79/lb); Roma tomatoes ($0.77/lb); Potatoes ($0.99/5lb - use only 1/4 bag); Cheese ($1.77); Baby Carrots ($0.99/2-1lb bags)

Lazlo's Rainbow Chicken is at the top of my favorite dining out meals. I try to recreate it in my own kitchen and it is pretty good, but will never be as good as what you can get in the restaurant.

Rainbow Chicken
Season chicken breasts to your tastes (I use salt, pepper, and a little lemon juice). Cook on grill until chicken is cooked through (about 15 minutes). Top with about 1/2 cup cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped green peppers. Cover (or close outdoor grill) and cook until cheese is melted.

We mash our potatoes with the skins still on them for a little nutritional boost (and add butter and milk). The baby carrots are missing from this plate as a certain 2 year old requested broccoli instead.

For other frugal meal ideas visit $5 Dinners.

6 Months!

Barrett had his 6 month appointment today and was such a ham and show off for the doctor. He can sit up great on his own, loves tummy time, pushes himself backwards, and is loving his solid foods. We have seen him roll over both ways but really seems to lack the motivation to do so often (I'm pretty sure I can count on 2 hands the number of times he's rolled for us). The doctor wasn't concerned, and pointed out that Barrett has a big brother helper that will get him anything he desires (and everything he doesn't desire).

The Stats:

Height: 27 1/2 inches (80%)

Weight: 18 lb 1 oz (65%)

Head: 17 1/4 inches (50%)

We brought Bodie along with us to Barrett's appointment and while we were in the waiting room Bodie stood quietly next to a toy and said "I go poopy". Great! Right then they called us back to the exam room, which quickly began to smell. Unfortunately I had taken the wipes out of the diaper bag and forgot to put them back in, so Curt took Bodie to the bathroom to get him cleaned up. Pretty soon here comes Bodie with no pants on, he had a blow out. I cannot remember the last time Bodie had a blow out and haven't packed him a spare pair of pants in a long time. As we were getting ready to leave the doctor's office Curt tied a blanket around Bodie's waist and Bodie exclaimed "I so cute". It was pretty funny.

(Yes, we sometimes dress our baby boy in pink pajamas.)

Short but Sweet

I think I mentioned in a recent post how Bodie likes using our words against us. If we are eating something "different" at dinner we will try to relate it to something we know he likes. Last night we were having Stromboli and we told him "try it, you will like it, it is like pizza". We use the same variation of this every night but substitute pizza with chicken, spaghetti, etc. So last night we are eating and Bodie hands Curt a piece of corn and says "try it, you'll like it, it is like corn". It was sooo funny.

He never did eat the Stromboli.

Snow Day

Bodie finally got to enjoy a snow day this weekend. Last year he was afraid of the snow, but yesterday he was very excited to go out and play. Unfortunately it was very cold out so he didn't get to enjoy it for long but he had a good time while it lasted. He might get another shot at it this weekend if the snow fall predictions for tonight and tomorrow hold up.

Fun + Frustration = 2 year olds

Bodie has been a ball of fire lately, in good ways and bad.

Fun

• He is so sweet with Barrett. I tried getting a video of him singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to Barrett one night but as soon as I got out the camera he wanted to be on the other side. Also whenever Barrett is fussy Bodie will get close to him and in a high pitched, baby-talk kind of way, say "It's ok Barrett, it's ok". Also after he gives Barrett a kiss he declares "I so nice".


• He is a huge helper. We've found a new job for him around the house, sorting the silverware:


• He loves counting and singing his ABCs.


• Has a new need to take his (empty) backpack to school.
• He really uses his imagination. He brings us pretend ice cream, cookies and M's (M&Ms) every day. The other day he was pressing down a button on one of Barrett's toys and told me he was making coffee (since we grind the beans when we make it).
• He uses our words against us, and I'll admit I find it funny. Last night I was sitting at the computer and he pointed to the router and said "leave it alone". He'll also put his feet on the coffee table and then say "I need to put my feet down". At least we know he is hearing what we tell him even if he isn't listening.
  

Frustration

• Sleeping time has become so frustrating. Not only does he come out of his room multiple at bed time, but he comes out during the night. At 2 am he will tell me "I have good nap".


• There have been a couple of occasions where he will not want to chew and swallow his food at dinner. We don't let him leave the table until the food is gone from his mouth, and this led to a one and a half hour stand off one night. Finally at 8, Curt turned out the lights and told Bodie good night. Which led to spitting out the food and much screaming. Aren't we great parents? Here he is during the stand off:


• No desire to potty train. This isn't hugely frustrating yet, but I think it is going to be a tough road. One day we let him have all the apple juice he wanted while hanging out sans diaper, with his potty chair in the living room. He kept asking for a diaper and finally peed on the carpeted floor. He always asks to go potty and will sit forever and not actually do his business until he has a diaper back on.