AMEN!!

Many people celebrate their "gotcha, metcha, family day" We do not. Our reasons are that kids celebrate birthdays....not gotcha days. Really do you celebrate your bio kids "positive pregnancy test day" or "the night dad got lucky"??? Ok....I am being a little snarky but you get my point. I read a post once about a little boy adopted from Russia. He had brothers and sisters who were the bio kids of his adoptive parents. He hated celebrating gotcha day because it reminded him that he was adopted and not like his brothers and sisters. Made sense to us. Hop on over to here and read a better stated point on gotcha day.

Dinner is Ready!

I need to share something with each and everyone of you....pull up a chair. Remember when I posted about making a meal plan and list before going grocery shopping?? Well guess what it totally works and I am saving my family $$$ and no one is losing any weight:) One of my favorite discoveries are the "Don't Panic, Dinner is in the Freezer" cookbooks. Even with being a full time teacher and driving kids from this place to the next I try to make dinner almost every night. The tough part was I was like a freakin' maniac trying to make something for dinner that I could put together quickly and throw in the oven. Now on Sundays I make my meal plan, look to see what I need and head to the grocery store. When I get home I unpack and start cooking or preparing as many meals for the week that I can get away with! You have no idea how this has decreased my stress level. I take dinner out of the freezer before leaving for work ( and even if I forget it isn't a big deal, I just defrost it in the microwave). When I get home I am good to go! Usually all I need to do is is make a side item and some veggies. I am going to share an easy recipe with you I tweaked it a little to fit our families tastes, but it is easy and delicious! (the original recipe calls for marjoram,thyme, and sun dried tomatoes. It also recommends a cream sauce, but we didn't care for it much)

Enjoy!

Italian Stuffed Chicken Breasts. (serve with a side of pasta,garlic bread and a salad)

6 boneless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
dry Italian seasoning
6 mozzarella/string cheese sticks
6 thin slices of prosciutto ham

Cooking day:

Flatten chicken breast to 1/8 of an inch. Season with salt and pepper, and Italian seasoning. Wrap each mozzarella stick with 1 slice of prosciutto. Place wrapped mozzarella stick in the center of each chicken breast. Roll chicken breast around filling. Wrap each chicken breast individually in plastic wrap. Freeze in a freezer bag. ( nope no cooking)

Serving day:

Thaw completely. Unwrap chicken breast and place close together in a baking dish. Baste with 4 tablespoons of butter and sprinkle with a little bit of italian seasoning. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes basting every 15-20 minutes. Do not over bake or chicken will be tough. Bake until juices run clear.

While chicken is finishing up cook pasta and heat sauce.

Serve chicken with sauce on top and a side of pasta.

3 Words

***3 words by Hannah***

Reminders

Thank you Sandra for reminding me how quickly time passes and how fast our babies grow!!! This is a picture of Matt, Sandra's husband, holding Sophie shortly after her first surgery. She is 18 months old in this picture. Made me cry a little today:( and smile:) My girl has been through so much and through it all she has kicked and screamed, giggled and hugged! My love for her knows no limits.



Thanks Sandra...*smooches*

3 Words

**** 3 words by Hannah****

This is Wrong...But so Stinkin' Funny!

In case you have not heard the D*ggars are expecting again. I don't watch their show but for whatever reason every time they announce that they are expecting I see it on the T0day show. I think this might be kid #19. The need more cable stations.

Buckshot (title stolen from Pipo)

Since this post is going to be all over the place I decided to steal a title from Pipo...I know she won't mind:)

• School is going well. It is stressfull ,so much to do and so little time.
• Sophie is doing GREAT! The first few days of pre-school drop off were difficult for her and daddy, but each day it got better. She only cried the first three days. I would say that was "typical" three year old transition behavior.
• The only side effect I noticed last week was Sophie trying to control EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. This week that behavior has subsided.
• The news of the loss of Lavender this week hit me hard. I did not realize she had passed away, and worse her mother is now charged with her murder. Lavender was from the same orphanage as Sophie. Please go to her memorial site . You can read about the arrest of her mother here. Breaks my heart.
• Lots of young babies this time around. Referral posts never get old. I love them!
• My last post inspired her. I love being an inspiration to my friends...*snort* ( I bought the cookbook my sister told me to get PM we can snuggle around the fire in October and read it together.....such fun:)
• I am posting this especially for her.