*CAMPING*

This past week my family and I went camping in Cades Cove. One of my most favorite places to go!

Cades Cove is an 11 mile loop in an isolated valley in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park that you can drive,walk, or bike. Along the route are hiking trails and many Historical Buildings!Lots of breath taking views and wildlife! Although I have been going here since I was little, I still enjoy it just the same, and I enjoy taking my kids there too.


My family recently bought a pop-up camper and this was the first camping trip of the Summer!

And this, my friends is Cades Cove...

Cades Cove is an awesome place to see wildlife in it's natural habitat instead of visiting a zoo!

Although I love going to Cades Cove to see the Wildlife, nothing makes me madder than seeing people feeding these animals even though there are signs every where saying not to. Also when people approach them AS IF they were at at a Petting Zoo! On this trip we saw a Momma Bear with 2 cubs. Lots of people out of their cars to see this, but what got me was one Dad. After the momma bear crossed the road he thought it was a good idea to push his children in the middle of the road(in between Momma and Cubs) so they could look both ways and see the animals. His car was parked I know a good 100 yards away...You just want to scream.."Are you an Idiot" at people like this. "You are in their environment, if she got mad that you were in between her and cubs she could charge, and their is no where for you to go with those kids!!" Arghh! OK, off soap box and back to camping trip!

Honk Honk! Let's go People!

This is the life!

Older Brother

Big Daddy eating pancakes for first time in 10+ years...to MY surprise

BEAUTIFUL

Sissy and YaYa made Beans and Cornbread! YUM!

This is Katie, Sissy's friend she met while camping and new pin pal buddy! 

Sissy stayed the longest with YaYa and Papa. She rode her bike a lot and walked around the campground getting sticks and logs for the fire. She helped YaYa cook and helped keep everything cleaned up. She said it was an awesome way to start the Summer and she can't wait to go again!

This tree is one of my favorite things on the entire loop! If I was not so scared of bears I would have a picnic every time we went under this tree! :-)

I love Cades Cove and I love camping. Just taking a step back and slowing down from every day life!*I want to thank YaYa and Papa for letting us join them!
*I also want to thank my Big Brother Timothy for these great pictures! He has such a good eye!! :-) 

Menu 6-11/6-17-12

Just got back from camping trip in Cades Cove. Will have lots of pictures posted soon! For now, here is what we are having this week...

Monday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
 ?
Tuna Casserole with Peas

Tuesday:
Breakfast Burritos with Fresh Fruit
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Raw Veggies
Lasagna Subs with Salad and Green Beans

Wednesday:
*Daddy's
       Choice*
Pancakes, Bacon, Eggs and Fresh Fruit

Thursday:
Yogurt, Granola, and Fresh Fruit
Salad with Fresh Fruit
Easy Garlic Chicken with Slim Potato Casserole and Brussel Sprouts

Friday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Sandwiches with Raw Veggies
Rachel Rays Southwestern Chili Con Queso Bake with Fresh Corn

Saturday:
Omelet Muffins with Toast
L.O.
Chicken and Potato Casserole with Broccoli and Brussels

Sunday:
Giant Breakfast Cookies with Fresh Fruit
*Cook-Out*
 ?

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake

2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts(cooked, and shredded)

1/2 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Garlic Powder

2 1/2 cups Cooked Brown Rice

1 cup Corn

15 ounces, Can Black Beans(Drained And Rinsed)

1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt

½ cups Salsa

1 cup Low-fat Cheddar Cheese, Plus More For Topping

Salt

Pepper

2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro For Garnish


Bake chicken for 25 minutes at 400( Or you can use left-overs from rotisserie chicken)
When its done take 2 forks and shred the chicken.

Add chicken to a large bowl and season with Cumin,Paprika, and Garlic Powder.

Add all other ingredients to bowl except extra cheese and cilantro. Make sure Yogurt and Cheese are mixed in well throughout bowl. Season with Salt and Pepper.

Transfer to oven-safe dish, bake 20-25 minutes.

Garnish with chopped Cilantro!

This was a great dish, and super easy! Brother and I were home this day and since I was still layed up with my knee I just did a little at a time. I put the chicken in the oven earlier in the afternoon, I let it cool some before I shredded it. While the chicken was going I had 4 cups of rice going in the rice cooker. I also had some corn that needed to be used up so instead of using frozen corn I used fresh corn that I boiled while the rice was cooking! Since I only used 2 1/2 cups of rice and 1 cup of corn in this recipe I put the rest in the freezer!
I wish I would have had some real white cheddar cheese, but this was all I had.

This recipe is adapted from here, another Pinterest score! :o)

Menu 6-4/6-10-12

Better late than never...

 Monday:
French Toast with Fresh Fruit
Quesadillas with Veggies
Baked Seasoned Chicken with Slim Potato Casserole, Roasted Broccoli and Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Tuesday:
Homemade Banana Bread with Yogurt and Fresh Fruit
Beef and Broccoli with Rice and Fortune Cookies
Catfish, Taters, Veggies

Wednesday:
Biscuits and Gravy, Eggs, Sausage
?
?

Thursday:
Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Fresh Fruit
?
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake

Friday:
Jelly Biscuits with Eggs
L.O.
Taco Salad with Corn, Avocado, etc..

Saturday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
L.O.
?

Sunday:
?
?
?

**This was my original menu...I have been in recliner all day with my knee...AGAIN...may see some repeats next week!**

Zucchini Tots

Zucchini Tots...Oh...My...Goodness!! These are so good!

1 cup grated Zucchini(1 zucchini)
1 egg
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup cheese(I used a little cheddar and grated Parmesan)
1/4 dry breadcrumbs
Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray Mini Muffin tin with cooking spray.

Grate the zucchini into a dish towel. Next, wring all the excess water from the zucchini that you can.

Mix all together in a mixing bowl...

Press the mixture into the pans until compacted(otherwise it will fall apart)

 Bake for 15-18 minutes in preheated oven. The top will be starting to golden.

Next time I will probably double this recipe! So simple and so good!

This recipe is from here!

Menu 5-23/6-3

Monday:
   ?
   ?
Crispy Chicken with Zucchini Tots, Corn and Cucumber&Tomato

Tuesday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Salad with Fresh Fruit
Goulash with Green Beans and Toast

Wednesday:
* Daddy's
        Choice *
-Subway-

Thursday:
Yogurt, Granola,and Fresh Fruit
Tuna Salad with Tomatoes and Crackers
Pork Chops and Veggies with Cornbread

Friday:
Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, and Fresh Fruit
Sandwiches with Fresh Fruit and Veggies
Salmon Patties , Broccoli, and Corn

Saturday:
Breakfast Omelet Muffins with Toast
*Picnic*
  ?

Sunday:
Breakfast Burrito(Carry Over)
  ?
Meatloaf with Taters and Peas

Menu 5-21/5-27-12

This is Sissys last full week of school so we are having a calm week...before the fun begins!

We have LOTS of things planned for this Summer and they kick off the week after school gets out! If you missed it here is our Summer Activity List

Here is what we are having this week:

Monday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Salad with Fresh Fruit
Aprils Teriyaki Chicken 

Tuesday:
Eggs in a Hole with Broiled Tomatoes and Fresh Fruit
L.O.
*Subway*

Wednesday:
*Daddys
     Choice*
Spaghetti with Green Beans and Toast

Thursday:
Oatmeal,Peanut Butter and Fresh Fruit (Carry Over)
L.O.
Black Bean and Corn Salsa Chicken

Friday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
*End of the year party for Abbey*
Pizza Soup(Freezer) and Grilled Cheese

Saturday:
Pancakes with Fresh Fruit (Carry-Over)
YOYO
Beans and Cornbread,Sauerkraut and Wienies, Taters and Tomato,Cucumber, and Onion Salad

Sunday:
Breakfast Burritos
YOYO
  ?


Hey y'all a childhood friend of mine has started up a blog of her own so if you get a minute go over
here and check it out! I am very excited to see what she has in store for us! :-)

Summer Activities 2012

It's almost here....are you ready Moms?
Last year was our first Summer break from school, I thought I was prepared...I was wrong..
Turns out like every other aspect of my life I needed to set goals for Summer Activities for this house. No Mom wants to hear "I'm bored". And, I do not like when my kids get whiny because they are bored. So I have been thinking/searching/planning and this is what I have came up with for Summer of 2012!!  Sissy helped me a lot on what she wants to do.
I have  places that we are going, activities we are doing and boredom busters! :-) The words that are highlighted are links to those places/activities.

PLACES:

Cades Cove

Chattanooga- Aquarium,Children's Museum, Railroad Museum,etc..

Splash Pad

Pool

Farmers Markets

Lake

Movies

Drive-In Movies

Library- Sissy wants to spend some time at the library, reading and playing on computers.

Park - Playground, Picnics,etc...

Beach - Day Trip

Dollar Tree $5 day (Each kid gets $5 to pick anything they want! With the exception of only 1 candy)

Cherokee Reservation

River

Briarwood-Auto Safari

Clinch Mountain,Cumberland Gap, Kentucky-Day Trip

Race Track

Baseball Game


ACTIVITIES: 

Camping- Our Family recently got a pop-up camper!

Boat

Bowling

Fishing

Hiking

Rummaging

Date with Daddy

Movie Night

Fireworks

Bonfire

Board Games

Tie Dye Shirts

Diet Coke and Mentos

Water Balloons

Sprinkler

Car Wash

Garden

Photo Shoots- We have to get family pictures made soon. But also I am just going to take the kids out and take pictures myself here at home!

Geocaching

Giant Bubbles

Make Homemade Ice Cream

Fairies in a Jar

Make Slime

Make Homemade Lava Lamps

Make Homemade Fruit Leather

Alphabet Day- Find 1-2 items around the house and outside that begin with each letter!

Christmas in July- Christmas PJ's, Christmas Movies/Music, Bake Christmas Cookies,Start List

Cook Out with Friends

Take a bath in the dark with glow sticks

Catch Fireflies

Cooking with Sissy Day

Elephant Toothpaste

Sparkly Explosion


BOREDOM BUSTERS:

Read/Read Outside

Puzzles

Look N' Find Books

2nd Grade Work Book

2nd Grade Prep Activities

Color

Blocks

Ice Block-Toys

Paint

Fort

Jump Rope

Bird Watching

Cars

Swing Set

Handwriting

Journal

Fizzy Fun

Playdough

Letters to Family

Chalk

Write a story

Write a book

Make a "Wish List"

Take pictures outside

Paint Finger Nails/Toe Nails

Look for shapes in the clouds

Popsicles

Basketball

Bike

Sand/Water Table

Card Games

Plan a Menu

Computer- Starfalls    Disney Jr


Kindle Fire   2nd Grade Apps    2nd Grade Apps
                     Best Apps for Kids
DSi

Leapster

Please leave me a comment/send a Facebook message with any other ideas!!

Menu 5-14/5-20-12

Monday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Salad with Fresh Fruit
Crabby Patties with Broccoli, Squash and Zucchini, Tomato,Onion and Cucumbers

Tuesday:
YOYO(Dr.App)
Grilled Cheese with Fresh Fruit and Veggies
Taco Salad with Corn on Cob

Wednesday:
Eggs,Biscuits, and Fresh Fruit
*Daddy's Choice*
HM Pizza with Salad,Fresh Veggies and Fruit

Thursday:
Tomato,Egg Whites, and Avocado
Salad with Fresh Fruit
Roasted Chicken with Roasted Veggies

Friday:
Oatmeal, Peanut Butter and Apple
L.O.
  ?

Saturday:
Pancakes with Fresh Fruit
Midnight Snack Sandwich (Carry-Over)
   ?

Sunday:
Eggs,Toast, and Fresh Fruit
YOYO
Schnitzel,Taters and Peas (Carry-Over)

Sunday Shopping

WALGREENS

#1.
Lanacane $5/$5RR
Witch Hazel $4/4RR

Paid $9.88/Received $9 RR
Tax:.88cents

#2
4 Lays Chips $4.29/B1G1
 Used 2 $1/2 coupons
Paid: $1.64 each

2 Pepsi Next 2 Liters $1.98
 Used $1/2 coupon
Paid .49cents each

2 Plates $2
4 Papers $8

Used $9RR
Paid:$9.63
Tax:$1.07
Saved:$22.38

KROGER:

#1
5 Sweet Potato Fries: On Mega $2.59
 Used $1/1 coupon
Paid: $1.59 each

5 Candles .49cents each

Paid:$11.71
Tax:$1.31
SAVED: $10.90(51%)

Potatoes: $3.49

Parsley: .78cents

Romaine: $1.99

Water: On Mega $2.99

Onions: $2.29

Ground Chuck: $3.84
              $3.77
Mark-Down      $1.84

Sourdough Bread: $3.19

3 Corn on Cob: $1.00

3 Avocados: $3.00

Carrots: $1.99
 Used FREE coupon from Kroger mailer

Bananas $1.48
(Yes, they are organic...It doesn't make a difference to me on price, I just like them to be a little green and for some reason lately only the Organic ones have been green enough)

Kroger Frozen Gumbo Mixed Veggies $1.04
 Used FREE coupon from Kroger mailer

Crystal Light: On Mega $2.10

Applesauce: $1.39

Kroger TP: $3.19

4 Kettle Chips: On Mega $1.99
 Used 2 $1/2 coupons
Paid $1.49 each

Club Crackers: On Mega $2.49
Flipside Crackers:On Mega $2.49
 Used $1/2 coupon
Paid $1.99 each

Apple Slicer: On Mega $3.75

3 Heluva Good Chip Dip: On Mega .99cents
 Used 2  .50cent coupons and one .75 cent coupon
2 FREE and 1 was .24cents

Oscar Myer Ham: On Mega $2.09

Butter: $2.89

Strawberries:$1.99

2 Clorox: On Mega $1.59 each

2 Beechnut Fruities: $1 each

4 Candles: On Mega .49cents each
(Used these as fillers)

Paid:$71.15
Tax: $6.11
SAVED:$29.87(30%)


We went over a little bit this week but, I am OK with that. All those chips are going in pantry, we plan on having a few Cook-outs through the summer and those will come in handy!! :-)