You know who she is, right?

We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto…

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Running a little late, but it’s still Monday for another hour and a half. :)

Monday: Pan-seared salmon, brown rice, sugar snap peas

Tuesday: Vegetable beef soup, baked potatoes, cornbread

Wednesday: same

Thursday: same

Friday: Baked ziti (actually penne because they don’t have ziti in the whole-grain variety), salad, bread

Saturday: same

Sunday: same if there’s enough left; otherwise, breakfast for dinner

Check out menus from all over the country on Menu Plan Monday.

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In an effort to post something on my blog between weekly menu plans, here are some things that have been going around in my head and our home.

I’ve been feeling musical lately. I’ve started trying to practice piano again—not just sit down and play, but really practice and work on something difficult and get better at it. I manage to do this for about 20-30 minutes after Anna’s nap while she’s sitting in her high chair eating raisins and graham crackers. It takes about 10 minutes to warm up, so I only get a few minutes to actually work on something, but it adds up, and I’m making slow progress. I’m working on Felix Mendelssohn’s Praeludium in E minor. It’s a rich, fluid piece, fairly short, a little challenging without being insanely hard. I’m done trying to learn stuff that’s so incredibly difficult that only professional musicians play it, and stick with pieces I actually have a shot at playing well. Maybe I’ll play it for you someday. But probably not. I’m just doing this for me, to remind myself that there’s still some talent buried in there somewhere.

David’s parents visited us this past weekend. Anna doesn’t see them very often, but whenever they come, she warms up to them in just a few minutes and is all over them. How many adults does it take to accompany a toddler to the park? Four. To storytime at the library? Four. None of us wanted to miss out on anything! They enjoyed getting to see Anna do the fun things she likes to do, and Anna loved the captive audience and undivided attention all weekend!

I’ve been trying to get back into the exercise habit. A few weeks ago I heard about the “Miles for Milestones” 5K on October 31 and thought it would be a good goal to work towards. I’ll be satisfied if I finish in 31 minutes; happy if I finish in 30. Now if the weather will just cooperate that day. It’s at 8 A.M. (Why do they have these things at 8 A.M. in the cold-weather months?!? Wouldn’t 10 A.M. or noon be much nicer?) It will be chilly, which is fine if it’s dry, but I’m not running in 40-degree rain. I don’t have the right kind of clothes for that anyway.

I think I want to paint the kitchen and living room. I haven’t told David this yet. Hey, honey, I think I want to paint the kitchen and living room.

Is there any way I can tell you just how enamored I am with Anna? She is one amazing kid. She’s been especially sweet lately. She is such a blessing! She is so funny sometimes. The other day in Wal-Mart we were stopped next to the milk, and she smiled, stuck out her tongue, and went “AAAAAAAEEEEEEEHHH.” I looked up to where she was looking, and there was a picture of a cat on a big sign hanging over the pet stuff. Yep, that’s how she makes her cat noise. I hope I can get her animal sounds on video sometime! They’re too cute.

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Monday: (Leftover) Black bean tacos w/ Mexican rice, fruit, chips & homemade salsa

Tuesday: same

Wednesday: Pot roast with carrots & potatoes, rolls (see recipe below)

Thursday: same

Friday: same

Saturday: Stir-fried veggies over brown rice, rolls

Sunday: Wheat-oat pancakes, scrambled eggs, sautéed apples

Check out Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday for more menus from all over the country.

Recipe: Oat Dinner Rolls (more…)

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Monday: Chicken strips, green beans, rolls

Tuesday: Chili, cornbread, baked sweet potatoes

Wednesday: Stir-fried rice & veggies, rolls

Thursday: same as Tuesday

Friday: Salmon, brown rice w/ mushrooms, steamed veggies, rolls

Saturday: out

Sunday: Black bean tacos, Mexican rice, fruit salad

Visit Menu Plan Monday for more menus!

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We took Anna on her first trip to the zoo yesterday! It was a little chillier than I had hoped, but we’re running out of available fall weekends and we wanted to get a trip in. We took our friend Abby along with us since Abby’s parents needed someone to keep her for the morning.

Here are David and the girls…

… looking at the giraffe:

This fun little guy scampered out to say hello and totally posed for the camera:

Anna and Mommy in front of some kind of deer-like critter (you can tell I learned a whole lot, huh?)

Me with both the monkeys:

A fine rhino:

Who doesn’t love chimps?

I tried to get a shot of a zebra’s rear for Becké, but they were too far away. Sorry, Becké.

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Are you building a fort?

Anna LOVES to get into the pantry, select a few various grocery items, and set them out on the kitchen floor. (more…)

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… in her new polka-dot panda pjs?!?

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Monday: Chicken strips, potato casserole, green beans

Tuesday: Stir-fried veggies & brown rice, rolls

Wednesday: Pan-seared salmon, leftover potato casserole, sugar snap peas

Thursday: Chicken tacos, fruit

Friday: same

Saturday: Whole-wheat waffles, sautéed apples, scrambled eggs

Sunday: Cheese tortellini, green beans, bread

Visit Menu Plan Monday for more dinner ideas!

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It fits perfectly on our fingertips! And apparently it’s hilarious!

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