Lots of Monday Morning Thoughts

Did you miss me??  I know, I've been a lame blogger for the last week.  The truth is, I was working my rear end off all week so that I could be out of town this weekend!  But, I've got lots to fill you in on, all of it highly important and interesting...ok, maybe not important or interesting, but fun!  Anyway, it's Monday and this is the best I've got...

I spent the weekend away (praise the Lord!) on a scrap booking retreat at Raspberry Ridge.  

It was tons of work and tons of fun!  Last week, I was on my computer constantly, uploading and organizing a year's worth of pictures.  Can I just tell you how much work that was??  And how I kicked myself over and over for not doing this as the year went by?  Every year I seem to save this for the week before and every year I want to scream.  BUT NO MORE!!  This year I'm printing as I go :) 

This was my seat last year, where I worked on a family album for Trav and I.  I was 7 1/2 months preggo and I didn't get nearly as much done as I wanted to.  I was tired.

This year, I sat on the opposite side of the table and I was NOT preggo.  I started Ava's 1st year book and I was able to crank 38 pages out!  YAY!!  It was fun, I'm happy with what I did, but I've got 10 more months to go before it's complete.  Yikes.  Ava will most likely not be able to pick her book up for many years to come :) 

While I was gone, Travy kept Ava by himself all weekend!!  What a good husband!  He did a great job and told me he had a whole new respect for me last night.  Totally worth being gone, just to hear that :)  I know Ava loved her time with her Daddy because she's been completely taken with him since I've been home.  I love that.  He did the dishes, kept the house clean and as I discovered this morning, even did the laundry.  Such a sweet guy.  I think I'll keep him :) He did have one little ordeal when Ava threw up in the car, but other than that, it was smooth sailing!

And speaking of Ava, we have a little chow hound on our hands!  These days, she is an eating machine and there isn't a food she doesn't like.  I took this picture so I could remember what we fed her at this age.  I didn't realize she'd devour all of this in one sitting :) 

Why is it that feeding her fresh, healthy food makes me feel like a good Mom??

Maybe it's because I know there is a day coming when I'll be begging her to eat her veggies and stop asking me for a snack :) 

If you follow my twitters, you saw my crazy child, burrowing in a pile of plastic bags last week.  And for the second time, I will add that I was watching her the whole time, so don't worry :) 

Anyway, she is totally on the prowl for as much trouble as possible lately.  

A few days ago, this was her favorite activity...  

...burrowing in the curtains and shrieking with delight.

She was laughing so hard at herself and I was laughing at her!

Then she found a new hiding place.

Is that face sweet or what??

Yes, she crawled in between the wall and the dresser, over and over until she got herself stuck and I had to pull her out!

I am quite certain we have an adventure seeker on our hands!

Finally, I've been meaning to share this recipe with you for weeks.  

It's another fabulous chicken dish, perfect for a cold winter day.  

Like today.  And yesterday.  And tomorrow.

Cranberry-Orange Chicken

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix

1 cup (or small 8oz. bottle) French Salad Dressing

I, 16 oz. can whole cranberry sauce

1/2 cup Orange Juice

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt (Lawry's)

Spray 9x13 with nonstick cooking spray.  Arrange chicken breasts in dish.

In a bowl, combine cranberry sauce, salad dressing, orange juice, onion soup mix and salt.  Pour evenly over chicken breasts.  Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes.  Serve with brown or wild rice.

It's so good!!  We love this one and I know you will too!

That's all I've got for this Monday morning!  It's snowing like crazy here and isn't supposed to stop for a few days.  Good thing my fridge is stocked.  Ava and I are going to play and nap today, which I'm happy to do.  Hopefully she is too.  I hope you have a wonderful day!  I just might pull my scrap book  back out today and get some more stuff done!  Maybe :)

If you're a Saints fan, congrats!  It was a good game but I lost no sleep over it.  I really didn't care who won.  I'm pretty sure New Orleans is a giant, drunken party and I'm glad I live no where near there.  Unfortunately, I missed all the commercials last night so I'll have to catch up online today.

Happy Monday!