Monday Menu and Miscellany

Happy Monday! We are enjoying a rainy, sleepy, lazier-than-usual Monday morning around here. It is a school day, but we are getting a later start so I thought I'd take a few minutes to participate in Menu Plan Monday (which I haven't done in awhile) and post a few fun pictures.

First of all, regarding our menu. I was worried that once Minte joined us I would need to alter our menu or make something different just for him... but no. He. Eats. Everything. Not only that... He. Loves. Everything! He basically just loves food, LOL. So, meal planning since we have gotten back has been great and he has enjoyed roast, chicken pot pie, tacos, anywhere we have taken him to eat, etc. I love it! He doesn't particularly love vegetables (so I may have to break out my Deceptively Delicious cookbook soon) but he always eats some because he knows he's supposed to eat at least a few. In fact, big sister Bethany taught him that the first week we got home. :)

So, here's our menu for the week. I'm still on "auto pilot" (it takes me a few weeks after I get home from traveling to feel "all here") so it's easy, quick, cheap, things I've made a million times, and food I know they'll eat...

Monday:
B- Toaster Strudels, fruit
L- Lean Pockets, carrot sticks
D- Chicken Paninis, pasta salad, fruit

Tuesday:
B- cereal, fruit
L- taquitos, black beans
D- fish, rice, stir-fry

Wednesday:
B- waffles, fruit
L- Pizza Pancakes, green beans
D- Hawaiian Meatballs, Asian Sesame Pasta

Thursday:
B- eggs, toast, jelly
L- spaghetti, green beans
D- Baked Potato Soup, crusty wheat bread, salad

Friday:
B- YOYO (You're on you're own)
L- ditto (There's plenty of leftovers to choose from!)
D- Out for Ethiopian food with some dear friends (We're praying it's a celebration of a successful court date!)

For more menus, or to share what's going on in your kitchen this week, visit Laura at orgjunkie.com.

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Our first couple of weeks back have been filled with activity! Beginning with Minte's birthday party just after we arrived home. I had sent out the invitations for a Sept. 23rd party, thinking that his birthday was on the 22nd. At the embassy appointment we found out his birthday was actually Oct. 2, so he's had two celebrations. Nothing wrong with that!

The birthday boy at his "bouncy house" party. I had it at a bouncy house place because it would be colorful, fun, and you can jump and laugh in any language!

Some friends he remembered from the airport, new cousins he met for the first time, and some of his soccer and Awana friends.

I was inspired by the Ethiopian cupcake flag my creative friends made for the shower, so we had it again... this time he got to enjoy it!

He loved ALL of his gifts so much, and always looked into the "crowd" to see who had given it to him so he could thank them personally.

First soccer practice. Looks like a pro already!

Then, the next day, another birthday! My little girl is 15!

By the way, she's also China's Next Top Model. Click on the picture to see her featured in a Chinese table tennis/ tennis wear catalog! She did a "modeling gig" when she was there in May and we received the catalog on her birthday. Fun!

She enjoyed a birthday serenade from her brothers!

Lots of fun and celebration going on around here lately!