Melissa – Page 47 – Our Family Adventure

Grandma’s Chicken Rice Bake

Have you ever had Stouffer’s grandma’s chicken rice bake? It’s in the frozen food aisle and it is delicious. It’s also a bit pricey and doesn’t give you a whole lot, so I found my own version! Ok, well it isn’t really my own, but I found it myself on allrecipes.com. As today maintained a cool 65 degrees I thought a perfect fall meal was in order – yep, chicken rice bake (Dave also requested it and we had leftover chicken from dinner last night).

Ingredients

1 C uncooked rice
1 can condensed cream of chicken or mushroom soup (whichever is on hand)
1 – 2 C water (or chicken broth)
1 package dry onion soup mix
4 chicken breasts, cooked, cubed

Directions

Season chicken with salt, garlic, paprika, and bread crumbs. Spread chicken in casserole dish.
In separate bowl mix ingredients together, mix well.
Pour mixture over chicken, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for one hour.
After one hour sprinkle panko bread crumbs over top, cook 10 – 30 minutes, uncovered, till done.
What I usually do– I skip the dry soup mix and instead just dump in a Rice-A-Roni long grain rice mix. I also add some diced onions and frozen veggies (peas, corn, etc). Also be sure not to cook it too long, after an hour if it’s still a little liquidy, keep cooking uncovered, checking every 10 min or so.

DSCN6488 — Sorry this is such a lame picture, we were hungry. Trust me it's yummy!

Ajax liked it very much, but would only eat it off the fork. As he’s not that proficient with the utensil, I had to load up the fork for him and then he would eat.

My dad and Ajax installed this ceiling fan the other day in our house, while Dave and I had a date night! My dad said that Ajax was quite the help, lol.

DSCN6438 — So this wasn't at dinner tonight, but just wanted to show how well he was doing with a spoon!

Wrapping up the Labor Day weekend

Well our long weekend has come to an end.

Yesterday we headed to Royal Oak for the Arts, Beats, and Eats. It was a lot of fun, but super crowded (on the news the next morning they said they had to stop letting people in because it was so crowded). Ajax was too excited to eat anything, except of course the ice cream cone we bought him. He had a blast watching all the people. I also got to try roasted almonds, the kind that come in a little paper funnel. I can’t recall ever having them before and they were delicious.

My parents also stopped by in the evening and stayed for dinner, which was nice.

Today we did nothing. It was wonderful. I didn’t get in the car once. I made some comfy food (soup, homemade bread, blueberry muffins, cookies, etc) and we just lounged around the house and ate. Dave did a bit of work outside and Ajax helped out. Dave was loading stuff up into the burn pit and Ajax was helping right along, carrying sticks and tossing them in. Back and forth, back and forth! I was tired just watching them.

DSCN6468 — This was the only pic I took at the art fair, it was just too crowded to stop and snap any pics.

DSCN6473 — Our yard seems so big; Ajax is just so small trying to keep up with Dave.

Fall and the Zoo

Yesterday was summer and today it is Fall in Michigan.

It was a cool 60 degrees and though the weatherman predicted rain it held off and was just kind of cloudy, which made it a perfect day for the Zoo! Although Ajax went last summer this was the first time in a long time for both Dave and myself. Honestly I can’t really remember the last time I was at the Zoo. We packed up the wagon and a lunch and headed out!

It was a great day, but Ajax is still a little young and didn’t have the patience to really see any of the animals (I thought he’d be a bit more interested as his favorite book right now is Goodnight Gorilla). The only animals he really seemed interested in were the tigers, warthogs, peacocks, and of course the squirrels. He called almost everything a “kitty” or “squirrel” and seemed quite pleased with himself. He told the tiger- “kitty bite!” and threw his wafer at the enclosure (he’s sharing).

His absolute favorite part of the zoo was the play scape. We spent a good 45 minutes there before checking out the butterfly/birdhouse, which Ajax ran right through. Really if it was up to him he would have just run all over the place. We spent a good deal of the day chasing after him.

Ajax is also getting quite the vocabulary. This morning at breakfast he kept asking Dave – “Daddy, bite please.” He wanted Dave to share his eggs, he of course didn’t want the food on his plate, but instead wanted Daves. It was pretty cute.

DSCN6461 — I didn't realize that I was in this picture, but otherwise Ajax would've fallen right off!

DSCN6464 — His favorite part ... the play area.

DSCN6453 — Ajax thought the peacocks were pretty cool. They were wandering outside the dining area.

Birthdays and Holidays

Yesterday was my birthday (29!) and I had the day off (holiday, of course). Ajax and I headed out to Brooklyn as my sister got on the road to Alaska and we wanted to see her off. Emily is driving out with her friend, Elena, who lives in Alaska and flew in just to drive back out with Em. They think it will take about a week to get there and Emily will be living in Eagle River (about 15 minutes outside of Anchorage). She is very excited!

Tonight Ajax entertained us by trying to jump. It’s the funniest darn thing. He would squat down low, tuck his elbows into his sides, smile wide and then shoot straight up! Of course his feet never left the ground, but he laughed and laughed and then trotted off. Of the dozen attempts or so that he made, his feet left the ground one time, and then he feel over. Dave and I almost died laughing, it was hilarious.

DSCN6425 — Ajax and Grandpa Gordy with the motorcylce. My dad kept turning it on, and Ajax would go - ohhhh!!

DSCN6430 — Emily, Grandma Mary, Ajax and me!

Going Away Party

Sorry for the lack of updates this past week. I had a trial, a minor accident, and Ajax started at a new babysitter (a.k.a. Ms. Karen, who lives on our same block and is within walking distance). Crazy busy and stressful! Due to the increasing stress Dave finally convinced me that I should sign up for a gym membership as well, which I did today, and hopefully I’ll be able to hit it up about 2 – 3 times per week. I’m really looking forward to it as it has a pool and also offers baby swim classes, which I plan on signing Ajax up for in October.

Anywho! Yesterday we headed out to Brooklyn to help prepare for Emily’s going away party. Next week Emily heads off to Alaska to begin a new adventure. We’re all very excited for her and will miss her terribly. The party was a hit and there were quite a few people out. Ajax had a blast. There were other kids to play with, a swimming pool made out of a canoe, and a DJ. Ajax out-danced everyone there. He loves music and would stomp his foot and wiggle. It was cracking everyone up!

My in-laws came down for the party as well and then came home with us and stayed the night. In the morning we lounged around, I made us baked french toast and then Rod and Dara were kind enough to babysit so that Dave and I could have a little alone time. We ended up doing some errands and lunch, which was nice. The nino is now napping and I’m not really sure what our afternoon plans will be…

DSCN6407 — Ajax in a canoe, with Dave and two of my cousins watchin/talkin!

DSCN6409 — Ajax went through two outfits in the canoe.

DSCN6410 — (left - right) Ryan, Ajax, Dave, Dara, Bev, and Rod - Ajax making a mess of the pop cans.

DSCN6413 — Helping on the farm with cousin Ryan.

Rite Aid

So I finally made a trip to Rite Aid. I had a great plan going in, but of course things don’t always work out. It ends up that the store is out of a particular item that you had factored into your scenario, so you have to find a substitute. Oh well. The cashier laughed at me and said I’m usually more prepared! lol.

Two transactions-

Purchased:

Crest 3D toothpaste – $2.99
Salonpas Pain Relief – $5.49
Thermacare Back Relief – $6.29
Hylands Calms – $3.99
(2) Garnier Face wash – $9.43
TOTAL = $28.19
After Coupons, paid = $12.44
Got back $6 from Garnier (should have only been $3, but got $6 instead, not complaining)
Will get a check from the store in the amount of = $10.49
In total made – $4 bucks! You know, I was just looking over my receipt and realized I purchased the wrong product for the back relief, it should have been $3.49, but I accidentally bought the 2 count product. [sigh]

Purchased –

Cottonelle TP – $6.49
Huggies diapers – $8.99
Tone body wash – $2.99
Coldcalm child med – $7.99
Back Aid – $3.49
Stopain – $6.99
TOTAL = $37.35
After coupons, paid = $27.44
Got back $2 from the diapers
Will get a check from the store in the amount of $20.47. So I didn’t make any money with this deal, but it turned out that I paid less than $5 for all the above. Again, in my head I had these great scenarios, but at the store they just all kind of fell to the wayside… oh well, lol.

Still helping

Today has been a rainy day. A constant downpour. I’m not complaining, mind you. Our yard and garden desperately needed the water, but at this point in summer I don’t think the rain will save our brown grass.

Due to the weather, we have therefore spent our day indoors and it’s been pretty quiet. Ajax is still the little helper. While I was in the kitchen making cupcakes he crawled into the tupperware cabinet, pulled everything out, and then sat in there opening and closing the door. I then handed him a flashlight and we played “hide and seek”, though his hiding place was always the same (ie. the cabinet under my feet). He also proceeded to help Dave fold laundry and then got stuck in the laundry basked … kind of like a turtle.

Do you see that one circular clear spot? That was where I was standing.

I’m not sure what other people do, but we routinely spread our clean clothes out onto the living room floor before we fold them.

Ajax thought this was hilarious, till he realized he was stuck. Don’t worry, I helped him out.

Little helper and correction

Ajax has been such the little helper lately. He wants to see and do whatever you’re doing… I think I need to buy him a little vacuum next. You know, so that he can really begin to help and contribute to the household.

He loves helping Dave unload the dishwasher. He’ll pick up one fork at a time… it actually takes quite a while to unload the dishwasher when he’s “helping.”

Tonight for dinner I also let him help me make the salad. He loved the oil and vinegar dressing I made, and kept picking up tomatoes, licking off all the dressing, and then putting them into the bowl. He also helped stir salad, which meant quite a bit ended up on the floor and counter. It was pretty cute.

Also on an update note- my sister in law is in Pittsburgh, not Philly. My bad.

DSCN6352 — And putting it back for later.

Garage sale finds

I need to apologize for the lack of updates this past week, what I can I say I’ve been busy.

Yesterday was a quiet Saturday around the house. We ventured out to a garage sale and the mall (briefly to pick up a baby shower gift) and then headed back home. It’s been hovering in the 90s with ridiculous humidity, making it impossible to be outside for long periods. You know it’s hot, when Ajax doesn’t put up a fight to go into the house to cool off.

At the garage sale we found quite the find for Ajax: A little shopping cart. He has been all about push toys lately and his grandparents have a little toy cart up north that he just loved when we were up visiting. So of course we paid the $1 and Ajax pushed that little cart all over the place. He threw a fit when we had to load it and him into the car to leave. Dave picked him up, but he refused to release the handle of the cart; so he was leaning over Dave’s arm dangling the silly cart and screaming. So cute.

Last night Dave’s sister, Lisa, came over for dinner on her way to Philadelphia, where she will reside for a few months while finishing up school. Dave made us ribs and they were great. They were our second attempt at ribs, the first (which occurred about 4 yrs ago) was a disaster, but this second round was fantastic. Luckily Dave called his dad and got some over the phone assistance. Ajax loved them as well and even though I cut up some of the meat for him, he preferred to gnaw on the bone. What a little meat-a-sauras.

DSCN6329 — Ajax and his cart. It was so hot out that I just stripped him down.

Second Haircut

Today Dave evened up the nino’s hair cut with the clippers. We had Ajax sit in his wagon outside and I distracted him while Dave buzzed away. In the movies it always looks so quick and simple to give someone a buzz cut, but in reality it was quite difficult as Ajax kept trying to see what Dave was doing. I don’t think it’s the best haircut in the world, but we’ll get better with experience. Ajax definitely looks older with his new cut.

It was hard to take a picture as his hair is so light, but you get the point.