The Toy Box Years: Menu Monday

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Menu Monday

My crockpot died last week. I was so sad -- and so lost. You would have thought I lost a limb! And I had to wait until payday to get another one. But, as of last night, I'm the proud owner of a new crockpot! It's the same as my old one, so I'm going to go to the website to see if I can order a replacement crock. We kept the actual working "pot" part, but got rid of the ceramic - which cracked. If I can order a replacement - then I'll have TWO crockpots! Oh joy!!

Anyway - with Thanksgiving being this week, our menu is very light and easy, since mommy is going to be doing lots of preparing!

I'd also love it if you could share YOUR Thanksgiving menu with me! I'm always looking for new ideas! Just leave a comment about what you're making and what's on your menu!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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So, here's our menu for the week of 11/21. The "*" indicates the recipe is at the end of this post.

Monday - 11/22

Nachos

Tuesday - 11/23
Caesar Chicken Pitas
French Fries
Salad

Wednesday - 11/24
Make Your Own Pizza

Thursday - 11/25
Turkey
Apple Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Brandied Sweet Potatoes
Brown Sugar Green Beans *
Corn
Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Banana Bread

Friday - 11/26
Leftovers

Saturday - 11/27
Leftovers

Sunday - 11/28
Stuffed Peppers
Mashed Potatoes

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Brown Sugar Green Beans

2 cans of green beans (or how many you'll use for your family)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 brown sugar
In a sauce pan, mix ketchup and brown sugar until sugar is melted. Add green beans and stir until hot.

Serve.