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

Sorry I'm a little late with this. My Marine's brother and his family were visiting us over the weekend and we spent all day yesterday with them before they headed back to Portland this morning.

Lent started this week for me (Byzantine Catholics start Lent on the Monday before Ash Wednesday), so yesterday was a meat-free day for me. Over the next few weeks, I'm going to have to try to be creative with meat-free meals so that I'm not repeating tuna casserole every week. Good thing is that my mom is coming for a visit and she makes the BEST salmon cakes EVER! YUM!

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So, here's our menu for the week of 3/7

Monday - 3/7
Lunch:
Cheese tortellini pasta salad from King Sooper's deli

Dinner:

Spaghetti with meatballs (for the rest of the family)
I had spaghetti tossed with olive oil, garlic and parmesan cheese

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Tuesday - 3/8

Lunch:

Turkey sandwiches on wheat
Chips

Dinner:

Beef barley and vegetable soup
Bread

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Wednesday - 3/9

Lunch:

Pita cheese pizzas
Fruit

Dinner:
(Night Flight for My Marine)
Tuna casserole
Peas

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Thursday - 3/10

Lunch:

Yogurt and fruit parfaits
Veggies and dip
Marshmallows

Dinner:
(Night Flight for My Marine)
BLT's

Veggies and dip

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Friday - 3/11

Lunch:
Nutella, almonds and raisins on wheat
Fruit and dip

Dinner:
Veggie quiche
Salad
Bread

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Saturday - 3/12

Lunch:
Fruit and yogurt parfaits
Veggies and dip

Dinner:
Steak sandwiches
Cheesy potato strips
Roasted cauliflower

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Sunday - 3/6

Lunch:

Turkey and cheese sandwiches
Pretzels

Dinner:

Lasagna
Salad
Bread

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Remember to come and share your weekly menus too!

2 comments:

MaryAnne March 8, 2011 at 3:10 PM: Ooh do you have your mom's recipe for salmon cakes? I've been meaning to tr making those, sometime...
Tracey M. March 9, 2011 at 3:51 PM: Wow! It's been a while since I visited so I browsed around. Thanks for sharing about your faith and expression of Lent. I'm Protestant but am doing a "whole foods" fast giving up anything processed and not whole.
I love your menu, it gave me some great ideas for next week (haven't done tuna in a while and meatballs in spaghetti will be a nice treat!)

Have a blessed Lenten season!